#I was scared we were gonna get the toxic right wing crazies

[pedulum-chronometry]

The more I read/understand about the Reddit/196 blackout thing the better I feel about the Reddit migration, like it’s all the shitposters from a subreddit where bigotry was actively discouraged? Yes please! You may enter, what do you need help with? My hellsite is your hellsite mi amigo

[qqueenofhades]

I feel like, if Democrats want to win in places that AREN'T deep blue, if they want swing states and rural areas, they NEED to shut up about social issues. Don't talk about abortion or birth control or women's rights. Don't talk about police brutality and racism and immigration, legal or not. Don't talk about transphobia or homophobia. They should talk SOLELY about economic policy and solid legislation and sneak in protections for marginalized groups once elected.

Imma be real with you chief, since you came to my inbox and you presumably want my opinion: that is an absolutely terrible idea. Here's why:

First and most importantly, this is confusing "Democrats/progressives need to learn how to explain their policies in terms that are acceptable to the American mushy middle" with "they shouldn't talk about those policies at all." It's not that we can't pursue left-wing economic or social policies, it's that we should stop f'n calling them "socialist," which does nothing and causes a lot of harm among the people who instantly tune out or turn hostile the instant they hear that word and are unreachable afterward. If we CAN put them in terms that the American public likes, i.e. freedom, justice, opportunity, we should do that.

So... black people don't exist in America? LGBTQ people don't exist in America? Immigrants/racial minorities don't exist in America? Women (HALF THE ENTIRE POPULATION) don't exist in America? Especially when those are all core constituencies of the Democratic Party and vote for it precisely because it has openly expressed support for their issues and protection for their basic personal rights and civil liberties, especially as the right wing gets ever more reactionary, fascist, and crazy? You really think we should just throw up our hands and totally cede the public debate on these issues to the fascists, and act like any pushback or critique is the aberrant position??? Really???

Likewise, we're not gonna go for the "absolutely everyone in a red state/area is an unrepentant bigot who can only be mobilized if we discreetly tuck away our social liberalism." We're gonna talk about gerrymandering. We're going to talk about voter repression laws. We're gonna talk about how Ken Paxton, the Texas AG so wildly, insanely corrupt that he finally managed to get impeached by fellow Texas Republicans, boasted that if he didn't stop Texas counties from mailing out ballots to all registered voters, Biden would have won Texas. We're not going to act like there are Sensible Americans in Deep Blue Areas and everyone else is f'n David Duke of the KKK who needs to be appeased in hopes we can meekly trick them into supporting us. We're just not.

We're not gonna act like abortion or LGBTQ rights are shameful, unpopular, or minoritized views that have to be hidden or treated as secondary, especially when we're pummeling the Republicans, even and especially in deep red areas, precisely because of those things. Ordinary people in Tennessee, Florida, Texas, and all the other usual suspects are coming out to protest against drag bans and bathroom laws, not "superior" blue-area liberals. Republicans are backtracking on the abortion issue as fast as they can because it is so incredibly politically toxic and is costing them local/state/other competitive elections like crazy. 60% of the country supports abortion rights and 70%+ supports LGBTQ rights. The fascists are a minority and that is why they are so loud and so terrible: because they're shit-scared and they see the demographics coming to end them. We are not, again, acting like they're the majority or it's too shameful to speak about anything related to anything that's not the economy, especially since:

It won't work anyway! If people were actually, genuinely motivated by appeals to improved economic circumstances, they would already vote for Democrats! But they don't, because white supremacy and white grievance is too important for them! Even if the Democrats did try to rebrand themselves as solely focused on economic issues (which, for all the reasons stated above, would be insane), the people who don't vote for them now still wouldn't vote for them then! They will still vote for the Republicans, because a) they've been fed for decades on the myth of REPUBLICANS ARE BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY and b) they know that Republicans will punish non-white people, while Democrats won't. If they did try to "sneak in" protections for marginalized groups even once, and since that's, again, what they've built their entire party on, that would be it. It's the racism. It is always the racism.

Basically, this is the exact kind of mega-reductive "the only war is the class war"/"economic oppression is the only oppression" analysis that is so popular among Online Leftists and attempts to just erase racism, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, xenophobia, and all the other complex reasons why people vote, experience oppression, want the government to represent their interests, affiliate with a political party, or prioritize their particular identity/civic participation, because it's inconvenient for something something the purity of their Marxist theory. Besides, this is not even to mention that the Democrats' existing supporters would abandon them in droves, which would gut any remote increase in the number of voters that they could even (wildly unrealistically) hope to gain for doing it. You might as well be the f'n No Labels party, which is trying this exact kind of BS in hopes of peeling off just enough of the ideologically wavering Biden voters to hand the election to Trump. So. Yeah. No.

[verobatto]

Destiel Chronicles

Vol. XLVI

It was a love story, from the very beginning

The Guilt and The Demon!Dean foreshadow

(9x14/9x15 and 9x17)

Hi my dears! Another meta from season 9, this is a very interesting one, talking about a funny mirror I found with the ghostfacers and Destiel, also a new foreshadow for what will come in season 10.

We will talk about Dean's guilt and a lot a foreshadows too for Demon!Dean and his summer love with Crowley.

I want to say thank you to my friend @agusvedder, she made the gifs for this meta, thank you girl!!

Okay, let's start...

Guilt and more Guilt

Episode 9x14 is all about GUILT. We have Dean talking with Ghost!Kevin, trying to ask for forgiveness, because his death is all over Dean's shoulders... He said it while he was trying to contact him.

DEAN: Kevin? Kevin. All right, I can't do this. Coffee-buzzing, bump-in-the-night crap. I got serious things to say to you, okay? And I'm not gonna say them to this.

[DEAN gets up and turns his back on the coffeemaker]

Kevin, I'm sorry. You did not choose this life. You busted your ass, you lost everything, everyone you've loved...

[[MORE]]

This speech is yelling guilt the whole time. Is Dean trying to say every painful word that had been stabbing his heart and his mind since Kevin died. One of his huge, heavy bags on his back.

Then... We will have Castiel talking with Bartholomew, and again, this angel trying to bring the guilt on Castiel, the fault.

But before this... Bartholomew will try to recruit him... Castiel is not that kind of angel, the one who follows orders, so, Bartholomew can't barely understand what motives Castiel to keep fighting by his own...

And this is a foreshadow for that famous quote from Metatron: IT WAS ALWAYS TO SAVE ONE HUMAN. TO SABE DEAN WINCHESTER.

That's why Castiel needs to keep fighting, and that's what Castiel feels is waiting for him, for his help. Is waiting to be saved, even if he doesn't feel he deserves it.

And then, the exposition of Castiel's sins, and guilts...

But Castiel answered magnificently... And this proves he really grew up after being a human. He did what he had to to survive, because they are in war. But what he did... Doesn't define him.

The quote from Bartholomew WE FOLLOW ORDERS, is against Castiel's nature, and impress the huge difference between Heaven and Castiel.

Foreshadow of Demon!Dean/Crowley summer of love, and Castiel's finding another "new love"

Okay, we had a little scene in 9x14 between Sam and Dean...

What a funny foreshadow of what will be Dean and Crowley's summer of love, Dean giving some credit to the Demon, as if it was the beginning of a great friendship.

And we had a very interesting Destiel mirror with Ghostfacers in episode 9x15 Thin Man.

If you watch the episode, it will look like if Harry and Ed were representing the current issue between Sam and Dean. Their fight because of Gadreel possession. But if you dig deeper... They're not just mirroring the brothers there...

First of all I want you to pay attention to the clothes changes in Harry. Harry will be our shapeshifter mirror. He will be mirroring Cas and Dean, and it will be easier for you if you hear his words and see his color coded dressing.

With that on mind... Let's check this scene...

ED: What did Dana post?

HARRY [turning his phone around to show ED a picture of a girl]

No, it's just -- she changed her profile pic, and it's cropped, (...)

Okay, Dana mhm, is obviously making reference to Dean here... But Dean is with another man... Platonically?? That's a very funny word related to Destiel dynamic, but also... Dana/Dean is betraying... Harry dressed in BLUE COLOR (CASTIEL MIRROR), so, blatantly talking about what is about to come... Dean will betray Castiel with Crowley, but just platonically (🤣) so funny.

But this doesn't ends here... Because when Dean arrives... The dialogue between him and Harry (Castiel mirror) becomes very second meaning and flirty.

HARRY: Ahh, first of all, you guys don't scare us.

ED: Not at all.

HARRY [lifting his shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband] Say, "hola" to my little pistola.

DEAN: Am I supposed to be impressed with that treasure trail or the lady gun you got hiding in your, uh, pants there?

HARRY: Uh...Both?

