#Online Parts for Backyard Grill

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 32 (A Handsome Detective Investigates the Hack)

Detective Conrad Gordon stood in Heather's front yard with his canine partner, Bernese mountain dog Gord.

She'd never seen him before, but Heather knew why he was here. She raced to put her son in his crib and get dressed.

Holding out his badge, he offered a respectful nod and a charming smile that made her nervous. "Detective Conrad Gordon, ma'am. Are you Heather Nesbitt?" She nodded, holding her breath. Just her luck; the hottest man she'd ever seen had come to arrest her. "I'm here to look into a recent hack of Landgraab Systems. Did you know anything about that?"

"I mean, I read about it in the news like everybody else," she said. Her voice wavered. She was a very bad liar.

He clipped his badge back to his belt. "Do you mind if I take a look around your computer? A tip to San Myshuno PD said you might know something more."

"That's silly."

She laughed with an anxious breath, letting him in to search her PC. She hoped she’d covered her tracks, but the detective had been a geek since he learned how to type. Just like Heather.

He knew where to look and exactly what he was looking for. She could tell, and she tried to look busy. Flustered, she put a pot of soup on the grill in the backyard (why Heather why?!), but this was exactly the sort of strange behaviour that made a guilty person look it.

He joined her outside with a sympathetic frown. "You're really savvy with computers," he observed. "A vet who's also an app developer who got her start as the best online Incredible Sports player the game's ever seen."

She blushed. "You know about that?"

"I did a bit of research before the drive out here, but I didn't need to be reminded of all the times ButtercupNesbeets and your Henford Hens All-Stars kicked my butt online in high school."

"You played?"

"Not as well as you. But why the jump from gaming to hacking?"

The truth flooded out of her. "Malcolm Landgraab stole my app code, but I use those royalties to raise our son. And if Landgraab Corp's nothing but shady deals and bad business, I'm worried for my clinic. Besides, the news report said it barely cost the Landgraabs a thing!"

"It's still illegal, Miss Nesbitt."

"Mama mama!" Ash called for her from beyond the patio door, interrupting her rambling explanation. She pulled the pot of soup from the stove and shut off the grill, heading inside to lift her son from his crib.

"Cute kid," said the detective. Ash wriggled from his mother's anxious grasp and Conrad reached out to steady him. "Is the second one Malcolm Landgraab's, too?"

"No, thank the Watcher. I'm a surrogate for my best friends, and I guess I've been a bit hormonal. I was frustrated, but I didn't do it to steal a bunch of data and I don't plan to do it again. I just wanted to get back at my ex. It was stupid."

Heavily pregnant with a child for friends who couldn’t expand their family without her help, Conrad could sympathize with Heather's motives. Everyone in Simlandia knew the Landgraabs only cared about enriching themselves, but Heather was a single mom who saved the lives of helpless animals.

His dog took a liking to her instantly. Gord always knew a bad egg when he saw one, and Conrad could usually trust his canine's instincts better than his own.

"Is this the part where I'm supposed to get arrested? Should I call my parents to come get my son?"

The handsome young detective didn’t have the heart to bring her in. "I didn't record your confession because you said you've felt emotional lately. I don't like to take a confession under duress, so I guess the investigation has to continue. If the Landgraabs insist on pressing charges, you'll probably hear from me again. For now, I should head back, file a report, and let you get back to your son."

He didn't have a plan, but rather than stop by the station when he returned to the city, Conrad turned onto the overpass over the bridge and parked his cruiser Uptown... ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

WCIF Conrad Gordon? I used this sim by lemariiia from the Sims 4 Gallery, and changed his hair and beard to be a little less old fashioned. I changed his last name because I felt like it (it was Sampson IIRC), but otherwise everything else is the same. The dog I gave him myself because I love this breed.

Also we totally don't have to play coy and act like that's not the sim in my userpic! 😂 After I called time on the Everett/Heather flirtation because I fell too hard for Spencer and didn't want to do that to her anymore, I needed to pivot because there's still no gen 3 heir! I also need to make Heather do programming things to keep the Techie lifestyle (even though she decided years ago she doesn't even like the skill), so I planned the hack and the investigation, searched the gallery for five 'detective' sims, and then my friend Kenzie picked Conrad based on looks and traits.

Spoiler alert but I hope you guys love him because Kenzie picked so well!

[rabbitcruiser]

National Filet Mignon Day

The words “filet mignon” call to mind rich, succulent, melt-in-your mouth flavor. Treat yourself to a nice steak dinner, or try cooking it at home.

National Filet Mignon Day, celebrated on August 13th, is a day dedicated to appreciating one of the most sought-after and delicious cuts of meat.

This special day highlights the culinary delight that is filet mignon, known for its tenderness and flavor. The name originated from the French words “filet,” meaning strip or thread, and “mignon,” meaning small, cute, or tender.

It describes a small, tender steak cut from the beef tenderloin​​. Filet mignon is cherished for its soft, tender texture, coming from a part of the cow that doesn’t get much exercise, making it less tough than other cuts.

Its popularity stems from its exquisite taste and texture, despite being one of the pricier meat cuts due to its desirable attributes​​. Over time, the dish, which dates back to before the 18th century in the U.S., has become accessible to many, though it retains its image as a luxurious choice​​.

The day is marked by various activities, including dining out at steakhouses to enjoy this special cut, cooking it at home for a personal touch, and sharing experiences online using the hashtag #NationalFiletMignonDay.

Whether it’s indulging in a prime cut, trying the vegetarian-fed Angus cut, or even a whole Filet Mignon roast, there are multiple ways to celebrate the day.

Each method offers a unique experience of this exceptional steak, whether cooked to perfection at a steakhouse or grilled gently at home to preserve its tender quality​​.

History of National Filet Mignon Day

National Filet Mignon Day, observed on August 13th, celebrates one of the most tender and luxurious cuts of beef.

This day highlights a piece of culinary artistry that’s beloved worldwide for its buttery texture and exquisite flavor.

The term “filet mignon” was popularized in the early 20th century and is French for “cute filet” or “dainty filet,” reflecting its prized status on the dining table.

Despite its current widespread appreciation, filet mignon was once considered an exclusive luxury, out of reach for many due to its high cost​​​​.

The exact origins of National Filet Mignon Day are as murky as the dish’s history, which has been a favorite in the U.S. since before the 18th century.

Initially known as medallions or tenderloin steak, the cut’s appeal has only grown over time, evolving from a symbol of wealth to a celebrated choice for diners across various backgrounds​​.

The day now serves as an opportunity for steak enthusiasts and casual diners to indulge in or discover the joys of filet mignon, whether by cooking it at home or enjoying it at a favorite steakhouse​​.

This day not only boosts the restaurant industry but also educates people about the culinary world, making it a celebration of taste and tradition.

So, whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the joys of filet mignon, National Filet Mignon Day offers the perfect excuse to explore the rich flavors and tender textures of this esteemed steak​​.

How to Celebrate National Filet Mignon Day

Celebration methods vary, from savoring a meal at a restaurant to grilling it oneself, highlighting the cut’s versatility.

The steak’s tenderness makes it a prime choice for those seeking a delicate and flavorful dining experience. Whether seasoned simply or marinated for extra flavor, filet mignon pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides and a glass of red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, to complete the meal​​​​.

Engage Your Senses with “Guess the Seasoning”

Kick off your National Filet Mignon Day celebrations with a playful “Guess the Seasoning” game. As you grill those tender filets in your backyard, invite your guests to use their senses.

They’ll be blindfolded, taking tiny bites or sniffing to pinpoint the spices you’ve artfully hidden within. It’s a deliciously fun way to dive into the world of flavors and spice up the party atmosphere​​​​.

Embark on a Culinary Journey with “Filet Mignon Flight”

Why settle for one when you can have a flight? This celebration calls for a “Filet Mignon Flight,” where small cuts of this exquisite meat are prepared in various styles.

Imagine a piece seared to perfection, another lovingly wrapped in bacon, and a third crowned with a rich dollop of blue cheese. Each bite offers a new destination on this savory tour de force, making your taste buds dance with delight​​​​.

Dare to Try: New Cooking Techniques

This National Filet Mignon Day, challenge yourself and your skillet with a new cooking method. Discovering a new favorite technique might just be the highlight of your day, bringing a fresh twist to your steak game​​.

Connect and Savor with “Steak and Sip”

In these times, connection is everything. So, why not host a virtual “Steak and Sip” evening? Have your friends or family prepare their filet mignon at home, each paired with a chosen wine.

Then, gather online to share your culinary creations, wine discoveries, and, most importantly, laughter. It’s a heartwarming way to come together and celebrate, no matter the distance​​​​.

Discover New Flavors at Your Local Butcher

Take a little adventure to your local butcher and ask for a filet mignon cut you’ve never tried before. Perhaps the Angus cut or an indulgent whole roast.

Armed with expert tips on the best preparation methods, spend your day experimenting with new flavors and textures. It’s a delicious opportunity to expand your culinary repertoire and perhaps find a new favorite​​.

A Touch of Humor: “Love Letter to Your Steak”

Before you even start cooking, take a moment to pen a “Love Letter” to your filet mignon. Express your deepest, most humorous feelings for this exquisite piece of meat on paper.

Reading your ode aloud adds a sprinkle of humor to your meal prep, guaranteeing smiles all around. It’s a unique way to celebrate the day, filled with laughter and love for the culinary arts​​​​.

Creativity on a Plate: “Steak Art” Contest

Finally, unleash the inner artist in you and your guests with a “Steak Art” contest. Use sides and sauces to transform your plate into a masterpiece.

Snap photos of these edible creations before they’re devoured, capturing the moment where art meets appetite. It’s a delightful way to engage everyone’s creativity, making this National Filet Mignon Day one to remember​​​​.

Source

[bubblesandgutz]

Every Record I Own - Day 764: Liz Phair Girly Sound to Guyville

I was 15-years-old when Exile in Guyville came out. At that age, I was in a phase where I was fixated on loud, angry punk music and didn’t have much of an appreciation for contemporary singer-songwriters. Furthermore, my knowledge of indie rock was limited to the late ‘80s SST roster. So while I was aware of Liz Phair and her debut album, it didn’t seem pertinent to my interests. And somehow, I managed to go nearly 27 years without ever hearing a note of it. 

And then in the spring of 2020, a younger friend of mine posted something about it online and I found myself thinking “shit, if the younger generation is latching onto it, then I gotta get caught up.” So I pulled up Exile in Guyville on my phone while I was puttering around in my backyard and sure enough... I fell for its charms almost instantly. I think I’d always assumed it was more of a conventional pop record... a solo artist backed by hired gun studio musicians. The cover looked like a cross between a fashion ad and Madonna’s “Justify My Love” video. I knew it was a very “sexual” record, which only reinforced my assumption that it was targeted towards a mainstream audience.

But what I heard in 2020 was a scrappy young musician singing these unadulterated, unflinching, and resilient songs about being a woman in a male-dominated scene. Yes, it was an unapologetically sexual album. And yes, Phair had an eye for visual art, understood the allure of fashion photography, and shaped the aesthetics of her debut album to tap into that enticement. But this wasn’t Madonna. As one critic noted, Liz Phair had the appeal of a friend’s cool older sister---the one that smoked cigarettes, dated older guys, went to shows with a fake ID, played guitar, and let you rifle through her record collection.

The lore surrounding the album is too much to tackle here, but certainly a part of its appeal---the modeling of the track listing off of Exile on Main Street, the signing to Matador off the strength of her bedroom four-track Girly-Sounds tapes, the connections to the thriving early ‘90s Chicago scene, etc. The thing is, it’s a fantastic record even without that context. Songs like “Help Me Mary” and “Never Said” are just bangin’ ‘90s alt-rock pop anthems, even as they tackle the more localized issue of shit-talking and misogyny in the Chicago music community. Phair was obviously an untrained singer and musician, her vocal style being very matter-of-fact and the mechanics of her guitar playing being fairly simple. But when you hear a song like “Soap Star Joe” or “Explain It to Me,” those qualities elevate the power of the music. Like so many great folk songs, the simplicity of song structure and the relatability of the singer give the music its emotional weight. 

Ultimately, there has been no shortage of great writing on Exile in Guyville, and whatever I type out here will in no way match... say... what Gina Arnold accomplished with her entry in the 33 1/3 book series. But even if it’s a fun album to run through the lens of critical analysis or to examine as a reflection of a specific time and place, to me it will always be a great album that I immediately fell in love with in my backyard on an unseasonably warm spring day during an otherwise bleak time. 

It became my soundtrack to the happier moments of the lockdown era of COVID. I listened to it while I basked in the sun in my backyard. I listened to it while I grilled on my barbecue. I listened to it over and over again on two long road trips out to my grandparent’s cabin in western Colorado. It’s an album that feels like a beam of positivity projected out of the darkness, and it consequently felt like a perfect salve during those uncertain days of Spring 2020. It was an intimate, diaristic window into another person’s life at a time when we were cut off from other humans. It’s brash, fun, catchy, brutally honest, and timeless, and as the Northwest has gotten its first few sun breaks suggesting the upcoming arrival of Spring, it’s an album I’ve found creeping back into rotation in anticipation of warmer days.

[casspurrjoybell-27]

Claimed by the Beast - Chapter 25a

*Warning Adult Content*

One Taste - Part 1

- Knox -

While the clubhouse buzzes with activity, Knox is crouched beside his motorcycle meticulously cleaning each component with precision and care.

It's a cathartic process that offers him respite from his dark thoughts.

He works his way from the handlebars, with their worn grips that have served him well on countless rides, down to the chrome exhaust pipes.

When he examines the brake calipers, he makes a mental note to get online tonight to look for an upgrade, perhaps something with more stopping power.

He's been meaning to make a few improvements to his ride but time hasn't been on his side as of late.

Too many fires to put out.

Too many Jackals to track down and kill.

With a heavy sigh, Knox reaches for a new rag and some cleaning solution to work on the gas tank.

The sun reflects off the glossy surface within seconds, a gentle reminder that he only has a few hours left to take advantage of today's good weather.

The smell of the hamburgers and ribs sizzling on the grill drifts through the air and all around the massive backyard, merging with the pungent scents of whiskey and cigarette smoke.

Loud rock music blasts from the speakers that have been set up but even that isn't enough to drown out Alvin.

Knox looks up when another round of laughter erupts from the group of men seated at the largest wooden picnic table.

Alvin is standing on his seat, his hands flailing animatedly as he tells yet another outlandish story, this time, it involves him getting chased naked down a street by the gun-toting husband of a woman he was caught fucking.

Instead of it being a member of a rival gang, most of Alvin's brushes with death were a result of him messing around with women that he should've left alone.

