#after releasing her she went right back to pollinating!

[woodlnds]

she is beauty, she is grace; she has a gorgeous face ~

dolichovespula maculata (bald-faced hornet) that took a moment to groom herself as I was taking pictures. <3

[samyazaz]

This is a little more specific than, y'know, a general AU setting, but if you're feeling it, PQT, Gravity AU, and, honestly any trope, but it's them, so perhaps Only One Bed?

Ewhoza glances back at the huddled group of them, one brow lifted like he’s expecting something, before he presses his palm flat to the scanner set into the wall. Its light glows a moment, just long enough for Quil to tip her head and wonder if maybe it wasn’t expectation at all, maybe he’s just wanting to show off, when they all know that Quil could have released the pneumatics with a thought. He doesn’t even bother to remind her to wipe the access records so Security won’t know they’ve been here, but she thinks it’s more out of arrogance than any sort of confidence in her, and so she’s frowning, exasperated, when the locks release with a hiss, and the doors slide open.

It’s the light that strikes her first, the warm, verdant brightness of it, and the frown falls off of her face as she gives a swift gasp, and then loses her breath all at once as her lungs flood with air so heavy with scents that her mind reels at the onslaught, even as the part of her that’s the ship sorts and filters and categorizes, tells her Loam, and Herbs, and Wet earth, and Greenery.

She stumbles forward, heedless for once of the unceasing analytic stream of thoughts flowing through her mind, only distantly aware of the others doing the same around her, looking just as stunned as she feels.

She knew there were hydroponic gardens on upsilon level, of course. She knows everything about the ship. Almost everything. Everything they didn’t deem it to dangerous for her to know, like her psych evals, her past, her name. Who she was, before they made her Tranquility.

She knew there were hydroponic gardens on upsilon level, knew they produce enough food to provide for the caloric needs of every person on board with enough to spare for seed and for compost, she knew how much of their water stores they required and the precise wattage that the lights drew, and somehow it had never occurred to her to put these pieces together and imagine this, a vast, endless expanse of hydroponics, stacked up to the ceiling and stretching out as far as the eye can see, farther, so everywhere she looks, all she sees is light and green.

“How...” she breathes, stumbling forward, down one of the rows left between the structures. “How...” She flinches, then laughs breathlessly, when the reaching leaves of a tomato plant brush her cheek.

Behind her, Ewhoza’s voice is dry, a little mocking. “How did you think we’ve been feeding all these people, all these years?”

She shakes her head, because that’s not what she meant. “I know, but... how did I not realize?” Somewhere on the edge of her awareness there’s a humming noise, like the machines she spent her life wired into, like the thrum of the ship around them. Like the rushing in her ears after they released her and brought her back, in the ill, disoriented moment before the world went black around her. She reaches for her sensor data, but she — the ship — is fine. She fights the urge to sit and stick her head between her knees. Her stomach isn’t twisted like it had been before. Her skin isn’t hot. Her vision seems normal, if half-dazzled by the brilliance of the green all around her.

A hand touches her shoulder, pulling her back to herself, to the herself that is contained within her skin. Phi is at her side, looking at her with a concerned, unvoiced question written plain on her face. Terry’s just beside her, looking no less alarmed. Beyond them, Ewhoza is saying, “—no one ever stops to consider how we do all that we do for everyone, do they?” and his tone is at odds with his words, is a little sad and a little lost, instead of the righteous belligerence she might have expected of him. It startles her to realize that he was answering her, in a fashion, though her question hadn’t been meant for him, hadn’t been meant for anyone, really, except perhaps herself.

“I’m all right,” she says to Phi and to Terry, quietly.

Phi nods once, taking her at her word but keeping a light touch on her shoulder all the same. Terry looks only half-reassured, but he moves a step away, his hand on Phi’s elbow drawing her with him, and hers on Quil drawing Quil along after as well. “Let’s go see what we can find that’s ripe. Do you think you can eat, Quil?”

“I can try,” she says, unhelpfully, because she can know in a fraction of a fraction of a second if a single lightbulb ten levels down and halfway across the ship has burnt out, but she still doesn’t understand how her own body works half the time.

It’s enough for them all the same, though, because they guide her off, deeper into the field of greenery, and each row that they walk down smells different than the last, this one sharp and fresh and pungent, the next floral and sweet. They pluck a berry here, a leaf there, and they pass the best of each to her and watch her sidelong when she eats them dutifully, smiling with happiness and enjoyment, at the bursts of flavor upon her tongue and at the company and at the feeling like they’ve gotten themselves lost in the dense jungle of the hydroponic towers, even though it’s not possible for her to really ever be.

The humming starts again and she stops still. Phi and Terry turn back to her, looking concerned once more, but she shakes her head, says, “I’m all right, I just— Do you hear that?”

Phi tips her head like she’s puzzled, or like she’s listening for it too, and Terry looks around, uncertain but searching, but it fades and then comes again, louder, and Quil does feel like her legs are going to collapse underneath her but she doesn’t feel like she did when she lost consciousness and she doesn’t understand why.

“Oh,” Terry says, his expression clearing, and the humming stops just as it’s reached its loudest. “Is that what you heard? Here, hold still.” He reaches towards her. His fingers brush, almost tickling, against the side of her neck, and the sound begins again, and fades sharply. “It’s all right. It was a bee, I think. It must be a bee. They’re pollinators, aren’t they?”

“A bee?” She whirls in the direction the sound vanished, searching the green all around them. “Where?”

“It’s all right,” Terry says again. “It’s flown off now.”

“Oh,” Quil gasps, and her legs are going to give out on her, they are, but they can’t, not now, not when she needs them. “Where?”

She takes off in the direction the sound had disappeared, pushing through the narrow spaces between structures that had never ben meant to be pathways, until another humming noise darts past her and this time she’s able to spot it, to track it, a small golden shape flitting amongst all that green.

She follows it until it’s joined by another, by a third, and her heart is pounding and she can scarcely breathe. She pushes through row after row of hydroponics, until all at once the space opens up before her and there’s a gap, just big enough to make space for a series of narrow, sleek towers, featureless but for the narrow, slitted openings at regular intervals through which more bees are coming and going, dozens of them, hundreds. Thousands.

She stops still, abruptly enough that Phi and Terry behind her nearly crash into her. They catch themselves and then they stand there, all three of them breathing hard. Phi and Terry eye the hives, a little, but mostly they’re watching Quil, but Quil can’t look away.

“I forgot,” she breathes, and her voice cracks, and then breaks. “How could I forget? How—“ Her eyes burn. She doesn’t remember what it means until the tears drip hot down her cheeks. “How could they take this from me?”

Phi looks back and forth between her and the hives, and understanding downs in her eyes, but it’s Terry who says it, his voice so tight with upset that it quivers like a plucked string: “In your psych eval vids. You said you worked in the horticulture division, before.”

“I thought it just meant plants. I thought it meant working the gardens. I didn’t think—” Her voice breaks, goes sharp all around the edges like glass, and she shakes with fury. “They made sure I didn’t. That I couldn’t. Didn’t they?”

Neither of them answer her right away, but the glance they exchange, the bleak looks on their faces, is answer enough.

Quil takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of herbs and plants and earth, with the new, heady smell of the honey in the hives. It should feel familiar, shouldn’t it? It should feel like coming home. and it does, but somehow it doesn’t stir any memories at all. Her mind reaches for them, expecting them to be there, as though it’s done so a hundred thousand times before. But all she comes up with is black emptiness.

She folds her legs underneath her without being aware of deciding to move, sits on the floor without looking away from the hives and watches the bees come and go. Terry and Phi sit beside her, quiet, letting her watch but staying with her all the same.

After a while, a bee flies over to her, lands on her knee and climbs across it, little antennae waving like it’s expecting to find nectar. It flies away after a moment, and she thinks it must have been disappointed to find only the fabric of her clothing instead. But a moment after that, two bees fly back to her, and before they’ve left, a third joins them.

Her eyes burn again, and tears fall down her cheeks, and she knows she must be broken, knows Security must have broken her, because how can she mourn for something she doesn’t even remember? How can she feel such grief and such joy, when she has no memory of ever seeing a bee before this day?

Occasionally, distantly, she’s aware of the others making their way through the rows of plants as well, the rustle of leaves and a far-off shout of excitement, quickly muffled. At some point, the plants shift and sigh closer by, and footsteps sound quietly on the floor, and there’s a low murmur of conversation exchanged with Terry and Phi, but nobody addresses her directly or indicates they need her attention, and so she doesn’t look away from her enraptured study of the bee crawling its way across her knuckles.

Later, there are louder steps, heavier, and the sharp huff of a breath, and then Ewhoza’s voice, too near, and edged with impatience as he says, “There you are. What— Oh. What’s she doing?”

“Leave her be,” Phi says placidly.

“We can’t stay. People will be along, and if they see you— if they see her—”

“No.” Quil wrenches her attention away because this, now, demands it. She turns to fix Ewhoza with an unyielding look. “I’m not leaving.”

He returns her look with an arch one of his own, asks, “Ever?” in sarcastic tones. “That’s a fine plan. Stars, why did I even risk my neck for you if you’re just going to throw it all away—“

She unbends, just a little, says, “Not yet.”

This time, the look he sends her is hard, calcified with frustration. “How long?”

She gestures uselessly. The bee keeps its place, and doesn’t fly away, despite her disturbance. “I don’t know.”

“You need to sleep. If you push yourself and end up back in the infirmary again—“

“I’ll sleep,” she promises.

He looks little assuaged. “You need to sleep soon.”

Phi shifts beside her and clears her throat, gets her feet beneath her and says to Ewhoza as she stands, “I’ll come back with the rest of you, get some blankets. We’ll keep her safe, until she’s ready to come back.”

Ewhoza’s mouth thins with disapproval. “If someone comes—”

“I’ll know,” Quil says. “Before they even set foot on upsilon level, I’ll know. We’ll leave.” Ewhoza looks skeptical at that, so she says, sharper, angrier, “I don’t wish to be caged again. I’m not a fool. If someone comes, we’ll go.”

He still seems unconvinced, but finally huffs out a breath and rolls his eyes. “It’s your head,” he says at last. “But all of ours as well if something happens to you. Try not to forget about the rest of us, who’d very much like to keep on breathing.” He fixes her with a look, just before he turns away. “If you do get caught, don’t lead them back to the rest of us.”

The implication is so horrifying, so infuriating, that it steals her breath, and by the time she’s recovered it, Ewhoza is gone, and Phi along with him, and she’s shaking with rage.

“As though I would!” she gasps, but there’s only Terry there to hear her, and he just gives her a sidelong glance and a crooked smile.

