#Life Preparatory Academy

[regexkind]

As my childhood reached its autumn and came to an end, the winter storm of pubescence came crashing down upon me like a tree through the roof of a rustic cabin. Fortunately the cabin in this case can be said to represent only my good sense, and not, as is perhaps more common, my good looks.

This may be most acutely demonstrated by my choice of magnum opus for my boarding school's oil painting final—a choice which has haunted me to this day. I worked obsessively and secretly for weeks. The glory and subtlety of my muse could not be despoiled by some philistine's gaze. For this reason I elected to frame my work with heavy curtains.

I became obsessive as to the particulars of my subject matter. No detail was too small. I learned to paint folds of fabric like a Renaissance master, I studied early 19th-century wigs and hairstyles, I sent away to a (better-equipped) institute¹ for a book on military buttons. I made dozens of preparatory sketches. Finally, The Day Of The Great Unveiling was upon me.

When, with a dramatic flourish, I yanked back the curtain, I was greeted, not as I expected—not as I had hoped—not as I should have been—not with cries of delight, but with gasps of horror and revulsion.

Before the assembled crowd of faculty, students, and parents, nearly life-sized, was a portrait of the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, boldy astride the buttocks of the Duke of Wellington, who knelt on hands and knees beneath him. Napoleon stared straight ahead, his face alight with that mixture of severity and delight in conquest that suffuses his best portraits. The Duke's head was turned slightly towards the viewer, as if he were perhaps aware of their presence. His cheeks were flushed, his mouth ajar in an "Oh!" of surprise, but otherwise, he was virtually the same as in Lawrence's portrait.

Now, one might assume the cabin of my reason to be completely crushed, but I had exercised certain discretion in the portrayal of my subjects. Both were fully clothed, even unto tricorn hat. I had neglected only breeches, but this omission was hardly remarkable, let alone obscene, due to the length of the then-fashionable frock coats². Only a tiny triangle of flesh was visible between top of garter and hem of coat. Despite this tasteful discretion, and implicit reference to centuries of symbolism in Western portraiture, my audience was, as previously stated, appalled.

I thought their horror could not be increased, until with incredulity, the art master read the title: "Napoleon Comes Again: The Emperor's Revenge". It goes almost without saying, that I was rapidly and unjustly expelled from the academy. My pater familias responded in kind, granting me the frankly miserly sum of fifty thousand pounds, on the condition that I never write to, speak to, or otherwise contact him or any member of my family.

All of this goes to explain how I find myself penniless in this desolate town on the Western edge of Montana. Brother, can you spare me a dime?

¹Perhaps they would have appreciated me. Perhaps all this could've been averted.

²See! See! I told you I did my research

[gunsandspaceships]

Tony’s Childhood. Part 1: Identifying facts

In the MCU, Tony sometimes acts like a kid. There is a reason behind every behavior, so I wondered what it was like for him when he was a real kid.

So, the questions of the day: what do we know about Tony's childhood? Did he have one? And, most importantly, how did it affect him?

Let’s first list what we know from the movies:

At age 4 Tony built his first circuit board (IM1)

At age 6 built his first engine (IM1)

Was sent to a boarding school by Howard (IM2)

Cracked the Pentagon’s firewall in high school on a dare (AoU)

Had a nanny until the age of 14 (IM3)

Went to college at 14 (IM1)

Built Dum-E and U when he was there (IM1)

At 17 graduated summa cum laude from MIT (IM1)

Continued his education until his parents��� death (CW)

Tony’s genius gave him two things: the brain and the pain. And by the pain, I mean that instead of interacting and bonding with his parents, enjoying life, playing, having fun, making friends, taking care of pets, and all the other things children do to gradually prepare for adulthood and grow up "healthy", he got this list of achievements. That doesn’t make a person normal.

Parents

We know his relationship with Howard was complicated. Howard loved him in his own way. He had too many things to do to be a good father: SI, S.H.I.E.L.D., scientific projects, trying to build a better future with clean energy, etc. All good, except when you want your child to love you back. Especially if in the tiny amount of time you spend with him, you don’t show him any signs of affection.

What do we know about Maria? Her name, what she looked like, that she played the piano, and died at Winter Soldier’s hand on Dec 16, 1991. That’s it. She didn’t spend much time with Tony either. Remember, he even had a nanny, instead of a mother. Tony's words about her showed that he loved her, but he didn't talk much about her. Because she wasn’t present in his life enough. Why? Because…

School

Howard sent Tony to a boarding school.

Here’s in the S.H.I.E.L.D.s file we have this information about the school:

“Phillips Academy, Andover, MA 1977-1984”

This means he was there from age 7 to 14. Howard sent him to a boarding school when he was SEVEN.

Phillips Academy Andover serves grades 9-12 only (it is a college preparatory school). Thus, either this is a mistake by the creators of the film/file, or Tony, due to his genius, became an exception. Since the early age he was already at school was also mentioned in IM2 tie-in comics, and in Earth-616 that was also 7, we can mark 1977-1984 as valid.

Think about it again: Tony was sent to boarding school in another state when he was 7 years old. He spent another 7 years there, alone, among high school-aged teenagers. No parents around, no peers.

For example, even Hogwarts accepts 11-year-old children, and they live with their peers. Now imagine Harry Potter, at the age of 7, is thrown into a dorm with 7th-year students and locked there. Doesn’t make a person normal either, does it?

Nannies and Jarvis

Since Tony was at the boarding school, there are two options for how he could have a nanny (mentioned in IM3) and spend time with Edwin Jarvis:

1) He was at the boarding school with a nanny. There is almost no possibility that the nanny was Edwin Jarvis because Jarvis was Howard’s butler and had other responsibilities.

2) He had a nanny at home in the summer and during short school breaks. In this case, his parents couldn’t even give him this little of their precious time.

In any case, he could only see Jarvis at home, a few months a year at most.

Note: There is a date error in IM3, stating Tony was 14 in 1983. This is clearly an error and we can omit this detail.

Bullying

Remember this dialog between Tony and Harley in IM3?

0:45:15 – Harley asks him how he knew he was being bullied at school. Tony doesn't answer. He gives him a non-lethal flash thing to "discourage bullying."

We see that Tony knew exactly what was going on with Harley at school. Because that’s exactly what happened to him there. Harley reminded him of himself. Brilliant kid with no friends and practically no parents. He was bullied by 9th-12th graders.

If he had a nanny with him at the school, that probably made things even worse. He would be bullied because he has a nanny, and despite he has one to look after him.

In Part 2 we will discuss how all this affected him. Stay tuned.

[berryflavouredkoolaid]

Clarissa Gilmore - Gilmore Girls OC

~ General ~

Full Name: Clarissa Emily Gilmore

Nicknames: Clary (By most)

Birthdate: June 21st, 1985

Residence: Hartford, Connecticut | New York City, New York | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

~ Physical Appearance ~

Hair Colour: Brown

Eye Colour: Blue

Skin Tone: Pale

Height: 5’7

Body Type: Ectomorph

Misc: she has freckles, high cheekbones, and a defined jawline

Faceclaim: Michelle Tractenberg

~ Background ~

Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut

As the youngest daughter of Emily and Richard Gilmore, Clarissa was raised with her sister looming over her. Her parents were always rather overbearing and protective over her. Clarissa was expected to fulfill many of their expectations for Lorelai. However, she was quite different from her sister.

~ Family ~

Mother: Emily Gilmore

Growing up, Emily placed many expectations on Clarissa. She was expected to fulfill the hole left by Lorelai’s unceremonious escape. However, Emily often encourages Clarissa’s interests and aspirations. Emily can be a bit strict to Clarissa, anxious not to let her end up like her sister.

Father: Richard Gilmore

Richard and Clarissa are very different people. This often shows in their near-opposite views on life. While Clarissa is much more prone to imagination and creativity, Richard prides himself on his realism and practicality. This causes arguments between them, particularly on the subject of Clarissa’s aspirations in the artistic world. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, Richard can normally be persuaded to see Clarissa’s vision and is proud of her regardless.

Sister: Lorelai Gilmore

Lorelai and Clarissa have a simultaneously united yet awkward relationship. With Lorelai often talking their parents down from their more deranged plans for herself and Clary. However, as Lorelai was largely not part of Clary’s life, their relationship is closer to distant relatives rather than sisters.

Niece: Lorelai “Rory” Gilmore

Rory and Clarissa’s relationship is often charged with resentment. To Clary, Rory is everything she isn’t. Booksmart, with respectable and realistic plans for her future, and without Clary’s rebellious streak. Clary was often subject to comparison by her parents to Rory and their relationship has suffered from her jealousy.

~ Schooling & Career ~

School: Chilton Preparatory Academy

Best Class: English Literature/Art

Worst Class: Biology

Clubs:

The Franklin - Staff Member

Clarissa wrote the Arts & Culture section for the Chilton school paper, The Franklin. She concentrated on local artists and activities around Hartford and wrote reviews of gallery shows and performances.

Chilton Preparatory Society for the Arts - Founder & President

Clarissa formed the Chilton Preparatory Society for the Arts in her freshman year. The society regularly holds charity shows to raise money for various causes, both philanthropic and academic.

Sports:

Basketball - Team Manager

Clarissa played basketball in primary school. Unfortunately, she sucked at it. In secondary, she became team manager for the boys team as there was no girls team.

University: Columbia University/Barnard College

Major: Fine Arts

Minors: World Literature, Art History

Career: Artist

Following her graduation, Clary, anxious to leave New York after her breakup with Charles, received an offer to be an Artist-in-Residence in Philadelphia from a friend. She accepted immediately and moved there.

~ Personality & Traits ~

Personality: Since she was a child, Clarissa has always been a creative person. Ever curious, some of her fondest memories include visiting museums in Hartford with her parents. Clarissa is quite friendly and sweet. She enjoys learning about people and is an extrovert. A lover of all things artistic, Clarissa is never as happy as when she is in her room, painting or sketching with a good playlist on her stereo. Clarissa has a rather dry sense of humour, much like her sister.

Likes: Art, poetry, golfing, travelling, basketball, soap operas, thai food, pretty things, music, theatre, spicy food

Dislikes: Sculpture, boredom, blandness, dull colours, hiking, math

Hobbies: Painting, drawing, writing poetry, reading

Favourite Place: Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

~ Relationships ~

Best Friend:

Avonlea Carter

Avonlea and Clarissa have been best friends since they were in diapers. Avonlea, the star of the Drama and Music department, complimented Clarissa’s fine arts-based talents perfectly. The pair have never had a fight and lived together in New York until Clarissa moved to Philadelphia.

