#And I know fully honestly that even though my rack is awesome I would not ever regret getting breast reduction/removal

[brainrot-yumm]

I hate constantly being in this fight between "I like a lot of what I am right now" and "I want so much for my body to change" like WHY CANT I JUST SHAPESHIFT GOOOOOOODDDDDDDD

[1d-discourseoftheday]

💙 Tues 5 Jan ‘21 💚

Is today's biggest story really a pair of socks I mean WHY NOT am I right, that may as well happen! With impeccable timing, as the fandom and the world went bananas about Ho-livia WildStyle (a drag queen name for the ages right there), the first of the limited edition TPWK socks that people ordered basically on blind faith (you fully couldn't tell what they were going to look like at all on the website, and now we know why lmao) have arrived with a bang: they seemed to come with either blue or pink hearts, but in fact it turns out you get one of two color combos, either pink and white or, uh: BLUE AND GREEN HEARTS. I'm not one to carry on about like jeans and a green shirt or what have you but this is a CHOICE, and if the antis don't have performative burnings of their evil larrie merch honestly WHAT is the POINT; the resale market of the limited edition socks is already booming though so there's always that option, if either side can bear to conduct business across the divide. My question is, did they really time it to play out this precisely on purpose? Unlikely tbh, but if that's a thing they're capable of I have some THOUGHTS about the way other Harry merch takes like 4 months to arrive...

Larrie socks aside however, the real discourse continues to be about you-know-what, with the players out there fanning the flames wildly. There's too much nonsense to bother with it all (the quoted sources in the articles directly contradicting each other's stories also makes it difficult) so let's just... *spins wheel*....okay I landed on 'tabloids say Harry's wedding speech talked about his girlfriend Olivia' here goes. Sjksdfjks WHY would you be talking about your girlfriend of three weeks in a speech for your close friends' wedding, OMG, how uncomfortable and inappropriate is that?? Imagine if any of this were real, that Harry ('I'd take my time and make sure a thing was serious before telling people about it', end quote, I mean that's ALSO a stunt quote (oh the layers) but just pointing out that it's contradictory) starts dating his co-worker who just got out of a huge relationship and is also a famous person with presumably an interest in privacy, and immediately the two of you get to work setting up a big reveal to happen right away (even in a weird fantasy world where any of this is real the possibility that JEFF AZOFF'S WEDDING had the paps present for any other reason than to do EXACTLY what they were told is flat impossible- what pap or celeb outlet can afford to be on Jeff's bad list?!) and then he casually writes her into his speech (a guy who's so anxious and shy about public speaking and what to say that he begs people to write speeches for him and practices endlessly) uh huh, sure Jan. There are so many things about this that are ludicrous, but more to the point, none of the things they're saying hold up to scrutiny any better than this. There just isn't any point in taking them that seriously though; Harry is a closeted artist and, just like the many queer artists that came before him who he repeatedly reminds us are his icons, he both lets us know all day every day in a million ways that he's queer, and also plays the industry game and winkingly gives the press their Straight Guy Harry fodder. You don't have to like it, or indeed anything at all in this world, but people do need to accept that whether they like it or not is neither the point nor anyone (including Harry)'s responsibility to respond to or do anything about.

Like I said I can't cover every detail but! I always have a little space for the absurd: today, our best entrant is the possibility that the whole wedding we saw was a sham– fans ask, was this public spectacle Jeff and Glenne's actual wedding? Listen if anyone would be up for it it would be this crew, and if they did stage it I'm sure they had a good laugh! Suspicion has been cast on Glenne's dress (allegedly an untailored 2018 off the rack number), the small guest list (wouldn't they just wait and have a huge event?), and the fact that they invited paps there at all. It would make the no explanation robe pics EVEN FUNNIER though if you imagine that was for our benefit but left totally unadressed (undressed). ANYWAY Don't Worry Darling filming is back in business and Harry was papped some more today, out for a casual not at all pap walk hike with a work associate and multiple items of his own merch (including an unreleased hoodie design.) On the topic of DWD, sometimes a different perspective can be interesting-- for example considering whether Harry is the point of all this at all? Or is he but a bit player in the real DWD publicity drama, an elaborate and very public dramatic reconciliation between Olivia and her ex husband? Either way, he's neither a clueless dupe, a helpless pawn, or anyone's 'boy toy', so please: can we rein in the hand wringing and pointless Olivia bashing a bit?

Let's talk about something else shall we? For example! Liam's setlist, just released for the upcoming LP Show Act 4. Look at that song selection! Fireproof! Strong!! Through The Dark!! More exciting 1D faves! Plus Slow and Home With You off his EP, NICE, singles and more, it looks awesome. The Hugo Man fragrance relaunch is less exciting, featuring the dopiest possible articles full of chat about his skin care routine (oh shucks I'm just  manly man, I don't have one at all... *names two products and refers to 'multiple moisturizers'*), trademark accidental candor (“I’m quite tired!”), and of course trying to describe a fragrance, always an entertaining gymnastics (“every time I spray it, it kind of takes me back to being on that rooftop in Berlin”), but also there are manly new pics of Lia.

A new song Niall co-wrote is coming out! The JC Stewart song, Break My Heart, will be out this Fri! Charlie Lightening posted pics from a year ago on the Walls music video set, featuring an intent Louis in the sun (and fashion voter underrated excellent Looks), and Louis commented on Dave Allen's post (“top man!”)-- the famous boxer is offering to help friends through lockdown by facetiming 3or 4 people a day for home workouts, damn, and also aww. That shitty Doncaster secondary school turned out some really sweet dudes, against all odds tbh. With Los Angeles experiencing some of the worst COVID surges we've seen since the beginning of the pandemic, Grammys organizers have elected to postpone the (already limited) ceremony. Originally scheduled for Jan 31 it is now TBA, tentatively for March. Harry's stalker, who menaced him in and near his London home in 2019, is being charged with violating his restraining order by attempting to contact Harry via social media, Global Fund for Women thanked Harry for donating, and HLDaily and other accounts were suspended for posting pap pics, always a risk, but one trick potato Jeff is on the job; HSD is back up and running, cause they can't have a proper stunt season without their most faithful mouthpieces. Niall continues to vote for himself on twitter threads about what to listen to in the New Year.

[chronicbatfictioner]

"Overall, it wasn't so bad..." Tim commented.

"Except for the fact that Bane roared like a constipated bear and literally lunged at Damian and Jason threw him out the window..." Barbara quipped, her face serious but her lips were still twitching. "I... am highly amused. Twice."

"You were laughing until you bent over double that if you weren't in a wheelchair, you've probably knelt on the floor laughing." Dinah deadpanned. "It was hilarious."

"Yes, it was. The fact that Jason could actually lift Bane and throw him out... Did you guys see Bruce's face, though! Oh my god! He... he looked at Jason as if he'd seen the lord savior Jésus Todd or something!" Tim crowed. "Like, the dude Bane got thrown out a bay window twice. I get the awe, I was a little star-struck myself. But I can't believe dude actually wanted to try the third time until Alfred pointed a damn shotgun to his forehead! I can't even!"

"This thus solidifies my thoughts that the Waynes may be trying to figure out a way to get rid of this... brute without... I dunno..." Barbara pondered.

"Gotten themselves broken in half?" Tim suggested. "He sure insinuated that he would do such a thing to Damian."

"Oh, gee, Tim. Which part of his speech insinuated that? 'You lying bastard!', or 'I'll break you in halves!'?"

"I'm partial to the 'bastard' remark, really. I mean, pot, kettle?" Tim replied, giggling.

"Technically," Helena Bertinelli - The Huntress - sighed as she chimed in; "and ironically, at that; the 'bastard' would be Bane since he claimed to be Thomas Wayne's son and is younger than Bruce. Which means he was 'conceived' while Dr Thomas was already married to Mrs Wayne..."

"Right? Bruce and Talia were two consenting adults, albeit under 20 years old; and were wed in a local ritual witnessed by locals, according to Jason. You should see Bane's face when Jason presented copies of the marriage's registry." Tim continued.

"Oh, we saw, all right. Harper's drones worked quite well." Dinah replied, snickering, referring to Harper Row, one of their tech 'consultants'. "Even at that height, it still delivered crystal clear pictures. I vote we use them again."

"No vote needed, the drones are on stand-by at the Wayne Manor permanently at this point. I'm more interested in his reaction when Damian offered them a DNA test." Barbara told her.

"I'm more interested in Bruce Wayne's reaction, really. He didn't seem too surprised, as if he was expecting this to happen or something." Helena pointed out.

"Maybe he did," Barbara replied absently. "Dude has been swingin' more than the roarin' 50s, there has got to be some juniors out there that even he didn't know of."

"Ugh, while I'm not a fan of Bruce Wayne's womanizing ways, I personally don't think he's that reckless. He's not a drinker or a junkie, as far as I know. He has virtually no vice other than extreme sports." Helena argued.

"I agree," Selina, who has been quietly watching from the corner, chimed in. "This is a guy who got visibly antsy when some sexy girls in bikinis come up to him - I thought he was gay. But if he'd been... wedded to Talia Al Ghul all these times, that would make sense. He knew exactly where he stood, and what would come up if he screwed it up."

"Has Jason or Dick said anything of the Doc and Mama Wayne's reaction?" Helena asked.

"They seemed truly confused, a little apprehensive, but didn't seem to be opposed to the idea that Damian is Bruce's child. Dr Wayne said that a DNA test wouldn't be necessary, but Jason insisted it." Tim replied, and added a little absently a few heartbeats later. "But why would he, a physician with more specialties than a truck stop, would not question the biology of anyone claiming to be his biological descendant?"

Barbara glared at Tim, "excellent question, Tim. If my dad has someone coming out of the boonies saying he's related to me, the first thing dad would do is draw blood."

"They... don't care?" Dinah suggested. "Maybe the Wayne men were less... chaste than they appear?"

Barbara glared at her this time. "Of all the women Bruce Wayne has dated, I've only recorded a handful who would end up in a second date. Less than a handful who were actually mentioned beyond social media photos; and you know how I feel with social media photos: generic, unverifiable, and showoff-only. Dates with Bruce Wayne generally would start with the pick-up, dinner, and then some form of jewelry. I..." she looked at Selina and Helena, "you've both dated him at one point or the other."

Selina shrugged, "I went for a gala dinner, and was honestly there to scope the homeowner's safe, really. I wasn't interested in a follow-up date." she replied. "Helena?"

"Social arrangement. My people called his people and boom, we were on a red carpet." she elaborated. Helena was a part of a mafia family, until she decided that the mafia way would not be the best way to make Gotham a happy place for all, and donned the costume of the Huntress to hunt down wrongdoers. Barbara had decided to let her join to prevent her from going over the line and murder anyone out of overzealous-ness; but also in order to get a line-in into the mafia families.

"No second dates, either, huh?"

"No, I'll have to check, though. I think his people called me again, but I wasn't interested in a vapid playboy, even if he has more money than Jesus."

"Vicky Vale," Selina reminded. "She has had a... somewhat lengthy relationship with Bruce some years ago."

"Sooo... the next answer in our mystery could probably be answered by interviewing an investigative journalist." Tim commented.

"Oh, no..." Barbara grinned mischievously. "Not this investigative journalist. I know just the journalist to talk to when it comes to gossip among themselves."

Dinah snorted a laugh. "I thought you didn't like her."

"I liked Vale less," Barbara griped. "Plus, Vale is already getting news on Bruce's probable child; why shouldn't I send Lois Lane the allegations of the Bane Conspiracy?"

"Conspiracy with who?" Dinah asked curiously.

"Oh, the Waynes, of course, to get rid of the Court of Owls," Barbara smirked. "Why should we be the only ones racking our respective and collective brains when we can have someone else on the ground doing the grunt work?"

"Babs, you can be... pretty evil sometimes," Selina remarked. "I know there's got to be a reason why I like you."

"I'm also awesome with technology and can launder your ill-gotten money and make it legal and undetected." Barbara pointed out.

"Oh no, that's why I liked you." Helena quipped smirking. "Seriously, how many mob family can say their ill-gotten money is accountable by law?"

"As long as it is within the facets of the law, and so on and so forth... Anyway! Tim, you're quiet for more than two seconds. I'm always nervous when you're quiet."

"Just thinking..." Tim said, looking a little lost in his own brain. He often does that when he has at least a dozen scenarios running through his mind. Through the time of Barbara knowing him, Tim would probably be the only person whose claims of 'just thinking' wouldn't immediately be picked on by anybody.

"Care to share with the class, kitten?" Selina prompted.

"It's not fully mapped yet... but I was thinking. What if the Waynes aren't... didn't cooperate with Bane in order to destroy the Court of Owls, and they're literally being hostages in their own home? What if Bruce Wayne has predicted something like this could happen, and has gotten himself all prepared all the way to ten years ago when he wedded Talia Al Ghul? I mean, who would have had enough firepower to defeat Bane other than the Al Ghuls? Look at Jason," Tim pointed out. "He threw Bane out the window as if he was a fly. While Jason is as solid as a rock but isn't a metahuman - Bane is. He was assigned by Talia herself - out of Gotham - to protect and guide Damian-- why? What's so special about Jason Todd? Why did Talia choose him? Why didn't Bruce Wayne - at least - act shocked when Damian said he was his son? Surprised, sure. But not shocked or in denial.

"Who's gonna win if Bane turned out to be Dr Wayne's son? Who's gonna lose? What will they lose? Who is Bane accountable to? If none, who planted the idea of him being Dr Wayne's son? Because from what I've read about him, he was born and raised in a prison with his mother - no mention of a father. His mother was an insurgent of Hasaragua, fighting against US-condoned democracy. And while there was a record of Dr Wayne being there, there was no exact date and length of stay, because he was there privately and not as a part of Médecin sans Frontieres or something like that.

"What about Mrs Wayne? She wasn't a poor or uneducated woman, since she was a Kane. Society-wise, do you think she would have tolerated her husband's indiscretion, both then and now? Yet she kept quiet for nearly two months. She has a Ph.D. in psychiatry, and would she be the ones to keep quiet about DNA testing and all that? Personally, I don't think so. If my mother - a little 'lesser' society lady compared to Martha Kane-Wayne - ever got a word of a child that 'probably' got fathered by my dad, she would have demanded a divorce right away without bothering with a paternity test, sure. But my dad, who was also a society man, would have at least attempted to convince her that it was a mistake and/or it was a lie. What best method to decide a child's paternity than DNA test?

"The criminal front in general - especially the costumed criminals - has been pretty quiet since Bane eliminated the Court of Owls. Why? That's rather stupid since we know that the Court's Talons were the ones who made moves to 'discourage' the costumed freaks. Annnd... that's where I couldn't map out things further." Tim rambled.

"Keep talking, even half sentences are better than none, Timmy." Barbara prompted. Tim might have had a brain that worked a mile a minute, but he was still very young and would often get flustered with himself. Barbara, on the other hand, has an eidetic memory, and things Tim said tend to stick to her brain and would fill the gaps in any puzzles she might be thinking about. Even half sentences.

"Right, I do the fact spreads, you do the jigsaw-puzzling." Tim nodded. "The murders of Talia and Ra's Al Ghul. Jason said they were deliberately murdered in a way that they would never be able to be resurrected through the Lazarus Pit. The perpetrators would be the League of Shadows, a rogue splinter of the League of Assassins. Lead by Lady Shiva. Why? Why were they murdered? Why now and not - say - next year or last year? Who benefited by their death? Aaand... I'm done, for now, I think..."

"I... can feel a headache brewing," Dinah admitted. "You and your conspiracy theories." she rubbed Tim's head fondly. Tim gave her a half-smile, still trying to articulate the thoughts in his head.

"That's why we need him, he takes the most random input and makes a theory out of it, and some of them would actually make sense. I'll start a search string based on some of your questions. If you have more, don't hesitate to tell me, Tim." Barbara realized belatedly that her tone sounded dismissive, and turned to Tim. "Want me to call up for Chinese and powwow a little more?" she added.

Tim shook his head, still glaring blankly. "Thanks, I gotta go... I've some... things to look into. Thanks, Babs," he replied, ending it with a genuine smile as he got up.

"Want to come home with me, Kitten?" Selina asked, worry for Tim apparent on her normally-blank face.

"No, thanks, Ma. I gotta go back to the mansion, just in case, right?" Tim pointed out.

"Then Dinah should go with you," Selina decided.

"She's coming there later, right, aunt Dinah?" Tim asked. Dinah nodded.

"I'll get home with food, so don't worry about that, kiddo." she said. Tim waved them all and then walked out.

Once he was out of the door, Selina sighed. "Ah, young love..."

"Right? Remind me to check in on him before going to the House. I don't want to walk in on something and have him traumatized." Dinah agreed.

Barbara glared at them quizzically, and then at Helena, who shrugged. "Grayson said it first, I think. Our kitten is growing up. I just hope that Jason guy is worth his firsts..."

The memory of Tim gawking at Jason when he thought Barbara wasn't watching flashed in her mind.

Oh.

And then of Jason blatantly checking Tim out just before Oracle made her appearance, and at times when her Oracle projection was turned off.

"Oh boy," she sighed.

"That's about it in a nutshell. Good thing I've told him of the birds and the birds..." Selina grinned slyly.

"Millennial parenting at best, Ms Selina Kyle." Dinah grinned. "Come on, let's go patrol and induce the fear of goddesses to Gotham's low-lives before inducing maternal fear to our little kitten."

"...or to the big tabby. We'll see," Selina added, waving as she and Dinah walked out of the room.

Suddenly Barbara felt a little sorry for Jason. Just a tiny, teensy, weensy bit of sorry.

[smol-and-grumpy]

EUPHORIA - Chapter 7

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: He’s Dean Winchester, owner of a shady night club. She’s a journalist who has been asked to write an article to expose the indecency and debauchery that’s going on behind closed doors. But he’s also Dean Winchester, the boy who sat next to her in class. The boy who was too cocky for his own good.

Chapter Warning: Feelings, fluff (I felt some heart clench, but maybe that’s just me)

WC: 3525

A/N: This fills my ‘rope bunny’ (only mentioned) square for @spnkinkbingo​​. Please share your thoughts with me, I’d love to hear your feedback.

Beta’d by @deanwanddamons​​​​​​​​ <3

Series Masterlist ~ SPN Masterlist

Become a Patron ~ Buy me a coffee

Dean couldn’t really sleep last night either, but what else is new?

But he’s really glad that she feels better. He could already tell that she was feeling much better after she took that shower. He was in the middle of changing the sheets, when she walked out and it really did something to him seeing her all clean and smelling like him. The shirt was kinda funny, he had to give Claire that. But her pants? He wanted to rip them apart because they were barely covering her legs at all.

When Y/N kissed his cheek, Dean was hard again, and it was even harder to conceal his boner when he’s wearing sweats. 

They had an easy morning, and he liked that. Liked that they could talk about old times, liked how easy it was between them when they didn't have judging eyes on them like they had at school. He regrets not talking to her more back then. He was a stupid kid. Too cocky for his own good. 

When she said that she was ready to go home, he agreed to take her back, suppressing his own feelings of wanting to keep her around longer. But again, why should she stay? It’s not like they are anything. Hell, he hasn’t even asked her out yet. 

Maybe, Dean thinks, he should get the stick out of his ass and do it. Part of him is afraid that she’ll think he’s only doing all this because he doesn’t want her to destroy the reputation of his club. Which is bullshit, because Dean actually couldn’t care less. Any publicity is good publicity is the saying he goes by, and it is the truth. If it’s a bad article, people will be intrigued. If it’s good, people will still be intrigued. That’s just how it is. He never once felt intimidated when she told him that she is going to write that article.

Two days later, she feels herself again. It feels actually pretty great to be back amongst the living. All traces of her sickness are gone. 

Dean texted her every now and again, asking her how she feels and she can’t help but blush every time her phone chimes with a message from him.

Y/N was able to go into the office today to finish things that were piling up on her desk. Thank god her colleagues helped with the articles that were due during her absence, but because Rufus thinks that she still shouldn’t be there at all, he sent her home early. 

As she sits on her bed with her laptop propped on her thighs and contemplates writing up that article about Euphoria , she hears an incoming text.

  D: How are you today?

Y/N: Better, thanks for asking. I went to work but Rufus sent me home early.

D: He did?

