#Chase Randell

[emeraldacademyofficial]

Chapter 3 - First Meetings: An Emerald Academy Novel

If Henry had thought he’d be too nervous for his first day to sleep the night before, he was mistaken. If he had thought he’d be too wired and jittery to oversleep that same morning, he was further mistaken. He was in a deep, comfortable sleep on his bottom bunk when the alarm on the desk began to ring; he barely stirred. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, in that ethereal space between waking and dreaming, he thought he heard movement, and a muffled thud as something hit the floor. Henry rolled onto his stomach and pulled the pillow over his head. He thought he imagined the sound of rain falling somewhere nearby.

“Henry?”

It could have been merely a minute, it could have been hours, but all of a sudden Henry felt himself being pulled away from the blissful respite of sleep. He groaned and pulled his pillow tighter over his face.

“Henry, you gotta get up,” Chase said from somewhere nearby.

“Go away,” Henry groaned.

“If you want to make it to breakfast before class starts you have to get up now,” Chase explained, giving Henry a tentative nudge on the shoulder.

Begrudgingly, Henry peeked out from under his pillow. Chase was standing above him, looking worried. Henry glared at the boy, much too tired to deal with his particular brand of neurosis right now.

“What time is it?”

Chase stepped aside and they both looked at the alarm clock. 7:02 am. Classes would begin at 8:00 am, so if Henry wanted to shower and have enough time for breakfast he needed to get up now. Still, he hesitated another couple minutes, Chase standing by impatiently, before he finally pushed himself up and rolled out of bed. He groggily rummaged through his dresser drawers for a clean pair of socks and boxers.

“Why don’t you go ahead and grab us a table?” Henry suggested.

“Oh, uh…I guess I could do that,” Chase said.

Henry side-eyed him, but thought better of snapping at the kid so early, but Chase must have sensed his impending criticism, for he shook his head and grabbed his bag off the floor.

“I’ll get us a table,” he said, and then he left the room.

Henry stepped into the bathroom, which was still a little humid from Chase’s shower. He placed his underwear on the bathroom sink and turned on the hot water. He stepped into the shower and was enveloped in steam. While he showered he examined his own feelings. To his surprise he wasn’t really nervous to start his classes. He didn’t feel particularly eager either. If anything he was a little apprehensive. He hadn’t been lying when he told his mother yesterday that he wasn’t confident in his academic skills. Was he about to make a complete fool of himself? Would he prove that he was just an average student, and get sent back home? Was he the only one here doubting himself? Somehow he didn’t think so.

Henry stepped out of his room twenty minutes later, freshly showered and dressed. He wore baggy, dark blue jeans, with his blazer open over a brick-colored tee shirt, his school bag slung over one shoulder. He was comforted, somewhat, to find himself quite a few late starters, all of whom were on their way to the main building. Henry allowed himself to be guided by the small menagerie of quiet and sleepy students. As they walked Henry glanced skyward. Thick clouds blocked out the sunlight, a stark contrast compared to the welcoming sunlight and warmth of the previous day. In the distance, beyond the walls of the academy, angry dark clouds loomed, threatening rain.

Henry and his classmates entered the cafeteria and began to disperse. He scanned the area, looking for table with a familiar face seated at it, but to his surprise and annoyance, he found Chase standing against the opposite wall, tray of food in hand. Henry crossed the cafeteria, pushing past another student here and there.

“What are you doing?” Henry asked when he reached Chase.

“Oh, uh, I’m looking for a table,” Chase replied.

Henry looked down at Chase’s tray. He had already eaten half of his food.

“Chase, no offense, but are you stupid?” Henry asked.

“Excuse me?” Chase asked, his face pink. “Why would you—“

“Do you see anyone else standing around, eating their breakfast?” Henry asked, gesturing around the cafeteria. “People are getting in line, getting their shit, and sitting down. Look, there are plenty of seats open.”

“I just couldn’t find an empty table,” Chase mumbled.

“Empty? Who cares whether or not it’s empty?” Chase muttered something about not wanting to cause trouble. Henry rolled his eyes. “Come on, follow me.”

“Huh?”

Henry grabbed Chase by the upper arm and began pulling him towards the least crowded table he could find. The girl who sat alone at the table looked up as they approached; Henry was only momentarily surprised to find those familiar emerald eyes staring back at him.

“Hey, would you mind if we sat here?” Henry asked.

“Not at all,” she said with a small shake of the head.

The girl put down her fork and pulled her tray and an open textbook closer, freeing up ample table space. Henry smiled at her, and then placed his bag on an empty seat. Chase fumbled with his tray as he sat down, still pink in the face.

”See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Henry asked.

“N-no,” Chase murmured.

”Now, I’m gonna go grab my breakfast,” Henry said. “Watch my stuff, will ya?”

Chase nodded. Henry glanced at the girl, who smiled back at him. Grinning, Henry strutted away towards the four meal lines. Henry grabbed a blue tray from the stack and, with surprising efficiency, was served scrambled eggs, a few sausage links, and a biscuit as he moved through the line. Near the end he eyed the various bottled beverages—orange juice, apple juice, and milk—before he noticed a bottle of water and snatched it up. Once he reached the front of the line he presented his ID card, which he was instructed to swipe in order to finalize his meal. Finally, Henry left the lines and returned to his table.

“Finally,” Henry exclaimed as he dropped his tray on the table and sat down beside Chase. “I’m starving.”

The girl across from them eyed his tray with a frown. Henry looked at hers. A salad.

“That’s a pretty light breakfast,” Henry observed as he skewered a sausage on his fork and took a bite. “You a vegetarian?”

”Something like,” the girl replied.

“Couldn’t imagine. I’m definitely a meat and potatoes kinda guy.”

The girl shrugged. “I don’t hate meat; I just prefer vegetables.”

“So this doesn’t bother you?” Henry asked as he took another bite of his sausage with a smirk.

The girl cringed, and Henry couldn’t tell whether the smile on her face was forced or not.

“I think your table manners leave a lot to be desired,” she said.

Henry swallowed. “Just trying to make a point. I’m Henry, by the way.”

“Kari Dowers,” the girl replied.

Henry glanced at Chase; Kari too looked at him expectedly. Chase’s face turned a dark shade of red, and he stared down at his tray.

“Chase Randell…” he muttered.

“Don’t mind him,” Henry said. “He’s not always this loud mouthed.”

“I suppose that makes you the shy one, then?” Kari asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Something like that. Whatcha reading?”

Kari glanced at her open textbook, and then propped an elbow on the table and rested her chin against her fist. “Just getting ahead on the O-chem reading.”

“O-chem?” Henry asked.

“Organic Chemistry,” Kari and Chase both replied—Chase’s words barely a whisper.

“Huh, I don’t think I have that class,” Henry said.

“Biology is typical for freshman level,” Kari exclaimed. “Chem and O-Chem are usually Sophomore and Junior years.”

“So you’re a sophomore?”

“No, this is my first year here, too.”

Chase looked up. Henry’s eyebrows shot up. “So you’re taking advanced level courses?”

Kari shrugged. “I guess so. I didn’t ask for it—I just tested well.”

Henry grimaced. He could remember the academy proficiency examination as well. He remembered struggling with the advanced mathematics section for quite a while, and his History score wasn’t the best either. It was really the sciences and English-based courses he excelled in.

“What’s your schedule like?” Kari asked as she pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Henry rummaged through his bag before finding his own. Chase, too, withdrew his schedule. With all three on the tabletop they began comparing.

“Gross, I’ve got Math first thing this morning,” Henry groaned.

“With L. Turner?” Chase asked.

Henry glanced at the name beside the class and timeslot. L. Turner.

“Yeah, with Turner.”

“I’ve got him, too,” Chase said, sliding his schedule towards Henry, who glanced at it.

“What about you?” Henry asked, eyeing Kari’s schedule curiously.

She tapped her finger against her open textbook. “O-chem.”

So no cute blonde first thing in the morning. Shame. Henry’s eyes returned to his schedule.

“Biology second, with A. Lumanee,” Henry read.

“Weird name,” Kari said. “I’ve got Geometry second.”

“Gym,” Chase chimed in.

“History third,” Henry continued. “With Professor Krenlo.”

Kari’s eyebrows rose. Chase, too, sat up straighter.

“Same here,” Chase said.

“Me too,” Kari said.

“Looks like we’ll be together then,” Henry observed.

“Our lunch period is after that.”

“English and Literature after lunch, French next, and finally gym at the very end,” Henry recited.

“I’ll see you in English and Gym, then,” Kari said.

“I’ve got French at the same time as you,” Chase said.

“Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot of each other,” Hiro said.

Kari glanced at her watch. “It’s almost time, actually.”

Henry shoved his schedule in his pocket and grabbed his tray. The three of them returned their trays and made their way out of the cafeteria. Once out in the cramped hallway Henry attempted to say goodbye to Kari, but she was quickly jostled away from him. Chase managed to stay nearby as Henry began pushing through the crowd. To his annoyance Chase had grabbed onto the back of his blazer as he tried to keep up.

“Where are we going?” Henry asked Chase.

“Math hall is upstairs,” Chase said.

“Come on, I’ll get us through.” Henry snatched Chase’s wrist, breaking his grip on Henry’s clothes, and pulled him along.

Henry pushed and shoved his way down the hallway. This cannot be normal. This has gotta just be first day craziness—just a bunch of kids lost and searching for their own way. Henry shouldered his way through a group of kids that seemed half his size, and emerged in a relatively quieter stairwell. Able to breathe normally again, he grabbed the guard rail and began trudging upwards. A disheveled looking Chase followed behind, no longer in need of a lifeline. The pair exited the stairwell at the top and found themselves in the corner where two hallways converged. A sign hanging above indicated that the Math Wing was down the hall directly ahead of them. In no time at all they had found the correct room.

The two boys entered the room, finding it only half-full so far. Henry scanned the room, trying to decide where he wanted to sit. Chase nudged him and pointed towards a pair of desks in the opposite corner. Henry nodded and led the way. Henry dropped his bag the furthest back of the two desks, and Chase took his seat in front of Henry. Henry leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, and waited patiently for the room to fill up, while Chase pulled out his textbook, a notebook, and a couple pens. The kid’s studious. Frowning, Henry reached into his own bag and retrieved his own textbook and notebook, but he didn’t seem to have anything to write with.

“Chase, loan me a pen,” he said.

Chase side-eyed him, and then passed him one of the two pens on his desk. Henry was just about to thank him, when the atmosphere in the room changed. Everyone suddenly grew quiet as a middle-aged man entered the room. He was on the short side, and thick in the waist. His grey hair was short, matching his goatee, and he had severe-looking blue behind silver-framed glasses. The man—obviously L. Turner—stopped at his desk, and then scanned the room, his face set in stone.

“Good morning,” he said. Henry was surprised to find his voice rather soft. Turner glanced down at the paper on his desk. “I take it you’re all here for Algebra Part One?” There was a general murmured of consensus. Turner nodded. “Very well. My name is Larry Turner, you may call me Coach Turner—Not Mr.”

Someone on the opposite side of the room raised their hand. Turner nodded towards the girl.

“Why not Professor Turner?” she asked.

Turner eyed her in silence for a moment before responding. “I am not a professor. I am, however, the coach of the academy’s Football and Basketball teams. I have a Masters in the relevant academics required to teach mathematics, but I came to this school to coach. That being said, I would much prefer you address me as Coach Turner.” Coach Turner’s eyes returned to the paper on his desk, and he resumed where he’d left off. “As I was saying, this is Algebra Part One. It’s your basic introduction to the course. Before we dive in, however, I’m going to take roll, just to ensure that everyone is where they ought to be.” Coach Turner placed two fingers on the paper and began reading aloud. “Beth Aniston?”

“Here,” said a girl sitting near Henry.

Turner’s eyes found her, then he continued. “Brittany Bowman?”

“Here,” responded another girl.

“Jason Bradley?”

“Right here.”

So on and so forth. Turner quickly recited the list of names on his roster until he reached—

“Henry Thurston?”

Henry raised a finger. “Here.”

Turner did the smallest of double takes. His eyes narrowed on Henry. “You’re not appropriately in uniform, Mr. Thurston?”

“What’s that?” Henry asked.

“Your uniform should be fastened, not hanging open like casual-wear.”

Henry glanced down at his open blazer and red shirt. “Oh yeah, it’s a little warm today. I figured this would be more comfortable.”

“Look around, Mr. Thurston,” Coach Turner said with a sweeping gesture. “Are any of your classmates dressed so casually? Are any of them violating the dress code for the sake of comfort?”

Henry shrugged. “I mean, they could. It’s just a jacket.”

Coach Turner looked like he wanted to reprimand Henry, but instead he closed his eyes and took several breaths. When he addressed Henry again he took on what Henry guessed was supposed to be a friendly tone.

“Why don’t you just fasten up your blazer, and let’s continue, shall we?”

Henry frowned at the man. Was it really that big a deal? He begrudgingly buttoned up his blazer. He raised his eyebrows at Coach Turner. Happy now? Turner’s eyes lingered on him for only a moment longer before he nodded, and continued roll call. Once finished he strode from his desk to the white board hanging on the wall.

“To begin with,” Turner said, hands clasped behind his back. “How many of you feel you have a pretty good grasp of basic arithmetic and algebra?” The majority of Henry’s classmates raised their hands, Chase included. Turner nodded. “And how many of you think you might need a little extra help to get brought up to speed?” Nobody raised their hands this time. Coach Turner smiled knowingly. “No matter, let’s try that again. First, however, I want everyone to close their eyes—no peeking.”

Henry hesitated. He glanced around at his classmates, several of which were doing the same.

“Come now, eyes shut!” Coach Turner exclaimed. “Heads down if you feel you might be inclined to sneak a peek.

To Henry’s amusement three or four heads went down. Finally, he closed his own eyes. Staring at the darkness of his own eyelids, he wondered where this exercise was going.

“Very well. Now, how many of you think you might need some extra help to get along?” Turner asked.

Henry heard movement. This time someone raised their hand. Then movement to his immediate left told him a second of his classmates had done the same. Then a third, and a fourth. Henry hesitated only a few seconds before raising his own hand.

“Very good,” Turner said. “You may put your hands down and open your eyes. The class obeyed. “For those of you who feel they need some help—and you know who you are—I offer after-hours tutoring on Thursdays. Furthermore, you can find tutors more or less around the clock in The Cave. Cave hours are from seven am to seven pm on weekdays, nine am to three pm on weekends.”

One of Henry’s classmates raised their hand. Turner nodded towards him.

“What’s The Cave?”

“Good question, Mr. Bradley. The Cave is the nickname for what is basically our tutoring and media center. You’ll find it a little beyond the cafeteria and gym, tucked away in a short hallway. The place is kept quiet and the lighting calibrated specifically to encourage focus and peace. The tutors who volunteer in The Cave are mostly all upperclassmen, though you’ll find a few professors from time to time. If you find you need extra help with any of your classes I highly advise you take advantage of The Cave.”

“That’s cool,” Chase murmured. “We should check it out sometime.”

“I know you’re not talking to me,” Henry whispered. “What makes you think I need tutoring?”

Chase shot him a look, but said nothing. Henry ignored him, and refocused his attention on Coach Turner.

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” Turner said, hands once again clasped behind his back as he walked slowly to his desk again. “let’s begin with some very basic stuff.” He picked up a small stack of papers and approached the first desk in the row Henry sat in. Turner did a quick head count and then gave the girl at the front of their row some of the papers. He moved to the next row of desks and did the same. “Take one and pass the rest back. There’s no time limit for this first assignment, save for the bell, of course. You may begin immediately. Once you are finished return your test to me—place it in the basket on my desk. I ask that you respect your classmates and do not speak while others are working. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me.”

Chase passed Henry the final sheet of paper, and he peered down at it. As Coach Turner had indicated the mathematical problems and equations appeared very basic. Even I can do well on this! Feeling rather confident he got to work. The first few questions were incredibly easy, basic arithmetic, and although Henry struggled to do long division in his head, he was able to quickly work through the problem in the margin of the test. It wasn’t until halfway in that he had to stop and seriously consider the math in front of him. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t done before, but he wasn’t exactly proficient in balancing and solving equations. He glanced up at Chase, who seemed to be speeding through his own test. It looks like he’s got this. Henry got back to work.

At the end of the hour most if not all of the class had finished their test. Once or twice while they worked Coach Turner had risen from his desk and slowly walked up and down the aisles of desks, examining their work, but said nothing. Once it became obvious that everyone had finished he looked up from the document before him and scanned the room.

“All finished, are we?”

There was a murmur of assent.

Turner looked at the clock on the wall. “Well, it looks like it’s almost that time already. How about we call it a day?”

The class’ agreement was more pronounced this time. Henry’s eyebrows rose. Maybe he’s not so bad after all.

“Those of you who haven’t already, please turn in your tests before you leave. If you didn’t finish, I ask that you wait behind so that we may discuss the test.”

Henry shoved his books back into his bag, and passed Chase his pen. Together they left the room.

“That wasn’t an awful first class,” Henry said.

“I dunno, Coach Turner is kind of intimidating,” Chase mused.

“You think so? At least he didn’t call you out in the middle of class.”

Chase, who had gone slightly pink, nodded in agreement. “To be fair, you weren’t wearing your uniform correctly.”

“And nor will I,” Henry said disdainfully as he unfastened the buttons on his blazer with one hand. It’s too tight in the chest. I hate uniforms. This’ll have to do.”

“But the dress code—“

“Not every teacher here can be that much of a hardass,” Henry interjected. “I’ll button up for Turner, but if I can get away without it I'm gonna.”

“If you say so…”

“In any case, I’ve got to head to Biology next. I wonder where it is?”

“It’s downstairs, on the west side of the building,” Chase said.

“Oh,” Henry said. Then he remembered that Chase had a different class coming up. “I guess I’ll see you later?”

“In History class, yeah.”

“Alrighty then. See ya.”

“Bye.”

Henry almost stopped walking, almost doubled back to keep an eye on Chase, but the kid had to be able to at least get to class on his own. I’m not his big brother. I’m not his guardian. He’s gotta learn to manage on his own. Henry put Chase from his mind for the moment and began searching for his next class.

Professor Lumanee’s classroom was much larger than Turner’s had been. Roughly half the floor space was occupied by rows of desks. In the back half of the room, however, stood several large tables, each with various pieces of equipment placed upon them. Henry managed to find a seat two rows away from a large window that offered a view of the courtyard. Once again, the room slowly filled with his fellow freshmen, who quickly took seats for themselves. To his left sat a very pretty girl with long, chocolate brown hair. Her hazel eyes were darting about the room as she too watched the classroom fill. Once or twice her eyes found his, and Henry quickly looked away—in a totally obvious, not at all weird way. The third time this happened the girl smiled politely at him; Henry grinned sheepishly and resolutely turned to face in any direction but hers.

Upon Professor Lumanee’s arrival in the room Henry noted that she was young. Very young. She was shorter than he was by at least a head, had a slender build and bright blue eyes. Her silver-blonde hair was thick and fell partway down her back. There’s no way she’s old enough to be a teacher. She’s too young. She’s too…hot.

Like Coach Turner before Professor Lumanee began their first class by introducing herself, and then taking roll. Henry began paying attention when the girl beside him spoke up in response to the name—Breann Davis. Pretty name. Very pretty girl.

For our first class I’ve prepared a little project for you,” Lumanee announced once she was finished. “On each island in the back you’ll see that there is a microscope and a variety of slides. You will partner up into groups of three or four, seat yourselves at an island, and take turns examining the slides provided. I would have you attempt to identify what you’re seeing and match each slide to the examples on this worksheet.” Lumanee began passing out worksheets. “Then, for the very last slide you will attempt to draw the specimen you see, and label its various parts. You may use your textbook if necessary, but most of the information you need you can find on the worksheet.”

The sound of moving chairs and feet scuffling erupted in the classroom. Henry turned around to face Breann once more. She was already on her feet, eyeballing her classmates.

