#Rent a Camping Grill

[mushroomates]

the fellowship at the beach:

aragorn: knows exactly where to go for peak waves and sun. it’s not crowded and quite frankly the fellowship is unsure if they’re technically trespassing but it’s a good enough time for them not to care. likes to set up canopies and umbrellas for everyone then disappears for like 2 hours on a walk/hike.

boromir: likes to grill/camp out. he enjoys large bond fires and roasting marshmellows. during the day he likes to do beach volleyball or swim in the ocean, a very physical dude. enjoys activities,,, has to be doing something.

merry: likes to fly kites with boromir on the dunes. not a huge fan of water, enjoys playing games and building large sandcastles. he and pippin like to turn gandalf into a sand mermaid when the can, as well as dig a giant moat with gimli.

pippin: gets sunburnt everytime. has so much sand in his hair. gets it everywhere. is a walking disaster- has lost several hats, sunglasses, beach toys, wallets, keys, phones,,,, everything pippin has in his possession when he comes to the beach he will no longer have when he leaves. this also includes the many stickers, magnets and keychains he swipes from nearby shops for keepsakes. wants to rent a jetski but no one will go with him.

frodo: likes to wade in the water and collect pretty seashells. brings them back to his friends to show them off. finds rocks in all shades and sizes, brings samwell heart shaped rocks as well as any cool colored ones that remind him of sam. gandalf once asked why frodo never brought him any rocks, in which frodo started collecting all grey rocks and bringing them to gandalf. funnily enough, most rocks are some shade of grey, and gandalf got rather sick of pebbles being chucked at him.

sam: has many towels and lots of sunscreen. very prepared with the snacks, brings sandwiches and drinks for everyone! likes to hang out in the shade and walk along the shore. enjoys the touristy shops along the coast, especially likes the salt water taffy and keychains. laughs loudly at all the gimmicky tourist traps,,,, always goes in/falls victim to them.

legolas: is weird about sand,,,,, cannot have it between him and something else. ex: between the shoes, clothing, hair. has to be directly on him or nothing at all (walking barefoot) once they are even within proximity the beach he jumps out immediately charges towards the water. likes to push people in/splash them.

gimli: no shoes no shirt no problem,,, immediately in just swim trunks as soon as they pull up to the parking lot. enjoys building massive sand castles with the hobbits as well as digging deep trenches to trap their compatriots in. they cover it with a towel, someone falls in and nearly breaks their neck- good times.

gandalf: brings a book to read, likes to chill in the shade and listen to the waves. falls asleep more often then not, wakes up barricaded in sand or made into a sand sculpture. will disappear suddenly and come back with ice cream. no one knows where he got it. he does not share or tell anyone where he gets this mysterious ice cream either.

bilbo: is reading with gandalf. he brings some iced tea and good sunglasses and just relaxes. he is a active people watcher, likes to eavesdrop as well as note and speculate on interesting figures. likes to do some light journaling/writing as well.

gollum: is fishing. lurks in the bay and attempts to catch fish with his bare hands, then proceeds to immediately eat them raw. also chases seagulls- will chath and eat those as well. he is, unfortunately, quite successful in this. he is also no longer allowed in or around several public beaches.

[teddybear-withme]

A Day of Community Fun

After a few months of travel, I’m setting aside my adventurer hat for a bit and putting back on my community organizer one.

When I moved late last year, I knew many great people in the region but few of them seemed to know each other. After some initial dinners to make introductions, we ramped things up with a fun spring weekend back in April. Now the momentum continues with another day of fun!

Stop 1: Lunch at a grilled cheese restaurant

What sets the stage for an ABDL community day better than grilled cheese sandwiches and mac & cheese?

Stop 2: Renting LEGO sets at a café

We had two hours to build anything we wanted. I chose to build this blue morpho butterfly with a friend! 🦋 Others built a treehouse, a giraffe, and a peculiar turtle van. 🤔

Stop 3: Local munch

For the main event, @lolaandthens0me and I took over a local community space and turned it into a summer camp! 🏕

In the main room: a campfire corner with a grass rug and log pillows from my nursery, pretty lights and a lantern, cozy blankets, felt board crafts, coloring books, summer snacks, and s’mores. We also ordered pizza for dinner.

In other areas, we had a name badge station, a table for bigs/middles with Uno and other card games, and a quiet space with a movie for those who might be feeling overstimulated. 💖

Camp Counselor Lola led a circle of camp songs and stories for the campers. Then I read the group a few storybooks!

What a day! I can’t even describe the joy this brings me. I never imagined meeting another ABDL until I was 26. Now I’m creating opportunities for others to do just that in a safe and friendly environment.

Three munch attendees told me it was their first ABDL event ever. To see them open up to new friends and blossom throughout the evening brought me to tears. 🥲

One of those three new friends was so excited for the event that he designed this coloring page and brought some for everyone. Plus he made snacks too! There's kindness everywhere. ✨

I just wish I had more community spaces for these events. Unfortunately, I have to keep it semi-private for now due to the size, but I'm just grateful to have a space at all!

If you’ve never been to an ABDL event or met another ABDL in person, I promise the experience is worth it. Not all community events are the same, but there’s a whole world out there waiting to be discovered. It’s scary, but I’m forever grateful I took that massive leap five years ago. Wishing you luck on your own kink journey!

- 🧸

[starvity]

— ☆ first date with zb1

gn!reader x zb1 (ot9)

genre: fluff, drabble // warnings: obvious flirting, some ftl going on, food, fireworks, proximity?, hanbin's tattoos and ricky's hands gulp

author’s note: this took way too long to write?! enjoy!! :] (★ω★)/ [requested♡]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ jiwoong - go camping

your first date with jiwoong is crucial for him. he thinks that if he doesn't show how great of a husband he can be today, he'll never have you (you are already so in love with him but anyways). so he drives you to the camping site, helps you set the table, the chairs and well, he gave up on the tent but that's okay! the sun is shining and you're having a great time. when he starts grilling he'll ask you to sit next to him and "act all pretty for him" (spoiler: it's because he wants to feed you while he cooks). woong would have the sweetest smile on his face as you compliment his cooking and he loves how you look as the sun starts to set. he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear so it doesn't get in your food and you bet that it took him a lot of self-control at this moment to not kiss you.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ zhang hao - ride a bicycle and visit a lp store

the day was already perfect: the weather in autumn had just the right amount of gloominess with the tiniest hint of sunshine and it was your first date with hao. you rented a bicycle for a few hours to ride along the river and it was such a breath of fresh air in both of your lives. you had your arms shyly wrapped around a blushing hao's waist as you admire the city lights reflect on the water. a few strangers walking by had complimented how good you both look together and hao laughs wholeheartedly, looking back at you with love in his eyes. when it started to get a little dark and cold outside, you guys found shelter in a lp store. you were looking through the vinyl's as hao sometimes calls out to you to show a piece of classic music he had learned to play on his violin. at the end of the day, you decide to pick one to gift to each other. and the next day, he sends you his entire detailed analysis on the songs you picked with his ranking :')

ੈ✩‧₊˚ hanbin - take a dancing class

you can't help but think that taking a dance class together probably isn't the best idea for a first date. you'll have to be focused listening to the teacher, all sweaty, and you wonder if you'll even be able to talk to hanbin at all. but he looked so excited when he suggested it so of course you showed up. the room was surprisingly quiet, apart from the music playing, as you step in. you make eye contact through the mirror with hanbin. his towel was hanging on his shoulder and he flashes you a smile as he hurriedly reaches for his phone to turn off the music. he was wearing a sleeveless shirt, his two tattoos on display and you gulp as he approches you. oh so he's the teacher. and well you discovered that you were having much more fun than you expected as hanbin guides you through the choreography. your focused state didn't last for long when he got behind you, slightly putting his hand on your waist and his other just under your neck to fix your posture. and from this moment you knew that you were definitely going to sign up for his next classes.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ matthew - have fun at the local fair

i don't know if it's from the cliché american romcom vibes but i can totally picture your first date with matt being at a fair. it was cheesy and you both knew it. how he tried so hard to win you a doll, how he fed you the cotton candy, how you scooted closer to him during the ride and how you wiped the flour from the churros off his nose. but can i blame you for being so giddy holding hands while walking through the crowd? (i cannot, you guys are cute...). matthew had allowed you to hold onto his arm if you ended up getting startled in the haunted house. but as you expected, he was the one getting scared, pushing you towards the exit with his eyes closing and screaming incoherent sentences. of course you ended the day by watching the fireworks and he could not stop admiring how your eyes sparkled watching the show. he safely drops you off and you give him a hug and a peck on the cheek to thank him for the day. the thought kept replaying in his head as he was trying to fall asleep.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ taerae - go to the arcade

taerae likes to laugh and you like to hear him laugh. you two have been friends for quite a long time so you feel close and comfortable enough to joke around and show your true self. you two decided to meet at the arcade you usually go to make it as casual as possible. however, taerae wasn't able to hide his nervousness as it was your first hangout as "a bit more than friends". as always, you would spend all your money on the car games, always betting on buying food or winning plushies for who looses the race. after spending what seemed like an hour on the same machine and making all the other people annoyed, you suggest to finally try another game. taerae then taps the seat behind him on the motorbike with a soft blush on his cheeks, slightly hidden by the glasses he was wearing. you hop on, attaching your arms around his waist shyly. you can barely see his face from behind apart from his dimple very apparent and you wonder if he's smiling as much as you are. "hold on tight!" taerae screams as he starts the race and you laugh, your blushing face pressing against his neck.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ ricky - make pottery

it all started when you, one day, complimented how dainty and pretty ricky's hands are and now he doesn't miss a chance to show them off. he spends more time filing them and spends extra money on hand creams and even more money on taking a pottery lesson with you. you admire silently how he removes his watch with one hand and twist his rings off his fingers. he chuckles, as he rolls up the sleeves of his white shirt "like what you see?", he teases. you giggle, not being able to argue with his nor to lie. the lesson, starts well! for ricky at least, who quickly catch up on how the whole process of making his bowl works. you sigh, your hands full of mud and your cup who looks... nothing like a cup. you suddenly feel a pair of hands cupping the back of yours. "it's because you're not delicate enough" ricky whispers in your ear (oh he knows what he's doing) and you nod nervously, feeling his hands slightly intertwine with yours to shape the material and his arms enveloping yours.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ gyuvin - do a picnic

you always tell gyuvin that you only spend time with him to see his dog to hide the fact that you just want to see him all the time because YOU LIKE HIM. every sunday morning, you two walk eumppappa together, sometimes holding hands when it gets cold because that's what friends do, right? you can't count how many times your friends have gotten frustrated with you not confessing to him, claiming that he obviously feels the same way. you had decided the day before to do a picnic after your walk to enjoy the nice weather. "i cut up some mango too!" you announce excitedly as you set the different plates on the checkered blanket. gyuvin gasps dramatically, grabbing a piece of mango with his fork but you notice how he doesn't take the bite immediately. instead, his eyes flick from the fruit to your mouth before he places the piece between his lips. you laugh, watching how his eyes sparkle, anticipating your next move. you finally lean in, taking a bit of mango and feeling your upper lip slightly brush against his.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ gunwook - visit the aquarium

