#Face: Rashad

[cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal]

Got a lovely gift from the spectacular @westealtoys of a portrait of my favorite sleep-deprived anarchist, Rashad Basri. Thank you again, friend!

[cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal]

[ID: Three digital drawings of Jonah Davis (any, except it/its), one of @the-cooler-sidestep's Sidesteps, and Rashad Basri (they/he), one of my Sidesteps against an eggshell background. The first two are colored. The last one has them in uncolored line art.

Image 1: A shot of Rashad from the chest up. The perspective is drawn to show what it looks like for Jonah to look up at the. Rashad is a dark-skinned SWANA person with sharp, gaunt features, a hooked nose, near black eyes, heavy stubble, and wavy black hair that stops just beneath their ears. There's a scar across the right side of their face, extending from above the eyebrow to just above their jaw. They are wearing a black t-shirt and a green jacket with the collar popped up. They look down in clear discomfort.

Image 2: A shot of Jonah from the waist up. The perspective is showing what Rashad sees looking down at Jonah. She is a pale skinned person with wavy, platinum blonde hair pulled back at the nape of his neck in a ponytail, soft features, an oval face, green eyes, and two small scars - one extending up from the left side of their jaw and one extending down from the bridge of hir nose. Xyr wearing a long-sleeved brown cardigan over a grey turtleneck sweater. Her arms are crossed over eir chest. A white speech bubble with a purple outline and text reads, "...Jesus Christ." with the word "Christ" italicized, underlined, and in all caps.

Image 3: A wide shot of both of them, standing about a foot apart, just looking at each other in upset. Rashad's shoulders are slightly slumped and Jonah's arms are still crossed. A little red measuring lines shows the distance between the top of Jonah's head and the top of Rashad's. The number next to it reads, "One foot, two inches"

End ID.]

tfw the special directive put too much and too little growth serum in your respective vats

based off a convo with @cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal. Rashad doesn't like being tall and Jonah was fine with being 5'3" until about ten seconds ago. Now they're both gonna be dramatic about it

[da-ill-spot]

Music Video: Noa James - Tony Hawk 99 feat. Aye Brook

Shout out to Noa James, the recent winner of the Empire Of The Year award at the inaugural Only Empire Awards. This brotha is definitely well deserved for his contributions to the Inland Empire region of Southern California, as well as to Hiphop as a whole.

Check the music video for “Tony Hawk 99,” featuring Aye Brook. This is my favorite track off of Noa’s 2022 LP, The Sea King. The track was produced by Audio King and Rashad Isiah.

The video was shot by Lesa J and edited by Noa.

[passionxwrites]

Summer Romance 1

Pairings: ModernAu! Elias “Stack” Moore x Black OC! (Cymone) x ModernAu! Elijah “Smoke” Moore

Warnings: MDNI, Cursing, use of the N-Word, a little angst

Word Count: 4.0K

Masterlist

Cymone

The summer of 2025 had settled into Jackson, Mississippi with a vengeance and it had Cymone Johnson constantly swiping sweat from her forehead as she swept her grandmother’s sunroom.

“Etta Jean is lucky she’s the light of my life boy,” she muttered under her breath for the millionth time in the past 20 minutes she had been out there straightening up. She definitely wished she had opted to clean the guest room instead but Etta Jean loved her sunroom and Cymone knew she hadn’t been out here cause it was a little unkempt.

After taking a step back and assessing her work she was finally pleased with the cleanliness of the sunroom now and knew her grandmother would be more than happy to spend her summer nights out here like she usually did.

“Oh Gannnnyyyyy,” she drawled out as she bounced on her toes in excitement. She had always loved showing her grandmother when she cleaned ever since she was 2 and at 20 things were definitely no different.

“Girl you know I don’t like all that yelling, now what is it,” her grandmother fussed as she stepped into the sunroom from the kitchen where she had been cleaning her greens for the church potluck the next day.

She was beaming with pride purely from the fact that she knew Ganny would be happy meaning she would be happy cause no one was happy when Ganny wasn’t.

Etta Jean crossed her arms and surveyed the hard work of her youngest grandchild with a clean poker face before it finally broke into a grin they both knew was coming.

“You did a beautiful job Punkin, come here, hug ya Ganny now,” she spoke as she stepped towards her baby with her arms open.

Cymone leaned in and gave her a quick but loving hug knowing she felt dirty and didn’t want to get all her sweat on her grandmother’s nice lounging clothes.

“I’m glad you love it! Now I’m finna go shower so I can get ready for Tricia’s party tonight cause you know ya girl has got to look good,” Cymone spoke as she snapped her fingers.

Ganny only playfully rolled her eyes because she knew full well she was the reason behind every piece of attitude her granddaughter had so her antics were not unusual at all.

“Alright miss thang, you just make sure you don’t pick up no drink you ain’t see get fixed!”

Cymone quickly yelled a yes ma’am as she ran up the steps to wash the stench of hot air from her body.

After 30 minutes she emerged from the overheated bathroom adjoining her room and picked up her phone to FaceTime her best friend of 10 years, Reana.

“This a pay phone not a play phone. Speak ya mind and don’t waste my time,” flooded through Cymone’s speaker located on her desk as she rolled her eyes at the usual behavior of Reana Williams.

“Just one day I wish you didn’t have to be an ignorant bitch. Anywho, what you wearing to Tricia’s. I’m drawing a blank,” she muttered in frustration while frantically flipping through her closet for the millionth time.

See Patricia Newsome always threw the littest parties to kick off summer break and this year was no different. Actually it was a little different being she couldn’t throw any pool parties because somebody threw up in hers last year so this year was gone be a party down at the local park in Presidential Hills.

“Ooooo okay so boom I got this bomb ass two piece set yesterday from the mall. I found it up in Windsor. It’s a halter top and some mesh capri pants. Hold on, let me go get it from my room so I can show you! It’s fye bitch!”

Chuckling at her friends excitement Cymone sat on her bed with her face contorted into concentration as she tried to think of something she hadn’t worn yet. Tonight Rashad Jennings would be at the party and they had been talking a lil bit since Cymone tutored him in general chemistry. Rashad was a track start at Jackson State and would be going into his senior year next year. He was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. Almost put you in the mind of a young Lance Gross so he was fine as hell and Cymone quite frankly needed that.

“What about that red dress you bought two weeks ago from Charlotte Russe and ain’t ever wore yet?”

Cymone was jolted from her thoughts as Reana appeared back into the camera holding up her two piece set for her to see.

