#COLLAB WITH MY FRIEND KITS

[xulips]

no actually who let him cook

[tomscholes]

A few more sketches from the kit-collab with my friend Ted Galaday. This batch is from earlier on and a bit messier :)

(we both did sketches, then I combined the sketches into a kit and did a few rounds of kit-sketching)

[cher-rei]

afterglow pt- 13 [ T.A.A ]

pairings: trent alexander arnold x fem!reader

summary: young and aspiring marketing and business major jamie carter (you) is privileged with working alongside the liverpool marketing and public relations team while also getting entangled with their star player and right back, trent alexander arnold.

genre(s): friends to lovers, fluff, slowish?? burn and just a good time

[wc: 5.3k] afterglow masterlist

notes: rahhhhhh!!!

spamjam._.

liked by liverpoolfc and 3 244 225 others

spamjam._. may 24th anyone? [tagged: taylorhinds]

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taylorhinds 👀💜 [liked by spamjam._.]

liverpoolfc collab of the century I fear

→ spamjam._. if you know, you know 🤞🏻

user collab?? are they doing a photoshoot together or something?

→ user probably, you know how jamie is and her random promo photoshoots for brands 😭

→ user take back to the adidas shoot last year omw

→ user life was so much easier back then

virgilvandijk oh, so you were serious? 😂

→ spamjam._. I had a 10 hour board meeting yesterday for this. don't test my commitment 🙄

trentarnold66 she's a baller 🥵 [liked by spamjam._.]

harvelliot LET'S GO!! COUNT YOUR DAYS ON THAT PITCH

fía.messi bro has me flying over for this 😭 [liked by spamjam._.]

→ spamjam._. I couldn't get your dad so I had to settle for the next best thing (and mateo is only 10 so I had to choose you 😔)

"what's the date today?"

"the 23rd," laura answered promptly and went back to typing something on her laptop while the rest of your media team carried on with their personal tasks in the meeting room.

you stood at the whiteboard in front— a black marker in one hand and your ipad in the other as you wrote out and marked certain dates down and finalised a few things.

"okay." you tapped the marker on your chin and took a step back from the board, gaining everyone's attention. "those pictures are up for the efl final, but I'm going to need a date for next week for my meeting with the set designers and stylists because I have a few ideas for the launch."

sienna, another member of your media team was quick to check her calender, her email set up on her desktop. "you're good for march 4th if we're set to release the shoot may 7th."

you bit the inside of your cheek as you thought for a moment. "put it down. I'd also like an update on the news for the boss' special collection and," you wrote down something under the title national duty. "I need the flags ordered asap."

the room fell silent after that, everyone in their own headspace while the sound of keyboards clicking sounded through the room. you wanted to make next season's kit release a big one, the board giving you three words to ride off of and the mock design for the kit a few months ago.

you quite liked the tribute to the design and after consulting a few close professionals (sophia and alexandra) there was an idea of what you were going for. the idea of a more sophisticated look and aesthetic ran through your mind, the question of how would you style the jersey yourself playing a role.

"moped," you blurted which got you a few strange looks. "I want a moped for the shoot."

logan, who was silent for most the of the meeting eyed you for a second. "like the scooter?"

"the bike from that one disney movie?" laura followed and pulled up her pinterest page, moving her laptop to show you and you nodded, writing it down under the kit launch column on the board.

"I want it in red and maroon and see if they can get the jersey design on it," you said while tieing up your hair because this was oh so obviously only the beginning of the meeting.

you had been so busy the past few hours, confined between four walls that the only sunlight you were getting was the light emitting from the passage through the simgular glass wall of your meeting room that overlooked the second floor. your phone was probably buzzing with messages from clara asking you when you were free for your lunch break but that was the last of your worries.

but eventually something caught your attention from the corner of your eye as you stood in front of your team, going over some extra details. "the videographers are working on it currently so all we nee--"

you paused mid-sentence, the glimpse of a figure strolling past the room catching your attention for a moment. "uhm, all we need is to check if..."

they walked past again, only this time at a pace that was definitely noticeable. normally you would've disregarded trent's childish behaviour in the middle of work but everyone was growing agitated and needed a break.

you flicked your attention from your team to trent who was strolling along with his hands in his pockets, only to come back a second time, then a third until your team gradually noticed him. your lips drew into a thin line as he sent them a small wave, pretending to be busy.

"okay, everyone we can take a break." you set the markers down, their thankful sighs of relied making you laugh. "I'll see you in 45, okay?"

the seven of your team members flooded out the door in no time, leaving you alone while trent waited until they were out of sight to finally enter the room. he walked up you the whiteboard beside you, trying to act as if he knew what any of the writing meant while you continued to joy a few things down.

"don't try anything, the walls are literally made of glass," you said unbothered without taking your attention off of the work in front of you.

from beside you trent mocked an expression of hurt, offended that you'd accuse him of coming here just to do something. "I wasn't going to. I came here because I just happened to be walking by after our gym session," he answered, the lie dripping off his tongue effortlessly and you gave him a look.

you didn't respond, instead becoming immersed in your work once again. the marker in your hand moved between the spaces of your fingers, a pout forming on your lips as you concentrated.

don't get him wrong, trent found it extremely attractive that you were in your element— your hair messily tied up, the marker in your hand spinning between your fingers and the look of determination on your face made him crazy. but he was just a man after all and wanted to spend some time with his... free trial user.

with a sigh he sat down at the desk, spinning aimlessly on the chair to try and cure his boredom. he hated this— referring to the lack of privacy in the room because the blinds were open. suddenly, he perked up at the sound of your voice, but to his dismay, you weren't talking to him and were on the phone with someone he didn't care about.

"yes, I'd like to keep them neutral but you can have a selection and we can test them out on the day of the shoot," you said and hurried back to the whiteboard to write something down.

the sound of the marker squeaking on the board made trent cringe, that and he wished that you'd just sit down for one second. when the call ended, you felt the his eyes on you, a look of judgement perhaps? but what did he expect? you were at work and had to get things done.

"someone's cranky," you joked while flipping through a binder.

he threw his head back with a scoff. "well yeah, you're not even looking at me. you probably don't even care that I'm here right now."

really now? you rolled your eyes at his exaggeration, a smile dancing on your lips. "a lot needs to be done before the end of the month unfortunately and I'm kind of in charge of that." you scrunched your nose at the last part, the feeling of admitting that you were in charge sending a weird surge through your body.

tent pursed his lips, his look softening at the way you continued to flip through the binder, mumbling to yourself about not finding something. "I know but--"

"--there aren't any 'buts'." you put your hands on your hips, sending him a stern look to showcase your point. "you're supposed to be focusing on recovering. it's already an issue that you won't be playing sunday, we need you fit for the last few games of the season at least."

the room fell silent again, slight tension building up but you didn't care because it was the truth. it wasn't just him— it was curtis, darwin, mo and dominik as well. a few of their most crucial players were injured and unfortunately that make their chances of winning slimmer. and as excited as everyone was to play on sunday— the kids included even if they only got about five minutes of playtime, but this was still a final.

the coaching staff was agitated, virgil didn't know how if the chelsea squad were going to put up a fight and the injured players were beating themselves up. it wasn't an easy time for anyone right now, but they needed to focus. and right now, it seemed that trent wasn't getting the message.

it was unlike him, and you could see from the way that his leg anxiously bounced up and down that he knew that. so as much as you needed to reprimand him and remind him of what needed to be done, you could also tell that he wasn't okay.

with a sigh, you put down your things and went to lock the office door and close the blinds. the room was encapsulated in slight darkness again, prompting you to switch on the overhead lights that weren't needed earlier on.

trent remained quiet though, even when you came to sit down on the table in front of him. you looked down at him, the footballer leaning back in the chair.

"talk to me, what's bothering you?" your voice was laced with genuine worry and it made him ease into his seat further.

"nothing's wrong. I just wanted to see you but I guess it's a bad time." he plainly shrugged his shoulders, a look of mock dismissal on his face.

you quirked an eyebrow at his answer. "that's the worst lie you could've come up with right now." despite your targeted response you gently took his hand into yours and prompted him to speak. "is it because you're benched for the rest of the month?"

"yes and no," he said, looking up at you. "yes because I let the team down when they need all the help they can get. this is important to all of us and ever since my stupid knee happened I've been acting up."

he didn't need to mention it, but he was referring to the match against burnley where he was subbed off at halftime. you knew that it took a toll on his confidence, both on and off the pitch. there wasn't much you could do unfortunately besides comfort him.

"don't look at me like that," he groaned and leant forward to rest his head on your thigh, the embarrassment sinking in. "I sound so emotional, my ego is buried six feet under right now."

you stifled a laugh at his retort and let your hands run gently up and down his back. "it's okay. I'll ask harvey to pick it up for you, it's not a problem for him."

trent couldn't help but laugh, the feeling of his fingers trialing your thigh sent a shiver through your body. the two of you held that position for a bit longer, the feeling of being near each other enough to ease your respective anxiety.

"you're going to get better okay?" you said softly and he hummed in response. "whatever happens, happens but you need to do what you can. that's all that matters, so for now you're going to be the best bench warmer ever and support your team."

it was the day of the efl final and the team was ready— standing ready with their mascots at their sides in the tunnel that you were running through to make some last minute checks.

maya messaged earlier on in the day to say that they'd be at the match today and you couldn't wait to see them again after such a long time, especially alex who was apparently extremely excited to be here.

today more than ever you wore your liverpool jersey proudly only to be called out for wearing it by a familiar face. you just finished wishing the team goodluck when a chelsea player caught your attention in the line beside you.

you eyes rolled at the sound of the voice but you turned to look at him nonetheless, the smile on your lips slightly forced. "colwill."

levi put out his hand for you to take into a friendly handshake, a cheeky smile on his face as he looked you up and down. "It's always weird to see you in anything other than blue. you switching sides for the day?"

the backhanded comment was obviously a joke, it was natural for the two of you to have banter like this despite the fact that it had been years since you last talked to each other. from the line beside you, harvey was shamelessly watching the back and forth.

it made no sense to him that you always knew someone. in every situation and match of theirs, there was always someone that you knew.

you scrunched your nose at levi, not liking the idea of wearing a chelsea jersey. "we'll leave those blue days of mine at the academy thanks. good luck for today though, you're going to need it."

levi stifled a laugh at your goodbye and watched as you left the tunnel, old memories flooding back but never staying.

"academy?" harvey asked out loud, not meaning for levi to hear but he did and nodded. when he told harvey that you played for the chelsea academy before you left london it raised some intrigue amongst the reds on his side.

judging by their facial expressions he could tell that it wasn't something you liked to talk about. "she got called up a bunch of times for the first team but never took the offer. first time around she was 15."

there was no other reaction from harvey other than an irritated groan, his head shaking to the side as they started to make their way out of the tunnel. "she's lived 100 lives I'm telling you."

from behind him, andy hurriedly shushed him, the laugh barely staying inside because of the strange encounter. but harvey was right— it felt like you've lived 100 lives because there was a piece of you everywhere, a piece of you imprinted within the memory of so many people.

"the carter effect," harvey mumbled to himself with slight distaste as he stood in his position on the pitch waiting for the whistle to blow.

agonising. that's how you'd describe the first of the match. it was like a game of tennis— back and forth but the team was showing resilience against chelsea and their 10 man defence strategy. the man to man marking made you want to scream, because this was not the strategy of a team that knew that they were going to win.

"fucking cowards," you muttered under your breath and jayden danns— one of the kids who were newer to the first team bench, gave you a look.

feeling his judgemental gaze on your side you looked at him with widened eyes, gesturing to the pitch. "it's the truth. you can't play football like this, it's disgraceful."

from the seat beside you, bobby clark, another one of the children (as you liked to call them) spoke up and asked you about how long the chelsea squad could play defence. there wasn't a definite answer on your side as you sat with your hand on your chin in thought.

eventually, it had all the kids in thought, all five of the boys that you were looking after watching with determined eyes to see if there was a break in chelsea's defence.

"the only forward who they're expecting to score is palmer," james said and you scoffed, the rest of the bench chiming in to talk about cole palmer's recent performance and how it's been saving chelsea a ton.

spamjam._. added to their story!

amongst the chatter, you felt your phone buzz in your pocket. the name that popped up on your notification center made you smile— trent who was sitting in the stands with the rest of the injured players.

the last few minutes of the first half played out in a way that had your blood boiling. conor who was starting in trent's position today was playing exceptionally well for his first official start for the team, but someone else saw that as a threat apparently.

one shove from ben chilwell on conor had you out of your seat in an instant. the two players managed to fall on top of each other because of conor's honest tackle, and ben chilwell saw it as a challenge for something more.

seconds away from half time and a fight was about to break out and naturally the liverpool players tried to stop it, with a few players feeling provoked (cody and harvey). luckily it was broken up before anyone got seriously hurt, but by then you were already on the touchline alongside jurgen waiting to jump in.

the half-time whistle blew and you watched with distaste as they walked into the tunnel. instead of going up to the press room like you normally would, you decided to take a quick trip into the stands where the injured players were. you were alone today, and for another 4 months because clara was officially on maternity leave.

she was nearly 5 months into her pregnancy, but you still couldn't get behind your stupidity and not noticing any sooner. the signs were blatantly obvious but you thought it was normal— the loose clothing, strange cravings and her mood swings were nothing out of the ordinary.

she was doing well though, and was staying with her parents for the time being or at least until the season was over so that she could go back home with mason. at least she had stability, that's what mattered most.

