#I was gonna do this for Tatiana's birthday but I remembered that was the day she lost her parents and got sad kfsahjkdsf | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sonyadance · 3 years ago

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Travel and Dancing 7

I really don’t write enough of these notes: I remember only a fraction of the great things that happened in the interval when I finally sit down to do it.

So... a year later, flying in the cloudy skies between Geneva and Stockholm, I feel that it’s time to put in words some of my thoughts and adventures.

Last February, after Valentine Swing, I went to visit friends I had met on a dance cruise, in Nice. I was received in a beautiful house with fruit trees, situated on the edge of the mountain with view on the city. I ate some of the best home cooked food, met new people, taught a little bit, visited Monaco, St-Vincent and a citrus festival, drank an espresso at the Negresco, but most importantly, I had meaningful conversations. I felt at home and lucky to get along so well and be welcomed by people I had only spent one week with prior to that.

I had a short stop in Barcelona where I saw my Spanish sister. When I was 15, I spent a year in Galicia, studying, making friends, learning two languages and simply having the time of my life and realizing there was gonna be more traveling to come. The family I lived with had two kids and they were and still are a second family to me. So I got the opportunity to see her and her baby girl after years and also to visit the city and eat way too many tapas... as always when I’m in that country.

After getting to the airport in the middle of the night, one day too early, coming back the next night and realizing that the flight purchased had been cancelled, buying a new fly 5 minutes before the closing time and running everywhere, we made it to Iceland. What a beautiful place! It was not on the list of countries I wanted to visit, but just like Israel, it ended up being one of my favorite. We got toured around by some of the best people we know, made lasting memories, tastes some weird food and, the most precious memory of all, is that I got to see Northern lights for my birthday. It was truly magical.

Then we flew to EuroDance Festival. I remember watching videos of Jordan and Tatiana and of some of the best salsa and ballroom couples in the world performing on that stage and I have to say that getting invited to that event was one of the benchmark in my life. You know how it’s easier to see the progression of the people around you than your own? From the inside, we always feel the same, we struggle, push, practice, want to get better, feel like we struggle as hard all the time, but forget that the struggles we have now are at a different level than the ones we had years ago (hopefully). So to me, it felt like an indication that I was doing something right in my dancing. I must admit that the first impression upon arriving was pretty intimidating: this Festival is a huge, but well oiled machine. I can’t even start to imagine what it’s like to run an event like this and I strongly recommend you attend it at least once in your life; especially if you dance more than one genre.

I returned to the US in March and decided to tick another item off my bucket list as we were going to teach for the Westie Party in Raleigh: seeing Angel Oak tree. I know it can sound weird to want to visit a tree and I do have a hippie side, but I’m still far from a full-time tree hugger; but go look at pictures and you will understand. I also fell in love with Charleston... which nobody that knows me well would have expected.

Swing Over Orlando came right after and had such a good vibe: some events I know I will feel good at because all of my favorite people with the best energy are going to be there. That was one of them.

After that, we flew to City of Angels. We definitely don’t go enough on the west coast; generally once a year for The Open and The After Party and... that’s it! I think there are more people that know of Stephen and I in obscure countries than in California. I then managed a quick visit to Montreal and Quebec City to show a friend around and to see my friends and family... those visits are never long enough. That is one thing I will make happen this year: a long enough visit to Montreal... I just need to define what that means exactly. ;-)

Westie Camp!!! The soothing place for a westie’s heart. So much love, so many connections made and we’ve had the pleasure to work and connect with the talented Markus and Tren and to do a wonderful project video with Jerome and Bonnie. Perfect time.

The last weekend of April came and it was time for Stephen and I’s event, The WCS Retreat. The first gender irrelevant event: we believe that leading and following use the same skill set and that your dancing will improve by learning the opposite side, so you only need to know the basics in your preferred role, but you are going to dance both. The concept was great in our minds, but we obviously didn’t know how it was going to turn out until we tried. It was amazing! We had such great results from it, we are doing it again this year and most of the people are coming back. We added Hugo and Stacy as Instructors and we are sold out! Yiiiiiii!! I’m excited for it already!

Next was a quick hop halfway across the world for Kiwi Fest. There are just too many great moments from this weekend to retell, but I have to say that the live band was one of the best I’ve heard for wcs dancing, all the music was on point and kept me on the floor all weekend. And we can’t forget the magical Monday boat ride with view on the city.

I flew back directly to Chicago to visit my cousin who use to work in different cities around the world with Cavalia. I got so sick... omg. I was so happy to be staying somewhere I felt comfortable because I didn’t manage to get out of bed for three days. When I finally emerged, I got to visit the city, watch the Cavalia show, see some of my favorite westies, teach some workshops, go dance, demo with Ben Morris, go to a contact improvisation jam, meet a beautiful soul and just enjoy myself like it should be.

Then I got to go to Canada Zouk Congress, my first zouk event. I was so excited: taking workshops, auditioning for levels, doing privates, meeting so many amazing souls with a special energy, seeing old salsa friends, exchanging with top level pros of another genre. It was truly one of my big high of the year. And I got the honor of teaching some workshops in Toronto with Nelson and Kyle for the beautiful Dana and they treated me like a queen... one of those moments where I wonder again what I did to deserve such good people in my life.

We did a quick hop to Grand Nationals where we got dropped in placement for Stephen’s dive roll in our routine... the same one we had been doing all year. Oh well... We also got to experiment country hospitality at Orange Blossom: so much yummy food!!!!!

The weekend after was Baltic Swing. First of all, great staff, amazing atmosphere, all night dancing, one of my favorite people as organizers, but most of all: we got to teach a workshop on a pier, outside, with a sea view. That’s the best thing in life: teaching what I love with the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair. Life. Freedom. Joy

Finnfest was right after and I got the pleasure to bond with Sean and Courtney and Semion and Maria a bit more: yes, we all “know” each other, but sometimes you need that special moment. It can be 5 minutes or an hour, but than you feel like you have a connection together. I also got to traumatize Chuck in our invitational (you’re welcome) and we swam in a cold a&& lake during a wonderful sauna day in the forest. The perfect way to rest after many filled weekends.