Friends:

Louise Grant

Madeline Lynn

Nola March

Julia Kenting

Love Interests:

Theodore “Teddy” Carter

Clary’s first love, Teddy Carter, was her best friend’s older brother. They had known each other since they were children and Clary had had feelings for him for years. Teddy asked Clary to the Chilton Dance and she obviously accepted. Clary initially assumed he asked her because she was his little sister’s friend and didn’t have a date but he tells her he has feelings for her. They dated for about a year until his graduation. He was going to university across the country.

Jack Seymour

Jack Seymour and Clary had known each other for years. A member of the Chilton basketball team, Jack had joined up his freshmen year because he thought Clary was pretty. He made a habit of flirting with Clary, which she dismissed as just teasing. One evening at a party, Jack and Clary kissed. Clary quickly came to the realization that she had feelings for Jack. She asked him out a few days later and he said yes. They dated until a few weeks into college, when Jack broke up with her.

Patrick Nguyen

Patrick Nguyen deserved a lot better than what Clary gave him. Fresh off her breakup with Jack, Clary met Patrick at a college bar. They hooked up and she gave him her number. For the next year, Clary and Patrick entered a casual relationship. One evening, Clary told Patrick she loved him. She was drunk, and regretted it immediately. But, Patrick responded in kind. Clary couldn’t find it in herself to tell him she didn’t mean it. They started dating. For 3 months, Clary couldn’t get up the courage to tell him. Until, one night, it just slipped out. “I don’t love you.” And that was that, they broke up.

Charles Wendler

Charles Wendler was Clary’s first devestating heartbreak. She met him in her Art History class. He was an exchange student from England completing his graduate program and, to Clary, completely fascinating. Charles strung her along for a while, sometimes seeming head-over-heels and other times completely uninterested. On Clary’s 22st birthday, Charles’s girlfriend came to his apartment to surprise him while they were in a… compromising position. She didn’t see Charles for a week after that and heard nothing from him. She learned from her art history professor that he had gone back to England.

Jess Mariano

Clarissa remains convinced her and Jess’s meeting was an act of destiny. She wasn’t planning on staying in Philadelphia beyond her six month contract. But, Clarissa came into Truncheon Books one day, and he was working. She recognized him and they started talking. They met for coffee, as she didn’t really know anyone in Philly. They became fast friends, and as her contracted period came to a close, their feelings for each other became more apparent. They both knew about their mutual feelings but refused to confront them. When Clary told him she would be leaving in a few days, Jess was angry. They argued and she stormed out. They didn’t speak until the day of her flight out. Jess came to her apartment and she kissed him spontaneously. She bailed on her flight and ended up staying in Philadelphia with Jess.

Rivals:

Rory Gilmore

~ Misc & Notes ~

She loves Billy Joel with her entire heart.

Her favourite thing to paint is portraits, but she doesn’t do them very often because they’re very time-consuming and it’s hard to find models.

She and her dad used to go golfing every Sunday and she got to be really good at it. She still is.

She spent the summer between her graduation and first year of university in italy, painting.

Went on one hiking trip in 8th grade and swore on her life she would never do it again. She got her period for the first time on the trip and had to use toilet paper as a pad for the entire trip.

Whenever she is upset or stressed she goes to the Museum of Art and looks at all the paintings.

Sucks at sculpture, she’s just never been able to do it.

[jovenshires]

the official iwks lore dump post

okay this is long-overdue but basically both @spencersagnew and @hoohoobeanie asked me to do a little lore dump for if we keep score and here it is!! this is not everything by far (some of what's missing will be covered in future fics and some im simply forgetting) but this is the basics for all the stuff i felt like i couldn't include but i had in my brain - ages, mascots for different schools, etc

THE AGES OF THE MAIN CAST:

st charles:

SENIORS: spencer, damien, shayne, brennan

JUNIORS: alex t, jeremy, patrick, ify

SOPHOMORES: rock and tim

FRESHMAN: marcus

our lady of perpetual sorrow:

SENIORS: tommy, keith, garrett

JUNIORS: alex a, luke, duran

SOPHOMORES: andre and greg

FRESHMEN: chanse, josh, peter

THE AGES OF THE MINOR CAST:

holy trinity (based on the try guys and second try):

SENIORS: zach (captain), keith (vc), kwesi, nick

JUNIORS: johnny, hughie, alex, jared

SOPHOMORES: miles and jonathan

FRESHMEN: jack

aquinas academy (based on dropout tv):

SENIORS: sam (captain), brennan (vc), josh, murph

JUNIORS: zac, grant, trapp

SOPHOMORES: raph and tao

FRESHMEN: lou and jacob

st. george's (based on mythical):

SENIORS: josh (captain), david hill (vc), carney, jordan, lucas

JUNIORS: chase, davin, matt lieb, pasley, zack

SOPHOMORES: trevor

MASCOTS:

st charles: cheetahs (chosen because it alliteratively went with st charles)

our lady of perpetual sorrow: pirates (chosen because it alliteratively went with perpetual)

holy trinity: triceratops (i meannn. when they have a mascot already i simply must)

aquinas: spoonbills (lil inside joke for brennan lee mulligan's love of birds and that one game changer ep where sam tortured brennan with birds)

st. george's: roosters (once again i feel like i had to. i almost went with 'beasts' but i think roosters makes more sense)

MOTTOS:

st charles: Dirige Nos In Fide - Guide Us In Faith. (i knew this one from the very start because i had the speech ian gives him in my head. where spencer has faith in his team and that's why ian chose him to lead them. guide us in faith!!!)

our lady of perpetual sorrow: Est Gaudium in Dolore - There is Joy in Pain. (honestly this is tommy bowe's personal motto to me. no but i picked it bc tommy persevered despite all that he suffered

holy trinity: Conare Iterum Conare - Try Try Again. (this one is pretty on the nose BUT they're all about giving it their best shot even when they're the underdogs!! when they get knocked down they get up again! ain't nothing gonna bring us down!)

aquinas: Virtus in Culpa - Strength in Fault (their students are really, really intelligent and like. the best of the best. but that's because aquinas, though it's a school for academic excellence, is very relaxed with consequences for failure. like there's a lot of support for students who are struggling academically or behaviorally. we are only as strong as our faults!!)

st. george's: Esto Tuus Optimus - Be Your Best Self (once again they had it right there. be your mythical best!)

WHY I CHOSE THE SCHOOL NAMES:

(ive posted this before but im making this comprehensive!)

st. charles’ academy for boys: this is entirely based on spencer’s first name actually being charles LNDKNFLKNK like i knew i wanted to go with an all-boys school (as opposed to olops which is actually a co-ed school!) and i thought. “this is kinda funny.” and it was!

our lady of perpetual sorrow: this is actually - and i Did Not Know This - the catholic school from suite life of zack and cody SDFGHJK which means one of two things: 1. either i heard it there and it stuck in my brain and i didn’t realize OR 2. i just have the same brain cell as the suite life writers. i have no idea. but i chose that name bc, growing up in catholic school, i heard So Many ‘our lady of ___’ school names and i thought tommy, known Mental Illness actor, would enjoy 'perpetual sorrow’ as a nod to that knfkfnfk

holy trinity preparatory school: ah the easiest one tbh!! holy trinity because TRI. TRI bc there’s three of them and also it sounds like TRY. try guys! no more thought to it than that tbh.

aquinas academy: i went into it in more detail here, but basically st. thomas aquinas is the patron saint of college students - thus college humor, thus dropout!!

st. george: this one was a little more deep-cut!! i almost went with st. martha, the patron saint of the culinary arts, but i wanted their patron to encapsulate more of the crew rather than just the kitchen. even if it was josh’s world and we were all living in it. but basically, st. george is the patron saint of knights, cavalry, and armourers. he’s frequently depicted as slaying dragons and was often compared to many mythic heroes. therefore, you can consider st. george your official patron saint of mythicality!

SOME FUN FACTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT:

damien is in the st. charles' choir which is why spencer plays guitar for them; he also does the school plays. he's a busy boy!

patrick is an altar boy and that's how he stole the communion wine

patrick and jeremy almost kissed when they got drunk off the communion wine and have NEVER talked about it

shayne is in the running to be valedictorian

chanse has a crush on tommy (and who can blame him.)

jackie does not do soccer and although she was at most of the games in iwks did NOT know what was going on

jackie also goes to public school bc i love her so she gets to win <3

i've mentioned this before but yes amanda and angela were on the same team in high school and were best friends (and..... you know. a little more than that maybe.)

tim is rock's calc tutor and it's not going well

if spencer had any input he would push for jeremy to be the next vc because he just has a soft spot for the guy and he thinks it would do him some good. but jeremy would rather die than be in charge of anything so <3

alex's hello kitty bandaids have nothing to do with like a ravenous love of hello kitty or anything - frankly they bought them because he thought they were cute and pink and sparkly. he didn't even realize they were hello kitty but that just makes them even better. they make All the players wear them when they can.

literally no one has told marcus who ian is so when he shows up at that one party he's just like. haha! who tf is this guy :) just smiling and nodding as if he knows what's going on but EXTREMELY confused by the stranger in jeremy's house

ify and patrick were buds before either of them met jeremy

brennan took four years of latin as we know, but what you don't know is that tommy took four years of french and damien took four years of german! (spencer took the minimum requirement of spanish and that's it LKDNKNFLFKN)

a lot of the team member's relationship with religion fluctuates but ian specifically is like. agnostic-christian. where he's like "idk what's out there but the Idea of christianity is comforting." he's not sure what he thinks about god but he's cool with praying does this make sense

tommy has spencer in his phone as "charles" forever and ever bc he said so. what is spencer gonna do. stop him?

despite the ban on interactions between the two teams damien and keith have been buds/texting each other for years. they are buds to ME.

chanse is like. en route to play professionally. he's being scouted like right now. he wanted to go to like a Specialized sports high school but his parents insisted on keeping him in catholic school

aaand trevor is putting in a transfer request as we speak LKSNDLK

okay i think that's it for now as far as lore goes. i hope you all enjoy!!

[ash5monster01]

Goes On Chapter Twelve

Pairing: Charlie Dalton x OC!FemReader

Warnings: 18+, depression, mentions of suicide, heavy topics, eventual smut, slow burn romance, fluff, gender themes/stereotypes.