"nice of you to visit us," curtis sarcastically greeted as you stood on the outside of the barricade. "I see the boys are treating you well."

it was clear that he was mocking you so you flashed him a tight lip smile. what the kids were doing was asking you questions about anything that came to mind— why you decided to work in marketing? was it true that you and trent were dating? (which you denied obviously)? who would win in a fight, a shark or a tiger? and funny enough you recalled jobe asking you the same question a while ago.

"a shark or a tiger?" he asked with a challenging smile.

your eyebrows furrowed and you looked at jude next to you, who shared the same expression of confusion. "well where's the fight happening?" you asked jobe who made it clear that he didn't like the follow up question.

he pulled a face at you, "what do you mean where's the fight?"

his question left you and jude speechless, his older brother trying to prompt his understanding of the situation further but jobe was stubborn and didn't care about the logistics of the scenario.

"it depends on where the fight is," jude said and you nodded. "they live in different environments entirely so it matters."

jobe rolled his eyes at the question, almost as of it were ridiculous. his shoulders tensed up and he leant forward on the chair he was sitting on. "yeah, but who would win the fight, this isn't about the environment."

you stifled a laugh, in further disbelief. "jobe where is the fight? where is it happening?"

"that's not the point!"

you couldn't stay to chat long to trent's dismay. he couldn't even hold your hand and the look of despair on his face said it all. but you agreed on keeping it on the low, no physical contact in public because there were always cameras around.

you flashed him a smile and waved before heading back to the bench just in time. a sigh of exhaustion leaving your lips at the thought of another 45 minutes of back and forth.

it was around the 60' minute when something built up, having you on the edge of your seat and holding your hands together in prayer and desperation until the ball finally hit the back of the net. however your rejoice didn't last long because once again, the referee was checking for offside.

you stood with your hands in the air in shock, utter hatred for the decision alone. "that wasn't offside at all! what the fuck kind of decision is this?"

the rage and irritation in your tone only grew when the referee called it, your scream drowning out in the sea of groans from the supporters. if it wasn't for james then you probably would have gone up to the stewards yourself to complain.

this was nothing new for the team though, and it was evident in their unimpressed expressions as they got back into position again. you carried on complaining for quite a bit after that— if there was one thing that you hated, then it was cheaters and liars. there was no reason to call the goal offside.

not too far away in the stands trent had his attention on you, an amused smile dancing on his lips as you complained to the other players on the bench— exaggerating your movements and explaining further, your blood boiling.

curris noticed him watching and teasingly nudged his arm. "talk about passionate."

he was right, your passion for the sport was never something you tried to minimise or hold back and that was something that trent found extremely attractive. you were always standing along the touchline with your hands on your head in distraught or leaping from your seat when they scored.

this was a first for trent— his past girlfriends who attended his games usually sat in the family booth and watched from afar, possibility not knowing what was actually happening on the pitch. but the idea of having you so close to him on the once place that he felt the most at home made his heart race.

close, both literally and figuratively— you'd be on the touchline, at most of his games because it was your job but also because you shared the passion for the sport and that meant more than anything to him. the fact that he could share what made him whole, with his partner.

"saffie's at home watching peacefully," curtis then shook his head as he watched you talk to conor who was subbed off, probably complaining again. "and this beast is picking a fight with the stewards."

trent stifled a laugh at his retort, stopping himself to try and listen in on what you were telling conor who was nodding along.

"exactly! I would have thrown him to the floor, conor. you're weak my boy." you pat him on the shoulder reassuringly, causing curtis to throw his head back in laughter.

20 minutes and two yellow cards later, the score was still tied at 0-0. the thought of the match falling into added time made you nauseous, because at the rate anything could happen. with a hand on your forehead you sunk further into your seat, all hope lost as the kids put on their jerseys.

"save us. please." your voice was meek and desperate causing the three of them to laugh, watching as the sub board went up. "I believe in you!"

when the final whistle blew for a short break before the added extra time you got up from your seat and paced up and down to loosen the tension in your legs. jurgen was huddled with the team, strategizing but you weren't too sure what he could possible be telling them.

personally you would have told them to break the chelsea players' legs. or at least try and play a bit rougher but there was nothing you could do except sit and watch. the kids were doing well luckily, and you did a headcount oh how many of them were on the pitch.

4. there were 4 first team players on that pitch and the rest were the club's academy kids going up against a full cheslea squad in a cup final. it was jaw dropping to witness this in person.

when jurgen came over for some water you asked him what the strategy was, to which he just shrugged with a smile. "I told them to have fun. just kick the ball until it hits the back of the net."

you blinked up at him for a moment, the answer a surprise to you but it made sense. there was nothing better that could have been done, so instead you started to pray and manifest, begging the universe for a goal or at least an opportunity.

with your lips pursed you looked up to the timer above the pitch, the big 116 mocking the players on the pitch. there was 4 minutes left and chelsea's management decided that it was a good time to make a substitution. obviously it was to waste time, but even then it was a stupid idea.

the players on the pitch were out of breath, virgil had swear dripping down his forehead and a look of complete exhaustion hiding behind his blank stare. what a way to make people suffer.

it wad the last corner of the match probably and tsimikas was up to take it. naturally you got up again seeing as this was probably going to penalties which you were confident enough in.

with hopeless eyes your eyes followed the ball as it crossed into the penalty area where the players were showing each other, trying to make way for a header. the stadium held it's breath, everyone's hope deep in the dirt until virgil managed to get a touch on the ball just enough that it successfully hit the back of the net.

it happened so quickly but the adrenaline eventually kicked in and you were being pulled into a hug from jurgen. on the other end of the pitch, virgil was sprawled on the floor, the boys surrounding him and laying beside him. it was all over once the final whistle blew seconds later and you heard the bustling noise from behind you.

darwin came running down the steps, pushing curtis to the side as he leapt over the barricade and onto the pitch in excitement with the staff. it was all too much, the overwhelming feelings of anxiety and excitement whirling inside of you.

you were left speechless, nothing more to say than. "how the fuck?"

the celebration was nothing short of heartwarming, but the feeling of watching the chelsea players leaving the stadium without saying a word was a better feeling.

"maybe you should actually try and score next time," you said with a teasing smile directed at levi who was heading towards you up the stairs with the rest of his team. "instead of standing as if you were the great wall of china."

all he did was shake his head and gave you a friendly pat on the shoulder as be walked past, before quickly turning back. "I still think you look better in blue though."

you stifled a laugh, not bothering to answer and instead made your way to the pitch where the banner was set up to take a few pictures before they came down to sing the anthem with their proudly adorned medals and trophy.

while they did all that you made a quick run up to stands, eagerly minding your way until maya, noah and alex were in the clear. the excitement on alex's face was enough for you, a proud feeling of warmth spreading through your chest.

"how was it buddy? did you have fun?" you asked and pulled him into a tight hug.

the younger boy nodded happily, going on about how scared he was and how he really wanted ice cream during the match because it was "super intense". when the time came you bid them goodbye and headed back down to take some pictures.

a fond smile formed on your face at the sight of the academy players, the group immediately making their way over to you with their medals and bombarding you with excited comments.

"I can't believe I nearly scored twice," jayden said with widened eyes, still in disbelief as he held up two fingers. "that's more than once and I just got here."

"which means that you better score soon, the season is nearly over." you lightly punched his arm, the group of academy players following you through the crowd of staff on the pitch.

once again james forced a sarcastic laugh, looking to jayden with his eyes narrowed. "well I just got here too and got booked 3 minutes in. I literally breathed."

not long after that, the photographers called all the academy players together for a group photograph and you took a step back and watched. but your attention was promptly caught by trent leisurely strolling beside dominik and mo.

with a smile you waved him over and suggested that he joined the picture since he was an academy graduate as well. he wasn't too sure at first but he eventually cut in.

after a few pictures your eyes squinted. "what's he doing here?" your question was directed at harvey who was seated on the floor, his face melted in irration as you spoke to him.

"I could ask you the same thing," he shot back and you nearly responded but the group dispersed, everyone going their own way as the celebration wrapped up.

naturally, you joined trent in his little stroll but made sure there was enough space between the two of you so no suspicion would be raised.

even though you were talking normally for the most part, it physically pained him that he couldn't even hold your hand. he gap between your bodies made him cringe, and what made it worse was that this was the first time that he's ever felt this needy or desperate to be close to someone.

but as you were talking to him now, the stadium still full of supporters while you stood in the middle of it all, he felt the desperation panging at his chest.

"bro are you seriously zoning out again?" you asked with a sigh. "this is the fourth time today-- and yes I'm counting."

"well sorry." he lifted his hands into the air in defence. "It's not my fault that my heart is in actual pain because I have to treat you like a normal friend in public."

your eyes rolled at his exaggeration, his dramatics being nothing new especially about this topic. "we aren't officially together yet so we can't do anything about it. calm down, loverboy."

normally this would be the part where he'd kiss you so that you'd shut up but trent had to bite his tongue today, and instead just nodded. it was the harsh truth unfortunately and as much as he loved private relationships, he wanted to show you off. he wanted the world to know that you were his.

but for the first time in a while he'd have to be patient.

spamjam._.

liked by judebellingham and 3 223 122 others

spamjam._. my kids dawg!! 🏆❤️ (and those other grandpa's too)

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liverpoolfc red suites you so much more 🫶 [liked by spamjam._.]

→ spamjam._. say it louder for the people in the back 👏 @levicolwill

user ??? oh the dramaaaa

user 120 minutes of torture that I refuse to relive

bobbyclark can't believe that I made it onto the profile 😫

→ spamjam._. watch me crop you out.

→ jayden.danns @bobbyclark I'm the one who got the photocreds on her story 🥱 lower your tone in my presence

→ jamesmconnel and I got booked for breathing 😒

→ spamjam._. james that was a clear tackle?? you got booked for a reason 😭

→ jamesmcconnell yeah for breathing!!

virgilvandijk you should've gotten a medal for being the best cheerleader today 🥇[liked by spamjam._.]

→ spamjam._. aahhh!! I'm so glad my efforts were noticed

→ curtisjr you were screaming at the refs and nearly barged into the stewards room 🤨

→ spamjam._. which is more than you did today benchboy

mosalah grandpas? 😔

→ spamjam._. your leg is broken, so yes. grandpa's 😔

[next!!] [previous!!]

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Chapter 13: Forgive Me

Gale Cleven × Hope Armstrong (ofc)

Series Masterlist

This story is based on on the fictional portrayal of these men from the MOTA to series.

Summary: With a new arrival at the camp Hope finds herself falling further into the darkness of her mind and the only person who can help pull her out of it has the man she loves to occupy her time.

Collab: A Pair of Silver Wings by @major-mads

Wednesday, October 27, 1943: Stalag Luft III: Sagan, Germany: 18:00

Hope found a sigh of relief escaping from her lips as the sight of their hut came into view. Frank had arrived to collect her from the infirmary and walk her back to their hut. He’d become even more protective since Gale had arrived a few days ago and she enjoyed his company, even if he was a little overbearing.

She felt bad that he’d been hovering outside for the best part of an hour but he didn’t seem to mind. She couldn’t bring herself to head back to the hut too earlier, hating the concerned eyes that seemed to watch her every movement. There was only so many times she could force a smile and repeat, “I’m fine,” until she too didn’t believe it.

She hopped up the steps, pushing open the large wooden door and following the short corridor down to their room. Frank’s heavy footfalls followed her, announcing their prescenes before they’d even arrived.

Their small group of friends were huddled around in the corner, a familiar dark-haired figure had his back to them and although he wasn’t sporting his normal sheepskin jacket, Hope recognised in an instant. John Egan.

Their presence must have been noticed because the group's hushed voices suddenly stopped and a few chairs scraped back, as they turned to see who had entered.

Ruth’s wide smile and shining eyes met her and she hated the way her heart clenched painfully at her friend's happiness. John, on the other hand, although looking worse for wear with his face littered in cuts and bruises, grinned widely at the pair.

“Hope! Frank! You’re back. Ruth’s been telling me all about you both since the crash.” John cracked a wide smile and his eyes seemed to soften as they met Hope’s. She couldn’t think of anything to say. What could you say to a man that had come back from the dead?

Frank, noticing Hope’s apparent discomfort, stepping forward, his hand outstretched. “It’s good to see you, Major, sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”

John shrugged, his arm coming back around to rest on Ruth’s shoulders, “We’re at war Captain, worse things could have happened. To think that of all the camps I could have gone to I ended up back with my girl. It could have been worse, I could have been stuck in a different camp like Gale and…”

The room fell silent, all eyes falling onto Hope. She bit her lip nervously, eyes falling to the floor.

