#Keep in mind this happened literally a mile away from my house

[lavender-sheperd]

Win for diversity?? This trans woman just murdered her parents and is now on the run from the police!

[astralnymphh]

what if u get a scratch and vampire ellie smells u from a mile away and she’s so desperate to have your blood that she lures you into her house and begs you for just a little taste. she whines and apologizes over and over again for being so needy while drinking your blood.

no smut. but suggestive! doc version included

๋࣭ ⭑⚝ oohhhh.. literally loser!vampire!ellie. the layout would be reader who's ultimate best friends with her; long time childhood friends potentially? and, let's also exercise the chance that ellie was fortunate enough to keep her vampirism veiled from your knowledge all this time. (if edward cullen could, she can too.) so, on one superficially mundane day near the woods where you happen to break skin by means i will leave up to individual imagination, ellie just so happens to be a mile away - returning home after a hunt proved to be in vain (girl had to feed bad but was way too delirious to concentrate.) - so, what transpires when she picks up the familiar scent of her beloved friends blood, an aroma commonly encountered, but always ignored despite her bloodstained appetite? yield.

"hey, my cars' just by the curb there. can give you a ride back to my place, patch that scratch up. 'ts not a big deal."

strange for her to utter that - it's not a big deal, when your puny little scratch is incapable of even irritating you that bad, but ellie insists, softly. what she omitted, is exactly what will happen between plopping on her bed and actually plastering a band-aid on that scratch. blood was drawn, crimson had dripped, and nothing goes off without a hitch when a voracious vamp meets the nectar of life, nothing. "you don't have to look— just, let me, please? again, i'm so sorry for asking." her voice withered and apologetic, a breathy and sedated mess with her fingers twiddling and twining with yours, sat adjacent to you just looking so so guilty for even bringing the topic up; vex with herself that she couldn't ignore it, like all the other past instances. "ellie, i— ugh, okay. if it's only a little.." and— that reply of sanction should excite her, god forbid she doesn't have the biggest crush on you, and now she's doing this thing viewed as intimate by some of her peers? but she can't help but feel.. sorrowfully faulted at first.

she drags her lips over the nub of your wrist before she separates them and bares her pretty teeth, poking your skin in little dints. vampiric foreplay. "you do this with every girl?" and you say it earnestly, yet with a light heart. no ill will bending in your tone nor intention. yet vulnerability casts a pall over ellie right now, taking blood from the one she can't keep her damn desires off, "i don't— i don't, no, fuck.. never, you're the only one so far." she mumbles, withdrawing her teeth a moment to spew that recital of apologies "so fuckin' sorry, please don't watch me. i just need.. just need—" she's literally so ashamed of her vehement needs for your taste, she can't even complete her sentences, unsheathing her teeth once more and burying them into the flesh by your wrist bone, grunting simultaneously with your pretty little wince.

although it is strange— on the edge of daunting, you managed to muster a fondness for it after a minute or so; the adrenaline rush at first bite, the excess of blood smearing her pale rose lips in a blotchy pattern, sometimes trickling the rise of her chin, those cursedly cute noises she makes during the feed, the fumble of her fingers trying to pull your arm deeper into her mouth like your wrist alone wasn't suitable of quenching, suspending her sucks with a spluttered or breathless, "damn it, sorry, just a little longer." whispered unto the delicate massacre painting your lower forearm— you love it. too much, you love her sudden jump in energy, pinning you on the mattress with her whole body and lodging her knee between your thighs, all while pleasuring you with pain, you fucking adore it. she has to know.

"take all you need, ellie. i don't mind, you can have me all you want, hmm?"

who knows where her mouth ended up next.

MASTERLIST . DAILY CLICK . IMPORTANT TLOU POST . PALESTINE INFO . BIG TEXT VER

ignore why i wrote sm i did not plan to yap this much apologies if its rushed i am quite tired.

[multifariousqueer]

Heyyyyy sorry this is my first time Requesting but can you do a earth 42 miles x reader where the reader has to go on vacation and he’s not happy.🤭🤭🤭

If not that’s ok and you can add your own little twist on it. Ty❤️❤️❤️

Yeah ofc!

A/n: keep requesting fics!!!! I’m sorry this one is so short y’all, I literally wrote it being half-awake

Warnings: possessiveness, miles being sweet, nothing else

Your parent’s had saved up enough money to go to Belize for your 16th birthday and you were ecstatic. The gorgeous views, the crystal clear oceans and the beautiful sunsets were just some of the things you were excited for, but Miles wasn’t as excited:

“You’re leaving me for 2 weeks? What am I supposed to do without you?” He questioned

“Well I guess you’ll just have to cope” you smirked

“What if some Cabrón tries to take you from me?” he said

“No Cabrón will try to take me away from you, Miles. I love you and it will always be you, okay?” You said reassuringly, touching his forehead with your own

“Si Mami, tu eres mio y solo mio” he spoke

You kissed your boyfriend on his temple and went back to packing your bags, all the while, he was lovingly admiring your movements. He decided to help you after a while and asked you some questions:

“you got your ring?"

“Yes, Miles"

“The Jordan’s I got you?” he interrogated

“Miles, it’s gonna be 95 degrees outside” You pleaded

“And?” he said

“and, I am not gonna wear them. Plus, we’re going out to dinner and Jordans aren’t exactly “dinner friendly”.” you said

“dinner friendly my ass, Mami; you’re mine and that counts for when you’re on vacation” Miles said, walking towards you

“I know Papi, I know. I’m yours even on vacation; okay?” you reassured

“okay. Let me know if you need some money or anything.” he said

“Okay, mi amor” you smiled

Sooner or later you arrived at the airport and were on your way to the terminal when you saw Miles waiting for you:

“what are you doing here?” you questioned

He pulled you in for a hug and placed a soft kiss on your lips

“I’m gonna miss you too, babe” you said with a smirk

“if something happens out there, call me.” he said

“of course, Papi. I’ll call you every night.” you spoke

And with that, you were off to your trip. It was beautiful and you got to see so many nice sights, meet new people and try new foods. It was the most fun you have had in a long time; it took your mind off of the grim, dull life of the city but you missed Miles more than anything in the universe so you decided to call.

“Miles, baby?” you asked

“Yeah, ma I’m here. You good?” he asked

“Yeah. I miss you so much. But its fun over here! I know you would love it.” you said

“Yeah well. I love wherever you are, Mami.” Miles spoke

“Awww you’re so sweet. How is it going over there?” you asked

“It’s going, that’s for sure.” he said, sarcastically

“Why? What’s wrong?” you asked

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you later” Miles said

“Oh okay!! I’ll see you in two days.” you spoke excitedly

“Okay, I love you hermosa.” He said

“I love you too! Bye.” you said as you departed

The last two days went by in a flash and before you knew it, you were home. You visited Miles before you went back to your house and he nearly jumped you when you walked in the door:

“I missed you, ma” he said in your hair

“I missed you too.” you confessed, breathing in his intoxicating scent that you missed dearly

“So did some asshole try to hit on my girl?” Miles questioned

“No baby, no. What happened while I was gone?” you questioned back

“Just some business stuff” Miles said, reassuringly

You kissed the man you loved dearly and he lifted you princess style and took you to the bed where you slept like a baby, after being home and being with the man you missed terribly.

[ghostflowerhotpotch]

"A token to remember you by"

I know this topic has been talked a lot, and I sadly don't think I can make a proper analysis because there isn't much to say.

But I'm one sappy bastard and this blogs primarily focus was always to me to gush at stuff.

You know? When I saw the movie for the first time, I thought she really came to talk to her dad, and then chicken out at the last second.

Don't ask me what the heck was going with my eyes that day because it literally show straight up. Specially since is establish from the first movie that this picture is important to her.

You know I think is a testament of something that when Miles is talking about how every time he feels alone, he remembers the friends who get him.

And Gwen is doing the exact same thing.

This sentiment translates into the next movie, with Gwen remembering Miles constantly, and deciding to turn the picture into a polaroid.

I really found this interesting because nowadays people rarely have physical pictures (My mom had tons of photo albums back home, so the importance of keeping a token of a moment has always been present in my mind.) I have no idea how easy would be to turn a digital picture into a polaroid, but the fact that she put that effort when nowadays is doing it says a lot to me.

But even that pales in comparison to the moment I am actually talking about.

I think everyone has been asked at least once, "If your house was burning and you only have time to save one thing, what would you save?"

I always had a bit of a hard time answering that question myself; what has more meaning to me? What is the thing I knew if I lost tomorrow, I would regret not keeping it with me?

For Gwen, is obviously this picture, and I think once you reflect about the context of the situation, this just becomes more obvious.

Let's remember in what kind of situation she is, or at least the one she thinks she is trapped in right now.

At this point? She is homeless, OFFICIALLY homeless. To be fair I think she already was the moment her dad pointed a gun at her and needed to run, but even then I hesitated to call it that since she probably had a room or something at the Spider Society.

But at this moment? She has nothing; she doesn't have any friends (She has never referred to her band as such, even if I honestly think they would had been there for her if given the chance,) nowhere to go, and is stuck in a dimension where she has been accused of murder.

She doesn't have a way to travel to another dimensions (as far as she is aware,) meaning she cannot contact Hobie or Pav, or go out looking for Miles.

And what she does in this situation?

Get Miles' picture, and that's it, that's literally the only thing she went to get.

I wouldn't discard that she would get more of her stuff once the apartment was alone, to be honest it would probably make more sense to get some civilian clothes at least so she could have a change with her. Going into the apartment when she knew it was alone, so she wouldn't had a chance to get arrested would be more logical.

But none of this is about logic.

In a moment of desperation, all she cares about is getting that picture back, she is risking so much by doing this but none of that logical danger matters to her as much as it is having that back.

Because at her lowest moment, she looks for Miles for comfort, even if it would probably hurt like hell look at his face knowing what happened the last time they saw each other; she clings to that picture and the memory of him as the only comfort she has left.

Not her father, not Peter, him.

That last line was a good way to end, but while rewatching this scene, I realize that at any moment, we see Gwen putting the picture away, meaning she may be carrying it with her when she goes to other dimensions.