Knox can't help but chuckle at his brother, shaking his head in amused disbelief.

He gets back to work and wipes the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, leaving a grease stain on his tanned skin before tightening a bolt he noticed was loose.

It isn't long before his eyes wander over to Everett, who is doing his best to annoy Finn by critiquing his grilling skills.

The tension between the two men is still there, Knox can feel it from almost fifty feet away but at least now whenever they look at each other, Everett's eyes hold less of a murderous glare.

Unlike Josie, Knox has acknowledged the possibility that Finn and Everett may never become friends.

Considering the painful history that lies between them, Finn being responsible for Shaun's death which later put a target on Everett's back, Knox has no reason to try to push them together.

He's more than content seeing them play nice in front of his brothers and the other guests.

"Of course I'd find you over here by this damn shed scrubbing away on that bike."

Gavin appears with a blunt in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

He offers the beer to Knox.

"You always gotta be doing something, don't you? Can't ever just stop and smell the grass like the rest of us."

"It's stop and smell the roses, you jackass," Knox laughs.

He stands and accepts the drink, twisting off the cap with ease before taking a long swig.

The amber liquid soothes his dry throat and he welcomes the slight burn that it leaves behind, a hint of warmth spreading throughout his chest.

It's been a while since The Fallen Angels had a gathering like this, one that didn't involve them sitting around a table in a dark room as they plotted ways to eliminate their enemies.

Gavin felt it was necessary to have a cookout this evening, which many viewed as a welcome distraction from the mounting tension that continues to grow between The Fallen Angels and The Jackals.

Just a few hours of simple, harmless fun with good food, good music and good company.

Absolutely nothing that involves hunting down and killing anyone.

No reckless shootouts.

No playing the torturer and getting someone to break.

No wondering if the next breath he takes will be his last.

Knox isn't complaining about the cookout because he's long overdue for a fucking break.

"I'm surprised Josie hasn't balled you out for that," Knox says, referencing the joint Gavin is puffing on. "Bold of you to test her patience while pregnant."

"I know but she's supposed to be cutting me some slack since we're having such a chill day."

Gavin chuckles, then produces a nasty cough as smoke billows from his mouth.

"Speaking of which, you ought to be doing the same thing. That damn bike ain't going anywhere, so why are you here instead of being over there spending this time with the kid?"

Knox remains silent as his gaze drifts back to Everett and Finn.

"How're things going between you two, anyway?" Gavin asks. "You did claim him, after all. That means something, whether you want to admit it or not."

When Everett turns and catches Knox staring, he winks at him, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his tempting mouth.

Heat rushes to Knox's face and he breaks eye contact.

"We're good," Knox says, clearing his throat. "For now, at least."

"Good is better than nothing, I suppose." Gavin coughs again and they share another laugh about it as he examines the joint in his hand. "Either I'm getting old and dusty or these plants are getting stronger. I feel like a fucking teenager taking his first hit. What the hell is going on here?"

"Old and dusty sounds about right," Knox teases before changing the subject. "You get an update from Mason yet? Been a few days since the motel shit went down and he still has the owners phone. Why haven't you called for a meeting...?"

"Nope. We ain't doing that right now. Let's talk business tomorrow."

Gavin claps a hand on Knox's shoulder, pulling him in close before walking back into the heart of the party.

"We're chilling the fuck out today and that's an official order. So why don't you grab something to eat, find your boy, sit your ass down and try to enjoy yourself. It's okay to play pretend sometimes, Knox."

Knox scoffs, taking another swig of his beer.

"Play pretend like we're not one fuck up away from losing everything? Okay, sure. Let's stay delusional and get fucked while we're at it."

Gavin barks out a laugh.

"Fuck you and your shitty sarcasm, motherfucker. Just for that, I ain't telling you about how Hayes tried to make a move on the kid earlier. Oh, shit... Hold on. I just told you, didn't I? Fuck, I think I'm too high..."

"Gavin Josiah Barnes," Josie shouts from across the yard. "I swear to God if you have another joint in your hand, I'm going to kick your pale ass. You know I told you to slow down."

Gavin curses under his breath and passes the blunt to one of the men sitting at the table before sluggishly making his way over to his wife, a lazy grin stretched across his face as he yells back an apology.

Knox slams his drink down on the table and storms off in search of Everett, who is no longer standing by Finn at the grill.

Josie couldn't have been in charge of inviting people over today because if she had been, Hayes Mitchell wouldn't be here right now.

He works as a washer at The Angel's Lounge, The Fallen Angel's strip club and cleans some of the dirty money that comes in.

The kind of money that's unrelated to the bills patrons toss at the dancers who flex their skills on stage.

Not only is Hayes one of the best at what he does but he's also the biggest fucking flirt Knox has ever encountered.

The brazen fool had nearly lost his life trying to make a pass on Josie before Gavin had claimed her as his Old' lady.

Hayes' horniness knows no bounds and gender never mattered to him.

Knox is certain Hayes would fuck a brick wall if it spoke to him nicely and had a hole for his dick to go into.

"Hey. You seen Everett around?"

Knox finds Mason sitting underneath a tree with a woman on his lap and his iPad in one hand, their eyes glued to the screen.

"He was with Finn earlier by the grill, then I blinked and he fucking disappeared."

"Check the house," Mason mutters, not even bothering to make eye contact. "I think he got wet and then left to change clothes or something."

Knox's posture stiffens and his brain stutters to a halt at the word wet.

When he speaks again, his voice comes out low and rough.

"He got wet? The fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Mason finally looks up to read the room when Knox kicks at his feet to get his attention.

He swallows hard and sits up straight, Knox's icy stare making him fumble over his words.

"He was standing by the, uh... the cooler getting a drink or something and then... I think I saw him talking to Hayes or maybe it was somebody else, when the football went flying in his direction and knocked his drink..."

"I heard enough. Thanks."

Knox turns on his heel and stalks toward the backdoor of the clubhouse, both hands clenched into tight fists.

His mind races with unsettling thoughts as he shoves his way through the rowdy crowd.

Of course Hayes used this opportunity to get closer to Everett, one of the few people at the cookout who Hayes hasn't shared a bed with.

Just the thought of Hayes and Everett being together right now and all alone at that, fuels a surge of possessive anger within Knox that makes him see red.

Knox isn't worried about Everett entertaining Hayes because he knows where Everett's loyalty lies.

It's Hayes who's the fucking problem.

Him and his laid-back attitude and those stupid green eyes that he works as part of his gentleman act.

Thank God Hayes' appearance leans more toward 'I Work in Corporate America than Look at Me Wrong and I'll Shoot You' because then Knox might actually have some competition to worry about, given that Everett apparently has a thing for bikers or rather, Hayes could also be considered...

'Competition to kill.'

[ravenadottir]

Hear me out: headcannons about Bobby growing old with mc🥺 (I needed some fluff T-T)

no no no no no, you can’t just come in here and do this to me!! that’s so wholesome! i think i’m gonna have to divide this in decade marks, and maybe stop at the 30 year mark? i can do a part II later. 🤔

‘10 year mark’

the ‘mckenzie’ brand has expanded to restaurants, bars and bakeries all over the uk

the bars are considered a hot spots in the big cities. pictures of young ‘paisley cuddle’ are scattered on the walls, along with the pics from the villa’s parties, to set the theme

the restaurants have bobby and his experiences with famous chefs, like jake ‘sweetcheeks’ wilson, mary berry, gordon ramsey, wolfgang puck.

the bakeries however have the pictures from the time bobby went on the bake off show and won.

there’s small town models of the bakeries/restaurants that are seen as ‘family diners’

you and bobby already have two kids, 4 years apart from each other. in my head bobby is the type to have them earlier so they can live their best life together, have fun in the kitchen or in the backyard playing ball.

he loves throwing birthday parties every year, and of course, baking the cake. to which year is a different theme. “babe, you take care of the decorations and the details i’m definitely gonna forget, and me?” he puffs his chest holding a whisk. “i’m the cake guy.”

bobby is the reason why the kids love the parties so much. he’s the type of parent that goes on the slider with the kids, jumps with them in the bounce house, starts the water balloon wars…

the parents are so thankful for him since he’s pretty much the one who keeps an eye on them at all times.

usually, he’s waking up early every day because it became a habit since his hospital times. he never really shook that habit. so he prepared breakfast, takes the dog out, while you wake the kids up to eat and rush them to school

the dad that takes two different cameras and a phone to film and take pictures during his kids’ public presentations, games, recitals and science fairs “dad, one phone is enough” “yeah, but your dad needs backup! i’m from the 90′s darling. i can’t be any different” he says, shrugging with a grin.

you guys have a small house on the outskirts of glasgow or london, depending on who won the bet you had when you got married.

you’re pregnant again. entirely unplanned and now bobby can’t stop crying,. he always wanted three kids.

‘15 year mark’

a third child came three years ago, which made you consider a much more peaceful place to buy a house. and a bigger one for that matter.

bigger bakyeard means more people and their kids playing around the lawn, as bobby and gary grill sausages, making stupid jokes about it, and you and the girls have drinks shaking your heads.

you and bobby are gary’s kids’ godparents

ibrahim can’t come, he’s to busy making mad money on brand deals. noah is calming the kids down, by reading something in the living room, while bobby shakes a cocktail for the tired parents.

gary gives you a new couple of puppies, because the dog you had has unfortunately passed away. (sorry!)

your first kid is just turning 13 and being a little pain in the ass. but they like their uncles and aunties so they will actually raise their heads from *inser new device that will replace phones*

you guys travel in your car, to spend a week in cabins, fishing, playing ball, having picnics close to the lake

bobby always throws at least one of the kids in the water, before jumping in and splashing everyone. “bet you can’t do better than that, babe…” he says to you, raising his brows suggestively. “watch me, mckenzie.”

summer time and the lake became a tradition since it was the first place you and him spent a holiday alone

the employees that attend to you in hotels refer to you as “the mckenzie’s”

in the city, you have a trustworthy babysitter that will spend the night so you and bobby can have some time alone

he surprises you with dates and flowers out of nowhere

early nights are made for you and bobby to help the kids with homework

at this point, bobby is invited to be a special guest in cooking/baking competitions in the uk

and to have a “masterclass” of hiw own, where he mostly credits you for the idea of expanding, the execution of the administrative plans and how to actually expand a business. “i only do the cooking. she’s the genius behind the money.” he laughs while crossing his legs during his online course.

‘20 year mark’

kids’ sad times. graduations are happening. the youngest is entering third grade, the other one is in uni, far from home. “did you have to choose something so far from your old man?” “dad… of course! how else would i have a ‘paisley cuddle’ phase?” they respond, laughing. “i should’ve never told you thats story! now you’re having ideas!” “relax dad. everything is gonna be fine!” the middle one is entering high school and their rebellious phase.

bobby follows through with his part of the deal when you got married, by wearing something ridiculous to embarrass your kid at their graduation. “dad, you look like a hawaiian drug dealer.” “ i know,” “oh, so it wasn’t dark when you got dressed? mom!” “what can i say, your dad doesn’t care for blacks and blues.” “yeah, right…”

professionaly, bobby has a renowned signature dish, plenty of new ideas for the future, like school and courses.

the house is the same you bought five years ago, but now, it’s mostly parents getting together for barbecues, cocktails, movies and game nights

the younger children stay in the tv room upstairs

‘25 year mark’

your second child didn’t go to uni, and decided to help out on the family business. they always felt like this was the life for them and couldn’t wait to finish school to start.

bobby wanted them to go to school to learn everything they could “but dad, you didn’t, and you know so much.” “oof, they got you there, babe.”

you have a second wedding ceremony and a second honeymoon

bobby has a few grey hairs popping through his dreads

he’s still wearing colorful shirts and girls on social media call him ‘daddy’

he’s been invited to cook for the queen (yes, she’s still alive)

you see your friends a few times more a year now.

your third child is going to uni, to follow a career path you never imagined they would, but you’re proud of them

you decided to sell the house, that’s so big now, and find a smaller one that still has an extra bedroom for when your oldest comes to stay with their partner

bobby cracks dad jokes now, and according to gary, he picked them up from him “sure, gary, ‘cause you’re the only man on the planet who tells dad jokes” “stop bickering! you’re like an old married couple.” you say, slapping their arms playfully

‘30 year mark’

your first child just had their first child

“you’re a grandpa, bobs!” gary slaps him on the back, picking up a box of cigars that they will share with noah and ibrahim.

“can’t believe i’m this old.” “if you’re old, what am i?” you ask him, folding your arms on your chest. “beautiful?” he responds with a clear guilty expression.

‘things that would happen at all times during this entire journey’

bobby would sing to the kids every night

you would read them bedtime stories, taking turns to do the voices

it’s a tradition to cook together on special occasions, no matter what happens. the three kids, you and bobby would always spend the day listening to music, talking about life, slicing, sauteeing, mixing, measuring. it’s a tradition that will never die

when your grandkids come around, they will be the the ones resposible for measuring

drawings that your kids do in school akways have extra colors on bobby’s outfits. his name also has more than three colored letters

bobby has taught your kids how to play the guitar

rainy afternoons were known as “dad’s baking afternoons”

you and bobby had a hard time to find a compromise between being friends and parents.

open conversations with your kids, about everything. they knew what to expect in the world.

bobby’s parents would visit, to spend a whole weekend and share stories of his childhood, as yours would too

family vacation always had a ‘car trip and singing along to the radio’ type of tradition as well

your oldest now takes their child for family vacation in the same spot you and bobby used to

twice a year you guys rent a place for the family to have some bonding, even after they get married (or not)

“your dad is the finest pillow fort architect in the uk”

camping in the backyard when you had to cancel a trip

you’re in charge of coaching and playing sports in the back of the house while bobby relaxes under the sunlight “i was never very athletic”. he’s the empire

*these are the ones on the top of my head. i must’ve left dozens behind :/

[otomethesims]

Rules:

Pick a sim of your choice

Tell us about them

Tag someone else (if you want to!)

@milaplayssims tagged me so thank you! I decided to go with Reagan since I wrote 5 facts about his husband the other day.

Info below the cut.

Name: Reagan Dixon-Cooper

How old is your sim: In the photos he’s a middle-aged adult but in my game he’s approaching his elder years.

When is your sim’s birthday: May 14th

What is your sim’s zodiac sign: Taurus

Martial Status: Happily Married

Does your sim have any nicknames: Rea, The Gentle Giant, Sweet Daddy Rea (A barbequing reference. Not sexual, I swear)

Do they have a job: Freelance Fashion Photographer, Co-Owner of Diamond Magazine

Where does your sim live: San Myshuno

Who does your sim live with: Husband, Nemo, and his teenage daughter, Milena. His eldest daughter, Daria, lives there too but is moving out now that she’s graduated from university. Also Daria’s cat, Aquarius.

