#She Deserves a Better Boyfriend and to Be Confident in Herself Hell Yeah Girl Power

[enmy-writes]

My Rock Star

Request: Anon: hii can i request a zuko x reader fic where the reader is in a famous girl group (like blackpink for example) & the whole gaang is backstage while the reader is getting ready for a performance & its just super fluffy & cute? Thanks!!

Word Count: 2,646

Fandom: ATLA (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Pairing: Zuko x Fem!Reader

Genre: All fluff. It’s some nice fluff time

Rated: 18+

Content Warnings: swearing, mentions of abuse (not detailed though), suggested themes but nothing bad

****My first request!! Sorry, anon, if I didn’t capture everything you wanted, but I hope it is! I am a sucker for music and bands, and instead of a blackpink approach, I gave the band instruments because I simp for instruments lol I might do a part 2 if this turns out well so lmk! Also, I learned how to make the “keep reading” line show up so that’s exciting yay me. Enjoy :)****

_______________________________________________________________________

It was about two hours before the show was supposed to start and Y/N was doing her normal self-routine before she had to go to her ‘Band-Team-Gang’ (or BTG as her and the girls liked to call it) pre-show rituals. 

Y/N was a part of a famous girl group who had just recently started making it big in Ba Sing Se and were on their first huge tour. Normally, this would make any performer nervous of the attention and putting on a big show, but this was the environment that she thrived in. 

Suki, Mai, Ty Lee, Azula, Yue, and herself all knew each other from an all-girl’s private school that they grew up in together and bonded immediately over their love for creating music. It was inevitable for them to become a group. 

They spent most of their high school days writing songs and joking around in Y/N’s backyard bungalow her parents had gotten her for her twelfth birthday. To this day, they still go back there and do hot (dumb) girl shit.

“Why would we stop? That’s our home, of course we’d still go back there!” Ty Lee answered the interviewer with her signature hair flip and giggle. 

Azula rolled her eyes at the girl, hiding a fond smile. “At this point, It’d be weird not to go back to that little corner of hell we made.” Yue smacked her arm quickly, “Azula! Don’t act like you haven’t written most of our top hits in the bean bag we definitely didn’t steal from the school lounge.” 

The rest of the girls laughed, remembering how they had to hop the gates and sneak past the night guards to be able to get the bean bag. The plan would’ve been a total waste of time and definitely would have gotten them all expelled if anyone had caught them, but thank Mai’s ability to pick locks (which no one knows where she learned to do but they do not question it). 

“Plus,” Suki chimed in. “Y/N’s dad makes the best snacks and meals for us. It’d be a federal crime to not take up that offer for as long as we can.”

Needless to say, the six girls were so comfortable with each other that every performance was just like every group practice with, like, thousands of extra guests of honor. They even have a couch lounge area as part of their stage set props. It just makes sense.

Even though those were her best friends ever, sisters even, Y/N had another friend group that she was super close with. Azula had introduced Y/N to her brother, Zuko, back when they were in their sophomore year of high school and the two instantly clicked. It had only taken a year of being friends and hiding crushes for them to get together, and the two were still going strong. Through him, Y/N met a gang of (crazy) people that he had spent his whole public schooling years.

Aang, an enthusiastic and bald, vegan kid who loved life and enjoyed everything around him; Katara, his pre-med and feminist girlfriend; Sokka, her hilarious and amazingly smart brother (though, sometimes his ideas are questionable); and Toph, a blind and tough girl who is on her way to ruin the top 1%. With Zuko, they were the tightest and happiest little family that automatically accepted Y/N when Zuko brought her over one night. 

She was there when he went through a pyromaniac phase, his varying hair styles, and when he tried to get his father’s love back.Ozai, their father, was the owner and CEO of a massive weapons corporation. He had burned Zuko’s face on a hot stove and kicked him out of the house for suggesting that he raise the wage of all his employees to a comfortable living wage because many of his employees struggled to provide for their families even though they worked their asses off. Thankfully, his kind Uncle Iroh instantly picked the boy up off of the streets, letting him live with him and run his successful tea shop called the Jasmine Dragon. 

Azula had been shoved away by her father mostly for sexist reasons. Ozai would never pass his company down to his daughter, no matter how smart and dedicated she was. He threw her in the private school where she lived year round. She had never told Y/N or any of the other girl’s any of this, Y/N had found out through Zuko.

Y/N’s mother was a successful lawyer and her father was a district attorney who were very very passionate about bringing justice to those of racial discrimination, domestic abuse, abuse in general, and orphan rights. Her mother was an orphan who was plain lucky to get adopted by a loving old couple who used their life savings to get her the education and life she deserved while her father was a victim of domestic abuse. 

So, after months of convincing Zuko, Y/N told her parents about the two siblings. Long story short, they got Ozai arrested for his abuse crimes, bribery history, employee mistreatment, and many more crimes. They also adopted Azula herself and gave full custody of Zuko to his uncle. 

Since then, the world has been peaceful for the group. Azula has started to recover from her trauma with the help of her friends, therapy, and love from two caring adults; and Zuko was glowing year round in the company of his uncle and friends. 

A smile forms on her face, thinking of her large family and all they’ve gone through to get here, when the door to her personal backstage room opened up. The loud voices from Aang and Sokka met her ears next. 

“I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU REMEMBERED THE HAM SANDWICHES WITH NO CRUST.” A kiss to her cheek and Sokka is instantly at her snack table.

“Y/N! How’d you know I was going to bring Appa and Momo?!” Aang walked his huge, white dog and lemur (don’t ask how he has it. It might be illegal, but no one can tell him no) to the pet bed corner she had put in. 

Not answering them, Y/N just smiles at her friends who barged in and turns back to her mirror where she’s trying to decide her earring combination for the day. Warm arms snake their way around her waist, a body sliding up against her back soon after. 

“What’s your ideas for tonight?” Zuko’s voice speaks quietly into her ear, causing her to hum and lean back against his chest slightly. 

“I’m not sure. We’re going for the edgy look tonight, but we all know Ty Lee is still going to wear pink. Man, our manager is going to kill her...again.” They both laugh. “Ugh, why did you let me pierce my ears, like, ten times. There’s too many combinations to choose from!”

“Me?! I did-- never mind. Just grab a handful, no one can see them from the stage anyways.” Despite his attempt to seem like he doesn’t care, one of his ring-clad fingers starts moving his favorite pieces over into a little pile by themselves. Y/N rolls her eyes and starts putting his choices in random holes in her ear, pushing him back lightly so she can bend over closer to the mirror to see better. 

“It’s the fit Zu… if the fit is a vibe, the confidence is there. If the confidence is there, nothing can stop my hot girl shit.” Her words cause him to let a huff of jealousy, flicking her arm playfully. 

Their eyes meet in the mirror, and he can clearly see the mischief in them. Calming down, he jokes back. “Yeah, well, you may do your ‘hot girl shit,’ but no one can steal you from me. We’ve been here too long.”

Toph cuts in from across the room with a loud laugh. “Please, fire brains, I could steal Y/N if I tried.” 

He whips around to face the short girl, “No you could not!!” 

“Actually, she makes a point.” Katara says, nodding along in hopes to pick fun at the boy. 

Sokka adds his two cents. “Honestly. Toph would just have to pick Y/N up and slam her against the wall or something and she’d tell her manager to send you a letter of resignation.” 

The whole group laughs, save for the angsty boy, and Y/N wraps her hand around his wrist. She pulls him towards her and reaches for a peck on the cheek. “While that may be true,” she gets a glare. “I’m too big of a simp for you… and Uncle Iroh’s dinner and game nights.”

While the rest of them laugh, Zuko’s eyes soften and he presses his lips to hers in a short, soft kiss. Uncle Iroh adores his girlfriend and everything she has done for Zuko and Azula where he had no power to do anything. The man calls her more than he does Zuko himself, and he’s pretty sure Y/N convinced him to download Words With Friends on his phone to play with her for when she can’t make it to the weekly game night dates. 

Y/N smiles up at him and pats his cheeks lovingly before moving to the wardrobe area of her room. She pulls out ‘Cards Against Humanity’ from a duffle bag on the floor before joining the rest of her friends around the lounge area, patting the seat beside her for Zuko to join them.

Everyone cheers at the sight of the black and white box with the many expansion packs that they have collected over the years. While Katara deals, everyone else makes bets on who is going to win this time. Y/N slides back into Zuko’s side as his arm comes to rest around her shoulders, playing with the ends of her H/L hair.

It’s about fifty minutes before the show is starting, and Y/N knows she has to start getting dressed and ready for the concert. Sighing, she slips from her boyfriend’s grasp (a small whine coming from him) and moves to her dressing corner. Suki, Ty Lee, Mai, Azula, and Yue had made their way to the room shortly after they started due to Sokka texting his girlfriend (Suki) to come over and join. 

The rest of the girls notice you get up and leave as well, much to everyone else’s dismay. You reassure them to keep playing a few more rounds, not wanting to ruin their fun with you putting clothes on. Y/N quickly shoves her outfit choice on which is very hot, black, and riddled with chains. To top it off, she had thick-heeled combat boots on with numerous buckles on them. Her hair, makeup, and accessories have already been done so she heads back to the group.

‘Cards Against Humanity’ has been packed up neatly and her friends are lounging around, getting last minute snacks and quality time before they go to their special seats right in front of the stage. Nothing but the best for her friends. Sokka and Katara are the first people to see her, and the former lets out his own wolf whistle in his own way to hype Y/N up. 

“DAMN, my best friend is HOT AS HELL. Zuko, you lucky ass man.” Katara hits him, but shoots her a wink as the rest of the gang look over. Y/N laughs giddily through their praises and hyped words (Toph in good spirit rather than actually seeing her outfit), as she makes her way back to her spot on the couch.

Zuko, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her yet, quickly grabs her bare waist and tugs her onto his lap to hold her tight. “So… this is what you meant by ‘hot girl shit.’” Letting out a loud laugh, Y/N turns her head and gives him a quick kiss. “I’m a rock star, baby, what can I say.” 

Aang cheers out of nowhere. “Yes! I’ve always wanted to be a groupie!” More laughter and jokes ring throughout the room, keeping the atmosphere as light as always, 

A knock at the door interrupts them. A man is standing there in all black with a headset on and a sleek, red (with little sparkles that only gleam in the light), electric guitar carefully caressed in his hands. While they are a girl group, their success has mainly come from being a girl group who also plays all their instruments. With Mai on the drums, Ty Lee on the keyboard, Azula and Y/N on electric guitars, Yue on the acoustic guitar, Suki on the bass; the band is truly a sight with all of them sharing the vocals and their enthusiastic (near crackhead) energy that give their crowd a good show. 

“Miss L/N? This is your five minute warning.” He tells them, not bothered by the usual group of people who are constantly in these rooms with her.

“Thanks Lee!” Y/N hops up to get her pride and joy (her child as Suki and Mai like to joke about). “I’ll be right out.”

Knowing these are the last pre-game minutes, everyone starts getting up to leave the room as well. Zuko lingers by Y/N who’s busy making sure her instrument is tuned perfectly for the numbers she’s about to perform. 