I wonder if Miles would have the chance to see it, and know, how much he matters to Gwen by how much that picture means to her.

[ghosts-bandwagon]

Songs from my playlists that represent how the 141 loves you (+bonus König)

Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley:

“Wasteland” by Woodkid

Most of what I used to be had vanished in the waves/The memories of the boy I’ve been were drowning and you saved them/Now I remember the joy and the meaning of the fate/The color of the truth and the sound of sunny days

You have reminded him what it’s like be human again. When you look at him, he is Simon. He’s your Simon. He’s the man whose cheeks you’ve held countless times, kissing the corners of his eyes, tasting the paint on your lips but you couldn’t care less. Your small hands reach out time and time again and pull him back from the edge. And he’ll always take your hand, he might fight you at first, insistent that he’s too dangerous and that you’ll get hurt if you stay. But you always fight back. You’ll always fight your way back to him. You make him feel wanted, safe, human.

John ‘Soap’ MacTavish:

“Everlong” by The Foo Fighters

Breathe out/So I can breathe you in/Hold you in/And now/I know you've always been/Out of your head/Out of my head, I sang

He’s such a hopeless romantic. You became his entire world, the light in his eyes, and when you two first met it was like coming up for air after being submerged for so long. And he never wants to let you go, he feels like it’s always been you. You’re the mile marker along the highway of his life, there is a ‘before’ and then there is only a ‘with you’. Nothing is as good when he’s on his own, but with you? The sun’s out, the birds are singing their stupid songs, the flowers are in full bloom, and he can breathe again.

John Price:

“Thank You” by Dido

Push the door I’m home at last/I’m soaking through and through/Then you handed me a towel/And all I see is you/And even if my house falls down now/I wouldn’t have a clue/Because you’re near me

You’re his motivation. You’re what gets him through his long days. Knowing that there’s a home with you waiting for him is what pushes him. He has a picture of you in his wallet that he always looks at, and he’s so fucking tired but he keeps going for you. To see you, to hold you, to kiss you, to cherish you. And when he finally comes home, his bones each weighing a million pounds, and he sees you, it all just melts away. Nothing matters. He tunnel visions and it’s just you. There’s nothing happening outside these walls, it’s just you, and that’s all he needs.

Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick:

“Lose It” by Oh Wonder

Downtown we let it go/Sunset high and our bodies low/Blood rush in the hazy glow/My hands, your bones/Looser we break the scene/One step deep as you fall to me/Heart clap, we skip a beat/Count one, two, three

He’s the warmth that flows through your veins, he’s the sun that shines on your cheeks, he’s the rhythmic sound of cars driving on wet asphalt after a storm. And you? Sweetheart, you’re the twinkle of city lights on the skyline, you’re the sound of laughter from a couple caught in the rain, you’re the steady soothing rhythm of a love song. You’re his favorite song. He’ll always move to your beat, hands on your hips, forehead against yours.

König:

“Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr, Bill Whithers

I see the crystal raindrops fall/And the beauty of it all/Is when the sun comes shining through/To make those rainbows in my mind/When I think of you sometime/And I wanna spend some time with you

He’s so at home with you. When you’re together all his worries melt away. Every thought that gets overplayed in his head start to quiet down the closer he is to you. There’s no one he’d rather be with than you. There is literally no one else in the world. And when you’re sat between his legs, reclined against his chest watching a movie, his heart is drumming in his chest. Only it’s not an anxious beat, it’s a beat that plays for you. It’s a beat that knows you’re the most wonderful thing in his life. You’re the sip of cold water in the middle of the night when his nightmares rip him from his sleep, you’re kissing his sweaty forehead and reminding him that you’re here. That it’s just the two of you. And he’s at peace again.

[compassionatereminders]

Lord. Today has been such a day. I hope it's ok to just rant about it here, if not obviously feel free to delete!!

Got woken up at 1am because my mom needed to go to the ER for excruciating pain. So we load up and I take her. It takes an HOUR for them to even pay her any mind- and it's not because it was busy. We live in a small town, and there was literally nobody there waiting to be seen. We think they were ignoring her because she looked like she was having drug withdrawals (shaking, pale, she couldn't stop moving/fidgeting). They only came out to see her when I brought my little brother in, and they realized that she wasn't just there to try and get meds from the hospital (this is all speculation ofc, but I really can't imagine any other reason that 'nobody saw her'). I'm still so mad because she sat there for so long, crying in pain (my mom NEVER cries, so that's how I could tell it was really bad) and nobody even bothered to check on her for over an hour. It took another hour for her to get any pain relief and while the nurses were all really nice, I'm still incredibly upset that she had to endure it for so long.

Anyways. Mom's going to be fine, she's getting flown to a better hospital a couple hours away to get the problem dealt with. That's all good. I'm staying home with my brother, and my aunt is going to pick her up later today (hopefully; it might take a few more days). The only issue is that I'll need to meet with my little brothers father (not my dad) to drop him off for the weekend, and I hate the guy, but I can easily ignore him so it's fine.

I think it's the stress of coordinating 4 different people's schedules that put me so on edge (my aunt needs to know when my mom is leaving, my sister is coming 1400 miles to Nevada from Texas, my little brother needs to do his homework/get ready to go/be dropped off). Family keeps calling me because I'm the one who lives with my mom, but I don't have any updates, because I'm home looking after my brother. I feel terrible that I can't tell them anything else, but it's still frustrating when I'm trying to get the house cleaned up, take care of a worried 7-year-old, and answer calls just to repeat the same thing.

The final straw though was one of my cats. When my brother and I finally got home around 8am, we were having breakfast. I look over, and my cat is peeing on my moms lunchbox. I freaked out, because that's disgusting, and he had NO reason to do that- their box is perfectly clean, he's not a serial pee monster, he's never been in competition with the other cats. I don't understand why today, of all days, he would choose to make a mess.

I've spent the past hour and a half trying to clean it by hand because I can't just throw it in the washing machine (it has a cloth outside, but its not removable). He ALSO managed to pee on my brother's homework tower (a short, plastic 'filing cabinet' with drawers we keep his stuff in), and of course, it got inside some of the drawers. Luckily the only stuff I had to throw away was some construction paper and white printer paper, and the rest was untouched, but I still had to clean up a MASSIVE puddle of cat pee on the floor, and empty + wipe out four of the drawers.

So. Anyways. I'm not feeling solution-oriented right now, I'm just really angry that this is all happening at once and there's not really anything within my control besides making sure my brother keeps to his schedule. At least he's not too worried, but I've kind of been avoiding talking to him at the moment because I feel like I might snap at him when it's not his fault at all. I'm also avoiding the cat because, while I would never hurt an animal for doing something dumb, I'm still so mad about it. I'd much rather he'd have peed on something of mine.

Now I just feel super on edge, and I keep waiting for ANOTHER bad thing to happen, because at this point it just feels like the universe is out for blood. It's not even noon yet. It's barely 10am

I'm so sorry about all of this. Anti addict ableism is completely unacceptable and literally kills people. It's not like an addict can't ALSO be in excruciating pain/genuinely need urgent care. I'm glad your mom will be okay, but it makes me furious that she was neglected for hours because of prejudices against a potential addiction. And I completely understand that you're not in a good place right now. I'm sorry about the pee situation also, though it's important for me to note that the cat didn't CHOOSE to "make a mess" just to bother you - either he was a bit ill or it was simply an unfortunate accident.

[cherryblossomforest]

I think being full of sadness is making me realise just how much sadness my body holds.

Long sad post that we've gone back and forth on once we remembered more and realised some things plus music because music has always been something I've used to explain feelings or is connected to certain periods in my life

Part 1

I'm always sad and I've always had this dark blue, cold, sharp sadness in my chest that I often try to ignore. Sometimes I can and sometimes I can't. It's mostly linked to Stacey and all those cold winter walks we used to take from like 13 years old. The thing is, I've had years of sadness but there's a specific time my brain goes to whenever I'm feeling this type of sadness. It's like it's etched into my brain. Or (and I really hope not) there's something buried deep surrounding this time. There's a memory I have that's linked to it too. I'm not sure why but we left my mother's house at night and walked 4 miles without even telling her (this is significant because I was always so submissive and obeyed everything my mother said and would never sneak out the house). It's a blur but it was freezing in the dead of winter at night and we were so sad. These were also the times we were convinced our father hated us too and wanted nothing to do with us, which turned out to not be true.

It was difficult because I was the only one left living with my mother, being the youngest, and my siblings had "escaped" my mother by the time my dad moved out when I was 12. Brother 2 would visit at times but not much. My mother had strategically separated me from everyone and made everyone who knew me distrust me without me knowing. So there was never anywhere to turn but her or my dad but for the many reasons she fed me, my dad wasn't an option either. I guess that's reason enough for it to be etched into my brain but seeing as I have several trauma holders towards the end of that time it's most likely something else too. What's more worrying is that I typically have parts from every age group, but what seems to be the most unstable and traumatic time when I lived alone with my mother... there's none... at least that we know about.

So this sadness that's in me is spreading and taking the place of the darkness that was once there. It kind of feels like they've switched places. The darkness is concealed to one small space which I can ignore if needs be and the dark blue sadness is everywhere reaching every part of me. It feels so weird to be able to feel all this sadness because I've spent my life cut off from it. It can be anything to and my brain will find the sadness in it. Sometimes a little voice inside will explain, whilst crying, why something makes them sad. It almost always makes me immediately tear up. When I think of the sadness these songs come to mind:

This song screams something at me that I can no longer translate. I know it and I can feel it. There's something my brain has connected to this song but my brain won't let me see. Especially these lyrics

That secret that you knew But you don't know how to tell It fucks with your honor And it teases your head But you know that it's good, girl 'Cause it's running you with red

There's a secret that I was keeping and I remember this song used to shatter me but I have no idea what it is because it's locked away now, but I can feel the sad memories just from listening to this song. I can feel the coldness and I can remember absolutely bawling my eyes out. I think around this time I went from being really sad to empty, depressed, suicidal, and self-harming. This was when that shift happened because everyone had moved out and it was just me and my mother.