Summary: Against his best efforts Charlie has to start at a new preparatory school after the tragic events that took place at Welton. The very events that led to the loss of his best friend and getting expelled in the first place. He has no plans to make friends let alone get close to anyone ever again. That is until he meets Evelyn and her interesting group of friends. No matter how hard he tries to push them away he finds it to be impossible. So he caves and in the end learns that life can still be enjoyable even if it feels like everyone is against you.

word count: 2.9k

Eleven ←→ Thirteen

Masterlist

Ridge Academy, NY

3/26/60

Dating in a private school could be difficult. Evelyn had listened to Violet complain about it for years but until now she hadn’t realized how true it was. It had been a month of dating Charlie and every day people still gave her a hard time and she felt like neither of them had any privacy. Even the dates at the cafe on campus didn’t feel real due to so many peering eyes. It was like animals in a zoo and Evelyn was tired of it. Especially since she still felt like she was getting to know Charlie. There was still so much there he hadn’t given her access too and she partly blamed it on this damn school.

So she had been grumpy. Which wasn’t usual for the girl but she was just annoyed. Sick and tired of waiting for the world to finally let her have and enjoy something for once. She finally found someone she enjoyed being with and liked, so why the hell couldn’t the universe provide her with a break? Allow her a chance to date her first boyfriend like every girl should. Not with the overlooking eyes but with an innocence that comes with experiencing all the things you hadn’t before.

“If you’re not careful your face’ll get stuck like that” Charlie muttered, leaning toward her on the couch and rubbing a thumb over the crease between her brows. Evelyn’s face instantly softened, heart yearning for the boy beside her.

“I’m sorry” she told him, legs shifting in his lap. The library had become a sort of safe haven for the two, cradling their budding love between the stacks of hundreds of books. At first Evelyn thought it was romantic but now she just felt annoyed that this was the only place she felt any privacy with the boy beside her.

“Don’t be, what’s on your mind?” the chestnut haired boy asks and Evelyn sighs, head leaning back against the couch.

“I just wish we could be alone” she tells him and Charlie chuckles, eyes glancing around the semi empty space around them.

“We are alone” he says and she groans, head shaking against the back of the cushions, brunette tresses falling in all directions.

“No I mean alone away from this school. I feel like everywhere we go there is someone we know. Relationships shouldn’t be so monitored” Evelyn counters and Charlie gives a understanding look because he knows exactly what she means. Even now there is a librarian twenty feet away and if he sneaks into her room at night it’s only bound to be interrupted by Violet or her be there the entire time. When he had wanted girls to attend Welton he had never considered the watchful eye factor, people like Nolan and Mr. McAllister watching your every move. He could see himself now sneaking his girl out to the old Indian Cave just to get some alone time, and then it hit him.

"What if we just left campus" he says and a shocked look paints Evelyn's face quickly.

"We can't, not without written permission from a parent and I don’t know about your parents but mine would definitely not sign off on me running around with a boy" she defends quickly and Charlie laughs, pulling her closer and hoping the librarian doesn't look up to bust them both.

"I didn't say anything about asking for permission" he grins, mischief sparkling in his eyes and the gears finally start turning in her head. It wouldn't be impossible. A few right moves and they both could be off and into the night, returning in the mask of the dark, and no one would know a thing.

"Okay, let's do it" she agrees quickly and he smiles wide, squeezing her as he presses a soft kiss to the side of her head.

"What do you say about 7:30, meet past the gate and behind the tree line?" and the nerves start to bubble in Evelyn's stomach but she smiles and agrees anyway.

"Perfect, but now I have to get ready!" and before Charlie could protest, Evelyn was up and out of her seat, scurrying in the direction of the dorms so she could get dressed for her first very real date. Sighing he leans back into the couch, a smile on his face from how much he adored her. Only once in a while did he feel despair about getting so close when he had promised himself not to. Those were only during the dark moments though, the moments where he couldn't stop his mind from thinking about how much he would miss her if she suddenly went away and then those thoughts would bring him right back to Neil. He wished he had appreciated him more when he was here. With this thoughts now swirling in his head he did the one thing that always made him feel better.

"Yeah, hi. I'm calling for Todd Anderson" Charlie said once the phone line picked up and whatever twelve year old blazer boy answered was off in search of his meek friend that could be the only one to calm him down during this time.

"Hello" Todd said after a few moments, voice coming out staticky from the phone and hundred miles inbetween them.

"Hey Todd, it's Charlie" he responded quickly, trying to keep his voice even as he tried to get the panic and sadness to go away.

"Hey Charlie, what’s going on? It's not Wednesday" Todd said, confusion laced in his voice and Charlie chuckled, a little sad because he could picture exactly what the boys face looked like right now. The overbearing weight of wanting to be back at Welton swallowing him whole. How torn the world must be if he still wished he was back at that dreaded school.

"I know, it's just- I have a date tonight" Charlie spoke softly and Todd grinned wide on the other end. The image of his overcondienct and cocky friend coming to mind. The one he knew, not knowing the new person he had become.

"Hey that's awesome Charlie, is it Evelyn?" Todd questioned, coming to know the girl from how the boy had talked about her. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he couldn’t stop himself from going after her. Todd was starting to get used to always being right.

"Yeah it’s her, it's just-.." and Charlie clamped his mouth shut, suddenly feeling silly for feeling this way. He was Charlie Dalton for Christ sake, he was confident, smart, and a womanizer. Why would he be calling quiet Todd Anderson about it?

"You can tell me Charlie" Todd spoke, finally sensing the discomfort coming from the boy he hadn't seen in person since before Christmas. Charlie took a moment, collecting himself before responding.

“What if I get to close and lose her too?” He whispered, voicing his worries out loud for the very first time. Todd was taken aback, shocked to hear the words that just left his mouth. Then it dawned on him that Neil was Charlie’s best friend, the one guy who had been by his side for the entirety of his days at Welton. Todd had only known Neil four months for him to become important to him, he couldn’t imagine a lifetime. Neil had already been gone more than half the amount of time Todd had known him but for Charlie it was different. For Charlie it was losing the one real person who loved you your entire life.

“Does she know?” Todd asked, curious if Charlie had disclosed the tragic event that had all changed them entirely for the rest of their lives. Yet Charlie’s silence was enough of an answer in itself.

“No one does, well except my room mate. I just didn’t want it to define me” Charlie finally told him, realizing the weight in his chest he has been carrying this whole time over not grieving properly. He had yet to be comforted for the loss of his friend and that had made it hard to get over. Hard to move on.

“You should tell her, it won’t change anything but until you do, can she ever really begin to understand you?” and Charlie remembered exactly why he had called Todd in the first place. He had become his new voice of reason since Neil died and he knew the exact right thing to say.

“I just don’t want her to see me differently” Charlie admitted and Todd wished he was there to give his friend a hug. He remembered not liking Charlie much at first. He thought his outgoing spirit was dangerous and that it put him in a position to be targeted amongst the group. Yet he failed to notice just how loyal the boy was and now he wished that during the time they did spend together he got to know him better.

“You are different Nuwanda. What matters is if you own it” Todd told him and Charlie chuckled lightly, fighting the tears that burned at the back of his eyes.

“I’ll tell her when I’m ready, I promise” he finally said and Todd accepted this answer not wanting to push him too far, so he decided to leave him with just this.

“Just remember you may never be ready” Todd says knowing his own grief had changed him entirely as a man. He was still living out his punishment with Nolan. It was funny how Nolan used to be annoyed with how outspoken he was but the moment he speaks up he gets silenced.

“Thanks Todd, I’ll talk to you later” Charlie smiled, feeling much better than before about this date.

“Good luck” Todd bid him goodbye and then the receiver clicked before indicating the dead line and Todd was gone, leaving Charlie no choice but to get ready and face his fears.

It’s not long until 7:30 hits, Charlie had been hiding in the tree line since 7. Wanting to lessen the chances of both of them getting caught and take the time to prepare himself for a real date. He may have always been cool with the women but he had truly never been on a proper date before. Especially with a girl like Evelyn, she deserved to be swept off her feet. He jumps when the sound of a branch snapping fills his ears but he quickly calms when he sees the foot is one with a kitten heel and not loafers that belonged to a teacher ready to bust him.

“That was thrilling” Evelyn whispers despite not needing to. They were far enough away now that no one would be able to hear him. Yet her words don’t register in Charlies head because as his eyes move up from her feet they find leg. Lots and lots of leg until right at her knees he is met with baby blue tulle, the skirt making her look like an angel on a cloud. It gets even better when he meets the sweetheart neckline, strained over her chest and looking so inviting. The silver chain necklace around her neck makes him shiver. Finally his eyes meet her own, just in time to spot the grin she wears from watching him check her out.

“I’m beginning to regret this idea of going out and not staying in now” Charlie says, shifting a little as he prepared to approach her. Evelyn just shook her head and reached for him anyways, not giving him much choice in the matter.

“I already convinced Violet to stay in Marty’s room until at least 3am, so we have time” she whispers before pulling him close and capturing his lips in her own. Charlie hums as she kisses him soft and sweet, agonizingly slow and leaving him wanting more. “Right now I just want my boyfriend to take me on a date”

“Then let’s do it” Charlie smiles at her, stealing one more kiss before lacing his fingers through her own and starting them on the walk.

It takes only a mile before they’re met with the sight of town, one Charlie had only been in a handful of times since coming here. Evelyn takes lead on picking the restaurant considering she had been in Ridge much longer than he ever had. It’s no surprise when she picks the small diner opposed to somewhere nicer. People gave the pair looks walking in all dressed up just for some burgers and shakes but neither of them minded when they finally found a booth. Floor sticky and table greasy, it was perfect for two kids just beginning to fall in love.

“I’ve never been on a real date before?” Evelyn admits, taking the red and white stripe straw between her lips and taking a sip of her chocolate shake. Charlie just smiled, his own strawberry shake in his hand.

“You’re telling me none of those guys in that co-ed school snuck you off campus to take you on proper date?” He teases, voice full of amusement as he looks at her.

“No Charles, they haven’t. Yet that’s the thing about co-ed schools. The boys don’t understand to appreciate it more” she says, thinking about all the boys she grew up with who never learned to be gentlemanly or even nervous in her presence.

“Idiots, I didn’t talk to a girl until I was thirteen” Charlie says with the shake of his head, smiling as the waitress sets down burgers and fries for them both. He grins at the way Evelyn has one fry shoved in her mouth before it even hits the table.

“How come you’re not nervous around girls then?” Evelyn inquires, grabbing some salt to put on her fries and on Charlie’s before setting it down.

