#The person (my dad) who is actually there also uses a 2 letter name but since last year he ''upgraded'' to 4 letters | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rieamena · 3 months ago

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totally (not) beating the allegations

best friend!takuma ino headcanons

contains... best friends to lovers, mutual pining, casual confession of love, kisses (platonic), kisses (romantic), modern au, high school to university au, living together-ish, fem intended reader, pet names (baby, babe, love, sexy, handsome, beautiful, sweetie, the list goes on and on), lots of physical touch, nicknames (you call takuma, kuma.), reader has a mother and a father, y'all are basically dating just without the label...

word count: 2.3k (this wasn't supposed to be long. i told myself 0.8k maximum...)

riea's comments: all sixteen people living in takuma city RISE UP! i miss my husband of 35 years so much, come back to me loml :(( something to munch on while y'all wait for the next full throttle chapter. also not too much on me if this is a drabble and not hcs idk the difference :))

first off... i just wanna say that i KNOW I KNOW that ino is one of the funniest people in the jjk cast idc idc!!! if he had more screentime (and if the situation wasnt dire) my boy would be crackin some jokes!!!!

you've been friends with takuma for around 7 years, your first meeting happening in tenth grade, when your teacher paired you two up for an interview project. when time came to actually record the interviews, it was hard to edit out you two laughing uncontrollably every fifteen seconds or so

i mean, you two just had so much in common!!! same favorite color, same favorite franchise, same favorite tv show, same favorite video game; it was like yall were the same person. there was just one thing you both disagreed on: whether hex code #286061 was blue or green

your argument ended up being the last ten minutes of the final video you submitted...

without a doubt, after that, you two became inseparable. in school, people would take notice of your closeness. when one of you were absent, teachers would jokingly ask "where's the other one?"

there was not a single thing you didn't do together, homework, go to the gym, gossip, eavesdrop, etc etc. so of course, you ended up applying to the same universities and when it came time for college acceptance season...

takuma invited you over, forcing you to bring your mailed letters from the eight universities. sprawling out over his lap, you took in the all too familiar sight of his room. you've been in his room more times than you've been in your own (and vice versa!)

i mean ino's been over to your place so many times that he calls your parents mom and dad. and you've been over to his house so much that takuma's mom practically jumped for joy every time you burst through the front doors with a "guess who's home!!!" so it was completely normal that you guys knew the ins and outs of each other's rooms, right?

"kuma, baby," you started with a sigh, reveling in your best friend's repetitive motions. running his hand through your hair, ino looked down at you, eyes showing that he was listening. "i'm scared, what if we don't–"

"ah-ah-ah! no negativity here!" he cut you off, pushing you off his lap and grabbing the letters you left on his desk. "listen here beautiful," takuma says, bringing a hand to your cheek, his heart swelling when you subconsciously leaned into it, "we're gonna take each other's letters, and open them," he handed you a white envelope, the logo of both of yours dream university on it, "starting with, kyōmei."

taking a well needed deep breath, you nodded. "okay," you and ino began to open the envelopes at the same time, only looking at each other when you saw the status. "accepted or rejected in 3...2...1..."

"ACCEPTED"

cue the mandatory silence before the screaming. "holy shit. you got in." "you got in." "WE GOT IN!!! WE'RE GOING TO KYŌMEI!!!!" you two practically flew off the bed, jumping up and down in celebration. peppering his face in kisses, you nuzzled your face into takuma's neck. "i'm so proud of us! i mean, kyōmei," you pulled away from his neck, shaking his shoulders harshly, "the kyōmei?!!!"

anyways, soon enough, you both realized that you'd have to move away, resulting in a seven hour search for apartments near the university's campus. and just as takuma was about to give up, you found a listing for units 19A and 19B, right in the heart of the city and just a five minute walk from kyōmei

and with that, it was moving day, well, days is more like it considering that the whole process took like ten days... finding cute furniture is really hard! and moving all of it is even harder!! and don't even get me started on the appliances! although, you and takuma found a way around it

like what do both of you need a microwave for? and there isn't a reason to have two dishwashers, there wasn't even a reason to have one! y'all kept your fridges though... who was gonna be banging on the other's door in the middle of the night for some cold water??

with time, it came for the highly anticipated freshman formal, an welcome event hosted by kyōmei itself, and of course, you had to go. so here you were, staring at your figure in the mirror as your best friend's large hand rubbed your shoulder, the other zipping up your black dress. "all done!" he breathed, taking a step away so that you could see for yourself. "i look so cute~" you giggled, hearing the clack of your heels as you twirled. "you do!" he paused, looking you up and down, "when did you get that dress?"

"your mom gave it to me a couple days ago! where'd you get that tux? i don't think i've seen it before," you walked over and straightened takuma's suit, as he laughed in response, "your mom gave it to me..."

"this was planned."

"this was definitely planned."

"we should send a picture in the family group chat!"

"we should!!! but, hair first!"

notice how i said family group chat, singular, not plural. and that's because there's a gc for both of your families! it's name was a mix between "ino" and your last name, since, in all seriousness, your families were close

so here you were, sitting pretty on takuma's lap as you focused on straightening the front pieces of his hair, because that's what best friends do!

"okayyyy sexyyyy," you squealed, moving out of the way so that takuma could see himself in your vanity mirror, "damnn, i look hot!" he smiled as he checked himself out, his hand firmly on your waist (to make sure that you wouldn't fall, of course!). "i knew i was fine but, did i always look this fine?" he asked, looking up at you with his big dark brown eyes, a playful smirk evident on his face. "yes, takuma. you're the sexiest man ever. just a bit of eyeliner on you and we'll be on our way, okay?"

turning back to your station, you grabbed some brown and black pencils before starting to lightly draw over ino's outer eye corner, "do men as sexy as me really need eyeliner?" a look from you was all he needed to know to shut up and close his eyes

and oh, how he loved being so close to you. not just emotionally but physically as well. like, not every duo can say that they barge into the other's apartment to steal snacks! and speaking of snacks... let me just say, there's a whole cabinet in his kitchen reserved for your favorite foods and! he keeps your favorite ice cream flavor stocked in his freezer

you, on the other hand, have a little space where you hide takuma's favorite anything. chips, gummies, takeout menus, you name it, you have it. because your best friend is oh-so-optimistic, it can be harder for him when he's just not having the best of days. which is why when you go your (not so) separate ways at the end of the day, you pack up a basket for him. ribbons in his favorite color, his top 15 favorite snacks from that one time y'all bought one of everything in a nearby convenience store and ranked them, takeout on the way, horror flicks he's been wanting on dvd because he said "its cooler that way", and a handwritten letter from you, for my kuma, scribbled on the envelope

dropping off the basket at his door and retreating back to your place, you'd press your ear against the wall separating your units, physically feeling your heart break when you heard sniffles. that was all you needed to practically fly over to his, a few boxes of tissues in hand. because that's what best friends do!

and don't even get me started on how many belongings y'all have at the other's place... like that one time takuma walked into your apartment announcing his presence, only to be met with silence. let me set up the scene for you. you are taking a relaxing shower when you hear a knock on the door followed by four more and then three more. "come in!" you called out, unbeknownst to you, ino's voice was closer than you thought

"already in here..., anyways. is my shampoo in there?"

"the one with the purple cap?"

"yeah, thanks babe!"

"wait, can you get me my towel?"

or that time when you causally opened the door to his unit (because it was basically yours too) and greeted him with a simple pat on his head before skipping off to find those jeans you thrifted

slight cohabitation aside, the university life was definitely... something. it was clear and obvious that you two were close, a blind man could see it. but close is a really really really vague word, and it's surely not the word that describes the way the two of you act. in this friendship, terms of endearment drop like rain from clouds. every. other. sentence. contains a "babe" or "baby" or "sweetheart" or "darling" WE GET IT OKAY...

and it seems like if y'all go a single day without touching each other, a bomb will fall from the sky and earth would blow up. his hands are constantly on you, his favorite places (when in public) being your shoulders and arms, and when at home it was without a doubt your waist and thighs. just imagine how difficult it must be for people speak to you both on campus when his arm is slung around you and your hand is holding onto his side. the rumors practically created themselves....

and when i say people were shocked, i mean they were SHOCKED when y'all were like "haha, no, we're not dating!!! we're best friends!" everyone was thinking: yeah best friends who FUCK. best friends who are IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. y'all became the campus' it couple without being a couple. how does that happen??!??

however... there were a couple of people who were particularly excited to hear that you both were single. a few girls approached you one day while in the general area, asking if it was true that you and ino weren't dating. "we aren't... why?" one of the girls shifted on her feet, clearly nervous. "well... could you um... give this to him for me?!" she bowed, presenting a pretty pink envelope. you froze, staring at the item before giggling. "i see what this is about! don't worry! i'll make sure this gets to him safely!" long story short, that letter was never delivered

and on ino's side, he had some classmates pestering him about you. asking for your favorite show, candy, date style, everything under the sun. "guys, guys! she doesn't even want a boyfriend right now!" takuma shouted, even though two days prior you were complaining about how spending too much time with him was scaring all the hotties away

but let's get into the real stuff... the realization of love

for takuma, there wasn't a "wow, i'm in love with her" moment. what he does know though is that he started feeling something different for you a few months before college admission season. to him, the world was always bright with you by his side but now... it was so much brighter. it was like looking directly into the sun; it hurt but he couldn't look away, he doesn't want to look away. you're the best thing to ever happen to him, and the mere thought of ruining what you have just for some feeling—no matter how intense—isn't... right to him

and you figured it out after a dream you had one night back in high school. you dreamt of being in takuma's arms, the ones you snuck glances at when he wasn't paying attention to you. in not dream world, all you had to do was ask and he'd gladly envelop you but the vibes in this dream were different. there was tension. and it was thick. his beanie was off and thrown somewhere on the bed, your bed. looking back at him, your breath caught in your throat, "hey pretty," he slurred, drunk off tiredness. ino's called you beautiful more times than you can count; he made sure to do it at least once a week, so why... just why did this time make your stomach heat up and your heart race? you woke up with a flushed face, queasy feeling in your gut, and a deep understanding. it wasn't just platonic love anymore

"hey," you started, eyes trained on the movie in front of you, but your mind was focused on something else, "y'know how everyone thinks we're dating?" ino nodded as you reached over to grab the bowl of popcorn. "i've been thinking... maybe they're onto something..."

takuma's gulp could be heard from miles away, "wh-what are you trying to say?"

"what are we? seriously. because i can't sit here and pretend like i don't wish we were something more."

"something more like...?"

"now's not the time to be oblivious! don't you get it?! i'm—"

"i'm in love with you,"

it was like time stood still as you looked at your best friend. his face was lit by the tv screen a couple feet away, his hair was a mess, and slightly prominent dark circles were under his eyes, but... he's never looked more beautiful to you. "have been. for a long time. we've basically been dating for like four years already. four more and then we'll get married?" he flashed his signature smile

"oh, shut up," he brought your face millimeters away from his, whispering "make me." before kissing you deeply, not on your cheek, or your forehead, or your shoulders, but on your lips this time. and all the times after that too

because that's what best friends lovers do, right?

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mr-cha-n · 3 months ago

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The Pen Pal Project

Pairing: Choi Seungcheol x reader

Genres: Fluff, fluff, and more fluff

Warnings: Profanities, sappiness, cheating (third party), a tinsy hint of angst

Word Count: 10.2k

Summary: Over a decade of handwritten letters later, you can happily say that the Pen Pal Project was your greatest success.

Reaching up into the top shelf of the wardrobe, toppling onto your tiptoes in order to do so, your fingertips brush against a satin, bowed box. Pulling the box down to your chest, you perch at the edge of your large, periwinkle-sheeted bed, gingerly untangling the pretty blue ribbon and lifting the lid off of the top. Leafing your fingers through the stacks of paper inside, you feel a wave of nostalgia enrapturing your body. Your head rolls back, eyes falling shut as your mind is overtaken by memory.

"Honey, the guests will be here soon!" Your husband yells out from down the stairs.

"I'll just be a few minutes! Can you take the cake out, my love?" You call back, praying you have the time to reminisce before everyone arrives.

You gently pull out the first letter from the top of the stack.

April 5th 2007

Dear pen pal,

I am writing to you because my class has signed up for the Pen Pal Project this year. Because I don't know who you are or anything about you, I am going to answer some of the questions my teacher has given us, and hopefully you can answer them too in your reply!

1. What is your name?

My mom said that I shouldn't give out any personal information, so I can't actually answer this question. My friends all call me Dusty, so you can call me that too.

2. What hobbies do you enjoy?

I am really into skating, starcraft, hockey and rocks. Yesterday, me and my friends went out to the outskirts of the city to see if we could climb the big oak trees, and I found a piece of dolomite next to the river! I really want to find a meteorite but they're very rare so I think it'll take a lot of searching. I also play in my school's field hockey team - my mom wants me to stop playing because last week I cracked one of my teeth, but I think she's going to come around when she sees our tournament next weekend.

3. What do you want to do when you grow up?

My dad is a teacher and my mom is a nurse, so my parents want me to go to university and become a doctor or a professor, but I'd quite like to be an astronaut or Indiana Jones, whichever pays better.

4. What's one thing you want to know about your pen pal?

I want to know everything about you (more than one, sorry)! What's your school like? What year were you born in (mine is 1995)? What do you do for fun? Do you like dogs? Do you have a phone?

I'm not sure if I'll get a response to this letter, but if you do want to, I hope we can keep in touch for a long time :)

Yours truly,

Dusty

May 21st 2007

Dear Dusty,

I'm really glad I got your letter. Some of my friends got letters that didn't even have a return address, but thankfully I get to write back to you and answer some of your questions. I was also born in 1995 so we are same-age friends. I'm finding this year in school a bit harder because of all the tests we are doing, but we just started doing football again in Physical Education so it's not too bad. Sports are my biggest hobby - I do football and basketball and I want to start wrestling this year. I mostly like to go and play with my friends at the park. I'm on some of the school teams, but my friends tell me I'm too competitive to play professionally.

I also really like gaming and reading. I finished the Protoss campaign over the winter break, but I've had to stop now that school has started again. My friends are all really excited about the announcement of Starcraft II, are you too? Will you keep going with the original or switch to the new one?

When I grow up, I either want to do sports or I'll study to work a good job in business or finance. Being an astronaut would be so cool! You'd definitely be able to find a meteorite then.

About your other questions, I don't have a phone yet but I do love dogs. When I'm older I want at least one dog, if not more. Do you have any pets?

I hope that we can keep writing to each other too - it's fun to have a secret friend.

From,

Cherry

January 4th 2011

Dear Cherry,

Sorry it's been a while - I've been really busy over the winter break, but I just had my tonsils removed so I have a bit of free time in recovery to write this letter. Before you ask, no - I didn't wake up during the surgery which I was a bit disappointed about, but I did manage to swallow enough blood to make me throw up after waking up so that was kinda crazy.

I can't believe that your friend did that! One time my friend Jiwoo got suspended for unscrewing all of the lightbulbs in the science classrooms, but that was because of a dare, not her own free will! I've never been suspended before, but I came close for tardiness last year. Have you ever been suspended?

I also appreciated your inquiry into the Heiran - Hyunki situation. I can't believe I forgot to update you in my last letter, and you'll be glad to receive it! Unbelievably, they got back together. I know it's what we feared would happen, but apparently Heiran has made some of her own mistakes in the relationship, so she's willing to overlook the whole thing. Absolutely crazy - I think that she's just scared to break up with him, which I suppose is a fair concern - just not for a 16-year-old. The whole situation really made me think about the purpose of relationships and love. All of my friends keep rushing into relationships this year, and I feel like I'm being left behind. I just don't care as much as they do, but they act like I'm some alien creature for not wanting to make out with someone in the school locker rooms. Perhaps this isn't something you can relate to, but it would be nice to know if you think I'm justified in my opinion or if there really is something wrong with me.

The thought of starting school again after the break is actually making me want to run away to the mountains. My sister is leaving for university and I don't want to go to school without her. Of course, I can't tell her that, but it's going to be really lonely walking in on my own. Plus, my parents' attention is firmly on me now, so I can't mess up in exams this year. The amount of pressure is going to make my head explode. How are you feeling about the year? I guess because you have the football season to look forward to your mind is probably focused on that?

I'm thinking about rejoining hockey this year. Even though it was too much last year, I did really miss it and I think I can better manage my time now that I don't have to be in the choir anymore. I think my mom might have a fit when I tell her, but the way you talked about sports really made me miss playing. Plus, apparently, I need an outlet for all these teenage hormonal emotions seeing as I'm not getting it on in the McDonald's parking lot.

Anyways, I need to get going now so I have time to blend some fruit up before lunchtime.

Yours truly,

Dusty

A chuckle leaves your lips as you read back over your letter. You'd been so worried about who was dating who and, more importantly, who you weren't dating. You were always so grateful for someone to discuss your fears with - your friends at the time certainly didn't understand. You'd had your first kiss a few weeks after you'd sent the letter. A party at a friend of a friend's house had devolved into typical teenage party games and you'd been pressured into kissing a boy whose name you couldn't remember. In fairness, you remembered that he was cute - curly dark hair and sharp cheekbones - but you'd made a joke about not being able to engage in tonsil tennis and he hadn't laughed so you'd known he wasn't the one.

