#(( sylvia got a haircut!! ))

[just-bendy]

Cursed image for Bendy: Corey x Sylvia! (troll face)

See, this is good...

... but THIS.... this is even better~!

[ prev corey ask ]

[charleslelurk]

four week wedding

The marriage was four weeks long; no one has time to get divorced during a triple header. aka the emo Charlos Vegas marriage fic

read here on ao3 or under the cut

Charles pulls up to the Ferrari Factory in one of his custom cars, 16 emblazoned on the side in red, and sees his Carlos–for the first time in six days–in the parking lot. 

In the days between Abu Dhabi and now, Carlos got a haircut. Charles thinks the longer hair, swept back like during the triple headers, had looked better on his teammate. 

Well, ex teammate. And soon to be ex husband. 

Carlos approaches Charles's car before he has exited the Piston. Charles plays with the straps of his bag for a moment before he gets out of the car, knowing Carlos is waiting. When Charles finally opens the door with a soft click, Carlos's sneakers are the first thing he sees. He slowly raises his eyes to Carlos's face, then steps out of the car. Carlos is looking at him with big, apologetic puppy eyes. Charles breaks eye contact as they fall into step beside one another. They will walk into the Maranello factory side-by-side to sign the papers. 

They don't say anything. 

Just inside the doors, Sylvia is waiting to shepherd them to their task, the divorce . 

The thing is… no one expected the fucking Elvis impersonator at a roadside chapel in Las Vegas who agreed to let them film to be properly ordained. No one expected that a fifteen minute ceremony at four in the afternoon on the Vegas strip would be a legit marriage they would have to annul. The marriage certificate looked fake, full of funny colors. Charles would have sworn on his pole position that it was fake. 

The thing is… the scavenger hunt PR video was fun . Carlos and Charles ran down the strip marking items off of their list as they saw Lando and Oscar running the opposite way. They had passed Max and Checo–Max leading the way with a map in hand and confidence in his step–in the amusement park of New York, New York. Outside the Sphere, Alex and Franco had been taking a selfie when Carlos and Charles tumbled out of their taxi. The Williams drivers had laughed at them, Alex practically doubled over. The day had been fun. 

In the back of the taxi, Carlos had slapped one of his paws onto Charles's knee to lean forwards and direct the driver. He had grabbed Charles by the back of the shirt to make him slow when they almost left the camera crew behind while rushing to see the Bellagio fountain show. And during the wedding ceremony, he had offered Charles his hands to hold and Charles had taken them, giggling and red in the face. Carlos had scrunched his nose, laughing too, and Charles had stared for a moment when he caught the warmth of Carlos's eyes boring into his. And they had said I do. When the Elvis impersonator had told them they could kiss the groom, Carlos had laughed big and leaned forwards to air kiss Charles on each cheek, le bise. 

And Charles had realized what he was going to miss. The entire season, he knew he would miss Carlos the person . But somewhere between buying a Las Vegas snow globe and going to the Erotica Musuem, Charles had become somber. This was it. Three more races. 

When he woke on Wednesday morning to the text from Sylvia letting them know they had actually gotten married in the Vegas chapel while trying to fulfill the "have a Vegas wedding" item of the list, he had thought he was still dreaming. He had called Carlos before he was even out from under the duvet. 

The marriage was four weeks long; no one has time to get divorced during a triple header. 

During the jet lag between Vegas and the middle east, Charles and Carlos had been able to forget about the marriage. They had races to focus on, trophies to win. They still needed to clinch the Constructor's Title from McLaren. 

But when the days settled and Charles was back in his hotel room, he thought about it each night. How he was hitched to the teammate who has been saying goodbye for ten months. Almost a year of endings, of last times. Charles fondly remembers the crocheted chili pepper Carlos received from a fan and promptly gifted to Charles. To remember me for the rest of your life. Carlos said it so easily, but with such sincerity. The chili pepper is at home in Monaco, on Charles's shelf with traded helmets. After Carlos presented Charles with his helmet, sharpie on the visor with a message Charles will never let the public know, he set it beside the pepper. A little shrine to their four years together. Forza Ferrari. 

Following Slyvia down the hall feels like a death bell chiming, each step another metal clang. It echoes like their footsteps, around the heritage of the factory, through the legend of the team that Carlos is no longer a part of. When Charles glances to his side, Carlos is already looking at him. 

Sylvia leads them into one of the board rooms. A Ferrari lawyer and each of their personal attorneys sit with empty chairs between them. Carlos walks around the table to his Sainz family lawyer. Charles slips into the seat beside his own. 

There is not much to discuss. They all know why they are here. Sylvia excuses herself and the Ferrari lawyer explains the papers he has before him, the divorce papers. Annulment. 

The stack is passed to Charles's lawyer who reads it over. She then passes it to Charles with her pen, pointing a manicured finger to the line where he should sign. Charles looks up and across the table to Carlos. 

Carlos smiles, but it doesn't meet his eyes. "Charles, are you taking me to be your lawfully divorced husband?"

Charles gasps out a laugh that turns into a little sob. Embarrassed, he presses the back of his hand to his mouth and blinks rapidly. 

"Charles…"  

Under the table, a foot bumps Charles's. He knows whose it is. He watches Carlos as a small, graceful smile pushes his cheeks up. There is something swimming in Carlos's eyes too. This is the last time he will be in Maranello. There shouldn't have been a last time, they created it with their Vegas faux pas. But as Charles and Carlos watch one another, Carlos's toes still pressed to Charles's under the boardroom table, Charles doesn't know if it was a mistake. Maybe… but no. Carlos is off to Williams. And Lewis will be coming to Marnaello tomorrow to begin Sim work for next season. This is the end of the chapter. 

"I do," Charles chokes out. Carlos's eyes fall to the page in front of Charles and he looks down too, finally lines up the end of the ballpoint pen with where he needs to sign and drags the tip across the page. It's neater than his fan signatures; this is his real one. It bears weight. A damp spot appears on the foot of the paper from a drop of water.

Charles's lawyer passes the papers to Carlos's lawyer. He looks over them longer than Charles's did, then places it in front of Carlos. The pressure against Charles's toes disappears and Carlos picks up a pen to sign too. Charles's watches Carlos stare at his signature for a long moment before he raises his big, brown, melancholic eyes to Charles again. 

"Thank you, thank you. That is settled then," the Ferrari lawyer says in Italian. Their lawyers move to stand, business complete. Carlos and Charles continue to watch one another across the table. Such a culmination of years, ended so simply with a signature. Charles turns to wistfully watch the papers disappear into the Ferrari lawyers briefcase, tucked away to be sent to the appropriate governments to prove their separation. No longer husband and husband, just two men with four years of rosso corsa tying them together. 

Charles still remembers that first real conversation he had with Carlos, in the Marina Bay towers of Singapore, overlooking the street circuit. He knows they look different, have grown and changed in ways both big and small, but he still remembers them in the humid night air, young and hungary. Now, they follow one another back out to the parking lot. Charles does not tell Carlos he is staying, that his work with the team who chose him over his teammate continues today, as Carlos cuts his final tie. No, Charles will not tell him; he knows how not to be cruel. Mercy.

"I am supposing this is it, no?" Carlos says as they walk out into the Italian air. 

Charles shakes his head. "You speak as if we will not be seeing each others at the tracks."

Carlos's eyes slacken, softening with empathy. "It is not being the same." He wrings his hands in front of him, for once not knowing what to do with them: no one to grip, to claim. 

Charles finds himself blinking rapidly again. He lets himself close the book, chapter finished. He removes the bookmark that was their brief marriage, loses the page as the papers sandwich together as it softly closes. 

He reaches for Carlos, who startles like he doesn't expect it. Charles pulls him in, wrapping his arms around his back and holding him close. Carlos smells familiar, and Charles realizes with a click of familiarity that Carlos is wearing Ferrari cologne, the one they have both been provided from the Ferrari fashion line. 

Charles searches under the bergamot and citrus for the scent of Carlos, but for once he can't find it. Carlos smells entirely of Ferrari as Charles hugs him in Maranello. He can feel the heat of Carlos's hands on his back, how his fingers are clutching the fabric of Charles's sweatshirt. Charles remembers le bise in the tiny Vegas chapel, how he had smiled and giggled while Carlos's lips barely brushed each of his cheeks. They had dropped hands just after, as Elvis shooed them to walk down the aisle, past the camera crew, their only witnesses. Later it was aired to the world, to the fans. 

Carlos pulls away first. "Goodbye, Charles," Carlos says, emphasizing the Frenchness of the pronunciation more than usual, like he is trying extra hard to say it right. 

"Bye, Carlos." Charles says, pushing his shoulder slightly, playfully. Carlos smiles and turns to his car. It is not a Ferrari. 

Carlos pauses as he reaches for the door. Charles stands in the middle of the parking lot in Maranello, feet shuffling. Carlos's head twitches, almost like he wishes to look back. Charles waits. 

Then Carlos opens the door and slides into the driver's seat. As he pulls out of the parking lot, he rolls down the window and pokes his arm out to wave goodbye. Casual, like he is waving to fans. 

Charles watches him go, his cheeks wet. He wipes his face on his sleeve before going back inside. There is work to do. 

[guardedserum]

Chapter one, Johnny’s Perspective.

It had been months since the gang had found me doubled up, half beaten to death, all because I was looking for our football so I could practice a couple kicks. The Socs had always been the crueller type sure, but I ain’t done nothing to make them hacked off at me; they were looking for a fight and that’s what they came for. I still remember the pained look on Sodapop’s face as he turned me over, all anxious and worried. Steve just looked angry, angrier than I had seen him in a good while, but Ponyboy just looked sad. It was always hard to pinpoint how Pony was feelin’ sometimes.

The Socs scared me more than Mom and Dad; I don’t like to think about them often. They’re always bitchin’ and complainin’ about something and I always got caught in the middle of it. Mom ignored me until she wanted something or if she was mad, and I took a beating with a two-by-four by my father one time. Ponyboy had seen that and I had never felt so weak before. That’s why I didn’t come home most of the time.

It had been months since then.

It was only yesterday Ponyboy got jumped by the Socs while he was walking home, got his neck cut up bad but not bad enough to leave a scar and they kept hollering that they wanted to give him a haircut, which they attempted but failed, only getting so far as to cut his neck before the rest of the gang came running over. Even Dallas came running and I thought he was in the cooler for ‘bout ninety days. Dallas was real mean; sure, the Socs ran ‘cause the gang started fighting back for Ponyboy but Dallas was scary; he had been in a murder rap back in New York and had been arrested when he was ten. He wasn’t just a Greaser; he was a real hood, a JD.