“Hope, I didn’t mean…”John began, his face etched with concern as he realised the weight of his words.

“It’s fine, John, really, it’s good to have you back. It’s nice to see Ruth so happy again.” She sent her friend a sincere smile and the blonde returned it, her shoulders relaxing a little. She hadn’t realised how on edge Ruth must have been about the situation. Everyone treated Hope with kit gloves, like she was an unexplored bomb that needed to be handled with such delicacy that she might go off at any moment.

Hope sat herself down on her bunk, pulling up the sleeves of her coveralls. She missed her old flight suit, but the Herringbone Twill men’s coveralls that Edmund had found her severed their purpose, even if they were a little large on her. She straightened the silver wings pinned to her chest. Despite everything she still wore her flight nurse wings proudly, it was one of the few things she could cling to in these trying times.

She watched as Frank joined in with the group’s conversation, enjoying the jovial atmosphere that filled the room. It was nice to know that despite everything some of them could still smile.

She was pleased that John was here, really, for Ruth’s sake most of all. To see her friend so happy, wrapped up in the arms of the man she loved and had longed for. Ruth deserved to be happy, after everything.

Hope didn’t noticed Ruth approaching her until the bed dipped beside her and she glanced sideways at her best friend. Ruth bit her lip anxiously, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear.

“How are you doing?” Ruth asked, slipping her hand into Hope’s and squeezing it gently. “You’ve been really quiet since Gale arrived, I’m worried about you.”

Hope hated that Ruth had noticed. She knew that Ruth would have been worrying herself sick about it all.

“I’m fine, Rue, really. Works just been busy and I’ve not been sleeping well, but I promise I’m fine,” she forced a smile that stretched across her pale cheeks. The dark, purple skin that encircled her eyes only made her skin look paler. The flesh felt tight, gaunt across her cheek bones. She hadn’t noticed how much weight she’d lost since the crash but her clothes hung loosely on her tired frame.

Ruth didn’t look convinced, her once bright eyes looked tiredly at Hope breaking her heart even more. What had become of them?

————————————————————————

Wednesday, October 28, 1943: Stalag Luft III: Sagan, Germany: 12:00

Hope rubbed her eyes wearily, eyelids heavy and drooping due to the early hour. She’d barely slept a wink before the dreams began again. Every time she closed her eyes Gale’s distraught face haunted her, his voice shaking as he called out to her.

She sighed, stretching out on her small cramped cot and burying her cold feet beneath the thin, rough blanket. She sniffed, wiping away the stray tear that slipped down her cold cheek.

Hope’s eyes glanced across the room at Ruth’s peaceful form. She slept soundly, a faint smile on her lips. Hope couldn’t help resenting her a little, although she was pleased for her despite everything. At least she had John now, he wouldn’t disappoint her like she had.

A small whimper alerted her to the movement above Ruth’s bed and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she saw John’s stiff figure climbing swiftly down from his bunk. He held his ribs during his descent and Hope wondered how badly he’d been treated in Dulag Luft.

John must have sensed her gaze on him because he turned, dark eyes wide when he caught sight of her. She knew that look, the wide-eyed, frightened gaze that haunted her far too often.

She watched as he slipped down onto the floor beside Ruth’s cot, visibly relaxing as he watched the rise and fall of her chest. He reached out hesitantly and lightly brushed a strand of hair from her face. His touch was so tender and gentle that Hope finally saw a truly different side to Bucky. He wasn’t a troublesome womaniser anymore. He was a man in love, besotted with his girl.

Hope smiled a little, ignoring the growing pain that filled her chest like a knife in her heart. Her eyes found their way to the window once more, staring into the brightly lit compound. How many more hours would pass until sleep finally took hold? She did not know.

————————————————————————

October 29th 1943, Stalag Luft III Sagan, Germany: 04:00

The cold wind bit at Hope’s cheeks, raising the raw, pink flesh as she hurried across the camp to the infirmary.

It was early in the morning, maybe 04:00 or 05:00, Hope wasn’t sure. Her watch had been damaged in the crash and now it was stuck with the hour hand on the 3 and the minutes on exactly 26. Frank always joked that it was right twice a day, but since then she’d been relying on others for the time, not that it really mattered the guards dictated their routines.

Throwing open the door she shuffled inside, kicking the snow off of her brown, leather field boots in the doorway. To her surprise, Edmund was already there packing up supplies of dressings into crates.

He glanced up as Hope strolled in.

“Good morning, Hope. You’re here early.” It sounded more like a question than a statement, but Hope just smiled.

“You know me, I can’t sleep so I might as well make myself useful.” She picked up her own crate and started to unpack some of the supplies into the cupboards. “More to the point, why are you here so early?”

Edmund shrugged, “There’s supposed to be some prisoners being moved around today, some are coming to our camp. I thought it would be better if I got ahead of schedule.”

Hope froze. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t have heard him right. “Did you say prisoners from other parts of the camp will be moved here?”

“Yes,” Edmund replied nonchalantly before he realised what he’d said, “I mean, yes. I’ve heard that there will be men brought in from other sections of the camp but I don’t know if they are transferring anyone from Gale’s camp I’m afraid.”

Hope nodded slowly, she didn’t want to get her hopes up, not when she’d come so far. It had been a week since Gale had arrived and she’d desperately fought against the memory of him being dragged away. She had been glad of Frank’s support, he’d barley left her side since that day, Ruth too, although she’d begun to keep Ruth at arms length since John arrived a few days ago. She couldn’t help the jealousy that ate away at her when she discovered he’d been placed in their camp. Why did Ruth get her man while hers was still so far away from her? Why didn’t she deserve to be happy? She hated herself for being jealous of her friend, Ruth deserved to be happy more than anyone but the growing feeling that Hope didn’t deserve happiness haunted her.

Edmund seemed to sense her apprehension and placed a hand on her shoulder, “If I hear anything else you’ll be the first to know.”

Hope trusted Edmund, he was a good man and an even better friend. He’d helped her more than he’d ever realised and it all began because of his ability to travel to other parts of the camp. There was a shortage of doctors in the camp and Edmund had to split his time between several compounds, including Gale’s.

He’d mentioned it while helping Hope place a cast on a pilot's leg, it had been a fleeting comment but one that Hope hadn’t missed.

“You mean you get to go into the other camps?”

“Yes, just to give medical assistance. I come back to my own camp each night,” he’d replied, wrapping the bandage quickly before it began to set. “Why are you so interested in it?”

Hope wasn’t sure what she had intended but the thought came to her and she knew she had to try. “Would you be able to take a letter with you?”

Edmund thought for a moment before nodding, “I can’t see why not, they don’t check my bag of medical supplies so I could just slip it in there. Why? Who’s it for?”

“It’s for my fiance.” That was the first time she had discussed Gale with anyone other than Ruth and Frank. It felt strange to tell a complete stranger all about him but Edmund listened happily.

“Of course, Hope. You write that letter and I’ll take it over for you the next time I go.” True to his promise he did.

Hope found herself struggling to write. For night after night she poured over a crumpled piece of paper, writing and scribbling out sentences. She’d never struggled to write to Gale before, but now it felt like she was back in Nursing School writing essays on patient care. She had debated asking Ruth to help her, she was a teacher after all, but something between the girls had changed. Hope felt it once they had been reunited after Dulag Luft. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment but she’d withdrawn from her friend, pulling from Ruth’s familiar comfort. She didn’t desire her friendship, she was a burden on them all and they would be better off without her. The more she told herself that, the more she believed it. Something had changed for her in Dulag Luft. Haussmann had taken something from her somehow, her fighting spirit maybe? She wasn’t really sure, but she had driven everyone away because of it.

Hope decided she couldn’t ask Ruth to help her and instead continued to try and write the letter herself, but how could a simple letter convey everything she had ever wanted to tell Gale? Would she ever see him again? He was so close but so far, and knowing the Germans they could move either one of the to another camp at a moment's notice.

On the night she finished the letter, she found herself unable to sleep once more so she walked over to the infirmary. She’d told Edmund she would leave the letter in his medical bag to take to Gale’s compound on his next visit. She wanted the letter out of her hands before she could change it again.

She walked carefully over the uneven floorboards, trying to avoid the ones that creaked. She’d spent so many nights away that she knew exactly how to sneak out without the others knowing, even with the new arrivals who seemed to sleep less deeply than Frank and Ruth.

Stepping out of the hut, the early morning air whipped against her skin, wracking its icy fingers across the exposed flesh of her cheeks. She huffed, pulling her jacket up around her neck, burying her nose into her scarf. She walked quickly, darting between the huts. She knew that if the guards spotted her she’d be in trouble, but as a nurse she may get away with being permitted to check on patients and as she was heading towards the infirmary she stood a good chance of getting away with it.

Her legs carried her swiftly and she was at the infirmary door in record time. She slipped inside, trying to avoid disturbing the sleeping men recuperating inside. She moved silently towards Edmund’s bag, slipping the letter inside before…

“Well aren’t you a pretty little thing.”

Hope spun around, the heels of her boots squeaking against the wooden floor. She met eyes with the speaker, staring into the dark abyss where the man’s eyes seemed to have disappeared into his gaunt face. His teeth lay crooked in his mouth and formed a menacing smile that made Hope’s flesh crawl. She gulped, eyes wide as she watched the man take a step forward.

“Don’t be scared, Pretty. You’re a lovely little thing aren’t you.”

“What do you want?” Hope snapped, she recognised the man now. He’d arrived at the infirmary the night before, unconscious and unlikely to recover. He’d taken a blow to the head from one of the guards and the doctors had decided he was as good as dead. The bandage hung loosely around his skull now and dried blood was evident around his hairline.

“Sir, I think you should take a seat, you suffered from a traumatic injury to the head, I don’t think you should be trying to move around too much.”

The man scoffed, “You can tell me to do whatever you want to, Pretty Lady, so long as you give me something in return.” He lurched forward, grasping Hope’s wrist tightly. She let out a yelp, jumping backwards and trying desperately to remove his grip from her wrist.

“Get off me!” She cried, slamming her attacker into the side of the examination table with little success. He continued his advances, pinning her against the wall, his stale breath causing Hope’s stomach to churn.

He ran a single finger down her cheek before his pressed his chapped lips to hers in a sloppy kiss. Hope did the only thing she knew how, bringing his knee up and wracking the man firmly in the crotch. He cried out, falling to the ground with a shout where she kicked him once more, drawing her boot back and kicking him another three times. She’d never felt such anger within herself, never felt such a drive to hurt another human being. Why would she, she was a nurse after all?

The man crawled his way towards the door and she let him go, she’d have rather him be out of her sight than hanging around, rolling around the floor like a child. As the door slammed shut behind him, she released a breath she didn’t realise she been holding. It was only now that she noticed how sore her neck felt and she raised a shaking hand to feel where his fingers must have dug into her throat. Her cheek stung and she suddenly realised that he’d hit her, several times. In her struggle to hurt him she hasn’t realised he’d tried to fit back.

A soft whimper fell from her lips and she slipped to the floor, a strangled sob soon following as she lay against the rough wooden slats. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have let this happen. Her mind raced with the same dark thoughts that had followed her around like a rain cloud for weeks. You deserved it. It’s your fault this happened. What would Ruth think of you now? Frank too, the would be ashamed of you. As she lay sobbing herself to exhaustion on the floor, Hope found a small glimmer of hope finding her from within Edmund’s bag, her letter. The sooner her letter was delivered the sooner she would have a reply from her beloved Gale. She didn’t dare think of anything else as she rocked herself back and forth. It would be okay, she had Gale, everything would be okay.

By the time she arrived back at the hut, Hope just slipped back into her cot when the loud thump of the Luftwaffe guard knocking on the door rallied them.

Bang. Bang.

“Aufstehen! Get up!”

Hope pushed herself off the cot, throwing off the rough sacking and pushing her hair away from her eyes.

She pulled her olive-drab scarf tightly around her neck, hoping to hide the evident bruises around her neck, the last thing she needed was people asking questions.

Room 4 began to slowly come to life, shuffling around the block as they began funneling out the door, pulling on coats and boots as they went. She tried to ignore John greeting Ruth with a sweet kiss.

She rubbed her eyes, hoping they didn’t look too red from crying. She pulled on her A2 jacket, pulling the zip tightly up to her neck before marching out the door. Keeping her head down was the best way to get through it.

Frank sent her a soft smile, placing a hand on her lower back as he guided her out of the hut after Ruth. Ever since he’d carried her back to the hut the day Gale arrived he’d been more attentive, placing an arm around her shoulder, and soft kisses to her forehead. The closeness reminded her of Hugh’s comforting embraces but she tried to push it from her mind. It was better to know he was safe in England rather than stuck in a camp. Hope wondered if Hugh was planning his trip back to the States, Münster was his 25th mission after all. She liked the thought that he was safely back on home turf.