We directly flew into St-Louis to teach workshops. Wow! What a great vibe mixing younger and older people, everybody getting along with a touch of craziness. We were so excited when they asked us to come back for their new event: Show Me Showdown. I cannot wait!!!!!!!

Then I got some time in Orlando. It’s been my base for the last year: my friend Andrew kindly welcomed me and my three suitcases so I’d have a place I could go back to between my crazy travels. It feels so good to know that I can go back somewhere, I don’t have to, but I can. Hugo, Stacy, Bonnie and Jerome joined us for a weekend of training and exchange. It was so good. I need more of that in my life. Any other peers reading this? ;-)

July came with our longest standing gig: Rock The Barn. I’ve talked so many times about this event, but just for the new people here: best event ever. The perfect mix of everything I love the most in life: what I do every weekend, but doing it outside in open air barns! Spending time with Torri and Maxime was also a highlight this year.

From there, we took a boat to Valasranta Dance Camp to join our favorite crazy Finnish friends, teach some workshops, enjoy saunas and hop onto the plane for 10 days at Sea Sun and Swing. These camp type events are so hard to describe to someone who’s only been to “hotel” events (which are also awesome btw)... just do it! Go chill with your friends, meet new people, do workshops, enjoy the beach, take a vacation, do what you love. It’s worth it!

Then I got to see one of my very best friend in Paris. I met this girl when I came back to Montreal after working on farms across Canada. I rented a room from a lady, not knowing who else was gonna live with me there. The day I moved in, I saw this girl on our rooftop terrasse, we exchanged two words and I knew we were gonna be friends. She was supposed to stay for a year, but I found another year-long university program in the area she loved to convince her to stay for one more year... and it worked! I have so many memories of coming back home drunk at 5am, 10 minutes after her and opening another bottle of wine as we ate basmati rice with salt chatting away on our balcony until 7am. Pauline works in humanitarian relief around the world in some of the oddest countries, so for us to be able to see each other is a really special thing.

Riga was my last stop in our crazy European trip and we certainly enjoyed hanging out and the oh-my-god-this-is-the-craziest-I’ve-seen-people-be competition... you’ll just have to find the videos.

We had a day in Orlando to rest. Bahaaaa!!!!! What is rest? I’m so funny... Anyway, we got to São Paulo alive and ready for the event. My first time in Brazil! It had also been on my bucket list for years and I just thought to myself: wait, it will come, you will get to go at some point. And it happened. It is so hard to describe the Brazilian energy to people who haven’t experienced it. I just talked to Hugo and Stacy a couple days ago as they came back from there and they told me: we thought you were exaggerating or infatuated when you talked about Brazil, but we realize now that what you said is true. It just feels like a perpetual, everybody is included, love fest, party and you would think competitions are a superstar rock concert if you were to just hear the crowd’s encouragement. The event might not have been the smoothest, but definitely created some of the best memories of the year.

I got to Summer Hummer still floating on a brazilian cloud of joy. Which was perfect to enjoy this party event and see all my Montreal and north-eastern friends. The following is also something I say every time, but Bill and Yuna have been there for me since the start, since my very first event where I showed up with army boots and a sleeping bag, and my heart will always feel warm when I’m with them.

At River City swing, I had some of my most fun competition dances with Hugo and Greg. No, not at the same time. That would have been fun too, I’m sure. We also got a photoshoot with the talented Ariel Penu, I got to enjoy the magnificent pool and courtyard for the first time and just bathed in the classy energy of that venue.

And then, it was hurricane season. We managed to escape the storm to get to Austin Rocks and got stuck there for a few days. I mean, it was really the opposite of painful. This city is like a hidden gem in the middle of Texas: open-minded people, gay culture, underground art scene, cool pubs and weird everything. I could definitely see myself living there!

One week home in Orlando to train and we were off to Tampa to teach for Danielle. It was a smooth weekend, just what we needed for this US Open season!

Then we got to Atlanta Swing Classic, one of the best ran event in the States with Alan and PJ. Always a pleasure to be there and see what they pull off of their hat to make the event unique. Last year, they had a “Swing 16” type battle for the pro invitational and it was a huge hit!

Back to Europe for a week. We got to teach in Ljubljana. Wow... imagine how it feels to be in an Eastern European city that was so often described or used as a set up by some of your favorite authors. It felt like a dream. Such a beautiful place and it is so easy to get around that you automatically feel safe and at home. Another special thing that happened, is that I got to see Angie whom I trained with almost ten years ago in New York at BDC during a summer dance program. We waited to see each other again for years, just knowing that it would happen, just not knowing when.

Right after that, I flew to Montreal. I got so sick again... I think my body doesn’t like the one weekend in Europe, back to America deal anymore, I need at least 10 days. I survived the event highly medicated and wined and had one of those magic dances with Nelson in strictly. Then I managed to be healthy enough to visit my cousin (the one who was in Chicago before) who just gave birth to her first kid, my sister who just had her second daughter and my other best friend who gave birth to her third kid and first son! These moments you cannot buy. I am not someone who misses people when I’m far (maybe the odd day), but these are the moments I’m sad of missing if I’m far: births, deaths, graduations, life crisis, great achievements, life changing events, the moments when you should have been there. I think they know me and understand my life by now, but I want them to know how much I wish I was present sometimes. That’s why teleportation is always the power I choose: not to visit more places, that I can make happen, to be able to pop in with a hug when my friends need it. So many people to love, so little time...

Continuing on the french side of things, we got to Valence, France. I was expecting a tiny city (ok, a village) and a few enthusiastic people, no: we were welcomed in a great dance school in a beautiful city by a bunch of hyper-enthusiastic dancers! The classes were amazing and we were taken care of like they were welcoming their best friends in the whole world. I got a special visit from a Brazilian friend and they brought us to see a castle on the mountain, accommodated our every wish and we went to a Michelin rated restaurant. Omg. I was expecting good food, but I had no idea. Can we go back? Also, childhood friends of my parents drove all the way there to have an evening with me. I felt overwhelmed with love.