“I can feel you staring, Zu,” She smiles, still looking down at her strings. He huffs out a laugh, reaching out to push a piece of hair back to see her face.

“Good luck out there, my rock star. Don’t do too much hot girl shit.” 

“Oh, I’m doing all the hot girl shit.” A glare. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding… unless…?” She laughs at his fed up face. Reaching up, she presses one last, lingering kiss to his lips, enjoying the feeling of his fingers clutching her sides firmly and the feeling of his heart beat under her palm that’s resting on his chest. 

“Bye, love. I’ll see you after the show.” She whispers, sealing the promise with a kiss before moving back. “Alright kids! Get the hell out of my dressing room.” Y/N shouts at her friends and they all leave together, laughing away. 

The rest of them wish her luck before moving away, Sokka sprinting to find Suki one last time. Zuko holds onto her free hand, watching her laugh at ‘Simp Sokka�� with his small smile on his face. He kisses her hand, pulling her attention back to him. 

“Bye, rock star. I’ll see you after the show. Break a leg, yeah?” His cliche words make her laugh more, pulling away from him and towards the rest of her band who are chanting “BTG! BTG!”. 

“Zu… I don’t break legs. I break hearts.” And with one last mischievous look, she mouths ‘hot girl shit’ and struts away in that way that makes Zuko want to make her cancel the show completely. 

His phone buzzes a few minutes after he caught up with his friends in their special closed off section on the floor. He opens the notification and it sends him to Instagram where Y/N had tagged him in a post. The smile grows on his face with every second he takes in the post. 

Katara must’ve taken the picture. The angle, lighting, and quality could only be done by her. Y/N was on his lap, dressed to go on stage. Zuko’s mouth was almost touching her ear, definitely when he was whispering to her, and her face was wide in a smirk. They looked good, perfect even. The caption is what made him laugh, warmth and pride that she is his spreading through his chest. 

“Y/N_L/N: for him? I’m always on my hot girl shit”

[seanfalco]

Hey There Delilah | Misfits Timeline Anomaly’verse

an oc x oc collaboration between @seanfalco & @super-unpredictable98

Word Count: 3.2k Warnings: Language, Violence Summary: When the quad runs into Win’s step-sister on the street, things get heated and Lydia stands up for herself and Win.

[ masterlist ]

——

"I can't believe the sun is actually out today, I feel like I haven't seen it in like forever," Win exclaimed, a grin stretching her face as she slipped her hand in her Nathan's and Lydia's, swinging their arms as she walked, looking more carefree than they'd seen her in days.

"Yeah, I feel like I was starting to go into vampire mode at this point," Lydia laughed, excited to see Win so happy.  "I just hope my hair is okay, if the dye gets messed up I'm gonna punch someone." 

"As long as it's not me," her Nathan mocked.

“Ooo you’d be a sexy vampire though,” Win pointed out with a laugh.  As they turned the corner however, her grin faltered and disappeared.

"Shit..." Lydia mumbled under her breath, her gaze following Win’s.

"What?  What'd I miss?" Lyddie's Nathan looked around confused until his clone nodded pointedly at the approaching blonde with a nasty aura and even nastier attitude.

“Delilah,” Win greeted tersely, her whole body tensing. 

“Win,” she replied, wearing her usual fake smile.  “What are the odds?  We just saw you on tellie the other night.  Didn’t know your man had a twin—“ she said, eyeing Lyddie’s Nathan appraisingly, “—or that you were into that sort of thing.  But damn, I should have given you more credit,” she mused.

It took Lydia every single ounce of self-control not to jump on Delilah's neck when she stared at her fiancé like that.  It also didn't help that she remembered in detail all the pranks, the rumors, and the teasing from when she was younger.  She never really understood why someone would be so mean to a 12-year-old. 

"Hey how's it--" Lyddie's Nathan began, only to be cut off when she elbowed him.  "Okay," he mouthed apologetically.

“Oh yeah, definitely into that,” Win replied acerbically, though she wore a rather wry smile that didn’t reach her grey eyes.  “Plus, this is my girlfriend too,” she said, pulling Lyddie closer to press a kiss to her cheek.  “The sex is amazing by the way.  Three at once will blow your mind.”  

Delilah merely rolled her eyes.

"Definitely," Lydia held back her laughter, taken by a sudden fit of confidence.  "It's a little demanding to have so many orgies, but it's definitely worth the effort.  So glad you were able to see us on the red carpet though, it was so much fun, you should've been there."

“Oh, you thought I’d be impressed?” Delilah scoffed, eyeing each of them in turn.  “I was gunna say, you’re actually more of a slag than I thought, Win.” 

Win’s Nathan snorted, cutting in before anyone else could, his arm tightening protectively around Win’s waist, though he grinned lightly.  “Aww someone’s jealous,” he pointed out.  “Can’t exactly be a slag when you’re technically in a committed relationship with all your partners, but y’know.”

"Jesus, you're a bitch!" Lyddie's Nathan laughed.  "How long has it been since someone gave you a good seein' to, love?  Sounds like y'need it."

“Why, you volunteerin’?” Delilah countered, smirking at Lyddie’s Nathan and Win groaned.

"In your dreams."  Lyddie's Nathan was ready to start a fight.  

Lydia's blood was boiling, she knew this moment would eventually come, they couldn't avoid Win's family forever, but she never thought Delilah would be just plain rude like that.  "Better to be a slag than an envious cunt who bullies kids, but that's just me..." she murmured quietly, half hoping no one would hear it.

The situation was clearly escalating and Win didn’t exactly want anyone throwing punches... even if Delilah deserved one.  “C’mon guys, we’re gunna be late,” she said pointedly, giving Lyddie’s hand a tug.

"Yeah, let's go..." Lydia pulled her Nathan with them.  She was anxious to get out of that situation, she hated confrontation, but something didn't sit right with her.  "You know what?  No, the time I used to let people walk all over me is over!  I'm gonna go there and teach that bitch a fucking lesson!" 

"Lollipop, there might be photographers..." her Nathan warned. 

"I don't give a flying fuck!  She can't talk to my girlfriend like that, hit on my fiancé, dump a bucket of piss on me, and run free!" 

"She did what?" he winced.

"Lyddie, trust me, if anyone wants to slug Delilah, it's me, but..." Win trailed off, shaking her head.  "I don't want any of us t'end up back in Community Service over this… or worse.”

"But baby... Community Service wasn't that bad," Lyddie argued.  "Am I still that scared little girl who's just gonna run away from a bully?  Nathan..." she looked for support from Win's Nathan, who grinned.

"Oh I agree, I mean, other than th'whole murderin' our probation workers and all that, Community Service wasn't all that bad.  Besides, I never woulda met yeh otherwise, Win baby," he exclaimed.  "Plus I bet Lyds would look hot as fuck punchin' that twat out."

"It's three against one, sorry," Lydia turned around to go after Delilah. 

"Jesus..." Lyddie's Nathan followed her, wanting to at least make sure she didn't get hurt, but who was he kidding, she was a human fortress.

Win groaned, not moving for a moment, watching the others. "Alright, alright," she mumbled, reluctantly following after.

"Hey, hey there!" Lydia shouted when she spotted Delilah's tacky outfit in the crowd.  There were some people around, but she didn't care.  "I think you owe us an apology!"

Delilah turned around, frowning.  "Oh, y'think that do you?" she scoffed.  "I tell ya what, why don't you hold your breath."

Lyddie's Nathan let out a high-pitched laugh, thinking about how ironic it was that she actually didn't need to breathe that often with her power.  "Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but you can't talk shit about people and expect nothing to happen.  So, you can either apologize to my girlfriend and to me, or we can do things the hard way..." Lydia flashed the girl a hollow grin.

Delilah rolled her eyes.  “Oh, the hard way huh?  What are you?” she scoffed.  “I’m not afraid of you.  Scamper off now,” she exclaimed, making a shooing motion with her hand.

"What am I?" Lydia chuckled, fueled by rage.  "I'm your worst nightmare, bitch." 

"Okay, that was kinda hot..." her Nathan whispered, nudging his clone's arm.

Win’s Nathan raised his eyebrows at Lydia’s fiery comeback.  “Yeah... that’s definitely hot,” he agreed, eyeing Win as she held back, watching.  He knew how much she hated her step sister, so he wondered what was going on inside her head.  Why wasn’t she saying anything?  He thought she of all people would be in Lydia’s place.

"Just do yourself a favor, apologize to my girlfriend and to me, so we can move on and you won't go home crying to your mummy," Lydia tried to sound threatening, but it probably came off more as mockery than anything else.  "And chop-chop cause we don't have all day, y’Paris Hilton wannabe."

Delilah’s mouth fell open and she turned back to face Lydia.  “Are you seriously threatening me right now?  No, I’m not gunna apologize to you or my slag of a step sister.  You call me a wannabe?  Look in the mirror, sweetheart.  You think you’re hot shit because you’re some singer.  Who gives a damn?  You’re tacky is what you are.  Your boyfriends are average and your girlfriend is a fucking slag who’s slept with half of Wertham by now.  She’s such a fuck up her own dad wants nothing to do with her.”

For a second, all Lydia could do was laugh, thinking that had to be some kind of joke, but as she stared deep into Delilah's eyes, her anger grew.  Without thinking twice, she tackled the other woman, which was easy taking in consideration that Lydia was taller. 

"Some singer?  Some singer who just won album of the year, bitch!  What have you done?  Huh?  Didn't leave mama's house yet?  If my boyfriends are so average why do you wanna shag them so bad?" Lyddie shouted, pinning the girl to the ground while her Nathan tried to glamor them so no one would see it. 

"What you've done to me… you made my life hell on Earth, but I don't give a shit about that.  You take back the things you said about my girlfriend!  She's not a slag or a fuck up and if her dad doesn't want anything to do with her than he's the stupid one!"

"Get off me you stupid bitch!" Delilah shrieked, trying to push Lydia off.  "I don't know what the fuck you're talkin' about!  I didn't do shit to you!  Winrey!  Get your crazy girlfriend off me!  You think my mum's gunna let you get away with this!!" 

Win's lips curled evilly, but all she did was cross her arms over her chest. "Sorry, D, you brought this on yourself," she murmured.

"Your mum can talk to me instead, how about that?  So I can tell her that her daughter has been bullying children!  I know what you did to Blossom Bellamy, remember her?  You and your friend Karla decided to fuck her entire life up last year?" Lyddie's Nathan swallowed thickly, he didn't understand why he was so turned on when the situation was quite serious.

"Why do you care about Bellamy?" Delilah cried, confused as she continued to try to fend Lydia off, getting a few good swings in herself.  "Jesus, you're fucking crazy!  Winrey, I swear to God, I'm gunna make your life a living hell if you don't get this bitch off me!"

"I care about her because she's a defenseless child!  You traumatized her for life, you fucking monster!  And you're doing the same mind terrorism with my girlfriend, I won't stand for that!" Lydia's self-healing was coming in handy at the moment, whenever Delilah hit her, she barely had time to feel the pain.  "I'm not scared of your mum, or your dad, or whoever the fuck you’re gonna cry to!  Good luck telling everyone Lyddie Young did this to you... See who's gonna believe it."  Lydia punched Delilah square in the face, drawing blood.