“Breann, right?” Henry asked.

She smiled politely at him. “Yes.”

Henry jerked a thumb back at the workstations—or “islands” as Lumanee so affectionately referred to them as. “Wanna partner up?”

Breann shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“Excellent!” Henry hopped to his feet. “Now we just need one more. One more…There!” Henry waved at a boy who had been sitting a few seats ahead of him. He noticed Henry and looked at him passively. “Join us?” Henry asked.

The boy considered Henry’s offer, and then nodded wordlessly. The trio made their way back to an island set into a wall, and sat down around the microscope. Placed within a small container were several glass slides. None of them were labeled. Henry perused his worksheet; images of various microorganisms arranged upon it, as well as their respective names. Little lines pointing to various sections of the microorganisms notated their parts. On the reverse side of the sheet was a box, within which he would be sketching and labeling one of these little life forms.

“Have either of you ever done this before?”Henry asked as he reached for the first of the slides.

They both nodded, and Breann said, “Yeah, plenty of times. By the way, you should put on gloves. Ideally we should wash our hands before touching anything—prevent any sort of contamination of the specimens. Then, you should place just a droplet of distilled water on the slide before covering it. Er, would mind passing me the water dropper, uh…”

“Raphael,” the third member of their group answered quietly. “Here.”

Breann took the offered dropper and returned her attention to the microscope. Henry observed her as she squeezed the dropper and a single bead of water wall onto the slide. With both hands she gently placed a second slide atop the first, and slid the completed slide under the microscope. They took turns looking through the lense—first Breann, then Ralphael, and finally Henry. When it was his turn he squinted into the microscope and saw the vague, in distinct shapes underneath the slide. He obviously knew about bacteria, cells, and other forms of microbial life, but without a point of reference he had no idea what he was looking at, and could make neither heads nor tails of its supposed “parts”.

When class ended an hour later Henry hadn’t finished labeling his drawn cell—some sort of plant cell, according to Breann. Professor Lumanee walked about the islands and took their worksheets. Henry hesitated before handing his over.

“Don’t worry,” Lumanee assured him with a smile. “This first assignment won’t be graded. It was just a fun exercise—a little ice breaker for you all.”

Reassured, Henry forfeited his worksheet, and returned to his desk, where he scooped up his bag. He wanted to talk a bit more with Breann, but she had already disappeared from the room. Henry was momentarily disappointed, but then he remembered that he’d be seeing her tomorrow, and the feeling vanished. Glad to have made it through his second class of the day Henry strolled out of the room and began searching for his next class.

This time Henry had a bit of a head start. While crossing the building to the Science Hall he had thought he spotted signs pointing towards the lecture hall—where Krenlo’s class was held. It took him several minutes to double back the way he had originally come, but eventually he found the familiar signs and followed it down a corridor. As anticipated he soon found himself approaching the lecture hall.

As with the previous two classrooms a small crowd stood gathered outside the room, but as Henry drew near he realized there was something different about this group. They were packed tighter together than usual, and excited whispers coarsed throughout it. All eyes were pointed through the open door, staring at something within. Some of his classmates that stood near the back of the pack were standing on tiptoe, trying in vain to see inside. Henry approached curiously.

“What’s going on?” Henry asked a boy who stood nearby.

“I’m not sure. I think there’s a fight or something.”

“Really?” Henry asked incredulously. A fight? On the first day? He, too, began to grow excited. He wondered how serious the fight was. Had fists been thrown yet?  Or were they still at the talking shit stage? Henry began pushing his way through the crowd to get a better look, but the sudden cry of a familiar voice brought him up short. Where he had been excited mere moments ago Henry now felt apprehension. The girl shouted again, and this time Henry knew he recognized her voice.

“Leave him alone!” Kari cried.

(This chapter was originally much longer, but as I wrote it I began to realize that I was front-loading a lot of character introductions into the beginning of this story. Not only that, but a single chapter consisting of the entirety of Henry’s first day at the Emerald Academy began to feel like it was dragging on. In the end I decided to break this long chapter into Chapter 3 (as seen above) and Chapter 4, separated by a sudden change of pace, increase in tension, and ultimately a little bit of action, before resuming the story of Henry’s first day. Whether or not this change is for the better is obviously up to the reader.)

—Sev

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DOG︰WOLF ID PACK

NAMES ⌇ ace. affen. affie. aidi. airendale. akita. aksaray. alano. alex. alfie. amarok. amaruq. annie. apollo. archie. arianell. aries. armant. artemis. artois. ash. asher. aurora. badulf. bailey. bandit. barbet. bardou. barkley. basenji. bear. beau. bella. beowulf. biewer. blue. bluey. bolt. boris. boxer. brad. brenard. brittany. brutus. bud. buddie. buddy. buster. buttercup. buzz. cailean. cain. cairn. caleb. canaan. cane. canid. canis. carlo. carol. catellus. celeste. charles. charlie. chase. chewie. chip. cliff. clifford. coco. collie. conall. conan. conell. cooper. daciana. daisy. dale. darwin. dash. daxie. dexter. diana. dire. dixie. duke. dylan. echo. emory. eros. eskie. ester. fang. fenrir. fido. finn. ford. fox. frankie. ghan. glen. gold. gordon. gray. grey. griffon. grim. grimmwolf. hamilton. harley. havana. hero. hound. howl. hunter. indie. indy. jack. joey. kai. kaleb. kalev. kelpie. ken. kerry. kibble. kibs. kit. lady. leo. leon. llewelyn. lola. lowell. lucine. lucy. luna. lupin. lyall. lyca. lycro. lycus. mace. maisie. mal. malinois. marley. max. mia. miles. milo. mingan. mob. molly. mudd. mutt. nala. night. noire. noiresse. noirette. nova. nugget. nyx. oliver. ollie. orion. oscar. paxton. peach. pebble. phoebe. picard. pila. pluto. poppy. puff. pup. ralph. randelle. randy. red. redd. reika. remus. rex. rhys. riley. rocky. rolfo. roman. romulus. rosie. rover. rowdy. roxie. roxy. ruby. rudy. ruff. rufus. ruppell. russel. russell. sadie. scottie. scout. scruff. scruffy. selena. shep. shepard. shepherd. silver. sophie. spike. spitz. spot. stafford. star. stella. stick. storm. stormy. suki. teddy. terry. tiger. tosa. venerie. walker. will. wolf. wolfgang. zev. zip. zoey.

PRONOUNS ⌇　arf/arf. awoo/awoo. ba/ball. ba/bark. bark/bark. bite/bite. ble/blep. bo/bone. bo/bork. bork/bork. cae/canine. can/cani. cani/cani. canid/canidae. canin/canine. canine/canine. cha/chase. chew/chew. claw/claw. co/collar. coll/collar. cute/cute. dig/dig. dog/dog. drool/drool. en/energy. fang/fang. fe/fetch. floof/floof. fluff/fluff. fluff/fluffy. fur/fur. fur/furry. ga/game. grey/grey. grim/grim. gro/growl. growl/growl. grr/grr. guard/guard. ho/howl. houn/hound. hound/hound. howl/howl. hunt/hunt. jump/jump. lea/leash. leash/leash. lo/loyal. loyal/loyal. lu/lupi. lup/lup. moon/moon. mutt/mutt. muz/muzzle. night/night. pa/paw. paw/paw. pawprint/pawprit. pet/pet. pla/play. pla/playful. play/play. pooch/pooch. predator/predator. pro/protect. pup/pup. puppy/puppy. ri/rir. ri/ruff. roll/roll. rough/rough. ru/run. ruff/ruff. run/run. silv/silver. slob/slober. snap/snap. snarl/snarl. sni/sniff. snout/snout. soft/soft. squi/squirrel. star/star. star/starry. sti/stick. tai/tail. tail/tail. teeth/teeth. teeth/teething. tre/treat. tre/tree. wa/wag. wa/walk. wag/wag. walk/walk. wolf/wolf. wolf/wolve. wolv/wolve. woof/woof. yap/yap. yip/yip. 🌳. 🎾. 🐕. 🐕‍🦺. 🐩. 🐶. 🐺. 🐾. 🐿. 🔆. 🥎. 🦮. 🦴. 🧸.

[teriri-sayes]

Reborn as the Enemy Prince Official Character Profile and Author Q&A

With the release of the manhwa adaptation of "How to Live as the Enemy Prince" (or its official English title "Reborn as the Enemy Prince") this month, I've decided to loosely translate the character profile and Q&A the author released when she was still alive back in 2020.

And probably because lots of people are in disbelief that the 2nd prince's name is "Plants" and not "Plantz" or "Planche." 😂 Sorry, everyone. The author included an English translation of the character names in her character profile, so Manta's English translation of Plants's name is correct.

One more interesting trivia before we begin. The Korean title is 적국의 왕자로 사는 법, which roughly translates to "How to Live as the Prince of an Enemy Country." Its abbreviated by Korean readers as 적왕사, which interestingly translates into "The Red King." Probably a foreshadowing of Kalian's future. But I'll use the abbreviation REP from the official English title to avoid confusion.

***SPOILERS BELOW!!! BEWARE!***

Character Profile

Kalian Rain Cyries

Age: 16

Birthday: August 16

Appearance: Black hair, red eyes, short straight hair

Height: 178cm

Magic: Wind magic

Bern Secritia

Age: 26 (at the time of death)

Birthday: February 30

Appearance: Blue-silver hair, light purple eyes, long straight hair (likes ponytails)

Height: 188cm

Plants Lune Cyries

Age: 17

Birthday: November 12

Appearance: Light emerald hair, light green eyes, very slightly curly short hair (longer than Kalian)

Height: 179cm

Randel Sile Cyries

Age: 19

Birthday: January 7

Appearance: Blonde hair, dark blue eyes, hair a little curlier than Plants and slightly longer than shoulder line

Height: 180cm

Chase Dyurahan Secritia

Age: 20

Birthday: July 20

Appearance: Blue-silver hair, deep purple eyes

Height: 185cm

Allan Manasil

Age: 55 (actual), looks to be in his early 20s

Birthday: June 3

Appearance: Red hair starting from silver to red, dark silver-gray eyes, straight long hair (knotted loosely)

Height: 187cm

Magic: All attributes

Others: The flower on the Manasil emblem is “saffron”

Ian (Siroian Siegfried)

Age: 19

Birthday: March 13

Appearance: Bronze-colored hair (puppy brown), blue-gray eyes, curly hair a little longer than the shoulders and usually tied up neatly

Height: 181cm

Other: When transforming into Siroian, he lets his hair down.

Kyrie Bern

Age: 20

Birthday: February 9

Appearance: Light blue hair, heterochromia (black on the right, blue on the left), straight hair that reaches shoulder length and worn loose (the hair used to be short, but is still growing out)

Height: 190 cm (<- 188cm)

Hina Bern

Age: 18

Birthday: June 10

Appearance: Silver hair, black eyes, long straight hair in a ponytail

Height: 158.5cm (<-158cm)

Others: Be careful (If you wander around wrongly near Hina, someone will bite you)

Dmirea Siegfried

Age: 17

Birthday: April 22

Appearance: Bronze hair, blue-gray eyes, short and loose hair

Height: 171cm

Arsene Hertz

Age: 30

Birthday: February 18

Appearance: Dark blue hair, blue eyes, long straight hair tied up roughly (not because he likes long hair but because he’s too busy to cut it)

Height: 183cm

Magic: Ice magic

*** Brigit

Age: 22

Birthday: March 25

Appearance: Ocean blue hair, aqua blue eyes

Height: 169cm

Euria Seiren

Age: 34

Birthday: April 2

Appearance: Dark purple hair, hazel eyes, wavy hair long enough to cover the back and tied up roughly

Height: 167cm

Magic: (Redacted due to spoilers)

Nideullen Jeia

Age: 31

Birthday: February 9

Appearance: Hair between light purple and pink, eyes of the same color, short straight hair

Height: 165cm

Magic: Lightning magic

Siona Hill

Age: 39

Birthday: October 26

Appearance: Light pink hair, golden eyes

Height: 178cm

Rmain Rue Lune Cyries (Unsure if author misspelled his first name or if this is intentional)

Age: 39

Birthday: May 23

Appearance: Black hair, dark blue eyes, short straight hair

Height: 184cm

Sleiman Hone Siegfried

Age: 44

Appearance: Bronze-colored hair, blue-gray eyes (same as Ian), curly hair long enough to tie up and wear it tied up

Height: 185cm

Serie Siegfried

Age: 45

Appearance: Dark wine-colored hair, brown eyes, short straight hair that cannot be tied up

Height: 175cm

Others: Maiden name was Serie Kinz

Ririe Beurisen

Age: 7

Birthday: November 3

Appearance: Blue-green hair and eyes, curly hair that falls a little below the shoulders and usually tied up

Height: 128cm

Arianne Lyn

Age: 20

Birthday: September 2

Appearance: Chocolate-colored dark brown hair, champagne (jewel) colored eyes, long curly hair in a half-up or bun depending on the occasion

Height: 166cm

Rachel Grace

Age: 36

Appearance: Dark gray hair, gray-purple eyes, long braided or ponytail hair

Height: 162cm

Magic: (Redacted due to spoilers), specializes in movement magic

Veronica Manasil

Age: 15

Birthday: September 16

Appearance: Red hair, dark silver-gray eyes (same as Allan), shoulder-length straight hair worn loose

Height: 162cm

Magic: Flame magic

Reteurik Frigga

Age: 20

Appearance: Blue-purple hair, blue-purple eyes, slightly long straight hair tied up in a low ponytail

Height: 178cm

Merlin Piat

Age: 19

Appearance: Light beige hair, rose gold colored eyes, wavy hair that goes down to the back and usually tied up, but outside the palace, it is loose or half-tied

Height: 162cm

Den (Denian Mati – Randel’s servant)

Age: 26

Appearance: Reddish brown hair, light brown eyes, short straight hair

Height: 181cm

Adelia (Eisen Dinahan)

Age: Unknown

Appearance: White hair, red but almost black eyes

Height: 167cm

Magic: All attributes

Teillan Castrin

Age: 39

Appearance: Reddish-brown hair, green eyes, straight hair long enough to tie up and wear it tied up

Height: 181cm

Rashid Beurisen

Age: 20

Birthday: December 17th

Appearance: Green (emerald) eyes, dark brown hair that is longer than Kalian's and shorter than Plants's, and tends to change his hairstyle a lot depending on the situation

Height: 185cm

Ellinne Liberen

Age: 46 years old

Appearance: Light blonde hair, pink eyes

Height: 167cm

Louise Nella

Age: 44 years old

Appearance: Platinum blonde hair, light blue eyes, long straight hair, bun hair

Height: 169cm

Melpir Pollun

Age: 35 years old

Appearance: gray hair, gray eyes, very short hair

Height: 177cm

Sigmund Khan Syspanian

Age: unknown

Appearance: Black hair, red eyes, long curly hair that falls below the waist

Height: Mainly 170cm, occasionally 15cm (butterfly shape, longest length when wings are fully spread); in the case of manifestation, there has been no measurement since Hatsuara first tried to measure it but failed

- Other: When a butterfly, it has no antennae or legs~ She’s a lump of light, so don’t be scared~

Arneijel

Age: (Redacted due to spoilers)

Appearance: Long straight blue hair that shines like scales (length covering the back), black eyes with pupils that are difficult to distinguish / The main body looks somewhat different from other dragons; A blue body like a giant snake and black, pearl-colored wings like those of a bat // The colors are different now, but that part is to avoid spoilers.

Height: 150cm when human, 150cm when mermaid, extremely long when in real form.

Others: Not a fish!

Celestian

Age: (Redacted due to spoilers)

Appearance: Long golden hair (length covering the waist), golden eyes with vertical pupils

Height: 186cm in human form, other form cannot be measured in person

Others: Caution! Tempestuous nature

Viadanur

Age: (Redacted due to spoilers)

Appearance: Green and white, long straight hair down to the feet, golden eyes

Height: 155cm when in human form, other form cannot be measured in person

Harts-ara Peurinsia Cyries

Appearance: Silver-white hair, green eyes, slightly long straight hair that is tied up or loose

Height: 183cm

Other: Since it was a time when the middle name of the Cyries royal family was not decided, the original last name and country name were used together

Sillike Beurisen

Age: 37

Appearance: Light emerald hair, light green eyes (same as Plants), long slightly wavy hair done in a bun

Height: 171cm

Debeullan Dyurahan Secritia

Age: 45

Appearance: Blue-silver hair, dark brown eyes

Height: 188cm

Freya Hwiteurin

Age: 22 (at time of death)

Appearance: Bright red hair, red eyes, straight hair at chest length and worn loose

Height: 168cm

Aisha Ariellie

Age: 20 (at time of death)

Appearance: blonde hair, turquoise eyes, long curly hair that is worn loose

Height: 162cm

Diena Chloe

Age: 40 (at time of death)

Appearance: Light blonde hair, blue-violet eyes, long straight hair in a bun or half-up

Height: 169cm

Raven

Age: 4 years old

Appearance: White hair only on the right ankle, long, shiny black mane and tail with very fine texture

Height: 176cm (height from floor to shoulder)

Other: Receives a lot of care, does not refuse caregiving hands

Rucy (I am Prince Kalian's cat, who prefers Prince Plants)

Age: 1

Appearance: Silver-white fur, brown/blue heterochromic eyes, like strawberry jelly

Height: 53cm (when waist is not extended)

Others: Short-haired breed, sheds a lot of hair

Name is a secret (I am Prince Plants’s cat who likes him)

Age: Not yet one year old

Appearance: Gray fur, amber eyes almost golden, like grape jelly

Height: 41cm (average after measuring several times because he was not quiet)

Others: Medium-length hair type, hair falls out a lot

Coco

Age: Not yet one year old

Appearance: White fur, black eyes, yellow beak and webbed feet (It’s a duck)

Height: 60cm (if you straighten your neck, it may be longer)

Others: My mom is gentle, I like my dad, I want to be friends with cats

Hobbies

- Current Kalian: Walking and bathing in the artificial lake (I like the bathtub because it is black)

- Past Kalian: Reading magic books, going out on the terrace and getting some fresh air.

- Bern: Solve the problems given by Chase

- Plants: Spacing out, zoning out while holding a cat, zoning out with the lights off

- Randel: Trimming roses, reading all kinds of papers (reading extensively without major field)

- Kyrie: training in swordsmanship, practicing swordsmanship, researching swordsmanship, taking care of Hina

- Hina: Feeding birds, making new cat name tags, feeding cats

- Ian: Violin, writing a diary, memorizing new information about the noble family

- Dmirea: Reading books on politics, horseback riding, swordsmanship

- Veronica: Cooking (the cooking is top-notch)

- Current Chase: Hunting (surprisingly sharpshooter), walking

- Past Chase: Hunting, walking, swimming (I really felt the need for swimming when I was young)

- Allan: Training magic, writing a magic education book, worrying about Kalian, making Kalian look pretty, scolding Rmain.

- Rmain: Worrying about my sons, reflecting on my sons, picking up after them (I don’t know if it’s a hobby)

- Arsene: Practicing magic, discussing with Allan, swearing at Plants, drinking all kinds of tea.

- Sleiman: Thinking about Serie, talking to Serie, practicing swordsmanship, playing the violin, and playing with the dog Ian.

- Raven: Receiving care, running on a horseback riding course

- Rucy: Looking for plants, sleeping on Plants’s lap

- Rucy's younger sister (name is a secret): Chasing Rucy around, falling in love with the amazing toys made by Kalian.

- Coco: Swimming in an artificial lake, swimming on mom’s head

Favorite food

- Current Kalian: Raw oysters, sour tangerines, mint tea, bananas when sick, most other foods (except coffee, bell peppers, grapefruit, etc., green fish)

- Past Kalian: (strawberries), bananas, cakes, chicken dishes

- Bern: Raw oysters, sour tangerines, coffee, alcohol, meat

- Plants: It’s not a big deal, but still redacted to prevent spoilers!