June 27th 2011

Dear Dusty,

I finally asked out Myunghee and she said yes -

Nuh uh, skip that one.

October 23rd 2013

Dear Dusty,

All the kids in the year have planned a big Halloween party to celebrate our last your of high school. It's pretty exciting - apparently, they've bought some major decorations and they're going to set out the host's house to have scary surprises in all the rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if someone dresses up and decides to chase drunk kids around all night. It's a bittersweet feeling - our last Halloween party, but perhaps our best? Do you have any plans for Halloween and the holidays? I'm thinking of doing a Superman costume, but I'm wondering if that's a bit too obvious?

I put off writing about it first because I didn't want to open the letter with bad news, but I wanted to let you know that me and Myunghee broke up. Even though it's pretty sad, I've known it was coming for a while. If you remember my last letter, I told you about the fight that we had about next year, and I think that was really the beginning of the end. I was hoping that we could make it work a bit longer, but she said that we'd just be dragging out the inevitable and I guess she's right. I think I'm still a bit annoyed about the rollercoaster of the last month seeing if she's known the whole time that we should break up but I'll get over it. It's mostly just weird not having her around all the time. Everywhere feels a lot emptier now. I'm glad I can write to you about this - it's a bit awkward talking about it with my friends because they are also friends with her, but I can actually be honest with you.

Anyway, I hope you are doing a bit better than me. Your date sounded pretty cool - I've always wanted to go on an ice-skating date but I'd be a bit scared of falling over and making a fool of myself so I admire your confidence. If you are still seeing him, I hope he's treating you well. Chocolates and flowers at least once a month - and you can tell him I said so if he asks. If you're not seeing him, I (pre-emptively) can't believe he did that to you! What a jerk...

Are you watching the AFC Champions League final? A few friends and I are going to go down to the bar to watch it together and pray for a good result - either way, it should be fun. I suppose your dad will have it on in the house, but I'll be shocked if you tell me you're going to watch it with him after last time. Best to avoid the flying wrath of a TV remote. There's something about dads and sports, isn't there? I wonder if I'll be like that when I'm an adult. I hope not, but I already get too into it so maybe it's inevitable.

Yours,

Cherry

That date had been a good one as far as you remember, but the memory has become blurry after all the times your husband has taken you ice-skating since. You'd dated that guy for a few more weeks after this, but he made a weird comment to one of his friends when he didn't think you could hear it so you knew he wasn't the one.

Finishing high school and moving on to university had been a formative time for you. You gained a sense of identity that you'd lost as a teenager, and reconnected with your younger self. A smile crinkles your lips as you think about that time. The stupid escapades of adults let loose on their own for the first time, the lifelong friends you'd made, and the wealth of knowledge you'd gained about yourself and about the world. Your husband never attended university so he never experienced any of that, but you suppose he did have his own life-changing revelations during this time.

February 8th 2015

Dear Cherry,

I'm in crisis and I need your advice! I haven't spoken to anyone else about this yet, but I have a feeling building in me that needs to be released and you always give me the best advice. I'm thinking about dropping out of my program.

I know this sounds super rash and stupid, but I really hate it. I find it so dull and confusing, and everyone else is much better at it than I am. And, if I'm really being honest, I only chose medicine because my mother wanted me to. I would feel so stupid revealing that to anyone else, but I think you already knew that was the case. I'm struggling to keep going with it without the passion that other students seem to have, and when I hear about my friends' courses they sound so much more interesting.

If I actually go through with it, this may be the last letter I write to you. But, given that I survived my mother's wrath, a life studying literature or archaeology sounds so much more fulfilling to my brain even if not my pockets. What do you think about all of this? Is it worth following a passion that may lead to nothing or sticking it out with a stable, reliable path to future success without enjoyment?

As you know, I make very impulsive decisions, so I need your help in deciding whether or not this would be one of those.

Yours truly,

Dusty

P.S. I got asked to the dance by this really attractive guy who works at the coffee shop on campus so not everything is going wrong.

P.S.S. I found a rock which I thought was a meteorite but it was actually a magnetite - better luck next time!

You'd dropped out of your medicine major the moment you'd received the reply. Of course, your pen pal was a lot more supportive of your decision than your parents were but they got over it in time. Your fate had been decided the moment you'd stepped out of your first archaeology class - heart beaming and mind brimming with all of your plans for the future. Despite your parents' apprehensions, it had been the right decision. It didn't take long for your burning enthusiasm and insatiable appetite for learning to be picked up by your professors, and by your second year in the major you'd been invited on an exclusive trip one of your professors was going on with a handful of other students.

It was around this time that you'd started wondering more about your pen pal. The flutters of your heart each time the small envelope appeared in your dorm pigeonhole had been drowned out by the rush of university life. Reflecting back, your obliviousness to your own emotions makes you shake your head in disbelief. But then, you'd met Daejung. He'd taken you out dancing, brought you flowers and laughed at your jokes, and you began to wonder if he was the one.

May 16th 2017

Dear Dusty,

Officially, you may know me better than anyone else. I know I already sent you a letter this month that you probably haven't even received, but I realised that it is the tenth anniversary since I received your first letter. Not to be soppy, but it truly means the world to me that we've been able to keep up this correspondence this whole time.

As far as I'm aware, we won the Pen Pal Project. No one else I know stayed in touch with their childhood pen pal for nearly as long as we have, and I think that we deserve some kind of reward for it.

But, beyond any records we must have broken, I'm most grateful for the friendship we have developed. In any other circumstances, I would have said that it was impossible for people who have never met to be each other's closest confidants, but I can confidently say that there is nothing I wouldn't tell you. If it turns out you've been some 60-year-old man this whole time, consider me logged off from this life.

My wish is that we can keep doing this for as long as we are able to hold pens in our hands, and even then I'd consider getting a scribe to write the letters for me.

As a gift, I feel that it's about time that I tell you my name - my real name. If you (and your mom) still don't feel comfortable sharing yours then Dusty is still perfectly fine for me, but the fundamental disconnect between telling a person your deepest secrets and not telling them your name has gotten too overwhelming for me, so it's time to rectify that.

Yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. If you still want to call me Cherry that's also a-okay!

The first time Seungcheol revealed his name to you, you remember you'd dropped the letter in shock. As if knowing his name changed things, as if he didn't live a completely separate life from you already. It wasn't like knowing who he was would change anything about your life - you had no connection to him other than your letters - but the intimacy of his name had you staggering a few steps backwards, eye bulging from your head at the fallen letter. It seems rather overdramatic now, but in hindsight it always does.

This letter had been a bit of a turning point in your relationship, beyond the end of the nicknames you'd used for ten years. You'd always felt close enough to Seungcheol to pour your heart out to him in writing, but the closeness you felt was compounded in this letter. You wipe a few rogue tears from your eyes as you read back over it, moved by the raw declarations Seungcheol had been brave enough to express. If you really think about it, this letter was the first time you'd truly tried to picture what your pen pal looked like. Up until this point, you'd been enflamed by his words and unloaded all of your deepest thoughts to him in return, but this was the first time that you'd realised that your pen pal was a real man your age that you were already deeply connected to. The thought had been scandalous in your mind, and the shame that overwhelmed you when you'd met up with Daejung later that day made it hard to look him in the eye. Fantasising about a man you had never seen before had felt as bad as cheating, and the various forms of him that had appeared in your dreams for the rest of the week only compounded your guilt.

August 4th 2018

Dear Seungcheol,

Happy 24th Birthday! It's actually shocking to me to think that we're this old already, but I think mid-20s is a label that suits you well these days. Jokes aside, I hope you have a really lovely day doing whatever it is you have planned. I'll assume you're off bungee jumping with Jeonghan or on an all-inclusive golfing retreat until you tell me otherwise. In all cases, I hope that you are surrounded by friends and family to remind you how special you are.

Also, congratulations on your new job! I can't believe you didn't tell me that you were interviewing for it, but I suppose you didn't want to jinx anything by putting it into writing. I always thought that coaching would suit you - you could scare me into coming to practice any day! You should be really proud of yourself; I know that I am.

You'll never guess who got in contact with me this week! All out of nowhere, I got a message from Heiran of all people inviting me to her and Hyunki's wedding! I guess I was really wrong about that one... For their sake, I hope that their relationship is a bit better than it was in school. I was very surprised to be invited seeing as we haven't spoken in years, but I suppose it'll be nice to see everyone from school again. Perhaps I should tell Daejung that he can't come and you can be my plus one instead - I think you know the couple better than he does!

Another one of my friends just gave birth to a baby boy. All of this marrying and birth-giving is really screwing with my head. As far as I was aware, that's a thing that proper adults do and we're nowhere close to that yet. Even if I know that 24 is a very common age to be doing that stuff, it's still more than my brain can process. Once again, I am left behind as everyone else moves on to the next stage of life. I'm grateful, at least, that Daejung is pretty relaxed about all of that stuff. Hoping we can have a few more years before we start thinking about any of it - I still have so much travelling to do, things to see, and meals to eat before I flush all of my money down the toilet.

Jiwoo got really excited this week because she thought she saw Lee Byunghun walking past her work, so that made me feel a bit better about my life priorities.

Yours truly,

(Y/n)

P.S. I'm spending extra money to make sure this gets to you on time, so if it doesn't you cannot blame me.

P.P.S. My new address is - XXX

That year you and Daejung had finally moved in together. The apartment was small and in a less-than-nice area, but you'd been ecstatic at the chance to live with the man you loved. It had been a rough year before that - Daejung had missed out on a job offer for his dream role and you weren't able to go abroad on an excavation because he didn't want you to leave for months just as you were moving in together - but you'd seen the new apartment as symbolic of the new beginning you two would get together.

You'd also thought a lot about meeting up with Seungcheol that year. Looking back, it was crazy that you never did. Both of you expressed a will to do so, but something had always prevented you from actually doing it. You were completing your postgraduate degree part-time and working a service job that was supporting both you and Daejung at the start of the year, moving in together in the middle of the year, and Seungcheol had gotten busy with his new job in the latter half of the year. Even though you had never met up before, that you weren't able to that year was the first time it felt like a loss.

December 12th 2019

Dear (Y/n),

I've been thinking about you a lot recently. Writing to you has been the highlight of my month for a while now, and I'm so proud of you for everything you've achieved. It's amazing that you're already being asked to go on your first excursion as a proper expert, and I hope that Daejung comes around to the idea of you being away for so long. I'm sure that I'll miss your letters so I can imagine he's feeling much worse about it - but that shouldn't stop you from going. You might find an ancient vase and accidently release a curse upon the world, or discover a new dinosaur! Even if you go and are just digging up dirt with no results, I'll still be impressed.

One of the kids I mentor asked me if I knew what Starcraft was yesterday, and at that moment I really felt my age. I think it's led to some level of introspection I usually avoid, but one thing that has become clear to me is that I'm very grateful for this friendship. I hope that one day soon you can perhaps travel to Daegu and visit, or I can come see you in Seoul. Or perhaps it will take away the great fun of having a pen pal if we meet - you may be expecting someone completely opposite from me and seeing me may ruin the magic?

But the main reason I've been thinking about you is because I finally finished Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. You were very correct in your recommendation - I can't believe it took me so long to read it! Summary of thoughts: I'm raging and also apologising to my mother and grandmother every time I see them. You have to send me another recommendation now that I'm finished - maybe some sort of mystery or thriller if you know any?

Yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. I suppose I should send you a whip and brown fedora and then you can officially say you're Indiana Jones.

January 7th 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I'm glad you had fun on your trip! The picture you sent of the mountains was absolutely gorgeous and was a hilarious reminder that I have no idea what you look like. I keep saying I want to go to Japan but can hardly find the time, but after seeing the picture I really must go now.

I have some big news.

Daejung proposed and we're getting married!!

I know it's a bit out of the blue - I was surprised too. He's been putting off any mention of marriage for the last few months so I assumed he just wasn't interested but I guess that was all a cover to stop me from suspecting the proposal. It happened a few days after I got back from Vienna. It was really sweet - he threw this big party with all of our close friends and family to celebrate the end of my project and proposed at the end of the night. I was pretty shocked which I suppose was the point, but I'm really just excited that we're taking that step together.

My main purpose for writing is that I wanted to invite you to the wedding. It's a big step, but it wouldn't feel right to get married without one of my oldest friends there. If you decide you don't want to and you want to keep our friendship strictly on paper then I'd totally understand. But if you do want to come, we'd love to have you with us. I'll cover any travel and hotel fees if it means I can have you here.

Your continued support via letter means the world to me.

Yours truly,

(Y/n)

The wedding. Oh, the wedding.

A few nights before your wedding Daejung had come to the hotel you'd been staying in that week to finalise all of the preparations and observe some old-fashioned pre-wedding rituals your mother insisted on as if you and Daejung hadn't lived together for years before that. He'd given you a marriage gift a bit early because you were supposed to go straight to your honeymoon in Japan on the day of the wedding. Your heart fluttered in excitement as you opened the box, electrified at the surprise of what your future-husband could have gotten you to symbolise your union together. The reality had been, you could now admit, disappointing. The necklace had been pretty, and certainly not cheap. A silver heart set with a gleaming diamond to match the ring that Daejung had picked out for you. You'd smiled, thanking him for the gift and tried to ignore the discontent brewing in your own heart.

The first time you saw Seungcheol was at your wedding reception. Because of his job and the distance, he hadn't been able to make your morning ceremony, but the fact that he even chose to come all that way meant a lot to you.

"Who's the hunk with the green scarf?" One of your bridesmaids, Jiwoo had asked, pointing out a man standing alone by one of the drinks tables.

For a moment you didn't want to believe that it was him, but who else would be at your wedding that you didn't recognise? Tall and broad with fluffy hair and a handsome-beyond-belief face, Seungcheol had been a picture to witness. All dressed up in a suit, you thought he looked rather like a super spy or a CEO from one of those corny romance books. In any case, you were shocked to your core that that was the man you'd spilt your darkest secrets to for over a decade now.

"Oh, I think that might be Seungcheol," You breathed, voice wavering with uncertainty even though you were now certain it was him.

"Seungcheol - hmm, why does that name sound so familiar?" Your other bridesmaid, Mirae, pondered, her brow crinkled as she tried to identify the name in her memory.

"Oh my god, you invited your pen pal to your wedding?!" Jiwoo exclaimed, spinning on her heel to give you an incredulous look.

"Of course I did, I've known him for almost as long as I've known you!" You stuttered, your head still trying to play catch-up after the dizzying appearance of said topic of conversation.

"Why didn't you tell me that your pen pal was so hot?" Mirae scoffed, mock fanning her face in a way that made you feel shamefully irritated.

"Surprisingly, he didn't mention it in his letters." You responded, offering her a deadpan look and an eyebrow raise. She shrugged, but you'd known that wouldn't be the end of that conversation.

About 15 minutes later, you'd finally managed to make your way over to Seungcheol's perch. It was hard to decipher if your delay was because of all of the people trying to talk to you at the same time (perks of it being your wedding) or because of the unexplained fear and anxiety that was bubbling inside you at the prospect of finally meeting him face-to-face. As you finally made eye-contact, and he'd flashed his teeth at you in an infectious grin, you'd felt all of that melt away from you.

"Hi," You greeted, not able to wipe your own smile from your face.

"Hi," He responded, a peace settling between the two of you. "You look really beautiful."

Your face was all ablush and you felt a sense of dread at what would happen if you started like this. Starting down at your dress, you were unable to look back up at him.

"Thank you, I had it specially made," You smiled, your eyes gleaming as he chuckled at your joke. "I really appreciate you coming all this way, it means so much to me that you're here. Please let me know if there's anything you need - have you eaten yet? I can get you some-"

"It's okay, I'm feeling great." His hand reached out to still your own, which you hadn't realised was nervously picking at at skin around your nails.

"I can't believe that this is how we're first meeting," You breathed, a sense of shyness overwhelming you at the feeling of his skin against yours.

"If you ask me, we've definitely met before. Just not physically." His words had your head spinning so much that you were struggling to remember that you were both at your wedding.

"Poetic," You agreed, trying to present at least outwardly calmer than you felt inside.

"Oh! Before I forget, I got you this." Seungcheol extended a hand out with a small, wrapped box in his palm. "It wasn't on the registry, and really it's only for you so I thought I should give it to you personally instead of putting it on the gifts table."

"That's really generous of you, you didn't have to." You offered him a shy smile, taking the gift from him. The neatly wrapped box had been laced shut with a pretty blue ribbon, and you remember the thumping of your heart in your chest as you undid it. A small gasp involuntarily left your mouth, your hand moving to cover it in shock.

"Important backstory - I found it a few years after you told me you were looking for it. I wanted to just send it to you then, but I thought that I should keep it for when we met. I never thought that it would take so long to do so, but I hung on to it just in case."

A small chunk of dark meteorite sat in the box in your hand. Looking up and down between Seungcheol and the rock, you felt your eyes well up with tears that you had to force back down to not ruin your wedding makeup.

"Oh wow," Your voice cracked, "Seungcheol, this is seriously so sweet. I'm shocked that you kept this for me."

You felt unable to tell him all of your emotions, hoping that the gratitude in your eyes was enough to express them all to him. The sweet, adoring expression on his face told you that he understood without you needing to say any more.

That, unfortunately, had been the highlight of your wedding.

