#I’ll be drawing again start January

[arden-c]

does anyone still use Tumblr? Trying to recover my online footing after some big life changes, moves, layoffs, changing my whole gender, and recovering from a decade of art burnout. I’ve never been good at the internet game, and now it’s a whole different beast with the tiktok’s and reels and whatnot. I miss this site a bit, it always felt more casual on here and like people have permission to be a bit more messy and authentic.

I was among the chunk of devs laid off Riot Games in January and am still seeking work. It’s grim out there these days. Every week brings another round of layoffs and studio closures. But at least I’m having fun drawing again. The one strange silver lining of the game industry imploding and the AI apocalypse potentially annihilating my career path is that I feel a lot more comfortable just experimenting and reconnecting with why I even got started drawing in the first place. Not as worried about having to be professional or have everything look polished. I guess I’ll just see what happens.

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Sacrifices/BTR Book 2: a Jhea Fanfic.

Chapter 5: ten minutes..

Flashback January 14th, 2025 4:51 PM

Jey paced in front of the bedroom door, sighing for what felt like the hundredth time. It was almost 5 o’clock, and Rhea still hadn’t let him in since they’d gotten home from therapy. Every time he knocked or tried to talk her through the door, she stayed silent, her hurt and anger radiating from the other side like an unbreakable wall.

Finally, Jey had had enough. “Fine,” he muttered to himself, “if she wants to act like a kid, I’ll act like one too.”

An idea sparked, and he made his way down the hallway to his son Jeyce’s room. He dug through the toys until he found exactly what he was looking for: a mini karaoke machine. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he picked it up and made his way back to the bedroom, setting up camp right in front of the closed door.

Turning on the karaoke machine, Jey cleared his throat and scrolled through his phone for a song with a karaoke instrumental track. He pressed play, bringing the microphone up to his mouth, and started singing in a horribly off-key voice that could probably be heard throughout the house.

“Rheaaaa… your body is like a Pangeaaaa… I can’t get you out of… whatever rhymes with Rheaaa…”

Inside the room, Rhea pressed a pillow over her head, trying to block out the sound of Jey’s absurd singing. “He’s really doing this,” she mumbled to herself, her frustration mingling with a hint of reluctant amusement.

Outside, Jey continued, his voice getting louder and more dramatic. “RHEAAA… why can’t we talk like adults… why do we have to close doooors?”

He could practically hear her rolling her eyes through the door, but he kept going, determined to break through her silence, even if it was with his ridiculous off-key serenade.

“RHEAAAAAA, I won’t stop singing until you open the doorrr…ahhh…”

Rhea rolled her eyes, pressing the pillow down harder over her ears. “I swear if he doesn’t stop singing…” she muttered, still clinging to her frustration. But despite herself, she could feel the corners of her mouth tugging upward in a reluctant smile. Jey was impossible, and somehow, that made him even harder to stay mad at.

Jey continued his off-key serenade, now moving into a full performance mode. “RHEAAA… HOW COME WE CAN’T JUST RIPTIDE THIS IDEAAAA…”

Inside the room, Rhea glanced at the door, her brow furrowing. She couldn’t believe he was still at it.

“RHEA… YOU’RE ACTING LIKE A CHIAAAA PET-AH,” he sang, drawing out the “-ah” in a way that made no sense whatsoever. “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY BUT IT SOUNDED BETTER IN MY HEAD-AH…”

Rhea rolled her eyes again. He was clearly just throwing in words that vaguely rhymed with her name, and she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or to stay mad. She clutched her pillow tighter, trying to block out the sound, but he was relentless.

“And now-ah… GUITAR SOLO!” Jey shouted through the microphone, launching into a dramatic “guitar” riff, complete with exaggerated mouth noises. “Bow-bow, BOWWWW, chika-chika-BOW-BOWWWW…”

Rhea couldn’t hold it in anymore. She let out a laugh, muffling it with her pillow as she shook her head. It was impossible to stay angry when he was out there making a complete fool of himself just to get her to crack a smile.

“RHEAAA, I KNOW YOU HEARD THAT SICK RIFF,” he called out, tapping on the door with a playful beat. “OPEN UP, BABE! I’LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER SOLOOO!”

Rhea bit her lip, trying to compose herself. She stood up and took a few slow steps toward the door, rolling her eyes again but unable to hide her grin.

Finally, she called out, “If I open this door, will you stop with your ‘concert’?”

Jey’s voice immediately perked up. “Only if you promise to let me finish my encore, babe!”

Rhea sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. But a small, reluctant smile crept across her face.

Jey grinned as he got up, brushing himself off before stepping inside as Rhea opened the door. Before she could say a word, he pulled her into a gentle kiss, letting his lips linger for a moment, as if trying to dissolve any lingering tension between them.

“Look,” he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth and sincerity, “I get it… it’s a tough thing to talk about. But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, okay? Whenever you’re ready to share, I’ll be here to listen.”

Rhea nodded, a small, vulnerable smile breaking through her tough exterior. His words seemed to ease the weight she’d been carrying, even if only a little. He leaned in, kissing her forehead this time, his thumb gently tracing the back of her hand.

Then, with a sudden change of tone, Jey smirked. “How about we ditch the heavy stuff for a while? I’m thinking we order some Chinese food, get enough fried rice to feed an army, and find the crappiest old movies we can. The worse the plot, the better.”

Rhea let out a genuine laugh, the kind she hadn’t felt in days. “Crappy old movies and Chinese? You really know how to spoil a girl.”

Jey chuckled, pulling her closer as he led her down the hallway toward the living room. “Only the finest for you, babe.” He winked, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close as they walked together.

As they settled on the couch, Jey pulled up DoorDash on his phone, listing out every ridiculous item he could find. “Egg rolls, dumplings, beef and broccoli…oh, and don’t forget the wontons.”

Rhea nodded, making her own suggestions as they put together their absurdly large order. And when the food finally arrived, they sprawled out on the couch, plates in hand, as Jey flipped through channels to find the perfect terrible movie.

Settling on an 80s action flick with absurd stunts and cheesy dialogue, Jey wrapped an arm around Rhea, pulling her close. “Nothing like some bad TV and good food, right?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder, her fingers laced with his. “Perfect night.”

— Later that night..

After the horrible movie marathon, Jey was determined to lift Rhea’s spirits and keep the night fun. “You see that? That’s your fiancé putting in work… look at that… you ain’t never had a man like me in your life, baby…” His playful teasing broke through the heaviness of the day, and Rhea erupted in laughter as he showcased his dance moves to the song “Candy” by Cameo.

“You don’t know what you are signing up for, babe… look at that… that’s Samoan genes, girl.” His antics were so ridiculous, so carefree, that Rhea found herself laughing harder than she had in weeks. In this moment, everything else faded away—the darkness that sometimes clouded her mind, the shadows of her past.

Once the song ended, Jey, high on Rhea’s laughter, jumped onto the bed beside her. He leaned in, kissing her softly, then pulled back, his eyes serious yet tender. “I just want you to know that you can talk to me,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “This is our safe space together, Rhea. No one could ever come between us.”

His words struck a chord deep within her. Rhea felt the weight of his promise, the sincerity behind his eyes. He kissed her again, more passionately this time, and she melted into him, feeling the warmth of his affection wash over her. It was a beautiful difference compared to the pain of her past—a gentle reminder that love could be safe, that she could trust him completely.

As the next song played softly on the stereo, “I Like It” by DeBarge, Jey stood up, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Come here,” he said, extending his hand.

Rhea took his hand, feeling the strength and security in his grip. He gently pulled her up, wrapping his arms around her waist, guiding her into a slow sway to the sounds of the ‘70s. The music wrapped around them like a warm blanket, and Jey began to sing softly to her, his voice smooth and soothing.

“I like it,” he crooned, his eyes locked onto hers, “You send chills up my spine every time I take one look at you…”

In that moment, Rhea rested her head against his shoulder, feeling a wave of comfort wash over her. The worries of the world outside faded, replaced by the warmth of their connection. Here, in his arms, she felt safe. Jey would never hurt her; he was nothing like the ghosts of her past.

As he continued to sing, his voice filling the air with love and reassurance, Rhea realized how far she had come. “See?” Jey teased, swaying a little more. “Ain’t nobody can dance like me. You’re just lucky to be with a star like this.” He twirled her around gently, and laughter spilled from both of them, the joy so pure it felt almost healing.

As they danced, Rhea couldn’t shake the feeling that this was exactly what she needed—a moment of laughter, love, and the undeniable truth that together, they could weather anything. In Jey, she had found her safe haven, a place where the past couldn’t touch her, and for the first time in a long time, she felt free.

When she asked him to sit down, he didn’t hesitate. He turned off the stereo, and they both settled onto the edge of the bed, an air of heaviness settling between them as the music faded away.

“Did you know… about Matt?” she asked quietly, her voice beaming through with hurt. The question lingered in the air, and Jey felt his heart twist at the pain he saw in her eyes.

He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Yeah,” he admitted, his voice soft. “Cody and I… we overheard him outside Cody’s bus back at Survivor Series 2023. He was insisting you wear those chaps for the segment… kept going on and on about it.” Jey shook his head, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes at the memory. “I didn’t like it. Didn’t like the way he talked to you… or treated you. That’s why I told you at WrestleMania that you deserved better. I wasn’t just saying it, Rhea… I meant every word.”

Rhea stayed quiet, processing his words, her mind going back to all the times her friends had tried to warn her. “Damian and Finn… they were always trying to talk to me about it,” she murmured, a faint sadness in her voice. “I thought they were crazy for a bit. I guess I didn’t want to believe it.”

Jey’s hand found hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring her. “I wanted to approach you.. but it was not my place to speak of it to you. We did some promos together Rhea but we never really talked after those said promos’…”

She looked down at their hands, the weight of her own guilt pressing down on her shoulders. “If you’d come to me… I probably would’ve listened,” she admitted, her voice trembling with the vulnerability she rarely let show.

Jey’s thumb brushed over her knuckles as he looked at her with a tenderness that made her heart ache. “Rhea,” he whispered, his voice steady, “I would never manipulate you or pull stupid stuff just to control you. I’m not him. I’d never hurt you, not like that.”

Rhea took a shaky breath, feeling the relief of his words wash over her. But there was still something gnawing at her, a memory she couldn’t let go. “Do you remember… when you pushed me?” she asked, her gaze falling away from his, her voice barely above a whisper.

The question hung between them, and Jey froze, immediately understanding what she meant. The memory in Portland, back in September, flashed in his mind—a night filled with tension, frustration, and a moment he wished he could take back. He could still see the look on her face, the hurt in her eyes, and it haunted him more than he’d ever let on.

“Yeah,” he murmured, the regret evident in his voice. “I remember.”

Rhea’s hand tightened around his, grounding herself as she finally let herself speak the words she’d been holding in. “I think… that moment scared me because, for a split second, I thought you might be like him.” Her voice cracked, and she looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. “But now I know you’re not him, Jey.”

Jey swallowed hard, his own eyes misting over as he held her gaze. “Rhea, I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’d give anything to take that moment back. I… I was so angry, I just… I lost control for a second, and I hate myself for it. You have no idea how much I hate myself for that.”

She reached up, her hand gently cupping his cheek, grounding him in her touch. “I know, Jey,” she said softly, her voice laced with understanding. “And that’s why I trust you… that’s why I’m here.”

He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch, letting her words wash over him like a balm to his guilt-ridden heart. For a long moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their shared pain and healing filling the room. When he opened his eyes again, he saw nothing but love and forgiveness in her gaze, and he felt something within him begin to heal.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “For giving me a chance… for letting me in.”