- Randel: bitter chocolate, grapefruit

- Kyrie: meat, all fruits other than strawberries, cheese

- Hina: All kinds of ice cream, chocolate, candy, and pies.

- Ian: Cherry, everything else that Kalian likes

- Dmirea: Black tea, caramel, beans

- Veronica: Non-bitter coffee, egg dishes, chicken

- Chase: Mint tea, sour tangerine, wine, lamb

- Allan: Everything sweet, very bitter coffee, mint tea

- Rmain: Light cookies, black tea, salads

- Arsene: Beer, sausage, salty cheese, beef, hard fruit

- Sleiman: meat, strong liquor, wine, dried fruit

- Raven: Top quality raw grass and carrots

- Rucy: Chicken jerky, sometimes food given by Plants

- Rucy's younger sister (name is a secret): Jerky given by Nideullen, snacks given by Rucy

- Coco: Peas (real peas, not plants) given by Kalian, duckweed from the artificial lake (real duckweed, not plants), feed given by Mom and Dad.

Plants that appear in the world

Annerucia

- Flower language: Lantern, light of comfort that illuminates the soul

- I think you can think of a large red lotus flower. When the moonlight shines on the large red flower floating on the water, it reminds me of a flame floating in a place (on the water) that the living cannot go to, so they began holding a ceremony to console the dead by placing a candle in this flower. The petals are large and do not burn easily or submerge in water.

Cinnastar

- Flower language: separation, love that is born and dies in the fog

- I think you can think of a slightly larger dandelion and dandelion seeds. It is a unique flower that, at night after the white flowers wither, clusters of blue light cluster in the place where the flowers have fallen, in the shape of dandelion spores, and then disappear like seeds fluttering away at dawn. It grows only in Secretia.

Because the second flower blooms only after the white flower has withered, the two flowers cannot meet each other under any circumstances, so in Secretia, a ceremony is held to say goodbye to the dead by placing the cinnastar on the grave.

Raricium

- Flower language: peace of mind, hope

- The flower clusters are shaped like “baby chickweed” and bloom softly like “gypsum flowers.” There is no scent at all. It is a strong wild flower that blooms abundantly throughout the continent regardless of temperature. Although the flowers are small, they have the characteristic of blooming in large numbers on one stem.

Reunieri

- Flower language: nobility, impermanence

- It looks similar to a white daffodil, but is a white flower without yellow tassels.

Although it has a captivating scent, the flower blooms only one day a year and falls soon after, so the flower cannot be seen for long. Even though they are so precious, the time is too short to enjoy them.

Raprania

- Flower language: unchanging heart, sincere congratulations

- It has a subtle scent and once bloomed, it does not last for more than 30 days. Even if you pick a flower from a branch and place it in water, it will not wilt easily.

Adinia

- Flower language: Wishing you recovery, eternal beauty

- Contrary to Reunieri, it is a plant that blooms all year round regardless of the season. Regardless of the season, you can always see pretty flowers, and its roots are also used as medicine.

Lenniesita

-No flower language

- It is a unique type of cactus with broad leaves and fluffy thorns. It has the property of absorbing surrounding moisture well.

***

Various questions and answers related to the novel

Q: I loved the fact that the setting book(?) provided information about modern perfumes suitable for our princes! Is there a modern perfume that would suit the female characters (Dmirea, Hina, Arianne, ***) from REP?

A: Because I’m completely clueless to this TT_TT, my thoughts may be very different from the readers’ thoughts. First of all, let me tell you what comes to mind… :)

- Dmirea: Louis Vitton Coeur Battant

- Hina: Lanvin Rumeur 2 Rose

- Arianne: Anna Sui Fantasia

- *** Brigit: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

- Euria: Burberry London

Q: I wonder if Syspanian even develops antennae (..) when she transforms into a butterfly. And what types of butterflies does she look similar to?

A: I laughed for a moment while stuttering. Ugh lol

In the text, when Syspanian takes the shape of a black butterfly, it is often described as 'like a lump of light from the night sky'. What Syspanian take is not a real butterfly with antennae, a tube, six thin legs, or a soft body, but the shape of a butterfly made of light. When it flies, black light scatters, but the wings do not drip. Therefore, there are no antennae~

The shape of the wings seems to be similar to that of a swallow butterfly. I think you can think of black swallowtail butterflies and mountain swallowtail butterflies. :)

Q:Based on Bern, who appeared in episode 421 (+episode 392~), how tall is he?

A: Since age in the story is based on birthday, Kalian is actually in his late teens. Although the exact age was not given, the appearance of Bern, which Kalian assumed at the time of disguise, was older than Kalian (18 years old in Korean standards) and younger than Kyrie (21 years old in Korean standards). It's almost the end of the growing season~

Therefore, he is slightly shorter than Bern, who has completed all his growth before returning, and is tall enough to see the top of Plants's head, who was standing about half a step in front of him, [186cm].

Q: Will the princess's uniform be similar to the princes', will it be a dress, or will it be optional?

A: The princess's uniform is also in the form of a pantsuit. Because you have to ride a horse or do official work for a long time. The design is the same.

Q: How much is 1 florin, Arsene's current monthly salary (lol), in reality? Because it's a character I cherish, I was very worried about the salary... ㅠㅠ

A: It is difficult to make an exact comparison because the currency value is different from the present, but if 1 florin according to the European medieval standard is calculated in current value, it is said to be approximately 400,000 won. So, 1 florin would be a small amount of money, far below the minimum wage, but I still think that my life would have become a little more prosperous because I am receiving twice the amount of my original salary separately from Kalian. lol

Q: Prince Kalian smiles with his hands when he is not supposed to smile but wants to laugh. The smile he makes with his hands :) < Is this the case :-) < Is this the case ^^ < Is this the case ) < Is it just a mouth like this or is it an emoticon? I asked you a question because I was really curious about whether you smile depending on your mood at times!

A: The finger line is close to this shape: [ ) ] ←. In general, I feel similar to the situation I was in when I was holding back laughter, but when it's okay to laugh openly, I'm the type of person who usually smiles in a 'red-faced line' manner.

However, if you are in a situation where you want to laugh a little mischievously but have to hold back [ :) ] ← I think you may have drawn a face like this before. I don't think I'll draw the shape of Kalian's nose due to his inattentive personality, and if he wants to laugh so much that he has to hold back, a smiling eye smile won't solve the problem ^^, so I don't think I'll draw an eye smile like this. lol

Q: Before returning, when Kyrie was an adult, was he taller than Bern?

A: Yes. It was even bigger than Bern. In the past, Bern was 188cm tall and Kyrie was over 2m tall.

Q: Is there a song that you think would be suitable for princes? For example, I'm curious what kind of song you have in mind as your theme song.

A: I'm sorry, but I've never thought about each character's theme song separately.

However, when looking at the novel as a whole, if there is anything that comes to mind, I think of pianist and composer Jeon Su-yeon's “Fate, Love” or “Lucid Dream” lol

Q: Are there no cigarettes in the world of REP? If so, I'm also curious about whether or not each character smokes.

A: If there had been, it would have been mentioned in the story~

There is alcohol but no cigarettes. Even though the main characters are adults in the story, they are still teenagers, so it may be difficult to accept them emotionally. lol

Q: If Sillike used Reunieri perfume, I ask because it seems like perfume existed in that era as well. Do princes use perfume? If you were to compare it to modern perfume, I wonder what perfume would be suitable for the princes!

A: There are perfumes that combine scents such as flowers or fruits. From a worldview, it is not used to mask bad odors like perfume that was used in the Middle Ages, but rather to create a 'scent' like in modern times.

It's a modern perfume... I actually don't know much about men's perfume brands and I don't even know what perfumes are coming out these days, haha. But if I write down what comes to mind, it's as follows. :)

- Kalian: Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue

- Plants: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea

- Randel: Burberry Weekend For Men

- Chase: Momento Pour Homme

Q: The English spelling of 스펠링.

A: The English spelling of 스펠링 is Vulcan.

Q: Jewelry symbolizing the princes

A:

- Calian: Ruby or Garnet

- Planes: Peridot or light emerald

- Randel: Iolite or dark sapphire

- Chase: Dark amethyst or purple sapphire

- Bern: Pale amethyst

Q:Related to princess status

A: Among the king's children, the daughter is a princess. In the worldview of the novel, there is no discrimination based on gender, so there is a natural right of succession, and the Syspanian blessing is passed down to the king's direct line, so there is no problem. Of course, there were also kings whose gender was female. :)

Q: If you compare the characters to animals

A: The fixed image in the story is “Cat Kalian,” and it is mostly described from Allan’s point of view. They have an image of being silent/slippery/always hiding their claws, etc. In the case of Plants, it is often compared to a “wolf” (it has nothing to do with the wolf of the great desert), and has a strong sense of responsibility/concentration that does not back down in a fight or does not miss the moment to attack when facing an opponent stronger than itself. It is used to express images.

Of course, it is difficult to view this as a fixed image. To Plants, who thinks that Kalian “barks and bites” a lot of the time, Kalian is like a dog, and to Kalian who sees Plants sitting still and not moving, Plants is like a cat. It's showing the opposite. lol

If I were to compare each character to an animal, I think it would be like this:

- Kalian: Cat (silent/swift/with hidden claws)

- Plants: Wolf (strongly responsible/not backing down/decisive)

- Randel: Horse (noble/gentle/lonely)

- Chase: Hawk (cold/relentless/takes good care of its young)

- Kyrie: Dog (loyal/sacrificial/strong)

- Hina: Sheep (warm/cozy/stubborn)

- Dmirea: Jaguar (running without hesitation/strong in faith/not losing sight of the goal)

- Veronica: Hedgehog (soft on the inside/hard on the outside/cute)

- Ian: Dog (just a dog/wagging its tail so hard you can’t see it in its owner’s arms)

Q: Do the new tangerines have to be from Secretia? Do the princes eat the tangerines by peeling them off? Do they cut the tangerines into pieces when peeling them? Do they eat one piece at a time or in two or three portions? How many tangerines does Chase eat a day? Sweet tangerines. I might not like it that much... I might like eating grilled tangerines..

A: Tangerines are also grown in Cyries. However, Kalian liked it a little more because it had the meaning of “Mount Secretia.” Tangerines are also grown in the southern region of Cyries. (The tangerines in the honey tea that Ian gave Kalian were from Cyries acid. Haha)

Kalian just eats it without removing it. Peel the skin into pieces starting from the top. Because I like tangerines that are not fully ripe, it is difficult to peel them into petals at once. :) Also, the small tangerines are split into two bites, and the large tangerines are split into four pieces. I put a lot in my mouth and gobble it up. Very small tangerines can be eaten in one bite.

Kalian likes both sweet and sour tangerines, but prefers the sour ones much more. I have never grilled tangerines because I know that grilling them weakens their sour taste. 

In the case of Chase, when tangerines are in season, he eats about 3 to 5, but does not pile them up like Kalian and eat them. Instead of peeling the tangerines yourself, you eat the peeled tangerines with a fork. Haha, Randel and Plants don't really like tangerines, but if they had the chance to eat them, I think they would be similar to Chase. I also don't like my nails turning yellow.

***

Source: https://novel.munpia.com/124772/page/1/neSrl/2966999

[annelucia]

How to live as enemy prince-chapters:

47- Kalian vs Aila

52-Alan meets Evan

53- Randell makes rose bloom

54-Yan don't act like a servant/Kalian's 4th circle

55-Kalian meets Sispanian

59- Kalian vs Slayman

62- Kalian meets Gray

63- Arsene explodes Gray's carriage

66- Kalian vs Gray

68- Kalian sees Randall's rose

70- Plants visits Kalian's room

73- Arsene vs Pavel Knights

80- Lucy/Kalian meets count Aprin

82- Plants meets Hina

88- Kalian and Arsene spare/Plants takes care of Vulcan

92- Kirie gets revenge on fight club/ Arsene and Plants first day as vice commanders

93- why Kirie is so loyal to Kalian

95- Plants meets Chase

97- Kalian meets Chase/ Plants gets to know about Kalian

105- Kalian threatens Randall's holy knights

108- Demirea and Kalian together at ball

108- Kalian and Chase talk, Kalian cries

113- Plants and Chase talk " my brther became very dull"

114- Kalian vs Warriors of the desert

122- Kalian is carried on Kirie's back

125-Plants tells Chase to build his own Vulcan, side story Alan's past

127- Arsene blows up Heisia Palace/Kalian asks Hina if she wants to join Vulcan

130- Kalian is scared of leaving behind an empty spot

132- Chase and Arsene meet

135- Plants makes oath with Evan

137- side story Bern and Kirie met, Bern and Chase's bets

138- Kalian gets to know about Randall oath

140- Kalian and Chase talk about Tensil

143- Kalian tells Plants that he will teach him everything

144-Kalian scolding wizards

147- Demirea vs Plants spare

150- Yan is confuswf why Kalian suddenly doesnt like strawberries

153-Alan vs Kalian, Kalian transforms his magic circles

156- Kalian sees Arc of Time under Heisia Palace

163-Plants sees Arc of Time

165-Sispanian meets Kalian 2nd time

168-Plants vs Kirie, Kalian takes Kirie's sword/ side story Sispanian's past

172-Kalian saves Arsene

176-Hina and Plants talk about scentless flowers

183-Bern takes knight oath

185-Kirie's knight oath

188-Chase gets to know Bern is pruning

190- Plants and Randall talk

191-Arsene gets in on the secret

192- Arsene and Kirie drink(well only Arsene)

203-Arianne talks with Kalian

205-Hina comforts Kalian

206-Kalian gets mad at Alan and Plants about King of Secretia message

210,212-Kalian calls Alan a father

216-side story past Plants, Bern and Plants meet on auction

230-Demirea gets in on the secret

231-Hina's voice, Plants was first

233-Kalian destroys Evan's gem, gives Plants cat brooche

237-Kalian gives Demirea advice, tells her he was youngest swordmaster even before

241-Kalian vs Evan

245-Kalian faints(" damn peas, they're so green")

247- Plants gets to know Kalian been pruning

253-Kalian and Aila meet again

259-Kalian vs Siona

262- Kalian being compared do Devlan, Plants stops Elven Elder's murder

263- Kalian cries by the sea

264- Kalian tells Plants why he's afraid of the sea

268- why Plants use describtions for people instead of names, Danu shows Kalian day Secreta was burned

269- Plants receives Sinastar

271- Needlen gives Plants birthday shell

273- Kalian tells Plants why he got hurt by Evan

276- Alan and Kalian drink

279-Kalian and Plants drink

280- " what are you going to do if you catch a cold, Brother Chase"

283- Kalian meets Louise

284- Kalian's first private meeting with Devlan

286- Plants gets tablet for birthday

291- Plants first real sword fight

293- Kalian faints

294- Sinastars

297- Plants the crown prince

299- Hina heals Louise, Kalian and Plants

303- Kalian back scar

305- Kalian(Bern) meets Devlan in the garden

306- Kalian snaps knife

309- Serens side story, Eila

311- Bird's of Chase come to rescue

315- Kalian meets the child he killed in the past

316- Arsene and Louise talk

318- Kyrie vs Adelia

319- Kalian throws sword at Devlan hearth

320- Alan vs Adelian, Sispanian intevenes

321- Kalian interogates magic association president Meirin and meets Devlan as his ghost

322- Chase the king of Secretia

323- Serenity time, Bern's birthday

325- meeting Tensil crown prince

326- Kalian and Plants eat cod

327-Demirea buys annelucia flowers for Lili's mother

328- Kalian meets Arnaizel

334- Kalian vs Adelia

340- Found village where Freya Siona and Whitlin lived

342- Danu shows Plants last day of Secreta, Kalian vs Danu

345- Kirie i Hina know about their parents being killed

346- Lemain's letter to Plants

350- Lili and Plants meet

355- Kalian wonders if old Kalian was forced to give him body, Plants invades Randall's room

358- Plants calls Lemain father

361- Plants asks Serie a favor

362- Kalian and Plants meet Serenity

364- Kalian breaks spoon for Arsene, collection complete!

371- Kalian saves Aila

375- Needlen's past, Plants meets Rashid

378- Plants punches Kalian

379- Arsene counseling Plants and Demirea counseling Kalian

389-Kalian as Bern meets Vulcans, Kirie vs Siona, Kirie's aura

392- Plants talks to Chase about Kalian changed into Bern, Kalian as Bern meets Randall

395- Kalian as Bern vs Vulcans, Kirie awakens aura

[aestheticallynotdeerlightful]

It would be super cool to see your voice claims for the characters!

VOICE CLAIMS WOO!

Okay okay so this is a very long list, because I’m indecisive, and originally I would’ve loved to make this a video but alas I do not how to edit, nor do I own my computer, so it’ll have to wait

I was debating if I should of just sent my Google doc here of everything (because that doc has even more then I’m sending here) but I decided to just- copy and paste some of it so apologizes in advance for the length!

This list is very extensive and I’ve pulled voices from ALL over the place, I haven’t even watched all these shows, most of this I’ve just seen through clips and went “omg it’s perfect” so it’s a mess I’m sorry akdjsjd

Long post ahead!! (Italicized font are the ones I especially like the most)(I’ve also included links to some of these if you’ve never heard them)

UNDERTALE

Frisk

•Gregory (Over the garden wall)- Colling Dean

•Jessica (Craig of the creek)- Lucia Grace Cunningham

•Chihiro (spirited away English dub)- Daveigh Chase

•chowder (chowder)- Nicky jones

•niki yang, BMO (adventure time), Candy (gravity falls)

Flowey

•Yakko Warner (animaniacs) -Rob paulsen

•Richard Horvitz

Toriel

•Sigourney weaver

•little foots mother (land before time)

•Kala (Tarzan)- Glenn close and Kat cressida

•freya (god of war)- Danielle bisutti

Napstablook

•Sadness (Inside out)- Phyllis smith (although maybe a tad pitched down. But only a smidge)

Sans

•Herb (BoJack horseman)- Stanley Tucci

•Bob (bobs burgers)-H. Jon Benjamin

•Moist Cr1tikal (the YouTuber)

•Revtrosity (also a YouTuber)

•Red guy (DHMIS) -Joseph pelling

Papyrus

•Jacksepticeye (you all know who that is.)

•Scudworth (clone high)

•Skeletor (he-man) (I think this one speaks for itself)

•revtrosity (YouTube)

Monster kid

•Darwin Watterson (Gumball)

•Steven universe- Zach Callison (specifically young steven)

•Wybie (Coraline)- Robert Bailey Jr

Grillby

•Jack Skellington (nightmare before Christmas)- Danny elfman and Chris Sarandon

•Wirt (over the garden wall)- Elijah wood

Gaster

•Narrator (the Stanley parable) kevan Brighting

•bubo (bubo)- James dijit

•knight lautrec (dark souls)

•Sasha barbicon (titanic adventure out of time)

Undyne

•Jasper (Steven universe)- Kimberly brooks

•kuvira (legend of Korra)- Zelda Williams

•Yunan (amphibia)

Alphys

•Peridot (Steven universe) -Shelby Rabara

•Lara Jill Miller

Mettaton

•ENA (ENA)- Gabe V and Lizzie freeman

Mettaton Ex

•Alaska thunderfuck (hieeeee)

Burgerpants

•Hiccup (HTTYD)- Jay baruchel

•Randell(monsters inc)- Steve Buscemi

Asgore

•Mufasa (lion king)

•Aslan (Narnia)- Liam neeson

Asriel

•Lewis (meet the robinsons)

•kubo (kubo and the two strings)- art parkinson

•yes hear me out: Max (camp camp) -Michael Jones

Hyperdeath Asriel/Adult asriel

•Anakin (Star Wars)

Chara

•Connie (Steven universe)

•Kristofferson (fantastic mr fox)- Eric chase Anderson

•Marcy Wu (amphibia)

•Demetri (cobra Kai the karate kid saga continues)

•Ronno (Bambi)

Temmie

•Happy (Fairytail)- Tia Ballard

Mad dummy

•Blitzo (Helluva boss)- Brandon rogers

Gerson

•Yule (Mune: guardian of the moon)- (it’s the large green old guy)

That’s it for the Classic cast so far, I’ll make a seperate post this with my picks for the Environmentalshift au and other miscellaneous voices at a later time. This took forever

Maybe someday I’ll turn this into a video. So it’s easier

[holystormfire]

Luke 6:36-38

Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned

Love Your Enemy,

Drawing by Randell Summerford,

Drawn in 2017,

Pencils and crayons on paper

© Randell Summerford Art

Gospel Reading

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

Reflection on the drawing

In today’s gospel reading, we find a number of short, memorable sayings of Jesus, all variations on the theme that we should love one another, and love even our enemies. These short sayings include 'Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged '...  Jesus is suggesting that when we are kind to others, we will receive more than we give.