Okay, this was for dirty minds, and we know who had a happy treasure trail, right? Hello sexy Mish.

And then we had this new reference to Dana again...

ED: Come on, man, would you please stop Facebook stalking your ex-girlfriend?

HARRY: I was right.

ED: Hmm?

HARRY: She changed her relationship status to "it's complicated." What does that even mean?

ED: Who cares? You broke up with her. Everything about that girl is complicated. Okay, I mean, she gets the cream puffs, she tells you to take out the filling. They're just puffs.

So Dean is complicated, and he will be in a complicated relationship with Crowley... Foreshadow again.

Now... Don't forget that ass slap to Harry/still Cas mirror dressed in blue, but now adding green and red to make reference to Destiel.

May I add this was too gay? And how Agus marked me... Dean is hitting his lower lip like, excuse me sir?

Finally, we arrived to the big fight between Harry (dressed in red, toxic Dean, it means he is mirroring Dean now) and Ed.

This fight brought to elements... One the brothers fight we saw at the end of Road Trip, mostly when Ed confess he did it for Harry (to lie). And two... The break up will be between Crowley and Dean at the beginning of season 10... So... Pay attention to this dialogue, thinking we have toxic/demon!Dean/Dean mirror in Harry and Crowley mirror in Ed...

Who was the woman Harry/Dean was about to marry, the woman who he had a serious and deep relationship? Dana, now... This reference is linked to Castiel. Castiel is the safe love the unconditional love, the man who will always be there for Dean. The angel showed him that in Road Trip. He's his loyal partner. The love of his life.

Now... This...

ED: Well, maybe it's not too late, you know? You could call her and see.

Okay, this just recalled me when Dean and Crowley broke up, Crowley went straight to give some stolen grace to Cas, to give Dean his ex boyfriend back.

HARRY: That's not gonna work.

ED: Well, maybe -- maybe it will.

Okay!! And let's stop here... Remember in episode 10x03 when Dean was back to normal and Castiel entered in his room? And Cas just threw I HAVE A WOMAN ON MY CAR? And Dean's face was like WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID??

Ah okay, so... Because Dean had this live summer with Crowley, with empty promises and all... Now he lost Cas, who searched for another love interest? (Hannah?) So yeah... Now Dana is Cas. And yes, Cas said this because he wanted some revenge and make Dean a little jealous.

Okay but that is for season 10 Chronicles we will have to wait...

Foreshadow of Cas and Sam healing Demon!Dean

This is just a brief comment about episode 9x17 Mother's little helper.

This scene...

Is a foreshadow of Sam facing his brother as a demon, Demon!Dean will act like a soulless evil, erratic and heartless.

This episode showed us an unrequited love and a sacrifice for that love, linked too to season 10 and how will Dean feel after becoming normal.

And because is talking about soulless people, is a foreshadow to Amara's plot too.

Sam releasing the souls is showing us he will be solving the way to bring his brother back at the beginning of season 10: again FAMILY LOVE (Sam) and ROMANTIC LOVE (Castiel) will save the day.

To Conclude:

Episode 14 talked about guilt as a central topic this season, but it began to show clues about Dean/Crowley dynamic in season 10, we had even Dean saying to Del (the demon) "Well, me and Crowley, we're -- we're tight now. Thick as thieves. Saw him just last month. We, uh, had a grand ol' time."

Episode 15 did the same with Ed and Harry as mirror shifters for Cas/Dean and Dean/Crowley. Talking us about a love triangle between CAS/DEAN/CROWLEY and DEAN/CAS/HANNAH.

Finally we had another foreshadow of how they will heal Dean at the beginning of season 10 in episode 9x17, when Sam released those souls.

I hope you liked this meta, see you in the next one!

Tagging @metafest @magnificent-winged-beast @emblue-sparks @weirddorkylittlediana @michyribeiro @whyjm @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @dea-stiel @poorreputation @bre95611 @thewolfathedoor @charlottemanchmal @neii3n @deathswaywardson @followyourenergy @dean-is-bi-till-i-die @hekatelilith-blog @avidbkwrm @anarchiana @dickpuncher365 @vampyrosa @foxyroxe-art @authorsararayne @anonymoustitans @mybonsai1976 @love-neve-dies @wildligia @dustythewind @wayward-winchester67 @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @deeutdutdutdoh @destiel-is--endgame @destiel-shipper-11 @larrem88 @charmedbycastiel @ran-savant @little-crazy-misha-minion @samoosetheshipper

@shadows-and-padlocked-hearts @mishtho @dancingtuesdaymorning @nerditoutwithbooks @mikennacac73 @justmeand-myinsight @idontwantpeopletoknowmyname @tenshilover20 @teddybeardoctor @pepevons @helevetica @isthisdestiel @dizzypinwheel @jawnlockwinchester @horsez2 @qanelyytha

@imjustkipping

If you want to be tagged or removed from this list, just let me know.

If you want to check the previous season 9 Chronicles, here are the links...

Vol. XL, XVLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV and XLV

Buenos Aires 15th January 2020 5:32 PM

[gosecretscribbles]

Stanuary 2019 Week 1 Bonding

“GET BACK HERE!”

“AAAGH!”

Stan chased after the tourist, brandishing his cane in one hand and the crossbow in the other.  The guy had tried to pay for his tour with a baby goat!  What did he think this was, Medieval Europe?!  Goats were not currency!  Goats weren't even profitable!  They just ate, pooped, and stank!

Stan thought he was in decent shape for an old fat guy, but the skinny farmer sprinted to his truck like all the tax collectors in the state were on his heels.  Plus that stupid baby goat was prancing around Stan and tripping him up.  Even so, Stan nearly made it to the truck when the farmer hit the gas.  The engine roared to life and dirt sprayed in Stan's face.  He skidded to a stop, coughing and scraping at his eyes.  

There was a thunk and Stan looked down.  The kid had keeled right over, all four legs straight out.  

“Oh, great, now he's dead!  YOU PAID ME WITH A DEAD GOAT, YA MORON!”

He swung up the crossbow and fired, but the truck hit a bend in the road.  Instead of popping a tire the bolt just hit the license plate and jarred it loose.  It fell off with a noisy rattle as the truck swung around the curve and disappeared, the other goats' bleating quickly fading from earshot.  

Swearing a blue streak under his breath, Stan went to retrieve the license plate.  Never know when you'd need one to throw the cops off your trail.  

Now he had to decide what to do with a dead baby goat.  The next tourist bus wasn't coming until noon, so he had about an hour to figure it out.  He didn't really want to stuff it, but he couldn't think of anything else to do with it.  Hey, maybe he could make his new mechanic do it instead – what was his name, Zeus or something? Sure, that'd work.  He just had to get the goat out of the way until Soup came back from school.  

He reached the goat and bent down to grab its leg.

“Baa-aa-aah.”

“AAH!”

He jumped back.  The goat's ears and tail twitched, then it rolled over and looked up at him.  

“Baa-aa-aah,” it repeated insistently.

“Yeesh, give me a heart attack already,” Stan growled, one hand over his chest.  “If you're looking for food, you're lying in it.  Grass, meet goat.  Goat, meet lunch.  Now stay outta the way, I got a business to run.”

“Baa-aa-aah.”

He went inside to work on more pun-related exhibits for the museum. Those wax figures had brought in a ton of money when he'd first set them up, but business had gone dry a week ago, and he needed another money maker and fast.  Those portal parts didn't come cheap.

The goat bleated from the porch for a solid twenty minutes, then he heard it clopping away.  Stan snorted, then went back to gluing googly eyes on a plastic octopus.  Maybe eight eyes, so it was like a combo spider-octopus?  Yeah, that'd work.  Now he just had to think of a catchy name for it.  Or maybe Octo-spider?  Arachnipus?  Octo-Eyes? Hmm, maybe that'd work...

Stan came out of the Shack in time to greet the next tourist bus.  He didn't see the kid anywhere, so many the dumb thing had wandered into the woods.  Perfect, one less thing to worry about.  He put everyone in the carts and drove 'em out to see random stuff in the forest, like the Tree of the Screaming Tourist.  He told them the eerily twisted bark was an actual tourist whose spirit had been sucked into the tree when he refused to pay for the tour.  (Everyone was suddenly very eager to pay him for the tour.  And tip him.  Generously.)

He drove 'em back and waved them into the bus.  Then he headed back to the Gift Shop.  His pockets were practically bulging with cash.  He definitely had to use that Screaming Tree story more often!  Even if it kind of freaked him out.  Wait, hadn't Ford's journal's mentioned something about –

“Hi, Mr. Pines!”

“AAH!”

He jumped back for the second time that day, glaring down at Deuce, who was standing innocently in the doorway of the Gift Shop.

“Geez, kid, make some noise when you move!”