Y/N: Said I should rest for one more day.

D: I agree.

  She rolls her eyes. She hates texting with him. She never knows if it’s his or her turn. Is she supposed to say something to that last text? It’s not like she can write up an essay when she writes in short sentences. But before she can think about what to write, Dean sends her another text.

  D: Do you, by any chance, feel good enough to come to the club?

  She bites on her lip and smirks to herself.

  Y/N: Sure. Same time?

D: Whenever you are ready, sweetheart.

  There’s blood rushing through her head as she gets up and walks to her closet. She has to wear something nice, but again, Dean has seen her at her worst and he wasn’t appalled, which she still can’t wrap her mind around. 

  *

She left a little early, therefore, she showed up here earlier, too. She hoped that Dean didn’t mind. The bouncer let her in and she stumbled upon Dean briefing his staff. 

He notices her, nods in her direction but he continues to talk. She stands back, not wanting to disturb them, and listens in. 

It’s weird. Well, not really weird, but it’s surreal to watch Dean briefing and instructing his staff. He is definitely a different Dean from the Dean she knew back in school. His voice is deeper, he has more facial hair, but what strikes her the most is how he carries himself. How he can come across as this authoritative person. Someone other people look up to. He looks good. Looks like he just walked out of a photo shoot. He has awesome social skills, and has a voice that makes you want to listen to whatever he has to say. She liked the old Dean but she also can’t lie that this Dean turns her on.

When he finishes, the people start to disperse and go on about their tasks. He comes towards her, smiling an easy smile that could make any woman blush. She’s no exception.

“Hey,” He smiles even brighter, his hands come up to stroke her cheek and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “You look better.”

She chuckles, “Well, that’s not hard, given that I probably looked like an extra from The Walking Dead .”

“You didn’t.” Dean’s smile is gone and his face is a little more serious. His hand is still on her cheek and he trails his finger down her jawline, thumbs at her bottom lip. When he realizes what he is doing, Dean quickly clears his throat, “Right. Are you ready to check out some rooms?”

“Sure,” She shrugs, a little sad that the moment is over. 

Dean’s grin returns and he jerks his head towards the stairs, “Then come on,”

Y/N follows him up the stairs and through the VIP room where Claire and some other people were setting up things. They move away the big group of couches lining the middle of the room, carrying around big candles and pillows. They hang up electrical lanterns and silk cloth. She notices that they are all dressed in special gowns too. It has an Arabic feel to it. Girls wear gold bikinis and silken pants or skirts, gold chains around their hips. 

“What’s going on?” She asks out of curiosity. She doesn’t even notice that she has slowed down, until Dean walks back to come get her. 

He chuckles, “We’re having an Arabian night. There’s a special night every two weeks.” Dean grabs her wrist to pull her along, “Come on. We won’t see anything if you don’t keep moving.”

“But that’s interesting too!” She pouts, but she walks faster to keep up with Dean’s pace.

“Would you like to see that instead of the rooms?” He asks and looks down at her, his lips pressed into a thin line but he grins, she can see.

“What if I want to see it all?” She raises an eyebrow.

Dean’s chuckling softly, “Rooms first. I might have something you like.”

Something she likes? Well, if that doesn’t pique her curiosity she doesn’t know what will. She doubts that it’s going to be another sybian room, though. Maybe she can ask if she can go into that room again some other time. Or maybe he can tie her up in that rope, she was scared at first but it sounds appealing to be dominated and hanging around of a ceiling, the rope tight around her body, the material digging into her skin. 

He comes to a halt at the door next to the room with the sybian bull and opens it to let her take a peek. 

“It’s the furry room.” He says, and crosses his arms over his chest and leans his back against the door frame lazily. 

Y/N’s about to ask him what that means when her gaze registers the clothing rack to the far left side. There’s a big mirror on the right and mattresses on the floor. 

“Oh, my god,” She huffs out a breath, “These are costumes, right?” She can see some costumes of foxes and wolves, cats and dogs, lions and tigers and many more, “Are people really into this kind of thing?”

He has to chuckle, “Oh, you poor sheltered girl,” He walks in and picks out a costume to show it to her, “You won’t believe it, but this room is always fully booked. If you want to use this room, there’s a two weeks waiting list.”

“Dean?”

“Huh?” He hangs the costume back on its rack.

“I know, no kink shame and all, but, ewwwww,” She grimaces and shudders. 

“I take it you don’t want to try it on?” Dean’s laughing as he walks towards her and takes her hand in his.

“Over my dead body,” She sighs and Dean pulls her out to open the door to the room next door.

“Medical room.” He says, and opens the door wide for her to see.

She steps around him and walks inside. There’s a white desk in the middle and off to the wall is an examination table. Hanging on grids are various sizes of dildos and strap ons. There’s also a tray next to the examination table with medical supplies. 

It doesn’t really throw her off like it maybe should, because she can really imagine a lot of people being into that. 

“So, the people who book the rooms, with whom do they fulfill their fantasies with? Employees of yours or other members?” She takes the strap on dildo from the grid. The leather is firm in her hands. 

Dean walks in behind her, stops by the desk, “It depends. Sometimes members find their way to each other and they try different rooms together. Sometimes they invite an employee. The employee can agree or deny. It’s up to them. They don’t get paid to do it, you know? And sometimes, they mingle in the front first and invite someone to the VIP rooms. Every non-member has to sign an NDA before they enter.”

“You’re thorough.” She grins while she tries to strap the dildo around her waist. 

Dean watches her in bewilderment before he answers, “I went on to business school, they taught me to be thorough.”

Y/N wiggles her hips, making the dildo swing around. She’s laughing and Dean can’t help but laugh with her. 

“Is this the thing you said I’d like? Because honestly, I do?”

“You’re having way more fun than you should, you know?” He walks closer. His hands go to the strap on and releases it from around her hips. He hangs it back up, “No, it’s the next room that I’m excited for you to see.”

Dean takes her hand and walks out. They pass a couple more rooms until he stops. He exhales before he opens and tells her to close her eyes. She can see that he’s nervous and now she’s anxious about what lies inside of that room. What could possibly make Dean Winchester nervous?

She closes her eyes and Dean places a hand around her waist to walk her inside. Their steps echoes. She can feel from the reverberation that the room is bigger than all the other rooms they’ve been in. 

“Okay,” Dean says, “Open up,” 

Blinking her eyes open she takes it in and immediately her jaw drops. 

“It’s a classroom.” He mumbles behind her.

Yeah, well, she can see that, but it’s not only a classroom. It’s their classroom. Their fucking English classroom from high school. Everything looks exactly the same, apart from the fact that there are no windows. There are still the same books displayed on the bookshelves, the same posters hanging on the walls. A big red ruler on the teacher’s desk, the same one their English teacher used to use to point at the black board. She can’t imagine how much trouble Dean went through to get his hands on all these things.

“Dean— I—,”

“Would it be weird if I say that English was the class I was always looking forward to the most?” His voice is a little lower, a little softer. 

“I don’t know what to say,” She confesses.

“You don’t have to say anything,” He shrugs, “People use this room for role play. Usually teacher students kind of thing, you know. But it has a whole different meaning to me.” He walks over to the row where they used to sit in the classroom back at school and she follows him. 

He pulls the chair to let her sit down and it’s weird. It’s like they’re catapulted back in time. Dean sits next to her and he leans forward, braces his elbow on the table, “Look here,” He taps at the wood on the side of the table. 

  D.W.

  “You carved it here, too?” She chuckles.

Dean grins, all cocky and bravado, “Gotta let people know what’s mine.”

“This is crazy,” She shakes her head but she can’t hide the fact that she’s impressed with all the details, “You really liked English, huh?”

“You didn’t see it, did you?” He asks.

“See what?”

“Jesus, Y/N,” Dean groans and bends down, leaving his forehead on the table before he tilts his head. She can see that he’s blushing a little, “I only liked it because I sat next to you!”

She’s taken aback by the revelation, “I didn’t know,” 

He chuckles at that, “No, of course you didn’t. You always were such a good girl back then and you hung on to every one of the teacher’s words. I’m surprised you even knew who I was.”

Dean’s not wrong. She was kind of a nerd.

“Fact is, I already liked you back then. And I asked you out to prom but you shot me down.” He says in a teasing way and she gasps. 

“I didn’t.”

“Eh..ya, you did,”

“What?” She shouts out, “You didn’t ask me! As far as I can remember you asked ‘Are you going to the prom?’ and I said no.”

Dean raises his eyebrows and looks a little annoyed. 

And then the penny drops, “Ooooooh! Oh, no, Dean. That’s not how you ask someone to the  prom!”

“Yeah,” He chuckles, “I was young and a cocky bastard, okay? I didn’t know how to ask someone out whom I felt something for.”

“You felt something for me, back then?”

He clasps his hand over his face and rubs at this scruff, “Yeah, I did.”

She feels blood rushing to her head. He did like her then? Does he still like her now? 

Before she can ask, Dean reaches out to touch her face, fingers skimming over her cheek. He leans closer, “Can I kiss you? I feel like I’m going to die if I don’t.”

Y/N bites her lip which she curves up into a smile, and nods her head in approval. 

Dean exhales and leans closer. He grins as his lips ghosts over hers. He’s so close. She can smell his breath hot on her face. His hand is on the back of her neck, drawing her closer to him. They chuckle and it’s awkward. It’s like those awkward first kisses as teenagers. Their noses bump against each other and it’s like she doesn’t know how things work anymore, until Dean takes the lead and presses his plump lips to hers. It’s soft and salty, minty fresh too. His tongue teases along her bottom lip and she opens up her mouth a little more, letting him in. His tastes flood her senses, and god, she likes it. 

The kiss is careful, soft. He breaks it after a short while but leaves his forehead on hers, “Always wanted to do that.” He grins and pecks her lips once more.

“We can continue to do that,” She licks at her lips, where a faint taste of him still lingers. 

He chuckles, “Nah, I’m afraid that if I start, I won’t be able to stop.”

She frowns at him, “And you have to stop, because…”

Dean stands up and takes her hand, pulls her with him as he makes his way out of the door, “Y/N, I’m a gentleman and not a hot headed teenager anymore. I wanna take you out properly before I even start to think about doing anything else with you.”

“Or do anything to me?” Her grin is cocky, maybe as cocky as his when he was younger. 

He groans, and turns around, cupping her chin between his thumb and forefinger to tilt it up, “You have no idea what I dreamed of doing,” He kisses her lips one more time, “You hungry? I know just the place,” 

Honestly, she would follow him into a dingy bar if that’s where he wants to take her, just to get it over with. She knows that her thinking might be desperate but maybe she is. She wanted to tell him before, when he said that he won’t be able to stop, that she didn’t want him to. Didn’t want him to stop when his kisses are so intoxicating.

  Dean drives her to the diner which is about five miles from their old school. It’s where the students used to hang out and he remembered seeing her there on a couple of occasions, mainly when there was a birthday of someone she knew or one of her circle of friends invited her there. Dean knew that she didn’t have money back then. He had seen her nursing a warm milkshake more times that he would have wanted. He wished that he could turn back time and maybe jump over his own shadow and take her out. Well, he tries to make up for lost time now.

She gets out and looks at the diner, “Oh my god. This is a surprise.”

Dean chuckles and weaves his arm around her waist, pulls her close to him and starts to walk to the front of the diner. 

As they sit in their booth, she looks at the menu. 

“You like it here?” He asks, but he already knows the answer because she’s grinning like crazy. 

“Very much, yes. I was afraid you’d take me to a fancy restaurant where they have too much cutlery and I never know which one to use.”

He has to chuckle at that, “No, I know that you wouldn’t like that. That’s why we're here, and I’m telling you, they have the best burgers.”

“I’ve been dying to taste it,” She says, “You know, after college, I always wanted to come back here but then I kind of forgot about it.”

“Well, you’re allowed to have everything you want.” He grins, “I’m feeling generous tonight.”

*

After the meal they walk out and Dean has to hold his belly because it’s so full. She’s trailing behind him and groans to which Dean has to laugh, “You okay?”

“I’m just really full.”

He takes her hand and walks her to the car, “You know, you were right about something,”

“What is it?” He can see her raising an eyebrow at him. 

“You really don’t share fries.”

She elbows him in the rib and he chuckles, bends down to kiss the top of her head. 

It feels easy, Dean thinks, he doesn't know why he was so afraid to ask her out in the first place. He likes how they can talk, how they can laugh together, how she just knows who he really is and not who he tries so hard to be. 

“So,” Dean looks over to her when they settle in the car, “Where to next?”

Y/N smirks, “I don’t know? What do you usually do on a date?” 

He is taken aback by the question because first of all, she considers it a date, too. And second of all, Dean would usually take the girl back her home after a meal or drink, fuck her roughly once, maybe twice if she’s really good, and then leave with a promise to call her but never does. He can’t tell her that now, can he? 

No, he can’t. Instead he says, “I usually go to the club for a drink and then drive the woman home and say my goodbyes.” 

She snorts out a laugh, holds her belly and her whole body is shaking. He can’t help but laugh with her, “That’s it? Oh, come on, Dean.”

“I am serious!” He whines, but she sends him a glare. 

“Fine, whatever helps you sleep at night,” 

“So, where do you want to go?” He asks again, his fingers on the car key, ready to turn. 

Pursing her lips into a thin line, she pretends to think, “To your club? I’m really curious about the Arabian night.”

Dean nods, “The club it is.” He starts the ignition, drives off, and he knows that she’s been watching him, so he asks, “What?”

She shrugs, “I don’t know. That easy? What if I would have said that I wanted to go to the movies? Or to a concert? Or a walk in the park?” 

He turns his head to look at her, a smile on his face, “Honestly? I would have taken you anywhere you want, Y/N.”

Chapter 8

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (155/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: This story takes place about 1000 years before 66 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Hey, it’s the Hero Lab!

[1 July, Age 726.    Planet Plant.]

The latest reports from the frontlines were very encouraging.    The Tuffles were a stubborn enemy, but the Saiyans had managed to drive them out of the north quarter of Orange City, while the Truffle pushback in Cidertown had slowed to a virtual standstill.   Nappa smiled as he laid the report down and enjoyed the view from his new penthouse.    The blood of the previous owner still stained the walls and floors, but he rather enjoyed the scent of dead Tuffles.   It gave the place some much-needed personality.    

"You seem to be in a good mood today."  

Nappa looked up from the balcony and spotted a young Saiyan floating overhead.    He didn't recognize the man, but judged him to be part-alien from the color of his hair and the strange clothes that he wore.    He looked more like a Tuffle than a Saiyan, but the scent was proof enough that he wasn't Nappa's enemy.    Whatever the young man's parentage, his blood was nothing like the kind that decorated his new home.    

"Why wouldn't I be happy?" Nappa asked.   His thin mustache framed his smile as he crossed his arms over his massive chest.    "The Tuffles have been lording over us for years, and now we're finally taking over this planet, just as easily as I took over this apartment.    Before long, the Tuffles will be the ones begging us to let them stay on Planet Plant."

"I guess you're right," the man said.   "At least until someone stronger comes along and takes it all away from you."

"I like you, kid," Nappa said with a gravely laugh.    "You sure do know how to tell a joke.   What brings you here?"

"I had some questions," he said as he alighted on the balcony.  "I need information, and I heard you knew my father, so I thought I'd start with you."

Nappa eyed the man suspiciously.    "I know a lot of fathers," he said.   "None of them wore long black coats, or carried a sword, though.    What's your dad's name, kid?"  

"Vegeta," he said.  

Nappa laughed.    Then he looked at the young man more carefully, doing his best to ignore the blue eyes and the lavender hair that hung around his face.   Then he laughed harder.  

"Something funny about that?" the man asked.    

"I do see a bit of a resemblance," Nappa said.   "Guess King Vegeta II had a few 'unofficial' heirs over the years, huh?   Who knew he had it in him?   So which is it?   You want to blackmail the royal family?    Or were you hoping they'd give you a cushy civil service job?"

"Nothing like that," the man said.   "I just wanted to ask you some questions.    Nothing personal, just general background stuff."

"Yeah?  Well why should I help you?" Nappa asked.    "For that matter, killing you would probably be a smarter play.    One less would-be usurper for the king to worry about, right?  I’m sure your old man would make it worth my while."

"Oh, I probably should have been more specific," the young man said.    "My father isn't Vegeta the Second.    It's Vegeta the Fourth."    

Nappa gave him a sidelong glance.    "There is no Vegeta IV," he said warily.  

"Not yet, anyway," the man said with a knowing smile.  

"That's it, I don't know what your game is, punk, but I'm through playing!" Nappa said.    "You can tell your lies in hell!"  

He drew back his arm and threw a punch that would have killed most Saiyans on contact.    Nappa had made a name for himself on the battlefield for defeating entire companies of Tuffle mechatroops all by himself.    He fully expected to turn the young man's head into a cloud of red mist.    

Instead, the man blocked his strike with such incredible speed that Nappa couldn't even tell that he had moved.   In one instant, the man had been standing with his hands in his pockets.    And then in the next, the man was now gripping Nappa's palm with his thumb and index finger.    He squeezed slightly, and Nappa nearly dropped to his knees from the pain.    

"Nnnghhh!" was the noise he made as he struggled not to show how much it hurt.   His free hand reached up for his scalp, where he tugged at the tuft of thick black hair on his head.

"Look, let's cut to the chase, all right?   For you, this'll only take a few minutes, but I might be doing these interviews all night, so don't waste my time, okay?   Those Tuffles you're fighting might be pushovers, but I'm not.    So now that you know that you can't brute force your way out of this, what'll it be?"

He released Nappa's hand, and Nappa gasped with relief as he cradled it in his other palm.   He stared at his hands for a moment, then at the man.   Then he paused to consider the sword, and how much worse it would get if the young man decided to make use of it.    

"Heh.   Uh, yeah, sorry, Your Majesty.   I-I should have recognized you sooner.    Anything you want, just let me know, Prince... uh... Prince... What'd you say your name was?"

"I didn't," he replied.  "So, let's start with a simple one.    Have you ever heard of a Saiyan named Luffa?"

*******

[1 December Age 893, Earth.]

"Honestly, I didn't expect him to know Luffa.    Nappa didn't recognize her when she faced him on a Time Patrol mission, but he did fill me in on a few things."

By Age 889, the arcade game Super Dragon Ball Heroes had become a popular pastime, and the city of Hero Town became the global headquarters for the craze.    Gaming enthusiasts from around the world traveled to Hero Town to partake in the game, which was based upon actual events from the previous century.   Trunks had logged many hours in front of an SDBH cabinet, though his reasons had nothing to do with recreation.   For all its popularity, the game had a very strange secret.    It was the Capsule Corporation who developed the software, but the world within the game was actually made possible by the Time Patrol.   Deep beneath Hero Tower was the Hero Lab, where the Time Patrol occasionally conducted secret research and reconnaissance.  

"I don't get it, Master," said a teenage girl standing near one of the main computer terminals that surrounded nearly every surface of the Hero Lab.    "You formed the Dragon Ball Heroes Team to help you defeat Sealas, right?   So why didn't you come to us on this Towa situation?"

"Note's right, Trunks!" said a teenage boy eating mochi from a bag.  "I'm Goku's descendant, after all!   It's not fair to leave me out of a case like this."

Trunks deactivated the Hero Switch device and handed it to Anne, one of the scientists who maintained the lab.    His black trenchcoat and sword hung next to several labcoats on a metal rack in the corner, revealing the olive-green sweater he wore underneath.   He smiled at Note and Beat, and then Dr. Leggings, the project director of the Hero Lab, who was programming the next simulation.

"I understand where you're coming from, kids," Trunks said, "and I appreciate the offer, but it's not that simple."  

"Why not?" Beat asked.   "From what you've told us, Luffa's a Saiyan, right?   If that's all you needed, then I could have tackled these missions for you.  I'm a Saiyan, too."

"Oh, here we go..." Note grumbled.  She made sure to roll her eyes dramatically enough for everyone in the room to see.

"What?" Beat asked.    "It's true, isn't it?"

"Beat, even I have Saiyan ancestry," Dr. Leggings said without looking up from her computer terminal.   "After a hundred and thirty years of Saiyans living on Earth, it's not as uncommon as you might think."