you had been nervously waiting for this day all weekend after gunwook had asked you on a date after school on friday. you two met up at the newly opened aquarium with some nice outfits since you both insisted to take some cute pictures there. after taking turns snapping pictures of each other, you set your phone on a bench, the camera turned to gunwook and you who were standing in front of the big tank. "that one looks like you!" you laugh, obviously pointing at what could be the ugliest fish. "and i was about to say you looked like that pretty jellyfish" he chuckles. your eyes light up, admiring the mysterious creature under the lights that make the water look so blue and magical. after a few minutes, you get off your cloud when you realise gunwook has gone silent and turn around to catch him staring at you with soft eyes. "sorry, you looked pretty" he says 5 seconds before throwing an arm around your shoulders and pulling your face closer to his chest so you don't see him now blushing. "woah i was cringe like that?" gunwook laughs as you two rewatch the video in bed for the nth time, 4 months after that first date. "but see, your flirting kinda worked" you giggle, hugging the penguin plushie he ended up buying you that day.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ yujin - play at a board game café

yujin pants, dropping the heavy pile of board games in front of you. "do you really think we'll have time to play all that?", you laugh, fanning his face with your hand. "you choose" he says, spreading the different boxes on the table. you ended up trying different activities and laughing so hard the entire afternoon. the atmosphere was light and you didn't feel awkward at all around yujin, probably because you didn't really consider this a date. your friends were trying to get you two together but you kept on telling them that you were okay with staying best friends (despite the romantic tension happening between the boy and you sometimes). that was until the waiter brought you the milkshake you had ordered. there were, in fact, two straws. you thank them shyly as yujin is still rambling about his strategy to win this round. you take a sip of your beverage, lowering your gaze and nervously fidgeting. suddenly, yujin almost closes the gap between you to take a sip too. "how dare you take from MY drink without asking?" you teasingly kick his leg with your foot and he winces between giggles. let's stay that this proximity made you both question a lot of things about your friendship.

[visit-new-york]

What recreational activities are available for visitors in Brooklyn Bridge Park?

Brooklyn Bridge Park stands as a testament to urban revitalization, transforming an industrial waterfront into a vibrant green space that attracts locals and tourists alike. Nestled along the East River, this 85-acre park offers breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. Beyond its scenic beauty, Brooklyn Bridge Park provides a plethora of recreational activities for visitors seeking an immersive and enjoyable experience.

Cycling and Rollerblading:

A network of dedicated bike paths and scenic routes makes Brooklyn Bridge Park a haven for cyclists and rollerbladers. With the gentle breeze from the river and stunning vistas, exploring the park on wheels is a favorite among locals. Visitors can bring their own bikes or rent from the park's various rental stations.

Picnicking and Relaxing:

For those seeking a more leisurely experience, the park offers ample green spaces perfect for picnicking and relaxation. Visitors can bask in the sun, enjoy a meal with friends and family, or simply unwind amidst the lush lawns and gardens. Several designated picnic areas equipped with tables and grills enhance the overall experience.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding:

The park's waterfront location makes it an ideal spot for water-based activities. Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse provides free kayaking and paddleboarding sessions during the summer months, allowing visitors to paddle along the East River while taking in iconic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan.

Basketball and Volleyball Courts:

Sports enthusiasts can engage in friendly matches at the park's basketball and volleyball courts. Whether it's a pickup game with friends or a more organized match, these facilities provide an energetic outlet with the stunning backdrop of the city skyline.

Fishing at Pier 5:

Pier 5 features a dedicated fishing area, attracting anglers of all skill levels. Fishing is a popular pastime, and the park's location along the river makes it a prime spot to cast a line and enjoy the peacefulness of the waterfront.

Children's Playground:

Families with children can take advantage of the well-designed playgrounds within the park. Featuring modern play structures, water features, and sandboxes, these areas provide a safe and entertaining environment for kids to expend their energy.

Fitness Classes and Events:

Brooklyn Bridge Park frequently hosts fitness classes and events, ranging from yoga sessions with a view to outdoor boot camps. These activities cater to fitness enthusiasts of all levels and offer a unique way to stay active while enjoying the park's scenic surroundings.

Conclusion:

Brooklyn Bridge Park stands as a shining example of urban green spaces that cater to the diverse recreational interests of its visitors. Whether you're an avid cyclist, water sports enthusiast, or someone who simply wants to relax in a picturesque setting, the park has something for everyone. As you explore the various offerings at Brooklyn Bridge Park, you'll discover that it's not just a park; it's a dynamic and engaging destination that invites you to experience the best of outdoor recreation in the heart of Brooklyn.

[darth-mortem]

I'm trying to learn English by writing short texts on various topics. I'm writing them about Ghost, Soap and other COD characters. So, here is text about travel and rest (613 words).

“Hey, Captain, did you miss us?” Soap asked cheerfully, looking at Price.

“Honestly he didn’t.” Gaz answered and smirked snidely. “He said how quiet and calm it was without you two this whole week.”

“You’re a jerk!” Soap pouted. “It can’t be true!”

Captain Price sighed heavily and turned the page of the newspaper he was reading.

Ghost carried their backpacks to their rooms and came back to the dayroom. He started making tea for himself, Price and Garrick. Johnny didn’t like tea, so he made coffee for himself and grumbled something about fucking Brits.

“So where have you been?” The Captain asked, lighting his cigar.

“We traveled through the Carpathian Mountains by quad bikes.” Ghost said and sat opposite Price. “We stopped for the night and slept in a tent.”

“Wow, sex in nature is cool.” Garrick interrupted. “Hope you stocked up on wet wipes.”

“No need to be jealous, mate.” Soap sat next to Ghost and rested his head on his shoulder.

“Were you hunting?” Price asked because he was tired of hearing stupid jokes about personal life of his subordinates.

“Hell yeah!” Soap nodded and smiled. “And fishing! I caught a huge trout! And Simon cooked a gorgeous soup with mushrooms and grilled fish steaks.”

Johnny told how Simon and he were picking mushrooms and all his prey was poisonous. It was the first and the only time Ghost allowed Soap to pick mushrooms. Kyle was laughing a lot and Johnny kicked him once or twice.

“Where your route had started?” Price asked when the Sergeants calmed down.

“We flew to Slovakia by plane,” Ghost answered, drank his tea. “Then we rented quad bikes and went through it, Poland, Ukraine and Romania.”

“And Transylvania!” Soap interrupted.

“Did you see vampires?” Garrick smirked.

“No, but Johnny was attacked by a bat,” Ghost raised his balaclava and lit a cigarette. “It was at night when he left the tent. I was already asleep, but his screams and shots woke me up”.

“Soap, did you really shoot a bat?” Gaz stared at Johnny.

“Oh, fuck you, guys!” Soap got angry and pouted. “It was a bloody big bat! And very aggressive!”

“So did you kill it, son?” The Captain looked at Johnny with interest.

“Maybe,” he answered. “It was fucking dark there!”

Soap started showing photos and videos. There were a lot of beautiful pictures of nature; their camp with a comfortable tent, camp table and two fishing chairs; their food cooked by Ghost. Soap was in many photos and videos too. Price and Garrick saw how he was riding a quad bike, fishing, trying to help with cooking, jumping from the waterfall naked, even sleeping in the tent. Simon has much less photos and he was in his balaclava there.

“We have brought gifts for you!” Johnny smiled and ran to his room.

He came back very soon, carrying several packages. Price and Garrick received postcards from Slovakia, magnets from Poland, handmade leather wallets from Ukraine and vampire clay mugs from Transylvania.

“Now it’s your turn to go to leave,” Soap said to the Captain and Gaz. “Where will you go?”

“On the seaside,” Price answered. “I want just to lie in the sun, to swim in warm sea and to drink cocktails all week”.

“And I’ll go water skiing and spearfishing,” Kyle said.

“So you will go together too?” Simon asked, bowed his head.

“No, just at the same place,” Gaz answered quickly, and Soap smirked.

“Well, I’m going to sleep,” Ghost said and got up.

“Me too,” Soap smiled. “Good night!” They left together and Kyle got up to make another cup of tea for him and for the Captain.

[heybaetae]

random shit my dad said while watching are you sure?! over my shoulder

jungkook driving: "what were they doing in connecticut?"

jimin giggling: "which one is that?"

jungkook saying hi in english: "wait he speaks english"

jungkook falling in the water: "i bet all the girls cried like 'OHHHHHMYGODHEFELLINTHERIVERAHHHHHHH'"

jungkook and jimin racing in two separate kayaks: "you know, they say honeymooners (?!) should never go canoeing (wrong kind of boat) because all they do is fight with each other"

jungkook making barbecue sauce: "do they know what they're doing?"

jungkook grilling: "is that a shirt or does he have a bunch of tattoos?"

jungkook putting a foil tray over the pork while it cooks: "that's a good idea"

jimin dropping his pork chop: "did he drop it? TWICE???? HAHA"

jungkook and jimin camping: "do they have a crew with them?"

jimin pulling the car into the driveway: "that's a nice jeep, is it rented?"

jungkook and jimin getting recognized: "do they get shy every time that happens?"

jungkook and jimin eating pizza: "they're eating again?"

[storiesofsvu2-0]

Not a Peep

Tara Lewis x reader Warnings: language, smut, fingering, dirty talk. Covers the "camping/cabin" square for bingo and a request. no there will not be a part 2, so don't ask for it. find a prompt list, send in a request if you want more Tara content.

Get added to the taglist here!

In any normal situation, team bonding was absolute torture, days forced together in cramped conference rooms while you pretended the work you were doing was some form of a fun game. But when it came to the BAU, things were finally different. You’d spend a couple of days in a nice city after working a case to let off a little steam, a day of gambling in Vegas, visits to the beach in Florida, Penelope had even roped the team into an afternoon in Disneyland after a case in Los Angeles. This extended weekend trip however involved no case at all, inspired by a night the previous autumn when Emily started telling scary stories to fit the Halloween theme around the office. It spurned on a conversation about summers spent at sleepover camp, weeks at campgrounds with families and friends. Shifting from the idea of groups of teens being murdered to the fun days of playing capture the flag, building fires to roast smores, sticky smiles at the end of a very happy, fun filled day.

It had been months since then and was a big surprise when Rossi announced he’d rented out a cabin an hour outside the city for the long weekend. Attendance was required and fun would be had. On top of that, all food and drinks would be provided, so it really was a win all the way around. Days were filled with various activities, the team splitting off depending on what everyone wanted to do, but there was a lot of lounging by the lake, swimming, disappearing off into the woods for a hike for everyone to return together for dinner. The barbeque was always utilized, racks of ribs, cobs of corn, various types of burgers, fresh fruit, grilled skewers of vegetables with cold beers to wash it all down with while the sun set on the horizon.

