#How am i supposed to tag thsi
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Solaris reads Murder as a Second Language, by Joan Hess (2013)
So yeah, this was the book I made the poll about. As this is a murder mystery I'm liveblogging, it's very likely I'll spoil the killer for you. Block the tag "solaris reads murder as a second language" if you don't want spoilers.
Murder as a Second Language is the 19th book in the Claire Malloy Mysteries and the first book by Joan Hess I've read. Last year I listened to about 30 minutes of the audiobook before DNF'ing it because of how trashy the first couple chapters were. Well, now I'm back, and we're going to see how bad the rest of it is.
MAASL picks up shortly after our main character Claire, long-time local business owner, has married Deputy Chief Peter Rosen, and just before she packs her daughter Caron off to college. To get into the college she wants, Caron has to spend the summer doing volunteer work, and Claire - now faced with the possibility of spare time - decides to volunteer as well. When a murder happens in town, Claire and Peter team up to solve the case.
Well, let's see what I've gotten myself into...
[Transcript: "Inez found thsi really cool place where we can volunteer to teach English as a second language to foreigners. It's like four hours a week, and we arrange our own schedules. I figure that if we're there from eleven to noon, we'll have plenty of time to go to the lake and the mall." /end]
Just setting up some background here. Caron has picked fairly easy volunteer work that gives her plenty of time to still enjoy summer, and only really has to devote 40 odd hours to it. As far as last-minute requirements to get into college go, Caron has it pretty damn easy.
Or maybe not. See, she has to attend a training session and...
[Transcript: "Yeah," Caron muttered. "The training session was interminable. The teacher basically read aloud from the manual while we followed along, like we were illiterate. We broke for pizza and then listened to her drone on for another four hours. After that, the executive director, some pompous guy named Gregory Whistler, came in and thanked us for volunteering. I was so thrilled that I almost woke up."
"Then it got worse," Inez said. "The program director, who's Japanese and looks like she's a teenager, told us that because of the shortage of volunteers in the summer we would each get four students - and meet with them twice a week for an hour."
"For a total of Eight Hours." Caron's sigh evolved into an agonized moan. "We have to call them and find a time that's mutually convenient. It could be six in the morning or four in the afternoon. We may never make it to the lake." /end]
How heartbreaking! Caron, on the cusp of adulthood, faces a fraction of the responsibilities she will face in a year when she goes off to college! Her life is truly difficult (sarcasm)
[Transcript: "And I," Caron said, rolling her eyes, "have to tutor an old lady from Poland, a Chinese man, an Iranian woman, and a woman from Russia. How am I supposed to call them on the phone? They don't speak English. Like I speak Polish, Chinese, Russian, and whatever they speak in Iran. This is a nightmare, and I think we ought to just quit now. I say we set up a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to some charity." /end]
And it gets worse (heavy sarcasm)! Did you know that people who need to learn English as a second language don't speak English perfectly? Caron is right to throw away the chance to go to a good college over this (heavy sarcasm)
Anyway, all is saved, because Claire promises to volunteer as well and take some of their students off their hands so Caron doesn't give up and go to the local community college instead. Personally I'd say a good parent would make their child take responsibility for themselves, but what do I know. This post is getting long, so check the reblogs for how well that works out for everyone
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Lair Review: Arthurie, #71634
@arthurie-fr Thank you for letting me review your lair! I see, you already joined shortly after me, in 2014. I’m very excited :D You seem to have many fractions/clans and I hope I will not be able to remember them!
First impression: Maaaan, many tabs, many dragons! How am I supposed to choose between all these prettiy and interesting dragons? I hope it’s okay when I don’t do the breeding pairs section, I find the lore aspects a little more intriguing. Thanks for the heads up about the hibernal den and the “normal” dens, I always forget we have those now... and gosh, your dragons are gorgeous in every single one!
I’m going to start with Ophelia. She directly caught my eye and I just... am at a loss for words! The combination of the colors, genes and apparel is gorgeous. I totally didn’t know about the Hand-apparel (I hope you know which one I mean) and it’s kind of creepy but cool at the same time. Conclusion: I love her!
Romeo, oh Romeo... I ship him and Mondo. I’m glad he survived that Emperor, would have been sad if he didn’t :( Anyway: He is so cute. I have to admit, the Watermelon Rosette feels a little weird, I’d love to see more of his primary color. But overall it’s a real nice combination of the apparel and the contrast with his secondary color makes him stand out a lot. And yeah, I loved to read his lore Q_Q
Ghost is a little creepy. but in a good way! I totally forgot about the Kelpie manes (man, what did i miss!). It fits him perfectly. And the contrast between the midnight and robin is SO great! I had hoped to read a little more lore about him, but maybe that will follow one day :D Anyway, he’s a good boy!