She smiled faintly, her thumb brushing over his cheek as she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips—a kiss filled with all the promises and trust they had built together.

“Just… promise me one thing,” she murmured as they pulled away, her forehead resting against his.

“Anything,” he replied, his voice unwavering.

“Treat me right..”

And in that quiet, intimate moment, they both knew that, no matter what the future held, they’d face it side by side—healing, learning, and loving, one day at a time.

Jey pulled back from their embrace, a playful glint in his eye. “Alright, now that we got all the mushiness out of the way…” he teased, reaching over to turn the stereo back on. The soft, rhythmic beats of Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love” filled the room, setting a sultry atmosphere. With a smirk, he leaned in to kiss her, his hands warm and steady on her waist.

Rhea couldn’t help but melt into him, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. In one swift motion, Jey lifted her onto his lap, pulling her close as they swayed gently to the music. The lyrics wrapped around them, the chorus echoing in her ears, “Sexy love, girl, the things you do… keep me sprung, keep me running back to you.”

She ran her fingers through his hair, savoring the texture and warmth, the familiar scent of him filling her senses—a comforting blend of his natural musk and something uniquely him. She paused, pulling back slightly to look at him, her gaze softening as she took in the man in front of her, the man who had given her strength to trust and love again.

Jey looked up at her, his dark eyes full of affection and something deeper, something that made her heart pound. His hands traced soothing patterns on her back, grounding her, reminding her that she was safe here, with him.

“You know,” he murmured, his voice sultry, “you got me wrapped around your finger, right?”

Rhea let out a small laugh, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “Good,” she replied softly, her lips brushing against his, “someone’s got to keep you in line.”

Jey chuckled, his smile widening as he tightened his hold on her. They sat there, wrapped up in each other, with only the soft music and the sound of their steady breaths filling the space between them.

As the song continued to play, Jey’s gaze grew more intense, his voice lowering to a tender murmur. “You’re my everything, you know that?”

Rhea’s heart clenched, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest. She leaned down, her forehead touching his, her voice quiet but full of conviction. “And you’re mine, Joshua. I don’t know how I got so lucky… but I’m not letting go.”

Jey smiled, a gentle, genuine smile that made her feel like she was the only person in the world. “Good,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “’cause I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Their lips met again, a soft, unhurried kiss, filled with all the words they couldn’t say out loud. The song continued to play in the background, the lyrics wrapping around them, reminding her that this was real, that this love they shared was something worth fighting for.

As they held each other, Rhea felt a profound sense of peace wash over her—a feeling of safety and belonging that she hadn’t felt in years. In Jey’s arms, she had finally found her home, a place where she could be vulnerable, where she was loved and cherished for exactly who she was.

—

January 15th, 2025, 9:13 AM

The silence in the home gym was punctuated only by Jey’s labored breaths and the clink of weights as he struggled through another shoulder workout. Every lift was a reminder of the shooting, a painful echo he couldn’t seem to escape. Each rep brought back flashes of that night, of blood and panic, of Rhea’s tear-streaked face as she held him, her desperate voice pleading for him to hold on. He clenched his teeth, forcing the dumbbell up, but the ache in his shoulder forced him to set it down with a frustrated grunt.

The door opened, and Jon walked in, already geared up for his own workout. He took one look at his brother, noticing the exhaustion etched into Jey’s face, the strain that wasn’t just physical. Jon stepped onto the treadmill, starting a steady jog, his eyes occasionally glancing at Jey with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Jon asked gently, breaking the silence.

Jey hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. The weight of everything he’d been holding in was heavy, almost suffocating. He climbed onto the bike next to Jon, setting the resistance as he pedaled slowly, trying to gather his thoughts.

“Man…” Jey began, his voice low and hesitant. “She’s having nightmares every night, Uce. Every damn night. She keeps saying my name, keeps begging him not to shoot me.” He swallowed hard, the memory of Rhea’s restless sleep gnawing at him. “She keeps saying, ‘Don’t shoot him, shoot me instead.’”

Jon’s face softened, understanding the depth of what his brother was carrying. “Have you asked her about it?”

Jey shook his head, running a hand over his face. “Nah, man… I don’t know if I should. I don’t want to make it worse for her. I told her I’d take her pain if I could, that I’d carry it for her… but, fuck, Uce. I’m stressed. I don’t know if I’m strong enough for both of us.”

Jon’s gaze turned serious, and he slowed the treadmill, eventually stepping off to sit on a nearby bench. He motioned for Jey to join him, and Jey followed, wiping the sweat from his brow, trying to steady his breathing.

“Jey,” Jon started, his voice firm but filled with empathy, “you’ve been carrying a lot, man. More than anyone should have to. But have you really… and I mean really, thought about everything you’ve been through?”

Jey’s brow furrowed, his gaze dropping to the floor as he considered his brother’s words. “What do you mean?”

“Look,” Jon said, taking a deep breath, “you and Rhea lost the baby back in September. Have you two ever really talked about that? Have you told her how you felt, seeing her in the hospital after… after her attempt?” He paused, letting his words sink in. “And has she told you how she felt, seeing you in that hospital bed after you got shot?”

He’d shoved those memories down, telling himself he was strong enough to handle it. But had he really processed any of it?

“Everyone’s life has changed, Uce. The last three months… they’ve changed all of us,” Jon said, his voice heavy with the weight of his own realizations. “I mean, think about it. One minute, I’m calling Rhea a whore for… breaking up your family. The next minute, I’m donating blood to save her life.”

Jey’s eyes met his brother’s, and he could see the turmoil in Jon’s expression—the lingering guilt, the confusion, the acceptance that came only after everything had already fallen apart.

Jon continued, his voice softening. “I’m not trying to make this about me, but do you know how hard it was for Trinity, right? To go from talking to Takecia every day to… now talking to Rhea every day. It’s like everything shifted overnight, and we didn’t have a choice but to adapt.”

Jey hadn’t thought about it that way. He’d been so wrapped up in his own pain, his own guilt, that he hadn’t fully considered how much everyone else had been forced to change as well.

“We don’t regret Rhea, bro. We love her. But everything happened so fast,” Jon admitted, his voice filled with a quiet sadness. “I don’t think any of us really had time to process what it all meant, what it did to us. And maybe… maybe that’s why you’re feeling so overwhelmed.”

Jey’s shoulders slumped, the weight of Jon’s words settling over him. He hadn’t allowed himself to truly think about these traumatic events, especially the one where how close he’d come to death himself. It was like he’d been running on autopilot, surviving each day, without ever truly facing the enormity of what they’d been through.

“You’re right,” Jey whispered, his voice breaking. “I just… I didn’t want to think about it. Any of it. I thought if I just… kept moving, kept pushing through, it would go away.”

Jon placed a comforting hand on Jey’s shoulder. “You’re not alone, man. We’re all here, dealing with it too. And maybe it’s time we stop pretending like we can just ignore it. Maybe it’s time we start facing it. Together.”

Jey nodded, a tear slipping down his cheek as he finally allowed himself to feel the weight of everything they’d lost—and everything they’d somehow managed to hold onto.

For the first time in three months, he felt a sense of some type of clarity. It wasn’t about being strong enough to carry Rhea’s pain. It was about sharing it, allowing each other to heal. And maybe, just maybe, that was the kind of strength they both needed.

“Thanks, Uce,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Jon pulled him into a brief, tight hug. “Anytime, bro. We’re family—that’s what we do.”

As they pulled apart, a sense of determination settled in Jey’s heart. He knew what he had to do now. For himself, for Rhea, and for the future they were building together—one step at a time, one healing moment after another.

—

11:58 AM

Jey wandered through the aisles of the baby section, scanning each shelf with intent. He wanted something perfect, something that would mean more than just an ordinary gift. His gaze finally landed on a sleek, grey and black car seat, and a smile tugged at his lips. It was practical, yet it held the promise of the future they were building. He reached for the box, hefting it into his cart with a sense of purpose. Nearby, he spotted a display of soft, colorful baby toys, and he grabbed a few of those as well, picturing Rhea’s face when she saw them.

After gathering everything, he made his way to the flower department, his eyes instantly drawn to a bouquet of lilies. The soft white petals reminded him of Rhea—strong, resilient, yet carrying a quiet beauty that most people didn’t get to see. He picked out the bouquet and headed to the cashier, his mind already racing with the words he wanted to say to her.

Once he loaded everything into his Mercedes, Jey drove home, the anticipation building with every mile. This wasn’t just a gift. This was his way of starting a conversation they’d both avoided for too long. It was time to stop running, to face everything they’d been through together.

Pulling into the driveway, Jey took a deep breath before grabbing the bouquet and stepping inside. He found Rhea curled up on the couch, her eyes on the TV but her mind seemingly elsewhere. She looked up when he walked in, her face lighting up with a smile as she took in the flowers in his hand.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked, sitting up and taking the bouquet from him. She breathed in their scent, her smile soft and curious as she looked back up at him.

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, letting it linger before pulling back. “I just… I wanted to talk to you, babe. About some things we’ve both been holding onto.”

Rhea’s expression shifted, a hint of hesitation in her eyes as she began to speak, but Jey gently placed a finger to her lips, silencing her with a soft shake of his head. “No, Rhea. Let me say this first.”

She nodded, settling back into the couch, her gaze never leaving his as he sat down beside her.

“I know you’ve been having nightmares,” he said softly, his voice filled with understanding rather than accusation. “I hear you every night… saying my name, telling them to shoot you instead.” He took a deep breath, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Rhea’s eyes filled with tears, her lips parting as if to respond, but Jey continued, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her cheek.

“When we go back to therapy, Rhea, we have to lay it all out. No more hiding. We’ve both got things buried deep, things we’re too scared to talk about, thinking maybe they can’t hurt us if we just keep them locked away.” He swallowed, his gaze searching hers. “But that pain… it’s still there, isn’t it? It doesn’t just disappear.”

Rhea nodded, her voice a soft, broken whisper. “I’ve tried so hard to be strong, Jey… to push it all down and pretend I’m okay. But… you’re right. It hasn’t gone away.”

He reached up, his thumb brushing away a tear that slipped down her cheek. “We’ll do this together, Rhea. All of it. But… there’s one thing I need you to talk to me about now.” He took a steadying breath, his eyes never wavering from hers. “Tell me about Demetri.”

Rhea’s breath caught, her body tensing as his words hung in the air between them, heavy and unyielding. The name alone seemed to open a door she’d kept locked for so long, and for the first time, Jey could see the fear, the pain, and the memories she’d buried so deep they had become part of her.

The room grew silent as Jey waited, his hand still on her cheek, his eyes filled with a mixture of patience and understanding. And as Rhea looked back at him, she knew that this was the moment—one that could change everything.

And so, she took a deep breath, ready to finally confront the darkness she’d kept hidden for so long.

—

January 27th, 2025, 7:45 AM

Jey’s Mercedes rolled up to the Mead School, the morning light casting a soft glow over the campus. Inside the car, Jeyce sat quietly, gripping his customized Judgment Day lunchbox tightly as he stared at the looming building. He was dressed in a vintage black Usos shirt, blue jeans, and black Vans, his expression a mix of nerves and determination.

Jey glanced at him in the rearview mirror and offered an encouraging smile. “You got this, little man.”

Rhea reached over, giving Jeyce’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll be here to pick you up right at four, okay?”

Jeyce nodded, his eyes betraying his anxiety despite his attempts to stay calm. “Okay.”

The trio made their way to the school’s main office, where Jey and Rhea filled out the final paperwork. The registrar handed Jeyce his schedule and a map of the school, pointing out that his first class was on the second floor. He glanced at his schedule—English, Math, History, Science, Art, and finally Gym. Six periods in a new place, surrounded by people he’d never met. His stomach twisted with nerves.