From Valence, we drove to Strasbourg. Seriously, I’ve never seen people make a theme night happen like that. Normally the theme is announced, people dress up, we’re happy, maybe there’s a song or two in the general feel to help the atmosphere and that’s it. No, they decorate like their life depended on it and they find an interesting theme that’s easy enough so everybody can participate. They are also as crazy as us, so that helps us feel as ease!

Flying back from France, we got stuck in Miami missing a flight and took advantage of the situation to stay, explore the city and to go see a good friend from zouk, DJ Kakah, who was teaching workshops in town. I was so happy to be there, but my zouk was so rusty. Lolllll

Fast-forward to Florida Westie Fest where Stephen and I taught a competitor’s intensive that went super well! Teaching is really my favorite of all the things I do, so when I get to coach more specifically, stay longer with the same people in a linear fashion and see the results, I just love it! It was a great weekend and another one of my favorite competition dance of the year with Derek.

We quickly went to south Florida for two days of workshops and privates and to perform our US Open routine for the first time. It was the first time we actually managed to run the routine from A to Z. I have to say we highly doubted we could or should perform it at The Open the next weekend. We had some coaching with the amazing Jessica Cox, tweaked a few elements and it felt better.

Maybe we shouldn’t have performed it at The Open, we were not fully ready, it was not an easy year, but decided that we’d be prouder of ourselves for showing up, then cancelling it. Some people asked why we didn’t do our old routine in prelims, we could have, but we felt that we needed as much time as possible on the new one instead of revisiting the old one. Also, would it have been better to make finals on last year’s merits to end up doing something that is not up to par for finals? I don’t know. I don’t think so. All I know is, we were disappointed and I was disappointed of myself and my dancing overall, but I had one of my best Open ever: I met great people, I partied, I enjoyed watching everybody’s routines and most of all, I was overjoyed for a lot of my friends who got the credit they deserved for their work. It’s easy to waste time feeling sorry for yourself, but so much more rewarding and fun to be happy for your friends. What a kick-ass year for wcs!

Stephen and I stayed for the congress after the Open and I know most of you have heard it before, but: DO IT! It was the inspiration I needed. I didn’t even know if I wanted to do the second day with Kyle and Sarah’s choreography intensive, but that’s what made me want to do swing. I always wanted to dance west coast swing, but the swing part was really the least alluring of the name. Their take on things, the way they describe and dance their swing is what makes me want to move. I don’t know how I forgot it throughout the years; they have always been my favorite couple for the freestyle aspect of our dance. We took a lot of privates also and I’ll definitely have to be back with them for more training.

The After Party was rocking as always, but I used all my after-Open energy (which is really sparse) going crazy on Thursday night, so I was hard to find the rest of The weekend. Lolllll

Then came Berlin Swing Revolution. Ahhh Berlin! Another one of my bucket list items handed to me on a silver platter. Not only the event was off the chart, with themed days of workshops, a different venue and an amazing underground vibe, but we had some of the best response I’ve ever seen to our workshops. I got to connect with so many different people, teach things I had been wanting to teach for a long time, but was preoccupied that they were a little too “out there”, had a private magic show and got to solve an enigma, which is something I rarely do, because once I start, I cannot let go until I find the answer. I visited the city like a pro tourist, saw one of my favorite woman in the world whom I also trained with in New York years ago and whom I try to meet every few years somewhere in the world to reconnect, and I finally went to visit a concentration camp. I think we had the best guide ever, because I expected to be so depressed after leaving the premisses, but instead of just retelling all the horrible stories about what had happened there, he explained how it happened. He believes that the more people understand how the general public let those things happen and how the people involved got to do them without questioning their actions, then there is less chance of us repeating it. We need him in the States...

I treated myself with yoga and relaxation for the holidays and had one of the best Christmas one could ask for: doing nothing. It was so beautiful. Two grown ups, in their robes, eating deliciousness, watching movies and interacting only when wanted. Thank you Andrew. ;-)

I jumped into the new year in Boston, surrounded by so many friends at New Year Dance Extravaganza. I spent a moment on the 31st, as the clock was turning, to think about all the good things that happened in 2017, also all the things I was happy to leave behind, how excited I was about my projects for 2018 and to realize how much love and joy you can feel out there when you are not trying to project all your energy towards one person. Life is good.

I want to make a short interlude to acknowledge the fact that you’re still reading, I applaud you... I know my writing in this text is not the most interesting, but it makes me so happy to put thoughts and memories in words, that I can’t stop.

As I landed in Brasil to start the beginning of the year with a bang, I thought again of how lucky I am. Not that I haven’t worked hard for everything I have: I made my life what it is. But I am also aware of something bigger than me, that makes things what they are. So, yes, I work hard AND I am thankful everyday. My friend Vitor and his family welcomed me in their house like they had known me forever, maybe it is common for them culturally, but for me, it is something special that I cannot not cherish and acknowledge. I had the chance to visit the unique city that is Brasilia, taste açaí, swim in the rain, eat mangos, meet new people, attend a zouk event with some of the best teachers in the world and teach wcs to a mix of zoukers, westies, salseros and kizombeiros.

My friend flew to Rio de Janeiro with me where I was again taken care of and welcomed warmly and I fell in love. The energy of Rio, the beaches, the landscapes, the different neighborhoods, the shops, the food, the fruit juices, the pao de queijo, the people, the music, the dancing... if you haven’t been, make it happen. I walked around, enjoyed the beach, went out, got my hair and nails done, bought crazy outfits, took one of the best private I’ve had in my life -all dances combined- with Renata (the queen of zouk) and did my first novice jack and Jill at the International Rio Zouk Congress. I did not make finals. Bahaaa!!!! It was a good experience.

I unfortunately had to leave to go on with my life. Well, I never really regret leaving one place because I’m always going towards another amazing adventure! I was in Orlando for 20 hours and it was quite the adventure indeed, I ended up leaving my broken down car somewhere on the way to the airport as I took a Uber to not miss my first flight towards a 7 weeks’ trip. And just so you know, that is representative of everything that happened in those hours.