"She's right," Trunks said.   "We have a lot of Saiyan-Earthling Time Patrollers back in Toki Toki City from the next century.   A few of the stranger ones call me 'Your Highness', but I try not to hold it against them.      Besides, if all I cared about was Saiyan blood, I'd go to my father for help.   So that's not why I recruited you, or Luffa, for that matter."

"Then why did you recruit Luffa instead of coming to us?" Beat asked.  

"Listen,” Trunks said.   “In my timeline, No. 17 and 18 had destroyed much of the world.   Son Gohan was the only Z-fighter left, and he was reluctant to train me.    He needed the help, but he was worried about me getting hurt.    I think eventually he decided he didn't have a choice.    He knew that if anything happened to him, there would have been no one else to defeat the Cyborgs.   But now I understand how his reluctance.    After he... well.... Later on, when I was on my own, I was determined to defeat them alone.   I wanted no part of my mother's plan to use her Time Machine to get help from Goku."

"But, Master, if you hadn't gone back in time," Note said, then you never would have joined the Time Patrol, or formed the Dragon Ball Heroes Team!"

"Exactly," Trunks said.    "Working with Goku and his friends in the past, I learned how valuable it can be to have allies.   It's not just about having extra hands to help with the hard work.   You can learn from each new friend you make.    And they can learn from you, as well.    I think that's why the Supreme Kai of Time created the Time Patrol in the first place.  So it wouldn't be right to keep turning to the same handful of allies every time.  Besides, I need you guys here, keeping an eye on things in Hero Town."

"Well, yeah," Beat said.   "I guess that makes sense.   But it's been so dull around here lately."

"Tell you what," Trunks offered.   "Once things settle down in Toki Toki City, I'll pull a few strings, maybe bring you guys in on a Time Patrol mission.   How's that sound?"

"Really?!" Note cheered.   She jumped into the air and kicked her heels behind her with excitement.    

"Awesome!" Beat said.  

"Don't get too carried away," Trunks said.    "I can't make any promises.   Ultimately, it's up to the Supreme Kai of Time.    But I think we can manage something."    

"I think we're ready for the next session, sir," Leggings said.   "Assuming these coordinates you gave us are valid.   Are you sure we can trust Nappa?"

"She's right, Master," Note added.    "He's bad news.   Just because you're stronger than he is doesn't mean he would have had any reason to tell you the truth."

"Which is exactly why I'm using Hero Lab to access the game world instead of traveling back in time," Trunks explained.   "Our research teams back in Toki Toki City are constantly using time machines to observe historical events, but they can't interact with anything or ask questions, because it might alter history."

"But the SDBH game is a simulation based upon the Scroll of Eternity itself," Dr. Leggings said.    "Meaning it's a nearly perfect copy of the real world, one that you can tamper with and not have to worry about permanently changing anything."

"Of course!" Note said.   "It's like how Sealas used the game to learn what changes he could make to alter history.   He used the game like a practice run for the real thing."

"Only, instead of changing the way things happened in the past," Beat said, "you're using the game to find out how things are supposed to have turned out.   But how does that help you learn anything about Luffa?"

"I asked Shenron to bring me a powerful ally," Trunks said.    "I should have been more specific about the wish, but I was kind of desperate for the help.   Shenron sent me Luffa, but she had no idea what was going on, and neither of us knows how to get her back where she came from.   She talked to one of our historians, and it's starting to sound like she's from some other part of the universe, or maybe from another timeline.   But wherever she's from, she's still a Saiyan, and not a descendant of Goku or Vegeta, like we are.    So I think if I go far enough into the past, I'll find some historical information we have in common, and maybe I can follow that thread back to her home."

"Phew!" Beat said.   "That sounds like a lot of work!  I'm worn out just thinking about it."

"You're not even doing anything," Note muttered.  

"There's no telling what kind of trouble I might run into in the simulated history," Trunks said.   Dr. Leggings has only ever run the simulation in a very narrow time range.   A few centuries at most.   I may end up taking the simulation into uncharted territory, and everything I know about Saiyans tells me that they had plenty of enemies to fight.    If things get hairy, I'll need some backup, and that's where you two come in.   I can't think of anyone better qualified than my two top students."

"Gosh...!" Note said.

"Yeah!  Now you're talking!" Beat cheered.    

Anne handed the Hero Switch back to Trunks.   The device was a powerful computer, but it looked like a black bracelet covered in glowing blue lights and a Capsule Corp. logo.   Trunks placed it onto his right wrist and prepared to activate it.  

"In the game world," he said, "Nappa told me that "Saiya" was a name for several planets colonized by Saiyans throughout history.   The most recent one was destroyed around four hundred years ago.    Hopefully, someone there will know more about King Rehval, or the Camelian Empire, or this Planet Nagaoka that Luffa once mentioned."

"What if they don't know, sir?" Anne asked.  

"Then I'll have to keep traveling backward until I find someone who does," Trunks said.   "Wish me luck."

"Wait, Trunks, one more thing before you go!" Dr. Leggings said urgently.

"Huh?   What's wrong?" Trunks asked.    He held up the Hero Switch on his wrist and pointed at it.   "Everything looks good on this end."

"It's just... are you sure you don't want to wear the Great Saiyaman 3 outfit for this mission?" she asked.  

"I'm positive," Trunks said.   Before anyone could object, he activated the bracelet, and vanished into the game world.    

*******

[12 May, Age 513.    Planet Saiya.]

"You picked a fine time to ask about the weather, stranger."

The Saiyan’s name was Reeque, and Trunks had no idea how old she was.   The small settlement he found on Saiya was it's largest population center, and they directed him to an old hag who lived in the wastelands.   Trunks found her easily enough, but then the blood-wraiths attacked, and they had to take their conversation on the run.   Powerful as Trunks was, his technology and ki were useless against the intangible creatures, and Reeque's warnings were enough to convince him that he should keep his distance.    

"They become solid every seven months," Reeque told him.   "Then we pay them back a thousandfold, but in the meantime, we run and hide until dawn.    They say the storms left them behind, but I doubt that.   Not even Luffa would be so cruel."

She carried a walking stick carved from some gnarled length of driftwood, but Trunks was impressed with how swiftly she crossed the rough terrain.    Her dark red robes flapped behind her back like the wings of some great ugly hawk.    

"I apologize for not making myself clear, ma'am," Trunks said as he hopped over a rock.    "The Luffa I asked about is a Saiyan, not a storm system."

"Well that's perfectly clear to me, boy," Reeque said, "but it doesn't change the fact that you're mistaken.   Only Luffa I've ever heard of is the one my great grandmother told me about.     Wiped out the entire Kingdom of Saiya in a single day.   The smart ones fled while they could.   The rest stayed, but only the hardiest few survived.   The environment here was harsh before Luffa, and it only got worse from there.    Without the supplies from allied worlds... well, you learn to savor the taste of roast blood-wraith."

"Then where did the Saiyans go when they abandoned this planet?" Trunks asked.

"Hell," Reeque said.   "If there's any justice, they went to hell.  Otherwise they scattered across the galaxy.     There was a kingdom on Sadala, but my life wouldn't be worth a zinc coin on that forsaken place.   My parents were banished, and they joined the usurper kings during the civil wars.    Fifty years ago, they tried to rebuild Saiya, like the name alone would restore their fortunes.   But there's nothing left here.  Nothing but blood-wraiths and ruin."

None of this was surprising to Trunks, since Nappa had told him this planet would eventually be destroyed altogether.   He had tried to arrive on Saiya well before that day, but it seemed like the destruction of Saiya had been set into motion long before whatever warrior finally put it out of its misery.

"And King Rehval?" Trunks asked.    "What became of him?"

"Why should you care, boy?" Reeque asked.    "You've come a long way in search of the dead."

"I think he's my ancestor," Trunks said.    "I, uh, I'm trying to settle a dowry on another planet, and they're very interested in genealogies."

"Social climber, huh?" Reeque said.   "Well, I can't help you with that.   Anything else you wanted to know?"

"The Camelian Empire," Trunks said.   "Do you know where I can find it?   I don't need exact coordinates, just a general idea will do.  Er, is something wrong, ma'am?"

She began to make a sort of rhythmic coughing sound from her throat, and Trunks eventually figured out that it was laughter.    "You're an amusing fellow," Reeque finally said.   "When I saw that purple hair of yours, I thought I might be seeing things, but my imagination isn't wild enough to dream up such silly questions.   Oh, I've spent countless nights like this one, running from bloodwraiths, but I think I'll remember tonight for a long time to come."  

"Then you can't tell me about Camelia either," Trunks said.    

"There's nothing to tell, boy," Reeque said with a rasping chuckle.    "The Camelian Empire fell more than three hundred years ago!"

*******

[23 February, 238 Before Age.    Chai I.]

"The ‘Super Saiyan’?   Now what in the world is that, Trunks?"

"It's a legend I heard when I was a boy," Trunks said.   "According to my father, once every thousand years, there's a Saiyan who surpasses the limits of what Saiyans can do.   They're considered the ultimate warriors.   Powerful, invincible, and with an insatiable craving for battle."

Rehval III considered this tale for a moment while admiring the bouquet of his wine.   At last, he took a sip from his glass, and sampled a bite of his fish entree.  Trunks waited patiently at the other side of the table.   The restaurant looked fancier than any Trunks had ever seen on Earth, in any century.   And this was merely a section of a minor administrative building in the Camelian capitol.      

"I'll be blunt, Trunks,” Rehval finally said.    “You seem like the kind of man who likes to get to the point, so I won’t keep you in suspense.   I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I see," Trunks said.    

"Do you believe in this legend yourself?" Rehval asked.  

"No," Trunks said after a pause.  "In my experience there's no such thing as an invincible warrior.  There are extraordinary Saiyans, but not necessarily one every thousand years.    There could be two or three, or a hundred, or none at all."

"I'll tell you what I think," Rehval said.   "I have heard tall tales of ancient Saiyan heroes.   Chanisp was said to have lived about a thousand years ago.    For all I know, they've been saying "a thousand years ago" for centuries.   I mean, a year ago, was anyone saying Chanisp lived 'nine-hundred and ninety-nine years ago'?   Of course not.   The round numbers make for better storytelling, but I deal in precision."  

Rehval paused his meal to point at a gold watch on his left wrist.    "My summit with the Camelian Imperial College begins in three hours and twenty-two minutes, Trunks.   I can't afford to offend the Camelians by rounding up.    Time can be a strict mistress."

"I take your point," Trunks said.    "And I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me."  

"Not at all," Rehval said.   "There aren't many Saiyans in this part of the galaxy, besides common raiders, I mean.   And you're a man of unusual manners and poise, Trunks.   You're exactly the sort of citizen I want in the Kingdom of Saiya.    I think you'd find life very prosperous under my rule."

"I am... interested in hearing more," Trunks said.    "Let's put it that way."

"Well, then, it's a good thing you found me during this gap in my schedule," Rehval said.    "I have all afternoon to convince you to come home with me."

Trunks smiled as though amused by his remark.    In fact, this had been his third attempt to speak with King Rehval III.   An earlier visit to the Camelian capital world gave him access to important diplomatic records, which showed him the exact date and time of an official visit by the Saiyan King.    Trunks found him on the first try, but he was too busy to talk.    Trunks reset the game world simulation and tried again, approaching Rehval three hours earlier, but wasn't able to catch the man's interest.    This time, he figured out that the key to Rehval's attention was to show interest in joining his cause.   Rehval’s Kingdom was the most powerful Saiyan faction in this era, but his subjects made up less than half of the Saiyan population, and Rehval was very keen on getting more Saiyans to rally to his flag.     Even half-aliens like Trunks were welcome, apparently.    

"Where did you say your mother was from?" Rehval asked.    Trunks was pretty sure Rehval had aims for establishing diplomatic ties with Earth, even if he had no idea where it was or if it was worth his time.

"The Yajirobe System," Trunks lied.  "It's pretty far off the beaten path.     But what were you saying about Chanisp?"

"Well, there are lower classes in every society, Trunks," Rehval explained.   "It's not something Saiyans think about much, but other civilizations have demonstrated it time and time again.    The problem is that, in disorganized societies, these lesser citizens don't understand that they have a duty to follow their betters.    And so, in their confusion, they turn to superstitions."

"Go on..." Trunks said.    He took a bite of his salad and chewed thoroughly.  

"They say Chanisp defeated a mighty demon and liberated the entire Saiyan race from slavery.    Did it actually happen?    Maybe.   Was he one of your father's 'Super Saiyans'?    He might have been.   How does any of that prove that there should be another one like him ten centuries later?   Oh, and the cycle just happens to reset in the present day.   So the tale expects us to believe that, at any moment, any one of us might miraculously transform into an invincible, demon-slaying superhero.   How convenient."  

"Well, when you put it that way..." Trunks said.    

"I'm not one to brag, Trunks, but as far as I know, the strongest Saiyan alive is sitting across the table from you.   That's not a challenge, or a demand for respect, just a statement of fact.   I'd have to be stronger to be the king, or I wouldn't be the king for very long, now would I?"

"Makes sense to me," Trunks lied again.   

He only brought up the legend to gain historical context.   Rehval seemed to enjoy discussing it, so that worked to Trunks’ favor, but what he had truly wanted to know was whether Rehval had heard of a golden-haired cryptid running amok in the galaxy.   He had not, which meant that there had been no Super Saiyan in this era, or that the Super Saiyan hadn’t appeared yet. 

"These legends are just stories people invent to convince themselves that there's a way out of their reality.     When the thousandth year passes, they move the goalpost, or invent a new story to replace the old.   'Oh, the Super Saiyan is real, he's just invisible and working in secret, but he really is here to help us all.'   That sort of thing."

"And that's why you're pursuing diplomatic ties with Camelia," Trunks concluded.  "You can't afford to wait for a messiah."

"The Saiyans are at a crossroads, Trunks," Rehval said.    "If our race is going to survive, we need to follow the same well-tread path as the Camelian Empire.    Statecraft.   National unity.   It's not as romantic as your father's legend, but it works.    It's a path that leads to prosperity.    If we all unite as one kingdom, under one law, then we grow stronger as a people.   That means forming alliances, brokering treaties, and all the other minutiae that goes with it."

"Well, this has been a very interesting discussion, but I'm afraid I need to get going," Trunks said.   He stood up from his chair and gestured to the waiter to bring his coat and sword.    "It's been a pleasure, Your Majesty."

"Wait," Rehval said.   "I thought you wanted to hear more about Planet Saiya.   The great society that I'm building there.   I'd like you to be a part of that society, Trunks."

"I'm sure you would," Trunks said as he put his arms through the sleeves of his coat.    "But I've already seen how Saiya turns out, and I'm already a part of the society you envisioned.   What's left of it, anyway."

"I don't understand."

"It's simple.   Your vision isn't all that visionary, Rehval.   No matter how strong you think you are, there's always someone stronger who'll come along to challenge you.   That's not a leader, that's a gunfighter daring someone to come along and defeat him.   I've grew up in a world ruled by strength alone, and you're half-right.   It is a well-worn path, but it doesn't lead to prosperity."

"What do mean you've already seen Saiya?" Rehval asked.   "Who are you?"

Trunks activated the bracelet on his arm, and vanished from the game world.    The simulated Rehval who existed within it was left with more questions than answers, though he would not ponder them for long.    Soon enough, the simulation would be refreshed, and he would have no memory of this encounter.

NEXT: Burning Questions

[bitchloveskcbaseball]

Catch My Breath

Series: The Bones

Pairing: Bryce x Casey

Warnings: Language and slightly N*FW

Word Count: 1583 (I know, I’m a rule breaker, but, honestly, I’m not sorry LOL)

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Pixelberry

Song Inspiration: Catch by Brett Young (it’s also the song the lyrics towards the end come from)

A/N #1: This is my submission for @wackydrabbles Prompt #47 “Just lick it.”

A/N #2: This is my version of that first night in Donahue’s, and, by extension, the beginning of Bryce and Casey’s relationship. So, this is the new beginning of this series too. I really love doing things out of order, sometimes LOL

I also want to give a HUGE thank you to @burnsoslow for helping me work through a few scenes in this and just generally getting me out of my head. And also for being an awesome awesome friend!! I love you!! 🥰

A pair of arms wrapped around Bryce's neck as a familiar voice whispered, “Play some pool with me?”

Reaching up to lace his fingers with hers, he asked, “You sure you can handle losing to a scalpel Jockey, Valentine?”

“Well, if hell ever freezes over, I’ll letcha know.”

Without even thinking about it, Bryce brought one of Casey's hands up to his lips to brush a kiss across her palm before shrugging her off of his shoulders so he could stand up. “I hope you brought a jacket, because it's about to get real chilly in here.”

Already on her way towards the pool table, Casey called back over her shoulder, “Oh whatever. Are you gonna put up or shut up?”

As he was slowly following her, he rolled his eyes at her back before letting them trail shamelessly up and down her body. She was hot as hell, but he’d known that from the moment he first set eyes on her that morning. He hadn’t been able to completely rid his thoughts of her since, and even though it should have been driving him crazy, it wasn’t. And that was what was so unnerving.

He had lagged behind so far that she had the balls racked and the cue ball ready to go before he’d even pulled a cue stick off the rack. She turned to him, looking like she was about to suggest he break when he shook his head and said, “No, ladies first. You break.”

“Brave choice, Lahela. It’s not easy to come from behind.”

Unable to resist the opening she'd just given him, he waited until she was bent over the table, ready to take her shot. Leaning down with one hand on either side of her, he pressed his hips against hers and whispered in her ear, “You want me to show you just how easy it can be?”

There was a slight hitch in her breathing and he felt a shiver run through her just before she sent the cue ball flying across the table. He was so distracted by the way she felt under him like that that he didn’t even realize that she had managed to sink one on her break until she turned her head, her lips brushing against his as she murmured, “I’m solids.”

Suddenly overwhelmed by an intense need to taste her mouth, Bryce tried to press his lips more fully against Casey’s, but he ended up kissing her hair instead when she turned her head away. He couldn’t even call her out on it because in the very next instant, she was grinding her ass back against him, pulling a moan from his lips. When she did it again, her name slipped out on a gasp as he tried to wrap an arm around her waist to keep her pinned against him, but again she moved too fast. His fingertips just barely brushed across her lower back as she managed to slide out from underneath him.

She had taken four more shots, three of which were successful, before his heart rate started to return to normal and he felt like he could finally take a full breath. Even then, all it took was one come-hither look from Casey to have his thoughts scattering again. She wouldn’t have even needed to lean down as he lined up his shot to whisper, “Still think it isn’t hard?” in his ear to break his concentration. Her mere presence was enough to do that.

With Bryce being so damn distracted and Casey being so freaking good at pool, it only took her a couple more turns before she was sending the 8-ball into the corner pocket. Throwing her hands up in the air, she taunted, “And that’s game, baby! Guess I didn’t need that jacket after all.”

“Oh whatever. You know you cheated.”

“It’s not my fault you couldn’t keep your eyes on the table, Lahela.”

Knowing he couldn’t argue with her logic he just shrugged his shoulders. For the first time in his life, he actually didn’t care that he hadn’t won. His only focus was on trying to figure out if she was as into whatever this was between him as he was. He was in the middle of trying to decide just how he was going to go about finding out the answer when Casey let out a squeal and practically started bouncing up and down. Narrowing his eyes on her, he muttered, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Oh, my god! I love this song! Dance with me!” It wasn’t a question, and even if it had been, there wouldn’t have been time for him to say no as she was already dragging him out onto the small dance floor.

Any protest Bryce would have made died on his tongue as soon as she turned back to him, looking up at him with those wide, gorgeous emerald eyes of hers. Her arms were draped around his neck and the height distance between the two of them meant that she basically had to plaster herself to him so that she could reach, not that he was going to complain. Instinctively, his hands settled on her waist and they started to sway in time to the song he didn’t recognize.

Needing to distract himself from the fact that her lips were right there, Bryce asked, in a voice that was surprisingly steady considering how fast his heart was racing, “Why do you love it so much?”

“Just listen to the words! It’s so…” Casey trailed off into a sigh and for a moment, Bryce didn’t think she was going to finish her thought. “It’s so romantic. But not in a corny sort of way.”

He quirked an eyebrow up at her explanation, but before he could say anything, she started singing along. Her voice was so rich and beautiful that he almost didn’t realize how close to home the lyrics hit until she got to the last verse.