Me? A sucker for Imps? Phew... I mean... Copper... is just.. the best color. No discussion about thsi allowed. Like DANG. If I weren’t in love with the apparel so much I would be really sad that you can’t see his colors better. But with the Copper and the contrast and everything, Iolo is just perfect. I’d love to know more about him though. Who is he? He looks mysterious. Can he do magic? Does he like other dragons? Or is he more of a loner type of guy?
I don’t know if this is fair because I think you just adopted this boy. BUT HE’S SO CUTE. I can’t wait for him to grow up, would you mind tagging me when you’re done dressing him and everything? I’m such a sucker for Skink on WCs, it’s unnatural. Gimme all of them. And then caramel of all the colors. Jeeeeez. I can’t wait to see him grow up! I think we’re done! Thank you so much and I hope you liked it :D
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WARNING: long post because I decided to rant about stuff today I’m pretty sure it’s fine like nothing bad except for the fact that I curse. So just ignore this. I wrote this during class
Now they want to show students all the different classes and I’m just here like
I already submitted by form for classes for next year because I don’t fucking think about my choices until after I make them and I know there are students like me and the ones who have pare who aren’t involved enough to stop them from being impulsive.
And I’m just here like why didn’t you show thsi to me before registration started??? And then I’m half glad they didn’t because it would have made it so much harder and I probably would have cried so many times.
On the bright side I- I there’s no bright side. I don’t wanna do PE because that still sucks because I can’t freaking run but that means trying out for more sports next year and I’m just full on ranting right now so y’all can absolutely ignore this.
Please ignore this. No I didn’t watch the freaking bee movie it freak me out- oh here we go now you wanna do the whole film making class! But no no because I already signed up! But now it’s to late unless I just join a bunch of freaking sports!
I do not want to join sports.
There’s tryouts and talking and socializing and that’s scary.
How the hell am I supposed to do honors math next year? I learned nothing this year.
Oh here we go! Now there’s something about the German class and that’s the one I chose but then everyone said nooo change it to Spanish so I did that and now I’m just-
This is why I don’t like making choices alone. Because I don’t think and then I already make them and ask people after and then I’m just panicking.
You know what? I’ll learn it in college. Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t actually know what I want to do in college.
Like maybe I wanna fucking cook or something. That thought sure lingers in my mind rent freee and gives me problems. So does the fact that maybe now I want to be a firefighter but that’s a whole other I’m gonna ignore right now.
Back to the sports thing now.
So I’m gonna try out for one like this year bUT it’s different for next year. It’s like- I can’t run for shit so why the hell would I do cross country or track and field? I can’t really swim- okay I can and I do junior lifeguards but stuff like forms? I can’t do that. My feet will not ducking cooperate- that’s how you spell that?- and I did do soccer when I was younger for like two years and then in I think fifth grade again. But I don’t know the rules or anything.
And I fucking refuse to do cheerleading. I did that sport for years and I hate it and both like it at times. At the end of the day I’m not a preforming because of trauma so cheer? Nope. Not for me. Plus I’ve seen our high school cheer team and it’s a fucking dissapointment. Like cheering has changed so much over the years and right now it’s mostly girls standing on boxes and yelling cheers and it’s the worst.
Like where are the stunts? The kicks and jumps? Where is that spirit? And while I don’t want to do cheerleading ever again my sisters still do it and my mom was a coach until stuff happened. Like I was one from kindergarten to around sixth grade take out a year or two.
I mean on one hand you don’t really need any experience before hand you just gotta show you follow the chants and arm movements quick and that you can scream without yelling. And some other stuff. It’s you present yourself when preforming as well. Like definitely not hard trust me your overthinking how hard it will be if you do wanna try out for cheer at your school. There’s also flexibility but honestly you can make it seem like you can do a high kick when you actually can’t. I just don’t like cheering that much problem do to some trauma and the fact that I hate the outfits. They itch and move high up and it’s just generally uncomfortable for me.
Well this post certainly took a turn. Right okay here’s another question I have. Or first one maybe? Anyways, so I’m not counting at sports are this year that got all screwy but next year if I wanna do the sport I’m trying out for now it’s a fall sport for girls. Will that still be happening in winter season? Or just call and then it’s done. Or does it depend on the sport? Because I don’t wanna take PE at all- oh fuck do I gotta do like that testing for it still? For PE even if I am in a sport? I can’t run a mile. I mean they are definitely better that The whole running from one side to another as the time spreads up with that fucking voice counting. But yeah I can’t run. I mean I can I guess but it’s certainly not something I enjoy unless it’s like tag or something. Like tag? I can run for fucking hours when I’m playing with my baby cousins and some other random kids that I end up watching at the park. And those little demons run fucking fast okay.