Win raised her eyebrows, but she looked more bored than anything, enjoying watching Lydia get her revenge, even if she knew this would probably come back to bite her in the ass.  She knew Karen wouldn't let this go.  Her Nathan glanced down at her however, sensing an underlying tension and he placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Win?"

Win tensed further at his touch, but she didn't look at him, just kept her eyes on Lydia and Delilah.  

"Yeah, well, now I'm gunna go to the fuckin' police!" Delilah was crying now, tears streaming down her face.  "You're not gunna get away with this!" she sobbed.

"Good luck finding your witnesses, princess," Lydia taunted, ready to throw another punch, but her Nathan lifted her up as you would do with a kitten.  

"That's enough, that was worth an apology and a half," he said, holding his fiancé tightly in his arms.  

"Can you make my fingerprints vanish?  Don't leave a single trace of me on her," Lyddie whispered. 

"Yeah yeah, leave it to me..." he snapped his fingers. 

"Are you alright, baby?" Lydia turned and finally noticed Win's face.

Win nodded slowly, her gaze flicking past Lydia and Nathan to where Delilah was pushing herself up as people walked past, as if not even seeing her.  "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Win answered, a hollowness to her voice, making her Nathan frown slightly.  "It was good to see you tackle her," she chuckled, sounding a little more like herself.

"I did it for you," Lyddie wrapped her arms tightly around Win.  "I know you're tense, but relax, she got what she deserved... I'm fine, see?  Not one scratch." 

"Jesus, that was... I wish I had a camera, where's Barry with his stupid phone when we need him?" Lyddie's Nathan grunted.

"Y'know you have a phone, right?" Win's Nathan pointed out with a laugh as Win wrapped her arms around Lyddie. 

"I'm glad you're okay, I never doubted you for a moment," she murmured.  "I'm not sure what's up with me," she admitted.  She'd wanted to take out her frustrations on her step sister for so long, so she couldn't understand why she felt so strange.

"So do you!  I was glamourin' them, what's your excuse?" Lyddie's Nathan stuck his tongue out.

“I-I don’t know!” Win’s Nathan exclaimed, giving his clone a playful shove.  He still felt worried about Win.  He knew something was going on with her, he just didn’t know what.

"Well, maybe we should get to our movie, yeah?" Lydia pecked Win's lips before dusting herself off.  "You guys are gonna love Percy Jackson, it's not as good as the musical but still..."

“Right, yeah, the movie,” Win exclaimed, letting Lydia pull her away down the street.  It was just as they’d gotten to the theatre, Lyddie getting their tickets that Win’s phone rang and she flinched as she looked at the screen.  “It’s my dad...” she murmured, looking to her Nathan. 

“D’you want me t’answer it?” he asked softly.

"Hey, guys, I got tickets!  Are you ready for some lightning stealing demigods and young Logan Lerman action?" Lydia squeaked as she joined the rest of the group.  "I can get us popcorn and... what happened?" 

"It's Win's dad," Lyddie's Nathan explained.  "The Wicked Bitch o'the West must've told him." 

"Do you want me to take it?" Lydia asked, feeling suddenly courageous.

“No, it’s fine,” Win exclaimed, biting her lip.  She was half tempted not to take it at all, but she knew that would only make things worse.  “I.. I can talk to him,” she said, though it wasn’t very assuring.

"Put it on speaker then, this way you don't have to do it alone," Lyddie held Win from behind, kissing her cheek.  "Don't be scared, we're here for you, Winnie baby."

Win nodded, taking a deep breath.  “Yeah, that might be for the best,”she murmured, accepting the call and holding the phone out so the others could hear. “Hello?” 

“Winrey Jane Lewis, is it true?” 

“Is what true?” she replied, her dad’s voice full of disappointment more than anger. 

“Did you and your friends assault your sister?” he asked incredulously. 

“She’s not my sister,” Win grumbled stonily.  “And no, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Win, please.  Don’t test me.  She sent us a picture, she’s bleeding and covered in bruises, and she said it was you and your boyfriend and some girl.  Now is it true?”

Lydia tried not to laugh at the image of Delilah sending a picture to Win's dad to show how messed up she was.  Come on, Lyds, this is serious! "I don't know what this is about, do you know what this is about, Natty?" she covered her smile.  "There were some security cameras around, you can always check them..."

Win’s Nathan nodded, glancing back toward where they’d come from.  Spotting a couple traffic cameras he snapped his fingers and gave a flourish, a focused look on his face before turning back to them.  “This power comes in awful handy,” he mused. 

“No, dad, I don’t know what she’s on about.  She musta... tripped and fell on her face or somethin’.”  There was a long pause as her dad sighed and Win could just imagine him running his hand down his face in exasperation.  “She is rather clumsy...” he replied slowly, though he knew it was a lie.

"How awful of her trying to pin this onto us..." Lydia fake cried, while high-fiving Win's Nathan and blowing him a kiss.  "She must be imagining things." 

"Truly, truly horrible..." Lyddie’s Nathan whispered, laughing against her neck, while she tried to slap him away to hear the conversation.  Oh, she couldn't wait to tell Simon she was finally able to give that bitch a beating, he was gonna be so proud!

“What I’m more worried about... Winrey, is it true what she said... about you dating three people at the same time?” Win’s dad asked reluctantly.  “You know how I feel about the one you brought over here, but we saw you on tv the other night and Delilah...” he cut off with a heavy sigh.  “It doesn't sound natural!” 

Win grimaced, unsure how to answer.  Of course she was dating three people at the same time, two of which were technically the same person.

"Hey, hello sir," Lydia took the phone when she noticed Win's discomfort.  She was really on a roll, after getting a taste of blood she wanted more.  "Hi, Mr. Lewis, I'm Lyddie, your daughter's girlfriend.  I can assure you there's nothing unnatural about our relationship at all... actually nature is pretty non-monogamist if you think about it.  You don't have anything to worry about really..."

Win bit her lip as Lydia took the phone, but her Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning over her to kiss her cheek.  “It doesn’t matter what he thinks, love,” he whispered in her ear and she nodded reluctantly.  

Win’s father heaved a heavy sigh on the other end of the line.  “I just... I just want her to be happy,” he admitted, sounding torn and Win snorted.  It almost seemed like he wanted to say more, but held back, not wanting to be rude to Lydia.  “Just... don’t attack Delilah again.  It could have been a wind up, she’s pulled those before to get what she wants, but if it happens again, I don’t think I can hold her mother off.  Alright?”

"I can guarantee, sir, we're making Win very happy," Lydia winked at her, trying to make her feel better.  It seemed like living with two Nathans was slowly rubbing off on her.  "Besides we're all pacifists, we would never attack Delilah, we had a very civil conversation, that's all.  But you might wanna look into your step daughter's behavior, you know the name calling, the mean pranks... you might have a certified Veruca Salt on your hands, Mr. Lewis."

“Oh, he knows he that,” Win muttered, taking the phone back from Lyddie.  “He just has no backbone.”

Putting the phone to her ear she sighed.  “There, you happy dad?” she demanded. 

“Not really,” he answered with a huff.  “I wish you’d come home—“ 

“That place is not my home,” she cut in. 

“I’m home here with Nathan and Lyddie and...” Shaking her head she changed the subject. “Unless you wanna make more of an effort.  Piss off.” 

“Wait!  Winrey, I lo—“ She ended the call before he could finish, a strange look on her face. 

“There, now that that’s done, we’re probably late to our move,” she scowled.

"No, baby, we probably just missed the trailers... and even if we are a little late it only gets interesting after Percy goes to Camp Half Blood anyways, come here," Lydia pulled Win into a hug, waving her hand so the Nathans would join. "I love you, Winnie, if Delilah wants to set her mother onto us, so be it, but I'm not scared of anyone... Not anymore."  She thought for a second and huffed a laugh.  "Well, maybe I'm scared of some people, but not them."

A small smile spread across Win’s lips as she slipped her arms around Lydia, burying her face in her chest.  “I love you too.  You were pretty amazing today,” she murmured, feeling more arms envelope them.  

She was right.  This was her home, these people, and the fierce amount of love she felt for them gripped her stronger than before.

——

Tag list: @magic-multicolored-miracle @midnightseance @messengeronthemoon @the-freckled-luba @firstpersonnarrator @xenteaart @gurlimtired @phoenixhits @nightingale-rose @salvador-daley @forenschik @a-ghoulish-tale @love-is-dirty-baby @captainsheeballs

[stubbornness-and-spite]

So my last late night Carry On post got a few notes so here’s some of my late night ramblings on Carry On.

I love Agatha Wellbelove so damn much. To be honest, I didn’t like her that much when I first read it but as I thought about the book and read it again, I started to love her.

Spoilers and a ramble-filled essay on why Agatha is awesome under the cut. Sorry if it doesn’t work. I’m on my phone and I’ll fix it when it’s not 430 in the morning

[[MORE]]

One of my favorite things about Carry On is how much Rowell uses inverted tropes and Agatha is a prime example of that. She’s the girl at the end of the world, the damsel in distress. Simon straight up calls her out as basically the prize he gets when he saves the world. Agatha is well aware that her job is to look pretty, cry on command, and date the Chosen One.

But. She’s so much more than that. She’s bitchy and selfish and so damn human. Penny is my role model but god if I didn’t relate to Agatha. Yeah, she chases after Baz when he seems so clearly uninterested, but you have to remember: he seems uninterested from his point of view. In every other perspective, it looks like he’s flirting with her. Can you really blame her for going along with it when she’s well aware her boyfriend is only dating her out of convenience and the guy she likes seems to be blatantly flirting with her? Maybe. Does it matter? No. Because you can understand her motivation. And on top of all that, dating Baz would be the one thing she could get at her parents with. She tried to have friends that she actually liked and her dad wiped their memories. Remember Minty? Well she doesn’t remember Agatha. So of course she chases after the one boy who would piss her parents off but they couldn’t say anything because his family is magically and politically powerful and who’s also showing a hell of a lot more interest than her so-called boyfriend.

Maybe it’s selfish, but she’s what 16? 17? She doesn’t want to be sitting around waiting for the boy who’s running around like a chicken with his head cut off to turn into the man she’s supposed to marry. I love Simon, I really do, but I can see why Agatha doesn’t. She wants to have fun. She wants to be someone’s right now instead of their happily ever after. She wants to make stupid mistakes and live her life.

So I went on a rant I wasn’t planning to justifying Agatha’s thing with Baz, but there was something else about her that really drew me personally in: her monologue on love.

I just don’t love Simon enough. I don’t love him the right way. Maybe I don’t have that sort of love in me—maybe I’m defective

That killed me as an asexual. That’s the kind of shit we don’t see. Agatha is ace or aro or both and that is a hill I will die on. That bit of not knowing if the way you love is right or enough and wondering if maybe there’s something wrong with you because you wanted this fairy tale as much as anyone else but now it’s here and everything’s wrong and here isn’t right and you can’t even love him and this isn’t a fairy tale at all? That was the line that made me fall for Agatha. That was the turning point for me. She realizes that the world she lives in is never going to be enough for her and she’s never going to be enough for it. So she starts to shape her own destiny, one where she’s the main character, not the side character in Simon’s disaster.