“Sure, Mr. Pines!  By the way, I didn't know you had a pet goat!”

Deuce moved aside.  That dumb stinky nuisance was sitting on the floor, legs sprawled everywhere, its floppy tail thumping like a puppy's.  

“Baa-aa-aah!”

He groaned.  “That's not a pet.  And get it out of here! Smells like a moldy haystack, and I got some new attractions I need to make for the museum.”  He stepped over the goat and strode to the craft counter in the corner.  “Octo-Eyes was a huge hit! Taxidermic monstrosities are gonna make me a fortune!”

“Couldn't we make this little guy an attraction too?” Moose asked behind him. “I bet you could even give him a punny name!  Like 'Cutebacabra'!”

Stan stopped and turned around.  The goat looked up at him with those weird sideways pupils.  

“Yeah,” Stan said slowly, holding up both hands to frame the little moneymaker.  “Yeah, the Cutebacabra!  Glue on some fake wings, coupla cow legs – maybe some red paint drooling from its mouth! Ha, I love it!”

Bruce beamed at him.  “Thanks, Mr. Pines!”

“Kid, gather every spare stuffed limb I've got and a ton of crazy glue. Then go set up a display for him in the museum.  This creepy cuteness is gonna be our next main attraction!”  

Exactly forty-three minutes later, Stan was showing a new set of tourists into the museum.  He'd already taken them to the Tree of the Screaming Tourist, and now he was gonna milk 'em dry.  Zeus had rigged up a little stage and a red velvet curtain for Chompers.  With a single grand gesture, Stan pulled it aside.  Instantly the crowd went 'AAAAH!' and 'AWWW!'

He grinned and gestured grandly.  Sluice had made it a little vest and glued on every spare animal limb they had.  “That's right, folks, the rare baby Cutebacabra!  The only one in the world!  Pictures are five – no, fifty dollars each!”

Immediately tourists stuffed good ol' Grants into his hands and snapped pictures, flashes going off in every direction.

The goat's eyes went wide and it keeled over, legs straight out.  

A kid in the crowd screamed.  “OH MY GOD IT'S DEAD!”

“WE'RE CURSED!”

“RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIFE!”

“Oh come on!” Stan shouted.  He didn't bother chasing the tourists – he'd pick-pocketed them while they had their eyes on the goat, and he knew they didn't have even two bucks left among the lot of them.  But why in the name of Paul Bunyan did the goat keep playing dead?!  If it had done that two seconds earlier it would've cost him all those picture fees!

“I'm back with the goat feed, Mr. Pines,” Puce said, poking his head into the Museum.  He was dragging a forty-pound bag of feed.  “You didn't give me any money, so I had to pay Mr. Sprotts with three hours of child labor.”  Then he caught sight of the goat, turned white, and dropped the bag.  “SWEET MOSES HE'S DEAD?!”

“No he's not,” Stan scowled.  He reached out and poked the goat with a foot.  The goat twitched, then flipped upright and started gnawing on one of the cow hoofs taped to its back.  “See?”

The goat bleated and head-butted him.

“Aw, he likes you!” Spruce said.

“Ugh, get it offa me.  The darn thing's defective!”  He paused.  “Then again, if I could get it to do it on command...”  Imagine the look on people's faces if he walked his goat into traffic, then made them think they'd hit his Prize German-Australian Longhair Goat!  They'd pay through the nose just to keep him from suing them!

“Eh, he probably just has that myotonic thing.  Or maybe it was myopia?  I always get those two mixed up.”

“Mia-what?”

The gumdrop shrugged.  “Myotonia.  Mr. Sprotts told me about it.  You know how people get startled, and then they freeze up?  It's like that, but for goats.  And it lasts for longer, like their muscles seize up or something.  It doesn't hurt them or anything,” he added, “but it is a genetic thing.  Mr. Sprotts said a lot of his goats got it from the toxic waste dump.”

“So he's being literally scared stiff?”

Moose laughed.  “Good one, Mr. Pines!”

The goat had finished chewing on the cow hoof and proceeded to gnaw on Stan's pantleg.

“Whoops!” Soup pulled the goat away, then set it down in front of the bag of feed and tore it open.  “There ya go, little Gompers!  This'll taste waaaay better.  Trust me, I tried it!”

“Baa-aa-aah!”

Stan watched the goat eating.  “Hey Swoose.”

“It's 'Soos', Mr. Pines!”

“Whatever. You're sayin' the goat just keeps getting scared?”

“Yep!”

“'Cuz it's genetic?”

“Uh, I guess so?”

“Well NOT ON MY WATCH!  After one day of Stan’s Scare-A-Thon Therapy Session, this goat’s gonna be so desensitized it’ll never faint again!”

First, Stan got Moose to wire his satellite to pirate-stream horror movies from Japan.  (Watching these also traumatized Puce, which Stan found hilarious.)  Next Stan hired a clown (who he did not pay) and then practice his jump scares (which made Soos scream so loud it scared off all the birds in a three-mile radius).  After that, Stan converted the Museum into a haunted house, complete with sheet-ghosts, cobwebs, and a looped sound track of death metal, complete with screaming.  He shoved Gompers in and locked it tight.  

He didn't realize until he went back three hours later that he'd also locked the child labor. Moose had collapsed on the floor in the middle of the room – but Gompers was stumbling around bleating to himself.  It didn't look like he'd played dead at all!

Stan grinned.  “Alright, now we're makin' progress!”

“That's great, Mr. Pines,” Bruce gasped.  “You should – oh sweet burrito angels – you should totally save this stuff for Summerween.”

“Summer-what?”

“Summerween!” Soup struggled to sit up and collapsed.  “It's – it's this holiday where – oh man I'm having a panic attack.”

Gompers clonked over, bleated, and started chewing on Soos' face.

Stan roared with laughter and slapped his knee.  “Ha!  This is goat's the best!  Alright, Floose –”

“Soos.”

“Get ready for the main event.  Something even scarier than Japanese horror movies or that weird mold growing in the corner.”

Sue sat up.  “Okay, but if I don't come back, tell my grandma I love her and give all my stuff to charity.”

“The Mystery Shack appreciates your donations!”

Night was falling and the full moon was out.  Luckily Soup had fixed the golf cart right down to the headlights, so they trundled along the beaten road in relative safety.  Gompers and Soos were in the backseat, the kid's arms wrapped around Gompers like it was a really smelly plushy.  He grinned.  When he was done that goat would be almost as hardcore as Stan himself!

When they got close enough, Stan stopped the truck, hustled around to the trunk and started handing a stuff to Soup.  

“Okay. Run ahead and put these all around the tree ahead.  The batteries are all dying so the light'll flicker all weird and creepy.  This one has a full battery.  Lie down at the bottom of the tree, and then when I give the signal, shine it right at the bark.”

“Sure, Mr. Pines!  Which tree is this again?”

“The one with a human soul was trapped in its bark writhing in agony!”

“Ok!”

Stan gave him a shove and then hustled back to the cart, where Gompers was currently chewing on the back seat.  He hopped back in the driver's seat, waited three seconds and then drove slowly up to the Tree of the Screaming Tourist.  It was hard to see the shape of the messed-up bark, which would make it even creepier when Zeus lit up the flashlights.  

He parked, took his portable radio out of the trunk, and then grabbed Gompers.  He set the goat down in front of the tree, backed up, and hovered his finger over the “play” button.

“Okay, Sluice...NOW!”

From the radio, a hollow scream filled the air and the whole tree lit up with a flickering yellow light.  

“Ha! That's perfect!”

“Baa-aa-aah,” said Gompers.

He grinned, but before he could tell Zoop to step it up, the lights suddenly flickered.  They turned orange, then red.  The radio suddenly crackled with static and he dropped it as electricity singed his hand.  The bark of the tree started moving and a huge ghost-y thing ballooned out of it, just a massive face made of fire and fury. Stan backed up with a shout.  Several tree branches snapped and started bending like spider arms.  One of them swung around from the back of the tree – and a certain pear-shaped mechanic was dangling from its twigs.  

He waved.  “Hi, Mr. Pines!  I'm a hostage!”

The spirit's yellow eyes turned on him.  Its pupils went red. “YOOUUUUU!”

“AAH!”

He sprinted for the golf cart, but the spirit lashed out and smashed it with a bark-covered arm.  He grabbed Gompers and held it up.  

“JUST TAKE THE GOAT, TAKE THE GOAT!”

“Do you know how long my spirit has been stuck in that tree, completely alone, just listening to those stupid squirrel-squids chatter about acorns and sushi?  And after years of waiting for you to come back, you finally bring people to visit me – and you tell every last one of them how terrifying I am, so they'll never!  Come!  BACK!”  The face swelled until it blotted out the sky.  Its heat seared his skin. “AM I SCARY ENOUGH FOR YOU NOW, STAN PINES?!”