“I figured there was never any reason to be. If I wanted to have a fighting chance I couldn’t just gape at a girl like a fish, I had to snag her before some other idiot did” and Evelyn’s laughing loudly at the explanation, other customers looking over and chuckling at the young kids on their night out.

“Well lucky for you no other idiots in that school liked me and I learned to accept that a long time ago” Charlie’s stiffens as the words leave her mouth, thinking of his friend who was probably in their shared dorm wondering where the hell he was. His friend who was the only one to know anything about him here. If only Nate had said something before he had fallen for the girl but now it was far too late.

“Idiots indeed” Charlie agrees before grabbing his burger and taking a large bite. Evelyn just smiles, mimicking his movements and doing the same. When some mustard gets smeared on Charlies cheek she’s quick to giggle and wipe it away.

As the night progresses the conversation continues to flow, laughter and smiles filling the space between them. It’s not long until plates are empty and stomachs are full. At some point Charlie even ends up on Evelyn’s side of the booth, arm wrapped around her as he recalls tales from his Welton days. Evelyn particularly likes the ones about Knox and all the things he did to gain the attention of Chris. Sadly it was getting close to curfew so Charlie threw some cash on the table and led the girl out the booth and back in the dreaded direction of the school, feeling guilty for still not telling her the truth about his past.

“That was much easier than expected” Evelyn says, swinging their interlocked hands between them. Charlie just laughs, eyes glancing down at her in the moonlight.

“It’s not over yet, now we have to sneak back in” Charlie informs her and she just rolls her eyes, leaning closer to him the closer they get to the school.

“I almost don’t want to go back in” she says when the gate comes into view and Charlie glances at his watch, noting there still was just forty minutes until curfew. Before Evelyn can say anything more he has her pressed up against one of the trees and he doesn’t miss the sharp breath she takes in.

“Then let’s not, at least for a little bit” he tells her and before she can agree he has his lips on hers, tipping her head back and against the tree. Evelyn settles into the kiss fairly quickly, hands coming to rest on his chest. Charlie finds his own comfort in the kiss, keeping a hand at her waist and the other on her face, making sure she kept access for him. He loved how she still tasted faintly of chocolate shake and how she relaxed into his arms. He hadn’t kissed many girls in his lifetime but none of them could ever compare.

“That was the best first date” Evelyn mutters when he finally gives her a chance to breath, lips trailing down her neck and to the top of her chest that he could barely keep his eyes off of all night. When his fingers tangle into her necklace he finally begins to pull away.

“Agreed, what do you say we do it again?” and Evelyn giggles as his lips meet her neck again. Smiling she reaches to tangle her fingers in his hair and memorize this moment to keep in her heart forever.

“Anytime Charlie”

Taglist: @octaviasdread @eden-punk @linmichea1 @pursuedbyamemoryy @mynameisjxlia

Comment if you want to be added to the taglist :))

[bubblesxo]

kinda want to write into my g!bruce meets batfam fic that gotham academy was founded after bruce stopped going to school (cuz he did homeschooling for a while, honestly idk the full order of events cuz his life was basically in constant upheaval) and quite possibly when bruce was an adult. i also want to write that he helped fund it but because of how prestigious it is, a lot of the young ppl in gotham think that it's older than it really is (because the building it is held it was a school before it was converted into gotham prep).

this is because the gothamverse had bruce going to some school called anders preparatory academy which i had never heard of before. however since tim used to bounce around boarding and private schools like crazy, he went to anders (in my fic) at some point. idk just something for the boys to talk abt.

thoughts?

[theanonwriter]

friends close, enemies closer: part 1

A/N: hey guys!! i’m starting this JJ fic bc i am currently obsessed with outerbanks and wanna live my hot girl fantasy! join me if you want ;) LOTS OF LOVE!

-

Summary: When your parents unexpectedly become wealthy from good investments, you're forced to leave your old life in the Cut and move to Figure Eight.  Right when you finally start to move on (thanks to the help of your best friend, Sarah Cameron), your old friends are suddenly forced into your life again. Getting comfortable with them means discovering their new lives and making amends for the past. And just when things couldn't possibly get any more complicated, you have to deal with your lingering feelings with a certain hot-headed blond. 

Word count: 2.9k

Warnings: just swearing for this one!

-

You hated lunch at Kildare Preparatory Academy. It wasn’t that it was bad or anything, but it was certainly not good. There was no added butter, no oil, and obviously no love. It all tasted like it would have been sold downtown, at one of the new juice bars or vegan cafes. 

Sarah didn’t seem to mind, though. She was digging into her panini and pasta salad, gossiping with you as you sat at a table in the sun. You listened in silence, letting the warmth cover your bare legs. You were glad you met her. There was always a cliche in movies that the pretty, popular girl bullied the introverted new girl. But that wasn't true. Sarah accepted you into her circle. She invited you to parties, showed you the cool way to plait your hair, and made Kooks see you as one of them, rather than a Pogue whose parents hit it big.

Even though moving schools during freshman year was hard, it was moments like this that made you glad that your family made it. Kildare County High School was a mess, falsely beautified by newly lacquered gym floors and covered in finger-print-smudged windows. Kildare Prep was gorgeous, wrapped in ivy with Tiffany blue glass stained windows. You sighed contentedly and opened your eyes again to find Sarah staring at you. 

“I have something to tell you.” She announced, looking like she would burst. You raise your eyebrows expectantly, waiting for her to spill whatever it was that had been weighing on her mind. “I started seeing someone.”

You wanted to pretend that you were shocked, but you weren't. Sarah had a bad history with men. The bad part being how fast she went through them. 

“I know what you’re thinking: ‘Sarah, another one?’ I know! But I actually really like him. He’s not like anyone else I know.”

You grin at your friend, seeing the blush rise on her cheeks. You send her a knowing smile. Witnessing Sarah giddy with excitement was a special kind of happiness. “Who is it?”

Her smile faded slightly, and she took a deep breath. “Well, it’s- hm. It’s…John Routledge.” You open your mouth to burst in, but she quickly talks over you. “I know! I know you know each other, and I know you’re gonna be so pissed, but it’s different! He is so sweet, and he just understands me, like everything that's going on with Rafe and Dad." She pauses briefly and searches your eyes. "You know I’m right. You would know better than anyone.” 

You knew all too well. Before your family earned big on investments your dad made, you used to live right next to John B. He, along with Pope Heyward and JJ Maybank used to be your best friends. You spent all day together, fishing and surfing, getting so sunburnt that you couldn't walk. They were always there for you, no matter what.

After you moved, it was radio silence from them. Not that you wanted it to be, but they never reached out after you left their side of the island. Ever since then, you became a stranger to them.

“Sarah.” Is all you say, mouth left hanging open. You can't help but stare at her. 

“Close your mouth. You’ll catch flies.” She deadpans, a slight smirk extending across her face. “Plus, tell me that you never miss them. This could be good for you!”

“And if you break up?”

“Then nothing will change! You don’t talk at all. Please, Y/N, don’t be mad at me.”

Her reaction takes you back. Being mad never even crossed your mind. Shock that she would even hang out with Pogues, yes, but never anger.

“Mad? I’m not mad. I’m…I want to be happy for you. It might just take me some time to warm up to them again.” You reply, stealing a piece of pasta salad off Sarah’s plate with your fingers. You scowl as you taste the vinegar, far too strong for your liking.

“Then why don’t you hang out with us this weekend? Just to get you comfortable with them again. I've never met his friends, and I want you there. You’ll see, he’s so mature now. Plus, he’s hot too!”

Hot? That was never the word you would associate with John B. Nerdy and kinda bashful maybe, but definitely not the "hot" boy in the group.

“Ew! If I say yes, will you stop bugging me about a boy I grew up with, who at one point was practically my brother?”

She laughs out loud, arms spread wide and face set towards the sun. “Yes! I swear, I’ll be quiet forever!”

You grin at how happy she is. She looks so free like this, smiling at the sun with her golden hair practically blinding you. “I don't want you to be quiet forever. Just for now. And maybe for the next week."

-

The ride back home was slow. Sometimes, you wondered what life would have been like if you stayed in the Cut. Would your car be packed full of your old friends? Dopey boys changing the station, or a certain blond trying to light up in your front seat? Would your parents even be able to afford a second car at all? You feel like a loser thinking back on stuff that you can’t change now, but you can’t help it. What Sarah said to you weighed heavy on your mind today. What happened to the friendship you had with them?

You pulled into your lengthy driveway, spotting your brother's dusty car sitting in the garage. It was the end of May, so he would be coming back to the island soon. You missed him so much, it physically hurt you. 

With him home, there was only one thing left to wait for: summer. 

As much as you needed your days free, along with the ability to call your friends whenever to go get ice cream, summer only led to what you dreaded: college applications.

You didn’t know what you wanted to do with your life. How the hell would you? You were still a child, how could you figure out what you were supposed to do for the rest of your life? With your family's new wealth, your parents were very stubborn about the fact that you and your brother would go to a prestigious school where you would get a top-notch education.

However, that was not something you were interested in. Your brother went to school in Indiana, at Notre Dame University. They expected you to follow him. 

You wanted to stay local. Not commuter close, per se, but close enough that you could drive him if you needed more contacts or a new prescription. You couldn't stand to be far from the water, the only place that brought you stability and comfort. 

But your parents insisted that you would leave and see what else there was. So you would.

You parked your car and jogged up the stairs, kicking your shoes off and hanging up your backpack before heading to the outdoor shower to change into your wetsuit. In the warmer months, you taught younger kids how to surf in the afternoon. You loved the challenge of trying to get kiddos to not be spooked by the waves and going under. 

The beach had been the first place you and the Pogues had for yourself. Your parents were never there and there were no concerns about not having enough money to fill the boat with gas. Your surfboard was second-hand and coated in wax, but it was yours and that was enough. 

You used to all have matching anklets, constructed from pieces of sea junk and old rope found in John B’s surf shack. You lost yours swimming with Sarah the year before, but you wish you still had it. It was one of the only reminders you had of them. 

You changed quickly and headed to the beach. Lessons were exhausting, but the little girl that you taught today made you smile. She was six years old, and her name was Penny. She had long, blonde hair and shiny blue eyes, just like she was meant for the coast. She looked so similar to JJ, who was your absolute rock during your girlhood.

He was always at the beach at the same time you were. You never talked to him and he never even looked at you. He made you feel like there was never anything even there between you two, which hurt you more than you cared to acknowledge. Yes, you two had grown apart. But to act like a stranger? There was a point in your life where you would call JJ your brother, your best friend. Now you were nobody.