Got me catching feelings I wasn't even tryna feel this I don't know how you started stealing my heart Like you are in this bar but I'm glad that you are

“Hey Casey?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you…uh…wanna…” Mentally face-palming, Bryce chastised himself, Could I sound like any more of a bumbling idiot?

Despite the huge smile on her face, Casey rolled her eyes at him. “I read about this ice cream shop that stays open ‘til after last call that’s close by. That sound good to you?”

“Ye…yeah. That sounds perfect.”

“Okay. Lemme just go tell the others that I’m taking off. Meet me outside?”

Not trusting himself not to holler his excitement if he opened his mouth, Bryce merely nodded his head once and forced himself to let go of her hips. As soon as she walked away, he felt like a part of him was missing. He knew that he should probably be worried about how fast he was getting attached to Casey, but he pushed the thought aside. Having never been one to shy away from an adventure or a challenge, he didn’t figure he was going to start now.

Ten minutes later, the two of them were sitting, hand in hand, at a high-top table with their multi-flavored ice cream cones. Apparently impatient to get to her next scoop, Casey took a huge bite of ice cream and immediately scrunched her face up. Pulling her hand out of Bryce’s, she rubbed at her forehead and let out a pain-filled groan.

Struggling to contain his laughter, Bryce asked, “You know how to avoid brain freeze, right?” When Casey only glared at him, he added, “Just lick it.”

Arching a brow at him in what could only be described as a challenge, Casey slowly trailed her tongue up one side of her cone before swirling it around the top.

Biting back the groan bubbling in the back of his throat, Bryce muttered hoarsely, “Don’t start something you don’t want to finish.”

When Casey murmured, “Who said I don’t want to finish it?” his breath caught in his throat and he damn near dropped his own ice cream cone. A teasing smile pulled at her lips as she continued, “This is so delicious, I could never let it go to waste.”

Shooting her a frustrated glare, Bryce muttered, “Why the hell did I want to take you on a date?”

He heard her soft but sharp intake of air and his pulse picked back up. Maybe she wasn’t as unaffected by all of this as she had seemed. “So this…this is a date?”

Enjoying the tables turning on her for a change, Bryce scrunched his face up as if he was thinking about something unpleasant. “Well…”

“Bryce.”

There was something almost desperate in her voice that stole any thoughts had about teasing her further. “I was really hoping it was a date. I just…wasn’t sure what you wanted it to be.”

For the first time all night, Casey’s confidence seemed to falter and she dropped her eyes to the table as she whispered, “I…I was really hoping it was a date too. I just…I wasn’t…I didn’t think you’d want to date me.”

“Oh, babe.” The warmth flaring through his chest with the knowledge that she also wanted this almost rendered him speechless, so he said the only thing that came to mind, hoping it would convey all that he didn’t know how to put into words. “Girl, you got me tryna catch my breath.”

A/N #3: I know that the end of this night was when the group decided to be roommates, but me changing this doesn’t change that. They just invite her to join the apartment search the next morning in the locker room instead of while they were waiting for the train after the bar.

Tag List: @burnsoslow @anotherbeingsworld @darley1101 @lahellacute @mrsdrlahela @mvalentine

[acupmarley]

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE.

TAGGING: @acupmarley @dance-jackie-dance

LOCATION: Acup, around 4-6am, post-BOTB.

NOTES: HUMONGOUS YIKES.

MARLEY ROSE

Marley had chosen to duck out of the frisbee and nerf battle a little earlier than normal, to make her own camp at the Acup lounge so that she would be perfectly well rested to get up for her shift and bake a whole bunch of pastries for the weekend. By the time she’d emerged from her little cocoon, there were still some patrons lingering around in various forms of superhero dress. Marley held back a giggle as she made her way up through the building, but she stopped short as soon as one Jackie Puckerman came into her line of vision. Despite their rocky and turbulent history, they had been in a good place lately. In fact, Marley would consider Jackie to be one of her friends. Odd, probably unlikely, and very forgiving on her part, but she had come to love Jackie as a person and for the most part, let go of their past trauma with each other. “You okay, Jacks?” Marley asked softly, as she took a step closer to the young woman. “Have you been here since the battle?”

JACKIE PUCKERMAN

The last few weeks had been some of the best for Jackie. She was waking up before noon. She was running in the park. And she was eating vegetables. Freakin’ vegetables. Although she wished she could attribute the change to some self starting attitude, she couldn’t, not in the least. That thought alone made her feel queasy at the most inopportune times. The sole reason she had been feeling decent lately was one Marley Rose. She would never truly admit herself not matter how many times her subconscious attempted to make it known to her heart and brain. Jackie wouldn’t dare betray her own self like that. Sure she knew that her heart still felt things with Marley, but her heart still felt things with Kitty too. That didn’t mean that she was actively pursuing either avenue. She just felt like she would always have those feelings for those two girls.But now they were friends. And Jackie wasn’t one to ruin friendships, but she also couldn’t stand by and watch Kitty and Marley grow close while a bomb was ticking down between the three girls. She had never hung out with both girls at the same time, but Jackie had been watching them both at Battle of the Bands. After the traditional drink, Jackie made points of the interactions, the smiles, the laughs. She knew the ruse had to end. Both girls would be mad, yes. Both girls would hate her, maybe even each other, but Jackie couldn’t watch as both parts of her heart came together only to drastically tear apart later. Jackie had to make them hate her. Hell, maybe it would work out selfishly, maybe Jackie would get over them. The last few weeks though. Damn, they were good. Getting closer to Marley again. Taking her on adventures. It had to end, didn’t it? “Oh yeah, ha.” Jackie smiled sheepishly and rubbed her eyes before running a hand through her curly hair. Was that glitter on the palms of her hand? “Have you been here since the battle?” She laughed before poking Marley in the arm. A flutter escaped her stomach and entered her heart. She had to do this. It was a necessity.

MARLEY ROSE

Despite her better judgement, Marley smiled over as Jackie poked her arm. There was no harm in it, after all. It was nothing but friendly. Even the fact that she and Jackie could get to a friendly point was a major stepping stone for both of their maturities, she thought. And even though parts of Marley still dully ached from Jackie's betrayal in the worst possible way, this was okay. She could do this. When they'd been together, Marley had never felt safe. She'd never felt as if she could sit back and take a deep breath and know that Jackie would have her heart and her best intentions in it. Even through all the warning signs, Marley didn't think someone like Jackie would ever love her. And in a way, she was right. "Kind of!" Marley nodded, brushing her fingers across her apron. "I took a nap, but I have to go ahead and bake for the weekend. I'm only in for a few hours, then I'll be able to go home and take a big sleep." Quirking an eyebrow, she glanced at Jackie's haphazard appearance. "Are you okay?"

JACKIE PUCKERMAN

The smile. Jackie missed that more than she cared to admit. Sure, Jackie could take Marley places and do things for her and she would smile, but Jackie missed when that smile was all hers. Those were moments to hold on to when it was dreary out. Jackie knew that Marley and Fiona were together and perfect or whatever. She knew that okay. And of course Fiona was one of her best buds. Jackie would never do anything to betray that. The Jackie before, years prior, might have, but the girl had grown up. Slightly. “Little baker Marley. What’s on the menu for today?” Jackie tried to ease her own nerves with a chuckle, but the sound just didn’t seem to escape as it should of. It sounded forced as fuck. This wasn’t going well. “I’m yeah.” She shrugged. “How are you and Fi? Did you guys have fun last night?” This was a last attempt. She knew it was. But last ditch efforts sometimes worked right? Maybe she could steer the conversation or someone would walk in and ruin this altogether. Maybe she could be lucky.

MARLEY ROSE

"Um..." Marley racked her brain for the orders that had to be filled. "Croissants, scones, the usual. Lacey gave me this awesome blueberry lemon bar recipe that I'd like to try if I get some time. I normally just watch The Great British Baking Show while I'm working in the back and try to get some Mary Berry infused energy." Her smile was nervous, the air between them seemed inordinately tense. Still, Marley wasn't going to overthink it. Battles were always a night high in tension, maybe it had something to do with that. When she brought up Fiona, Marley instantly relaxed. "Yeah, she's good! We loved dressing up. Did you come to our nerf battle? It was so dark and chaotic, I didn't get to see everyone there." There was something about talking about her girlfriend that made everything that much better-- even though Fiona wasn't physically there, Marley could feel the safety net spread beneath her feet. Nothing bad could happen to her as long as Fiona was around. Perhaps that was the problem. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you need water, or something? Breakfast?"(edited)

JACKIE PUCKERMAN

“Blueberry lemon bars. Damn that sounds amazing. Two things that I would never think would go together but just do.” She smiled fully this time, almost comparing the blueberry lemon bars to her and Marley. Two things that didn’t go together but somehow did. Well. Before. Before she fucked it all up. The thought made her stomach turn and she knew she just had to do it. Today. Now. Before it was too late. “Yeah I was there. I kinda felt weird about it I guess. My nerf gun is kinda huge.” She smirked slightly remembering how she felt to be surrounded by people that were happy, people that were in love and that were loved. Her heart hurt so badly that she couldn’t stand to be there anymore. She felt like a child again, begging her mother to bring her father home. “I kinda need to come clean about something. It’s been making me sick. Like, physically ill at times. I know that’s stupid, but I just.” Jackie stopped and looked into Marley’s eyes. For a moment she was lost. For a moment she was back to years before when the two dated and things were so much different. Those two people were no longer the same. That was evident. After this, things would never go back to how the use to be. And that scared her to death. Jackie ran her hand in her hair again, stalling. “I have to tell you because you’re friends with her and I don’t want this to come up any other time and it ruin things even further than it will.” Jackie stepped back away from Marley. “When I...” She took a deep breath, her heart beating faster. “When I cheated on you. I never told you who it was with.” She stopped and looked into Marley’s eyes again, searching for recognition. She didn’t know if she could continue. Her heart hurt in a way that was so familiar to her. You’ll never be good enough for her.

MARLEY ROSE

"Really?" Marley asked, tilting her head to the side in slight confusion. She'd thought it was a semi-popular flavor, but then again, Marley trolled enough baking blogs and Lacey's shop to ensure that she'd never run out of ideas. Every time she baked, it made her miss Millie more than she could ever say. Part of her wanted to make it big just so that she could buy Millie a nice place in Jersey, right by the ocean, and visit her whenever she wanted. "Well, I guess you'll have to be my first taste tester, right?" Come clean. Making me sick. You're friends with her. Ruin things even further. Cheated. Never told you who. There it was. The other shoe. Jackie was a dancer, surely she understood the significance of a ballerina hovering in a death-defying way on one foot. Despite all that Marley had been through, she steeled herself, wondering how much of her heart was left for Jackie to break. In all the years that it had been, Jackie hadn't told her. Honestly, Marley didn't want to know. There were so many souls living in New York City, it would have been easy for someone to capture Jackie's. Not when they were exciting. Not like freshman year Marley, still scared of her own shadow. Not like Iowa Marley, who hadn't found her voice yet. "You can tell me anything," Marley promises, and that much is true. Jackie can tell her anything, she's more than entitled to, and if Jackie wants to get this off of her chest, then that's fine with her. If it will make Jackie feel better, all the more reason to go gung ho with it. Marley has a sneaking suspicion in the pit of her stomach that this is going to make her feel worse, because if her oblivious, naive brain was working into enough overtime she might be able to put the pieces together that one of her friends had been the one who Jackie cheated on her with. Marley's painted-on smile is reassuring, and gives no indication of the storm brewing between her eyes.

JACKIE PUCKERMAN

“That’d be awesome. You always made my stomach happy.” Jackie smiled reassuringly, knowing Marley needed that sometimes. Jackie stopped, biting her lip slightly and switching her weight to her other foot. Jackie needed something to hold onto or she was gonna collapse. “I don’t think I told you initially because the wound was still too new, ya know? And it hurt you and it hurt me. Obviously not as much as you, I’m not dumb enough to say that. I just. I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud, make it true.” She stopped. God she was an idiot. “I know it was true and it happened and I was stupid. I can say I’ve grown from it but I know that doesn’t help.” Jackie couldn’t meet Marley’s eyes now. She could feel the sting of tears begging to run down her face and give everything away. She sniffed hard, steeling herself for what was to come out of her mouth. “It was Kitty.” Jackie breathed out. Her voice almost above a whisper. “Like I said, you guys have gotten closer and I had to tell you so that it didn’t come out later and explode even further and decimate everything.” Jackie shook her head. “I know that I’m fucked up and that maybe I shouldn’t have said anything but I couldn’t let you just sit by and feel like an idiot down the road and think we were in on some sick joke against you cause I swear to G-d we weren’t.” She had to stop to breathe. But her breath didn’t come. Her heart pounded loud in her head. “I...don’t know what to say. I know that the last few weeks have been...nice between us and I hate that I had to ruin this again but you deserved to know. I...had to tell you.” Jackie almost stumbled as she switched her weight again. It was out. It was done. She should have felt better, but somehow she felt like that wound was reopened and spewing out putrid acid that would threaten to eat her alive.

MARLEY ROSE

It was Kitty. It was Kitty. It was Kitty. It's just like the movies, really. Marley doesn't even hear the rest of Jackie's explanation, and it doesn't make much sense to her. If it had come out later, then Marley would be even further removed from the situation. Maybe she and Kitty would laugh, maybe they'd have kids of their own, and laugh over the time they both were caught up in a tizzy over the same girl. The same three girls. As soon as all of the oxygen gets sucked out of the room, Marley panics. In a way it's a relief, because she's always known that Kitty hated her and couldn't understand why. How stupid had she been, to think that it was something trivial like a crush? How stupid had she been, that they'd held this secret together and let her make an absolute fool out of herself? Marley thought back to every single one of her sleepovers with Kitty, to the times they'd lay crying in bed together over Taylor Swift's latest song, and couldn't help but wonder why she just hadn't told her. Then again, it wasn't her secret to tell. It was Jackie's. Jackie didn't owe her this explanation. Jackie didn't have to tell Marley who it was-- that didn't matter. It could have been anyone. Jackie had still cheated, still decided that whatever she potentially had with Kitty was better than her relationship with Marley. Kitty was exciting, after all.Marley wants to scream. She wants to yell, she wants to give Jackie a piece of her mind, she wonders how she possibly could have listened to hours and hours of explanations of how it was a mistake and Jackie still loved her when clearly it wasn't. She hadn't. She's furious. Why not? Why hadn't they told her? Why had Jackie waited until Marley had been lured into a false sense of security, a safety net? Why hadn't Kitty bothered to clear the air? Were they really friends, or was this all some kind of delusion. No, a voice in her head argued back. Kitty loves you. You love her. You're past this. There's an explanation. You know it. Marley opens her mouth about three times to give Jackie some kind of final blow, something she could say to make Jackie hurt more than she does right now. "Excuse me, please." She turns on her heel and locks herself in the storage room for half an hour instead.

[thenumberfour]

Merry Christmas Eve!

Hey there @risatherandom! I’m your @mlsecretsanta! Hope you enjoy this cute, fluffy story and have a very happy holiday!!

His father was livid. Adrien had missed another shoot while saving the city. Gabriel screamed at him, told him he was a disappointment of a son. Now Chat Noir was now prowling the streets, looking for a place to go. He couldn’t go home for the night. He wouldn’t go back to the prison his father had crafted for him. What he really needed was a friend. Nino was out of town this weekend and Alya was off who-knows-where tracking down stories on Ladybug.

That’s why he detransformed in a nearby alleyway and stopped outside Boulangerie Patisserie. Marinette was timid around him, but she had a good heart and would undoubtedly help him forget about his problems. Plus, she had sugary comfort food, and right now, he couldn’t care less about the meticulous diet his father had put in place for him.

The warm light still glowed through the storefront windows, and he could see Marinette inside sweeping the floor. The sign on the front door had been switched to “CLOSED” so he tapped lightly on the glass. She didn’t seem to notice the sound over the brushing of the broom, so he knocked a little louder.

The girl jumped a mile at the sound, and then another mile when she took note of the person who had made it. She rushed to the door and unlocked it, seeming far too concerned about why he was here to be speechless because he was here.

“Adrien, it’s 9PM! What are you doing here?” She exclaimed, her bright blue eyes wide. “Not that I’m not happy to see you or anything.” She tacked on at the end, her cheeks turning pink.

He put a hand to the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. “I, uh… My father and I had an argument and I needed to get out of the house.” He spotted a tray of pink and green macarons on a table behind Marinette. “Also I’m kind of hungry.” “Kinda” was an understatement. He had probably eaten three leaves of lettuce, seven crackers, and nine grapes all day.

“O-of course!” Marinette said. “My family was just about to sit down to dinner. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind setting down an extra plate.”

Adrien’s eyes widened with guilt, “Oh, no, no! I can’t intrude on your family dinner.” He thought it was past dinnertime, but failed to take into account the possibility that a family with a busy bakery would eat dinner later than the rest of Paris.

Marinette pursed her lips. “Adrien, don’t be ridiculous. Stay for dinner. I’ll go ask Maman.” The girl rushed up the stairs. Adrien waited in the same spot by the door, tapping the toe of his orange sneaker on the floor and swaying with his hands in his pockets. Not long after, Marinette raced back down the stairs, grabbing Adrien by the hand and dragging him up the stairs after her, grinning the whole time.

The way his father yelled at him turned his insides to ice and dirt and numbness, but Marinette’s friendly smile made flowers bloom in that wintry patch in his chest.

“Oh, Adrien! How lovely to see you!” Marinette’s mother exclaimed once he plopped down in a seat at the dining room table. Marinette took the seat across from him while her parents sat at each head of the table. Her mother had made a chicken stir-fry, and her father had made an assortment of cookies for dessert.

Adrien scarfed down his first helping of stir-fry and didn’t go for seconds out of politeness. Mrs. Cheng, however, noticed his longing stares at the plate of chicken in the center of the table and encouraged him to take more food.

He loved this. He’d always wished for this, even when his mother was around. A home-cooked meal, light chatter at the dinner table, a cozy atmosphere like the Dupain-Cheng apartment. He even enjoyed himself helping clear away the used plates and silverware. Marinette’s family even made the chores that had always disgusted his father fun.

As he picked up a plate to hand Marinette, he felt a gentle hand on his arm. Mrs. Cheng pulled him aside.

“Marinette told us about your situation. It’s quite late, and Mr. Dupain and I have agreed that it would be best if you stayed here for the night.” Adrien opened his mouth to protest. He knew he could make it home as Chat Noir, though he didn’t plan on saying that outright. Either that, or the Gorilla would come to pick him up. His father would be furious if he knew he’d spent the night at a girl’s house.

Before he could get a word out, he felt a much larger hand clap him on the back. “Don’t worry about it. We have spare pillows and blankets. The couch is all yours.”

Adrien smiled fully at his friend’s parents, green eyes shining with gratitude. “I can’t thank you enough.”

After dinner was spent gaming. Two vs. two Ultimate Mecha Strike III Dupain-Cheng style. Marinette’s father certainly had a knack for the game and it wasn’t hard to see where Marinette had gotten her skills from. Her mother was surprisingly good at it as well, but neither of them were any match for their daughter.

Soon enough, though, it was time for her parents to go to bed. Her father needed to be up at 4AM to prepare the bakery. It wasn’t a school night, so the kids could stay up as late as they wanted, as long as they were quiet and didn’t get up to any “funny business” as Mr. Dupain had put it. Adrien’s face had gone Ladybug red at that. Tom Dupain was a jolly, kind man, but he was downright intimidating when he wanted to be.

“Papa!” Marinette exclaimed, her face turning a similar shade of red as Adrien’s own, darkening the subtle freckles that peppered her nose and cheeks.

“Goodnight kids!” Her mother said, dragging her father along behind her into their bedroom.

Marinette looked at Adrien and smiled, more relaxed than he’d ever seen her. “Up for another game?”

“I think I’ve had my butt handed to me enough for one night.” He chuckled, setting his controller down on the table before leaning back on the sofa.

“I get it,” Marinette said with the tiniest of smirks. “Winning takes a lot out of me.”

“Starting to think that lucky charm of yours doesn’t like me.” He said, and her brows furrowed in surprise.

“You still have it?”

He took the aforementioned charm out of his pocket, turning it over gently in his palm. “I might seem like I’m the luckiest kid alive, but I can honestly use all the luck I can get.”