Not an hour later, it had all gone to shit, starting with a well-intentioned comment from your best friend.

"The wedding is so gorgeous (Y/n), I'll have to take notes for my own." Jiwoo gushed, pointing at all the flowers that had now been revealed as people moved into the outside area of the venue.

"I know, Daejung did a really good job picking out this place."

"I'm so happy for you two, especially after the whole Vienna situation."

A bolt of alarm rang through your bones as you a struck still by the comment. You didn't miss the panicked look Mirae sent Jiwoo, who looked equally as confused as you felt.

"What-" You tried to compose yourself amongst the rushes of fear that were threatening to render you completely useful. "What do you mean the Vienna situation?"

Jiwoo was now floundering, looking between you and Mirae with a gaping mouth.

"I just meant - I mean, nevermind - I thought... I thought you knew?" The last whispered part had your heart sinking to the bottom of your chest. Mirae was refusing to meet your gaze, and that was telling you all you needed to know.

"Did something happen when I was away?" You demanded, your voice slick with emotion.

"(Y/n)..." Mirae started, but the withering look you gave her immediately stopped her placating.

Four words later and your entire life had exploded. He cheated on you. Whilst you were away, no less. And then, as if it would magically make everything better, proposed instead of telling you.

The look on your then-husband's face when you stormed up to him demanding to know the truth was enough to convince you of the reality of your friend's words. You could now admit, amidst all of the hurt, anger and disgust you felt towards Daejung at that moment, your overriding emotion was utter panic at the thought of having to tell all of your guests that the wedding was to be stopped and annulled. A trivial emotion amongst the personal grief you were experiencing, but undoubtedly the cause of your greatest distress at the moment.

You didn't see Seungcheol as or after it all happened. Any pretence of calm instantly slipped the moment you began speaking to your family and friends - a speech which ended with you in floods of tears being escorted away from the hosts of shocked guests. It was only hours later that you realised that you hadn't said goodbye and, worse, that you'd invited him all of this way just to witness the shitshow that was your failed marriage. Too ashamed to burden him further, you chose not to write to him for months afterwards He gave you space too, and you weren't sure if you felt grateful for it or utterly alarmed that he may just never want to speak to you again.

May 6th 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I'm deeply sorry for my complete silence, although I suppose I do not need to explain to you the reason for it. My hand has been itching to pick up my pen and write to you every month that goes by, but only now have I overcome my own shame and disgrace to do so. First of all, I have to sincerely apologise for making you waste your time coming to such an awful event. I can only hope that you managed to get a slice of cake before it all fell apart so that I could at least offer you the condolence of a delicious snack. I also must apologise for completely abandoning you during your trip to the city. I was really looking forward to showing you my favourite spots, and I let my own misery get in the way of being a good host.

I hope you are well. As I haven't heard from you in a little while, I don't know what's going on with you so I have little to comment on. But, at the very least, I wish for your good health and general happiness. If you are worried about me, you don't need to be. I have taken the last few months to put my life back together, and I feel like I'm making better progress these days - hence the letter writing. I'm thinking of getting a dog for companionship since I have vehemently sworn off men for the foreseeable future.

I also wanted you to know that I treasure your gift. As it turns out, meeting you and getting a meteorite was the best part of that night, if you'll believe it. I have it kept in a special box on my desk just to make sure that it's safe and that I'll never lose it. I wish I could have given you something in return. If we end up meeting again I'll have to start planning now to make sure my gift is just as good as yours was. Speaking of, you are welcome to come and stay with me any time you want, and we can rain-check that city tour. Alternatively, if you want to ignore this letter and never speak to me again, I'd also understand.

Yours truly,

(Y/n) 2021

May 19th 2021

Dear (Y/n),

I'm so glad to have heard from you, and that you are doing okay. As much as I appreciate all of your apologies, none of them are necessary. If anything, I feel that I should be apologising to you for leaving you in the dark for just as long as you left me - you had a much better excuse too. Although I didn't want to overwhelm you with letters after such awful news, I realise now that leaving it so long was not the right course of action.

I think getting a dog is a fantastic idea. Company is something you'll never lack with a dog around, and I can agree that dogs are much better companions than men.

As for me, I am doing well too. It's mostly just been a cycle of work and sleep, so I haven't got much to report, but I'm hoping for a more eventful summer. Visiting the city would be a wonderful way to achieve this, so perhaps closer to the time I'll write again to arrange coming to stay with you. I would love to see you again soon. My only other news that I know you'd be interested in is that Jeonghan has seemingly met someone. He's keeping all of the details close to the chest, so I'll have to update you in the next letter when I know more, but it's an exciting revelation. He seems very happy, which is all I can hope for.

When I told you that I wouldn't stop writing to you until I could no longer hold a pen in my hand, I meant it. I hope that you will never again think that I wouldn't want to speak to you -it's the highlight of my day.

Yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. I'm sure you don't want to talk about the wedding, but just so you know - he was a fucking fool to let you go.

You remember the relief you'd felt at getting that letter. The uncertainty of whether or not Seungcheol still wanted to talk to you was enough to keep you on edge for the entire 13 days that it took for you to get his response. But, as always, your friend was reliably there for you.

The time you'd taken over those last new months, and the few months afterwards had been tumultuous, but cleansing. In your post-marriage clarity, you'd realised all of the opportunities you'd missed because of Daejung. Deciding that you wouldn't let him take anything else from you, you'd arranged to go on a long excursion you'd waved off for wedding planning when you'd first heard about it. Learning about the project from one of your old professors who'd transferred to Cairo University, you were offered a position on the ongoing expedition in Saqqara. Although Egyptology was not your speciality, your master's dissertation on the mummified scarab beetles found at Saqqara in 2018 and your tutor's reference got you onto a low-level position on the expedition.

Six months in Egypt had been exactly what you needed to move on from Daejung. At that time, your relationship with your closest friends was also on the rocks, and it was really only Seungcheol and your family that you missed during your time abroad.

December 23rd 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I've finally got some time off over the holiday break, and I'm ready to give you the download of everything that's happening here in Saqqara! But, first, I'm going to have to beg you for the details of your double date with Jeonghan and Jooyeon. How was it!? Was Jooyeon's friend nice? Were there sparks? How many times did Jeonghan bring up embarrassing stories about you as a kid?

I hope it went well - you deserve all of the happiness in the world.

Now, onto the important stuff!

I'm not sure if you saw on the news, but we've made some pretty huge finds since I got here, Obviously, I can't give myself all the credit, but just being part of the team that made it happen is pretty incredible. We've found multiple tombs of dignitaries from the reign of Ramses II. I'm doing a bit of research on one of the tombs, belonging to a military leader called Hor Mohib, but I have to keep taking breaks every 20 minutes to pinch my arm and remind myself that this is reality.

My Arabic has gotten significantly better now - I was rather rusty when I first got here. I'm able to have reasonably complex conversations with the Egyptian members of the team and the locals helping out, and it's pretty cool for my nerd brain to be surrounded by a group of people equally as excited to be digging up ornamental graves as I am.

I'm really glad I came. It's hard to admit, even to you, but my life really fell apart after the wedding. Honestly, I didn't even know if I wanted to keep working in archaeology or if I wanted to jet off to Iceland and buy a farm. And the worst bit is that it's been so lonely since. Losing Daejung was one thing, but I haven't spoken to Jiwoo or Mirae since. I can't bear to look at them knowing that they hid that secret from me for so long. Maybe one day I'll be able to forgive them, but it certainly won't be now. Your letters have been my only sanctuary of human connection in these past few months, and that's something I'll have to add to my list of neverending gratitude I hold for you.

I realize now that I haven’t been very good at expressing how much your friendship means to me, how it's been my lifeline in this mess. Your letters are the only constant, the only thing that feels like home even when I am surrounded by ancient wonders and new colleagues.

And so, I have a confession. I want to see you again. I want to tell you all of this in person. I can't say what will come of it, but I know that after all of these years, after all the letters and confessions and secrets shared, we owe it to ourselves to meet in a way that isn't rushed or overshadowed by anything else.

Maybe we could meet halfway between Seoul and Daegu, or I could take the train down to visit you? I need to see you again, not as a guest at my ruined wedding, but as Seungcheol, the one person who’s known me at my best and worst, and still chooses to write back.

Let me know what you think.

Yours truly,

(Y/n)

P.S. I've included a small rock I found on the dig - nothing special but it reminded me of our old conversations. I hope it makes you smile.

P.P.S. Please don't feel pressured to say yes, but know that I would really like to see you again.

You can't quite recall what possessed you to write such a bold letter. Perhaps it had been the desert sun, the thrill of discovering something new in something old at Saqqara, or simply your immense loneliness.

Days had turned into weeks as you anxiously waited for a response, checking your makeshift mailbox daily. Then one morning, there it was—a simple white envelope with Seungcheol’s familiar sloping handwriting.

January 17th 2022

My Dear (Y/n),

I've thought about meeting you countless times since our first encounter. After reading your words, I realise that I've been waiting for this just as much as you have. How's this - I'll take the first train up to Seoul when you're back and we can spend the day together. No distractions, no interruptions - just you and me, finally getting to know each other beyond the pages of our letters.

I'm looking forward to me, more than I can express. Until I see you again, take care, and know that I'm counting down the days.

All yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. the best bit about the date was spending time with Jeonghan. No more needs to be said.

You stare down at the letter, your heart pacing as fast as it had the first time you'd received it. Beautiful words from a beautiful man with a beautiful soul.

You'd gotten back to Seoul by the end of March 2022, and, as promised, Seungcheol came to visit you that first weekend in April. When he'd stepped off the train in the bustling station at the heart of the city, you were there to greet him. You'd spotted him standing there, taller even than you'd remembered, with that same easy smile that had always leapt off of the page.

The world around you had seemed to blur as you walked toward each other, nerves fluttering in your stomach but quickly dissolving as he pulled you into a gentle, lingering hug. The connection between you, once confined to words on paper, felt more real than ever.

You spent the day wandering through the city, visiting old bookstores, sipping coffee in quiet cafes, and talking as if no time had passed since that fateful wedding reception. Every shared laugh, every story swapped, deepened the bond you'd forged in ink.

June 14th 2022

Seungcheol,

It feels like only yesterday that we were wandering through Seoul together, but at the same time, it feels like a lifetime ago. I keep finding myself replaying that day in my mind - how easy it was to talk to you in person, as if we'd done it a hundred times before. It's strange, isn't it? How someone can feel so familiar, even when they're a whole new experience at the same time.

I've been thinking about our conversation in the bookstore. You said something about how some stories are better left unfinished, that sometimes the best part of a tale is imagining what could be. I can't stop thinking about that - about how some stories do need an ending, and how others are meant to keep going, even if we don’t know where they’ll lead.

There's something I've been meaning to tell you, but I haven't found the right words yet. I guess I'm still figuring it out myself. It's just that being around you feels different to how I expected. There's a comfort, yes, but also something more, something I can't quite define. It's like we're on the edge of something new, and it's exciting and a little terrifying at the same time. I'm not sure if you feel it too, but I hop you do.

Anyway, I don't want to get too ahead of myself as usual. I'm just really glad we've reconnected, and that we've managed to keep in touch after all these years.

It means more to me than I can say. Let’s make sure our next meeting isn’t too far off—I’m already looking forward to it.

Until then, take care of yourself, and don’t work too hard. I’ll be watching the clock until I see you again.

Yours,

(Y/n)

That day in April 2022 hadn't been the last time you saw Seungcheol. You'd made that mistake once in the past, and neither of you was willing to do so again. He continued to come to Seoul to see you, and you travelled down to Daegu to meet him and his friends. Your letters ceased for a while over this time due to the frequency you were seeing each other, but for the first time that didn't bother you.

You remember, with teary eyes, the day that you finally confessed your feelings.

It was 25th September 2022, after a whole summer spent together, and the air was tinged with the first hint of autumn's chill. THe leaves were just beginning to turn, painting the streets in warm hues of amber and crimson as you walked side by side in a quiet part in Seoul. The easy laughter and conversation that had marked your friendship over the years felt heavier that day, as it something unspoken was lingering in the crisp air between you.

You had spent countless days together that summer - visiting museums, trying new restaurants, even embarking on a spontaneous week trip to the coast. Each moment with Seunngchaeol had felt like a dream, a slow realisation that your heart was no longer just content with friendship. But with that realization came a fear you hadn't expected. What if this was enough for him? What if risking everything by confessing how you truly felt would unravel the beautiful bond you had spent so many years cultivating?

That evening, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, you found yourselves sitting on a bench overlooking a small pond. The water was still, reflecting the fiery colours of the sky, and for a long moment, neither of you spoke. Seungcheol had been quieter than usual that day, his expression pensive as if he, too, was wrestling with unspoken thoughts.

You felt your heart pound in your chest, each beat louder than the last as you tried to summon the courage to speak. The words were caught in your throat, but the fear of losing him if you didn’t say them was stronger. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, you turned to him, your voice trembling as you broke the silence.

"Seungcheol," you began, your hands nervously fidgeting in your lap. He turned to look at you, his eyes soft and attentive, encouraging you to continue. "There’s something I need to tell you… something I’ve been feeling for a while now."

His gaze didn’t waver, but you noticed the slight hitch in his breath, the way his fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the bench. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of you, everything else fading away as you gathered your thoughts.

"I—" You paused, trying to find the right words, but there were none that seemed adequate to express the depth of your feelings. "I think I’ve fallen in love with you."

The admission hung in the air between you, a fragile confession that you could no longer take back. For a moment, time seemed to stop, the world holding its breath as you waited for his response. You searched his face for any sign of what he might be thinking, every second feeling like an eternity.

Then, without a word, Seungcheol reached out, his hand gently cupping your cheek, his thumb brushing away the tear that had escaped down your cheek. There was a tenderness in his touch, a warmth that radiated through you, calming your racing heart.

"I’ve been waiting to hear those words," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Because I’ve been feeling the same way for a long time too."

His words washed over you, a wave of relief and joy so overwhelming that you felt your breath hitch. You had been so afraid, so uncertain, and now, with his quiet confession, all those fears melted away. He leaned in slowly, giving you time to pull back if you needed to, but you didn’t. You closed the distance between you, your lips meeting his in a gentle, tender kiss that felt like a promise—one of many yet to come.

Hearing the doorbell ring down below you, and the sound of your husband's voice calling out to say he'll get it, you rush forward to reach your favourite letter - just one more before you return to reality.

November 3rd 2023

My dearest (Y/n),

I'm so glad you're having such a good time in Rome - I'm rather jealous of all of your sightseeing and pasta-eating. Kkuma and I are holding the fort down at home, although I had to be scolded yesterday for breaking the toaster when I tried to make Kkuma some breakfast. I sent some more suncream over in the mail because I know you've already run out and forgotten to get some more - I'm not sure if this letter will reach you first, but if it does look out for the parcel.

Now, I'll admit, the main purpose of my letter is something a little different than simply catching up, as much as I love those letters too. I thought about doing this once you returned home, but you've already had one man declare his everlasting intentions to you after you returned from an excursion, so I thought it better to avoid rehashing those memories (we'll do this again when you're home, but I thought it might be fun to do it this way).

If you have the suncream box already, then you may have a sneaking suspicion of what I'm about to say.

I've loved you for as long as I've known you. As a twelve-year-old kid, I didn't know that was what it was, but the level of obsession I had with writing to you and receiving your replies was beyond any normal friendship. You were always so fascinatingly cool, out of reach, and genuinely yourself. Being in love with your pen pal isn't always an easy thing - the cold sweats I would wake up to after dreaming about meeting for the first time, the constant updates about a life that I wasn't a part of, the announcement of your engagement to another person. I tried to pretend it wasn't real for a long time, see other people, because of how silly I felt about being in love with someone I'd never met.

And then I saw you standing there, in that beautiful white gown with your hair up and that gorgeous smile on your face. Did you know that my hands were sweating when I gave you that gift? I don't think I've ever told you that before. I became certain then that I was completely screwed. Entirely head over heels.

I'll never be happy that that marriage didn't work out for you - all I've ever wanted is your happiness, be that with me or someone else. But I won't lie and say that nothing has made me happier than the consequences of it.

This past year has been the happiest time I've ever known. Every moment with you is filled with such joy, and every moment without I'm left with a record of memories to remind me of the time we've had together. When I look at you, I don't just see my past, but also my future. I see a lifetime of shared experiences, of laughter, or quiet moments that mean more than words ever could. I see us growing old together, supporting each other, and playing trash hockey on the wooden floor of our kitchen.

You are my best friend, my partner, the love of my life. And I want to spent every day making sure you know just how much you mean to me.

So, that being said, will you (Y/n) (Y/l/n), do me the honour of marrying me?

All yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. Please don't feel pressured to say yes, but know that I would really like it if you did.

You fiddle with the precious ring on your left hand, your fingers lingering over the smooth chunk of dark stone in the centre.

A gentle brush of a hand on your shoulders brings you back to the real world, tears now flaking on your cheeks as you sniffle at the words on the page.

"Are you okay, darling?" Seungcheol asks gently.

"Yes, sorry, I know the guests are here now - I just wanted to look at these," You reply, holding up the letters for your husband to see.

You watch his expression soften, a suggestion of moisture in the corner of his eyes as he looks over the written words.

Swooping down, he places a long, loving kiss on your forehead, letting your bodies rest together in harmony for a moment.