He screamed and tried to run, dropping the kid, but she swooped down and grabbed him up.  She lifted him higher and higher, squeezing him so tightly he could feel his bones creak.  He could barely breathe!  He had a funny feeling he wasn't the Stan Pines she was talking about, but he couldn't get enough air to tell her that!

“Um, excuse me?  Ms. Tree Spirit?”

They both looked at Soos, who was wiggling one of his chubby little hands to get the spirit's attention.  

“Hrrrrr,” she growled.

He smiled.  “Oh, I'm a him, actually!  Although I do have a feminine softness.  It sounds like you're mad because you've been lonely for so long, right?  But Mr. Pines has been bringing people to see you all the time!”

“They are TERRIFIED of me!”

“Not everyone.”  He pointed.

Gompers was standing on the ground below, absently chewing on a fallen stick. The ghost growled and moved closer, her face distorting until her burning yellow eyes were the size of whole cars, and her face was a gaping maw dripping with reddish flame, mere inches from the goat's puny face.

“DO YOU FEAR ME, LITTLE GOAT?!” she boomed, and her voice was so loud and deep the trees nearby actually shivered and creaked on their roots.

Gompers blinked.  

“Baa-aa-aah,” he said, and resumed his chewing.  

“Hmm.”

“Good goat,” Stan managed.  The spirit scowled and squeezed a little harder.

“But this is not what we agreed to. I don't want people to be afraid of me!”

“But scariness is part of the fun!” Soos said earnestly.  “Plus it's a fun way to spend time together!  My dad never hangs out with me, but Mr. Pines and I watched a horror movie marathon.  And even though I wet myself a couple of times, I wouldn't trade that time for the world.  I'll bet the families who visited you remember how frightening and fun it was, and they'll probably come back to see you again next year!”

Stan could see the spirit thinking it over.  

“Baa-aa-aah,” added the goat.

The spirit snorted and gave Stan a hard look, those ruby peepers staring right into his soul.  “You will keep your promise, Stan Pines?  You will not leave me to suffer in isolation?”

“Guarantee it,” he wheezed.  “Main attraction.  Every tour.  Can't breathe.”

“Very well.  But if you break your promise one more time, the woods will never be safe for you again.”

She let go of Soos and Stan, who hit the forest floor with a dull thump. The spirit withdrew into the bark, lifting her arms to become branches again, while the bark of the trunk twisted and rippled back to its previous shape.  Stan waited for a second, but the tree didn't so much as twitch.  

He sprang to his feet and scooped up the goat.  “Ha!  You did it!  You beautiful monster, you really did it!  You looked that tree-thing straight in the big yellow eye and didn't even twitch!  I bet this goat could handle the frigging apocalypse without batting an eye!”

“Probably!” Soos agreed cheerfully.  

Stan smirked, then mashed Soos' head in a noogie.  “Ya didn't do too bad yourself, there, ya midget.”

“Really?!”

“Uh, are those actual stars in your eyes?”

“For you, Mr. Pines, I would go full-on anime.”

“Don't make this weird, kid.  Now let's see if the golf cart's drivable. I'm allergic to all this bonding and I left my old-man tonic in the Shack.”

“Soda isn't tonic, Mr. Pines.”

“Says you.”

“Baa-aa-aah.”

A/N

“A myotonic goat, otherwise known as the fainting goat, is a domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 3 seconds when the goat feels panic. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle.”

- from a-source-I-forgot-to-save-the-website-for

Also Nour386 came up with the idea about why the Tree was screaming!  I had a different idea but this one is so much better!!!

@nour386

[itskierstenrenee-blog]

Week 2: First Time for Everything

Hey friends! 

I had a very overwhelming week 1 in Atlanta. But thats not a bad thing. Let’s talk about it. 

I started my week exploring, but not truly enjoying the scenery and things happening around me. I was so stressed out about getting a job, getting my acting classes started back up here in ATL, and just getting used to being a city girl. While I was so stressed out I deep down knew that it would all work out so I needed to just GO OUTSIDE, BE PRESENT, LIVE A LITTLE…that isn’t what I did. I went outside and explored cool running places to de-stress but I didn’t do anything out of pleasure. 

At the end of the week I got a Hostess job, so I started that (Ive never worked in a restaurant. First time for everything) and I really like the people. They already treat me like family and I’m already invited to outings with all of them so I think they like me. Or, I guess they could have invited me to take me somewhere to kill me but I’m going to assume I am wrong in that assumption and choose positivity by saying they just want to hang out with me! Yeah. I like that. 

The second I was hired I worked the next three nights. Honestly, I enjoy being the face people see when they first step into the restaurant (maybe they will remember me!) but it definitely got overwhelming. My first day was a Thursday and their busiest day is Friday. So I got to start on a night where it was a pretty frequent flow, but easy to get used to. But then Friday came and I swear I blacked out for those 7 hours because HOLY SHIT IT WAS CRAZY. There was live music, people everywhere, reservations all night and I had to take care of basically everything. Good thing that wasn’t my first night because they would have fired me right there. Thank God I had that Thursday to get somewhat adjusted to the restaurant life. You people that had serving as your first job ever, good for you. I cant imagine what 18 year old me would have done…cried? Left?..I don’t know but it wouldn’t have gone well.

HOWEVERRRRRR, I guess it went pretty well because when I went in on Saturday they said I did great with such an un-ideal evening. So yay, go me! 

So thats how the job went. Now on to better things, I. MADE. FRIENDS. 

Now I knew that this would be hard to do especially because I have changed my standards on people. I know that unhappiness is directly connected to toxic and negative people you have in your life. I didn’t want this to happen to me, especially in such a delicate stage in my life. I don’t want toxic people and I want to utilize my positive vibes as much as possible so I need positive people. These friends I have made this week meet the criteria for friendship :)

My job introduced me to a couple of pretty cool people. One is a bartender and sometimes my manager. She’s like the realest person. She always checks on me and doesn’t care if I have asked the same question twice (which I have noticed I do a lot so SORRRYYYY to all of you that this has happened to with me. Short term memory loss. Just call me Dory…..interesting…new stage name?). 

Sorry. 

Back to what I was talking about. 

So yeah she’s cool. The other person is a server there. He like took me under his wing the second I stepped through the doors. He always comes up to the hostess stand to chat with me so yeah, we are for real friends. He knows me now. And I know he is in a band so what more do I need to know?

So those are my work friends. I wish I could name drop…but I’m sure they will both pop up on my instagram in the near future. 

Alright alright, now to one more friend I made. 

This one is a sibling of a friend from Florida. WOAHHHH COOL RIGHT? I can finally have conversations about Florida and the people there and she understands! Dope. But anyways, I met up her at Ponce City Market (go there. Do yourself a favor, drop what you’re doing and begin your drive specifically for Ponce City Market. I will talk cool stuff about it in my places tab of the blog) and we had drinks. We went to a place called “The Tap” and it was magical. It was like a Yogurt Land for beer/wine/cider. AMAZING, Y’ALL. Now I had to be at work at 5 and still chose to go hang out with them at 3 because I wanted to be a dedicated friend. It was so worth it. I made other friends in the group she was with and when I left they all said I can hang out with them any time. SO YAY. Things are working out for me! I can totally see that group being a solid choice for me when I want to have a fun time. 

OH but I forgot to mention a crucial part of this week. I came home from work one night and the airbnb couple that is hosting me were THROWING A PARTY. Big party. Cars parked all over the place..up the street, down the street, driveway, yard, the whole sha-bang. But this wasn’t just any party…it was their engagement party….? Like thanks for telling me! Congrats???? 

In all seriousness though, it was cool. Made some friends that night too. They invited me to get sushi. It’s a real friendship now. 

But now it’s time for real talk. Even though there are so many good things happening around me, I am still a wreck. It has been two weeks from the day I left the place that everything was good and comfortable. That is my biggest struggle, I think. Realizing that it is okay to be alone and that I need to embrace it while I can. Realizing that the only way I am going to accomplish and crush my goals is through getting out of my comfort zone. I need to break every single mold I have for myself and create a new one. I mean, after all…I am a whole new person now.

I truly believe that in just a couple of weeks I have changed. I am less independent, but I can tell my brain wants to change that. I am so much more scared of my surroundings, but again, I want to change that. I also think the more positive aspects of me are changing (for the better, of course). I am so open to new adventures. I am more driven and passionate about my dreams turning into reality. I am so much more loving and caring (who knew that was possible?) because apparently absence does, in fact, make the heart grow fonder. I miss everyone, but I know this is the start of something CRAZY BIG. 