I put my foot down on the third continent in three days, after two nights sleeping on planes to set my things down and go out with an old salsa friend from Montreal who moved to France years ago. It was quite a night and the Friday required Tylenol. Paris Westie Fest turned out awesome with the Moulin Rouge theme, amazing late night conversations, a lot of teaching and running around and a chill Sunday night dinner getting to know Lee and Fabienne better.

I got to Munich right after and stayed with the beautiful Ella who is probably the Munich mom of many westies by now... but I like to think she’s all mine. She offered me the best hospitality as I worked hours on end towards my new projects. I’m so excited, I can’t wait for things to take shapes and share everything! Municorn swing was... well like the name announces: crazy and amazing! Dirk certainly knows how to throw an event that the attendees and the staff will love.

And then, because I have been adamant about realizing my dreams and going through my bucket list, I had to go to Lisbon. A good friend and student of mine from Montreal moved there with her husband to escape the winter months and they invited me to visit. Another of my favorite human, Nelson, met me there and we proceeded to eat all of the food in the city, walk up and down all of the stairs (or getting piggy-back rides), visit all of the things, go out and get way too drunk, have a glass of Port, visit the beautiful Sintra area and just enjoy life. I also taught a wcs workshops to an amazing crowd of dancers who is anxious to get a scene started in Portugal. They have a good momentum going and it is always a pleasure to help spread the dance in places it hasn’t quite reached.

And to finish that epic, I had been travelling and doing things alone so much in the last few years, that I forgot I could ask people if they wanted to join. So I contacted Emeline to suggest we met in Las Palmas for a few days, then the idea turned into inviting more girls we liked and making it a cozy chalet-in-the-mountain week. She found this beautiful and unique Airbnb in the middle of the mountain in St-Claude, France and Matilda and Irina joined the adventure. We met on Monday at Geneva airport, rented a car, drove on a scary road and started the most resourceful days of the year. We hiked, we talked, we ate, we cooked, we watched movies, we talked, we ate, we did a sauna, we asked each other questions, told each other personal stories, we cried, we laughed, we ate, we did dishes and laundry (yes, it can be fun when you’re not alone), we did a beauty night, we worked and we bounded. I don’t think people realize how important that is: we might see each other at events (or not depending on where we all get hired), but we are running around, busy working and don’t have time to sit for a discussion. I hope I get to spend more of that type of time with different peers of mine in the next few years.

All of that, brought me here, on my flight to Sweden, where I’m about to continue this beautiful story called life and strive to make everyday the best and be exactly where I should be. Every day I take a moment to realize where I’m at and think of all the good things that are around me and another moment to make sure I’m also taking actions that will create the future I want to have:

Thank you for reading and letting me share my life with you. I hope yours is as good or that I can inspire you to make it as good as you want it to be.

Love, Sonya.

February 8 2018

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thespectacularspecter · 7 years ago

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85 statements about me

i was tagged by @qiuu-tong ty i love shit like this

last 1. drink - blueberry tea beer 2. phone call - i called my uni because i'm panicking about paperwork 3. text message - to my friend to answer a question about schoolwork we have 4. song you listened to - all i have to give by the backstreet boys IT'S ICONIC AND CLASSIC DON'T @ ME 5. time you cried - lowkey i watched the greatest showman recently and when they all performed as a circus for the first time i kinda maybe started crying ever 6. dated someone twice - nope 7. kissed someone and regretted it - nah regrets aren't my thing 8. been cheated on - probably not 9. lost someone special - yes, unfortunately. RIP gma nancy and jack you guys were amazing parts of my life and still amazing parts of my heart!!! 10. been depressed - lordy yes, been in some dark places 11. gotten drunk and thrown up - lmao yeah i drank an amount i knew i could handle BUT forgot i was totally sick not two days ago so my body was outta wack. it was nasty but my mom found me and was a complete pal about it fave colours 12. PINK 13. BLUE 14. UHHHHH GOLD OR LIKE SPRING SOFT GREEN in the last year have you… 15. made new friends - yes!! 16. fallen out of love - no!! 17. laughed until you cried - yes!! 18. found out someone was talking about you - my memory blows but i think so, yeah 19. met someone who changed you - not in any highkey way, maybe in some little ways but that's just life man 20. found out who your true friends are - i know who my people are 21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list - nope general 22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl - i don't really use my fb and i don't feel like looking forgive me. the amount that there is -2 or 3, probably 23. do you have any pets - YES i have my baby boy SIGMA, A SNAKE; i have my PUPPY, GUILDENSTERN; i have a collection of FINE, LARGE CHICKENS; and i have a cat with a serious bitchface, RAMSES 24. do you want to change your name - mmMMMMMMmm nah, like, i'd like other names better probably but my name is really tied to who i am for better or for worse. i'd totally change out my last name if i got married though 25. what did you do for your last birthday - i went to the zoo with my friend from northern ireland who visited me!!! at least i think that was last year lmao 26. what time did you wake up today - 9am I think?? i slept in 27. what were you doing at midnight last night - schoolwork. i'm working a lot these days... 28. what is something you can’t wait for - I'M GONNA GET TO DO AN ESCAPE ROOM WHEN I GO TO GENCON THIS YEAR I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO ONE 30. what are you listening to right now - siuil a run by celtic woman : D 31. have you ever talked to a person named tom - YES the father of my best friend growing up was named tom. he recently (ish, over a year ago?) passed away from his parkinson's so rest in paradise to him, too uu 32. something that’s getting on your nerves - someone i know no shade. if you're reading this don't worry it's not you lmao 33. most visited website - probably reddit or tumblr 34. hair colour - brown 35. long or short hair - short!! i've been loving having shoulder length hair 36. do you have a crush on someone - i carry no real thirst at the moment 37. what do you like about yourself - i'm really patient when handling people i think that's a good thing. stuff that'd get a rise outta a lot of other people i can deal with pretty well, i think 38. want any piercings? - i WISH i used to have some actually but i'm dangerously allergic to a common metal and i learned the very hard way that slipping up on that when you have piercings leads to bad experiences in a hospital!! 39. blood type - i actually don't know 40. nicknames - rae is actually a nickname teehee. people pretty much just call me that except my dad calls me lil bro i guess. 41. relationship status - wonshades 42. zodiac - gemini 43. pronouns - she/her 44. fave tv shows - fIREFLY and pushing daisies and a lot of others 45. tattoos - none right now but i'm planning to get one since my mom is a tattoo artist and somehow i still haven't had her give me one 46. right or left handed - SOUTHPAWS REPRESENT 47. ever had surgery - nope! 48. piercings - see #38 heehee 49. sport - i did gymnastics for a few years, i do martial arts now 50. vacation - i'm not a vacation person but i'd love to go to japan. last time i left ohio, i went to chicago for the monsta x concert. last time i went out of country was canada for a study abroad program in the same year 51. trainers - my running shoes are expensive but less expensive because i got them in an ugly wanted color that i think is perfect (H O T P I N K). i'm a runner so the shoes are imPORTANT, MAN more general 52. eating - i had pizza tonight i really want cheap chinese food right now 53. drinking - still drinking my blueberry tea beer want another but it's 11:40pm so that's not happening 54. i’m about to watch - series of unfortunate events s2 once i find the fuckin netflix password i wrote down 55. waiting for - the BBMAs i need to support my boys live (also it's a blast to watch them with my sister-in-law who i'm tagging <3) 56. want - attention and clothing 57. get married - yes yes yes i'd love to get married someday 58. career - i'm an english teacher which is exactly where i wanna be which is better 59. hugs or kisses - attention 60. lips or eyes - eyes but both are great 61. shorter or taller - somehow i always end up dating shorter people. i like my men sturdy. but i have no real preference on height 62. older or younger - close to my age in either direction 63. nice arms or stomach - sweats 64. hookup or relationship - relationships i'm not much of a hookup person 65. troublemaker or hesitant - trouble teehee have you ever 66. kissed a stranger - nope 67. drank hard liquor - yes 68. lost glasses - yes and i'm too blind to find them once i do 69. turned someone down - yep 70. sex on first date - nope 71. broken someone’s heart - yes 72. had your heart broken - oh god yes lol 73. been arrested - nope 74. cried when someone died - i don't actually remember for one instance but i know i didn't in the other. i was crushed though don't get me wrong the tears just done didn’t happen 75. fallen for a friend - oh god yes lol do you believe in 76. yourself - i try to! 77. miracles - yeah 78. love at first sight - it's never happened to me but i won't say i don't believe in it, it might be real for other people and i can't invalidate that 79. santa claus - THE SPIRIT OF SANTA CLAUS 80. kiss on a first date - if it seems like a thing to do why not 81. angels - yes, in a sense other 82. best friend’s name - L I S S A MY GIRL 83. eye colour - very brown 84. fave movie - the lotr trilogy 85. fave actor - probably tim roth i love tim roth like a lo t and i don't really know why but shoutout to tatiana maslany for being the actual goddess of acting