“That’s cute sista and you know what I forgot alll about that dress. This why I keep you on payroll! Aight give me like a hour to get ready and I’ll text you when I’m outside.”

“Okay honey bunches. Love you!”

“I love you too!”

After their farewells and the confirmation that she had a solid outfit she knew would not only break every neck at the party but would also have her target salivating, Cymone could finally focus on the easier tasks of doing her hair and makeup.

She changed her 2 day old silk press from a side part to a middle part and settled on a light beat since the party would be outside.

With her hair and makeup finally out of the way she held up the showstopper for the night. The dress was a tube top dress that ended in a pleated skirt. Thankfully it covered the assets carried down from Etta Jean and her mother while also still looking tempting enough for the average nigga to pray a strong gust of wind came through. She paired the dress with her gold platform flip flops and gold accessories and sprayed on her Kayali Pistachio Gelato perfume.

With her shoulder bag in tow she strutted down the stairs of the home to find Ganny sitting on the couch in the living room watching her stories.

“I’m headed out Ganny, I’ll be home no later than 1,” she stated as she leaned down to place a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek.

“Alright girl, you be safe and don’t give that boy a heart attack,” she winked and Cymone couldn’t help but to laugh.

She talked to Ganny about almost everything so of course her number one girl knew that she had a lil crush on the boy who ran track at her college.

Cymone hopped in her all black 2023 Ford Bronco, a high school graduation gift from her cousin Duke, and quickly headed to pick up Reana so they could arrive fashionably late.

Pulling up outside of Reana’s she shot her an “outside,” text and waited for her to walk out of the door.

While waiting she pulled out her phone to see a text from her cousin saying he had a surprise for her when she got to the party and immediately her suspicions were raised. Duke loved spoiling his little cousin like he was her father and essentially acted as if he was her father due to hers not being in the picture. He didn’t play about Cymone and frequently found ways to run niggas away from her since he felt nobody deserved his angel.

“Bitch I’m so sick of my mama boyfriend tryna act like he my daddy. Talkin bout I better make sure I’m home at a decent hour. Clyde if you don’t get the fuck out my face!”

Cymone could only shake her head in laughter at her homegirl. Reana’s parents tragically divorced their freshman year of college, sending her dad back to Canton to live closer to her grandmother and leaving her mom to all the new men who were clamoring for her attention. Her newest man, who she had been with for 5 months now, was Clyde James who owned a bar downtown near the King Edward’s hotel. Reana hated his guts because he felt like he was gone be the next man to lock her mama down so he was tryna step into the dad role to a girl who was grown as hell and already had a daddy. Safe to say he was getting cussed out almost everyday.

“Clyde ain’t gone learn until you call up big Will to come handle that.”

“Girl cause I done already put my daddy on game since the first time Clyde called himself checking me on MY grown ass whereabouts in MY mama house. To make matters worse mama just sit there and let’s him say the shit. Daddy said one more call and that’s all for his ass like Richard Schwartz.”

Cackles immediately filled the truck and Cymone immediately forgot about the message from Duke. That was just who Reana was. They met in the 5th grade at their elementary school. It was Reana’s first day being that she had transferred from a private school. Cymone was a really rough girl back in the day so she didn’t have many girl friends and the boys mainly just picked on her. When Reana sat by her in class and started conversation Cymone almost thought she was being punked. She was instantly on guard and had half a mind to whoop Reana’s ass thinking she was playing her. It took a week of convincing for her to finally get comfortable and after that they were thick as thieves. You wouldn’t see one without the other and you better not say nothing about one in front of the other or your ass was grass.

Cymone started the 10 minute drive to the park and began playing her Bad Bitches Only playlist.

She double parked the foreign at the function, we watchin for boots

I hop out ass fat as fuck, he watchin the glutes

We been came Cartier, them watches was cute

But I can’t fuck with none of yall niggas, yall watches be loose

Pulling into a parking a space, Cymone parked her car and pulled down her mirror to check her lip combo. Once she was satisfied she looked to see Reana finishing up doing the same.

“Let’s go have a good time girly!”

They hopped out the car and watched as everyone was outside having a good time. Ass was being thrown everywhere, niggas was everywhere watching, it was a complete vibe. This was the epitome of summer and giddiness was setting into Cymone’s bones the more she surveyed the crowd.

“Looking for yo man,” Reana teased as she watched Cymone take in the scenery.

“No baby, he’s looking for me. I’m just taking in my surroundings,” Cymone muttered cockily as she stuck out her tongue because she knew the truth. Rashad told her he would find her at the party a couple days ago so she was simply waiting to be approached.

“Let’s go get a drink. I’m thirsty as hell.”

As they approached the table under the pavilion with the coolers they saw Patricia. The girl was bossing everyone around as she stood on the table. As they got closer her eyes immediately lit up.

“If it ain’t the thickest bitches I know! Where yall asses been at,” Tricia yelled as the two women approached her. She was now sitting on top of the table donned in a gold bralette, denim mini shorts with gold studs embroidered on them and her honey blonde hair styled in a middle part with wand curls.

“I had to help my Ganny before I came out. My girl needed her sunroom in pristine condition so she can sit and people watch,” Cymone explained as she filled a cup with ice, Don Julio, and orange juice.

“I gotta come see my girl Etta Jean. I know she done cooked up something for that church pot luck tomorrow and I need whatever it is!”

“Oh girl you already know. We gone see you later though, we finna walk around and see what we see,” Cymone spoke as she gave her a side hug before walking away.

“Tricia really been like that since middle school. That shit is crazy,” Reana muttered as she took a sip from her cup.

“Girl she been like that since she was 5,” Cymone said as she felt a tug on her arm from behind her.

“I told you I was gone find you.”

With a smirk on her lips Cymone turned around to face Rashad in all of his beautiful, tall, chocolate glory.

“Well look what the cat drug in. Hey Rashad.”

“Hey to you too. You looking good girl. Done had everybody talkin bout you since stepped foot out yo truck.”

Reana who was suffocating in the sexual tension had long got the hint and decided to make herself busy elsewhere and mingle with the other people at the party.

“Well I tend that have that affect on people. It’s one of my best qualities actually,” Cymone spoke while fluttering her eyelashes. She was laying it on thick which was a little out of character but Rashad was different and she had been smitten with him since the first day she laid eyes on him.

“I just bet you do. Now, since I found you what do I get?”

Cymone titled her head and began tapping her finger against her cheek as if she were genuinely thinking of something.

“Hmmm I guess I can dance with you. ”

Rashad’s face immediately broke into his normal charming smile.

“I would love to dance with you.”