Then we have this song. It's currently bringing me to tears. I can literally taste this song. It's so weird having these physical reminders but nothing to really point at, but knowing it was in a huge chunk of my life that's locked away.

It's pretty much the same thing though, I remember wearing my puffer jacket that went down past my knees and going for a walk in the dark and feeling like my soul was as cold as the air in the dead of winter. I'm pretty sure this all has to do with my inability to withstand the cold now. If I'm cold enough I'll literally have a panic attack and start shaking but back then I was always in the cold and found peace in it. During winter when it gets dark at like 3pm and it used to snow was the best time to go on these walks for us. We used to walk through empty fields since my mother lived on the outskirts of London and they were abundant. They were always poorly lit and to be honest they were the best ones because there was never anyone really there.

This song makes me physically feel cold (I had to put my heater on because I started shaking) and the memories that come back are mostly of me trying to stay outside as long as I could in the freezing cold because I didn't want to go home. I had cold hands and feet and would be staring at empty fields and up at the stars in the dark. It's bittersweet because those moments were so freaking peaceful and I looked forward to them.

Fun fact: I never liked Birdy's version and I heard Bon Iver's version first.

This song slams me back into my first real anorexic episode. I remember I was part of that Twitter community at literally like 14. Again, I was full of this sadness and had no idea (dissociative amnesia) why. I just knew that focusing on my AN was better. We had briefly moved into my mother's new boyfriend's mother's house and I hated it. It was so far from everywhere I knew and I was constantly late to school. Plus I didn't know these people. It was one day she had a boyfriend and then I was living at his mother's house. Plus plus he was a BUM still living with his mother at like 40 something because his previous wife divorced him and he had a whole daughter he was neglecting. Needless to say, I was PISSED and so uncomfortable. Absolutely 0 memories sleeping there though apart from maybe the first night. I'm not sure but I only found out years later my sister was fighting for custody of me at the same time because my mother's plan was literally leaving me with her boyfriends mother whilst she lived happily with him. Bearing in mind that I didn't know the boyfriend or his mother and I was like 13.

All this sadness that I found ways to ignore and push down is back. It's everywhere and I feel like it's all I am rn. I'm stacked up to the top with sadness and I don't know what to do with it. Sometimes I just want to lay on the floor and cry. Cry until there's nothing left or beg someone or no one that this life isn't mine. I'm a walking tragedy and with every waking minute, it breaks my heart all over again. It feels like I'll always be full of sadness and pain. Hopefully not but who knows.

A bunch of other Bon Iver songs that were significant back then that I want to note down

[nancypullen]

Heading to California

The mister and I are driving to California tomorrow. It's not nearly as exciting as you might think, it's just a town in southern Maryland.

We're going on a fact-finding mission. We might want to live there. It's early days yet, NOTHING is happening, but we'd like to have a look around. It would offer a lot more than what we have here in Denton (restaurants, shopping, medical care, etc) and we'd still be about an hour from the Edgewater gang. Bonus, we wouldn't have to worry about Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic all summer. Not gonna' lie, when I google the town and see that they have everything from Belk to JoAnn's to Sally Beauty, it sounds like every convenience I left behind in Mt. Juliet. Man, do I miss that ease of living. There's a Lowe's, a Home Goods, a movie theater, a couple of malls, five grocery stores, a Target, and so on. The reason that this small town offers so much is that it's rubbing shoulders with Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Unfortunately, the closest airport is Reagan National in D.C., about 65 miles away. I think BWI (Baltimore) is 75. Not ideal, but not any worse than what we're dealing with now. I've been looking at real estate online, and at the moment it's in our price range. Before I build this up in my mind as the answer to everything that is wrong here in Caroline County, we're going to have a look around. I know the grass always seems greener elsewhere, but folks, we hardly have grass here. Literally and figuratively. If nothing else tomorrow I get to stop at a Home Goods (Halloween stuff!) and a Sally beauty (hair stuff!). I miss civilization so much. Our plan is to ditch Denton first thing in the morning and head over the bridge and turn south.

We'll explore, have a little lunch (so many restaurants to choose from!), and then head back home. Feels like the Amish on Rumspringa. I'll report our findings here on the ol' blog and let you know if it was much ado about nothing or has some potential. Our choices in Maryland seem to be dense urban or the sticks. This might be a happy medium. Scratch that, I do like Easton (here on the Eastern Shore) and really like their Talbot County property taxes. There's plenty to consider, and we're willing to explore the possibilities. We've been in Maryland just over two years, and I really think there's a better life for us outside of Denton. It's sure worth a look. On that note, I'll wrap this up. I hope that you keep your hearts and minds open to change. Don't be afraid to admit that you need to make changes. This may or may not be something we'll pursue, and if we do, it won't be right away. We're just in the talking stages. We do know that we need more than this. We also know that although we worked hard to make this house very pretty, it's not a house we can live in at 80 or 85. Ideally we'll need a one story house, or at least a home with the primary suite on the first floor. We're not at that point yet, but we also don't want to have to make that move when we're really old. Is it silly to think of that at 60? I don't think so. Better than 80. Those are the thoughts rattling around in my head, so I just dumped them all out for you. Pick through the mess and keep what you like. Sending out oodles of love tonight, I hope you feel it. If you need to make any changes, I'll be your cheerleader. Do it! Follow your dreams! Get what you need! Be brave!

There's always one.

I'll let you know how our adventure unfolds. Until then, stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy

[animal-lover-forever]

Guys!

I just went on a long ass walk with my dog, Amicus.

I hurt now.

My original plan was to just walk around the block.

But clearly, that was not what ended up happening.

I ended up having to carry Amicus for a bit because he was slowing down and getting tired.

Keep in mind that Amicus is a 12-year-old Chiweenie.

And that I am overweight, commonly have pain in my ankles, knees, back, neck, and shoulders, I might have scoliosis (Dr. suspects but hasn't been confirmed.) and I usually only walk 3,000 - 5,000 steps a day when at school.

I only pick up a few 100 steps at most when staying home.

And at school, I walk from one class to another, then take an hour break for class time.

I just took 8,309 steps in one stretch!

I'm not as tired or hurting as bad as I thought I would after this.

But I did get a headache while doing this and almost thew up twice while walking.

My God.

I'm really not sure how I did it.

But I know one thing for sure.

I will never do this again.

From here on out, I'll be sticking to the block walks.

Oh yeah, Life 360 isn't completely accurate.

I didn't walk in the grass. (Unless there was no sidewalk.) I kept to the streets.

And I didn't have any water on me while walking.

So this was a straight-through walk, with no water, and in new territory.

Wait.

I didn't mention that?

Oh.

Yeah, I went further than I have ever walked, and into areas that me and my mom drive through rarely if at all.

I ended up pulling up Google Maps at some point so I could make my way home.

Only to realize that I wasn't very far from a Walmart that's literally half a mile away from our house.

My mom has so much trust in me.

I love her.

I was gone for over an hour and went decently far away from the house.

She didn't call me once to check in, (which I was a little surprised about. But when getting back home, she didn't even realize it had been that long. So that does make sense.) and she wasn't at all mad about how far I had gone.

My dad on the other hand?

He would have called me every 5 minutes asking where I was, and if I would have gotten half as far as I did today I would have gotten in trouble.

It makes me sad that my dad has no faith in me.

When I decided to go back to my mom, he told me that I would fail school, start doing drugs, and get pregnant.

And here I am, a year and a half later, not doing drugs (That aren't prescribed to me by a Dr.) and not pregnant. (I'm still virgin, in fact.)

I might have failed school this year because I completely lost all motivation near the end.

But even if I did, I plan to make up for it next year.

Because I won't allow myself to be a high school dropout.

So even though my dad has absolutely no trust or faith in me, at least my mom does.

Dear God.

Sorry guys.

I didn't mean for my little walk story to turn into drama, or for it to become this long.

[strangermoons]

The Beat Has Just Begun: chapter 5 extras

Happy birthday to this story! We've come a long way, baby. First fic I ever wrote that made it past the 5K mark, and only the second one I've finished.

I don't have anything research-related to say about this chapter so instead I'll ramble behind the cut about my general approach to the geography of Hawkins.

There is, to my knowledge, no official map of Hawkins. There are prop maps, but they differ from season to season. I found a reddit post that tried to place on-screen locations on a map based on various clues given in the show, and that generated a map unlike any of the prop maps I've found. What, then, is a literal-minded pedantic little nerd to do?

Well, I ended up taking the season 3 prop map that Hopper steals from the mayor's house in episode 4 (mostly because I found a nice scan of it early on when writing this story) and built my own version of Hawkins on top of it which I try to keep consistent. During my note-taking rewatch I made sure to note down every mentioned address and every legible street sign, and jotted down the name and approximate location of every business that appeared on-screen. I then reconciled this with the prop map, where possible.

I ran into issues pretty early on; for one thing, the route to Hopper's cabin goes from “take Denfield, then you’ll see a large oak tree. You’re gonna swing a right. That road is gonna dead-end. And it’s about a 5-minute walk from there.” in S2E9 to Hopper driving right up to the porch in S3E2. The Mayfield-Hargrove home mysteriously relocates from Old Cherry Road (S2E2) to 4819 Cherry Lane (S3E8). In S2E9 Hopper meets up with Sam Owens at a diner - or is it a bar? there are pool tables - called The Hideaway, but in S4E1 Eddie's extremely improbable* Corroded Coffin gigs are at a dive bar called The Hideout. Now, it's not impossible that two establishments in a small town would have such similar names, but it does seem a bit silly. If they're both supposed to be the same establishment it's kind of a sloppy mistake.

And then there are things like: Forest Hills trailer park is apparently seven miles away from the Wheelers' home on Maple Street. How big is Hawkins even supposed to be?