But me? Running a mile or something? Nope. Can’t do it. Like if I have to I will but I will not enjoy it and I’m this type of person who will turn down a ride on a car for the rest of the way because if I had to start this I will fucking finish it even though I’m embarrassed at how long it’s taking me and calling myself every name in the book in my head and that’s more information then I wanted to share.
Which is fine because all of you should be ignoring this.
I mean hey maybe if the sport does end in the fall I can do the water one in the winter. Like sure I definitely have trauma with swimming that I haven’t explained to anyone and there’s the fact that I enjoy swimming and don’t want it to be ruin because I’m worried that I’m not good enough.
Honestly I’d probably he okay with trying out for sports except when I was like nine or younger I said I wanted to do tennis to my day and I got told no because it has running and I’m basically not fit for that and oh boy did that ruin whatever self esteem I had left by then. I was genuinely interested and excited to do it. Now? Now it’s all about running more and doing this and doing that and jeez I wonder why I don’t want to.
Well this got depressing fast. ANYWAYS. Uh. Huh. Okay I don’t think I have anything more to say- no nope that’s a lie apparently I do. Does me maybe doing a sport next year give me a free period for a bit? Now I’m just fucking confused. Alright okay I’m done I finished whatever this even was because I could not stay on one topic for long and this is why I don’t actually talk. Well that and the whole stuttering thing.
Wait back to the cheer team. If y’all are cheerleaders and disagree with whatever I said then hey maybe your school actually understands cheer. And for tryouts? Maybe it’s different for your school but from what I’ve gathered it’s not all that hard and maybe gangs just because I was a cheerleader for years so y’all might think differently.
But cheerleaders who do stunts are badass don’t any of you forget that. I can literally feel another girls shoe digging into my thigh as I type this. Okay now I’m done.
#long post#please ignore this#personal#no I’m serious ignore this#I’m telling ya there’s no useful info
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Tell Me Everything Will Be Alright
This is my fic (and my first phanfic wow) for the 2018 Phandom Secret Valentines, and my valentine is @citrouillephan!
I hope you enjoy! -from your valentine, @realityfallsapart
tags: fluff, angst, 2009 AU
words: 4.7k
Summary: Dan Howell tends to get lost in his head and his thoughts have a habit of ruling him even when he doesn’t want them to. When he and his best friend finally have a chance at meeting, Dan starts to wonder if he is actually good enough for the amazing human being that is Phil Lester.
(ao3 link)
(Thank you so much to @moonbeamphan for reading this over and helping me! This wouldn’t be as good without you!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dan typed his answer and sent it by hitting enter before leaning back in his chair and letting out a shaky breath that seemed to rattle his insides. His laptop chirped quietly, announcing that Phil had replied to him. He couldn’t bring himself to look at it right away. Finally, after a few moments, he flicked his eyes down to the white screen of the computer in his lap where Phil’s most recent message seemed to glare up at him.
Phil :) (9:47 PM)
i know!
i can’t believe it either!
For a few moment, Dan could do nothing but stare at the screen; at the black words disrupting the artificial white light. It was the only thing that gave Dan any sort of illumination in his room; everything else was dark. He bit his lip and thought about the possible pros and cons of shutting his laptop and burying his head under his duvet to pretend that everything was fine because it was. It’s all fine.
Dan shook his head and reached his hands down to the keyboard. He wouldn't—couldn’t—do that to Phil. Phil deserved so much better than that. His numb fingers typed out a small sentence, only realizing that it had several typos until after he had sent it. He mentally kicked himself for it.
Dan ^-^ (9:51 PM)
Me niether! it seems like thsi would n e v e r happen!
**neither, this
Jeez i can spell
Phil :) (9:51 PM)
idk dan are you sure you can def spell? those seem like some pretty beginner mistakes…
Dan knew Phil was kidding. He knew that it was just Phil playing around with Dan like they normally did. Like they had been doing for months at this point. But in Dan’s heightened state of anxiety and stress, he couldn’t help but berate himself further. God, Phil must think of him as a kid now, he can’t even spell right!
Dan crashed back into his mattress, groaning and squeezing his eyes shut.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid….” he muttered, hitting his forehead with his hand with every word.
Looking back on this moment, Dan would laugh and realize how utterly idiotic his anger with himself was coming from, but right now, in bed with the lights off and by himself, he couldn’t help but magnify the issue. He had been anxious and stressed without a pause this entire week.
He looked up at his ceiling, sighing in growing frustration towards himself, but it wasn’t just because of his inability to catch his typos. In fact, it had nothing to do with them. The typos had just tipped him right over the edge and all of his insecurities crashed over him like waves, his head nearly going under the tide.