People probably hated Dally more than the rest of the gang; he was the rudest, he didn’t care what people thought about him and he made sure that people knew that he didn’t care. Even Darry, Ponyboy, and Soda’s older brother knew that Dallas was dangerous. But Dallas would never hurt the gang on purpose; he was family. We all walked back to the Curtis’ house, Darry giving Ponyboy an earful. “You don’t ever think do you Ponyboy? Walking home by yourself..” Darry spat, “You don’t think at home or anywhere when it counts.” I stopped listening, I hated when they argued. I wished Darry would hear Pony out, and I wished that Ponyboy would realise that Darry just wanted the best for Ponyboy but that wasn’t gonna happen overnight. After Sodapop calmed Darry down, he went over to talk to Steve by one of the junk cars nearby while Darry went over to the mailbox to check the mail. “Next time ask one of us to go with you Ponyboy,��� Two-Bit said. “Any of us will.” Dallas seemed to to adjust his posture a little, like he remembered something. “Speakin’ of movies.. I’m walkin’ over to the Nightly Double tomorrow night; any of y’all wanna come and hunt some action?” Dallas questioned, “Me and Steve are takin’ Evie and Sandy to the game.” Soda stated, Steve nodded. “What about y’all? Two-Bit? Johnnycake? You and Pony wanna come?” Ponyboy perked up. “Me and Johnny’ll go,” Ponyboy accepted. He knew I wouldn’t open my mouth unless I was forced to. And I was glad he agreed for me because I wouldn’t have been able to myself.

”Yeah, since it ain’t a school night..” Darry huffed before he went inside. “I might join y’all if I don’t get too drunk,” Two-Bit hummed before he got in his car and drove off. “Dal’ you got your ring back,” I stated, “You break up with Sylvia again?” Dallas snarled. “Yeah and this time it’s for good. Little broad was two-timing me again while I was in jail.” Dally kicked up some of the dirt underneath his boot. I never understood Dally and Sylvia’s relationship; they were always breaking up and getting back together and one time while Dallas was in jail Sylvia started hanging around me, I hated it. Surely Dallas didn’t mean it when he said that they were breakin’ up for good this time, since he said that the last time too. “Pony you got homework,” Darry called from inside the house, making Ponyboy groan and go inside. Dallas eventually left as well, leaving me sitting on the front steps of the Curtis’ house before I eventually got up myself and left to go to the lot.

[whumpbug]

favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?

change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change?

alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU! i don’t remember if you’ve done any of these??? skdfjhsdkhfs,,, and hell yeah aus i think are often great insight to a character’s personality and looks since things can change/not change + change as a concept itself is SO good

HIIIII MELLO THESE ARE SO FUN

answers under the cut as always (≧▽≦)

✮⋆˙

favorite: does your oc have a favorite article of clothing or accessory?

simon:

simon isn't really an accessory person, the only little extra thing he has is his piercing, but he has a Large Collection of knit sweaters. they're his comfort item. you really can't go wrong with a good, oversized knit sweater. so its not a specific article of clothing, but rather a Genre. when he's thrifting, the moment he sees a sweater in his size it's going in the cart. no questions asked.

archie:

archie has 2. one is his darth vader pajama pants that he's mended about 5 different times because they're THAT comfy. he loves them SO much. the second thing is a little a small little navy bracelet that simon got him one time when he visited some family in el salvador. its a braided pattern with pull-strings to tighten it and archie LOVES it. he is ALWAYS wearing it. even when he's out as vigil, he just tucks it into the sleeve of his jumpsuit so he can't be recognized and stuff. it was one of the first gifts archie gave to him. it is So Special

gene:

for gene, it has to be the necklace the wears with his mother's ring. its become something of a fidget too, when he's nervous. he wears it near his heart and whenever he's stressed, his hands instinctively go to find it, just to calm himself down. it's a little like having sylvia there for him again. its very comforting.

cassidy:

i touched on it in this post BUT for cassidy, it's his pinch-front hat and the rings we wears. the hat was a gift from montana and unfortunately it means a great deal to cassidy (kys montana) but the rings hold a sense of accomplishment to cassidy. cassidy often wonders if what he's doing is right-- going around and robbing and killing isn't exactly the most respectable profession, but when he looks at his rings and thinks about the people he's taken down, he feels better about it. he knows theres a purpose to what hes doing.

✮⋆˙

change: has your oc ever drastically changed their appearance?

I LOVE THIS ONE OKAY OKAY. disclaimer these are going to be mostly about hair.

simon:

so his hair is decently long now-- just a bit past his chin-- but it used to be much longer. when he was a junior in highschool, it was a few inches past his shoulders and it was Very healthy and luscious. he would usually wear it up in a ponytail or in a braided half-up-half-down situation, but he also wore it down pretty often. the reason it was so long was because he had Huge sensory issues with his neck like. touching the air. he hated the feeling of just being so exposed so he only got trims every few months. he cut it when he went to med school though because it was going to be much easier to manage. he misses his longer hair sometimes.

archie:

archie used to dye a little strip of his hair various colors!!! his favorite was pink. its just a little section in the front of his hair, a bit off to the left. this was when he was in highschool too and he really enjoyed it while he had it! the reason he had to dye it back to normal was because when he started going out as vigil, he realized that the vigil outfit doesn't cover his hair or head in anyway and he thought it would be too recognizable. like simon, he misses his little dyed hair sometimes and considers doing it again. luckily he is Very Blonde, so temporary dyes show up really well!

gene:

i think i vaguely mentioned it in the fic, but when he was little, he used to be much blonder and his hair was much longer. i think the time he changed the most was puberty tbh. when he was little, he looked just like sylvia-- soft, straight, blonde hair and big blue eyes and chubby, rosy cheeks-- but the older he got, the more clint started peeking through. his hair darkened to a dirty blonde/mousy brown and became courser, his jaw and cheekbones became more angular, and he got VERY tall very fast. the only thing that didn't really change were his eyes. they are still very blue and very reminiscent of his mother. as for how he feels about it, usually he's pretty neutral, but one time he was getting angry at some kid in the street for causing a commotion, and he caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection of a window and saw his father's angry face staring back at him. he did Not like that.

cassidy:

honestly, he is practically unrecognizable from his younger self. before montana found him, he was this skinny, gaunt, sick looking thing. truly skin and bones, but he still somehow looked young and innocent. now, he's filled out. he's toned and muscular, but the main difference? the mosaic of scars littering his body. some accidental, some not. there are many. the most prominent one is the one on his mouth that i draw him with a lot. that one was straight from montana after an especially hard fight when he was just 15. him at age 7 vs him now 20 years later are pretty much two different people, and more than just in the sense that he grew up. he isn't sure if he should be happy or concerned about that.

✮⋆˙

alternate: what would your oc's alternate universe look be?

I LOVE THIS QUESTION. i'm going to paste my previous answer to it right here and here, but here also a few other aus that i haven't fleshed out but have definitely Thought about

royal au with gene and cassidy. JUST THINK ABOUT IT. cassidy as the prince under a corrupt king (montana) and gene as one of his guards. cassidy is a little mischevious prince whos constantly trying to escape and get into trouble, and gene is tasked with retieving him when he goes on his little escapades. imagine the pining. imagine the intimacy. JUST IMAGINE IT.

role-reversal with archie and simon. their personalities are exactly the same, but simon is vigil, and archie is the tired med student. i truly believe this au would just be archie BEGGING simon to come to him when hes injured and simon being like "it's fine. i can still walk." while actively bleeding from a gaping knife wound

FANTASY AU WITH EITHER OF THEM. admittedly i am not well versed in fantasy aus, but i LOVEEEE the aesthetic and whump potential. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

✮⋆˙

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASKS MELLO THESE WERE SOOOOO FUN YIPPEE!!!!!

[alittlebitofloveliness]

I got my hair cut short a few months ago impulsively.But now I feel really self conscious about it since it’s in an awkward growth phase. So I was wondering if you had any cute HC’s of either Angela,Sylvia Or even Cherry cutting their hair short.

If it’s any consolation anon, my best friend impulsively cuts her hair all the time so it’s perpetually in awkward growing out phases and she always looks adorable- I’m sure you do too. But omg anon tysm for this ask because I actually have SO many thoughts on the the outsiders girls and their hair because I think all of them have cut it at least once but for different reasons

-Sylvia Devares' hair is long, dark curls, but when she was little her long hair is what her father used to grab when he was in one of his rages, and her mom used to yank on it to make her behave. Little Sylvia had been growing it out so she could look like her grandmother, but once when she was seven, entirely fed up after a particularly harsh yank from her mother she grabbed a pair of kitchen scissors and chopped it all off herself. It was horrible and uneven and messy and Sylvia didn’t care. Her mother was furious and refused to get it fixed, so Sylvia wore that slashed off hair for ages, and wore it like a badge of honour until it started to grow back. It grew in uneven and was all different lengths until Sylvia turned ten and finally decided she wanted more normal stereotypically ‘pretty’ hair, but she still remembers the slashed up look and the way it made it so she couldn’t be grabbed as often as her first lesson about how looks can be a kind of defence

-Sandy Okensy always loved her long, flowing blonde hair, obsessed as she always was with disney princesses, Rapunzel in particular. However, she got lice in the third grade and neither her parents nor her older sister had the time to fine comb her hair, so she had to shave it instead. It absolutely DESTROYED her, and ever since her hair is a sort of obsession of hers and she tries to always keep it as long as possible. She also washes it every single day

-Evie Bylilly’s Navajo heritage makes it so that her hair is super important to her. At the time of The Outsiders its past her hips, however, when she was in grade three her grandfather (whom she was very close to) died and she cut it as a sign of mourning and respect. Her haircut was styled in a cute little ear length bob but she still got teased for it a bit. She wouldn’t trade that experience or the hair cut for anything though, and her haircut and the subsequent teasing is part of how she and Sandy became friends in the first place (the bond of the girls bullied in elementary school is unshakable).  Evie sees her long hair now as a sign of how she’s grown in the years since her grandfathers passing, as well as a reminder of how long she has grieved him. 

-Angela Shepard has always loved her long, silky curls because her hair is one of the few things in the world that is truly hers, however after her hair gets cut by Bryon and Mark (lets go with TWTTIN canon for these head canons) she grows it out a bit and styles it into a mullet. The curls and they style makes her look REALLY cool and she sticks with it for a while before she decides to grow her hair out properly again

-Marcia Valentine is the kind of girl who can’t keep a hairstyle for more than a few months. She has cut and styled, bleached and dyed her hair so many times at this point it’s a wonder her hair isn’t damaged beyond repair. She just gets so bored with the same old thing after a while and always wants something exciting. Lucky for her, she can rock just about any style and any colour- except red. She tried to emulate Cherry once and spend the whole weekend relying her hair back to brown.

-Cherry Valance is very careful with her hair. She likes to layer it and gets it regularly trimmed to keep it healthy, but major changes like big cuts or style changes aren’t for her. Her hair is already such a vibrant colour she doesn’t feel the need to make it any more of a key feature.