He was with John B and Pope, laughing and chilling on their boards in the water. Every now and then, you could see Pope splash at his friends, rolling his eyes when they said something idiotic. When a wave came by, they rode it together. You constantly saw them chuckling when they wiped out and help each other cough salt water out of their lungs. 

When John B caught your eye, he smiled a bit and waved. He always either nodded or half-smiled, but a wave was foreign to you. You grinned back shyly, unsure of how to respond. When the other two boys looked over at you, you suddenly felt like a target.

JJ did not seem as forgiving as John B. His eyes narrowed at you, scoffing a bit and mumbling something before he turned back to the group. 

Pope smirked at his comment, but John B did not seem impressed. You watched him yell at his best friend, and though you couldn't hear what he said over the waves, you could guess it wasn't nice. 

The fact that you knew they were not only making fun of you but arguing because of you, made you uneasy. The last thing you wanted was to create a rift in the friend group, as you knew how much they all depended on each other. You glanced around for Kie, but you couldn't find her. 

You guys had kept in touch when you both moved, but you never were the best of friends. You spoke at parties and occasionally you saw her strolling the boardwalk, but you never hung out. If you were honest, you were a bit jealous of her. Why wouldn't you be? She still had them. 

Growing up together as the only girls in a group of boys, you constantly were pitted against each other. Always being compared over everything, especially your looks, became tiring for both you. It wasn't either of your faults, but it created a barrier between the two of you. 

Soon enough, the class was over, and you could flee the beach. You practically ran home, desperate for a shower and dying to call Sarah and tell her what happened. 

The phone rang twice before she picked up the call. 

“What’s up? Are you okay?”

You switched your board from under your left arm to your right, and readjusted your phone. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just need to tell you what just happened because I’m like, kinda geeked.”

You described the situation to her, breaking in the middle to let Sarah ask her most pressing question: Which board shorts was John B wearing? The blue ones with the suns or the stripes?

“Well, I’m glad he stuck up for you. I’m confused though. I've heard that JJ was nice. Maybe he was having a bad day? Or maybe he wasn't even talking about you.”

You puff out your cheeks and let out a deep breath. “I don’t know man, he seemed pretty pissed at me.”

“Well, there's nothing you can do about it now. Hey, are you coming to the club tonight? There's that barbeque for Memorial Day that my parents are making me go to.” Sarah asked, shutting the door to her closet and walking down the hallway. You heard Ward in the background questioning her, but she muted and gave you the "one-sec" motion before she answered him. 

You texted her that you were gonna hang up, but that your parents were also forcing you to go so you could suffer together. You made a fart noise into the speaker before you pressed the little red button, and laughed to yourself at the thought of Sarah hearing that as she squabbled with her dad. 

By the time you made it to the club, Sarah had already finished her food. She rolled her eyes as she saw you speedwalk to the table with your plate in hand. She took a long sip of her lemonade as she examined you up and down. “Well, at least you look good.”

“Shut up. I had work,” you reply, sliding into the chair next to hers and placing a napkin on your lap. “Plus, most of the food was gone. There was like, nothing left.”

“Maybe you shouldn't have been late then! I don’t know, just a thought.” Sarah mocked, laughing at your side-eye. “Hey, real talk though. I need some advice.”

“What?” You ask, covering your mouth with your hand as you chowed down on your pulled pork sandwich. 

“Well, John B said that when we all hang out Kie is gonna come. And it’s not that I don’t wanna see her, it's just that- well, I guess I don't wanna see her.”

“Why?” 

You knew why. Everyone knew why. You really hoped their beef wouldn't make the reunion any more awkward than it already would be. 

“It ended so badly between us. She literally left school because of me. I was such a bitch.” Sarah sighed, pushing some of her golden hair over her shoulder. 

“Yeah, pretty much.” You laughed, raising your eyebrows at her. “Sarah, be real. Do you think he would invite her if she was gonna make it a big deal?” 

She cocked her head to the side, eyes searching for something on the pristine golf course before shaking her head. 

“No. No, I don’t think so.”

“Exactly. You worry too much. If I can do it, you can too. My situation is worse, I’d say.”

Sarah giggled and drained the rest of her drink. “Yeah, probably. Hey, are you seriously okay about hanging with them? I know it might be a little awkward.”

Honestly, you didn't want to go back to them. It would be painful, to hear their inside jokes that you no longer had any idea about and re-acquainting yourself with the life that could have been yours. As much as you loved the life your parents has built for you, there were times that you missed the easygoing nature of the Cut and evenings at the Chateau with Big John. 

 “It’ll be more than a little awkward at first. I mean, JJ can’t even look at me and Pope can’t help but to laugh at JJ’s snide comments. But I’ll do it for you.”

“What do you remember about them? JJ and Pope?” Sarah asks, pulling her cardigan tighter around her tan shoulders as the wind started to wind up.

“Well, Pope is a genius. Always has been. Kind of a suck-up, but that’s just him. He’ll always help out if he can, and he’s super genuine. I honestly don’t think there's a bad bone in his body.” You stop and take a deep breath. You didn’t really like to allow yourself to think of them too often. “And JJ, he’s-”

“You used to like him, didn’t you? I feel like I remember you saying that.”

You instantly blushed at Sarah's words. You had drunkenly told her that one night during one of your “ladies' nights”. In other words, you each stole a bottle of wine from your parents and got wine drunk. 

“Well, yeah kinda. I guess. It was strange. He was my best friend. He was always there for me, especially when my dad was going through it. We were similar in a lot of ways. He was proud and courageous. He taught me how to surf on a board he stole from a random tourist. He said the most out-of-pocket shit, but somehow when he says it, it’s just funny.  He’s so fucking funny.” You smile, but it doesn't reach your eyes. When Sarah notices, she grabs your hand. 

“Sorry if that was too much, we can stop. I know it’s hard for you.”

You watch the sun disappear under the water, the sky filling with oranges and light pinks while the steady May breeze brushes over your skin. You felt Sarah's head lean on your shoulder, and you placed yours on top of her own. 

“You are the best person I could have ever hoped would come into my life. I love you.” Sarah sighed, feeling the smile grow on her face from where she was propped on your shoulder. 

“Love you more.” You replied back, watching your father play golf with other men of the club as you soaked up the lays rays of the holiday sun. 

[thebluestbluewords]

Eat More Dirt

The kids from the Isle of the Lost are tiny. They’re also dirty, but that’s easily fixable with some soap and water, and they’ll have that in abundance once they get the kids settled in their rooms. 

“They’re so dirty,” Audrey whispers under her breath. “Are you sure we can’t send them back now? They haven’t even unpacked yet. It would be easier on them.” 

“Be nice,” Ben whispers back, while trying to look like he isn’t. “They’ve had a long drive.” 

Audrey scoffs, very quietly, and flips her hair over her shoulder. “…wish it were longer.” she murmurs, so low that it’s basically inaudible, and therefore fine for Ben to ignore. 

The isle kids have arranged themselves in something like a line along the side of the limo. Two of them, the shorter boy and the taller girl, are staring openly at the school band, who stopped playing basically as soon as the boys fell out of the car. The other two are trying very hard to look like they aren’t staring, and they’re almost succeeding. 

“Welcome!” Fairy Godmother says brightly, “to the illustrious Auradon Preparatory Academy! I’m Fairy Godmother, your headmistress.” 

The smaller girl, the one with the messy purple hair who’s doing the best job at concealing her stare, twitches. “Charmed,” she says, and her voice is rough in a way that Ben usually associates with being sick, except she doesn’t seem sick. “We’re…glad to be here, I guess.” 

“I’m sure you are, dears. Well, we do have a few rules here, the most important of which is to remember that the gates of learning will always be open to you so long as you are here.” 

Purple hair leans back from the overbearing onslaught of Fairy Godmother’s enthusiasm. “Wow. That’s…cool.” 

“I’ll be seeing you all for a little meeting tonight, but for now, let me get myself out of the way so you can meet your student guides!” Fairy Godmother says brightly. Maybe a little too brightly, if the way the girl is pulling back is any indication. 

Ben doesn’t want her to pull back. 

He wants, suddenly and completely, to make these kids comfortable. 

“Hello,” he says, because that’s what he’s prepared. “I’m Ben, and this is Audrey.” 

“His girlfriend,” Audrey adds sweetly, clinging to Ben’s arm like her life depends on it. “Princess of Auroria, heir to the land of the dawn, and head of the cheer squad.” 

The taller girl, the only one who managed to step out of the car rather than falling, perks up at the mention of Audrey’s title. “Princess? I’m a princess too.” 

Audrey’s fingers tighten. “Oh, no. You’re not.” 

The girl smiles faintly. She’s stunning, Ben can already tell. Not that he’s looking, not exactly, but even under the layer of dirt and goth sensibilities, the new girl looks like she expects people to pay attention to her. 

“Princess Evie,” The girl says clearly. Evie. Her name is Evie. “Daughter of the Evil Queen, heir to the Mountain Territories, and presently the princess of the upper trade district of the Isle of the Lost.” 

“The Evil Queen holds no status here,” Audrey says through a smile so bright and fake it could sell toothpaste. “And neither do you.” 

Evie’s smile grows a bit wider. “I hold no status in Auradon, you mean. My land is on the Isle of the Lost, and I think you’ll find that I do hold quite a bit of status there.” 

Audrey’s hand spasms. “You’re not on the Isle of the Lost anymore, but if you’d like to go back I’m sure Ben could accommodate that!” 

One of the kids laughs. 

“No, no,” the handsome, dark haired boy says. He’s still laughing, and it makes him look…younger, maybe? Lighter? Different, somehow, than how he looked before. “We’re good right where we are.” 

[shychick-52]

'StF Appreciation Week' Prompts

Day 1 - A Royal Heart

Sofia has proven time and time again that she has the heart of a true princess. Uncommonly kind, selfless, and loyal, she always goes out of her way to help others however she can, make their day better, or save the day- even if it inconveniences her or risks her life! She embraced her true nature from the start, with the help of the lessons of all the other legendary princesses, and learned that being a true princess is far more about doing what is good and right than tea parties or fan-fluttering.