Just as he reached for her hand to lead her to the dance floor he was cut off by her name being yelled from the parking lot.

“PUNKIN! COME HERE.”

Of course Duke was the culprit. Cymone immediately scrunched her face in frustration at not only being interrupted but also being called by her childhood nickname in front of everybody and they damn mama. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Reana snickering behind her cup because she knew how much Cymone hated that name and Duke’s dumbass knew that too. She turned to Rashad while trying to fix her face so he wouldn’t see her upset.

“Give me one second to see what my cousin wants. I promise we will have that dance okay,” she said while nodding her head at Reana to follow her.

She marched to her cousins pickup truck with the anger of 1,000 women wondering what the hell this surprise was and why it was calling for all of this.

“Duke what the hell I tell you about callin me Punkin in public? I should slap yo loud country ass,” she fussed as she got up on him.

“Girl kill that shit! Look who came back home!”

She finally realized he wasn’t alone and turned her head to the two people accompanying him. When she did she felt like she had seen a ghost….or two.

Elias and Elijah Moore also notoriously known as Smoke and Stack. Smoke and Stack had been running with her cousin since she could remember and they were pretty much known as the city terrors. Niggas feared and wanted to be them and women wanted at least 5 seconds of their time.

Growing up Cymone was a tomboy. She was always wearing t shirts and jeans that would end up with holes in them from her scrapping with any and everybody in the neighborhood. Boys basically ran away from her because she was so aggressive but not the twins. I mean it wasn’t like they was scared of her cause they were five years older but they always watched out for her. She always appreciated how they were the only boys who would actually talk to her besides Duke.

Maybe she developed a little crush on them from how much time they spent together and maybe that’s why she was so heartbroken the day they up and left without so much as a goodbye. No one knew where they went but Duke and he was sworn to secrecy so he wouldn’t tell her where they went. In all honesty, them leaving like that was probably Cymone’s first heartbreak and she never really recovered from that betrayal.

Now seven years later they swept back into town and this is how they made their entrance back into the Jackson as if they never left.

Everyone else in the city might have felt like throwing them a parade but Cymone had no intentions on a warm welcome back. One glance at Smokes cool as fan expression and Stacks smug grin she could have spit.

“This my surprise,” she asked as she finally tore her eyes away from her long lost companions and back to her cousin.

“Yeah girl! When they got back into town this morning I told em how you was doing good in school and how you was such a girly girl now and they had to see you.”

“Oh is that right,” as a bitter chuckle escaped her lips.

“Well I owe somebody a dance. Bye,” and with that she turned on her heels and quickly grabbed Reana’s arm to drag her alone with her.

“Bitchhhh-“

“Not now Re. Now now.”

Stack

The minute Stack and his brother stepped outside of Jackson-Medgar Wiley airport they were hit with the almost overwhelming heat of Mississippi but it was honestly missed. After spending many years in cold ass Chicago the twins truthfully needed the heat.

“How far Duke say he was,” he questioned his brother as they stepped out of the path of other travelers seeking their ride from the airport.

“Say he 2 minutes out,” Smoke answered as he looked down at his phone.

Smoke was the stoic one out of the twins. He never really had much to say or showed much emotion but Stack knew his brother was just as happy as he was to be home. After handling their father they both knew they had to get the fuck out of dodge and Chicago came with a promise of not only an escape but some good money as well. Business was so good out there the twins stacked up enough money to live comfortably back home and also fulfill a dream of being business owners.

Their plan was to come home and open their own club. It was gone be the best thing Jackson had ever seen. Way better than the bullshit that was out here right now.

With the help of Duke they knew they would be booming with business in no time. Stack could see the dollar signs now and he was more than ready to be livin large and in charge.

“Oh my goodness! Are you boys twins?”

Smoke and Stack both looked up to a little old white woman staring at them in amazement as if she had never seen twins a day in her life. Smoke immediately took the ignoring route and put his head back into his phone while Stack, ever the asshole, smirked as he answered.

“Nah, we cousins.”

The woman looked perplexed with her mouth agape and just as she looked like she had finally found a response she was cut off by Duke honking his horn ignorantly as he pulled up to the airport.

“Bout damn time,” Smoke spoke under his breath as he grabbed his bags and walked up to the truck.

“You have a good one ma’am,” Stack replied with a chuckle leaving the women standing there looking like a jackass.

“Mannn! I missed yall boys being in the Sipp! We finna get into so much shit this summer!”

Stack grinned as he dapped up Duke already up for the shenanigans remembering how they used to get down back in the day.

“Aye we can roll by my crib so yall put yall shit down and freshen up cause Tricia throwing a party down at the Hills Park and you know all the bad bitches gone be there!”

“Tricia….you talking bout Nautica lil sister Tricia,” Smoke asked with his face scrunched up in confusion.

“Yeah nigga. She been throwing bomb ass parties with Nautica since high school but she throwing this one by herself today. Punkin gone be there.”

Hearing that named instantly brought warm feelings to Stacks chest. Punkin was they lil rider and the girl would whoop anybody ass. She was so bad none of the lil neighborhood boys and girls would fool with her so she would always hang around them. He used to enjoy they lil back and forth moments they had when he would get on her about all the scars on her arms and legs from fighting.

“Man I missed Punkin lil badass. What she been up to?”

Duke shook his head with a smile like he knew a secret none of them knew.

“Punkin ain’t the same Punkin no more. She don’t even like being called Punkin no more, like everybody to call her Cymone. She a girly girl and shit now. Always worried bout her hair and makeup. She a cheerleader down at Jackson State, making good grades, damn near running that school. I be working hard to keep them lil niggas from sniffing up behind her. Yall know that’s my baby man.”

Stack found himself intrigued hearing that Punkin was no longer a tomboy. Hell he halfway thought the girl was gone be a stud when she grew up so hearing she did a complete 180 shocked him.

“Damn, I gotta see her,” he said as he looked into the rear view mirror to see Smoke sitting in the backseat with the same look.

About an hour later the boys had gotten settled at Dukes and changed clothes to head to the party. As they pulled up they noticed how big the crowd was.

“Man it look like the whole Jackson at this bitch. Is that Antoine bitch ass? He owe me some money,” Stack said as rubbed his hands together with a grin. He already knew people were gone be all up in they grill with them being back home after so long.

Smoke snorted from the backseat probably thinking the same thing. Duke pulled into the back parking lot and immediately hopped out his truck after spotting Punkin in the crowd.

“PUNKIN! COME HERE,” he yelled with his hands cupped around his mouth as if he needed anymore help with elevating his usually loud mouth.