i’m tagging @freohrdatia, @pyrrhesia, @roymblog, and @pastelroseprincess and anyone else who sees this who wants to!!

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iamvegorott · 7 years ago

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A New Virus Chapter 1

Hello my little bell peppers and welcome to the highly requested sequel to A Small Glitch! I hope all of you enjoy the sequel as much as you enjoyed the first story!

Summary: Annalise is no longer the little girl Anti and Dark found tied to their door. Reaching the end of her junior year in high school, Annalise is being told that she needs to start thinking about her future. Everyone's saying college while she wants to work at Glitchers, not knowing the full meaning of that job. Dark and Anti believes that to be their only problem, but when everything begins to start draining without their control, they fear that either someone's back, or there's a new virus to deal with.

Happy Birthday!

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you.” Dark sang as he entered the dining room, a large chocolate cake was balancing on his hands, four bright orange candles circled the center with their wickers lit.

“Happy birthday dear Annalise.” Anti joined Dark with his singing, a very happy and energetic Annalise sitting at the head of the table. “Happy birthday to you.” Dark placed the cake down in front of Annalise.

“What I do?” Annalise asked as she stared at the cake with wide, eager, eyes.

“You blow out and make a wish,” Anti answered.

“Wish? I get wish?” Annalise put her hands to her mouth in shock.

“And you can’t tell anyone or else it won’t come true,” Dark said, smiling when Annalise scrunched her face in determination.

“Got it.” Annalise nodded her lead before straightening up, chewing her lip for a moment as she thought before letting out a harsh puff of air and blew out the candles.

“Got it one take.” Anti chuckled.

“Father...”

“Wanna tell papa what you wished for.” Dark asked in a soft tone.

“You say no tell!” Annalise huffed, wagging a finger in Dark’s face.

“I was testing you, princess. Have to make sure you don’t tell anyone your secrets.”

“Father.”

“No tell anyone.” Annalise promised.

“I’m ready for some cake.” Anti chuckled.

“Father!”

Dark snapped out of his happy daze when his office door was thrown open. The laptop continued playing the video as Annalise entered the room, hands on her now developed hips and backpack slung over her shoulder.

“I’m going to be late!” Annalise cried as she grabbed Dark’s arm and started tugging on it. “What are you watching?” She asked when she saw the video.

“Nothing.” Dark quickly paused the recording and stood up.

“I remember making that wish.” Annalise said with a light chuckle.

“That was thirteen years ago, how do you remember that specific wish?” Dark asked as his body changed to match what the fathers of Annalise’s classmates would look like.

“I make the same one every year.” Annalise stated.

“Really? What is it then?” Dark brushed his now salt-and-peppered hair back.

“One: not telling. Two: please keep your hair as dark brown, the gray parts are too old for you.” Annalise ruffled Dark’s hair.

“I think it makes me look mature.” Dark huffed as he changed his hair color.

“It makes you look like a sugar daddy and I will not have my friends try to get some from you.” Annalise adjusted Dark’s hair until she was satisfied.

“I’m a married man. To another man.” Dark straightened his tie before slightly bowing and gesturing towards the door. “After you.”