“We all know you,” he says, reassuring, like that’s all that needs saying. And it settles her, so perhaps he’s not wrong, either.

The lights dim before Phi returns, an artificially diurnal cycle programmed somewhere deep in her memory stores, for the crops that need it in order to thrive, and the air cools around them so that by the time Phi does return, with a few blankets folded up and tucked beneath her arm, Quil’s glad for them as well as for her.

“Are you all right?” Phi asks her straightaway, and drapes a blanket around her shoulders without Quil having to ask for one.

Quil gives her a puzzled glance and grips the blanket’s edges close before her. “Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be, just from sitting here awhile?”

“Not from this.” Phi tips her head back towards the direction she arrived from. “From him.”

She means Ewhoza, Quil realizes. “Oh,” she says, and blows out a sharp breath and turns abruptly back to face the hives, though the activity there has died down, with the simulated evening. “Yes. Of course.”

Phi doesn’t react for a moment, like she’s waiting for something more. Then she laughs a little, softly, and shakes the other blanket out. “He wasn’t wrong about needing to sleep, at least. There’s not a lot of room, but we’ll make do. Just say, when you’re ready.”

She’s being overly generous. there’s hardly enough space between the hives and the hydroponics for the three of them to sit, much less for lying down and sleeping. But even with the bees bedding down for the night, she doesn’t want to leave them, can’t bring herself to, not yet.

“Make do how?” she asks, because they promised to keep her safe and she knows that even though they must be tired themselves, they won’t sleep until she does. Maybe not even then, but certainly not before.

Phi answers the question with a smile and nudges at Terry’s hip with the toe of her shoe. He gets to his feet and offers a hand to Quil, and so there’s nothing for her to do but take it, and let herself be pulled up as well.

Phi lays the other blanket out, and even folded in half to make it narrow, it barely fits. Terry sits first, and offers Quil his hand again, and she gives him a bemused frown but takes it once more, lets him draw her back down.

As he does so, he stretches out along the blanket, keeps drawing her down even once she’s sitting until she does the same, her pulse spiking too fast. Phi shakes the last blanket out over them both, then lies down as well, behind Terry with her arm stretched over him to lace with his where it’s curved around Quil’s arm.

Oh, Quil thinks, and her throat goes tight, but she doesn’t say a word.

Phi loosens her hand enough to brush the backs of her fingers over Quil’s shoulder. “All right?”

She nods wordlessly, trusts them to see it, or to feel it.

“Comfortable enough?”

She could laugh, but she just nods again. Every part of her is overly aware of them behind her, around her, and she thinks that this was pointless because she’s never going to be able to sleep, not like this, not with her heart in her throat and her pulse a drumbeat in her ears.

She’s wrong, though. She feels like it’s only moments, at most, before the gentle hum of the bees in their bed and the close warmth of Terry and Phi around her in their own lull her off, and the dimness of the space around them fades to the true black of sleep.

[burning-clutch]

A Garden Variety Ghost

Category: Gen,

Pairings: Jack/Maddie        

Author: @burning-clutch (Team Ghost)

Characters:  Danny, Jazz Maddie, Jack 

Warnings: Mentions of drugs, and drug like effects           

-.-.-.-.-.-

 Ding Dong!

 The doorbell ringing in the Fenton household was always an event for many different reasons. One main one being that Jack Fenton was like an overly excitable guard dog that could actually open doors to launch out into the streets at the wayward delivery personnel. So when a hapless U-ship worker came with a collection of boxes he was met with the Fenton Foamer and a number of prolific apologies from Maddie.

 “So what did you order?” Jazz asked from her spot at the kitchen table, looking up from her book only briefly to eye the cardboard package hoping to discern something from its inconspicuous form.

 Maddie placed the box on the table in front of Jazz while Jack bounced excitedly beside her. “We were checking old references in my old Fenton-Nightingale book and we found a few things detailed we wanted to try out!” he boomed excitedly giving a giddy chuckle as Maddie opened the box.

 “Okay… and that means what for us exactly? Should I stay at a friend's for a week?” Jazz asked nervously peering into the box only to frown when she saw nothing but packets of cushioning.  

 “No no. It’s fine.” Maddie said with a wave of her hand pulling out the air cushions to get to the prize. “We’re just looking into the details of ghost plants.”

 “Yeah! There were a few in here that said they did stuff to ghosts! And the main one was blood blossoms, but they’re practically extinct, and we weren’t able to get those, but we got all these other ones to experiment with! Now we just gotta catch a ghost and shove them onto it!” Jack said, pulling out a small package of seeds.

 “As soon as the plants grow,” Maddie added with a laugh. “I suppose gardening can be fun too,” she mused. “Come on hun, let’s set up a Fenton Grow-op”

 “You know how that sounds right?” Jazz sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Seriously it sounds like you guys are getting into illegal ghost drugs or something…”

 The Fenton parents exchanged a look before shrugging. “Well if it only affects ghosts it’ll be fine.” Maddie waved off flippantly.

 “Yeah Jazzy! It’ll give us a good insight into how they think then! If they think at all!” Jack added, his grin threatening to split his face.

 “So you’re going to see if ghosts can trip out?” Jazz asked incredulously.

 “For science!” Jack boomed, seeming to disregard his daughter's look of disbelief.

 “Well not just that, we don’t really know the full effects these may or may not have. There are plants that attract, repel hurt and soothe ghosts.” Maddie explained gently taking the seeds that Jack was threatening to take off with. “Come on sweetie, let’s get these planted.” Maddie urged her husband to go down to the lab.

 Jazz sighed before sending off a quick text to Danny, to avoid the lab for the next few weeks as much as possible.

 Of course, that only worked for so long before Danny was told to clean the lab or else his parents would retaliate by taking away his computer for a week... And with the new Doomed update on its way it was a risk, he was willing to take.

 He crept down into the lab cautiously, hovering in the doorway for a moment before making note of the potentially dangerous flora that was innocently hanging out beneath a plexiglass barrier and a bright sun lamp.

 He double checked the mask on his face, a gas mask he had found in the garage, it had Duel Jack Fenton faces on either side of the filters but if it worked he would suffer from the embarrassment of wearing this stupid thing for a few hours.

 If any of those plants were half as potent as the Blood Blossoms were he would be in trouble if even the pollen were to hit his skin… let alone if he were to inhale something like that…

 With a shudder, he took a hesitant step into the preverbal lion’s den. “Why do both Sam and Tuck have to be busy today…” he groaned to himself as he finally landed on the lab’s floor.

 He crinkled up his nose behind the mask and moved along the wall of the lab, always keeping his eyes on the plants as if they were going to come to life any second and attack him. Though in this household you never know…

 When he finally made it to the shelf he pulled down a box of disposable nitrile gloves and snapped on a pair. Next, he reached for a pair of goggles, popping those onto his eyes. "Right," he said aloud to himself, now as protected as he was going to get without opting to wear a hazmat suit, which he hated the feel off on his human skin.

 He stared at the plants across the lab a moment before deciding it would be best to start there first. Deal with the area most in danger then work outward.

 He frowned in concentration as he began to clean the plexiglass. this was going well so far, good… this will work go-

 "Danny boy!" Jack boomed as he entered the lab causing the teen to jolt in surprise. The action caused his arm that was holding the squeegee to be thrown upwards popping the sealed box open and releasing some sort of purple pollen from the container.

 Danny winced seeing that, infinitely thankful for the mask he had on.

 "Hey, you found the Fenton anti Ecto Gas mask!" Jack boomed, pulling the device free with a wide grin. "I've been looking everywhere for this baby! Now we can have taco nights again! Your mother refused to make them, cuz -a what happens at night after… well, you know how it goes'' He chuckled, giving his son a slap on the back in gratitude.

 Danny just stared wide eyed at his father, there were so many reasons why he didn't need to know about his father's nighttime emissions, but moreover, he had just stolen the gasmask! the one thing that was stopping the… the…

 "You're doing great Dann-o Just remember the gear isn't to play around with… Now I gotta show Maddie this babyˋs back!” Jack boomed leaving his glassy eyed son to stare off into the void, a dopey smile crossing his face.

 What was he so worried about again? Danny blinked slowly as he stared down at the purple pollen. Right that… but why? This was relaxing… it was as if everything just melted away into the background. The scent from the pollen was intoxicating…

 Wait… He blinked his eyes rapidly a few times to clear them. "What?" he stared down at the floor again. That had felt incredibly relaxing! and he felt rejuvenated and energized now!

 He resolved then to figure out what plant it was that did that. it was like a ghostly energy drink! Maybe his parents had flubbed up again like with the ecto-dejecto? He smiled and looked towards the first flower that he could suspect the purple pollen came from.

 The flower looked like some sort of purple pinkie sunflower, with a red tinted centre. Carefully Danny lifted the glass and poked the greenish leaves, before poking the centre of the plant. "Hm…." he stared at it blankly for a moment.

 "Nope, nothing…" He mused this flower was a dud it seemed.

 Moving on he found something that looked like a deep purple tulip, with blood red leaves. He found himself enraptured with this one even before he opened the glass. it was beautiful and he couldn't think of anything more lovely….

 He had to have it.. it was… calling him…

 without even thinking he shifted into ghost mode and phased his hand through to pluck the delicate flower from its stem. He stared at it perplexed a moment before stuffing his face into the plant's open petals, breathing deep and savouring its sweet scent.

 He felt a bit like a cat when he was finally snapped out of his bliss and found himself rubbing his face all over the petals sticky bits of pollen now covered him.

 He wrinkled his nose as he pulled off the sap like pollen onto his glove. It wasn't burning or hurting him so that was something at least… Something that Sam had once told him about plants sparked into his mind. Something about plants attracting certain things for pollinators?

 Great, he was reduced to a but brain now… Though it would make sense if these things were probably grown in the ghost zone before having their seeds dispersed through the human realm

 He glared at the remainder of what once was the tulip, a moment vaporizing the flower pulp to ash in revenge for his idiocy before moving on to the next one.

 Curious now, he opened up the next plant in the line of the trays. This one was a large white flower with a lime green innard and as soon as the teen stuck his head in to examine it he recoiled in disgust.

 It smelled awful! "Nope!" he shut the lid in such a hurry on that one.

 Next to that was a ball shaped cluster of flowers that just seemed to make him angry more than anything. He shook his head and quickly moved on from that.

 On and on he went examining the various plants, with varying degrees of nothing or something with such a small change that he couldn't even really decide if it was really the plant or not.

 it was when he came back around to the mushrooms that his parents were growing that things got a little more… Recreational…

 When he opened up the container to poke at a weird curling mushroom it exploded it's white and blue spores at him.