Minutes later as they exited the truck they saw her and the wind was almost knocked from Stacks chest. Matter of fact his jaw almost hit the ground. This definitely wasn’t the Punkin they left down here 7 years ago. This was a grown ass woman with a body that would make a nigga pull out his wallet and hand it over if she so much as blinked at him.

He immediately peeped his brother out of the corner of his eye and though his face was calm Stack could see the surprise swirling in his eyes. Duke's description could have never prepared him for what was in front of him.

He was so stuck on stupid he didn’t realize Duke had told her they were there until her eyes shifted over to him and he saw her pause for a moment.

His face split into a smile seeing she was just as surprised by them as they were by her but the surprise on her face didn’t last long. Soon it was replaced by anger as she turned to her cousin asking if they were her surprise. After Duke confirmed she barely gave them a second glance before announcing she owed somebody a dance and marching off with a girl Stack hadn’t even realized was standing there.

“Mmcht, man she gone be aight. She just a lil mad right now cause I couldn’t tell her where yall was. Give it a couple days. She gone be fine,” Duke spoke but Stack knew that lil firecracker and the grudges she could hold.

Him and Smoke were gone have to grovel to get back into her good graces. While he never begged for a damn thing he was more than prepared to beg for her forgiveness.

Note: Okay the time has finally come and I finally stepped out of my comfort zone. After I watched Sinners I fell in love with the twins and seeing that the movie was set in my home state I just had to get in on the fun. I will try to update every Friday/Saturday. I hope you all enjoy this first part and let me know what you think! Bye guyssss

[haydenwilliamsillustrations]

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Wow…the Aaliyah doll is finally here, on what would’ve been her 46th Birthday, & she’s truly One in a Million!! 🕶️🎶

The doll wears a quintessential Aaliyah look from the OIAM music video, signature shades & that iconic side swoop!

I was beyond honoured to have collaborated with Aaliyah’s wonderful Brother Rashad Haughton as co-creative on this iconic project. Rashad & I have been following each other for over a decade, & he’s always been so incredibly supportive of the design illustrations I create of his legendary Sister each year, so to work so closely with him & help him make creative decisions for this doll, was truly special & sentimental to me. From era choice, outfit decisions, skin tone, hair blend, head sculpt selection & more…it really is such a meticulously detailed process to create a fashion doll, especially one as iconic as this! The doll has a custom head sculpt created in Aaliyah’s likeness, & it really captures her. I requested that she have the beauty mark near her eyebrow too!

It was also really important that a black creative was involved in the development of this doll alongside Rashad, so I’m happy to have contributed in any way I could. As a longtime Aaliyah fan & having so much love & respect for her legacy, this doll just further solidifies her icon status & I’m really happy that she is being honoured with this doll. She is beyond deserving & everyone involved that made this doll come to fruition, did such a beautiful job. I truly wish Aaliyah was here to see this, as she loved this brand as a child. It’s just so amazing that her legacy continues to blossom so beautifully! I hope everyone that wants this doll is able to add her to their collection. She’s a must have 🖤

Music Series Aaliyah Doll

Doll Designer: Carlyle Nuera

Packaging Designer: Laydiana Chiv

Label: Black

Face Sculpt: New – Aaliyah

Body Type: Articulated Original

Includes Certificate of Authenticity

[amjad20011]

Gentlemen,

After Greetings,

I write to you with hearts heavy with pain and anxiety, to share with you the suffering of my family who lives in the Gaza Strip. The current situation in Gaza is witnessing a dangerous escalation in violence and destruction, which has made daily life extremely difficult and sometimes impossible.

My family faces the dangers of genocide and starvation imposed on the people of Gaza. The lack of food, water, medicine, and electricity makes life almost impossible. Children, women, and the elderly suffer from poverty, hunger, and constant fear for our lives.

Under these harsh circumstances, I am forced to ask for help to get my family out of this disastrous situation to a safe place. We are seeking your kind support to help transport us to Egypt where we can find safety and live in dignity.

I need financial and moral support to complete this vital step, from covering travel and accommodation costs to providing them with basic needs in our new destination. Your help will give us a chance to live in safety and dignity, and alleviate their suffering that has lasted for many years.

I ask you to consider this request with compassion and humanity, and I greatly hope for your kind support to save my family from these harsh conditions.

May God reward you for all the support and assistance you provide, and I hope that you will be of help to us in this difficult ordeal.

Verified by @el-shab-hussein , @ibtisams 🙏

With all gratitude and appreciation,

@fairuzfan , @ibtisams , @fallahifag , @vakarians-babe , @sar-soor , @plomegranate @sar-soor @appsa @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @marnota @el-shab-hussein @sayruq @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vivisection-gf @belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @ibtisams-blog @animentality @kordeliiius @communistchilchuck @brutaliakhoa @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @the-bastard-king @tamarrud @4ft10tvlandfangirl @queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates @90-ghost @awetistic-things @gentl3manly @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @sammywo @raelyn-dreams

[mahmoudgaza98]

Hello, my name is Mahmoud Rashad from North Gaza. I have ambitions, dreams and a love for life like any young person in the world.

I joined Al-Quds Open University to fulfill my dream of studying like any young person in the world, but it seems that I will not be able to achieve my dream because of the brutal war on the Gaza Strip, which destroyed our entire house, and I lost everything I owned and relied on to achieve my dream, including my laptop, university books and library.

We are a family of 12, displaced from our home in North Gaza to the southern areas under inhumane conditions.

We have been suffering from illness, cold, hunger and drinking polluted water for more than

We have suffered a lot from losing friends and relatives who were killed in the war

for 330 days.

I am appealing to you, the global community, for help. I have started a GoFundMe campaign with the aim of raising

50,000 Euros to enable me and my family to find safety in Egypt. The evacuation fees change from time to time; we currently expect a cost of between $4,000-5,000 per person. Any additional funds generated will go towards supporting my immediate needs and those of my family. There are various obstacles that we will face on the other side, and I hope that we can make some things easier for us.

I would like to update you on the situation now that the war has intensified. We are fine and safe, but life has become very difficult now all around us, people are suffering more and losing loved ones every day. As a family, we have literally lost everything we own, our homes and businesses, but we are trying to remain optimistic by thinking about evacuating and we heard good news today that the borders may open soon. We pray that this is true.

Once we are evacuated, we will try hard to rebuild a small part of what we lost in Gaza. If we can achieve our ultimate goal, we will have the funds to start a business to support our entire family. We want to be able to start over and not suffer anymore in Egypt. If everyone can help us with a small donation to achieve our ultimate goal, we will be able to rebuild our lives after everything was destroyed.