She blinked at him, lips quirking into a concerned frown.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely grateful for everything I have.” Adrien added hastily. He wasn’t spoiled, and he didn’t want Marinette to think that.

“I understand that.” She affirmed with a reassuring smile.

“I have a great education, awesome friends, the job of a lifetime… But the first two almost didn’t happen because of my father.” He sighed.

“Can you promise me something?” Adrien asked and Marinette nodded. “When you become an awesome fashion designer, don’t shut your children out. Make time for them. Don’t imprison them in their own homes.” Marinette nodded again while Adrien paused. To lighten up the mood, he added, “And for the love of God, don’t ever make your supermodel children diet at fifteen years old.”

Marinette giggled at this. “You assume I’ll have children beautiful enough for modeling.”

“Are you kidding? Of course you will. If they inherit those pretty bluebell eyes, they’ll slay all of Paris.” Adrien froze, realizing that he had just marveled at her eyes aloud instead of in his head, like he’d planned. And he was just a sucker for eyes like that.

The girl next to him let out the tiniest squeak. She covered her mouth, but he could still see some pinkness in her cheeks peeking out from behind her hand.

“I – uh, I mean…” He sputtered, his cheeks heating. She put a hand on his.

“It’s okay.” She said, then hesitantly continued, “I think your eyes are pretty too.”

They were both quiet for a while after that, and Adrien felt himself drifting off to sleep.

He woke a few hours later, probably around midnight if the clock on the far wall was correct. He tried to stretch and shift to a better position, when he noticed Marinette leaning on his shoulder, snoring softly.

Adrien wasn’t sure what to do. Her parents probably wouldn’t be too happy to find out she’d spent the night down here instead of in her own bed. After a few minutes of deliberation, he finally came to a decision. He scooped her up gingerly in his arms, one hand under her knee, the other cradling her shoulders. He didn’t have his Chat Noir super strength, but she wasn’t too heavy.

Plagg took that moment to zip out from his shirt pocket and grin smugly at his chosen. “Oh, stuff it, Plagg.” He whispered, not wanting to wake Marinette and blow his secret.

She sighed and nestled closer to his chest. His face burned. Plagg opened his mouth to make some remark like “Just a friend, huh?” Adrien gave him a warning glare before he could say anything.

**

Marinette woke up feeling weightless. Her eyes were still closed, and her cheek was pressed against something firm. She knew her family sofa was old and hard, but she didn’t remember it feeling like this. She cracked one eye open to survey the situation.

A black t-shirt with colored stripes, a strong jawline, tanned skin… she was in Adrien’s arms.

She had to be dreaming. There was no way this could be true. Adrien Agreste was carrying her up the stairs to her room. She would have squealed if it wouldn’t make things so terribly awkward for both of them, so she continued to feign sleep as the boy of her dreams carried her to bed.

When Adrien reached her room, she felt him pause, most likely since carrying her up a ladder was no easy feat. He lowered her down onto the chaise on the side of the room.

“Plagg,” he whispered. Plagg? Was he speaking gibberish? “Pass me that blanket over there.”

“Only if you let me get a wisecrack in.” Another voice piped up, clearly not too keen on being quiet. Tikki, nestled in Marinette’s pocket, seemed to jolt at the voice. Marinette tried to rack her brain, trying to remember if Adrien had any talent for ventriloquism. Where did that voice come from?

She could practically hear Adrien’s eyes rolling as he sighed. “Fine, I got it.” She heard the rubber soles of Adrien’s sneakers mildly thudding as he moved further away, probably to grab the blanket she kept on her desk. Her desk! It had pictures of Adrien ALL OVER THE PLACE. She peeked open one eye worriedly and saw something far more concerning. A kwami. Hovering around Adrien, whose back was turned as he unfolded her blanket. Plagg. It made sense. The silver ring on Adrien’s finger brought itself to the forefront of her mind. He disappeared during akuma attacks like she did. He knew

How could she pretend to sleep now that she knew that the boy of her dreams was Chat Noir!?

[voyagesofshanghaibrown-blog]

Fake News hits the hi-desert!

Come on, admit it - it wouldn't be 2017 without some fake news in the mix.  And for our final fake news of the year, we turn to author Ivy Pochoda and the "failing" New York Times.

Yes, after all, why should our president have all the fun (we fully intend to tweet this story out as soon as it's done), blathering on about the fake news media all the time.  Those of us in the media know far more about how it gets manipulated and co-opted and bought and sold than any two-bit New York real estate developer, after all.  And since we now have a legion of mindless MAGAts who know literally nada about journalism all telling us that virtually anything and everything we write is "fake" news, we thought it's high time we just jump into the cesspool with them!

I hadn't intended our prime example of late 2017 fake news to be Pochoda's lovely travel piece for The New York Times, "In the California Desert: Vast Darkness, Vibrant Music, an Oasis," but the more I read, the more it seemed this travel piece had donned the fauxhemian garb of fiction (we stole that term "fauxhemian" from someone in New York, by the way, and we're not giving it back).

Plus, and I need to disclose this in the name of journalistic integrity, an ideal we've all heard about but have rarely seen, I'm jealous.  After all, Pochoda's a trendy, popular novelist, and I'm jealous, because I'm on the second chapter of my first novel, and you know what?  It's hard work writing these novels.  Add to that the New York Times just rejected me for some utter wet dream of a job where they pay you gobs of cash to travel the globe and write for a full year - a job that no doubt saw something near 2.3 million applicants - and hey, so much for objectivity.

Some of Pochoda's meandering desert travel epic rings true, even to these jaded hi-desert ears, though she did claim in her initial story (more about that later) that Joshua Tree was actually south of Palm Springs.  Uh, no.  You're thinking of perhaps, Borrego Springs, which is also an awesome place to go, and one of our favorite desert towns.

Her first paragraph about winding up in Wonder Valley mostly by accident, sounded like an authentic desert experience.  After all, quite a few folks in Wonder Valley have wound up there by accident.  Some will tell you they got there on purpose, but press them for details, and... poof!  They can't quite recall what that purpose was, can they?

Of course Pochoda blames this accident on mistakenly booking a vacation rental in Wonder Valley while thinking she was reserving a home in Joshua Tree.  This is a problem that has gotten worse since her first visit, not better.  Virtually all 3,417 Airbnbs in the hi-desert all proudly proclaim themselves to be "in" Joshua Tree.  Some are even (gasp!) in Landers.

But by her second paragraph, Pochoda gets down to serving up a hearty dish of misinformation - the kind of misinformation that can only be known as fake news.

First, she refers to our area as the "High Desert."  Wrong, wrong, wrong, you urban elitist snowflake.  Our area, the area also known as the Morongo Basin, is the hi-desert.  The people who actually settled this place purposefully chose that spelling because the Lancaster/Palmdale area has always traditionally been known in southern California, as the high desert.  Our wise hi-desert elders (they were wise, but judging by some of their offspring, they seem to have married close cousins, if you get my drift) wanted to make sure nobody mistook our area for Lancaster/Palmdale (good move!), and besides, hi-desert (always lower case, because we're a no-ties, informal kind of place, not at all like Manhattan), sounds welcoming and friendly (though sometimes our residents can be that kind of friendly where they'll drink all your booze, smoke all your dope, and then steal your car).

We see a lot of folks using the term "High Desert," because they're not from here and they want to make sure all of us backward folk get our spelling correct, and capitalize it like it's a proper pronoun, which it is.  Sort of.  Or not.  We often see this unwanted correction of our area's name done by sophisticated pseudo-intellectual urbanites from Los Angeles, or even New York, who also love to refer to Joshua Tree National Park as "the monument," despite the fact that they never lived here when it was a national monument.  They think it makes them sound like the fit in.  They don't.

But Pochoda's second paragraph contains a more egregious error - and one the editors of the Times should absolutely have caught - that is, if they weren't trying to pass off some of that fishy fake news on their unsuspecting readers.  Pochoda informs us that you can go to Joshua Tree National Park (at least she doesn't call it the monument - thanks Ivy!), and "get your mind blown by Martian red rock formations..."

Uh, no.  Joshua Tree National Park does not have red rock formations.  None.  Monzogranite?  Sure.  But while you can find some red rock up in the oddly named Red Rock Canyon State Park in the northwest of the Mojave Desert, and you can find it in the similarly named Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just outside Las Vegas, and in Valley of Fire State Park, also not far outside Las Vegas, or virtually just about everywhere in southeast Utah, we have no red rock in Joshua Tree (unless Mr. Andre went and painted another boulder or something).

Who paid the fact checker to look the other way on that whopper?

I'll overlook the fact Pochoda drops the "bohemian" bomb on us once again (the last time it was the LA Times that did it, and really, once was enough, thank you).  We get that we're different than the Coachella Valley, thank God, and yes, while much of the lo desert resembles a well manicured mausoleum, we are a little rougher and in need of a pedicure, or at least a bath.

Now, if Ms. Pochoda were to have submitted her story to this somewhat less than prestigious publication instead of the old grey lady, she would have had her red rocks dug out right away, along with the screaming windmills she had to drive through to get here (they do not scream, that's hyperbolic).

Never mind her brutish depiction of our fabulous Joshua trees with their "knifelike leaves reaching up toward the brutal sun," we all know they don't have leaves, they have spiky things that really hurt when you accidentally stab one into the side of your head, it's her epiphany about the desert that really strikes out:

“I get it,” I say, “it doesn’t look like much.”

In fact, Highway 62 doesn’t even look like desert.

Really?  So, Ms. I-saw-red-rocks-in-Joshua-Tree-desert-expert, the desert doesn't look like the desert?  Well, it damned sure doesn't look like lower Manhattan, now, does it?

OK, so then she utterly erased Morongo Valley from the map as the first town she passed on her oddessy (yes, it's misspelled, but more accurate this way), was Yucca Valley, where tattoo parlors and smoke shops rival the number of big box stores and fast food joints.  Well, she got that right, anyway.

Then, she arrived in Joshua Tree (town, not park), which she describes as "equally grim."  Yes, hipsters and fauxhemians, she just completely dissed your "village," in just two words, clearly not understanding that the cool people of Joshua Tree absolutely would, under normal circumstances, kill just about anyone who equated their town with Yucca Valley, let alone refer to it as grim.

Our intrepid explorer, enduring grimness after grimness, continued on to Twentyine Palms, a "town of barbershops advertising military haircuts, more tattoo parlors and smoke shops..." and she goes on to note two bars "too divey even for me," and a worrisome number of massage parlors.

That's hilarious.  Back in the early days of The Sun Runner Magazine, when it was still based in Twentynine Palms (before the good citizens of the city offered to firebomb my office, that is), not long after the magazine began publishing on January 1, 1995, Vickie Waite, the founding editor of the publication ran a quite funny piece that gently parodied Twentynine Palms in a similar manner, and it caused an uproar that resulted in quite a few canceled ads and outraged readers demanding an apology.  But, in the interest of journalistic integrity, I'd have to say that her portrayal, just like that of Deanne Stillman (another author whom to this day the mere mention of her name elicits an angry response in that scrappy town), is pretty much right on.

The only thing I'd add is that the dive bars are actually pretty friendly, and Pochoda doesn't understand much about the Marine Corps because the base commander will designate any bar that's too "divey" as off limits.  I fondly remember the Joshua Tree Saloon's days as being "off limits" because evidently it was too dangerous for Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to have a drink there.  This was before they started serving seared ahi tuna salads and putting on airs.

Oh, and I'd add that some folks in the city keep saying they can't do anything about the happy ending massage parlors that service, errr..... serve, the Marines in town.  Yes, yes you can do something about them.  The Coachella Valley has had licensing requirements that have fully regulated the massage businesses there for years.  If they can do it, so can you.

Soon, Pochoda passed the "sturdy" (she loves that word) adobes and emerged in Wonder Valley.  She drove by the famous "Next Services 100 Miles" sign (it's famous because artist Andrea Zittel once gave an interview to some big city paper with no fact checkers where she said she lived past that sign - yeah, going the other way, back in Joshua Tree).  She bravely drove on through the "savage terrain that seemed to stretch on for a nerve-racking distance."  Give her a medal!

Now, honestly, I love it that Pochoda does "get" a lot about the desert, and she appreciates what it has to offer.  But snuffling beneath the deck?  What desert animal with any self respect snuffles?  Was that just a literary device?  If so, why do literary devices snuffle?  Allergies, probably.

No, I think I've found the answer: wolves.  Wolves snuffle.  Especially the ones in the original version of her story (that has been edited since our first reading).  Apparently we weren't the only ones who caught the fact that wolves had been included in the story, despite the fact that there are zero wolves here.  Maybe when sloths roamed the countryside, munching slothfully on the tasty knifelike leaves of our Joshua trees, wolves may have howled, but not for quite some time.

Note to NYT editors who replaced "wolves" with "dogs" in this story: we do have a problem out here with people abandoning their dogs, and those dogs forming packs, and those packs occasionally bringing down a desert bighorn sheep, or threatening and attacking a human.  One pack had been really going after our local bighorn sheep, until, a national park ranger explained to me, "we took care of the problem."  No, they didn't round up the doggies and take them to the pound.

But while it appears the fact checkers may have awoken at the Times and realized that wolves are not included in our entertaining selection of wildlife, they missed the subtle clue that followed that tipped us off that Pochoda had engaged in time travel as well.

Time travel?  How could that be?

Simple.  Pochoda's description of the 29 Palms Inn gives it away.  She talked about her trip nearly a decade ago, and the wall around the Inn's pool area being painted in "gradients of purple" on the pool side of the wall, and gradients of orange on the exterior.  Well, they just painted the wall in those gradients in the past year, so clearly, Pochoda time traveled during her first visit.

But on a later visit to the Inn (which is well worth repeated visits, by the way - we go as often as possible), she understands that being at the Inn in the Mojave is somehow the equivalent of being in a U.S. consulate on a small island in the South Pacific.  Minus the South Pacific, of course, or the tall coconut palms replacing our squatter, native palm trees.  If you spend enough time at the Inn, you may find yourself thinking it's similar, however, to a consulate somewhere on Alderaan, before the planet's untimely demise.

Her depiction of a night at the Inn is hilarious, with its "rugged tourists" and "resident artists and musicians of a rougher cut."  I'm trying to visualize the Inn filled with "rugged" tourists.  Were they all wearing lumberjack clothes?  Big beards?  Those are hipsters!  The only thing rugged about them is their desire to make big bonfires during 45 mph winds when they're getting a craving for s'mores at some Hipcamp, doing their best to burn down our homes.

Pochoda's description of the Campbell House is about as shallow as it gets for travel writing, entirely ignoring, well, the Campbells, who really deserved more of a mention, especially in light of their contributions.  No.  We're not going to tell you more about them.  Go ask the New York Times.  They're the ones hiring people who don't know anything about the places they write about.

I can forgive Pochoda's hyperbole and odd adjectives to a point, especially since this is ostensibly a story about fake news, even the swallows carving the purple sky, our gritty flowers, and fields of cactuses, with our insistent hidden oases, but then she went to The Palms, which defies description anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I love The Palms.  I just can't take my wife there any more because the first and last time I took her there some drunkass local woman tried to pick a fight with her. "Yoush look like onna dem LA womenth," the local woman who is actually from LA, said to my wife, who is from New Jersey.  It went downhill from there.  The woman, it turned out, made her living by taking pictures of people's auras every Thursday night at the Palm Springs VillageFest, with a special (ie: expensive) Polaroid camera.  What portion of the money the woman did not spend on driving back and forth to Palm Springs from Wonder Valley, she spent on cheap beer, knowing full well The Palms never 86es anyone.  Not even the shape-shifting reptililans who frequently drop by on Saturday nights.

I was ready to jump in to keep my wife from being clumsily assaulted as the woman got threateningly in her face, but luckily, my wife's hairdresser at the time, Jerry, walked through the door right then and quickly intervened.  Jerry lived in Wonder Valley and frequented The Palms, and had even survived a tornado that struck his home.  We do have some pretty interesting, and sometimes severe, weather out here.  Dick Dale, the surf guitar king, had a giant 2,000 gallon (don't quote me on this because I'm going on memory here) water tank that once was blown something like four miles away, and Jerry had his roof  - and his electric meter - blown off his house and off somewhere into the desert, never to be seen again.

What was funny, was that Southern California Edison sent Jerry an electric bill while he was waiting for them to come out to replace his meter.  He asked them how they knew how much to bill him.  "We read the meter," was the reply.  "Oh, you found it!" Jerry responded.

Virtually none of us who live here would be surprised to find out that SCE lies.  Some of that might come from the fact that another agency in the line of plying power, LA Department of Water and Power, told some really big whoppers to us a while back.  But that's another story.

Pochoda wrapped things up saying "big city artists and artisans and a rumored hipster hotel chain are coming," conjuring up images of change sweeping across our little wolf-riddled red rock part of the Mojave, snuffling through the knifelike leaves of the Joshua trees, and, well, changing things.  But we already have lots of big city artists and artisans, and some get me called a pornographer for printing their ads in the magazine (another story, but tied to that mention of people wanting to firebomb my office), and others make me really nice stuff that I love and use, and are as sweet as can be.  The hipster hotel "chain," is really just a couple remodeling (slowly) Govinda's old Circle C Lodge.  Not exactly Ace Hotel Twentynine Palms or anything.

Pochoda's story in the New York Times isn't a happenstance kind of thing.  She has a novel that's just come out called "Wonder Valley."  I'm glad she finds inspiration for her storytelling in our sturdy, rugged part of the desert.

Oh, and this notice has appeared at the bottom of her travel story in the New York Times:

Correction: December 20, 2017

An earlier edition of this article described incorrectly the location of Joshua Tree. It is north of Palm Springs and other resort towns, not south. The article also misidentified the source of sounds in the desert. They were coyotes, not wolves.

Ivy Pochoda's New York Times story

[14domino]

I have a lot of ideas for improving the state of tournament and recreational Scrabble, mostly revolving around the technological aspect of things. I am aware that there are many other ways in which it is lacking, but my expertise is in technology, and that's probably the best way I can make an impact.

Let's start with some projects I have already built:

Aerolith

https://www.aerolith.org is my word study website. It's been around in some form or another since 2007; I believe I launched it as a downloadable desktop app around the time of the Players' Championship. I rewrote the whole thing in 2011 as a web app, a considerable undertaking as I knew nothing about web programming, but the experience acquired here helped me obtain a job as an early employee-turned-cofounder at a YC company (Leftronic), which was then acquired a few years later, giving me some minor version of success.

I've used it as a bit of a technological testbed; I added and removed sockets at some point, I've rewritten it with the latest in JS tech (React.js at the time, although it looks like that's here to stay for a bit longer), and played with backend deploy technologies like Kubernetes (mostly a mistake, honestly, especially for such a small site). I get a few hundred users a month, around 450 monthly actives and 150 daily actives last I checked. It's a nice site that I'm pretty proud of, and is mostly self-sustaining in that I get just enough in donations to cover running it for free.

As far as the usefulness of it, it's a bit debatable. I certainly like using it and have learned a lot of words from it, and many people enjoy it and tell me about it, but it has at least a few glaring omissions. The one that comes to mind is some programmed way to study; i.e., something like spaced repetition / cardboxing. I've collected a ton of data on word difficulty that I could use, but I haven't had much time to add more features to my app recently. The deployment of it is also suffering, and I need to greatly simplify it.

For the future, the main things I want to add to it are spaced repetition / some sort of intelligent way to study words, which would keep per-user and global statistics on words that are easy or hard and know how to ask these of the user. I think this would make the tool much more useful. There are also a ton of small improvements, like showing previously guessed anagrams per question, allowing user to easily continue when their time runs out, untimed quizzes, etc.

Macondo

Macondo is not released yet; it is intended to be a machine-learning version of Quackle. I am still quite early in the development of it, although I have made a bunch of progress. Mostly, it can play games against itself with some preliminary "superleave" values for every rack. We need to determine these superleave values in a better way and have them converge to, or at least be close to Quackle values (or explain why they're not).

Machine learning hasn't been done with Scrabble yet, but I think this field is ripe for innovation. I think a proper machine-learning enabled AI can beat Quackle's Championship Player at least 60-70% of the time. The ideal place to showcase the finished AI would be in a best-of-X match against a top player (ideally Nigel Richards!) with some sponsored prize money on the line. I think this would provide great publicity for the game of Scrabble. Additionally, the tool would make huge strides in making players even better.