 Danny grinned brightly a second later and found the world looked as if it suddenly had taken on a deeper saturation, and lights had large star trails following them.

 including the ghostly glow that was on his body… That was simply fun to watch. how his fingers curled and flexed, then turned to mist and back to solid again. Why was this so fun? And since when did the lines in the floor turn to water? how did his parents get them to ripple like that?

 Danny poked the floor with a toe and giggled as he can see the soundwaves from the clack, incredibly loud on the floor, ripple out in the pond that became of the metal. The portal to the ghost zone spinning became still the longer Danny stared at it, it was lucid and wondrous and well… trippy.

 Danny hardly noticed when a grumbling Maddie entered the basement lab holding the infernal Gasmask. The last thing she needed right now was her husband's- "Wh-What's...?" She trailed off, blinking in confusion as she stared at Phantom.

 The ghost was logrolling, though staying perfectly still otherwise in the air, all the while staring at the ghost portal.  

 While the huntress's first instinct was to toss a net at the infernal ghost to catch him, she hesitated upon noticing some of the flowers she had been cultivating had been messed with.

 Well, then this was a potential scientific breakthrough that she probably won't get another chance to have… A lucid highly human like, and sapient ghost had taken some of her plants for seemingly recreational purposes….

 “Phantom. Why are you here?” Maddie asked in the most authoritative voice she could muster with the smirk pulling at her lips. the Famed and controversial hero, Phantom. high as a kite and spinning madly at the ghost portal like he was trying to find an end to the endless swirls.

 The ghost startled at her voice stealing his endless spinning to stare at her upside down. The ghost's pupils were glowing brightly, and the iris had grown wide enough to be seen within the glowing orbs.

 "Mom!" he gasped out, mouth falling open in his shock, as he blinked his wide eyes, and clicked his green tinted tongue as if he'd suddenly tasted something utterly foul.

 Maddie raised an eyebrow at the comment. There wouldn't be any way Phantom would or should remember his human life to any capacity… It was most likely a result of whatever plant the creature had gotten into… Still…

 She figured she could use it to her advantage.

 Without disputing or reprimanding the ghost for his claim she simply moved onto more important matters."What on earth did you get into?"

 Phantom stilled at that, he stopped his movements and did his best imitation of a statue, somehow, incredibly, it still had some sense that forced him to keep up a compulsion that made it look like he was breathing.

 "I- um… I," he stammered staring at her with wide wild eyes. "I'm sorry Mom! I wanted to tell you!" He called, his eyes were starting to water now.

 How did she find out?! Did she see him transform? Actually, when did he transform? Why was everything moving? How… How did she…

 Maddie tilted her head watching the ghost curiously. He did remember his mother than to some degree it seems…Was he still around only because he was looking to confess to his family?

 Actually, now that she was able to see him up close… He really looked like a child… She took a couple of steps forward towards the ghost, who sniffed and wiped his face on his sleeve.

 Despite herself, she asked him "Is that the only reason you're still here? because you never got to tell your family you'd died?" What a horrible thought? A child taken and killed, the parents and family left behind not knowing what happened to him.

 “Not exactly… I mean I always wanted to tell you guys... But I just… There were so many ghosts attacking… Then you were saying Phantom was no good… And I tried to be as good as I can!” he sniffed. He was very much not in the right headspace for this to be happening right now…

 Maddie seemed to shift and shimmer stretch and bend. The teen suddenly found himself tunnelling in on the jumpsuit Maddie was wearing. The teal colour that bled into the black accents. The smooth rubberized feel and slight crinkling as she moved and shifted. It squeaks…. He could just barely make out the zipper under her neck tucked into the collar jostling slightly as she breathes. He remembered being held as a kid and staring up at that zipper… she would cradle him on his back and he would stare up at it and…

 “Phantom what-” Maddie never got to finish as the ghost slammed into her. He curled around her. like a dog jumping into her arms. His ghostly tail wrapped around her arm and around her waist, as he looked up at her with bright green eyes, and overly enlarged pupils.

 “I- I’m so sorry mum…” Danny sniffled out before burying his face in her shoulder tightly squeezing her as he sobs.

 Maddie was trapped by the ghost now, unable to move her arms from the hug, or legs without tripping herself up in his tail. She stares incredulously down at the white mop of hair that was just under her nose… so lifelike and soft, like real human hair…

 Though now that she was right up to him like this, she noticed other oddities too. The texture of his suit and the skin that she could see from his face was incredibly detailed. He had freckles even! She could see every individual hair on his head unlike other ghosts that had more of a blanket effect, whispy and fuzzy but not really hair…

 The thing that really drew her eye, however, was the jumpsuit. Or more specifically the clasp at the back of the ghost's collar… An emblazoned F a distinct design that she knew all too well. One she herself helped Jack to design… This was undoubtedly at one time a proper Fenton jumpsuit…

 Which means this child… this child who was no older than Danny, he was probably one of his friends! In a borrowed jumpsuit no less! But if someone had borrowed a suit and got killed in it somehow surely she’d have noticed…

 The ghost shifted allowing her to move and giving her freedom of her one arm. His core seemed to buzz in his chest as he held her ever tightly. “This is .. nice… I … was so worried about how you’d take this all…. I… I was stupid…” he shuddered as he spoke each word coming out with rapid and haggard breaths.

 “It’s fine... “ Maddie offered, though her mind was a million miles west as she pondered over the clasps. She needed answers… Reaching over into the plants she pulled out something that looked like a queen's Ann’s lace but with bright blue flowers.

 She stuffed Phantom's nose in the flower and watched with mild relief as the ghost’s eyelids drooped and closed. She sighed again as his tail loosened up around her and she slumped against her. “Well, at least I know that one works” She mused aloud.

 Not even a second later Phantom sighs deeply and a bright ring flared at his waist, causing Maddie to yelp and drop the ghost on the ground thinking an attack was building.

 Instead, she was mildly perplexed as it continued to wash over Phantom, bathing the ghost in light as he changed. Everywhere the light washed over, the colours of the ghost seemed to invert until it passed over his head.

 “D-Danny?” Maddie whispered out in surprise. She was thinking of all the experiments she could run but now… her mind stalled as she stared down at the prone form of her son. What happened to make him like this? Was it even really her son or was phantom somehow still awake enough to pull a trick like this? Making her see her Danny instead of…

 Instead of Danny Phantom.

 “Oh-Oh God…” Maddie gasped and slid next to her son, scooping him up into her lap.

 When Danny next woke up it was to a bleary bliss that he wasn’t quite too sure what to make of. “Mum?” He mumbled out as he blinked his glassy blue eyes up at her. Why was his head so fuzzy? It was like he was underwater... “You cryin’?” He asked softly before his eyes widened and he jolted. His core fluttering in his chest. Had something hurt her?

 “It’s okay baby, I know you were so scared before but you don’t have to be any longer… I know… I know I’ve made some terrible mistakes against Phantom… against you… but I promise I’ll do what I can to make you feel safe here…” She sniffed and curled her form around his burying her face into his shoulder.

 Danny’s muddied thoughts spun out to a halt as his memories caught up with him. That’s right! She knew! she knew! And apparently accepted him!

 “Y-You have no idea how much that means to me…” He sniffed too, tucking his chin over her shoulder. And squeezing her tightly just as he had only an hour earlier as Phantom. “I love you so much…”

 “I know hun… I love you too… and I promise I’ll make this up to you any way I can.” She responded in kind. Tomorrow she’ll look into the plants that can help to cure her son, but for right now? She would be content to offer the love and comfort they both so dearly craved.

 -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

 Complete

 Word count: 3281

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23457526

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

A regal gyroid adventure

What a wonderful day for gyroid hunting! The crisp air and the cool breeze makes me want to sit by a tree and snuggle up with a cup of tea. I think this is by far my favorite type of weather - slightly cloudy skies with sunlight creeping through and gentle breezes with a slight chill.  

We’ve got some old friends from Rosevine with us - Almie and Pippa! Daisy Jane and Almie were the unlikely pair in high school - as in you wouldn’t think that they were close friends based on their personalities. Almie’s very much an extrovert, one who jumps into things without really thinking it through, someone who’s always looking for excitement and adventure. He tends to get in over his head sometimes but that’s what we love about him. Pippa, on the other hand, is a total introvert, the kind of person who likes to stay in her comfort zone and stick with what works. Although they’re almost total opposites, Almie and Pippa are very close - even more so after what they’ve been through.

There’s also another Medina sibling - Alon - who’s absolutely nothing like his family. While Almie and Daisy Jane are the unlikely duo, Alon and Mae are two sides of the same coin. Let’s just say that if Alon or Mae were here, most of us wouldn’t be having a good time.

This gyroid event is a regal themed one. The designs were a collaborative thing between Daisy Jane, Celinda, and Manda. It’s a mix of baroque, rococo, and vintage with a touch of modern - a totally fresh and unique spin on regal themed furniture. Having Daisy Jane help design gyroid items was the best thing to ever happen at the camp.

Almie’s been meaning to visit the camp for a while and he was going to help Daisy Jane move into the cabin until a family emergency pulled him away at the last minute. It’s been a rough year for the Medinas, especially for Pippa. The trip was kinda spontaneous but Almie felt that his sister really needed an escape - specifically a low-key one that won’t put her health in danger or wear her out. Dropping by in the middle of a gyroid event worked out perfectly - also the regal theme is something that Almie and Pippa totally dig so that makes it even better!

In between gyroid hunting, we took the time to enjoy the weather. Pippa was content lying the grass and collecting little treasures to put in her memory book. It’s good seeing her again after what she’s been through. Daisy Jane and I were kept up to date either by Almie or Abbey, but it’s not the same as being there for Pippa. Almie’s certain that Pippa’s gonna beat the cancer and knowing him and Pippa, I know that no matter what, she won’t go down without a fight.

This year was supposed to be a big year for Pippa. She was gonna practice driving and learn how to use her magic - a trait she and Alon inherited from their dad’s side. It was also the year Pippa wanted to get out of her shell, so she made a list of things she wanted to accomplish on her sixteenth year. While Almie wanted Pippa to be more adventurous and carefree like him, Alon wanted her to consider her future seriously and start climbing her way up to success by training to be a powerful wizard.

So Pippa tagged along with Almie on his little adventures much to Alon’s dismay. Alon’s similar to Mae as they are super ambitious and strive to be the best of the best. They’re good at what they do but sometimes they get arrogant about it to the point where they actively make others feel bad for not being as accomplished or busy as they are. To appease Alon, Pippa agreed to vigorous training, which ended up taking a toll on her physically and mentally. It didn’t help that around the same time Pippa was feeling off, which she initially attributed to being pulled by her brothers.