Dear god, I love Agatha. I love that she left. She looked at the world around her and said “this is not enough. This can’t make me as happy as I deserve to be so I’ll find somewhere that will.” And then she did it. That’s a badass bitch.

One last thing I love about Agatha. I kinda like that she’s vain. She’s pretty, okay. What I like is that she thinks she’s pretty. Penny’s the feminist. She doesn’t care about looks, just intelligence. Agatha likes being pretty and lucky. I liked her because her character was a reminder that there’s not one right way to be a strong female. Being strong is about loving yourself. Agatha wasn’t better or worse because she was pretty. She was better because she loved herself and to hell with anyone who told her she wasn’t enough. Let kids feel pretty. Pretty isn’t weak. Self-confidence is inner strength and that is the last of my three part essay on why I fucking love Agatha Wellbelove.

See you next time on My Insomnia!

[animatical-fandoms]

Upcoming Fanart Info!

I finished my @kwamiswaps week art a few minutes ago, and boy let me tell you, it took forever. It’s just tagged and put in my queue for each day (I think each is scheduled for like 9-10 AM or something my time? So a few things to note about each character if y’all are interested, I have basic info below the cut about each swap and my basic headcanons about it. 

If I tagged you below the cut, it means I used your existing au as inspiration for some of my designs in the coming week, and I wanted to credit you as inspiration before my queue catches up! 

Tikki

Adrien - Okay just, whatever happens in canon, all that I ask is that Adrien calls Mari “Chaton”/”Kitty” it will warm my dead, dead heart understand? 

Alya - basically my personal design for @lunian‘s Ladybird AU. It’s awesome, go read their comics and stuff! I just like Alya’s Rena cape thing, so I went for ladybug wings - Fennette will be a thing too for Trixx’s day!

Nino - The fact of the matter is in this AU, Mari was like Nino is the responsible level-headed person of this friend group he’d make the best superhero and gives him the ladybug miraculous. He and Chat!Adrien are the best of friends, and Adrien lowkey crushes on him almost as bad as Mari!Ladybug. 

Chloe - yeah, my interpretation of the wonderful @zoe-oneesama‘s Scarlet Lady AU. My version of Marigold will get featured, too :)

Luka - Plain and simple, Master Fu showed up a few years earlier, and ran into this kindhearted musician before Mari. TBH Luka is one of my faves, so he’s going to show up for the majority of the week because I loved playing around with designs for him

Felix - He doesn’t get cursed with bad luck, but with a kwami that insists he be responsible and help poor Lady Noir (Bridgette) break her curse. He’s gentler, kinder as a bug than as Felix, always happy to help others and to calm akuma victims after a fight. He’s drawn to Lady Noir, ever melancholy and mysterious, and lets himself loose with an edge against Bridgette because that’s how he’s always been. 

Plagg

Marinette - Again, based off of the canon leaked art. I just really, really hope she’ll call Adrien some version of My Lady, and make at least one cat pun, either unintentionally or specifically for Adrien’s benefit so he can squeal over it. 

Alya - Instead of Master Fu picking Adrien, he asks New Ladybug who she would like by her side. Obviously Alya is the first choice, and she’s ecstatic to be a superhero, keeping the Ladyblog focused on Ladybug because, you know, she can’t record herself. Nino and Adrien crush HARD on the new superheroes, and while that frustrates Mari, Alya is absolutely delighted. 

Nino - Adrien pulls a Marinette, afraid that he’ll get caught since he’s under so much scrutiny as a model with a ton of visibility, and though it physically pains him to not fulfill his magical girl dreams, he knows Nino would be an amazing hero. Nino takes it in stride, and he and Mari!Ladybug are the bros to end all bros. Alya, crushing on Chat!Nino, creates both the Ladyblog and another blog dedicated to Nino’s alter ego. His thought? Best girlfriend ever. 

Chloe - I don’t really know how this would happen unless Adrien did the above, but with Chloe, thinking her confidence would be an asset?  Mari as Ladybug would be irritated by Mistress Noir, but it becomes a series of growing moments for Chloe, because she gets to see what a destructive force she really can be on people’s lives and gets better at the Friend Thing. 

Luka - My boy omg this one was fun to draw. So 

Bridgette - Reverse PV like Luka’s - Bridgette thought her luck was bad enough with her being unable to speak at a normal pace and pitch in front of her crush, not to mention her clumsiness makes her look like a fool in front of him during their dance classes. Now she’s cursed with a tiny god of destruction and a Perfect Superhero Partner - well, at least her clumsiness disappears when she’s Lady Noir. A shadow to Lordbug’s light. She knows it’s as hopeless to try and break her curse with him as it is to get together with Felix, so she just stands aside as his protector. 

Trixx

Marinette - See the Ladybird AU with Alya; I couldn’t help myself!

Adrien - In the world where Alya is Chat and Mari is Ladybug, the two need help against the multiplying twins, same as before. Except Mari goes to lonely Adrien who she knows would be amazing.

Nino - The above babysitting disaster happens to be Nino’s little cousin, Chris, rather than Alya’s sisters, so Mari offers the fox miraculous to him. He and Adrien get to be bros for all sides of the mask. Alya makes an entirely new blog dedicated to the new fox. 

Chloe - I really don’t know how she would get her hands on the fox, unless she made like Queen Bee and stole it, which I suppose is plausible. Maybe I can do way better than Lila because I won’t be faking it kind of thing?

Luka - He probably would get this if another akuma was the reason they needed the Fox - maybe if Fu gave it to Ladybug while his mom was akumatized and he was worried about everyone’s safety. 

Felix - He was free of the Black Cat’s curse, and the miraculous could no longer be his. It got passed to Adrien through Fu without him knowing, and as soon as he sees his little brother vaulting across the city in a catsuit (without stripper boots, what the hell Plagg why did you make me suffer this way) he storms up to Fu’s place and says give me the fox those are children my god and becomes Mentor #1 to the new Chat and Ladybug. Naturally, no one catches on that he’s himself. He’s a professional at this secret identity thing. 

Wayzz

Marinette - In the world where Nino and Adrien are Ladybug and Chat respectively, Alya has been chosen as the fox. During Anansi, though, she’s captured - so Nino’s like omg Marinette could be the turtle and Marinette, upon receiving it, is having major panic mode set in, but you know, she does her best. Adrien takes a look at her protecting them and is like omg my Lady, a la Alya knowing exactly who Carapace was, but he keeps it to himself, and becomes more comfortable and flirty with Mari. 

Adrien - Don’t know if this fits in with any of the others . . . but probably Chat!Chloe verse, and Marinette is like please can you be my partner forever

Alya - Instead of her getting kidnapped during Anansi, it’s Nino, since Nora had a beef with him being too girly. She totally saves him and fangirls over being a superhero and he just knows. 

Chloe - How did this happen? I’m not even sure. But her being on the defensive is so out of character that I can’t even begin to rationalize it. 

Luka - Both Alya and Nino are unavailable during Anansi, so Marinette is like, Luka was super helpful on the boat and is super nice let’s do this. 

Bridgette - Fox!Felix verse - she sees her boyfriend, who was once Chat, as a fox teaching the two bb heroes the ropes. She goes to Fu, stands in the door with her eyebrow raised.  Fu had meant for her to succeed him as guardian anyway, and she takes up a job at his place so he can still hang out with Wayzz. She becomes Mentor #2 and is basically Mulan in fighting style - totally unexpected strategies. (It’s her fault that identity reveals happen, idk how, but it is)

Pollen 

Marinette - Marigold from the Lady Scarlet universe!

Adrien - From the universe where Chloe ends up as Chat, Marinette is super protective of this sunshine bee boy

Alya - Marinette actually? Gets the Bee Miraculous to Alya instead of losing it to Chloe?

Nino - Mari’s mind goes to Nino instead of Alya when the Bee is needed, and she makes it to him. 

Alix - After seeing her do so awesome with Reverser, Marinette turns to Alix for help as the Bee. 

Max - well, I don’t have too much of a headcanon for him, but kwamiswaps did a fanfic, so that’’s what this design is for! (I did little suspender stripes without meaning to omg I really do like how it turned out)

Dusuu

Marinette - I suppose in this AU, the Peacock wasn’t damaged, just disappeared - and, while visiting Adrien for a study session, she ends up with a new bird friend. 

Adrien - He inherits it from his mom okay??? Like, Fu has it and knows and is like your mother would have wanted you to have this. And this pisses off Hawkmoth to no end because he thinks whoever stole it is Definitely Not Adrien and is disgracing his wife’s name and just more angst than I expected for this Bird Boy (which, of course, makes the running gag that he’s allergic to feathers hilarious - Dusuu does make him sneeze if they get in his face, but when he transforms he doesn’t have his allergy. 

Alya - Swap the Peacock for the Fox - let’s just say Hawkmoth had a direct source to mess with Lila. Instead of illusions on the night the twins start multiplying, she creates a summoned creature to lure them all together. 

Nino - The Peacock was damaged still, but Nino was willing to risk that to save his girlfriend and the city. 

Chloe - Somehow, since the Mayor was friends with Gabriel and his wife, he ended up in possession of the Peacock before Gabriel knew what it was. Chloe gets her hands on it relatively at the same time she would have gotten the Bee and is just as Extra. 

Jagged - Who knows? It was necessary to make this once it was suggested. Let it happen. He deserves to be a flashy birb.

Nooroo

Marinette - Mayura is the main villain in this universe, and Emilie is comatose because of a damaged Ladybug Miraculous. Adrien is still Chat, but he makes “my wings” and “my little butterfly” comments rather than “My Lady”. Gabriel has Nathalie generally doing his dirty work, and he calls Emilie his lady. It’s very sad and angsty. Mari uses her friends’ best qualities to fight against the beasts Mayura creates. 

Adrien - He’s been Chat for some time, but now Gabriel has been revealed to him and Mari, and he gets really, really angry, and steals the miraculous as Adrien. This is a Problem. Plagg is concerned Adrien is getting too angry to deal with powers of destruction full-time, so Adrien brings him to Fu and alternates between Plagg and Nooroo, and he confronts Gabriel a lot as the Butterfly because betrayal reasons. Ladybug is concerned, but she trusts him and that’s what gets him through. 

Nino - He is So Supportive of his friends, okay? He gets chosen as the Butterfly holder when, say, Bridgette has the Turtle and they manage to take it from Hawkmoth but still need help getting the Peacock or some other stolen one. 

Chloe - Okay, this version of Chloe does not get a redemption arc, like, ever - she’s Hawkmoth. Straight up.  She starts every akuma purposefully, becomes a villain, etc.  Don’t ask why; I don’t know - attention? I prefer Redeemed!Chloe, but I feel like she’d totally be past saving as this particular supervillain. 