Hope fell into the line beside Crank who sent her a soft smile. She returned the gesture before forcing herself to look forward, eyes trained on the muddy floor. It was almost always the same every morning and afternoon. The goons went down the line checking everyone was accounted for until they were satisfied. On special occasions when they felt extra cruel, the kreigies were forced to stand in their lines for hours. Luckily, that had only happened once since the girls arrived. As the chilly air turned colder with the passing days, Ruth wondered how long anyone would be able to stand exposed to the elements. It would snow soon, no doubt.

After the morning roll call, the others headed to the mess hall for breakfast. Hope found herself hanging back, standing in the courtyard as she stared at the floor in front of her.

She ignored the way John threw his arm around Ruth’s shoulder, tucking her closely to his side as he spoke.

Hope felt cold, her lips stiff and her neck ached. It was as though her body had finally caught up with what had happened to her that morning, it was as though the shock and realisation of what could have happened to her set in.

“Hope?” Her eyes snapped up and she saw through watery eyes her friend looking back at her. Ruth’s forehead creased with concern, her bright eyes watching her sympathetically. Hope felt her cheeks burned as she realised the small group of friends that surrounded her. She could see John’s dark eyes watching her from behind Frank, who was reaching out to her.

“You okay, Hope?” Frank asked, brushing his hand against hers but she withdrew her hand, avoiding the other's watchful eyes.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I’m just tired, lots of patients to see today so I’ll head over to the infirmary.” She pushed past Ruth, moving through the group and towards the infirmary. She hated the way they looked at her, with such sympathy that Hope felt like she was something broken and unwanted.

“Hope! Hope, wait!” Ruth called after her, clutching onto her friend's arm as she reached her. “Hope, you have to talk to me. Please don’t shut me out.” Ruth’s bright eyes started pleasingly at her, begging for her to just reach out.

“I’m not shutting you out, Rue. I’m busy, alright? I have things I need to do.”

Ruth’s grip remained firm on her arm and Hope pushed her arm away, the jealousy she had suppressed bubbling up in her chest once more. “Just go back to John, why don’t you? He’s waiting for you so you should just go.”

Hope instantly regretted her harsh words, seeing the hurt appear in Ruth’s eyes but she just couldn’t bring herself to talk to her friend. She needed to keep busy and discussing her feelings wasn’t going to help her. She was a burden to her friends as it was without breaking down in front of them.

“Please Hope, please just talk to me,” Ruth bit her lip to keep it from wobbling as she spoke, her voice strained as the tears began to build in her eyes.

Hope cowered away, stepping further from her friend as she tried to suppress her grief. Why was she being so weak? She couldn’t look at Ruth, she couldn’t bare let me down. She was supposed to be the strong one and yet between the nightmares and Gale being just out of her reach, she couldn’t hold it together any longer.

“I can’t talk to you about it. You won’t understand,” she replied plainly, pushing her dark locks away from her eyes. Hope took a deep breath, ignoring the feeling of silent tears slipping down her cheeks. “I should check on the men in the infirmary.”

Hope hated the way Ruth’s eyes followed her as she followed the muddy path towards the infirmary block, keeping her eyes trained on her feet, stepping one in front. She knew they were only worried about her and yet that made her feel even more ashamed because she was letting them down, too. To think that the airmen that Gale had worked so closely with saw her as such a weak and feeble creature only caused her to hate herself even more.

She swung open the door to the infirmary, choking back a sob, she was glad the ward was empty, the only patient having been the man from that morning and thankfully he was long gone. Sliding down the wall beside the sink Hope bit her bottom lip, tasting the bitter, iron blood as her teeth sank deeper. The images of Ruth’s happy smile as she sat in John’s arms the night before flash in front of her eyes, seeing her smiling friends catching happily together in their hut, Gale being dragged away from her, the injured man pinning her against the wall, Haussmann. Everything was too much, it hurt too much. Hope’s eyes slid shut as she collapsed against the wooden floor and the darkness consumed her.

————————————————————————

October 29th 1943, Stalag Luft III Sagan, Germany: 17:30

Frank tried to ignore the way the rain trickled down the collar of his jacket and onto his skin, slipping down his spine and wetting the band of his trousers. This was when he missed flying most, when the foul weather would have had him grounded so he’d have stayed nestled in the dispersal hut beside the fire with a good book.

Sighing, his long legs carried him towards the infirmary. His mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of Hope’s tearful face as she’d disappeared that morning, skipping breakfast. The dry chunk of bread wrapped in a handkerchief in his pocket wasn’t much but it was better than nothing.

He wrapped his knuckles against the wooden door, waiting for the familiar call to ‘Enter’. When nothing came he pushed open the door slowly, slipping inside. The ward was unusually quiet but he was thankful that Hope was having a peaceful day.

The doctor suddenly appeared in the doorway, causing Frank to jump.

“Christ Doc, you scared me,” he chuckled, his smile falling at the serious look on Edmund’s face. “What’s wrong, Doc.”

Frank waited patiently as Edmund explained that he’d found Hope collapsed that morning, her small, cold form lay in one of the infirmary cots, wrapped beneath a mountain of blankets.

“I gave her something to help her sleep but there isn’t much else I can do. Clinically I can’t find anything wrong with her but I know she hasn’t been sleeping well, and since Gale’s arrival, we’ll…” Edmund trailed off as both men’s eyes fell upon Hope’s sleeping form. “I don’t know what happened to her but she had bruises around her neck, I fear they may have been inflicted by another prisoner but she won’t tell me what happened. She made me promise not to tell anyone what happened,” Edmund admitted, his grey eyes meeting Frank’s. “She made me swear not to tell Ruth.”

Frank’s heart broke. Why would she want to keep this from her friends, they could help her, support her? He’d never known Hope to become so closed off from her friends before. Who would want to hurt Hope like that?

“She just needs some rest and physically she should be fine in a few days,” Edmund paused, contemplating his words carefully. “But mentally, I fear she has a long road ahead of her.”

Frank watched the doctor go before he took a seat beside Hope’s bed. It wasn’t until now that he noticed how pale her skin was, how the dark rings beneath her eyes caused her face to look gaunt. How had he not realised quite how much she was suffering?

“Oh Hope,” he brushed his fingers gently across her forehead, pushing away her dark hair that fell loosely across the pillow. “I’m so sorry, Hope. I was meant to protect you and I failed.” Alone in the infirmary, Frank let his own tears fall. They had been through so much together and yet he felt as though she was slipping through his fingers every day. He vowed to himself that he would do better, for Hope, for Ruth, for all of them.

————————————————————————

November 1st 1943, Stalag Luft III Infirmary: 10:00

Sitting on the rickety, wooden chair by the bed, Frank chuckled, “Guess who got mail?”

Hope’s eyes lit up as she spied the crumbled piece of paper in the pilot's hand. She was feeling much better after a few days of decent sleep, and after a pep talk from Frank, she was beginning to see that maybe things weren’t as dark and lonely as she thought they were.

“Is it for me?” She asked with the childlike earnestness that reminded Frank that she was only a young woman of twenty four, or was it twenty five. It struck Frank that in all the chaos of the plane crash and finding themselves in a POW camp that they missed Hope’s birthday entirely. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, but made a mental note to try and do something nice for her to show they hadn’t entirely forgotten.

“It sure is,” Frank placed the letter into her hands, “And I think you know who it’s from.”

Hope nodded, a faint smile pulling at her lips as she ran her thumb over her name written on the front. “Could you read it to me?”

Frank nodded, if not a little surprised, and took the letter back from her, shoving his thumb under the envelope and whipping it open.

To my dearest Hope,

You have no idea how much your letter meant to me. I never truly realised how much I missed your sweet words until you were gone and I realised I took you for granted. I promise that for as long as I live I will never take you for granted, Hope. Each and every day with you I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I’m sure you can understand the pain more than anyone else that our separation causes, believe me I have never known suffering like it. Please do not worry about me, I am not alone over here. Benny Demarco is here with me.

Just know that seeing you when I arrived has given me the strength I need to keep going, too keep fighting until we can be reunited once more. You give me hope that we still have a future together. I know this is not how we planned the month after our wedding to go but just now that I would live through it all again if it meant I get to spend the rest of eternity by your side.

You're my everything, Hope. I’ll keep fighting for you and I’ll be back by your side as soon as I am able.

Your ever loving husband

Gale

Frank brushed a hand over his cheek, trying to hide the stray tears he’d shed while reading Gale's letter. His heart swelled to know that someone loved Hope as deeply as he loved his girl Grace. Love like that is rare and to find it in war is even rarer. He glanced up at Hope to see her dark eyes misty too as she shed her own tears but the faint smile remained on her lips.

“Thank you, Frank,” she choked, reaching out and taking the letter from her friend. She pressed the page against her lips, inhaling deeply for the faintest scent of Gale on it. Sadly, the paper just smelt like the damp, stale air of the huts they occupied. Smiling sadly, she pressed the letter to her chest. It may not have been much but it was enough for now to reassure her that her Gale was still here and he was alright. For now that was all she needed.

————————————————————————

November 4th 1943, Stalag Luft III Infirmary: 15:00

Hope was released from the infirmary a few days later with strict instructions not to over exert herself and to return if she felt faint again. Frank had been waiting for her at the infirmary door, a bright smile of his lips when he saw her.

“Now there’s the Hope I know,” he wrapped her in his large arms. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” she assured him, linking her arm through his as he led her back to their Nissen hut. She knew Frank meant well but she was looking forward to seeing some other people, he was very good at small talk.

She missed Ruth, despite telling Dr Edmund that she didn’t want Ruth to see her in such a state; it was more that she was ashamed of herself for being so weak. Not just now but how weak she’d been since the crash. She needed to apologise for everything.

Stopping suddenly, Frank turned his worried eyes finding hers.

“I need to go and see Ruth,” Hope spoke firmly, she needed to see her now before she lost her nerve. She wouldn’t be able to have the courage to talk so openly in front of everyone else in the hut, especially not John.

“Ruth is teaching now, she’ll be back later,” Frank assured her, his arm landing on her back and guiding her toward the huts.

“No Frank, I need to talk to her now. There’s so much I need to say, I…,” she blinked away the tears. “I’ve been a terrible friend.”

Frank’s features softened, he knew that Hope hadn’t meant to shut Ruth out, but he also knew how hurt Ruth had been, it would be good for them to talk things out.

“Alright, be careful.”

Hope nodded, giving Frank a quick hug before turning in the direction of Ruth’s classroom. While she had a been in the infirmary she’d prepared a speech but as her legs carried her closer to the building she couldn’t recall a word of it. ‘Always speak from the heart’, her mother had told her and it was advice that Hope had taken on many occasions.

Hope lifted her hand, wrapping her knuckles against the classroom door. Her heart pounded furiously and her head spun as she fought the urge to turn and walk away. She wasn’t even really sure what she would even say to Ruth, so much time had passed since they’d last spoken that she wasn’t sure how well she knew her best friend anymore.

Ruth's sweet, singsong voice answered and Hope pushed back the door, peering her head around and coming face to face with the group of men all sat at desks. She knew most of them and hated the feeling of their eyes upon her, ever since the incident last week she’d had a job to let any man near her other than Frank and Edmund.

Ruth turned away from the chalkboard, her mouth morphing into a surprised ‘o’ before she forced a smile. After glancing at her watch, she placed down the chalk.

“I think that’ll be all for today. Make sure to read up to Act 3, scene 2, and we’ll go from there in the next lesson.”

The men packed up quickly, sensing the unspoken tension between the women and Hope hated that she’d interrupted Ruth’s class, but if she didn’t keep her nerve she wasn’t sure if they would speak again.

She watched from the doorway, nervously shuffling from foot to foot as she watched the men hurriedly pack up their books and scuttle past her.

Ruth leaned against her desk, arms crossed across her chest as she waited expectantly. To say she was surprised to see her friend in her class was an understatement. In all the time she’d been teaching in the camp Hope had never once visited.

Ruth didn’t quite look annoyed but Hope knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t exactly pleased that she hadn’t allowed her to visit the infirmary.

“I’m glad to see you’re up and about again,” Ruth replied plainly, a faint smile on her lips. “You had me worried, Hope…had me worried for a while now. Since the crash, you’ve not been yourself, and I understand that, but…” she cut herself off, pushing herself away from her desk and moving to a table a few feet away from Hope.

Hope kept her eyes trained on the floor, unable to meet Ruth’s eyes, embarrassment clear on her reddening cheeks as the tears building in her eyes threatened to fall.

“I’m sorry, Rue…” she mumbled softly. She didn’t know what to say. She truly was sorry but didn’t know if that was going to cut it.

Ruth sighed, moving closer and standing before her. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I know things haven’t been easy for you, but things haven’t been easy for me, either. We need each other, and you pushed me away…pushed us all away.”

Tears welled in Ruth’s eyes, too, and Hope felt a choked sob slipping from her lips, “I failed you, Ruth. I just keep failing and disappointing you.” Sympathy easily overpowered Ruth’s frustration, and she tugged Hope into an embrace. Hope’s head fell against the blonde's shoulder and she felt Ruth’s arms encasing her as she cried.

It was the most relief she’d felt in months: to truly cry…to release all the emotions that had been bottled up for the past month. “I’m so sorry, Ruth.”