Our little drawing is titled 'Love your Enemies'. The drawing is pretty self explanatory: normally a rabbit and a dog would be after each other, chasing one another. Maybe not exactly enemies, but still. Our drawing and its title suggest that indeed what seem to be opposite characters, can always get along.

The word 'enemy' always strikes us as a harsh word. Many of us don't really have enemies, at least we don't think we have. Yes of course, some people we like more than others and we get on better with certain people. But true enemies? The point Jesus is making is that the people we like less or get on with the least, are exactly the people who can bring out the very best in us. They can bring out healthy competition and motivate us to achieve even more. Their negative comments or attitude towards us can make us see our own faults better and help us improve.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst

[soccerstl]

2021 Boys Illinois All-State High School Soccer Selections

The IHSSCA have released their 2021 Boys Illinois All-State and All-Sectional High School Soccer Selections

So. Jake Ellis of Triad during a scoreless draw against Waterloo in the CYC Tournament on September 30, 2019 The Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) have released the 2021 Boys Illinois All-State High School Soccer Selections. Included as well are the All-Sectional recognition. Congratulations to all! Skip Birdsong at Althoff High School was named the Section 12 Coach of the…

[flickerbuckley]

And They were Boyfriends ❤️🏳️‍🌈

And They were Boyfriends ❤️🏳️‍🌈

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

Shelbys at Somme Chapter 24

Thomas X Reader

Word Count: 1629

Summary: Y/N’s got a gun and it’s time to get Thomas back.

by @adventuresintooblivion

Thomas was jolted awake by having his nose jammed against the wall in front of him. His eyes snapped open only to be welcomed by a darkness too deep. His thighs screamed while his heels jammed into his back. His shoulders protested as he twisted, or at least tried to, only to be welcomed by more blackness. Fabric rushed into his mouth as he gasped wildly for breath. Rough rope had chaffed his skin raw. It was then that he realized that he was likely in a trunk, with a bag over his head.

Then he heard the shovels. They were coming from every direction. Terror gripped his heart as he felt the wood reverberate through his back. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

“Oye! Shelby, you in there?”

He blinked away the ghosts of Somme, attempting to banish the ghosts with them. But he didn’t get to answer before the lid ripped open. Light stabbed his eyes despite the bag over his head. Thomas didn’t need to be told twice though, he lunged for the opening. Cold hard metal connected with his shoulder.

Scrambling for balance he rolled with it, his feet barely connected with the ground before another crowbar caught him in the ribs. Dark spots exploded in his vision as he hissed through the pain. He needed this bag off his head. Now. 

He flipped his head forward, hoping the momentum would send it sailing. He ignored the wind of another blow ruffling his hair, or the rough hands that gripped his arms. Thomas would be damned if he didn’t at least look his assailant in the eyes. But the moment the hood fell to the ground, he almost wished it were back on. There in front of him stood Rowan, THE enforcer for the Rothschilds, a wicked grin splitting his face.

Thomas’ heart sank. Before the war the Rothschilds were known for being swift and brutal in the take over of their part of Birmingham. Every plan had been well thought out and executed with such ferocity that it had taken the city by surprise. Now that Y/N had left, brute force was all that gang had left, and no one reveled in brute force like Rowan did.

Something cold and dark clawed at his stomach as he thought of Y/N. Could she be a part of this? It was possible she’d called in a favor or two if she actually felt insulted. Had he let it get that far out of control? While she had told him parts of her past, it was impossible for him to know everything. 

Rowan’s wheezy voice interrupted his thoughts, “Oh Shelby, why do you look like a dog that’s been kicked?”

“While I’m not surprised you’re the one getting your hands dirty,” Thomas spat out the bile rising in his throat. “Mind telling me who sent you?”

Rowan barked out a laugh, “You know who’s to blame.” He looked up to address the other two men beside him. “Well boys, boss said he had to be alive on arrival. He didn’t say in what condition.” He punctuated his words with a swift kick to Thomas’ stomach.

Thomas doubled over, gasping for air. His hands frantically searched for anything sharp nearby but suddenly his vision went white. Someone had kicked the back of his head. It wasn’t until his body hit the pavement that he realized that no one could come for him, or else risk everything. 

The Rothscilds were a gang twice the size of the Peaky Blinders. The Lees, having only recently aligned themselves, would probably watch them destroy each other and scavenge the pieces. It would be the smart thing to do. So, alone and grieving, he let the pain envelope him and become the bandages that kept his soul from breaking.

〜

Y/N shivered against the brisk wind, not daring to take her hands off the cold steel of her firearm. They had been patrolling around the main routes that the Rothschilds would take to get Thomas out of town and so far, theirs was the only one large enough to hold a handful of full grown men. Then, just when the anticipation was starting to get the better of her, she spotted Rowan driving a carriage identical to theirs.

She felt cold at the idea of Rowan of all people getting his hands on Thomas, but the Old Man wouldn’t have trusted anyone else with it. Y/N whistled softly to Freddie, signaling for him to follow. When John threw her a confused glance she whispered to him.

“He’s got to be in there. Our best bet of not letting them get out of the city is to break the carriage. But  we have to wait until we cross the next bridge.”

“Why?”

“It’s less populated and farther from the coppers. We don’t need innocent casualties or coppers breathing down our necks. Plus it’ll take longer for reinforcements to get here.” 

John nervously checked his gun. Again. “You know an awful lot about this side of town.”

Y/N sighed, “That’s a conversation for later. You ready?”

“Oh Fuck no, but we’re getting my brother back God dammit.”

Y/N smiled. She hadn’t shot a single bullet in three years and now, she needed precision. The rhythmic thunk of the bridge beneath them became the ticking of a clock as they crossed. Tick-tock says the clock. Time to shoot. Time to die. 

“On my mark, John. Three. Two. One.” 

Almost in unison they lifted their rifles. She had one shot that would have the opportunity to be well aimed. In the moment before the first shot rang out time seemed to slow. Y/N peered down her sight, adjusting instinctively until the prongs aligned. Her barrel was initially pointing dead center of the cabin, until she slowly released the breath she held. Between the natural sag of her shoulders and the sway of the carriage beneath her, she let it carry her until her aim landed on the axil. 

The artificial peace she’d constructed shattered the moment she pulled the trigger. John’s shot hitting half a breath after hers. In that moment, both the horses and Rowan spooked. The carriage in front of them lurched forward. Y/N wasn’t sure if she’d actually hit the axil, but a small thrill ran through her as she watched the back wheels wobble. But she didn’t have time to celebrate as two men, Smalls and Randel, burst from the cabin, returning fire.

She ducked behind the lip, wood exploding where she’d just been. She stayed there only a moment before popping back out to add her few shots to the mess. She watched wood and glass shatter, torn to pieces by the whizzing metal. Y/N kept hitting the cabin, her shots too far to the left to do any good. Ducking under cover only to calm herself for a split moment. Adjusting her aim she shot at them twice more. The first hit two inches from Randel’s knee, only to have the second shred his calf. He yelped, only to lose his footing. A loud crunch filled the air as Y/N’s carriage ran over him, his cries suddenly cut off. It was then that she watched Small’s eyes grow wide.

It was only a moment of hesitation on his part, as he glanced between Rowan and Y/N, and jumped clear of the whole mess. Leaving Rowan alone to deal with Y/N her small crew. Y/N sent a small prayer of thanks to whoever was listening that Smalls recognized her. But now she had one last thing to take care of.

Without the active gun fire, John was focusing on the axle. The wheels attached to it were wobbling widely and looked like they might give at any moment. But Y/N knew what came next, after the fight, after they got Thomas back and she couldn’t have Rowan stopping her. 

Her sight lined up once again with the center of the cabin. She slowly lifted her rifle until it was centered on the back of Rowan’s head. Letting the momentum carry her, she pulled the trigger and the reigns went slack. Rowan’s body tumbled off the carriage, the screams of random citizens chased them like ghosts as they pursued the now unmanned vehicle. 

Suddenly the horse took a turn, attempting to hide from the gunshots down an alley. The jack knife turn snapped a back wheel off as the carriage almost upended. Wood splintered and busted as it skidded along cobblestone. The reins on the horses almost pulled the panicked animals with it, their only saving grace was a worn strap that snapped, releasing them to torment the citizens of Birmingham.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” John was climbing out of his seat to hang off the side of the carriage. “TOMMY!”

The carriage skidded to a stop when it landed, lopsided, along a fountain. Freddie had barely tugged on the reins to slow them down before John was sprinting towards his brother. Y/N couldn’t afford such acrobatics anymore, but she’d already thrown aside her firearm. Her knuckles turned white as she got as close to the side of the seat as she could. 

Freddie finally slowed them down enough she could scramble down. The Communist was already beside John, yanking open the door and shuffling through debris. Y/N’s heart beat against her ribs as she closed the final few feet between them. It wasn’t until they pulled a trunk out of the wreckage that she realized where Rowan was taking Thomas. 

“Help me get this open.” John grunted as he snatched a metal rod from the ground, a crowbar. In moments he had the lid popped open. There inside was Thomas.

[tjlikesprettythings]

Joshua Tree Playlist-A Macriley Fic

So I’ve done it again, not sure what’s wrong with me or where this came from but enjoy my obsession. Thanks for the motivation and support from my other posts. I’m still waiting for my invite from Ao3 but wanted to share this monster with you guys. 

This fic was inspired by music that I thought fit the general tone of this story, so I decided to make a spotify playlist linked Joshua Tree Playlist hence the name. Now of course you guys don’t have to listen to it, I know we all have different preferences, but I would recommend listening to the last song by Dylan Schneider “Wannabe” so you get the full context of what I was trying to write. I also mention the songs that I recommend listening to. Well anyways Enjoy and do let me know what you think!

This is very long, just a heads up! Please let me know if I should continue writing. 

Joshua Tree Playlist

Chapter 1: Day 1

Mac sat on the deck after his run, another sleepless night. The nightmares felt more and more real each day. Looking out on the early morning LA skyline he felt like a stranger in his own life. There was so much anger in him that he didn’t know what to do with himself. The loss, the tragedy that was his life felt like a weight he couldn’t bear. He’d give anything to go back to that pressure chamber in Georgia again instead of this, at least things made sense then. He was spiralling, he was aware. Scrubbing his hands across his face he let another breath pass. He didn’t hear her coming but saw her shapely bronze legs standing in front of him dressed in khaki shorts and a black singlet one hand holding a backpack and the other on her hip. It was definitely early for her to be up, especially on an off day. 

He raised an eyebrow at her, “what’s up Riles?” 

“Get up, we’re going on a trip.” She simply said swinging the backpack at his feet. 

“What?” he was confused by the situation unfolding in front of him, maybe he was dreaming? 

She turned to walk back into the house, “You heard me Macgyver, get your ass in the car in 5!”

He stood up and swiped the backpack off the floor and chased after her. She was already in the truck sunglasses pulled down with her arm out of the window, fingers drumming against the door. “Riley.”

She nodded her head in the direction of the car, “come on, we haven’t got all day! Get in!”

He could have stood his ground but honestly, he was too tired to argue with her. So he threw his backpack in the back and got into the passenger seat. She started the car and connect her phone to the Bluetooth, a playlist called Joshua Tree Playlist that was curated by Riley Davis came on the on-screen deck. He discovered that Riley didn’t just listen to Beyonce, old school rap, and rock. Her music like her was multifaceted and ranged from what you’d expect to complete surprises. He even walked in on her listening to Harry Styles to which she had just shrugged and simply said “I’m confident in myself to like what I like, besides watermelon sugar is a tune.” But currently, she quickly scrolled and threw on Mumm-ra’s “Summer” the indie rock song had a classic indie bass and guitar combo as the intro, she shimmed her shoulders to the music. He couldn’t help but actually crack a smile at her antics. 

Her head turned to him then as she bopped to the music and gave him that brilliant smile lipping the words to the song “I’m only happy in the summer...I’m only happy with you, lover...” She was like a prism, all clear but as soon the light hit her she was vibrant colors and sounds. “Now that’s more like the Mac I know. Nice to have you back for a second.” 

Her words hit him fully, leave it to Riley to bring him back down to earth. To notice that he was struggling. He didn’t know what to say, so he opted for the next best thing. “Are you going to tell me where this semi-voluntary kidnapping is going?”

“Hey, no kidnapping vibes here. We’re taking a couple of days and chilling out. Matty already approved it. We have four days to ourselves. So we’re going on a road trip! Next stop Joshua Tree.” She simply stated as she drove down the hill and towards I-10E.

He widened his eyes and gave his head a shake, letting loose a chuckle he threw up his hand and let them slap his highs. “Ok! I’ll bite.” the brilliance of her smile made him feel like he made the right choice, the breeze already warm blew in through the open windows, the loose strands from her bun floating around her face. 

“Yea! Bozer is going to meet up with us there, he has an errand to run before. Unfortunately, Desi can’t make it, she’s on a mission.” she said sparing him a glance.

He shifted in his seat if he were honest, he was now just looking forward to spending time with her and Boz. “Yea, probably for the best.”

She didn’t say anything waiting for him to continue if he wanted to. The great thing about Riley was she pushed when there was something worth pushing for but otherwise gave him space to talk to her on his own time. Without saying it, he could feel her body asking him if he and Desi were ok.

“I’m not sure I’m what she needs right now.” He simply stated and the unstated that he probably didn’t need their complicated and messy relationship right now either. They were too volatile and while that gave spark to great sex, it left everything else scorched and untouchable. It wasn’t fair for Desi to be stuck with him while he was stuck in his head.

He watched Riley shift in her seat, lately, he noticed there was a strange distance between them but then here she was stealing him away as the old Riley would. Maybe four days would give him the answers to why he felt like she was slipping away slowly, the thought put such a tight feeling in his throat, he couldn’t lose one more person. Especially not Riley, not his amazing, smart, loyal, beautiful friend singing along to a cover of Billy Joel’s “Vienna”. Suddenly it was easy to smile again, it didn’t take all of his efforts. “Hey, did you pack my bag for me? Or am I gonna have to survive in these running clothes for four days?”

He didn’t think to change when she gave him 5 minutes to meet her at his truck.

“I got you, Mac, everything you need is in there boy! Why would I give you an empty backpack?” she tapped on with the music and threw him another smile. If the next few days were going to be filled with smiling Riley he was already glad she kidnapped him voluntarily.

“Did you go through my underwear and sock drawers?!” He asked narrowing his eyes and laughing as a soft blush spread across her cheeks, Riley Davis can be bashful what do you know. 

“I mean we’re all adults here, no need for this juvenile behaviour. Yes, I packed your undies and socks.” He could see her rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses, but he was amused by the blush that graced her face. Mac always thought Riley was attractive, men and women constantly commented on her beauty. Her looks helped them with countless ops. He wasn’t blind, just looked past the obvious. She was his friend, Jack’s daughter, and a relationship he couldn’t sacrifice. But these moments when they’re alone and he could look at her and steal glances he saw just how gorgeous she was as a being. 

They had become closer the past couple of years for sure, he felt completely at ease with her. Could talk to her about anything, seek her counsel about things that were on his mind. She usually could read him already ready to jump into whatever stupid situations he got himself into. Even now he couldn’t believe that she followed him into Codex. She had told him she trusted him, and he felt like he could breathe just from those words. Knowing she stood with him gave him the strength to follow through. 

They stopped for coffee and bagels, laughing about the guy in front of them that took ages to order. They made fun of a couple of housewives of Beverly hills type and how Bozer would’ve recognized who they are. It was just easy his mind kept saying to him. When he pointed to a smidge of cream cheese in the corner of her mouth, she attempted to licked it away with her tongue, he couldn’t help but gulp down some of his iced coffee and watch her miss it. Reaching over he brushed the side of her lips and without thinking licked his thumb clean. She froze for a second and looked at him with an intensity that he couldn’t read. “You were struggling” he shrugged. 

“Thanks,” was all she said with an almost shy smile, unaware of course of how that small act sent fire all over her. She was thankful that she was on her last bite and he was already finished with his bagel, now casually leaning back in his chair letting the sun warm his face, his golden hair casting a halo around him. She needed to run away, “ready to start the journey again?”

Smiling he stood, they took their unfinished coffee and bottles of water with them. For the next 15 minutes, they joked about the new episodes of Rick and Morty, as more of her playlist played in the background, glancing at the screen he saw the current song was “Good Life” by Randell Kent. The lyrics washing over him as they finally pulled into the expressway. This could be a good life, at least it felt that way right now. 

They passed the next 15 minutes in silence, but it was the kind they had often where it was just comfortable. They didn’t feel the need to fill the void. They just listened to music and watched the road and let their minds wander.

She hummed along with the new song that came on, he never noticed that she had a pretty nice singing voice. “...don’t overthink it...just surround me...hmm” LÉON's "Surround Me" played in the car. He leaned against his window and watched her quietly.  “Why don’t you take a nap, I know you didn’t sleep much last night. We’ve got another 2-hour drive ahead of us.” She finally says to him softly turning the music down a bit and rolling up the windows opting for the ac.

Of course, she noticed, it wasn’t a big secret that he had been spiralling out of control. He wasn’t sleeping or eating well, his mind obsessing over Codex. But now there was nothing but a jumbled mess of things and just pure grief and exhaustion left behind in the aftermath. Strangely enough, he actually felt ok enough to take her up on the offer, she made him feel safe. Knowing she was going to be here when he opened his eyes brought a feeling of comfort and peace he was struggling to have, it was like the darkness couldn’t get to him. “Yeah ok.”

He drifted and for the first time in a long time found sleep came quickly and a dreamless sleep took him over. No nightmares, just soft hum engulfed him. It was when he felt warm fingers on his cheek brushing back some hair did he open his eyes and came face to face with Riley’s hazel eyes and full lips. He blinked a few times to adjust to the light. “Hey,” she said softly. 

“Hey, are we here already?” He asked sitting up, it didn’t escape his mind that he didn’t mind that Riley was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes, it never did but he filed it away with any other thoughts that ever came into his mind about her that seemed more than friendly behaviour. 

She stepped away from him and cleared her throat and nodded, “yea, we’re here. I’m glad you got some sleep” she smiled again. She was entranced with watching him sleep, she almost didn’t want to wake him, he was beautiful, soft and so vulnerable in this moment. She knew how much he was struggling, which made her predicament even more complicated. How could she tell him she would be moving out? Instead, her brilliant idea was to steal him away for a few days. She was playing with fire, but she also knew that as strong as he was, any more change might send him over the edge. She decided she’ll tell him about her move after this trip, but her priority will always be to protect him, her heart can deal with it. 

His own faced turned up, “yeah I guess I needed it, and who knew what I needed was you humming off-key to songs in the background to fall asleep.” She swallowed and told her heart to stop its stupid summersaults. 

“I’ll make you some tracks and make sure they’re extra off-key! I’ll be your white noise” she said quickly teasing back. 

“My very own ghost.” his eyes crinkling in the corners. This was the most she’s seen him smile in a while. 

Rolling her eyes and doing a mock laugh “careful or I will haunt your ass for real” to which she got full dimples, this was going to be four long days.