Rhea leaned down, brushing a kiss on his cheek. “You’re going to do great, Jeyce. Just remember, take it one class at a time.”

Jey added, “It’s okay to be scared, buddy. Starting somewhere new is tough, but before you know it, you’ll find your way—and you’ll make friends.” He ruffled Jeyce’s hair with a grin. “Who wouldn’t want to be friends with Main Event Jey Uso’s kid?”

Jeyce managed a small smile, his confidence bolstered by their words. He took a deep breath, nodding as he tucked the map and schedule into his backpack. With a wave to Jey and Rhea, he headed down the hallway towards his first class, trying to push the fear aside.

By the time he reached the second floor, the bell had already rung. He spotted his English classroom and sprinted toward it, arriving just in time to open the door. An older man at the front of the room looked up, his eyes kind behind his glasses.

“You must be Jeyce Fatu,” the teacher said, a warm smile on his face.

Jeyce nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m Mr. Wilkins, your English literature teacher for the rest of the year.” Mr. Wilkins extended his hand, and Jeyce shook it, feeling slightly more at ease. “Go ahead and take a seat in the back, Jeyce.”

Jeyce nodded and made his way to the back row, settling into his seat as he scanned the room. The other kids were busy chatting or on their phones, barely giving him a glance—until one kid looked over, eyeing Jeyce’s The Usos shirt with a sneer.

“Wrestling is for babies,” the kid muttered, just loud enough for Jeyce to hear.

Jeyce felt a spark of anger flare up, but he tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the map he’d been given. Yet, the boy didn’t stop.

“My dad isn’t a baby,” Jeyce said quietly, his voice steady despite the heat in his chest. “He’s the best wrestler in the world. And so is my bonus mom.”

The kid snorted, rolling his eyes. “Your dad isn’t a wrestler. Wrestling’s fake anyway.”

Jeyce clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. “He is. He’s Main Event Jey Uso, and my bonus mom is Rhea Ripley. They’re both champions.”

“Bonus mom?” The kid laughed, the taunting edge in his voice growing sharper. “You mean your actual parents are divorced? Who cheated on who?”

The mocking tone hit Jeyce like a punch to the gut. A part of him wanted to ignore it, to be the bigger person like his dad always said, but the words cut deep. He could feel the other kids around them watching, waiting to see what he’d do. His fingers tightened around the handle of his lunchbox, his anger bubbling to the surface.

“Hey, settle down back there,” Mr. Wilkins called, casting a warning look in their direction.

But it was too late. In a flash of frustration and hurt, Jeyce swung his lunchbox, the weight of it making contact with the kid’s head with a solid thud. The room went silent, every eye turning toward the back of the classroom as the boy let out a startled yelp, clutching his head.

Mr. Wilkins’ face darkened as he hurried over, his voice firm. “Jeyce! That’s enough. Both of you, stay seated. I’ll be contacting the office.”

Jeyce’s heart raced, the reality of what he’d just done hitting him. He slumped back into his chair, his chest heaving as he looked down at his lunchbox, his mind a swirl of regret and anger.

His first day at his new school was definitely not off to the start he’d hoped for.

—

Jey and Rhea stood in line at Starbucks, both of them scanning the menu as they waited to place their order. Rhea’s eyes lit up with excitement as she nudged Jey. “I need three cake pops and a refresher, ASAP!”

Jey chuckled, shaking his head at her enthusiasm. “I think I’ll try that caramel macchiato. Need a little something sweet today.”

Just as he was about to say something else, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Glancing at the screen, he noticed an unfamiliar Connecticut number flashing on the display. Frowning, he answered, “Hello?”

A woman’s voice on the other end spoke up. “Hi, this is Vanessa Cameron from the Mead School’s Middle School Division. Is this Joshua Fatu?”

Jey’s face shifted into a look of concern, and Rhea immediately picked up on it, watching him closely. “Yeah, this is him. Is something wrong with my son? We just dropped him off like ten minutes ago.”

Vanessa sighed on the other end. “Mr. Fatu, there was an incident involving Jeyce. We’ve placed him under Individual Supervision Suspension for the rest of the day.”

Jey’s eyes widened, and Rhea’s brows knit together with worry as she strained to hear the conversation. “An incident? What happened?”

Vanessa explained, “It appears there was an altercation. Jeyce hit another student after an exchange of words. Unfortunately, he’s refusing to speak about it, so we’re still gathering details.”

Jey’s frustration was oozing out. “And what about the other kid? What’s being done about that?”

“We’re addressing each student involved individually,” Vanessa replied. “Since this is Jeyce’s first day, we’re willing to overlook it this time, but you’ll need to meet with the principal when you pick him up later today to discuss this further.”

Jey rubbed a hand over his face, taking a steadying breath before responding, “Alright. We’ll be there.”

He hung up and turned to Rhea, who looked at him expectantly. “What happened?” she asked, her tone laced with concern.

Jey let out a sigh, trying to process the news. “That was the school. Apparently, Jeyce got into a fight. He hit another kid… They’re putting him in some sort of supervised suspension for the day.”

Rhea’s jaw dropped, and she blinked in disbelief. “Already? But he was so excited this morning… What happened?”

“Apparently, they were exchanging words, but he’s not talking about what was said,” Jey replied, his voice tinged with frustration and worry. “They’re going to overlook it since it’s his first day, but we have to meet with the principal when we pick him up.”

Rhea’s face softened, a mix of concern and determination flashing in her eyes. “He must have been provoked… It’s not like him to start something, especially not on the first day.”

Jey nodded, but there was still a storm of worry brewing inside him. “Yeah… I don’t know what it was, but if he’s shutting down already, something must’ve really gotten under his skin.”

Rhea looked at him, her voice quiet but firm. “We’ll figure it out, Jey. This is a big change for him. Maybe he just needs time to adjust.”

Jey took a deep breath, nodding as he reached for their order on the counter. “Yeah… Let’s hope that’s all it is.”

They shared a look, both silently agreeing to do whatever it took to make Jeyce feel secure in this new chapter of his life, even if it meant facing a few bumps along the way.

[leafofkudzu]

Hello and Happy New Year!!! The first Saturday of a new month will soon be upon us, which means it's time for another art party hosted by my guild, Verdant Shield [VS]! But this one is extra special, because exactly one year ago was my first real foray into the world of event hosting - that's right, it's the one-year anniversary of [VS] Art Party!!!

The very first [VS] Art Party was held January 7th 2023, and was a very quiet experiment with no visible tag, announced only two days before and hidden away in an obscure corner unlikely to be noticed by non-participants. I was nervous, but with a modest 20ish-person turnout and a chill energy not dissimilar to the current EU parties, it seemed to go over great! As art trickled into the tag over the following days and weeks, people started asking about future parties, and even about hosting ones on EU servers, which I could certainly do since I already had an EU alt. And so, a monthly tradition was born!

For those unsure of what an art party is, they're a concept carried over from Final Fantasy XIV - in-game get-togethers for artists/writers/creatives of all kinds to hang out, chat, and create together! Grab your character and outfit of choice, head to the party location, find someone that inspires you, and create! Afterwards, everyone posts their creations in a shared tag (ours is #VSArtParty) so others can see, interact, and share! The tl;dr I've been repeating since the very first announcement post is simply this: the 'goal' of an art party isn't to be drawn, but to draw others, and share with the community!

Time and /squadjoin information is under the cut, but will be posted again via reblogs as the squads go up on the day of the party!

Location Information:

It's a bit tricky to get to if you're F2P, but there was no way I wasn't returning to the location of the original party - the uninstanced asura home instance in Rata Sum, the Applied Development Lab! I've even dusted off my original map image, complete with hand-drawn arrows:

(That's Magustan Court Waypoint, by the way.)

This area is only accessible via flying mounts or with the use of a Teleport to Friend, so be sure to have one (or both) handy when the time comes!

Time & Squad Details:

As per usual, there will be two 3-hour parties - one on EU servers and one on NA ones - with an hour break in between. People do tend to arrive early though, and those with multiple accounts often jump directly from one to the other, so don't be surprised to see things running late and/or starting early!

The first party will be on EU servers and begin at 9pm Central European Time (aka 3pm Eastern Standard Time or 4 hours before in-game reset). I’ll be hosting on my EU alt account, so to join either /squadjoin or whisper Paranomalous Plexxi for an invite.

The second party will be on NA servers and begin at 7pm Eastern Standard Time (aka 1am Central European Time or at in-game reset). I’ll be hosting this one on my main account, so to join either /squadjoin or whisper Teekzi for an invite.

Closing Words:

The engagement, energy, and love in these events always blows me away, and words can't express how happy I am with what we've all created together. I'm so glad that I took that first step last year and extended an invitation to what would've likely just been a throwaway guild event to the best section of the GW2 community I know. GW2 tumblr, keep being amazing. I love you guys so much, and I can't wait to see you guys on Saturday, and for many more first-Saturdays-of-the-month to come!

Ever your diligent cat herder,

Meka ♥♥♥

[rayleearts]

so um. hi!

This is pretty late but you haven't sent that update that you're feeling any better, so I took that as a sign. Sorry for my bad art skills and sorry for not finishing it. Actually sorry in advance for anyone who has to see this but anyway

This is based on your (avatar? persona? selfsona?) that appeared at the mid-season finale of Realta that I just thought was the cutest little friend I've seen in a while. So I drew the friend!

I was sorry to hear you weren't feeling well but hopefully this helps :)(sending all the healing vibes ✨✨)

(this was supposed to be anonymous hence the anon in the drawing but I was worried the media/pictures would be erased so pretend the anon is me)

(how are you feeling btw? are you all right)

;w; oh my goodness this is precious. Thank you, I am finally starting to feel better but my partner JUST got covid yesterday and I’m terrified of getting sick again. We’re masking and distancing as much as possible in the same apartment but seriously send me so much luck. I’ll definitely need it.

If I don’t get sick again, the hiatus should be extended for about two months, so maybe January/February? I feel sad making you guys wait so long, I can’t wait to actually get into the other half of the season!

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

January week 5

We're gonna start this week with some broad ideas that are going to make us think. Take a look not only at what you practice and how you practice, but the why behind those things. What are the rules and philosophies that you follow?

Monday - Rules

Introspection/ lab notebook -what are the ground rules you set for yourself in your practice? Put these in your lab notebook, as these may grow and change with your practice through the years. What are the hard nos you have in your life and practice, things you absolutely won’t do spiritually or magically? What are the things you do every time you practice, the “have to” dos? Setting yourself these rules and having them written or even just said out loud can help you understand yourself. Once you have them down, think about the why behind each one.

Journal- think back about what got you into your practice in the beginning. What was it? What is the how and why? What were the reasons you got into witchcraft in the first place.

Tuesday - Morals and Values

Lab notebook - think along the lines of the seven deadly sins and the nine noble virtues. Do you hold stock in any set of moral standpoints or pillars within your craft? What are there? Where did you learn about them? How do you go about navigating them and handling them? A great deal can be learned from understanding oneself.

Study - Pick another herb off your list and study all you can about it! Magical, mundane, medicinal, history, culinary uses, myths and legends, everything you can!

Wednesday - Doing The Work

Lab notebook/ practical- do a spell! Find one or make one and outline it in your lab notebook. What will you use? When and where will you do it? What will you actually do? Why will you do it? How will you do? Once it is outlined, do it! Then take notes on how it went and what needs to change, if anything, to make it better!

Study - Like before, pick a gem and study everything possible about it!