"I can't believe they still make me cry," You huff, letting out a soft laugh. "And I don't even think I can brush it off as hormones."

"Seeing that just looking at them has me tearing up, I don't think I can either." Seungcheol smiles, stroking the back of your hair affectionately.

"They're probably getting antsy downstairs, right?" You say, beginning to pile the letters back up into the box.

Standing up, you lean forward to press all of your passion and adoration onto your husband's lips. You can feel his intensity matching yours, his hands finding the side of your hips to keep you stable.

"They can wait," Seungcheol replies, his forehead leaning softly against your own. "They're not the ones who are pregnant after all."

You laugh, a sound filled with both joy and contentment, feeling the warmth of his love surrounding you. "I suppose you're right," you say, a smile spreading across your face. You take one last glance at the box of letters, a testament to the incredible journey you've both shared—one that began with innocent childhood exchanges and blossomed into a love story more profound than you could have ever imagined.

Hand in hand, you and Seungcheol make your way downstairs to greet your guests, the letters safely tucked away in their satin box. As you step into the room, you know that no matter what the future holds, you'll always have those words, those memories, and most importantly, each other.

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scoops-aboy86 · 5 months ago

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By The Heart (Secret Admirer pt 2)

Steddie Week 2024, July 2: Hands / touch starved / Invisible Touch by Genesis

wc: 2136 / rated: T / set between seasons 2 and 3 / also on ao3

After the world fell apart a second time in November of ‘84, Steve had finished out the rest of his senior year in a daze. Partly because Billy Hargrove had broken a fucking plate over his head, giving him a small scar by his hairline that the doctor said would fade and recurring headaches that the doctor said might stick around anywhere from a few months to forever.

It’s been more than a few months and the headaches are only slightly less frequent and a tiny bit less severe.

He graduated, barely. His dad keeps dropping pointed comments about how his parents let him stay in their house rent-free after high school, how he’d saved up while attending a nearby college by not having to worry about the cost of a dorm or basic meals, and that it is his gratitude towards them that has moved him to offer the same to Steve. Usually said comments come after Steve tries to sidestep some sort of menial task, and it always feels like a threat.Steve just grits his teeth and takes it—refills his dad’s drink when the bottle is already literally right by the man’s hand, washes the family car after dinner when both his parents know that Steve has a shift at Scoops first thing in the morning, whatever. He can’t afford to get kicked out right now.

His job at Scoops Ahoy is shit, all bright fluorescent lights and kids screaming and everything getting sticky for a measly minimum wage, but that probably reflects the quality of the job application he’d submitted.

He has no friends, no prospects, no one in his corner except a bunch of incoming freshmen and the only one who really seems to want him around is off at some sort of smart people camp that he’d never even heard of… Go figure.

But he has Secret Admirer.

Okay, what Steve has is a pen pal who has a PO box and prefers to remain anonymous, possibly because Steve is an embarrassing person to have a crush on these days. And it’s really stupid that he thinks of them as first name Secret, last name Admirer, but it’s not like he hasn’t tried to come up with better names! Unfortunately, there are so many things Secret Admirer has called him (sweetheart, darling, dearest, honey, baby) that he can’t really think of anything original with those constantly rotating in his head… He can’t use them, though. It’d be weird.

The first letter had been shoved into his locker in the last few weeks of school, looking like someone either wrote it with their non-dominant hand or had also suffered a blow to the head recently, and he hadn’t known what to make of it at first. In fact, he’d considered the possibility that Tommy or Billy were playing some sort of prank on him… but he didn’t think either of them could write “To Steve, the heart of my heart” without bursting into homophobic flames, and if it was Carol she would’ve done her girliest handwriting with hearts dotting the eyes. And his Secret Admirer had mentioned things no one else in his life seemed to care about.

Like,

I hope you’re feeling better. Sometimes I notice you squinting or grimacing in the classes we have in common… Are you still getting headaches? Do you get enough rest? You probably already know this, but mental and physical rest are super important for getting your handsome self all recovered, big boy.

And,

I had a concussion once, not a bad one but it really left an impression. Felt like I was trying to think through a head full of soup for weeks. It sucks that teachers didn’t seem to cut you much slack because, just saying, I noticed they used to do that a lot more when you were still on the basketball and swim teams. Jock privilege placed above consideration of an actual, serious injury? I’m sorry, but that’s the rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended nostril, sweetheart, and you deserve better.

So, yeah. Clearly his Secret Admirer is a nerd who doesn’t necessarily have the best opinion of jocks… but still took the time to notice all those things and write kindly about them. It felt nice, knowing that at least one person out there noticed, maybe even cared.

And when that letter turned out not to be a one-off, a few more letters in his locker and then one in his mailbox, postmarked and everything, after graduation? Steve was hooked, enough to start writing self-consciously back.

Which has brought him to the point of wanting so badly to meet this person that he’s stooped to begging, and it’s not even getting him anywhere.

It’s occurred to him that it could be a guy, of course it has. Steve might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he knows it happens. He’d had a friend in middle school, Todd Fischer, nice guy, totally normal kid—got caught kissing some boy in the next grade up behind the gym and turned out to be the worst sprinter of the two. The Fischers had moved out of Hawkins a few weeks later and Steve hadn’t heard anything from or about Todd since. They’d been halfway through reading Romeo & Juliet in English at the time, and Steve remembers thinking when they got to the end of the play that at least things hadn’t gone that badly for Todd and whoever the other kid was. He’s old enough now to know that it could have; between Todd being such a nice kid, Barb dying in his own backyard, and the threat of government agents coming out of the woodwork if he ever breathes a word about certain secrets, the thought leaves a bad taste in Steve’s mouth.

Anyway, if it is a guy, that would explain why Secret Admirer keeps dancing around his pleas to meet. And the initially disguised handwriting—which had been dropped by the second mailed letter, along with a brief, sheepish apology.

But it could also be a girl who’s really shy or something. Steve doesn’t want to assume and then look like a total idiot further down the road. Whoever it is, all Steve knows is that he doesn’t want to lose them. He has to play this smart, play it cool… because he knows himself, and already knows that they have him by the heart based on words alone.

The latest letter is in his hands, crinkled a little at the edges, and Steve can’t help himself from rereading the fifth paragraph yet again.

… those indecently tiny shorts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about running my fingers up the inside of those thighs. Or my mouth. Whichever you think you’d like best, baby, I’m not picky. And while I do like ice cream, particularly strawberry with rainbow sprinkles in a cone, I can think of something else I’d love to wrap my hand around and run my tongue over before any drips can escape. You just think about that, hmm? Maybe share some of those thoughts in your reply, if I haven’t scared you off…

He’s not scared off. Doesn’t need to know exactly who put pen to paper to imagine hands and lips running up his legs, either, an invisible touch that sends shivers along his spine.

Okay, maybe it’s been a while. Between striking out from behind the Scoops counter and not really trying all that hard anyway, the only action Steve’s seen is from his own hand… and this letter. He has thoughts, alright, but has a much better idea of how to translate them into action than words. And this is his problem with the whole pen pal only thing, his natural charm (if he has any left) is absolutely useless in this medium.

The other problem is that he really, really wants to jerk off about this, except he’s got almost no details to fuel the fantasy. He knows that Secret Admirer had a concussion once, but not what color or length or texture or style their hair is; knows they’re on the fringes of popularity and not really into sports, but nothing about their height or build or how they might move against him. Hell, he doesn’t even know if they’re a girl or a guy, isn’t sure if he should try to imagine boobies and painted nails or stubbled cheeks and big hands.

Secret Admirer has mentioned being a smoker though, of both tobacco and grass, and Steve is not exactly proud of how strongly this makes him want a cigarette just because it’s all he has to go on. He has work in under an hour and Robin hates the smell of cigarettes, will be extra vicious for their entire shift if he comes in reeking of smoke.

He’ll have to figure out something else…

Dear Secret Admirer, Thanks for writing again, I was really glad to get your letter. I don’t sleep with them under my pillow because sometimes my pillow ends up on the floor and I don’t want to drool all over them. I keep them in a box in the back of my closet, because sometimes my parents have the cleaning lady do my bedroom without telling me and I don’t want her going through my stuff or putting it in weird places that I can never find again. Sorry for laughing at you You must not have seen me last week when I threw a banana peel at my coworker for It’s not being humble if I don’t deserve Yeah, fuck high school. Sorry for not rewriting this, I’m running out of paper and my dad’ll kill me if I break into his office to get more I definitely thought about what you said in your last letter. I thought about it a lot. It’s hard to figure out how to explain what though, because I wanted to picture you like you were probably picturing me when you were writing it. You obviously know what I look like, but I don’t know who you are so I had to get creative. (Which isn’t my strong suit. So if this is stupid maybe we could just never mention it again?) Since I don’t know what you look like and it’d be weird to try and picture you anyway, and then what if I’m not even close and that makes it seem like I don’t like you for who you are? I’m not sure if that makes sense. But anyway, since I don’t know what you look like I pictured you dressed like a ninja. Hear me out, okay? You’re such a mystery. Ninjas are mysterious, and dressed all black to blend in with the shadows. You can’t see their hair or face and they wear gloves because you can tell a lot about a person by their hands. I guess what I’m saying is I imagined you sneaking into my room at night when the lights are off. Totally silent but with this powerful presence, you know? I think if I were in the same room as you it’d feel like that moment right before the whistle goes off at a swim meet, because that’s just like, holy shit it’s about to happen and your muscles are all tense but ready but you’re waiting, coiled like a snake. So I’m coiled like a snake and you’re still a ninja and I’m not very good at this. I’ve done it over the phone a few times but that’s different. I don’t know where I’m going with this just sitting writing this alone in my room with Genesis playing in the background so I’m going to stop. Just trust me, it was hot. If you ever want to exchange numbers I’d be happy to tell you all about it sometime. It feels weird to end like that, so I’ll also tell you that I tried reading that Hobbit book you suggested and you were right, it’s a lot easier than the Rings book that the kids I babysit tried to bully me into reading. Bibo is freaking out about all these dwarves in his house and I can relate, it sounds like when those kids all show up and try to rope me into driving them around town. At least they haven’t tried to make me steal anything or try to take on a damn dragon yet. Hopefully this book won’t give them any ideas. — Steve PS If that was so dumb you changed your mind about still writing to me, please let me down easy. Seriously it would be no hard feelings. At least I still have a great ass and great hair, so I’ve got that going for me.

Tag list (open): @hotluncheddie @lawrencebshoggoth @sofadofax @tangerinesteve @steviewashere

@cryingglightningg @theresebelivett @sleepy-steve @rozzieroos @lunaraindrop

@just-my-latest-hyperfixation @wheneverfeasible @swimmingbirdrunningrock @yesdangerpls @matchingbatbites

@ihavekidneys @p0lybl4nkk @grtwdsmwhr @cheesedoctor @thetinymm

@practicallybegging @fuzzyduxk @greatwerewolfbeliever

#steddieweek2024 #scoops words #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #secret admirer steddie

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lol-jackles · 5 months ago

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Walker series finale review

It’s only been a week since Cordell nearly died and Luna died in Cassie’s arms, so their people are hard at work being there for them. Like the start of season 3, Cordell wants everything back to the way it was and overcompensates by being extra, but his family simply want him to be in the present with them, and then take one step at the time.

Stella tells her dad that there is no version of life where he’s being gone is better, it will just be a different kind of pain. She gives him the letters he wrote while he was undercover in case he doesn’t make it out alive. She and August didn’t read the letters because it came from a different version of their father and they don’t need that now. However, perhaps Cordell do, and figures it out from there.

Despite Cordell’s assurance to Geri that the Jackal case was an “exception of exceptions”, Geri wisely tells him that there’s always going to be “the next big case” and when it happens, she wants Cordell to go to her for support. This makes me super happy that Geri doesn’t demand that he cuts back on his work or give up his job altogether but wants to be there for him when his job inevitably gets messy again.

Cassie has to reach back to the past to galvanize herself into thinking about a different future than the one she planned with Luna and goes to the lieutenant job interview. Trey appears to give a stronger interview, but he’s only been a ranger a short time and the job goes to Cassie. Of course it does because they changed Cassie’s personality from Cordell-lite in season 2&3 to James-lite in season 4, so she got the lieutenant job as the newly minted female version of Larry James, who was also Cordell’s previous partner. Anybody remember when she and Cordell tamper with evidence just to satisfy their curiosity? (X) It was actually one of my favorite scenes.

The job promotion further propels Cassie to “leap forward” into a new future. It also means Cassie will no longer be Cordell’s partner, which is for the best because emotionally she blames him for Luna’s death even when she's concerned about Cordell and asked Geri how he is doing. Two things can be true. I predicted a while back (looking for the specific post) that Cordell and Trey would eventually become partners and now that it’s confirmed, we are robbed of that dynamic in season 5.

August graduation party is crowded and loud and its cathartic for the audience to see everybody happy and celebrating. We even see Cassie smiling at Cordell’s toast to his son, August Edward Walker, and the rest of the family. Here I was expecting a Shakespearean middle name for August but it’s from Emily who was a Twilight fan. Liam and Ben declared themselves team Jacob and just like that they’re moving in together.

The party grows raucous, and Bonham and Abilene hide out in their house. Abilene apologizes to Bonham for abandoning him while she was launching her wedding venue business and assures him that she wants to oversee and “meddle”, not deal with the bride of the week. Nope she’s leaving bride handling to the gay guy. Bonham compromise by keeping the boat and uses it for her events as a tax write off. Win win!

Cordell takes a leave of absence for the summer to take August, Stella, and Geri (and a secret ring box) on a much-needed vacation, which Cassie grants on the first day of the lieutenant job because “they both need this”. A time apart from each other and away from the daily reminders will do them both good.

While the finale is a 'happy ending', there are underlying sadness that's been there since the pilot episode, starting with Cordell, then Micki, and now Cassie. Each of them has lost romantic partners to death and Cordell said time doesn't heal everything. What is unspoken is work and more work will get them through the pain of grief.

As Bonham and Abeline enjoys a boat ride and Cordell and his children and Geri head out of town, an unexpected double cliffhanger happens: Liam gets recruited by the governor for a secret job and he’s whisked away by men in black in front of the impressed Ben; the Davidson lands is sub-leased by a hippie version of SPN Lucifer, due to his all-white outfit, who is none other than Dawson Leery, played of course by a grinning James Van Der Beek!

Final score: 9.7. Point 1 deduction for each arcs we won't see in season 5: Cordell and Trey's new partnership , Liam's new job from the governor, and new neighbor cult leader Dawson Leery

#Walker review #Jared Padalecki

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m3-kk · 8 months ago

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Sharing my TCF notes because sharing is caring 😬 ⬇️. (All of them�� so far)

Ch. 086- sad time for Raon :(. REVENGE HAHAHA LETSGOOOO

Ch. 335- Eruhaben protect Roan & Cale from ugly WS 😆

Ch. 352- Cale’s greatest fear…😭

Ch. 378- Choi’s uncle (DS) left info book written in KOREAN?!?! 😵

Ch. 394- Letter from Death & shiz show😬

Ch. 395- CALE IS AFRAID?!?! 😱

Ch. 401- “Plavin was laughing on the outside but crying on the inside.”😌

Ch. 404- “And Miss Cage, please cuss out the God of Death for me.” -Cale 😇

Ch. 411- They were talking about the Lion King (person) and I thought they were talking about the movie 😭

Ch. 414- Choi Han woke up crying “Kim Rook Soo” 😰

Ch. 415- “What am I supposed to call the friend of my nephew once removed?” -Choi Han 😳

Ch. 423- “Oh, by the way, the original owner of your body is living well too. He said he is happy.” -Lee Soo Hyuk ☺️

Ch. 423- CALE CRIES! BABY NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 😰

“It's a new record! You were unconscious for 20 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 19 seconds!”- Roan Miru🤠

Ch. 431-

“You son of a bitch!” -Bear King

"Why am I your son? Such an idiot.”

-Whale Archie🫡

Ch. 434- Which Henituse sibling wants to become what?🥱👑⚔️

Ch. 435- Sworn brothers 🤞

Ch. 455- Ron says he has a cute young master (Cale) who he doesn’t want to disappoint.🥹

Also that Roan is cuter than Cale 😂

Ch. 457- “This is nice.” Beacrox commented before swinging his greatsword horizontally.🙂

Ch. 461- Cale’s merchant name is Bob XD

Ch. 465- The Sound of the Wind was a top underneath a boulder surrounded by whirlpools.

The Indestructible Shield was a pit under the tree.

The Scary Giant Cobblestone was a stone in the Super Rock villa.

The Fire of Destruction was a sculpture at the center of the magma.

The Vitality of the Heart was a stone pillar at the center of a whirlwind.

The Sky Eating Water was a chained spear.

Ch. 476- More Dragon Family Drama wtf

Ch. 481- To the Fake World Tree

Ch. 501- Illusion of Other World..RAMEN!

Ch. 504- Stick from World Tree (Cale’s blood is special?!)