“Ok so I got us a house actually” she cheekily said pointing at the well-maintained terra cotta colored house they were parked in front of on top of a hill surrounded by sky and desert landscapes with cacti and boulders, the house faced the road below that brought them into town. The front porch had a couple of lounge chairs, a table for four, a couple of lanterns neatly hung around the arches and a small pathway that led to a circular covering what he deduced was the hot tub. There were shrubs and succulents neatly planted around the house giving some green to the otherwise very warm hue of the area. 

Mac looked around and already his head felt lighter under the sky that just seemed bluer here, probably because the air pollution was nonexistent here. He sheepishly said, “I kinda thought we’d be camping,” rubbing the back of his neck, “but the house looks nice.”

“Listen, we can camp I bought everything, but we can also stay in this awesome house with a hot tub, pool, and functioning toilets and showers.” she shrugged tucking her hands into the back pockets of her shorts. “What can I say, I’m a city gal and honestly we do ‘camp’ a lot for work.”

He shook his head lightly, “yeah I guess you got a point there,” thinking of all of the times they did camp out without any real equipments. “You thought of everything huh?” He asked softly taking her in fully. “Thanks, Riles.” watching her smile and nod made his heart feel warm, a feeling he’s been missing for a while.

As if on cue Bozer pulled up behind them. Riley’s smiled widen. Mac turned towards the car and he thought he was seeing a ghost. Then he heard the familiar sound of a Texan drawl. He turned to Riley wide-eyed and then back at where Bozer stepped out of the car with a shit-eating grin and next to him was none other than Jack Dalton. 

“How’s it going hoss!” He waved with a laugh as he approached Mac and took his hand and pulled him into a hug.

“Jack! Man, it’s so good to see you.” Mac said hugging the older man hard, he felt his eyes water just a bit.

Jack pat his back and pulled away smiling, “it’s good to see you too, kid.”

“Yeah, the OG gang is back together” Bozer claimed jumping with excitement.  

Jack turned to Riley and embraced her, “Hey baby girl!” Pulling her off the ground as she shrieked with laughter. Riley held onto Jack for a moment longer before releasing him and smiling, she didn’t hide the tears that were softly rolling down her face now. 

“I’m so glad to have you back.” She said softly. Jack brushed away tears from her cheek and nodded. 

“Me too.” he turned to look at his crew and smiled at the kids that somehow came to mean the world to him. “So we ready for this crazy weekend or what?!” his arm still around Riley. 

“Hell yeah!” exclaimed Bozer already heading to the trunk of his car to grab his and Jack’s bags. 

Mac just stood dumbfounded for a second taking in the 3 most important people in his life and finally feeling something, he’s been so scared that something in him was shifting but seeing them here smiling at him brought back the warmth he felt has been slowly seeping away. “Thank you, guys.”

“Come on man, we’re family,” Bozer said squeezing his shoulder. 

“You always got us,” Jack added a giant grin. “Alright now, let’s get settled and decide what we’re doing. I’m craving a cold one for sure!” He said picking up his bag.

Riley on cue walked over to the door and pressed in the security code into the door handle and opened up the door. “Welcome to the digs boys, we’ve got the living room” pointing to the right, “the master bedroom just past there as well as the second bedroom. Just ahead is the dining room and kitchen, around the hall to the left we have the other two bedrooms and bathroom. Laundry room and back porch with the grill AND pool. You saw the fire pit and hot tub in the front of the house.” she said sweeping both her arms around the house that was meant to be their home for the next four days. 

“Damn Riley! You did good!” Bozer said as he scanned the house, decorated with a mix of modern and country house feel. Walking over to the kitchen he hummed in approval, “I can work with this! I’m gonna grab the groceries!” he bounced back out the door. 

Jack gave a whistle of approval, “man, after the places I’ve been sleeping in, I’m gonna sleep like a baby!” as he went around ducking into rooms and giving his approval.

Mac didn’t care much about the house but did agree it was a nice one with all the comforts of home. 

Riley suddenly stood in front of him and gave him a warning “Macgyver don’t use any part of this house, I would like to get my deposit back.” He laughed holding up both hands in agreement. 

Jack turned the attention back to the group, “ok kids whose taking what room?”

“Riley should have the master,” Mac said right away. Jack did jokingly protest that he’s the one who’s been sleeping on rubbles and jungle floors. Bozer bounced into one of the bedrooms to the right, jack decided to take the bedroom next to Bozer. Which left him and Riley to the right side of the house. “Masters all yours.”

She smiled, “umm you sure you don’t want it?” to which he shook his head, all of the bedrooms where sizeable with queen beds and dressers, it honestly didn’t matter and being the only girl they didn’t mind giving her the room with space and vanity table so she can paint her face as jack put it to which she rolled her eyes. “So there is the bathroom down the hall next to the other bedrooms but one here on our side the bathroom is actually in the master, so feel free to use it if you need it. The shower in there looks amazing!” She said nervously.

He smiled “yea ok.” He helped her unpack the car and bring her bag into her bedroom. He looked around “maybe I should take this room,” which earned him a light shove at his shoulder and he chuckled. 

“Too late it’s mine now. Ok! So I say we get changed grab some lunch and chill for a bit while we plan the next few days.” She laid out the plans looking up at him both hands on her hips and she stretched forward towards him. That familiar hammering came back in her chest, the next thing she knows he’s embracing her. “Mac…”

He just needed to be close to her just for a second, releasing her from the embrace he softly said, “I just...I know I said thank you, but really, thank you.”

She held onto his biceps and squeezed them, ignoring the way that made her feel she just smiled at him “hey what are friends for if not to kinda kidnap you for a mini-vacation.” He laughed and she decided that was her favorite sound. Letting her hands fall to her side, “go get settled, I’m sure Boz will make us something to eat, I’m starving.”

He smiled once more and left her standing in the middle of her room feeling so many things. The next four days were going to be the hardest four days of her life she reminded herself again. She survived two years in prison, she’ll be fine, she hoped. Taking a deep breath she walked into the kitchen where she could already hear Jack and Bozer. 

Bozer was laying out sandwich meats and cheese he had picked up while swatting Jack’s hands away from stealing slices of the cold cuts. She felt a bit emotional seeing them goofing around, something about Jack being home made her feel like everything was going to be ok, that Mac would be ok and she would have the strength to get over what was currently happening to her in regards to Mac.

“Some things never change.” She heard Mac say softly now changed into a pair of trousers t-shirt and button-down. “Thanks for the clothes you picked out, I don’t think I could have picked better.”

Again she felt her face warm, what the hell was wrong with her. She couldn’t recall a time that she felt this affected. Usually, with guys she had found attractive, it was always coyness and subtle flirting but never did something so simple trigger this kind of response. She chalked it up to the heat even though the state of the art thermostat read a cool 70°. “Yea, of course, you’re welcome. And I’m glad that some things don’t change.”

Mac looked down at her, he agreed but maybe some things changing wouldn’t be too bad. Pulling up the chair at the kitchen island, they took the beers Jack handed them one by one raising his bottle “it’s good to be home, cheer!” They all clinked the bottles together and shouted cheers. Jack took a long swig off his beer, “Damn that’s good.” 

Mac couldn’t help but feel like he was transported back to a couple of years ago when things were simple and good. They saved lives and had fun. Everything seemed so much heavier and complicated these days. But right now at this moment, he felt the most present he’s felt in a year. 

“What are we having Boz, I’m starving!” Riley whined softly. 

“Girl I got you covered. I’m making a medley of sandwiches, you got a Cuban, prosciutto and mozzarella with balsamic vinegar and basil, and a BLT coming at you with my homemade mayo,” he said already working on prepping the bread with condiments. 

“Damn Bozer, have I missed your cooking!” said Jack with an excited glint in his eyes. 

“So I was thinking we take it easy for today don’t know about you guys but I could take a dip in that pool, we’ll start early morning for the hikes, if we want to camp tomorrow night we can, day 3 and 4 are open for whatever you guys want to do. We need to be back in LA by noon on monday.” Riley laid out the plans.

“Pool party, I’m in,” Jack said nodded seriously. 

“Me too! I can’t remember the last time I just had a day to do whatever I wanted.” Bozer said thoughtfully while working on their lunch.

“Yea, it’s been a lot going on hasn’t it.” He said picking at the beer bottle label. The room fell into silence for a moment, each reviewing the events of the past year if not longer. They lost so much as a collective but Mac and the most. 

Jack took another sip finishing off his beer and shook his head, “Nah, we’re here to have fun, let’s focus on that.” grabbing one of the pickles that Boze laid out, Bozer gave him a side-eye but said nothing. “This weekend we’re gonna unwind and be thankful for this beautifully weird place. Nothing is blowing up, no one is shooting at us, the worst thing will be the hangovers and food comas,”

Riley and Bozer both collectively knocked on the wood of the kitchen island, “don’t jinx it!”

To which Mac proceeded to explain that ‘jinx’ wasn’t a scientifically proven, and went into a ramble about logic. It wasn’t until he noticed all three of his friends smiling affectionately at him that he stopped dropped him head mouth curving into a smile. He knocked on the wood too just in case.

                                                         II

Twenty minutes later Bozer served them his masterpieces as he called them, and they all agreed that they were works of art. Jack had caught them up as much as he could on his mission with the deltas and catching Kovac, leaving the classified information out. It seems so natural that they wouldn’t give details, that they understood that somethings they could never talk about again. 

Finishing off his third sandwich Jack stood to plug his phone to charge “can you believe this phone lasted me almost 2 years?!” 

To which Mac rolled his eyes but his mouth still twitched upwards. “I can’t help that a phone has key components for most builds.”

“Yeah you left and it became either me or Riley. I feel like it was mostly me though.” Bozer said pouting. 

“Appreciate you picking up the slack, I already upgraded my insurance just in case.” Jack pointed at Mac. To which Boze and Riley hollered. 

Mac held up his hand and shook his head, “hey man I promise if I don’t need it, I won’t ask for it.” 

“Alright, Alright let’s get to the pool!” Jack said already pulling his shirt over his head. “Riley throw on some tunes, preferably something country or rock or close to my generation that we can all enjoy.”

It was Riley’s turn to roll her eyes, “don’t worry old man, I got us all covered. A bit of Brooks and Dunn, a bit of Ozzy,  a bit of Technotronic, a little Beyonce, and of course Drake for Bozer.”

Mac’s face squinted into lines. “Wait is Techtronic for me? Or is Beyonce for me?”

She laughed, “guess you’ll just have to find out, though I do recall you know the lyrics to at least one of Techtronic’s’ song.” her own eyes squinting to tease him. “Alright, I’m gonna go change, be right back.”

“Yeah ok fair enough, but only cause it was on the radio…saved your booty,” she heard him mumble as she passed him patting his shoulder. 

The guys were already set up by the pool when she walked out. Bozer managed to find a pool floaty from where they didn’t know and mildly suspected he might have packed the one that he was currently laying on and enjoying the sun. Mac and Jack sat next to each other with their feet in the water.

“I’m sorry about your old man.” Jack finally said softly. 

Mac’s lips pulled into a line before he sighed and looked down at the beer bottle in his hand “yea, as it turns out its hard to be mad at a guy that always chose the utilitarian method. He sacrificed himself, I wish I could just be sad or just angry but how I feel is just…” he didn’t know himself.

“Hey man, I get it. I know what it’s like to lose a father. No matter who and how he was as a person, he was still your dad.” Jack said placing a hand on Mac’s shoulder and giving a light squeeze. “But you know I‘m here if you gotta sort through all the jumbled mess in your head. I’ll be your sounding board.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that” He did appreciate it, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to, let alone where to start to untangle the mess that his life became. He was brought out of his brooding when Bozer whistled loudly.

“Damnnnnn Riley!” to which Jack knocked him off his floaty, when he resurfaced drawing water away from his face he whined, “I was just paying her the compliment she deserves!”

Mac knew that Riley had an amazing body, her tight jeans and crop tops proved this countless time if not by the countless gowns and tight dresses she had to wear for ops, but they’d never seen her in a bikini in the four years of working together. He swallowed hard and pretended not to stare, but it was hard when she was all bronze and glowing, toned abs and round hips, her smile radiant even if her eyes held a teasing annoyance at the attention. It suddenly felt hotter than 89°. 

Jack knew better than to tell her to cover up, and he knew that he could trust these guys but still, he pouted about her lack of clothing. “Jack, what do you want me to wear to the pool, a potato sack?”

“No, but...never mind!” he just mumbled. 

She shook her head, but she was trying to distract herself from the fact that Mac had looked at her hard, their eyes locked for a second and she could’ve sworn she saw something there, the way his adam’s apple bobbed make her skin tingle. She decided that she’d read it as a compliment. 

The rest of the afternoon passed with a game of pool volleyball, naps here and there or reading, Riley’s playlist playing in the background. Memories being solidified to sounds, smells, and feelings. She chided them to apply sunscreen and even offered to help with their backs. 

“Riley not sure if you’re aware but I’m black,” Bozer said to her proudly.

“So? Black people burn too and are you trying to get cancer?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Deflated he shook his head no and sat down. One by the one they gave up the protests as she threw savage shade at them. She applied a boatload of sunscreen just cause they gave her a hard time and decided to snap some pictures as well for blackmail of course.

Mac was last and sat in front of her as she steeled herself and slowly applied the sunscreen to the back of his neck, the hair at his nape tickling her fingers. She worked quickly and ran her fingers between his shoulder blades down his back. She felt him tense and worked faster. As much as she enjoyed being able to touch him like this, it was also inappropriate. He didn’t know about her feelings, and she felt sleazy as if she were taking advantage of a friend. Closing the bottle cap shut, she lightly tapped his shoulders, “done, now you don’t have to be an embarrassing lobster.” She weakly cracked.

He wasn’t new to attraction, or the body’s response to the said attraction. He didn’t expect to be so affected by her fingers running down his back, her nails making a slow trail that left him imagining those nails digging into his back for a completely different reason. He cleared his throat, “thanks, wouldn’t want that.”  he managed as he looked over his shoulder. Fuck him, she was adorable as she chewed her bottom lip and nodded. Ok, maybe four days of this Riley was going to be a challenge.

                                                        II

Around later afternoon everyone decides to shower and get ready for the evening, agreeing to head into town and grabbing dinner there. They decided with the drinks they’ve had best to grab an Uber into town. The awkwardness of the poolside sunscreen still fresh as they piled into the car. It was a short ride but felt long as Riley sat squeezed between Mac and Bozer. Bozer just grinned, of course, him knowing her feeling about Mac was going to be her downfall. When they were dropped off, She felt like she had been holding her breath for hours.

“You ok?” Mac asked her to which she nodded.

“Yep, just need a drink!” His brows raised and he seconded that feeling because he definitely could use one.  

Walking around the old Pioneer town setup, Mac explained different tools and contraptions that were displayed around the old buildings from the 1800s, Jack dazzled them with stories about Texas that either made no sense or was inaccurate according to Mac, Bozer, and goggle. They decided to have dinner at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, where the smell of barbecue wafted through the warm evening air, They could hear the bustle of music and glasses clinking. Bozer was already rushing in to get them a table saying something about getting his hands on some ribs. Jack hollered that he has to see if this place is as good as Texas barbecue.  

Mac looked down at Riley as her eyes sparkled with excitement the earlier awkwardness finally forgotten. Even though they’ve been everywhere in the world, this place had her vibrating. “I never knew you were a fan of the country life.”

She laughed, “I don’t know, I didn’t think that I was either, but there is something about this place that just, I dunno gets me kinda hyped.”

“Hey, guys they have a table for us!” Bozer shouted over the live music and chatter. Apparently they came on open mic night and the local dentist was doing this rendition of Hank Williams’ “all my rowdy friends” and killing it. The energy was just infectious.

They sat down as Bozer rubbed his hands together, “I already know this is gonna be the bomb. I mean can you smell that hickory?!”

“Hell yea I can!” Jack chimed in.

Mac smiled at his best friends, Bozer and Jack were always bouncing off each other in any room the three of them were in, but since Riley came into the picture they’re better behaved. They listen to song after song and the cheers of the crowd as they ate. Jack approved and hummed in appreciation. 

“I’ve missed this, the good ole USA, bbq, and country blues.” 

“Every song is about beer, a truck, a woman, but man is it catchy” Bozer stood busting out his moves as he called it. 

“Jack, it makes sense you should feel right at home at this place.” She said with eyes twinkling. 

Mac took a swig of his beer and chuckled, “This whole place is Jack if he were a bar, maybe throw in some Black Sabbath and ACDC in and you have Jack.”

Jack grinned and nodded, “ok, ok, you’re not wrong. I’m totally digging this place.” His eyes finding the eyes of a pretty blonde at the bar.

“Classic...” She agreed, crinkling her nose up in that adorable way when she found something slightly distasteful, thought Mac. For a moment they took the time to acknowledge the man who became a father to them both with affection. If they ever have to thank someone for their sincerity they could claim Jack as one of the big influencers. They’re musing was broken by Bozer shouting,

“Guys come on lets dance, how often do we get to do this anymore?” Bozer ushered them onto the dance floor. He already found himself a couple of dance partners. Ph.D. in partying Bozer was out tonight. 

It was true, they didn’t do these things anymore. Things haven’t been the same for a while. It’s only been about a year and yet he felt like his whole world shifted. An avalanche of shit hit him. 

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Jack jumped up and was already making a beeline for the woman at the bar. They could hear a vague “how you doing?”

Mac and Riley just rolled their eyes and joined Bozer on the dance floor as the new performer of the night decided to sing Shania Twain “Man, I Feel like a woman.” As soon as they joined Bozer, of course, within minutes Riley was stolen away for a dance. Mac was happy to watch her, the joy finally reaching her eyes today. Maybe they all needed this, a moment to stop and appreciate their lives. 

He liked seeing her like this, Riley was always fun to be around. But right now she was everything he thought to himself, everything about her made his heart feel full. Finishing his beer off, he decided that he wanted to be the one to dance with his friend. The more he played with the word, somehow it didn’t seem enough anymore to call her that.

“Can I steal her for this dance?” he asked not really waiting for an answer already pulling her close to him. “You good?” looking to make sure he wasn’t misreading the situation.

She looked up at him and nodded, “yeah, I’m good.” looking down at their joined hands, it was this hand-holding that started the thud in her chest in Germany, and here it was hammering away. She was so screwed. There was a part of her mind that asked her, why not? He’s not attached anymore, so why not? But she knew better, he didn’t need this right now. He didn’t need her feelings to complicate his life. Lost in her thoughts or the blues of his eyes she wasn’t sure which, she didn’t realize the music was changing as the next performer took stage and cheers were heard. 

The music changed to a slower one, something about it just seemed fitting and he’d watched her dance all night with other people but now it was his turn. He stepped up closer to her, her eyes on him as he took her hand and swayed with her. She laughed softly as they danced to a soft country song about a man who wanted to be a girl’s everything. How ironic.

“If you wanna be with a guy who's gonna bring you flowers A guy who's gonna talk on your phone for hours A guy who's gonna wanna hold the door for you When you wanna walkthrough A guy who's gonna pick you up A guy who's gonna take you out and make you Wanna get a little dressed up and get a little down”

She once told him that she wouldn’t mind a small town, the quiet, after all things they saw daily. He wondered if secretly she wanted to be one of those ‘girl next door’ country girl. He felt her warmth through the shirt she wore, his finger brushing the soft exposed skin of her midriff. It was like an electrical current ran through him, which was of course plausible and probably didn’t mean anything.

“I wanna be the guy with the roses Number on speed dial, ladies first, don't you know that's my style Hop into my truck I got plans We’ll head on down to Jimmy's and we'll do a little dance There's a lot of things in a small town a guy can be But if its by your side for the rest of my life Baby, you can call me, a wannabe (a wannabe) Be be a wannabe (a wannabe) (a wannabe) Be Be”

She knew how dangerous this was getting, but she couldn’t help herself just for this one song. Couldn’t help giggling when he spun her around and pulled her close. Couldn’t help but let her stupid heart thud at his deep laughter. Where she could touch him for a little while without question, without worry. She can feel the hair at the nape of his neck as she wrapped her arms around him because they were just dancing. This stolen moment getting filed away as one of the best nights she’s had to date. 