Kagami - She’s a fencer, the Butterfly has a sword/cane, it’s a match! Adrien gets to pick some new holders in my personal headcanon. Let’s say while the Mouse and Snake go to Mari and Luka, they get the Butterfly so Adrien chooses Kagami because she tried to help him and she wouldn’t let her emotions get in the way when she chooses people with her powers. (I didn’t like my original Alya design for the butterfly, so we get Kagami instead!)

Felix - Brother!AU. He was Chat Noir when he was younger, has been abroad with Bridgette, and comes home to see the canon situation. He is Not Fooled by Adrien, Mari, anyone - he’s been there, and he has distance of not knowing most of the people involved, so he gets very, very, angry. He knows his father is Hawkmoth. So he steals the butterfly and sides with Ladybug and Chat Noir, who are both thankful but confused at this new Butterfly who’s So Angry - Adrien doesn’t figure it out, but he comforts Felix without meaning to and Felix is so touched. Felix eventually reveals that he knows who the previous Hawkmoth and the current (insert villain name) is - Gabriel Agreste. Obviously disbelief and angst, but he reveals himself and is like I am the last person to want Gabriel to be a supervillain so yeah and Agreste brotherly bonding and HawkDad butt-kicking and there. 

[maarmendes]

Chapter 8: Sports Festival [III]

Warnings: Swearing, fighting... (the main characters are kinda feral).

Genre: OC insertion; angst; fluff; others.

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x OC [Anahita Shuzenji]

Word Count: 1873

[Wattpad Link]

The Runaways - Cherry Bomb

"Shou."

"Ana."

"Give it to me."

"Never."

Aizawa and I glared at each other. Both standing our ground, our wills never wavering. I knew there was no way I'd walk out the booth with that sleeping bag, but I'll be damned if I didn't try.

"Come on, I just wanna take a small nap!"

"No! Get your own sleeping bag."

"I know you're injured but I will fight you, Shouta!"

We were interrupted by Present Mic's voice filling the room announcing the beginning of the afternoon events. I took that as my queue to go back to the infirmary for another round of healing idiots, but not before I pulled a face at a smug-looking Aizawa. Thankfully it was a slow afternoon which meant I was allowed to watch the Festival on TV. There were a few games to make time for Cimentoss to build the arena and for the ones who moved on to the finals to prepare. I was laughing at my classmates being idiots on TV, my feet swinging under the rolling chair I was on, when the door slams open.

"Pipsqueak! Heal me." Bakugo stomped in as loudly as humanly possible.

"Holy fuck... Can you be any louder? You're not even injured!" I grunted in annoyance but kept my eyes on the game. The boy grabbed my head spinning me around to face him, almost making me spill my popcorn.

"Look at me when I'm talking." He grumbled, making me chuckle.

"So you want my attention, huh? What's up, softie? Nervous?"

He scoffed and made himself comfortable in one of the beds. I waited for an answer or at least an insult but there were none. Not even a glare. Something inside me softened when I realized that that was his way of telling me how he felt. I rolled my chair over to him and grabbed his hand bringing it to my lips and placing a soft kiss on his knuckles.

"You have nothing to worry about, Blasty. You're gonna win. You promised me and you never go back on your word, right?" One of my cheesiest grins spread across my face and he scoffed, ruffling my hair.

"Tsk. Like I'd be worried at all. There's no one out there that could even touch me, let alone beat me! I'll show them what it means to be great! TO BE THE NUMBER ONE!"

He was back to his fiery self before I knew it. Who would've guessed the guy who never shows any emotion besides rage could worry about some stupid competition? Not me, that's for sure. But I guess the promise he'd made to me was affecting his judgment a bit. Bakugo decided to hang around for the remaining of his break, even though he kept quiet the whole time. I knew he just needed some time to sort through his thoughts and focus on the task at hand, and if being next to me could help then that's enough for me. Soon before the activities ended, the girls burst into the infirmary.

"Ana!" Mina jumped onto my lap. "I got you something!" The girls held up a copy of the cheerleading uniform they all were wearing. I had to fight a laugh.

"No way in hell I'm wearing that. Besides, I'm working right now. I can't even leave this place."

"Well..." Momo stepped up. "I asked Miss Recovery Girl and she said it was okay for you to join us. She says there can't be too much to do and you deserve a break, anyway."

"And we kinda miss you out there!" Mina hugged me tightly.

"Yeah! And it's unfair you can't enjoy the Festival... Come on, let's go!" Uraraka grabbed my arm, urging me to get up even though Mina was still on me.

Before I knew it they were shoving me behind a curtain and making me change into the outfit. Thankfully they let me put some shorts under the skirt, so it wasn't as embarrassing, but the tight crop top and the matching chocker were a bit too much for me. Showing skin wasn't a problem for me but I was never too comfortable in tight clothes. I refused to wear the chocker over my bandages which they understood. I didn't mind the matching outfits once I saw Mina's excitement once she noticed the piercing on my bellybutton. On the other hand, Bakugo's scowl made me shift on my feet.

"What? Do I look that weird?" I frowned and the boy simply scoffed and made his way out, so I turned to the girls. "Do I look weird?! Mina, I'm changing."

"No way! I think he liked it." Mina snickered and I pouted.

"Come on, Ana. You look great!" Toru urged me out as we made our way towards the bleachers to watch the rest of the competition.

Bakugo was already sat down when we got there and I wasted no time sliding to the seat next to him and onto Kaminari's lap. He was about to say something, presumably inappropriate, as he pointed at my bellybutton when I gave him a look and Bakugo slapped him over the head. Kaminari fake cried onto my shoulder which only won him another slap. People were getting used to my clinginess and matched it, even the Power Bank idiot, which I was grateful for. Unluckily for him, the first fight had me back on my feet. Shinso was on the arena faced with Midoriya.

I watched the match closely. I knew what both were capable of and what both their weaknesses were. Whoever won this fight would definitely be hurt, either physically or mentally. And unfortunately for Shinso, Midoriya had more willpower than he accounted for. To me, the result of the match was obvious taking into account their abilities after watching them both practice for a while. Midoriya focused on making up for his weaknesses by learning some combat techniques and has been working hard to make up for his blindspots. Meanwhile, Shinso relied too much on his quirk and didn't work out as much as he should have. He'd always been too cocky for his own good. So, when he walked out I wanted to be there. I knew it meant a lot for him to be able to do his best and I believe Aizawa agreed since I saw Shinso's file on his desk earlier.  Without much thought, I tried to walk out to meet Shinso by the arena's entrance but Bakugo propped his foot up against the seat in front of him, blocking me.

"Worried about your boyfriend?"

"You've got a boyfriend?!" Kaminari exclaimed from behind me.

"I told you he's not my boyfriend." I glared at him but he paid me no attention.

"So you are checking up on him." He retorted.

"I didn't know Ana had a boyfriend," Sero added.

"I don't have a boyfriend! Bakugo." The boy scoffed.

"Sure looks like it, though. Go kiss his sorry ass better, again."

His comment made my cheeks light up a bit. I had no idea people could see me and Shinso earlier, we were behind a curtain but maybe Bakugo notice our silhouettes and got the wrong idea. But it didn't matter, it was none of his business. His sharp mouth was getting on my nerves. I grabbed Bakugo's cheeks with my hand making him look me in the eyes.

"If you're jealous you can say so, but don't be a dick. You're pissing me off."

"There's nothing to be jealous of."

"Good."

I kicked his feet away and stomped out towards the waiting room where I found Shinso. My anger at the blonde prick was washed away and replaced with worry when I saw him. He was just standing there, hands curled into fists at his side, all I could see was his back but I knew. I'd known him long enough to know what he was feeling. Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around him.

"Are you here to gloat?" His cold tone didn't affect me. I knew him way too well.

"You did good."

"Not great?" He peeked at me over his shoulder.

"Not yet... But you will soon." I gave him a soft smile.

I felt him resonate with laughter under my embrace as his hands wrapped around mine. That's all I needed to know he'd be alright. I knew he would never give up, he was too stubborn for that. None of us said anything else until he pat my hands and signaled it was time to go back. There were still many issues between us but that didn't mean we wouldn't be there for each other. None of us would ever leave the other in times of need. We split up by the bleachers and I took my place next to Bakugo once again.

He paid me no attention. His salty mood was getting on my nerves again but knowing him he didn't really care. He was probably too focused on the competition to worry about me. I noticed him analyzing the matches with amazing focus. He wasn't just watching, he was learning from others, but not many noticed that about him. That is what's so amazing about Bakugo. Everyone underestimated him and assumed he was just some teenager with anger issues, but he was one of the smartest people I ever knew. Nothing that happened during fights would surprise him. Not even when people booed him did his resolve shake. He knew Ururaka wasn't the weak girl people painted her to be, she can handle herself quite well. You should never judge people by their looks, especially not during fights. Only when watching Midoriya and Todoroki did he show any signs of surprise. It seemed he underestimated Midoriya, which was unusual for him. Still, his resolve would never waver. He'd take any opportunity to learn and improve. I was lost in awe staring at him when he jumped up from his seat. I instinctively followed him.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He glared at me.

"Walking you to the waiting room?" I batted my eyes playfully.

"What for? You didn't care about my other fights. You only got up for that dickhead."

"Thank you for not saying he's my boyfriend and for acknowledging him as the dick he is, but this is different. This is the final! It's your chance!" I squealed in excitement.

"There's no chance in this." He stopped and turned to face me. "I said I'd win for you, so I'll win. Keep your eyes on me, Pipsqueak."

I couldn't help but chuckle. I had no idea how such a rough-looking boy could sound confident but childish at the same time, but then again I've learned that there is nothing Bakugo can't do.

"Give 'em hell, Blasty!" I ruffled his hair and he swatted my hand away.

I could see the ghost of a smile as he turned to walk towards the waiting room. For a rowdy kid, he was exceptionally sweet at times.

[NEXT CHAPTER]

A/N: A soft chapter before all hell breaks loose. :^D Also, chapters will be a bit shorter from now on! It's just easier to read and edit. <3

[dreamsarefleeting]

86 + kc

And we’ve reached the final part of this short series! Thank you for all these prompts Maf! It was awesome to write, and I hope you enjoyed them.| Part one | Part two | Part three | Part four |

KC + “Am I scaring you?”

Caroline hadn’t seen Klaus since the bonfire party. At this point, she wasn’t certain who was avoiding who exactly, just that they hadn’t spend more than ten seconds in the same room since that night.

She knew her reasons for avoiding him -tall, brunette, gorgeous- but what were his? He had clearly moved on and was over his infatuation with her. She groaned. Why couldn’t she have just fallen for some random kid in her history class or something? Did it really have to be her best friends brother?

Because she had. Fallen for him. She had discovered that weeks ago. The day that she had realized that Klaus Mikaelson had the power to break her heart, he had. And he never looked back.

But now she wasn’t so sure anymore. At the bonfire he had been quick to rush to her, helping her when she tripped and looking downright ready to hurt anyone that had done so to her. She shivered when she thought back to the intensity of his eyes.She sighed, maybe she was just seeing what she had wanted to see?

He always did have the perfect words, but the girl didn’t lie. Katherine Pierce. She knew the girl from reputation only, but it was enough.