Ch. 515- Vampire Duke Fredo (seems nice)

Ch. 516- Demonic Race, Rosalyn, White Star after cookie prince?! NOOO

Ch. 520- WEAKLING. Alberu is a mage swordsman badass dark elf

Ch. 526- These brothers are so cute OMEGALUL

Ch.555- Sealed god test, wtf this is so sad I’m crying I’ve never been so genuinely sad

Ch. 559- CHOI HAN OUR LOVE THANKS🙏

Ch. 581- AWW BESTIEEE

Ch. 584- Cale saying he could beat 3 strong peeps

Ch. 589- Alberu goes to Blood Boulder

Ch. 601- AHH CALE BDAY AHHH

Ch. 612- THEY GAVE ALBERU A GUN!!

Ch. 618- Cale explains to LeeSooHyuk the truth

Ch. 622- HOMEEEEEEEE AYYAYAAY

Ch. 627- @Capital w/ Dad y Alberu YAY

Ch. 628- BUBBLEGUM PINK DRAGON

Ch. 629- We are a big family!

Ch. 631- 5 FUCKIN DRAGONS AHHH-

[THE AUTHOR STARTS SAYING SHIT LIKE “IN THE FUTURE.. “ LIKE F U MAKIN ME ALL SAPPY N STUFF WTH UGHHH!!!]

Ch. 640- 2 Cats are Molan house’s future 🥹.. They can’t go berserk?..

Ch. 645- Roan & Cale Solo Fight letsgo!!

Ch. 646- Cale uses ‘instant’ to destroy 2 unranked monsters.. I’m crying actually..

Ch. 647- wtf I’m crying, goosebumps fr

Ch. 649- Roan has grown so much 🥹

Ch. 652- COM. WITH EARTH 2 AHHHH—

Ch. 655- Cale is healing❤️ OG Cale!KRS

Ch. 656- SOO much info from OG Cale!!

Ch. 658- CALE IS AWAKEEE YAYA

Ch. 662- OMG Cale’s BioMom was cooking

Ch. 663- WE KNOW HOW TO KILL HIM HA

Ch. 670- World Tree-nim

Ch. 677- Explaining ALOT lore dump!!

CB. 681- WOW the end of that chap tho

Ch. 682- I stan Cale’s hatred for the White Star. We love the PJs! Alberu is moon that’s so *legs in air kicking*

Ch. 683- So are we gonna kill WS or whatt?

Ch. 684- HAHAH OMG CALE’S BDR POWER IS SO SCARY EVERYONE THINKS ITS THE WS!! HAHAH ITS CALE’S THOOO

Ch. 685- omg.. DANGGG!! Our Cale is truly terrifying! New Pokémon acquired! White star!! 😏 wait we have a tiny WS in our pocket how cute! 🥰

Ch. 686- HAHA BOOM BOOM 💥

Ch. 688- Rashell says he wouldn’t be able to sleep if many humans died 🥰

Ch. 689- ROCK SHEILD LETSGOOO

Ch. 694- DEAFEATED! Alberu faints and thinks he’s like Cale now 😭

Ch. 695- NAHH WE LOVEEE

Ch. 699- ENTERED THE TEMPLE! We can’t leave…? CALE IS GHOST AND WATCHING OTHERS TESTS HUHHH?!! (DespairTest2)

Ch. 700- This chapter is just amazing, these people are so smart ughhh I’m screaming! In a happy way tho

Ch. 701- OK we have Choi Han, Clopeh, Rosalyn and Cale so far.. MARYYY

Ch. 702- +1(Roan) Cale can use the cintamani to contact other world. PEOPLE CAN SEE HIM YAY!

Ch. 705- Talking with Cale & others through the Cintamani :>

Ch. 706- Tonka! And Dark elf Tasha&Alberu

Ch. 707- My heart, Alberu was so sad and lonely back then…

Ch. 709- Eruhaben! WS is badddd

Ch. 710- Whyyyy I’m actually feeling despair it’s so complicated ugh and no ones receiving correct info ughhhhh

Ch. 713- Mary is #GIRLBOSS for not being tricked! ❤️❤️

Ch. 717- So glad that was settled 😮‍💨

Ch. 718- So the test Cale was in wasn’t the original one so now we are doing the actual sadness test ok 👍

Ch. 719- WOW NOT CALE ALREADY FINISHING BLUE TEST.. also someone else?

Ch. 721- Toonka left the test, Cale met Choi Jung Gun, I’m I’m scared 😶

Ch. 722- Rosalyn finally put the tests goals into words! She’s so smart. I love herrr

Ch. 726- Cale confronts CJG and he’s being used as bait bc a hunter is here oh no. Cale is going to cause chaos ialrk

Ch. 727- WOWW Cale was about to be isekaied lol. Good thing we have ancient powers! 2 Hunters?! 🫣

Ch. 730- Cale actually skipped a level bfr

Ch. 731- Cale has to observe past Roan (during the night) and Alberu (during the day)

Ch. 732- FLIPPING OVER THE FIRST PRINCES PALACE HAHAHAHAGA

Ch. 735- Freeing Roan! Again Again?

Ch. 739- Still loving how Choi’s test is taking care of tiny KRS. Alberu test completed!!

Ch. 740- I’m loving Clopeh during this test so far. He knows his goals and he sticks to them. He’s crazy!

Ch. 744- Damn Dodam Miru. I think DM’s world is not an illusion. Cale “tricking” the Wrath test is crazy I love that sly bastard!

Ch. 745- Cale hates when the children hate their side dishes ahah! The Wrath test is actually really difficult it surprised me frfr! Clopeh & Cale are angy

Ch. 749- How dare this low-life Dorph ever consider sacrificing the great and mighty Roan Miru. I pour all of my hatred and anger toward him. He needs to die. 😡

Ch. 750- Finally! Flipping every over heh!

#cale henituse #tcf cale #tcf novel #lcf #lout of the count’s family #trash of the count's family #notes #sharing is caring #Me_Kk

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plantsandpies · 2 months ago

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Fairy tail headcanon not related to my previous post!

All dragonslayers have dyslexia. The first gen do because they were from 400 years ago. They spoke and read a different language. So I imagine it’s like them knowing Gaelic and then them having to learn English immediately because they were shoved 400 years into the future. And English has the highest rates of dyslexia because it’s combined with so many different languages and spellings. Obviously English isn’t what they speak, but I imagine it’s like this scenario.

The second gen do because the lacrema (I have no idea how to spell that) is based off of the previous dragonslayers. They wanted it to be like a skill transfer, so they just shoved the language thing in it. These people didn’t care about the people, just the result (look at cobra. He can listen to people’s thoughts. That would so over stimulating. They obviously didn’t think anything through).

I don’t know if Laxus got an actual procedure like the rest did, but if he didn’t it’s worse for him because his dad would’ve done it and he did it kinda incorrectly, as in, it works properly but it was placed incorrectly so some side effects are worse.

Which makes so much sense on why Natsu had trouble reading. Not only did he not know the language it’s also with different sounds, shapes, and spellings.

I imagine Gajeel joined young, but, unlike Fairytail, it wasn’t a place where you could admit you couldn’t read. Juvia was the one who taught him because even though she was a part of phantom she’s like a genuine and kind person. Until he learned she also read the jobs out loud but in a way where everyone just thought it was her being quirky. Gajeel didn’t pick up on until he went through his character arc. After he thanked her a lot and helped her make her grey body pillow.

(Unrelated, but I think Gajeel’s like, an engineering genius. He works with metal a lot and I think he’ll just make stuff. So he made the printing press for the fabric of the pillow).

As for if the gen one’s were too young to have learned the language. I believe Natsu and Gajeel were like eight. Because Natsu is 18 at the start of the show and Lucy’s 17, so he’s a year older. Meaning when he came out of the portal he had to be a year older than Lucy was. Her mom died when she was seven, so Natsu would be eight. I think Gajeel��s the same age. That would make the rest like 2 since Wendy’s 12 when Natsu is 18, but they still grew up around the language (which I’m calling demonic because they found it used in Zeref’s writings and in one of his demon books that was later stolen from the castle. That wasn’t its original name but it’s been 400 years and his works are like their only sources.) and most 2 year olds start learning to recognize letters. At least I did but my mom did make me watch like two episodes of educational tv (word world for anyone who’s wondering, which I hated because it was boring) before I could watch something not educational, so maybe I’m the weird one.

I also believe this was what Zeref wrote in even during the show because it was his native language and he was planning to die or change the past, so why would he need a new language? Plus it’s be super hard to learn especially when you’re literally being driven insane and time and culture is constantly changing. (I have my own theory about how the curse works because it’s kinda explained but also kinda not explained in the show; but that’s a different post.)

For reference: I have dyslexia and for me it’s spelling issues and when I read I like skip lines and sometimes the words like blur? If that makes sense. My sister also has it and had a lot of trouble with d and b growing up. She has it worse than me, though.

#fairy tail headcanons #fairy tail #natsu dragneel #gajeel redfox #wendy marvell #sting eucliffe #rogue cheney #laxus dreyar #cobra/erik #dragonslayer #zeref dragneel

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scarisd3ad · 11 months ago

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Jump then fall | Steve harrington x fem!hopper!reader

Prologue - seven

Masterlist

Taglist

>>Next

Summary - ‘And though I can’t recall your face I still got love for you, your braids like a pattern love you to the moon and to Saturn’

Warnings - loss of a sibling, divorce, fighting, cursing

"I'm gonna miss you," Steve mumbled into my shoulder as his little arms wrapped around my body. "Me too," I whispered back. I didn't want to move. I was well adjusted in our little town, I had my friends, I was just getting used to kindergarten, and I had Steve Harrington. my best friend and next-door neighbor who I did not want to leave behind, but dad got a new and better job in New York, so we had to pack up all our belongings and move from the tiny town of Hawkins to the big city. "can't you stay with me? We have enough room. "I shook my head "My daddy would be sad if I didn't go with them," I whispered back before they pulled away and placed me in my car seat. I was gone for good.

It wasn't like Steve, and I didn't stay in contact for those 7 years I lived in New York. it started with letters and drawings being mailed back and forth and then calls every Tuesday and Thursday night after school. But then we got older, and those letters and calls had farther and farther days between them. Then when Sara got sick, I shut down. I didn't send any letters or call him for months. After Sara died, my parents grew distant not only with each other but with me too, so I sent a letter to the one person who knew me better than my parents, Steve Harrington.

Dear Stevie,

I'm sorry I haven't called or sent any letters. I've been busy with school and other things, you know. I miss you. I hope I can come and visit you soon. My dad said we might go back to Hawkins to visit during the summer. Maybe we could have a sleepover if we do. Maybe we can call whenever you get this? I can fill you in on everything that's happened. Anyway, how's school??? I started this new book club at school and it's so fun!!!! I know you'd probably call me a nerd for it is, but it's really cool, and the people are nice too. I also made this new friend. Her name is Hannah she's so cool! She's an eighth grader!!!

Are you still playing basketball? If so, I wish I could see you play. Maybe you could play for me if I visit this summer! Dad said I could walk to your house every day if we did. I miss you and I hope we can call soon; I really need to talk to you about something that cannot!!! be disclosed over letter I need to like actually talk about it you know? I haven't really talked to anyone about it, and I need to or I'm gonna burst. Also, I'm sending these cool stickers that I got at a coffee shop here. I thought you'd like them. They're basketballs! Anyway, again I miss you a lot and can't wait to talk to you again.

- love y/n

(P.S. sorry again for not sending any letter)

I didn't get a letter back, nor did we visit that summer. Instead, that summer my parents divorced, and my mother decided she no longer wanted to be a mother, so my father and I moved into a crappy apartment in Brooklyn while the divorce took place. Luckily, that fall, the divorce was finalized. My mother gave up all parental rights legally, giving all custody to my father, and we moved back to Hawkins.

A week before 7th grade started my father, and I moved into a 2-bedroom house 3 streets away from Steve's. the first 2 days were full of moving boxes and decorating my new room so on the 3rd day I walked over to Steves with a plate of freshly baked cookies in clasped in my hands. During the seven years Steve and I sent letters back and forth, he always hoped he'd be able to try my baking, which was a skill I learned during 5th grade.

I grasped the plate in one hand as the other reached up to knock at the door. There weren't any cars in the driveway, but his bedroom light was on, which made me assume he was home. But after 30 seconds I didn't hear a 'I'm coming' or hurried footsteps. I was starting to doubt my intuition. Maybe he had just forgotten to turn off his bedroom light. Despite my doubts, I knock again, this time a bit harder. Then I heard a loud groan from inside before the door swung open."Wh-holy-y/n?" the annoyed look on his face immediately morphed into shock.

"You didn't respond" I giggled with a smile, "I-I guess it got lost in the mail" he whispered before launching himself into me. His arms wrapped around my body, and he pulled me close. The cookies were still clasped in my hand. I hoped the foil would be enough to keep them on the plate. "Wait, wait, wait" Steve pulls away so we're making eye contact. "You came all the way here just because I didn't send a letter back" his brows twist into a confused furrow as I laugh "No Stevie, we moved back" his face stays confused as he asks "Why" It was a long story, and not one to be told on the front steps of his house. "Long story. I'll tell you later. Can I come inside?"

"Yeah, yeah"

Steve and I sat on his bedroom floor that afternoon munching on cookies as I told him everything. I cried a lot; I hadn't cried about anything in the last four months. But with Steve, it just seemed like everything just came pouring out. Even though the last time I saw him, we were both 4 feet tall and missing teeth, it just seemed to click with him even after all these years. "Sarah got sick," I started with as Steve took a bite out of his cookie. "Oh...is she alright?" he asked voice laced with concern as his right hand reached over to grab my hand.

I shook my head as tears pooled in my eyes, "N-no um she's-she's gone Stevie" Steve was silent as his hand squeezed mine. I'd never talked about Sarah or her death to anyone, not my mother, not my father, hell I didn't even talk to the therapist they took me to when I didn't want to talk to them. This was the first time I even uttered the words 'she's gone' It was like I was in denial, like if I never said the words, it would all reverse itself and I'd have my sister back. "a-and my parents we're fighting a lot, so they got divorced" tears began to trickle down my cheeks as I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back tears. "And my mom she-she said she never wanted to be a mom, so-so she left."

That afternoon, while Steve's arms embraced me and sobs shook my body, I came to a shocking realization. The realization hit me hard that maybe listening to Steve's voice over the phone for the past seven years, and reading his letters he always signed off with 'I love you - Steve Harrington', might have done something to me. Something to my changing adolescent brain that would have altered our friendship for good. Maybe it was for the best that the week after winter break, Steve Harrington became one of the most popular boys in school and subsequently decided to no longer be my friend.

Taglist

@sheisjoeschateau @nothankyou138 @gleefulleve @luluw-20

#fanfics #x reader #stranger things #steve harrington x reader #fem!reader #joe keery #steve harrington #hopper!reader #jim hopper

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sweet-milky-tea705 · 1 year ago

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RANDOM OC QUESTIONS REG( @bananacockatiel ) ASKED LIKE 2 YEARS AGO LETS GO.

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What does your oc smell like?

Mollie smells like leather/smoke, but also a little floral bc she uses scented soap.

Yasenia smells herbal and earthy. Ts yasenia smells the same but smellier bc shes in touchstarved

Ocs fave food?

Mollie likes bourbon chicken or anything adjacent over rice.

Yasenia likes pretty much any stew or curry with steak in it

what stereotypical clique would your oc fall into in highschool

Mollie would be a big gossip lol. But also in athletics so idk?? Jock ? Is that what this question means ?

Yasenia would be a nerd. But also very liked by the people around her bc shes sweet. Definitely was more introverted back then though

relationship experience?

Mollie has a lot of relationship experience. In terms of serious ones though ? Not a whole lot. Shes also like 43 though so LOL

Yasenia has a little relationship experience. She was left hurt a lot, so she tends to steer away from getting too close emotionally, especially ts yasenia

what's the favorite flower of your mc??

Mollie: magnolia/hydrangeas

Yasenia: forget-me-nots/blueberry blossoms

your oc's fave body part of theirs

Mollie: she really likes her back, gotta flex in the mirror before she gets in the shower LOL

Yasenia: she lovesss her tail so much(dnd) and ts yasenia really likes her hair. The whole curse thing has made it hard to think about parts of herself she actually likes

what is the meaning of your oc name? Or what is the reference/motivation behind their name?

Mollie: uh. The drug. The inspo was in fact molly bc i wanted her to be a kinda trashy possum lesbian. Which she is and i love her. Her character has changed a lot since then though

Yasenia: i made it up. Sorta. I wanted a name with a Y and i made her very quickly so i used a site and then changed some letters or something

what's their love language and why

Mollie: acts of service and physical touch !!! She loves to make things and do little things for people and she also is just really physically affectionate

Yasenia: honestly same as mollie. Ts yasenia is less touch oriented though for obvious reasons

Oc's relationship with family?

Mollie: bad. Her mom is dead, dad left, and little brother is kinda busy and withdrawn

Yasenia: good. parents are alive, no siblings, she loves them a lot but they have their troubles sometimes. She feels like they wont ever fully accept her curse(dnd) and yasenia feels like theyre rejecting a core part of her. She doesnt want a cure. Overall good though. Ts yasenia never met her parents so…

Who are the most important people (or person singular) to your oc?

Mollie: for a long time it was (LL) tari and mollie’s brother since he was her only remaining family but over time when he got his bearings and left, she kinda kept to herself. Then after tari cheated, it got worse. Then elowen came into the picture and its elowen final answer.