“If you wanna be with a guy whose gonna give you The whole world from the back of a dirt road farm Scribbled in ink with a big heart a tattoo on my arm I'm talkin' kissin' like crazy, can't shut it down Can't you see how I wanna be the guy that you’re out with Arm that's your names on”

With every sway, he felt like he was taking a step towards where he should be. The person he should be and wanted to be. The doubt that has been clouding over him slowly clearing a little. He felt like he could finally see the light shining through. If someone like Riley could stand next to him as the world ended then life couldn’t possibly be that bad, right? So for now at this moment, he pulls her closer, lets her scent make him dizzy. Lets his hand splay across the small of her back to let each finger feel her.

“Be the lips baby that you wanna put your lips on All-day, all night, moonshine, sunrise, your favorite song There's a lot of things in a small town a guy can be But if it’s by your side for the rest of my life, baby you can call me A wannabe (a wannabe) (a wannabe) Be be a wannabe (a wannabe) Be Be”

There is a cheer from the crowd and she laughs “This song is fucking catchy,” She says as he dips her, the audible gasp vibrating through her to him. He decided then that he loved dancing with Riley. He loved her laughs, the way her whole face lit up. 

“I wanna be the guy you make a life with, picket white fence with Maybe a little later hell even make a baby with Just you and me livin' that life long dream There's a lot of things in a small town a guy can be But if it’s by your side for the rest of my life”

He placed his forehead against hers and held her close. She glances up at him and his eyes hold hers. She’s mystified by their intensity, her body on fire from his breath fanning across her face. They were so close, he could kiss. He wanted to kiss her. As they got lost in each other, they failed to see the silly smile on Bozer’s face as he watched them or Jack who also softly chuckled from where he got distracted from wooing his lady friend Carla. If he was being honest, he can’t believe it took this long for them to get to this point. Well, he supposed he’ll have to have a chat with Mac about what he can expect if he hurts his little girl. Turning back to Carla he spared them one last glance then he was all Dalton, Jack Dalton. 

“Baby you can call me, a wannabe (a wannabe) (a wannabe) Be be You can call me your wannabe (a wannabe) Be Be A wannabe (a wannabe) (a wannabe) Be Be”

The crowd clapped cheered and whistled around them, he held her eyes still in a trance. Something definitely shifted between them. She cleared her throat and let him go smiling. “Thanks for the dance. That was so much fun.” Turning to make her way through the crowd to their table where a fresh bottle of beer was waiting for them courtesy of Bozer she assumed. She didn’t wait to see if he was following.

The heat from the dance coming off her now as if she had a full HIIT workout. She took a sip of the beer and before she could swallow it, he was standing next to her. 

“Riley…”

She gulped down the beer and looked at him, she was so fucked. 

[lulu-chaos-incarnation]

Ok, so this is how I think the timeline of @huffle-puff-ego ’s stories went.

NEBM: it happened first, Yan, Eric, Randell, Derek, and the heist trio weren’t in the story and Wil and dark weren’t together.

You’re perfect: event 2, Wil and Dark are together and adopted Yan, but Randel, Eric, Derek, and the heist trio weren’t there until the end

Drunk dress up: event 3, Randell and Yan get together

Child!Chase: event 4 because in Dread and memories Chase and Anti have a good relationship with each other but in here, Chase was scared of Anti at first, which means this takes place before DAM.

Child! Mark: event 5, this immedititly happens after child! Chase.

The glitch he was, the glitch he is: event 6, Chase doesn’t seem to be as scared of Anti as he was in Child! Chase, so this happened after that.

Dread and memories: event 7, Chase and Anti have a good relationship with each other, so this also happened after.

Pirate’s life for me: event 8, this is how Magnum was introduced.

Pent up pixals: event 9, Jamie and Anti are together, Jackie and Anti have a better relationship with each other than before.

Jumbled memories: event 10, Magnum is living with the egos.

Anxious: event 11, the heist are there and living with the egos.

So judging from this timeline, this means that it’s been years since NEBM happened. This means that DA, Wil, and Dark haven’t seen eachother for years.

I think Superhero DA’s timeline would look something like this

DA hides in the allyways and shadows of the city for a couple of days until Marvin finds them and gives them the ring and identification papers.

DA gets a job and a home, but still felt like they needed to do more for people. After a few weeks, They see Jackie and Silver on the news and decide to be a superhero. They make their costume and set out to be a superhero.

After several days, the media notices DA and talk about them. Jackie and Silver see DA on the news and are like “NEW FRIEND! :D!”

Silver and Jackie try to talk to DA, who’s avoiding them, but they suceccd after a few weeks.

They tell DA about how they wanna team up (and befriend) them, DA tells them they’ll think about it.

DA comes back the next day and agrees to team up. DA, Silver, and Jackie become team mates for years

I think that super hero DA will take place after NEBM and during all of the other fics that happened after NEBM.

So, did I get the timeline right?

[emeraldacademyofficial]

Chapter 2 - First Meetings: An Emerald Academy Novel

The warmth from the bright sunlight overhead radiated down onto the arms and face of the young man leaning out the passenger side of a car that had just turned off the interstate and into the city of Wakefield, Virginia. With his head propped up on his arms he stared at the cars passing by as they approached their destination. Apprehension, a twinge of fear, and even a little excitement swelled and rose within him, before cooling and falling back to the bottom of his heart, like an emotional lava lamp. He supposed this was normal—first day at a new school, and, even more dauntingly: the first time he’d be living away from home.

“Are you sure you don’t want me in with you, just until you get your bearings?” his mother asked for what could have been the dozenth time.

“Yes, I’m sure I don’t need my mommy holding my hand.”

Henry Thurston lifted his head from his arms and looked at his mother. As expected she was smiling widely, though her eyes remained fixed on the road before her. Despite his nerves Henry couldn’t help but grin too. His mother’s positivity was downright contagious sometimes.

“How would it look if I showed up there with you shadowing me?” Henry continued. “I don’t want to look like a total wuss on my first day.”

“I don’t know,” his mother mused. She turned on the car’s blinker and slowed before turning left. “First time away from home—won’t see me until your first break in November—I think a lot of you classmates will probably miss their parents.”

“Of course I’ll miss you,” Henry scoffed. “I’ll especially miss how good you are at math. And History.” Henry’s grin turned sheepish. “And, well, just school in general.”

“And there it is,” his mother murmured knowingly. She flicked the turn signal again and the car turned right.

“What’s that?”

“The reason you’re being so snarky. You’re nervous about the schoolwork.”

Henry wanted to deny this, wanted to proclaim proudly that he totally had the academic side of things under control. Instead he ran a hand through his wild brown hair and let out a long breath.

“I just don’t know that I’m cut out for this place,” he admitted. “Sometimes I feel like I only got into this school because you are my mom.”

Henry’s mother pursed her lips and thought about it. They were stopped at a traffic light. It wasn’t until the light turned green that she spoke. “It’s true that legacy definitely plays a role in admittance, but just because I was a student there when I was your age doesn’t mean you were automatically granted admission. They do consider your prior academic backgrounds and achievements.”

“What academic achievements?”

His mother shot him a sideways look. “You wouldn’t have been accepted into the school if you were an idiot.”

“I don’t think I’m an idiot,” Henry countered. “I’m just not as…academically gifted as you are.

His mother pondered this as she turned right again.

“You know what I like about you, Henry?” She eventually asked.

Henry raised an eyebrow. “You’re my mother. You’re supposed to like me.”

“No,” she corrected. “I’m supposed to love you. Nowhere in the maternal contract does it say I have to like you.”

“Geez, thanks a lot,” Henry muttered.

“No, what I like about you is that you’re not proud. You don’t have a giant ego that prevents you from admitting when you’re wrong, or asking for help when you need it. They’re not going to throw you into the deep end without consideration for your particular needs and talents. The Emerald Academy has some of the best teachers in the country, tutoring is available if you need it, you have options. If Professor Krenlo is still around you can absolutely turn to him.”

“Krenlo?” Henry asked.

“He was a new teacher when I was a student, but even then everyone loved him. He was sort of like a mentor. I never heard anything about him resigning, so I think he still teaches at the academy. If you’re feeling out of sorts just ask him for help. He’ll be glad to help you find your way.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about more than just class work?”

“I told you he was like a mentor. He’s someone you can talk to, an adult you can trust.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Henry murmured as a large grassy field with tall stone walls drew closer on the right side of the car. “Is that—“

“We’re here.”

The car made one final turn onto a long narrow road. Ahead of them loomed the walls and gate that encircled The Emerald Academy. Henry’s mother pulled into the large parking lot that preceded the gate, where a mass of people were approaching and entering.

Henry stared numbly out the window for several minutes. His body suddenly felt very heavy, his legs filled with lead. He attempted to reach for the door handle, but his hand and arm refused to move. His mother watched him fondly as his nerves fought with his brain for control.

“It’s finally real now, isn’t it?” she asked.

Henry swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. “Are we sure this is where I belong?”

“You’ll be fine,” his mother reassured him. “Just take things one day at a time. Remember, you can call me for absolutely anything, day or night. You’re not alone.”

Henry tore his gaze from the front gate and stared at his mother. He’d been expecting it, but the sudden burning in his chest and eyes was almost overwhelming.

“What if I don’t belong here?” he whispered.

His mother reached out and delicately cupped his cheek in her hand. “Give it a chance, Henry. Give it until your autumn break, and if you really hate it so much then I’ll bring you home, and we’ll try somewhere else. But I know you’ll do great. You’re a brilliant young man. You’re smart and generous and kind. People are going to love you.”

Henry blinked hard against hot tears. “I hope so.”

“Besides,” his mother said, her tone suddenly cheerful and matter of fact. “It’s just a silly school. There’s nothing special about the Emerald Academy. You can succeed and thrive anywhere.”

Henry smiled in spite of his inner turmoil. “Yeah, we’ll see.”

“Now, one last time, are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

In response Henry threw his arms around his mother’s shoulders and hugged her tightly. It turned out her cheeriness was just an act too. She began to sob, hot, wet tears falling into Henry’s hair and on his cheek. Henry had finished crying, but his mother’s tears threatened to ignite a second round within him. If he didn’t pull away now he thought he’d never have the strength to. His mother gave him one last kiss on the forehead.

“Be good,” she said through watery eyes. “Have fun. Call me any time. I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah,” Henry said hoarsely as he reached into the back seat for his duffel bag.

“I love you!” his mother said as he opened the passenger door.

“I love you, too,” Henry murmured, unable to meet her eyes.

On shaking legs he got out of the car and stood up straight. He closed the door behind him and, somewhat stiffly, began walking across the lot to the gate. After several seconds he heard the car begin to move again. He couldn’t bear to turn around and watch his mother leave. It was too reminiscent of old childhood nightmares. If he turned around now he’d run back to the car and beg to go back home. As the sound of tires on asphalt faded and disappeared Henry’s lower lip quivered slightly and he had to blink away New Years.

I am such a mama’s boy.

Wordlessly, Henry took his place in the queue leading to the gate. Though he was surrounded by other kids—some his age, but most of them a year or two older—nobody paid him any mind, nobody said a word to him. Here and there he did see a young-looking boy or girl standing around with what must be their parents, but as Henry had suspected, this was the exception, not the rule. Most everyone was on their own, exerting their independence from their parents. He almost laughed. Surely he couldn’t have been the only crybaby in the bunch?

It took almost fifteen minutes, during which Henry had shifted his duffel bag onto opposite shoulders twice, set it down on the asphalt beside him, and picked it back up again, before he finally neared the front of the line. Now that he was close enough to the entrance he could see what looked like a security guard and what Henry assumed was a member of the school staff, both checking and double check the credentials of the students as they entered. He watched as a boy a few spots ahead of him had his name checked off a list, then he presented a card to a machine, which scanned it, and a green light flashed above. So this was how students—and probably the staff, too—got into and out of the campus grounds. They had to scan themselves in. It made sense, now that Henry was watching it in action. It allowed the system to automatically keep track of who was coming and going, though he did wonder how often the going part of that equation occurred. Did the students leave the school sometimes? Was that even allowed? He’d have to ask someone sometime.

He finally reached the front of line, and presented his Emerald Academy-issued ID card. It was a simple thing—the size of a credit card, with a photo of his face, his name, birthday, and contact info below, and a barcode on the back, which he scanned. The light above turned green. The woman with the clipboard found his name, and checked it off.

“Welcome to the Emerald Academy!” she greeted him pleasantly. She pointed through the gates, towards the large building that stood at the center of campus. “Orientation will be inside the main building, in the auditorium. Professor Krenlo will be meeting new students at the front door to guide them in.”

“Thanks,” Henry said, and he stepped through the gates.

His feet fell on the path that extended from the gate onto and throughout campus. A surreal, almost buzzing sensation in his head made him blink rapidly. He didn't understand why passing through a stone wall would cause him to feel so weird, but now that he was here, standing on the ground of the Emerald Academy, he felt so…blasé. What had he been expecting? A jolt like electricity to coarse through him? A sinking, dreadful feeling? Elation? Instead he just felt unimpressed. His mother’s words echoed in his mind. It really is just a school. Then he remembered what the woman he’d checked in with said. So Professor Krenlo’s is still teaching here. I’ll have to let mom know.

In silence Henry walked along the path. Not that he needed to. Just from a quick once over he realized it would be impossible to ever get lost on campus. The main building, where orientation would be held, was directly in front of him, looming massively over everything else. Off to his right, near where two of the walls met, stood a series of small buildings lined up. To his left was a single structure—much smaller than the main building, but larger than a single one of the smaller buildings to the right. Connecting all three locations, and also circling around either side of the main building, was the path Henry now trodden upon. It was only what lay beyond the main building that remained a mystery, though he was sure he’d find out soon enough.

His classmates—or at least the kids he assumed were all his fellow freshman—stood huddled in a mass near the large front doors of the main building. Henry approached the crowd and settled on the outskirts. He said nothing as he looked around and watched them curious. Some of them were whispering to each other, some talking boldly. Others, still, kept space between themselves and the rest, and remained adamantly silent. The general air of nervous excitement among the throng of kids was almost palpable.

“Wow, look at the babies!” someone cried in a mocking tone.

Almost everyone turned to face the handful of older students who had approached. Was it Henry’s imagination, or were every last one of these freshman minuscule by comparison? Or was that just their perspective, being the new, low guys on the totem pole, nobody’s in this new social hierarchy? One of the older guys laughed at his compatriot’s comment.

“They all look so lost and scared. Where’s mama?” he asked, deliberately ignoring the scattered women who were in fact mother to some of these kids.

“I think this might be the smallest batch yet,” a third boy added.

“Nah, not this fucker,” a fourth said, and he approached Henry. “You sure you’re in the right year, newbie? You look like a giant compared to these kids. You get held back a few years?”

Henry cast a quick look around his fellow freshman. Yeah, Henry was tall—taller than most of them in fact, but it couldn’t have been by more than an inch or so. But Henry had separated himself from his group by standing on the outskirts. He supposed that made him an obvious target. He raised an eyebrow at the older kid, who stood at least a head shorter than himself.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you from all the way down there,” Henry retorted. His words were met with snickers, which emboldened him. “All I could hear was the sound of you sucking my dick.”

Roars of laughter and applause—from both his fellow freshman and the older kids—erupted around him. The kid who called him out turned a little pink, but otherwise didn’t seem to take the jab to heart. Sure enough, he cracked a smile too. Henry was suddenly clapped over the shoulder by yet another older boy.

“Good one,” he chuckled in a somewhat gruff tone. “Yer clever.”

“Thanks,” Henry said, unsure if this sudden friendliness was part of a setup for further verbal sparring.

Henry’s new friend—an older boy who stood almost at Henry’s height, with thick auburn hair in dreadlocks, and eyes Henry could have sworn were yellow—tightened his grip on his shoulder and pulled Henry closer so he could murmur in his ear. “Hey, don’t worry about these guys. They’re just takin’ the piss outta ya. They don’t mean nothin’ by it.”

Henry side-eyed the older students, who were now talking animatedly, but seemingly good-naturedly, to the nearest freshman on their side of the pack.

“Ya know how these things go,” the boy continued. “Older kids leave, new kids show up—it’s tradition to hassle ‘em a little bit, ya know?”

“Seems harmless enough,” Henry observed. “I didn’t hurt your buddy’s feelings, did I?”

“My buddy?” The kid laughed—a rough sound that was almost a bark. “Patrick? Screw him.”

“Logan, it’s time to go.” Yet another new face had appeared, this time standing over the shoulder of the boy Henry was talking to. His hair was dark, matching his shrewd gaze. His grey eyes met Henry’s, but for all the reaction he gave Henry might have been invisible.

The boy, Logan, tilted his head back and eyed his friend. “What are you in such a rush for?”

“We’ve got things to take care of before term starts tomorrow. We don’t have time to play with the new kids.”

Logan opened his mouth like he wanted to retort, but seemingly thought better of it and shrugged, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

“Ya heard the man, gotta go,” Logan said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “See ya ‘round, new kid.”

“Right.”

Only after Logan and his friend had walked several yards away did Logan stop and turn back to Henry again. Henry eyed him curiously.

“Ey, you like basketball?” Logan asked.

Henry shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so,” he called back.

“Word! I’ll hafta get you in on a game soon!”

“We’ll see what happens,” Henry said noncommittally.

Logan grinned again, and then the two disappeared among another, smaller crowd of students who walked in the direction of the scattered buildings. Before long Henry’s group of freshmen were once again on their own. Their interaction with the upperclassman had only served as fuel to further excite them. Shifting his duffel to his left shoulder once again Henry wondered what was taking this Professor Krenlo guy so long to arrive. He wasn’t the only one growing impatient. He heard two of the mothers in the group muttering between themselves in a somewhat irritable tone. He watched as one of the braver kids approached the front doors and opened them. Henry craned his neck to peak inside, but there was nobody standing on the other side.

“What gives?” someone asked. “Wasn’t orientation supposed to be at ten?”

Henry glanced at his watch. 9:55. Where was Professor Krenlo—or, if not him,  whoever was supposed to meet them?

As if in response to Henry’s unspoken question the front door opened once more, this time from the inside. The group backed away a bit to make space, as a tall, thin man appeared from within the building and stepped out into the brightly lit grounds. The man that stood before them was rather pale, his kind, narrow eyes set behind a pair of glasses. He had a somewhat long face, with a well-defined chin. His slate black hair had small grey streaks in it, and he wore it in a long dolphin-tail. He stood before them in a white button-down shirt, tucked into black slacks. He smiled serenely at the group.

“Hello,” he greeted them with the hint of a German accent. “My name is Daryle Krenlo. I would like to be the first to welcome you to The Emerald Academy. I am a professor of History here, as well as counselor for students whose last name begins with H through N; you will be seeing much of me during your education at this school. However, today I am to bring you to your orientation. It is to be held in the auditorium, located just beyond the library, courtyard, and cafeteria. If you will follow me.”

The excited murmurs grew as Professor Krenlo turned and began leading their group through the doors. There was a little jostling as the crowd attempted to form an orderly line into the building. Henry didn’t mind letting himself be gently pushed towards the back of the line. From the back he had a better opportunity to look around as they walked through the building. He hoped, however, that he would be able to hear Professor Krenlo if he began talking while he guided them—he seemed a rather soft-spoken man. Shifting his duffel once more he brought up the rear of the line and crossed over the threshold into the cool, dark building. He had turned to close the door behind him when a flurry of movement near the gate caught his attention.

“Wait up!” A boy cried as he sprinted towards. “Oh, please wait!”

A couple stragglers turned watch as the boy ran towards them, confused and amused expressions on their faces.

“You guys go ahead,” Henry suggested. “I’ll wait for him.”

“You sure?” a girl asked.