Thursday - Philosophies

Study - what’s one thing in witchcraft you’ve always wanted to learn? Whatever it is make a page for it! Be it scrying or cursing or protection magic or sigils. Whatever it is, study up on it! Add the notes to a notebook or your lab notebook!

Introspection/ Journal - What ideals do you stand for when it comes to your craft? Personally, my practice both spiritual and witchcraft related, pertain almost entirely to balance. What ideas or places do you draw inspiration from?

Introspection/ journal - what are three goals you have to work on in your practice this year? Journal about them now. How will you do it? What steps will you take to achieve these goals?

Friday

Catch up day- use this day to catch up on any work you’ve not gotten done so far this year.

Design- design a new page for your book! Add stickers, colors, pictures, leaves, flowers, cards, anything!! Whatever style your grimoire is, let it show! Be creative!

Ah! Another week down! There’ll be more bonus prompts in the coming weeks. I hope everyone is enjoying the posts and the challenge and again feel free to tag, message or inbox me at any time! I’ll reply as fast as I am able and am enjoying the feedback I’ve gotten so far!

Good luck and happy crafting witches!

-Mod Hazel

[ask-the-critters-survival-au]

So anybody feeling rather nosy today?

Well I finished Kickin’s entire diary a few weeks ago, and since Hoppy never really got the chance to read the entire thing, I thought I’d share it here!

Please note, on the following dates

November 4, 1997

March 10, 1998

September 4, 1998

Kickin does write down some s*icidal thoughts, that may be triggering to some people. I’d advise you to skip past those if they are triggering for you. I’ll mark them with bold text so you know.

Diary is under the cut! Have fun snooping!

August 26, 1995

I found this notebook by one of the kids’ beds. He didn’t use it at all so I figured it was alright to take it! Not that he is here to stop me anyways. I decided to start writing stuff in here! Just whatever I’m thinking, whenever I feel like it, I guess. Whenever I feel like it. God, that is a WEIRD sentence to say. Or write. But it’s true! It’s my life now! Whenever I feel like it! No more stupid employees here! Haha, get wrecked! Losers. Oh, Hoppy’s calling me. I’m gonna go! I’ll write in you again later! I promise! Wait, why am I promising a notebook that I’ll do something?

October 2, 1995

Okay so I kinda forgot about this thing. Oops! Anyways, I’m getting bored. The soccer ball is starting to deflate and we can’t find the pump. This SUCKS dude. Like, I get the prototype is busy doing whatever, but if he’s all powerful like he says can’t he give us some entertainment around here? Like sheesh! There’s nothing to do. I’m so bored.

October 16, 1995

I’m thinking of growing my hair out. I mean, Crafty is doing it! And it’s getting annoying constantly cutting it. It grows back really fast. Maybe I’ll go for a mullet type look! Just maybe though.

October 29, 1995

DogDay’s missing. We don’t know where he went. We tried searching for him but CatNap told us not to. It’s always what CatNap says. Stupid. I’m going to keep looking anyways. I’m gonna find him.

October 30, 1995

Never mind.

January 1, 1996

Hey, new year! It kinda sucks though. We did absolutely nothing to celebrate. Also, big problem. Bobby found out about my secret crush. Oh I hope nobody ever reads this thing. Don’t tell anybody, but I think I like-like Hoppy. She’s just so cute and pretty and funny and spunky and cool and I love it when she talks about outer space it’s so interesting!!! She’s so fast too, like crazy fast! I think she’s too fast though. She beats me at literally EVERYTHING. That’s okay though! I’m gonna keep getting better until I can win! But yeah. Bobby found out. I’m terrified for my life.

January 23 1996

So we’re starting to run out of food. Catnap said to trust in the prototype and that he’s gonna save us and stuff. I call bull. We need food, not a savior! But he said the prototype has a plan, so I guess we’ll be fine. Still though, I’m getting tired of eating moldy salami.

February 6, 1996

Crafty’s starting to lose it. She started nagging me nonstop because she keeps running out of red marker. I’m gonna avoid her from now on. Her drawings are getting weird. Really weird. Like borderline creepy stuff. She’s going bonkers man, I’m telling you.

May 16, 1996

We ran out of food. Woke up this morning to Picky scoring through the rest of our god damn supply. I swear I am going to SCREAM DUDE!! So what if she’s always hungry?! She’s not the only one who needs food to survive! Unbelievable. What the hell are we going to do now?

May 17, 1996

So that was CatNap’s back up plan. Oh my god. I don’t want to even think about what I’ve done today. I recognized him. Who I ate. He was there when I first woke up. Taking notes in the corner of the room on his clipboard. I feel sick to my stomach. How long are we going to have to do this for?

June 2, 1996

Today feels special. I don’t know why. It just does. Also I’m sorry I haven’t been writing in you as much. I’m just scared of getting caught writing in this thing. What if someone reads it? What if CatNap reads it? Will he get mad at me for what I wrote a few months ago about the prototype? Maybe I should erase it. No I can’t do that, I wrote it in marker. I’m going to keep this thing hidden inside my zipper pocket for now, until I find a better spot.

July 22, 1996

There was a freaking execution today. I’m so disturbed right now. It was one of the tiny DogDays. I’m not really sure what he did, but CatNap made us all watch as he ripped the poor guy apart. He said that’s what happens if you are a heretic. That’s what happens if you speak out even the slightest against the prototype. Bubba told me that he thought one of the other minis had tattled to CatNap about what that tiny DogDay did. That’s insane. I can’t imagine any of my friends doing that to me. Would they do that to me? No, I’m being an idiot. They’d never do that. Regardless I can’t let him find this thing. I don’t want to end up like that mini.

August 8, 1996

It’s officially been a full year since the Hour of Joy. It’s weird to think about. How many full humans have I eaten by now? Maybe eight? Ten? Twelve? Twenty? I lose count. I don’t feel anything when I eat them anymore. It’s easier to imagine them without faces. I always cut off the head so I don’t have to see it. On the bright side, we finally found the pump for the soccer ball. Hoppy and I can finally start playing again. I don’t really think either of us want to though. At least not right now.

September 12, 1996

Hoppy and I had another fight today. I’m writing in this thing because Bobby made us separate. I don’t like being mad at her. I want to apologize but I’m scared to approach her right now. I miss DogDay. I don’t write about him much but I miss him. His name is kind of forbidden to even speak nowadays. Picky thinks he abandoned us. I don’t think he did. He’d never do that. But if he did I want him to come back. Everything’s falling apart without him.

January 12, 1997

I’m sorry it’s been awhile. I don’t really know what to write about today though so I’m gonna end it off here.

February 7, 1997

Sometimes I wonder if I should name this journal something. But I’m not very creative when it comes to names. Crafty is though. She’s been really different lately though. She’s gotten really cheerful for some reason. But say the wrong thing and suddenly you’re on the ground. I’m scared of her. I don’t know what’s going on with her but if she doesn’t get that fixed soon she’s going to get herself killed. Or kill someone else. Either of the two. Maybe even both.

April 25, 1997

Nothing to write about today. I’m just not going to. I don’t feel like it. My hand hurts. I think I’m gonna go back to sleep.

June 2, 1997

It’s the weird day again. The one that feels like it should be special. I don’t know what that feeling is. I asked Bubba about it. He knows a lot, I thought he’d probably know that too. He didn’t though. He said he got that feeling too, sometimes. But neither of us knew why.

June 19, 1997

We ran out of food. I didn’t even know that was possible. There were so many humans working in this factory, how did we run out of them? The entire Playcare was in panic today. CatNap calmed us all down. He said not to worry, because the prototype always has a plan. Okay. If the prototype always has a plan, what is it? Because I’m tired of this whole stupid mess! I want to know what it is! Why can’t I know what it is? This is so dumb! The prototype is so dumb! It makes me want to tear all my feathers out!!!!

September 19, 1997

IM SO HUNGRY SO HUNGRY SO HUNGRY SO HUNGRY I DONT KNOW WHAT TO EAT THERES NOTHING I HAVENT EATEN IN SO LONG I NEED FOOD I NEED FOOD. IM HAVING THESE SCARY THOUGHTS NOW I WANT THEM GONE! I DONT WANT TO HURT ANYONE BUT I NEED TO EAT I NEED TO EAT I NEED TO

September 19, 1997

I did it. I needed to eat. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Picky told us how to find food. There’s plenty of it in the Playhouse. Like livestock, just waiting to be slaughtered. CatNap was so mad. But we have food now. And we all know he’s been eating them too. I feel like a monster. They were like us. But Bubba told me it was necessary. We were all going to die if we didn’t. I’m still sorry though.

November 4, 1997

Bubba got gassed. Badly. I’m so worried about him. We don’t even know why, we just walked in the room and there he was, laying on the ground with scratch marks all over him. How could CatNap have done such a thing? He’s sick. Just sick. I’ve been taking care of him now. I don’t want to leave his side. I’m worried that if I leave for a moment that something will happen to him. Hoppy’s been making me stay active. Sometimes she’s the only reason I keep going on. It’d be so easy just to end it all. She’s there for me though. I love her. God, I love her. I never want anything to happen to her. But I know something’s going to happen to her. That something’s going to happen to all of us eventually. When it happens to her though, it’s gonna happen to me next. I promise it will.

November 14, 1997

I found a boombox today. It’s really cool. I’ve been playing it for Bubba recently. He’s still asleep. I hope he wakes up soon. Did I ever mention in here that I like to dance? It’s really fun. It makes me forget about everything that happened. I lose myself in the movements. I don’t really even know how I know how to dance. I never learned it as a toy. I think I’m gonna go do it now though.

December 3, 1997

THAT JERK! THAT HORRIBLE STUPID DISGUSTING DUMB JERK! I HATE HER! I HATE HER I HATE HER I HATE HER! HOW DARE SHE DO THAT TO BUBBA?? WHEN HAS HE EVER BEEN ANYTHING BUT NICE TO HER???? BUT NOOOOO, I GUESS KINDNESS MEANS NOTHING IN THE EYES OF PICKY PIGGY! ALL SHE CARES ABOUT IS HERSELF AND HER APPETITE! I WOULDVE RIPPED OFF SOOO MUCH MORE THAN HER EAR IF I COULD! BUT THEN HOPPY AND BOBBY HAD TO COME IN AND RESTRAIN ME! STUPID! STUPID STUPID STUPID! IM GOING TO KILL HER WHEN I GET THE CHANCE! AND ITS GOING TO BE SLOW AND BRUTAL AND ITS GOING TO HURT!

January 1, 1998

Yay. New year. Yippee.

March 4, 1998

Something bad happened today. I knew it would happen eventually. I think we all did. Crafty finally lost it on the wrong person. She attacked CatNap and then he ripped off her hands as punishment. I could hear every. Single. Agonizing second of her screams. I thought I was used to screaming by now. I guess I was just telling myself that. I hope she survives. That was a lot of blood.

March 6, 1998

What do I do. What do I do. What do I do. Hoppy’s leaving. She just told me she is. Hoppy, Bobby and Crafty are leaving Playcare in a week. They can’t leave. They can’t. CatNap’s going to kill them. He’s going to kill them brutally. And even if he doesn’t, who knows what’s outside of Playcare? Plenty of toys who would be willing to hurt them for food. Hoppy told me to come with them. I can’t go with them. I don’t want to die. But I don’t want them to die. They can’t leave. I don’t want them to leave. But I can’t change Hoppy’s mind. She’s leaving with or without me. How could she do that to me? Just leave me here, all alone with Picky? Bubba’s still asleep. She’s the only one I’ll have to talk to. I don’t want to talk to her. I’m scared. I need to stop them.