“Why, thank you.” Annalise said in a low-pitched voice and did a small curtsey before walking out of the office. “When’s dad supposed to get back?” She asked while they headed for the front door.

“He should be back by the time you’re home from school.” Dark answered.

“Bye, Cranky.” Annalise said to the black cat sitting on the kitchen floor. The cat looked up, blinked their one green eye and meowed before going back to his licking.

“Now, if you get a text to ride the bus go-”

“Lock all the doors, gather the hidden guns and knives, stay in the office with Cranky and wait until you get home.” Annalise listed off the steps with her finger as they left the house and went into the car.

“Did you remember-”

“Yes, father, I remember all of it.” Annalise groaned, struggling to get her seatbelt to agree with her.

“Did you remember to look under your seat?” Dark asked with a grin.

“No way!” Annalise squealed and reached under her seat, pulling out a small box. “It’s so pretty!” Annalise gasped when she pulled out a thick gold bracelet, a diamond in the shape of a butterfly was in the center of the band. “Thank you!” Annalise hugged Dark before slipping on the piece of jewelry.

“Happy birthday, princess.” Dark said with a smile.

“Tiana is gonna think that this is so cool!” She continued squealing as she put on her seatbelt.

“Make sure not to lose that, it’s one of a kind.” Dark started as he began driving.

“This thing is too cool to lose!” Annalise said as he admired the bracelet.

So…” Annalise’s shoulders slumped, she knew what that tone of voice meant. “I saw that you had thrown away all of the college pamphlets that have been sent to you.”

“Father.” Annalise groaned.

“You’re nearing the end of your junior year, you need to be thinking about what college you’re going to.” Dark said. “You can go to whichever college you want. We can easily afford it and your grades are nearly perfect and you’re going to score highly on the ACT’s and the SAT’s later this year. You could go to Harvard or Princeton or Yale or anywhere.”

“I don’t want to go to college.” Annalise muttered under her breath. She crossed her arms and curled up when she saw Dark stiffen a little, knowing she was in for a lecture.

“Why don’t you want to go to college? Do you know the thousands of people your age who would love to know that they could go to college worry free? To pursue any field they want without fear? No student loans, no debt, just college?” Dark was waving his other as he spoke.

“You didn’t go to college.” Annalise protested.

“I’m a demon, Annalise. I’m not like the others.”

“And I’m a virus like dad. I’m not like the others, too.”

“Your dad is a virus that was formed inside of a grown man's body. You were born, you are being raised and I have not been raising you so you can waste such a golden opportunity.” Dark waited for several teenagers to walk past the car.

“I don’t want to waste four years to get a degree that I don’t want.” Annalise said.

“What do you want to do then? I can’t think of anything that a college degree isn’t either required or at least help.” Dark pulled up to the high school.

“I want to work with dad.” Annalise answered.

“I…” Dark felt his voice get caught in his throat.

“I’m great with computers, I’m a natural and I’m sure dad won’t require a college degree to hire me.” Annalise started to get out of the car. Dark sighed as Annalise walked around the car.

“I love you.” Dark called. Annalise stopped, did a shuffle like she was trying to hold herself back, but lost and she rushed over to the driver side of the car.

“Love you, too.” Annalise said after giving Dark a peck on the cheek. “Shit!” Annalise cursed when a bell went off.

“Lang-”

“Bye!” Annalise waved as she ran off. Dark watched Annalise run up to a girl her age and the two laughed as they both ran into the building. Tatiana, or Tiana, for short, was a very nice girl that Annalise befriended when they were both seven years old. Dark could still remember after school had ended that Annalise was holding Tiana’s hand and walked her over to him and Anti. Tiana was a little confused at first when Annalise referred to them as ‘papa’ and ‘daddy’ but she just shrugged and greeted ‘Mr. Papa’ and ‘Mr. Daddy’ with a big wave and a squeaky voice. The two had spent many weekends over at each other’s houses, it took hours of convincing from Anti and a few...favors, to get Dark to agree into letting Annalise go to Tiana’s house. There, of course, was a phone call to Tiana’s parents, but after the first time, Dark never questioned it again. His little girl was happy and that’s what mattered.

“Hey, buddy! What you doing!?” A voice shouted and was followed by a honk. Dark blinked a few times, getting pulled out of his memories and he drove away. He had other things to do besides getting angry at a rude man. Dark took out his phone and held one of the keys to speed dial someone. He put the phone on speaker and placed it inside of a phone holder.

“Hey, handsome.” Anti answered with a chuckle.

“Did you get it?” Dark asked as he took a turn.

“I did not travel all the way to New Jersey to not get it. I’ve gone through all the batteries I’ve packed and I’m going to pick up some more before coming back to the house, see you in twenty. Love you.”

“Love you, too-could you not!?” Dark snapped at the person who cut him off and forced him to slam on the brakes. “Seriously! I don’t give a fuck that I can’t die, that doesn’t give you a reason to be an asshole!”

“Save that anger for the bedroom, honey.” Anti’s smirk could be heard through the phone.

“Then you better hurry up, the others will be at the house later and I don’t want to be interrupted.” Dark chuckled.

“I’ll see you at home, Darky.”

“I’ll see you.”

x~x~x

Annalise was giving Dark a look of suspicion as she got out of the car. He was happy, too happy. He was overly excited about something. For most people Dark seemed like he was fine, he seemed calm and collected, but Annalise was able to tell with the occasional twitch of the lip, the messing with his hair a little too much and the light movements of his fingertips, something was up.

“Allow me to get the door for you.” Dark said, holding the door for Annalise.

“Did someone-”

“Surprise!”

“Holy shit!” Annalise cursed when all of the egos jumped out towards her.

“Language.” Dark sighed as Annalise ran into the group and got lost in a giant hug.

“Happy B-day, girl.” A girl Annalise’s age said and gave Annalise a personal hug.

“How did you beat me, Tiana?” Annalise asked.

“Wilford got me after school on his motorbike.” Tian answered, gesturing with a thumb towards the pink haired man.

“You got to ride the motorbike!?” Annalise gasped. “When can I-”

“No.” Dark stated.

“But-”

“Tiana’s mother gave us permission but you do not have mine.”