Yasenia: Her parents, (dnd)mentor, and (dnd) tari are the most important to her. For touchstarved though ? Shes on her own completely. Never met her parents and due to her curse she couldnt get close to anyone except the alchemist mentor who betrayed her.

If you met your oc irl would you get along?

If i met any of my ocs in person i would shit myself. But assuming i wasnt aware i made them and we were strangers, yeah totally. Theyre both social and compassionate people, not hard to get along with.

Oc's hobbies?

Mollie has a lot of hobbies ! She does leatherworking, blacksmithing, baking, some light woodwork, fitness stuff and weapons training,,, and being gay in taverns.

Yasenia is a magic user in both universes and mostly does that stuff. Her dnd magic is more faith and herbal based. Healing magic and whatnot mostly. Her alchemy stuff in touchstarved is different. She knows how to make and recognize poison but also little protection spells and such. Her mentor sucked

what's a lie that they tell the most?

Mollie’s is probably that she doesnt care. She tells it to herself more than anyone. Also that she didnt mean to do something she absolutely did on purpose.

Yasenia’s is hard. Shes very honest and vocal about everything. Cant lie easily at all. But her main one Is probably saying that shes not worried

specifically for the OCs with siblings, what's their sibling dynamic?

Mollie is the bully older sister who also protects her brother at all costs. Theres a 5 year gap between them so its a given

Yasenia has no siblings but in dnd she would play with the kids at the cave village thing. Her snow leopard thing made it fun. She had a very playful dynamic with the kids there and many of them see her as an older sister

favorite drink ?

Mollie likes ciders !! Like spiced apple and stuff. Preferably spiked

Yasenia likes teas of all kinds, she hasnt tried cider ^ but she would love it. Tea is her fav though

how are they with kids?

Both are good, neither really want kids though.

Can your oc cook? if so, what's their favorite dish to make?

Mollie can !! She likes to make soup and desserts bc theyre the most fun. Her fav food is still bourbon chicken though.

Yasenia cant cook. Like at all. She can mix potions and alchemical compounds and stuff with ease but you will never see someone fuck up an easy dish as well as her.

what is their best childhood memory?

Mollie: she used to catch frogs and play in the woods a lot as a kid before moving to porrima. Always covered in an insane amount of mud and leaves. She liked to try and make things out of sticks like lizard houses and swords and castles. Those were very happy days

Yasenia: she would run through the mountain valleys in her snow leopard form a lot as a kid. She would come home covered in bits of plant and burrs, smelling like wildflowers, she remembers that the most. She liked to catch bugs a lot too. Her parents remember the horror of yasenia coming home with a live cicada in her mouth.

#i wanna do a ship qna one next lol #mollie iverhelm #yasenia #ts yasenia #touchstarved #touchstarvedgame #touchstarved game #last legacy #fictif #last legacy fictif #fictif last legacy #last legacy oc #touchstarved oc #touchstarved mc #ask me about my ocs #ask me about mollie #ask me about yasenia #last legacy mollie #touchstarved yasenia

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takiki16 · 9 months ago

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if jamie tartt is like david beckham .... [white man, english, huge following, big name] which mls team will he join and where will he base his eventual ownership team and which talented star will be buy to headline the whole thing

LKSDFJ;LSKDFJDS

Jack Grealish you have been dethroned by the Becks and his unbeatable smoove aura...he stole your Ted Lassona are you just gonna sit there and take it...

I am taking a flying stab at this and begging any actual EPL fans plus anyone who's followed MLS for more than a year to forgive me. I also need SOMEONE ELSE to chart Jamie's likely career trajectory WITHIN the EPL...whether Roy actually manages to win the league with Richmond, how they cope with Champions League drama, etc etc. But ALL THAT ASIDE, here we go - Jamie Tartt's grand soft-retirement in the MLS!

Ted absolutely BEGS Jamie to choose Sporting KC. Its like...three hours and change from Wichita to Kansas City, but that is NOTHING to the Big Peppy Energy of a single midwestern dad who was unfortunately forced away from his club of adopted sons by the bad choices of certain writers' rooms. Ted sends texts. He sends emails. He sends hand-written letters. He starts a very enthusiastic one-man campaign on twitter (#tarttkc4lyfe!) and even gets the KC mascot, Blue the Dog, to shout out Earl Greyhound on Instagram in a bid to get Jamie to come. In a truly below-the-belt move, Ted takes a picture of Henry in a Sporting KC #10 jersey that has "Tartt" on the back and sends it to Jamie. Henry is wearing his Very Saddest Face. Roy and Beard both separately text Ted to call out dirty tactics, but Ted cannot be shamed on this front. The stakes are too high.

Of course, Jamie does NOT go to Sporting KC, even for Ted (maybe. He thinks about it. A little. A lot). When Euro stars soft-retire in the US, they make their choices based on which large, attractive global city they want to live in. I know, I know - financially speaking, all cities with ownership groups big enough to have an MLS franchise are "global cities," not just the coastal powerhouses. However, it is extremely funny to me personally to assume that the Grealish-Tartt link is strong and that Jamie doesn't recognize an unlabelled map of England, much less the US. If a city hasn't been regularly on the news or doesn't have a clock featuring its local time behind the hotel reception desk, Jamie probably doesn't know much about it. Realistically, Jamie is likely going to choose from among LA, New York, Miami, and maybe Chicago. Mayyyyybe Orlando, depending on how long Bumbercatch has to convince him that Disney is actually horribly evil and Jamie should not be swayed by the glittering lights of the Magic Kingdom or the steady stream of talented U22 Brazilian players feeding to Orlando City SC.

Assuming Messi is still in MLS at this point in the Ted Lasso universe, Miami IS GOING to be Jamie's first choice. I know that Jamie was futzing around with the false 9 role and sitting in the enganche pocket behind Dani and Colin in 3x07, but IN MY HEART Jamie is a true no.9 and what striker doesn't love goals on a plate! MIAMI HAS THE GREATEST PLAYMAKER IN THE WORLD currently playing for them, and all the stupid Zava problems would melt away once Jamie starts scoring hattricks off of three or four of those perfect eye of the needle assists per game. Keeley gets a bunch of sexy beachwear, Jamie gets sunburnt to hell on the sand somewhere, Roy blissfully fistfights someone in a Publix where no one knows who he is, the DREAM LIVES ON.

HOWEVER, Miami also doesn't have any more Designated Player slots, and Jamie (1) isn't an old Barcelona buddy who will come for peanuts GAM money and (2) is a big enough name in his own right that he can demand a star DP slot at another club. Miami is probably off the table. The ACTUAL most realistic possibilities are LA and New York, with NY being slightly in the lead just based on vibes. Assuming AGAIN that the Grealish-Tartt link is strong, Jamie might end up at NYCFC. They are low to mid-table, sporting-wise, but they are owned by City Group and are considered Manchester City's sister club in New York. Lampard, Pirlo, and Villa were their first DPs in their debut season in 2015. If Jamie forgets that relegation isn't a thing in MLS and wants to be in a club that semi-regularly makes the playoffs, the NY Red Bulls are nearby...ish. Hey, if New Jersey is good enough for the WORLD CUP it's good enough for Baby Tartt!

If Jamie goes full Beckham and ends up in LA, he probably goes to the Galaxy. LAFC is the stronger team and prides itself on a loud, noisy supporters' culture - Gareth Bale spent a year there before the WC in 2022 - but I just cannot resist the Beckham vibes. And honestly, Jamie Tartt getting to live the Zava storyline from the other side and coming to the second-worst Western conference team of 2023 to lift them out of their slump is probably its own comedy spinoff. Also, imagining Jamie playing the Rose Bowl during El Trafico on the Fourth of July in front of a bunch of random actors is hilarious.

AND. FINALLY. If Jamie Tartt gets the Beckham/Messi retirement package and gets to purchase ownership stakes in a new MLS franchise upon retirement???

Ted starts begging for Jamie to come to Wichita again, but this time as a TEAM OWNER. He offers to coach for free. He offers to PAY to coach. He offers to BUY SHARES HIMSELF with all that gotdam EPL money that Rebecca was paying him during the show. However, sadly, Kansas City beat Wichita to the punch. I...have got NO CLUE where Jamie opens his MLS team tbh, bc as of right now MLS's business model is to muscle in on cities with their own existing USL football culture, buy out the franchise, and turn all of the club's history into soulless corporate marketing dreck. San Diego, I am so, so sorry.

Actually you know what, in THIS UNIVERSE, Jamie somehow finds a way to turn his retirement benefits into an investment into San Diego Loyal and helping them bid to join MLS. This prevents that extremely disappointing San Diego FC badge from ever becoming a reality.

I also have no idea what big-name star Jamie would invite to be his first DP - most of the Greyhounds were either Jamie's age or older, which means that as Jamie is retiring they are also retiring. IT would have to be like...a younger player that Jamie had some kind of relationship with when he was still in the EPL - NAME YOUR FAVORITE YOUNGSTER HERE!!!! After they have had a brilliant European career and are ready to soft-retire, of course!

(baby tartt if you could help MY hometown club in [redacted] to get its shit together and put in an MLS bid before Messi leaves...)

#ted lasso #football #lm10 #my posts

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all-or-nothing-baby · 1 year ago

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15 QUESTIONS, 15 (or whatever) TAGS

i was tagged by @ash-mcj—thanks dude! HERE is their's.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYBODY?

my middle name is the name of my mum's friend/dad's ex who died (my folks ended up getting together a year later).

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

about 10 minutes ago? to WELLY BOOTS which is an amazing devil song i've heard 10,000 times before. i honestly cry a gajillion times a day bc i don't just cry at sad stuff but also anything that moves me: from hearing a wonderful piece of music... to someone saying something kind to me or anybody else (real person or fictional character)... to being overwhelmed by the enormity of life and all its fucked-up and wonderful complexities... seriously, absolutely bloody everything makes me cry!

3. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

yes, two of 'em; a brilliant, beautiful, super-talented, immensely kind and outrageously hilarious 24 year old and a brilliant, beautiful, super-talented, immensely kind and outrageously hilarious 15 year old :) they're incredibly different individuals who bicker like siblings absolutely should and love each other a lot. i love them both so much it makes me cry when i think about it (surprise surprise).

4. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

oh, no, never. (probs too much at times—although i don't always understand when others are using it with me #neurodiversesquad).

5. WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED?

used to do what the american folks call 'run track', back in the day before chronic illnesses became the villain in my story.

6. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE?

whether they, you know, get it (or not).

7. EYE COLOUR?

erm, a bit of an odd sort of dark grey/blue with lots of dark green swirls and splodges

8. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

oh definitely scary movies, horror my beloved <3 i think i'm finally (bc it's been on my list for so long omg) gonna get around to watching RELIC tonight! *scratching at the door noises*

9. ANY SPECIAL TALENTS?

forgetting absolutely fucking anything and everything all the fucking time. ALWAYS knowing the first letter of the word i can't think of. having a bit of a photographic memory. being able to play the william tell overture by flicking my fingernails against my front teeth. making really good pancakes. good at accents. pretty good at drawing faces. playing music by ear. great at making inconsequential lists lol

10. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

blackpool, a seaside town in the north-west of england, UK. imo it's a veritable shithole these days, only good for trashy arcades and getting stabbed... but i do miss the ocean now i don't live there.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

making art, making words, making mixtapes, making trouble, making time for reading, making music, making a mess.

12. DO YOU HAVE PETS?

yes—i couldn't imagine not having critters in the house! i have 4 precious arseholes cats: little jimmy novak and moriarty, who are both house-loving cats—like, they do go out, but are indoors wanting cuddles more often than not. whereas the other two, grace jones ii and goku, are practically feral and only really come home for dinner and if it's raining hard (and the occasional i-will-allow-you-to-stroke-me-and-let-you-have-the-honour-of-me-sitting-on-your-knee-i-suppose).

13. HOW TALL ARE YOU?

5'2". short king.

14. FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?

loved art and english in high-school, and also enjoyed drama and history. i studied art at college and fashion at uni (which was a mistake, that world was very much not for me pfft).

15. DREAM JOB?

i honestly don't dream of jobs. but if i did? i suppose a portrait artist or published poet who was paid enough to actually live on, aha.

tagging, play or nay: @shealynn88 @sharkfish @novemberhush @greyhavenisback @poebin @jmeelee @raisesomehale @rajalagang @ohhalefire @halinski @kikiroo @lovebillyhargrove @harrgrove @slytherkins @witchsickness @ltleflrt @wellwaterhysteria @deklo @chasingcastiel @racheld93 @gabedemon absolutely anybody else who wants to do the thing!

#15 questions #tag game #i got tagged #tag you're it #unless you don't wanna be it #then you're not it

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savannah-5555 · 2 years ago

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Jily Regency fic idea

after getting into regency romance over the holidays, I outlined a jily fic in my notes but didn’t use any names just in case someone finds it in my notes 😂

hopefully one day I’ll be brave enough to write it

Regency- he’s titled, and she’s new money merchant class

But they meet abroad and there they are just “regular” people to each other , the family history is unknown to the other person

Meet abroad in Italy, where they both speak Italian and use only Italian names, romance starts, he gifts her a bracelet,

misscominicatoon bc a letter from his mom says he needs to come home and get married but really he had business w dad and his mom wasn’t serious about marriage/ only teasing …. But she reads the letter by accident bc it was left out and is heart broke

MISCOMMUNICATION trope

She leaves without saying goodbye, the family is packed up and gone, he cannot find her/ some other dramatic parting

1- 2 years later, back in England

Maybe a year or two passes, it’s the season , he’s definitely flirting with other women

he notices sees someone with *the* bracelet, someone’s husband won it at for her a card house

He knows it was hers, goes to the card house, trying to trace the steps, He cannot find her, only knows her by her Italian name

Masquerade ball, they meet, speaking in English so they sound different, they realize it’s the other somehow, and she is PO bc it’s like “oh so you’re interested bc I have money but when I was just a commoner it wasn’t enough for you”

And he’s like “No Whaf— tries to explain but she doesn’t believe him”

He tries to win her back, she has to play nice in society bc of his status and also so it rubs off on her sister who married a lower ranking noble/ not as popular standing

And she wants to look out for her sister

Something happens and her reputation is at stake of being ruined for being caught with him alone in a garden or something

And he asks if they can get married even though she’ll hate him to save her reputation

And she shouts “I don’t have to marry you and I don’t care about my damn reputation, I’ll leave this country for good and marry someone without a title who actually cares”

And her sister basically begs her to marry him because sisters reputation will be scared from the occurrence

FORCED MARRIAGE TROPE

during the marriage preparation she cannot even stand to be with him alone / let’s it known that she’s only doing it for her sister / does not want to hear it

She wants to let him in but is so heartbroken about the miscommunication situation that happened a couple years earlier;

Something like “it’s very convenient for you to tell me this now”

Somehow he needs to find letters that he wrote his friend to prove that he was in love with her; luckily his friend saves all of those letters so she can read first hand

There’s a lot of drama since he’s marrying someone outside of the nobility classes into “new money” and also the threat of them being discovered and her doing it purposely to force his hand, and he basically has to defend her to everyone

They get married

And they do eventually leave to travel bc both love seeing the world and don’t care for the gossipers

#Jily fic idea #regencyjily #ficidea #miscommunication trope #forced marriage trope #jily fanfic

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narutowatcher15 · 1 year ago

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My Legacy Save

*Note: This is both in honor of Pride Month cuz I can’t leave things straight for the life of me. And also cuz I’ve been meaning to make this but, I’ve been lazy if I’m honest.*

*Note 2: Proof of my laziness, June is almost over. 😫*

Please continue below the cut.

Premade Sims Tea ☕️

Eliza and Bob have MAJOR issues. Eliza kind of gave up on her ambition for the business world and just became an interior decorator for their house. She craves high class to the point where Bob can’t keep up monetary wise, gave up ages ago saying no and is actively depressed, hence his traits. And between you and me Eliza is looking to step out on Bob with Don Lothario. Don isn’t much interested tho. Maybe if some of his other girls stop seeing him.

Speaking of Don, he’s cheating on Katrina with so many other women it’s nuts. There’s Nina Caliente, Nancy Landgraab, Geeta Rasoya, Anaya Jang, and Bella Goth. He’s also made moves on but is not actively involved with Lilith Vatore, Jasminder Bheeda, and Zoe Patel. Katrina has no idea and honestly it doesn’t seem like anyone really does tbh beyond the women who sleep with Don. But if you ever wanna know for sure, check the female townies sleepwear, if they wear one of Don’s old shirts to bed, they’re sleeping with him. Wonder where he finds so many of those dumb button ups?

The Goth family is nowhere near as perfect as they portray. Ever since Cassandra turned into a teen they’ve been struck by a rebellious phase. They no longer like to walk, talk, and act like their nose is permanently in the air. Honestly it probably wouldn’t have actually ever amounted to much but Cassandra has horrible teeth thanks to Mortimer’s side of the family and horrible acne thanks to Bella’s side. And Bella made it a personal mission to ridicule the poor kid so they’d be ashamed enough to cover their acne and stop smiling so their braces showed. Instead Cassandra responded with Malicious Defiance. As you can tell Cassandra changed their pronouns, not an act of defiance but more so an act of self discovery, but Bella didn’t treat it that way. They cut their hair to their shoulders, and dyed the ends purple. Mortimer’s mother, Cornelia loved it as she loved the color purple, and hated the red that Bella insisted be involved in everything. Then Cassandra changed their style, so long nerdy, modest, and simple. Hello Cassandra the kid who wears leather jackets, fishnets, and gothic makeup. Bella is pissed that she lacks control over Cassandra and with the way Alex idolizes his sister, he’ll probably be the same. As to whether she feels more shame because her kid is acting out so much or anger because her kids aren’t as quiet and obedient as they used to be is anyone’s guess.