To be honest, I am feeling good. I am scared a lot, but I know that is a good thing in this case. I cant wait to see what unfolds in this next week and to experience many more “Firsts”!

And for anyone who wants to move to a city or different state, or even country, where you don’t know anyone….I say do it. Do it. Be scared. Be alone. Once you have gone through those things you begin to realize who you are and you see the beauty of the things and people around you. You create a whole new self and it is so rewarding. Plus, you find out there are so many people around you that have gone through/are going through the same thing. You got this. 

Alright, this was week two everyone. Lets see about week three!

Talk soon, 

 Kiersten 

(p.s. don’t forget to check out the other sections of the blog! My thought bubble page is gonna get pretty interesting with all the shit that is going on. Love you all!)

[taejinpurple-blog]

TOXIC BITES- CHAPTER 12

AN: An angsty kind of fic. Can be a trigger for anyone who has ever been in a toxic relationship before.

*REMEMBER this is just a fanfic used for entertainment so please enjoy it*

Mature content so please read responsibly.

        True Identities Part II

A Few Years Later

V and Jimin were dancing as they walked through the castle hallways.

“Errbody say la la la la la.” Jimin sang.

“La la la la la.” V sang with him.

“Say la la la la la.”

“La la la la la.”

“Soneul deureo sorijilleo.”

“Ssak da bultaewora bow wow wow.”

Jimin fell to the floor laughing as V slapped his knee laughing with him.

“We need to do something better with our time. The castle walls got us going crazy.”

V helped Jimin up and they headed to the roof to take a break from training. They sat staring at the bright stars in the sky.

“How’s things going with you and Seokjin Hyung?”

V smiled brightly and nodded his head. “We’re in a good place right now.”

Jimin raised his eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“I know we had a lot of ups and downs but we’re good now. He said he would think more about my feelings and change his ways.”

Jimin nodded. “I just don’t wanna see you hurt anymore.”

“Thanks Jimnie, don’t worry we’re good now.”

“I wish you all the best bud.”

V stood up stretching. “I’m gonna see him before he wakes up.”

“Don’t have too much fun, we still have to train later.”

“Shut up.” V gave him a high five and left.

~~~~*~~~~

Seokjin threw his head back moaning as he released himself. He sighed deeply and turned around seeing V standing at the door with his normal shocked look.

“Seokjin, what’s the meaning of this?”

Seokjin ran his hand through his damp hair. “What do you mean?”

V’s body trembled when he saw Namjoon coming into sight and he sighed deeply shaking his head.

“Again? I thought you were going to decide.”

Seokjin cleaned himself off and threw a blanket over his lap. “You’re being emotional Taehyung.”

“I can’t help it! I love you!”

“And I love you too but I don’t understand why you’re trying to make me make a decision. I’ve been sexually involved with Namjoon longer than you. You’re being selfish to want all my attention to yourself.”

“Forget it then!” V burst into tears and stormed off. Namjoon sighed throwing his shirt on.

“Hyung, I feel bad for the poor guy. Maybe we should cut back to spear his feelings.”

Seokjin reminded silent as he drank a cup of blood.

“You’re not going to go after him to see if he’s alright?”

“He’ll be back, he always comes back to me.”

Namjoon nodded. “I’m on duty.”

“See you around.”

He drifted off to sleep.

Seokjin’s eyes opened when he felt V crawling in his bed. He wrapped his arm around V pulling him closer to him.

“What took you so long?”

“I’m still upset at you but I don’t like sleeping alone,” V mumbled hugging a pillow.

Seokjin gets on top of him and removed the pillow between them. He kissed V’s plumped pink lips. V turned his head away.

“You’re being too rough.”

Seokjin remains silent as he peels away V’s pajamas. V bit his bottom lip trying to hold back his tears as he stared at the ceiling.

“Do you really love me?” he whispered. He shivered when Seokjin kissed and nipped at his neck.

“There’s different types of love ya know. I love the way your face looks, I love your big eyes, I love the mole underneath your nose, your plump lips.” He ran his hand through V’s blonde hair. “I love how soft and fluffy your hair is. I love your tight and toned body and I love the way you moan.” His hand slid between V’s thighs making him moan softly.

“Do you love me as a person?”

“Of course, if I didn’t you wouldn’t be here.”

He pulled V on top and V engulfed him in his mouth making Seokjin moan. Seokjin ran his hand down V’s smooth back.

V’s eyes widened when lube slid between his crack, he looked at Seokjin.

“This will make you burn with desire. Now ride me.” Seokjin pulled him on top and V helplessly gave in.

~~~~*~~~~

V opened his eyes and saw he was the only one in bed. He gathered his belongings and went to his room. He stood in the shower. The pain his heartfelt couldn’t be erased. He wiped the tears from his eyes knowing Seokjin didn’t mean anything he said. He just wanted sex.

“I’m not going to Seokjin anymore. I’m done.”

~~~~*~~~~

Seokjin sat at the table with his family for breakfast. He glanced at his youngest brother, he couldn’t believe how fast he grew. It was a shame he couldn’t be close to him but his mother Mishil kept him so isolated.

“Jungguk make sure to eat properly, honey.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Mishil then looked at Wijoon with a big smile. “So Jungguk was able to finish his first hunt less than 30 minutes. He’s perfected archery, shapeshifting and teleportation.”

Wijoon smiled at him. “I’m so proud of you son.”

“Thank you, father.” Jugguk smiled softly.

“That’s to be expected from the Golden Child.” Yoongi smiled.

Jungguk pressed his lips together and stared at his plate.

Mishil glared at him. “Maybe if you focused more on your training and studies then you would’ve been able to achieve at least half the things Jungguk has.”

“Mishil, watch your mouth when you’re regarding my son!” Hwa-Young snapped and they glared at each other.

Wijoon frowned a bit. “This is not how we should act at the table.”

“Sorry, My King.” They both bowed their heads.

Seokjin sipped his blood wanting this meal to hurry and end. He sighed a little causing Wijoon to look at him.

“Have you finished your duties?”

“Yes, I completed them all yesterday.”

“Good job son. Later, you will need to come with me to start making rounds. I wanna show you some things since you’re the next king.”

Seokjin nodded as he listened to his father.

Mishil gripped her hands tightly but remained silent.

~~~~*~~~~

After breakfast, Mishil and Jungguk returned to their wing in the castle. Mishil entered her room and threw a pillow against the wall.

“Jungguk is perfect at everything! He clearly would make a better king than Seokjin!”

“L-L-Lady Mishil.” A maid said. “You have a party to tend to.”

“Ah, that’s right. Jungguk, will be performing tonight. Can you grab Jimin so he can play the piano for Jungguk?”

“Of course, your highness.” The maid bowed and left out the room.

Mishil walked to Jungguk’s room and saw him standing in front of the mirror getting his suit put on. She smiled and straightened his bangs.

“Are you ready for tonight? You will be singing.”

“Yes, I am ready.” He gave a small smile. “Jimin will be playing the piano for you so make sure to warm up your voice.”

He nodded and bowed as she left. He stared in the mirror.

“Jimin Hyung.”

~~~~*~~~~

Junguk stuck close to his mother as classical music and distant chatter filled his ears. He smiled as they greeted the Dukes and Duchesses. It was always the same he came to these parties with his mother and everyone raved about how handsome he was becoming. Everyone who knew nothing about him would say how much he’s grown and what a fine young man he was. While his mother would beam at the compliments and show her pride as a mother who raised her son so well.

He just wanted the party to be over already. He glanced at Jimin who was standing by him. When their eyes met Jimin turned away.

“Ah Lady Mishil, I’m so happy you could make it.” Duke Chul smiled as she curtseyed to him.

“Duke Chul, when you throw a party you know I must come.”

They shared a laugh and he took the hand of a woman. “This is my wife Duchess Choon-Hee and my daughter Lisa.”

“Oh wow, what a beautiful young lady she is! And as you all may know this is my son the youngest prince, Jungguk.”

He bowed as Lisa curtseyed.

“He will be performing a number for us, correct?” Duke Chul asked.

“Yes, let’s you prepared. Jimin, come help us.”

Duke Chul smiled as he looked at Jungguk’s tall figure before looking at his daughter.

Jimin sat at the piano and Jungguk stood before the hundreds of vampires.

“This number is called Butterfly and thank you for listening.” He gave a deep bow and Jimin began playing.

Jungguk took a deep breath and began singing.

Don’t think of anything

Don’t say anything, not even a word

Just give me a smile

I still can’t believe it

All of this seems like a dream

Don’t try to disappear

Is it true? Is it true?

You, You

You’re so beautiful, that I’m scared

Untrue, Untrue

You, You

Will you stay by my side?

Will you promise me?

If I touch you, you’ll fly away and break.

I’m scared, scared, scared of that.

Mishil smiled as everyone gasped and raved about how beautiful his voice was. Duke Chul walked over to her.

“You’ve raised an amazing young man there.”

“Thank you very much. I take a lot of pride in Jungguk.”

“You should let him marry my daughter.”

She looked at him.

“Lisa’s mother is half-human and half-vampire but her human side comes from a line of witches. Lisa has best of both worlds and I’m sure an offspring between her and a pureblood would create a powerful child.”

Mishil nodded a bit. “Well she is beautiful, and I’m impressed with her mannerisms. I will think about the offer.”

“Please do, I think Lisa and Prince Jungguk will make a fine pair.” He bowed his head.