Eventually it became obvious that something was wrong. Pippa started getting bruises and everyone blamed Alon as the way he was training her was not safe at all. He would shrug off Pippa’s complaints when she had trouble keeping up, so Pippa kept quiet around him. Almie suspected something was wrong but because Pippa didn’t bring any attention to it, he thought it wasn’t a big deal.

A trip to the ER followed by tests at the hospital revealed that Pippa had leukemia. They say that you don’t know who your true friends are until you go through something rough. Almie and Abbey stuck by Pippa’s side, Alon did not. Abbey was the rock, she was always the source of strength for her kids. Almie was the optimist, he was the one who helped everyone get through the days. Alon carried on doing his own thing, seeing Pippa’s illness as an unfortunate setback and was determined to get her back on track after she “got over it”, which shows how much he cares.

For the next few weeks Pippa went through chemo. She was released from the hospital and it seemed like things were slowly going back to normal. Except it wasn’t - not by a long shot. Pippa adjusted to the changes and Almie did his best to help her out. The whole ordeal made them closer in ways that they’d never imagined. 

Much to everyone’s surprise, Almie began to take on more responsibilities by helping Abbey out whenever he can, taking Pippa to the hospital for appointments, and applying to community colleges. He’s still the same old Almie, but more grown up now, as he likes to say.

Around the time Almie was gonna drop by the camp to help Daisy Jane move in, things were looking good for Pippa. She still wasn’t out of the woods yet but as long as she kept up with her meds and appointments and followed safety measures, Pippa was taking care of herself. Then Alon and Mae had to ruin it for her.

Basically, Alon had enough of Pippa “slacking off” and wanted her to resume training. On top of that Mae insisted that Pippa start looking for jobs and wanted to do a mock interview with her. So they both convinced Pippa to take the bus to visit them despite the fact that she shouldn’t take public transportation because she’s immunocompromised. 

So not only Pippa contracted pneumonia, her blood work was also showing concerning signs. Abbey and Almie were furious but Alon and Mae refused to take responsibility. Apparently Mae had a minor cold when she met up with Pippa so she got an earful from her mom - which thankfully Daisy Jane never had to witness but heard secondhand. As much as we want to give Mae the benefit of the doubt, it’s hard to take her side because she was well aware about Pippa and made a really bad call.

Pippa hung on and pulled through after that harrowing experience. There was concern that she was going to relapse, which while it’s not a death sentence, it meant that her future was uncertain. It was a slow and complicated recovery, but she lived.

Almie and Alon haven’t spoken to each other in the months since Pippa’s hospitalization. The two used to have a good relationship but things went sour after Almie dropped out of college. With how manipulative and controlling Alon can be towards Almie, you’d think he was older. Almie’s willing to forgive if Alon admits that he fucked up badly but seeing that he never took Pippa’s health seriously, a reconciliation seems unlikely at the moment.

Right now, Pippa’s slowly getting back on her feet. She’s keeping up with her usual routine of meds and maintenance treatments. Things are still far from normal and she’s nowhere near where she was before the pneumonia but at least she’s getting there. All she can really do is take it one day at a time. While she and her family are optimistic, they’re well aware that while Pippa’s prognosis isn’t exactly poor, there are some unfavorable odds stacked against her.

Pippa later told me that picking gyroids was the most fun she’s had in forever. Turns out that going on a gyroid adventure and visiting the camp were on her list of things to do on her sixteenth year. The list was something she picked up again during her hospitalization as a way to pass the time and give her something to look forward to when she got home. She might not be able to get her driver’s license or go on a rollercoaster, but at least she can cross off gyroids, camping, and going off on an adventure with Almie.

Along with hunting for gyroids, I taught Pippa and Almie how to fish and catch bugs. Almie enjoyed chasing butterflies while Pippa had a great time wading in the ocean and picking up seashells. The good thing about coming in the middle of a gyroid event is that the items that take the longest to craft are out of the way so by now the stuff we have left to make take a couple hours at the most. Pippa was fascinated by the whole process and it looks like there’s talk about Pippa and Daisy Jane designing furniture for a future gyroid event!

On days like this, it’s great to slow down and take your time. As much as I like gyroid events, sometimes it feels a bit stressful, especially at the beginning when you want to get the big stuff out of the way. Later on it’s more chill as there’s not as much pressure to get things done within a time limit. Pippa managed to cross off a lot of things from her list - as well as add a bunch of stuff that will be crossed off later - so overall, it was a good day!

Pippa gave me a copy of her to-do list that’s up to date as of today. It seems like a lot to accomplish in a couple days but I’m sure we can do it! Here’s what she wrote down:

Take a class at Happy Room Academy

Dig up gems at Shovelstrike Quarry

Cross-pollinate flowers

Bake cookies

Take a hike in the forest

Go berry picking

Sail around with Gulliver

Make hats and scarves with the Able sisters

Go stargazing

Attempt latte art

Learn how to play a KK Slider song on guitar

[badlydrawndrawnings]

in my desire on hopefully saving enough money for animal crossing new horizons and getting myself a switch (or switch lite), and with pocket camp new fishing tournament, i decided to make headcanons of sorts for most of the sugar bowl generation characters (and others) playing pocket camp. screw the timeline, and sorry if nothing about animal crossing makes sense

monty

made a nintendo account in case he needs to change phones (which happens after dropping phone in a tank and it breaks; he feels so glad about making said account)

has all the alligator/crocodiles villagers [campers? this isn’t a mainline animal crossing game] and most of the frog/toad villagers (he has to rotate the frogs/toads). will temporary kick one of his villagers out to fulfill a special furniture request from other villagers

makes the campsite look like a maze in one half, and lake/water area in the other half. the only amenity he has is the exotic fountain. 

cabin has variety of villagers who are rotated out on a monthly basis and it’s set up as a movie theater; apollo [an american eagle] has a permanent stay there it’s mostly his fortune cookie that makes up the theater

camper has lots of plants and trees with seating

because he has the money and work is overwhelming, monty elects to get the happy helper plan when it gets introduce. his helper/assistant is jacques [a bird]; jacques isn’t sure if he feels flatter

josephine (and ike)

she fears smartphones on the chance the battery will explode in her face after reading an article of it happening to someone (older cellphones and phones don’t have this concern to her), but the game made her very tempted to get over her fear 

after monty drops his phone she backs out because she now fears she may drop her phone and crack the screen (or get it wet and lose all her  data. monty couldn’t convince her about making an nintendo account). ends of watching her fellow volunteers play the game for a while

ike bites the bullet and buys a smartphone so he and jo can play together. ike names his character avatar jo after josephine. ike also took monty’s word about making an nintendo account

camp terrain eventually becomes beach resort (josephine help ike not buy impulse buys of items needing leaf tickets), which works since their campsite is a transform into boardwalk with rides (they keep the merry-go-round and bouncy cake amenities) and food and games (a bit like lake lachrymose when in-season)

cabin is their grammar library; josephine and ike only allow the more realistic (as they can be) villagers in there. they like taking photos of jo and their villagers posing in their library

their camper is weird. it looks like someone has a lab for making drugs on the second floor, with the first floor mini museum being a front. it’s possible gregor got a hold of the game and they elected to keep it

charles (idk if he’s 100% working with vfd or just well connected to vfd)

gets overwhelm at the fact he has total 100 % control of something and he can do whatever he wants

likes cross pollinating flowers and almost has all the clothing and furniture and all the potted flowers (charles made himself a cross pollinating guide)

buys the birch tree terrain because it’s the only terrain he finds easy on the eyes. the birch tree terrain is only used for the summer and fall; spring he uses the spring garden foreground and middle because he got it during leif’s [a gardener sloth] gardening event and winter he goes uses the default terrain the games gives to player

makes campsite look like an actual camp site he is following the name of the game he usually changes furniture to change campsite layout

cabin looks similar to the lucky smell lumber mill library (he tried to recreate it)

camper is very home-y; living room and kitchen on first floor and bedroom and bathroom on second floor

esme

because she breathes the air of what is in and what is out, her camper, campsite, and cabin changes almost every week (she’s loaded she buys leaf tickets to help fuel her need to stay in)

there is no consistent pattern to be made one minute it’s a ball the next it’s a restaurant and the next it’s the woods with a bonfire

this goes to her character avatar appearance too if it wasn’t her name some would be asking ‘when did i agree to be this player’s friend’

villagers are mostly the hip, elegant, and cool theme ones that’s the only thing anyone can figure out (esme does have a random villager of a different theme depending what’s in and out)

buys the leaf ticket clothing regardless if they’re in or out they’re limited time and she’s not taking any chances if an out item they’re selling will become in in the future (again, she’s loaded)

when the game is consider out, esme doesn’t delete the game in case it becomes in again, which is a frequent thing (she even made an nintendo account to make sure if she did delete the app or has to get a new phone, everything is restore upon re-installation) 

hector

hoards his leaf tickets because he wants to buy a good terrain for his town campsite; he buys the feather weather sky terrain and the old timey town background and middle (he got the 1st anniversary white iron fence it was cheaper)

the town eventually has strong fall/autumn vibes. there’s food stalls (the chocolate banana stall and sno-cone stall from redd’s [a fox] gardening event), trees from maple [a bear cub] fortune cookies, a flower wagon (from kick’s [a skunk] gardening event), a fountain with benches, lamp posts (same event from kick), and lots of leaf piles to run through

has many potted marigolds (he went overboard and made lots of them from kick’s gardening event)

the amenities hector has are the hot air balloon and bronze twins fountain

camper is pretty much similar to charles: living room and kitchen on first floor and bedroom and bathroom on second floor

cabin is a bakery-cafe; hector’s upset he can’t make a mexican restaurant so he goes all out with food/cafe/restaurant items from fortune cookies he got for 5000 bells and the cute confectioner items from pelly’s [she a pelican] gardening event. he even wears the outfit  and never takes it off.

olivia

she buys katrina’s special furniture item the second it shows up for some reason [katrina is a panther fortune teller], but becomes glad when olivia decides what she wants to do with her camp site

loses a lot of her leaf tickets via the fortunate cookies she wants. as such, when it came to buying blathers or celeste [both are owls], olivia decides to save up to get both of them when they both are offer again.