What environment did your sims grow up in (strict, loving, cold etc): Rea had a rough childhood to start but was adopted into a loving family. He raised his children with that same love and affection. 

What are your sim’s favorite food: A good barbeque or gummy bear pancakes.

What is your sim’s favorite drink: His favorite drink is also wine

If they have one what is your sim’s favorite color: Dark Blue

Is your sim introverted or extroverted: He’s an extrovert 

What is your sims favorite woohoo position: Whatever Nemo’s favorite position is at the moment but is surprisingly a Dom behind closed doors.

Is your sim a pet person: He pretends he’s not because he knows he has to be the voice of reason otherwise their apartment would be full of animals. Secretly, Aquarius is his cat.

Does your sim have a best friend: Not so much as a best friend but his brother that he’s closest to is also gay and they have regular double dates with him and his husband. It’s cute lol

What is/was your sim’s favorite school subject: Science

Are they planning to go or have they already been to college: He studied Fine Arts at Foxbury Institute 

What are your sims political beliefs: He has very liberal views and is an active activist in his community.

Does your sim have a favorite TV show: Loves cooking shows/competitions 

Does your sim like books? His favorites are the big, artistic photography books.

What is your sim’s personal style: Clothes that look like basic wardrobe staples but are really good quality so they’re actually $400 online.

Is your sim religious: It comes and goes.

What kind of music does your sim listen to: Loves Jazz but finds himself listening to the Backyard station when he’s out grilling.

What is your sim’s favorite type of weather: He loves the winter and Winterfest. He loves to dress up as Father Winter. Literally the cutest.

Does your sim have a dream job: Fashion Photography is his dream job.

Does your sim have any siblings: An older sister and brother and a younger sister.

What is your sims favorite hobby: Hiking, photography, gardening, and grilling

What does your sim look for in a romantic partner: Someone who balances him out and keeps him grounded.

What is a flaw your sim has: He’s so relaxed about most things that he sometimes gets treated like a pushover or a doormat. He’s actually pretty scary when he’s finally pushed too far and he doesn’t show any signs that he’s about to go off.

Does your sim have a greatest achievement, if so what is it: Several awards for his freelance fashion photography and #15 on Smogue’s Hottest 30 under 30 list (It was awhile ago but he still brings it up) Oh, and his children, of course!

If they have one, what is your sim’s greatest regret: When he first started dating Nemo he was only separated from his wife at the time. He and his ex had decided it wasn’t working but never made it official. Maybe some part of them believed they would one day find their way back to each other. They’d been separated for a long time and once he was serious about Nemo he officially divorced her. She was devastated and it killed him that he hurt her in that way. He loved her but wanted more than what she was ready to give. 

Tagging: @whyhellosims @katmk36 @pencakes (please don’t feel obligated!) and whoever else feels like doing it!

[justjessame]

Starting Over Chapter 34

Bucky looked around the backyard with the discerning eye that MEN have.  My dad had it.  I’m sure Joey has it.  They seem to take stock of everything from the grass to the paving stones.  Then they start making internal lists - where they could put the grill, where the picnic table goes, how they could set up the horseshoe pit and so on.  It was comforting to watch him to it, to be honest.

“You have someone who mows?” I thought about how Connie and I had a very similar conversation not so long ago. I nodded and told him about Dimitri.  “Do you own a mower?”  

“Yes, Bucky, there’s a mower in the shed, but I don’t LIKE to mow.” I was unlocking the shed and shaking my head - thinking that he was more like my dad than I thought.  His heat met my back before I could open the door.  “Do you like to mow?”

“It can be soothing,” his breath was on my earlobe and I was thinking that I was damn thankful that Mom and Dad had both a privacy fence alongside the bushes to keep nosy neighbors out of sight and out of mind.  “What did you want to show me?”  Shit he’d done it again, he short circuited my damn brain.  

“A few things,” opening the door, I flicked on the overhead.  

Dad didn’t have a man cave, instead the shed had been his hideaway.  While the car had taken most of the garage part, he’d managed to keep part of it for himself still, though I didn’t see any new projects.  And the darkroom was off to itself, not large enough to matter, really.  

“Is that -” of course Bucky’s attention focused on the car.  Whose wouldn’t?  “Brooke?”  He hadn’t moved from me, while his eyes might be laser focused on the mechanical wonder, I took heart in knowing he STILL felt I was more worthy of his bodily attention.  

“Connie -” I sighed and shook my head.  “My dad was planning on surprising me with it, for my birthday.  It was -” I shook my head again.  “I missed it.”  

“Oh,” his lips brushed my temple.  “Have you taken her out?”  Cars and boats, wasn’t that the saying? Cars and boats are like women for men?  Always “her” and “she”.  I nodded.  

“You can drive HER tonight,” he chuckled.  “I’m still getting used to her.”  

“That’s ONE,” his arms tightened and I knew he thought I had some friskier purpose for him and the shed, and while I wouldn’t be opposed, that wasn’t really what I’d meant.  

“When we were hanging out with Sam and Sarah,” he went as still and silent as only Bucky could.  “I noticed that you seemed to like the work - the wood working?”  

“I’d never really done it before,” he offered.  “It was different, relaxing.”  

Turning to face him, tilting my head back I smiled.  “My dad used this shed as his self care spot.”  Bucky studied me as I spoke, listening and waiting.  “He loved to do woodworking, real woodworking.  When we go back inside, so you can unpack?  I’ll show you the vanity that he made my mom.”  He nodded.  “He made my rocking horse.  He made my cradle.”  

“I don’t know -” I took his hand and pulled him to the smaller area Dad had created for himself.  “I don’t know where to start -”

“Neither did he,” I told him about my dad, Andrew Ashley the warehouse supervisor who self taught himself after taking a few shop classes in school and getting a taste.  “He picked up books and videos where he could, watched stuff online, you know, what people do when they find a hobby.”  

I watched Bucky’s eyes land on Dad’s tools.  All those special, magical things that could bring beauty out of a block of wood.  And then his fingers followed the path his eyes had taken.  “Are you sure?”  He looked so uncertain.  

“I’m sure,” I smiled up at him.  “And he even made a dark room for me, right over there.” I pointed to the door close by.  “Even in self care, we’ll be close.”

Bucky’s smile grew.  “Guess that kind of settles it then,” his free arm snaked out to pull me close.  “If my girl is nearby, then how could I avoid it?” 

[cantgetoutofmyheda]

Falling in Love in a Quarantine: Part 13

OP | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 9.5 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12

—

PART 13: Day 28

Clarke paced from table to table as she rearranged the floral arrangements, cutlery setup, and chairs over and over again.

“Clarke.”

Baby’s breath was added, then removed. Then added. Then removed. Over and over and over again. The centerpieces were clad with Lexa’s favorite flowers. Sprigs of baby’s breath and eucalyptus surrounded the calla lilies on each table. The arrangements sat nicely inside the tall glass vases she had rushed ordered online.

“Clarke.”

It was a small backyard barbecue, and much to Lexa’s dismay, Clarke had gone ahead and ordered charger plates for the table settings. Charger plates. For a backyard barbecue. Lexa was less than thrilled.

“Clarke.”

Lexa’s request of plastic cutlery was laughed at, and the table was clad with Clarke’s flatware from inside. The plastic tables—Lexa was sure that they were the same their crew used during college breaks at the Griffin’s for beer pong tournaments—were diligently covered with linens and table runners.

“Clarke.”

The blonde stepped away from the three tables. Like she had promised earlier in the week, they were equidistantly apart and all faced inwards so that the people sitting at them would all be able to see one another.

“CLARKE.”

“Hmm,” the blonde snapped out of her hostess duties. “Did you say something, Lex?”

Lexa’s hands were woven into her hair as she scratched at the wild mane and shook her head, “What is all of this?” Her eyes scanned the space and all the fixings that were now coming along with it.

“It’s not done yet,” Clarke saw the worry on Lexa’s face. “I’ve got a little more to do. It’ll look great, I promise.”

“Clarke.”

“I’m just trying to figure out where I should string the banners from,” she let out as she took a step back and let her eyes scan the side of the house. “What do you think about above the sliding door?”

“Clarke, please stop.”

“What don’t you like?” Clarke started to worry at the look on Lexa’s face. She had planned Lexa’s birthday on multiple occasions over the years, even during the time Lexa was dating Costia. This one had to be special. This one had to be the most special of them all. She wanted it to be as perfect as a quarantine birthday could be. “I can run to Target and see if I can swap something out if there are things you’d like better. Just tell me.”

Lexa sighed. She knew that Clarke was just trying to make this birthday feel a little more normal than it should have been. She immediately dropped her shoulders as she exhaled again, taking a step closer to Clarke and bringing her hands to cup the blonde’s face, “Clarke.”

“Lexa,” she exhaled at the touch. The worry was still present in her blue eyes.

“You didn’t have to go through all of this trouble, Clarke,” Lexa offered her a half smile. “Everything’s beautiful,” she let her eyes wander over the tables and decorations, “but this is all too much. Especially because I’m just grilling burgers and wings.”

“I wanted it to be special,” Clarke mumbled. Her face was still sandwiched between Lexa’s hands.

Lexa leaned in and ghosted a quick kiss on Clarke’s lips before she finally dropped her hands to the blonde’s sides. Her arms extended behind her, and her palms found their way to Clarke’s backside where they laid rest, “This is already the most special birthday I’ve ever had, Clarke. Though I appreciate all of this, I didn’t need you to pull out all the bells and whistles.”

“It’s your first birthday I get to plan as your girlfriend,” Clarke smiled at the touch on her behind. “Maybe I got a little carried away. But can you blame me?”

“A little carried away?” Lexa questioned with a raised brow. “There are charger plates set on our college beer pong tables, Clarke.”

“They’re also my grandma’s old bingo tables,” Clarke added. “And fine,” she started to admit. “Yes, I got a little carried away. But I was excited, so we’re going to go with the decorations and you’re going to pretend to like them.”

“I more than like them,” Lexa offered with a smile. “Next time you do something, try not to go so overboard. Okay?”

“Says the one who dropped nearly $3,000 on furnishing my backyard.”

Lexa rolled her eyes, “I did it for my people, Clarke.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Woods,” Clarke kissed her cheek. “Maybe you’ll start believing it.”

---

“Hooooly shit,” a man’s voice boomed from the back gate. “This is quite the setup. Happy birthday, Lex. Wish I could give you a hug.”

“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” Lexa smiled in his direction. “Even from six feet away.” She looked between Clarke, who was standing at her side, back to Lincoln and Octavia who were slowly approaching. “Doctor’s orders and all.”

“Thank you guys for coming,” Clarke beamed. “You can sit at whichever table you guys want, we’re just keeping it casual tonight.”

“Happy birthday, Lexa,” Octavia smiled with a wave as she followed Lincoln to one of the tables. “Casual, huh?” She glanced over the table setting, “Looks super casual to me.”

Lexa rolled her eyes, “Clarke got a little too excited with the decorations.”

“Looks like it,” Octavia laughed. “Clarke,” she turned her attention to the blonde. “I have the cake. Where do you want me to put it?”

“Throw it on the patio table and I’ll take it inside in a bit,” Clarke smiled. “Thank you for picking it up, O.”

“No worries. Least we could do,” Octavia smiled.

“Lex,” Lincoln sauntered towards the grill. “Holy shit, this thing is niiiice.”

“Right?” Lexa crossed her arms proudly. “It was rated one of the best grills to buy this summer. We’ve only used it a few times but it’s been fucking perfect so far. Right, Clarke?”

“Sure,” Clarke rolled her eyes. She turned back to Octavia, “She fucking won’t stop about that stupid thing.”

“That ‘stupid thing’ is what’s been feeding you dinner every night this week,” Lexa raised a brow.

Clarke shook her head as she sighed, “Lex. You’re the stupid thing that’s been feeding me dinner every night this week. You’ve just been using that stupid thing to cook it.”

“Looks like you guys have been having a productive quarantine,” Octavia observed. “When are Rae and Anya getting here?”

“Right now,” a voice called from the gate. “Sup, bitches? Happy birthday, Lexa!”

Lexa shook her head at the loud entrance, “Thanks, Raven.” She craned her neck to see Anya towing behind her girlfriend, “Hey, Ahn.”

“Hey yourself, birthday girl,” Anya nodded. “We come bearing gifts,” she started to round the corner with a case of beer carried over her head. “Birthday tradition, kiddo. You’ve gotta shotgun one–”

Anya took one look at the setup and immediately started laughing. Her train of thought was suddenly derailed, “Clarke, it looks like the fucking Crate and Barrel catalogue threw up in your backyard. I thought we were having burgers and wings today. It looks like you’re hosting a fucking bridal shower.”

Clarke rolled her eyes and mouthed a hello to Raven.

“I think she made it look lovely,” Lexa offered a smile in Clarke’s direction. She looked back to Anya, “We are having burgers and wings though, don’t let the fancy setup deceive you. And I will not be shotgunning a beer, thank you very much.”

Anya started emptying the case of beer in the cooler next to the grill, “Wow this thing looks top of the line.”

“I just Googled it,” Lincoln held up his phone. “Damn, Lex. Dropping over a thousand bucks to fancy up Griff’s backyard? I need a best best friend like you.”

Lexa rolled her eyes for what felt like the umpteenth time day, “It’s for all of us.”

“But it’s living in Clarke’s backyard,” Raven smirked. “Convenient for Clarke.”

“Convenient for me, because I’m squatting here for the foreseeable future,” Lexa corrected. “And once this is all over, you all know most of our time is going to be spent here anyway. She’s the only one with a big enough outdoor space for it.”

“Way to make a gal feel special, Lex,” Clarke nudged her shoulder against the brunette’s. “I throw you a birthday party and you basically tell all our friends you’re using me for my backyard space.”

“Hey,” Lexa shrugged as a smirk tugged her lips upward. “It’s a good space. Can you blame me?”

Clarke wrinkled her nose and shook her head, “You’re annoying.” She looked at her phone and realized it was probably a good time to start getting the food read, “Why don’t you make yourself useful and fire the grill up? I can bring some of the food out now.”

“You’re making her cook her own birthday lunch?” Raven laughed. “Damn, Griff.”

Clarke shrugged, “She wanted to do it. Who was I from stopping the birthday girl?”

“Speaking of the birthday girl,” Raven lowered her voice so only Clarke could hear her. She wiggled her brows, “Did you get the birthday girl a special birthday gift?”

Clarke rolled her eyes and matched Raven’s hushed voice, “You better cut it out, Rae.”