~~~~*~~~~

Jungguk looked out the window as they rode back to the palace.

“Everyone loved your performance, I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you, Mother.” He looked at her and gave a small smile.

“Jimin, please continue aiding him in singing and dance lessons.”

“I will your highness.” Jimin bowed.

“Jungguk, what did you think of Lisa? Duke Chul’s daughter.”

“She was very beautiful.”

“Do you think you would want to marry her?”

He swallowed hard. “She is very beautiful but not someone I would want to marry.”

“Who would you like to marry then?” She giggled looking out the window.

Jungguk and Jimin’s eyes met and Jimin turned to the window.

“I don’t know yet …”

“I will give you time to think my son. The perfect woman is out there for you.” She patted his hand and he nodded slowly.

~~~~*~~~~

Wijoon set his papers on the table and moved to his throne. He looked up when the doors opened and Mishil walked in. She bowed before him.

“Mishil, what a surprise. What do I owe for this visit?”

“I was thinking a lot and I really believe that Jungguk should be the next king.”

He shook his head. “This topic again?”

“Yes! It’s a very important matter. You should reconsider letting Seokjin take the throne next! Jungguk has way more skills than Seokjin and Yoongi combined!”

“Mishil, Seokjin is the eldest son and even if he lacks skills that Jungguk has, keep in mind that Seokjin has been trained for this since he was young. So, he has skills that Jungguk does not.” She opened her mouth, but he held his hand up. “And, the age gap between them his big, Seokjin was alive for 500 years before Jungguk. There is no way he would be ready for the throne. He is still young, so allow him to be a child for a while longer.”

“You would even put Yoongi on the throne before Jungguk!”

“Yoongi has been alive 400 more years than Jungguk so yes I would. He also has had training.”

“That is unfair! Why have you not trained Jungguk yet?!”

“Because he’s not ready!”

“You’re being unfair to your youngest child!”

“I know what’s best for my children!”

She stormed out the throne and saw Jaehwa and Hwa-Young standing there.

Jaehwa stepped forward. “Mishil, do not overstep your boundaries. I am still the crowned queen and Seokjin is the crowned prince. Keep in mind that you are a consort and you need to remember your place.”

“You need to learn respect,” Hwa-Young said.

She pressed her lips together but bowed her head before storming away.

“One day I will kill them.”

[fantasyboyce2021]

Meeting Scotty’s Parents

It was a pleasant school day that Chris And Scotty become friends since on Tuesday that they are in the same class, They have been partners for their chemistry class, Even Dragons breathes fire and they know the safety. The Bell rings reminding the students that it is time to go home, A lot of Furry Anthro Animal students leaving the school with backpacks on their backs going home. Magnus And Scotty got out first before Chris gets out of the building, When Chris gets out of his building he gets called out by Scotty to meet him in the parking “Chris, Over Here!” Chris Goes to Scotty And Magnus at a parking lot.

“So Are you ready to visit my house?” Scotty Asked, Chris Answered “Yes” Magnus Offered “You guys have fun. Oh, and Chris, you can visit my house anytime” “Thanks Magnus” Chris thanks, Magnus. Scotty suggested going together, and Chris Agreed. Scotty said “Alright, now... wait I have my backpack

on my back! How Are we gonna get to my house?” Magnus Answered “Have him hold your backpack while you are flying” Scotty agrees with him “Good Idea” So he took his backpack off his back and gives it to Chris, leading Chris to a smart idea that he puts his in Scotty’s backpack. After he closes Scotty’s backpack “Here you can carry one” Scotty was surprised “Wow, That is Brilliant. Ready?” Chris Answered “Yeah” “Hop On” Scotty said as Chris got on his back, “Here we go!” He spread his wings out “Hold On Tight!” As he started to fly in the air and fly off, Magnus Waving “See you Guys Tomorrow!”

Chris Riding on Scotty’s back as they fly high in the air, what they see in the beautiful view is the houses, students walking home chattering, seeing other dragons flying in the air, Chris is having a beautiful view from Scotty’s back “This is beautiful, It’s the most fantastic thing I have ever seen” Scotty even agrees “Flying is so much fun, Having a beautiful view like this having a perspective view” When they’re almost getting to Scotty’s house “There it is” He starts flying down to the ground and makes his landing “We’re Here!” “Wow, Thanks for giving me a ride,” Chris said as he got off Scotty’s Back “No Problem,” Said Scotty. Chris Takes Scotty’s backpack off of his back, takes his backpack out from Scotty’s backpack, and gives Scotty back his backpack “Here You Go” “Thank you” Scotty said as he takes his backpack from Chris’s paw “Now Let’s Go.

They went in front of Scotty’s house where it appears to have two floors, where the car on the left is cobalt blue and on the right is Sky blue, when they go to the front door of Scotty’s house, Chris admires his house “Huh, Nice home” When they got inside Scotty’s house, he calls out his mom “Mom I’m home, I brought my friend with me!” A voice came from nowhere said “Oh, You did? the room on the right is the living room, on the left are the stairs that go to the second floor, in the middle is the hallway. Then A Female dragon with a black bubble flip hairstyle with a blue headband on, wearing a steel blue circle dress came to the front door and sees Chris in joy “Oh Hello!” Chris replied “Hi!” Scotty Introduces

Chris to his mother “Mom, This is my new friend Chris” Chris Adds in “I’m a new student” Scotty’s mom is pleased to meet Chris “Well, Nice to meet you Chris” Chris was pleased to meet Scotty’s mom “Nice To Meet you too, Wow you looked stylish!” Scotty’s mom was surprised “Thank you. My name is Melinda and welcome. Come on”

Melinda goes down the hall to the Family room and Chris and Scotty followed her. When they get to the end of the hall, Chris looked at the kitchen on the right “Wow, You dig the oldies in your kitchen? Melinda Answered Melinda “Yep” The kitchen has teacups and a teapot, A vintage radio that you can play CD to play music, and black and white tile mats. Chris said “it’s beautiful” Melinda said “Thank you”. the room on the left is the family room, Melinda shows it to them “So, Here’s our family room, where we watch movies and tv shows”. There was a flat-screen TV on the left, and couches in the middle and the right, Melinda Introduces her husband who is napping on the couch in the middle “Oh and over there sleeping on the couch is my husband, Loungelot”

When Chris sees loungelot sleeping on a couch, he was shocked. Her husband is big, he has the same hairstyle as Scotty’s and a king of rock and roll, a pair of mustache, a big belly that is fatter then Scotty’s, wearing a light blue and a red collar polo shirt, and a light brown shorts, Snoring in his sleep. Chris said to Melinda “Loungelot?” Melinda answered, “Yes, Loungelot. He sleeps on the couch, being lazy, but he loves to relax and lounge a lot”. When loungelot yawns, opens his eyes, and sits up on the couch “Scotty, How was School?” Scotty Answered “Good, Dad” Melinda goes to the kitchen “You Kids have fun” When Loungelot looks at Chris “Who is this wolf?” Scotty answered “Ohh, This is my new friend!” Loungelot asked about Chris’s name “What’s his name?” Scotty answered again “Chris” when loungelot gets up from the couch, and goes towards the blue and gray wolf, Chris was shivering “Oh god” Loungelot is staring at him closely to his face with one close eye and wide eye open “hmmm...” Chris felt scared as his sweat runs down his side of his face, but loungelot puts his

hand on Chris’s shoulder in a delightful mood “You seem like a goodfella” Chris was relieved that he thought he has to go home. Loungelot says to the boys “Let’s have a seat, shall we?” Chris replies “yes, please”

Chris and Scotty sit on the couch on the right, and Loungelot sits on the middle couch, Loungelot asked “So, tell me about yourself. Did you move here?” Chris Answered “Yes, we did. Looking for a new home to live” Loungelot said, “oh, did you move here?” Chris Answered “ yes, we did. Looking for a new home to live” “Ohh, do you like it here?” Asked Loungelot “Yes” Answered Chris. “Well that’s good to hear, are you thirsty?” Asked Loungelot “Yes, I’d like to have a drink” Answered Chris, Loungelot said and calls his wife “As you wish, Melinda, bring us the tea and those bickies!” Melinda came into the living room with a tray with three teacups, a teapot filled with tea, a bowl of sugar, and a plate of bickies, and placed it on the table “Enjoy your tea and the bickies” She leaves the family room, Loungelot thanks his wife “Thank you, Sweetheart” He offers Chris a spot of tea “How about a spot of tea, Chris?” Chris Said “yes, Please”