To say he wasn’t good enough was an understatement. To say that Phil deserved a much better best friend than Dan was even more of one. Phil was older, more experienced, more mature, funny, smart, kind, and extremely compassionate. He had a great time making pretty successful and entertaining videos (at least in Dan’s opinion, and he would always fight anyone who said otherwise) on the side, on top of balancing life. Dan was younger, so much more less experienced with everything, he got overwhelmed with life and spent the majority of his time curled up under his covers surfing through the waves of his latest existential crisis or playing PC video games that he would forget about within the next 24 hours. He was purgatory in the form of a human and an incredibly underwhelming one at that.
He wasn’t sure how long exactly he laid there, stewing in his self-deprecation and wishing that he was better. Better in literally every aspect, maybe then he would finally be worth Phil’s time, if only a little bit. His computer chirped again, and then twice more minutes later in rapid succession, as if angry. Dan grasped for the thing, pulling it up to his chest, lacking the energy to sit back up.
Phil :) (10:07 PM)
Dan you know im joking right?
Phil :) (10:16 PM)
Dan? you still there? i was joking i promise you can make all the typos you want
u didnt fall asleep did you?
Dan couldn’t help the watery smile that turned the corners of his mouth up, albeit it being a small one. Phil had that effect on him even if Dan was falling apart on the inside. Just a little though, he was fine.
Dan ^-^ (10:18 PM)
nooo im not sleeping
Phil :) (10:18 PM)
:(
Dan ^-^ (10:19 PM)
why the frowny face
Dan tried to keep the fear out of his thoughts but the talons of doubt had already settled around his heart. Was Phil mad that he didn’t answer right away? Would-
His laptop signaled the arrival of Phil’s reply, and Dan really didn’t know if he wanted to slam the lid of his computer shut or jump at the opportunity to find out if he had just ruined the best friendship he had ever had. Ever will. He went for the latter.
(Dan supposed he might be overreacting, but then again, when wasn’t he, it seemed?)
Phil :) (10:20 PM)
did i insult your typing skills one too many times? is that why you disapeared?
*disappeared
Dan used the best coping mechanisms for dealing with his anxiety that he knew: humor and avoidance. Together, they were a formidable force and Dan had spent a large majority of his time perfecting their potency.
Dan ^-^ (10:20 PM)
now look who’s making the typos
Phil :) (10:20 PM)
Dan.
He gulped. Now he had done it. Fuck. He had to fix this.
Dan ignored the roar behind his ears that seemed to be screaming that he should just ignore this all, pray that things would magically fix themselves and change the topic. That was his fear talking. His self-abandonment. His anxiety. His everything. Phil was worth so much more. So Dan pushed it all away for just long enough to reply.
Dan ^-^ (10:21 PM)
sorry, joke
no, thats not why i ran away
i was just thinking, thats all
Phil :) (10:21 PM)
were you doing it again
Dan tried to pretend that he didn’t know what Phil was talking about and simultaneously cursed himself for telling Phil about his increasing habit for getting lost in his thoughts. He failed. He knew exactly what Phil was talking about.
Back, about three weeks ago in a later-than-normal conversation where all of their inhibitions seemed to dissipate, Dan had finally come clean about how sometimes thoughts got the best of him. He would crumble under them, get so completely and utterly lost in his head that he would sometimes stay there for hours on end, picking apart anything that his conscience decided to dig up. And it hindered Dan, made him hate himself just that much more, made him hate how easily his anxieties held him hostage, stuck. But he couldn’t do much about it, it seemed, for whenever he got lost in his head, he always forgot that he had to get out.
Dan gulped. He had to lie his way out of this. He knew that Phil didn’t like it when Dan got stuck. He could pull off nonchalance, right?
Dan ^-^ (10:22 PM)
no
Phil :) (10:22 PM)
im not convinced
you were werent you
Dan ^-^ (10:23 PM)
does my word not count for anything lol
Phil :) (10:24 PM)
maybe if we were talking and i could see your face it’d count
Dan ^-^ (10:24 PM)
what’s my face got to do with anything?
Phil’s bubble appeared on the screen once, twice, three times, before he apparently decided on what he was going to say and sent it. The entire time Dan was a few words away from having a breakdown. His hands were shaking. His mind was racing faster than normal. Faster than it had in what seemed like a very long time.
Phil :) (10:26 PM)
bc then i could tell if you were lying
tho rn i dont even need that
Dan ^-^ (10:26 PM)
are u seriously saying im lying
Phil :) (10:27 PM)
yeah
you did everything that you always do when you arent telling the truth
you joked
changed / focused the conversation onto smth else
and besides
ive gathered that you really dont like to talk about the things that bother you. you like to ignore them and stuff
Dan ^-^ (10:28 PM)
so how bout we not talk about them then
Phil :) (10:29 PM)
normally, maybe
but not with this
Dan ^-^ (10:29 PM)
and why not?