“Father.” Annalise whined.

“Would anybody like some cheese with that whine?” Bing asked as he held a cheese platter towards Annalise. Annalise laughed at the joke and took a cube.

“I’m glad you could make it.” Annalise said with a shy smile at Bing.

“Like hell, I’m missing the party of the year!” Bing did a spin on his heels, earning another laugh from Annalise.

“Look out, bitches! I got cake!” Anti called out as he entered the room, a large tray balancing on his arms.

“Dad!” Annalise cheered.

“Happy birthday, princess.” Anti chuckled as he lowered the tray onto the dining table that had been moved to the living room. “Check it out!” Anti removed the cover and showed off a cake designed in the shape of a butterfly. The wings were orange with cubes making their shape, a sheer gloss covering it to make them look holographic.

“That’s so cool!” Annalise and Tiana said together.

“Let’s eat!” Anti picked up a knife from the table and started slicing the cake, handing Annalise the first slice before passing out a piece to everyone.

“I totally mastered this new trick on my skateboard and you gotta let me show you.” Bing said from his spot on the floor while looking up at Annalise and Tiana, who were sitting on a couch.

“We have to make sure father’s not looking.” Annalise said in a lowered tone.

“Your dad would be all for it.” Tiana said. “But Mr. Papa.” She held out the word to show her lack of faith.

“I’m still not sure how they made this gloss.” Marvin said as he examined the piece of cake on his fork.

“Sugar?” Chase raised a brow and licked the frosting.

“Hey, you two.” Anti plopped himself between the two and laid his arms across their shoulders. “Have you hooked up yet? I want my ten bucks from Dark.”

“I’m married, Anti.” Chase protested.

“Are you?” Anti raised a brow.

“Technically and besides, me and Marvin are just good friends, right, Marvin?”

“Yep. Just friends. Only friends.” Marvin shoved a large bite of cake into his mouth. Chase was oblivious to the gesture since his attention was drawn away by Wilford as he and Jackieboy started dancing offbeat to the music. Anti caught what Marvin did and patted the magician’s shoulder.

“Don’t give up.” Anti whispered before getting up. Marvin swallowed thickly and stared at his cake.

“I don’t…” Marvin let out a soft whine instead of finishing his statement.

“I think Annalise is having fun.” Dark said with a small smile when Anti joined him.

“Good. It’s her birthday, she should be.” Anti wrapped his arm around Dark’s waist.

“Haven’t you had enough for today?” Dark chuckled.

“I could never have enough of you.” Anti put his other hand on Dark’s chest and gave him a kiss.

“Gross!” Annalise yelled, getting a laugh from the others and making Dark and Anti part.

“Get a room!” Tiana added.

“Don’t give them any ideas.” Google said

“Too late!” Anti quickly leaped on Dark’s back and pointed. “To the bedroom!” Dark simply stood there and made a face. “To the bedroom!” Anti tried again. “You’re no fun.” He said after another pause of nothing.

“You weren’t saying that earlier.” Dark said with a wink.

“No! Don’t say things like that!” Annalise flailed a little.

“Oh, no. The birthday girl is upset.” Anti hopped down and ‘ran’ to Annalise. “Does she need to tickle-monster?”

“Don’t you dare.” Annalise held up a finger. “Traitor!” She squealed at Tiana when she took her plate away and Anti started tickling her.

“Back-up, I need back-up!” Anti laughed as he struggled to contain Annalise.

“Here comes Dark-osaurus!” Dark rushed over and joined Anti.

“No!” Annalise giggled as she was tickled mercilessly by her dads. “Help!”

“Uncle Stache is here!” Wilford grabbed Dark from behind and pretended to try to pull him away.

“And here we can see the strange ritual that is of these demons, Jim.” Reporter Jim said into the camera as all of the other egos joined in the big, chaotic, mess.

Tag List: @readeatfightlove13 @kenzie-110101 @kaner-va @fandom-trash1214 @sophs0ph @pixelenchanter @snickerz171 @fuck-im-emo @coffee-in-sweaters

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withgraceandlight99 · 8 years ago

Text

Oliver’s Birthdays

General | Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak | Fluff | Read on AO3

A/N: A happy birthday fic that somehow became a story last night. Hope everyone enjoys it!

He wakes up to someone pounding on the door, repeatedly screaming, “Ollie! Ollie!” It’s five. Because the only thing better than Thea’s own birthday is her older brother’s special day. Mostly so that she can ruin it for him. But today he smiles. It’s his fourteenth birthday today. Only two more years and he can get his license. And today his dad promised to take him fishing.

“I’m coming, Speedy.” He rolls out of bed, nearly bonking his head on the nightstand, and runs to the door. Thea’s standing outside, in only her Cinderella underwear, bouncing up and down. She’s holding a present that’s so crudely wrapped he almost laughs. But he doesn’t, and instead, scoops her up and carries her back to his bed. “What’s in here?”

“Your…pre-sent.” Usually, it comes out as ‘pwesent’ but today she says it correctly. Mostly because he spent the past two weeks teaching her. “Open it!”

He chuckles as he unwraps it, smiling when the present falls onto his lap. It’s a tiger. The wooden one he told Thea was cute when they went to the zoo a few weeks ago. “Aw, Thea. It’s adorable.” He cuddles her close to him, laughing when she erupts into a fit of giggles. “Thank you.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

He wakes up with a hangover on his eighteenth birthday. A hammer pounds inside his head, which sends him to the bathroom to throw up. He should be used to this by now. It’s not the first time he’s partied all night. But the first birthday that begins with him lying on the tile floor, shivering.

“Oliver?”

His mother.

“Not now, Mom.”

“Sweetie, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m fine.”

There was a pause, but then she says, “Well, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I need to go to the office, but Raisa has waffles downstairs.”

The mention of his favorite food makes him throw up again. This time, his mom knocks hard on the bathroom door. “Oliver, are you all right ?”

She has to know what he’d been doing last night. But she’s too blind. Oliver wipes the puke off his lips and pushes himself up. “I’m okay, Mom. I promise. Just a little…sick.”