The two women remained fixed, each clinging to the other as they cried over the events of the last few months. Neither of them had truly faced what had become of them but it was good to finally share in their grief. To face reality together.

Ruth pulled back, rubbing away the stray tears that streaked down her pale cheeks. “Hope please tell me what happened. Frank said you collapsed from exhaustion and didn’t want anyone to visit. I tried to anyways but Dr. Edmund said you weren’t up for visitors.”

Hope bit her lip. She didn’t want to talk about what happened, she’d tried to push away the images of that fateful morning, tried to scrub her skin to rid herself of his touch. Ruth’s eyes remained trained on her, pleading for answers.

“Well, I’ve not been sleeping too well for a while now but I’d finally finished the letter to Gale that Edmund promised to pass onto him,” she began, inhaling sharply between each sentence. “I went to the infirmary earlier, I couldn’t sleep and I wanted Edmund to have it as soon as possible. I went to the infirmary to drop it off and there was this man there…”

She gulped.

“He was a patient and was as good as dead, but…”

Ruth couldn’t help the emotion that clawed at her throat as Hope spoke. Her friend’s voice sounded so broken and painful as she relived the events that Ruth didn’t know what to say. What could she say?

“He grabbed me and he tried too… Well, he didn’t manage it. Edmund said it was all the shock of that and the sleep deprivation that my body finally just gave up. He put me on bed rest. Frank only found out because I was unconscious when he arrived and Edmund let him in.”

Hope let out a long sigh, reaching to take Ruth’s shaking hands in her own, “I didn’t want you to see me so broken, Rue. I’ve always promised that I’d look after you but all I do is keep failing and letting you down.”

Ruth shook her head, fighting to keep her lip from trembling, “You haven’t failed me, alright? You’re the strongest, most talented, hardest working person I know, and you’re the most incredible nurse. I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for taking care of me, but it’s my turn to take care of you. You just have to let me.”

A painful wail slipped from Hope as she sobbed once more, surrendering to her own grief. How had she been so blind to the pain she’d caused her friend?

“I love you, Rue, I love you so much and I can’t lose you.”

Ruth’s hand smoothed down Hope’s back, “I love you too, Hope. And don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

Tags: @georgieluz @docroesmorphine @major-mads @violetdaze25 @bcofl0ve @precious-little-scoundrel @blurredcolour @artlover8992 @b00ks1ut @xxluckystrike @hockeyboysarehot @groovin2beats @kmc1989 @ginabaker1666 @hesbuckcompton-baby @beebeechaos @forsythiagalt @prettyinlimegreenboots @blueberry-ovaries

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

spider-man!ethan hc!!!

ethan landry masterlist

- when he first came to your place fucking wrecked (bleeding from a bunch of cuts. suit ripped in so many places. black eye forming) you had two reactions. 1. panicked 2. wanting to throw up. we are not medical professionals in this house hold, hell no.

“y/n, it’s- it’s okay.” ethan’s voice weak and his body folding over. “ethan it’s not fucking okay! you need a hospital!” “no! no hospital. just- just get a first aid kit.” “i don’t even think we own one and i’m not a fucking doctor. i’m not doing any stitches, you’re gonna suck it up and do them yourself.” and you left your room looking around your apartment for any type of medical supplies.

- ethan either is constantly talking, throwing jokes at the bad guys. it’s mostly when he’s in a good mood or blabbering as his own distraction when fighting. but when he’s really pissed off (like if someone hurts you🫣) he goes silent and doesn’t hold back his strength (well more like he’s doing 85% than his usual…45%?)

- his first year of being spider-man (complete suit and alias recognized by the public) he was dealing with some purse snatchers on 11th and franklin (i’m not from NY leave me alone!!!!) so when he webbed them up and handed the bag back to the single mother he turned on his heel, ready to swing away, but his eyes found you in the dissipating crowd. mouth lightly parted, a slight breeze playing with your hair as you held the straps of your school bag. (he fell in love again and you kinda grew an interest in this bug hero)

- ethan’s really sweet to kids when they come up to him as he’s spider-man (you know that AG SM bts where he’s playing basketball with some kids?? ethan would do something like that)

“mr. spider-man?” ethan turned at the little voice and crouched to be eye to mask level with the adorable little boy and girl duo. “what can i do for the both of you?” the little girl had glossy eyes and the boy was holding her hand, “we got lost on the way to the library. our mom said to go there after school so she can take us home. can you take us? i’m the big brother, i’m supposed to keep us safe.” ethan smiled brightly under his mask, eyes barely squinting from the action. “and you did the right thing to come to me for help. i can carry the both of you to the library, that okay?” the boy beamed and the girl perked up, tears no longer staining her round brown eyes. so ethan scooped the both of them like nothing and walked the two blocks to the library making simple conversation.

- okay so after you guys start dating (go read A Spiders Bite, same world) nothing changed too much from your previous dynamic. just a few things were new and something to get used to doing (kissing, hand holding, touching both intimately and lingering, going on explicitly stated dates, stealing ethan’s clothes, sometimes wearing the suit and getting…frisky with each other) but honestly with how much you wanted each other, you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself

“i think i’m gonna barf,” mindy commented to tara. the two of them were walking through the campus and then tara started to smack mindy’s shoulder repeatedly then pointed at the green grass and to a big oak tree keeping the summer shade away. mindy was about to ask what was so interesting about a gross couple sucking face with the girl sitting in the boys lap when tara almost screamed, “it’s fucking ethan and y/n! holy shit!” neither of you told your friends about your relationship yet. the group chat was a fucking town hall meeting with the spam texts.

- you buy a bunch of spider-man themed items. shirts, toys, plushies, cards, makeup collabs, even bandaids!

“i think you’re my stalker at this point,” ethan joked when he walked into your room one day and noticed the new spider-man blanket and pillow set. “didn’t know you wanted to sleep with spider-man this much, almost starting to feel like the other woman when i’m the boyfriend….AND HE’S ME!!!”

- okay, so let’s say the symbiote came down to earth and ethan’s dealing with evil scientists where they are studying the substance and it attaches itself to ethan. so we know it changes the host personality (SM3 nightmare) so ethan’s personality would definitely be a bit like his ghostface reveal (too cocky and for sure an asshole for no reason. and it hurts you cause where did your sweet and awkward boyfriend go?)

“ethan, what’s up with you? what’s this new…personality?” ambushing him at his house, needing to get to the bottom of this. ethan laid on his bed scrolling through his phone and ignoring you. “ethan, stop being a fucking asshole. this isn’t you.” “well maybe this is the new me so get used to it sweetheart.” and he said the usually loving pet name with such a douche bag tone it made your blood boil. “fine. don’t fucking talk to me until you get your shit together. i don’t want to see or hear from you, landry.” and you slammed his door on the way out, tears stinging your eyes.

- okay, leaving emo ethan alone for now. back to sunshine ethan! ethan still has trouble sticking up for himself so you’re his protector, just like you said in 7th grade. (he asked for no pickles. a 6’2 muscled boy standing behind you trying to make himself smaller)

“damn…” ethan muttered as he inspected his food. “what?” you asked around the fry in your mouth. “uh, nothing. just didn’t cook my burger right. it’s- it’s fine. no- no, y/n-“ “excuse me, sorry,” you flagged down your waitress and politely ask if they could remake ethan’s burger. and when you looked back to ethan his cheeks were turning red with embarrassment and you were about to apologize if that bothered him, but he just set a hand over yours and said “thank you. wouldn’t have enjoyed my food as much.”

- chad is a spider-man FANBOY AND HE WILL DENY IT BUT ITS TRUE. and it makes ethan flustered.

“chad just say you want to date spider-man.” mindy teased her twin. you were sat beside ethan at the table and noted how his eyes widened at her comment. you couldn’t help your quiet chuckle while chad tried to defend himself. “fuck off, mindy. he just seems like a cool dude. saving the city, friendly with the civilians, probably could bench press a car, bet he gets all the ladies-“ “okay, okay chad. stop talking about your crush.” and ethan’s ears turned red. you leaned into his side and whispered in his ear, “chad is your hall pass if you want.” and ethan fully wanted to die.

- okay another symbiote moment. so in the Spectacular SM peter becomes the host for the goo and there’s a fight with him and the sinister six, but then we find out he was asleep and the symbiote was using him like a puppet. so same thing with ethan. he’s asleep at your house him the big spoon you the little spoon (he likes being little spoon when he’s had a ROUGH day) so you wake up sometime in the night and when you look at the time it shows 3:38am and ethan is not beside you. so you look around the place and he’s nowhere, it makes you worry and angry. he’s never left this late at night, he’s usually always beside you the next morning. so when he is back in bed later that morning you question him.

“ethan where were you?” voice scratching from just waking up. you turned over in your messy bed to face ethan’s sleep puffy face. he groaned and his brows scrunched, “what are you talking about?” voice thick and deep, and usually that’d make you smother ethan in kisses, but you reworded your question. “last night. you disappeared around 3:40, where’d you go?” hoping it wasn’t the answer you were conjuring up. he inhaled deeply, “i didn’t go anywhere. was here the whole night.” “okay, now your just gaslighting me. why? with some side chick who’s got the hots for spider-man?” (possible black cat mention🤔) ethan couldn’t help the huffed laugh and that made you frown further, “i’m serious ethan. were you with some other girl?” and that fully woke ethan up, “no! no, sweetheart i swear i didn’t go anywhere. i mean, maybe i had a sleep walking moment, but i swear i wouldn’t purposely leave you at night.” his eyes a panic as he reached his hands to your waist and pulled you closer. you weren’t sure if you fully believed him, but you knew with certainty by his voice that he wasn’t cheating on you. “you know, i had the weirdness dream.” “what kind of dream?” “i was in central park at night and i’m dressed in a black spider-man suit fighting off doc ock, electro, scorpion, and sandman. really fucking weird.” and when you checked your phone later that day to see video footage from last night showing the exact description ethan gave you, you knew something was wrong.

- okay okay, i need more fluff to balance this growing angst. for halloween the both of you did a couples costume of han solo and princess leia (god i’m so fucking lonely😭)

“should of done luke instead,” mindy randomly commented. you replied, “you do know luke and leia are siblings, right?” she shrugged her shoulders, “seems more like luke than a han.” ethan couldn’t help butting in now, “what’s that mean?” “i think you know, chanel boots.” and walked away leaving the two of you speechless.

- you want to adopt a puppy, ethan wants a cat. so you get a potted plant. it dies after a week. “we’re not gonna be good parents” ethan said seriously while you couldn’t help chuckling behind your hand.

- okay i gotta bring up the upside down kiss, COME ON!!!! so your walking down the alleyway of your apartment dropping off your trash (idk something for you to be in alley) and your kinda distracted until a web shoots at your shirt and gives a tug.

“ethan! i really like this shirt,” you whined while pulling at the sticking substance. he tugged you closer and his boyish giggles sang into your ears, “sorry, sorry. you were a bit zoned out, didn’t want to spook you.” “and this was better?” “…eh” you walk closer to there he’s hangin from a web upside down, “really embracing the spider, spider-man.” teasing how his feet sat on the webbing as he held tightly, “aren’t you gonna get light headed?” “no, doesn’t affect me anymore” “lucky bastard” he chuckled some more and you walked closer to be face to face. he was a bit lower, big eyes sitting near your chin. you raised your hands to hold the sides of his face feeling the raised bits of fabric on his mask. “you know, i’ve always wanted to kiss a superhero. kinda a wild fantasy that was hard to fulfill.” voice dropping to a seductive coo with your thumbs tracing over his masked cheeks. ethan was quiet and then, “well, what kind of hero would i be if i didn’t help a beautiful civilian?” his voice also lowered and the masked covered up any signs of red blooming atop his skin. “can i pull your mask up, spider-man?” (y’all be KINKY!!!!) “just over the nose, gotta keep my identity.” you bit into your bottom lip while smiling, “of course.” your fingers slipped below the seam of his mask and teasingly rolled it until only his chin, parted mouth, and tip of his nose were visible. “you have lovely lips.” something you say all the time to ethan. his upside down mouth smiled, “and they are pretty lonely. so if you could plant one on me sweetheart, i’d really appreciate that.” and who were you to deny the friendly neighborhood spider-man of such a request? it was definitely a bit weird with the new angle, but the two of you simple feel into your usual rhythm. (i don’t feel like describing it, i’m sorry) when you pulled away first slowly you kept your eyes closed, letting the lingering tingle wash over you. finally when you opened them and look at ethan he fully said, “that was hot. we gotta do that more often.” and you fully agree.

[lilolakes]

Ekvillan - 'The oak villa'

Ekvillan is a spacious family villa inspired by swedish architecture from the turn of the last century.

I chose to call it 'Ekvillan' - 'The oak villa' in swedish, since there is a big oak tree in the garden. It has a vegetable garden, bees, a chicken coop, and a treehouse. There's plenty of cozy little spots to hang out and eat 'fika'.