Phil :) (10:29 PM)
bc i dont like it when you beat yourself up in your head
Dan ^-^ (10:30 PM)
who said i was beating myself up in my head
Phil :) (10:30 PM)
… dan :/
youre avoiding again
Dan cursed himself. God, since when could Phil read him like a book?
Dan ^-^ (10:32 PM)
fine. maybe i am
what are you gonna do about it philly?
Phil :) (10:32 PM)
daaaaannnnnn
you arent allowed to beat yourself up
no ones allowed to
especially you!
Dan giggled, just a little. He couldn’t help it when Phil was being…well, Phil.
Dan ^-^ (10:33 PM)
and why not? Hmm?
Phil :) (10:34 PM)
bc youre my favorite person silly
my favorite person cant be sad. its just the rules
Dan ^-^ (10:35 PM)
oh yeah? whose rules then, oh wise philip
Phil :) (10:35 PM)
ew dont call me philip my nan calls me that
and theyre my rules
my rules for my favorite person
Dan ^-^ (10:35 PM)
suuurrreee phil. sure its a rule
*philip
Phil’s cursor didn’t appear seconds after Dan had sent his message like usual. Insead, nothing appeared. Their good-natured banter had eased the storm raging inside of Dan and his thoughts and anxieties had died down a little, much more easier to bear with the distraction Phil was giving him, but with the sudden disappearance of his best friend, they came back full force. All of his doubts spilled into the front of his conscience. He shivered. It wasn’t from the cold.
Dan watched the little digital clock at the bottom of his laptop screen count the minutes falling away. One, two, three, four, five, god did what did he do-
Phil :) (10:41 PM)
[multimedia image: click to load]
With his heart in his throat, Dan clicked, and a small window appeared, momentarily covering their chat from Dan’s view. It was hard to make out, the quality bad and the image itself grainy and dark, but it was of a piece of paper lying atop two legs clad in bright pyjamas that Dan could immediately connect to Phil and his eccentric personality. He could make out the tip of Phil’s finger at the top of the shot, too. Squinting, he looked at the paper itself, zooming in to make out the words penned in Phil’s handwriting.
Rules:
1. Dan Howell is my favorite person
2. No one is allowed to make fun of him
3. ESPECIALLY if that “no one” is Dan himself
Dan started to laugh. Only Phil would actually make a list of “rules”. Only Phil.
Before Dan could reply, Phil was typing again.
Phil :) (10:43 PM)
there. proper rules written on proper paper. you have to follow them now
Dan ^-^ (10:44 PM)
i cant believe that you actually wrote rules you spork
but fine! i guess if i have to lol
Dan was still working heavily with avoiding the whole situation entirely, just like with what he was doing to the problem causing him so much stress to begin with, but he couldn’t help it. It’s just how he was.
Phil :) (10:46 PM)
so you admit to your crimes xD
but anyways
you were stuck in your head again
which is okay, i mean, i understand that it’s something you cant help
Dan felt like he was going to cry. Phil’s assurance that Dan’s mind running in panicked circles was perfectly okay was almost too much. Phil’s compassion was almost too much.
But it appeared that Phil wasn’t done, because his laptop dinged quietly again.
Phil :) (10:47 PM)
can i ask whats got you so sad and worried
so i can beat it up
obvs
Now Dan really wanted to cry. How could he tell Phil that the reason was him? How could he say that the root of this ball of anxiety and stress and worrying that had taken over him was Phil himself?
He couldn’t do that to Phil, not when his best friend would undoubtedly take it hard. God, if Phil knew why Dan kept getting lost in himself, he would be crushed.
Dan ^-^ (10:51 PM)
noooo
Phil :) (10:51 PM)
are you sure? i wont judge you dan, i swear it doesnt matter if you think i wont like it
i just wanna be here for you
If Dan wasn’t crying earlier, he was now, a few select tears dripping down his cheeks, brimming with the emotions that had been taking over him this past week. Phil was…too much. He was too kind, too sweet, too undeserving of someone like Dan. God, Phil deserved the whole world, he shouldn’t have to settle with Dan.
Another message appeared on Dan’s screen, as but this one didn’t seem like normal, it was a little off, a little rushed, a little…something. Dan couldn’t place it.
Phil :) (10:53 PM)
bc youre my best friend.
obvs. xD
If Dan wasn’t so out of it and was able to think clearly, he might have questioned Phil’s “clarification” of why and what sense he wanted to be there for him, but Dan was not in the best state of mind and he thought nothing of it.