Hope this is kinda what you were looking for! Thanks for the ask xx

[moondust-artz]

Evie headcanons

POV: A character is only mentioned once with no development so u make headcanons

The uneven haircut she has is actually from when she was 6 years old and she tried cutting her hair with her brother's switchblade to have short hair like the greaser guys, she accidentally cut a part of her hair too short and she just said “Screw this, it’s my style now!”

She's 17

She’s a massive tomboy and loves getting into fights, she tries to participate in rumbles but they don’t let her

She had a crush on Steve and dated him at 16

Steve only dated her because Soda dated Sandy and when Steve told Soda abt Evie, he just said “She likes u go for it”

She stole her brother's switchblade

She never got along with Sandy because she thinks she’s too soft and a pick me girl

She was aware that Sandy was cheating on Soda and tried to warn him but Soda just brushed it off as “Oh, she’s aloud to be friends with guys!”

Her parents spoiled her when she was young so she always gets mad when Steve doesn’t waste his money on her

Has absolutely NO manners

Burps louder than anyone

Noisy, rough and talkative person, Sylvia and Angela like her but not Sandy

Bi, preference guy

Clingy and nosy person

Steve eventually broke up with her because he forced himself to love her and figured he was gay. Evie was heartbroken because she felt backstabbed and Steve became everything to her (she cried a LOT)

She ghosted Steve for a whole 2 months before apologizing for her behaviour and decided they might as well become friends or cut ties with each other

Had a little crush on Johnny (she and Sylvia would take turns flirting with him but he has no interest in girls)

Complains about boys to Sylvia and Angela

Tremendous amount of grease in her hair

Cold body temperature

Was the kid that bites everyone

Gets into a lot of trouble, since she entered daycare

Wants to become a professional wrestler

Says she has massive hatred towards Socs but has a Soc cousin name Gabby

Smells like sweat (she sweats a lot and takes 2 showers a week)

She's a great friend but can be raucous at times

that’s it 😅, sexuality headcanons coming soon

[home-at-nine]

Chapter Two — Sarah

"From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a bright future beckoned and winked." - The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

I am watching my ceiling. It is a very funny thing, this ceiling watching. I wonder if this is what it would feel like to be a fruit, slowly rotting, no one aware of your consciousness. I wonder what it would feel like to slowly disintegrate and let your skin peel off. Closing my eyes, there’s almost a smell coming from my rotting form.

The door breaks open. My mother stands there, immaculate, holding the doorknob as if it is diseased. 

“Sarah, your father’s done making dinner,” she says, then without pausing, “please brush your hair before you come down.”

I get up without brushing my hair. Fucking fascist. 

“Sweetheart, don’t stomp so much—you’ll damage the carpet,” she says, so I stomp more quietly. 

“I am trying,” I bark back. “You’re not giving me any room to breathe.”

She got to the bottom of the staircase before me and waits there now, body taut as if she is hanging from the ceiling. Her eyes pierce mine, doll-like lifelessness. Once I have reached the bottom of the staircase, she waits for me to walk ahead of her so she can place her hands on my shoulders and pull them back, steering me towards the dining room simultaneously. In my head I call her the puppet master. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her.

My father has already set plates out on the table once we get inside. It’s gritty, and covered in thick brown liquid, and I think it is supposed to be dumplings. There’s broccoli on the side. It is limp, and almost grey. It’s difficult to be touched by something this disgusting, even if I know it has been the only thing he has been able to do today. I should be proud of him, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. I can’t look him in the eyes. There’s nothing there except empty glass. This man is a hollow creature. If my mother is the puppet master, this man is the husk she has been carving into shape since she first began her craft, and his soul has finally fallen through the cracks.

We begin to eat in silence. I know how hard he has been trying to build this illusion of being a homemaker ever since he lost his job, so I chew lumps like I’m chewing cud. Daydreaming that I am cattle makes it a little easier. There’s grass by my feet and the air is fresh. There’s a herd behind my back. Every day is the same and I don’t know any differently.

There was another paper released speculating about the origins of Queen Nefertiti’s remains recently, this one as unfruitful as the last twenty. Not that I often let myself care about the ancients anymore—it is just that sometimes the pull is too strong. I miss the dusty smell of the postgrad libraries. The damp there felt almost romantic. 

“Sarah is going to get a haircut soon,” slashes my mother’s knife through the silence. “Don’t you think it will brighten her little face right up?”

“I suppose that’ll be nice, Sar,” echoes my father, looking me in the eyes meekly. Some men struggle to find the courage to speak their minds, but in my father’s case, he struggles to have one in the first place. “What’ll you get done, do you think?”

“I was thinking she could get it dyed, too,” mother continues. “I’ve always thought she’d look lovely as a blonde.”

I hold back a laugh and my mother looks up sharply. I don’t meet her gaze. I won’t let her. She huffs out of her nose. She’s won and she knows it.

I am filled with irrepressible physical revulsion. “I’m going to get a boob job,” I announce, and push away my chair from the table dramatically. I’ve turned around and gone back up the stairs before I have a chance to look at my mother's face, but I know she won’t have reacted with more than a flinch. Every day we play through this charade. Every day I burst out. And by the next morning, she has boxed me back in like nothing has happened. 

On this night, I don’t even have a shift to get ready for, so I lie down to turn my body into rot again. I have no plan to get a boob job. In fact, I have no plans at all. My future stares back at me like a blank wall. Nothing grows through concrete, and no light can get through. I press my forehead against the bricks, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t hear it breathe. I’m willing it to, begging it to listen to me, but I can’t make it breathe. It is slowly sucking the warmth from my head. It aches like knives through silence. I can’t breathe.

I wake in the middle of the night with a migraine. I think about the customer from the other night to distract myself. He had a big mouth and tousled dark hair, or at least it looked so through the dark hum of the distant disco lighting from the club. He asked me for a rum and coke, and I liked the way he looked into my eyes without breaking contact. I handed him his drink and almost brushed his fingers. I couldn’t make myself, in the end. 

I think I would like to touch myself to the image of this man. But almost immediately I think he must have seen me through my mother’s eyes. And she’s right, and I don’t brush my hair enough, and she’s right, and I need a boob job. And I’m so tired again. I close my eyes and sleep does not come.

[arohawke]

Austin (as Uno): Where should I throw this one, folks?

Dre (as Chine): I need a haircut-

Austin (as audience member): [overlapping] Between his legs!

Dre (as Chine): I need a haircut!

Austin (as Uno): [sighs] Oh, there we go, absolutely. I’ll, uh, give you a little trim there. Flips it up, throws it. Boom! Right above your head, a piece of hair floats down in front of your face.

Keith (as audience member): Ah, he’s good!

Sylvia: [overlapping] I’m lining up the shot right now.

Austin: [laughs] “Wow, he’s good”, yeah. [Keith laughs in the background] Uh- 

Keith: [overlapping]: That’s an audience plant.

Austin (as audience member): Where did you learn to do it?

(as Uno) Oh, here and there, here and there. How about this? Grabs two, uh, you know, tosses them up in the air. Catches them with the other hand, kinda juggling them up a bit, getting ready to throw, getting ready to throw... Throws two more and, uh, and they go underneath you arms, Chine, absolutely. Ah...

(as Uno) All right, I need one more place. Where should I put this one?

Jack (as audience member): Catch it between your teeth!

[Keith laughs loudly in the background]

Austin (as Uno): Now that... is a tricky one.

Jack (as audience member): [overlapping] I think you can do it from the side.

Austin (as Uno): That’s a tricky one.

[Keith, Dre, and Sylvia laughing in the background]

Keith: [laughing] Very cruel audience member.

[Everyone laughing in the background]

Art: That’s not really a throw trick.

Jack (as audience member): I’m a monster! I want to see- [gets drowned out by everyone else laughing]

Art: Oooh!

Austin (possibly as Uno): We got a monster in the audience, folks! Everybody clap for the monster!

[various sounds of everybody cheering and clapping]

Austin: Wooo, yay, monsters!

[dhaaruni]

This morning, my great-uncle died.

We were close, likely closer than I was to any of my grandparents as I got older. He debated me about Charles Bukowski and Sylvia Plath when I was a teenager because he read them for me, and my borderline dogmatic atheism when I was even younger. He saw me as an equal, even as a child, and I’ll miss him and his daily and oft insane articles on WhatsApp dearly.

(And please note my affection for him is so strong that I’m willing to post a picture of my #traumatizing short haircut)

[browneyedgenius]

10! Philippa Georgiou (prime), Philippa Georgiou (mirror), Michael Burnham, Sylvia Tilly, Joann Owosekun

10. To cut and style my hair:

okay this is funny because I just got a haircut but anyway-

Prime Philippa because she just feels like the safest option. also because she probably cut her own hair in her academy days - idk why, it just seems like something she'd do :P

owo is second on this list because she seems really patient and I would probably get a free therapy session during my haircut. either that or get a whole bunch of gossip since I don't care what canon says she's 100% dating the scuttlebutt queen.

Michael Burnham because she also feels like a safe option lmao. but especially s1 her would probably just give me a buzz cut so... maybe s3 her I'd trust more lol

Tilly probably cannot cut hair but I'm putting her as fourth because a) I'd be scared of mirror Georgiou and b) at least we'll have fun! Tilly gives me late night sleepover impulsive haircut vibes, so there's probably gonna be a movie and popcorn too.

mirrorgeou comes last on this list because she's... a little bit of a wild card. let's just say that if she likes me then she's probably going to give me a decent haircut but if not she'll shave all my hair off in my sleep. and I like my hair, thank you very much.

thanks for the ask opal!!!

Give me 5 characters and a number, and I will put them in preference order for that situation

[mellointheory]

Sand on the Soul chapter 2 is up. I can't sleep. Egg!Punz and Tommy dynamic possesses my soul now.

“Does anyone have any spruce?” Tommy stuck his head out of one of the tower’s half finished windows, raising his voice to be heard down below. Tubbo shook his head, not even looking up from where he was leaned back against a rock, strumming his ukulele without even trying to form a tune.

“Um, I can check.” Ranboo’s hands shimmered palely as he flicked through his inventory. “I think I gave all mine to Foolish, sorry.”

“Fuck, do I have to go find some?” Tommy slumped over the window frame, chin hitting the wood with a soft thump. He winced, lifting his head and rubbing his chin with one hand. It didn’t hurt, exactly, but it was jarring. He needed to be more careful.

“I can go back to Snowchester and get some.” Ranboo unfolded his long legs and stood up. He pulled his trident out of his inventory.

“Thanks, Ranboo,” Tommy said reluctantly.