All the positive words cannot express how generous you are especially in sharing my posts to inform other donors about the people of Gaza who are still suffering from the terrible conditions caused by the unjust war on Gaza. Please continue to support the most just cause in the world either by donating directly or by sharing the link to other media. Do not hesitate to help people in difficult and miserable times until the dark days are over.

[s6lvation]

Your Choice

pairing: eren jaeger x f!reader

summary: you've recently distanced started yourself from eren because he's afraid of committing to a relationship. what do you do when he suddenly shows up after a month wanting to speak with you?

warnings: little angst maybe ??

word count: 602

authors note: NJHAJH first ever fic idk how i feel about it.. hope it's good enough <3

not proofread!

"Is Y/N here?"

Sasha stares at the man, holding the door wide enough allowing him to catch a few glimpses of the inside. "um, she is. but i don't really think she'd want t---"

"Sasha, please. i really need to talk to her; she hasn't been answering any of my texts or calls." he pleads, looking down at her hopeful. if he were to leave forcefully, he'd at least want to see you first -- to make sure you were okay, even if you didn't say a word to him, considering the asshole he's been to you.

Sasha moves to the side, fully opening the door for him to step inside. "I'll try to get her down here." she says as she closes the door. he hums, taking a seat on the sofa.

...

"just don't get mad, 'kay?"

"what are you even talking abo--''

you stop dead in your tracks as you see the one face you haven't seen in about a month. Eren fucking Jaeger eyeing you down like he didn't practically chase you out of his life because he was too afraid of forming a proper relationship with you.

you analyze his figure, quickly noticing the eye bags from the lack of sleep, and the way his shirt hugged his biceps.

"hi, pretty,"

Erens husky voice break you away from your thoughts. you frown,

"Eren,"

"Y/N,"

"uh, should i go wait in the other room?..."

"no, stay."

Eren's blueish-green eyes examine your body from top to bottom, then soon meet your eyes once again. the two of you mantain eye contact as you feel rage from the past month build up altogether.

i mean, how fucking dare he show up here now after all the things he said to you the last encounter you both had?

Eren clears his throat, "could i speak to you outside, baby?"

"no, you can't. and you don't get to fucking call me that anymore."

"guys, really. i should lea--"

"please. you blocked me on basically everything; i can't contact you if i leave." he abruptly stands up, taking a few steps foward. sasha groans, plopping herself on the couch while mumbling to herself --probably about how this is bullshit.

"well, maybe if you weren't such a dickhead, you wouldn't be blocked." you muttered, but loud enough for him to hear. Eren sighs.

he starts walking towards you, making you take steps backwards to try and avoid him. "if you won't talk to me now, then i'll come to your apartment later tonight."

"i'd rather die, genuinely." you make a face at him.

"i mean, it's your choice. but, i'll end up talking to you one way or another, pretty." he stares at your face, waiting for any type of response from you as you stare at the floor below you, biting your lip slightly. silence fills the room for about a minute. it felt like hours.

Eren slightly smiles, "alright, i'll come over yours later."

"but, i didn't say anything?"

"i know. also, unblock my number." he finally reaches you. wrapping one arm around your waist, bending down to give you a peck on the cheek -- making you slightly less tense from his touch. he then makes his way to the front door.

"see ya, gorgeous." he then opens the door, nodding to sasha as a 'goodbye' before walking out and closing the door fully behind him -- and taking his addictive scent with him.

you finally exhale, realizing you were holding your breath ever since he came near you.

"well, wasn't that intimate," sasha giggles while you shake your head, giggling slightly aswell.

[rashad12]

🚨*To everyone who has a merciful heart,🚨*

May the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you,

I am writing to you today and I hope that I will find compassion and mercy in your hearts to help my family in this difficult ordeal that we are going through. I have a first-born child who suffers from a serious heart disease, and he was supposed to undergo open-heart surgery on October 15, 2013. However, unfortunately, we have not yet been able to perform the operation due to the difficult conditions in which we live in the Gaza Strip.

My son suffers daily from the pain of illness, and we as a family are unable to provide him with the necessary treatment inside the Gaza Strip, in addition to our inability to secure his exit to receive treatment abroad. We face great challenges and harsh living conditions that prevent our ability to cover travel and treatment costs.

Therefore, we ask you for urgent assistance to save our son’s life and give him the opportunity to live in health and well-being. We need your financial support to help cover the costs of the operation and travel abroad. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in the life of an innocent child and their family.

We ask God to reward you, bless you with your health and your children, and place your help to us in the balance of your good deeds.

May God reward you for your support and standing by our side during this difficult time.

With sincere regards and appreciation,

@fairuzfan @ibtisams @fallahifag @vakarians-babe @sar-soor @plomegranate @nabulsi @sayruq @palipunk @palidoodles @el-shab-hussein @communistchilchuck @northgazaupdates @stil-lindigo @queerstudiesnatural @bluebellsinthedells @palestine @rizzyluke @kordeliiius @self-hating-zionist @thenewgothictwice @raelyn-dreams @unfortunatelyuncreative @licencetokill @jezebelgoldstone @ramelcandy @petracourtjester @labutansa @sammywo @autistwizard @tortiefrancis @sparklinpixiedust @feluka @revcuse @golvio @leftismsideblog @star-and-space-ace @rainbowywitch @marscodes @oursapphirestar @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @boyvander @the-bastard-king @13ag21k @agentsofshield @ammonitetheseaserpent

[rafaelsilvasource]

Now, when it comes to Carlos moving forward after that, we get a taste of that in the final scene of the episode, of him visiting his father’s grave. “Really, it’s like he can be a full human being again,” Raisani previews. “He hasn’t been able to be a person since this happened. He’s been in this tiny little box. In these last few episodes, his heart gets bigger and he gets more human. He’s still a Texas Ranger and all that, but I think you’ll see a softness and a warmth from Carlos that you haven’t seen from him since before his dad died.”

Episode 9 was Young’s last on the show, and Raisani explains that’s simply due to time. “I wish there was a spinoff with the Texas Rangers so we could do a whole show with Rafael and Parker and Ronen [Rubinstein], but we only have three episodes left in the series. And so we felt like leaving Campbell as wounded as he was in the hospital and giving him the emotional resolution with Carlos, that was beautiful and a great endpoint for them,” he says. “We’ve got to shift our narrative focus to some of our other characters.”