“Cut what out?” Anya butted in as she stepped closer towards her girlfriend. “What’d I miss?”

Raven let out a chuckle, “Oh, nothing. I was just trying to figure out what Clarke gave Lexa for her birthday. See if it was anything special.”

“Lex!” Anya called out towards the grill. Lexa had just turned the propane tank on and started to heat the machine up. “What’d Griff get ya for your birthday? Anything good you’d like to share with us?”

Lexa raised a brow, “She’s giving me my gift tonight. Why?”

“Tonight?” Raven smirked in Clarke’s direction.

“You’re literally being a weird perv for no reason, Rae,” Clarke huffed. “I literally got her clothes. Clothes and a book.”

Raven twisted her face in disgust, “That’s so boring, Griff. Clothes and a book? Seriously?”

“I mean,” Anya butted in again and shrugged. “Sounds right up Lex’s alley.”

Clarke rolled her eyes at Raven and walked towards Lexa. As much as she wanted to snake her arms around her waist, she restrained. “Need any help over here?”

Lexa smiled at the voice, “I was just going to head inside to grab a few things. Could use a helping hand if you wanted to accompany me.”

“Lead the way,” Clarke extended her arm.

Inside, in the confines of Clarke’s kitchen, and hidden in view from their friends, Lexa grabbed Clarke by the waist and pulled her in for a quick, searing kiss. “Been wanting to do that for a bit,” she mumbled against Clarke’s lips.

“Me too,” Clarke sighed. “I know this is your birthday party, but I’m ready for them to eat and leave so I can give you your gift.”

“And what would that be?” Lexa raised a suggestive brow.

“You’ll find out tonight,” Clarke shrugged.

“Can’t wait,” Lexa gave her another quick kiss before heading back towards the backyard with the food in tow. “Hey,” she turned around. “What were Raven and Ahn ganging up on you about?”

Clarke rolled her eyes, “Rae was trying to see what I got you for your birthday.”

“Did you tell her?” Lexa’s eyes were filled with mischief.

“Sorta,” Clarke laughed. “I gave her a version that’s more or less what you’ll be unwrapping later.”

---

Lexa was actually thankful for the tablecloths. The very unnecessary coverings were unneeded for a casual backyard affair between six friends, but most definitely were needed to shield the four unsuspecting people from watching Lexa’s fingers drawing circles on the top of Clarke’s thigh. The blonde had a content look on her face, and no one knew it was attributed to the light touches from the brunette sitting next to her.

“Is Raven staring at us?” Lexa whispered the question so only Clarke could hear. Lincoln, Anya and Octavia seemed to be in conversation about something, and Raven was chiming in here and there, but her eyes kept wandering back to the two silent hosts. “Why’s she being weird?”

“Maybe she can see you feeling me up,” Clarke offered, to which Lexa immediately retracted her hand. “Oh calm down, I was kidding.”

“Do you think she knows?” Lexa whispered again.

Clarke turned to her girlfriend, “I mean, would it be the worst thing if she did?”

“You’re the one that wanted to wait,” Lexa reminded her. What Lexa didn’t realize was that her voice raised at the surprise of Clarke’s question.

“Wait for what?” Lincoln turned around. He was sitting closest to Lexa’s side.

Lexa looked at Clarke to answer. The normally calm and collected Lexa Woods had finally found herself to be flustered and not wanting the responsibility of answering the question.

Clarke rolled her eyes at the suddenly tense person seated next to her.

“For cake.”

“We’re sleeping together.”

They both spat out at the same time.

“SERIOUSLY?” all five yelled towards Lexa’s direction as she turned as bright as the sliced tomato sitting on top of her burger.

“Sleeping together?” Clarke’s voice was still raised and her brow suggested Lexa correct her statement.

“Dating,” Lexa muttered. “Clarke and I are dating.”

“Holy shit,” Lincoln laughed.

“It’s about time,” Octavia gasped.

“We fucking knew it,” Raven and Anya said together, as if on cue.

“We were going to wait,” Clarke rolled her eyes and seared a look into Lexa’s. She brought a hand to the side of her own face and sighed, “But guess this was a good time to let the cat out of the bag.”

“So,” Octavia looked around at the group of friends. “This whole time? Or like…”

“It’s literally been a week,” Clarke shook her head. “We wanted to see how things played out before we told anyone. But I guess that’s gone out the window,” she shot Lexa another look.

“It’s my birthday,” Lexa nervously laughed. “You can’t be mad at me on my birthday.”

“Look, she’s already groveling,” Anya pointed out as she leaned towards Raven.

“I’m not groveling,” Lexa huffed. She looked back to Clarke and cracked a nervous half smile. “At least I get to do this now,” she placed a kiss at the corner of the blonde’s mouth. “Sorry, I’ll make it up to you.”

Clarke took a breath, “It’s fine, they were bound to find out anyway.”

“I think this calls for a celebration,” Lincoln spoke up as he held a bottle of beer. “Happy Birthday, Lex. And congrats to you two for finally realizing you should be getting your freak on together.”

[elisela]

take my whole life, too buck x eddie, 1.4k, vermont verse for @extasiswings and @tylerhunklin because that cellist fic inspired me and chapel said !!!!!!!!!!! so here’s eddie learning to play the guitar because i only know how to play the ukulele and eddie would never choose that so close enough.

Eddie’s not sure why he does it.

Well, that’s not true—they’re in Bobby’s backyard on a warm July night, the kids running around with sparklers, popping little plastic champagne bottles full of confetti over people’s heads when they’re not looking. Eddie’s standing near the grill with Michael and Bobby (he may not be able to cook but he’s from Texas, okay, he knows how to barbecue), recounting some of his funnier stories about being in the military (he can joke about it now, doesn’t feel like choking whenever he mentions it) when Buck’s bright laughter draws his gaze.

“So he starts singing this song and I swear I was so close to losing it,” Maddie says, “I had to pretend to be sick so I could run to the bathroom and laugh.”

He’s not sure what they’re talking about, but they look happy, relaxed, and then Buck says—

“I always wished someone would serenade me.”

And somehow, Eddie’s at a music store the next day in Burlington, buying a guitar.

--

Eddie’s never liked being an amateur. It’s not that he dislikes learning, or thinks he should be great at everything right away, but he feels too deeply the judging looks that people will give (whether they’re in his imagination or not is another story), so his original plan had been: buy a guitar online, hide it, practice like crazy until he could get a simple song out, sing to Buck.

He falls into a Buck-esque research spiral after they leave Bobby’s house that night, googling guitars on his phone and watching “learn to play” youtube videos until 3am, when Buck rolls over in his sleep and slides his hands over Eddie’s stomach and down lower, until Eddie drops his phone on the floor accidentally and then somehow it’s 4am and Buck is breathing hard against him and they both need a shower.

Regardless, he’d learned a few things: don’t buy a guitar online, and it’s really easy to play C and F major.

It comes in handy at the store; luckily, he’s not the only one there so he waves off the bored-looking clerk and looks over the wall of guitars, drawn to the two-tone ones; he reads the signs and tries to look like he knows what he’s doing but in the end he picks up one that proclaims it has a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back, strums the two chords he’d learned from trying to memorize a chord chart in the middle of the night, and buys it without looking at the price tag.

… he probably should have looked at the price tag.

--

Given Eddie’s abundance of free time, it’s pretty easy to hide what he’s doing, which is good, because he is objectively terrible at playing the guitar. His fingers feel clumsy; he’d never played an instrument before, favored extra history classes in high school over band, and he had thought that the easy rhythm he can find while dancing would transfer over, but strum patterns and counts get tangled up somewhere between his brain and his fingers and he ends up off-beat and confused halfway through a song. He tries doing things properly, working through a beginner’s book he bought online and hides in the bottom drawer of his desk, but just picking simple melodies and occasional chords frustrates him and he ends up shoving the guitar in the attic for two weeks before he gives in and does what he’d wanted to do all along—follow along with YouTube videos.

He spends three days looking up songs that only use a few basic chords and finally settles on a simplified version of Can’t Help Falling in Love With You, because Buck loves sappy and Eddie loves Buck, and no one needs to know how when he sings it, he thinks about the first time he saw Buck standing on the porch, crouching down to talk to Christopher, bright smile and laugh lighting up Eddie’s life.

For a simple song it takes him a frustratingly long time to learn it, but finally, he’s ready for the last part of the plan: sing it to Buck.

Oh, shit.

He has to sing it.

--

In middle school, Eddie’s choir teacher called them over to the corner of the room one at a time and had them sing a few lines so she could determine their voice classifications. Her face had been neutral while listening to him, but a few weeks later while they were singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, she’d pulled Eddie and Robbie Martin to the side and said, “you know boys, no one will notice if you just mouth the words.”

Eddie mouthed the words.

--

So, Eddie makes a new plan. He needed one anyway, because it’s not like he could just pull Buck into the office after work and sing to him, no. Buck wants to be serenaded, and that demands certain things.

Like getting his son out of the house, for one. No offense to Christoper, but he doesn’t need his extremely sarcastic eleven year old around while he’s trying to be romantic.

That’s easy enough, though, given that Denny is at his house daily after school—a single text message to Karen and he’s got the house to himself Saturday night and most of the day Sunday.

He sucks it up and calls Sophia for advice on how to do the rest, hangs up on her after two minutes of her laughing and calls Adriana instead. He always knew she was his favorite sister (okay she wasn’t, but she certainly is now), because she squeals excitedly and he has to ask her to slow the rapid flow of words so he can actually understand her.

By the time Saturday morning rolls around, he’s ready. He spreads a picnic blanket out in the far corner of their yard, under the sugar maple trees and near the fire-pit Buck had dug out the summer before they got married, packs a picnic basket with snacks, and sends Chris over to Hen’s just after lunch. He spends the rest of the day with Buck; they drive a well-known route through the changing trees, holding hands and trading kisses across the center console whenever Eddie stops at a red light. He takes him out to his favorite farm-to-table restaurant in Waterbury, then brings him home and takes out his secret weapon: bourbon sours.

--

Buck is a happy but sloppy drunk, but Eddie’s learned over the years that there’s a point in Buck’s drinking that is optimal for him: happy and affectionate, his hands roaming all over Eddie’s body and his mouth spilling words of adoration.

That’s the place Eddie’s trying to find tonight.

It takes a few hours, time he spends making out with his husband while wrapped up in his arms, sprawled out across the blanket with their legs tangled together. Finally, after Buck spends at least five minutes talking about the perfect softness of Eddie’s bottom lip (five minutes because he’s kept interrupting himself to kiss Eddie), he excuses himself under the guise of getting water, grabs his guitar, and heads back outside.

Buck’s sitting up, leaning back to look at the stars—the view isn’t as good as it was in El Paso when he’d drive out of town and into the desert, but it’s decent enough, and it means Buck doesn’t see him coming until he sits down next to him. He’s not sure what to say so he doesn’t, just strums a few chords and when he knows he has Buck’s attention, he starts to sing.

His voice shakes, and he transitions to the wrong chord at one point and has to hope Buck doesn’t notice, but he gets through it. He stares down the whole time, both because he’s not great at finding his fingering without looking and because he’s terrified to look at Buck’s face and see a hint of judgement, or amusement, or—anything, really. So when he finished and finally looks up, he’s a little stunned to see tear tracks glinting off Buck’s cheeks in the low light of the dying fire.

“Eddie,” he whispers, “I love you so much.”

And then Buck’s moving the guitar, setting it down gently at the edge of the blanket, and pressing Eddie backwards as he straddles his hips and leans down to kiss him.

“I love you,” Buck whispers, and Eddie feels him everywhere, hands on his arms and waist, “I love you,” wet lips kissing across his jaw up to his lips, “I love you, Eddie, I love you.”

Eddie sings to him again.

[wild-aloof-rebel]

How do you think David and Patrick would deal with the pandemic actually all of Schitt's creek.

there are lots of great thoughts about that over in my #headcanon tuesdays tag, which was a collaborative effort that started with discussion of what they’d be getting up to in quarantine (we eventually moved away from that, but the early posts def focus more on that).

generally though, i think that david and patrick’s life wouldn’t be terribly different from normal though, other than obviously being more cautious about distance, etc. the store would most likely be considered an essential service, so they really have just been working like usual all along, though probably switching to some kind of curbside pick-up service rather than letting people wander the shop, at least initially. their online orders are also keeping them very busy, and they hire on a few local teens who lost their jobs at unessential businesses to give them some part-time help packing orders. they def have partnered with their vendors to provide masks and a local distillery to provide hand sanitizer. they’re well-settled in at the house, being a year and a half into their marriage before quarantine starts, so they definitely have stevie over, and maybe even the brewers down for a day trip a few times, for some socially-distanced get-togethers in their backyard. they make good use of the grill they bought themselves for their anniversary, and plan over-the-top, at-home date nights, and try their hand at learning to be better cooks, and just generally do their best--now that there’s no baseball, no going out on weekends, no dinners at the cafe, no trips to visit their families--to make the most of all this unexpected alone time they’ve been given.

stevie is in sc a lot more, with way more zoom meetings with ruth and johnny and their investors now. progress is still continuing on the rosebud expansion because the renovations aren’t really something put on hold by the pandemic, though they do put off starting anything new until things are over. on the rare occasions that any of them do still need to physically travel to a location, johnny handles the u.s. locations and stevie the canadian ones, since the border is closed.

season 2 of the sunrise bay reboot managed to wrap up right before quarantine started, so moira is doing lots of online promo for that. alexis also gets her at-home gigs doing audiobook recording and voiceover work as the villain in a popular video game series.

alexis spends a lot of time teaching clients how to use instagram and twitter now that everyone is stuck at home all the time and thinks they need to find new ways to build their brand. it’s frustrating most days, but she loves it anyway.

roland does a great job of making sure that everyone in town stays safe and healthy, advocating to the county for resources when they need it and making sure all the residents are taking distancing and mask requirements seriously. jocelyn organizes grocery delivery for elderly and immunocompromised residents and virtual tutoring for students who need extra help with their online classes.

ray somehow starts 3 more businesses during the pandemic, and all of them are thriving.

ronnie builds more decks and patios and enclosed porch additions than she’s ever built in her life, now that everyone is spending all their time at home. she’s already planning a trip for when everything is over for her and her girlfriend to spend a week somewhere without a single backyard in sight.

jake takes his whiskey nights virtual, and everyone still has a great time.

the cafe is busier than ever, and twyla loves how it’s become even more of a central hub for the town. most people aren’t travelling over to elmdale for takeout, so the cafe is the only option in town for nights when you don’t want to cook. and once they’re allowed to have dining on the premises again, she converts the parking lot into outdoor patio seating, with string lights and potted plants and outdoor speakers playing old standards, and it becomes the hottest date night spot in the county for the simple, homey feel and twyla’s ever-present hospitality.