Some improvements I would add to it as well:

Automatic rangefinding

Heat maps for simulations, other statistics

A great pre-endgame solver, with a UI clearly showing winning and losing variations, etc

A great endgame solver (this is a prerequisite for the pre-endgame solver). The Quackle one is good but has issues with stuck tile endgames. I have spent a ton of time building a minimax-based solver with alpha-beta pruning; it's quite slow and buggy. I think I can significantly improve its speed.

Lots of graphs (showing values of tiles as the game progresses, winning % as game progresses - for easy analysis of famous games, etc)

It's still quite early and it's hard to find time to devote to both projects and my full-time job. Progress can be found here: https://github.com/domino14/macondo

Crossword Online

Or whatever we want to call it. The state of the art for playing online Scrabble sucks to put it mildly. ISC has an ancient interface, may actually have legitimate randomizer issues (I don't fully buy it but I've heard enough anecdotes and some data), and its phone app is not very functional. EA Scrabble is awful and is going to be discontinued. Its replacement is not getting rave reviews. We need something akin to lichess.org for Scrabble - this beautiful online Chess site is mostly a one-man job it seems. It is my dream to build something like this for Scrabble, but a giant undertaking in terms of time. I actually started on a game viewer and made a lot of progress on the front end for this app, but have almost no server code, and abandoned it once I saw ISC was releasing a phone version. However, after seeing the phone/browser version of ISC it's clear we still need a good solution.

From another perspective, I think an app that allows us to have proper tournaments would be great for the environment. I don't think it's sustainable in the long term for people to be flying everywhere constantly. I'm not saying the world will turn into Ready Player One anytime soon, but with an awesome app and proper anti-cheating technology we could start having some more high-profile tournaments without players having to travel to each other. I do, however, still prefer the analog feel of Scrabble, the actual tiles and board.

Once I decide to tackle this again, I should be able to salvage a lot of my front-end viewer code, and combine it with Macondo to provide a back-end engine. I'd just need to write multiplayer code. The app should support both live games and correspondence games.

Phone apps for everything

Conrad has designed some nice mocks for Aerolith Mobile, and the Crossword app should also have a mobile app. I can probably use React Mobile to make it easy to cross-develop for Android / iPhone. I've never built a phone app before, but can always learn!

Aeroblogs, articles, etc

People write ephemeral tournament reports / blogs / strategy articles nowadays as Facebook posts. That's not ideal. They're hard to search, and if you're not on Facebook when they're written you might never see them. LiveJournal was cool while it lasted but people moved on. I think we need a proper blogging platform with actual Scrabble integration (imagine pasting a board diagram in ASCII and it generates a viewable board, with comments, etc, or links to tournaments on cross-tables, etc etc).

I also want to have strategy articles and video content easily available for search on this site. I'm thinking it could be something like channelfireball.com (for Magic The Gathering). We'd need to get content makers, but I think we have a few people who are willing to do that.

What do I need?

Time and funding. Even though I have some time on weekends, I need to be better at managing it. I am considering setting up a Patreon to see if people are interested. None of this makes much sense if people are not interested - after all, people vote with their wallets.

[wrestlinghasmelike-blog]

Survivor Series 2017 review!

Hello everyone! I just got home from my friends’ house after watching Survivor Series, and I’m ready to get this review going!

Please please let me know what you thought of the show, and let me know what you like or don’t like about these reviews. Also, please give these a reblog and share with your friends! Thanks so much!

Side note: this review will not include the pre-show.

New Day vs. The Shield

I’m happy that this match was the first to start. I think to go into such a big PPV like this one, you needed to get the audience hyped immediately. My first thoughts before the match started were,”Wait, why isn’t Roman wearing the mesh Shield/Raw shirt?” I think that if you’re going to be a tag team, you should all be wearing the same thing, or at least similar clothing. If you don’t match, you look stupid and out of place. The start of the match was kind of a slow one, but it was really strong. I think they built up the energy and the pace well throughout the match and mostly everyone was looking solid. I had a lot of problems with Dean Ambrose during this match, however. He really goofed some of his moves, and it looked like he wasn’t trying to hit his mark. The thing with Dean for me is that he’s too squirrely sometimes. His jitteriness works for his character, but it looks like sloppy footwork. Big E had that awesome spear through the ropes! That was such a great move! This match almost had a really bad finish with a lot of messed up spots, but the Shield took the win in the end. I knew the Shield was going to pick up the win for this one because like, why would you make the Shield look weak and have them lose? It just wouldn’t make sense at all really. A great match to start the show!

Also, what was with the scorecard? That didn’t make sense at all in the beginning. If it was something WWE had prefaced beforehand, it would’ve been better. Or, if it had implications attached to it, like maybe whoever gets the most wins gets the first pick in the draft, it would’ve been a lot better!

 Women’s Elimination Tag Team Match

Another pretty solid match, although it did have a few complications. I can’t believe Becky was the first one eliminated! No fair! And by Bayley of all people, no thanks. I thought it was a little weird that Tamina kept her jacket on for the first part of the match. I think she would do well with some new gear, instead of the half street clothes, half ring attire thing she’s been doing. Bayley was the next one eliminated, nice! Her character is too happy for me, too “in your face” about being the hometown girl who grew up a fan and is now a wrestler. She needs to go in a different direction now. After Bayley, we saw Nia and Tamina fight it out, and the crowd was really hyped for this moment? It was a random thing for the crowd to be excited about, unless I missed something? I thought it was very bogus for Nia to get eliminated by a count out. She should’ve been pinned like everyone else. Alicia and Naomi were doing good, and then it looked like the ref messed up, and then everyone got confused. It took the excitement out of the match for sure. In the end, Asuka took the win for Team Raw, thank god. 

Miz vs. Baron Corbin

I went into this match thinking how not entertaining it was probably going to be, but I was surprised that it wasn’t terrible! I was very happy to see Maryse there because I just think she’s great and that she’s a stunning woman. It was funny to see the Miz-tourage at ringside, but I liked how they didn’t get super involved in the match. They maybe had one moment where they distracted the ref, but that was it! I actually thought the Miz was going to get the easy win, but Baron surprised me by getting the first win for Smackdown! Not my favorite match, but not an awful one!

The Bar vs. The Usos

I was interested to see how this match would go for sure, but I think I’m at fault for trying to compare it to the New Day/Shield match from earlier in the night. This match felt a bit slower-paced than the rest of the matches, but I think that was fine because everything else seemed so high octane. It was honestly very hard for me to move on from Sheamus’ mohawk tonight because oh my god it looked like a rack of lamb and I couldn’t think of anything else. The match definitely heated up at the end, but we all caught Byron Saxton saying the “superkick party” line, so we’ll see what happens with that. This match had a great finish with the Usos getting the second win for Smackdown!

Charlotte vs. Alexa Bliss

I wasn’t so sold on this match when it first started. I still wanted Nattie to be the champion heading into this PPV, but in the end, I think Charlotte and Alexa created a better story with this match. It was very telling that Alexa wanted the win for this match, and she seemed really determined to get it however she could. I love Alexa Bliss and her character because she makes it work so well, and her ring work continues to improve and impress. Charlotte has a beautiful moonsault, and even though she missed, they still looked really impressive. In the end, Charlotte won. Honestly, I think this has potential for a Mania match somewhere in the future. I don’t know if it’s something I need to see again, but I’d be content with having them wrestle each other again.

AJ Styles vs. Brock Lensar

I feel bad for Jinder for not being a part of this match. I prefer AJ and Brock, but Jinder wasn’t bad as champion! From a business standpoint, AJ sells more than Jinder does. The crowd was super behind this match, but you know what? The pop for Finn and AJ at the last PPV was better, so I’m happy about that. I had a feeling that Brock was going be on offense for the beginning of the match; there was no way AJ was going to take him down so early. This match had a smooth progression, and it was amazing from start to finish. There were a couple of suplexes that Brock did where AJ did not land so well, so that wasn’t so smooth, but still soooo good. That calf-crusher that AJ put on Brock was amazing, and Brock sold it all the way through until the end of the match! Even when Brock set up AJ for the final F5 he was selling it! A pretty cool match. I’m glad Brock seemed to be into it. This was a contender for match of the night for sure!

Raw vs. Smackdown Tag Team Match

Wow, this was a busy match, huh? First of all, FINN IN THOSE RED TRUNKS HAD ME DEAD! Did y’all see how amazing he looked?! I was blown away, and I was even crying when he came out. I love Finn so much. Right off the bat, this match was so good. There were a lot of good match ups that this presented us with, like Finn and Randy or John, and Samoa Joe with Cena, and Kurt with Shinsuke! This felt like a whirlwind of a match, and everyone looked amazing. Shinsuke was the first one eliminated, then Bobby Roode was gone shortly after. I am happy to see that Bobby was included in this match because he hasn’t been doing much of anything on Smackdown, so to see him on this big card was awesome! The spot with Braun going through the announce table was good, and I’m glad Shane did not jump from the top rope because good god I am tired of seeing that. Samoa Joe was the next eliminated, and then we saw John and Kurt face off. This was a great change of pace for the match because it was really non-stop ever since the beginning, and to have these guys tone it down was really nice. FINN WITH THE COUP DE GRACE TO JOHN YES! John was the next eliminated, which brought Randy and Kurt, and then it brought Finn and Randy! They had a great few minutes, with me on the edge of my seat the entire time, but Randy hit Finn with an RKO, a nice one if I might add, and that was the end of Finn in this match. The interference by Kevin and Sami was a bit predictable, and it didn’t really add anything for me. The end of the match gave us Kurt, Triple H, and Braun vs. Shane, and it gave us that confusing Triple H heel turn that wasn’t actually a heel turn? I see now that they’re already setting up for a Wrestlemania match between Kurt and Triple H, which I think is gonna be cool, and then Braun smashed Triple H, which was good for Braun. A win for Team Raw to end the night!

Overall, I thought this PPV was exciting! It was a fully packed card with some star-studded matches! There were a couple misfires, but all in all a great show! The road to Clash of Champions begins!

Stay tuned tomorrow night for my Monday Night Raw review! 

-Casey

[mostlyvoidpartiallysmog]

Just finished the second Night Vale novel It Devours! that I got my hands on when I got a hold of my pre-order yesterday. (So sue me. College strike up here gave me some free time)

So some thoughts?

BIIIIG SPOILERS obviously.

Firstly I’d just like to say that I LOVE the ending. Specifically I love the way the relationship between Nilanjana and Darryl ends. GOD that was so refreshing! Honestly their relationship felt rushed and empty anyway and it was SO fucking nice to see a realistic potential end to a new adult relationship.

In regards to the early parts of the relationship? The writing seemed to have a preoccupation with kisses and lips that squicked me more then anything, but I’ve never been a big kissing person in general so maybe it’s just that.

The sex mentioned, especially with how explicitly they did so, kind of felt... I’m just going to say it, a little annoying? *sigh* Now I get that there aren’t too many places where even this minor level of detail and frankness about sex could come up, but seeing what felt like the first slightly more explicit handling of it then like, Carlos jokingly getting turned on by science or some such as the podcast has done (Not counting the semi-obscure and one time live show they recently did of course. Night Vale after dark I THINK it might have been called? With Cecil and Dylan reading some nsfw content?) what felt like the first more explicit handling went to... well a hetero sex scene and, eh, call me a bitter queer but like, ANY thing else would have felt more interesting. Idk, I was just rather meh about the whole thing.

Oh and well I’m at it, “Sex in Night Vale take’s a little longer, but when it starts it happens much like anywhere else.” also felt kind off to me. Just picky queer sex positive feminist things I guess. It ain’t a big thing, but if anyone else had written it I’d be rolling my eyes going “yo there’s more then one way to fuck my hetero dude friend. It’s not all about cis ass, able bodied penis in vaginal sex.) but again, that’s just me being picky as SHIT because I, to be frank, expect a heckuva lot from Night Vale what with them consistently delivering for 3 year (Specifically how long I’ve been listening I mean. Don’t recall how many year’s they’ve been around in general.)

Also like, the lead up TO the sex was weird? We had a window into both their heads but at no point were we lead to believe they were physically particularly attracted to each other before the sex? It jumped from “maybe he’s kind of cute” to fucking? Like give us a few bits of her (preferably her because fuck yes not shying away from female sexuality) eyes getting caught on his body or some overt desire or something. Direct us to something that says “physical” attraction. (and let’s REALLY not have it be a possessive stereotype about her getting jealous over some female friend of his and taking it out by getting touchy feely with a guy she barely knows for that matter) It just felt really flat. Really lacking it what should have been easy build up. Minor build up, because sex can absolutely and should absolutely be shown sometimes as something human, and pleasant, and potentially just chill and fun to do, but like, we have an internal view of their heads, as such we should have seen SOME small nudge of physical attraction before hand. Some tug. Don’t give the audience nothing and then expect them to buy a relationship that, as it turns out in the end, was largely just based on good/fun sex.

Um, also; IF anyone else had written that whole “let’s cosign forms and get blood work done, lol look how long this is taking” pre-sex bit, then I honestly would have taken it as a “consent is a mood breaker and millennials are prudish idiots ruining sex with their safe sex and their checks for consent.” Idk. That joke felt a little off the mark. Just me being picky again.

Another thing? Nilanjana is fat! Yaaay! That was unexpectedly cool! (Would have preferred if they had said “fat” versus “overweight”. Fat’s not a dirty word, being fat isn’t a reflection on your morals and all that, but hey, not everyone is up with the latest fat acceptance stuff I guess. But like, “over” weight. Over whose weight? Over what supposed perfect weight? Is that supposed to be your short hand for “doesn’t exercise” ‘cause those sure as hell aren’t inherently connected. Correlation doesn’t equal causation. Pbthhh. >.>)

Speaking of being picky, or maybe this was just a very clever sign that Darryl and Nilanjana’s relationship wouldn’t work out in the long term, did Nilanjana REALLY have to get so jealous and competitive with Stephanie? Did she have to instantly dislike and distrust her because of “the way Darryl looked at her”? Because to recap that made all the women in the book in relation to Nilanjana, judgemental, shallow, and foolish (Lusia), cold, untrustworthy, and naive (Stephanie. “Naive” because of her religion in Nilanjana’s books and soooort of by the narrative as well), literally just a world threatening zealous cultist (Munn), or a goofy, initially untrustworthy sidekick (Jamillah).

I mean even Josh Crayton got better billing in this round then either his mum or Jackie who got tiny cameo’s each. =/ I would have liked to see more of those two.

While we’re on the subject of female characters. NIGHT VALE PLEASE. PLEASE give us some more background or remotely confirmed wlw!!! Jeeze. Seriously! We got another random background guy, or at least person getting refereed to with he/him pronouns who got a boyfriend, (The helicopter fellow) and though we already knew Josh was bi/pan otherwise not straight, he got a briefly mentioned boyfriend in this one! And of course the show focus is always Cecil and Carlos which racks the points waaay up for amazing, awesome mlm representation. We DID get a tiny cameo from Basimah Bashara which was neat, and a small moment with Michael Nguyen, but that’s the thing with those two and wlw in Night Vale in general isn’t it? While one can... hope? Somewhat with evidence? That Maureen and Michael might be a couple now, might be positive wlw representation, that was never actually made super clear. (Looking back on it it WAS made super clear with Basimah, so good on them with that!)

There’s also Jackie and Sheriff Sam. I HAVE to say, I was absolutely PREYING Jackie and Dana got together when Jackie mentioned she was dating someone from “high up in the government” so the let down I felt from finding out it was Sam instead came mostly from that. =p (Give Dana a girlfrieeend. Sure there’s always Alice Isn’t Dead but that ain’t the same. =p) Sam uses they/them pronouns and we can probably safely assume from that that they’re meant to be NB, genderqueer, genderfuild, or otherwise just not a cis character, so that’s wonderful, and Jackie dating them pretty much pings her as some variety of queer (or at least queer friendly, but then the majority of Night Vale is.) as well, so that’s also neat! I dooon’t think we had that from her before? Maybe there was something in the first book I’m forgetting. (I am personally mad happy that Jackie is queer or at least chill with nb folk, as she reminds me of myself in way too many ways. Awkward high-fives and “dude’s” and all.) That being said, how old is Sheriff Sam? I always pictured them at like 40 something from the voice. >.> Lol apparently not.

So on a more world building, less representation based note; Kevin.

Kevin is a prophet in the churches lore apparently. That’s neat? I guess? Here’s the thing, when WAS the Joyous Congregation founded? And my main concern; when did Kevin go through the Old Oak Door that showed him the smiling god for the first time??? The Congregation, or at least the general concept of the religion of the smiling god seems fully formed back during the Strex arc, and more then that Kevin hasn’t (as far as we know. Also please Finknor give us more Kevin. Triptych Broke. My. Heart. and I’m begging you.) been back to Night Vale or otherwise out of the desert other world since the time Steve pushed him in at the end of the Strex arc.

I don’t WANT to think that Kevin founded the whole religion. It’s always seemed very much like a thing that existed before him and more importantly not a thing he did before Strex!him if you will, but who knows I guess. =/

That’s the thing. I always thought of the smiling god AS ENTIRELY a Strex concept, and I’m going to wager a guess that at least at the start Finknor did too. It’s so tied into Strex. Inseparable from Strex’s meaning and purpose. Smile. Work. Be empty. Pretend to be happy. Smiling IS Strex, it’s a Strex thing, so it kind of made me feel... like it felt a bit rewrite-y to not even mention Strex at all during this book?

I mean was the smiling god NOT behind Strex? Was the congregation not at least back a couple years ago indistinguishable from Strex? Idk. These are all questions I have.

Talking about things that feel rewrite-y, I’m not sure I did the idea of Carlos actually being in the desert other world for TEN YEARS. Here’s the thing. We were, at the very least, as the audience lead to believe that Cecil and Carlos were thinking of LIVING there. Of moving there. a MASSIVE freaking part of the Carlos in the desert other world arc had us second guessing Carlos and Cecil’s whole relationship ffs! That WAS the subtext of the arc! The purpose! That Carlos seemed more interested in science and research of the desert other world then getting back to freaking Cecil! And now you’re going to claim that not only was he there ten years, which we had NO foreshadowing of during the arc at ALL as far as I can see, but he only ever wanted desperately to get home? Again the twist at the end of the desert other world arc is Cecil unexpectedly NOT MOVING THERE. WHAT? Nah man. That was some silly re-write stuff right there. Contradicting what world building we have on the desert other world until now.

Another thing highly related to that? Where the fuck was the nomadic giant army?? Or hell, even just Kevin and that dumb roller coaster they built? (I GUESS you could say that they all... died... ? And the roller coaster... vanished completely? But nah. Not really because aging doesn’t work there now does it?) Doug and Elisha thanks? Yet more stuff that made Carlos seem at home (and for that matter time passing relatively similarly from the sort of relationships he formed and reported on) in the desert other world. Ugh. I really don’t like that whole ten years thing. It seemed excessive too. Like two or even three years would have been more believable from what we saw of Carlos during that time, and even with only the single year I could already understand Carlos being traumatized from the event. Idk.

Speaking of world building for the desert other world? Assuming we keep with previous would building regarding it we are NOT done with it yet. Or rather, we probably shouldn’t be. There’s WAY too much going on there. Kevin’s still in there, he named it DESERT BLUFFS ffs. (I’m still waiting for the day we get the plot twist that the other world IS the desert bluffs we know from the past or something very similar to that. I also noticed a hella conspicuous absence of talk about desert bluffs OR the desert other world during the Huntokar revelations of the last finished arc. That place is MAD secret to the point that it’s not even on the radar of Huntokar, and probably The Glow Cloud, Distant Prince, Woman from Italy and other elder god type things.)