“Yeah, if Krenlo asks just tell him I hung back to help a straggler find their way.”

“How are you gonna find your way?”

Henry shrugged and grinned. “I’ll figure it out.”

“If you say so,” the girl said as she followed the rest of the stragglers deeper into the building.

Henry stepped back onto the path outside. He planted his hands on his hips, and was just about to make a smart-mouthed comment about the boy’s tardiness, but the kid suddenly tripped and, like he was seeing things in slow motion, watched the kid plummet face first towards the ground.

“Careful!” Henry cried at the same time he leapt forward to catch the boy.

Without thinking he threw out his hand and snatched blindly at the boy, managing to snag him by the back of his shirt, preventing him from face-first into the dirt patch by mere inches. Continuing thoughtlessly Henry yanked the boy upward, and he managed to secure his footing again. He was pink in the face, and breathing hard—a combination of having sprinted too hard, and nearly being choked to death by Henry’s inept save.

”Th-thank you,” the boy panted. He stood bent over at the waist, gasping for air.

“Are you okay?” Henry asked. “Sorry about the whole choking thing.”

The boy stood up straighter and pink-facedly met Henry’s eyes. “N-no, thank you. I would have been totally lost if you hadn’t waited for me.”

”No big deal. Anyone would have done the same.”

The boy glanced over Henry’s shoulder, and said in a defeated tone, “Yeah, but nobody else did.”

Obviously this wasn’t entirely true, but Henry wasn’t inclined to explain. “You’re late.”

”Yeah, I know,” the boy said sheepishly. “My dad’s…he’s…sometimes he’s just off in his own little world, you know what I mean?”

“Not a clue. My dad’s not around.”

“Oh! I’m sorry!” the boy cried, his face turning crimson.

Henry couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s totally fine, dude. Old news.”

“I…I see.”

“So your dad was late getting here, huh? On your first day too, that sucks.”

”Well, technically we’ve been here for about ten minutes. I just got cold feet before I got out of the car. My sister had to basically drag me through the gate.”

“So you have an older sibling who’s already a student here? She should have shown you around.”

“Yeah, right. As soon as we got through the gates she made a beeline for the dorms. She’s got better things to do than hold my hand through orientation.”

“Speaking of which,” Henry said, glancing over his shoulder. “We better hurry, or we’ll be left behind.”

“Sorry,” the boy muttered.

“No big deal,” Henry said reassuringly. He snatched the boy’s bag off the ground where it had fallen, and slung it over his right shoulder.

“O-oh, you don’t have to—I can carry it.”

“How about you just focus on keeping your feet firmly on the ground?”

The boy flushed again. Henry rolled his eyes and entered the main building once more. The interior was lit with fluorescent bulbs overhead, but the hallways itself was rather cool. This first hallway met in the middle of an adjacent one. Henry though he remembered watching their group turn right at the end, so he did the same. The boy shadowed him for the length of this second hallway before speaking again.

“My name’s Chase,” he said meekly.

“Henry Thurston,” Henry replied.

“It’s, uh, nice to meet you.”

“Ditto.”

At yet another intersection of hallways Henry had to admit defeat; he hadn’t the faintest idea where their group had gone. Fortunately, they weren't really alone. Other, older kids had been passing them in both directions since they entered. Like the ones before they snickered and verbally jabbed as Henry and Chase as they passed, but it was all harmless fun—like Logan had said. As a duo of boys began to turn down another hallway Henry raised a hand and gestured to them.

“Hey, can we get a little help?” Henry asked.

“Sure,” the first of the two boys said. “Where are you trying to go? Orientation?”

“That’s right.”

“Alright, easy.” The boy turned and pointed down the hallway directly in front of Henry and Chase. “Follow this hallway. It leads to the cafeteria. It’s an open space with the library and courtyard on one side, the gym on another, and the auditorium nearby. You literally can’t miss it.”

“Thanks a bunch,” Henry said.

“Not a problem!”

The two duos went their separate ways, Chase hot on Henry’s heels. As instructed the two followed this single hallway, and as foretold, they eventually stepped into a large, open space with tables scattered throughout it. At one of the large room was what looked like the kitchen, and lines where they would get their meals in the future. To their left was the entrance to the library, and just beyond that Henry saw the large outdoor space that was the courtyard. Opposite them was another hallway entrance. Henry deduced that that must be where the auditorium was. Leading the way one final time, Henry crossed the room with Chase in tow, entered the new hallway, and, to his relief, they came face to face with the double doors labeled “auditorium”. Grinning broadly at Chase he pushed the doors open and the two entered.

To his surprise, Professor Krenlo stood near the doors, obviously expecting them. The lights in the auditorium were dimmed, and standing on stage was a robust man in the middle of a speech.

“Sorry we got held up,” Henry whispered.

“Not at all,” Professor Krenlo reassured him. “You stayed back so that you could help another find their way. Very kind of you. Our headmaster, August Hammer, just began his address. Please take your seats, and listen to what he has to say.”

Henry nodded and quietly sat down in the nearest empty seat he could find. Chase hesitated only a second or two before taking the seat beside him. Henry seemed to have found a little sidekick in the boy. He wasn’t sure whether he liked it or not. For the time being he instead focused on the man who stood on stage. He was a large, heavyset man, whose hair was thin and grey. His eyes matched the color of hair, as did his short beard. He wore a maroon blazer over a grey shirt. As he spoke he paced up and down the stage.

“—Our school only accepts the very brightest, and the most eager to learn,” Hammer said, his voice strong and deep. “Here we expect our students to comport themselves to the upmost standards, and set an example to others, through dignity and respect we show the world why the Emerald Academy is among the very best of the best.”

Henry slouched down in his seat and leaned over to Chase.

“Looks like this Hammer guy could lose a few pounds,” he whispered.

“He’s the headmaster,” Chase hissed. “You can’t say that!”

“Chill out, dude. I know he’s the head honcho here. I was just saying, that’s all.”

“Yeah, but still…”

“You’re so uptight, dude.”

A hand fell upon Henry’s shoulder. Looking up at its owner he found Professor Krenlo looking down at him. His expression was kind, but his eyes seemed to pierce Henry.

“I understand that these speeches can be quite boring to some, but there are others here who wish to hear what our headmaster has to say. Out of respect for them, I ask that you keep your comments to yourself until after August’s speech has ended. I assure you there will be plenty of time for chatter later.”

Henry stared at him for a moment before shrugging and returning his attention to the headmaster. Krenlo smiled and sat down in an empty chair behind him. Henry didn’t particularly mind that Krenlo had asked him to keep quiet; it wasn’t even an admonishment, really. If anything, Krenlo seemed more amused than annoyed. Henry grinned. Maybe he would like this man after all.

“—Etched within the halls of this school are the records of the success and triumphs of generations before you. In this very same halls you will etch yourselves into the history of—“

August’s speech droned on for a long twenty minutes. By the time he finally finished and said goodbye, wishing luck before he disappeared off stage, Henry felt sluggish, barely able to keep his eyes open. However, a hard nudge in the ribs jolted him and he sat up, grumbling.

“What was that for?” Henry demanded of Chase, who had stood up and was now stretching.

“You were asleep. I was trying to wake you,” he replied.

“I wasn’t asleep,” Henry said irritably.

“Oh. Sorry…”

Henry sighed. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for this kid. Every interaction they’d had so far seemed to knock him down a peg. At this rate Henry wouldn’t be surprised to learn Chase was afraid of his own shadow.

“Nah, it’s cool,” Henry said. “Nothing to apologize for.”

Back on stage a woman had risen from one of the tables in the back. “If you haven’t already received your student identification credentials and room assignments, please come up to the stage. For those of you who received your credentials over the summer you can find your room assignments both on your ID, on an attached form that should have arrived in the same package as your ID, as well as through the online student portal. If you require assistance accessing the student portal please come to the stage.”

Henry withdrew the ID he had scanned onto campus with and examined it. He hadn’t really noticed before, but on the back, right above the barcode, was a letter and a number. X-YY. He shoved the card back in his pocket and began walking towards the exit that a number of their group had already disappeared through. However, he noticed Chase idling uncertainly in front of his seat.

“You coming?” Henry asked. Chase didn’t seem to notice him, so he raised his voice. “Chase?”

The boy flinched and looked back at hum. “Er, what?”

“Are you coming to the dorms?”

“Oh, uh…” Chase glanced at the stage, and then back at Henry. “No, I need to get ID and stuff first. Mine never arrived over the summer—part of the reason I was late getting through the gate.”

“I see. I can wait for you if you’d like.”

“O-oh, no!” Chase stammered, blushing slightly. “You really don’t have to.”

“You sure? I don’t mind.”

“Really, it’s okay. I’m sure I’ll see you at the dorms later.”

“Alrighty then. Catch you later, dude.”

“Bye…”

Henry shrugged and left the auditorium. Finding his way out was a much quicker process than finding his way in had been. As he walked briskly down the hallway he recalled the path he had traced with his eyes. The dorms were obviously the cluster of smaller buildings he’d spotted on his way in. As soon as he stepped outside he followed the path left and then straight, all the way to the dorms.

When he arrived he noticed that the dorms were all single rooms, arranged in a particular fashion—two rooms, back to back, in a row of five, with a second row above them. At the end of the nearest row of dorms was a second set, and behind these first two buildings were several more pairs, all identical in shape and size. Each row of dorms had a large sign at the end that listed off room numbers. A-1 to A-5, A-6 to A-10 above, A-11 to A-15 on the back side, A-16 to A-20 above. The next set of dorms were labeled B, with C and D being behind A and B, and so on.

Henry found building X, and after looking around, realized he was on the back side, on the second floor. He walked past the sign, towards the back ones of the doors, and found a large wooden staircase that rose to a balcony that spanned the entire second floor. He ascended the steps and found YY, the second room on this floor.

The door’s lock had a swiping mechanism, and Henry understood at once that his ID doubled as his room key. He retrieved it once more and unlocked the door. The lock beeped and he entered. The room inside was dark and cool, but Henry could make out a desk in the corner to his left, and a bunk bed to his immediate right; obviously these rooms were made for two occupants. He flipped on the light and dropped his bag in the chair at the desk.

He began to unpack, though he hadn’t brought much. The bulk of his duffel was clothes, which he stuffed haphazardly in the top drawer of the dresser that stood at the end of the bed, beside a closed door. He placed his laptop on the desk, but since there was already a large desktop computer sitting atop it he figured he probably hadn’t needed to bring it. Oh well. He stacked a couple of his favorite books on the small shelf that hung over the desk. Finally, he retrieved an object wrapped in newspaper. Upon unwrapping the object he revealed a photograph—contained within it was a picture of himself and his mother at a park. That heavy feeling in his heart returned, but he smiled in spite of it. For a moment he considered displaying the photo, but he’d be sharing this space with someone, and such a display of sentimentality might be awkward. Instead he wrapped it back up, returned it to his duffel bag, and put the bag in the bottom of the small wardrobe that stood beside the desk, right next to the room door.

Also contained within the wardrobe were Henry’s new uniforms. The Emerald Academy had a dress code that consisted of their official grey blazer. Technically, students were only allowed to wear solid colored shirts underneath, and either slacks or dark denim pants. He assumed there was probably an option for skirts for girls, but Henry had no cause to ask.

Something about the wardrobe gave Henry pause. He frowned and looked through the uniforms again. It was only during his third pass through the hung blazers that he noticed they were all the same size—his size, to be exact. Henry glanced back at the bunk bed. Surely his roommate’s uniforms would be here too, right? Thinking back he was almost sure he remembered reading his assigned roommate's name. Hernando-something or other. In the side pocket of his duffel were the crumpled up documents that contained his student information and room assignment, among other things. He scanned the room details. Sure enough, it confirmed that he would in fact be sharing the space with a boy named Hernando Fuentes. Henry gazed around the room. Surely Hernando hadn’t already been in here before Henry. The dresser had been empty when Henry put his clothes in it, and there were no personal effects in the room. Had he not arrived yet?

Before long there came a knock at the door. Thinking it was Hernando finally arriving Henry opened it, but to his surprise he instead was met by Professor Krenlo.

“Oh, hey,” Henry said. “What’s up?”

“All finished packing?” Krenlo asked.

“Yeah, I was actually just wondering where my roommate was. It doesn’t look like he’s gotten here yet—there’s nobody else’s stuff but my own here.”

“Yes, that is precisely why I am here,” Krenlo said.

“Oh? Do you want to come in and talk about it?” Henry offered.

“Technically, the rules forbid staff from entering student rooms, save for extreme circumstances. But do not worry, I won’t take up too much of your time. To put it simply, Mr. Fuentes will not be joining us this term. Due to an unfortunate circumstance in his personal life his enrollment at our academy was dropped. That being said, in this one, exceptional case, you will be a freshman living alone.”

“Is it unusual for freshman to have their own room?”

“It is custom that freshman are paired up with junior and senior level students in the dorms, so help them acclimate to their new environment, and to encourage a mentor-mentee type of relationship. We find it helps the younger students establish themselves and find their way here during their first year. Starting in your second year single rooms begin to become available, but you’ll find that most of them are inhabited most by senior level students, then junior, and finally the few sophomore who are eligible.”

“So what you’re telling me is, if I like my privacy, peace, and quiet, I shouldn’t get used to having the place all to myself for a couple years.”

Professor Krenlo smiled broadly at Henry. “That is the essence of it, yes.”

”No worries, I won’t take the room for granted,” Henry reassured him.

“No, somehow I didn’t believe you would.”

“So, am I the only freshman who—“

A sudden commotion outside interrupted their discussion. Krenlo turned on the spot and approached the rail of the walkway. Henry followed him and looked down. There was nothing special happening below them; whatever was causing the commotion was coming from the front of the building. Krenlo began striding towards the stairs.

“Pardon me just a moment, Mr. Thurston,” he said as he descended, but Henry was already hurrying after him.

A fight? This early into a new term? Henry wondered if that was commonplace here. Not sure what to expect, Henry tailed Krenlo as they rounded the side of the building and approached the front. Henry wasn’t sure why, but the scene on display before them didn’t entirely surprise him.

The kid, Chase, had fallen to the ground on his butt. He stared, face pink and wide eyed, back at through the open door he had obviously toppled out of. Scattered here and there, some poking their heads out of doors, were curious classmates, watching the scene unfold.

“I-I’m sorry!” he stammered. A familiar duffel bag flew out the door and landed in his lap. “I don’t know what else to tell you—I-I’m supposed to be in this room too!”

“Not a fucking chance!” someone from within the room shouted.

“B-but where am I supposed to—“

“Not my problem, kid!”

Professor Krenlo glanced at Henry. “Isn’t that your friend?”

”Uh, more of an acquaintance. I just met the kid today.”

Krenlo nodded, but said nothing. Drawing himself up to his full height he approached the fallen boy. Henry followed.

“What is the meaning of this?” Krenlo demanded. “What is going on here?”

In response a young man, clearly older than Henry and Chase by a couple years, exited the room.

“Oh, it’s you,” the boy said, addressing Krenlo with a curt nod. “I applied for a single like two months before term ended last year. Today I get to my room and find this kid in my space.”

“I-I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” Chase stammered. Henry approached him and helped him to his feet. “I didn’t ask to be put in your room?”

“Don’t you mean our room?” Henry asked.

“What do you mean?” Chase asked, looking up at him. It occurred to Henry how short the kid was. He jerked his head towards the older boy. “It’s not his room. Don’t let him throw you out.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” the older boy asked.

Henry rounded on him. “What’s your problem, man? What kind of asshole throws a kid half his size on his ass?”

“I applied for a single months ago,” the older boy repeated. “I’m not sharing it with some little baby-faced kid.”

“Mr. Evans!” Krenlo interjected. Up to that point he had taken on a passive role as Henry inserted himself into the conflict, but now he was standing at Chase’s other side. “As a senior here you know very well why we pair our younger students with the older ones.”

“Yeah, but—“

“I’m sorry to say, but just because you applied to have a single room this year, that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. This type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable, which you are also well aware of.”

“I’ll take it up with the headmaster then,” Evans said in a tone that Henry supposed was meant to sound threatening.

“I suggest you do exactly that,” Krenlo agreed. “In the meantime, however, Mr. Ranell has every right to the room and the facilities within.”

Evans glared at Chase, who seemed to shrink further into his own shadow. Henry stared at him incredulously. What was this kid’s problem? Did he not have any backbone? This is retarded. Without really considering the consequences, Henry stepped forward, placing himself between Chase and Evans.

“Tell you want, asshat,” Henry began. “You want your own room that bad? Fine, take.”

“But what about—“ Chase began, his voice rising in panic, but Henry turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“It just so happens I do have a single.” Henry shot Evans a sneer over his shoulder. Evans’ hate at that moment was almost palpable. “I was supposed to have a roommate, the room’s already setup for two, so why don’t you crash with me?”

“Wh-what?”

Henry looked at Krenlo. “Professor, what do you think? Is that acceptable?”

Krenlo considered the pair in silence, a slight frown on his face. He finally nodded. “For the time being that arrangement will work. Room assignments and student pairings are made under a certain degree of scrutiny, so it may not be possible for this arrangement to persist long-term, but I will speak with the headmaster about this, see if we can’t come to some sort of solution.”

“You don’t have to do that!” Chase almost pleaded with Henry. “It’s not your problem!”

“Problem? The only problem here is that asshole,” Henry said, jerking his head towards Evans. “I fucking hate bullies.”

“His name is Brent, actually,” Chase whispered as he picked up his bag.

“I don’t care what his name is,” Henry said. He addressed Krenlo now. “If it’s alright with you I’m gonna let Chase go ahead and get moved in upstairs.”

“Very good,” Krenlo said, his warm smile returning. “And if you’ll excuse me, I must be off. The quicker this…room situation is addressed the quicker it can be resolved.

“It really isn’t a problem if Chase stays with me. I don’t mind having him as my roommate instead.”

“A kind gesture, indeed,” Krenlo said before he swept down the path back to the main building.

Henry was acutely aware of the multitude of eyes on them as they left Brent—who glared maliciously after them—and returned to Henry’s room on the other side of the building. He unlocked the door with his keycard and opened the door.

“We’ll have to see about getting you a new keycard for the room,” Henry said. “Or do you think they can reprogram yours?”

“Who knows?” Chase murmured as he followed Henry inside. With the door closed behind him, Chase took a moment to look around, and then dropped his bag on the floor. Once again he wore a pitiful, defeated look.

“You really didn’t have to stick your neck out for me,” he said.

“It’s really not a big deal,” Henry said, but he frowned and crossed his arms. “But what’s your deal? Why didn’t you stand up to him?”

Chase flushed. “I-I just didn’t want to cause any trouble, you know?”

“That asshole threw you on the ground. He assaulted you. And you just sat there and took it.”

“I know…”

“Chase, you’ve gotta be able to stand up for yourself, man. Otherwise people are gonna walk all over you.”

“I know…”

“Anyway,” Henry said, changing the subject before he had a crying boy on his hands. “I already unpacked and put my clothes in the top two drawers. Hope you don’t mind the bottom ones.”

“N-no, that’s perfect.”

Henry shot him a look with a raised eyebrow. Chase cringed again.

“I haven’t claimed a bed yet, so we should figure that out.”

“Oh, I don’t mind either one,” Chase said quickly. “Whatever you want is fine.”

Henry closed his eyes, and prayed for patience. He let out a single, deep breath, and spoke, his eyes still shut. “Chase, which bed to you want? I know my preference already, but I want you to tell me what you want. Can you do that?”

Chase had fallen silent. Was it possible that even this, this simple binary choice, was overwhelming him? How did a kid like him even get here? Henry tapped his foot impatiently.

“I-if you don’t mind,” Chase began, his face now burning. “I’ll l-like the t-top bunk.”

“Well there ya go!” Henry exclaimed, and he clapped Chase on the shoulder. The boy was so surprised by this that his knees buckled and Henry almost had to pick him up off the floor. Again.

“Thank you,” Chase said meekly as he began unpacking his bag.