[mosylufanfic]

What Happened at the Party

Bwhahahahaaha. This is for the Breakup theme.

What Happened at the Party

When she saw the familiar little green car, Caitlin felt her stomach lurch. Her friend Iris, who'd driven up at the same time as her, gave her a worried glance. "You gonna be okay?"

"Fine!" Caitlin said breezily. "Fine."

"Uh  . . . huh," her friend mumbled. "Look, if you just want to stay for a little while, Barry would totally understand."

"It's been a year since Cisco and I broke up," Caitlin said. "We dated for a year. You know there's that formula where you grieve the end of a relationship for half the length of time the relationship lasted?"

"I mean, that's like a guideline, really, " Iris said.

"Okay, a guideline. By that guideline, I'm well beyond the grieving period and I'll be just fine."

"If you say so."

The door opened and Barry lit up, swooping in to kiss Iris. Caitlin, well used to their grand romantic gestures, waited patiently until they came up for air. "Hi, Barry," she said. 

"Hi," he said, eyes zeroing in on the dish she carried. "Oooohhhh. Pie?"

"Mmhm. Chocolate peanut butter."

"Nice," Barry said. "Okay! So! Fun fact. Cisco's here."

"It's okay," Caitlin said. "I saw his car."

"And he brought somebody."

Caitlin's stomach dropped.

"Wait," Iris said, holding up a hand. "This is Cisco. He's friendly. He's probably introduced you to half the people here today. Did he bring somebody or did he bring somebody?"

Barry looked baffled for a moment. "Whichever one means he has a new girlfriend?"

Caitlin felt her stomach go ice-cold.

"Oh shit," Iris said. "Babe, you didn't tell me he was dating someone new."

"He said it's only been a couple of weeks, so they're all kissy and huggy and snuggly -"

Iris hissed at him and turned to Caitlin. "Should we hate her? We can hate her."

"No," Caitlin said. "I'm sure she's very nice. Cisco's always had good taste in partners, mostly." She hesitated.

"This isn't a Lisa situation," Barry said promptly. "I checked. No Lisa vibe."

"See?" Caitlin said. "No Lisa vibe. What's she like?"

"Uh, her name is Kamilla, and she's like a photographer, I think? Oh, and she's vegan. That's all I got."

Caitlin mustered up a smile. "Great."

Barry cocked his head. "Great, like, you think she sounds awful and that's great? Or -"

"Look, I still  care about Cisco and I want him to be happy. So great means great. I'll go out there and I'll say hello, and I'll meet her, and it'll be - "

"Great?" Iris suggested.

"Fine," Caitlin said firmly.

They looked at her doubtfully.

"I can handle this, guys, I promise. It won't be like last year. Thank you for the heads-up, Barry." She lifted her pie. "Usual place?"

"Yeah, you know where it is," he said, waving her through. 

He turned to Iris. "You think this is going to be okay?"

"Hard to say," she said. "And by the way, honey, we need to work on your definition of fun fact."

--

Caitlin dropped off her pie at the dessert table and circulated through the party, smiling and greeting people she knew. She chatted with someone about their new dog, another person about their job, a third person about the weather.

The whole time, some internal radar was zeroed in on the man across the backyard. Who he was talking to. How he laughed. The bright smile on his face.

How his arm had never left its spot around the waist of the cute girl cuddled up to his side.

As far as she could tell, he didn't even know she was here.

Which was fine by her.

"Hmmm?" she said, vaguely aware that someone had asked her a question. 

"I said I'm surprised you came," Sara repeated. "After what happened last year."

"Nice," said her girlfriend. 

"What? I'm just saying. It was kind of a blowout."

Caitlin grimaced. "I know. Cisco and I had been on the rocks for a few weeks but that was - " She shook her head. "We should have saved that fight for home." She gripped her elbows and raised her chin. "But we agreed, after we broke up, that we wouldn't put Iris or Barry in the middle of things and we could be cordial to each other, which is what we're doing."

"Okayyyyy," Sara mumbled and took a drink.

It wasn't as if their breakup was the only thing that had ever happened at Barry's annual birthday bash, Caitlin thought, making her excuses and going off to say hi to someone else. She and Cisco had also met here, five years ago. The click had been immediate, almost audible. They'd made plans to hang out within minutes of meeting, had been fast friends by the end of the week.

And two years ago, they'd kissed for the first time - there, around the side of the house where it was quiet and green and smelled like roses. 

But Sara was right. Last year, it had all fallen apart. 

Sometimes Caitlin tried to track where or how their relationship had collapsed. After all, they'd been good friends for three years before they started dating. But what had been so good at the start had turned bad so gradually that before she knew it they were fighting more than they were talking and the thought of him made her stomach knot instead of bringing a smile to her face. 

Then she'd said those terrible words, under that tree right there, where she'd dragged him so they wouldn't be fighting in the middle of the party: "You know what, maybe I don't even want to be with you anymore."

And he'd said the equally terrible words: "Maybe I don't either."

Then it had been all icy silences and stiff texts letting him know that his stuff was on her porch and he could leave hers in its place. Such an awful end to something that had been the best part of her life for so long. Sometimes she thought she missed the friendship as much as she missed the romantic relationship.

The smell of the grill tempted her in its direction, and she was almost there when she realized with a lurch of horror that Cisco and his new girlfriend - what was her name? Kamilla, that was it - were already walking up. 

She thought about running in the other direction.

But this would have to happen sometime, and she was hungry, and it was best to get it over with now instead of later. Especially since later, it might be just them, and she didn't know if she could grit her teeth and act cordial without other people around them. At least it was just Barry, who was running the barbecue grill, and if she slipped up he wouldn't blame her.

"Hey, Barry," Kamilla said. "Can you put on a veggie dog for me?"

Cisco hugged her closer. "Go ahead and put one on for me too."

She turned a beaming face toward him. "Babe! You don't have to."

"Yeah, babe, but I wanna kiss you later and you don't like the taste of meat."

She giggled. "Baaaabe."

"Hey, Caitlin," Barry said rather loudly. "Your usual?"

"Yes, thank you," she said, pretending not to notice that Cisco had jerked like someone had tasered him. "Oh, Cisco, hi. I was wondering if I'd see you here today."

Barry coughed, although that could have been some smoke getting blown in his face, and tossed a turkey patty next to the two veggie dogs.

"Hey, Caitlin," Cisco said. Was it her imagination, or did he grip Kamilla's waist a little tighter? "When did you get here?"

"A little while ago," Caitlin said. She smiled at Kamilla. "Hi, I'm Caitlin."

"Kamilla," Cisco's new girlfriend said, smiling back. "So how do you know each other?"

Cisco jumped in. "She’s - ah - she's an old - we dated for about a year."

Clearly, this was new information to Kamilla, from the way the smile on her face went rigid for a split second. But Caitlin had to give her props for recovery. "Hi, Caitlin," she said. "Nice to meet you. So when was this? In high school?"

"Nope," she said. "We broke it off - what, Cisco, about a year ago now?" She was proud of herself for the breeziness in her tone. 

"Mmm, yeah, about that," he said, as if he hadn't stormed out of this exact party and she hadn't gone inside to cry in the bathroom for an hour. 

"Oh," Kamilla said, sounding only a little bit strangled. 

Had he seriously not warned her that Caitlin was going to be here? Or maybe he hadn't given it, or her, a single thought since they broke up. Caitlin considered glaring at him, but thought it might get misinterpreted.

"Well!" Kamilla said. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too! How did you meet?"

"Oh, he came into the bar where I work," Kamilla said, beaming at Cisco. "I thought he was going to spend the whole night hitting on college girls but he spent it talking to me."

"So you're a bartender?"

"Day job," Kamilla said. "I'm actually a photographer."

"You should see her work," Cisco said. "It's really artistic."

"That's so interesting! Do you sell any?"

"Just a few prints online, a little stock photography, you know. But I'm hoping to get a show someday. What do you do?"

"Oh, I'm a research scientist," Caitlin said.

"Oh," Kamilla said rather faintly. Was she bored or intimidated? Caitlin had gotten both. "Neat! Researching what?"

"My focus right now is on gene therapies that can hopefully stall or reverse the progress of multiple sclerosis."

Cisco's eyes lit. "Seriously? That's great, I know you wanted to get into that area."

Warmth spilled through her chest, and she smiled at him. He'd always been like this, even at the end. "Yes, I was really happy to get assigned to that project."

"How is your dad doing these days?"

"He's using his cane a lot more lately, but he's also on a new medication that's really helping with his fatigue." She glanced at Kamilla and explained, "My dad has MS."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Kamilla said in that particular hushed, funereal way people had when they'd never had to think about chronic illness even once.

Caitlin kept her smile pasted on. "It’s okay. He's had it all my life. It's just something we've always lived with, as a family." 

She thought about asking after Cisco's parents, but at that moment, Barry chirped, "Veggie dogs up!" 

He held out two plates to Cisco and Kamilla, their dogs bunned up and ready to go. "Caitlin, it's going to be a few more minutes for yours."

"Oh, sure," Caitlin said. "That's fine."

"Let's go hit the potluck table, babe," Cisco said.

"Oh yes!” Kamilla cried, with outsize enthusiasm given that she probably couldn’t eat ninety percent of the offerings. “Caitlin, it was nice to meet you."

"You too!" Caitlin said, and turned toward Barry. "So how is life at CCPD these days?"

He chatted with her about his job for a moment or two, then said in a low voice, "So that was okay."

"Sure," she said.

He looked sympathetic. "You want cheese?"

"No, I'm all right." She picked up a plate and held it out for her turkey burger, thinking well, that's over.

She sat on the steps of the deck, next to somebody she'd known in her grad program. They chatted about minor scandals in the science world and she ate her turkey burger in slow, careful bites, not tasting a single one. 

She wandered by the potluck table, stood staring at the side salads and chips and veggie trays that people had brought. She took a carrot stick and laid it on her plate. It looked small and withered and alone.

So unbelievably alone.

She added a celery stick. That didn’t seem to help. She tipped them both into the trash and decided it was time for dessert.

The dessert table was in the kitchen, so she went inside, air-conditioned air washing around her. She wanted sugar, badly. Chocolate, cookies, popsicles, whatever people had brought that would rot her teeth and block the tears.

She checked on her pie and was gratified to see that her little sign saying "Contains peanuts!" was still there, and that one quarter of the pie was already gone. She had made two pies, leaving one at home in the fridge because she'd known how this would go, so she skipped over it and checked out what else was on offer.

Chocolate chip cookies. Individual ice cream cups in a cooler. Mini eclairs in their Costco box, still frozen in the center. A shining chocolate cake in a plastic carrying case. Yes, yes, all of it.

"Hey."

She looked over, then away, quickly. "Hi," she said a little overbrightly, to the parfait she was scooping onto her plate. Shit. He knew she ate sugar when she was upset. But she also liked desserts in general. Maybe she would get away with this.

He was alone. Where was Kamilla? Bathroom, maybe?

Act natural.

He said, "I, uh - "

"Which one did you bring?" He'd always liked cooking, trying out new things. Sometimes that had been a cause of friction, like when he used every pot in the kitchen and it turned out terrible and they'd wound up going to the drive-thru at nine o'clock at night. 

"There," he said, pointing at a box with a clear plastic lid.

"Donuts!" she said. 

"Mmhm. Kamilla and I made them together."

"Oh," she said.

They'd attempted to cook together a few times but since cooking was how she relaxed and disconnected, it hadn't gone well. 

She opened the box. "Well, I've never had vegan donuts but I'm sure they'll be interesting."

His hand reached past hers and gently closed the box. For a moment, she thought, you don't even want me touching something you made with her? Then he said, "They're not great. Trust me."

“They can’t be that bad."

He shook his head, very solemn. "Vegan donuts are donuts of sadness," he said. "I have learned this."

"I'm sure there are some vegan donuts that are good."

"Proooooobably," he allowed. "But these are not it." He grinned at her, and instinctively, she smiled back.

"Okay," she said, leaving the box closed. 

He chose a mini-eclair for himself and bit it in half. “So are you here with someone?”

She meant to say a simple no, but it came out as, “Oh, he was busy today.”

“Oh? He? Someone I know?"

She swallowed, panic bubbling up. “No, you wouldn't know him. I work with him.”

“Another Star Labs workaholic?” 

That shouldn't have stung as hard as it did, but it brought back a nasty echo of their hissed fight over by the barbecue grill last summer, as he'd accused her of never having time for him. Her voice went chilly as she said, "He doesn't work at Star Labs and neither do I anymore. I took a job with Mercury."

"You? You left Star Labs? The most prestigious, well-paid research lab in the Midwest?" he asked, echoing what she’d always recited as reasoning for sticking with her job.

"I decided to value my mental health more than money and prestige. Mercury is much more supportive of their employees' work/life balance."

He blinked. “Wow, that’s - that’s great.”

She picked up a spoon and started scooping something out of a random bowl onto her plate. "So how are you? How are your parents?"

"I'm good," he said. "My parents are . . . they were good, the last I saw them."

She glanced at him quickly. Ever since she'd known him, he'd been at his parents' beck and call, running every time they texted. During that last terrible argument, she'd snapped back that he might see her more if he wasn't constantly canceling dates because his parents needed him. "Did they move?"

"No, I just, ah, I went low-contact with them. Haven't really talked to them in about - " He considered. "About a month now."

"Oh," she said, looking back at her plate. She'd gotten Chester's dreadful candy bar salad with the pineapple. Ugh. Gross. "Any - um - any particular reason?"

If he’d broken off contact with his parents because of Kamilla, after all the times his mother had been rude to Caitlin, calling her things in Spanish she wasn’t supposed to understand . . .

He laughed, but it held no mirth. "They stood me up for my birthday dinner because Dante needed help buying a car." He shrugged. "I kind of figured out that I was never going to be their favorite or their priority. No matter what I did."

She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well . . ." he mumbled.

"It's their loss," she said. "Is it better for you?"

"Hurts like hell," he said. "But yeah. It's better."

"You seem happy," she said. "I mean, in general."

"I am."

"Good. I'm glad." She realized she was still holding shoulder, and removed it so she could portion herself some of Iris's ambrosia. "Kamilla's nice," she said brightly.

"She is! Yeah. She is."

"How long has it been?"

"Oh, like a month now? It's really good. I can see this going the distance, you know?"

She felt like she'd swallowed razor blades. "That's great."

He smiled at her. "Hey, you know what, we should double-date."

"We should what?"

"Yeah, me and Kamilla, you and your guy. We should grab dinner together or something."