March 8, 1998

what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done

March 9, 1998

I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m so so sorry. I messed up I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry please forgive me. I keep seeing her. She talks to me in my head now, telling me she won’t ever forgive me, no matter how much I grovel and beg. Sometimes I don’t even think it’s in my head. Am I going insane? You don’t deserve to stay sane. You’re right. I don’t. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.

March 10, 1998

The blood won’t come off. It stained my hands. Maybe I deserve that. You do deserve that. You’re right. You’re always right. I deserve it. I haven’t moved from my bed since it happened. I’m hungry but I don’t want to eat. I don’t deserve to eat. Bubba needs me though. At least if Picky tries eating him again there’s nobody to stop me from making her pay this time. I don’t know why I don’t just give up. I should. I made a promise that I would once Hoppy went. Maybe it’s Bubba. Or maybe I’m just making excuses. Maybe I’m just too scared. I’ve never felt so alone before. I deserve to feel alone.

March 24, 1998

I’ve been seeing her a lot lately in my dreams. Always the screaming and then the ear. And then she tells me it’s my fault. I know it’s my fault. But I still don’t understand. Am I selfish for not understanding? Yeah. Probably. But all I ever wanted to do was protect her. I don’t understand why this happened. I don’t understand. Picky’s been avoiding me. That’s fine. I don’t want to see her either.

April 12, 1998

You know what? No. I’m done. I don’t care if CatNap catches me going into the Playhouse. I need to see what’s inside. Maybe she’s inside, and that’s why we aren’t allowed in. I’m going to find her. I’m going to make things right with her. I refuse to believe she’s gone.

July 16, 1998

July. It’s already July. I took that long to recover? Seriously? That was three whole months. Well, I guess loosing an eye will do that to you. I’m still surprised that Picky took care of me while I was hurt. I tried to ask her why but she didn’t respond, so I guess that was that. That doesn’t matter though. He’s alive. He’s alive. DogDay’s alive! He’s been here this entire time, sitting right below our noses and we had no clue! If I can just figure out a way to get him out then he can save us all from this mess! I know he can! I just need to find a way.

July 20, 1998

Bubba woke up. He finally woke up! Oh my god, he finally woke up! It’s been how long, eight months? I’m so thankful. He’s really scared though. He must’ve been through hell. I know from experience the nightmares that stuff gives you aren’t pleasant. I can’t imagine going through that for a whole year. Poor guy.

July 21, 1998

Bubba’s been having trouble walking lately. His legs give out whenever he tries. I guess that makes sense. He hasn’t used his legs in a while. I wish I knew how to give him the proper treatment he needs. Actually, there’s an idea. I should check inside of the school. I’m sure there is something in there about comas.

July 22, 1998

OKAY SO THAT WAS A HORRIBLE IDEA. Not only did I find absolutely NOTHING, but I almost got my head bashed in with a freaking mace! That biology teacher has gone wack. Completely wack. Then again, she’s not the only one. I still hear Hoppy. She still visits me. I’ll be in the middle of something and then I’ll just see her. I think I’m starting to hallucinate. I know that’s really bad. But I enjoy seeing her. Even if all she does is cuss me out. It gives me hope. Hope that she’s not Never mind. I shouldn’t be thinking about that. Bury that nice and deep along with the other scary thoughts. She’s not dead. She’s not dead she’s not dead she’s not dead she’s not dead.

August 8, 1998

Third year anniversary. Or is it the fourth? I don’t feel like doing the math. Bubba can walk again now, but all he does is sit against a wall. It feels like my effort was wasted, if I’m honest. He doesn’t like eating. Or sleeping. He hates sleeping. I tried to give him some books to read that I stole from the councilors office, but he ignored them. Some days he refuses to sleep so badly to the point where I have to knock him out for him to get a little shut eye. I feel bad for him. He doesn’t deserve this. If I could take his place I would in a heartbeat. Maybe if it was me instead of him I wouldn’t have messed up so horribly.

September 4, 1998

It’s one of those days where the hallucinations are bad again. Sometimes I wonder if it even is a hallucination. Am I actually seeing her? She’s looking over my shoulder right now. Watching me write. She looks so real. And the stuff she says feels so real. I want her to be real. I want to hold her in my arms. She just told me if I ever try to do that she’s going to push me off the cloud I’m on. I think she knows I wouldn’t save myself.

September 18, 1998

Bubba’s been getting better. He’s started talking again. Only sometimes though. And he never says much. It’s a start though.

November 10, 1998

I think I just saw Picky chasing Hoppy away from the councilors office. I must’ve just been hallucinating again. She was carrying something though. It looked like a computer? I’ve never seen that before. Probably just another hallucination.

[heeszn]

you ain’t my boyfriend ౨ৎ pjs four. thinkin’ bout you

jay anxiously taps at the menu, staring out the window. he arrived ten minutes early and had already ordered for the both of you (he texted you asking what you wanted).

jay likes to think that he was a cool, calm headed guy. he wasn’t the type to get nervous around girls. in fact, he would never bat an eye at girls. that was jaeyun or heeseungs job. and he would never admit this, but you’ve always piqued an interest in the man.

yes he was dating isa, but wherever isa is, you are as well. especially since you’ve been friends with the boys, excluding heeseung, since middle school. he’s always wondered how he’s never talked to or hung out with you before. especially since it seemed like you guys were so connected.

his train of thought was then interrupted by the noise of a bell ringing, signifying someone was entering the café (or leaving). he turns his head to see you standing there, eyes scanning the room to find him. and you do, the quickly ended eye contact was enough for a small smile to creep up onto jays face.

“hi pretty boy” you say, causing blood to rush to jays ears. he lets out a chuckle, “hi yn, you look nice”.

now it’s your turn to smile. “thank you jay, i think you look good as well.” the waiter, seemingly with perfect timing, then comes to give your drinks. the both of you then exchange how your drinks are tasty and that you’d totally order them again.

a beat of silence then follows, before you start the conversation thinking you should just get straight to business. “so, what exactly would i gain from your situation” you ask jay, catching him slightly off guard. he clears his throat, “um, one, it’d help with your jiung situation since he apparently despises me” and he thinks before continuing, “and two, you get a way better looking fake boyfriend”, he says with a toothy grin.

a giggle escapes your lips at his small attempt of a joke. “mmm, alright then”, you turn to your mini purse and pull out a notepad and a pen, “but first let’s lay down some rules”. you and jay thought it was a bit corny to do so, but also a bit necessary. just so that no ones feelings get hurt.

“okay, rule number one, don’t fall in love” you say, to which jay tries to stifle a laugh. “hey, it’s a common rule” you exclaim. “i know, it’s still just a little silly” he laughs out, to which you roll your eyes at.

and you continue on, laughing at each others propositions of what should be a rule. you only end up with the one rule, as the two of you couldn’t make up any other serious ones.

you draw two lines onto the paper, signing your signature before handing it to jay and telling him to do the same on the other line. he smiles at your seriousness of this rule before signing his ‘pjs’ down.

you rip the paper, fold it and place it in the untouched pocket of your mini bag. the only safe place for now.

once again, a pause of silence follows. “so i saw you’re a real fan” you say, eyeing him with a smile.

and so the afternoon continues on, the two of you getting to know each other properly and finding out you share similar hobbies and interests.

you don’t even realize how quickly time goes by until you finally check your phone and see that it’s 7 pm. “god, we should probably start packing up now, i think the waiters hate us for how long we’ve been here” you laugh out. “probably” he says, before helping you grab your things.

the two of you exit the café and before you can get a uber, jay’s already insisting to drive you home. as practice, he claims. and you fold easily, january wasn’t a nice time to be outside at night as the winds pick up and you weren’t in very warming clothing.

the drive seems to go by quick, or maybe that’s because you just can’t stop your conversation with jay. and next thing you know, he’s walking you up to your apartment.

“so, i’ll pick you up at 10 tomorrow” he asks and you reply with a nod. “okay well, i’ll see you then” he smiles. “drive home safely” you reply, to which he gives a thumbs up as he’s already walking away.

that night, you lay in your bed, smiling as you recall tonights events. and little do you know, jay is doing the same.

previous | masterlist | next 🦴 — vee’snotes. SO SORRY FOR YAPPING 😭 anyw soft launch era let’s fucking get itttttt

taglist (open!) @rikisly @txtlyn @jayhoonvroom @mrchweeee @ineedsomezzz @sakuxxi @luvnicho @manooffline @uhsakusa

[lulublack90]

Prompt 15 - Before

@wolfstarmicrofic January 15, word count 974

It was the day of the full moon. Remus, had slept for most of the morning but was determined to get to his afternoon lessons. He ached all over. Some of his rib bones kept flexing painfully as though getting ready for later that night. Sirius had come and collected him for lunch. After they had double potions. Remus didn’t particularly like potions, but Lily had agreed to do most of the work, letting Remus sit at the desk and read out the instructions to her or chop the next ingredients. 

The room felt insanely hot for some reason this lesson. It wasn’t long before Remus had a splitting headache. Everything was too loud. He couldn’t seem to filter anything out. Every little sound found its way to his ears. He could hear Peter nibbling on the end of his quill. Mulciber scratching his arse, and Snivillius sniffed repeatedly as he refused to use a tissue. 

He was clammy and feeling very nauseous. He wanted to leave so badly, but he had to be careful not to draw attention to how often he was ‘ill’. 

He felt a gust of cool air begin blowing over him. He closed his eyes and sighed. He opened them again and looked around the room trying to find the source. Sirius winked at him, his wand in his hand. Remus was suddenly overcome with emotion and had to look up at the stone ceiling to keep the tears from flooding down his cheeks. 

“You doing ok, Remus?” Lily whispered. She knew about his furry little problem and would constantly check on him on the run-up to the full moon. He nodded slowly at her, not wanting to move too quickly in case he was sick.

Eventually, the lesson was over. Lily had successfully brewed their Befuddlement draught with almost no help from Remus and now there was only dinner to go before he went to the hospital wing.

“You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a minute.” He told Sirius as he packed his things away. 

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting for you.” Sirius said full of concern. 

“No, it’s fine. You guys go eat. I’m probably not going to have much anyway. Plus, my head hurts. I’m going to need a minute before I can deal with the Great Hall.” Remus winced as someone scraped a stool across the floor. Sirius reached out and squeezed his hands. 

“Okay, I’ll make a plate up for you for when you’re ready.” Sirius grabbed his things and followed the others out of the classroom. 

Remus followed soon after, relishing in the coolness of the corridors. He was just debating whether it would be better if he went straight to the hospital wing instead of dealing with the Great Hall when he found himself being cornered by Snape and his cronies. He must have wandered down the wrong corridor on his way back up to the main part of the castle. He really wasn’t in the mood for this. 

“Aww been abandoned Lupin? Have your little pals finally had enough of you?” Snape sneered at him. Remus let his wand slip down into his hand from his holster. Mulciber and Avery were still chortling at Snape’s not-so-funny retorts.

“Piss off Snape. Haven’t you got anything better to do, like washing your hair maybe?!” Remus growled, narrowing his eyes as hatred flooded his veins. This close to the full moon the anger came easily. Sparks shot out of his fingers, he just wanted to be left alone. 

They swarmed him, pressing him further into a corner. He was trapped. More sparks shot from his fingers. Mulciber shoved him into the wall sending spikes of pain through his body. He started shaking. He wasn’t in control of his magic anymore, one more hit and he’d explode. His eyes darted around looking for a way out.