Currently, everyone was circled around the fire pit in the backyard telling silly stories, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. You were on a double seater almost loveseat with Tara, a blanket tossed over your bare legs that were conveniently draped over the other woman’s lap. The team knew you were close, but it was only Emily that actually knew you were dating and that had only been because she was your boss. Though the secret wouldn’t have lasted long anyway, you’d shared a wall at one of the hotels on a case recently and things hadn’t exactly been quiet. A lecture didn’t come, but a hell of a lot of playful teasing did, including a very sly grin from Emily when you and Tara offered to bunk together this weekend.

Tara wasn’t doing it on purpose, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on your legs under the blanket, barely moving, ghosting over your skin. Her attention was turned to her other side, eyes on Luke as he took his turn at telling a ghost story. Your leg involuntarily twitched in her lap as you shifted slightly in an attempt to rub your thighs together. You attempted to play it off as stretching out a stuff muscle but Tara had already caught you, her hand stilling, wrapping around your calf and squeezing tightly without so much as a glance in your direction. You let out a soft sigh, reaching into the cooler beside you to grab a fresh beer in an attempt to distract yourself.

By the time Luke had finished his story, Rossi was calling it a night and heading inside, JJ not far behind him. Luke tossed another log on the fire and this time you actually did stretch your body out, slipping from underneath the blanket.

“Oh not you too!” Emily protested and you laughed.

“I’m just going to the bathroom, relax.”

Disappearing into the cabin you let out a little shiver, pulling Tara’s stolen flannel tighter around your body, though maybe the chill would help you calm down. The scent of her perfume on the shirt certainly wasn’t helping but it wasn’t as bad as having her hands on you beside the burning of the fire. You grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, taking a couple of minutes to yourself as you wandered down the hallway to the bathroom. After freshening up you dried your hands on one of the fluffy towels before unlocking the door, your attention on your phone as you typed out a reply to a couple of texts, you didn’t even notice Tara rounding into the hallway.

“Jeeze!” You jumped, letting out a quiet giggle as you shoved your phone back into your pocket, “told you I’d be right back.”

“Yeah, but I needed a fresh drink.” She shrugged, one hand pulling you closer to her by the beltloop in your shorts while the other slid up your cheek, wrapping around the back of your neck, “and I wanted an excuse to do this.” She murmured; her breath hot on your lips before they met yours.

You let out a moan into the kiss, your hands quickly wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her even tighter to you while she maneuvered you so your back hit the wall and you let out a little squeak. Tara took advantage, her tongue slipping into your parted lips, swooping through your mouth and dancing with your own. She softly dominated the kiss, putting all of the pent up tension you’d both been holding back all day into it, lips moving with grace in a familiar dance. The hand on your hip curved around your body, squeezing at your ass through your shorts and you let out a soft groan, your body arching into hers. Chuckling, she pulled away from your lips, kissing at the bare skin of your neck and you shivered, goosebumps popping up on your skin.

“So sensitive.”

“You started it.” You muttered back, your eyes fluttering shut as her teeth grazed against your neck, your hands clawing at the fabric of her shirt as she propped a knee between your legs.

“Oh come on!” Emily’s voice suddenly broke through your fantasy and Tara pulled herself out of the crook of your neck, a smirk on her lips, “that’s not a new drink! Or the bathroom.” She shot you a playful glare as she opened her bedroom door, “I swear if I hear even a peep tonight I’m telling the whole team.”

“Sorry Emily.” Tara laughed, her hand running down your arm to link with yours, tugging you in the direction of your shared bedroom. Emily rolled her eyes, disappearing into her room, the door clicking shut behind her before you retired into your own.

In the privacy of your room your hands reached out for Tara again, pulling her back to you, your hands slipping under the hem of her hoodie. She laughed softly, her arms wrapping around you as her lips met yours again. She nipped at your lower lip, her hands sliding the flannel off your arms, letting it drop to the floor and you whined quietly, tugging at her sweater.

“Patience…” She murmured.

“You’ve been teasing all day.” You grumbled back, though a smile broke out on your lips as she pulled the hoodie over her head, her hands nudging at your hips and she laughed.

“Yeah? How so?” She raised a brow as you shifted back up to the headboard and she was able to crawl onto the bed.

“Have you seen yourself in a bikini? Or how about all those lingering glances and little touches? Tease.”

“You heard Prentiss.” She said with a shrug, shifting onto the bed beside you, slipping under the covers, “it’s quiet hours.”

“Please.” You pouted, a hand reaching out to brush her hair back behind her ear.

“You sure you can? You almost woke up the entire floor in San Diego.”

“Well maybe that’s just because you fuck me so good I can’t help it.” With a grin you surged toward her, pulling her down on top of you in a kiss and she couldn’t resist but to slide her tongue into your mouth.

One hand braced her on the bed while the other snuck under your tank top, groping at your chest and you softly moaned, Tara silencing it with her mouth, swallowing your breath down. Her finger and thumb rolled your nipple between them, pinching down harder with each rotation, your back arching off the bed toward her. She repeated the action on the other side, earning a tiny whine from you into the kiss, your hips rocking up toward her when she settled a leg between yours.

“You like that?” She asked quietly, lips barely leaving yours, “like it when I play with your pretty tits?”

“Mmhmm.” You nodded, doing your best not to make a noise.

“Thought you might.”

Her leg surged up between yours, thigh rubbing right against your clothed cunt and your breath caught in your throat, your hands clutching at her body.

“Tara… please..”

Her fingers pinched harshly at your nipple and the gasp caught in your throat, your head dropping back into the pillows. Tara kissed at the side of your jaw, trailing down your neck, teeth nipping at your skin as they went, by the time she’d settled in the crook of your neck her hand was sneaking downwards, fingers toying with the waistband of your shorts. She snapped the elastic against your body to test you, to see if you’d follow the rules before her hand finally slunk underneath them, a quiet gasp leaving your lips when her fingers found your clit.

Her lips returned to yours as her fingers began to lazily rub at your clit, lips curving up into a grin as your body slowly started to rock up towards her in a steady rhythm. Your arms wound around her, one hand tangling into her hair as your heart rate began to pick up. It was just enough to rile you up, barely above a level of teasing but Tara’s hands and lips were on you, so you weren’t about to complain, you knew she’d reward you soon enough. Your breath was hot on her neck, the quietest of whimpers sent straight into her ear and she grinned, placing a gentle kiss on your skin as her hand sunk lower, fingers swiping through your folds. A hitched breath left your throat as she gathered your juices, moving back up to rub at your clit again, this time harder and faster before sinking back down.

“You really are pent up.” She murmured, “this wet and I’ve barely touched you.”

“Please…” you whispered.

“You’ve been so good.” She replied, kissing the underside of your jaw.

Tara’s fingers nudged at your pussy, swirling your juices around before two of them slowly sunk in and you bit back a moan. She knew you so perfectly, just when and how to fuck you, exactly what would bring you the ultimate pleasure and you were eternally grateful for it. She pumped her fingers slowly at first, letting you get used to the stretch while the heel of her hand brushed on your swollen clit. Your breathing picked up, hands clenching at the fabric of her shirt as your pussy started to flutter. The pleasure was building up, coil tightening in your stomach as your heart beat heavy in your chest. Tara’s lips brushed at your neck when she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper,

“That’s my good girl.” Her fingers curled, pressing into the sensitive spot, and you let out a breathy gasp, “pussy always feels so good. Can you hear how wet you are?”

“Mmhmm…” you nodded back, doing your best to keep your lips pressed together. The cabin was quiet, the air still, though very heated within the confines of your room, the wet sounds from your cunt echoing through the air with each thrust of Tara’s fingers.

“Shame I couldn’t get you naked, you always look so beautiful on display for me, stuffed full with my cock.” Her fingers began to pick up their speed, your cunt pulsing heavily around them, spasming when she would randomly crook them right where you wanted. “Guess I’ll have to fuck you nice and good when we get home, hmm? Have your pretty pussy dripping with cum?”

“Oh.. god…” You whimpered, your hips jolting up off the bed, grinding onto her hand as you buried your face into her shoulder, “feels so good.”

“I know baby.” She grinned, her fingers thrusting deeper into your warmth, “I can tell by how fucking soaked you are.” Her fingers twisted, curling suddenly to press forcefully into your g-spot and you cried out.

“Fuck!”

In an instant her hand stilled completely, fingers simply resting inside your cunt and you dropped back into the pillows with a pout as she raised a brow at you.

“What did I say?”

“Please!” You whispered, tears nearly forming in your eyes at just how close you’d been to reaching your peak, “please keep going. I’ll be quiet! Promise. They won’t even know your fingers are in me. Please. I promise.”

“You break that promise and instead of rewarding you when we get home you’re getting punished, alright baby?”

“Yes.” You nodded furiously, “please. Need you.”

A quiet gasp escaped your lips as Tara’s hand moved, rubbing your pulsing nub while her fingers began to pump inside your pussy again.

“That’s it.” She purred, ducking down to kiss you, swallowing your moans as you surged higher and higher. Her tongue slipped into your mouth while you whined, your hips rocking up to meet her hand with each thrust. She shifted her weight so her free hand could slide under your shirt, pinching at your nipples again, rolling them between her fingers in time with the way she fucked you. She could feel you squirming, feel the groans and moans coming from the back of your throat as her fingers curled again and again, juices beginning to leak down her wrist.

“Oh god…” you broke the kiss with a whispered gasp, “don’t stop… please…”

“Go on baby.” She husked, kissing her way across your jaw, nipping at your earlobe, “come for me.”

Tara’s lips continued their way down your neck, sucking and licking at your sensitive skin as her fingers crooked inside your dripping pussy again and you felt yourself begin to shudder underneath her. Heat broke through your skin and your thighs trembled, nearly attempting to close around her hand. You buried yourself into the crook of her neck and she let out a quiet hiss when your teeth sunk into her skin to muffle your moans as you came.

Her hand slowed, fingers sliding in and out of you with less urgency as you rode out your orgasm, her lips leaving gentle kisses on your body. With a puff of a breath you dropped back into the pillows, your eyes fluttering open to look up, finding her smiling down at you.

“Sorry.” You muttered, glancing toward her shoulder and she chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to your lips.

“You kept quiet.” Her fingers finally slipped out of you and you couldn’t help but whine, pulling another grin from her, “just wait til we get home, alright?” Before you could answer her you caught her wrist in your hand, pulling her slicked fingers to your mouth and sucking them between your lips, your tongue swirling around them until they were clean. “Good girl.” She praised with a grin.

“Don’t suppose we could leave early?” You asked with a pout and she laughed again.