In the end I figured the most important thing was to have an internally consistent version of the town in my head that I could draw on when I'm writing, just so I don't end up making something a 10-minute walk in one scene and a 20-minute drive in another. I've tried to use street names from either the show or the prop map where possible, and supplemented by googling "Indiana native trees" and "Indiana historical figures" when necessary. When it comes to state-level geography I've plopped Hawkins more or less on top of Muncie because it's just easier to drop a pin in a real location and get google maps to spit out how long it would take to drive to Cincinnati, or whatever. Also, the S3 prop map has a little dot giving an approximate location in the state of Indiana that more or less lines up with where Muncie is and the throwaway WJRB 9 news report at the end of S4E9 where they say “the quaint town of Hawkins, 80 miles outside of Indianapolis.”

If this all seems like a lot of work: I don't know what to tell you. It feels necessary to my process? Like, you should see the spreadsheets. I have one that's just a list of all the tertiary characters that've appeared in my stories, with notes on whether they're canon (or canon-based) or full-on OCs, their approximate age, which stories they've appeared in, first or last names I've assigned canon characters that don't have them, relationships with other characters and any other relevant details. I have another one that's got a sheet with the timeline of TBHJB complete with which day of the week it is and notes on what happened when, and a separate sheet with a rough shift schedule for Family Video spanning several weeks. I honestly don't know that I could write anything at all without using these documents.

If you read this far: Wow, really? Thanks for reading 💀

*Corroded Coffin is a high school band, why on earth would they have a weekly standing gig? They don't even draw a crowd! The bar has zero incentive to let them keep playing!

[cinamun]

Listen, Cin, these are for you 💐🌹🌻 because you be out here doing a thing. You hear me? Lol. It's the fact that I had to literally sleep on it before I came back and picked up where Hope & her vortex had me fucked up at... Lol.

*cracks knuckles* Let's unpack, shall we...

I will try my damnest to keep this short & sweet:

Indya wasn't wrong. I repeat, Indya wasn't wrong.

There I said it. Lol. But in all seriousness, could she have said "close your mouth" rather than "shut the fuck up," of course...But there was nothing wrong with what she said nor how she said it. (and that little grab Indya did was harmless). Hope didn't just run to lil Stacy's house (her friends name is escaping me right now, my bad Cin), she decided to hop on a train & just so happen to land in San My...scared shitless because she had no idea where she was. Let's not forget that. That's not a calm & gentle conversation to have. Indya is not one of Hope's little friends, she's her mother. And regardless of how embarrassed She may be of her parents "toxicity," she will not disrespect her in her 4.9gb house.

There's so much more that I could say but I will just leave with this:

One thing Darren & Indya have always done is showed up for their children. They love the shit outta them kids & each other. That in itself is growth. Look at where they came from, hell. They show up and show out for their kids...aht aht! let's not breeze past "The Spring Fling" chapter so quickly...or the talk Indya had with Hope about sex...or the one when she was advising hope to explore more things she likes rather than boys. Or hell, even the talk Darren had with Elliot (at the Spring Fling).

I believe we tend to forget sometimes that healing is literally a process, that growth isn't overnight, and it's a rollercoaster to say the least. A couple therapy sessions with the good Doc isn't going to "make everything go away." But these two are putting in the work, daily. And it most definitely shows. Hell, right before Hope ran away after the Bad Boys II scene Indya literally had an aha moment about them not continuing to do things as they've always done them (when it comes to Hope & boys). Now I won't say how I feel about the Bad Boy II-esque scene because we'll really be here all day. But I will say, Jayce ass do look 30. A healthy ass beard...that fully connects...at 18. Nah champ! You're not fooling me.🤣 (as a matter of fact, Hope lemme take home boy off your hands you need to be in them books anyway) Lol.

With all that being said, I don't believe this is going to damage Hope & Indya's relationship. Because in the midst of Indya going off on her she was reassuring her. Indya literally told her something along the lines of how she could never be a failure to them. She also took accountability for the decisions Hope makes by saying something along the lines of "It makes us a failure when our daughter chooses the streets."

The Drake's (as we all are) are a work in progress. Leaning to navigate this shit all while learning to rid themselves of the weight that was not theirs to carry in the first place.

My mind was running fifty-leven miles a minute, so I hope I made sense. 🤣

Thank you for telling stories that allow us all to have this type of discourse. This shit gets heavy at time but honestly that's the beauty of it. You take us on a wild ride, make us a-kee-kee, and cry all in the matter of minutes.

...so much for me keeping this short & sweet. Lol. Now gon' head and get you another serving of pie. You deserve! 🖤

CHAEEEEEEEEE!!!! Its the face journey I just went on...

and the way I had to get up and walk away at "Indya ain't one of Hope's little friends"...

THE SPRING FLING! THE LOCKER ROOM TALK! THE SEX TALK! THE FULLY CONNECTED BEARD!

CHAE!!! Why am I emotional? This is it, this the one. THANK YOU SO MUCH LOVE! I will happily take these flowers.

Such a thoughtful and insightful breakdown of current events AND the associated nuance.

[mushroomwriter]

Hermanos anon here - WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT GIFSET ON MY DASH AAAAAAAH!!!!! i came out here to have a good time and honestly i feel so attacked rn

Anyway, so happy for you that the exam is over and you passed <3 I actually have exams coming up myself lol so I completely understand... also have you heard? Berlin was renewed for s2! Really really hoping Alvaro returns and we get Sergio and hermanos rights in the next season 🤞 (and to fill the need for hermanos content!!) Also pls don't feel like you have to make a set again soon, happy to wait until you get the inspiration, and ofc it's always a good idea to rewatch their scenes, instant serotonin boost - just skip that minor scene that shall not be named at the end of the Mint Heist 😭

Haha I'm sorryyyy! It's something I realised long back but I never had the chance to inflict the angst on anyone else lmao. you added the cherry on top with how you worded it "literally a little brother begging his big brother not to leave him, and knowing on some level that he'll never be able to make him change his mind" 🥺 in some way he would've known right at the moment nairobi and helsinki emerged alone so seeing him going from denial to desperation. hurts

(pt 2) YES, brotherssss!!! Oh, the fact that Andrés is so selfish and narcissistic otherwise just makes the hermanos bond even more special to me?? it hits different than if they'd just been relatively normal/good characters, idk. And yes that's such older brother behaviour of him!! I will tell you some happier observations of mine this time. One of my favourite "older bro" things Andrés does in the series, when he and Sergio sit down to drink together, he ALWAYS pours wine for Sergio first. In the bella ciao scene, his wedding scene in s4, even s3 he literally wakes up Sergio to come have breakfast with them, which means he didn't even allow either Martin or Tatiana to start without his hermanito lol. It's a very sweet minor detail that melts my heart. I can totally imagine them in the Toledo house, pretending they don't know each other but then andrés does little things like these, serving Sergio first or preparing coffee for his brother just the way he likes it before making his own cup :') OH, the feels. Yes, I agree, I definitely think the Bella Ciao lyrics are foreshadowing, and that is exactly what happened in the end. (I have been struck by that thought too, more than once 🥲 it's heartbreaking isn't it? especially when you consider that oslo/moscow had their loved ones with them when they died + a funeral. nairobi had a funeral too. tokio had rio with her before she died. but andrés had none of that, sergio was miles away and then ofc they had to escape leaving him behind... don't think about the guantanamera scene lyrics in this context too. Poor Sergio :( (pt 3) Btw sorry for how long this got!! Please feel free to put everything under a cut if you want 😅 I'm just out here rambling like there's no tmrw. Back to the happier note (omg we really just keep switching between angst and joy) I love that idea!! Yeah, I can definitely see them having that as an inside joke, something that only they share from their childhood memories, it's very sweet! Sergio "I don't dance" Marquina WILL dance if his big bro requires, and it makes me a puddle everytime. Somehow he has the most stiff yet adorable dance moves ever, I loved those moments we got. Andrés mirroring Sergio's moves in the guantanamera scene never fails to bring a smile to my face. Unironically, I used to watch that scene so many times during the pandemic days. I was not doing too well but those few seconds seeing them smile and laugh and dance despite everything used to give me such comfort :D I was glad to see your reply (and once again, completely understand, hope you're taking care of yourself <3) Thank you for putting up (and being so kind) about my rambles, glad you like them! And ofc, please feel free to tell me to shut up if I get too annoying 😭 As always, such a JOY sharing the enthusiasm for these heist bros with you and i hope you have a great week!

AT LEAST WE CAN SUFFER TOGETHER!!! And talk about Sergio, who usually considers every single possible outcome, Never considering his brother could die... whew!

Thank you so much! The best of luck on your exams!! (If you've already taken them, I hope they went well!) I saw that, yeah... and speaking of the spin-off I watched some more of it, I need to watch the fifth episode next... anyway, they better use that new season to give us some new hermanos content or ELSE 🔪🔪 like, just Andrés mentioning Sergio was enough to reawaken my heist brothers obsession, an actual new scene with the two of them would be so Powerful (also I miss Sergio sooo) Thank you, I'd like to gif them again soon but right now the inspiration isn't really on my side, UGH. But I really hope watching and rewatching their scenes (and looking for possible quotes) can help! Honestly since I love pain I will probably watch the Scene That Shall Not Be Named as well but I promise I'll proceed with caution...

Well, I can't blame you, angst is made to be shared! Poor Sergio, he really is in denial at the beginning, huh, insisting Andrés should get into the tunnel... and that's another thing that gets me, because truly there was no time, waiting for Andrés and not blowing up the tunnel basically meant getting captured, and yet Sergio who's usually so cautious and always aware of every risk just refuses to see it. Andrés must get into the tunnel and to safety! And then he gets more and more desperate when it really becomes apparent that it isn't going to happen :(

Oh, I definitely agree! Part of the appeal of big brother Andrés and of their bond imo is the contrast between their usual demeanor and how they behave around each other. When they're together they're a big brother and a little brother, you know 🥺🥺 OOOH thanks for sharing! I don't know if I ever noticed that (if I did I forgot) it really is sweet! I'm smiling a bit at the thought of Andrés not allowing Martín and Tatiana to have breakfast because the most precious hermanito in the world is not there yet! I love that thought! I enjoy picturing how it was for them in Toledo, having to pretend they didn't know each other, and the image of Andrés finding all the sneaky ways to take care of his hermanito makes me melt <3

What can I say, Bella Ciao, Guantanamera, they truly looked at the lyrics and went "ooooh 😈" That completely breaks my heart, like it makes Sergio's grief even WORSE.