“Gods, you are a lunatic aren’t you Lupin?” Snape snarled at him. “What are you going to do lunatic? There’s three of us, don’t think you’re going to make it out.” Remus tried to push past Mulciber but he slammed him back. Remus cried out in pain. He barely stopped his magic from blasting out into the Slytherins. 

“Well, well, Snivillus. And what exactly do you think you’re doing to our Moony?” Sirius appeared out of nowhere, leaning against the wall and buffing his nails on his robes. “Petrificus totalus.” He said lazily, pointing his wand at Muliciber. Not even waiting for him to hit the floor before he repeated the spell on Avery. He turned his attention to Remus. 

“You alright, Moony?” He asked, completely ignoring Snape. Remus shook his head. He could feel his magic wrapping around himself. He needed to get to the shack, away from the other students.       

“Sirius, I need you to get me out of here before I hex someone.” Hex was putting it lightly, but Sirius knew the signs of Remus’s magic explosions. 

“Okay, come on, let’s get going.” He held out a hand that he knew Remus wouldn’t take, but it was a gesture to get him moving.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Snape screamed after them. Sirius didn’t even turn around. He shot the spell over his shoulder as he kept an eye on Remus limping next to him. Snape fell to the ground in a full body-lock curse. 

“Sirius, I need to get rid of this magic before I explode.” Remus held up a hand, showing the blue threads wrapping themselves around his fingers and disappearing up his sleeves. Sirius nodded, still not touching him. 

“We’ll get you to the shack, and then I’ll help you get rid of it.” Remus nodded. His whole body shaking. Just a little longer, he kept telling himself. Just hold on a little longer before you let it go.  

[atlafan]

1963 - Part 1

a/n: I have been dying to share this with yall and I'm so excited to finally be doing that. As per usual, this is the only part that will be posted here on Tumblr.All other parts will be posted on Patreon. In fact, Part 2 is already up! And Part 3 will be posted Friday.

Please consider joining my Patreon. It's only $5 a month, and it charges you the following month on the date you joined. So, if you signed up today, you wouldn't get charged again until January 10th. I post 2-4 times per month. If anything is under 10K words, that's usually when I'll post more. I depend on this extra income to help pay bills for essentials. The community there is also incredible and I write and post some of my nastiest smut on there, so if that's what you're looking for, you'll get it!

Warnings: mentions of infertility

Words: 3.8K

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“Every month I keep hoping I’ll have different news for you two,” Doctor Simmons sighed, “unfortunately, I have the same news. Beverly still isn’t with child.”

“We’ve been trying for five months, we’ve been doing everything you’ve said. Beverly drinks the teas, she lays with her legs up after we’re done, I don’t know what else we can do.” Robert was exasperated at this point. He was squeezing his wife’s hand, desperately trying not to let any tears escape his eye ducts.

“You two have exhausted all natural remedies, so I think it’s time we consider IVF.”

Beverly’s eyes widened, and she squeezed Robert’s hand back. She looked at him, panicked.

“Beverly is terribly afraid of needles.”

“You don’t need to decide on anything right now. Take these pamphlets and look over the information. If you two want to have a baby of your own, then this may be the next step.”

“We’ll look it over and have an answer by our next appointment.”

Robert and Beverly are silent on the drive home from the doctor’s office. They’re silent on their way back into their home. Beverly goes right to the kitchen to get started on dinner. Robert comes up next to her and puts her hand over hers.

“We should read the literature on IVF.” He said.

“I have friends who have done it, and all it has done is make their hormones crazy, and not in a fun way. I really don’t want to, Robert. I’ve done everything else, please don’t make me do this.”

“It feels like sometimes I’m the only one who wants to have a baby.”

“How could you say something like that to me? If I’m infertile-“

“You’re not, though. Doctor Simmons has run every type of blood test on you.”

“I know, I was there when the nurse was drawing it after you accused me of secretly taking birth control pills.”

“Well, with how apprehensive you were about having your diaphragm removed, I had to make sure you weren’t doing any self-sabotage.”

“Maybe I’m not getting pregnant because my body knows you don’t trust me.”

“I do trust you, you just weren’t exactly thrilled to start trying.”

“You sprung it on me, I was surprised. We never really discussed having kids before we got married.”

“Sweetheart, why would two people get married if not to have kids?” He chuckled.

“That’s not why I married you. I married you because I love you and I want to be with you.”

“I love you and want to be with you too. But if I hadn’t wanted kids, we could have just shacked up in an apartment in the city. I bought us a house in the suburbs so you could keep house and raise our kids. You like being a housewife, you’ve told me as much.”

“I do. I like making your meals and keeping things tidy, but I also like my free time. I like to go have brunch with the other ladies, and I like going to the library to check out new film analysis journals, and I like being able to go to the movies in the middle of the day. Having a baby means I can’t do those things anymore. At least, not until it’s old enough to go to school. That’s five solid years I’d be putting on hold. And within that five years, I could have at least two more kids. So, now I’m thirty-one with three kids under the age of five, and oh yeah, I’ll still be expected to keep the house clean and cook all your meals and pleasure you even though everything between my legs will feel like sandpaper.”

Robert eyes his wife, then puckers his lips in thought. “Is that how you’ve really been feeling? You haven’t said a word.”

“I didn’t want to disappoint you. You’re not easy to talk to these days. Every time I reach for my clip-belt for my sanitary napkins, I can see you watching with such sadness in your eyes. Motherhood is scary. My friends tell me these horror stories about childbirth. Their husbands barely take a week off from work to be home with them and the baby. So, we’re expected to push these kids out, then get up the next day and get back to our usual routines.”

“Beverly, you’re worried about things women have been doing since the beginning of time. Don’t be such a child. The fear of needles I can understand, but the fear of being a mother makes no sense. I know you and your mother have a strained relationship, but that doesn’t mean history will repeat itself.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “If we’re not pregnant by our next appointment with Doctor Simmons, then I would like us to start IVF. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Good.” He looked at the ingredients on the counter and grimaced. “I don’t want meatloaf tonight, make something else instead.”

“Yes, dear.”

“I’m gonna go to my office, have a beer, and listen to the ball game. Let me know when dinner is on the table.”

“Yes, dear.”

Robert smiled, grabbed a beer out of the fridge, and walked out of the kitchen. Beverly took a deep breath and rummaged through her cabinets to see what else she could possibly whip up for dinner. It needs to be something heavy enough that Robert won’t feel like making love before bed. Beverly doesn’t have it in her to put on a performance tonight.

**

Most people get married to have kids. Beverly married Robert because she loved him. He wanted to take care of her. But when the honeymoon phase ended, and he stopped saying thank you to her for all of the things she did to take care of him, she grew resentful. She never let on about it. Robert didn’t need to know how she really felt. Opening up the way she did the day prior wasn’t normal. Things had been good between them for a long time. Beverly didn’t mind stepping into the role of a stay-at-home wife. She was college educated, but it wasn’t like she’d ever be able to carry a position in the profession of her desire. And since she didn’t want to be a schoolteacher or a nurse, Robert asked her to stay home to tend to the house he had bought for them.

At twenty-three, she really hadn’t minded. They met in college, as so many young couples do, and it was love at first sight. Their courtship was disgustingly romantic, and their wedding was a dream come true. The honeymoon phase was so sickly sweet. Beverly enjoyed making breakfast for Robert before he left for work. She enjoyed sending him on his way. She had the whole day to herself. She’d tend to her various gardens, and she’d make sure the house was clean. She’d meet up with friends for brunch. She did everything a good wife was supposed to do.

At twenty-six, Beverly feels like she’s on autopilot. She can’t help but wonder if the reason why older couples have designated sex nights is because the wives must need the six days in between to psych themselves up. She also can’t help but wonder if this is why so many older couples opt for twin beds that can be pushed together or pulled apart.

And it’s not that Beverly doesn’t want kids, she thinks it could be fun, but she’s petrified of essentially raising a child by herself. Robert will stroll in from work, bounce the baby on his knee for all of two minutes, and call it a night. She’s scared for all the reasons she tried to explain the day prior. Robert also didn’t give Beverly a choice five months ago…

“I was thinking of maybe enrolling in graduate school.” Beverly brought up one morning over breakfast. Robert had nearly choked on his toast. “I know what you’re thinking, but you wouldn’t have to pay for a thing. They have stipends for students. I could teach while I learn.”

“I thought you didn’t want to teach.”

“I didn’t want to teach children, but something about having high level discussions with college students makes teaching sound like fun. I miss being in school.”

“What’s the point of a graduate degree in film and media? It’s not like you can do anything with it.”

“A graduate degree could lead to a doctorate, and I could keep teaching. I know female professors are few and far between, especially in the world of film, but it is possible.”

“So, you want to be a career woman, is that what you’re saying?”

“Not exactly. Classes wouldn’t take up all my time. I’d still be able to cook and clean and do everything I’m doing now. Except now when I go to the library, I’ll be doing schoolwork instead of reading for leisure.”

“Seems like you have it all figured out already.”

“Well, I wanted to show you I had thought it all through, that I was serious. You got your graduate degree. If you hadn’t, we never would have met.”

“Exactly. What if some older professor comes on to you? You’d have no way to protect yourself.”

“Oh, Robert, I’ve gone this long without something horrible happening to me on a college campus, I think I’d be fine. Besides, all I’d need to do is show off the lovely rings on my finger.” She grinned. “No one would mess with a married woman whose husband can afford a diamond like this.”

“Did you already sign up for a course?”

“Of course not. I wanted to speak with you first.”

“Good.” He finished his breakfast. “Let me think on it.”

“Alright. Anything in particular you want for dinner tonight?”

“Actually, I was thinking we could go out tonight. I wanted to take you somewhere nice.”

“Oh? For what?”

“Does a husband need a reason to treat his wife to a romantic evening?”

“No.” She giggled. “I’m just excited at the prospect of a spontaneous date night. I’ll pick out a dress I haven’t worn in a while, so it feels like new.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” He stood and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll call you before I leave work, so you’ll know when to expect me.”

“Okay, have a good day, dear.”

Beverly was excited. A night out was a positive sign. Robert wouldn’t take her out just to give her bad news. He was going to say yes to her going back to school.

The restaurant Robert took Beverly to was ritzy. He danced with her, ordered an expensive bottle of wine, and kissed on her shoulder and neck while he sat next to her in their booth. That sickly sweet feeling Beverly thought might be gone was sparking again. When the cheesecake came out, they fed each other bites. It was adorable.

“Are you having a good time tonight?” He asked.

“Yes, this has been such a wonderful evening. Thank you for taking me here.”

“You’re welcome, Bev.” He put his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately, and our conversation this morning was the kick in the pants I needed, so I’m really glad you brought up graduate school.”

“I’m glad it was a positive conversation.” She smiled. “What’s been on your mind?”

“I think it’s time we started trying for a baby.” All of the color drained from Beverly’s face, but her smile never wavered. She couldn’t let on how disappointed she was. “You’re clearly bored with the amount of free time on your hands. I know school seemed like a fun thing to do to pass the time, but I think we’ve waited long enough. We’ll be married almost four years soon, I think we know what we’re doing in the bedroom by now. So, next week, I’m taking you to the doctor to have your diaphragm removed-“

“You called my doctor about something like that?”

“I know it’s a bit awkward, but it’s not a secret that you have one. I went with you when you got it, I should be with you when you have it taken out.”

“Robert…I don’t like that it feels like you’re not giving me a choice. What if I’m not ready?”

“It’s not that you don’t have a choice, I’m just stating that it’s time. You take care of me just fine, you’ll be a great mother. This is what I would rather you do than go back to school. Besides, think of the fun we’ll have while we’re working at it. I got excited at work today thinking about it. I was hoping tonight could be a test run.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I love you so much, Bev, I wanna turn that love into a physical being.”