“Not without a decent excuse.” She dropped onto the bed beside you, pulling you to her, “just one more night, then I’ll fuck you so good you won’t be able to do anything but scream.”

“Promise?” You asked as you stifled a yawn, burrowing into her chest.

“Baby the neighbours won’t be able to look at us for weeks.”

________________

@evilregal2002 @alcabots @dextur @m00nkn1ghts @daddy-heather-dunbar r @augustvandyne @supercriminalbean @prentiss-theorem @unsubologyy @svushots @happenstnces @sapphicprentiss @heidss @geekyandgay98 @pagetboobstarcomments @onmykneesformarvel l @inlovewithemilyprentiss @akingcalledkris @desperate-gay @amypoehlfey @overtrred28

[lulu2992]

Uncovering the unreleased Far Cry 5 in-game Encyclopedia

The almost complete but unused in-game encyclopedia, reconstructed thanks to the oasisstrings file.

Please note that it’s still cut content, so some information might not be relevant anymore.

You can read the oasisstrings file here. Pictures from this encyclopedia were also extracted and posted by @xbaebsae here.

Part 3: Locations - Whitetail Mountains

PIN-K0 Radar Station

Part of the Pine Line early warning system, the K0 facility was shuttered in the early 90's and left to the elements.

Rattlesnake Trail Bridge

A footbridge along the Makwa Trail, it connects one side of the gorge to the other, like bridges are supposed to do.

Snowshoe Lake

A clear glacial lake high up in the Whitetail Mountains. The water is always near freezing which makes skinny dipping a terrible idea.

Hunter’s Pass Shelter

A remote cabin used as a place to warm up or stay the night by hunters.

Ozhigwan Falls

One of the highest in the area, Ozhigwan falls is one of the natural wonders of the Park.... just don't step too close.

Jefferson Lookout Tower

A watch tower in the middle of the forest, meant to keep an eye out for forest fires or bears... or bears on fire.

Whitetail Park Visitor Center

It's where you'd go to find out what's going on at Whitetail Park, back when it was operational.

Hawkeye Tunnel

A tunnel through the mountain that offers a bird's eye view of the valley below.

Whitetail Park Ranger Station

The Ranger Station that patrols the Whitetail Park to keep it safe back when it was still open.

McKinley Dam

Named after the 25th president of the United States, McKinley Dam is used to regulate water and supply power to the people of Hope County.

Jacob’s Armory

Jacob has converted part of the McKinley Dam power station to be used as sanctuary against the coming apocalypse.

Grand View Hotel

The historic hotel in the Whitetail Mountains it was once the crown jewel of the park. Financial problems shut it down in the 80's. It's been empty ever since.

North Park Entrance

The Northern most entrance to Whitetail Park, abandoned now that the park is closed.

Bo’s Cave

A renown survivalist, Bo lives deep in forest. He is completely off the grid with none of the comforts of modern life.

Cooper Cabin

Another cabin that can be rented at Whitetail Park. Lately has been used as a safe-house by the Whitetail Militia.

Red Tail Cabin

A cabin in Whitetail Park that Eli's Militia use to take refuge from the constant attacks from Jacob's patrols.

F.A.N.G. Center

Friends of the Animals Nursing Grounds is home to Cheeseburger the Bear. Feeding times are 12:00 and 6:00 daily.

St. Francis Veteran's Center

A medical center for returning veterans, St. Francis was shuttered in the 90's when a more modern facility was constructed in a nearby county. When Eden's Gate moved in, Jacob found use for it as a place to indoctrinate his new recruits.

Lansdowne Airstrip

A small airstrip used by the locals for shipping in supplies and sightseeing tours.

Elliot Residence

Home to Rick Elliot and his family, one of the last people to holdout against Jacob and his army.

The Grill Streak

When Chad's diner was burned to the ground he retreated to his food truck. He still works hard to find food for Eli and his Militia.

Breakthrough Camp

A camp where parents sent their rebellious youth in order to get a taste of clean, wholesome outdoor living.

Old Sun Outfitters

The main supply store for camping and survival gear in the area. Seeing the writing on the wall, the owners closed shop and left while they still could.

Baron Lumber Mill

The Baron family lumber mill was already failing financially when Eden's Gate moved in and bought it out.

McNeill Residence

This house once belonged to the McNeill family before they were deemed sinners in the eyes of the cult and were forced to flee.

Linero Building Supplies

A small building supply store that sold lumber and materials. The owners ended up joining Eden's Gate, though not all of them willingly.

Haskell Lookout Tower

A watch tower overlooking the north region of the Whitetail Park.

Fort Drubman

Pretty much all the Hurk Sr. has left after his divorce from Adelaide. It's from here he runs his senate campaign with the dubious help of his son, Hurk Jr.

MCA Mobile Lab

A mobile lab where the Montana Conservation Authority conducts research on the local flora and fauna.

Loresca Residence

Former residence of Jay Loresca, former Navy Seal. Rumor has it he joined the Whitetails, but it's certain that he’s long gone.

Whitetail Mountains Rail Bridge

A bridge connecting the Henbane River and the Whitetail Mountains. It's been out of use ever since the Copperhead Rail stopped running.

Elk Jaw Lodge

Part of the Whitetail Park the Elk Jaw Lodge was a nice place to relax near Silver Lake. Now... not so much.

Wolf’s Den

The secret bunker of the Whitetail Militia, home to Eli, their leader, as well as Tammy and Wheaty.

Oberlin Picnic Area

A nice place for a group to sit down, eat, and take in baseball game at the nearby diamond.

Osprey Cabin

One of the many cabins that visitors can rent at Whitetail Park. Named after birds of prey, thy are the perfect hiding places for Eli's Militia.

Kestrel Cabin

One of the handful of individual cabins available to rent at Whitetail Park.

Mansfield Lookout Tower

An abandoned fire watch tower overlooking the southern region of Whitetail Park.

Frank’s Cabin

A cabin owned by a recluse known as Lonely Frank. He seems to like it that way.

Dansky Cabin

This is where Dicky Dansky comes to write his books about Sasquatches, Bigfoot, and other cryptids.

Valley View Overlook

A place for visitors to stop and take in the view of the forest below.

Stone Ridge Chalet

High up on a rocky ridge is a Chalet where hunters and park visitors could come and warm up.

Silver Lake Parking Lot

A nice place to stop and take a refreshing dip in nearby Silver Lake.

Clagett Boathouse

A boathouse and docks maintained by the Old Sun Outfitters.

Salvage Camp

A small camp where a salvage company is attempting to recover items from the wreck of a sunken plane

Dylan’s Master Bait Shop

In case you needed some fishing pointers... Dylan will likely just point you somewhere else.

Langford Falls Parking Lot

A spot for visitors to pause and take in the beauty of the nearby Langford Falls.

Widow’s Creek

One of Skylar's favorite fishing spots. She'll probably tell you where it got its name.

Fowler’s Retreat

A not-so-secret place where Dave keeps all of his extra Cheeseburger merchandise.

South Park Entrance

The southern enterance to Whitetail Park. Once the gem of Hope County, it has seen better days.

[sgiandubh]

Sans portion of the KC event went into Sam's pocket. All $75k of it. The autism money was a separate donation and paled in comparison. Stop making it something it wasn't. He did not give one dime oof his time or own money to the cause.

Dear KC Anon,

I never said all the money went to charity.

I repeat, if needed, since you seem to not get it: net profit is always calculated once all costs (fees, venue rental, transportation, dining and accommodation expenses, etc) are deducted. Then we can speak about the -again - as of yet undisclosed amount of that charity donation, which was the event's organizers pledge and exclusive responsibility. To this day, neither Camp Encourage, nor the event's organizers have shared figures. But I would take this kind of imperfect transparency any day over a dry announcement that '25% of the sales' profits will benefit the UK artists affected by COVID'. Knowing, in FMN's case, towards what projects did that profit share go, would have helped make it sound less patronizing, perhaps?

I wonder how do you know the amount of the donation or, for that matter, of S's fee. I would also have liked to see evidence of your bold assessment, not (common sense-ish) assumptions. And he never pretended to have given his time for free, nor disclosed any personal donation. What you're doing here is simply appeal to motive, with no concrete basis for it. Funnily enough, your ire seems exclusively to be directed towards S. Not Vandervaart, not Lacroix, who were there, too. Fair's fair?

This is bitterly grasping at straws, Anon. As you spent your bile writing that message, some Kansas children simply enjoyed the small opportunities that fundraiser provided. And to them, you can be sure, it did make a difference.

PS: I will not discuss your spelling. I assume you were nervous while typing on your phone.

[edited] : I completely forgot that on her 8th of March food podcast she did mention covering one year rent for a number of artist's working spaces in GLA. Unlike you, I have no problem acknowledging I was wrong about something. So, there you have it: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/grilled-by-the-staff-canteen/id1470936798?i=1000608350081. That doesn't make him the salaud in the story, that being said.

[lisutarid-a]

[Gakuen K] Munakata Reisi Route Translation

Survival Training Camp

LIST OF CHAPTERS

[Translation under the cut]

Saya: Blue club is amazing, renting the whole deserted island for the camp…I'm sure it will be a fun camp.

Fushimi: …I hope so.

Saya: What does that mean?

Fushimi: You'll see when you get there.

Munakata: …So, I'd like to welcome you all in a survival training camp.

Munakata: Because of the harshness of Mother Nature, the purpose of the camp is to learn the value of clothing, food and supporting one's life.

Munakata: Basically, we are on our own in providing ourselves with local food. Cooking also requires the use of the environment.

Munakata: Since the camp is on a deserted island, it would be a loss if you don't enjoy nature to the fullest.

Saya: (S-survival…!? Self-survival means that if you don't have food, you won't eat…!?)

Saya: Senpai, sorry. I have a question…

Munakata: Yeah, what is it?

Saya: If we don't get any food, does that mean we won't eat?

Munakata: Yeah, that's right. But don't worry so much, it'll be alright.

Saya: Eh?

Munakata: The island is rich in natural food. The water is clean, so there are plenty of fish, there are also a lot of nuts.

Munakata: I think it's impossible not to eat anything.

Saya: I-I see…

Munakata: It is rare for us to rent out the whole place, so let's all work together and this camp together.

Munakata: Now, let us briefly divide into groups.

Saya: (…So that's what Fushimi-kun meant earlier)

Saya: (I wonder if there are any wild beasts in the woods or anything)

Munakata: Konohana-kun.

Saya: Y-Yeah!

Munakata: I'll give you a tinderbox. Use this and try to build a fire.

Saya: Understood.

Munakata: If you can't build a fire, all the fish we catch will go to waste...

Saya: Understand! By the time everyone gets back, I'll do my best to build a fire!

Munakata: That's the spirit. Well, I'm off to go fishing.

Saya: Okay, please be careful!

The Blue club Member 5: Gyaaa!?

Munakata: Seems like they are enjoying the nature of the deserted island right away. I can't lose to them.