Johnny Zest is both on a search for his biological father and for himself as he found out he wasn’t actually Geoffrey’s son. Not much on as to how he found out but that the blow out was… severe. Everyone’s relationships took a hit. Geoffrey lost both romantic and friendship points with Nancy as he truly thought Johnny was his. (Part of the reason they got married.) Malcolm lost friendship points with Geoffrey and lost all relationship with Johnny as he saw Johnny as the reason his parents were fighting. He knew Johnny wasn’t Geoffrey’s as he used to snoop through stuff a lot and found an exchange of letters with Johnny’s actual dad and Nancy told him to keep quiet because it didn’t matter. Johnny lost all relationship with everyone as they all blamed him for the revelation. So all he got was a last name from Malcolm and the words “get out and never come back.” So, he’s doing okay… ish. He’s, certainly living at least…

The BFF house is certainly one of the more calmer houses. They haven’t had much happen to them. Liberty has long been known for having a crush on Travis so they finally went on a date! But, it ended kinda awkward with Liberty and Travis kissing and Liberty realizing she’s actually not into men… Like at all… Travis may have suffered a bruised ego but they’re still great friends! Summer however is having a harder time adjusting to Liberty’s new pride. She loves Liberty like a sister and supports her no matter what, sure! But, she is from a super religious family, this is all so new and odd to her. I hope she can overcome it.

Besides Don’s eyes that are wandering all over Jasminder, Arun’s eyes are also wandering around on the women of San Myshuno. It seems he’s already regretting jumping straight into fatherhood after getting married. Though he’s kept his hands to himself so far. I guess maybe he’s just realizing he’s not a bachelor anymore who can do whatever he wants. He seems really in love with his wife though, absolutely enamored with her even. It’s probably just nerves and will past before the baby arrives. He loves Jasminder too much to cheat… right?

Raj and his mother Geeta are also another calm family. Their biggest issue is arguing over Raj wanting to quit his job and open his own restaurant. His mother however thinks it’s a stupid idea and he should get to the top of his career first. Raj disagrees and says he’d be happier owning his own restaurant so he could decide the menu as he hates the one at his job. But… some things I’ve noticed is Raj seems to be lost in thought lately and writing in a journal a lot too. I think this job thing is really bugging him, unless it’s something else? He must be really good at keeping it inside if that’s the case. Geeta meanwhile finds comfort in Don after arguing with her son for days on end. Pretty sure that affair started back when Raj’s dad was still alive. They just never stopped after he died. Honestly I think it’s just comfortable for Don at this point.

The Jang’s are pretty happy and normal. Except for Anaya’s affair of course. Anaya has pretty much convinced herself she’s not in the wrong at this point. She blames Baako as she feels he’s grown distant from her since Billie was a little object baby. He just doesn’t seem all that interested in her anymore. So she fell right into Don’s arms and she’s been there ever since. Especially when Baako does daddy/daughter dates with Billie since those usually last all day.

That’s all the tea for now, perhaps there will be more from other families in the future. 👀

Sims In My Game’s Confirmed Sexualities and Genders/Sexes 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

All are decided by me unless stated otherwise.

Matilda Lucero (⭐️!!!Legacy Starter!!!⭐️) - Pansexual Intersex Woman

Bob Pancakes (his sexuality actually showed like this in game) - Bisexual Hetero-Romantic Intersex Male

Don Lothario - Bisexual Female-Leaning Cis Male

Liberty Lee - Lesbian Cis Female

Cassandra Goth - Questioning Nonbinary Person (They/Them ONLY)

Caleb Vatore - Homosexual Cis Male

Lily Feng - Asexual Aromantic Cis Female

Darling Walsh - Heterosexual Nonbinary Person (They/He, mainly They)

The Legacy Starter ⭐️

Let’s finally meet,

Matilda Lucero

Matilda is a Young Adult with the Successful Lineage aspiration, and she will be pursuing the Politics Career. I have the mod that gives sims 5 traits and the more traits mod so all of Matilda’s traits are:

Foodie “These Sims become Happy and have Fun when eating good food, become Uncomfortable when eating bad food, and can Watch Cooking Shows for ideas.”

Well-Balanced (mod) “These Sims are emotionally stable. They are good at handling negative emotions. Their anger and stress decay faster while happiness decays slower.”

Loyal “Loyal sims value their relationships and fully commit to them, whether they are friendship, romance, or even work! They avoid lying and cheating because their loved ones’ trust is very important to them.”

Delightful (mod) “It’s pleasant to spend time with these Sims. They build friendships slightly faster and the Sims around them would get a happy buff!”

Self-Assured “These Sims tend to be Confident.”

Domestic (Aspiration Trait) “Domestic Sims will see their familial relationships grow stronger faster.”

Outfits 👚👖

Everyday

Formal

Active Wear

Sleepwear

Party Wear

Swimsuit

Hot Weather

Cold Weather

*Apologies for low quality photos I took them with my phone*

Anyway, I am missing packs cuz I’m moving from Console to PC (and starting over) so till I get all my stuff back (waiting for sales) this is all I’ve got really.

I hope you like her, I love her albeit I’m biased.

#sims 4 #sims 4 legacy #sims 4 story #legacy gameplay #ts4 legacy #ts4 #lgbt pride #pride

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eau-duresistance · 1 year ago

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Ok fucking update because By Talos This Can’t Be Happening. This has like 22k notes? Uh oh. Anyways some more updates bc this situation IS STILL FUCKING FUNNY

Wanna preface this by saying that I was hella obsessed with the titanic as a kid and still kinda am. Anyways

Several people have mentioned this, and I would like to correct my error: it’s a submersible because a submarine functions both under and above water, submersible doesn’t have weapons and only works under water and is usually a lot smaller. Thanks y’all for letting me know!

A lot of people asked why I thought they resorted to cannibalism so quickly. Well, I’ve read Lord of The Flies, and I also remember how Fyre Festival went, which was a bunch of rich kids who found out they weren’t in villas but in tents and proceeded to literally like. Fucking turn it into the purge. I know this didn’t happen, and They absolutely would not need to eat someone that quickly in the scenario, but also they’re billionaires with no morals and the MOMENT a someone pieces together that they have more oxygen/time/food if they kill and eat someone, y’all know they would start trying to use the controller as a blunt force object

The whole situation is called OceanGate because that is LITERALLY THE NAME OF THR COMPANY THAT BUIKT THE SUB J AM NOT FUCKING JOKING

Also you know the old couple famous for drowning together on the titanic? Yeah. Co-owners of Macy’s and also OceanGate CEO’s wife’s great-great-grandparents

The stepson most known for the Blink182 thing apparently fucking sucks bc he’s harassed, threatened, and stalked several female DJs in the rave scene and has been to prison for armed robbery

Also his mom yelled at him to get off social media during the whole sub thing. Like, a rep for the family said that apparently lol

The French pilot works for RMS Titanic Inc, which is basically the company that bought scavenging rights to the wreck. He helped retrieve a ton of stuff there…and then sold them at private auctions

The Pakistani billionaire apparently did work with extraterrestrial communication? Unsure

Speaking of, yes, his son was 19 and is the most tragic of all of this, but according to credible reports (as far as I have read) it was actually the guy’s wife who was supposed to go but the son REALLY wanted to bc he loved the titanic so the mum gave him her spot

On the note of tragedy, yes, I have heard about the 700+ drowned refugees who died as the Greek coastguard just watched. It’s horrible, and YES, it should have taken a much more prevalent place in the media, especially considering how quickly the world acted to save 5 idiots in a tin can. I am in no way ignoring this situation, however it is exhausting and depressing, and OceanGate makes me laugh.

Speaking of, I confirmed with my friend who speaks Arabic that literally every single fucking person on that sub had an insane cliche name. Stockton Rush sounds like the villain in a Rollercoaster Tycoon cartoon. Hamish Harding is a fucking secret character in Clue. Paul-Henri Nargeolet is such a fuckinf French cliché. Shahzada (billionaire dad) means “son of a king” or “prince”, and Suleman (son) is an alternate spelling of Solomon aka “king”. Like it’s fucking turned around its so goddamn funny

There was an open letter signed by 30+ experts begging people not to go on the Titan

The vast majority in the deep-sea exploration community knew they imploded by like Tuesday

James Cameron (yeah him lol) actually spoke about it bc as an expert himself (he builds his own sub and has been down to Challenger Deep). He said that the fact that both the communications and I think transmitter (name is escaping me) went out at the same time meant that something major happened to the sub, bc they’re separate systems.

When he looked into it, he discovered that the US Navy had detected a big boom at the time the systems went down and kinda out 2+2 together, and then privately emailed the people he knew to let them know

A lot of people have been asking abkht recovering bodies and…there ain’t no bodies. The pressure down there would have been insane, so as soon as there was so much as a hairline fracture, they’d be crushed in less than a second. Like, apparently it happens so fast as it collapses in on itself that it fucking shot the outer shell away like a bullet and then imploded so fast and hard that the water around superheated to about the surface temperature of the sun

This would have happened instantaneously, so they wouldn’t have even known they died. Also, as hank green put it “it’s one of those times where you stop being biology and become physics”

They likely knew that something was wrong bc they dropped all of the weights in an attempt to ascend faster

They may not have even actually gotten close enough to see the wreck

Like, a year ago, the company’s safety guy was like “this is super unsafe” and then they fired him

This is an extremely funny situation because a bunch of billionaires who are directly responsible for things like pollution, capitalism, classism, xenophobia, and much more literally paid a quarter of a million dollars to spend 8 hours in a tin can at the bottom of the ocean, and they had to sign a massive waiver that had “death” 3 times on the first page

James Cameron btw, also thinks this whole thing is stupid and compared it to how the captain of the Titanic ignored warnings and went faster than he knew he should have as he entered an ice field

No, the billionaire families are not paying for all of the rescue efforts. Those are paid by taxes. Hence why so many are so “apathetic” about this and are standing strong on the stance of “eat the rich”.

A few people asked about the “banging”. So a noise similar to “banging” was picked up on sonar detectors that were dropped after the sub went missing. And what was really weird about it was that it happened every 30 minutes, which is a very human measure kf time. It’s also naval procedure to make noise every hour and half hour on the mark if you’re in trouble

However, we know it wasn’t them bc they died on Monday lol. So we don’t know ehat it was and no one is talking about it. And it’s real bc the fucking coast guard said the sounds gave them hope of life

I think it’s ghosts on the titanic, personally

My favourite things about the whole OceanGate disaster, in no particular order

That the vessel was originally named Cyclops II but the CEO renamed it to Titan, so it’s even BETTER than the Titanic

He also called it indestructible

The guy piloting the vessel is an ex-naval captain who has been on several titanic manned trips. But the guy is 77 rn

The billionaire from Pakistan is apparently friends with King Charles. You’d think for someone who’s besties with a guy whose job was literally being born, he’d care more about protecting his bloodline. Instead, he brought his 19 year old with him

Meanwhile, the stepson of one of the other billionaires (I think the British one named Hamish) went to a Blink 182 concert. When questioned about this, he basically went “my family would want me to go to the concert”. Today, minutes after posting about asking for thoughts and prayers, he @‘ed an OF model on Twitter, asking her to sit on his face

Bc it’s part of the safety demo & music track list for the trip, there is a VERY good chance that if there’s still some power left in the sub, it’s playing an instrumental of My Heart Will Go On on loop

Also, the vessel is a submersible bc it doesn’t meet literally any of the safety regulations to be called a submarine. Which the CEO knew, because he’s blatantly said that safety regulations get in the way of progress

The CEO once stated that he thought the future of humanity was not in space, but in the ocean when the surface becomes uninhabitable

Apparently the controller he’s using has REAL bad reviews because the connection always fails

These idiots paid $250k EACH but they had to pack their own lunch. Not even a damn charcuterie board

The pilot’s seat is on the toilet. So whenever someone needs to go, the pilot needs to move

There’s 1 window looking out. That’s it

It’s about the size of a minivan

The sub uses texts (but only to the CEO’s phone) to communicate, as well as StarLink, but they can only access that if they surface

The door literally cannot be opened from inside

There is a decent chance that at least 1 person has been cannibalized (my bet was the pilot since he’s not rich, but bc of the banging sounds, he’s probs not dead, so it may be the CEO)

They’re supposed to run out of oxygen tomorrow (22/06/23) at 7 am est, but tbh, the CO2 scrubber system will probs fail before that

The toilet is a plastic bag

This is only the 3rd time in 3 years the vessel has gone to the Titanic. Every other time, there’s an issue and they gotta turn back within like 4 hours

A lot of major news networks are trying to remain positive, but it’s a HILARIOUS comparison when you go to social media and every single person is like “yeah that shit is built like a cardboard boat, they’re fucked”

The company’s name is literally called OceanGate

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indigo-rants · 6 months ago

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

So my papa (grandpa) is doing alright, the hospital staff are hopeful. He's doing great, I sent him a voice-mail since I couldn't seem to reach him before, he apparently heard it today (good) and was happy to hear from me I guess...

My grandmother was the only person I was able to reach today. Tried calling her to reach papa but she wasn't with him. Convo started off fine with her explaining papa's condition, then devolved as she started asking me about how I've been, like if I'm working and/or still living with my mother (I can't live on my own due to my physical and mental health). I explain I don't work nor will I ever be able to (a fact we've all known since I was like 12) and she starts saying "oh things really have changed since we last talked" or something like that.

Apparently!! I'm not "allowed" to be incapable of working as an adult with scoliosis cause... well she didn't really give a reason except that I'd been "better in the past" which... last time we talked? I was in college. I'm a college drop out, that was my one and only year.

She then immediately segwayd into talking about my mom and how she's "caused the divide between all of us" (her, me, my dad/her son, and anyone else in the family she feels like counting). She talked about how my mom has "brainwashed me" into believing they're terrible people and how she's always been a liar and that she only ever wants money from them and how she still remembers the one, count it ONE, time mom asked her for money and how "she knows it was going to be used on her" (mom asked for her credit card/debit card info ONCE cause we needed help getting a hotel set up, she wouldn't have had to pay the hotel just wanted an active card number and name for the hotel room, mom was planning to pay in cash when we got there, also the hotel stay was due to me having surgery 3 days after we'd get there). It's been legit 10 years since the card info issue... TEN YEARS and this woman is throwing it at us like some gotcha.

She also started all the dissing my mom stuff with a "I don't have time for you guys, I have a husband in the hospital I need to take care of" and its like... okay, that's why I've been calling you? To see how he's doing... why bring up petty shit that 1. Doesn't matter and 2. Is just you listening to your shit ass son instead of the people who LIVED THEIR LIVES ALONE DOING ALL THAT. Like she believes her shitty son who shmooses everyone to get money, attention, free shit (houses, cars, jobs he doesn't deserve, got her to help him drop all the child support he owed/over owed).

Like Jesus christ she really does just want to see the worst in us instead of herself or her "precious son" (the man is in his forties).

Shes holding onto the fact mom asked money from her ONCE against us and swears last time we spoke I "called her every bad name in the book" (to note, last time we talked she bad mouthed my mother and I cried and broke down instantly due to the amount of hate for my MOTHER the parent who has cared for me SINCE BIRTH and the fact I was very unwell mentally, I barely would've managed to say "fuck you" or "shut up" much less any actual rude words directed at her person). She's so convinced that my disposition with her is due to my mom when mom is the only reason they've had ANY contact with me, from being able to send me letters, to the fact papa has the ability to "text me" anytime (he has mom's number not mine, but any and every text he sends she shows me).

Also after our little chat (which was maybe 10 minutes mind you) my mom called my birth father. According to her he believes she "coaches me into being disabled" like they apparently believe I'm only this disabled cause she taught me to be??? I was born with scoliosis, have had it my ENTIRE life, I also have a bone degenerative disease (osteoporosis kinda, but mom says she doesn't know if it's that one or a diff one), my bones are literally falling apart slowly. I reached a height of 5'6" and am now 5'3.5" which happened in the span of roughly 10 years (I reached 5'6 after my final back surgery in 2014 and was 5'5 for a while, like til roughly 2021 then I got to the 5'4.5" range til this year being 5'3.5") and yeah that's roughly 3 inches lost.... but it's still slightly concerning. The thing is, they don't know this (assumingly) cause we haven't seen each other since I was 13 or below (13 for father and... well lemme think...I think I was about 12? I can't be too sure, but I know I wasn't a teen)

Also just for the record my birth father in 2013/2014 when I was that age (born 2000) was upset with me for choosing to stay home and go to summer school (he lived across the US from us, we had to drive half way to meet up at this time) and he was so upset with me standing with my decision to spend my first summer away from them (him, step siblings, half sister, and step mom) that he pretended the stress my mom and I were causing him caused him to have a heart attack that put him in the ER (for months he'd talk on the phone with us as if he were weakened from it and was actually in pain). Before you ask, we found out in 2020 that he'd been lying from step mom (well technically ex step mom, they separated in like 2015/2016 so yeah) she was confused when mom mentioned the heart attack and told her "no he didn't have anything going on then" he told his ex wife and 14ish yr old child that WE had caused him to have a heart attack that caused him to be in the hospital's care for a while (currently my memory of that year is rather blank, which is "fun"). And then later on when we were in and out the hospital discussing another scoliosis surgery (the final one) we had called him every appointment, he discussed what was happening with the doctors DIRECTLY, but told his mother when asked "I don't know what she's talking about, I haven't been told about any surgeries".