Ranboo walked to the edge of the water, netherite armor shimmering into place to cover him from head to foot. He knelt in the waves, then flicked up and into the air on his trident. Tommy watched him go, envy twisting in his stomach. His own trident—stolen from Dream himself—still lay untouched at the bottom of his enderchest. He couldn’t stand to use it now. Every time he was in the air without the solid ground under his feet, his stomach seized up with the fear of missing a landing and hitting the ground.

“You know, Tommy.” Tubbo said, snapping Tommy’s attention back to him. “Your tower actually doesn’t look so bad.”

Tommy grinned. “It does! I’m actually really proud of it.” He patted the spruce wall. “My tower’s definitely a woman, cuz it’s tall and strong. I should name her.”

“Name her Michael.”

Tommy frowned down at the horned boy. “I’m not gonna fucking name her Michael, Tubbo. That’s a stupid name.”

“Hey!” Tubbo said indignantly. “Michael is a fantastic name.”

Tommy started to answer, but was momentarily distracted by a shimmer of purple on the cliff overlooking the tower. Punz was sitting up there, legs swinging back and forth idly, staring at the prison. Tommy opened his mouth to mention it, then managed to pull his attention back to the matter at hand.

“I like the name Sylvia.” He ran a hand down one of the stone brick pillars in the wall. “Or Sally—oh, fuck, that was Wilbur’s girlfriend’s name. God, I hope I don’t turn out like him. Imagine fucking a—no, wait, don’t imagine that.”

Tubbo laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think I want to.”

“Do you have any good name suggestions? I’d ask Ranboo, but he’s not here.” Tommy paused. “And he’s dumb.”

“Tommy.”

“What? I know you’re, like, married to him and everything, but he’s still—“

“Tommy!” Tubbo’s voice lowered, just barely reaching Tommy where he stood. “You might want to come down. Look over there.” The scarred brunette nodded at the overlooking cliff.

“Wot?” Tommy looked up, shielding his eyes. “It’s just Punz, man.”

Tubbo grimaced. “Yeah, but he’s gone all red and eggy. He’s dangerous now.”

“Don’t worry, I can speak to him. I can communicate with the beasts, Tubbster. I’m like Tarzan.” Tommy waved up at the mercenary. “They waved back down at him. “God, he needs a haircut.”

Tubbo laughed. “You’re not much better, you know.”

“Yeah, but I have an excuse. I was dead.” Tommy told him.

“Actually, that’s a good question. Did your hair grow while you were dead?” Tubbo tilted his head, resting his chin on his palm.

“I dunno.” Tommy put his hand up to run his fingers through the strands of too-long blonde hair flopping down the side of his face. He hesitated, resting a palm on top of his head for a moment, remembering the ghost of someone else’s warmth. His own hand was smaller than Punz’s, not as warm, and less calloused. It wasn’t the same.

“Yeah, I’ve got no idea.” He blurted out, pulling his hand down.

“It seems longer, but that could just be cuz you haven’t cut it in a while.” Tubbo tilted his head back, glancing back up at the cliff. The ukelele in his hand flickered away, replaced by a netherite axe from his inventory. “Are you sure about him?”

Tommy’s eyes locked on the weapon. “He’s saved your life, Tubbo. I don’t think he’s a wrongun.”

He wanted to ask Tubbo to put the axe away, but he was just protecting him, after all. Tubbo wasn’t going to hurt him. Tommy turned around instead, unwilling to force himself to stare at it any longer, and leaned up against the wall. “Where’s fucking Ranboo gone?”

“He could be talking to Foolish. I—Tommy!”

Tommy ducked instinctively, flinching back against the wall. His stomach twisted, anxiety balling up in his throat. What was it—was it Sam, was it a mob? Was it Dream?

“Tommy?” Punz asked, crouched on the wall above him.

“Punz, what are you doing?” Tommy turned back around to see Tubbo with a loaded bow in hand.

“I brought Tommy some food.” Punz shrugged, straightening upright and stepping off the wall to land silently behind Tommy.

“Tubbo, could you put the bow away?” Tommy asked, sidling a little bit behind Punz. The mercenary was in full netherite and Tommy was wearing diamond armor. Between the two of them Punz could handle an arrow to the face far better. Tommy had had his share of arrows to his face, both in the sleeping and waking world. They were far from pleasant.

Tubbo nodded silently, letting the bow vanish back into his inventory.

“Look, Tommy.” Punz pulled somethign out of his inventory and placed it on the window cill. It was a cake, squarish, with white frosting and red sprinkles. Punz gave it a proud look. “Cake.”

“Do you—can I have some?” Tommy glanced at their face. Punz nodded, so he reached over and broke off a piece, shoving it into his mouth. God, it tasted good. Most of what Tommy had eaten in the past few days was just bread and raw carrots.

“Hey, I want some!” Tubbo got up and dashed into the lower level of the tower.

“Punz,” Tommy said through a mouthful of cake. “Why is your hair so long? You’re really letting yourself go, man.”

Punz laughed, fingering a strand of the shaggy hair reaching to his shoulder. “I just haven’t cut it in a while. I’ve been busy with the egg.”

“I don’t like the egg.” Tubbo’s head poked up from the lower level as he climbed up the ladder. “It’s mean."

“It doesn’t bother me.” Tommy grabbed another chunk of cake. “I’m immune. Like a…canary.”

“I don’t think canaries are immune to much of anything, really.” Tubbo came over and broke off a piece of cake for himself. Punz stepped back as he approached, moving to the opposite side of the tower and jumping up to sit on the half-built wall.

“That’s only in mineshaft. Out of mineshafts, anything’s possible.” Tommy mumbled through a mouthful of crumbs. “That’s why I don’t go mining, it’s dangerous for me.”

“You should go mining sometime soon, you’re so poor.” Tubbo laughed.

Tommy let out an incredulous huff, turning to his friend and protesting. By the next time his eyes crossed the space where the mercenary had been, they were gone.

—————————————————

Punz waited quietly, watching as the enderman returned and gave Tommy the spruce he needed to complete the tower walls. He watched them argue over who got the most cake and whether normal or black glass would look better and how many dolphins were probably pissing in the ocean at that exact moment. He watched them escort Tommy safely inside the gates of his property after it grew dark, watched the kid farm and replant his wheat. It wasn't until Tommy finally disappeared inside his house that Punz rose to their feet and took the trident back to their property. Tommy wouldn't leave his house until morning, and they had other obligations as well.

The bloodlines opened up underneath him, leaving a clear area for him to land on top of the tower. They curled away from under his boots, deep red writhing against the tower’s pale stone. Out here all the vines had thorns, curving, some of them almost half as long as his thumb. Beautiful, dangerous. He loved the colors.

As they slid down the ladder the vines crawling down the walls seemed to hum. They’d spent enough time with the bloodvines that he could hear what they wanted to say.

The boy isn’t necessary.

“Tommy?” Punz stepped away from the ladder, jumping down the hole in the middle of the floor and landing in a pool of water that served to break his fall. He was in his bedroom now, where the vines grew the most prolifically. They twined between the chest son the walls, arching through the open windows. He used to have little pots of flowers there to entice his bees to wander in on the search for nectar. The flowers had withered now, replaced by the blooms of the vines.

He is a nuisance. He shouldn’t be alive.

“That’s not very nice.” Punz let the armor covering them shimmer into their inventory. “Tommy’s not so bad.”

Tommy is an interference. The translucent red leaves quivered.

Punz ran their fingers through their hair. Tommy was right, it was getting long. They hadn’t been paying much attention to it—really, they hadn’t been awake much for the past few weeks. The vines and the scent they gave off was too relaxing. It made it easy to just close his eyes and fall asleep.

“He liked the cake.” Punz remembered in satisfaction. He hadn’t baked it himself—Hannah had so many to spare, and Punz didn’t ahve the ingredients he needed. He wasn’t stacked on food either—potatoes and stolen cake were their main options. Potatoes were for some reason off the table for Tommy, but everyone liked cake.

The vines’ voices settled down to a displeased hum in the back of his ears.

“Tommy’s kinda my responsibility at the moment.” Punz shrugged, lifting his chain from around his neck and hanging it on the wall. They stopped, brushing their fingers across the petals of one of the flowers drooping beside the windowsill. “He’s my job now.”

The plans will move forward.

“It’s okay, I’ll make sure he’s not a problem.” Punz reassured them.

Sixty-seven gold blocks. Punz had one overarching principle in life: his employees got what they paid for. Sam had paid for someone to protect Tommy, to take care of him.

Sam would get what he’d bought. The egg would understand.

[radio-nano]

Queen concerts were also successful beause of those guys!

Scroll if you want to learn who these guys are and what they did. You will also read about a Lord, a henna user, who had best haircut and Queen’s favorite food. (I wrote in bold letters the parts about Queen members and some funny facts.)

1. a"rigger". They assemble the stage (all 6000 square feet of it). Sometimes this can take two days, so there are two stages on this European tour. While one is being taken down at one venue, the other is being assembled at the next.

2 another "rigger".

3 John "Tumbridge" Wells, one of the security men responsible for looking after the members of Queen. "Tumbridge" looks after Brian May, escorts him wherever he goes and keeps the fans from getting too close.

4 Wally Gore group security, he looks after John Deacon

5 Alex Alexandrou, carpenter. There's two of us, and we put up all the stage scenery. I put up the walkways around the back and sides of the stage wich Freddie runs along. He likes to run on carpet, so I have to lay that down everywhere.

6. Chris "Crystal" Taylor, group coordinator. He organises all of the personal Queen crew, roadies, the security men. He makes sure they all know what they have to do and when they have to do it.

7. Jim Deveney, monitor engineer. "I sit out of sight on stage. I have to make things sound good so that the band can hear what they're doing. The sound comes through these speakers called "monitors" wich face onto the stage. The worst act I ever worked for was Rod Stewart. He was really miserable.

8. Joe Fanelli, Freddie's main personal assistant, who cooks for him at his London Home. "He likes anything really exotic, North African food, curries, good French cooking. He hates veal and doesn't eat carrots. Lambs is a bit iffy too. Brian's vegetarian but he eats fish. John likes very simple food, pie and mash and Roger likes anything but lamb.

9. Tony Williams, in charge of Queen's wardrobe. "I have to look after all of the band's stage clothes. That includes lots of details like making sure all the changes of clothes they need are backstage (Freddie changes about three times each performance), labelling the band's stage shoes (because they all wear the same stripey Adidas), and looking after Freddie's special moustache scissors. Also I have to wash all of their clothes in my hotel bedroom. My bath is always full. And Brian May has been using all this red henna do dye his hair and it comes out all over his shirts. It's very hectic".

10. Brandan Hyland, group security

11. One of the 15 "truckers" who each drive a massive 40 feet lorry loaded up with sound and lighting equipment.  (For extra money they also operate the spotlights wich "follow" the group around stage).