Saya: (Enjoying…that was the scream, wasn't it?)

Saya: (…It's not working at all)

Saya: (If I don't do it soon, everyone will come back, but if I rush, it won't work)

Saya: (Let's read the explanation one more time and try again)

Saya: (I'm glad I somehow managed to build a fire…Now I just have to wait for everyone to return)

Saya: (…)

Saya: (…)

Saya: …They are not coming back. I hope they are okay.

Fushimi: Haa…Did I make it back?

Saya: Ah, Fushimi-kun, welcome back! You look very tired, are you okay…?

Fushimi: This guy chased me.

Saya: Eh!?

Saya: Wild boar!?

Fushimi: I killed it, so this will be food too.

Saya: It's huge! We can share it with everyone.

Fushimi: I also picked some nuts.

Saya: Wow! So many…!

Akiyama: That's amazing.

Saya: Akiyama-senpai! Thank you for your hard work. What is that you are holding in your hand…

Akiyama: While diving, I found some turban shells and got a lot of them.

Saya: Eh, turban shells!? You find it here?

Akiyama: I couldn't believe it either and had to double check. Let's grill and eat it later.

Akiyama: It's about time for the other members of the club to return, I think we should make more bonfires.

Saya: Yeah!

Saya: (They brought different kinds of food)

Saya: (It seems that Munakata-senpai was right when he said that we didn't need to worry about food)

Munakata: Looks like the harvest turned out to be good.

Saya: Munakata-senpai, please take a look! So many things!

Munakata: Excellent. We could live here for a week with all this.

Fushimi: No, it's would be hard, so please don't even joke about it.

Munakata: Is that so…What a pity.

Fushimi: So, what did the President bring?

Munakata: Ah, I've caught some fish. We have enough for everyone, so please grill these.

Saya: Okay. Understood!

Saya: Haa…It was delicious. I'm full.

Fushimi: The wild boar mean wasn't that bad.

Munakata: Well. Thank you all for your hard work today. I think each of you fulfilled the purpose of this training camp.

Munakata: Awashima-sensei, who was unable to attend due to a summer cold, has generously provided us with a tent.

Saya: (Awashima-sensei had a summer cold…It's a pity we couldn't have a training camp together)

Munakata: Please set them on your own and go to bed.

[Prev chapter][Next chapter]

[swaglet]

25 + 26 :3c

25. if your soul was a color, what would it be?

i think. yellow. to me yellow is the loudest and most outstanding color compared to the rest and it also exists in a lot of places in nature and also did i mention it's loud and very hard to miss. it's also the color of the headlights that illuminate the road enough to see but NOT blind everyone around you. i feel like that is like me

26. if you could live anywhere with anyone you want, where would be and who would you bring?

Ummm. I have not thought about this enough. right now my mind is thinking about chilling in an RV park like one of those camps where you can bring your RV and park it in the space you rent or just sent up a tent or a little shack or something because since you rent it you can put whatever you want on it. and i bring all my friends there with me and we all hang out. we go to work like normal but when we're done we all just come back and hang out and go play on the beach like in the water and on the sand and we have fires roasting weenies and shit and grill food and go fishing and go on bike rides and shit. that sounds like the life

[thesleepingowlao3]

The response is mumbled, and sounds lackluster even to him, but his mind’s elsewhere—preoccupied with his forage of the glove compartment for one of the gas station snacks Mr. Stark keeps hidden in there. He’d skipped breakfast again, and the trayful of cafeteria mush four hours earlier hadn’t even put a pinhead-sized dent in his appetite. His entire afternoon was spent flush-faced, trying to ignore the looks people kept shooting him when his stomach wouldn’t stop loudly growling.

“Gremlin,” he says, pressing his palm against Peter’s temple and gently shoving him away. He eyes Peter for another moment, seeming to consider something, before apparently making up his mind and turning back to the road. “You know what I could really go for right now?” he asks, pulling away from the curb. “Something hot and greasy. I’m thinking we swing by that grubby hole-in-the-wall diner you like on our way back to camp, what say you, kid?”

It doesn’t take much to convince him.

…

As he always does when they come here together, Mr. Stark slides the restaurant owner five crisp hundred dollar bills to flip around the WE’RE OPEN! sign hanging in the window and lock the door for an hour. But the twisting in Peter’s gut at the sight (a sharper, tighter kind of twisting than simple hunger pangs), is new. He swallows heavily as Mr. Stark flicks his wallet closed and tucks it back into his pocket without a second thought.

How many days’ worth of rent, Peter wonders, would five hundred bucks cover? He tries to run the calculations, but his brain feels as slow now as it did when Mrs. Warren called him out in physics, and he gives up when Mr. Stark begins steering him towards their usual booth in the far back corner.

Peter’s façade of normalcy is flimsier than he thought, because unlike the usual grilling he gets every Friday afternoon wherein he’s forced to relay every detail of his week, Mr. Stark seems to sense he’s not much up for conversation. Instead, the man fills the silence himself, keeping up a steady stream of monologues about nanotech and business and the pushover whose name he can’t remember down at R&D that he wants to fire but Miss Potts won’t let him. They only have to wait a few minutes tops before the waitress—a flustered twenty-something who Peter’s pretty sure is new; she can’t stop gaping at Mr. Stark, and her hands are shaking a little when she refills their drinks—brings their orders.

Despite Mr. Stark’s claim to want something hot and greasy, the only thing he gets for himself besides black coffee is a disgustingly healthy-looking salad—either of which would be gross enough on their own but are particularly revolting in combination.

Peter’s side of the table meanwhile is crammed with artery-clogging plates, and he doesn’t waste time clearing it.

Three burgers, two milkshakes, and a very large basket of fries later, all thoughts of money have dissipated.

In the booth bench across from him, the man raises a brow at Peter’s empty plate, his own having been whisked away by their waitress a good twenty minutes ago. Without even a hint of jest or judgement in his voice, he asks, “You still hungry? We can order more if that wasn’t enough to tide you over until dinner.”

And Peter, to his vague sense of shame, finds that he is still a little hungry. For a fleeting second, he considers taking Mr. Stark up on his offer. If it were only the two of them, he probably would have. The idea though of the waitress or cook bearing witness to Peter’s insatiable appetite makes the back of his neck heat with preemptive embarrassment. His insatiable appetite in and of itself makes him feel oddly guilty. Who’s Peter to take this much food, when other people are out there starving to death on a daily basis?

(Nobody, his thoughts answer of their own accord. Peter’s nobody.)

So he shakes his head, ignoring the dubious look the man gives him in response, and stacks the fries basket and glasses and crumpled napkins and ketchup cups all on his plate to try and make cleanup easier for the waitress. “Thank you for the food and everything, Mr. Stark.”

Mr. Stark hums. Pauses. Then, “You know you can tell me when you need a snack break, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“We’ve always got time for that, bud.”

[spammynegrutou]

Hi! Once again the Riku brain rot has consumed my entire being, so here's some headcanons I've created (not in any particular order).

BASIC HCS 💕

He's Handy! He can fix almost anything. He loves tinkering with his Gummi Ship!

His favorite food is grilled fish! White fish specifically, like flounder, sea bass, tilapia, etc. And he has a taste for savory treats, which combats Sora's sweet tooth.

He comes from a loving home. He loves his parents, a lot and they love him. However, his biological mother passed away when he was 7ish (after BBS, but before Kairi arrived). His father became emotionally unavailable for a while, until he met Riku's stepmom. She filled her motherly role over Riku and he thanks her for it. He loves his step mom!!!

His dad taught him a variety of things like: self defense, how to fix common things, fishing, basic survival skills, and the basics of building

He moved out after KH2, and got his own place. The reason why is because after everything he's been through he needs his own space to brood about how small everything is. Albeit sad, his father approved and has the land lady check up on him every so often 🥺 Riku helps outs his elderly land lady and pays rent on TIME! He's a responsible boy 😊

Riku isn't all into fashion but he can DRESS. He loves a good "urban/street wear" look, and fucks heavy with grunge. He appreciates the chains and skull designs that come with "punk" fashion but doesn't think he can pull it off

Riku doesn't spend a needless amount of time on his looks. He has gel for his hair, a skin care routine, and a nighttime ritual to keep his hygiene up. He's very much a pretty boy in our eyes, but that's just his genes. He does the bare minimum to keep himself looking presentable

Speaking of his looks, he surprisingly gets his good genes from his dad. The muscles, the hair, the jaw line, all from his old man. His father was most definitely a looker back in the day! That being said, Riku has his mother's smile and her eyes. He also carries her temperament with him.

Along with tinkering being a hobby of his, he likes video games too! But he's not a complete shut in video game nerd. Riku LOVES the outdoors. The wilderness calls him like he's a feral animal !!! He likes camping, and fishing! He's the main guy on the islands you'd go to for some handy survival tips. He knows a good amount of edible plants, fungi, berries, leaves, and etcetera to eat if he ever got stranded. He has one or two books on that kind of stuff but he doesn't read it anymore.

After the events of KH2, Riku didn't go back to highschool. Instead he got a GED (or KH equivalent) online and started taking community college courses. He's doing it to make his dearly departed mother proud.

To add on to that, Riku is a fast learner. He's quite intellectual when it comes to mathematics, some history, and biology but please don't ask him why the author made the curtains blue 😭 the boy is emotionally stunted. He is NOT using critical thinking when it comes down to poetry or thick prose. He has some emotional intelligence but compared to Sora, he might as well have the emotional capacity of a brick wall 😭

Alright! That's all I have for now (it's 5am, I should be sleeping) if I have any more I'll post em lol

XOXO Mx. Jade 💕

[etphonemom]

I'm Never Going to Summer Camp Again

TW in tags

Last school year we had a new kid, let's call her Tiffany or Tiff for short. She definitely reeked of R & R (Rich 'Rents) which made sense because I go to a private school on scholarship. Any who, we became friends pretty fast. She hated the other kids in our grade, especially because they tried to suck up to her the second she walked into class. Apparently, she was draped in the best designer, some before they were released to the public. Everyone wanted to be her friend and there were rumors her parents were celebrities or something.

Tiff transferred in near the end of the school year which was odd and she never explained to me why. I didn't care too much if I'm being honest. She invited me over for dinner one night and I was excited because she told me all about her dogs and cats! It was a fun night of cuddles, pets and the most delicious pizza I have ever had the honor of eating. They make it in their yard on a grill/smoker whatever. It held all of the finest ingredients and danced in my mouth all the way down to my stuffed belly.

Her parents asked her if she was excited for summer camp and she shrugged, leaning her head on her hand, "I thought it'd be cool if I could stay here with Bella for the summer..."

They looked at each other and sighed. Simultaneously they perked up and faced us, you could almost see the image of a lightbulb hovering above their heads. "Why doesn't Bella go with you? Wouldn't that be fun?"