“Yeah, um, that makes perfect sense. Let’s…let’s make a baby.”

“Really?” He asked, elated.

“Yes, dear.”

Robert kissed his wife. He kissed her in the car. He kissed her on the way into their home, up the stairs, and into their bedroom. He made love to his wife, then called it a night.

After getting her diaphragm removed, they waited until after her next period was done to start trying. This gave Beverly plenty of time to figure out how she could avoid pregnancy. She needed to keep some semblance of control over her own body. Robert wasn’t going to tell her when she was ready. She could decide that on her own.

Lysol douching didn’t work, she knew this. Her sister told her as much. Some of her friends offered her their birth control pills, but she knew they’d show up on a blood test, which Robert made sure she had after the second month of her still not having gotten pregnant. Beverly may have studied film, but she was an excellent student in biology and chemistry as well. She knew how condoms worked. They were coated in spermicides. She just needed to figure out how to coat her vagina with it. She bought condoms and squeezed all of the lubricant and spermicide off them and got a good amount into a bottle. She mixed it with olive oil, what ancient Greeks used to use, and douched with that before having sex with Robert. She knew it would be a long shot if it worked, but she had to try.

When the third month came along, and she still wasn’t pregnant, she took solace is knowing her little concoction was working. And because Robert never went down on her, he’d never smell or taste a thing. When he used his fingers, he just thought she was extra wet, which made him feel proud of himself.

She was perfectly content with her plans until the topic of IVF came up. Even the harshest of solutions couldn’t stand up to IVF injections. She never felt bad for lying to Robert because she didn’t like that he had become so controlling, but she also didn’t think she’d be doing this for so long. The thought of her giving her body up didn’t sound any more appealing five months later.

What was she going to do?

**

“I really think that one is gonna be a winner.” Robert sighed happily as he relaxed into the bed, looking over at Beverly as she lay with her legs in the air. “I’m glad we waited a couple of days in between, feels like my boys swam stronger.”

“Yes, dear.” Beverly closed her eyes and tried to breathe steadily, counting down the minutes until she could go use the bathroom and cleanse herself.

“I had an idea today. I really want to spare you from having to be injected with needles. I’m a good husband, and good husbands protect their wives. So, since we have about five weeks until our next appointment, I thought we could try one last natural method.”

“I’m listening.” She turned her head to look at him, intrigued.

“I overheard some ladies talking in the break room this morning. It’s the one good thing about having so many female secretaries. Anyways, they happened to be discussing various issues with conceiving. One of them said they had a friend who got pregnant the second she and her husband stopped focusing so much on it. The wife threw herself into different projects, and a month or so later, she was pregnant.”

“Wait.” She sat up on her elbows. “Are you saying I can enroll in a graduate course after all?”

“What, no.” He laughed. “No, I was thinking we could finally redo the patio and have that pool you’ve wanted put in. You’ve been talking about wanting to host more parties for our friends. You always do so well with the workers when we have something done here, and you love gardening. I think you’d really enjoy overseeing a landscaping project.”

“Let me get this straight: you would rather pay thousands of dollars to have our backyard redone, than pay a couple of hundred for me to enroll in a course?”

“I think school would be too stressful. If you’re stressed, then you definitely won’t conceive. Overseeing a project that puts you outside in the sun will be a win-win. Not to mention an old friend of mine is willing to give us a deal on the work.”

“You have a friend that’s a landscaper?”

“Yeah, this guy from my old neighborhood took over his father’s business. He said he could swing by Saturday to take a look at things.”

“It sounds like you’ve already decided that this is what we’re doing.”

“That’s because I have.” He grinned proudly. “Bev, when we got married, I promised to take care of you. This is me taking care of you. Not all husbands would do something like this for their wives. You could at least pretend to be grateful.”

“I am grateful, I’m sorry if my tone suggested otherwise. What time Saturday is he coming over?”

“That I left up to you. I didn’t know if you had any errands or plans with the ladies.”

“Oh.” Well, at least he was trying to be considerate. “Maybe around three? That would give me time to pick up the dry cleaning and stop at the market.”

“Three is perfect. I’ll give him a call tomorrow to let him know.” He looked down at his watch. “You should be good to use the bathroom now.”

“Yes, dear.” Beverly lowers her legs and slings her robe on. Once she’s in the bathroom, she locks the door and flips on the fan. She rummages around in the back of the sink-cabinet until she finds her douching solution. She used some prior to having sex with her husband, but she likes to use it after for good measure. She bites into the heel of her palm as she cleanses herself. It tends to sting from time to time. When she’s done, she looks at herself in the mirror. She knows she can’t keep doing this to herself. She just doesn’t know what else to do.

**

Beverly loves her weekend clothes. There’s something so freeing about slipping on a pair of high-waist capris, a sleeveless button-up that ties in the front, and a pair of flats. She usually gardens after running her errands, and this is what she typically wears to garden. Robert hates it when Beverly wears pants, or anything form fitting, in public. Why should anyone else be privy to how round her bum is, or how full her thighs are? She’s got a body like Marilyn’s, and that’s something he prefers to keep under wraps.

When the landscaping van pulls up out front, Beverly is in the front yard, planting and mulching. She has the radio going, so she doesn’t pay any mind to the sound of an engine turning off. The man in the landscaping van tilted his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose, getting a better glimpse of Beverly. Robert starts walking over, so the man gets out of his van, rounding it to meet his old friend.

“Harry.” Robert smiled and shook the man’s, Harry, hand. “Can you believe it? Got a nice house in a suburb just like the one we grew up in.”

“I never doubted you’d get everything you wanted.” Harry smiled back.

“Seems like the Navy treated you well.”

“Yeah, I can’t complain too much. I didn’t get blown up or lose a limb.”

“And now you own your father’s business. Sorry for your loss, by the way. That’s the drawback of inheritance.”

“Yep. You working for your father?”

“Yes, and proud of it. I’ve got an office with a view, and I can afford to live more than comfortably. Got a beautiful wife, too.” Robert looked around. “Beverly, c’mere!” Beverly stood and dusted off her trousers before making her way over to the two men. “Harry, this is my Beverly.” He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Clark.”

“Likewise, Mr…”

“Styles.” He points behind him with his thumb. “Of Styles Landscaping.”

“Right, of course.”

“Your husband told me you were hoping to have some work done in the backyard.”

“Yes, we’d like the patio redone and to have a pool put in, if possible.”

“Let’s show Harry to the back.” Robert said as he led his wife to the back. Harry followed close behind.

As Beverly observes Harry observing her yard, she can’t help but feel confused. How is this man a friend of Robert’s? Harry’s t-shirt is stretched tight over his chest, not to mention how beefy and muscular his biceps are. His arms are also littered with tattoos.

It takes about twenty minutes for Harry to look around, take some measurements, and get a feel for the land.

“Alright, I can come back on Tuesday with some different mockups of what can be done back here. I can bring my portfolio too, so you can look at some of my past projects. Does Tuesday work for you, Mrs. Clark? I’m assuming you’ll be the one home.”

“Yes, the early afternoon works for me, Mr. Styles.”

“Perfect.” Robert clapped his hands. “H, come in for a bit. We can have a couple beers and catch up while Bev does her gardening out front.”

“Sounds good to me.” Harry nodded, and Robert started to make his way inside. For a split second, Harry tilted his sunglasses down to look at Beverly. “It was nice meeting, Mrs. Clark.” He winked and smirked before catching up with Robert.

Beverly felt her cheeks heat up. She turned and watched Harry walk into her home. Why did he wink at her like that? And why did it make her feel like she just got a B-12 shot?

She shook it off and made her way out front. Gardening will help her clear her head. She’s a married woman. A friend of Robert’s wouldn’t flirt with a married woman…would he?

[thislovintime]

A look at songwriter and composer Tork:

Q: "From what sources do you draw your songwriting inspirations?" Peter Tork: "Sometimes just a phrase or a word catches my fancy. Then I hear a musical line. I try to figure out what kinds of sounds are coming out. Basically I just go by the sound. Then I try to find words that sound like they belong there." - Blitz!, November/December 1987 Q: "How do you write a song. What starts you off." Peter Tork: "Pretty women start me off, and there’s no one way to write. Sometimes someone says something that sounds interesting, and you jot it down. Sometimes you find yourself humming something that you realize you haven’t exactly heard before. The hard part is 'asking' for the inspiration to get the other parts, other verses, bridges, if any, etc." - Beachwood Confidential Newsletter, 1995 "I’m really pleased that the stuff that I have written has been a little outside the mainstream. [...] [In 'For Pete's Sake,' one chord] is a 7-add-4, which is a highly unusual chord. It sort of fell out of my hands on the guitar. [...] I wrote a set of chords once [in college] and thought, 'Gosh, this is great.' I couldn’t think of anything to do with them. A couple years later I wrote 'Can You Dig It,' to those chords. They were… let’s see: D-minor to B-flat major 7th to an E diminished 9th chord. That’s a really interesting way to set it up to the V chord. Or to look at it another way: we’re in A — Arab scale, which is— I don’t want to get too heavy. But it’s an unusual scale in Western music, in pop music. And it worked fine for me. I was just really glad. It just fell out of my hands again. It really felt good." - Peter Tork, Shanley On Music, 2014 "I like to sit at home and play piano and write stuff. I have a blues band. This coming January, I’m going to be going down to Lexington, Kentucky. I’m going to have them play a piece I wrote for piano and orchestra. It’s fairly brief. It’s seven minutes long. They’ll be doing some pop music, it’s a pops orchestra. But I’ll have them tackle this thing I wrote." - Peter Tork, ibid "[As a songwriter, Peter] was always trying to do something which you hadn’t heard. Which is pretty rare, because many of the hit songs that you hear are derivative, they sound like some other hit song. Peter always wanted to write something that you hadn’t heard before. […] I mean, his writing was interesting, you know, and fun to play. Always surprising.“ - James Lee Stanley, The Monkees Pad Show

[andradrawsstuff]

Hi guyssss, just a quick update on this blog ✨

Sorry I’ve been so inactive literally everywhere, I’ve been incredibly busy with both personal life and university stuff. My workload since last year has increased so bad and I’ve barely had any time for myself, and when I do have time I usually use it for hanging out with friends or gaming, and bc I’m so burnt out I’ve had no energy left to draw much :(

It’s the end of the winter term for me now so I have like 5 different deadlines between now and January which sucks 😭

I’m not sure when I’ll start posting stuff again, but I do have some sketches I’ve managed to do recently and I’ll try to find some time to draw since I have been feeling a bit more artsy lately :)

[summerwritesfics]

THIS IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you to everyone who entered! :)

Happy New Year!!! I decided to see in the new year, it’d be fun to have another fanfic giveaway! It’s also a bit of a thank you for those who’ve stayed with me during the hiatus I took last year! :) There’s 5 fics up for grabs this time, to really celebrate the new year & my determination to make it a good one!

Prizes!

1x 4000+ word fic

2x 2000+ word fics

2x 1000+ word fics

Rules!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is like this post! Please feel free to reblog to spread the word but know that your reblog will not count as an entry!

One entry per person! Please only like the post once and please don’t give yourself an unfair advantage by liking from a second account.

You must be following this blog (@summerwritesfics). You are welcome to follow and then enter, you don’t have to have been following me for a long time.

Please familiarise yourself with my request rules as those still apply to this giveaway! Since the last giveaway, I believe my rules have been updated yet again so please go and take a quick look through. These rules are there to keep myself safe when taking requests and I ask that you respect my boundaries. If there’s something you aren’t sure about with my rules, please feel free to ask and I’ll try my best to answer :)

This giveaway is for Mortal Kombat fanfiction only. I will write a wide range of ships providing they don’t go against my rules!