“Literally nothing to thank me for,” Henry replied.

From his newly claimed bottom bunk he observed Chase as he unpacked, slowly tracing a circle around the room. Everything the boy did—from putting his clothes in the dresser, to placing his own laptop and personal items upon their shared desk—seemed to be bogged down by apprehension and second-guessing. What is this kid’s problem? Finally, Chase reached the wardrobe, and that very same moment Henry realized there was a problem.

“My uniforms.”

“Your uniforms.”

They spoke in unison, but Chase remained rooted in front of the open wardrobe, one hand around the knob. Even from this distance Henry could tell he had gone white at the notion of what he would have to do next. Henry stood up.

“I‘ll take care of it,” he said as he opened the door.

“No, I can do it!” Chase cried.

Henry gave him a smile that was meant to be kind, but even he knew it came across as patronizing.

“No offense,” Henry said. “But it’ll be quicker if I do it.”

“Sorry…”

Henry ignored him as he returned to the ground level and strode back to the front side of the building. His plan had been to knock on Brent’s door, demand the uniforms, and cause trouble. Instead he found that Brent had already taken the liberty of tossing Chase’s blazers upon the grass before the door. Henry resisted the urge to kick down the door as he collected Chase’s uniforms and returned to their room. Chase was waiting for him at the desk.

“Did he give you any trouble?”

“Nah, the asshole had already thrown them outside.”

“Did you say anything to him?”

“Did you want me to say something to him?”

“N-no, I just…he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to let go of a grudge.”

“I suppose we’ll find out one way or another eventually.”

Chase took the uniforms from Henry gratefully and began hanging them up in the wardrobe. Henry resumed his silent vigil. One thing was for sure, he decided: If Chase ended up becoming his long-term roommate he’d have to help toughen the kid up. There was no way he could spend an entire year watching him cringe in fear every time someone looked at him funny.

Noon was beginning to approach by the time Chase had finished unpacking and the two were officially settled in. Henry’s mind had wandered from Chase’s social anxiety to food. More specifically, the prospect of getting some food in his belly.

“What time do you think they serve lunch?” he asked.

“Soon, I hope. I’m starving.”

Even though it hadn’t even been two hours yet since they set foot on campus it already felt to Henry like he’d had a full day. He wanted nothing more than some food in his stomach and a nice, long nap.

“According to the student portal,” Chase said from where he sat at the desk, reading from his phone. “The cafeteria is open from eight am to eight pm, and during the week meals are at seven am, between eleven am and one pm depending on your lunch schedule, and dinner from five pm to eight pm.”

“So…what you’re telling me is that we could go grab lunch right now if we wanted to?”

“Seems that way,” Chase said, pocketing his phone.

Henry jumped to his feet, clapping his hands. “In that case let’s go get our grub on!”

“O-okay,” Chase said, seemingly taken aback by Henry’s sudden shift in personality.

“For now I guess just stick with me so that we can get you into the room. Starting tomorrow we’ll have to figure something out.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

As Henry pulled open the and marched outside he came dangerously close to crashing into another person. The girl stumbled backwards and, like Chase earlier, very nearly fell on her butt. She instinctively reached for the guard rails and Henry’s outstretched hand. He caught her—more deftly than he had Chase—and helped her to her feet.

“Hey, sorry about that,” Henry said once the girl was upright once more.

“N-no worries!” she replied, pink faced, clearly frazzled. She ran a hand through her blonde hair, attempting to fix it.

“We were so excited for lunch that I wasn’t paying any attention.”

“Really, it’s no problem. I was on my way to the cafeteria too.”

Henry stepped back, so as to allow her to pass. Emerald green eyes met his, and then she swept past them. As Henry watched her go he couldn’t help but smile broadly. They certainly made them cute at the Emerald Academy.

Maybe mom was right. I just might like it here after all.

[yesgabsstuff]

Randall Tier tells Jack and Will during his interegation that he’s; employed, taking his medication, socializing and working very, very hard. The first three items on that list are the socially acceptable forms of coping with his dysphoria. They require internalizing the pain and accepting that he can never trust himself. They come with the understanding that he’s earned being watched for the rest of his life; the police bringing up his psychiatric history like a criminal record. The last one, of course, is his real answer to himself.

The environment of the show feels out of time despite being set in the present day. This time collapse is I think, intentional thematicly as well as adding to fun gothic atmosphere of the show. Psychiatry in the universe of Hannibal is conversion therapy; or alternatively a way to make a spectacle of people who are considered deviant. These experiences are in living memory for LGBT people. Mad people and any marginalized group seeking help in the mental health system still live with the legacy of those foundations. It cannot be sanitized.

The psychiatrists on the show talk about doing old fashioned case studies a-la Freud. Then we slide into the mid twentieth century with Will commenting that he’s given up good and evil for behaviorism. There are nods to modern therapy as you can see with the use of light pulses (like you might use for EMDR, and yes hypnosis is still a thing) and I’m sure the people that would recommend distress tolerance skills to Randell Tier.

Characters that have traditional power have sublimated their desire for power over their environment/other people into their jobs. Abuse of power, defining another person’s reality isn’t necessarily bad in universe. It becomes bad when the motive is openly personal or selfish rather than in the service of something greater; like “saving lives.” Jack Crawford doesn’t really ever face more than a breif fear for his job for his manipulation of Will. But Chilton has a (well deserved) reputation for being unethical only because he a) was incorrect, and b) he was doing it for his career and it’s implied, personal satisfaction.

Will and Alana are complicated in the sense that there is a veneer of kindness. Will allows himself empathy with the murderers he chases but only because he’s defining their deviance for an audience of people who want to incarcerate them. He’s allowed his deviance as long as he turns in his friends. It influences his style of murder, later on. His voice quivers with passion when he tells Hannibal he felt “righteous” in the act of murder. One gets the sense that he’s taken that comfortable power into his new life rather than fully embracing an individualized morality.

Alana of course holds onto the sense of herself as practical and kind despite the professional company she keeps. The whole professional environment is riddled with horrible power imbalances; it is presented as another arm of the criminal justice system. She openly admits to feeling professional curiosity about Will as a subject as much as she’s attracted to him. She tries to keep the excesses of her colleagues in check without stepping up to change the system.

(Though it’s noteable that almost all of our main cast slip in and out of their respectability, like their ability to pass can be revoked. Most of them being consciously closeted in more ways than one.)

In contrast, Will’s therapy sessions when he returns to Hannibal mid second season you could argue are ideal in a way. Hannibal (in his own self centered way) wants Will to become self actualized. They are also not normative in universe. His treatment of Margot in session validates her real feelings. He encourages murder but honestly, Mason deserves it doesn’t he? Who could call her response something that needs treatment in good faith? It is not an accident that Hannibal’s published work is about social exclusion rather than defining his patient’s as freaks.

[myquoteshub123stuff]

50 + Most Inspiring Christmas Quotes By Famous Authors | MyQuotesHub

MyQuotesHub - is the best web platform if you are looking for the amazing and unique collection of quotes. It has an amazing collection of most encouraging Life Quotes, Love Quotes, motivational quotes, and even telugu quotes. 

Everyone loves good quotes and sharing quotes on special occasions like birthdays, festivals, etc. with our loved ones makes them feel even more special. And as now Christmas and New Year's Eve is coming up, you really got a good opportunity to convey your wishes in the best way i.e. with the best and sweet Christmas Quotes.  

Christmas is the most amazing Eve of the year, so we're here to help you to celebrate this with your loved ones. We've designed the best list of the most amazing Merry Christmas Quotes ever which will double your celebrations by sharing them with friends and family members. These quotes will your mind and heart with joy and remind you of the reason for the season. All these Christmas Eve's quotes are from the most famous persons. You can write these quotes on the tag while wrapping gifts for the ones you care. This will add an extra flavor and make them feel even more special.

Here are the best quotes on Christmas Eve listed below:

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." —Edna Ferber

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" – Bob Hope

"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." – Shirley Temple

"Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind." – Mary Ellen Chase

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." – Calvin Coolidge

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'." – Bing Crosby

"No man is a failure who has friends." — It's a Wonderful Life

"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality." — Washington Irving

"God bless us, every one!" — A Christmas Carol

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime." – Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz

"I don't think Christmas is necessarily about things. It's about being good to one another." — Carrie Fisher

“Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner Rice

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." – Roy L. Smith

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." – Hamilton Wright Mabie

"Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." – Zuzu Bailey, "It's A Wonderful Life"

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection." – Pindar

“Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.” – Margaret Thatcher

"Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered." – Phyllis Diller

“Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.” — Dr. Seuss

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day / Their old familiar carols play / And wild and sweet, the words repeat / Of peace on earth, good-will to men." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” – Harry Potter

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” – Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home

“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” — The Polar Express

“I don’t want Christmas season to end, because it’s the only time I can legitimately indulge in on particular addiction: glitter.” – Eloisa James, Paris in Love

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." – Marjorie Holmes

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." – Harlan Miller

“There's nothing cozier than a Christmas tree all lit up.” ― Jenny Han

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly." – Andy Rooney

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." — Burton Hills

"Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most." - Ruth Carter Stapleton

"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." – Benjamin Franklin

"Christmas, my child, is love in action." – Dale Evans

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." – Will Ferrell, Elf

"Mankind is a great, an immense family... This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas." ― Pope John XXIII

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" – Theodor Seuss Geisel, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

"Love the giver more than the gift." – Brigham Young

"Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand." – Dr. Suess

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." – Norman Vincent Peale

"Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection." – Winston Churchill

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future." – Agnes M. Pahro

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ―Peg Bracken

"Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever." – Richelle E. Goodrich

"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves." ― Eric Sevareid

"Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving." ― B.C. Forbes

"Christmas is the day that holds all time together." — Alexander Smith

"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance — each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon." – Deborah Whipp

"Christmas now surrounds us, Happiness is everywhere. Our hands are busy with many tasks as carols fill the air." – Shirley Sallay

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." – W.T. Ellis

"Christmas is forever, not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away." – Norman Wesley Brooks

"The world has grown weary through the years, but at Christmas, it is young." – Phillips Brooks

"I believe… I believe… It’s silly, but I believe." – Susan, Miracle on 34th Street

"That’s what Christmas memories are made from, they’re not planned, they’re not scheduled, nobody puts them in their blackberry, they just happen." – Deck the Halls (2006)

"Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance—a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." – Augusta E. Randel

"Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin—inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night." - John J. Geddes

[nyc-urbanism]

#MapMondays 1821 John Randel map of the 1811 Commissioners Plan that surveyed the Manhattan street grid. The map was designed and surveyed by master surveyor John Randel Jr. who at the request of the New York City Commissioners spent over a decade measuring and placing posts and monuments on every corner of 12 Avenues and 155 blocks that would become the Manhattan grid. The grid of rectangular blocks helped bring regularity and order to the chaotic metropolis. Traveling through swamps, forests, hills, and rivers, Randel was able to map out the entire grid, corner by corner so it Manhattan could develop northward. He was often chased by property owners or wild animals. In 1821 Randel released the map for commercial sale, placed in a regional context, including Philadelphia and the northern seaboard. Randall placed the surveying tools he had invented to take precise measurements. Created before Central Park the grid in the 1821 map runs straight through what is today's, Central Park. To this day some of Randel's surveying bolts he used to mark the corners of the streets and avenues can be found in Central Park. #mapmonday #cartography #topography #geographynerds #manhattan #manhattanhistory #nyhistory #nychistory #midtown #centralpark #brooklyn #queensny #thebronx #upperwestside #soho #greenwichvillage #lowereastside #eastvilallge #gramercy #flatiron #hellskitchen #hudsonyards #historicmap #vintage #urban #urbanism #urbanplanning #urbanism. (at Central Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B53k4UcHlO1/?igshid=1lb8q7vi808pk

[sictv]

The Waiting Room

A/N: This is a very late addition to our story archive, the world is craaazy rn! Hope you enjoy it!

TW: Mentions of Suicide

Tags: Death, After Life, Agnst, Spiritual

1.7k words

17+

Sometimes, when you die; you don’t go straight, and you can’t go back…so you just wait. Somewhere there is a waiting room, in a location that cannot be placed on maps. A place that is only described as “A place that time has yet to come” upon entering the room, there are chairs lined up against a wall facing a greeting window, with an empty chair behind it. There is only one entrance and one exit, a guard stands on the inside of the waiting room and only points when a person has been called to the other side. Though there are so many comers and goers, and too many names to remember; there was a young Janet, who had recently passed on, and has now entered the room. When she enters the office, she is met with just a single man sitting in the chair directly in the middle of all the lined chairs. Though she was scared, she still took her seat next to him. With anxiety as her only familiar feeling, she sparks conversation with this man. With her eyes glued to the mans shoes, she shakily offered her hand to him. “…H…Hello, how are you?”

The man took her hand with a smirk, and a soft chuckle. He replied in his strong deep voice, carried by a southern accent “I’ve been better, been feeling a little down since I got here. I’m Randell by the way; but you won’t remember that”   He then cleared his throat fumbling in his pockets for something, pulling out two loose cigarettes, and offering one to Janet. She simply shook her head at his offer, wavying his gesture away. “No thank you, I’m uh Janet by the way” she replied resting her hands in her lap “Oh, not a smoker?” Randell questioned “No, smoking is bad for you. Its put’s people in early graves; too much of a risk” she scolded

Randell couldn’t help but chuckle and tilt his head as he placed the cigarettes between his lips. “Well I can tell ya dying is the least of my worries…anyhow… Nice to meet cha’ Janet, so let us cut the chase…how’d ya go? Crazy ex? Drunk night out gone wrong? Ya look a little young to end up here, how many kids did you have?” 

with every question Randell leaned in closer and closer to Janets face, to the point that his nose is touching her cheek. She leaned away from him, finally looking directly in his face. She though to herself on how Randell doesn’t look much older than her, but he spoke as if he had lived a life far longer than her. “uh. No...no…none of that…I jumped.” She finally said, her words feathering off at the end as her voice became quiet.

  His voiced raised with sympathy when he said “Ahh poor thing, so I guess ya know what’s comin’ to ya when Rahb knocks on the door, huh?” He placed his hand on her shoulder in condolence. Janet shook her head in confusion “Uh…who?”

Randell pointed to the door, where Rahb is standing with his head down. “Him, he doesn’t speak nothin much, but he listens well. Ain’t that right Rahb?” He received no reply from the tall silent man.

Janet looked over and surely there he was. There stands a tall man with chestnut brown skin, dressed in all black. His height on it’s own was shocking, standing at more than 7ft tall, and a veil covering his head. If one didn’t know he was a guard, they may mistake him for death. Janet bought herself back from her shock, “Okay well…uh…no…I don’t know…what’s going to happen to me?” she asked hoping Randell knew the answer, but alas he did not.

Randell just shrugged “Heck if I know, I never go when he knocks for me” Without hesitation Janet had to question him, there are options? She doesn’t have to go? Why doesn’t he go? Is he special?  “Then…how’d you go?” she questioned.

Randell Thought for a second, looking around the room as if the answer is going to pop up in a corner somewhere.  “Well…I…I…I just can’t remember…it’s been so long. I like to think I was a hero or somethin’, but seein’ as I’m here…well; I’m guessin I’ll never know”

Her questions continued “Okay…how long have you been here?” Randell shifted in his seat “Let’s see…I got here sometime after Kennedy got shot” he said quickly, and rather nonchalant Janet shook her head from the shock of his statement “Wait…wait...wait...wait…you’ve been here since Kennedy, the president…was shot?” He shrugged “Bout that time, yes.” Janet couldn’t hide her shock, “That’s almost 60 years! How can you just sit here for that much time?”

“Wow that long? Hm…time don’t come by there, I forgot how long it’s been. Did they ever figure out who did it?”  He asked innocently “I’m not going to answer that it’s not important R…” she paused for a moment, “R…rich..Richard? Ran..Randy? Rob… I’m so sorry, whats your name again?” Randell shook his head, “don’t worry about it, you don’t need to know it” Embarrassed she continued her questions “you never once even thought about going through the door? Wait…if Rahb does not speak…how do you know he’s knocking for you?”

Randell chuckles, sighing and leaning back into his seat. As if he was waiting for her to ask this question. “Well…for a long time…I was the only one here…and occasionally, good ol’ Rahb would give a knock on the door for me, and I’d feel this…pull in ma chest...tellin’ me to go and then Rahb would step to the side and point out. Then…there would be this bright light…of many colors, and I always wanted to go to it, but I just stay my ground, I ain’t too sure what’s out there for me and I’m not ready to find out just yet.”

Janet still wasn’t sure of what Randell meant, “a light? Of many colors? What does that even look like…like stained glass? Or a rainbo-“ She was  stopped by a sudden pulling in her chest, a sensation that immediately brings her to tears. She couldn’t decide if the feeling was painful or just an unfamiliar sensation. She clutched her chest, as if she could take the feeling out with her hand. Almost like if she could just see what was making her feel this way, she could understand her tears. However, no matter how hard she could dig into herself, she would never find it.

At the feet of Randell and Janet is a bright light, of beautiful colors, some Janet had never seen before.

Randell looked over at Janet, wiping some tears from her face. Offering a gentle smile, and speaking softly “That’s it…that’s the light” Her voice shaking from her tears “I…I see that…what do I do?”

Randell once again shrugged “That’s up to you, are you gonna go and face uncertain everafter? Or are you gonna sit here with me? The choice is yours.” Janet thought for a moment, wiping the tears from her face. But no matter how many she wipes away, more fall. She debated with herself over worrying about where she was headed, not knowing what was going to happen was so terrifying but staying with Randell could be just as bad. What if Rahb really knocked for Randell because he was special, what if this opportunity never came to her again. The more she thought about it, the pulling in her chest getting so strong that it was now beginning to be painful.

“If I go…are you just going to stay here? You can’t come with me?” her voice had risen with her question and fallen with her fear.   Randell placed his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head “Not my light…not my knock…you’re on your own for this. You came into the world on your own; sadly, even if you died in a big ol’ group of people, you’d still be walking through that door on your own”

Janet shook her head at him, her simple tears turning into harsh sobs.  “But…I’m scared…I jumped but I didn’t…I didn’t want to die. I mean I did, but…I-I-just thought I would just…not exist anymore. I didn’t know there was more to go through” 

Randell sighed, grabbing her hand. “Darlin’ that’s a record I’ve heard before. It never gets old, because everyone says it a different way. I can’t take the pain of your decisions away but The faster you decide, the less scared you’ll be.” Janet looked over that the door, the pull in her chest now becoming unbearable. She stands and starts to walk over to Rahb and the light. Her footsteps were shaking, her fingers curled into her palms. She turned back to Randell. “Dying…is the least of my worries, right? At least I know it’s not that…It was nice meeting you R.. R…” She chuckled through her tears, the only time she’s laughed since she’d been there. She continued “I hope to meet you again someday” Randell nodded, rising from his seat and handing her the cigarette she refused, he simply said “Death can’t getcha twice Darlin’ “ with those kind words he waved her off.

Gaining a breath of courage, she walks out of the door. The light fades, the door closes and Rahb is standing in front of the door once again. Rahb, in a deep voice that shakes the tiles in the room speaks “Last time your name was Charles, and you died in World War 2” “Randell” laughed, “if I could tell the truth I would, time don’t come round here much”

“Randell” laughed, “if I could tell the truth I would, but people wouldn’t believe me if I told the truth, and besides…time don’t come round here much” he paused thinking of Janet’s tear stained face. “I hope she likes the name I gave her” “Why’d you pick Darlin?” Rahb asked.

“She was sweet, scared, but…I think this time ‘round, she’ll be ready. She’ll live a long life, my Darlin’” He said sweetly.

Rahb just nodded, dropping his head in response.

The door behind “Randell” opened, and a man walked in. Before he looked around to see Randell in the middle of the room, the way Janet did; Randell was gone. And in that same seat sat a little boy.

“Hey mister? Ya comin?” his little voice spoke

-Victoria