"Oh. Well, actually - " He lives in London. He has a moral objection to eating out. He's in training to go to the moon. He - "We really aren't like that."

"Like what?"

"Dating. It's just . . . casual." She smiled. "You know? No strings attached kind of thing. When we've both got some free time and need to blow off steam."

He blinked a few times. "You? You have a fuck buddy."

She hated that term. It made her skin crawl. Cisco knew that perfectly well, so she just shrugged. "I guess you could call it that." She ate a grape out of the ambrosia, licking it clean of whipped cream and biting it in half. "Sorry, I don't think a nice foursome dinner is in our future. But it was nice seeing you."

She strolled off, hoping like crazy that Cisco didn't mention this fictitious casual sex partner of hers to anybody else.

She made herself do one more circuit of the backyard. She had no idea who she saw or what she said. She was focused on not looking like she was about to run away.

Even though she was.

Iris found her dumping her plate into the kitchen trash. "Heard the first face-to-face went down," she said. "You okay?"

"I came, I saw him, we were cordial. I survived," Caitlin said. "And if I go home and dive face-first into a pint of Cherry Garcia and a bottle of wine, that's nobody's business but my own."

Iris put her arm around Caitlin's shoulder and hugged her gently. "That whole grieving process guideline?"

"Whoever made that up is full of shit."

--

Some hours later, Barry dropped into the lawn chair next to Cisco. "Hey, man. You awake?"

"Yup," Cisco said, head tipped back, eyes closed. He swung his beer bottle lightly between his fingers. "Almost outta beer though."

Barry considered it. "How many of those have you had?"

Cisco tipped it up and drained it. "Almost enough."

"You okay to drive?"

"Mmmmmm. Might hafta crash on your couch. 'Zat okay?"

"You know it is." Barry nudged him. "You don't even have to use the couch. You and Kamilla can use the guest room."

"Mmmmm." Cisco dropped the bottle to the grass. "Sh'left."

"She what? She left?"

"Called an Uber. Kinda mad at me."

"Why?"

"Says I didn't give her a heads-up Caitlin was gonna be here. Or that we dated. Like, c'mon, we've only been together a week and a half. People have exes. It's a thing."

"Still, she might've appreciated the heads-up."

Cisco sighed. "Yeah, I guess, I just . . . I didn't wanna talk to her about Caitlin. It's like, sore. Who wants to talk about their last ex?"

"A lot of people," Barry said. "Especially when she's going to be at the same party, which you knew, cuz I told you."

Cisco sighed again, more heavily. "Okay, yeah, maybe you've got a point. I'll call her tomorrow and apologize. Plus she has nothing to be afraid of. Caitlin doesn't want me back." He swung his bottle again. "So wait, you know who this guy is?"

"What guy?"

"The guy she's dating now."

Barry cocked his head. "Kamilla?"

"Nnnnoooooooooo," Cisco drawled. "Kamilla's dating me. Caitlin's dating . . . some dude. Actually not dating. She's all like, 'ha-ha, we're not like that.' They're friends with benefits or something."

This was the first Barry had heard of it. He opened his mouth to say so when Cisco plowed on with the tenacity of the sloppy drunk.

"Which, what the hell, man? I suggested friends with benefits years ago and she was like no, I don't do that, it doesn't work for me, I need to be in a relationship. Took me another six months to man the fuck up and ask her out for realsies. Who's this guy that's getting her to settle for less than what she wants?" He wagged his finger in the air. "You! You should find out who he is, Bare. You should find out who he is and kick his ass."

Barry smiled at nothing. "You could kick his ass. I mean, you're the one who seems to think it should be done."

"C'mon, I can't do that, then everyone would say I was just jealous. M'not jealous. Just, she deserves better than, than, you know, some dude who just wants to get laid. Just like a friendly ass-kicking. C'mon."

"Okay, maybe."

"I'm not jealous. I'm with Kamilla."

"Mmmmhmm," Barry said, eating some pie. "I can tell. You're totally over Caitlin."

"Totally," Cisco said, and lifted his head, looking around blearily. "Hey, where'd m'beer go?"

FINIS

[iamtheblondestblonde]

Slides and Serendipity

Part 7 (4.2k)

Masterlist

Warnings: Broken heart for Bennguin shippers, (slightly, I’m talking veeeery slightly implied sexual content like it’s nothing explicit?) and also language

My hangover thankfully wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated, probably because I stayed clear of wine this time. I even woke up earlier than I’d anticipated but that was only due to Yogi jumping on my bed. How I’d managed to carry him up the stairs without falling while also half asleep would forever remain a mystery unsolved.

I checked my phone to go look at the pictures from last night but then I saw a text from Tyler, asking if I was ready for breakfast yet. In my sleep deprived state I’d completely forgotten about his invitation from last night. I told him I’d be over in a few and then hopped under the shower, something I’d skipped last night because I’d been afraid that I’d fall asleep while standing up.

Whenever I went out I usually only drank until I had a good buzz going but last night I guess I hadn’t stopped early enough so the alcohol had practically knocked me out as soon as I was outside. 

After changing the bed sheets to get rid of the smell of clubbing I finally made my way over, Yogi excitedly bouncing ahead. Tyler’s dogs were howling as soon as I rung his doorbell which of course made Yogi even more excited. I was a bit anxious to see if he would tried to bring up my not so subtle move from last night. While having him strip me down to my underwear had sounded like a great idea last night, I had probably taken it a bit too far in hindsight.

“Hey, no skates today?”, Tyler greeted me and I reached up to hug him while Yogi was running around him, effectively tying him up. He was wearing a hoodie with grey shorts that made it really hard to look anywhere else and I was really tempted to make fun of the way he’d pulled up his socks too high.

“Nope and I already regret it, he has way too much energy right now.” I tried my best to untangle the leash from Tyler’s legs but now his labs were there too demanding attention and it was just one big chaotic mess. Four dogs was a bit much at times like this but I eventually managed to get everything back under control, Tyler hadn’t made an attempt to help me at all and had instead only laughed at my struggle. Yogi and Gerry disappeared together into the backyard and Cash hopped up on the couch while Marshall stayed by my side.

“Are you hoping I’ll make you some breakfast Marsh?”

“He’s not the only one you know.” Tyler’s pout was cute, an adjective that I never thought would fit a guy like him. He was probably the only guy in the world that managed to look adorable and sexy at the same time and it was really distracting.

“What if I only came over so you could make me grilled cheese tho?”

“Then I’ll gladly oblige your wish, ma’am.”

I threw Yogi’s collar at him for calling me ma’am but of course he caught it before it hit his face like it was supposed to. Stupid fast reflexes.

“One more ma’am and I’ll never make food for you again”, I threatened with my finger pointed at him and I could see that it cost him his last bit of self-control to not respond with a ‘yes ma’am’. The salute he gave me in turn wasn’t any better.

“I was actually planning on making something else but I need to check if you have all the stuff for it first because your grocery shopping is anything but top notch.”

He complained to Marshall about me only ever insulting him but Marshall followed me to the step as I walked into the kitchen, not caring about the little crisis his dad was having at all.

For being a pro athlete his fridge and pantry were terribly stocked and it reminded me of the time I spent in the college dorms. The amount of beer in his fridge was equivalent to a frat house and the only thing missing to complete the college student life were the instant ramen cups.

“You should be glad that the nutritionists an trainers don’t visit your house”, I scolded him. He had some fresh produce around but not nearly as much as I’d liked. As I kept pulling out stuff the pile on his kitchen island kept growing after I finally decided on omelette with some avocado toast. The avocadoes were at the tipping point of being too ripe and I didn’t want them to go to waste.

“Well I’m sorry that my kitchen doesn’t look like a Whole Foods ad the way yours does. As soon as the season starts up again I’ll either be gone or eat the majority of my meals at the rink like most of the guys so I don’t see why I should stock up.”

He did have a point but to me a homecooked meal beat everything, even if cooking for just one person was always a bit of a hassle that always resulted in leftovers. Since my move I had been living on my own for the very first time ever and I had to admit that I missed cooking for other people as well.

“Well I’m teaching you how to make the perfect omelette today anyway. You really need to learn to take better care of you and your body.” I made him help me chop stuff to put in the omelette and instantly felt reminded of all the times I’d tried to teach Lisa to cook. She’d been hopeless as well but as soon as we moved off campus during our sophomore year I’d took her under my wing, making a decent cook out of her by the time we moved to Denver. I was convinced I could do the same with Tyler.

He knew how to handle a knife at least and while he mixed everything together I took care of the avocadoes and tomatoes. I tested what he remembered from my spice lesson, letting him make suggestions as to what could go well with our food and he did better than expected, only messing up once.

“No no no you need to turn down the heat or you’ll burn it before the eggs are done”, I said and quickly reached around him so I could reach the stove and save our breakfast. He looked so determined with the spatula in his hand, I knew that he really wanted to do well and was trying his best.

He had put on a snapback a while ago so his hair wouldn’t fall in his face and I already missed his messy bedhead. Without produce his hair looked so soft and all over the place and I really wanted to run my hands through it as much as I could. He really was a walking temptation and every time we spent time together I could feel my resolve weaken.

After everything was done I tried to tell Tyler that the presentation of the food was important as well but he took a bite out of his toast before I was even done putting the tomatoes on it. Sighing I grabbed my plate and walked outside so we could enjoy our breakfast in the sun. I still managed to sneak a picture of our plates before Tyler proceeded to eat his food at a speed that shouldn’t be possible.

I was nervous to meet this Jason guy because I really really hoped that our dynamic would work out. I had looked up some more people that I could meet over the next few days but I really wanted to trust Mia’s judgement.

I even had the cleaning lady come over yesterday so every surface in my house was shining and I’d done some last-minute decorating in the office. My degrees were now on the wall, the online Master of Software Engineering not as pretty as the undergrad degree in computer science from MIT but I still didn’t regret taking online classes instead of real ones. My success during college had given me lots of opportunities that I would forever be grateful for, one of them being the job offer to Denver straight out of college. The experience I had gathered over the last three years working was better than anything I could be taught in stuffy classrooms.

Mia arrived a bit before Jason and this way she’d be there to introduce us properly. It was good to have some one-on-one time with her while we waited, something we’d never really had. Since we didn’t study together Lisa and I would usually only see her when going out or meeting up in groups but it was nice to actually have normal conversations with her.

I didn’t want to create a stiff office atmosphere which is why I was now dressed in jeans and a nice top. Mia was wearing a summer dress and Jason had put on a button up but still managed to look casual. Yogi was sniffing him curiously before plopping down on his bed in the living room again, deciding that this was beneath his attention.

We shook hands and I led them to the office while starting some casual conversation. My desk was already set up and Mia had already told me her hardware preferences so there was some stuff waiting for her which she inspected while I talked to Jason. The conference table really came in handy at this part.

He was funny and gave off a pretty chill vibe but I still had to see some references because unlike with Mia I had no idea if he was any good at what he did.

He was good, better than expected and a while later I was sold on him. He seemed happy with what I was willing to pay and character wise he was a perfect fit for the team. I told them both about the requests I had already lined up and they both seemed super excited to start.

“So you think you can start next Monday?”, I asked after I’d finally satisfied my curiosity and his face lit up as if he thought I wouldn’t offer him the job.

The three of us moved towards the kitchen to get something to drink because all of this talking had made us thirsty. Mia was just telling me that she’d come over tomorrow with Elias after picking him up from daycare when I heard my front door open.

“Hey sorry I kept texting you but you didn’t respond and it’s already half past two so I thought I’d check up on you.” It took a few seconds before Tyler’s words registered with me. I hadn’t even realized that it had gotten this late and that I was supposed to meet up with him half an hour ago to go roller skating with him and Yogi. He walked into the living room and then did a double take when he saw all of us lingering by the kitchen island.

“Oh shit you have company.. I’m sorry but uh hey everyone I’m Tyler”, he introduced himself and waved at Mia and Jason with one hand, a pair of skates in the other. Only now did Yogi wake up from his nap and as soon as he realized what was happening he ran over to Tyler who was now crouching down so he could pet him.

“Holy shit you’re Tyler Seguin! This day just keeps getting better and better”, Jason exclaimed, almost spitting out the sip of water he’d just taken.

“Tyler who?”, Mia asked then and I had to laugh. She had never been interested in watching sports and it was nice to see that nothing had changed in that department at least.

Tyler was still awkwardly standing in the living room and I walked over to give him a hug before turning around to explain to Mia that he was a hockey player for the Dallas Stars and also my friend. At least she’d heard of the team name before. I introduced Mia and Jason as my new team to Tyler and Jason shook his hand excitedly before congratulating him on his amazing last season.

“I know you’ll do even better this year”, Jason said and I was pretty sure that I was the only one that had caught Tyler wincing at the statement. He’d told me how much the expectations of the fans and the rest of the team really weighed on him even if people only meant well.

After Mia and Jason had left Tyler tried to apologize for interrupting again but I wouldn’t let him. It was my fault that I’d forgotten to check my messages for well over three hours so really it was my turn to apologize.

I ate a quick snack before grabbing my roller skates and Yogi and then we were out the door. Even if Yogi was still too small to pull Tyler, he’d told me that he still wanted him to come with us when we had talked about going skating.

We skated around the neighborhood, Yogi’s leash loose in my hand while we made some casual conversation.

It turned out that pulling Tyler was harder than it looked, not because of his weight but because grabbing his hand didn’t leave much space between us to gain the momentum or speed that was needed.

“Your arms are so short. The next time we do this I’m putting a leash on you as well”, Tyler joked and I tried to hit him but of course he simply swerved until he was out of my reach. He was surprisingly graceful for a guy his size.

Sometimes he’d take Yogi’s leash to try and outrun him on the skates but despite his impressive speed he was no match for my husky mix. After I’d taken way too many videos and they managed to tire each other out we made our way back to my house.

“Hey so you know I’m leaving for camp Thursday afternoon but I’m having an end of summer party on Wednesday over at my place and you should come too”, he said as we were skating up my driveway. I could tell that he was really excited, both for camp and the party.

“Of course I’ll come. Do you want me to bring anything?”

“No you don’t need anything I’ve got it covered. Most of the guys from the team are going to be there and some close friends so you’ll have the girls to keep you company as well.”

Tyler wasn’t lying when he said that his place would be packed. The weather wasn’t too spectacular today so nobody was in the pool, making the house and backyard seeming even more crowded. He’d told me to bring Yogi as well, seeing as there wouldn’t be any super loud music tonight and as soon as I had him off the leash he was walking around the room, basking in the attention.