She sits up straight and asks me, "Would you want to? Would your mom let you?"

I look down at my lap and fiddle with my fingers, "I don't think we could afford it. I'm sorry."

I never was a clingy person, nor did I care about having friends or not, but I suddenly felt a wave of separation anxiety at the thought of not seeing Tiff during the summer. I hope she wouldn't find a new best friend and forget all about me next year, or worse; transfer schools again.

I flinch when her parents laugh together. Her Mom cradling a glass of wine with her other hand over her chest, "Oh nonsense! If your Mom is okay with it then we wouldn't mind taking care of that for you!"

I perk up, but sink back down after thinking about it for a moment, "My Mom would never accept that... She hates when people try to help us with money."

Her Mom does that thing people do when they are reacting to something they think is sweet and pitiful, making her look like one of those fish with upside down looking mouths. Tiff's Dad speaks up, "Well, we do get a discount now that Layla works there! We can talk to her ourselves if you'd like!"

I turn my head to the side and Tiff understood my confusion, "Layla's my big sister. She's a camp counselor there, but she's totally lame now."

We giggle and her Mom rolls her eyes then playfully back hands her Dad on his shoulder when he begins to chuckle too. "Well that settles it! We can talk to your Mom when we drop you off later!"

I was surprised when my Mom said yes, but I didn't dare question it either. Camp was supposed to start a week after the school year but I was packed way before then. When her parents come to pick me up, my Mom ran through the long list of things I already triple checked that I packed. We gave each other a tight, long hug. This is the first time I have ever been away from home for longer than a night, let alone three hours away from each other. I'm not one who normally gets nervous, but this is new for me. I'm so used to being able to run to my Mom whenever I was in trouble or worried about something. What if I hated camp? I couldn't immediately go back home even if I wanted to! I mean, I know if it was an emergency she would drop everything and find a way to come and get me. The good thing is Tiff's parents said they have great cell phone reception so if I'm feeling homesick I can call her whenever I want.

When we arrived at camp, all of my anxieties fell away. It was beautiful! There were 100 kids of different ages gathered in an organized crowd and a straight line of 12 adults, one being Layla who was pointed out by Tiff.

There were 10 cabins, a mess hall, a lake, and a huge boathouse all that surround the gorgeous center of the campgrounds. It reminds me of the quads I would see on my college visits, but less artificial.

The grass was mowed recently, but was left with a couple of inches which complimented the bushes, trees and flowers in bloom. There were a few boulders that one could easily climb and sit on with a friend, and there was one in particular that stood out amongst the rest. I don't even know if it qualifies as a boulder, or if you would call it a mini cliff. It was in the shape of an upside down scalene triangle. It doesn't look naturally shaped that way, but it feels as if it has existed here longer than anything else.

When I would inch closer to it, an eerie feeling crawled along my arms and spine giving me goosebumps. I didn't think too much of it at first, but I always fastened my pace whenever I walked by it.

Towards the end of our time at camp, we were getting ready to have a final celebration. There was going to be a performance given by each cabin; some dance numbers, singing and one cabin even wrote their own little play to perform. I didn't want to leave! Everyone was so nice and fun, we did all sorts of cool things but I knew I'd be back one day. Hell, this made me want to become being a camp counselor. That was until, the day of the performances. The last day at camp.

I found out that we would be performing under the creepy boulder, as an odd stage of sorts. I thought maybe since the boulder slanted up at an angle it helped block the sun or something. When I asked why, nobody knew. Tiff said it's just what they always have done.

The counselors laid out a bunch of picnic blankets for us to sit on, separating us by cabins and organizing it in order of performance. There were two rows, and each group would get up starting from the first set of blankets on the left to the right.

The energy was off somehow, I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't enjoy myself through the performances, I faked my applause and smile. My heart rate spiked a bit more after every performance. Ours was the last to go on; our cabin had been practicing a dance but I was awfully embarrassed to dance in front of a crowd, so I exaggerated how bad my period cramps were so they wouldn't force me to participate.

When our cabin was done, a woman took the 'stage' and her booming but melodic voice slid into my ears, temporarily drowning out the uneasiness that has grown in the pit of my stomach. At first, I assumed she was a camp counselor but the longer I looked at her I couldn't place her at all in my memories.

"Wow those were some amazing and creative performances! Let's give it up for each other and ourselves! Now, the moment we all have been waiting for! A tradition we have been maintaining for almost 170 years! The Treasure Hunt!"

Everyone around me cheered and I gave Tiff a confused look, but she just kept staring straight ahead. I gently nudged her with my elbow and she didn't budge. I thought it was weird but brushed it off as her trying not to be rude while the lady was talking... which in hindsight, was a first.

"Now you all know the rules and you all know the stakes! All around the campgrounds are 111 hidden bars of gold! You will have to look high and low, sometimes even deep! Whoever takes one will get to bring it home with them and whoever doesn't..... welll let's hope that isn't you!"

She laughs and everyone joins her, but all of their laughs are the same... and every single one of them is laughing, at the same exact intervals. The monotone choir filling me with apprehension towards this treasure hunt. I nudge Tiff again and she doesn't budge, just continues to laugh. I wave my hand in front of her face and nothing! I wish I ran as far as I could, but I didn't know then what I know now.

"Alright Campers! On my count! 10!"

I jump as the choir shouts in unison,

"9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! TAKE IT ALL!"

Within milliseconds everyone, including the counselors, collectively shoots up and runs in every single direction. I'm glued to the ground and am frozen in shock at the events that follow.

Maybe a dozen kids stay close by and dig into the ground with their arms, eyes expressionless but the rest of their face is scrunched as they ferociously heave dirt out with occasional grunts. My eyebrows arch in confusion and concern, some of them are digging so fast they constantly fling dirt in their own face and yet they remain unfazed. Focused.

I look back at the 'stage' and the lady is still there, standing in the same exact spot, unbothered. She halfheartedly observes with a neutral expression on her face.

I finally gain the strength to stand, and I turn around and see a few kids had climbed on top of the cabins. One of them is jumping up and down, holding what I assumed is one of the 'gold bars'. In what felt like slow motion, I reached my hand forward and yelled "WATCH OUT" as I am forced to observe only the first act of viciousness of the afternoon. Behind him a girl shoves her shoulder hard into his back and he stumbles close to the ledge. The gold bar falls from his hands and something compels me towards it.

Without realizing, I am sprinting in the direction of the cabin and I pick up the bar. Once it's in my hands, time stops for a moment. It's not warm or cool. The texture is like flour, but when I remove one hand, there is no dust, powder or excess of any kind on my fingers. It's a single solid piece of gold.

My worry snaps me out of the time trap when I feel a hard thump echo in the ground below me. I slowly turn and see the boy laying on the ground, groaning in pain. It wasn't a deadly fall, but he definitely broke his ankle. He's laying on his stomach and his foot has twisted in a 180 motion as the toe of his shoe points at the sky.

All of a sudden, I feel it. I feel the collective hunger within me; it's not greed... no it's, it's like an urgency. I don't want to hold this bar... I need to. The girl jumps off of the roof, rolls on the ground into an upright position and stares through me. I hold the bar like a football in my left arm, and I hold up my right arm in front of me, bending 90 degrees at the elbow horizontally as I slam the side of my forearm into her neck. She gasps and steps to the side holding where I took her breath. I run without giving her a second thought.

I run towards the boulder. There are maybe 20 kids sitting down, scattered amongst the blankets. Once I reach my cabin's blanket, I recognize the familiarity of the current seating arrangement. Everyone is sitting back to where they originally were seated, some of them with dirt stuck to their arms and faces. Some with random cuts and developing knots. Out of instinct I didn't have before, I lift up my legs in a half jump and land hard on my ass. It hurts, but the anxiousness has completely disappeared.

I look around back to the grass and there are only a few kids still digging and two kids wrestling over a bar. Wait, no. One of them is a counselor. They both end up back on their feet and in one swift motion she kicks the kid square in his chest. When he falls backwards, she scoops the bar and sprints back to her cabin's blanket.

I glance back to the kid and watch him start to dig another hole, until a bar soars through the air landing in front of him. Unflinchingly, he immediately grabs it and zips over to his cabin's blanket. I look in the direction of which the bar came from and there are a few kids who have now separated, continuing the search for a gold bar.

A sense of calm has taken over my mind and body, I don't even register Tiff sitting back down next to me. She doesn't acknowledge me and faces forwards towards the 'stage'.

Kids and counselors zoom in sporadically until almost everyone is back in their seat. Out of the corner of my eye I see a woman limping towards us. It's Layla. I thought she might've broken her foot, but there is a kid clinging to her leg. She's clutching the bar tight and every few steps tries to shake him off but he won't budge. Once she gets close enough that I think she's going to make it, he opens his mouth wide and chomps deeply into the side of her calf. Her blood cloaks his braces, lips, chin and runs down to her foot. He lets go once she drops the bar out of pain. He snatches it up and races to his spot, not even bothering to wipe the blood off his mouth.

The lady on the stage bellows an apology,

"I'm sorry, but that was the last gold bar. Congratulations to everyone that has successfully taken one! You should be very proud of yourselves! As for you, Layla is it? I'm afraid we can't help you... you will be missed."

My fear roars back into my stomach. What the fuck is she talking about. Layla collapses onto her knees, sobbing. The lady gives us a final statement,

"Alrighty, well I'm afraid that's the end of today's festivities! Thank you for sharing some of your lovely summer with us, we hope to see you again next year! Grab your bags from your cabins and make your way towards the parking lot, your families are waiting for you there. Take care now!"

Tiff snaps back to life and looks at me, smiling,

"Did you like it here? I know it's kind of lame and childish, but I had a lot more fun since you came along!"

My jaw drops and I am too stunned to speak, all I can muster is the smallest of nods. She gives me a confused look with a small smile. She giggles and pulls me into a side hug,

"Thank you for making me feel like I am not alone. You're my best friend."

My bottom lip becomes dry because I lost all function in my face, I gain enough strength to squeak out,

"Uh huh."

She let's go of me and runs to the cabin. I reluctantly follow after her and we walk to the parking lot in silence. When we get there we see her parents are already there and they're talking to Layla. At once, they hug her tightly and ignore the bleeding on her leg. Her mom opens her eyes, pulls back and grins at us when we walk up,

"Hey girls! How was camp?"

Before she can reply, Layla walks away like a zombie back to camp. Tiff rolls her eyes and hides a smile,

"I guess it was good, thank you for letting me bring Bella!"

"Of course! We love Bella! I'm glad you two had a good time! Hey Bella, did she tell you this is where her father and I met?!"

"Ughh Mom, I don't want to hear this again!"

"What? I just wanted to tell Bella the story, she hadn't heard it yet! C'mon now it's a funny story!"