Then there’s Dana’s drawings up on the mountain. The spiraling murals of triangles I believe it was? We are NOT done with that place. I know at the end Darryl is like “well maybe the smiling god wasn’t that stupid centipede” and we’re supposed to at least sort of think like Nilanjana and be like “Yea huh. Sure. You just want to think that to protect your beliefs.” but honestly yeah, I don’t remotely think the centipede was really... the smiling god? Unless like I said, Kevin started the religion all together which I very much hope he didn’t? So yea, probably not the smiling god, DEFINITELY not the biggest threat in the desert other world. Up until now the “light” trying to get into Night Vale has been really obtuse and obscure. Really vague and therefore menacing and cool. I don’t think Finknor are bad enough writers to just toss all that away on a giant centipede. I’m a cynical person. Usually I’d add “At least I hope not” to that sentence, but damn it all if I don’t KNOW that Finknor are better writers then that.

Also there was the whole “hey wait the “ritual” to summon the god probably wasn’t just a coincidence” idea dropped in there to explore. So yeah. Lot’s to look at still.

Speaking of the ritual? Did you guys caaaaatch iiiiiit??? The jumping. How frantic jumping was a big part of the ritual? Maybe I’m just reaching but it sounded SO much like Kevin’s narration jumping bit from way back in The Sandstorm that Cecil mirrors with his own narration bit in his episode.

I’m SOOOO glad we got a glimpse into additional meaning for that kid jumping trying to recapture the feeling of flight scene for Kevin. It would be cool if more meaning was discovered for it in the future.

I’ve always read Cecil’s retrospective kid scene in those episodes as maybe relating too whatever happens in Cassette Tapes, or maaaybe some weird shit with Kevin himself in a metaphorical or otherwise obscured reference to why the heck the whole doubles thing happens anyway. (Also again, doubles, Desert bluff weirdness. Another thing I attributed to possibly the smiling god that could definitely not be if it were just a centipede, but honestly whether it’s a centipede or not I think it would be much more interesting if the smiling god was only a corrupting force for Desert bluffs and not the “weird Night Vale thing” that causes them to exist in the first place. And like I said? What’s cool is that it seems to not be Huntokar’s fault either that Desert Bluffs exists so that’s neat. That mean’s there’s some other weird shit going on there for us to find out.)

Ok one thing I forgot about the time rules of the desert other world and Kevin? You don’t AGE in the desert other world. Kevin when he contact Cecil in the last section of Triptych say’s he is very old. Now he could mean ancient as in “lived a very long time” but he specifically says “very old” and seems like his health might even me failing. Certainly he puts on a different voice. Anyway, all that leading up to the theory that we can extrapolate from that that Kevin will escape the desert other world at some point. Which isn’t too much of a stretch, and I think we all kind of expected (and I desperately hoped for after Triptych tyvm. FFS Cecil if you know how he ends up and also what he used to be like why not GO SAVE KEVIN FROM THAT FATE! Jeeze man! I really wish that had been part of the arc following Triptych and genuinely thought it might be. Like please. Cecil how can you just leave him there???)

All and all I liked the first novel a LOT more, but I liked this novel. Heck if it it wasn’t from Night Vale crew, meaning I had kind of hyped standards for it already, it probably would have been super awesome.

I mean there were some parts of the first novel I didn’t like, and I’m feeling some similar feelings regarding how the smiling god and desert other world turned out looking a bit mundane in this story and left a lot of “but if they were really just this, then why this old plot point” feelings just like the Man in the Tan Jacket did last novel (WHY was he interested in the underground city damn it? Especially with what we now know about Huntokar? WHY was he working with the Apache Tracker? What the hell were they doing? What was the post office all about?) but all and all I still preferred the first novel to this one. It felt more... human I guess. Had that good good recognizable story about a mom and her kid, growing up, parents, relationships, becoming an adult and a helluva lot of other stuff. Not that this one didn’t have a neat story about religion and science (that part honestly felt a little too basic for me) and fitting into one’s communities (that part was alright) but the first novel just hit the right cords more. Personally at least I felt more attached to everyone AND enjoyed the treatment of the themes more. Idk exacccctly why, but I absolutely enjoyed the first novel way more. It felt more like it’s own entity. A valid reason to use a different medium. A really new and cool thing where we could step into the shoes of likeable, fully rounded characters. This novel felt a lot more like a sometimes wacky one off live show with new characters or something. =/ I still enjoyed it, but not as much, and mostly the parts I did enjoy were all humor and surreal Night Vale goodness.

Alright. Well. That ends my rambling for now. I’m sure I’ll have many instances of trying to get to sleep and thoughts of the novel bouncing around in my head begging me to write them down or otherwise talk about them, so I guess I gotta emphasize the “for now” part.

This is long as shit and I’d be mildly surprised and utterly flattered if anyone can make it through my rambling.

[mxkhxrg]

graffiti alley – toronto

this boujee ass bit*h is gay

graffiti alley – toronto

how gay could I get

national coming out day – 2017

What’s up mother truckers! It’s your girl, Mikayla, back at it with another blog post. I hope you enjoyed the first post that commenced the blog. I wish I posted more frequently, but this is just a topic I needed to be fully comfortable with before just throwing it out there for the whole world to read. After this is posted, expect a post minimum once a week.

Today, I thought I would come at you with a real and honest-ass topic. You may have gotten the hidden meaning of this post from the title (thank you Bridesmaids), but if you didn’t, we are talking about COMING OUT! Such a scary topic so close to Halloween. I planned this perfectly. Starting this post, know that I am being 100% real and honest.

Back in the 1800s when I was in grade six, I knew something was a little funky. I “dated” (as in, hugged boys and at recess and after school hugged them and then called him my boyfriend) and it was normal. I had this one friend who was a girl, that I would always hang out with and have sleepovers with and it was so much fun and I just felt something different. We never “experimented” or did anything together, but I knew something was different. I was attracted to her. Then I learned about the concept of being gay, being bisexual, and being straight. And I felt that I was bi, because I knew I was attracted to the boys, but was also attracted to her. I would ask her opinions on the community, and because we were basically children, we weren’t really sure what we were talking about, but I still felt more comfortable with her than with anybody else.

A little later on when I was an older child, I started talking this guy (let’s call him George). This was around grade seven, and I was a cougar apparently because he was a year younger. George and I started to date and this relationship (mind you, it was unhealthy), lasted until the end of my grade nine year. So him and I dated on and off for two years. During this time, the farthest we ever got was making out. I never ever felt a sexual attraction or even a desire to do anything with him, or anyone else for that matter, but I didn’t want to be known as a “prude” or get made fun of, so the most I let us do was make out. I truly suggest you hold on to the edge of your seats for this next line because it is a scary one! During this time of being with George, I told myself I was… wait for it… in love with him. I truly believed that “oh my gosh, this is what love feels like, I am so in love with him, this is me, I am not gay at all”. And I continued to be unhappy but yet think I was in love with him.

George and I eventually broke up for good at the end of my grade nine year and honestly I was happy about it. I didn’t have to force myself to make out with him anymore, I didn’t have to be labelled as “taken”, and I didn’t have to tell myself that I was straight anymore.

I would just like to say, even though I was unhappy during my time with George, it helped create the person I am today. Hell, he was my first, and is now my last ever boyfriend. I wouldn’t be where I was today if it wasn’t for the past. And let me tell you, when you truly fall in love with someone, it is the greatest feeling in the world and you will not feel any doubts about it. Spoiler alert for later: I am totally and completely in love with my girlfriend. I don’t even know how to describe love to someone with words. When you know, you just know. That is the best way to explain it. And I definitely know with her. I am head over heels in love and we are going to be together for the rest of our lives.

ANYWHO

High school actually started for me when I broke up with him, and that is where I knew that “oh hell naw, I am definitely not bi, I for sure like the female species”. I would hang out with a certain girl every so often, (not naming her because you never know who is reading), and we were friends but not too close. Every time we hung out, we would drink and end up kissing and it was just an experience that made me realize that I was truly gay. I may have been under the influence, but I felt differently when I kissed her than when I would kiss George, even though there were absolutely no feelings between me and the girl. Her and I were never a “thing” either. We never dated and never had feelings towards each other. Just experimenting in secret, I guess is what you would call it. Eventually, her and I grew apart and she turned out not to be gay or bi, but I definitely did, and I appreciate the experience because it helped me grow up and realize who I was. Continuing through high school, I never dated anybody (guy or girl), and I also wasn’t out yet. It took me until the end of my high school career to finally come out of the oh so talked about metaphorical closet.

Years passed, but I never said anything or “came out” because I didn’t want to be deemed as different. However, I was very into the LGBTQ+ community, I would always stand up for them, retweet anything to do with the community, talk about it all the time, etc. I knew that I wasn’t “straight” but also knew I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin to come out or talk about it yet.

The first person I came out to was my mother a couple weeks before graduation day. She was so chill about it, so supportive, and so awesome. She also kind of had a feeling because I would lowkey bring it up to her sometimes. I knew she would be because her brother was gay, but it was still a nerve racking experience. My mom has always been and always will be my best friend and I am so beyond thankful for how supportive she was and is because I know other people don’t have that support coming from their mother/father/guardians. Next, I came out to my best friend, who I have known since literal birth, and she was cool about it as well! She has gay and bi friends so it is not an uncommon thing where I come from.

Then, grade twelve graduation day 2017 rolled around. Yo girl tweeted out to the entire universe that I was bi. Yes. I came out as bisexual, even after everything I told you. It was truly a confusing process for me. I still found boys to be attractive and I was never attracted to them, but I still thought that meant that I still “liked” them, along with girls.

It wasn’t until I started talking to a certain someone that I learned that I was not bi. We started talking, and she helped me with the entire coming out process, and I am so thankful she was there for me. Even though everyone I had talked to or interacted with was very supportive, I was still nervous as f*ck (I mean, who wouldn’t be). We ended up going on a date and that my friends, is when I met my soul mate and the love of my life. My first time falling in love, and it will be the last time I fall in love. I knew from that day forward that I was going to marry this girl. But that is a story saved for another day.

Moral of that story is that she made me realize that I was GAY. CAPITAL LETTERS, LESBIAN, GAY, BOOBIE LOVING GAY. Not bi. Just because males are handsome or good looking does not mean that I am attracted to them, nor was I ever. It just took a long time to realize that, and that is A-Okay. I am thankful for all the experiences I have had, they all made me who I am today, and I love who I am.

Even though my story I have been telling is a fairly good one, with not a lot of hatred, there is still that part of it. I come from a very, very religious family and it is just my mom and I who did not follow in that strict path. I knew right from the get go, grade six, that my family (besides my mother) would not approve. And that my friends, is another reason as to what held me back and what kept me from being myself for the 6 years that I knew for sure. To this day, they still do not know and even if they did, they would deny it and not “believe” me if I told them. Which is very sad, because I am their family, you should love them, no matter who they love, or who they are. So even though I may be completely out and open on the internet and to all of my friends, the only person in my family who knows is my mom.

Seeing all the hatred around the LGTBQ+ community is so incredibly sad, so nerve racking, and so hurtful. I am a part of this community and I wish I had the power to help all our community, whether out or not, to be safe and not have this hatred around them, just because we are being who we are. I just want everyone to know, you are loved. No matter the negativity surrounding our community, the people who do not accept us, etc, you are loved. We are who we are, we love who we love, and that is that. We all need to support and love each other, we are all the same no matter what.

I am not quite sure how to truly express myself and how I feel at this moment in my life in words, but I will try my best. I am now in university, in one of the most diverse cities in Canada, Toronto. Ever since I have moved here for university, I have been so much happier. The LGTBQ+ community here is amazing. The two best friends I have made here are gay as well and I just feel so comfortable and so at home. We have an office/safe space in our campus and it is the most amazing thing ever. Everyone comes together and just spreads love. I have never seen so many accepting people, in person, in one place. I don’t know if it was the way I was raised to not put up with shit, but even if they didn’t accept me, ask how many f*cks I give! I feel so happy with myself and who I am and what state of mind I am in. I just want to scream it from the rooftops “IM GAY”. I am just so happy and I honestly could give less shits about what people think! You are not worth my time. I am gay, I am proud, I am in love with my girlfriend, we are going to get married, we are going to have children, and I am f*cking happy and will continue to live my life and be happy no matter how people feel about me and what they have to say. All I have time to say to them is “f*ck you, I’m happy, and I am not going to waste my time on you”.

It was sad growing up being closeted, not feeling safe in my own skin, lying about who I was, and it definitely took a toll on my mentality. But now that I am out and 1000% comfortable with myself and who I am and I am such a big activist for the LGTBQ+ community.

BE GAY, BE PROUD, LOVE YOURSELF, LOVE WHOEVER YOU WANT. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON’T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OR SAY.

I am here for you. I am one of you. We are one. I just want you to be happy, be who you want to be, love who you want to love, and do whatever the f*ck you want to do.

Long story short, I hope this gave you some insight to who I am, helped some people out, and made you feel loved. I am always here for you if you ever have any questions. All of my links are at the top of the main page, feel free to contact me. You are never alone.

Until next time, peace and grooviness. – MH

It’s COMING OUT of me Like Lava! What’s up mother truckers! It’s your girl, Mikayla, back at it with another blog post. I hope you enjoyed the first post that commenced the blog.

[mermaidinstereo]

LIST: 10 of My Favorite Dark Music Videos

What you probably couldn't tell from my ongoing Christina Aguilera project is that I love dark shit. No, you probably won't find me at the local goth club nights (in suburban Florida, we don't have those), or crying to Sisters of Mercy, or blowing an entire week's paycheck at M.A.C. just for eyeliner (because ya girl is broke). Still, I enjoy a good vampire flick (and a lot of bad ones), prefer to rock a good dark lip, and one time blew $50 at Hot Topic on a coat that makes me feel like a tragic Edgar Allan Poe heroine. I guess you could say I'm barely a low-budget goth, but that's okay. That's just my vibe, I guess.

So today, I thought I'd count down 10 of my favorite music videos, that are all at once super totally goth and not at all. In no particular order, of course. (Because of Tumblr’s rules, I can’t embed more than five videos at once. So I’ll link to the bottom five, and embed the top five.)

10. "Mine" - Kim Jae Joong If the former TVXQ member was looking to make a name for himself, other than being just a K-pop prettyboy, well, he did it right. He was already a bankable actor, racking up views on both the big and small screens. And even after departing from TVXQ, with fellow ex-members Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu, formed the group JYJ, also successful in their own right. However, Jaejoong was not content with staying the course of K-pop typicality. In response, Jaejoong tapped into his inner rocker, unleashing "Mine," off his first solo mini album I. In this video, he runs through dark forests, plays with snakes, and struggles to break free from a wall, before appearing at the end of the video as a vampire that looks straight out of a J-rock band. One can only argue that this is Jaejoong's final form. Or is it?

9. "Hyde" - VIXX While VIXX started playing with darkness in "On and On," it was "Hyde" where they really hit their stride. Telling the story of a man struggling with a Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque duality in a relationship, images of the band's six members are juxtaposed--wearing white as cute, loving, boyfriend material, and black as horrifying, nightmarish, even abusive monsters. I gotta give an award to Leo for looking a little too into it when he strangles his lovely lady, shortly before black angel wings burst from his back. Dude is scary. And so is the setting of this video! It appears to be a vaguely decrepit mansion crawling with macabre decor...and some classic creepy crawlies. It's no wonder VIXX are pegged for K-pop's go-to goths. (For more creepy craziness from VIXX, there are a lot of videos to choose from, but perhaps nothing is more terrifying than “Voodoo Doll,” a video so gory it was banned from TV! Don’t worry, though--there is a clean version.)

8. "Election Day" - Arcadia When Duran Duran temporarily split in 1985, they birthed two side projects. On one side, the pop-friendly Power Station, led by powerhouse vocalist Robert Palmer, along with drummer Tony Thompson of Chic, and Duran's own John and Andy Taylor. Then there was Arcadia, the artsier goth-influenced group, comprised of Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, and for a short period, Roger Taylor. In this video, Le Bon just looks like he got a nice dark dye job, but it's Nick Rhodes who got the full goth makeover, because of course Nick Rhodes did. I'm not exactly sure what's even happening in this video--leave that to anything Simon Le Bon did in the 80s--but the image of Nick Rhodes dancing around with a candelabra is pretty goth, if I do say so myself. Also, it's just a damn good song. And album.

7. "Married to the Music" - SHINee As K-pop acts go, SHINee have not always been the group that goes with the flow. Instead of ripping off T-shirts in music videos, they play with unusual concepts, sometimes freaky ones. Among those was 2015's "Married to the Music." While not exactly elegant, "Married" boasted a quirky, camp-horror concept, inspired equally by Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." In the video, the five members visit a wacky house party in which, throughout the night, they find themselves having various body parts removed in bizarre methods. Key gets his head hacked off while spinning on a giant roulette wheel. Taemin's eyes pop out when he gets smacked in the back of the head by a baseball bat. A phantom hand in the sink rips off Onew's nose. Jonghyun's mouth comes off after some kind of kiss of death. Then, Minho's entire body is sacrificed in a birthday cake incident gone wrong. All this culminates at the end, where our mystery woman uses the discarded parts to build the perfect FrankenSHINee. Like Mary Shelley, but with more BB cream and an Off the Wall beat.

6. "Beast and the Harlot" - Avenged Sevenfold Unlike SHINee, A7X have always toyed with the darkness, but in a similar manner, do it their own way. This cut from 2005's City of Evil is actually a track describing the fall of Babylon, in incredible detail. The video, however, tells of a Faustian tale, through a lens of rock 'n roll excess. A visually striking video, and I'm not just talking about Zacky Vengeance's eyeshadow. Careful what y'all are getting into when signing contracts, guys.

5. "Call Me When You're Sober" - Evanescence I could list nearly any Evanescence video, really. In fact, I kind of owe a lot to Evanescence, since they kind of helped me discover my artistic identity a bit. That said, I picked this cut from 2006's The Open Door. In it, Amy plays Red Riding Hood, on a pretty bad date with the Big Bad Wolf, played by dashing British actor Oliver Goodwill. He cuddles up to the plaid-clad Amy, who is clearly uncomfortable with his advances. Somewhere there is an awesome scene with Amy surrounded by black-clad dancers as they float above the ground, and this is honestly the coolest thing I've seen in an Evanescence video (though, truthfully, "Good Enough" was pretty cool, too). But nothing tops Amy walking toward her douchey wolf--across the table, as dining utensils go flying off the table. Very Once Upon a Time. Regina would be proud.

4. "Out of My Mind" - Duran Duran

This is an obscure cut from their 1997 album Medazzaland, a period in which the beloved New Romantics got suuuuuper experimental. It's hard to find this video in HD on YouTube, so you kinda take what you get. The then-trio of Rhodes/Le Bon/Warren Cuccurullo traipse around a creepy house, are sometimes ghosts haunting a library, or sometimes--in the case of Rhodes--are Rococo gothic drag queens. Also, Simon rocks a choker at some point. Totes 90s. Also, the setting and cinematography recall Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." Hey, wasn't that by an 80s band, too?

3. "Frozen" - Madonna

I was maybe around seven or eight when Ray of Light was released. Maybe. But I vividly remember seeing this video on VH1 when my mom left it on. I was freaked out by it at the time, but of course, I was a child, of course I would be. A solitary, black-clad Madge dances around a barren wasteland, cuddling nothing but her flowing gown as ravens surround her. I think she was playing with Indian motifs at the time, considering her hand gestures and tattoos (also, Ray of Light boasted "Shanti/Ashtangi," never forget). This was probably the beginning of the Kabbalah thing, too, but it wasn't quite as big a story as it would become years later.

2. "Within Me" - Lacuna Coil

I'd be betraying myself if I didn't include a Lacuna Coil video in all this, another group that, with Evanescence, led me down an aesthetically dark path. A mellower cut from 2006's Karmacode has vocalists Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia at odds, with Andrea sitting lonely in some kind of elaborate chair or throne, as Cristina crawls the desert, producing these creepy black tendrils for some reason. It's just a pretty video and song.

1. "Sayonara Hitori" - Taemin

For his first Japanese solo single, SHINee's Taemin pulled out all the stops. None of the cutesy image that was cultivated during SHINee's early period, instead, Taemin fully embraced his darkness, portraying several different characters. The first looks like he walked out of Inuyasha, dancing around a piano (no, I don't know why either) as blue flowers grow around him. The next scene finds him clad in the edgiest black garb possible as samurai spar behind him. Perhaps the most goth thing, however, is Taemin laying in a black coffin as very fabulous mourners lay blue flowers down. Not bad for a kid who somehow loses nearly everything he touches. Gotta keep it relatable. Of course, I subscribe to the belief that Taemin couldn’t have gothed it up without Jaejoong paving the way. 