And they wonder why I haven't talked with or visited either of them in 10 years....

#rant post #vent #rant #personal #vent blog #vent post #tw swearing #tw emotional abuse #fuck them

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davidshawnsown · 6 months ago

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USA BASEBALL RPF (MODERN SETTING) 2 - Campaigns in the Ukraine (Chapter 4b)

CAMP LASORDA TRAINING RANGE

Cary, North Carolina

1201H EST

"Please introduce yourselves," Captain Frazier stated to the three individuals who were with 1LT Realmuto and SSG Schwarber and were observing the company-wide tactial combat exercise that morning.

"Actually 5 of us here, but I'm not from the 2017 contingent. Name's Corporal Kody Clemens, and I'm from 1st Battalion 94th Detroit. And one of us may be also the one responding to the email lately."

"And that's from Major General Tony Reagins, sir, if you would remember," 1SGT Gose said.

"I know, sir."

"Why you're here?" asked Todd.

"Dad served with the national contingent with the 78th Brigade in 2006. He sent me there after knowing that Major General Reagins wants volunteers from all the regiments of the 169th Corps in the brigade's 1st Battalion given the ongoing Ukrainian situation as well as to help boster its ranks for future deployments abroad."

"Roger Clemens you may say?"

"Yes sir. Sent me a letter that he wrote for all of you. Stated that he will return to the brigade one day."

"Rank?"

"Retired a lieutenant colonel, and will be here in an advisory role. Was in a number of regiments of the 169th Corps."

"Speciality?"

"Rifleman/NLAW launcher and a squad deputy leader, can work with other squads when he was in the enlisted. Was a OCS grad in 1988."

"Welcome to A Company Kody, you will be a good member of of one of the platoons of your choice. Your call."

"With the 2nd Platoon I will be assigned, captain."

"Permission granted, I will inform 1LT Bohm that you've chosen his unit at once."

"Thank you, captain Frazier." Then, the young corporal gave the letter to the company commanding officer, and he read it with reverence.

"That's your father who wrote that letter?" asked CPT Tulowitzki.

"Yes sir."

"So who's with you today?" LTC Fenster asked.

Kody replied, "Let him be the one.. Actually two got the emails from General Reagins and came with to the camp with me. He will be the one first, then I'll ask the other. And also another one was part of 2017 contingent, which means six of us who came with the lads from Philly." And then he asked the one who was with him to get himself introduced.

"First Lieutenant Clayton Kershaw. A Company, 1st Battalion, 83rd Los Angeles (mechanized)."

"You served with the brigade before?" Todd asked the serviceman from Dallas.

"Yes captain, 2005 high schools contingent."

"What year you joined your regiment?"

"2006. Commander then was BG Colleti and was a direct entry specialist. Was reassigned to 1st Battalion's A Company in 2008. Got into OCS 4 years later after the regiment noticed my leadership skills with 2nd squad merited me taking the course to become an officer."

"Specialty?"

"Marksman/sniper, but I also use my sidearm pistol. Can also utlitize MPATS systems like the Javellin and M72 Law. And also, I'm a platoon commander in that company. I've delegated the duty of platoon leader to 1LT Tony Gonsolin upon recieving the email from MG Reagins, and before I left for Cary, had Tony informed in person that he's in charge while I'm away."

"Glad you took the call," 1LT Trevor Story stated. "You joining 8th Platoon?"

"Yes lieutenant Story."

"Welcome, sir, you got the job."

"Thank you sir, will be ready to help your boys."

"SSGT Sonny Gray, 1st Battalion, 1st Cincinnati City. Part of 2017 mobilization contingent under COL Leyland. But when I was being recalled from being a part of that contingent this week I got an email from the 1st Minnesota relating to a personnel transfer to that regiment. I replied accepting the offer and thus was supposed to report to Minneapolis and then to the training battalion in Florida next month."

"With my 1st Battalion?!" replied a shocked SGT Joe Ryan.

"Yes, with your unit. That regiment under COL Baldelli sent a member of the 2nd Battalion operationally deployed with one of their battalions to Cincinnati to serve in my stead."

"So welcome then to the Twin Cities, you are going to like serving with me when we're back to our original regiments. But now you will be under the colors again, Sonny."

"Thanks Joe."

"Original regiment?" MAJ Sogard asked.

"1st Oakland. Got my enlisted papers in 2011 and was moved to 1st Battalion two years later."

"And you did serve in the 78th Brigade before?"

"Yes. 2009 and 2010, with collegiate contingent. With the 1st one that I served when I got the call, it was as part of the overall contingent led by then Major Derek Jeter."

"And before you were in Cincinnati," Todd asked, "did you serve in New York?"

"Yes, A Company 1st Battalion 3rd New York. YOUR unit then, Todd. I still remember meeting you that summer when I was moved there. And you were with two others?"

"Yes, Sonny, now SSGT Tommy Kahnle and 1LT David Robertson who also was with me and the others last year in Japan."

"And you did transfer to Cincinnati after two years?"

"Yes captain."

"So you were a sniper and grenadier no matter where you served?"

"Affirmative, sir."

"1LT Bregman, please welcome him back to 5th platoon," Todd ordered. "I'm sure he has memories of that fall training exercise of 2017, but given that he was a part of that year's contingent he will be taken care of by you and the other officers."

"Thank you Todd," Alex replied. Then, looking at Sonny, he told him, "1LT Brandon Crawford expects to see you with the boys today, Sonny. Welcome to 5th platoon."

"Glad to be back there with the rest, Alex. Tell Brandon and everyone there I'm happy to be reunited with them, sir."

"Thanks staff sergeant. I expect you will be a great asset to the platoon."

Then the next one spoke.

"SGT Jonathan Lucroy, A Company, 1st Battalion 72nd Atlanta."

"Part of 2017 contingent?" Troy asked.

"Yes I was, 1st platoon.. Was a squad commander that year. Called up from 61st Texas."

"So you were with the Atlanta regiment last year?" asked 1SGT Gose.

"Yes, first sergeant."

"Welcome back to the 78th," Todd said. "You will be with Alex and the boys of 5th platoon today under Lieutenant Crawford."

"Got it, cap. Cannot wait to be back with the boys of Crawford's platoon, Todd."

"Birthplace?"

Luc, as his then comrades in Milwaukee called him, stated that he was from Eustis in Florida. He later stated that he was a grenadier for his unit.

"Sergeant First Class Giancarlo Stanton gentlemen," the next man greeted. "Part of 3rd squad of the 2017 contingent. Now a part of the very Yankees of the 3rd NY. Was in Miami when the call came out. No less than regimental colonel of the 93rd, BG Jeter, asked me if I would be fit for COL Boone's regiment in the Big Apple, and I said yes."

"Still remember you sergeant when we first met in 2012," Todd stated. "I was a young 2LT then."

"Same for me in Colorado", Troy added. "Glad you are back with the brigade. I am certain Alex will help you make the transition to being a part of 5th Platoon."

"Thanks for the welcome," he replied. "I'm ready to be back with the boys I trained with."

1SGT Gose, upon welcoming Stanton back to the 1st Battalion's A Company, told him, "You will surely be fit for your duty to the nation. You gonna call those from your battalion who are graduates of the brigade's training program to come here to Cary?"

"Sure do sergeant, as my current regimental commander was a graduate of the program".

"I'm sure you will do just that."

Then the second of those other two who responded to MG Reagins stepped up.

"SSGT Adam Ottavino, gentlemen."

"Regiment previously assigned?" asked 1LT Austin.

"1st Boston. Already accepted a transfer offer from the 62nd New York Light Infantry."

"Adam, you previously served with me in the 3rd NY before?" Stanton asked.

The staff sergeant replied, "Yes I was."

"And the same in Colorado?" added Tulo.

"Yes captain."

"Pretty much the same," said 1LT Story. "The people of Denver cherished your days here with the 93rd Colorado. And, by the way Kyle, you served with that staff sergeant over in Boston?"

"Yes I did serve with him in the 1st Battalion 1st Boston under COL Alex Cora."

"Welcome to A Company", Todd said. "It's a pleasure having you around this time. So you're planning to reunite with Trevor with his platoon?"

"Yes, captain," Adam replied. "Have to be together with one of my fellow officers."

"Accepted. 8th Platoon welcomes you staff sergeant. 1LT Story will be your platoon leader at this time."

"Thanks Captain."

"Speciality?"

"Marksman/NLAW launcher. Can also use a MANPAD for air defense."

"You're gonna make it big here, Ottavino."

"That's all that came here," Corporal Kody stated. "I know that these guys who were with me came here with one purpose in mind. They came to Camp Lasorda determined to be ready to answer the country's call and prepare to come to the aid of our allies abroad in due time. Officers, I hope these new arrivals will be part of the boost needed for 1st Battalion's A Company to be combat ready in the weeks to come, these new servicemen will not be the last of those who will be coming here."

"Indeed more of them will be coming," replied 1LT Tulowitzki. "I expect more responses to come from that email."

In the meantime BG Randolph had called up the other assigned officers of the 2017 contingent: MAJ Alan Trammell, now a retired LTC from the 895th Detroit and MAJ Tino Martinez, a 1LT then with the 1988 national mobilization contingent. Alan would be recalled back in an advisory role with Tino returning as part of brigade staff. They told him they will be in Cary that week.

B COMPANY MESS

Camp Lasorda, Cary, NC

1430h EST

Every member of B Company 1st Battalion 78th Brigade's leadership staff as well as the rest of the companies was given a copy of the letter from the brigade commander confirming the first members of C Company, that all-women's unit, that will be beginning mobilization work this week in Cary town. They are as always to be stationed as part of 1st Battalion and will be ready to serve with the rest of that formation. 1LT Lahners was confirmed its CO with 1LT Underwood as XO, both women having arrived there in Cary last night, told BG Maxwell earlier to 1LT Fowler. MSGT Gianelloni was to be given her permanent appointment as company first sergeant, and she just arrived in Cary the night before as well. The 2021 contingent was to be the basis of company command and its 1st platoon with the 2019 contingent being 2nd Platoon of the same company. 3rd and 4th Platoons respectively would be from elements of the 2018 and 2017 contingents. Veteran officers and NCOs who served in the past would be assigned to the battalion proper and the company if needed. As in the rest of the 1st Battalion it is a Bradley battalion and thus its drivers and crews are expected to be a mix of men and women, the latter forming the majority.

The full roster of the 2021 contingent by now set to be activated was:

1LT Lahners, company CO

1LT Underwood, company XO

1LT Sementelli, company adjutant

1LT Benites

1LT Greenwood, 1st Platoon commander

1LT Kimbrell

1LT Hugo, 1st Platoon XO

2LT Gortarez

2LT Jorge, 1st Platoon adjutant

2LT Ryan

2LT Maston

MSGT Gianelloni, company first sergeant

SFC Meidlinger, 1st platoon sergeant

SSGT Baum

SSGT Reynolds

SGT Martinez

SGT Lansdell

SGT Jennings

SGT Albayati

SGT Kaplan

CPL Velez

CPL McFadden

CPL Picardo

CPL Jennings

CPL Berger

CPL Johnson

CPL Fonesca

PFC Aldrich

PFC Benach

PFC Schaber

PFC Sneddon

PFC Coria

PFC Calvet

The 2019 contingent, also being activated, was as follows:

1LT Hay, 2nd Platoon CO

1LT Schaber

2LT Paulovich

2LT Tsujikawa

SSGT Bazzano, 2nd Platoon Sergeant

SSGT Hanscom

SSGT Durham

SGT Schroeder

SGT Womack

SGT Cobb

CPL Gibbs

CPL Zimmerman

CPL Haberstich

CPL Blunt

SPC Hamilton

PFC Schutte

The 2018 contingent also being activated - per an addition to the letter - would be composed of:

1LT Diaz

1LT Corrella

1LT Baca

SSGT Cobb

SSGT Baltzell

SGT Reynolds

SGT Borders

SGT Piagno

SGT Sneddon

SGT Curtis

CPL Diaz

CPL Christie

CPL Purser Collins

CPL Estocado

MAJ Alex Oglesby would be reassigned to 1st Battalion as part of its staff while the roles of the rest of the command officers of the 2019 and 2021 contingents would come later. The 2017 and 2016 contingents would later be announced as the basis of the company's 3rd platoon.

"Is that all that will come here?" Asked 1LT Fowler. Captain Arrietta said yes, stating that they will be the first to arrive to form C Company and more will be arriving there.

The captain knew that it would be a matter of time before C Company would be activated, and soon the rest of 1st Battalion will be formed up from cadre status while the 2nd Battalion is being activated. Also he added that there would be more slated to arrive to reinforce the unit and they would be undergoing refresher training.

Then SSGT Reynol Mendoza arrived alongside 1LT Kylee Lahners - who would be potenially promoted to being a captain. Part of the women's mobilization units of the years before, she was appointed C Company's new CO and had began to tour Camp Lasorda as part of her preparations for the refresher course before the company would be activated. Reynol, part of the 2021 mobilization team, had to be recalled as part of company staff.

"Afternoon gentlemen," she said, as B Company staff stood at attention.

"Welcome back, Kylee," Jake responded. "And hello, sir, and welcome to Camp Lasorda."

"It's a pleasure, captain," Reynol responded. The two were among the first to be acquainted - once more - to their surroundings in Camp Lasorda alongside those other officers and NCOs who arrived to the camp that week as part of the mobilization process already ongoing. They are by now getting set to prepare to answer the nation's call to service at any cost.

"What brings you here to B Company mess?" 1LT Brian Barden asked.

Kylee responded, "I'm here because I'm set to formally begin taking over command of C Company in days and to prepare for its active duty tour. I and the many women who were trained here are now being asked to return to fill its ranks by now."

"Captain," Reynol added, as one of those who are assigned to the women's contingents, it has been a great duty to help these ladies. Now that the call for mobilization is upon us, I thank the 78th Brigade command for trusting us to help the women be ready for combat operations in the future possibly in Eastern Europe."

Major Gall then suprised them with word from the battalion. Come their Ukrainian deployment he would be promoted LTC possibly if the brigade would be OK with, because his long time leadership skills as part of territorial companies and battalions in the USA and his reassignment in 2013 as part of 46th Command's HQ have been noticed by LTG Gaski who is looking for a potential successor to him he may be starting to be training to. However he would be assigned to either Kyiv to study in the National Defense University, not at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, if the deployment to Ukraine may proceed, or to Bulgaria at the Rakovsky Command and GS Academy, or to the UK's Joint Services Command and Staff College. Thus he may miss more time with the rest of his men from 2008 in preparation for command positions.

"You're now a major?" Asked Kylee.

"Yes I am. Preparing to be ready for my first full command duty in the future. Right now, I may be set to leave B Company to join 1st Battalion staff," he replied.

"I cannot believe you're leaving Bravo Company," Jake added.

"I'm sure to miss you guys. But I will never forget those days wherein I trained to fight with this outfit," Gall replied.

"Will cherish those damn days in Beijing, major," added 1LT Fowler. "But never forget that all of us have an oath to defend this nation from her external and internal enemies. Remember always that no matter where you go, the memories of your time in Cary will help you be ready to go to greater heights. You will always carry in your uniform your brigade insignia as a reminder of your duty to help defend this nation no matter what the cost, for one day you may be appointed to lead this outfit and soon be at the helm of the legendary 46th."

"Same as well," added 1LT Strasburg. "No matter what may happen, the Beijing Boys will always remember you being a part of that group. Remember always, you have a country to represent and help defend no matter where you may go."

"Good luck Major Gall," Kylee said. "Your battalion and company will miss you for now but know that you will always be a soldier of this nation and a part of the legendary 46th Command and the great 78th Brigade Combat Team. Don't you always forget your calling."

"Same for me here," added SSGT Mendoza.

"Add my greetings, added SFC LaPorta. "I am damn proud of how you grown since we deployed. I wish you the best."

Gall replies, "Thanks everyone. I have made it so far to this point thanks to all of you. My departure has not yet been set, and I don't know where I can study my courses, but I will always keep you in my thoughts while I'm away."

"Major," CPT Arrieta informed him, "we have a word first. D Company is being activated under 1st Battalion in weeks."

"Has Battalion command been informed?"

"Yes but no final roster for its 1st Platoon. We will find out who will be CO, adjutant and Company 1st Sgt in days, but we have a company XO: 1LT Travis Swaggerty."

"Who's that captain?"

"Part of 2017 national collegiate mobilization unit. He's from the 82nd Pittsburgh and has been informed yesterday that he's being recalled."

"Noted. All of us in the battalion will make sure he will feel welcomed back by this week."

"Thanks Major Gall. I am sure he and others will be ready to prepare to answer the nation's call and the pleas of the Ukrainian people and those of Eastern Europe."

"He will better be," Jake replied. "The brigade needs him to take his place now."

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