Please note that this was built using cc. The lot is partially playtested. DOWNLOAD (SFS)

Some of the cc is included, the rest is linked below. The lot can also be fould on the gallery (ID: Lilolakes)

My lovely friend @zebrasimmer_ on Instagram had her one year instaversary recently, and to celebrate she hosted a little collab were we created different builds inspired by her (and also my-) home country - Sweden. This was my contribution.

Check out the other builds in the collab, by @zebrasimmer_ , @simsaga_ and @sims.erezkigal on Instagram.

Packs used

Ep:s All of the ones released before 2023 Game packs: Werevolwes, My Wedding Stories, Dream Home Decorator, Journey to Batuu, Realm of Magic, StrangerVille, Jungle Adventure, Parenthood, Vampires, Dine Out, Spa Day, Outdoor Retreat Stuff packs: Paranormal, Nifty Knitting, Tiny Living, Laundry Day, Vintage Glamour, Kids Room, Romantic garden, Spooky Stuff Kits: Country Kitchen, Courtyard Oasis, Decor to the Max, Everyday clutter

Required CC

Here are the links for all the cc required for the lot to look as intended.

This is my first time sharing a build using cc. I might have gone a biiit overboard with it, so it's pretty cc heavy. Sorry 'bout that! ;)

All credit goes out to the amazing creators! I have done my best not to miss anyone, and to respect all of the creators TOU. Please tell me if you notice something that I've missed!

Anniee sims -Area rug

ATS4 (Around the sims 4) -IKEA-like stepstool -Cereal box -Crate seat -Toy train set -Candle and old book -Grocery paper bag (the first one) -Harvestable aromatic plants, Basil, Rosemary and Thyme -Rocking toy alligator, Farm puzzle and blackboard -Preschool blocks and House

Charly Pancakes -The candle, moodbooster

conceptdesign97 -Pumpkin vine

Cowbuild -Pleated curved floor lamp and lazy loveseat throw pillow

Dew of the sea -Accordion wall rack, S4, unmerged

Fadedsprings -William Morris-ish wallpaper set

Felixandre -Grove part 1 -Grove part 2: bowls, cups and salad bowl -Grove part 3 -Grove part 4 -Kyoto part 2 -Berlin part 1 -Shop the look Season 1 -London set exterior

Harlix -Tiny Twavellers Binoculars, crocodile, hot air balloon lamp (short), swing (medium), hanging wall world map -Baysic (different items)

Harrie -Shop the look 2

Icemunmun at ModTheSims -Harvestable corn stalks

Leaf Motif at Curseforge -Wall lamp and vintage tiles

Leniad at ModTheSims -Pumpkin plant

Leosims -Carton of eggs

Lilis-Palace -Jugendstil tiles set -Folklore set

LittleDica -Deligracy Delicato Stuff Pack

MadameRia -Back to Basics Pot Holder (Wall version) and Wire Basket Dish Rack

Maman-Gateau at Sims Artists -Whicker basket with lid from this set

Mutske at TSR -Alda arch with private doors 2x1 -Alda arch 2x1 -Alda privatdoor 1x1

MXIMS -Ikea ypperlig table and mirror -Stokke high-chair -Aesop Bathroom Tray -Plants 1,2,6,7 -String Shelf System (Shelf B):

My cup of CC -Tiny dreamers set (merged)

Novvas -Pumpkins in a basket -Random Runners -Elo bathroom IKEA rug -Kids drawings from this set -Painting collection

Nutter-Butter-1 at ModTheSims -Old Floor Tile Set

Picture Amoebae -Allisas Fall '18 Panels

Pierisim -Oak house part 3 -Oak house part 2 -Rold Skov kitchen mini kit -Domaine Du Clos part 1 -Domaine Du Clos part 3 -Domaine Du Clos part 4 -The COLDBREW coffee shop pt 1 - 1/2 -The COLDBREW coffee shop pt 1 - 2/2 -The COLDBREW coffee shop pt. 2

Plumbob Tea Society -Deco Botanical Scroll, woodpile and raised garden beds

Raindrops on cowplants -Gothic revival build set

Severinka at TSR -big pumpkin 02 -small pumpkins 07

SimC (Simcredible designs) at TSR -Coastal Extras - daisy in tall vase

Simspell -Autumn & Spooky-ish Paintings (Part 1)

SixamCC -Birker Line ceiling light (different versions) -Small Spaces deco pantry items -Small Spaces Pantry CC Pack - Mixer (Standalone version) -Dreamy Outdoors floor light

Soloriya at TSR -Two candles -Collection of candles -Pencil sharpener and erasers

TaTschu -Lighted fence (Leosims recolor)

Tech Hippie -Plants from these two sets

Vintage Simmer -Patchwork set -Noah plush rabbit -SBP Octopus -L&C Plush lemon

Wondymoon TSR -Lybica Kitchen Hanger -Protactinium Rug

Wondymoon.com -Ceratonia kitchen counters 1 and 2, island counter, cabinets, corner cabinet and stove hood.

Credit for the cc included in the download: 13pumpkin, Aggressive Kitty, Aira-cc, Awingedllama, Baufive, DK Sims, Honeycuts , IllogicalSims, KKB, Linacherie, Meinkatz, Mio-Sims, Myshunosun, NynaeveDesign, Peacemaker IC, Pocci, Sanoysims, Sforzinda, Slox, Spirashun, Syboulette

Reshade used for screenshots: Dove 2.0 by Kindlespice

T.O.O.L-mod by Twisted Mexi was used to create this build. You don't need it to place the lot, but I recommend that you go check it out. It can be found here: https://twistedmexi.com

I hope you enjoy my build. Please tag me if you share any gameplay pictures from the lot, I'd love to see it!

♡ Lilolakes

[sharkytism]

heyyyyy ahahahaaa im back. oooo you want to share ur lapfox headcanons so bad oooooo (anything literally anything please please plea)

I'm doing the full meal

Renard: Me thinks he's of Jamaican heritage yeah born in Canada canonically but who's judging. I do like to consider his old desing as an actual phase he went through in their life and probably is still fond of it! They call it the hippie years and store ton of pics of it usually they like to look back on old times and tunes...maybe he misses people? I wonder. Also had a situtationship with adraen unrelated absolutely

Rotteen: The butch silly big sister of the lab, best friends with Ren and Darius. She's VERY extroverted, granted she got it from her father who always taught her to enjoy life at her fullest and that's what she does, or at least it's something that took her a while to realize what meant. Considering she's an ex military I'd say she thought drugs was the best way to search for that "joy" but when that failed she found halley labs and decided that she should pursue her true passion of music, I think Darius also helped her with recovery a lot. She's crushing on Kit but she hasn't told anyone besides Darius and Ren as she's aware it'd be stupid and unrealistic.

Darius: I already mentioned in my other post stuff between him and Ren so I'm saving the yapping. But basically I think he designed most of his room, I like to think they like fishes and nature a lot hence why he covers his room with plants and the robotic fishes on the giant tank (unfortunately there's no more fishes on the outside!) I think also that he invented TQBF and Bandetto when trying to look for something new in their life, a crazy idea turned into a miracle, did not expect them to fall in love. Finally for the underground garden I think he's the person closest to HHSU in the sense that he was confined with their protection so this badger is very stressed every day!

TQBF: Silly. It's silly what else can you ask from them. I also think it learned sign language to communicate with Bandetto :] They went underground once, curious as they are, only to be faced with the garden and tweesees so it is unaware of the deer's apperance for now

Bandetto: Lover of piñatas, pool toy of many squeaks <3 and a fucking THIEF of office supplies and other accessories

Emoticon: He swore he was going to retire but there goes pee paw, after his daughter enlisted on the lab he followed behind, he's always been close to Rotteen as he raised he raised her alone (he birthed that damn cat) reminiscing the old days with his old school tracker music he hopes to show to his daughter that he's still there for her. Probably made out with k2 at one point Shh

Kitsune^2: Came out as gnc thanks to mayhem, the two started to become closer after their break from music only to discover that they can have lots in common! And also because gay and lesbian solidarity <33 he's also friends with Rotteen! Xe had been chill with her for a while ever since Rotteen's ep collab! Slightly scared of Ren's extravagance

Mayhem: TALL SHARK LADYY WOOO She's also rough and loud like Rotteen, she's been trying to focus more on music nowadays anyways but it doesn't stop her from hanging around all time! I like to think she dyes her hair a lot too

Negaren: he's real to me

[resolutepath]

KIRISHIMA & HIS PRO-HERO CAREER.

Oh boy, this one has been a long time coming. I've had this headcanon for years at this point and begun exploring it in threads with @dynmghts but here is the actual reason why my Kirishima's pro-hero career, in the end, is a short-lived experience.

Following the war, Kirishima suffers from a bout of sensitivity due to the overuse of his quirk in shielding during the war. He suffered a similar bout after the Shie Hassaikai arc, though this one is much more severe and leaves Kirishima unable to accept touch for a good week after the battle, sensitive for the coming months. He assumes that will be the end of it and manages to get through the rest of school to graduate as a pro-hero with no issue.

And he becomes the hero he wanted. Red Riot, raved about as the next Crimson Riot, the successor of that legacy. He defends the weak, he fights villains and works many rescue missions. Collabs with friends and eventually gets his own agency. Red Riot's hero agency is focused around the pro but also runs after school programmes for kids to help encourage fitness and give a space for talking. Kirishima still remembers his middle school years when he nearly gave up and to this day battles mental health problems. He splits his efforts into being a hero on the streets and a champion of mental health. It's going well, working out, shows every sign of being a successful star.

In his early to mid-twenties, Eijirou takes part in a battle that requires him to push his quirk further than he has in a long time. He uses Unbreakable multiple times, shredding his skin and the aftermath is vile. He goes through another bout of sensitivity that leaves him unable to even have the rain drip on him without it feeling like a dozen needles being pushed against his skin, the touch of his loved ones is unbearable. He cannot lay down to sleep and in the end has to be sedated until the worst of it passes. At this point he tells no one, sending texts to his family and friends to say he's away for a bit and can't talk about it, knowing it will buy him time under the guise of a mission. The reality is very different. After two weeks, he receives the prognosis. If he continues on his hero career, this sensitivity that comes from the constant shredding and renewal of his skin from the demands of hero work will get to a point where it will not subdue.

Kirishima does not manage this well. He wants to deny it, goes back to work and tries to forget it, but has a second flare up shortly after, smaller due to a less taxing battle, but one where he cannot avoid the consequences of it. In the end, he goes to Bakugou - no matter the verse - to explain what's happening and an extremely hard and gruelling conversation follows. By the end of it Kirishima knows he cannot be a hero any longer.

He does not wind down immediately, wanting to know what comes next, so in the end he puts himself on leave, allowing the agency to keep running the after school programmes while he takes a break. During this period he seeks advice, from those who are still heroes, those who left it behind, and those who split their time between hero work and other duties. He did not expect to be retired before he hits 30. It's a lot to take in.

Because of all this, his mental health does take a dive and the black creeps back into his hair. It is only the network around him that stops him spiralling entirely and eventually he does find purpose in turning the agency into a fully kitted programme for kids and adults, centred around mental health, taking donations from other heroes to run. He starts guest lecturing at UA and learns about a slower life, one focused around wellbeing and drive. Eventually he begins helping in demonstrations at UA, always baring in mind the consequences of pushing too far.

It is a long and gruelling road to get there, but in the end, he is happy. His hero career might be short-lived, but the Red Riot legacy continues on beyond those few years of hero work.

[qoqurt]

✶ ⋆ .˚ ⊹₊⋆ WE SHOULD STICK TOGETHER .ᐟ

a walk down memory lane (ft. daisy ahn and stella hughes’ friendship timeline)

aka my first ever collab with @wintfleur !!!

link to roro’s stella hughes au! | about daisy | au masterlist

♡゛BASICS .ᐟ

how did they meet? stella (7) and daisy (8) met at a figure skating competition in toronto, canada. they didn't talk to each other , both of them being too shy. they first talked when they ran into each other at luke's hockey game that was held at the same rink on the same day. additionally, david –daisy’s twin brother – played against luke’s team often, which often led to the ahns and the hughes’ often running into one another.

their first impressions of each other?

to say daisy was impressed (and a little intimidated) by stella’s skills was an understatement. though daisy was never a shy child, watching stella perform before definitely made her a little nervous to perform. but by the time they went to dinner with the hughes, daisy made it a note to speak to her – complimenting stella on her amazing performance.

stella was in awe as she watched daisy skate, it was obvious that she was very talented and loved the sport. Stella really wanted to become friends with her since she struggled making friends with the other girls. They finally got the chance to speak to each other when their families went out to dinner – and the girls immediately clicked!

favorite memory they have of each other?

stella’s favorite memory of her and daisy, is when the young girls had to go out of state for a figure skating competition with their moms and they decided to let the two girls share their own hotel room (they were next door and there was a connecting door to the rooms – but still the idea of them having their own room was exciting to them) they stayed up way to late eating sweets, listening to music that turned into a playful dance battle, and doing the silly quizzes in the magazines. they ended up falling asleep in the same bed as they watched mamma mia.

daisy’s favourite memory between her and stella has got to be the first time she stayed with Stella and her family in michigan for the summer. the pair of them naturally had to share a room — being the only two girls — spending the entire summer together. although daisy was incredibly homesick — due to it being her first time away from her entire family for a long period of time — being around stella made it easier, as the pair of them did activities like swimming together and curling up on the sofa watching their favourite movies. daisy had brought her little spa/makeup kit, and the duo spent an entire afternoon giving each other (and stella’s brothers) makeovers.