12. Brian "Jobby" Zellis. one of Queen's personal road crew.

13 Brian May, Queen's guitarist.

14 John "Moxy" Glover, Roger Taylor's personnal roadie. "Basically I have to look after his drum kit and set it up on stage. I have to keep him supllied with drum sticks. He has sticks made with his own name on and he uses about ten sets  a show. I got a bit drunk with Status Quo's roadies in Paris earlier this tour, and started throwing all his sticks in the audience.

15. Terry Giddings, group security.

16. Dieter Breit, physiotherapist for the group and crew. He has to look after any sprains and injuries that anybody might suffer, e.g. a sprained guitar-playing finger which needs massaging on Brian May's valuable hand.

17. A lighting assistant.

18. A "rigger"

19. Peter "Ratty" Hince, one of Queen's personal road crew. "I have to look after John Deacon's bass guitars and Freddie's guitar and special radio microphones (the one that don't have a fead) and keyboard instruments. I have to make sure that everything is exactly where it should be on stage, otherwise Freddie particularly will glare and let me know if anything's wrong. He's very particular about things being just right. Personally I don't enjoy these tour as much as the old ones. Nowadays ther's too much equipment, too many hangers-on, and everybody's trying to be important."

20. John "Collie" Collins, one of Queen's personnal road crew. "I'm the spare man, really. I work with Ratty  and the piano tuner, help to see that everything is where it should be at the right time. Do you know I got married yesterday! I celebrated the wedding with the band and crew. It had to be squeezed in during the tour.

21. Roger Taylor, Those "shades"! That turned up collar! Must be Queen's drummer.

22. A trucker

23. Another trucker.

24. A rigger.

25. Another rigger

26 John Deacon, youn know , Queen's bass player, the one with the good haircut.

27 Tom "Midget" Foehlinger, sound monitor

28 An unknown person who sneaked in

29 Mickey Conafray, trucker

30 Mick Riddle, caterer

31 A lighting assistant

32 Albert Sutton, truck driver. "I carry the sound system, or some of it. We don't see the band or the road crew most of the time, because we travel ahead of everyone else. We have to get to the site before they do, and although we help with the setting up, we're off for two days while the rest of them are working on the concert. There are 15 "truckers" on this tour, plus the bus wich takes the road crew and sometimes the band. The worst thing about this job is being away from home for a long time when you're on tour. And the best thing is...erm maybe that should be a secret".

33. A caterer

34 Dave Lewis, another Caterer

35 A sound monitor.

36 Stave Benjamins, one of Queen's personal road crew, or "roadies" as they hate to be called. They look after all the instruments, microphones and amplifiers which Queen use on stage, setting them up, tuning them, and keep them clean.

37. another trucker"

38. Dave Thomas, caterer. I've been catering for Queen since 1975, every tour. The band eat the same food as everyone else, but they do have certain favorite foods. After a show they usually like an omelette or sometimes beans on toast or occasionally a steak au poivre. They're also pretty fond of Indonesian cooking".

39. Rex Ray, second sound engineer. He mixes the sound for all the support groups.

40. Spike Edney, keybordist and second guitar player: " My biggest fear is that it might get too damp, which makes the synthesisers cut out. I just pray that I'm out of clouting range of Freddie if that happens. He might not realise why I'm not playing and he'd be very upset if he thought I was daydreaming of something. But Queen on the whole are great to work with and they get drunk a lot too. Champagne every night, it's great!

41. Simon tutchener, lighting director. "I operate the main lighting console during the concert. It took three weeks to rehearse. I have a crew who set all the lights up, and 14 spotlights operators who I control through an intercom system and one man on a "Ver-lite", plus a man on the colour changer computer, plus a man on a computer which controls the up and down movement of the whole lighting rig, and then there are a few bits on stage, including Brian May special spaceship thing which comes down during his solo spot with all the flashing lights and..." (that's quite enought about lighting. Ed)

42 Stage rigger, who helps to set up the 6000 square feet of stage (all carpetted)

43 Sylvia Reed, assistant to the tour manager, Gerry Stickells. She is really a personal secretary.

44. James "Trip" Khalaf, chief sound enginer: "I mix the live sound for Queen, and I'm in overall charge for the half a million watts of PA (ie sound system. pa means Public adress) that we're carting around.

45. Lord Frederick Lucan of Mercury. You know him. Freddie.

46. "Phoebe", one of Freddie's personal assistants. These people help to arrange Sir Frederick's day, making sure he gets to appointments on time, and taking care of all those little details, which keep him happy.

47. A rigger

48. Lyndsey Beckingham, caterer. One of a team of five who feed the crew and the group. The caterers have their own van to transport all the food, cookers and fridges necessary to feed up to 60 people three times a day.

49 Bill Louthe, sound monitor. One of the assistants to the chief sound engineer, who sets up the massive sound system making sure it works perfectly, and run around while Queen are on stage, putting things right ( like tangled wiring) and making sure that there are no problems which could cause any deterioration of the sound quality.

50. Dave Mills, head of backstage and front of stage security. "My job is to stop any skirmishes or fights by pulling people out, people who faint, and putting in the hands of the first aid people. Earlier on this tour, in Dublin, I pulled out a young man whose ear was barely hanging on by a thread, probably because some idiot threw a glass."

51 Gerry Stickells, tout manager. The most important poeple on the tour. He looks after the road crew, from the lighting team to caterers; hiring them, making sure that they're paid and that everyone's alright. (he even remembers every crew member's birthday, making a fuss of them so they get too miserable). The other important thing he does is to go out months before the tour to look at the planned concert sites and to make all the thousands of arrangements that need to be made in advance. He's been working with acts like Rod Steward and Elton John and has organised Queen's road tour for 11 years. "They have to be highly-strung crazy people, they have to in order to ware themselves up to perform. So I admire them, yes. But I wouldn't want to socialise with them. Soon as this tour is over I'll go home and watch television."

52 Mike Weisman, production and stage manager. "I'm in charge of seeing that the stage and scenery is all but together properly. We work all day to get everything right. I have to coordinate all the work of the riggers and carpenters."

[robotlearnstolove]

2020-05-06

Jennifer held the restaurant door open and waited for Jason. It was a heavy wooden door and she had to lean her entire body against it in order to keep it open. Jason was still at the car which was parked on the street directly in front of the restaurant. After placing the parking receipt on the dash board he made his way up the stone steps toward the door. The car honked twice as he locked the doors remotely.

Jason smiled at Jennifer as he met her the door. “I still can’t believe we got a parking spot right in front of the restaurant.”

“We’re lucky.” Jennifer smiled back.

“Happy anniversary,” said Jason and he gave her a quick kiss as he walked into the building.

Manchego’s was the best restaurant in the city according to most critics. It had been converted into a restaurant from a old mansion built in the early twentieth century. They took a moment to admire the entrance hall. To their right stood a antique wooden desk and, behind it, stood a man wearing a very well-fitted silver vest and an aggressively professional-looking haircut. Jason took the lead and approached the man. Jennifer continued to admire the room. In particular, she was entranced by one of the paintings that hung on the wall to her left. It featured a herd of wild horses running through a shallow stream.

“Good evening,” said the host, smiling. “Welcome to Manchego’s. Do you have a reservation?”

“We do,” replied Jason.

“May I have your name, please.”

“Uh. Jason.”

The host took a moment to look over the book in front of him. “I’m very sorry. I don’t see that name on our list. Is there perhaps another—”

Jennifer, who had still been distracted by the painting, spoke up, embarrassed. “Sorry. I made the reservation under my name.” She could feel her cheeks turning red. “My name is Jennifer. Sorry.”

“Not a problem,” said the Host. “It looks like you will be dining in the Cabrales room this evening.” He reached into the desk and produced a small stack of leather-bound menus. “If you would please follow me, I will bring you to your table.”

“Sorry about that,” whispered Jennifer to Jason as they followed the host to their table.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Jason reassuringly. “I’m still happy to be out on a date with you.”

The Cabrales room was just as elegantly decorated as the entrance hall. There were windows all around them that went all the way up the ceiling. All the tables were covered with crisp white tablecloths and the cutlery looked to be real silver. Their table was located right next to one of the windows and offered a beautiful view of the garden outside complete with well-groomed shrubberies and an ornate stone fountain.

Before leaving, the host filled their water glasses and informed them that Sylvia would be serving them this evening. When he asked if they wanted any beverages, they declined, uncertain of what to order. This was their first time at a restaurant this fancy and they were both uncertain of what they wanted.

“Looks like we’ve got the room to ourselves,” said Jason once the host had left.

“Yeah,” snorted Jennifer. “I guess it’s still early for most people to come out to place like this.”

“Or maybe they don’t get really busy on Wednesday nights.”

[eliniei]

Those Hard Days - Chapter 22

Summary: Rae’s brother always made sure she was tough as nails. But when her father flips her world upside down, will she find that there’s a limit on how strong she can be?

Warnings: Rape/Non-con (non-graphic, fade-to-black), child abuse, underage drinking, underage smoking, drug use, violence, major character death

AO3: here Fanfiction.net: here

Masterlist

Previous Chapter |  Next Chapter

Chapter 22 - Party

In the morning, Rae woke up with a start and found Carrie was standing over her, still in her pajamas. 

"What?" she groaned, moving to pull the blanket over her head to block out the sunlight. Her brain wasn’t fully functioning yet. “Is the house on fire or somethin’?”

"We gotta go to school," Carrie said, a slight giggle in her voice as she stripped the blanket off. Rae shivered against the sudden cold. How that girl could possibly be so awake right now, she didn’t know. They’d done exactly as Dally had told them not to do and stayed up until two watching TV and eating candy. 

"Do I have time for a shower?" Rae asked her friend, trying to stifle a yawn. Carrie nodded. 

“Yeah, as long as it’s a quick one. Towels are in the closet across from the bathroom.” Rae pushed herself off of the floor and muffled a groan, back a little stiff. 

“Alright,” she said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She stood up, grabbed the spare change of clothes out of her bag, and ventured off to the restroom.

When she emerged, she found Carrie in the kitchen, dressed for school in a skirt and blouse, hair pulled back. She was rummaging around in the pantry. 

“You ever had these, uh, Pop-Tarts?” her friend asked, pulling a brightly colored box off the shelf and holding it out. 

“Don’t think so,” Rae remarked, taking the box and looking at it closely. 

“Mom bought ‘em. I guess they’re some new kinda breakfast food.” 

“Looks like we’re supposed to toast them. You got a toaster?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Carrie said and closed the pantry door. She went to the counter and took a cover off the metal toaster. Rae opened the box and tore open two foil packets. She handed the pastries to her friend, who tossed them in the toaster. 

Once they were ready, the girls grabbed their bags and headed for school. When they got there, they found Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and Johnny hanging outside the school. A tall, lanky Greaser was standing with them, partaking in one of Two-Bit’s jokes. Carrie's face lit up when she saw him, but when she noticed Rae watching, pink spread across her cheeks. 