Tiff grunts, rolls her eyes and grabs my bag. Her Dad then steps forward and grabs our stuff and throws it into the already open trunk. He slams it shut, places his hands on his hips and smiles. He arches his back, reaches one arm over his head towards the opposite side and then after a few seconds he repeats with the opposite arm.

"Alright my fair ladies, let's get this long road trip moving! Bella, I know your Mom misses you a ton, let's get you back A S A P!"

Layla walks back by us with a bag towards what I assume is her car. She opens the door and carelessly tosses her bag in.

Tiff covers her eyes with her hands,

"God Dad, you're so embarrassing! Let's go."

She moves to the car, but I can't take my eyes off of Layla. I can't shake off everything that has just happened. Why the fuck are they all acting so casual? Layla opens the driver's door and slides in. She turns on the car, resting her hands on the wheel and stares through the window.

"Bella, you coming?"

After a few seconds, I walk to the opposite side of the car and hop in without saying a word. Her Dad turns on the radio and starts singing along to a song he clearly doesn't know the words to, making her Mom laugh and clap. He reverses slowly then gears into drive. He starts to turn but before he can move forward, Layla's car screeches and cuts in front of us. She swerves to the right and maybe 100 feet later she crashes into a tree.

I can't blink, I can't breathe, I have loss control of my regular bodily functions. The only relief I get is the thought of her parents finally addressing whatever the fuck this is! But, to my dismay, they continue to sing along to the radio and drive carefully unperturbed.

As we drive by, I stare at Layla's destroyed vehicle. Her head crashed through the front window, colliding with the tree. The glass shards sticking out of her sides, bleeding profusely. She twitches a few times, and I can't take my eyes off of her. I turn and look through the back window and watch her go limp. Her Dad turns up the radio even louder.

(below is the ending I added to fit r/nosleep's guidelines)

When I got home I collapsed into my mom's arms crying and I tried to tell her what happened. She called Tiff's parents and they said that Tiff was an only child, there is no Layla and insisted I was sleep deprived because I was homesick. We looked it up online and there were no results for the suicide, a car crash at a camp or a Treasure Hunt tradition at the camp.

I know what I saw was real, I know Layla was real. My mom believes me but didn't believe the story. She was confused when I pointed out the discount her parents said they had because Layla worked there and she looked at me concerned,

"What discount? They told me parents donate money so there are a few beds dedicated for kids who normally wouldn't be able to attend."

Still, doubt creeps into my mind sometimes but I know what happened. I will never ever go to a summer camp again. Tiff tried to call me a few times but I didn't pick up. When the school year started she wasn't there. I still don't know if that's a good or bad thing and it keeps me up at night even now.

Thank you for reading ! Hope you enjoyed ! If you want to support my writing you can buy me a human beverage ! Find me on my reddit for more short stories or my response to writing prompts on this page !

Stay unidentified & friendly 👽🖖 ~ E.T.

[willowandthyme]

Survivor Sulani: Rules and Gameplay

Hello friends! I have been trying to break away from my rinse and repeat gameplay of creating a single Sim, playing with them for about a week, then getting bored of vanilla gameplay and starting over with a different save. I thought a Challenge gameplay would be fun, and I had just purchased Island Living, so naturally I decided Sims Survivor was the way to go! This challenge is based on The Lazy Kiwi’s Survivor challenge on YouTube as well as FakeGamerGirl’s Danger Island, with some tweaks. Here’s how I’ve been playing it if you want to give it a try! 

Set Up:

Location: Key Point Lot on Sulani

Lot Traits: Oceanic Paradise, Great Soil, Sunny Aspect

Lot Challenges: Off the Grid and Simple Living for difficulty

Amenities Provided:

BBQ Drum grill (Jungle Adventure)

[Upgraded during Gameplay] Auld Crow Woodburning Stove (BG)

ICEbox Vintage Fridge (BG)

Chillville portable cooler (Outdoor Retreat)

The Admiral’s Fish Trap (Island Living)

Handfashioned Garden Box (Outdoor Retreat)

It’s a Shower Tarp camp shower (Outdoor Retreat)

BlandCo Diddly Squat Toilet (For Rent)

[Upgraded during Gameplay] Luau Loo Public Restroom (Island Living)

Cabin in a Bag tent (Outdoor Retreat)

Household:

12 Sims living on an island together, using MCCC Mod to make the household bigger. 

One “Host” that does not live on lot full time. At Challenges and Tribal Council, host is invited to lot and “Add to Family” is used in MCCC for control. After each, he is removed from family using MCCC.

Sims are set to full autonomy so they can fend for themselves without being constantly controlled, but can be controlled when needed to set up challenges, daily tasks, and tend to needs.

Sims will need to quit any jobs they have so they remain on lot at all times.

Gameplay:

Sims are divided into 3 tribes/teams at the beginning of the game (Red, Yellow, Blue)

Each tribe is put into a Club for easier socializing and tribe activities such as fishing. Any alliances made with other castaways will be formed as a club. Tribe clubs will disband when there are 7 Sims remaining and tribes will merge into one.

Tribes are given the first 2 days to get acquainted with the island and each other before any challenges.

Sims must cook all meals on the grill (or upgraded stove) by fishing or collecting in fish trap or harvest from garden that has been planted. They also have a cooler for quick meals.

Sims must maintain and harvest garden.

Sims must collect water to use shower and toilet and stock fridge with ice.

Any appliances that break can either be repaired or replaced. 

Challenges will be held on every 3rd day.

Winners of the challenge will be given tribe or individual immunity, and some challenge winners will also receive additional prizes at the next Tribal Council.

"Host" will be used off lot to obtain prizes such as additional ingredients so that players remain on lot at all times.

Tribal Council will be held the day following a challenge. 

Immunity:

Depending on the challenge, Immunity will be awarded to either a tribe or an individual, with the exception of the last 2 challenges. Immunity means that a tribe or individual cannot be voted for at Tribal Council to be kicked off the island.

There is also a “hidden immunity” for individuals. If Sims find these rare items: Red “Fingers of Sulani” by beach combing or the green “Heart of Sulani” necklace by diving, they can use these at Tribal Council to save themselves from elimination.

Hidden immunities can be held on to until needed. They can also be given to another Sim. Only 1 hidden immunity item can be in a Sim's inventory. Any additional hidden immunity items must be sold and cannot be given away.

Once a Sim has used a hidden immunity, that Sim cannot use another hidden immunity for the rest of the game. Any additional hidden immunity items found after a hidden immunity is used must be sold and cannot be given away.

Once a Sim has given away a hidden immunity, they cannot use another that is found for themselves at a later time. Any additional hidden immunity items found must be sold.

Hidden immunities cannot be used in the last 2 challenges.

Tribal Council:

Sims will “vote” to remove someone from the island based on their lowest relationship level. This is determined by relationship numerical number using the UI Cheats Extension MOD.

Sims with the most number of votes will be eliminated. 

In the instance of a tie, all Sims except the Sims up for elimination will vote a second time based on relationship level of the Sims in danger.

Once eliminated, they are removed from the island using the “Remove from Family” option in MCCC. (They can be split from household and moved out once the household is under 8 Sims, but it will not allow this option if there are more)

Tribal Councils will determine who gets eliminated from the island until 3 Sims remain.

Overall winner will be determined by bringing all former castaways back to island for final Tribal Council. The former castaways will vote for the castaway they want to win, based on the Sim they have the most relationship with. Highest number of votes will determine the winner. Winner is cheat coded $500,000 as prize money.

Find the list of challenges and their rules here (LINK)

[garbinge]

Let me come home

Joel Miller x F!Reader

Day 16 from these April Prompts: “A teal colored car”

Summary: You find something that you expect Joel and Ellie to be excited about, but it leaves them underwhelmed. As they come around, you take the time to enjoy the moment together before things become past repairable. 

A/N: TLOU is one of my favorite shows ever, which makes it really hard to write fic for it because I want to make sure I’m doing it justice. I have a few ideas in my head that live rent free... and this was one of them. Enjoy! This is my first time writing Joel so please be kind <3 

Word Count: 3.0k 

Warnings: All my fics are 18+ regardless of content. Major Character Death. Mentions of blood, guns, and canon-level heartbreak. This is angsty af my friends. 

TLOU Taglist: @iraot @justreblogginfics @drabbles-mc​

Joel and Ellie were sound asleep. It was something you didn’t see too often, Joel rarely slept through the night when you had bed in a QZ let alone here in the middle of the woods. Ellie was a different story, that girl could fall asleep pretty much anywhere. You figured you’d ask for forgiveness later and let Joel sleep through the night and continue on patrol for the night. You ran your normal few laps that you had been accustomed to over the past few nights you camped in this area, taking the past few days to rest and gather equipment from the nearby towns. Eventually, you expanded your patrol out a little wider, not by much, maybe 20 minutes out. That’s when you found it. The pickup truck that was abandoned near the edge of the woods. It was a metallic teal color and looked like the most recently released model from before the outbreak. The real test was gas. But before you could check that, you needed to check for bodies, alive or dead. That took you maybe another 10 minutes, checking the perimeter to make sure it wasn’t a trap, your gun in hand, finger sitting straight next to the trigger. All clear. After making your way back, you pulled your backpack off and pulled out a tube and quickly siphoned the tank to find it was pretty full, it didn’t take much effort to pull the liquid up the tube. You knew better than to hot wire it now, it would wake up the company you were with and give them heart attacks. 

So instead, you made your way back, marking a trail so you could find the truck easier with Joel and Ellie. 

By the time you made it back, dawn had begun. Joel was awake, heating up coffee on the portable grill you had found in the town over. 

“I’ve been worried.” He said at a whisper, not wanting to wake Ellie up. 

“Clearly.” You pointed at what he was doing. 

“I didn’t hear anything concerning, you logged at 4:30,” he pointed to the notebook insinuating he knew you were okay, “plus, I know you can handle yourself.” His texan accent was thick at the end of that sentence. 

“I found somethin’.” You said with a smile on your face, rifle over your shoulder. You were actually surprised he couldn’t figure it out, smell the gasoline on you. 

“What’d you find?” Ellie’s eager voice alerted from behind you two. 

“A car.” You raised your eyebrows knowing it would get an excited response from her, and you were right as she jumped up and down. “Well, actually, even better, a truck.” You turned to Joel now who looked less than thrilled. “With gas. Three-quarter tank.” 

Joel’s face went from less than thrilled to worried in seconds. He was standing up now, taking the rifle from your shoulder. 

“What’s his problem?” Ellie said as her head turned to watch Joel follow the trail you left, picking up on it quickly. 

“Grumpy.” You mumbled under your breath and followed behind him, nodding your head for Ellie to follow. “I perimeter checked it, Joel!” You called out to him. 

“No one just leaves an almost full tank car somewhere for fucks sake!” He called back at you, his voice moving from annoyed to pissed very fast. You knew it was because he cared about you, Ellie included, whether he wanted to admit that or not. 

Before you knew it, your quick pace brought you to the car, Joel was already searching for signs in the surrounding area, anything that made this feel more uneasy than it already was. 