Please never apologize about how long your message gets, as far as I'm concerned it only means I have more stuff to enjoy (also thank you for reminding me I can put this under a cut, I probably should lol) It's kind of amusing how we can switch between oh no Andrés was killed and Sergio was completely helpless and awww nice little childhood memories but hey it's great how they give us tragic and happy thoughts both! I absolutely agree about Sergio having the most stiff yet adorable dance moves ever, at some point he's basically like "ok, since I'm doing this with my big brother I'm... actually enjoying it, but this doesn't take all my awkwardness away" and it's so CUTE, Alvaro plays it so well! And Andrés mirroring his moves makes me smile so much!! It truly is a comfort scene and I'm glad it helped you through those times (man, it was surreal).

Thanks so much for your patience! And nooo don't worry, I LOVE your rambles!! It really is a real joy to talk with you about these brothers!

Thank you so much, I hope you have a great week too! (And if you're still studying for your exams, well, I wish you a productive study and hope it doesn't stress you out too much!)

[wickedmoonlite]

KinnPorsche Rewatch 2023

So just a disclaimer: as we go into heavier topics in KP (dub-con/non-con, toxic behaviors, whatever else I know this series throws at us), I will not be doing deep dives. I'm planning on taking this just below surface value, but not too much farther. These are literally thoughts I have in the moment as I'm watching. There are plenty of other users on this platform who have done deep dives and are far more intellectual about it than I am planning on being. Also cinema/media literacy has never been my strong suit. Thank you for your cooperation.

Episode 5 Random Thoughts

No, Kinn, I don't think Porsche is okay. He's very.... Broody.

"My Papa isn't in the room? Gotta go snooping around because I'm nosy." Kim, probably.

I love how Korn doesn't trust his own son. He knows Kim's snooping around the family business and background because Papa knows everything. I swear, Korn has ten thousand schemes going on at a time and they're all kept track of in his head. Dude is very smart and cunning.

Tankhun knows exactly how Kim operates. And honestly, Khun has the best instincts of all three of the boys. He just doesn't want to be in charge of operations.

Kinn was also talking about himself and how he fucked up last night.

The montage of memories from the night before coming back to Porsche is very well done.

My little sister has done a flaming shot like that, she said it was very hot going down, so their reaction isn't too bad overall.

As an addendum to yesterday's post: I have many thoughts and feels about the ending sex scene (also feels about why I think it does work, and is well done, though v problematic). And I really appreciate how they went about the feelings behind it in today's episode. Where both Kinn and Porsche are having a hard time leaving it behind and trying to be with someone else because they're in like (not love yet) and stuff.

Kinn looking at his reflection in the window... Feels like he's having a hard time coming to grips with what happened (rightfully so, I'd say).

Vegas drives up on a Panigale V4 S with no back seat.

Oooooh the jealousy from Kinn.

I don't like that they used KP's song for VegasPorsche bike ride.

Pulling up to the building, the bike now has a back seat.

My favorites are here just strolling into a studio 🥰

Kim likes all the sides of you too, Chay. I can see the smitten even now.

Almost gave away that you're gathering info on the brothers, my dude.

I love how he gives in to Chay and stays to listen to the song even though he didn't initially want to. And then starts playing piano and singing along to it too. 🤡

Gratuitous shower scene, but it feels like he's washing away the bad.

Kinn showing up uninvited to the house of the person he likes is just a mood. Because he's just that forward and entitled lmao.

The way he switches between being brash and kind of a bitch to trying to be nicer is hilarious because it feels so unnatural. Mile did such a good job here.

I feel like Korn knows about or possibly orchestrated the kidnapping. It just feels so... off.

I do really love how well KP work together in these fist fighting scenes. It's so good.

I think these posts with my thoughts are just going to keep getting longer as we get farther into the show... Which, I mean, if y'all don't mind it, then we're good. Episode 6 tomorrow!

[fandomstars]

Request for a Lincoln-specific fic! Lincoln gets way more than he bargains for when he and Clyde swap roles whilst trapped inside a video game [Lincoln’s the sidekick while Clyde’s the hero]

Lincoln Loud: Player 2

Fandom: Loud House

Lincoln Loud was usually known as the white hair hare, the man with the plan, the leader of the pack.

Yet to him, it’s more of a mask to the public and his family. A way to hide the true self of his for more reasons than one.

Closest he’s ever broken said mask and reveled himself was one day with Clyde.

Now usually, it’s easy to slip on the mask, keep it on all day.

But ever since he’s meet Clyde, it’s cracked a few times.

Whether it was Ronnie Ann when she bullied him, or anyone really bullied him. Or when his sisters get the most attention, praise, or just gang up on him for whatever reason.

Yet the day he and Clyde played the newest video game Virtual Lore, was when he shattered.

Having just graduated middle school, the pair decided to use their graduation money combined, to buy the latest game.

And started out alright.

They chose their character occupation, interests, and they were in.

The thing that made this game so popular was it basically scanned each player to make their avatar look exactly like them, but with fantasy features.

Lincoln choose to be a part merman look that worked as a swordsman, while Clyde chose a part elf look that worked as a archer.

They blasted through the tutorial, and after completing a few minor quests, did things get ugly.

You know how those with swords are usually the hero?…not this game it seemed.

“Sir Clyde! Can pur great, talented hero save us?”

Clyde looked at Lincoln besides him, his expression confused as he looks back at the princess of the game realm.

“Uh…I’m just an archer madam.”

The princess gasps, “But it’s true! Everyone knows the archer is the most powerful and heroic of all!”

Lincoln looks away, his mind going more chaotic as the two accept the princess’s hardest quest, to take down the shapeshifter hoard.

“That was weird huh Linc? I could of sworn the game didn’t have the ‘archer’ as the hero of popularity no?…Linc?”

Lincoln and him trudged through the haunted forest, his mind going a million miles a minute as his mind turns as dark as the forest around them.

‘My family, my classmates, and now this game? Does no one think I amount to anything? Should I break this act for good? But what will that do, if I do, I’ll just mess everything up anyway…’

Lincoln just shakes his head as he turns to Clyde, his mask still on despite the cracks he could feel erupt, “All good buddy! And hey, maybe once we complete this quest, we can find out more of our status in this game. Definitely different from usual games huh?”

Clyde looked upon his friend, he frowns but nods, letting Lincoln lead them on, despite his gut telling him it seemed the white hair knight was drifting further away.

——-

“Welcome to the hoard’s lair boys!”

Lincoln couldn’t help but groan as before him and Cylde inside the darken cave, was basically a snake like group of girls that just happen to look like his sisters.

“L-Lori?” Lincoln nearly facepalmed, but thankfully any nosebleed was nonexistent in this game from his friend’s awkward crush.

“I don’t get it,” Lincoln says as the sisters circle around them, “why would they all join the game? They rather go to the mall than do something I like.”

Serpent like or not, Lincoln could tell Lynn was itching for their battle to begin as she keep hissing.

Luan meanwhile giggling her joker laugh, but the snake like hissing with it just made Lincoln want to curl up and hide away.

“This game is a literal money maker! Don’t know how many people play this game? We can make a fortune!”

All the sisters verbally agreed with Luan, even Lily despite Lincoln knowing she’d rather be drawing in real life, than get sucked into some scheme of Luan’s.

“We’ve already become the hardest bosses in the game! And since Clyde is the hero here, this battle will make us number one for ages!” Lynn says with a laugh, “So just stay where you are Stinkin, we’ll save you the more embarrassment of trying to fight us, and just end you here.”

Lincoln’s fists curl as he looks down at the ground in shame.

His sisters, he should of known would try to make something he liked work against him, become something of theirs, to make his thing a joke.

He’d thought, after years of the mask, years of dealing with bullies and sisters alike, and now just about to start high school, they’d lay off.

Lori was a golfing icon, and he knew as soon as the graduation celebration was over, she’d take off to her next tournament.

Leni was in college for fashion, already being talked into interning at one of the best fashion industries in the world.

Luna was working with her band to make it big, and already was making music videos topping the charts.

Luan had graduated high school just months ago, which now that Lincoln thought more of, definitely was celebrated more than him and Clyde.

His parents didn’t even care it seemed, it was the McBrides who gave them cake, congratulations, permission to get the game.

He knew middle school graduation wasn’t as big as high school, but surely all his hard work should be celebrated by his family?

But like always it seemed, he’d be left in the shadows.

Even his younger siblings had gotten more attention than him lately, more so than ever.

This game was all he seem to have of his own these days.

He had literally sold all his comic books just to buy this game. He gave away his old video games to Clyde to save room.

Yet here they all were, his sisters, his family, making his life a chaotic mess.

And he has had it.

“No.”

Lynn and the girls stopped laughing, her eyes now narrowing at the knight, “What was that, punk?” Her look now transforming to a dragon, a puff a smoke and ash hitting Lincoln.

Lincoln looks up, his masks shatters as his eyes go ablaze.

Lynn and the others actually take a step back at such a cold, harden look.

Clyde shivers and even takes a step back from Lincoln’s side, but even he can’t get far as he just can’t look away from his friend.

“I’ve had enough of you all, my so called family, bullying and pushing me aside for years.” His voice could of made the face turn to ice if the game allowed, but not even the clearly shown Luan having recorded since the pair came into the cave to the internet could faze him.

“I’ve had to act like I was some pushover for years. None of you noticed, and I’ve been doing so since the twins were in diapers!”

The sisters gasps.

“You want to know the real me? Oh wait, why would you all, when you all and my parents seem to push the fake me aside, why won’t the real me do?”

Lincoln takes a step forward his eyes never leaving his sisters, “The real me, has always understood academics, and could of skipped many times grade wise. But I didn’t cause I knew you’d all scorn me for even thinking I could be smarter than his oh so talented sisters.”

“Lincoln…” He turned his head to Lori, who immediately closed her mouth.