The girls spotted me before I could even look for Tyler and pushed a drink at me before we caught each other up on the last few days. They were really interested in what had happened with Tyler after he had picked me up from the club and it took me several tries until I had finally convinced them that there wasn’t really any tea to spill. I was introduced to even more wives and girlfriends and I was happy to get to know everyone, having always been a social butterfly.

I finally spotted him across the living room and excused myself to go say hello.

“No bikini today?”

“No it’s too cold to go swimming today.”

“That’s too bad because I really like what happened last time in the pool.”

Before I could even respond to his flirty remark I was being dragged away from him and towards the beer pong table that was set up on the outdoor patio. I was glad I’d brought a sweater with me this time. The dogs were chasing each other around the pool but even they didn’t feel like going into the water today.

“I need a rematch to make up for last time”, Roope said after finally letting go of me, settling on the other side of the table with Rads.

“Two on one? That hardly seems fair”, I pouted and tried to get Dobby to join my team as he was closest but he just laughed at me and refused, sitting back on a chair to watch instead.

“Let me help her drink at least”, Tyler insisted from behind me and I hadn’t even noticed that he stood so close to me until he spoke up

“No need to play hero Segs, you know the girl can drink”, Rads said and gave Tyler a stern look until he backed off with his hands raised in surrender. I had to smile at the compliment, a Russian being impressed by your drinking skills was serious business. I sighed as I realized that there was no getting out of this and cracked my knuckles to get ready. I needed to make this a quick win because I noticed that they’d filled my cups a bit more than usual and I really didn’t want to drink this much beer before dinner.

We had gathered quite the crowd over the course of the game that was now witness to me absolutely destroying the two of them. They had only managed to hit two cups of mine while I was on my second try to make the last shot so I would win after some double scores. The girls were cheering on me while their boyfriends were supporting their teammates. With each point that I’d made the chirping had increased and now neither of us three could make a move without there being screaming from all sides. I only knew a few words in Russian and had no clue about Finnish but even I could tell that whatever was coming out of my opponents’ mouths was anything but pretty.

“You got this Liv, show ‘em how it’s done!”, Katie yelled and I blew her a kiss.

“You better miss”, Jamie said, which earned him a light punch to his shoulder from his girlfriend. I closed my eyes for a second to concentrate and then made my shot.

Groans and high pitched screams rose as the ball tipped into the cup, making me the winner. I was hugged from multiple people at once and Tyler lifted me to spin me around. He was the only one from the team that had been on my side.

“How are you so good at this?”, Roope asked, his accent stronger because of the frustration. Tyler was smirking down at me, probably thinking of the time he’d asked me the same question.

“I take in the wind and the distance to calculate the perfect throwing angle.”

“Really?”, Rads now asked, his eyes big.

“No, you guys just suck.”

Tyler had asked some people to man the grill and we didn’t have to wait long until the delicious smell of steaks was wafting around the property, which I was thankful for because I had been looking forward to this part all day. I grabbed some food and sat with the girls, resuming our discussion on which potato form was the best. Wedges, obviously.

After dinner some people left and everyone else proceeded to get even more drunk. I could tell that this was the last time that the guys would be able to really relax because they had all kinds of stupid ideas. At some point Tyler had taken off his shirt and while I certainly wasn’t complaining about the view I still had to laugh at him taking whatever chance he got to strip. Perhaps a trade to the Golden Knights would allow him to flourish in this side business. Jamie was the most fun to watch because with every drink he got less and less shy until Tyler and him were running around the house laughing their asses off and jumping on each other.

“Bennguin is real, get used to it”, Katie commented with a sigh and her exasperated expression had me laughing so hard that I had to put my drink down so I wouldn’t spill it all over the couch we were currently on. I could only imagine the amount of shit she’d had to put up with because of these two acting like children.

“I want to play a gameeee”, Tyler whined and I already knew that nothing good come out of the look he was giving his friends. With all the alcohol going around everyone had loosened up and it didn’t take long until I was dragged into a round of ‘never have I ever’ on the floor of Tyler’s living room.

“You guys didn’t go to college and it really shows”, Katie commented and I had to agree with her. We’d made it our personal mission tonight to make as much fun of Tyler and Jamie as possible. I’d played the stupid game so many times, usually at frat parties so they could expose the virgins but I also couldn’t wait to see what I could learn about these big dumb idiots.

The first few questions were timid and I could tell that everyone was still trying to figure out how far everyone was willing to go to expose their secrets, especially with some of the partners present, but every new statement pushed further.

“Never have I ever had a threesome.”

I didn’t even pay attention to who had said it, going around the circle having long been abandoned in favor of someone randomly throwing in questions.

Even though I had been absolutely plastered that night, I still remembered this particular event, one of the very few one night stands that I’d ever had. We’d started day drinking even before breakfast on a boat off the shore of Ibiza and while I wasn’t even into girls, lots of shots and pitchers filled with sangria had led to me tangled in the bed sheets with some hot guy that I didn’t even remember the name of and Lisa. The guy didn’t really know what to do with the both of us at the same time, so we had to get creative and I’d vowed to myself that I would stick to guys after, scarred for life.

As I raised my cup to my lips I noticed that Tyler was about to do the same so I raised my cup towards him in a toast. I only hoped his experience had been better than mine.

“You two are perfect for each other”, Rads said with an eyeroll but I only laughed.

“You had a threesome and this is the first I’m hearing of this?”, Katie yelled from beside me and I turned just in time to see Jamie lowering his cup across the room after having taken a sip.

“Holy shit! Was it with Tyler?”, I asked, knowing full well what was said about them on Tumblr because of Mara. The way both of them visibly recoiled at my words should have been preserved for eternity. Sadly that didn’t happen.

“No! What the fuck Liv?” Tyler’s disturbed exclamation had me leaning on Katie, who was now also shaking with laughter, the news of her boyfriend’s sexual adventures momentarily forgotten.

“Do you hear the sound of millions of Bennguin hearts breaking?”, she asked in between shaky breaths and now we were lying back on the floor, tears threatening to run down my cheeks from laughing so hard.

“I just want to make it clear that I only took a sip because I was thirsty. I wasn’t paying attention and besides you know I would’ve told you babe”, Jamie spoke up after Katie and I had finally calmed down again. The alcohol had made everything ten times funnier than it probably actually was but Katie and I were still clutched together and she only waved at Jamie in dismissal. I would’ve had to reevaluate my people reading skills if he actually had taken part in a threesome because there was no way I could’ve seen that coming.

Our loud cackling must have woken up the dogs from their nap because now Yogi was trying to snuggle up against me while Gerry curiously looked around, probably trying to figure out why there were so many people stretched out on the floor. As soon as Yogi had made himself comfortable with his head on my lap Gerry came over as well, lying down on my legs. There was close to a hundred pounds of dog on top of me but I couldn’t be happier, gently petting them while completely forgetting that we were playing a game at the moment.

Alcohol mixed with cuddly puppies, the greatest thing since long before sliced bread.

Tyler insisted on taking a picture of the three of us all snuggled up and then proceeded to beg until I finally let him post it to his story. Me giving in didn’t come as a surprise, I was this close to doing almost anything he wanted me to after all. I wouldn’t let him tag me though, desperately trying to hold on to the last shred of anonymity , and dignity, that I still had left. 

Part Eight here

[barbiecollectible]

How to buy Barbie On The Go Watercraft & Kayak Set

Barbie On The Go Watercraft & Kayak Set

If all of them are within your spending plan as well as functionality variation, you may offer your kid either alternatives; they may pick their beloved away from the 3 or you may throw all of them in a hat and let all of them select in this way. Once the choice is actually made, it requires to become final thus make sure you are capable of managing any one of the three offered selections. Barbie On The Go Watercraft & Kayak Set

A phrase of caution right here ... Don't make an effort to keep up with neighbours or buddies as regarding motifs and also the price as well as dimension of a celebration. Perform what you (and also your little one) think is actually the right as well as fun thing to perform. If you can not afford the solutions of a qualified entertainer, talk to family or friends if they have the ability to do it, and or even, merely fail to remember it as well as discover something else to accommodate the guests along with.

If your little one may not decide on a particular style, you can only enhance the entire property with one colour and also make that the concept of the special day celebration. All it really takes is a little bit of imagination on your side to create your child's special day celebration the coolest occasion of the year. Galaxy Castle

Kids adore life-size toys. They really want bigger Barbie dolls, bikes, play houses, as well as various other playthings that would enable them to easily play make-believe. And also if there's one utmost life-size toy they yearn for, it would certainly be an inflatable bouncer. These bouncers are actually the big air-filled playthings prepares that they can become part of, jump around, and merely be the kids that they really are.

The successful inflatable plaything today is actually still the fortress inflatable. This is actually the set that is wonderfully made as well as is normally offered complete with towers, wall structures, and also royal residence entranceways. Inside the playpen is a huge backyard where youngsters can easily perform and also dive to their heart's wish.

Right now, a whole lot of blow up baby bouncers are actually outfitted along with video games for kids to enjoy. Children can climb up onto it and glide in to a sea of plastic balls or even the going swimming pool. The slide is a soft, air-filled padding that little ones may hit onto securely and easily.

This might be actually positioned at the much side of the play set. Youngsters can use the matching receptions to shoot in to the hoop.

The object of this video game is to possess the kids operate around the challenges set up in the baby bouncers. This is a really amusing activity for little ones' celebrations. Of course, you can easily have your kids compete with each other.

Inflatable bouncers are actually certainly not only significant diving toys. Most of the games incorporated in each collection could be activating and also educational. They are consistently worth yours and your little one's time. Using it, they will not simply experience on their own however find out, work out, as well as obtain suited while participating in. Inspect it out. It is the best gift and also investment that you can easily give your little ones.

Barbie Sparkle Style Salon

Teenager celebrations are best managed due to the adolescents on their own yet moms and dads' tips will perhaps rate the moment a motif is actually chosen. An Alice in Wonderland event is actually an excellent excuse for dressing up and also has remarkable opportunities for a clothing competition and also games - starting with flamingo croquet. Look at the movie for ideas and ensure the birthday cakes and also biscuits have "Eat Me" piped on all of them. Barbie Sparkle Style Salon

Teenagers need lots of activities so frequently the best effective celebrations are Mystery Parties, where teams may collaborate solving a homicide or other difficulty. There are several choices online of right away downloadable enigma video games, including zombies or even vampire-themed massacre enigmas, a Hawaiian Luau massacre mystery, as well as a conventional magical property enigma. These video games can easily harmonize several selected concepts - a Wild West gathering, a Halloween gathering, a poolside setting and so forth. A gathering based on the TV set Survivor is actually likewise a well-known concept with youngsters divided right into pair of teams faced with a set of problems set up on development. Décor needs to be a tropical island motif (which you can use once more following year for a Hawaiian Luau!). Barbie Pilot Clothes

Scavenger Hunts as well as Amazing Race Parties can easily also be terrific for participation as well as exhilaration, but the planning needs to be actually detailed for it to follow off successfully. The genuine meals as well as decorations depend on your spending plan and also along with a prominent style it is actually very easy to locate gathering supplies online.

Adolescent Beach parties are actually an excellent summer months tip and easy to organize as it's a beach bar-b-que plus the party decors and also favors. An adorable tip for the invitations is actually utilizing seashore balls, taken down (and hand-delivered) after writing the invite in long-lasting pen. A platform may be put together on the beach along with balloons to mark the internet site and also food always kept simple along with hamburgers as well as frankfurters on the grill. Beach front volleyball as well as swimming are actually sufficient activity and you may give do-it- on your own sundaes to complement the cake. Luau events along with a Hawaiian motif also work properly around a swimming pool along with a coastline. Products including newspaper leis, grass skirts and also beachcomber hats for the young boys are actually quick and easy to find, as well as activities including water balloon volley round and a limbo as well as hula contest job off the power prior to a bbq.

[blog-sdb-blog]

The iconic Australian ‘barbie’

Snags (and Vegemite) are as close to classically Australian food as it gets. “Shrimp on the barbie” is another parochial, ockerish phrase thrown around when foreigners meet Aussies. The Australian barbeque isn’t just food; it’s an experience that’s ingrained into the fabric of the land down under, mate!

We have big backyards, an enviable summer and an outdoor spirit that exudes a lifestyle-first philosophy. No wonder the ‘barbie’ is so popular. You only have to visit the supermarket before Australia Day, or outside any Bunnings store, to see how popular snags are.

There’s no denying it. Aussies do barbeques right. But when did the Aussie BBQ become a thing?

A climate that lends itself to eating outdoors

Australia’s Indigenous people have historically cooked their food outside. While, of course, we’re not the only country to master the art of the barbeque, there’s something comforting about the simplicity of the Aussie barbie. In fact, it was a focus of a national 1984 advert with Paul Hogan that cemented that famous line: “throw another shrimp on the barbie.”

While there are certainly prawns, gourmet sausages, steaks and skewers, nothing quite compares to the humble Aussie snag in bread and butter, doused in tomato sauce – where even adding onion is an extravagance.

The history of the Australian BBQ

It’s said that the Aussie barbeque dates back 40,000 years. This style of eating is important to our culture for three reasons: cultural immigration, our geography, and our instincts. Australia’s climate strongly influences our love for open-air cooking.

The Aussie BBQ has been described as ‘an affair where you smack your lips over grub that you’d turn your nose up at in the home.’

It’s rumoured that the first use of the term in Australia happened at the Waverley Bowls Club’s Leg o’ Mutton Barbeque in 1903. The barbeque was associated with political campaigns and public feasts. In 1920, Sydney newspapers promoted a public barbeque and butchers got involved. It took decades for the backyard barbeques to start, and then, the group consumption of a whole beast evolved into chops and sausages for individual servings. By 1950, Australians were cooking up barbies for themselves – but the part of bringing people together lived on.

It wasn’t until the mid 1960s that the gas barbeque arrived. And the sausage sizzle revolution began… in the home, at parks, schools, community events, and outside certain hardware stores.

It’s about more than just food. What exactly is the Australian barbeque?

The Australian barbie is particularly special, in that guests bring a plate of something to add to the shared spread of food. This makes the barbie hard to define, as it mirrors the mixed, multicultural diners that call Australia home. People graze, linger, socialise, share and bask in the sun and fresh air, with the barbeque as the centrepiece.

There are no hard rules when it comes to an Aussie barbeque and that’s just how we like it. With food, anything is welcome. The ‘bring what you want to grill up’ rule prevails and keep things interesting. Any host who has leftovers the day after a barbeque party knows this.

There’s something about our connection to nature that protects this beautiful pastime. While the add-on dishes might keep evolving, the snags, prawns, beers, mates and music will live on. Standing in front of a fired-up barbie with friends, flipping a charred piece of meat with tongs, while the other hand nurses a cold drink… it’s primal, timeless and a ritual that’s connected so deeply with the Australian ‘living off the land’ way of life. Yes, even in 2020 and beyond.