By the end of the series, she came so, so far from the unsure princess new to royal life in 'Once Upon a Princess'- overwhelmed and scared of not belonging in either the royal family or at Royal Prep- to strong and confident! Two of my favorite examples of this in the finale 'Forever Royal' are:

(1) At the Royal Prep graduation ceremony, she gave a speech about everything she learned, all the friends she made who helped and inspired her, and finished it off with the Royal Prep school song (which was a fitting callback to 'Once Upon a Princess' when the fairies and her classmates sung that to her as a brand-new student new to royal life, symbolizing how far she'd come since then).

Graduation 🎓 at Royal preparatory Academy -Sofia the first 🥇

And (2) during the AMAZING song For One And All when Sofia reminded Roland and the rest of her family that "being royal means being loyal", not just to their own family, but the entire kingdom who counted on them! She reminded them that when you're royal, the entire kingdom is your family, and they had to stay and fight for them all instead of fleeing Enchancia. She told them she was willing to fight Vor to save Enchancia, even if it cost her her own life. (At first, Roland and Miranda were horrified at the thought of Sofia risking her life, but once Sofia made up her mind and went back to fight, the rest of the family were inspired to go after her and fight alongside her).

I'M TELLING YOU, THIS SONG MAKES ME CRY. Sofia the First - For One and All

Sofia is a remarkable person, full of courage and strength, wise beyond her years, and she is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She touches people's lives and brings out the best in them (including, of course, Amber; her own arc through the series to the very end was remarkable).

Day 2 - Friendship Above All

One of Sofia's closest friends is Cedric. From the very beginning, she saw the very best in him, and she ended up wriggling her way into his heart with her boundless kindness and support (which he desperately needed). She gradually inspired him to change and realize her friendship was far more important than his misguided dreams of power. She constantly brought out the best in him.

One of my absolute favorite scenes that highlights their friendship is in 'Day of the Sorcerers' when she confronts him in prison after his treachery. Despite how hurt she was, she still believed the best in him! She told him the worst thing he did was actually denying their friendship, which she knew wasn't true. Sofia reminded Cedric of all the great things he did for her, all the times he helped her, and that only a great friend and a great sorcerer could have done all that. Sofia knew all his good acts spoke louder than his betrayal. This caused Cedric to deeply apologize to Sofia in his remorse, overwhelmed by her words; from then on, he was a changed man.

And Sofia strongly advocated to Roland to pardon his treachery, again showing that she forgave him and knew his heart was truly good. She truly understood the kind of person he was, that he never really wanted power or to hurt anyone.

They've been there for each other so many times. And, of course, Cedric's greatest act would be rallying everyone together and using all his magic to save Sofia in the finale! He saved her after she saved him from a path of darkness!

@reverseenchancia @sweetmariihs2 @moonypears-blog

[the-ultimate-puppeteer]

Really enjoying your rwby imagines there's not enough of them in the fandom, how woukd rwby be with an s/o who has a dark past and is trying to redeem themselves however due to this past some don't trust/hate them

Team RWBY with an S/O who has a dark past and is trying make up for it by becoming a hunter

Reader is gonna be one of the students at Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy For Girls but it's for juveniles instead of just girls cause I'm going for a GN. Reader anyway in this they worked with Roman and Neo in Roman Holiday and a couple afterwards

Blake 

•I'm sure you know but this girl was probably the most understanding outta everyone 

•After all she was part of the white fang, and while it's different from being an assassin it doesn't change the wrong she's done or the lives that were lost that could've been prevented 

•She knows it's the same for you and she's so glad that you decided to leave your old life behind and try to make up for it by protecting others

•She does understand the distrust and hate you get for your past though

•Doesn't mean she doesn't hate it when people try to start stuff with you because of it or spread rumors about you faking your remorse

•She's very quick to defend you in these situations, saying how while your past won't change at least you're trying to make up for up for it by helping others

•And for that he's always going to be a better person than those who can't see past a person history and judge then for it

Weiss

•Not gonna lie this girl was shook when she found out about your past

•And had a bit harder of a time coming to terms with it then the other girls 

•It doesn't change her feelings for you don't worry

•She just needs time to process this new information 

•She is glad and very proud that you left that life behind you and want to change

•She's very quick to thrash anyone who tries to start anything and she is very good at making them feel ashamed for their mistrust or hatred of you

•Yes your past is dark but at least you're not letting it define you and are choosing a brighter path of saving others

Yang

•Okay so this girl probably processed the information the best outta all the girls

•She may have been a bit shook but it's kinda ambiguous 

•Still all that matters to her is who you are now and who you are now is amazing 

•Probably the girl who's going to throw hands with the people who hate you and talk shit behind your back

•You tell her it's fine but she's not letting people talk shit about her love

•Afterwards if their words or people treatment of you gets to you expect to cuddled into the bed by this sunny dragon queen

•You're past may have been dark but your future is full of light

Ruby

•Oh boy so you probably thought she'd take this well but your only partially right

•Ruby is shaken when finding out about your past

•The person she loves and cares for use to kill people and from a young age at that

•You need to explain things to her pretty quickly and comfort her while doing so

•Afterwards she's able to come to terms with your past and is happy that you decided to change

•what she hates are the people who hate you, she can understand the distrust but they don't even know you abd are judging you

•She finds that unacceptable and after yelling at them to leave you alone she drags you off to hang out so she can cool off

•Sure you may have done dark things in the past but at least you're trying

•That's far more then most people would attempt to do

•And for that she's going to forever be by your side

[msweebyness]

Class of Heroes- A Walk in the Woods

We’re getting near the end here folks! Enjoy a sweet little outing between these cuties! @artzychic27 @imsparky2002

The day was absolutely beautiful, as they often were around the illustrious Francois Preparatory Academy, and a certain couple had decided to take advantage of this by having a pleasant stroll through the beautiful forest that surrounded the school. With their hands swinging between them as they walked along the dirt path that led through the trees, Ivan and Mylene enjoyed the peaceful afternoon and each other’s company. Ivan couldn’t help but smile lovingly at his princess as she cooed at a small bluebird that had landed on her finger, having a perfectly pleasant conversation with the little creature.

It was then that Mylene turned to him with a tender smile of her own letting the little bluebird alight from her finger with a merry tweet. She gave his hand a little squeeze and he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. Moments like this with her couldn’t be described as anything but…perfect.

Mylene then smiled as she felt a small pair of paws brush her leg, and she looked down to see some of the new baby rabbits from a local burrow looking at her with those adorable big eyes. Giggling, she got down on her knees and allowed a couple of them to hop into her lap. She stroked the soft fur on their backs and nuzzled their little pink noses.

Watching this with a goofy, adoring smile was Ivan, he honestly couldn’t believe he had gotten this lucky…to end up with someone as amazing as her. So kind, so warm and so loving. It was then that he looked down with surprise to see that one of the baby rabbits had hopped up to him and braced its little legs on his knee.

He looked at Mylene with an air of uncertainty, and she gave him that smile of encouragement that never failed to lift him up. Tentatively, he picked up the tiny creature in his large hands and gently pet its head with a finger. He couldn’t help the happy little grin that spread on his face as the baby rabbit nuzzled his finger. To see something so sweet and delicate not be afraid of him wasn’t something he’d forget any time soon.

Watching this occur, Mylene’s heart raced in her chest as she couldn’t keep the smile of pure bliss off her face. Seeing someone as big and strong as her beloved find so much happiness in such a simple thing as affection from one of her animal friends was too adorable to even begin to describe.

It pained her heart that people outside of their circle of friends couldn’t see past the intimidating exterior to this side of him. Her Ivan was one of the kindest people she had ever met and yet people still treated him as if he were some manner of dangerous beast. A dark look crossed her face for a mere moment before quickly vanishing at the sight of Ivan’s soft smile as he let the little rabbit hop back to its siblings.

Edging closer to him, she laid her head on his shoulder as they simply sat and watched the forest life dance around the space for a time. After a time of peaceful silence, Mylene turned to her boyfriend with a soft look in her eyes.

“I love you, my gentle harmony.”

“I love you too, my princess.”

Sometimes the most unassuming places can be perfect ones! Leave your thoughts in the comments and reblogs!

[crazyyanderefangirlfan]

Skyla Barretto

"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet."

---+---

BASIC   

Name: Skyla Princessa Barretto

Nickname(s):  Sky (by close friends) Babe, Baby, Princess, Beautiful Baby Owl (all by Kotaro) My love, Angel, Darling, My beloved (all by Keiji).

Alias(es): The Dancing Queen (in Fukurodani). The Living Weapon (in St. Trinians)

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Straight

Ethnicity: Filipino

Blood Type:  AB

Age: 17

Birthday: Feb 23

---+---

APPEARANCE  

Hair: Back length black hair dyed violet with black roots showing tied in a high ponytail.

Eyes:  Mocha brown eyes

Height:  169 cm

Skin: Warm tan

Body: Lean and svelte

Tattoo(s): None

Piercing(s):  Large gold hoop earrings

Scar(s):  On her right side.

Other: Nude lip gloss and and gold wrap necklace

---+---

SCHOOL  

Occupation: Manager

School: Fukurodani Academy

Year: 2

Class: 6

Club(s): Boys VBC

Number: None

Role/Position: None

Attendance Record: Good

Average Grade: A

---+---

STATISTICS (out of 5)

Power: 5/5  

Jumping: 5/5  

Stamina: 5/5  

Game Sense (ability to 'predict' or 'sense' the opponents next move): 1/5  

Technique: 3/5  

Speed: 5/5  

Overall (total): 24/30

---+---

CHARACTER  

Personality: Skyla is an extremely open and laid-back individual who never focuses on the past in order to move on and keep becoming a better version of herself. In addition, Skyla exudes enthusiasm and energy, particularly when it comes to dancing, which is her strongest skill.

As a dancer, Skyla has a deep appreciation for beauty and artistry. Her performances are not just about skill but also about expressing emotions and telling stories through her movements. This artistic sensibility extends to her outlook on life, where she finds joy in the simple and beautiful moments. Whenever she dances she blocks out the rest of her environment and just focuses on the music and her body. This often leads to others watching her, much to her embarrassment.

She is kind and patient, but she doesn't sugarcoat her point or put up with being ignored. She rarely acts maliciously, but she values friendship much and would fight valiantly for those she considers to be her friends. She was selected to be the boy's VBC manager due to this and her tremendous expertise.

While Skyla is a detail-oriented and inquisitive girl who is getting ready for things like training camps and competitions, she may easily become sidetracked if she discovers something more engaging, like dancing, reading, or hanging out with old friends. Being in college preparatory classes, Skyla is highly intelligent and quick-witted, being first to call when one needs help or to get Bokuto out of his moods.