That includes what’s next for T.K. and Carlos. The latter shared with his father at his grave that he’s going to be a dad himself: He’s decided, after being against it, that he’s ready to adopt T.K.’s half-brother Jonah. (T.K. had decided he would do so, alone if needed, after his stepfather was arrested and now faces a long prison sentence.) But why didn’t we see Carlos tell T.K. that news onscreen?

“Episode 9 is not about T.K. Episode 9 is about Carlos coming to grips with his father and what that means,” explains Raisani. “And so for me, the emotional conversation is him at that grave.” But, he promises, “We are going to play all of the emotion between Carlos and T.K. about the adoption, just not in this moment. We are not going to see the moment where he says, okay, let’s adopt him. Episode 11 is all about the adoption. So we will cover that background.”

[angelasscribbles]

Dreams: A Bad Romance One-Shot

Series: Bad Romance Continues

Original Series: Bad Romance

Fandom: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Pairings for series: Riley x Liam x Max, Riley x Drake, Riley x Rashad

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Max

Rating: Fluffy

Warnings for this chapter: fluffiness

Word Count:  930

A/N: Well, I know that I have about a million asks in my inbox that have been waiting forever, but @twinkleallnight sent me this image and I had an idea, so I wrote it. It skipped the line. I initially thought Riley x Drake when I saw it, but no, that's not what happened once my brain started spinning.

My other stuff: Master List.

Max backed out of the walk-in freezer at Ramsford with several containers of ice cream. He lined them up on the counter so Riley could see what he’d found. “Look! There’s chocolate chip cookie dough!”

“Yum!” Riley sat two bowls on the counter in front of the hot fudge and maraschino cherries she had pilfered from the refrigerator. “What about sprinkles?”

“Uhh…pantry! Be right back!” Max darted into the pantry as Riley started digging around in the drawers for an ice cream scooper.

“Hey, Max. What’s this?”

“What’s what?” he asked as he returned with four containers of different types of sprinkles.

Riley stood from where she’d been bent over rummaging through some bottom drawers and held up a small, ceramic figurine of a bride and groom.

Max’s eyes went wide for a moment as he stammered, “Oh that…that’s nothing.” He practically sprinted across the room to swipe it out of her hands.

She deftly moved her hand out of his reach, thwarting his attempt to take it from her. “This doesn’t look like something Sav and Bert would have had on their cake.”

A rosy flush spread across his cheeks as Max admitted, “It’s mine. I bought it.”

Riley looked at him in surprise. “When?”

“During Liam’s social season. Not long after you got here. When you and I were first together. You know, before you dumped me.”

“Ah, Maxey…” Riley moved closer to him and ran a hand through his hair. “Is this supposed to be me and you?”

The flush deepened. “Yeah. I know it’s silly.”

“It’s not.” She assured him. “I think it’s sweet. But we weren’t together that long the first time. Did you really want to marry me?”

He reached for the figurine again, and this time she let him take it. He stared down at it for a moment, then returned his gaze to her face. “It was long enough for me to know what I wanted.”

“Wait.” A sudden thought startled her. “Do you regret that you and I didn’t get a wedding?”

“What? No!” He shook his head vehemently. “I’m beyond happy at the way things worked out. I ended up with you and Liam!”

“I know. But did you want a ceremony?”

He shrugged. “We had the collaring ceremony. That was enough for me.”

“Hmmm.” Riley regarded him as she tapped a finger on her lips.

“What?”

A slow smile spread across her face. “I have an idea!”

Two days later, Riley stood in the middle of the east lawn at Ramsford, peacocks running everywhere, beaming at Max as he danced down the aisle.

Bertrand leaned over and whispered to Savannah, “Why are we encouraging this again?”

“Hush!” She playfully slapped his shoulder. “We’re supporting them!”

“This isn’t legal. She’s already married.”

Savannah cast a glance at the altar where Liam also waited. “Max didn’t tell you? He’s marrying them both.”

Bertrand shook his head. He did not understand their relationship at all. “But…. why? It’s a farce!”

“It makes them happy. Isn’t that enough?”

“Since when did you become a Riley fan? I remember when you hated her!”

“Things change,” Savannah said serenely as she watched her brother shooing peacocks away from the officiant, which happened to be Lady Hana Lee. She’d gotten ordained online as a pagan priestess. There were no other guests.

Savannah and Bertrand had bonded over Bartie’s illness and their marriage was finally on the proper track. The new life growing inside her was proof of that. Still. She wasn’t sure she could trust him with the knowledge that Riley had been instrumental in bringing her sister’s killer to his end. But she had. And knowing that had changed her feelings toward the American.

That didn’t mean that she didn’t still have the occasional pang of jealousy over Max’s utter devotion to the woman. But since she was trying to make her marriage with his brother work, she was learning to let it go.

Besides, she wasn’t about to give up being a duchess.

Riley was dressed in a simple white sheath dress, her feet bare, wildflowers woven in her hair.

Other than the flock of peacocks, which Max had told her was also called an ostentation, there was nothing elaborate or extravagant about the ceremony. It was a simple, pagan handfasting ceremony. Unofficial and not legally binding, but symbolic and deeply meaningful to the throuple.

After the ceremony was over, he scooped her into his arms and posed for a photo as Riley leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Just like the figurine that was now perched atop a towering peacock themed cake.

The three of them took turns feeding each other the sweet confection, Liam’s fingers lingering in Max’s mouth as he leaned over and whispered, “When we’re done here, I’m carrying you over the threshold.”

Butterflies exploded through Max’s chest at the implication. “Best day ever!” He murmured as he turned and pulled the figurine from the top of the cake, wrapping it carefully and setting it to the side to ensure it didn’t get damaged.

The delicate statuette that he had once stashed away in a bottom drawer in the kitchen when looking at it taunted him with what could have been had, in the end, brought him the ending he had dreamed of when he’d purchased it.

He had just married both the loves of his life. When he had dreamed of a wedding with Riley, he’d had no inkling what Liam would become to him.

He had gotten everything he ever wanted. That, and so much more.

[servants-hall]

The real Gilded Age in American history was a time of rampant political corruption, flagrant consolidation of wealth, and grotesque racism. Depressing, right? Let’s talk instead about The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes’ opulent period drama featuring sumptuous costumes, swoony romance, and an all-star cast that clearly delights in bringing this lavish soap to life. In the upcoming third season, Fellowes and his team continue to focus largely on the beauty of the titular era rather than its uglier realities. But the new episodes of HBO's Gilded Age finally deliver stories for its Black characters that are as robust as those for their white counterparts — and the result is the show's most satisfying and entertaining outing yet.