♡゛DETAILS .ᐟ

songs that represent them:

birds of a feather – billie eilish

byob (bring your own best friend) – billlie

ribs – lorde

miracle – txt

chiquitita – abba

invisible string – taylor swift

friends – bts

contact names:

daisy’s (for stella): pretty dahee 🌷

stella’s (for daisy): my favorite hughes 🌸

contact photos:

their tropes: sunshine!stella x sunshine protector!daisy, sun x moon, twin flames, sisters from another mister, found family, first friend, bad bitch with a baddie friend

nicknames:

stella’s (from daisy): stells, estella, byeol (star in korean), superstar, princess, “the best hughes child”

daisy’s (from stella): babygirl, wife, pretty, petals, dahee (dramatically drags out the e), honey, “the prettiest ahn”

love languages:

stella’s: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time.

daisy’s: acts of service, gift giving, physical touch.

favorite things to do together? baking, karaoke, dancing, shopping, buying and opening kpop albums together, watching kdramas, skating together, getting mani-pedi’s together, coloring

♡゛FUN FACTS .ᐟ

stella and daisy love going to concerts together!

they have been to many kpop concerts; ateez, txt, enhypen, twice and aespa

they went to coachella 2023 and 2024

stella was one of the first people to help daisy with her english; daisy teaching her korean in return

whenever their families go on trips together, stella and daisy always insist on sitting/rooming together.

once on a plane ride, they were seated in front of each other instead of beside, so they passed notes between the cracks of the seats.

daisy often features stella on her videos on youtube and vice versa, the pair of them often vlogging their little dates together

on stella’s 18th birthday, daisy gifted stella an expensive bracelet with a heartfelt card – getting herself one of her own so they’d match. it’s one of the only pieces of jewelry daisy wears every day.

fights between the pair are few and far between, though if they end up having a more serious argument, it doesn’t take long for them to make amends.

given how long they’ve known each other, daisy and stella know each other like the backs of their hands. they often tell each other things they don’t even tell their siblings – who of which they’re both close to.

daisy was one of the first people to know about stella and rutger’s relationship, and in turn, daisy told stella about luke and ethan as soon as it happened.

with this, daisy was also one of the first to know about her impromptu departure to seoul, following stella and luke’s argument.

stella is the one who got daisy to be a little more extroverted in university.

daisy used to have a crush on stella’s brother jack, while stella still has a crush on daisies older brother jihoon

they often tease each other about this

♡゛THEIR THINGS .ᐟ

long study dates

sitting on the kitchen floor and sharing secrets at 3am

trying each others foods + drinks when they order different things

impromptu day trips

eating ice cream in daisy’s car

filming tik tok dances/trends

long conversations about the future

staying up late to play video games

matching pjs

sharing their netflix passwords and ect.

making each other playlists

holding hands even when they are upset with each other

getting drunk and watching kdramas in daisy’s apartment

note from mei GUYYYYSSS it’s here 🥹 i’m so so happy to have this out and posted <3 i just wanna thank roro for collabing with me because stella and daisy are some of my favourite characters and jajdjsjdjej please yall check her out if you haven’t yet 🥰

i’m just so thankful for her friendship and her guidance in helping me navigate this community and she just makes it so much more fun 🩷🩷 love u sososoo bad

tags @wintfleur @winterbarnesblog @lovings4turn @iceflwers

[saltyhibiscus]

☆゜・。。・゜~ Intro Post ~ ゜・。。・゜♡

☆ Hihi im Dahls! ~ Im a mixed media artist (as in i do mostly watercolor/sketches and the occasional digital art) who loves to work on oc stuff! I mostly focus on original stuff i make but i also dabble in fanart!

♡ My pronouns are she/her and im aro/ace spec! (Demisexual and aroflux)

☆ My side blog is @saltyreblogs mainly to reblog stuff and be annoying when i dont wanna clutter main o3o

♡ For more specifics on me heres my card! ★

Some FAQ stuff:

Trades/Reqests/Rp/Collabs - Only with moots or buds of mine but i occasionally make exceptions <3

Commissions - Open!

Art tools/supplies - Traditional: Koi watercolor travel kit (48 colors), prismacolor watercolor pencils (12 set), prismacolor liners (4 pack), uni mechanical pencil led (7 colors), Crayola colored pencils (50 pack), ohuhu mixed media sketchbook, annlov alcohol markers (40 set) Digital: Krita on surface pro 6, ibis paint x occasionally

Warning tags: I try to keep things pg/pg13 but if i delve into more adult territory i try to tag as such, if i mess up Imk!

Fanart: Im ok with fanart so long as its not problematic! (proship, triggering themes like SA, racism, etc. all that bad stuff) Please tag me so i can share! (LEGIT just keep it sfw and we cool Imao)

Fandoms: i dont really sick in fandoms much but currently i like Stardew valley, Spooky month, The amazing digital circus, and Lackadaisy to name a few!

Problematic people: I try not to intract with any, if i do Imk so i can fix that :>

Blocking: I dont block often but if i do block i have a reason for it and i do not want to talk to you if you made a new account, same goes for people trying to go to me if a friend of mine blocks someone, i aint your messenger >:1

Dni: My carrd has my dni but legit just dont be a pos weirdo

Asks/submissions: Both are open! I love talking to yall just dont be weird <3

Socials: My main is instagram and here but my carrd also links a majority of my stuff! If the user on a site is "saltyhibiscus" its probably me (except flight rising i had to tell someone it aint me LOL)

☆゜・。。・゜~ Anyways have fun!~ ゜・。。・゜♡

[ranchdrezzin]

THE SILLIES! collab w my friend @crow-kit

(template below the cut)

[lesliesaurussims]

Gardener's Haven (CC Lot)

Welcome to the Gardener’s Haven! 🌼🌿 Thank you in advance for your support - I appreciate you stopping by to check out my creations and share in my love/hate relationship with The Sims (IYKYK) 😂

This beautiful, roomy, quirky 1BR home is perfect for an avid gardener who lives alone or with a partner. There’s also a secret speakeasy under the greenhouse that’s great for mixologists and nectar makers!

================================================

LOT SPECS

Newcrest, in the Llama Lagoon neighborhood (originally the Tranquil Crescent lot)

30x30

Residential

1 bed, 2 baths (with an underground speakeasy!)

$142,030

LOT TRAITS

Great soil

Homey

PERKS OF THE PROPERTY

Lots of greenery and flowers, inside and out

Good-sized, fenced-in backyard with a grill and firepit

Across the street from parks and bodies of water for fishing and looking for frog friends

A bike for easy-going rides around the neighborhood to get some exercise and fresh air

EXPANSION PACKS/STUFF PACKS/KITS USED

Expansion Packs: Cats & Dogs, Cottage Living, Dine Out, Discover University, Dream Home Decorator, Eco Lifestyle, For Rent, Get Together, Get to Work, Growing Together, High School Years, Horse Ranch, Island Living, Journey to Batuu, Jungle Adventure, Outdoor Retreat, Parenthood, Seasons, Snowy Escape, Spa Day, StrangerVille, Vampires, Werewolves

Stuff Packs: Backyard Stuff, Bowling Night, Cool Kitchen, Laundry Day, Perfect Patio, Romantic Garden

Kits: Bathroom Clutter, Blooming Rooms, Decor to the Max, Desert Luxe, Everyday Clutter, Greenhouse Haven

================================================

CUSTOM CONTENT

A huge thanks to these amazing creators for providing the materials that made this build possible! I want to be you when I grow up.

awingedllama: Boho Living // Nostalgia Living // pair o' normal plants // Blooming Rooms

Charly Pancakes: M&S Constructions Part 3 // Miscellanea // Modish // The Lighthouse Collection

ClutterCat: Sunny Sundae II // Busy Bee Part 1

Felixandre: Florence Part 1 // Livin’ Rum // Paris Part 2

Harrie: The Coastal Collection Part 1 // The Coastal Collection Part 2 // The Coastal Collection Part 3 // The Coastal Collection Part 4 // Octave Part 2 // Octave Part 3 // Octave Part 4 //

heybrine: Crystal Clutters? // The Nana's Collection Part II // Noova // ?

House of Harlix: Jardane // Kichen // Kichen 2.0 // Bafroom // Baysic // Orjanic Part 1 // Harluxe // Tiny Twavellers

Joyceisfox: Simple Live Collection #5 // Simple Live Collection #7 // Summer Garden Part 1 // Forever Autumn Part 3 // Forever Autumn Part 4

littledica: Chic Bathroom // Sleek Slumber // Littledica X Deligracy - Delicious Kitchen Collab

MadameRia: Back to Basics Kitchen

MAX20: Cozy Bathroom Kit // Garden at Home // Dining Room Kit

myshunosun: Rosa Bathroom // Gale Dining // Midsummer Eve // Herbalist Kitchen

Peacemaker: Creta Indoor & Outdoor Kitchen // Hudson Bathroom // Gently Draping // Hinterlands Dining // Kitayama Living // Matilda Mudroom

Pierisim: MCM House Part 5 // Oak House Collection (Parts 1-5) // Woodland Ranch Part 2 // Woodland Ranch Part 3 // Auntie Vera’s Bathroom // Domaine Du Clos // Winter Garden Part 2 // MCM House Part 3

PlushPixels: Swiss Chalet // Kopenhagen

QICC: Evergreen Balcony Set // Lively Living Room // Sleek Hallway

SIXAM CC: Kessler Kitchen // Boho-Bath Botanical Retreat ****// Living Room for a Cozy Family

Sooky: Framed Posters // Hydrangea Galore // Rugs Set

Syboulette: Happy Stairways // Nothing to Wear // Traveller

Tuds: Wave Living

================================================

ABOUT ME

About me💃🏼 Hi, my name is Leslie and I identify as a broken Sims patch update \(ツ)/ I mean well and do my best, but sometimes I'm glitchy. But hopefully, my builds never will be!

Base Game only? Nope! 🏡 I own almost every Sims 4 expansion pack, game pack, stuff pack, and kit - and I intend to use them! That's not to say I'll never have builds that are base game only, but if that's what you're in search of, I'm probably not the right creator for you.

Custom content🎨 I also own a decent amount of custom content from amazing creators who make Build/Buy and CAS items - and I intend to use those, too! I will always provide a list of the custom content used in each build in the description of each release. I don't make my own custom content at the moment (but never say never).

Playtesting ▶️ I'll never roll out a build that hasn't been playtested. I'm not about builds for the sake of aesthetics - I want them to work! And if for some weird reason I do release without playtesting, I'ma call that out in the release post.

Download this lot on my Patreon for free!

[themanirealityshifter]

જ Ghost Investigator DR Script જ

・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・★・・☆・・・・☆・・・・⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 First Name: Solaris ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Middle Name: Newt ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Last Name: REDACTED (OR last name) ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Nickname(s): Ris ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Job: Youtuber (+ Ghost Investigator) ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Age: 24 ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 Pronouns: It/They ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Gender Identity: Enboy ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Romantic Orientation: Aromantic ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Sexual Orientation: Asexual ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Other Orientation(s): Ambiamorous; Homoalterous; Biqueerplatonic; Pansensual; Panaesthetic ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 Parent(s): Unnamed Parents ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Sibling(s): Belle James (She/They, 30, Queer) ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Other Family Member(s): Unnamed Family Members ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Partner(s): Kit REDACTED (OR last name)(He/It/They, 25) ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Best Friend(s): Robin Brooks (They/Them, 23, Demigirl); Carlos Whitlock (He/They, 25, TransGuy); Atlas Madden (It/Ze, 24, Queer) ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Collabs (made often)/Friends: Sam Golbach and Colby Brock; Celina Myers; and Kris Collins ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 Description: Long, shaggy dyed dark blue hair (long wolfcut); Brown eyes; Pale, fair skin; Lean, muscular body; Top and bottom surgery scars; Fully transitioned; Lots of facial and ear piercings; 6’0” ᡣ𐭩

ᡣ𐭩 Abilities: Medium ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 Extra Fact(s): Cannot die/get trauma; Cannot get possessed or get attachments; Has very good shields; Am very connected to my spirit guides; No such thing as hate or discrimination (racism, sexism, ableism, queerphobia, transphobia, homophobia, etc.); My partner, family, and friends cannot die/get trauma/get possessed/get attachments ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

ᡣ𐭩 Me in this DR (Picrew Form) ᡣ𐭩

⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・★・・☆・・・・☆・・・・

[patchworkgargoyle]

oc fic: find the beat

Belatedly posted (but not belatedly given) in celebration of my good friend Simon's (@sentient-trash) birthday!! Featuring so many of The Scromie's oc's, but with a focus on his adorable delicate boy Eric <3

The Cast Eric: transmasc OMC, @sentient-trash Dominik: transmasc OMC, mine Tig, Charlie, Vinny: OMC, @steves-strapcollection Set within the early days of Gerry's peace of mind verse, and of the band Rake Rating: T || Words: 2,123 || CW: brief allusion to an abusive romantic relationship Very very vaguely inspired by this scene from the new Scott Pilgrim show, but it's still cute and y'all should watch it anyway.