He came back, the rifle over his shoulder verse in his hand and as he approached you and Ellie who were standing there patiently waiting for him. He held the gun out to you, it was Joel’s way of apologizing, there was a lot to be said in the gesture. His way of  letting you know he jumped to conclusions and was just looking out for y’all. 

“So?!” You threw the strap to the rifle back over you and spread your arms out like you were a game show model auctioning off a prize. Both Ellie and Joel’s faces were underwhelmed as they took in the truck. “It’s a 2003! Brand new!” You lifted your voice in hopes of lifting their faces. 

“It’s fuckin’ teal.” Ellie said as her head tilted to the side. 

“Did I mention it’s got practically a full tank of gas?!” You retorted. 

“But it’s fuckin’ teal.” Joel repeated Ellie’s sentence which made her look up at him in a little bit of admiration. If you weren’t so pissed at their reactions it would have warmed your heart. 

“It’s a fuckin’ Chevy Silverado. With 4 wheels.” You opened the driver door to show them the inside. “Comfy leather fuckin’ seats. Way more comfortable than the piece of shit shoes we’ve been walking in.”

Joel knew you had a point, but he did too. 

“This thing is gonna stick out like a fuckin’ disco ball if we take it.” He was approaching the car to look around. 

“If?” You questioned him and bent your head down like he was crazy. “You wanna make it to Tommy’s? This is how we do it.” You were now meeting Joel with what he knew, his own attitude. 

You could tell your last statement was sticking in his head, going back and forth about the best way to stay stealth. 

“Joel, any car, any thing  is gonna stick out like a fuckin’ disco ball.” You bargained with him. 

“She’s right.” Ellie chimed in. Both of your heads snapped to the girl. “I’m just sayin’, I’m not a big fan of the color either, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?” 

“Exactly.” You looked back at Joel. 

“Pack up your stuff.” He looked over at Ellie who was running back immediately with delight. His gaze moved back to you, a softened look grew on his face, another wordless gesture. Thanks. 

_____

You began your ride shortly after packing up. Finding maps and CDs in the glove box. 

“Oh my gosh.” Fidgeting with the CD you put it in the player and raised the volume. “We loved this song!” You couldn’t hide your exhilaration at the song that began playing through the speakers as you looked over at Joel in the driver seat. 

As the whistling began for the first 20 seconds of the song, you could have swore you saw Joel’s mouth curl up into a smile before you belted out the first few lyrics. 

“Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma' and Pa'. Not the way that I do love youuuu!” You let a country twang out as you sang, one that you used often to mock Joel. 

The next set of lyrics was the man’s voice and you expected Joel to chime in but you let out a disappointing groan when you were met with silence. 

“Joel, you’re supposed to sing the holy moly me oh my part.” 

“I ain’t sayin’ holy moly.” The rasp in his voice was deeper than usual. 

“You just did!” Ellie teased and let out a giggle from the back seat with a large smile on her face at what was occurring in front of her eyes. 

You turned to face the girl in the back seat and grabbed her face lightly in between your hands and sang the next set of lyrics to her. “Man, oh, man, you're my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness, there ain't nothing that I need.”

She blushed and let out another giggle, mesmerized by your spirit and ability to find joy in pretty much everything on your journey west. 

Turning back around in your seat, you sang under your breath as you looked out the window, your left hand resting on the console of the truck when it was met with another more calloused and rough hand. 

You didn’t bother to glance down, just grabbed his fingers and intertwined them within your own as you kept humming and singing under your breath. 

“Oh, home, let me come home. Home is wherever I'm with you.” 

His thumb caressed over yours to the beat, a little notion that didn’t go unnoticed by you or by the girl in the back seat. Her eyes stared at the rare occasion of affection being displayed between you and Joel. She knew you two were a couple, you had told stories about your time together pre and post outbreak so what she had originally assumed became real. Ellie continued to watch the two of you interact as the song played, small smiles and glances exchanged, a couple laughs, it was nice seeing the both of you have moments like this. She wished this is where the story ended, you three driving off into the sun ready for the road of adventure to come.

_____

It wasn’t where the story ended though. The car crapped out on them a few days in, and although they got pretty far, Wyoming was still a ways away and winter was here, in full effect. 

The winter coat and boots you had picked up at some abandoned mall before the weather got too much to handle weren’t enough to stop you from getting sick. The sniffles started on your journey through the snow, you waved Joel and Ellie off, telling them it was just the cold and that you were fine. A few days in it was becoming hard to breathe. 

You woke up one morning, burning up, Joel was over your body that was covered in your sleeping bag and his. His hand was on your forehead until you were leaning over and fighting a coughing fit. 

“She needs medicine.” Ellie’s voice was desperate as she stood at your feet. 

“I’m fine.” You said with labored breathing. 

“You’re not fine.” Joel said with similar desperation in voice. 

Once you laid back down your eyes looked at his, they were filled with pain and worry, you lifted your hand out of the sleeping bag and placed it on Joel’s face and rubbed your gloved thumb on his face. “I just need sleep, I’ll be fine in the morning.”  

“Take this at least, please.” Joel’s voice was muffled as he turned around to his bag to pull out tylenol. You both knew it wouldn’t do much but it would cut the fever which was better than nothing so you didn’t put up a fight and washed down the pills with a shot of whiskey. “Atta girl.” Joel said as he held your head up to drink the liquid and then passed you a jug of water to stay hydrated before moving to set up a fire. 

The few doses of Tylenol did help, you also did a good job at hiding the pain and swallowing your coughs. Convincing the two of them to continue the journey with you versus watching you fight a fever was hard enough, you wanted to get as far as you could before having the same conversation again. Passing the dam, you felt yourself get weaker. Your legs were holding on by a thread, your body was giving up. It became harder to hide the coughs, conceal the sweat from the fever and the shivers from the cold sweats. But it was too late. 

“Hey Joel, what if this is the River of Death?” Ellie’s voice was full of apprehension referring to the river the two survivors in the middle of the woods had told you all about. 

Joel stopped and looked back at Ellie and then towards the river. 

It was at that moment that you fell over, in the middle of a coughing fit, this time blood coming up from your throat as you did, the swelling of your throat causing you to gag and throw up at the same time. Joel was moving back towards you but froze when he heard an unfamiliar voice. “Drop the gun!” 

Joel turned and grabbed Ellie behind him before throwing the gun to the ground. 

The group of 5-8 people on horses stood around the 3 of you. Everyone’s eyes turned to you as you coughed up one more time before completely passing out. 

“She’s not infected!” Joel’s voice was full of despair probably as he was brought back to a similar moment in his life, but this time with two people he cared for. “She’s real sick, got pneumonia, please, please just let me help her.” He was fighting to run towards you, pick you up and haul you the hell out of there, but his mind wouldn’t let him step from blocking Ellie. 

“Joel?” Tommy’s voice called from one of the horses as he brought down his bandana. 

“Tommy?” Joel’s voice perked up in slight confusion. 

“Is that–holy shit.” Tommy was quick to come to it and was off his horse and rushing to you within seconds which was all the invitation Joel needed to join. “Get the med truck out here, now!” Tommy called back to his group who was quick to radio the request in. “What the hell is wrong with her?” He was flipping you over as Joel checked your vital signs. 

“Pneumonia, she’s been fighting it for over a week now. We ran out of medicine, and even that, I’ve only been given her tylenol, didn’t have nothin’ else.” His voice was frantic. 

Before another minute passed a truck was pulling up through the snow, Tommy and Joel were picking you up and bringing you into the truck. Your eyes blinked open for a minute as you saw Tommy’s face holding your feet up as he loaded you into the teal colored truck. 

Ellie had tried to get in the car but Joel ordered her to go with the others, if Tommy was with this group, he had to trust them. It was either that or have the girl see you in this condition and he wasn’t okay with that. 

Everything went dark again before you were blinking your eyes open again, this time seeing Joel’s face as he held onto you. His distressed voice brought you a little more awake. 

“Stay with me, baby.” His arm was rubbing up and down yours. 

“It’s fuckin’ teal” Your voice croaked open at a whisper. 

“What?” Joel looked down at you and once a few seconds passed he realized what you said but you had already closed your eyes. 

“Come on, now. Stay with me. Come on.” He shook you lightly. “Give me shit about the color of the truck, come on, please, baby.” A tear fell from his face onto yours which is the last thing you fully remember before everything went black. 

_____

The light sound of music brought you out of bed, the window was wide open, the white sheer curtains blowing into the room, the sound of birds chirping was disguised by the muffles of a soft beat, guitar strums and whistles. You looked around and realized you were in a house, you moved out of the bed and rushed downstairs following the sound of the music. 

Opening the front door, you saw Joel in a lightweight flannel standing next to a teal colored truck hanging his right arm on the door with the biggest smile on his face. You realized that’s where the music was coming from, the Edward Sharpe song you remember singing in a car so similar to this a few months back with him and Ellie. You let out an audible laugh as you stood on the porch, one of true joy and disbelief. 

“What is this?” You whispered it but Joel knew what you had said. 

“I traded with Tommy, figured we could take it off the commune, go down to the river and have some picnics and what not.” He shrugged it off like it was nothing. 

“Joel Miller, you romantic man.” Your feet ran down the step and into the car immediately. “And you’re playing my favorite song!” You turned up the volume louder. 

He let out a laugh and looked in at you. “You like it?”

“I love it.” You turned to him with a smile and crawled over to the driver seat to grab the collar of his flannel and bring him in for a kiss. His hand was still resting on the car door as you brought him down and planted your lips on his. You felt them move up into a smile and you let yours do the same before cupping his face even tighter to yours. As you pulled out of the kiss you looked into his eyes. “Well?” You questioned him. “Where you takin’ me, Lone Star?” 

He let out a laugh and shoed you over in the barrel seats and began to drive. The scene was beautiful, the mountains and the sun in the distance, the trees silhouettes around the horizon when suddenly it all went white and you noticed the song was repeating over and over again. 

You looked over at Joel in the driver seat and noticed he was staring back at you with soft teary eyes. That’s when you realized it. 

“I’m not gonna make it, am I, Joel?” 

His head shook as a tear fell from his cheek. You felt it on your face, even though you were on the other side of the truck and that’s when you fully understood this wasn’t real. 

“You take care of our Ellie girl, okay?” You were now leaning into him, grabbing his hands in your own and squeezing but you felt how weak it was. Joel didn’t speak just nodded as he squeezed your hands back. 

After a few moments of just being there with him, you turned to exit the car, still not able to see anything but a bright white light through the windows. You took a deep breath and turned to get one last look at him, your hands still intertwined. 

“Let me go home.” 

Your grip fell from his and you disappeared out from the car door. 

Joel’s voice whispered, he knew you were gone, he felt you leave but he still spoke like there was hope. 

“Home is wherever I’m with you.”