-

“Rebekah?” she called out while she entered the Mikaelson’s living room, “Where are you?”

“She’s upstairs,” an unfamiliar voice answered, and Caroline looked up in surprise at the sight of Katherine Pierce in the house. Of course. Caroline should have prepared herself for the possibility. Klaus didn’t need to hide this one. She regretted the thought instantaneously. It had been her idea to keep their ‘thing’ a secret after all.

“Oh hi,” she waved awkwardly at the intimidating girl, “I’m sorry what are you doing here?”

“Just waiting for my boyfriend,” Katherine told her before she looked back at her phone. “Rebekah is in her room.”

Caroline felt dismissed and without another word walked up towards Rebekah’s room. Boyfriend. The word tore through her hard. Of course, Klaus would date this girl. She was gorgeous, daring, sexy, confident. Everything she wasn’t. She walked up to Rebekah’s room and sighed one last time, masking her feelings before she faced her friend.

“Well you took your time,” Rebekah joked when Caroline entered the room.

“Yeah sorry, I was held up by Katherine for a minute.”

“Oh yeah- my brother’s lovely new girlfriend,” Rebekah said, rolling her eyes. The sarcasm was evident and Caroline was relieved that she wasn’t the only one disliking the girl. Her reasons were a lot more selfish than Rebekah’s though.

“You don’t like her?” Caroline inquired, hoping she didn’t sound too eager for information.

“I don’t know her, and she’s certainly not trying to get known. I mean she’s been over a couple of times in the past two months and all I know is her name and that she has a younger sister. She’s not the kind of girl I would have thought my brother to come home with.”

Caroline processed the words. Two months. She had still been with Klaus at the time. She couldn’t believe he had someone he took home with him, while he was still stringing her along. Anger overcame her and she stood up.

“I’m sorry,” she told Rebekah while she grabbed her purse, “I need to- I totally forgot that I had to- I’ll call you later, okay?” she asked while she ran out of Rebekah’s room.

She had to find Klaus. This couldn’t continue like this. Not while he had some other girl that probably never knew about her either. He couldn’t hurt another girl like he had hurt her. Not that Katherine seemed like the type to break easily…

-

She had tried his room but it had been empty, looked around the house but hadn’t succeeded. She was pleased to note that Katherine was no longer in the living room, but that brought up the fear that she was gone, because they were somewhere together. Would her heart be able to take it if she found them like that?

It didn’t matter. This was about more than just her.

-

She found him in the backyard. Before she could second guess herself she ran towards him and pushed him into the direction of the shed, closing the door behind them.

“Caroline-” he said in surprise, glancing around unsurely. He had missed the girl terribly, but he knew they had to keep their distance before he did something they would regret. She deserved so much better than him.

“No. I talk. You listen. I thought I made it clear at the bonfire how you hurt me. How you broke me. I thought by telling you, that I took back the power that made you be able to do so. But I was wrong,” she swallowed deeply and took a step back from him. “You’re ruining me. How could you?”

“Caroline,” he came closer to her, a hand raised in concern. He wanted to keep her at a distance, but she was never supposed to get hurt. He had never imagined she would care enough to get hurt. “I never wanted to-”

“No I don’t need your excuses!” she slapped away his hand. “I have enough of those. I need answers. I need the truth!”

“I’ve given you all I can,” he answered dejectedly. “I’ve tried- I tried to do right by you, and I failed. I don’t know what else to do!”

“Right by me?!? You call breaking up with me when I tell you I’m okay going public doing right by me? You call dumping me over text! Doing right by?” she was seething and started articulating slower, emphasizing her last words, “You call having a girlfriend! Doing. Right. By. Me?” She swallowed back the sobs that were threatening to break free. She knew that no explanations would ever relieve her of her pain.

“Girlfriend? I don’t-” Klaus looked around unsurely, “Who the hell are you talking about?”

She shook her head in anger, “Don’t try to act like you don’t know. I’ve met her. It was one thing to hear that you moved on, but discovering that you’ve been seeing each other while we were together? How could you do that to me? Or if you care about me so little, how could you do that to Katherine?”

“Katherine?” Klaus chuckled and shook his head. “Caroline this is all one big misunderstanding! I’m not dating Katherine. Elijah is.”

“You’re… you’re not?” she was stunned. She was so convinced Klaus had moved on and found himself a new and better girl… but he hadn’t. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. A different girlfriend at least explained their sudden break-up.

“I don’t even like her. We were only talking at the bonfire because we were both waiting for my brother. Ugh Katherine and me,” he made a disgusted face at the thought. “I thought you knew me better than that.”

She bristled, how dare he be offended by her assumption. “Well, what was I supposed to think! You broke up with me out of nowhere. Clearly, I didn’t know you as well as I ever thought I did.”

“At the very least I would expect you to know my type,” Klaus moved closer to Caroline. Now that she had moved past some of her anger, he felt himself relax more. It started to feel like it had before he had ruined it all.

“What is that? Naive and easy?” Caroline sniped back, taking in a harsh breath when she could feel his chest brush hers. Damn, she hadn’t thought this confronting Klaus in a quiet tiny space thing through. Her body still reacted to him, like it had before.

Klaus chuckled. “No. Strong, beautiful, full of light,” he pressed a small kiss at her jaw, “Bossy. Stubborn.” He places a kiss at the corner of her mouth, smiling when he didn’t feel her pull away. “Sexy.”

She shivered and automatically took a step back. Her mind screamed at her not to fall for his pretty words again, but her senses, her heart, they all screamed Klaus.

“Am I scaring you?” he asked when he realized she had flinched away from him. He didn’t want to do anything that Caroline didn’t want to. It was just so easy to get distracted by the blonde beauty. To get lost in her.

“No,” she breathed out. She needed a minute to sort out her thoughts. Her body was screaming at her to lean forward, to have his lips roam over every bit of her skin but she knew she had to be stronger than that. Clearly, he was still interested in her. A lack of physical attraction was never their issue. Communication was. “We can’t,” she whispered at the unspoken question.

“I can’t be the girl that meets you in empty places, Klaus. I deserve more than that.” Before he could interject she continued. “And yes I know the secrecy was my idea, and it was fun at first. But that was when I was still discovering what we were. What I wanted. And I realized that sneaking around? That wasn’t it. If that’s all you want? That’s fine. But it won’t be with me.”

Klaus took the last step forward, his body pressing against Caroline while her back was against the door. “I don’t want anyone else,” he told her, looking at her in disbelief at the suggestion. “All I’ve ever wanted was be with you. Be someone worthy of you. But I’m not-” his voice broke and Caroline looked up in surprise.

“Someone worthy- Klaus!” she hit his arm, “You can’t decide who is or isn’t worthy of me. I chose you. I-” she inhaled sharply, “I choose you.”

“Even after I hurt you?” his voice sounded raspy and she knew she hit an emotional snare. “Caroline I’m not good for you.”

“Why? Because your father made you believe you would never be worth a damn? Don’t forget I’ve known you for years. I never had any illusions about who you were or weren’t. You’ve never hurt me. Not until you told me to leave you.”

“So what are you saying?” he asked, telling himself not to hope. If he was lucky, after today he and Caroline would continue being friends. He wouldn’t have her, but at least she would still be in his life.

“I’m saying,” she pressed against him, and lifted her arms around his neck, “Don’t ever tell to leave again.” With those last words, she pressed her lips against his. She could feel Klaus push her against the wall and moaned at the feeling of his body against hers.

He had made a mistake. Acted badly. But she know realized it came from a place of caring. Where Caroline had wanted to show her feelings by telling people, he had thought setting her free was the right decision. What was that saying? If you love somebody, let them go. If they return they’re yours forever? She didn’t know about forever. But for now? This was who she wanted to be with.

She reached for the hem of his shirt, wanting to remove the pieces of clothing that separated them, but Klaus’ hands on her stopped her. “We can’t,” he gasped against her lips. “There’s something else we have to do first.”

“What’s that?” she asked dazedly. She couldn’t imagine there was anything more important in that moment.

“I believe there’s something we have to tell my sister.”

“You’re serious?” she asked with a grin on her face.

“About you? Always.” He pecked her lips and she captured them in another heated kiss. They were going to make it this time. She was sure of it.

And so the miniseries has concluded. Hope you enjoyed it!

If you want me to write another prompt, take a look here and send me the number and ship! 

[pen-paper-ink]

Aphrodite Vignette

Another short story for my modern gods and godesses series.

Aphrodite exits the makeup store, a bag weighing down her arm. Her wallet is much lighter than when she entered. Men stare as she passes by, and she barely spares them a glance. It’s been awhile since their gaze had the power to unsettle her or compel her to cover herself. Her heels click as she strides down the streets of New York City, her mind on the new makeup designs she can do with her purchases. Her surroundings pass in a blur as she walks, tuning out everything around her until she reaches the street corner and her attention is wrested back into the world.

There is a girl, no more than seventeen, begging for money on the corner. People flow around her as though she is an inanimate road block, rather than a human being. Pausing a short distance away, Aphrodite studies her. She is beautiful, despite the grime and the gaunt desperation in her eyes. It takes less than a minute for her to decide this is one girl she can help save herself.

“Please, ma’am, I have no money and no home,” the girl says as Aphrodite approaches. She is so exhausted that no surprise registers in her gaze when Aphrodite crouches in front of her, careful not to unbalance in her heels.

“What’s your name?”

“Catriona”

“Have you ever considered being a model, Catriona,” Aphrodite asks, flashing her a radiant smile while handing her a business card. The girl stares at her, before snorting and rolling her eyes.

“Yeah of course, right after my dream of owning a flying car and speaking to animals.”

“It’s not so impossible. You have defined cheekbones, a graceful neck, and startling eyes.” Aphrodite cocks her head, appraising the girl from up close. Those same eyes turn towards her, the swirling mix of blue and green radiating disbelief.

“Are you off your rocker? I can’t even eat. How am I going to become a model?” The girl is mocking her at this point. She seems to have decided Aphrodite isn’t going to take pity on her and put money in the bowl sitting in front of her.

“Simple. You’re going to come with me. We are going to clean you off, get you some new clothes, and start training.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Why not? Are you so very attached to this corner?”

“You could be a serial killer.”

“A serial killer in hot pink heels?”

“Hey serial killers look like regular people right up until they gut you.” Aphrodite snorts at that, a very indelicate sound for a delicate looking woman.

“Well I suppose you’re going to have to make a decision. Does the risk of me being a serial killer outweigh the allure of a way out of your life?” The girl looks at her for a long moment, her eyes whirling with a storm of colors.

“I can’t be a model,” the girl says quietly. Her entire countenance has changed, the brash confidence turned meek.

“You are beautiful enough to be a model,” Aphrodite says gently. No matter how many girls she meets with self-confidence issues, it never fails to break her heart when their eyes fill with doubt. She has been alive for thousands of years and has yet to meet a truly ugly person.

“That’s not - I’m not,” the girl sputters, before finally finding her voice. “I can’t walk,” she says, false bravado emerging as she twitches the blanket she is sitting on the reveal her left leg, cut off mid-thigh.