I have still not seen any of the recent animated movies or MK2021. I still do not have an excuse for this at this point. I will not really be able to do any requests set in these universes or with any of the movie exclusive characters (still lookin’ at you Cole.)

The + on the word count just means that the fic I write may go slightly over that but your request will at least meet that word count.

I will stop accepting new entries on the 31st of January. Winners will be announced and contacted on the 1st of February. Winners will be publicly announced when I draw names, and a screen recording of the draw will be linked so you can watch the wheel spin. I will also contact the winners privately so we can start talking about your request! Don’t worry if you only have a vague idea we can brainstorm together when we get to that!

You are welcome to enter even if you won something from my previous giveaways. Part of the reason I do the screen recording of the wheel spin to to dispel any accusations of favouritism, so please don’t feel like you have to sit out if you won previously.

More a clarification than rule, the requests don’t have to be new years related or themed, that’s just the title of the giveaway.

If you have any questions please DM me or contact me over on @summertrapped which is my main account. Thank you for your continued support of my work and good luck with the giveaway :)

[verbenaa]

5, 6, 9, 10, 20, 25, 30 for the writer asks! (feel free to skip some of these if it's too many 😭)

ahhh thank you so much for sending these in my friend 🥹💖 I've been a little down the past week or two and this is the perfect way to get myself reaquainted with being back on the internet after a unexpected semi-break 😅 (answering from here!)

5. first sentence of the fifth paragraph of an unpublished WIP.

“I’ll stop saying it over and over again when you realize that I am right.”

I'll give you 3 guesses as to who says that line lmao

6. the word that appears the most in your current draft (wordcounter.net can tell you).

lmao it's Astarion 😂 very unsurprising I guess, considering this chapter is 60% his POV and the boy is having some serious introspection

9. start to finish, how long did it take you to write the last fic you posted?

Since I am currently working on chapter 9 of to eden I’ll do that, which has taken me a grand total of 8 weeks and 2 days to completion as I am finishing up last round of edits today so I can post either tonight or tomorrow 😅. A fast writer, I am not. HOWEVER I did also post two other fics in that 2 month period, which is a lot for me! Fingers crossed chapter 10 will take half the time that 9 did.

10. what is the longest amount of time you’ve let a draft rest before you finished it?

Oooh definitely the last fic I posted which was technically started back in may or June and not posted until a few weeks back. technically it was only like a 600 word draft though, so not like a whole story. 

20. in what year did you publish your first fic? This very year!!!! I posted my first ever fic back on January 12th ❄️💝

25. besides writing, what are your other hobbies? I arguably don’t have a ton of free time, which means that writing is kind of my only hobby. But recently when I have happened to have free time and am not writing I’ve been enjoying drawing again! procreate and I are still figuring our shit out, but we're getting there. I also watch Star Trek nightly with my husband, engage in excessive Pinterest activity, and have been playing a lot of love & deepspace in bed at night before i pass out

30. share a fic you’re especially proud of. The most recent one I posted, all my dreaming is put to shame. I never intended on it to reach the level of depth and emotion that it did and I’m pretty proud of that! I was also incredibly nervous about it as I wasn't really sure how it would resonate with readers, but it's turned out to be very well liked! I'm still responding to people's comments on it because everyone was so nice that I got a little flustered by all the praise (which is a good thing, everyone please fluster me more.) (Also proud of myself for channeling that same energy for chapter 9 of to eden so prepare yourself I guess 😌 haha)

[leafofkudzu]

Screeches to a halt in a cloud of dust HELLO I'M LATE I'M SORRY. The first Saturday of a fresh month is tomorrow, which means it's time for another community art party hosted by [VS] Verdant Shield! Last week I ran a(n also late) poll and the winner was Rata Sum, a place we haven't been since the very first small test party all the way back in January!

For those who haven't heard of them before, art parties are an idea carried over from Final Fantasy XIV - big (or small!) get-togethers for artists/writers/creatives of all kinds to hang out, chat, and create together! Put together your most eye-catching look, find someone who inspires you, and get to work! Afterwards, everyone uses the party-specific tag (ours is #VSArtParty) to share their creations so others can see and spread the love around via reblogs! The tl;dr I always say for these is this: the 'goal' of an art party isn't to be drawn, but to draw others, and share with the community!

Party details are in the image above, but I'll toss an expanded text version under the cut with things like /squadjoin information!

Location Details:

A guildmate suggested we have the party down by the docks this time so we could have a boat party, and I totally agree! I may have put Antidawn Anchorage as the primary land point, but if you have a skiff feel free to take to the water as well! Worth noting that in order to interact with others' skiffs you must be in the same party or squad, and you do not need to have a skiff of your own to interact with a party/squad member's one!

Now, for those not familiar with Rata Sum, here's a quick image of the spot in question, which can be reached by taking the Antidawn Anchorage or Dawnside Quay asura gates nearby the Magicat Court (Antidawn) and Metrical Court (Dawnside) Waypoints:

Time & Squad Details:

As always, the party will consist of two separate events, with an hour break in between (though technically people jump from one to the other immediately anyway so the NA one tends to 'start' earlier than the scheduled time).

The first party will be on EU servers and begin at 9pm Central European Summer Time (aka 3pm Eastern Daylight Time or 5 hours before in-game reset). I’ll be hosting on my EU alt account, so to join either /squadjoin or whisper Toxicologist Mosse for an invite.

The second party will be on NA servers and begin at 7pm Eastern Daylight Time (aka 1am Central European Summer Time or 1 hour before in-game reset). This one I’ll be hosting on my main account, so to join either /squadjoin or whisper Teekzi for an invite.

IMPORTANT NOTE (mostly for the NA party): If you join and the squad is at or above 45 members, please just taxi into the right map and then hop out of squad to allow others to do the same! Essentially all conversation now happens in say chat so you won’t miss out on anything by being outside of squad!

Closing Words:

My apologies for the extremely short notice on this one everyone, I've been slapped with a bunch of IRL stuff (it's nothing bad, don't worry!) that's kept me out of the game for longer than I'd hoped. With all the exciting game news buzzing around lately though, I might just have to set aside some proper time to let myself get invested in this again, we'll see! Anyway, as always, thank you so much to everyone who comes out to these events and helps make them so special - I can't wait to see you all again tomorrow night! ♥

[willowisapillow]

🎊🎉 A Peachy New Year! 🎉🎊

💕❤️ They’re girlfriends, your honor ❤️💕

Behold, another piece of fanart that I’ve kept pushing back until now.

I was planning on drawing this earlier back in January, but some complications occurred with both IbisPaint and my tablet once again, and one mishap after another, half of my files for the art got wiped somehow when my tablet crashed for the 104897th time, and I had to start from scratch.

A very similar problem occurred with one of my Pride Month pics from last year, and this time I just said, “screw it, I can’t be bothered to finish this”, and took a long-ass break and moved on to other art projects. Eventually, I did come around and finished it in the end.

2023 was honestly just a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. It started off bad, then it was eh, and it ended… not really great good per se, but decent. I had to miss out on a lot of art projects because I was doing online school at that time, but since I graduated way back in June, I have a lot of free time on my hands and I have a lot of exciting plans in the future ^o^

One positive of this year I have so far is that I finally watched the Super Mario Movie. As per tradition of me being slower than molasses, I watched the movie on Netflix, and I absolutely LOVED it! The whole movie was literally what little me imagined a Mario movie would be like, and the movie just was a whole lot of fun. I especially loved the references/easter eggs in the movie, I was just fangirling so much 😭

And once the DK Rap came on I just started singing along like there was no tomorrow. And funny story, at one point, my mom actually walked by my room, overheard my singing, and gave me a funny look as if she thought I was going crazy, which she wasn’t wrong/hj

I could go on and on about how I love this movie, but we’d be here all day, so I’ll just say my two absolute favorite things about this movie. My first fave is obviously Peach, I’m so happy that my girl isn’t being portrayed as a damsel-in-distress, and is instead an active team leader, she was just absolutely iconic. And my second favorite thing is Bowser. Jack Black has always been one of my favorite actors/comedians, so it was a perfect decision for Illumination to have him voice Bowser. He’s the perfect blend of comedic and threatening, he gave me a lot of Hades from Hercules vibes haha

As for the art, I went with the dark-skinned, red-haired version of Bowsette, which imo is better than the regular version. One, it makes sense to give her dark skin because she lives in a place that’s nothing but fire and lava, and two, Bowser is canonically a ginger not a blondie lol

And for Peach, I drew her in her movie dress but also combined it with her winter/holiday earmuffs and cloak. Also wanted to give her the Princess Peach Showtime bow because I’m still hyped for that game >:3

Here’s to hoping this year will be great, good, or at the very least decent 🎉

[margoshvets]

Chai post – my fanon

[Part 1: Childhood]

Trying to finally get some things out of my head. This post will also be answering @purplecheshire1 question “Do you ever wonder what was Kale and Chai’s childhood before being an adult?”

I’ll be splitting it into parts and writing about Kale in a different post for convenience (and because I don’t know when I’ll write those but I feel bad for not putting at least something).

And I will also, additionally, talk about adulthood in another part.

Info bellow ⚠️ THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO A PART OF “Try Again” AU ⚠️

Name: Chai. This name was given to him in an orphanage. Surname: Prefers not to have one. Uses his actual second name only when necessary.

Chai was found on January 25th in a culvert pipe by a group of youngsters who unexpectedly had their pleasant evening disturbed by a baby’s cry. They turned to the police for help, but they were unable to find the child’s parents or any information on the baby, so he ended up in an orphanage.

His right arm already wasn’t showing signs of healthiness when he was found.

Chai is aware of these events.

Since no one knows when he was actually born, his birthday is celebrated on the day he was found - on the 25th of January.

Life in the orphanage wasn’t particularly bright: study, eat, and hope that grownups would come and take you home with them.

Chai wasn’t doing great. He had a hard time concentrating on his studies and finding friends. He seemed to never be able to understand which way other kids’ train of thought was going. Some looked down on him and thought he was weird.

He also wasn’t doing great with the “grownups will come and take you home with them” part.

He started to think like there was something wrong with him since childhood. He still distinctly remembers one married couple that came to the orphanage. The man pointed at him and whispered to his spouse “Not in our budget”.

The medical staff in the orphanage couldn’t do much for his arm except give him a sling.

The kid spent time mostly by himself. Playing around huge sewer pipes and making friends with small creatures: ants, frogs, and all kinds of bugs. He collected all caterpillars he could find and helped them grow to become beautiful butterflies (he never stopped doing that).

And he very much likes antlions. He saw one only in the book. Thought it was cool. He would like to raise one one day.

Things changed when a new kid arrived at the orphanage. A girl named Daisy. Like Chai, she was disabled – she lost both of her arms in an accident that also took her parent’s lives. Daisy’s only remaining relative that took care of her, her grandmother, recently passed away, and without anyone to take care of her, she was sent to the orphanage.

Chai stuck to her because she, like he is, was different. The two of them got along pretty well.

He was very surprised to discover that her favorite hobby was, and still is, drawing. Despite losing both arms, she never gave up and instead decided to learn to draw using her feet.

“Drawing helps me keep the bad thoughts away and gives me something to look forward to in life. I want to be like one of those big artists one day. Everyone has that one thing that gives them a reason to push through. You should too,” she said to him one day.

Daisy's words stuck with Chai. He had thought a lot about what she said and, one day, he happily rushed to his friend to tell her that he would become a rockstar.