“Who’s that?” Rae asked her friend, her mouth spread into a sly smile.

"He’s new.” They approached the steps. He smiled a charming smile and held out his hand.

“You must be Rae,” he verified. She grasped his hand and shook it. “Your friends were tellin’ me all about you. Steven, nice to meet you.”

"Likewise," she said. The shrill outside bell rang a few seconds later and they all hurried inside to their classes. As usual, the day droned on for Rae.

The Socs must have felt the same way because when she went to the restroom, she shook her hair and dry spitballs rained to the floor. She gave an exasperated sigh and brushed her fingers through her strands to release any stray bits of paper. On her way out, she passed Cherry heading in. They paused for a moment and the redhead smiled softly, but Rae was the first to break eye contact and she walked towards the doors to meet the boys for lunch.

After school, the girls met Buck at the door again. He told them that Dally wasn’t there yet, and asked if they’d give him a hand in wiping off the tables in preparation for opening the bar that night. 

When Dally finally showed up, he was rearing to get started. He slipped his sister’s switchblade out of her back pocket while she was bent over, wiping down a table with a wet rag.

"Ready?" he asked them, pressing the button on the handle so the blade whipped out. “We ain’t gonna practice so much as I do wanna get stuck, but I’ll show ya how to hold it and shit.”

Rae and Carrie dropped their towels off behind the bar and followed him to the backyard again.

“I don’t think I’ve ever held a blade like this before,” Carrie commented, taking a good look at the knife. “The handle is beautiful.” 

Rae watched as her brother showed it off, the blue handle sparkling in the sunlight. 

“Alright, so,” Dally started. “First thing’s first. Always keep your knife clean and sharp. Ya ain’t gonna get a clean cut with a dull and rusted blade. The way ya hold it is also real important.” He held it up, normally, gripping the handle so it stuck out, along the line of his thumb. “This is normal, but it really just depends on what feels natural to ya.” He flipped it so that the blade stuck out the back of his hand. “Knowin’ you, this’ll what you’ll like best.” 

Rae took the switchblade from him. She tried it the first way, but it didn’t feel right. She tried the second grip and sure enough, it felt better in her hand. He sure did know her well. She passed it off to her friend who, on the other hand, held it opposite.

For the next while, he showed them ways to defend themselves with the knife, but also basic ways to attack. 

“And for the love of God, don’t throw the damn thing,” he finished. He sheathed the knife and tossed it back to Rae. She slipped it back into her pocket. As they headed inside, he threw his arm across her shoulders. “Think ya got it?”

“Won’t know ‘til I’ll have to use it, will I?”

“Hopefully that day never comes.” Rae nodded in agreement. “Anyway, ya’ll wanna get dinner at the Tastee Freeze? I’m payin’.”

“That sounds great!” Carrie exclaimed as she opened the door that led back inside. 

“Have a good day at the rodeo, then?”

“A little, I guess,” Dally said as he lifted the keys to Buck’s car and led the girls out of the bar. 

The rest of the week passed. Dally had plans Friday night with Sylvia, so Rae just ended up going straight home with Carrie. Their week-long sleepover had been great, something they both really needed, but Rae’s stomach twisted in nervous knots when she thought about where she’d be going next. 

“You know what ya need?” her friend asked her when they’d finished their quick dinner of frozen TV dinners.

"What?" Rae asked, setting down her empty glass. 

“A party,” Carrie said, a sly smile on her face.

“Party? What party?”

“Steven invited me. His older brother is havin’ it,” she informed Rae. “Maybe Two-Bit will show? He’s always like a good party.” Rae hesitated.

“I dunno, Car,” she started. “Dally said to stay in-”

“Oh please. What Dally doesn’t know ain’t gonna hurt him. Besides, you really think your old man’s gonna show up at a party with a ton of people ready to blow your brains out?”

“I really wouldn’t put it past him,” she replied, but offered her friend a one-shoulder shrug. “Alright. What could it hurt?”

Carrie jumped from her chair, a toothy grin on her face. She pulled Rae back to her room and starting sifting through her makeup drawer. 

“Oh, no-no-no, kid. I said I’d go- but you ain’t dollin’ me up or anything.” 

“Aww,” she pouted. “But there might be some cute guys there!”

“Carrie, I ain’t gonna two-time Curly.”

“Have ya’ll even talked to each other since ya told him about-?” Rae looked down to the floor. Her chest tightened.

“No, I-I thought maybe he just needed some time.” She really did miss him, though. Carrie gave her a small nod and a small smile.

“Well, at least try to have some fun tonight.” Rae nodded and sat on the bed while the other girl got ready to go.

Honestly, the thought of going to a party made her nervous, but she didn’t want to spoil her friend’s fun.

When they got to the house, Steven was standing on the front porch, plastic cup in hand. He did a double-take when he saw them approaching, and his face lit up.

"Hey, guys!" he exclaimed and hurried down the steps to meet them. Carrie smiled, brightly. “Glad you could make it!”

"Thanks for invitin’ us!" she said, with an equal amount of enthusiasm.

"Come on in!" the lanky boy said and led them through the front door. The atmosphere quickly changed from clear and crisp outside to smoky and stuffy inside. Rae was used to it, but she didn't like it very much. As he tried to give them a tour amidst all the bodies standing around and the radio blaring, there was a loud crash coming from underneath them. Steven led them back to the front of the house and down the split-foyer stairs. The three of them pushed through the crowd of teens gathered, some of them chanting.

In the middle, there were two boys having a go at each other. The taller one had the other one in a headlock. 

"Really, Eric?" Steven hollered over the music. His older brother looked over his shoulder.

“Is that your brother?” Carried asked, almost yelling in his ear to be heard over the noise. He nodded and rolled his eyes. The kid Eric had in a lock managed to break free and spin around to punch him in the stomach. Eric doubled over in pain.

"He's gonna get the shit beat outta him," Rae noted, to no one in particular. Carrie must have heard, though, because she nodded.

"I wonder who the other kid is,” she pondered, aloud. “I can’t see his face- but he kinda looks familiar.” Rae tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yeah," she agreed. "I-I think I know that haircut-" Eric recovered from the blow to the stomach and the two wrestled again for a few more seconds. Then, the fight was suddenly over and Eric was thrown to the floor. Curly stood up straight, breathing heavily, and wiped a trickle of blood from his nose. Rae’s mouth nearly dropped open.

“Speak of the damn devil,” Carrie laughed. 

"You’re a damn good fighter, kid," Eric said as Curly reached down and hoisted him up. They shook hands and finally, Curly took a look around at his adoring crowd as a few of them cheered. His wandering eyes paused and widened when they reached her.

"Rae?"

"What in the world are ya doin’, Curly?"

[staygoldponebone]

Things my family has said that the characters from The Outsiders would've said.

Darry: *doing the dab for the first time* Do I have it? Or do I have it?

Dally: Yeah...I thought he was spitting on me...turns out it was blood.

Soda: *texting girlfriend* Things are gonna get...spicy.

Steve: Guess what! My fart smells like chicken tenders!

Two-Bit: My caramel tastes like ham. Whose hammy fingers were all over it?!

Johnny: My mom tried to light my magazine on fire because I wouldn't make rice.

Pony: I hate cherry! The flavor, not Valance....just to be specific.

Angela: *trying to straighten her hair* I'm so gay, my hair doesn't even wanna be straight!

Curly: *going through an old yearbook* Fuck you, Pahillalips Sancheez!

Tim: I don't trust you as far as I can drop kick you into another universe!

Cherry: Don't touch that! It's one of my guy friend's jackets. I need to leave it out in the open so my parents still think I'm straight.

Bob: Some chick got my number in her yearbook. I must've been drunk because I don't remember that shit!

Marcia: My sister made the wrong amount of pizza rolls and now I'm upset!

Randy: I always thought I was straight, then this cute kid came up and kissed my cheek and now...I'm confused...

Jerry: I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and, even though I'm angry, I'm gonna pray for the strength not to smack the shit outta you.

Sylvia: He said he like my eyebrows, but I literally haven't done anything to them. I got a haircut two weeks ago and he still hasn't noticed.

Evie: I've sent him the name game song with all of his friends' names and he STILL won't answer me!

Sandy: Well, we were at this bon fire and we were talking and it was cool, then his little brother showed up making really dark jokes, so I....laughed?

Buck: I may be friends with assholes.....no, that's all.

The Dime Girl: If I had a dime for every time I annoyed a high schooler, I'd be freakin' rich!

This is the first one of these I've ever made, sorry if it sucks...

[croconanaluvsu-blog]

2018 Happy Thoughts

Hello, all! I have completed my list of happy thoughts from 2018! Before you read, some disclaimers/facts: -Some of these thoughts are highly political, or highly politically charged. Please remember that my views are my own and do not reflect the views of anyone else. -What you might consider a happy thought and what I consider a happy thought probably differ. That’s okay. -Like most of us, some days I really struggle to keep my chill. -Some days, the small victories mean everything. -When I say I take drugs to sleep, I mean OTC drugs. Nothing illegal here, folks. -I take immense pride in my work. -Most names have been changed. Please don’t stalk me. -I have NO idea WTF happened to my March dates. They were correct, now they aren’t? I’m too lazy to fix it. -I go to the movies a LOT. -If you live in PDX, you might recognize some places and events. I do live in Portland. -I only got 344/365. Not too shabby for a first time! -The word “movie” is mentioned 23 times. I hardly feel this is representative to how often I go to the movies. -There are 175 exclamation points here. -My Lovey is mentioned 40 times, “my love” 8. -This has been a year for friendship. -HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS! May this year be better and less stressful than 2018. 1/1Today I started packing for our Disney World trip!

1/2 Today was my last day at PCD. This is a very good thing. I left early and went to go see the movie Coco. It is a very good movie.

1/3 I got a makeover today. I let strangers touch my face. I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I tried something new.

1/4 T cheered me up today. He's a good friend to have!

1/5 I got a call for an interview. Nothing may come of it, but it still feels good. Also I did more packing for the honeymoon.

1/6 Today was my bachelorette party. I had a spectacular time with friends and fams!

1/7 Spent the day with Aunty! Took her to see the Downtown Library, Powells City of Books, and we went in search of Sasquatch!

1/8 BFF and I got a massage, mani and pedi today. It was a relaxing day! 1/9I GOT MARRIED TODAY! <3 <3

1/10 Arrived at Walt Disney Resort!

1/11 First day at Walt Disney World! Went to magic Kingdom, met so many characters, rode a roller coaster, a squirrel waved at me!

1/12 Went to Animal Kingdom today. I saw baby tigers! Might be my favorite park!