Dom was bored. He sat on his speaker cab and silently re-tuned his bass while Tig and Vinny tried to hash out what exactly was making this song fall so flat. It was interesting to watch at first; Dom had written a few songs with Tig before they brought on Vinny, Charlie, and Eric, so it was refreshing to get new eyes on their shit. And he was still half paying attention, but now they were just going around in circles. Dom had nothing more to contribute, Charlie was distracted by his phone, and Eric was subtly bouncing behind his drum kit. They only had so much time left in the jam space. At this rate, they wouldn’t fucking get anywhere.

Tig had told him to be patient—with that irritating grin of his that Dom could never actually get mad at—because they needed to find their stride as a band, first. They’d only practised together three times—four, if Dom counted today. And sure, Tig was right. Dom knew it’d take some time before they meshed.

But he was fucking bored, and renting the space was expensive, and he was tempted to leave early so he could go home and curl up on the couch with Kez and some take-out while they bitched about some stupid reality show. Sighing, Dom checked his tuning for the millionth time, cracked his neck, and sat there getting more and more impatient as Tig and Vinny went round and round again.

“Uh…”

Dom’s eyes flicked over to Eric. He was the newest addition, though barely newer than Charlie or Vinny. They all knew each other through their sex work technically, but Eric rarely collabed and didn’t interact as much, so he had less rapport to ease the way than the rest of them did. He’d mostly been quiet, just following the basic percussion notation that Tig had thrown together for this song with a few nervous nods and not much to offer. It didn’t match his neon green hair and bright clothes. Dom was convinced Eric was going to ghost them or they’d have to kick him out for being too passive.

Eric tried to speak up again, another meek um that neither Vinny nor Tig heard. Dom rolled his eyes.

“Hey, shut the fuck up,” he said, much louder, at the two guitarists. Vinny scowled flatly, and Tig cocked his head, but they both, finally, shut up. Then Dom looked back at Eric expectantly.

“Oh. Uh. Y’know what, it’s not really important…” Eric mumbled.

Tig smiled encouragingly. “Hey, if you’ve got a suggestion, I’m willing to hear it. Getting real fuckin’ tired of being stuck on this song, so anything might help at this rate.”

Eric’s hands clenched and twisted around his drumsticks in his lap as he looked at the others. Charlie had put his phone away and nodded kindly, Vinny shrugged, and Dom leaned further into his hands propping him up on the speaker, his foot tapping restlessly. If Eric backed down again, Dom was going to suggest they search for another drummer after this.

He didn’t back down, though.

“Okay. Well, uh, I had this idea? For the drum line. I mean, yeah, of course,” he laughed nervously and waved his sticks in the air. “But at the second pre chorus, I thought I could maybe come in with a–” He launched into a wild drum fill, but acapella, miming it over the drums, that ran into a steady, faster tempo that would drive the song into something more energetic. Something fun.

Even though he wasn’t playing, just miming and mimicking the sounds, Dom could hear exactly what he was getting at, and how it’d fit the song. And exactly how he could add to it.

“Oh shit.” Eric immediately went silent at Dom's cursing, drawing his lips into his mouth and staring at Dom, wide-eyed. “What if after that fill I did something like–?” he said, and instead of playing it, he followed Eric’s suit instinctually, saying his part in key by onomatopoeia.

It was like the sun came out from behind the clouds when Eric perked up. “Yes! That’s great! So like–”

They did that for a good two minutes: Eric starting with the drum fill, then the two of them heading into that relentless beat, pantomiming all of it. They didn’t stop until Dom had the presence of mind to look away, doing a double-take when he saw Charlie, Tig, and Vinny watching them with amusement and he realised they’d been dah-dah-tsk!-dumdumdadum-ing and buh-nuh-nuh-boodleoo-ing at each other like fucking maniacs.

Tig turned to Vinny and asked, “You get any of that?”

“Kind of,” he responded. Dom still couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

“Must be the secret language of the rhythm section.” Tig winked at Dom and he immediately felt warmer, ignoring Vinny’s protest—“I play bass too, Faulkner,”—to fight back a smile, roll his eyes, and check his tuning again.

“I didn’t get any bit of it, but it was pretty fun to watch,” Charlie said with a grin, mostly aiming it at Eric, who smiled back briefly.

“Why don’t you try playing it?” Tig said, “See how it sounds?”

Dom shrugged and tilted his head at Eric. “From the top, or from the fill?” he asked.

“From the fill.” He sounded more excited, and confident, than he had all day.

Dom clicked off his tuning pedal, strummed his E string, and smirked when the speaker vibrated from the deep sound under him. At his nod, Eric counted down.

“Three two one–!”

A crash, and he was off. The drum fill was so loud, so full of energy, Dom was on his feet before he even realised. Eric's hands were a blur of perfectly timed flourishes and Dom felt a rush of excitement carry him through it and right into his cue, running in to join the beat with a flourish of his own. They were so immediately in sync that Dom bounced on his feet and shook his head, feeling the music through his whole body and letting it move him.

Glancing up at Eric, Dom blew his hair out of his face and grinned, wide and unable to be anything but genuine. Eric smiled back and twirled his sticks with ease, one after the other, not missing a beat. That confidence suited him so much better than the nervous smiles from earlier.

Two thoughts hit Dom at the same time when he and Eric started headbanging together:

Fuck, this was fun;

This was going to work out.

Holy shit.

They played through to the end, cutting off with a final, perfectly timed note, still smiling almost painfully wide, breathing a little harder. When Dom finally looked at the others, he caught Tig smiling at him too, with such a proud, relieved warmth that Dom felt that rush come back and he had to look away before he did something really fucking stupid. Instead, he concerned himself with the way Charlie was gazing at Eric like he’d hung the moon. Dom kind of felt the same in that moment, so he couldn’t really blame Charlie at all.

“You’re—that was fantastic,” Charlie said, a bit breathless.

“That was fucking awesome,” Tig beamed, “way better than before! Do you think you guys have it down, mostly? I really wanna try it with all of us.”

When Dom and Eric nodded, Tig, Charlie, and Vinny got set up again, and at Eric’s count, they all started the song from the top.

It was seamless. There were mistakes and kinks to work out still, but the song sounded great, better, with Charlie’s voice, Tig’s riffs, and Vinny joining Dom and Eric to keep the rhythm steady, rounding out their sound.

Dom was hit, once again, with the feeling that this was going to work. There were few things he was ever sure about, confident in, but this was suddenly one of them. They sounded fucking great. There was no way they couldn’t get somewhere with this band. He didn’t care where it went, just that they saw it through to the end and had a fucking blast with it until then.

The rest of their practice went so smoothly that they didn’t realise their time was up until the next group opened the door, their knocking lost under the music. Tig did all the apologising while the rest started to pack up their things. When Dom heard the other group talking about how good they’d sounded, he smirked.

With his bass and cables packed up, Dom nodded Charlie over and asked Eric, “Want a hand?”

Eric glanced between Dom, Charlie, and his drums, stalling in the middle of putting one of his toms in its case. “Oh, yeah, sure!” He and Charlie exchanged shy smiles when Eric handed him the other tom, and Dom laughed through his nose as he dismantled one of the hi-hats.

“So, me and the guys were going to grab dinner after this,” Charlie began hopefully after a few seconds of busy silence. “Did you want to come with?”

The question made Eric freeze again, blinking at Charlie like he was shocked by the question, a small smile starting to tug at the corners of his lips. “Me? Y-yeah, that sounds–” He was cut off by a ringtone that made him flinch a bit before he dug his phone out of his colourful pin-covered bag nearby. The way he swore when he saw whoever was calling, like he’d been caught doing something awful, made Dom’s eyes narrow.

“Hey baby! I’m so, so sorry–” Eric said, the words a panicked rush. Dom couldn’t see his face, but there was an immediate tension in Eric’s shoulders, rising to his ears and making him look too small. All of the confidence and joy from the jam session had been sapped right out of him. The rest of the conversation was spent with Eric wincing and apologising profusely to a voice that sounded much too stern. Frowning, Dom caught Charlie’s eye, grateful to see a similar kind of suspicion reflected back, but they kept packing up Eric’s drums for him. If the unease and low simmering anger in his gut were right, Dom guessed Eric was about to make a swift exit.

“I know. Yeah, I kno—sorry. It’s my fault, I didn’t see– ...sorry, baby. I’m coming home right now, I’ll be home soon. …Uh, t-ten minutes? I think? No, yeah, ten minutes. I know. Okay. Bye, love you.” Hanging up, Eric visibly swallowed before facing Charlie and Dom again. Dom wasn’t certain, but he thought that Eric wasn’t able to look at Charlie now. “Sorry, guys, I gotta go. My boyfriend’s worried about how late I am,” he said.

Dom was starting to really fucking hate the word “sorry” coming out of his mouth.

“It’s okay, Eric. We can get you packed up and out of here,” Charlie offered, and Eric thanked him while looking at the floor.

“We’ll all go for dinner next jam night,” Dom said like it was already planned, and though a part of him did not want to, he added, “bring this boyfriend along if he’s that worried about you staying out late.”

Pursing his lips, Eric hesitated, then gave a jerky nod. “Okay, I’ll ask him.” Too many alarm bells were going off in Dom’s mind for him to miss the implications behind that.

The three of them got Eric packed up quickly, and as they carried his kit to the door, Tig asked, “Heading out already? We were gonna get a bite to eat if you wanted–”

“Sorry, I have to go! But thank you!” Eric apologised again. “And thanks so much for the jam night, I really had a lot of fun.” He flashed them all a slightly less harried, more sincere smile, once they’d gotten all of his kit in his car, and with a final wave from the window, Eric drove off.

Vinny joined Charlie, Tig and Dom at the doorway. “That was fucking weird,” he said, slinging his guitar case over his shoulder.

“His boyfriend called, but the way Eric was talking to him sounded like he was being fucking reamed out by a shitty parent,” Dom sneered. Charlie, who was still watching the spot where Eric’s car had disappeared, hummed in a flat, displeased tone.

Tig’s mouth twitched downwards as he crossed his arms. “Maybe we’re overreacting,” he suggested, but even he didn’t sound convinced of it. Then, tilting his head, he said, “We should meet him though. Just to be sure.”

“Already told Eric to bring him to dinner next time,” Dom said, and Tig laughed, but there was something sharp about it.

“Good.”

Divider by @/saradika

[7grandmel]

Todays rips: 22/08/2023

The 2:28 Collab and The 2:28 Collab -The Sequel-

Season 3 Featured on: Now That's What I Call Quality! Also on: SiIvaGunner: Starter Kit & Essentials Ripped by Nape Mango, Sean-Patrick, toonlink, MtH

Season 4 Episode 2 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume GS Ripped by Kirbio, Jiko Music, Sonicheroesfan1, Nape Mango, Sean-Patrick, toonlink, MtH

YouTube upload - featuring both!

Sorry for running so late - but bonus points to you if you could call today's rip ahead of time! For 22/08, we're covering the world renowned duology of Route 228 Collabs, The 2:28 Collab and The 2:28 Collab -The Sequel-.

Its always been really fascinating to me that SiIva's larger-scale projects aren't always pushed to the forefront. These days in particular, Fusion Collabs get tons of buildup and special attention leading up to and following their release, but other kinds of collabs often simply get uploaded and left to the whims of the YouTube audience to discover. Its really interesting to see how the original The 2:28 Collab was still able to land with so many people and, in at least my eyes, become one of the most cherished rips by the SiIva diehard such as myself - it and its sequels represent such a genuine, wholehearted love for the art of music creation and VGM as a whole. The original Route 228 theme is a tune beloved by Pokémon's Gen 4 diehard fans - a lategame tune from games over 15 years old by now, yet it and DPPt's sound is still so fondly remembered.

Both parts of The 2:28 Collab just ooze love around every corner, and given their sheer length it feels fruitless to condense it all down. One of my favorite details, however, relates to our good friend tunedlink - an incredible ripper in the early years of SiIva that I've discussed plenty of times before. toonlink's contributions to SiIva slowed down quite a fair bit from Season 4 onward, but as a leading contributor to the original collab, he was specifically brought back on to work on The 2:28 Collab -The Sequel-. The sequel is such a natural extension to everything the original set out to do, to where the YouTube video embedded here was able to merge the two as one seamless video. With so much to chew through, its something you can always put on in the background at any time of day for a guaranteed good time.

[m0xxchiiz]

my FPE oc! :3

Kit my silly <3

The third image is of a collab I created with a friend, I hope she doesn't get angry when she sees it here ;-;