Skyla is incredibly resilient, having survived being with a narcistic and abusive mother until the woman tried to commit murder-suicide. This resilience is a testament to her strength and determination, as she had to adapt quickly until her father came back from overseas. Forced to fend for herself from a young age, Skyla is fiercely independent. She has learned to rely on her own skills and instincts to survive, making her a highly self-sufficient individual who is capable of handling extreme situations on her own.

Though Skyla loves to read and enjoys quietness, she cannot sit still for too long and will try to do something to stimulate her body, she's a skilled multitasker due to this.

Her relationship with Bokuto and Akaashi is a wild one. Originally she was dating Akaashi but as this time Bokuto also developed feelings for both of them, to which they happily return and include him. She deeply cares for both them, and wanting the best for both, she's a little sacred she'll be dumped by both or replaces but the both them always reassure her they'll never do it. She always teams ups with one if the other is down such as she and Keiji cheering up Kotaro from on of his moods and Bokuto and her getting Akaashi to relax. Though she doesn't get jealous often, she can act seductive towards them as a show of dominance to the intruder.

Likes: Family and friends, Kotaro and Keiji, dancing, fish sinigang, music, durable shoes, reading, ASMR, her budgie Amihan, musicals, comfy pajamas.

Dislikes: Entitled people, pranks that harm or make others uncomfortable, girls flirting with her boyfriends, belittlement, her relationship being called 'disgusting', stereotypes, sitting still for too long, durian, her mother, stuffy clothes, too cheesy movies.

Hobbies: Dancing, listening to music, watching anime and movies, reading, capoeira, arnis, aerobics, weaving, silat, muay thai, hunting, cooking.

Goal(s): To complete in nationals and marry both of her boyfriends.

Current concerns: Getting Amihan to stop hitching a ride in Kotaro's hair.

---+---

SOCIAL  

Mother(s):  Unamed

Father(s):  Raphael Barretto

Sibling(s):  None

Relative(s):  Unnamed grandparents.

Friend(s): Fukurodani VBC, Shoyo Hinata and other girls in St. Trinians.

Best Friend(s): Yukie Shirofuku, Kaori Suzumeda, Teresa Diamandis, Bridget Fortuné, Heather O'Cleary, Irene Song, Juliette Chaveleir, Cat Tamami.

Love Interest(s):  Kotaro Bokuto and Keiji Akaashi (poly)

Rival(s): None

Pet(s): Her budgie Amihan.

[type1diabetesinfandom]

I'm thinking about writing something with a character who has type 1 diabetes. Where might I find information about what it's like to have it?

That's awesome!

Start with my #how to write t1d tag!

It's got a mix of do's and dont's, infographics and legit how-to-write-this posts, and also will give you some blogs you can browse for daily lives as t1diabetics.

You are ofc welcome to browse this blog as much as you find useful!

Some fic recs for a good look at diabetic perspectives, written by diabetics or people familiar with the disease, are:

My fics When the Warmth Hits You and Lost were written specifically for diabetes awareness and are long enough to cover multiple aspects of it. You should be able to read them both fandom blind, especially if your focus is on the medical stuff.

@rpgwrites's Pathfinder, Truthseeker series and her Diabetes Awareness Day series.

Outnumbered by @heartofcathedrals.

A Painting of One Thousand Voices by WolfieChan12.

Wescott Preparatory Academy by adder574 is a good view at t1d care and life ~20 years ago. Note that the medical information is dated, but useful for stories taking place 20-ish years ago.

(God I can't believe it's been that long 👵)

A New Low by Rosie_Rues.

Anything tagged with Diabetes by Carbon65.

Ditto with witchry9.

Some OG fiction books I recommend borrowing from the library or however you get books:

Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White.

Sal and Gabi Break/Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez.

Sweetblood by Pete Hautman.

Sweet Desire by J.M. Cagle. (You can get part 1 for free).

There are lots of bloggers, youtubers, and podcasters who share t1d focused content. I don't really pay attention to these so I'm not going to recommend specific ones, but definitely poke around. You'll find cool stuff.

The JDRF and Beyond Type 1 websites have easily-digestable medical info, but note that anyone can post on BT1 so it's not as accurate as I would like it to be.

Dr. Bernstein is also awesome for medical stuff, but hardcore, and his methods are extreme, although effective.

Now There's a rabbit hole if you want to explore differing medical opinions 🤣

You are always welcome to send me asks or dm me directly if you have specific questions! And if you decide to get seriously into the research, I have a discord server with a specific channel for asking questions about how to represent t1d, that's open to all diabetic peeps in the server.

Hope this helps, and I'm excited to see your character someday! Good luck writing!

[ash5monster01]

Goes On Chapter Fifteen

Pairing: Charlie Dalton x OC!FemReader

Warnings: 18+, depression, mentions of suicide, heavy topics, eventual smut, slow burn romance, fluff, gender themes/stereotypes.

Summary: Against his best efforts Charlie has to start at a new preparatory school after the tragic events that took place at Welton. The very events that led to the loss of his best friend and getting expelled in the first place. He has no plans to make friends let alone get close to anyone ever again. That is until he meets Evelyn and her interesting group of friends. No matter how hard he tries to push them away he finds it to be impossible. So he caves and in the end learns that life can still be enjoyable even if it feels like everyone is against you.

word count: 2.6k

Fourteen ←→ Epilogue

Masterlist

Welton Academy, VT

4/16/60

It had been four months to the day since Charlie found out about Neil. Not so long ago he had experienced the best four months of his life. To think he had just gone through four months of his worst was mind numbing in a way he couldn’t comprehend. So he let this thought consume him as he took a bus to the ferry and then the ferry to another bus just to be met with the large metal gate he thought he would never have to see again.

He didn’t have to call and ask if they’d be here. He knew they would. Easter wasn’t a big enough Holiday for the parents to pull them out of school. The most they’d have to attend was Easter service tomorrow and classes would be back on schedule on Tuesday. That meant Charlie had all of this weekend to come to terms with what his life was becoming. Come to terms to who he was without Welton or Neil.

Considering he was expelled he didn’t know the proper etiquette for visiting the school. He didn’t care to know anyway so he snuck in, something he had done hundreds of times before and made his way through the empty halls and passing all the familiar rooms. It was weird being back here when he thought it wouldn’t be. That he would always be a part of this school somehow or another. It was still weird to think he wasn’t. This thought scared him as he knocked softly on the safest door.

“Charlie!” Meeks surprised voice squeaked as his eyes widened at the sight of him. Charlie quickly lifted his finger to shush him, pushing him inside as he stepped into the room and out of sight of any teachers eyes. It’s possible he was allowed to visit but based on the terms he left, he didn’t want to bother to find out he wasn’t.

“Hey Meeks” he grinned softly, the happiness of seeing his friend outweighing the sadness burrowed deep inside. When Meeks finally realized this isn’t a hallucination he hugs him quickly.

“Pittsie” Charlie nods at the boy who gapes at him from his desk, standing to hug him as well. Charlie already feels the heavy tears burning against the back of his eyes as he holds his two friends.

“What’re you doing here?” Pitts asks once they pull away and Charlie offers his familiar smirk, one that had become so foreign over the last few months, as he sets his suitcase down.

“Ridge gives their students the entire week off and since my parents figure I’m staying on campus to keep up with my studies, I figured I’d come here. See my best pals” Charlie explains, leaving out the very grave detail he did intend on staying at Ridge, all up until the girl he loved looked at him with eyes as cold as the dead of winter.

“We gotta get Todd and Knox” Meeks starts for the door and Charlie doesn’t stop him, laughing lightly as his red-headed friend takes off on his mission. Charlie hates how familiar and foreign everything around him feels when not so long ago his presence here wouldn’t have been such a big deal. It doesn’t take long for Meeks to return, the two boys barreling behind him just to see if Meeks speaks the truth.

“Holy shit” is all Knox can say when he finally spots him, wrapping his arms around him in a large hug. Charlie laughs at the excitement, hugging him back just as enthusiastically.

“Knoxie, how’s Chris?” Charlie smirks and Knox just smiles, softly shaking his head. He snuck out any chance he could to meet the beautiful blonde girl and risked being killed by Chet Danbury everyday, but man was it worth it.

“Still a dream” he grins, cheeks flushed because somehow he was able to keep his dream girl through all of this. Charlie just smiles back, nodding his head because he knows a thing or two about falling head over heels for a girl now. He’s brought back to reality when he spots Todd who stays standing in the doorway, eyeing him as if he looked away Charlie would somehow disappear.

“Todd, heard you started a revolution” Charlie grins that familiar smile at him and all the times Todd imagined seeing his face again it was nothing like this. Yet to see it in person again felt like being wrapped in a warm hug.

“Ah I learned from the best” Todd says after a beat, waving a hand as if to brush off the sentiment but it doesn’t make Charlie any less proud as he pulls the boy into a tight hug and ruffles the blonde hair on his head.

“Who would’ve thought quiet old Todd would grown a pair” Charlie says when he lets him go, the teasing tone not matching the adoration in his eyes. Not so long ago he thought of Todd as Neil’s quiet roommate and now he was considerably his best friend.

“It was a one time thing, one more stunt and I’m out like you Nuwanda” Todd teases back and Charlie just laughs, moving and flopping onto Meeks bed.

“That’s not a bad thing” Charlie jokes, hands motioning upward as he relaxed against the cushions. It was still a dorm bed but it was better than two buses and a ferry.

“How’s Ridge? How’s the girls?” Knox asks, eyebrows wiggling with suggestion as the boys all begin to settle around the room and catch up.

“Ridge sucks. I’m on track because I didn’t sign up for any sports in time and they made me take it anyway. As for the curriculum it’s the same old boring shit and Dr. J Evans Pritchard” Charlie sneers, thinking of that God forsaken school they stuck him in. Before Keating he might’ve actually liked to go there and experience co-ed but now it was cruel punishment made to diminish his spirit even more.

“And the girls?” Pitts inquires, not missing how Charlie skipped over the little fact in his spiel.

“Fine I guess, my girlfriend is pretty pissed at me right now though” and gasps quickly come from each of the guys around the room as Charlie drops this bomb.

“It’s Evelyn, isn’t it?” Meeks asks, knowing she was the female lead in every story Charlie told when he called. It would be the only thing to make any sense.

“Yes it’s Evelyn” Charlie confirms, rolling his eyes even though just mentioning her name makes his heart soar. Leaving on the bad terms that they did hurt him, but she was still who he wanted to comfort him.