camp is a mixture of a steampunk circus due to bob [a purple cat] and wolfgang [a wolf] fortune cookies. has most of spooky terrain sans the sky and fence (they’re the second reasons she lost a lot of her leaf tickets)

cabin is more steampunk library with astrological furniture due to julian’s [a unicorn] fortune cookies (this is why she’s saving up to buy blathers and celeste they fit the cabin theme more)

likes to wear dresses and skirts on her character avatar you will never see her wear pants unless it’s good

buys the wigs and switches them constantly (olivia wishes you can wear hat accessories over the wigs)

widdershins

widdershins blew all of his leaf tickets on the seafloor terrain and ocean sky (which he saved up for) to make an underwater campsite (there’s a lot of whale pool floaties). the villagers stays until they reach level 20 before getting kick out; the only who has a permanent resident is eventually gaston [a rabbit]

enjoys the fishing tournaments when they offer fishes in tanks and underwater related items; the other tournaments -and in general the events- aren’t his liking but he has a compulsion to complete them anyway (so for instance, he would do the fishing tournament mention in the opening but he isn’t happy about getting knitted items)

also has a compulsion to complete the catalog

cabin is an aquarium with villagers being the ones who are max out there. right side is freshwater fish and left side is ocean fish

camper is rather home-y; the first floor is a bedroom/living/kitchen combo while the second floor is a library with chairs and a sofa to sit on

got lucky with filbert’s [a squirrel] fortune cookies and has all the astronaut clothing; if his character avatar can’t be wearing a diver suit an underwater astronaut will do

r, duchess of winnipeg

r got in on the first day release she heard the hype and wants to see why people are making a fuss about it (she already has an existing nintendo account but doesn’t use it much she’s not an avid video game player)

r didn’t spend leaf tickets when first starting to play. as such she was -and still is- the richest of her friends when it comes to leaf tickets (she brought leaf tickets from time to time; esme is the second richest when it comes to leaf tickets) and eventually in bells (a bellionaire)

r’s cabin, campsite, and camper changes for the seasons. spring is usually a garden or sort or casual party, summer is a japanese festival or an actual campsite, fall/autumn she usually makes a fancy ball (usually due to it corresponding with the game anniversary) or goes out for halloween, and winter it’s...a winter garden. as the game gets fortune cookies and more creative events, r makes a japanese zen garden/japanese restaurant for the winter.

r hates the winter stuff in general (sans new years eve and exceptions) in part because it’s almost all christmas related. jack’s [like jack o lantern] garden event tested r’s limits; she came to the conclusion she can use the food, candelabras, chairs, tables, pumpkins, and potted flowers but that’s it (she almost used the hearth but change her mind)

only buys fortune cookies she likes and avoids the winter ones (again, almost all christmas related). r did however cave in and bought rhonda’s [a rhino] fortune cookie (r actually doesn’t mind the nutcracker). r got what she wanted: the clothing, castle pop-up book, and starry field pop-up book

r laughs at her avatar wearing a ballroom gown with their spoon hands cover in long sleeve gloves

snicket siblings

jacques was the first one to play after r; he got in right a week after it was open to the public (he makes a nintendo account for the same reason as monty). kit and lemony (same reason as monty and jacques) follow suit a week later, and everyone else join from there

out of the three (all of the volunteers really who are playing), lemony took gulliver’s bad as hell revamp the worst (jacques and kit and basically everyone else agree to change their rating) and made a strongly worded review that is one of top negative review of the game (even after lemony edited it an retraction after the pocket camp team revamp gulliver again).

jacques like wearing the fancy full set suits (the anniversary clothing are a second). lemony made attempts to cover his face but after fail attempts and coming to the conclusion he doesn’t like the king tuk mask he gives up. he wears the pumpkin head in october though

kit’s character avatar wears one of the special leaf ticket clothing items (it’s a jacket that cost over 100 leaf tickets) and glasses. she would have gotten a wig but after olivia show her character avatar with the wigs kit didn’t think it was worth it spending leaf tickets

jacques makes his campsite a campsite, kit’s campsite resembles a farm for some reason, and lemony’s campsite sort of looks like an unfinished town

jacques’ cabin looks like a regular cabin (he made a hidden space with a coffin and skeleton). kit’s cabin looks like a car garage that’s up and running with customers. lemony’s cabin looks like a nice writing study/library; he has the vineyard phonograph from brewster’s [a pigeon] gardening event playing in the corner

jacques and kit’s camper are dumping grounds for random furniture. lemony has villager pictures in his camper

they know christmas is popular in japan [no really, it’s not treated as a religious holiday it’s more for fun and romance], so they send requests to the team for more general winter theme furniture or like, other holiday stuff that’s not christmas. they makeshift Hanukkah [Chanukah? i seen this other spelling] menorahs knowing their requests will probably never be fulfill (given they learn that mainline games does the same thing)

olaf

doesn’t play pocket camp. he does however plays animal crossing new leaf. he has more control of what he wants to do in mainline and likes being mayor and the only player/human resident.

is actually pretty good at it. he completed all the four sections of the museum, got all of main street, and he does animal requests and is like, never mean to them. unless he hates the animal then olaf goes all out and does bad things as possible in this game: giving them rotten fruit, hitting them with a net, and making them fall in pitfalls (olaf collect many of them for this purpose), in hopes they tell him they want to move out of town

in fact, the bird jacques is one such animal because the real jacques did something to make olaf angry and olaf had to take it on ac!jacques. kitt [a kanagroo] and olivia [a cat] are on thin ice

has a soft spot for vladmir [a pink bear club] and hazel [a squirrel with a unibrow] for some reason

had to put the keep town beautiful ordinance after getting the golden roses he can’t play every single day at best he plays once or twice a week (olaf’s town has high standards he doesn’t want it a mess)

will only play pocket camp when all the villagers in his town are in

the denouement triplets

they deliberately made their character avatars look identical to one another so if one changes clothing or facial feature, the other two follow suit (they do this to mess with their friends/other players). this becomes a problem if one of them wears a fortune cookie outfit/clothing

even their campsite looks identical; usually it’s the lobby of the hotel denouement done to the best of their abilities. the cabin are also identical, being a hotel room. if someone changes it, the other two follow suit (again, to mess with their friends/other players). this becomes a problem if one of them has furniture from a fortune cookie

the villagers are dress differently they’re not dress the same. they don’t even keep the same villagers in their cabin or campsite. this is the only way to tell the three apart

frank’s camper looks like something from a 1920′s speakeasy, ernest’s camper looks like their home when they were five (there’s balloons set up for a birthday party), and dewey’s camper looks like his secret library (or his attempt at it)

frank crafts a lot of clothing for his villagers and likes dressing them up. he just wishes that all of the clothing is wearable for them (like pants)

ernest dump unwanted bugs to other people’s gardens during the second half of gardening events (claims he’s helping plays finish bonus tasks for first half)

dewey likes to take a lot of photo of him hiding behind furniture or a bigger villager to troll his friends and other players

bertrand

he starts playing as it was intended: being a camp manager running a campsite. however, as the game got updates and add more features, bertrand decides to get creative

his camper first floor looks like a fashion boutique selling clothes for men and women; second floor is what appears to be a miniature town, with a giant crystal hiding behind some tall grass

campsite ends up being a train station. he got the locomotive station and clockwork tower as amenities. the station itself has sellers selling things like magazines, clothes (it’s the concert merch stand from dj kk’s [a dog] gardening event), and flowers (it’s the flower wagon), with lief selling his flowers as the ‘boss’. has a grand elephant statue from a fishing tournament that sort of blocks the clockwork tower.

cabin is bob’s fortunate cookies mix with some marching band items from broccolo’s (a mouse) fortunate cookies (he thought they fit well together)

bertrand is the only one who character avatar has the greatest resemblance to him in real life; clearly it’s the glasses

will switch up his avatar clothing and wear dresses and skirts if bertrand can find a clothing combination his character avatar can pull off

beatrice

everyone is convince she is playing pocket camp but no one knows for sure because she gives hint she is playing but at the same give hints she doesn’t play

to get something out of the way: beatrice is playing pocket camp but her in-game name doesn’t starts with ‘b’  it’s something else entirely

wears the fairy wings (regular and autumn) and alternate between the two with an outfit that fits the wings aesthetic. beatrice knows they’re not dragonfly wings but fairy wings are close enough (she wears the bat friends from time to time, again with an outfit that fits the aesthetic)

has an makeshift play stage for her villagers to sing and play music and a small fountain area with benches at her campsite. she rarely changes it  (see last bullet point), only switching up the musical instruments and fountain and benches

beatrice doesn’t know what to do with her cabin, so she decides to make it a game of musical chairs and every time she visits she takes out a folding chair and leaves until there is only one sitting. she did this with so many villagers beatrice is considering on holding a championship round

like the snicket siblings, beatrice makes a makeshift Hanukkah menorah and place it outside (in which she will destroy her campsite to celebrate). she couldn’t figure out how to put it in her camper, which is a nice cozy apartment with an attic

bonus: ishamel (original schism generation)

has a campsite cult. it becomes a beach cult when the beach resort terrain gets release; he claims it’s a regular beach resort

cabin is a prison housing villagers ishamel finds ugly and he rotates them every month or so. they only appear in his campsite when they get to the level where he can get their furniture request (after that he force feds them snacks to max them out)

the only time he changes campsite and cabin is when august and september rolls around he likes making classrooms and everyone getting an education

when november hits ishmael  goes back to the cult and prison

camper looks very well furnish with many bookcases and chairs it’s a library

i advise those who made it this far to look up animal crossing pocket camp cults and pocket camp jail/prison this was actually a thing

[observantdrifter]

Activity Within a San Jose Party Hub on a Costa Rican Friday Night.

One must enter a spontaneous and impulsive mindset if interested in understanding the habits of a Costa Rican partygoer. Fully submitting to the experience is crucial, especially regarding new experiences. In this case, I was lounging in my home, sedated by inactivity in previous hours. This was disrupted by a call from a close friend of mine. She was in the neighborhood, and invited me to spend a night on the town with her. Naturally I told her to say no more, I’d be with her shortly.

First was beer, always beer. It’s important to lubricate the minds thought processing capability by diluting the consciousness. To be an impartial observer, alcohol is a great help. One liter in, the idea of making the trek about one kilometer west to “La Cali” came about. Neither one of us had any opinion on the matter, although a subliminal curiosity was present. Without much thought at all, we began walking in that direction.

La Cali is a street lined with loud bars and clubs of assorted themes. There’s something for a wide range of socialites. Reggae, Rock, Hip Hop, ect. Any mainstream entertainment seeker would find themselves right at home. For a person like me, a place like this is intolerable without first dissolving any concept of sobriety. 

Such a place, on such a night, attracts large flocks of traditional members of the mass mentality. Immediately after penetrating the anesthetized crowd countless red faces and glazed over eyes inspect you from head to toe, silently evaluating the random individual who has just entered their vicinity. Clouds of low-grade marijuana smoke came from unknown sources. They mingled with clouds of tobacco smoke coming from less clandestine regions. These predominant smells were joined by those of vomit, beer, sweat, and a hint of sewage. The few of those who did not have some sort of psychoactive substance in their system were feeding off the turbulent energy of the environment. This scene was scored by the unsettling loudness consequent to all of the locales’ sound systems operating at maximum capacity. 