Aussie barbie. The best mate for summertime.

Today, the history of the Aussie barbie is as applicable as ever. While modern diets, like veganism, have grown in popularity, the iconic snag with bread and butter is still the star of the barbeque show. As we look towards spring and onto summer, you’re probably starting to think about warmer days.

So, what else do you cook at a barbeque? What sides should you serve or bring to an Aussie barbeque?

Sausage rolls

Pies and pasties

Pizzas

Gluten free bread

Savoury scrolls

Cakes

All of the above are good foods to include in your BBQ spread (whether it’s pre-sizzle or to accompany the main cook-up). You can buy some of the foods from our online shop.

Throw the best Aussie BBQ party, with the help of our Wholesale bakery in Melbourne

Got your sausages sorted? Good on ya. We’re a wholesale food supplier in Melbourne, supplying to cafes, schools, hospitals, and the broader, food-loving public. From meat pies and sausage rolls, to pizzas, quiches and finger food, you can buy awesome bakery food in bulk with us.

You can use our general public sales online shop or speak with our team for wholesale orders. Talk to us about any dietary limitations, particularly for vegetarians or people with gluten intolerance.

Your people will LOVE our grub!

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Very few Americans back full school reopening (AP) Virtual instruction. Mandated masks. Physical distancing. The start of school will look very different this year because of the coronavirus—and that’s OK with the vast majority of Americans. Only about 1 in 10 Americans think daycare centers, preschools or K-12 schools should open this fall without restrictions, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs. Most think mask requirements and other safety measures are necessary to restart in-person instruction, and roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldn’t happen at all. Many of the nation’s largest school districts have announced that they’ll be entirely virtual in the fall or use a hybrid model that has children in classrooms only a couple of days a week.

Remote learning? (NYT) The topic of home schooling is suddenly hot. Parents who never before considered home schooling have begun looking into it—especially in combination with a small number of other families, to share the teaching load and let their children interact with others. Emily Oster, a Brown University economist who writes about parenting, has predicted that clusters of home-schooling families are “going to happen everywhere.” Reporter Eliza Shapiro said she thought many families, across income groups, were likely to consider pooling child-care responsibilities in the fall. Children would remain enrolled in their school and would come together to take online classes in the same house (or, more safely, backyard). In some cases, these co-ops might morph into lessons that parents would help lead.

Pompeo wanted to shake hands. Foreign diplomats offered shoulder pats and elbow bumps instead. (Washington Post) During a trip Wednesday to Copenhagen for meetings with the foreign ministers of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the top U.S. diplomat, did not wear a face mask. That led to an awkward diplomatic dance. When he extended a hand in greeting, Jeppe Kofod, Denmark’s foreign affairs minister, kept to social distancing guidelines and refused to shake back. Undeterred, Pompeo tried again with the foreign minister of the Faroe Islands, who also declined. The third time was not quite the charm: Pompeo and the foreign minister of Greenland successfully navigated an elbow bump. The diplomats in question were all in proximity to one another and did exchange some shoulder pats.

Trump deploys more federal agents under ‘law and order’ push (AP) President Donald Trump announced he will send federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to help combat rising crime, expanding the administration’s intervention into local enforcement as he runs for reelection under a “law and order” mantle. Using the same alarmist language he has employed to describe illegal immigration, Trump painted Democrat-led cities as out of control and lashed out at the “radical left,” which he blamed for rising violence in some cities, even though criminal justice experts say it defies easy explanation. Crime began surging in some cities like Chicago, New York and Philadelphia when stay-at-home orders lifted. Criminal justice experts seeking answers have pointed to the unprecedented moment: a pandemic that has killed over 140,000 Americans, historic unemployment, a mass reckoning over race and police brutality, intense stress and even the weather. Compared with other years, crime in 2020 is down overall.

Will changes to print outlast the pandemic? (Columbia Journalism Review) More than a hundred news outlets have scaled down their print production since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Some publishers had planned to cut print eventually, but the financial setbacks of the pandemic forced their hand. Others, however, say their print suspension is temporary and worry about their audiences that still largely depend on print. As recently as 2016, the Pew Research Center reported that around half of newspaper readers relied exclusively on the print edition. And last month in Australia, News Corp’s decision to end print production at a number of its newspapers reportedly left older readers feeling isolated and underinformed.

Luxury jet spurned by Mexico’s president returns from U.S. without a buyer (Reuters) The luxury presidential jet Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wants to sell returned on Wednesday to Mexico, more than 1-1/2 years after he sent it to the United States in search of a buyer. Mexico has struggled to sell the opulent Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which the leftist Lopez Obrador has cast as a symbol of excess and corruption under previous governments in a country where around half the population lives in poverty. The jet was acquired by former President Enrique Pena Nieto in 2012 and fitted with marble-lined bathrooms. Reconfigured to fly only 80 people, the plane has a “presidential suite” and a private bath. The sale has been hamstrung in part by Lopez Obrador’s unwillingness to accept offers below a United Nations-backed valuation of $130 million, even as the plane was potentially losing value as it sat unused in southern California.

Virus slams Bolivia as hospitals say: ‘There is no space’ (AP) Police in Bolivia’s major cities have recovered the bodies of hundreds of suspected victims of the coronavirus from homes, vehicles and, in some instances, the streets. Hospitals are full of COVID-19 patients and short of staff, keeping their gates closed and hanging out signs that say: “There is no space.” And the Bolivian government says the peak of the outbreak is not expected until August. Desperation is growing in one of Latin America’s poorest countries, which seems overwhelmed by the virus even as it endures political turmoil stemming from a flawed election and the ouster of President Evo Morales last year. A plan to hold elections in September, seen as a key to stabilizing its democracy, is increasingly in doubt as the pandemic worsens.

Coronavirus cases in Latin America pass 4 million—Reuters tally (Reuters) Brazil registered a new daily record for confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, pushing the total confirmed cases across Latin America past 4 million, according to a Reuters tally. Brazil registered 67,860 additional cases of the virus on Wednesday, along with 1,284 related deaths, bringing total cases in Latin America’s largest nation to 2,227,514 and deaths there to 82,771.

With no Brits, cash-strapped Algarve fights for survival (Reuters) In his near-empty pub in the Algarve in southern Portugal, Samuel Tilley is fuming that coronavirus regulations in his home country Britain are keeping tourists away, further jeopardizing an already gloomy summer season. Usually packed with tourists at this time of the year, Vilamoura is quiet, leaving bar staff at Tilley’s O’Neills pub without much to do but brood over Britain’s decision to leave Portugal off a list of more than 50 countries safe enough for travel without restrictions. Portugal initially won praise for its quick response to the pandemic but a persistent count of several hundred new cases per day concentrated in and around Lisbon in the past two months has worried authorities at home and abroad, leading Britain and other European nations to impose restrictions on travel from the southern European nation. Last year, Portugal welcomed about 2 million Britons, with 64% of them heading to the sunny Algarve, famed for its sandy beaches and golf courses. So far in 2020, only 92,000 Britons have made it the region. Lonely waiters stand outside restaurants with menus in hand but no holidaymakers to speak to.

Turkey’s quiet offensive (Foreign Policy) Turkish forces have moved deep into Iraqi territory in an effort to root out Kurdish militants, who the government claim use northern Iraq as a staging post for operations inside Turkey. Although Turkish troops have been in northern Iraq for some time, the government recently adopted a more aggressive approach, seeking “to destroy the threat from where it begins.” As part of the campaign–dubbed Operation Claw Tiger–Turkey has advanced 25 miles inside the Iraqi border and established 30 military bases. The operation could serve as the prelude to further incursions into Iraq.

India reports record 45,720 new coronavirus cases, deaths rise by 1,129 (Reuters) India reported a record jump of 45,720 in coronavirus infections on Wednesday taking its total number of cases to 1.24 million, the health ministry said on Thursday. India also reported 1,129 deaths for Wednesday, taking the death toll to 29,861. India has the third-highest number of cases after the United States and Brazil.

Beijing’s summer is more oppressive than usual, but most prefer the heat over the virus (Washington Post) All the signs of Beijing’s infernal summer are in evidence. Men playing cards on the sidewalks are sporting their “Beijing bikinis,” their shirts hoisted up over their beer bellies for better air flow, while young trendy types carry personal fans as they walk down the street. People are cooking meat at outdoor restaurants or on little grills on the sidewalk. It’s so hot that Beijingers—usually insistent on body-temperature beverages—are even drinking their beer cold. It could almost be any other steamy July in any other year. But even here, where life is almost back to normal after months of strict controls, the coronavirus remains a lingering menace. Restaurants and malls are open, but to enter, customers have to activate a health code on their smartphones. The code tracks their movements and determines whether they have been to any risky places. Only those with green codes are allowed in. Many offices insist on green codes, too. A red code, or even an amber one, is the scarlet letter of 2020. As countries around the world try to find the balance between health and economic considerations to deal with a second or third—or in the case of the United States, first—wave of the coronavirus, China has found its sweet spot. These controls involve immediate lockdowns, mass testing and the use of surveillance technology to a degree that the ruling Communist Party could have only dreamed about when this year dawned.

China tells US to close consulate in Chengdu in growing spat (AP) China ordered the United States on Friday to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, ratcheting up a diplomatic conflict at a time when relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades. The move was a response to the Trump administration’s order this week for Beijing to close its consulate in Houston after Washington accused Chinese agents of trying to steal medical and other research in Texas. The Chinese foreign ministry appealed to Washington to reverse its “wrong decision.” Chinese-U.S. relations have soured amid a mounting array of conflicts including trade, the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, technology, spying accusations, Hong Kong and allegations of abuses against Chinese Muslims.

China launches ambitious attempt to land rover on Mars (AP) China launched its most ambitious Mars mission yet on Thursday in a bold attempt to join the United States in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet. Engines blazing orange, a Long March-5 carrier rocket took off under clear skies around 12:40 p.m. from Hainan Island, south of China’s mainland. Hundreds of space enthusiasts cried out excitedly on a beach across the bay from the launch site. It marked the second flight to Mars this week, after a United Arab Emirates orbiter blasted off on a rocket from Japan on Monday. And the U.S. is aiming to launch Perseverance, its most sophisticated Mars rover ever, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, next week.

Saudi king, 84, undergoes surgery to remove gallbladder (AP) Saudi Arabia’s King Salman underwent a successful surgery that removed his gallbladder, the kingdom said Thursday, just days after being admitted to hospital over an inflammation of the organ. The king serves as an absolute monarch of Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s top oil producers and the site of the holiest sites of Islam. His health remains a key factor watched by observers of the kingdom, as next in line to the throne is his assertive 34-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who could rule for decades.

Going cold turkey in Somalia (Reuters) COVID-induced khat shortage adds to Somalia’s health woes. In sweltering Mogadishu, Sharif Ahmed, 22, tried to attack relatives and neighbors, resulting in an emergency trip to a psychiatric hospital in handcuffs. He is suffering withdrawal from the narcotic leaf khat. Somalia shut down flights in late March to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, meaning the drug could no longer be imported by air from Kenya. That affected users, causing some to go for long periods without sleep. The price of khat surged when the flights were stopped, putting it out of reach for most users and straining resources at Mogadishu’s Habeeb Psychiatric Emergency Hospital.

[nwbeerguide]

Available now, Schlafly Beer releases Tropical Saison and Summer Lager in cans.

Press Release

(ST. LOUIS; April 28, 2020)—Schlafly Beer announces the release of Tropical Saison (7.5% ABV), a new summer offering in the original, independent craft brewery’s portfolio, as well as the return to cans for a seasonal favorite, Summer Lager (4.5% ABV). Available in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans, Tropical Saison offers notes of juicy tropical fruits with a slight tart flavor. Summer Lager returns for the first time in 12-packs of 16-ounce cans. Both Tropical Saison and Summer Lager are available across Schlafly’s distribution as well as the Schlafly brewpubs. Schlafly Beer also offers online ordering for curbside pick-up at all three of their brewpubs in the St. Louis region: Schlafly Tap Room in downtown St. Louis, Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood and Schlafly Bankside in St. Charles. To place an online beer order for curbside pick-up, visit https://schlaflycurbside.square.site/.

“Summer is right around the corner, and these beers can help to create a paradise in your own backyard,” says Founding Brewer Stephen Hale. “Summer Lager is a warm weather favorite so we’re excited to bring it back in cans this year. Tropical Saison has been a popular draft selection at our brewpubs, and the beer’s release in cans is your perfect grilling companion.”

Tropical Saison (7.5% ABV): This hazy, golden hued beer is fermented with passionfruit during the saison process for a combination of slightly tart flavors and juicy tropical fruit. The beach-inspired brew is a crisp and light beer with all the refreshing tastes of the tropics. “This  new beer is all the saison sophistication you know and love with passionfruit. It’s the perfect can of beer to sip by the pool, while grilling or for an at-home happy hour after work,” Hale explains.

Summer Lager (4.5% ABV): This sessionable Helles-Style Summer Lager offers a smooth, maltier and hoppier alternative to light lagers. Summer lager is a bright, golden beer, wholly representative of what summertime should taste like. The malt imparts a fresh grain character, while the German hops lends notes of spice and lemon. “We use German hops to brew a true light lager and create an easy-to-drink beer that’s refreshing with citrus. You can drink this beer while basking in the summer rays. Now with its return in cans, Summer Lager will be the ultimate portable porchside pint,” continued Hale.

Tropical Saison is available for $9.99 in six-pack, 12-ounce cans and Summer Lager is available for $13.99 in 12-pack, 16-ounce cans. Both beers will be available throughout summer across Schlafly’s distribution as well as available for online ordering at the Schlafly brewpubs here. Schlafly  Beer offers curbside pick-up at all three of their brewpub locations in downtown St. Louis, Maplewood and St. Charles. To place an online order for pick-up, visit: https://schlaflycurbside.square.site/. To place an For more on Schlafly Beer’s distribution and products, visit www.schlafly.com.

About Schlafly Beer:

Schlafly Beer, St. Louis’ original independent craft brewery, proudly brews a diverse collection of beers throughout the year. Our brewers utilize numerous hop varietals, malts, grains, fruits, natural ingredients and yeast strains from around the world to make every Schlafly beer unique. As part of our commitment to sustainability, and our communities we work with local suppliers and neighborhood partners. Schlafly is a go-to across the Midwest and East Coast, and is a staple at countless fine establishments, backyards and basement bars. Join us at The Schlafly Tap Room, Schlafly Bottleworks and Schlafly Bankside, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For a full listing of Schlafly beers and the beerfinder, visit Schlafly.com.