“Okay. Well…happy birthday. Your dad and I love you very much.”

“Love you too.”

He almost forgets his twenty-third birthday. They’d just defeated Fyers. Shado is mourning her father. Slade…he didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would celebrate a birthday. So when he wakes in the morning on the floor of the plane, shivering, he closes his eyes again and imagines his sister. She would be thirteen now. Probably old enough to stop buying him ridiculous presents like tigers.

But right now it would be a nice gift.

He smiles, and hops up. Taps Shado on the shoulder. “We can go hunt if you’d like.”

“Thank you, but I’d rather stay here this morning.”

That’s the cue he needs. He just takes a knife; shooting Fyers was likely a fluke, and there wasn’t any way he could actually kill anything. He finds a spot a mile or so from the plane and sits down in the grass. The sun is just above the trees, washing over his dirty face.

Raisa would make waffles for his birthday. Before handing him a plate, she would sprinkle chocolate chips on them. Thea would belt out an off-key ‘happy birthday’, with Raisa singing in Russian.

A tear slips down his cheeks as he remembers.

He misses his birthday.

He doesn’t remember his birthday. It’s not until he lands the plane on Lian Yu that he remembers that he’s a year older. In fact, as he trudges towards the plane, lugging a bag of supplies on his back, he realizes that he hasn’t remembered several of them. He’s twenty-eight now. The last time he’d thought of his birthday they’d defeated Fyers.

Now Shado is gone.

He killed Slade.

He had to snap Tatiana’s neck.

His best friend was six feet under.

In a way, he is responsible for all the death.

Why celebrate his birthday when he’d caused so much pain?

When he and Felicity are together, he tells her he doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday. If they do, it’s not going to be much. That’s the deal. She honors that, but buys him a cake with his name misspelled. The designer’s fault, of course. She gives him the gift of love that night, but it doesn’t stop him from sneaking out when she falls asleep and taking a seat under the stars. At some point, Felicity’s hand lands on his shoulder. He doesn’t flinch; he’s learned her touch.

“I don’t like my birthday.”

“I know.”

“Too much has happened to me. I…” he takes a deep breath to steady his voice. “Whenever it comes around, I feel like I don’t deserve it. It’s…”

“You feel like you shouldn’t have lived another year?”

“Yeah.”

Her fingers trail along his shoulders. She doesn’t sit down, only stands above him, but it doesn’t stop him from feeling her smile. “If anything, your birthday should give you a sense of gratitude. Like you got another miracle.”

“I got a miracle when so many other people didn’t.” He glances up at her, tears filling his eyes. He doesn’t bother wiping them away. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Life isn’t fair, Oliver. You of all people should know that. You lived. This day should be a day of thankfulness.”

“I think we’re gonna have to agree to disagree on that one.”

She leaves it at that, and drags him back to bed.

As soon as his body reacts to the man coming around the corner, his head tells him that it’s not a great idea. Everyone yells ‘surprise!’ and Curtis―blessed Curtis―grins and says, “Happy birthday.” He’d remembered this year, only thanks to Thea’s bouncing into the mayor office yelling about how he was thirty-two. That part he did remember. He always remembered―at some point―how old he is.

He stays on the ground next to Curtis, trying to collect himself, as he stares at the sign hanging above Felicity and Thea. Then his gaze goes to the two people he loves the most in the world. They’re both laughing.

He smiles. Swallows away the emotions, though he knows they caught how close he was to breaking down. He almost does when Thea gives him a bigger hug than she’d ever given him and whispers, “Happy birthday, Ollie.” His eyes well up with tears again when Lance gives him a present and gruffly gives him a hug. It’s the first hug he’d ever gotten from him.

He chuckles when Diggle pulls out his phone and shows him a video of JJ and Lyla wishing him happy birthday, and then hugs his brother.

And with everyone else eating cake, he pulls Felicity to the side and thanks her for the party. She smiles and lifts one shoulder. “Well, Oliver, a couple years ago, you told me that you didn’t think you deserved to have another birthday. I wanted to show you that you did.” She puckers her lips and looks up at him. “Can we agree to agree on that now?”

“Yeah.” He smiles and leans in for a kiss.

He wakes up to someone pounding on the door, screaming, “Daddy! Wake up! You gotta wake up!” It’s five. Because his kids love celebrating his birthday just a tiny bit more than he does. “Hold on for a second please!” He sits up on one elbow and leans down to kiss his wife. “Good morning.”

“I thought we agreed that I get to be the one who initiates the birthday kiss.”

“Well, you initiated it on your―”

“We can’t wait any longer!” The door bursts open. Three pairs of little feet run in and jump onto the bed, giggling and squealing. William comes in a bit slower, but with a grin on his face. Oliver leans against the backboard and pulls his five-year-old daughter into his lap. She holds a present in her hands, so pitifully wrapped it makes William chuckle. Oliver taps the box and leans in closer. “What’s in the box, sweetie?”

“It’s a pwesent.”

“Mine!” Harper reaches for it, grabbing at the wrapping.

“Uh, uh! You don’t get that!”

“Hey, kiddos, it’s okay. Wanna help me?” He manages to fit both girls on his lap and with their help, opens the present. It’s a tiger. The tiger. He can only tell because of the scratch mark down its back. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love it.” He kisses Ellie, and then Harper. Little Tommy climbs up over his sisters to give him a slobbery kiss on the lips.

Ellie leans back against him. “Thea said you like tigers.”

“I do. But I love you more.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

He laughs and glances over at Felicity, curled up in the covers. Their gazes meet and they smile. Their lives have been anything but easy and simple. But they found themselves in each other. In their family. And he’d come to love his birthday. Mostly for the mornings with his family, lying in bed. When they get bored, he goes downstairs and makes waffles. With chocolate chips and whipped cream on top.

In the afternoon, he stops by the Mayor's office and receives his attack hug from his sister.

That night, he receives his birthday gift from his wife.

And afterwards, he sits on their deck under the stars and thanks God for another year.

#Olicity fic #Arrow fic #Oliver Queen #Olicity #arrow posivity #Happy birthday Oliver Queen!

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