“That’s not a problem.” Perhaps it’s the confidence in Aphrodite’s voice, but the girl eventually nods and stands. She leans against the building and slips a crude prosthetic limb on, strapping it to her thigh with what looks like an old belt.

“First things first,” Aphrodite says, offering the girl a hand, which is immediately brushed aside. “Let’s go visit my ex-husband.”

The shop is filled with prosthetic limbs. They hang from the ceiling, rest on shelves lining the wall, and spill out of drawers. There are some on the table, mixed in with wrenches, screwdrivers, and wires. Catriona’s eyes widen when she enters, and she stand in the doorway, as though she can’t bring herself to cross the threshold.

“Can I help you?” A man in a wheelchair emerges from the back room, rolling to a stop a few feet from the door. As soon as he stops, the detailing on the wheels become clear, revealing covers that look like old Greek shields. The entire chair has the feel of a Greek racing chariot, only turned backwards and missing the horses.

“Hephaestus,” Aphrodite exclaims, moving past Catriona to kiss the man on his cheeks. “I could use your help. This lovely young lady needs a leg.” She gestures back towards Catriona. “Her name is Catriona and her left leg ends at mid-thigh.”

“Cat,” Catriona says, finally stepping through the doorway. “Call me Cat.” The smile that graces her face could power the entire city for a week.

“Well, Cat,” Hephaestus says, “what kind of leg do you want?”

After marveling at the makeshift prosthetic Cat was wearing, Hephaestus takes her measurements and has her look through a catalog of what he could do.

“I can’t,” she says. “I don’t have any money, much less enough for one of these.”

“Nonsense,” Aphrodite says. “You are part of my agency now and I am paying for your leg. And don’t bother arguing about the money. I get the ex-wife discount.” She winks at her before turning Cat’s attention back to the catalog.

Cat flips through the pages reverently. She marks several pages that interest her, but she keeps flipping back to one specific page in particular. It is a leg made entirely of steel vines and roses, complete with leaves and thorns. It looks beautiful and deadly.

Aphrodite and Cat leave the shop three hours later. Cat is no longer wearing her makeshift leg, and instead sports an intricate one made up entirely of gears. The leg is temporary, one of the many legs of varying height Hephaestus keeps on hand for people to wear until their prosthetic is ready. Aphrodite smiles, knowing that this girl is going to do wonderfully. Her choice of prosthetic revealed much of her personal style, which fits her features and personality perfectly. The modelling world will adore her.

Back at Aphrodite’s apartment, Cat showers while Aphrodite ransacks her spare closet, searching for something for Cat to wear. She always keeps extra clothes in varying sizes on hand, so she knows somewhere in this closet is a shirt and pants that will fit Cat, despite her incredibly small waistline from being on the brink of starvation. Aphrodite eventually finds a pair of red pants with a cinch waist and a basic black top with a lace back.

She places the clothes in a neat pile outside the bathroom door and then goes to start dinner. Beef stew with carrots and celery is boiling on the stove when Cat emerges, her hair wet and skin slightly red from scrubbing. Her gaze zeros in on the pot on the stove before Aphrodite steers her to the table and places buttered bread in front of her.

“I’m sorry the food is quite basic. I don’t want to overwhelm your stomach all at once. Anything richer than this might not stay down. We can work up to more exciting food as you adjust to having regular meals again.” Aphrodite bustles back to the stove to check on the stew, and almost misses Catriona’s quiet reply.

“Why are you being so kind to me?”

Aphrodite sets the spoon down and turns to look at Cat. She looks so small at her kitchen table, the black top hanging off of her bony shoulders.

“I’ve found in my life that people are not always kind,” Aphrodite eventually responds. “But that doesn’t mean that they do not deserve kindness anyways. You have to put good back into the world if you want it to get better.” She pauses, searching for the right words. “I can’t help everyone. People have to save themselves for it to stick, I’ve found. I spent so long trying to save my ex-boyfriend from the cage fights. It hurt like hell when I finally realized that he had to want to stop fighting in order to work through his addiction. And he didn’t want to.”

“I’m sorry,” Cat says.

“It’s alright. It was an important lesson for me.” There is silence in the kitchen for a while, broken only by the sound of the stew bubbling on the stove.

“Why me?” Cat suddenly asks. “If you can’t save everyone, why me?”

“Because I can give you the tools to save yourself,” Aphrodite responds, her usually bubbly persona made solemn. “You willingly came with me, showing you want out. And I run a modelling agency, so I can employ you. Give you the opportunity to go somewhere.”

“But you didn’t have to,” Cat says, sounding frustrated. “It’s not that I’m not grateful, because I totally am. It’s just, why do it at all?”

“Because someone once saved me. I suppose this is me paying it forward.”

Aphrodite turns back to cooking, ignoring Cat’s eyes on her back. This is one conversation she won’t have with her. Far too complicated. Far too painful.

They eat in relative silence for a while, before Aphrodite begins filling Cat in on how her employment will work, how long training takes, and what kind of jobs she can expect at first. She makes it clear that it is Cat’s choice whether she lives in the agency’s dormitories or with Aphrodite.

The next morning, Cat signs an agency contract with Aphrodite’s notary present. She moves into the dormitories that afternoon, with a suitcase full of new clothes and the promise of a weekly allowance until she gets a temporary job. Aoife, one of the other models living in the dormitory, immediately befriends her. When Aphrodite leaves the agency that day, Cat is sitting in the common area with Aoife. Her laughter follows Aphrodite out the door.

[push511]

APRIL MEMBER OF THE MONTH

                       CONGRATULATIONS LAURA PANOZZO

A few words from her fellow peeps & coaches.....

People who know me, know that I am an extremely sappy person. So, in true form, this comment about Laura will not be any different. I have been a member of the PUSH community for nearly 2 years, and I am truly blessed for all of the wonderful people that I have met and become friends with. There are so many people at the box who I admire and strive to emulate. However, of all the people that have walked into my life, I can say with the utmost confidence that Laura stands at the top of the list of people who has changed my life in the most positive way possible. To say that someone has actually changed your life, is a true testament of how amazing that person truly is. Well, Laura really is that amazing and the reason why I nominated her for MOM.

My friendship with Laura and the rest of the 6 am crew truly has grown over the past year. With spending countless hours with the girls figuring out how to entertain everyone with our costumes, exchanging HUNDREDS of texts per day (yes, we do work), pushing each other to our limits during WODs, getting our pump on and doing "beach body" workouts as a trio with Krista, "annoying" the coaches because we never stop talking at 6 am, and always shooting for a goal together as a team, I really can't imagine the void that would be created if Laura was not around. Laura brings such happiness and laughter, and is the type of friend that everyone deserves to have because she instills confidence in you when you do not believe in yourself and always pushes you to be better in the box and in life.

I think that this nomination is so timely, especially with all of the achievements that Laura accomplished during this past Open. I have never really been a believer of the "Open magic," but I am now a believer after witnessing the new benchmarks that Laura has created for herself -- from PR’g a 135# squat snatch and getting not one but EIGHT first bar muscle ups!  Laura is living evidence that nothing is impossible when you work your butt off and believe in yourself.

I am so proud to call Laura my friend and very grateful to have her as an awesome training partner to obsess over CrossFit together! Good job Laura and keep on being amazing!

*****

Yeah Laura! She is such a happy person, always smiling, laughing, lifting heavy barbells, and cheering her peers. She is PR’ng all over the place, killing the open, motivating people to follow and she is such a great supportive friend! It is super exciting to see her grow into a strong confident athlete.

*****

When you hear Laura saying that she is incapable of doing something tell her to stop with the "fake news". First CrossFit competition - podium finish, bar muscle ups in the open - she got 8 of them, 135# Snatch - no problem. All as a result of hard work and dedication. And a little chalk powder magic.

***** Seriously, Laura is a CrossFit rock star. Her double-unders are the nectar of the gods. Her snatch is a work of art! She’s so good, and she doesn’t even realize it!  Most importantly, Laura is an amazing dancer! I got a PR because of her performance to Will Smith song “J”.  She’s one of those people that you feel like you’ve known forever, and she makes everyone feel so welcome. We hang out on the couch with coffee after the WOD because it’s the best part of our day. She inspires everyone to do better while busting out some serious moves. She’s incredibly dedicated to becoming better without taking life too seriously. And her Moscow Mule is incredible! I think I want to marry her!

***** Laura is always smiling and putting in the extra work. It's not uncommon to see Laura show up on a Saturday at 8 am and stay until Noon while she sits on the couch, cheers on other athletes, drinks excessive amounts of coffee and occasionally walks over to the pull-up bar to try a few butterfly pull-ups or bar muscle ups. She is always there for her morning crew, cheering them on, encouraging them through a tough workout. She recently started the Renaissance Periodization "diet" and toughed it out through all the initial cravings (which is kudos in itself) but really transformed her body (and even attitude) by doing it. Congrats on all your recent successes, Laura!

*****

Can't think of a more deserving person!

Laura (or Laurie as we fondly refer to her) is absolutely deserving of this award! I mean, who else will forgive you when you decide to sleep in and miss working out with her even though you planned it?...(Still sorry lol).

In all seriousness, Laura is a fantastic athlete, and more importantly a wonderful human being. She's one of the reasons I truly enjoy getting up in the morning to make the 6 AM class. She's patient, funny, and an awesome competitor/athlete - a true blast to be around. She's either crushing WODs, giving strong encouragement to the rest of us, or...dancing...This gal pushes us all to be better and exemplifies what makes the PUSH Community so great. Congrats again!!!!!

***** Determined – Fun – Level Headed – Amazing Human Being!

***** Laura is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to snatching but also a force for fun.  She is the first to throw down & play along with a funny theme, crazy costume or just silly music - that she can't help but dance to. She'll push you to put a bit more weight on the bar & probably make you laugh while you do it. 6 am wouldn't be the same without her.

***** Laura is one of my morning opponents and also one of the most coachable ladies in the gym. While she typically is laughing at me instead of with me, she's truly been a great smile to see on a daily basis. She may carry on that she hates a movement in a WOD, but her competitive spirit comes out in full force once that clock starts. Extra curricular work, some Neanderthal diet, and the latest gym fashion trends, Laura keeps pushing for more. I'm almost certain she's unemployed and stays at the gym to drink the coffee....but you know what, I'll take that company any day.

                             Now A Few Words From Laura

Shut the front door! You guys are all so awesome!

Started CrossFit: July 2013, came to PUSH511 August 2015

What is your fitness background: My family is really into sports so I have been playing something since I was around 5. I spent most of my years playing softball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball. Started rugby in high school and tried out for the USA U-19 team (sadly, was not picked). I also figure skated for about three years as a kid and danced (tap and ballet) for almost ten years (as evidenced by my killer dance moves). I played college basketball and did some cool things like set some records and stuff. It was neat. After college I learned how to snowboard, coached college basketball and spent way to much time thinking cardio was the only way to be fit.

Favorite Movement: Anyone that knows me knows this answer: power cleans, snatches and double-unders!