Dan looked at his screen again. He still had to acknowledge Phil’s question, and he wasn’t sure how to go about it. He wanted to tell Phil he already told him everything, have Phil reassure him and tell him that everything was going to be okay again, like he normally did. But Dan couldn’t. He couldn’t lie again, once was already once too many, and something told Dan that if he tried to ignore it or change the topic, Phil would just call him out again.
Fuck.
Dan ^-^ (10:56 PM)
it doesnt matter
Phil :) (10:56 PM)
yes it does
its enough to make you get lost in that head of yours, so it matters
Dan ^-^ (10:57 PM)
phil we both know it doesnt take much for me to get lost in my thoughts
Phil :) (10:58 PM)
still
something is bothering you and i want to fix it
Dan bit his lip. God, Phil had no idea how badly he wanted to let him fix this. He couldn’t though. He just couldn’t.
Dan ^-^ (10:58 PM)
nooo phil, you cant fix this one
Phil :) (10:58 PM)
>:(
you cant even let me try?
Always, always, but just not with this. Dan couldn’t tell Phil this, not when it would hurt him.
Dan ^-^ (11:00 PM)
no phil, not with this sorry :(
Phil :) (11:01 PM)
:((((
okay
i may not like it but i can respect that
will you tell me tomorrow?
Dan looked at the screen, thinking about it. Tomorrow was what he was worried about to begin with. Could he tell Phil tomorrow? He wasn’t sure. Well, it didn’t matter if things went good or not, Dan mused, tomorrow Dan’s fears would either be affirmed or destroyed.
He could only hope.
Dan ^-^ (11:03 PM)
sure
tomorrow
Phil :) (11:03 PM)
yay!!!
Dan laughed, breathily.
Phil :) (11:03 PM)
oooh! look at the time!
its getting so late bear wow
guess we should get to sleep so we dont fall asleep on each other tomorrow huh? xD
Dan’s heart physically melted at the use of Phil’s pet name for him. He only used it occasionally, but it never failed to make Dan’s heart stutter in his chest and the butterflies in his belly to flit around faster, making him feel almost giddy. Hopeful.
God he sounded so stupid right now. Anxious and stressed out of his mind yet still acting like a little kid with their first crush.
Stupid feelings.
Dan ^-^ (11:05 PM)
yeah i guess we should!
night philly :)
Phil :) (11:05 PM)
goodnight dan!! :D
see you tomorrow!
(ps, idk whats bothering you and thats okay but i hope whatever it is it works out for you :“) )
Ah yes. That’s what it boiled down to. Tomorrow morning Dan would board a train and take it up to Manchester to spend some time with Phil. The first time that they would see each other in real life, not just behind a computer screen. They had skyped before and texted and chatted for countless hours over countless days, but the thought of tomorrow still made Dan want to throw up.
He wasn’t good enough for Phil. He was just so terrified that tomorrow Phil would see that.
Dan ^-^ (11:06 PM)
:)
After hitting send Dan thrust the lid to his laptop down and pushed it off of his chest, letting it fall onto the bed. Dan felt sick again. He was so scared about tomorrow because there were so many things that could go wrong and so many flaws that Phil could discover about Dan and so many, so many, ways for what is supposed to be the best day of Dan’s life to turn out to be his worst.
God, he hated his anxiety for always picking things apart. Always fucking with Dan’s own head.
Dan rolled over and grabbed his duvet, pulling it up and wishing that it would just swallow him whole. Fuck. He couldn’t do it tomorrow. He couldn’t handle this stress.
Taking a deep breath, Dan clutched his duvet tighter in his grasp and tried to keep his lip from wobbling.
Right now he just wanted to sleep. He wanted to forget that he didn’t feel good enough, that yet again his insecurities were screwing him over, that he wanted to cry. He wanted to forget. Unfortunately for Dan the universe didn’t agree and he ended up staying awake for hours after the he had closed his laptop, the entire time doing nothing but thinking, getting lost in his head, and wishing that his thoughts would just turn off.
For once.
Please.
~~~~~~
Dan slung his bag over his shoulder. His fingers felt numb. Unlike his greatest hopes, the fitful-at-best night’s sleep did nothing to alleviate Dan’s terror. If anything, it had only magnified it because now it was today and Dan couldn’t run anymore.
He took a cab to the station, and he ended up being earlier than he needed to be, having about an extra ten minutes to wait for his train. He sat on a bench, his legs nothing but jelly at this point, his fears making it quite easy to foresee his long legs from just giving out on him. Dan didn’t want to make an embarrassment of himself on top of it all, so he tried to calm his racing heart while he sat.
With no luck.
Of course.
Dan looked down at the ticket in his hand. It would be so easy to not go. To walk right out of the station, spend the weekend at home instead of with Phil, and not risk Phil seeing how utterly underwhelming Dan was as a person. He could lie, could say that he ran late, missed his train, maybe his parents changed their minds and didn’t let Dan go.