Now, a few honorable mentions. Okay, a lot of honorable mentions:

Stone Temple Pilots, "Sour Girl"

Sunmi, "Full Moon"

4Minute, "Volume Up"

XIA, "Tarantallegra"

Rihanna, "Disturbia"

Taeyang, "I'll Be There"

Depeche Mode, "Walk in My Shoes"

30 Seconds to Mars, "The Kill"

Christina Aguilera, "Fighter" (I wanted to save this for the Xtina project, whenever I manage to get to this video)

Keane, "Disconnected"

FT Island, “Pray”

INFINITE, “Bad”

2NE1, “It Hurts (Slow)”

[wingsxofxaxfighter]

Orange. Sneak Peek. Feat. Annakylie Shiniani.

I can honestly say that I didn’t see it coming at all.

On the first day of school I got a letter. Not just any letter though. One that claimed it would change my life and that of my friends for the better.

I had opened my drawer on my nightside table t put a light layer of mascara over my eyelashes and noticed a letter.

Taking it out I found it was addressed to me and I could read the scrawl on the envelope.

Forgetting all about my mascara, I opened the letter and quickly scanned over the first page.

“Dear 16 year old me

How are things? I am writing to you ten years in the future. There is something that I need you to do for me.”

This can’t be real. I thought, but something about the letter made me want to keep it.

I shoved it in my bag and ran out the door to meet my friends, Naho Takamiya, Hiroto Suwa, Takako Chino, Saku Hagita and Azusa Murasaka at the normal stop so we could walk to school together.

“Hey, Anna!” Suwa chimed “anything new?”

Yes actually, I got a letter from myself ten years in the future. That’s not weird at all, right? I thought but I quickly shook my head to clear it and shook it again to show him that he was wrong.

“What about you guy’s?” I asked.

“My parents sent me with extra bread and snacks and stuff today for me to share with you guys.” Azusa told us.

��And your parents are alright with that?!” Hagita asked.

“They have been every other time, right?” she said as she got in Hagita’s face.

“That’s enough!” I said as I got between them. Azusa stuck her tongue out at Hagita again but Hagita only rolled his eyes.

“Is anyone else nervous about the entrance ceremony today?” I heard Naho ask and I looked at her.

“Are you kidding?! I couldn’t sleep last night because of it and now I can’t brain ‘cause I has the dumb.” I said as I crossed my eyes for effect.

Suwa just laughed at me whilst I punched him in the shoulder.

I had every right to be nervous though. Today was also Basketball tryouts and I really wanted to get on the team.

“Annakylie should be nervous if she wants to get on the Basketball team without hassle.” Azusa said as she put her arm around me with a wide smile.

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with that.” Suwa said.

“You were thinkin’ it.” Takako said as she came up in front of Azusa and I.

Takako and Suwa stared at each other for a few seconds before Suwa turned away and we started to walk to school.

I wouldn’t trade my friends for anything in the world.

I sat in the middle of the class and watched the boring lesson before there was a knock on the door of the classroom from one of the of the office staff.

The teacher and the office staff shared a short word before the boy standing there was brought into the classroom.

“Everyone, this is Kakeru Naruse.” the teacher explained as I pulled my letter out and skimmed over it.

“There will be a boy joining your class today, his name is Kakeru Naruse. He will take the seat at the back of the class next to Naho.”

My eyes widened in horror. This thing was right.

I looked up as the boy passed me and I watched him take the seat next to Naho.

Just as the letter said! I thought.

I turned my attention back to the letter again, anxious to learn more.

“I have so many things that I regret, but one of them is not keeping Kakeru with us. I have included what I want I did and what I want you to do in my place. I want to make sure that Kakeru lives his life to the fullest and that he knows that he can count on you and everyone else

** I don’t want you to invite him to the Basketball try-outs after school today. As much as you want to it will be for the best, trust me on this.”

This was a lot to process.

I was beginning to feel light headed as I tried to process all of this in one sitting, something I was rather notorious for.

I groaned a let out a random cough as I held my head in my hands.

“Sir, I’ll take her to the nurse’s office.” I heard Suwa say.

I didn’t want him to but I found I was being lead there anyway.

“Come on, Anna.” he said with a grunt as he put his arm around my shoulders and lead me out the door.

“Thinking too hard again?” Suwa asked me.

“How’d you guess?” I asked and Suwa threw me a soft, almost sad smile.

“That’s not healthy for you to think like that and force yourself to get the topic all in one sitting like that.” Suwa told me.

I sighed.

I knew he was right but, stubborn as I was, I didn’t listen to him.

“You think you’re going to be alright for those Basketball try-outs after school?” Suwa asked me.

I only nodded.

“This won’t last for long you know.” I said with a smile.

Suwa threw me his signature smile back and laughed a little.

The bell rang and the others walked in not long after.

“What was that about, Annakylie?” Hagita asked me and Azusa elbowed him in the gut for me.

“Thanks, Azu.” I said and she smiled brightly at me.

“You should be alright for the Basketball try-outs though, right?” Takako asked me and I nodded.

“Are you guys going to come watch me?” I asked.

“If we’re allowed to. And we’ll bring the new kid too.” Asuza said as he poked his head into the room.

“Is she alright?” Kakeru asked as he set his eyes on me and looked at everyone else.

At that moment my mind flew to the letter.

“** I don’t want you to invite him to the Basketball try-outs after school…”

What did that letter have on Kakeru anyway? Whoever thought this was a joke needed to stop.

I fell on the gym floor with a thud after school and growled to myself at my own stupidity before I picked myself up and took off again after the ball.

“Go get ‘em, Anna!” Azusa and Takako called from the sidelines.

Suwa stood there too with Kakeru, Hagita and Naho all looking on.

I shook my head and put a jump in my step before I took off and jumped up in front of the girl that had the ball and blocked her shot.

The coach finally blew the whistle and the girl that I had blocked the shot from smiled at me with promise.

“Alright, girls. Hit the showers. The team will be up by Wednesday.” the coach told us as we passed him.

“Annakylie!” Azusa called and I walked over to my friends.

“You were awesome!” Naho commented and I blushed at her words.

“There’s no way that the coach can deny a person like you to be on the team.” Suwa told me and I smiled gratefully at him as I caught my breath.

I caught the gaze of the new kid and smiled brightly at him.

“So what do you think of this place so far?” I asked him as I winced at the side stitches that racked my body and leaned on the wall for support as I waited for them to pass.

“This place is ok so far.” Kakeru told me with a smile.

There was something behind that smile though, a sort of sadness.

I was stopped by a pang of my own sadness at that moment as my gaze went to the floor.

“You alright, Anna?” Hagita asked me.

I looked up at him and made a face.

“Ok. 1) Why? And 2) Why would you care all of a sudden?” I asked.

“Just seeing the way you reacted in class today as us all on the edge.” Naho pointed out.

I looked at her and nodded when I noticed the look in her eye. One that I’ve seen from her multiple times before, even before this school year and I knew very well what it meant.

I nodded and backed down, pushing off the wall and walking away.

“I’ll meet you guys afterwards.” I said as I turned back around and threw them a smile.

Everyone waved at me.

“Meet us at the front foyer. We’re all going out for supper tonight in honour of your try-outs.” Azusa told me and I smiled as I waved to show that I heard her.

I shuddered as the water from the shower head hit my back but I soon got used to it, fully emerging myself in the water.

Maybe the letter’s right after all about Kakeru joining us. I thought to myself.

If this is what it takes to make sure that Kakeru is with us ten years from now, no matter what he did to die, then I’ll do it. I thought with determination as I shut the shower off and grabbed the towels. One for my hair and one for the rest of me.

Stepping out of the shower I looked at my figure in the mirror.

I had missed some of my long blonde hair when I had wrapped it up in my head towel and it was poking out from the hole at the top of my crown.

As long as it was out of my way as I finished drying myself, I didn’t care.

I quickly dried and got dressed, slinging my bag crossbody over my shoulder and walking out to the main foyer where everyone smiled when they saw me coming.

“You ready to get out of here?” Takako asked me and I nodded eagerly at her and the others.

Suwa walked me home afterwards and I kind of enjoyed his company.

“Are you going to try out for the soccer team?” I asked out-of-the-blue.

“Yeah. I was thinking about it.” Suwa told me with a signature smile. “How come?” he asked me.

I stiffened and blushed at his words.

I couldn’t hide it anymore.

“I always enjoyed going to your games back in grade school.” I admitted with a blush.

There was silence after that I had considered thinking that I had said the wrong thing to him.

“Thanks, Anna. That means a lot.” Suwa told me and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

We turned the corner to my house and Suwa stood in front of me.

“I want to know the real reason why you fainted in class today.” he told me in a sort of ‘Older brother’ kind of tone.

I was frozen to the spot. I couldn’t lie to him, even if I wanted to.

“Nothing. I was thinking about something sciencey.” I said as I tried to pass him to get to my house.

“That’s not it.” Suwa told me in a knowing tone.

“What does it matter to you anyway?” I asked.

“I only want to look out for you.”

“Thanks, but I can look after myself.” I said as I pushed past him and opened the door to my house, going straight up to my room and flopping backwards on the bed.

I put an arm over my eyes and sighed.

Was this really how my life was supposed to live out?

I shook my head and pulled the letter from my bag, deciding to give it a quick look over before I went to bed.

If this wasn’t a joke then I would do everything I could to make sure that Kakeru stayed with us and that I erased the regret that the me ten years in the future had.

“ As much as you might think this is a joke, it’s not. Here, 10 years in the future, Kakeru is no longer with us. I wish that we could have all noticed the issue sooner but that didn’t happen to be the case. Kakeru kept telling us he was fine. As much as I saw in his eyes that he wasn’t, I didn’t say anything.

**That is my biggest regret. I want you to follow the instructions enclosed for you with each day that passes and I want you to do then without question.

**Most of all, I want you to get Kakeru to understand that he’s not alone, that everyone of us is bearing this burden with him”

I shook my head in confusion.

But Kakeru seemed to be fine today. I thought, then I remembered that the letter told me that even seeing the hurt in his eyes wasn’t enough and that she regretted doing something.

I read on ahead to see if there were any notes for the next day.

“After today, Kakeru doesn’t show up for the whole week.

**I want you to ask him what happened but don’t want you to demand an answer out of him.

That was another thing I was notorious for. When I would want answers from him, I wouldn’t leave him alone until I got them. Suwa brought it to my attention that I was being to hard on him but I paid no mind to it.

** I don’t want you to be pushy with Kakeru. The two of us had a good relationship and I fear that if you do then it will break that in your future, if you do manage to save him.”

This whole thing was crazy but I was beginning to understand it a little more now.

I had to help Kakeru, if it was the last thing I did.

After not getting much sleep last night I walked into the school and almost opened the wrong locker.

“You alright, Anna?” I heard someone ask from behind me and I turned to see Hagita standing there.

“Beat.” I replied as I put my school shoes on the floor and stepped into them. “The Try-outs yesterday took a lot  out of me plus I was thinking about a lot of things last night” I explained.

Hagita only nodded before he looked at me again in confusion.

“Have you seen Kakeru around?” he asked me.

At that, I stiffened and shook my head.

“N-no. How come?” I squeaked and then I mentally cursed myself for sounding so stupid.

“I was just wondering, he seemed to have so much fun last night and then now he doesn’t show up?” Hagita asked as he walked with me to class.

“You probably scared him, Four eyes!” I heard Azusa say from behind us as she came up on my other side with Takako.

“Shut up!” Hagita snapped and I turned to Takako.

“All the fighting they do and you’d think that they liked each other!” I said and Takako smiled at me in a knowing way.

I followed the others into the class to find that the letter was right yet again.

Kakeru was nowhere to be found.

“Geez.” I muttered as I sat in my seat diagonal from Suwa.

After the teacher explained what we were to do and left the room for a few minutes I heard Suwa’s chair creak and I only dared to look at him.

“You alright, Anna?” Suwa whispered harshly.

“I don’t think you would trust me ever again if I told you.” I said as I shook my head and avoided his gaze.

“Try me.” Suwa demanded.

I looked up and him again and saw in his eyes that he wasn’t kidding, so much so tht the look he was giving me scared me.

“Ok, after school. Find me and remind me.” I said as the bell rang and I packed up my books.

I waited in the sheltered part of the school as I waited for Suwa so we could walk home and I could explain to him what was going on.

To add insult to injury… it was raining… and I had forgotten my umbrella seeing as I didn’t think it was going to rain with how nice it was this morning.

“Anna!” Suwa called out and I looked at him.

He was smiling at me from under an umbrella.

“Where’s yours?” he called me over the rain as I waved and walked to the edge of the overhang.

“I didn’t think I would need one with how nice it was this morning.” I called to be heard over the pounding rain.

Suwa’s eyes turned soft and sympathetic.

“Come on, you can share mine with me.” he said.

My jaw dropped a little but I soon nodded and ran the short distance to him to avoid getting a whole bunch of rain on me.

“There, much better.” Suwa said “Now what’s up with you?” Suwa hissed as he lowered his head to my ear a little as to not be over heard by passers by.

I scanned my surroundings as Suwa put his head closer to me so I wouldn’t have to talk so loud.

“I got a letter from myself 10 years in the future.” I hissed.

“What?” Suwa exclaimed and I nodded.

“What did it say?”

“Well, at first I thought it was a joke because, well, I just did. And then it started to get things right. Like Kakeru joining our class and sitting next to Naho.” I said.

“That’s insane! Mine never said that!” Suwa told me.

Wait, what?!

Suwa got a letter too?!

This was a lot to take in again.

I stumbled on my feet but Suwa caught me.

“Thanks.” I muttered.

“You ok?” Suwa asked me.

“I’ll be alright, I promise.” I said as I threw him a smile.

Suwa didn’t look so convinced but he didn’t push anything.

[beingmad2017-blog]

10 Unfastened Android Apps With a view to In reality Make You Cash At the same time as Buying!

New Post has been published on https://beingmad.org/10-unfastened-android-apps-with-a-view-to-in-reality-make-you-cash-at-the-same-time-as-buying/

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SnapTell

Want to recognize more about an object you saw at the rack? simply use SnapTell to experiment the barcode of any CD, DVD, e-book or online game and you may be capable of getting all the facts you could probably want. What sort of records? Nicely, if you simply Need some more cursory facts, that’ll work. most considerably, in case you Want to see how the price stacks up to different distributors, it may do that for you in seconds. This app may be a massive time Cash-saver for you in case you make an effort to use it before you make that next media purchase!

Key Ring Reward Playing cards

That is a totally on hand app to consolidate all of your middles to your purse/wallet At the same time as making sure which you don’t lose valuable Praise/loyalty Cards. How does it paintings? All you do is take a photograph of the barcode of your Praise card (pretty much any decent sized employer with a rewards software is in the database- over 650 applications) and input some basic information about the shop. It really is it; You are now ready to use your cell phone as your Praise card at that keep within the future by means of pulling up your Praise records from that shop in this Android app. It is in all likelihood no longer for non-techies or those who crave extreme simplicity. It’s miles, but, a remarkable concept and generation With a purpose to absolute confidence get crisper within the destiny.

if you do not mind carrying all of your Reward Cards and potentially dropping one or two along the manner (and having to suffer via the wait to replace the card), this Free Android app sounds like a waste of time. But, if the more inch of not-so-soft plastic padding to your rump (or the misuse of perfectly suitable purse space- not to mention the potential lack of ability to apply your sublime tiny handbag out Shopping) isn’t always idyllic, this app is worth the short time to download and get everything installation properly.

OurGroceries

That is the perfect app for the satisfied, busy own family of Android telephone users. It lets in the children to without end add all their vital ingredients. When the gadgets are purchased, they can be eliminated from the listing (on all of the Android phones It’s registered to) and then, 4 hours later, they could easily be added again onto the list! Joking aside, This is an outstanding app to have for the new-age hyper busy, hyper tech families that Want to become greater efficient.

Hey, it feels a lot of Cash to preserve buying that more loaf of bread that your husband/spouse (or maybe you- way to that ensure hmmm, do not we need bread moment even though you simply bought two loaves the day before today- sure You are now not on my own!) simply picked up and will emerge as turning inexperienced before every person has a hazard to make a sandwich with it.

OI Buying list

To me, this app, fully named the OpenIntents Purchasing listing, is just like the OurGroceries for the single oldsters obtainable. now not to say a circle of relatives would not gain from this app, it just has extra features and It is not a really perfect fit just like the other app is for families that want a simple method to hold up on their ultra-modern Buying needs. That being stated, this app is a powerful workhorse and can really come to be saving you infinite hours and a few first-rate cash at year’s stop.

US Yellow pages Search

This is one of the more beneficial Unfastened Android best free apps to be had and I will be honest, it does not a hundred% healthy with the subject of supporting you shop Cash At the same time as Buying. I should argue that it does, However for simplicity, I will simply use an old cliche: Time is Money! Saving some time is just as proper as saving cash on those busy days out and approximately. Having this app in your Android telephone is like having three hundred first rate-thick Yellowbook from all around the US stuffed into your again pocket. no longer a horrific component if you tour a respectable quantity or enjoy dwelling outdoor of your own home. It is just an amazing aid to have on hand for the one’s times while you want to discover an enterprise’s range fast.

eBay

This authentic app brings eBay for your Android cell phone. It is kind of crazy, But I think I really like this UI higher than the actual internet site on my computer. I don’t know if It is a good thing or an awful. Though, it offers you an idea that this Android app becomes developed successfully and honestly hits the mark. That is, in case you’re an eBay fan; in case you’re no longer, sorry!

Amazon.Com

Similar to eBay’s Android app, this splendor from Amazon brings all the capability from the total-sized internet site to your Android phone. It’s outstanding how seamless this transition appears for these giant resellers. That is an awesome component for us even though!

Craigslist

The remaining of the giant resellers’ Android best free apps on this list, I promise. Well, the form of: if you do not consist of Groupon in your listing of “resellers”, I haven’t lied to you. So, in case you’ve ever used Craigslist, you know how fully crucial It’s miles to check out a potential “killer item” inside five mins of it being posted and finally be the primary handful of human beings to contact the vendor to have any hopes of actually ending up with it to your ownership.

That being stated, if you use Craigslist and you have an Android telephone, YOU want THIS APP NOW! Haha, sorry to scream, However in case you’re going to apply this portal of goodness with the hopes of sooner or later shopping for something you Want/want, you have to have instantaneous get admission to newly published items. The handiest way to do this (I am taking liberties assuming you aren’t a recluse and on your private home laptop 24/7) is to have access “on-the-go” to instant notifications in your set of objects that interest you and additionally a way to view them. This app performs each of those vital actions and does them Well.

*Please, for your sake, if you Want to be the guy (gal) bragging about the super deal you purchased at the “coolest element within the global” in preference to the no longer-so-glad model of you lamentably telling the story approximately “the one that was given away” to every person who will pay attention, download this app!*

Groupon

This is the professional app from the immensely famous and hastily developing Groupon website. This website has a “cult-like” following (now not in a horrific way!) which Really advantages its customers. Essentially, the greater human beings that use their offerings, the extra offers are provided to the users and that helps each person save a very good amount of cash! This Free Android app ensures that you’re in no way out of the “Groupon loop” and you may have the possibility to take gain of the appealing offers wherever you’ll be.

The Coupons App

Another Cash-saving coupon app? sure! It’s all I can say- the possibilities of saving a buck in this economic system is a powerful pressure it appears. I am nearly a piece surprised at myself that I didn’t completely inundate this “Buying listing” with coupon best free apps (putting myself on the shoulder for spreading out the affection). If only I should go returned in time to 1989 and use this app in preference to clipping 500-plus coupons from the Sunday paper (for my mom). Properly those have been right instances- minus the paper cuts.

What’s this Android app going to do for you? Whatever and everything coupon associated; it brings the coupons with you to your phone and permits you to locate new ones even At the same time as You’re at the store! That is pretty first-rate for those of us no longer commanding “Pinnacle CEO” salaries…

Honorable mention:

There may be only one Unfastened Android app that I might take into account putting on this listing. The reason is as it’s probably the most critical app for everybody to download nowadays. I consider it extra of an “obligatory app” than an Android Purchasing app and that’s why It is here.