The one kilometer walk to this strange place had made us dangerously sober and the smell of ditch weed triggered a craving. Our funds were severely limited, so the low-grade cannabis would have to do. We spent the next 20 minutes or so infiltrating the congregation from multiple angles. Periodically asking suspected stoners for some weed please. We asked multiple watchymans (Costa Rican term given to men who watch parked cars) and each time we were told “Wait right here while I go visit the doctor.” Often they would come back empty handed.

The lack of luck in comparison to the abundance of odor was mildly frustrating. If we were crack users we would be in a much different situation. Every time we would stand on a certain corner to assess potential marijuana users, we would witness countless crackheads coming and going contently. Each time saying hello to what seemed like old friends, handing them a bundle of coins and leaving with a couple loose pebbles of crack in their palms. I figured this out by asking a particularly shabby looking individual who had just exchanged a suspicious hand shake with a redheaded woman on a street corner. I asked, “Just out of pure curiosity, whatcha got there?” He proudly opened his hand and presented to me a small crack rock. “Crack! Hey, you want some? What do you need? I’ll get it for ya!” I kindly declined the offer.

This interaction raised suspicion in the dealer, who was now looking over at us frequently. She was surrounded by men within the next few minutes, all notably interested in our presence. We decided the area, although highly populated, was potentially dangerous and relocated. 

After we left we met a lively individual by the name of Ivo. He was selling lollipops for a living. This did not trouble him however, he was an extremely joyous man. We asked him for some weed please and he said he would go visit the doctor at once. To make sure we wouldn’t leave this business opportunity he left us his jar of lollipops as a certain binding contract. After a few minutes, he returned with a small twisted piece of plastic that contained what resembled a brownish-green pebble that weighed no more than a quarter of a gram. It also contained a balled up rolling paper. He charged us 2,500 colones for said brownish-green pebble. We refused and negotiated the price down to 1,025 colones. 

Now completely sober, we fled to the near by Parque Francia. We sat at a picnic table and I produced the twisted plastic containing the brownish-green pebble and rolling paper. I inspected the surface of the pebble closely, looking for any sort of unwelcome powders or particles. I deemed it OK to smoke and broke the pebble into minuscule crumbs. I rolled the pebble crumbs into a joint, and requested a light from a nearby couple. After introducing flame to flower, I smoked it viciously. My friend took much more modest drags. 

I hadn’t smoked in weeks, and the alcohol had expanded my blood vessels. There was no doubt in my mind that it was coming. The experience. The high achieved by ditch weed is very rough around the edges, negative side effects are often expected. While the effects where gradually overcoming me, I decided it would be best to do something pleasant as soon as possible to keep my mind off of these overwhelming side effects. I had remembered a large Datura plant in the vicinity of the park, and the signature sweet, aromatic smell that they release in the night to attract nocturnal pollinators. In this case the plant attracted a severely uncomfortable drug user. 

When we got to the tree, it had no flowers. I realized the dry season was upon us. As I looked up to the branches in disbelief, somewhere down the road a man began screaming. Threatening to kill something or someone. He was in a vehicle and his piercing screams amplified by the second as he seemingly accelerated towards us. We ran. The responsible man and his vehicle passed through a nearby intersection at fantastic velocity, and as the distance between him and us increased his voice faded. 

The panic did not fade. We continued running back to the park. By the time we got there I was completely overwhelmed. My heartbeat was pounding through my eardrums and I felt as if I was about to collapse. Beads of sweat ran down my forehead and beliefs of unreal dangers and threats bombarded my mind. My friend was not affected as severely as I was. We sat on a curb for several minutes while my debilitating mental state came and went in a series of waves, each diminishing in intensity. 

The effects subsided completely after about 30 minutes, and we walked home where it was warm and safe and abundant in delicious food. There was no more talk of the night that had just occurred. All we knew was that it was a great success in every strange and uncomfortable and sadistic way.  

[letswritefanfiction]

Pokémon Alphabet Challenge: Q is for Quota

A/N: This takes place just after XY070, Beyond the Rainbow!

Circles were a constant bother in drawing until you realize that, with perspective, nothing is ever a perfect circle. So Tracey had long since given up the elusive goal of mastering geometric shapes in favor of mastering perspective.

But the Ledyba he was currently trying to sketch was certainly making the job difficult. It was flitting about erratically as it flew from flower to flower, helpfully pollinating the more lush areas of Professor Oak’s Pokémon habitat, but constantly changing which angle it was at in relation to Tracey’s hidden spot in the bushes.

Still, a decent sketch was coming together. Working at Professor Oak’s was a dream come true. Not only because Professor Oak was his idol, but because of all the Pokémon he was able to sketch every day, all from different regions. He had even recently been able to start making some serious coin on some sketch commissions. And Professor Oak paid him for his assistance, of course, though most of that was through food and lodging.

“Ehem.”

…Speaking of which…

Tracey jolted up from his spot in the bushes, slightly startling the Ledyba as twigs and leaves went flying and Tracey began rambling. “Sorry, Professor! I was feeding the Pokémon, but I got a little distracted by this perfect Ledy—”

“Tracey.”

“Whaa? Oh. It’s you.”

Tracey rapidly calmed down as he realized that it wasn’t his boss coming to scold him for breaking on the job. There were more Pokémon sent to the lab every day and the job of feeding had just gotten to be too much for the old Professor to handle. So most of the weight had fallen squarely on Tracey’s shoulders, and Gary’s if he was available.

And it was Gary who was in front of him now, looking slightly amused at the outburst, a smirk tugging at his lips. But unlike the Gary that Tracey had met when he’d first come to work at the lab, this Gary had kind eyes twinkling along with it.

“Expecting me to confiscate your art, Tracey?” Gary joked. “I’ll give it back to you after class if you promise not to daydream.”

Tracey blushed. “Sorry. I was just about to move onto the Water Pokémon.���

“Nah, actually I’m here to take over your job,” Gary said, heaving the bag full of Water Pokémon chow onto his shoulder. Somehow he managed to do it a lot more gracefully than Tracey had ever managed to. He usually suffered a bit until the bag got down to half. “You’ve got a phone call.”

“A phone call?”

Tracey grabbed the mostly empty bag of Grass Pokémon chow he’d finished up with before getting distracted, and headed for the lab.

He was slightly sweaty by the time he got inside—early fall in southern Kanto was only modicums better than the heat of the summer—and was thankful that his headband kept the worst of it in check. After all, Gary hadn’t told him who was on the phone, so he wasn’t sure if he had someone to impress or not.

When he finally reached the monitor, it turned out that he shouldn’t have worried.

“Ash! Hey! How’s Kalos?”

“Hey, Tracey,” Ash said, his face shaking slightly in the frame. That and the background of the wilderness gave away the fact that he was using a mobile device for this call. Unusual. Tracey hoped that it didn’t signal anything urgent. “Kalos is great! I just got my fifth Gym Badge, so it won’t be long until I’m qualified for the Kalos League!”

“That’s great news, Ash,” Tracey said. “On this side, your Pokémon are doing really well. All are happy and healthy.”

“That’s really great to hear, Tracey,” Ash breathed, sounding oddly relieved. Like his Pokémon could be in any other condition in the Professor’s—not to mention Tracey’s!—care.

There was a brief moment of silence as Tracey expected Ash to continue, but as that was looking continually less likely, he took it upon himself to get to the point. “It looks like it’s starting to get dark there. Any reason why you’re calling so late?”

Ash glanced back at the sky, the screen wobbling more as he did so. It didn’t look like it was sunset yet, but the sky was looking like it was hitting that point of pale blue-gray just before it did. And since the days were still pretty long, Tracey had to bet that Ash and his friends had already had dinner, and that Ash should be preparing for sleep wherever he was.

“Uh, yeah, kinda,” Ash said, his voice higher than usual. “I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”

Tracey knew that’s when Misty would make a comment about how that was rare or dangerous, but insults aside, Tracey did know that that kind of issue was uncommon for Ash. Honestly, he was kind of flattered that Ash was turning to him instead of just laughing it off with Pikachu or whatever it was that he normally did that kept him so carefree. In fact, Pikachu wasn’t anywhere in frame, which was strange. A chill hit Tracey’s stomach as he hoped that nothing had happened to him.

“Well, what’s up?” he asked, trying not to make any assumptions.

“I…” Ash scratched the back of his head, glancing away from the camera for a second. “I just released one of my Pokémon.”

“Oh, Ash…”

A ragged laugh escaped Ash’s lips. “Yeah. Believe it or not, Lapras was the last one that I did that for. Well, except for Charizard, of course.”

“Gosh, Ash, that’s gotta be tough. I wish I had more to say.”

Truthfully, Lapras’s goodbye had been sad, but Ash hadn’t seemed devastated by it. He’d handled it like a pro. This seemed to be hitting him harder, and it left Tracey unprepared.

“Just remember that it’ll be better off for this, okay?”

Ash looked at Tracey skeptically. “How do you know? You never met Goodra?”

Ah, so it was a Goodra. That would have been interesting to study…Focus, Tracey!

“But I know you,” Tracey said firmly. “I saw what pushed you to release Lapras and it was obvious that that was for the best. Why did you leave Goodra?”

“To go back to its friends now that it was strong enough to protect them,” Ash mumbled.

“Exactly,” Tracey said. With anyone else, that kind of logic would have been a shot in the dark, but with Ash, there was no doubt in Tracey’s mind that he would only leave his Pokémon behind with the best of intentions.

“I just wish it wasn’t so hard. Or that I could see how things turn out.”

As Ash was looking at the ground, the bill of his hat completely shielding his face as the grief seemed to strike him anew, Tracey was hit with an idea.

“What if you could?”

Ash’s head shot up. “What? How?”

“Well, not exactly,” Tracey quickly amended. “But why don’t you give a call to your friend Iris? She was the one you were with when Charizard rejoined your team, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah…” Ash affirmed, looking confused as ever.

“She’ll be able to give you a firsthand account of how great Charizard was doing after spending time away,” Tracey explained. “Just to give you some reassurance.”

Ash nodded slowly. “Right…” Then, all at once, he perked up. “Thanks, Tracey! That’s a great idea!”

“No problem, Ash! Now, if you don’t mind, I have a Ledyba sketch to finish before Gary realizes I’m off the phone,” Tracey said slightly conspiratorially. He rarely planned to goof off at work. It just seemed to happen before he realized it…

“What? You didn’t finish the first time around? You’re usually so fast!” Ash exclaimed.

“Yeah, well this Ledyba wouldn’t stop flittering about and pollinating all the trees.”