“The real me, never really liked girls romantically. But how could I say that, when you all tried to get me to date my ex-bully!”

“Did you not think to consider her attitude towards me? She cared more of her reputation as the ‘tough girl’ than any of my feelings what so ever! It took Bobby of all people to stop her bullying at me after I rejected her. Yeah, I did, and you know why I never reveled such? It’s cause I knew you’d blame me again if Bobby so much as broke up with you. So I had to do it in front of him just to get the message!”

“I hid my attraction towards boys more than girls for years, and you know why? It’s cause I’d knew you’d tease me to death on it! Oh, but if Luna comes out as bi, she’s supported and still loved. But if I were to have? You’d never let me hear the end of it!”

The girls were now on tears, even Luan cut off the recording without realizing it.

“The real me, wants to make be a comic book writer, but I couldn’t revel that. You all get trophies galore of your talents, and if I had one of those, let alone related like mine does with Lily’s in art and Lucy’s in writing, you’d all scorn me for ‘taking away the spotlight’. Well news flash, YOU’VE HAD THE FREAKING SPOTLIGHT SINCE YOU ALL WERE BORN AND EVEN NOW! I only got when I was a baby, but even then, I remember, you all stole it in instances.”

His eyes glistened in tears, but he won’t let them fall, “I’m no hero, a nobody, and a fool. A fool to think I’d ever be satisfied being in your all shadows for the rest of my life!”

With that, Clyde quickly took off his and Lincoln’s helmets, bringing back to reality, back to Clyde’s house.

Lincoln didn’t say a word, just sat there, staring at the now blank tv screen.

Clyde could only hug his friend, his dads finding the pair in a silent embrace, fast asleep.

Lincoln’s face now streaming with tears.

[achitka]

Chapter 30: Perfectamente Imperfecta

Chapter 31 here

Summary:

Isabela wants something she thinks is no longer possible…makes for a long morning. I do not recommend self harm as a way of dealing with issues. Though I do understand why it happens. I say this as someone who once lived in a very dark world…It will get better. Might take longer than you want, but there's always light, even if it's one star a billion miles away.

Perfectamente Imperfecta

(Perfectly Imperfect)

Dolores finished her breakfast quickly and left the table to go to Mirabel’s room. She probably should have asked first, but Mirabel was busy looking after Paola and she did tell her mother what she was about, so Dolores hoped Mirabel wouldn’t mind. Keeping track of the people in the mountains was far more interesting to her and a better use of her time. In fact, she honestly thought this was the happiest she ever felt about having this magical ability.

After last night, Dolores noticed Casita had improved the map. More areas showed either rocks or trees. The larger group had halted near a previously unknown river. It made Dolores wonder how Doris and Inez had gotten the children across it. Dolores looked at the group of children, they were still pretty deep in the forested area and were nowhere near the place Camilo had returned to Casita from.

She was watching three separate sets of lights now. The larger group, which had been camped by the river, came into view just after breakfast. She had been watching for them since Antonio came to her to tell her Tina the owl had returned and said they took down the houses. She assumed that meant they’d broken camp and were on the move. She had managed to have Casita label the leader, whose head now floated near the front of a line of dimly glowing lights. She guessed there were a total of twenty-five. Fernando was easy enough to spot since he was by himself, and Casita labeled that light as well. He did not appear to be following the women, he was instead skirting the larger group. Doris and Inez had at least five additional children with them. Most were likely younger than Paola, since their heart rates were faster than hers. Only the women ever spoke. The children, aside from an occasional cough or whine, said nothing.

Dolores let out a squeak when she heard:

Isabela (Let me help.)

Mirabel (sigh)

Isabela (Our family, was given a miracle. Or more rightly, our Abuela was given a miracle. This was passed on to us…we were each given a magical Gift to help the people of our community. I can grow, literally anything.)

There was a popping sound and everyone else went silent

Mirabel (Are you trying to frighten her?)

Isabela (I do not think a small cactus is frightening… See it’s beautiful.)

Mirabel (Then why grow it under her nose?)

Isabela (Why not?)

Tiles clattered and Mirabel snapped (Stop it Casita. I don’t need any help.)

More angry tiles rattled, there was a pause then Mirabel (I’m sorry, Issa, I keep forgetting.)

After a short silence, someone got up. Isabela said (No, I shouldn’t have done that. I am sorry, Paola. I really did not mean to frighten you. Please accept this as part of my apology, it will match your pretty ribbon.) another short silence (I’m going up to my room to get ready for the meeting.)

Abuela said nothing during all of this, but her heart rate had gone up and though Isabela had sworn her to secrecy, Dolores was really concerned about her prima. That was why she told their Abuela the things Isabela had told her. Those scratches on her arms were showing up more and more frequently. Never too deep and at first, there were only a few, but by the end of last night and though she tried to hide them, even Antonio had noticed. He whispered his question to her when Issa had gone to the other side of the room when Abuela came in. She hoped she had reassured him, but the way he and Camilo were talking during breakfast made her wonder. It had also made her more aware of how stressed Isabela’s voice sounded.

Last night, when Mirabel was dealing with whatever had happened in her room, Issa seemed genuinely worried about Mirabel’s fear. Today she sounded like the old Issa, the one that was jealous of and pretended to dislike her little sister. Dolores wondered if that was what the real problem was. Isabela, Dolores knew, actually liked being the center of attention. It had been trained into her for almost twenty years. Now that their roles were switched and Mirabel was the focus, Isabela was not sure how or where she fit into things or even if she wanted to. Once Casita was finished, she confided, she planned to leave the Encanto and travel the world. Dolores had thought that would be wonderful and with Luisa planning to leave and become a vet, she needed someone to point her in some direction. But what she really needed was for their Abuela to apologize and accept her as she was.

Camilo appeared shortly thereafter but said nothing about the almost argument Issa and Mira had had. He said he was there to get a good look at the map. Like Mirabel, he poked at the floating heads and seemed surprised that he could not hear them. He was curious where he had actually been last night, and Casita did something neither were expecting. It recreated the route he took the night before. It appeared as a lightly glowing line, but thankfully this only took a few minutes, not the actual hours it took last night. While they watched, she asked if he was going to the meeting. He said no, since he did not feel he had completely recovered from his excursion the previous day. He left shortly thereafter to go eat second breakfast and start studying the books given to him by the headmaster at the school. It was weird, she thought, her bothersome little brother was going to be a teacher.

Dolores had had no specific requests either, or rather, no one really wanted her to be listening in on their conversations. If they did, it was mostly petty nonsense, so no loss there. Mariano was going to be at the meeting because his mother was on the council. He did promise to let her know if she should listen in. Sylvia Guzman, Dolores knew, wanted Mariano to take her place on the council one day. He was less than enthusiastic about that, but being a dutiful son, he went. Dolores thought he would actually be excellent at that, he was intelligent, charismatic and very well thought of. She had told him everything she knew about the mountain travelers while he was having breakfast with his mother. He tapped his fork on his plate twice, and Dolores stopped talking. They’d worked out that signal to let her know the other was listening to whomever was in front of them.

She was waiting somewhat impatiently for him to respond to his mother’s last question when she heard.

Tío Agustín (Mirabel, there’s something you need to know about Paola.)

Mirabel (Oh?)

Tía Julieta (Paola is a boy.)

Mirabel (What? But why would…)

Tía Julieta (I’m sure ‘she’ has her reasons, Corazón. They’ve clearly been through a lot, so I’m going to get the ‘girl’ clothes as she requested. If that is what it takes for her to be comfortable, then so be it.)

Tío Agustín (We just did not want you to find out in an awkward way.)

Dolores looked over at the label that Casita had assigned to Paola. It showed the smiling face of a little girl wearing a flower crown in her hair. Dolores hoped no one would make a big deal about it and she most certainly wasn’t going to mention it. There were others in town who did similar things, and she was thankful her Abuela had never asked her to listen for them. She knew about them, especially those that would pray so fervently to the Virgin for peace and for answers as to why they felt the way they did.

When she was younger, and less able to shut out voices, it always made her sad to the point that either her mother would take her with her to the fields and let the thunder roll or her father would take her out to the woods. Far enough away that she could relax. He was the one that built the little shed she’d taken Mariano to.

She recalled another that would dress as a man but her memories of him were few, but she recalled he was a small man with a thin mustache. He was good friends with her Tío Bruno and his name was Jorge Rodriguez. For almost thirty years Jorge lived alone at the edge of town and made the most beautiful women’s shoes in the Encanto. Even though this was considered women’s work, everyone had at least one pair of his shoes.

When he died, unexpectedly, and it was discovered they were not a man, it caused quite the uproar. Because of her Gift, she heard it all and the days that followed were just horrible for her as the more spiteful folks wanted to put him in a dress to be buried, as God intended. Others were somewhat kinder about it but seemed to hold the same opinion about the dress. And most said less than generous things about Jorge’s reasons for doing it. She learned a lot of words no eight-year-old should know. However, because Jorge Rodriguez had no family in the Encanto, her Tío asked Abuela if they could oversee the funeral arrangements. Abuela agreed but the folks who showed up to see how the body was dressed were disappointed to find her Abuela also insisted that the casket remained closed.

There were only a few other people in the church besides the Madrigals. Dolores was sitting with her family at the front of the church, and she heard Isabela ask Tío Bruno, “Do you think God will be mad at us for not letting the people say goodbye to him?”

Her Tío put an arm around her and said, “No. I don’t think most of those people outside came to say goodbye to Jorge. Considering they never had a kind thing to say about Señor Rodriguez when he was alive.”

“Oh…Tío why would they want to put Jorge in a dress?” Isa asked in a whisper and Tía Julieta, who sitting next to them rubbed her forehead.

Her Tío just said, “Just remember to always be yourself, don’t let anyone tell you different.”

People outside the church were gossiping up a storm and Dolores whimpered as she crawled into her father’s lap and pushed her head into his chest. She closed her eyes and listened to his heart beat as he covered her other ear with his hand and began to hum. It filled her whole head as she relaxed and at some point, fell asleep.