“Got a picture hot shot?” Todd asks and Charlie chuckles, leaning to his side in order to reach the wallet in his back pocket. When he finally frees it, he flips it open to pull out the photos they just recently got back from the Valentine’s dance. How he convinced her to take it he wasn’t sure but he was sure glad they did.

“Wow” Pitts breathes as the picture slips between his fingers and for the first time since Neil’s death a real smirk graces Charlie’s lips. Not a fake one or a forced one, a real one. Pride swells in his chest and it’s the first time he’s had this feeling in a very long time. As the boys pass around the picture of his girl Charlie can’t help but smile at each one.

“Only Charles could bag a chick like that” Meeks says while shaking his head and passing back the picture of the gorgeous girl in Charlie’s arms.

“She’s not a chick” Charlie corrects, slipping the picture safely back into his wallet. “She’s amazing though. Not shy at all and always calls me on my shit. I tried to stay away, I really did. I just couldn’t help myself”

“That doesn’t surprise me” Knox jokes and Charlie glares half heartedly as he looks back at each of the boys.

“How’d you get her to date you?” Meeks asks, curious as to how Charlie actually found a decent girl and not a ditz like the ones he brought to the cave that one time.

“Not sure to be honest, one night I knew she was alone and snuck into her room. Just couldn’t stop myself, she’s the best” Charlie says, mind still stuck on how sweet her kisses are and the taste of her lips.

“Well when do we get to meet her?” Knox eagerly asks, having been the only one of the group to ever actually share words with the girl even if they were brief.

“I don’t know, she’s pretty upset with me right now” Charlie sighs, mind still reeling and trying to wrap around what happened not so long ago. The catalyst to even bring him here.

“What’d you do?” Pitts asks with a snort, picturing the old Charlie doing some idiotic stunt to get him in trouble. If only that was the case.

“You didn’t tell her” Todd suddenly mutters and Charlie’s eyes lock onto his own, sharing a look foreign to the others around him.

“Yeah and she found out. I don’t blame her honestly. She probably thinks I was using her and she knows nothing about me which in a way she doesn’t. Neil was apart of every aspect of my life and if it included him, I didn’t bring it up” the boys realize what they mean in an instant, realization flooding across each of their faces.

“But why, Neil was your best friend?” Meeks says, head shaking and trying to understand the boy in front of them. To be honest none of them have gone as long as they have without seeing the boy before. Maybe things weren’t entirely as they seemed.

“He is my best friend. That’s why I can’t. How do I not only admit to myself but everyone around me that he’s actually gone. I’m all alone now. I’m stuck in that school with no one who understands me and I hate everything about it. I’m no longer Nuwanda, I’m barely even Charlie” Charlie gasps, eyebrows furrowed and heart straining in his chest. The boys watch him, words getting desperate at they come out and Charlie begins to feel that familiar tightening in his chest, the panic rising up his spine.

“You’re not alone Charlie” Todd says with the shake of his head and all the boys eye the two, waiting to see what either one of them would say.

“I am Todd, you guys got to stay here with each other but I was left to grieve on my own” Charlie says but Todd stays firm on his sentence, staring Charlie down with a confidence he never expected to posses.

“No you’re not. You have Evelyn and if I’m not mistaken a few other people at that school. You may not have know them long but four months is enough time to care for a person. I should know” Todd says, words sharp and strong and Charlie freezes as these words sink in. Up until Neil died they had only known Todd four months and he was just as important. So why couldn’t the kids at Ridge be the same.

“Shit Todd, I didn’t mean it like that” Charlie starts but Todd is shaking his head, stopping him short and Charlie waits for him to speak again.

“Just don’t count them out. If you push away every person in your life only because they didn’t know you before Neil then you’re bound to be lonely forever” Todd says and Charlie nods, wrapping his head around the fact that the very people at Ridge he had come to love were more important than he thought.

Not only was Evelyn important to him but the rest were too. Nate was his roommate and the only person he had let close since Neil. Marty was kind, looking out for him any chance he got. Laurie was funny and defended him when necessary. Violet was honest and would tell him the truth when he needed it most. Evelyn was understanding, and passionate about everything around her. They were beautiful people and he had spent so long pitying himself he never got a chance to fully enjoy it. He could see Neil now, almost cursing him for not allowing people close. He was Charlie Dalton for God sakes, a legend who had spent so long pretending he wasn’t.

“Neil didn’t die to kill your spirit, he died because he lost his own. So we should spend everyday making sure we enjoy it. Not only enough for ourselves but him too” Knox says and Charlie tries his best not to cry all over again. He had never looked at it like this, never allowed himself to think about the fact he was wasting so much time waiting for something that would never happen. Neil to come back.

“God I did fuck up” Charlie groans, hands reaching up to tug at his hair and the other boys laugh even though there is a layer of sadness now filling the room that they all figured would never leave.

“No you didn’t, you’re Charlie Dalton after all. You’ll find a way to make it up to her” Knox encourages, hand reaching to pat the boys back and Charlie chuckles, mind already trying to come up with ideas on how to make it up to all of them.

“Maybe but until then I think I just need to spend some time here. Finally let myself heal” he says and the boys nod, understanding exactly what he means. At first it was hard being at Welton without either of the boys, rules becoming more strict and classes becoming harder. Yet after a while it became healing. Classrooms holding memories like a time capsule that comforted them in a way nothing else could.

It was little things. Like learning Shakespeare in class which would remind them of how amazing Neil was in the play. When it was meatloaf for dinner they could eat it remembering it was his favorite. When they scored goals in soccer they could still hear Neil cheering. He was everywhere within the school, a permanent reminder in its walls and even if the memories sometimes hurt, at least somewhere on this earth still held the spirit of him. Welton and this town would forever hold the spirit of him and that was better than any comfort any of the boys had known.

“That’s a good idea, we can hide you in our rooms and go and visit Neil” Pitts voices his excitement and the boy freeze, waiting to see Charlie’s reaction. It had become common for them to visit Neil’s grave but Charlie hadn’t since the funeral. Charlie didn’t even know it was something they did.

“I would love that, even more if no one mentions my presence to Cameron” Charlie responds with his cool and confident tone that for the first time felt right to still have. The boys just laugh, nodding their heads in agreement.

“We can manage that” Meeks says and Charlie grins, sitting up and finally feeling more of him falling back into place. Maybe Nate was right after all, just being here was already healing him. He wished he could stay forever. Thing was, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, life goes on. So he needed to spend as much time as he could, remembering not to forget that.

“Good now one of you needs to sneak into the finks room and recover my stash”

Taglist: @octaviasdread @eden-punk @linmichea1 @pursuedbyamemoryy @mynameisjxlia

Comment if you want to be added to the taglist :))

[thesunwillshineonusagain757]

This might be strange but do you have Headcanons about Jaime/Arthur? they're my favorite ship and there's sooo little content of them I'm STARVING

This is one I actually like, sorry for taking so long to answer you. And yeah I get why you’re starving there is not a lot of content when it comes to this two. But something I think the entire Fenom can concur on is that Jamie is a bisexual. George kind of wrote him like that on the text ( accidentally or not ) because the amount of times that he thinks on like Arthur and how he admired him is more than he even thinks about Cersei. So let’s do this .

Arthur and Jaime met because of Lyanna and that’s my headcanon;

Lyanna and Jaime went to boarding school ( kind of military, durmstrang, penitentiary style) together and they were roommates because the school administration though Jaime was his sister;

Arthur and Rhaegar also met at school, they were in a preparatory academy actually ( that very first class kind of shit, like preppy rich kids) and they became a friends because they were the only non Andal kids in their class;

Rhaegar and Lyanna are doctors and work at a hospital in King’s Landing and so does Arthur ( he is a neurologist);

And Jaime is a paralegal on his fathers firm’s office in King’s Landing;

They met at a party Lyanna was throwing as a house warming party;

Jaime was immediately attracted to Arthur, while Dayne thought Lannister was kind of weird;

Jaime had been openly bisexual for years and wasn’t really nervous around people that was before he met Arthur ;

During the party Jaime only talked to Arthur which was kind of strange for him ( he is kind of the life of the party Ryan Evans style) ;

But when Arthur mentioned he did jiu jitsu every morning before work Jaime asked if he could go too ( Jaime practice fencing in school and thought it would be good to know a knew fighting style );

So he went in a training session, needless to say he got fucking demolished;

But he persevered which made both Arthur and his training mates respect him for it:

At the end of training Arthur and him when to the changing room ;

When Arthur said he had done great Jaime blushed and since he is white like a paper sheet it was clear he blushed;

It was then that Arthur smiled and told him he didn’t have to do that to impress him and that he had though Jaime was cute regardless;

They kissed and did some other stuff in there and that is how Jaime and him got together;

So these are my headcanons of how they got together if you want to so other headcanons ( like life, living together or whatever there is a list of those emojis you can send me with the couple. I’ll try to write it as quick as possible. Hope you like it. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[jovenshires]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but how did u decide all the school names in iwks?

omg absolutely no need to apologize ever (i love talking ab her i am so honored you asked <3<3<3) and no one has asked so!! here we go!!

st. charles' academy for boys: this is entirely based on spencer's first name actually being charles LNDKNFLKNK like i knew i wanted to go with an all-boys school (as opposed to olops which is actually a co-ed school!) and i thought. "this is kinda funny." and it was!

our lady of perpetual sorrow: this is actually - and i Did Not Know This - the catholic school from suite life of zack and cody SDFGHJK which means one of two things: 1. either i heard it there and it stuck in my brain and i didn't realize OR 2. i just have the same brain cell as the suite life writers. i have no idea. but i chose that name bc, growing up in catholic school, i heard So Many 'our lady of ___' school names and i thought tommy, known Mental Illness actor, would enjoy 'perpetual sorrow' as a nod to that knfkfnfk

holy trinity preparatory school: ah the easiest one tbh!! holy trinity because TRI. TRI bc there's three of them and also it sounds like TRY. try guys! no more thought to it than that tbh.

aquinas academy: i went into it in more detail here, but basically st. thomas aquinas is the patron saint of college students - thus college humor, thus dropout!!

st. george: this one was a little more deep-cut!! i almost went with st. martha, the patron saint of the culinary arts, but i wanted their patron to encapsulate more of the crew rather than just the kitchen. even if it was josh's world and we were all living in it. but basically, st. george is the patron saint of knights, cavalry, and armourers. he's frequently depicted as slaying dragons and was often compared to many mythic heroes. therefore, you can consider st. george your official patron saint of mythicality!