The Three grabs their teacups and loungelot pours on him, Scotty’s, And Chris’s cups “Thanks dad” Said Scotty to loungelot “Thank you so much” said Chris “My Pleasure” Said Loungelot as he puts two cubes of sugar in his tea, Scotty puts him in his tea. Chris does the same, sniffs, takes a drink “Wow, it’s English tea” Chris likes it “That’s right, the tea is from England” said loungelot “Thank you for the tea!” Said Chris “Your welcome, Have you ever had this tea?” Said and asked Loungelot, Chris answered “No, I haven’t. What I had was peppermint.” “Peppermint?” Loungelot said “That thing is sweet as candy. So” He asked, “are you in the same grade as Scotty?” Chris said “Yeah, in a senior year,” Loungelot said, “Well, You made a friend with my son hmm?” Chris Answered “Yeah, we were partners” Loungelot gets on point and asked “Oh, I see. Which class were you in parters?” Scotty Answered “Chemistry” “Chemistry hmm?” Said Loungelot “Well, I say chemistry is a dangerous class since I

watched a movie where this nutty professor Mixed those chemical liquids that them to explode in front of his students, One Big Accident!!

Loungelot may be talking about a classic movie that he watched with his wife, Chris was shocked “Wow!” Loungelot continues “They say that teachers do not... like blowing up students!! That happened at that one university in Arizona” Chris asked Loungelot while he drinks his tea “have you or your wife attended college or university?” Loungelot Answered “No, We never attended college or university, those students are not nice people, and they’re a bunch of hard works” Loungelot criticizes the students that are not nice people. Chris Asked as he takes a bite of his bickies “Oh, You know about it?” Loungelot Answered ”Yes, I saw a college football player shoved that crazy professor into a closet of chemical liquids” Scotty drinking his tea “Must be toxic” and takes a bite of his bickies”.

Loungelot agreed “Indeed. And that’s why chemistry is dangerous, you want to do it? You have to follow safety at your own risk.” Loungelot asked curiously “You guys didn’t get hurt today, did you” Scotty Answered “Nope,” Loungelot said “Good, anyways I hope you enjoy the tea and the bickies,” Chris Said Kindly “I Did, thank you Mr. Loungelot” “My Pleasure, thanks for sticking around” Said Loungelot kindly. A young female dragon with black long hair and a cyan circle dress and light blue pants enters the family room seeing what’s going on “Daddy What’s going on here” Loungelot answered “Oh Isabelle, your brother has a new friend” Loungelot introduces Isabelle to Chris “this wolf’s name is Chris, Chris this here is our daughter, Isabelle” Chris says hi to Isabelle in a cute voice “Hii” Isabelle said asked “Hii, So your my brother’s new friend huh?” Chris answered “why yes, I am,” Isabella said “Well that’s great to hear” When she leaves the family room to her bedroom “Stay out of trouble now,” Loungelot said “Go back to what you’re doing, princess,” Scotty said “Welp, that’s my little sister, Come On Chris let’s go to my room,” Chris said “ Okay”, They both got up from

the couch, grabs their backpacks and head to Scotty’s bedroom “You kids have fun!” Said loungelot as he grabs the magazine and read it.

Chris and Scotty go upstairs, passed by Isabelle’s bedroom and to his bedroom. When they got to Scotty’s bedroom, Scotty welcomes Chris his bedroom “Welcome to my bedroom” when Chris realized that his room is a bit messy that they are clothes laying on the floor, bed not fixed, and a messy desktop on the left and a closet on the right “...It looks nice” he placed his backpack on the floor. Scotty said “Yeah, Clothes on the floor, Socks!!” “Ewww...” Chris was disgusted, Scotty agrees “I know, stinky! Never got to clean them up” Chris tells Scotty “well, clean them up” Scotty “I’ll do it soon”, When Chris looks at Scotty’s bed “That’s pretty big,” Scotty said “I know, it’s a dragon size bed, Chris asked, “Woah, so what do you do?” Scotty answered “Oh relaxing, chilling, talking to friends, playing video games, and eat”, Speaking of relaxing, chilling, and eating, he may seem to be a lazy dragon comparing to his father. Chris said “Wow, An Active Gamer huh?” Scotty answered “yep, I communicate on the internet talking to Magnus” Chris was amazed “Wow, I must say, thanks for inviting me here Scotty” Scotty Replied “No Prob” “I can visit you anytime I want,” said Chris “That’s right,” Said Scotty “ We can talk to each other and play online,” Said Chris “That’s right, we can play and talk” Said Scotty.

Melinda is calling for Chris that it’s time for him to go home “Chris, Your moms here!” Scotty said, “Time to go!” Chris said “Yeah, I gotta” as he grabs his backpack from the floor. Scotty And Chris Leave the bedroom, passed by Isabelle’s bedroom again, then go downstairs to the front door where Melinda and Chris’s mom, Judy is. When Chris gets to the front door “Hey Mom!” His mom said “Hey Chris, ready to go home” Chris answered “yeah”, Melinda was happy to have Chris over “He’s so sweet”, Judy agrees “yeah”. When Scotty went to the front door “Hi Chris’s Mom”, Judy said to Scotty “oh hello” Melinda Introduces to her son “This is my son, Scotty” Judy was pleased to meet Scotty “Scotty, Nice to meet you!” Scotty said “Nice to meet you too ma’am” as they

both shake hands “Well we have to get going, we have to go home” Said Judy “Okay, you guys have a nice day” Melinda said, “Thanks, you too” Replied Judy as she and Chris go to her car while Melinda and Scotty waving at them goodbye. When Melinda closed the door “They seem to be nice animals” Then she went to the kitchen, Scotty Replied “Yeah they are” and then goes back to his bedroom “Well, you can hit me up online bud, I’ll see you later.

Characters: Chris, Magnus, Scotty, Melinda, Loungelot, Isabelle And Judy

Chris and his family moved into a new home, and he went to a new school where he meets Scotty in the same class on Tuesday. four days later, Scotty invited Chris to meet his parents

[gh0stgirlllll]

I miss you so much. I hate you for leaving me. I hate that I still think of you every single day. You left. I hate you for leaving. How could you leave me? After everything we’ve been through you were the last person I expected to ever walk out my life. Yeah, we had our ups and downs. I mistreated you. I showed you unloyalty at times, I broke you. I’ve made you stay up countless nights crying until you couldn’t breathe. But you were my person. I hate that I still love you. I hate that I still need you. I hate that you probably don’t think of me at all. You were my world at one point. I hate that every single thing reminds me of you. Every song, every show, every movie we watched we used to pick out who would be that character. Lil peep? All I think is you. Mazzy Star? You. Bon Iver? You. You were my world. My life. I loved you. Endlessly. Despite how toxic are relationship/friendship ended up being. All I can think of is how selfish I was throughout that friendship. Knew all of your weaknesses and took advantage of every single one. No one will ever replace you. I took you for granted. I guess this is karma for all the pain I’ve put you through. You got stronger and I fell deeper down. You started swimming while I was fucking drowning. You started flying when my wings started to break. I never realized what I had and how good I had it until you left. The moment your name stopped popping up on my phone was when I knew I lost you. No more I love yous. No more arguing. No more laughing. No more sharing songs. No more sharing our dreams. No more anything. You turned into a memory so quickly. I never wanted too. We knew eachother inside and out. You knew me better then I knew myself. You never failed to pick me up when I was falling. You knew how to calm me down. You knew exactly what to say. You understood me more then anyone ever has. Losing you was like losing a part of me. I feel like I’ll never stop thinking about you. How your doing, are you eating? What are you thinking about? What do you think about this terrible pandemic happening? What do you thinks gonna happen to the world? Are you sober? Are you scared? Is your mind at peace? I miss those eyes. Are you being treated right? How’s your family? Are you sleeping okay? Questions I failed to ask when you were around. I deserve this. You deserve the world, for I was once your galaxy. The connection we had left so long ago but you will never leave my mind. I don’t feel you anymore, but I will never stop loving you. You left a mark on me. I never knew that August 2019 would be the last time I’d ever get to see those ocean blue eyes. I hope she treats you right. Whoever she may be. Treat her right. She will be your bestfriend and your lover at the same time. She is so smart and her intellectual depth will blow your mind. She always knows what to say. I remember one time I was having an anxiety attack and had trouble breathing.. She then told me to eat an apple because she said it will help and surely after I could breathe again. Even though she knew it was all in my head anyway. She is caring. She is dedicated. She is driven. Fall in love with her mind before you fall in love with her appearance. Make sure you remind her how beautiful her body is. Make her smile until she learns to love it. Have in depth conversations with her about anything. She will listen. She always is listening. Don’t let her tell you she’s okay because she’s not. She is resiellant but she relies on you as well as you rely on her. Don’t give up on her. She’s worth it. Don’t take her kindness and love for granted. Don’t call her crazy or make her feel like she is wrong for caring and loving you to hard. Her love is different. Her love was real. Her love is never ending. Take care of her. For I failed her. But I made her into who she is today. She is stronger then she looks. She is the perfect person. Our memories will never stop flooding my mind. Thank you for the opportunity and privilege of letting me in your life. You no longer are here but you will forever be in my heart. If you ever see this..