But God, as Dan looked down at the paper in his trembling hand, he couldn’t help but know that he wouldn’t be able to actually go through with not leaving. He wouldn’t be able to lie to Phil, not about something this big—who was he kidding, he had a hard enough time lying to Phil last night over something so small!
But more than that, Dan knew that it was much more than not being able to lie to Phil. He had wanted to meet Phil ever since he had started to watch his videos, and the sentiment had only increased tenfold with their fast friendship. Phil was now much more than a hero, much more than a few minutes of distraction. He was Phil, Dan’s AmazingPhil, and he was his best friend. That lanky black-haired boy was worth so so much in Dan’s eyes, and he couldn’t, couldn’t, leave him in the dust like that. God it wouldn’t just kill Phil, but it would kill Dan too. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
Dan had been thinking too hard. Before he knew it the train was pulling into the station and Dan gulped, raising on still-shaky legs and gripping the strap of his bag so hard he didn’t even have to look to know that his knuckles were blotched white.
As Dan took his seat, a new resolve washed over him. He would go. He would endure this train ride that undoubtedly would be the most anxiety-inducing thing he had done in a very long time—possibly ever—and he would do it for Phil. If Phil would reject him or not, he would try not to dwell on it on the coming trip (a losing battle, Dan knew), but he would still go.
For Phil.
~~~~~
Dan’s heart was going so fast he was sure that he was going to pass out. His hands, his arms, legs, his whole body was trembling.
Manchester’s Piccadilly Station.
Dan was here.
There was a decent amount of people on the station as far as Dan could see as the train pulled in, but none of them looked like his best friend.
The train came to a stop and Dan stood, the first to make it to the doors and there when they opened.
Strangely enough, when the doors pulled open and Dan took a step out into the station, he stopped trembling. His heart slowed—not by much, but it slowed—and this whole thing didn’t seem quite as scary. Sure, Dan’s thoughts were still screaming in his head, sure, his anxiety was still off the charts, and sure, his hands were still sweaty and his breath was still shallow but still. It was as if a calm had washed over him.
Dan wasn’t sure what to make of it. Maybe he was just going into shock.
People busied around him, walking this way and that, talking into cell phones, to other people, some silent. Dan, unsure of everything right now, followed where the general push of people were guiding him, the whole time craning his head, looking for his Phil. He tried not to panic. He tried.
But with every second the calm that had overtook him was shrinking and his anxiety steadily increased.
Did Phil forget? Did he stand me up? Oh God he’s not coming he didn’t come-
"Dan!”
Dan whirled around at the sound of his name, uttered by a voice that sounded so much better when it wasn’t distorted by their shitty computer’s speakers.
Before Dan could register really anything, he was being engulfed in a hug, two strong arms wrapping themselves around Dan’s shoulders, pulling him flush against the figure.
Against Phil.
And instantly all of the shouting in Dan’s head was gone. The slight tremble in his hands vanished, and for the first time in a week, his anxiety was gone without a trace. Dan felt like crying.
Dan gasped in surprise, his brain taking a moment to reboot because Phil didn’t forget, didn’t stand him up, didn’t change his mind, and suddenly Dan felt very, very stupid because how could he ever think that Phil would do something like that. This was Phil, the kindest person on the planet.
Phil pulled away, just a little, just enough so they could see each other’s faces, and Dan had to keep himself from pulling Phil back in.
His smile was so wide, easily the widest Dan had ever seen it. And his eyes, oh God those eyes were a thousand times clearer, a thousand times more mesmerizing than behind a screen. Dan didn’t doubt for a second that he could stand here and look into them for the rest of the day without tiring of their never-ending beauty. Fuck. Why did his eyes have to be so gorgeous.
Dan tore his eyes away from Phil’s and looked over the rest of him, from his broad shoulders that Dan wanted to wrap his arms around, to the tussle of his hair that Dan craved to run his fingers through and the line of his jaw that Dan felt the need to trace. Double fuck. Why did the entirety of Phil have to be gorgeous.
“Dan! I can’t believe you’re here! I have today all planned out; I’m going to show you everything!” Phil said excitedly, a twinkle as clear as day in his eyes. Phil was practically vibrating with excitement and it made a smile spread over Dan’s features. Phil’s happiness was contagious.
Phil stopped his rambling, looking down at Dan sheepishly.
“I mean, if that’s all okay with you. If you don’t want to do something that’s okay, I totally get it. We can do anything you want, I-”
Dan tilted his head back and laughed, laughed because Phil seemed nervous. Phil was nervous and it was adorable.
“Yeah, yeah Phil it’s all fine. All of it, don’t worry. I just can’t believe you want to do it all with me.”
Phil’s smile faded a little, and the twinkle in his eye got that much smaller. He looked a little sad.