1/13 We had a wonderful dinner and saw a wonderful fireworks show at Epcot

1/14 We had a nice relaxing day at Hollywood Studios. Lovey got a cool limited edition Star Wars pin

1/15 Had a relaxing day @ Epcot today. Got to go on both Pandora rides @ Animal Kingdom

1/16 Met Gaston today! <3

1/17 We're finally home!

1/18 I spent the majority of the day asleep. I feel a little better.

1/19 I feel a bit better today. I have been binging Once Upon a Time

1/20 Feeling slightly better. I did chores today!

1/21 When to see the Pirates of the Caribbean live symphony today! :D

1/22 I had a job interview today. It was okay.

1/23 I started wearing my fitbit again. And I worked out! Also I get to see Becks today!

1/24 I scored a job interview today thanks to Opti. Feeling good about my job prospects.

1/25 I had two job interviews today.

1/26 Lovey came home and loved me.

1/27 I did my taxes today!

1/28 Lovey and I went to Rev Nat's today. We had yummy cider and pretzels!

1/29 I got a call from EES. Even if nothing comes from it, it felt good!

1/30 I heard back from EES today! I have an interview tomorrow at 10. Also I feel pretty today!

1/31 Got my nails done and got to see Mark

2/1 I got to see BFF today!

2/2 I snaked a drain for the first time today. It was really gross, but I am really proud of myself.

2/3 Waffles! Quality time with Lovey talking about the horror that is the Disney Cars universe.

2/4 I started putting up shelves in my craft room. I'm not sure if I'll finish tonight but I am halfway done and I did it all by myself.

2/5 Not sure why, but I feel pretty and confident today!

2/6 It took 4 days, but I finally finished making my craft room usable again.

2/7 I got my pixie cut back today! It feels good to have short hair again!

2/8 Pretty sure I got a job today

2/9 I baked today for the first time in years. I made mini red-velvet whoopie pies. It felt great.

2/10 I have been sleeping well for the last 4 nights. I am excited to go to BFF's for Galentines! I also made a delicious peppermint latte this morning.

2/11 I went to a CON meeting today. It was nice to feel wanted.

2/12 I got the job at EES! Eeeeeeeeeee!

2/13 I bought a nice dress today. I know I shouldn't have but I feel pretty! Also I am going to my first Mardi Gras parade today!

2/14 I took a great nap today!

2/15 Hopefully this isn't a duplicate. Went to see Black Panther today. It was really good. #wakandaforever

2/16I  had a very relaxed day at home today!

2/17 Lovey and I went to go see a Buster Keaton movie today called Seven Chances. Very funny movie!

2/18 So far, today has been quite relaxing. I am going to get my nails done today.

2/19 First day at EES. It was wonderful!

2/20 Today I did some of the stuff I was actually hired to do! It felt good!

2/21 Today I got to talk to Carol Carroll during my lunch break!

2/22 Today I kept having internal moments of why I love Lovey.

2/23 Today I finished out my first week at EES!

2/24 Went to Miyakocon today! 2/25Second day at Miyakocon! I made an applique Totoro. So glad to be home!

2/26 Received my Bernard pin today! Yay for the internet!

2/27 Lovey and I went to see a weird movie today that was weird, but great: Streets of Fire. I even got to sit next to Becks!

2/28 I went to BFF's house today

3/1 Tonight I have ZERO responsibilities to tend to after work. I have been looking forward to this ALL DAY.

3/2 I am not sure if I did a happy thought today. This may be a duplicate. I started watching season 2 of a Series of Unfortunate events today. Yay!

3/3 Today, I repurposed a lolita hat I have into another lolita hat! Getting my coord ready for Sak! Also today was nice and relaxing!

3/3 Today we started our Coast trip! Devil's Punch Bowl, Flying Dutchman Winery, good local food, and we arrived at The Sylvia Beach hotel.

3/3 We tried a new food: The Impossible Patty.A vegetable based meat substitute. It was delicious! It's made The White Owl Social Club one of my favorite things!

3/4 This might be a duplicate! Sunday was relaxing

3/4 I got to talk to my friend Emily A today for the first time in a while. I miss her tons!

3/5 I had a productive day at work today!

3/6 Lovey and I went to see a b-movie today with Tonya Harding in it.

3/7 Lovey was super cuddly today!

3/8 Had a fun day at Gamestorm! 3/9I came home today and watched Coco again

3/10 Got to spend time with BFF today!

3/11 Had a relaxing day with Lovey. Watched a documentary about Hedy Lamarr

3/12 This is the first day in over a week I haven't been mad at Con.

3/13 Had a wonderful time at Geek Craft Expo

3/13 Kung Fu theater tonight with my love!

3/14 It's PIE DAY! Went and had pie flavored cider, including a pizza flavored cider that actually tasted like pizza, as well as some actual pizza with my love!

3/15 Today I stayed home because I wasn't feeling well. I slept a lot and kept myself warm. Now I feel better.

3/16 Today was the first day of my first Trends show. It was fun! Then, Lovey and I went to see the new Jumanji! It's very entertaining!

3/17 Got to hang out with Con BFF for the first time in ages! 3/18Got my nails done today!

3/19 Today marks my first 30 days with EES

3/20 Today is the first day in a while that I have come straight home from work. It feels nice.

3/21 Today was the first day of spring3/22I had a lovely dinner with Lovey

3/23 It was a long week. My positive moment is leaving work today to enjoy my weekend.

3/24 Got my haircut today. It feels nice.

3/25 I'm over being angry about going to Sakuracon. I am actually kind of excited!

3/26 Work BFF gave me a much needed ear to listen to my woes and some good advice.

3/27 I had a nice day. :)

3/28 I'm packing for Sakura Con today

3/29 Work BFF and I spent our morning bus-wait together

3/30 Made it to Sakuracon!

3/31 I bought a dream Lolita dress today!

4/1 So happy to be home from Sak today!

4/2 My Beastie is keeping me from working on con things. It is annoying, but mostly adorable.

4/3 Today I discovered that Zero's beans are not 100% black. They have pink spots! He's been lying to me this whole time!

4/4 I am not feeling well so I stayed home and slept. It felt wonderful.

4/5 I accurately tracked my calories today. I am proud of me. 4/6I had a productive day at work!

4/7 I didn't sleep at all last night. Lovey made sure I slept today. He takes care of me. :)

4/9 I was locked out of the complex earlier. A nice neighbor let me in. :)

4/11 Lovey and I went to Ate Oh Ate today!

4/12 I had a wonderfully busy day at work!

4/13 I got a nice, simple, clean manicure today. My nails feel better

4/14 Spent time playing games with John and Lisa. :)

4/15 I slept remarkably well and have been enjoying playing World of Final Fantasy

4/16 Lovey and I headed to The Lakewood Theater to see Sister Act: The Musical

4/17 I went to see The Cell tonight with Lovey. I'll get shit for this, but that movie is scary. Lovey cuddled me very well tonight to make me feel better

4/18 I have the house to myself tonight! I'll miss my lovey, but sometimes it's nice to have the house to myself!

4/19 Went to Happy Hour with BFF today!

4/20 Lovey and I had a nice evening out. Went to dinner and took a walk at a park.

4/21 Got to see my CON friends at the meeting today. :)

4/22 I cleaned the kitchen and living room today! So nice!

4/23 I had a very productive day today and it is finally starting to be sunny out

4/24 I came home to a nice clean living room!

4/25 BFF & I finished RPDR All Stars 3 today.While were were behind the curve and massively disappointed in the winner, we did finish it and we did it together.

4/26 Lovey was super affectionate today.

4/27 Saw a great spaghetti western tonight!

4/28 Went to see Castle in the Sky tonight. I love that movie!

4/29 I spent my day sleeping!

4/30 I had a productive day

5/1 Lovey and I went to see the movie Running Man. The movie is awful and awesome.

5/2 Today was the first day at work without Lovey. It was so peaceful and so productive.

5/3 I had a wonderful walk at lunchtime today

5/4 It's Friday! The week is over! May the Fourth be with you!

5/5 It's free comic book day! Sammi and I had a good time at the Free Comic Book Day event at the Beaverton Library!

5/6 Lovey and I went to a lovely bunch. I dressed nice. I tried a bloody mary for the first time today (yuck)

5/7 Out with my love today after work to see Stand by Me

5/8 I had a wonderfully productive day at work today!

5/9 We saw a super cool movie called The Endless

5/10 BFF and I went to go seea Peaches Christ show today featuring Alaska! I got to shake her hand!

5/11 Lovey and I had a lovely morning at the Gresham Farmers Market. Also learned that my cats are not deathly ill! Yay!

5/12 Going to Geek Craft Expo today!

5/13 I did yoga today

5/14 The weather today was just perfect!

5/15 I feel very lucky and blessed to have Lovey in my life. I love that I can tell him anything.

5/19 Spent the morning with Con BFF and experienced my first Quilt Market event at EES

5/20 Just realized most of my May thoughts probably say April. Went to a CON meeting today.

5/21 It felt nice coming home after a long day.

5/22 I have a work friend! Her name is Work BFF!

5/23 I was actually helpful at a CON meeting today

5/24 It was a nice quiet day at work today!

5/25 Lovey and I went to see the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary. That woman is an inspiration.

5/26 Watched RPDR with Charmaine and Con BFF today!

5/27 Snow got me the game Slime Rancher! It's so cute and relaxing!

5/29 Work BFF and I bonded today over work annoyances and Drag Race

5/30 Today I caught up on my backlog at work! Woo!

5/31 Lovey and I went to see Blues Brothers today @ The Hollywood

6/1 Work BFF, Jolene and I went to go see Thunder From Down Under at Spirit Mountain Casino tonight. It was fun!

6/2 I went outside today then the sun made me sleepy and I took a lovely nap!

6/3 Today was ILD!

6/4 I booked our hotel for Disneyland!

6/5 Went to B Movie Bingo and watched an exceptionally bad movie called Ninja 3

6/6 Work BFF let me talk about Disneyland today for a very long time.

6/7 That moment of sweet relief when the splinter in my eye fell out. I will never forget how that moment of freedom felt.

6/8 I had a very productive day at work. It was just one of those days that just went well. It was nice.6/9Went to one of the few exec meetings that are in person.

6/10 We saw One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest today after the CON meeting

6/11 I had a happy Monday!

6/12 Productive day at work!

6/13 Today I read the Twitter thread about Casa Padre and the zero tolerance immigration policy. Maybe not a happy thought for me, but an important moment in American journalism.

6/14 Today was pleasantly uneventful

6/15 Lovey and I went to see The Incredibles 2 today!

6/16 Work BFF and I went to brunch then came back to my place to watch Vikings and Versailles

6/17 There was a lovely and long thunderstorm today. I also changed my hair color today and I love it!

6/18 Some accessories for my first ever Sweet Coordinate arrived today. They are much cuter in person.6/19I love listening to RuPaul's What's the Tee. It can be very enlightening.

6/20 Enjoying the house to myself tonight.