“You know what Brock told me?” Ash started. “Just feed it a Nanab Berry. That will keep it from flying so irrita—wait, no—errat…so crazily, you know?”

Tracey thought about it for a second, and it checked out. To think, a piece of advice from Ash, when Ash had been the one looking for advice. Who’d have ever thought such a thing could occur?

“Thanks, Ash! Now, don’t forget not to be a strang—”

Tracey cut himself off when he realized that Ash had already said goodbye and hung up. Tracey shook his head with a good-natured smile as he turned off his own monitor. The kid always had been one-track minded…

Being a new Gym Leader was hard. It felt like every day it was being proven why she wasn’t competent in the job. Yeah, she managed to cream the weak, little kids that showed up thinking that just because she was the newest Gym Leader in the region, she would be a pushover. But then stronger Trainers came to her Gym, thinking the exact same thing. But they destroyed her, especially if they had a solid team of Ice Types. God help her if Fairy Types showed up. Her only blessing was that they were rare in Unova.

Every day was hard. Living in the city still sucked, losing sucked, and to top it all off, she felt like the PIA was looming over her, waiting for her to lose too many Battles.

The only thing that was really getting her by was that she knew what it was to be in this city and hate it. That had been when she’d been in school at the academy. At least here the challenge was Pokémon Battling and proving herself.

That she was prepared to do.

And she’d gotten a membership at a rock climbing gym so that Officer Jenny didn’t have to ride her ass about climbing on city buildings this time around.

She was training her Emolga and Excadrill—her only hopes against Fairy Types—when the phone rang. It was irritating to be interrupted, but when she saw Emolga come to a landing, panting heavily into the dirt floor, she realized that maybe it was time for a break anyway.

“Get some water, guys!” she shouted as she tried to remember where the phone was. Luckily she could just follow the ringing.

Finally, she managed to locate it—left on the kitchen counter—and panted into it, “Hello?”

“Iris?”

“Ash?!” Iris went on the hunt again, this time for the monitor to which the cordless phone was attached. Fortunately, that never moved, so it was much easier to locate, she flicked it on, saying “What a surprise!”

“Yeah!” Ash said. “Listen, I’m calling because, well, see, I caught a Goodra—well, it wasn’t a Goodra then, it was a Goomy—but—”

“You caught a Goodra!” Iris gasped, eyes instantly lighting up. “I dream of having a Goodra on my team!”

Iris let herself fangirl for a second before she noticed Ash’s perturbed expression.

“Sorry. Go ahead.”

“So, the thing is, I just had to release it back into the wild,” Ash admitted. “And, well, I was wondering what you thought of Charizard when you first met him? Since he’s a Pokémon that I let go of, you know?”

Well, now it made sense. Why Ash was calling, why he looked particularly disturbed. And, honestly, now that she knew where it was going, she figured that altering the course was the best route for both of their sakes.

“Oh, Ash, I don’t know what to tell you. Yes, Charizard was strong and very impressive when he returned to your team.” Then, in a grumble: “I mean, he would have beaten me and Dragonite, even though you two had spent years apart from each other.”

Ash was looking at her expectantly, as though he was hungry for more affirmation.

“I don’t think you should regret that choice, and if that helps you feel better about Goodra, then great. But I get the feeling you’re looking for emotional support and, uh, I’m not so good at doing that with humans. I think you should talk to Cilan about all this instead. He might be able to give you what you want.”

Ash’s brow furrowed, like he wasn’t completely following her. “But I don’t know what I want.”

Iris shrugged, offering the best she had: “He might give it to you anyway.”

“Fair enough!” Ash exclaimed. “Good luck with everything at the Gym! Not that you need it, I’m sure!”

“Oh, I need it,” Iris said. Her voice was light with good humor, but something deeper in her expression said that she really believed it.

Ash, who had looked like he was about to hang up, stopped and looked at Iris. “Is everything okay at the Gym?”

Iris sighed heavily, feeling her emotions bubble up a bit as she did so. She took another steadying breath to squash them down. “People just keep on coming in with type advantages and sweeping the floor with me. So many Ice Types…”

He seemed to consider her for a moment before he said, “Well, Excadrill is your only Pokémon that isn’t weak to Ice, so maybe focus on strengthening his Steel moves?”

Iris rolled her eyes. What a kid! “I’ve been doing that already, Ash,” Iris said dryly.

Ash didn’t seem to catch on to her derogatory tone and went back to thinking. Don’t hurt yourself, Iris thought to herself. “Maybe you need to train yourself?” Ash finally suggested. “Maybe part of the problem is that you’re still afraid of Ice Types.”

Iris was about to cut him off and say that that was not true when he barreled on forward.

“Ooh! You should talk to Misty! She totally knows what it’s like to have to bring a Gym up and she has Ice Types! She could totally help you! I’ll give you her number!”

Ash proceeded to do just that while a bewildered Iris sat by, copying the number down out of habit, not even knowing if Misty would know who she was upon calling—she, herself, only had any concept of who Misty was through the stories Ash had told including her back when they were traveling together.

“Great!” Ash exclaimed, clearly excited by his assuredly amazing idea. “Now you call Misty and I’ll call Cilan! Bye-a, Iris!”

Iris sat, looking at the numbers she had scrawled on her arm. She sighed and looked back at the video phone.

It was worth a shot.Things had been tense at the Straiton Gym since Cilan’s return. Unfortunately, that had been many months ago, and Cilan was feeling much like a tough pie dough: overworked.

Somehow, after the debacle with Morana, his brothers had decided that he was head Gym Leader. Even though he was the one who wasn’t even technically in the Trainer class. He was a Connoisseur in addition to being a Gym Leader and restaurant co-owner. So shouldn’t they be the ones picking up the slack?

The problem was, it had happened so subtly that Cilan hadn’t even noticed anything was wrong at first, like unknowingly drinking a mixed cocktail: by the time you realize something’s off, it’s already been going on far too long. Chili and Cress would just hand Battles off to him in favor of working at the restaurant. Cilan hadn’t thought anything of that, especially since Chili usually passed it off with the excuse that Cilan needed to make up for his time away. The excuse had seemed suitable at the time, but now it was past its expiration date. Surely, his brothers couldn’t be holding a grudge against him for that long! They had encouraged him to continue on his journey with Ash, after all.

Cilan was currently trying to work his way out of that very situation with Chili, who was insisting he take on a Battle against a girl and her Pignite. Sure, Chili’s Pansear wasn’t strong against a Pignite, but poor Pansage was weak against it! If anything, Chili should have been bothering Cress, who was only doing some simple baking in the kitchen.

Fortunately, the phone began to ring at that very moment, and Cilan called out a brusque, “I’ll get it!” leaving Chili with his Gym Leader responsibilities.

Saved by the bell, Cilan thought.

The strange thing was that the ringing was the sound of the brothers’ personal phone rather than the restaurant phone. That’s why he was rushing to answer it at all, rather than letting the current hostess on duty answer what would assuredly be nothing more than a reservation or question about the menu. Phone calls in the restaurant were completely ordinary. But Iris and Ash weren’t great about using the phone, so it was more frequent that he made outgoing calls than he or his brothers received any.

“Hello, Striaton Restaurant and Pokémon Gym, Cilan speaking.”

“Hi, Cilan!”

“Ash!” Cilan said in surprise. “A call from you is like an extra helping of dessert! What can I do for you?”

Ash quickly caught Cilan up on what had led up to this particular phone call, and Cilan was left perplexed. He was flattered that Iris thought that he was well suited to the task, but he honestly thought that she was selling herself short. Iris had proved herself to have great empathy, not just for Pokémon, but towards Ash and himself many times over. But he supposed that was a train of thought for another day. Right now, his friend, Ash, needed him.

“Well, if you’d like an ex post facto evaluation between you and Charizard, I can give you one,” Cilan offered.

Ash paused. “Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m looking for.”

“The bond between you and Charizard was like that of a fine ganache. Two ingredients long separated, and wonderful on their own, but whisked together into one perfect creation, glossy, seamless, and delicious. And somehow better together.”

Ash’s head had tilted to the side through the explanation, almost falling out of frame. “Huh? What’s a ganash?”

Cilan sighed; he should have known better than to fall into a food-related rambling around Ash. Inevitably, it would either confuse the boy or make him hungry. “Ash, it was clear that you and your Charizard continued to carry a strong bond even in the years you were apart. That is why you were so strong, even upon your first battle reunited. N said the same thing.”

“He did?” Ash said, looking slightly more interested. “What did he say?”

“Oh, I don’t remember exactly.” It had been a while back; it wasn’t as though Cilan could remember word for word. But somehow, the things N said, tended to resonate more with people than just any old passing phrase. “He said he could sense the bond from when you’d been together, and how strong that was, and he could sense the time that you were apart. But that you were, uh…er…Oh! You were the truest of friends.”

Ash seemed to smile at that, perhaps slightly buoyed by Cilan’s words. Cilan sure hoped so.

“Does that make you feel better?”

“Yeah, a little!” Ash said, cheerily. His inflection sounded more enthusiastic than the paltry words that came out of his mouth. Cilan wasn’t sure which to believe; either way, it made him feel as though he hadn’t completed his duty as a friend.

“You know what?” Cilan asked, struck with inspiration. “Didn’t you trade one of your Pokémon to Dawn back when you were traveling with her?”

“Yeah,” Ash responded, confusion clouding his face once again. “Her Ambipom used to belong to me as an Aipom.”

Cilan almost laughed at Ash’s lack of understanding. Why, it was totally obvious! “You should call Dawn and ask about her Ambipom. Because she knew it when you had it and she can tell you how well it’s been doing since she’s had it.”

All at once, Ash’s face lit up to the expression that Cilan had been hoping to see: Ash’s usual tangible excitement. “That is a great idea, Cilan! Thanks!”

“Wait one second! Cilan is getting no thanks around here!”

Cilan turned around in his chair, surprised to see Chili standing behind him, sweat beaded on his forehead and dampening the shorter sections of his hair. “Chili? What happened? Aren’t you supposed to be battling that challenger right now?”

“I lost, okay? Again! I was going to win, but then his Pignite had to go and evolve into an Emboar!”

“Ooh, cool!” Ash said. Cilan cast him a look, but Chili pointedly ignored him.

“So?” Chili started, impatiently tapping his foot. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Uhh…”

“Sounds like it was a great Battle!”

Chili turned to take in Ash for the first time since he had arrived in the room. “Weren’t you listening? It wasn’t a great Battle! We lost!”

“Everyone loses sometimes,” Ash replied easily. “Losing makes you better too!”

Cilan and Chili turned fully to Ash, considering him more seriously now.

“Besides, it must have been a pretty close Battle if Emboar had to evolve to keep it going, right?”