“Was this what you were so worried about? That I wouldn’t like you?”
Dan bit his lip and looked down, giving a little nod.
Phil pulled Dan right back into a hug, but this time it felt even more real, and it was impossibly tighter. It felt like Phil was pulling all of Dan’s lost pieces together. Phil’s voice was in his ear.
“Of course I like you, Dan. You’re my best friend. I like you more than anyone else. Promise.”
Dan might have just felt like crying, in that moment. Phil accepted him. He wasn’t going to leave him. Things were okay. They were okay.
He knew that this would hit him later, maybe tonight when he had a chance to process things. He’d probably cry out of relief, but it would all be okay because Phil would be there to hold him together and ease all of Dan’s worries.
Soon enough they set off, hand in hand, and Dan was smiling so wide, so, so wide. He couldn’t have been happier with how things had turned out.
Dan looked sideways at Phil, trying to not be too obvious.
This had worked out so maybe, just maybe, something else could work out for him.
~~~~~
Dan stood at the window, a cup of coffee in his hand. It was early, and he could see the technicolor dream across the sky that was that morning’s sunrise. The steam from his coffee rose from the rim of the cup and slowly diffused into nothing; tendril-like hands wisped up and around Dan’s neck.
It had been nearly nine years.
Dan’s nervousness and dark thoughts never ceased to plague him, however, he learned to deal with it better. He could confidently say that he has never been happier.
It had been nearly nine years, and they were still inseparable. Their channels had grown exponentially, and they boasted an insanely large fan community.
As the years had gone by, their strong, unbreakable friendship slowly blossomed into something remarkably beautiful. Their long Skype calls turned into late night kisses, and they had been happily in love for nearly nine years.
Dan twisted the ring on his third finger. As well as being happily in love, they were also engaged to be married within the next year. Lately, he’d been waking up in complete disbelief.
The thing Dan had wanted so desperately to work out for him did, and in the most perfectly perfect way possible.
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i was tagged by my boyo over here @gwynnabun thanks dad
Nickname: My real name is long-ish so everyone jus calls me Alex;; a few people tht know me thru the internet will often give me screename nicknames like Kiri, Rev, Charlie, Indie, etc. etc. You can call me whatever you want honestly jus keep in mind my real name, alright maties :^) i luv ya
Height: 5′3 im a shorty-short
Time: for you to get a watch xd
Birthday: you’ll only know this if you’re a real og
Favorite Bands: Miniature Tigers, Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, Gorillaz, The Struts, Bibio, Electric Guest, Madeon, Passion Pit, Vampire Weekend, The Shins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sondre Lerche, Rooney, STRFKR, Tame Impala, Mother Mother, Men at Work, Foster the People, Empire of the Sun, Blur, Lemaitre, The Clash, Depeche Mode, The Magic Gang, and that’s about all i can think of, there’s probably more though :^)
Favorite Solo Artist: boyeee i can’t just choose one //coUGH i love Sondre Lerche and Stephen Wilkinson
Song Stuck in my Head: Long Distance Call- Phoenix
Last Movie I Watched: A Cure for Wellness
Last Show I Watched: Rick and Morty
Blog Created: The fucc you think i’m supposed to kno this for my guy ;; like last fall or smth ? ?
Last Thing I Googled: “Can I Get a Hooyah”
Other Blogs: @hallowbodycrosswalk @strobelite-cinema nd other Phoenix related blogs but they’re a group effort
Do You Get Asks?: N O guYS PLE A Se drop by my inbox i swear to fuc it will brighten my day tf up PLEASE JUS dO IT
Why Did You Choose Your URL?: well i was half asleep one night and this url popped into my head and it sounded cool
Following: 100+ idk i forgot
Followers: like 28 or smth
Favorite Colors: orange and some pink;; maybe red on occasion
Average Hours of Sleep: uhh hh 5-7 maybe 12 on occasion ik it’s unhealthy
Instruments: Electric guitar and electric bass guitar
What I’m wearing: burgundy T-shirt w black pajama shorts and a knitted long cardigan
How Many Blankets: either none or 7 it’s all or nothing, baby
Dream Job: Astronomer or Indie/rock musician
Dream Trip: Either Europe or Arizona roadtrip with my girls, Veronica and Samantha //sob sob// we’re gonna make this happen one day
Favorite food: mmmaaAAA?? ? ? sushi
Nationality: u h h ?? america
Favorite song: UMM? ? ? ?? Trying to be Cool- Phoenix but DUUDE i could go on for days naming ALL of my favorite songs; fight me behind Denny’s at 2:06 AM if you think you can only have one favorite song
and im tagginf nO ONE becos i jus want you all to feel open to doing thsi i ain’t forcig anyone
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