Mariano (Dolores, mi vida)

Dolores started and looked at the town for Mariano’s light. It was no longer in his house but on the street in front of it.  She touched it lightly saying “Yes, Mariano?

Mariano (We are leaving for the meeting now.)

“Alright.”

-----------------------

Isabela walked into her room and almost turned and walked back out. She examined all the scratches on her arm and frowned. She was finding it more and more difficult to control some aspects of her Gift. Or, more rightly, aspects of her anger. What happened during breakfast highlighted that major flaw to everyone in her family. The fact that she still wanted and needed her Abuela’s approval irked her, and she saw now she was yet again trying to use Mirabel to get it, and not in a good way. She thought she was past all that. Her Abuela’s non-reaction to it all, not only made her feel foolish, worse she had acted childish. She knew Mirabel really was the one best suited to take over for Abuela one day. Isabela did not want that job, in the same way she did not want to be tied to a man she did not love. Then why did she frighten a small child in an attempt to embarrass her sister? Why would Abuela want her to go early to that meeting? Mirabel was the one…Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a gentle tap on her door, and Luisa slipped in and closed it behind her. Isabela braced herself and turned toward her sister. But there was no anger in Luisa’s expression, just concern. This annoyed Isabela even more than the potential confrontation, and she snapped, “What do you want?”

Luisa did not respond, but her eyes flicked to the thorns as they made new scratches on her arms. Isabela belatedly tried to hide them behind her. She forced the thorns that had popped out to retract, and Luisa asked, “Are you okay, Issa? I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice those cuts.”

“Well, that’s nobody’s business but mine,” Isabela said flatly.

Luisa made no reply and in the past, this would have been enough for her sister to leave her be, but Luisa continued to stand there looking around. Isabela felt her jaw clench, and she said, “You still haven’t said what you wanted.”

 “I do not actually want anything, Issa. I’m just worried about you.”

Shortly after the breaking, they had moved from the church to Abuelo Joseph’s house. The three sisters shared a room and at first, it was weird. There was nowhere to hide or just be by yourself unless you left the house. Not wanting to deal with the townsfolk and their pity. They remained at the house when they were not working on Casita. They did at least have their own beds. This had led to many late night talks about what they wanted to do in the future. New things they wanted to try. Isabela even found a kindred spirit in her Abuela Valentina who encouraged her to learn all she could about the plants she was growing in her garden behind the house.

At Isabela’s insistence, the sisters also made a promise to one another to make sure they paid attention to how they were feeling. To not look away but try to help if they could. She glanced back at Luisa who was still looking around and Isabela realized she was picking a fight with her sister to try to push her away. Luisa, however, wasn’t budging, and Isabela closed her eyes as she let her arms drop to her sides. She sighed and said, “I’m fine really, just a little confused, I guess.”

“So, is this actual fine,” and Luisa paused and said, “or…Madrigal fine…”

Isabela gave a snort and frowned. Madrigal fine is what they’d taken to calling their state of mind before the breaking when they didn’t want to face a problem. She wanted to believe she’d done a good job of letting go of old habits, but she knew in her heart, she was still stuck. In a lot of ways, she was still unwilling to believe in herself or that she could ever be more than she was before the house fell. Often she would pretend to ignore Mirabel when their sister offered a suggestion on how she could improve whatever it was she was trying to work through.

“Ah, so, Madrigal fine,” Luisa said with a nod. “I know I’ve already said this Issa, but maybe you should try talking to her,” Luisa said this carefully, but Isabela knew who she meant. “She’s not the same as before, and I mean I did not think talking would make anything better either. I was wrong and since the magic’s come back you’ve been, well, there’s no good way to put this, you’re being downright mean to Abuela. I mean, I get it, but don’t you think you’re going a little overboard with that? And why start picking at Mirabel? I thought you wanted this for her. You said you were happy you weren’t required to be Señorita Perfecta anymore.” When Isabela still did not answer, Luisa idly kicked at the flagstones waiting, but then said in disbelief, “Oh Dios Mio…you are jealous.”

The conviction in Luisa’s voice made Isabela immediately snap back, “I most certainly am not! How can you even think that?” Isabela shouted as she threw up her hands in exasperation. A wall of vines erupted between them and Isabela cringed, she had not actually meant to do that. Still Luisa pushed them aside with no effort.

She stood in front of Isabela with her hands on her hips and said, “Really?” Her tone was calm and while she was a very patient person, eventually even she would get angry if you pushed hard enough. Now Luisa was waiting. Waiting for Isabela to repeat the lie. Her look was telling, and Isabela looked again at the thorns that were once again evident. Again, she forced them to retract, but was finding this harder to do with each incident.

Luisa noticed her struggle and her face softened, and she hugged her sister as she said, “We can talk about that later, and we will talk about that later.” Luisa let her go and after a brief awkward silence asked, “So, why do you think Abuela wants you to go to the meeting early?”

Isabela, grateful for the change of topic, replied, “Don’t know, the first I heard about it was when she asked me at breakfast. Maybe it was because she used to take me to those things…most boring thing she ever asked me to do.”

Luisa nodded, but from her expression she must have a few ideas, but instead asked, “Have you made any decisions about what jobs you’re going to take?”

“Probably all of them. Most of them are pretty simple flower arrangements. Nothing challenging, for sure, so none of them will be difficult. What about you?”

“I do not know. Likely just the ones related to the windmill project and the ones requested by the elderly. Everything else are things they can either do themselves or, based on what Antonio said, shouldn’t be done at all. I also wasn’t expecting so many issues with my Gift, hopefully, my stamina will improve quickly.”

“You know, maybe it’s a sign you should focus more on being a vet. I mean, if you can get to Bogotá by going through that door in the tower, possibly you can do a little of both.”

“Gosh, I really hope so,” Luisa said wistfully.

Issa smiled at her sister’s tone. Luisa’s goals were something of which she was envious. Isabela had no goals, no plans for the future. Everything she had been told she was good for, had turned out to be a lie. There was another knock and Casita opened the door and Isabela was not pleased to see it was her Abuela. She did not just come in as she would have in the past. She waited and Issa just stared until Luisa nudged her from behind. “Come in, Abuela,” Isabela finally said.

She did and Luisa went to excuse herself, but her Abuela asked her to stay, since what she had to say concerned them both. The two sisters looked nervously at one another and sat on the bed. Isabela filled in her vine sleeve with leaves to hide the newer scratches, that were bleeding a little. Casita pushed the desk chair over and Abuela sat down.

Isabela was staring past her Abuela, refusing to look her in the face. She waited for the scolding she was sure was coming, but why pull Luisa into it. She had not done anything. Probably going to convince her she needed to do more training to improve her Gift.

Her Abuela did not speak right away, instead she was watching Isabela, and this only served to make Isabela angry. After a few moments, her Abuela turned to Luisa and said, “To start, Luisa, now that we know that the red door in the tower does, in fact, go to Bogotá, I’m hopeful we’ll be able to get you registered for school as soon as possible. Though the coming and going through the Church may prove to be a problem.”

Luisa smiled despite her obvious concern. She had already gotten her hopes up once, only to have them crushed.

“However,” her Abuela continued, “that leads to the bigger issue, finding a place for you to live if there are no dormitories for women. That’s where I was hoping you would come into this, Isabela. There was, and possibly still is, a botany program at the college. I know you have an interest in such things, that way your sister would not be in a strange city by herself. The world has changed so much on the outside, from what we’ve learned from the newcomers, that it would be advantageous for both of you. I used to have family in Bogotá, of course I do not know if they still live there, but I am willing to find out if it helps get you both where you need to be. I have not spoken with your parents about this yet, though I am hopeful that the both of you will be able to take advantage of this once we’ve dealt with the current situation.”

Isabela was confused. None of what her Abuela just said had anything to do with their Gifts. Maybe Luisa was right about the change and though she saw the logic of them both going, she was struck by a nasty thought and could not stop it coming out of her mouth. “You aren’t just trying to get me away from Mirabel, right?”

Her Abuela looked surprised at the question, but after a moment she said firmly, “No, but I do understand your concerns, Isabela.”

“Then what about that door in Mirabel’s room? Why did you ask for that? Is it, so you can watch her all the time? Keep her in line?”

Her Abuela listened to each question but did not interrupt and said when Issa stopped, “I did not request that door, and it took me a few days to puzzle out its purpose. I was told recently that it was your mother who did. It appears she also has similar concerns,” her Abuela said with a small smile. “Nevertheless, it has turned out to be a blessing I was not looking for, and it is helping me make better decisions to make sure nothing like that happens.”

“I am gonna go now,” Luisa said. Alma nodded, and Luisa started for the door. “We can talk about the other stuff later.”

Isabela did not respond, so Luisa stepped out. Isabela really did not want to have this talk with her Abuela. Better to be angry, but the longer she put it off, the worse she felt about all the mean things she had done of late. She did not fully understand how her sister was so easily able to forgive the many sins of Alma Madrigal. She did not quite understand why she, herself, wanted to be able to, too. She was no longer sure of her motivations, and again felt the pain of the thorns in her arms. She closed her eyes, forcing them back with the tears that threatened to come tumbling out.

She felt her Abuela move next to her on the bed, and Isabela felt a gentle hand on her arm. The leaves she grew to cover the scratches wilted and Abuela said softly, “Isabela, I see the harm that I’ve caused by trying to live a dream I lost through you. I can only apologize for the past and I know I cannot change it, but most importantly I want you to know that I have never seen you as a failure, mi vida. Before and most especially, not after the breaking. You are as precious to me now as ever, and I know why Mirabel relies on you. She sees you more clearly than I. My reason for asking you to come early is because you are more experienced with the townsfolk than your hermanita. I know you will be able to help guide her better than I.”

Isabela did not respond or open her eyes. She just couldn’t look at her Abuela at that moment. Isabela would break down for sure, so she remained motionless and silent as she felt her Abuela get up and heard her as she moved slowly toward the door. There was a pause and her Abuela said before leaving, “This past year, I have watched you and I see that you are so much more than I ever allowed you to be. Something I regret with my whole heart, mi vida. My hope, is that you’ll allow me to get to know this new woman you have become.”