6/21 I forgot my fare card at home today. Work BFF came to the rescue and let me use hers. It was a very nice thing to do.

6/22 Went to see Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion tonight at The Hollywood

6/23 Locker meeting, Toadstool Cupcakes, and Versailles with Work BFF

6/24 I had a wonderful nap today

6/25 Today Lovey and I went to see The Big Lebowski at The Hollywood. It was my first time seeing that movie on the big screen.

6/26 I managed to not do any complaining today. It was nice.

6/27 I got a massage today! Yay!

6/28 Another day where I managed not to complain

6/29 Went to Triangle Productions to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch

6/30 I slept without sleeping pills last night. BFF and Work BFF are coming over to finish Drag Race season 10

7/1 A relaxing Sunday with cider, donuts and Spaceballs! #watchout!

7/2 End of month on a monday. I ran a marathon (so to speak) at work today and I am proud of myself.

7/3 We saw two movies today: Won't You Be My Neighbor and Avengers: Infinity War. The first one made me cry a lot.

7/4 My least favorite day of the year, but it was surprisingly relaxing and I got to sleep in

7/5 Met with a neighbor to work on stuff for our courtyard.

7/6 All I really remember is that today was a good day.

7/7 The D'elias were in town. We went to the Chinese Gardens and the Portland Art Museum

7/8 I love sunday afternoon naps!

7/9 Lovey and I had a good day.

7/10 Kung fu theater! :)

7/11 A Mighty Wind at The Hollywood! That movie makes me happy!

7/12 I stopped by Bernie Dexter today. Got myself a cute dress, and a petti.

7/13 Friday the 13th, woo! Also the house to myself tonight!

7/14 Going to the zoo with my love to have fun and to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones!

7/15 Met BFF for brunch. It's been a while. It was lovely.

7/16 Monday was productive. :)

7/17 I made a dentist appointment!

7/18 I handled a tough work situation well today. 7/20Today we saw Leave No Trace. Sad movie.

7/21 We saw an awesome movie today called The Car. It was like Jaws, but with a car.

7/23 I've started making my own smoothies!

7/25 I drank a lot of water today.

7/26 Last night I slept without drugs!

7/27 I got my nails done today.

7/28 Deadpool 2! Also Mini-con! Busy day!

7/29 Lovey and I had an awesome day and Samurai Sunday is back at the Hollywood

7/30 Our new AR team member started today!

7/31 July was a long month! It's finally over!

8/1 I started training the new team member today!

8/2 Today is my birthday! Yay!

8/3 I am proud of how much work I got done today!

8/4 Went to the aquarium and learned a lot about otters. Also had a nice walk on the beach today.

8/5 Ending our coast trip with a visit to Yaquina Bay lighthouse, tide pools, and a trip to two towns cider house!

8/6 I got blood drawn today and didn't cry.

8/7 Lovey and I went to see Mortal Kombat at The Hollywood

8/8 Today one of my coworkers got super excited by all the nerdy stuff in my overhead at work.

8/9 I'm starting to come out of a grumpiness I have had for a while.

8/10 Today Work BFF came over for Versailles Season 2

8/12 Lovely quiet day with Lovey.

8/13 Finally got to set up the new mattress today!

8/14 Productive work day!

8/15 Movie date night with my love!

8/16 I made a delicious and perfectly blended smoothie today!

8/17 Work BFF and I went bar hopping!

8/18 First day at Resin Rose BJD expo. A lot more fun than I was expecting.

8/19 Second day at Resin Rose. Also Powerglove concert tonight! I made a friend at Resin Rose!

8/20 I slept great last night!

8/21 Today is Work BFF's birthday. I hope she had a wonderful day.

8/22 I don't know about events, but physically I am feeling great!

8/23 Today I logged on to Flight Rising for the first time in a long time. I missed my dergs.

8/24 Spent time @ The Hollywood watching Troop Beverly Hills with Jason (from work, because I know many Jasons)

8/25 We finally got our old mattress hauled away!

8/26 Had a really nice day doing outreach at The Hollywood theater.

8/27 I made a really good smoothie today!

8/28 Lovey and I went to go see a cool movie called Infra-Man. Princess Dragon Mom is awesome!

8/29 I talked to Jarrod for the first time in ages.

8/30 I got to see BFF for the first time in ages!

8/31 Got a QUEEN mani at Finger Bang today9/1Slept in! Saw Grease at The Hollywood!

9/2 Saw a very good movie called Samurai Rebellion

9/3 I cleaned the living room. Maybe someday I will clean the craft room.

9/4 Saw a great terrible movie today called For Your Height Only. It was awful and awesome.

9/5 Was a nice easy day at work.

9/6 Today was nice and fall like!

9/7 First day of Rose City. My panel went well! 9/8Finally saw Get Out. Bout damn time. It was a good movie.

9/9 Third day of RCCC. I met Jason Porath, creator of Rejected Princesses. He's so nice! And I finally saw Star Trek 2: Wrath of Kahn

9/10 Today I gave my coworker credit for the hard work she's been doing.

9/12 Today I started reading The Princess Bride

9/13 Today was a nice quiet day at work.

9/14 Second Trends show started today!

9/15 I wore my first Sweet lolita coordinate to work today! It was a smashing success!

9/16 Last day of Trends! So much fun!

9/17 Today was a day at work where I wasn't bored! Not once!

9/18 Today, I took time to forgive.

9/19 Spent some quality time with my heating pad today.

9/20 Rock and Roll High School @ the Hollywood with PJ Soles!

9/21 Day with Work BFF watching Versailles and the new Baywatch movie

9/23 Started a new book today: Z: The Beginning of Everything

9/23 Today I slept the fuck in! WOO!

9/24 Today I found out that my grandfather is dead. This is a good thing.

9/25 Saw The Color Purple @ The Armory!

9/26 Weather was so nice today! Fall is here!

9/27 Lovely, quiet night at home.

9/28 Had a good day at work today!

9/29 Slept WAY in! Mani-pedi @ fingerbang!

9/30 Brunch with Work BFF and BFF. Meeting at Laurelhurst Park. It was a good day.

10/1 Work BFF is a good friend to have.

10/2 Today I loved Lovey, like I do every day.

10/3 Lovey was very affectionate today. :)

10/4 Off to Colorado for the weekend! Can't wait to see my Auntie!

10/5 Memorial service for my rapist. It wasn't fun but boy am I glad he's dead

10/6 Party tonight with the fams in Colorado!

10/7 I'm home!

10/8 Mondays! It felt nice to wake up to the sound of rain!

10/9 Kung Fu Theater! It's always nice to see Becks!

10/10 Went to see Pippen tonight at The Lakewood!

10/11 Today I am wearing my Wednesday Addams dress. It's been a while. I look good!

10/12 Regardless of my work woes, I still had a good day

10/13 I slept in and we saw Evil Dead 2 at the Hollywood!

10/14 Brunch and shopping with Work BFF. She found a brand new Lindy Bop dress that I bought! I'm a size 16 now!

10/15 I am really starting to enjoy my book Sacre Bleu!

10/16 Dinner and a movie (Collette) with my love! And I got my new glasses today!

10/17 I don't remember! It was good though!

10/18 Cuddles tonight with Lovey

10/19 Today I went to get my dental prescriptions

10/20 I love being able to sleep in! Also, last reg meeting before con!

10/21 Last general meeting before con!

10/22 Today is already my Thursday!

10/23 Crazy productive day @ work today! Con soon!

10/24 Other than crying a lot, I did well at my dental appointment

10/25 Day Zero of con! Woo!

10/26 Day 1 of con! Woo!

10/27 Day 2 of con! Woo!

10/28 Day 3 of con! It's finally over!

10/29 Today: Applied for my passport, brunch with Work BFF, massage @ Zama, jacuzzi and awful TV with BFF

10/30 Con crud today, but it does feel good to sleep.

10/31 Halloween! Beetlejuice at The Hollywood and I got a tarot reading!

11/1 Month End @ work went smoothly

11/2 I know this is not a good thing to be happy about, but Michelle was a no-call/no-show today. Not having her around made my day easier.

11/3 Lovey's b-day today! Breakfast at a gluten free bakery, a Hitchcock movie @ The Hollywood, dinner @ Tapalaya, home for cuddles and to watch the new Sabrina show!

11/4 Gluten free donuts! And my search for a home repair person has begun!

11/5 Today I learned that we do not need to replace the drywall in the bathroom!

11/6 I watched some GWAR videos tonight. It made me sad. I'm still in mourning. But metal makes me feel good and it was followed by some good metal themed TedX talks.

11/7 Night out with BFF!

11/8 Today I learned about Scottish Wildcats.

11/9 Today I relaxed

11/11 Harry and the Hendersons w/ Rick Baker! Dinner with BFF and Anthony was fun!

11/12 Dentist appointment today and I didn't cry!

11/13 I was brave and actually made a recommendation today at work

11/14 Today I woke up actually feeling refreshed11/15Productive day at work!

11/16 Made it to Friday! 11/17CON elections, pretty lolita coordinates, cider festival where Lovey and I found a room to chill in that we had all to ourselves!

11/18 Spent the day being hung over with my love

11/19 Today I had a bunch of check batches. Super proud of myself for finishing them all.

11/20 Went to see Heavy Metal today at The Hollywood

11/21 Today at work was wonderfully quiet.

11/22 Nice quiet thanksgiving is the best

11/23 Nail day! I love getting my nails done!

11/24 I logged into GW 2 for the first time in ages. It felt good!

11/25 4 years ago today we brought our Beastie home!

11/26 Today I started an online fitness challenge. I am going to start focusing on being healthier and taking better care of my body.

11/27 Today I worked out in a dress and it made me feel fabulous.

11/28 Today I actually made it to 30 mins of a cardio workout

11/29 Keeping up with exercise today by doing laps on the hill at The Hollywood

11/30 Flying out to Seattle tonight!

12/1 ILD up in Seattle was so intimate and fun. Then we went to Enchant, a giant christmas light maze

12/2 My first long distance train ride ever! Lovey's work holiday party! Peaches Christ Drag Show!

12/3 Got to see Jarrod today!

12/4 Nice quiet night at home

12/5 I forced myself to work out today!

12/6 Nothing bothered me today

12/7 We went to see Howard the Duck tonight. Remember that movie?!

12/8 Today we went to crafty wonderland. I got my coworkers some nice gifts!

12/9 Hanukkah party with BFF and Work BFF!

12/10 I worked out!

12/19 Got a new phone today!

12/23 Started opening my happy thoughts today. This is gonna take forever. But it's gonna be fun!

12/24 Into the Spiderverse was really good!

12/25 Mary Poppins Returns. It was fun.

12/26 I made Zero wear his bow tie today. <3

12/27 Finished In Her Own Words. Great book!

12/31 Last day of 2018!