Least Favorite Movement: Just one? Nah, you get all of them: burpees, HSPU (ha, 17.4....), ring dips and air squats.

Occupation: Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Baltimore School of Law

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family: I grew up outside of Detroit and moved to Baltimore four years ago with my boyfriend. I was the oops baby when my parents thought they were done after two kids. Apparently, they went to a really great party. I am a self-identified cat lady and have three furballs roaming around my house (yes, feel free to make fun of me). I am also an aunt to two small humans and teaching them ways to annoy my sister and brother-in-law has become a hobby for me.

Tell us something we don’t know about you: So, I am not making this up, I seriously did not know my sisters real name until she got her drivers license. My whole life we have called her Annie, and when she showed me her license it said "Anne." I told her they spelled her name wrong and forgot the i. Turns out, her legal name is Anne and I had no idea. Basically, I am the best little sister on the planet.

Words to live by or Favorite Quote: If you are going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill

How has CrossFit affected your life outside the gym: It has reminded me of what it means to be consistent, which was something that was lacking in my life. I wasn't very consistent with my training the first two years (I would take a month or two off, using work as an excuse) and would get upset about my lack of progression. I finally made the decision when I came to PUSH that I was going to implement consistency into my gym time and was amazed with how quickly I have improved. It has forced me to look at all aspects of my life (diet, relationships, work) where consistency was lacking and make changes. Life is so much better when I am purposefully consistent.

What do you enjoy most about PUSH:  I started CrossFit initially to meet people after I moved, but it wasn't until I came to PUSH that I finally found the awesome community I didn't realize was missing from my life. It has brought me together with people who understand the joy in hitting a PR and the frustration of feeling like you aren't progressing. There are so many people I admire at the gym and so many people I want to be like! You all push me to keep trying new movements, add more weight, and remind me to believe in myself when I just want to quit. I love waking up early and heading to PUSH to hang out with the morning crew!

Fill in the Blank: I like… the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, coffee, peanut butter, a good beer or gin and tonic, working out in the morning and quoting movies. I eat… green beans, rice, peanut butter and casein pudding everyday. I do… spend way too much time on my phone looking at lifting videos, shopping on amazon and wasting time on Instagram. Shout out to the 6 am text message thread that gets me through the work day haha. I am…always saying hi to people on the street. Apparently, that is weird here.   Favorite Cheat Meal…Thai food. All the freaking Thai food. Favorite Real-Life Hero/Athlete…Pat Summit, she was, hands down, the best basketball coach. I really wish I had the chance to play for her.

I can't thank you all enough for bringing so much joy to my life and nominating me for this! You guys are all awesome people and make working out so much fun!

[littlcdeath]

//Another post about the alters, with some we were missing. This one was made by Becky like a year ago, and it’s definitely funnier than mine. Doesn’t include me because I hadn’t been out yet.

Ok, since Fae promised yesterday, here’s a general list of the people inhabiting this head. I’ll specify who age-slides, and what ages we can be when we do. I’ll actually try to specify what age everyone is. Be warned that we are well above 50, although not everyone’s active at once. I’m sorry if this is confusing. Hope the list helps • Fae- Actual owner of the body. Has not been fully “herself” since she was like 6 (when Harl got here). Always co-cons with someone because she can’t stand being out alone. Doesn’t know or care what we do with her life. Terrified of people. Has left us alone for extended periods of time. If you think you’ve talked to her, there’s a 99% chance it was actually Claire, Amanda, or me. Actually a very sweet kid, but very hurt. Will go to the end of the world for her friends. Can hold a grudge like nobody’s business. Paints herself as a bitch but is a softie. Her mom cannot tell the difference between her and me. Diabetic, to Nidia’s displeasure. Closet Gryffindor turned Slytherin in order to survive.

• Amanda – Our system’s “guard dog”/Head Bitch in Charge. Much more complicated than that. The real author of Fae’s thigh scars (barely visible now), and maybe the only reason she made it through high school. The little voice that says “kill everyone and blame it on me”. Zero concern for consequences for herself. Impulse control consists on “Jail is awful and Fae doesn’t deserve it”. She’s over 30.

• Lisbeth (Sally)- Just…Sally. The other voice that wants to kill everyone but doesn’t because she actually thinks about the consequences of her actions. Max is technically her partner, but we don’t talk about that (you can ask). I think she’s 30-something, but might as well be Fae’s age.

• Claire- Possibly Fae’s projection of herself into different universes. She can be 6, 17, 24 and 35. Last name Constantine. From Liverpool. Awful accent. Please don’t call her Australian. Another closer Gryffindor turned Slytherin. Most of Fae’s friends are actually hers. Has been Fae for longer than Fae has been Fae. Likes soccer and we’re sorry. Punk. Hella Punk. Also hella broke.

• Mara- Claire’s sister (maybe twin). Stay away from her (possibly the sexual alter, can be the same ages as Claire) Responsible for most of Fae’s awful dating decisions.

• Valentina- Rarely comes out, but she’s apparently God? We don’t know. Seems like she knows everyone, though. She always looks 20-something, but we know she’s older.

• Nidia- Claire’s daughter and the pure incarnation of Fae’s ADHD. A Jedi. Weirdest kid EVER. Super compassionate. Wears heart on her sleeve. Can be 5, 9, 16 and 21. Impulse control is 100% artificial, but existent. Can, like Amanda, drink up to 3 cans of Monster Energy Drink in a row without batting a lash. Will eat ALL THE CANDY. The reason we need to carry an extra insulin syringe with us most of the time. Pours fun dip and sweetarts into her drinks. The kind of kid child leashes were invented for.

• Hellena- Mara’s daughter. STAY AWAY. Evil incarnate. Abusive A.F. Can and will destroy you. In her 20’s

• Christine- Hell’s identical twin. Remember that girl in Mean Girls who wants to bake a cake out of sunshine and rainbows and smiles? Christine is that cake. Rarely out. Same age as Hell

• Evey- Hell and Chris’ big sister. That one kid with the pink hair and lots of tattoos. Zero impulse control. Always looks like a teenager for some reason (not over 25)

• Vlad- Agender/Genderqueer mystical creature of the forest. Valentina’s child. Awesome person in general. Permanently 17.

• Harley- Yup. THAT Harley. You know the drill. She’s actually the one who makes all the fun plans because she’s the one who has the energy for it. Gets along with everyone until she doesn’t. Can drink us all under the table. Can drink you under the table. Has been Fae for longer than Claire has been Fae. Was the first one here, so she has tattoo privileges. And dating privileges. And everything privileges, basically. If I say how old she is, I may not live to see another day. Fae’s real mum. Will take you to Petco on exam week to pet puppies. Will yell “doge!” out loud. Pets every dog. Will steal Teddy from Max.

• Edward- Mr. Nigma, sir. Somehow has better makeup skills than all the girls here combined. If his attitude was as nice as his eyebrows, he’d rule the world by now. EVERYTHING HAS QUESTION MAKRS. Knows more than anyone. Is actually a genius. Wastes his time trying to school the little ones (and trying to get Naya to use proper words). Smug bastard. Probs 40-something.

• Cass- Also from comics. EVERYTHING IS YELLOW (yiyo). Doesn’t talk much, but is always fun to have around. Will make you watch animated movies and take you to Starbucks. Will also make you work out. Can be 5, 9, 18 and 25. Smol Cass is a fan of pokemon. If it’s yellow, it belongs to her. • Naya- Cass’ child. Has her own language, featuring words like “kaijukata”, “pakato”, and “omashii” (“Kaiju attack”, an insult of her own invention, and her word for “mother”.) There are no sidewalks, only pedestrian lanes. Biggest Kaiju Enthusiast. Wants to be Mako Mori.

• M.J.- Has been here for as long as Harley has. Isn’t around as much. The difference between her and Claire is that you can actually understand what MJ says when she gets mad. Probs 25 forever.

• Danni- Amanda’s daughter. Will also fuck you up. Has the weirdest kinks. 23

• Miranda- Danni’s daughter. Don’t ask. Also a sexual alter. 21

• Martha- Miranda’s sister. Level-headed. A psychiatrist. 21. Actual most mature person in this head, along with Tári.

• Alice- Nidia’s daughter. Also a psychiatrist. Likes psychoanalyzing people. Type 1 bipolar. Thinks all Arkham inmates are humans and wants to help. Will probably end up as an Arkham Inmate herself. Age slides. Toddler Alice is the devil. Can be 5, 9, and 21

• Alyssa- Mara’s best friend. Take Alice out of wonderland and teach her ballet, then add a sprinkle of Luna Lovegood. Permanently 17-ish. • Robin- Alice’s little sister. Wants to be Carrie Kelly when she grows up. Terrified of squirrels. Can be 5 and 18.

• Tári- Alice and Robin’s eldest sister. Asperger’s. Genius extraordinaire. Loves to talk to Eddie. Often one of them leaves the conversation feeling stupid (it isn’t Tári). Loves Legos. REALLY LOVES LEGOS. Forensic Anthropologist/wants to be Bones when she grows up. Vegetarian. Can be 12/21.

• Frances- Harley’s kid. Don’t ask, this was super weird. Frances herself is super weird. She hears voices. The voices tell her to do things. She rarely listens. Actually super polite. Has “opal” hair. 18-20. We don’t really know. If we’re gonna have a sub-system, it will probably be because of Frankie.

• Shilo- Shilo Wallace. Infected by her genetics. Her nightmares are the worse. Once made Amanda and sally fight over a pair of combat boots just so she could get to keep them. Probably my best friend in here.

• Bellatrix- That one got here on her own. Over 50. Still looks great.

• Cassiopeia- Bella’s biggest mistake. Best teacher ever. Resident hipster chick. Looks like Zoey Deschanel. Is actually here to keep a little group of alters from causing too much mayhem. 23.

• Ascella- Lesbian extraordinaire. Sees dead people. I’m not even kidding. Permanently 23.

• Jamie M.- Another one who got here on her own. Our self confidence boosts and power trips. Will maybe kill someone. Better than you and is not afraid to let you know. Fae’s teachers were terrified of her. Everyone’s terrified of her; I don’t know who we think we’re kidding. 32.

• Lestat- Fae’s gay vampire boyfriend. Is rarely around anymore. Probably for the best. 260-ish years old. Prick.

And I’m missing a lot of others, but I’ll now introduce myself.

I really don’t want to say my name, because…well, I’m still not used to all this. I’ve been here for a little less than a year. Got here to protect Fae from a possibly harmful relationship. Did not work. Voted “Mom Alter” by the little ones (and some of the grown-ups). Apparently, too much like the kid. They call me “morbid” for some reason (not my fault everyone here is super fainthearted). Always cold and always in pain. I also age-slide and kind of don’t like it. 20-25. If we cancel plans, it’s most likely my fault and I’m sorry.

So yeah. This would be the general list of people you may encounter here. As I said, I may be missing some, but they’re either rarely active or not here for the time being. Feel free to talk to any of us at any moment, or ask to talk to anyone if you’d like. We have some degree of control over who’s out, so…yeah. And we’re always happy to meet new people. Well, some of us.

Anyway, that’d be all for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope this isn’t –too- weird.