Though the season 2 finale aired nearly a year-and-a-half ago, the new episodes pick up just a few months later. Kindhearted Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and her wealthy beau Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) are courting in secret, due to Miss Brook’s recent failed engagement to another man. Marian’s aunt Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) is usually quick to disapprove of her niece’s romances, but the stately socialite is too busy adjusting to her new penniless reality — and the fact that her widowed sister, Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon), now holds the purse strings.

Over at the mansion across the street, Larry’s younger sister, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), is sneaking around with her milquetoast suitor, Billy Carlton (Matt Walker), even though she knows her mother — the formidable Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) — wants to marry her off to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb). While Bertha’s husband George (Morgan Spector) opposes pushing his daughter into a marriage she doesn’t want, he remains more focused on his work acquiring the land and money needed to build a cross-country railroad line. As for the downstairs crew, the Van Rhijn’s footman, Jack Trotter (Ben Ahlers), waits anxiously as Larry Russell begins seeking a buyer for his patented alarm clock design. Meanwhile, the Russells' butler, Mr. Church (Jack Gilpin), and his staff seek to ferret out a spy who’s been leaking details about the family’s private life to the press.

For the first two seasons, the only Black character to have any interaction with the Fifth Avenue crowd was Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), the Brooklyn-based reporter and aspiring writer who also works as Agnes’ personal secretary. Though Peggy and her family — including her mother, Dorothy (Audra McDonald) and her pharmacist father, Arthur (John Douglas Thompson) — had their own storylines, the show never really delved into the world of the well-to-do Black elite who existed at that time.

With season 3, Fellowes and his co-writer, Sonja Warfield, correct this by extending its focus to the concentric social circles of Black and white New Yorkers — and at times even letting them shift and intersect. Theater lovers will be thrilled to learn that Gilded does, at long last, find a way to have McDonald’s Dorothy and Baranski’s Agnes share some scenes — under circumstances I won’t spoil. More importantly, the new season takes us inside Black high society. Peggy meets a handsome young doctor named William Kirkland (Jordan Donica), and much of their courtship takes place in Newport, R.I., where his affluent parents, Elizabeth (Phylicia Rashad) and Frederick (Brian Stokes Mitchell), live year-round.

The Gilded Age is equal parts history and fantasy, so it’d be unfair to expect a fully realistic depiction of the racism Peggy and company would actually face. Still, this season Fellowes allows the characters to have their most pointed conversations about race so far. Agnes informs the Scotts that she was brought up to treat everyone with “simple good manners,” prompting Arthur to respond, “I’m not convinced good manners will prove an effective cure for two and a half centuries of slavery.” Peggy and her family even encounter bias within their own community — specifically from Elizabeth, who disapproves of the Scott family due to their darker skin and Arthur’s past as a slave.

As always, Fellowes and Warfield balance the social issues of the time with domestic drama. Adding to Agnes’ umbrage about losing her fortune is Ada’s decision to get involved in the burgeoning temperance movement, which she sees as a way to honor her late husband. A well-known Fifth Avenue wife is blindsided when her husband announces he wants a divorce, which will leave her exiled from New York society — as per the rules established by the city’s social arbiter, Lena Astor (Donna Murphy). This gross imbalance of power between men and women is what drives Bertha to push Gladys into marriage with the Duke, because she understands the grim fact that a woman’s value is inexorably tied to the man at her side. Still, her unwillingness to take her daughter’s feelings into account — as well as a crisis in George’s business dealings — begins to put a strain on the Russells' marriage.

The performances remain stellar. Baranski reigns over every one of her scenes as Agnes, who wields her inflections as a master artist wields her brush. (“I’ll spend the rest of my days with society’s cast-offs, and women of ill-repute!”) Nixon brings a gentle strength to Ada, and Coon is haughty perfection as Bertha. Not only do we get the thrill of seeing Baranski and McDonald on screen together, but the latter’s Dorothy also has a gripping face-off with Rashad’s Elizabeth. (What a time to be alive!)

Once again, the guest cast is superb: Bill Camp, sporting a magnificent handlebar mustache, is gloriously gruff as Wall Street power broker J.P. Morgan, who joins George in his railroad scheme. Andrea Martin is suitably theatrical as Madame Dashkova, a so-called medium, and LisaGay Hamilton makes a welcome appearance as suffragist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who recruits Peggy to her cause. Merritt Wever arrives as Bertha’s sister, Monica, who is as grounded and unfussy as Mrs. Russell is grand. (Apologies to the many, many other actors in this vast ensemble; you're all due individual accolades, but this review is already running long.)

The season’s only misstep comes in the finale, when the growing tension between George and Bertha builds to a climax that is somewhat confounding and — in this viewer’s opinion — out of character for George. The revelation feels particularly tacked on in an episode that’s otherwise filled with glamour (two balls!), a romantic proposal, and hard-fought social victories. But it’s a small quibble, and after three increasingly enjoyable seasons, perhaps it’s best to trust that Fellowes and Warfield know what they’re doing. As Bertha says to her disapproving husband, “I won’t question your business if you don't question mine.” Grade: A-

The Gilded Age season 3 premieres Sunday, June 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, on HBO.

[thecreativeforge-a]

@eyeless-smiles | liked for a small starter

The sun had been up in the lands of the Red Desert for a while now, rays of sunlight penetrating through the partially drawn curtains of Rashad's bedroom back at the family's mansion in Kamasun. It made the golden decor shimmer dimly, the light bringing the colors of the silken sheets to life. It felt peaceful, for a change, and Rashad deserves some peace after the long journey him and Corinthian had to get back to the capital. Back home.

Letting out a quiet groan as he stretched his limbs, he reached to rub his face a couple of times, lavishing on the softness of his mattress as his mind was coming to consciousness. He could hear a bath is already being drawn for him in the other room, and a platter of freshly cut seasonal fruit awaiting next to his bed.

Turning his head to look over his companion. He was surprised the nightmare wasn't already nibbling off the food brought for them, or watching him sleep like he normally does. In fact, come to think about it, Corinthian almost looked like he was... sleeping, too. But that should be impossible, right? Corinthian never actually slept.

"Morning, sunflower." he greeted in a husky mumble, rolling over to wrap his arms around his beloved.

[ilovefreedelahoya]

it's over...

i finished beyblade burst quadstrike...