Isabela heard the door close, and she finally looked up. Tears slipped down her face, and Issa had to admit, Luisa was right. Not only was she trying too hard to maintain her righteous anger, but she was also, once again, perversely jealous of her Giftless little sister. What is wrong with me, she wondered. There were times she woke up in the middle of the night as her memories of her less than sisterly treatment of Mirabel rushed through her head. This always led to her overcompensating the next day because she really was convinced that her sister had not, in fact, forgiven her but was playing a game. But like her Abuela Valentina said, Mirabel really was a transparent person. What you saw was what you got. What do you see in me, Mirabel, Isabela wondered?

She flopped back on her bed and was staring at nothing until something small and blue, flitted at the edge of her sight. She tried to focus on it, and she saw it again. It was a butterfly, she realized, and it was not alone in the canopy of trees above her. There were dozens and dozens of them. She watched, entranced, as they alternately shown bright blue then seemed to disappear into the shadows.

She reached out as one broke away and gently came to rest on her outstretched fingers. It was considerable, at least 17 cm with its wings outstretched. This weirdly reminded her of that door in Mirabel’s room, and she smiled. So, it was her mother who had been the one to ask for that door. Protecting Mirabel from her Abuela had been her main motivation these past few weeks, whether Mirabel wanted her too or not. She could see her efforts had been misdirected. It had not actually occurred to her to ask Dolores, and that probably meant her prima had told their Abuela what she had said on that topic. Isabela tried to muster anger, but she knew Dolores, like Luisa, was concerned about her. That made her feel a bit more at ease, knowing she did not need to be a one-woman army. Her mother as well had been dropping hints about her behavior of late. But she had been so focused on her ‘mission’ she did not notice that her mother and probably their father had already seen the potential problems.

Isabela marveled once again at the room Casita had made for her. The last had felt like a flower lined prison. Now she was surrounded by living plants, not just millions of flowers. She thought back to the feeling she had when she first grabbed that doorknob when she was five. Such a feeling of exhilaration and when she had opened that door and gone inside for the first time was something she would never forget. Something Mirabel only just got to experience. I am a fool, she thought.

Isabela sat up, and the butterfly flitted over and landed on her head. She thought back to the previous evening and asked. Casita, what happened last night?” The house responded by creaking the shutters, and Isabela asked, “How bad was it?”

There was a longer response, and Issa started to realize just how deep Mirabel’s fears of Casita falling were. Why she froze up at seemingly random times. That was why the house intervened as it did. It told Isabela about the ‘prank’ gone wrong, and she remembered then what Dolores had told her. How when Mirabel came back to her room with those sketches she had tried to pretend that never happened, but Dolores had heard it all. And here she was being a crappy sister.

“Casita, thank you for stopping me from making a complete idiot of myself, I know you were only trying to help Mira,” Isabela said sitting up.

Casita rustled some vines growing on the wall, and the wave had her focusing on a corner that had a small wardrobe. She walked across the mossy flagstones, opened it, and smiled. Inside were a pair of deep lavender trousers with a shirt of similar color that looked much like the one her father had made for Tío Bruno. There was a leather belt with a pink bow and small letter attached.

She touched the shirt and pants, then took the belt down and detached the letter. On the front, it read: For Isabee. It was her father’s handwriting, and Isabela took all the clothes and went back to her bed. She laid them out and carefully opened the letter.

Isabee,

A few weeks ago, I overheard you and your sisters talking about making pants and thought I would make you a pair. Mirabel will probably wonder where all of her notes went when she finds time to look for them. Besides, you likely wanted them sooner and not later.

When you were little, you and I always talked about your day. Watching you discover your world always brought me endless joy and though years have passed and though it’s not every day, I’m glad to hear your voice.

You are my little flower, busy as a little bee, bringing sunshine after a rain. Beautiful and capable, you have always been my bright beacon of hope, Corazón, and few love their daughters, the way I love you.

Your ever adoring Papí

Isabela read the letter several times before she put it back in its envelope and under her pillow. When they were growing up, she often felt her father favored Luisa or Mirabel over her, but in hindsight she knew he never pulled away from her, it had been the other way around. She stroked the fabric and was amazed at how soft it was. She stripped off her dress and looked at it. She loved that dress and all the changes she’d made to it. But it also represented a past she wanted to avoid returning to.

She tried on the shirt first. The scratches, while not deep, had not completely stopped bleeding, and she decided she would see her mother about that. Wouldn’t do to get blood all over her new shirt. That also meant she would need to explain how she had gotten them, and being angry all the time was something she did not wish to continue. As always, her father’s clothing fit her perfectly. She looked in the mirror and thought, she’d finally shed the last of her old skin and asked, “Casita, where’s Papí?”

There was a quick clatter and Isabela walked around her room getting used to the feel of them. She tucked in the shirt and put the belt in place. After putting on her shoes, she looked in the mirror again and noticed her hair. She had never considered cutting it, but she’d probably regret that decision so put it out of her head for now.

Isabela left her room, feeling as if she were someone new. Someone who could believe in herself. Maybe going to college would be just what she needed to do to find out whom she wanted to be. She went up to the library and her father was sitting reading a book about herbs and their many uses. He turned as she approached, and smiled.

“Ah, you found them mi vida,” he said and set the book on the table next to him.

Isabela twirled once and nodded. She noted he was missing his flower from his vest, and she said, “I did, thanks Papí. They fit perfectly too.” Isabela sat on the ottoman and gently touched his lapel. The flower that sprouted was not the usual one she made for this. Instead, she made a blue petaled daisy, and said, “For a new beginning.”

The wall clock chimed, and Isabela rolled her eyes and sighed as she got up. “Time for that meeting.” She said and went to head for the stairs but stopped. She turned back as her father rose from his chair and said, “Umm, if you’re not doing anything later, maybe we can have lunch and drag Mamá along, there are some things I want to talk about.”

Her father nodded, gave her a hug, and said, “I would like that, Isabela.”  He looked down at the flower and smiled as he said, “Yes, a new beginning.”

Isabela waved as she started down the stairs, feeling better than she had for a while. That is, until she ran smack into Mirabel on the landing. Mirabel suddenly overbalanced, landed hard on her back, knocking her glasses off. Isabela fell back but did not lose her footing. Mirabel groaned and sat up and said, “Oh my gosh, Issa, are you okay?”

“You’re the one on the floor,” Isabela said as she picked up her sister's glasses and helped her up, “I’m fine, how are you?”

Mirabel put her glasses back on and said, “I’m ok…oh wow…” Mirabel was walking all around her to look at the new outfit.

“I know, right?”

“You look stunning, as usual. I’m sorry I did not get yours done faster.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“And about this morning, I did not mean to get angry,” Mirabel said as Isabela watched her sister start to shrink in on herself, hands balled up in front of her, fear creeping in saying, “I’m sorry about-”

“Don’t you dare apologize, Mirabel Madrigal,” Isabela said cutting her off.

“But I…”

“But nothing, you had every right to get angry. I was being rude and stupid. I’m lucky Casita didn’t throw me out a window.”

Mirabel relaxed and tried not to smile. She nodded because she knew this was as close to an apology as Isabela could manage. “Oh, Tío and Abuela have already left. Abuela sent me to find you.”

“Yeah, we should go, but I need to talk to Mamá for a minute.”

They walked into the kitchen and saw that their mother and Tía were sitting at the table, drinking coffee. Her mother smiled seeing the new clothes and Tía Pepa was sitting with her mouth hanging open.

“You two should get a move on, or you’ll be late,” her mother said.

“We are going, I just got some scratches that need to be healed first,” Issa said and rolled up her sleeves.

Her mother had come around the table and gently traced the cuts. Isabela was surprised that she did not ask that obvious question as she reached for the small plate of cookies on the table. Her mother took one and handed it to her, and Isabela ate it.

The scratches and cuts disappeared, and Isabel said, “Thanks, Mamá. Probably gonna lay off the vine sleeves for a while.”

Her mother smiled, and nodded. Isabela smiled when her mother smoothed her hair behind her ear and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Her mother always seemed to understand what Isabela was trying to say without actually making her say it.

“You ready Mira?”

“No, but you’ll be with me, so hopefully I won’t make a complete fool of myself in front of the whole town.”

Isabela laughed as she turned her sister toward the door, giving her a gentle shove, “That’s the spirit. Hermanita.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next Chapter:

Previous Chapter

[emilymoon333]

Skeleton key 2005 🗝️

This was such a confusing but great watch, again me and my grommy watched this movie and was wondering what the fuck was going on at every turn😭but loved wondering what’s going to happen and making up little theory’s with each other. I love our little horror movie nights>3

When she orginally goes to the house for the first time and meets this guy I turned around and said he seems sketchy shhsh, honestly all through this we were like did the old man do something and they’re both covering for him or that with his original statement about ghosts and the devil he saw something in the mirrors was he possessed and she was keeping him away incase he hurts anyone but she seemed way too sketchy I couldn’t rule her out .

Like look at her and tell me she’s not the devil reincarnated 😭

My favourite part was honestly the aesthetic it’s so beautiful country setting with a lake will never fail to be bomb. the scene where she’s hiding because the old lady’s shooting at her the rain ugh so gorgeous.

The old man left me with so many questions because I didn’t know the ending yet 😭even with the ending I wanna know his story.

When she really started questioning it finally😭I don’t know how she had so much strength to keep going honestly , HER ACTING AMAZING. plus how did she know how the hell to do alll of them spells so fast 😭anyway she deserved to be final girl idc , I loved when she went into the witch shop I just loved everything.

she was so great cause he literally fought to the death the scene with the salt upstairs so much tension😭also the scene where she’s trying to caught the old woman out and then poison her 🫨then that old lady got back up like tf HOW sgsshshsh honestly she would not fucking die to be honest Honestly BAFFLED,SHOCKED,I DONT EVEN KNOW i was not expecting that ending from a mile away at first I felt unsatisfied but I haven’t been able to get it of my mind since.

the way they talked to the friend at the end I would be suspicious as hell