I love you always.

[mindlessinklings]

.1

I look at my phone, a text from Grace reads “I’ll be there in 15.” That was an hour ago. I toss it onto the ottoman, and exhale. She’s always late. In Grace time, fifteen minutes could mean, “Sorry there was traffic and by the time it cleared up it was late so I went home.” Which I know is bull because Grace hardly ever goes home anymore. We’ve been best friends since pre-k. I’m one of those lucky ones who has had a friend all throughout elementary school, and middle school and now high school, and we’ve been through absolutely everything you could possibly think of together. We really have done so much together, which is why I’m terrified to lose Grace to those people she calls friends, because we still have so much to experience. The relationship she has with them is toxic. They have done nothing but turn her into a shell of the Grace she was before she got into the drinking and the drugs. How after school special is my life? When people look at our relationship they think I’m the strong one, the rock, the backbone of our crazy pairing but nobody knows how much I need Grace in my life. Sometimes I think Grace knows and then other times, I don’t even know if she’s conscious. The lights of Grace’s Camry flood my living room. She knocks on the door and I open it mid knock. She snickers and stumbles into the dining room, my heart sinks. Her face was covered in a whitish powder. I prayed at that moment that maybe, just maybe, she had previously been baking and forgot to check in the mirror. 

“COCAINE, WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET COCAINE?”  

She just put her finger to my mouth and said, “Shh”, and continued to laugh. She plopped down onto the couch and grabbed the remote. 

“So girly, whatcha watchin’?” “OH MY GOD AND YOU DROVE HERE, DEAR GOD, OH THIS IS JUST”- and then she was up, rummaging through the pantry, “Where do ya’ll keep those little dip’n sticks with the nutella ?” 

I take a deep breath and try to “We’re out, Grace.” “Dang, my sweet tooth is aching right now.”

“Here have some Oreos,” handing her the pack I was just devouring.

She gleefully accepts them, “Can I have some milk ?”

I reluctantly comply with her wish, shuffling to the kitchen to retrieve the milk. When i come back into the living, Grace’s eyes are just beginning to roll into the back of her head and her breathing pace is rapidly increasing. 

I immediately grab my keys and then wrestle Grace onto my shoulders. She’s been doing drugs for a while now, usually molly and acid, so I’ve sometimes seen her experience a bad trip. More than fear or anxiety I feel angry. I feel the most profound anger as I push a slurring and drooling Grace into my backseat and prepare to take her to the hospital, again.

I start the engine and pull out out of the driveway, pausing to rest my head on the wheel. I turn around to look at Grace slumped over . 

 “What in the hell is wrong with you?” 

I pass the dark empty playground and the high school where we’d both been hours before. I turned onto Cashua dr. and the world lights up, the street is illuminated by the neon signs in the local pizza joint’s window, the Krispy Kreme sign and every other shop or restaurant on the strip. 

I pushed down hard on the gas and the world was dark again. The roads were surprisingly empty for a Friday night, everybody’s probably at a house party or on a date, or doing absolutely nothing, but I seriously doubt any single person is carting their druggie best friend to the ER. The emergency room sign glows red in my peripheral. I park and check to see if she is still unconscious. I sprint to the desk attendant and I am greeted by a waiting area that is so white it’s almost blinding. “Um, my friend here has apparently been doing cocaine, so can you guys do your thing and not let her OD tonight?” She dials some number and two nurses soon come around the corner with a stretcher. I take them to my car and after Grace is wheeled away I’m handed a clipboard. I really don’t know what do do with the paper work, “Can I wait until her mother gets here so she can do this?”

“Sure honey.”

My head hurts, my stomach hurts, why is this happening? I know Grace has been having problems for a while, I thought it was just a small thing, I should have known better than to believe that. Ugh. My stomach is in knots, I walk to the vending machines scanning the buttons for a ginger ale. I drop in the coins and the tinks and ker-plunks echo down the corridor. As I wait for my drink to dispense itself, I lay my head against the front of the machine and the vibration hums throughout my body. I take a sip and it tingles all the way down. I feel it calming my gurgling insides. I pull out my phone and call Caleb. 

“Hey Win, whatsup?”

 “Its Grace, she came to my house high on cocaine.”

The line is silent. Caleb sighs, “Where do you even”-

“I know that’s what I said.”

He sighs heavier this time, “I think that its,”-

“Yea, me too,”

“Okay I’ll call my mom, you call yours.”

“Yea okay see you soon.”

“Bye.” 

I slump down in the chair, sliding on the pleather, and hold the cold can to my forehead, closing my eyes. I open them again and look at the map of the hospital on the wall. The pediatric wing is in yellow, so bright actually it kind of burns. I smile because it reminds me of the time in fourth grade when I had appendicitis and I got to miss school to stay in the hospital and how Grace wouldn’t have it. She cried when visiting hours were over, so her parents let her stay and spend the night in the room with me. I’m not sure if it was because she would genuinely miss me for those 7 hours or if she was just a little bit jealous, not that she ever showed an inkling of the latter. We’d had slumber parties before but never in a hospital, she braided my kinky, unmanageable hair and I painted her nails, we literally did the same thing at our regular sleepovers but the fact that we were in a hospital had made it a whole new ordeal.

“Winifred, Winnie honey, wake up.”

I jolted upright in my seat. My mother’s worried eyes gazed down at me, I looked to my left and Caleb was consoling Mrs. Devin. My eyes pricked, and I could feel the tears beginning to brim over. What kind of friend was I, letting Grace poison herself and not telling a soul? 

“I’m really sorry,” I walked over to my “other” mom picking at my nails “I just didn’t know what to do.”

 Nobody knows what to do when their smart, and kind and beautiful best friend starts abusing every drug in the dictionary, especially when you’re a 17 year old honors student, you hear of stories like this on Lifetime movies, you don’t live it. She opened her arms and hugged me tightly, “It’ll be okay.” she whispered. Just then the doctor walked in. Clearing his throat, “Shortly after Grace was omitted we were about to administer a sedative, when she went into sudden cardiac arrest. Thankfully she was already in the care of trained medical professionals, we have moved her but you can come on in and see her now.”

I walked into Grace’s room.  She had a couple of IVs in her arm and she   looked like she was sleeping. I pulled a chair beside her bed and sat down.

“Grace, can you hear me?”

“Mhm.”

“Look at me.”

The stiff white pillowcase rustled under her messy hair.

“What,” she said hoarsely, but not hoarse enough for me not to catch the bite at the end.

“Don’t do that, don’t even.”

“No Winnie, I think I will, because you just ruined my life.”

“I’m gonna chalk that up to the drugs so I don’t knock you the hell out. Grace you ruined your own life and almost lost it today. I don’t think you-”

“NO,” she choked out, you don’t understand. Now that my mom knows about everything I’ll be grounded forever. What happened to having my back?”

I looked at the EKG. Her heartbeat was steady.

I lunged out of my chair and slapped her hard across the face. I grabbed her arm and held my face inches from hers so she could see my bloodshot eyes and the tears starting to spill.

I swallowed my sobs, “Grace, you’re so fucking screwed up. You almost died, you almost left your mom and Caleb and me. What about having MY back.”

Her petrified stare was the hint that I was starting to get through to her.

“You’re a goddamn fool Grace. All the crap you have done. Levels to this.”

She stammered, searching for words. I cut her off. I had long gone stopped trying to hold back my tears

“I was so scared Grace. I had to tell your mom I knew you had been doing this stuff for years. I can only imagine the anger...”

Tears were streaming down Grace’s face. I wiped her sullen cheeks, one with a faint red glow.

“It’s okay Grace, you’re okay now.  When our family comes in here you are going to tell them you want to go to rehab, okay? That you want to get better and that you never want to do drugs again, okay?

“Okay.”

“Okay,” I sighed and called them in from the hallway.