*deep breath*

it's yap time...

for starters, while many go "oh they're just milking it for profit"

im lactose intolerant but that doesn't stop me from eating it all up

i also got 40 cents in my wallet and cry everytime i look at the price of beyblades

doesn't stop me from enjoying the show

cuz i just watch it for the plot

(the plot in question-)

theres a lot of controversy abt quadstrike because it's not canon but i also think it's not that bad

i only watch beyblade for a certain blonde boy and the only reason i binged quadstrike in a day was to see him for one frame of the last episode

anyways

I think pax and pri were pretty good characters

and the ending was really satisfying, seeing valt battling belll and all the other characters watching them from around the world

i think Rantaro should've had more of a comeback, Phi, Hyde, and Payne are definetely related

I liked how they brought back Ken and Xander and the other mcs from previous seasons, BUT I WANTED TO SEE MORE FREE DE LA HOYA AND SILAS AND KRIS FOR THE LOVE OF BEYBALDE-

OKAY-

Kris and Wakiya should've worked together as these tournament commisioners.

Ashtem should've returned and Pax shoudl've been the "red eye" of quadstrike

more free de la hoya content please-

who was the blue haired kid----

idk, maybe some reference for another not-canon series or beyblade x

i really wanna find the manga- somebody help

I FREAKING NEED MORE BEYBLADE CONTENT *screams*

*insert more yapping*

Hyuga is autistic.

once again, so happy to see old faces like toko, nika, fubuki, suoh, cuza, clio, zac, akira, diago and his bro bro, rantaro, FREAKING KRIS, lui, gabe, ukyo, quon, so on and so forth-- and just-- It makes my heart happy

im satisfied with how it ended

not satisfied with how other seasons were like how free should've been #1 blader forever- but he doesn't have plot armor and gets nerfed every season....

i just

I just really like seeing htem all

im gonna start bawling

i really need an autism diagnosis so i can throw it at takara tomy and beg them to make more beyblade burst content.

should i watch beyblade x? is free de la hoya in it? no, so that means no.

guess im gonna write more fanfiction

anyways. im still confused as to why bell emphasized dynamite battle system as using significantly lighter beys just to plop on a bunch of armor layers that make it heavier.

but that's dyanamite battle things.

Pri is transgender. no cap.

catboy ken midori. this whole time i thought keru was a cat

xander is transgender. on valtryek

everyone in the series is either gay, autistic, transgender, or all of the above or some mix of both.

actually all the girls are lesbians but not autistic or trans except Pri, Akira, and the other mohawk person with orange and purple hair-

like you can not tell me that Illya is not a lesbian- RASHAD GOODMAN IS A FREAKING LESBIAN. HE GOES AROUND WEARING A FROGGING LESBIAN FLAG I CANT.

[amjad20011]

🚨Call to action🚨: We Still Need Your Help

Dear friends,

Our campaign has been live for a while now, and we're still holding on to hope. But as time passes, the urgency of our situation only grows. We’re number 86 on the list (for more details vetted campaigns by @el-shab-hussein) and (more also the google sheet), and each day without donations makes our struggle even harder.

My family and I are facing unimaginable challenges. The conditions we live in are tough, and the weight of fear and uncertainty is heavy on our hearts. But we hold on for our little Ahmed, hoping that one day he can grow up in a safe place, free from the hardships we endure now.

If you can, please consider donating—even the smallest amount makes a difference. And if you’re unable to donate, sharing our campaign link could bring us closer to our goal. Your kindness could be the light that guides us to safety.

Please share if you don't mind @self-hating-zionist @nabulsi @sayruq @palipunk @palidoozy-art @el-shab-hussein @communistchilchuck @northgazaupdates2 @stil-lindigo @queerstudiesnatural @bluebellsinthedells @palestine @rizzyluke @kordeliiius @thenewgothictwice @raelyn-dreams @unfortunatelyuncreative @licencetokrill @jezebelgoldstone @ramelcandy @petracourtjester @labutansa @sammywo @autistwizard @tortiefrancis @sparklinpixiedust @feluka @revcuse @golvio @leftismsideblog @fairuzfai-blog @vakarians-babe @plomegranate @star-and-space-ace @rainbowywitch @sar-soor @butterfly-punk @marscodes @oursapphirestars @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @boyvandal-blog @the-bastard-king @13ag21k @agentfashionista @ammonitetheseaserpent @three-croissants @palestinecharitycommissionsassoc @vakarian-shepard @faggotfungus @ghost-and-a-half

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and compassion 🫶🇵🇸.

[the-inkwell-variable]

writing share tag

thank you, @willtheweaver, for the tag! i'm sharing a snippet from the corpse and the killer - a snippet that hasn't been published yet! exciting!

“So what happened?” Jazz interjected as Kia helped Duncan lay down again.  “I mean, you obviously killed some dudes.  Did they rip his leg off?”

Kia adjusted the pillow under Duncan’s head.  “What does it look like?”

“It looks like you barely won a fight you shouldn’t have started to begin with.”  Jazz plopped themself down on the edge of the bed and leaned back on their palms.  “I keep telling you to sign up with Black Mask.  Easiest money I’ve ever made, plus benefits, plus I have time to do odd jobs on the side.  I’m going to rob a bank with Two-Face later.  Easiest three grand I’ve ever made.”  They smiled again.  “You know, I could probably pay off the rest of Rashad’s fee for you after the heist.  It’d be no problem.”

Kia’s jaw clenched so hard that her teeth ached.  She didn’t answer, but she didn’t have to.  The temperature in the room dropped by at least five degrees.  She’d rather swallow razer blades than ask fucking Jazz for help.

Rashad didn’t seem to notice.  He picked up Duncan’s limp wrist and kept his eyes firmly on his watch.  “Silence, please.  I am counting.”

Jazz shrugged, turning toward the window to watch a single raindrop trickle between other raindrops, accumulating more and more water as it slugged toward the sill.  “Keep it in mind.  I’m always happy to help my friends.”

Kia stayed silent.  It was that or cuss them out, and Rashad was not a fan of foul language.  She’d seen him abandon dying patients because a relative said ‘fuck’.  Better to bite her lip until it bled than risk sending him away.  “Anything I can do, doc?”

“Help monitor him, of course.  He needs his friends right now.  I will step out of the room for a moment, make some calls.  Perhaps we can have him transported to the GCPD – they have emergency equipment that I do not.”

She’d prefer to keep him here.  No way she was going with him to the GCPD – she had at least three warrants out for her arrest, and they didn’t even know about the crimes she’d committed tonight.  But if it was the only way to help Duncan, she certainly wouldn’t stop him.  “What should I look out for?”

“Paleness.  Coldness.  Blue lips or fingers.  More bleeding in his leg.  Excuse me.”

The doctor stepped out, and Duncan slept in icy silence.

TAGGING @theink-stainedfolk - @drchenquill - @the-golden-comet - open tag!