Chili seemed to soften, some tension releasing from his shoulders, and the veins going back into his neck, like a boiling broth cooling down to a simmer. “Yeah, I guess it was pretty close in the end.”

“I bet it was,” Ash said confidently. “You guys are all such great Trainers!”

“Really?” Chili asked. “But the last time you heard about us battling, Cress and I had just almost lost the Gym.”

“But you learned a lot, right?”

By this point, Cilan was sitting back, watching the exchange between Chili and Ash with a light smile beginning to show on his face.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“And you’ve learned a lot since then, right?”

“Yeah…”

“And I bet you learned even from this battle you just had, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess I did,” Chili said, some of that fiery light beginning to return back into his eyes.

Ash pumped a fist and returned Chili’s expression. “So now you’re even more prepared for the next Battle that comes your way!”

“Yeah!” Chili exclaimed, returning to the doorway. “Bye, guys! I need to train!”

“Bye!” Ash said, waving despite the fact that Chili was long-gone.

“Thanks for that pep talk, Ash,” Cilan said after a few moments’ quiet.

“What pep talk?” Ash asked. “We were just talking.”

Cilan smiled. Typical Ash. “Yeah, well, thanks for that.”

“Anytime!” Ash said cheerfully. “I have to go call Dawn now. Bye!”

“Goodbye, Ash.”

Not a moment after the call ended, Cilan heard shouting from the kitchen.

“Cilan!” Cilan reflexively turned at the sound of Cress’s voice. “Chili? Anybody?”

Cilan remembered at just that moment that Cress had been holding down the restaurant all by himself that whole time. He hurriedly got up to help his brother serve. Perhaps they would all be a little more balanced in the days to come.

Over the years, Dawn had learned that losing streaks weren’t as bad for her as they were for others. Typically, they brought her down for a bit, but she always bounced back stronger. She’d begun to realize that back in Sinnoh when she’d manage to win the Wallace Cup—over May of all people!—and it had come back a few times since when she seemed to be losing Contest after Contest.

But Johto had not been treating her well.

May had said it was fantastic there, and Dawn had been quick to believe her, since it was where May had built up a lot of her reputation as the Princess of Hoenn. But Dawn was feeling more than a little chewed up and spit out.

Not that she’d been totally failing. She’d lost the Wallace Cup this time around, but there’d been no need to worry, because the season in Johto hadn’t even technically started yet. So she’d come back from the defeat and charged headlong into the Contest season. So far she had four ribbons. Which wasn’t bad. But the Grand Festival was only weeks away, which was very bad.

To top it all off, the only friend that Dawn had in the whole region was Kenny, who’d also traveled down for the Wallace Cup as well, then deciding to stay for the season. May and all her friends had already done Johto and had circled over to Kanto, only staying in Johto for the duration of the Wallace cup. None of Dawn’s other rivals were there either, not even Ursula, for Mew’s sake!

Nevertheless, Dawn was enjoying the fact that she and Kenny had just so happened to end up at a lot of the same Contests. It was nice to have at least once old friend to decompress with every once in a while.

She was currently on the road to Azalea Town for her penultimate shot at that last ribbon when her new Pokégear began to vibrate. Dawn stopped in her tracks, causing Piplup, who had been trailing behind her and wasn’t able to hear the near-silent vibrations of the device, to run into her legs.

“Oh, sorry, Piplup!” Dawn hastily apologized before answering the call. “Hello?”

“Hi, Dawn! It’s me, Ash!”

A thrill looped around Dawn’s stomach as she searched for a place along the well-trod road to sit. There was a decent-sized rock only a few feet away, and Dawn plopped down on its smooth surface, resting her elbows on her knees. “Hi, Ash!”

Dawn was immediately overcome with the impulse to high-five Ash, but of course she knew there was no way to do that through a phone. Piplup scrambled up onto her shoulder and waved. “Piplup!”

“Oh, Piplup says hi, too!”

“Hey, there, Piplup!”

Dawn expected Pikachu to pop into frame just then, but it seemed like it was just Ash on the other side of the line. But judging from the shadows all around Ash, it was rather late in—Kalos, was it?—so perhaps Pikachu was already asleep. Dawn took that moment to take off her hat to keep her own face from being shadowed in the video camera. “What’s up?”

It had been a while since Dawn had heard from Ash. First of all, the boy just didn’t call a lot in general. He wasn’t even good at keeping in touch with his own mother. But, usually, he seemed better at keeping in contact with the friends who weren’t traveling—like Brock or Misty—as Dawn always was. Even though everyone had mobile devices now, Dawn supposed there was something strange about being called on the road. It was like taking a pit-stop while you were still surrounded by trees and nothingness.

Ash gave a little chuckle. “Heh, it’s a bit of a long story at this point,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

Dawn twisted into a slightly more comfortable position, taking one hand and resting it behind her on the rock. “For you, Ash, I’ve got all day.”

Fortunately, she was ahead of schedule for arriving in Azalea Town, so—despite the time crunch she was on for the Grand Festival—her next Contest wasn’t going anywhere for the moment. Besides, it might take her mind off things.

Nevertheless, Ash recounted the last few calls in the only speed he had—full throttle—going through Goodra and Tracey and Charizard and Iris and Cilan, leading all the way to Ambipom and Dawn.

“Well, Ash, you don’t even need me for this!” Dawn exclaimed with a giggle as soon as Ash had finished blurting everything out. “You had Buizel. You know he was happier battling with you than performing with me!”

“I guess that’s true…”

“Oh, man, even better example!” Dawn exclaimed. “Infernape! You can’t even pretend to me that he would have been better off with Paul than with you. And—no, Ash, I can see on your face what you’re about to say—no, he wouldn’t have been better off in the wild either.”

Ash seemed to pout, maybe even blushing a little—though the lighting on his side was so terrible that everything just looked kind of gray-blue. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

“Yes, you were. But you brought out the strength in him that only a trainer can do. In fact,” Dawn began, her eyes alight with a new idea, “you should just call Paul. I’m sure that even he would admit it.”

Ash was in deep at that point. Even he knew that. He’d made so many calls his phone was hot in his hand. But at this point, what was one more call?

“Fine,” Ash surrendered. “You and Ambipom win your next  Contest, okay?”

Dawn sighed. “I’m not so sure that’ll happen. I haven’t won anything in weeks.”

“Aw, that’s too bad,” Ash said. “But what’s that got to do with your next one?”

She sweatdropped. Surely he was joking? “I’m not doing well, Ash,” she explained as though she were speaking with a small child. “That means that I’m likely not to do well next time.”

“But you’ve won a lot in the past too,” Ash said simply. “You’ve won a lot and you’ve lost a lot. Me too. I have no idea how I’m going to do at the Laverre Gym. But I’m still gonna try my best!”

Dawn looked at Ash, dumbfounded. How could someone go from saying something so stupid to sounding so wise?

“Thanks, Ash,” Dawn said dumbly. Then she shook out of it and gave him a fiery look. “Now go call Paul.”

“Will do!” Ash grinned.

Paul was training in Unova. He’d done Kalos the year before—he was not amused by Diantha’s career choices. He was in the midst of comparing two Roggenrola when his phone rang. He let it ring once. Twice. Then he was irritated. He yanked it out of his pocket and spat, “What?”

“Hey, Paul! I—”

Click.

Ash sat dumbfounded for a second. He was certain Paul had picked up. Why would he hang up on him? He looked at the phone as though it was the one that had done him wrong. Paul was probably busy with something. Maybe he’d call back later. It had been too long since they’d last caught up! Maybe Ash could call Reggie to see what Paul was up to…

No, no, he was getting off track! Well, if Paul didn’t want to talk, there was one other person who was there with him in Sinnoh…

Let no one be fooled: Pokémon med school for was just as hard as human med school.

Scratch that—it was harder. Because all humans share near identical bodily functions. Brock had been busy learning about 800 different Pokémon and what would be unique about treating every one.

Frankly, it had been making his head spin.

Fortunately, he had come into school with a lot of practical experience—one of the reasons he’d been accepted into the best med school in Kanto—from his travels with Ash, his internship with the Pewter City Nurse Joy, and he time on Valencia Island with…you know who.

Nevertheless, he was loving it. He felt confident that the Gym was in good hands now that Forrest was the official Gym Leader. And now that both his parents were back home, he knew that he didn’t have to worry about the kids either. But still, it was nice to know that he was only in the next town over and could visit home any weekend he wanted to. He hadn’t made much use of the fact, but it was comforting nevertheless.

But at just this moment, Brock wasn’t thinking about school or family or being a doctor; he was thinking about the plausibility of taking a brief nap. He’d just come from his lecture class on Fairy Types—the Type class that he was doing the worst in. He’d tested out of the Ground and Rock Type classes because he knew a lot about them, but Brock knew hardly anything about Fairies. Understandably, the class exhausted him.

His next class was a practicum class that—so far—was mostly reiterating the work that he had done with Joy. And, more importantly, it wasn’t for a few hours. So he could probably squeeze in a nap…

Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring! Phone call! Phone call!

Well, not with that going on.

Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring! Phone call! Phone call!

He really needed to change that ring tone.

Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring! Phone call! Phone call!

Most people just kept their phones on vibrate.

Ring ring ring! Ring ring—

Better answer it. It could be the fam.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Brock!”

“Ash!”

Suddenly feeling a bit more awake, Brock opened up his laptop to switch the call over to a larger screen. “Hey, man! How’s it going?”

“Well, Paul hung up on me, so I thought I’d call you.”

Brock blinked. “Um, okay.”

Ash seemed to maybe, possibly realize that his answer hadn’t been much of an explanation. His face took on a strangely serious shape and he tried again. “I’ve been trying to figure out if releasing my Goodra was the right decision.”

“And you thought Paul was the best person to ask about that?” Brock deadpanned.

Ash rubbed the back of his neck. “I was telling Dawn: it’s kinda a long story at this point.”

Dawn too? Was Ash trying to meet his quota for calling his friends this year all in one day?

Brock glanced down at the time on his laptop screen. His next class wasn’t for a couple of hours. He’d still be able to fit in a healthy nap, even if he did settle down for a chat with Ash.

“Okay, I’m confused,” Brock said, when Ash had finished recounting what, at this point, was definitely a mess of a story. “Why do you think that Lapras is the last time that something like this has happened?”

Ash eyed Brock with a narrow gaze, almost condescendingly, if Ash were capable of such an emotion. Brock would have been offended, if he had any shame left. “Because Lapras is the last Pokémon that I released?”

“Yes,” Brock agreed, nodding his head. “But you leave all of your Pokémon at Oak’s lab every time you start a new journey. You don’t just have a handful of outlier Pokémon that you’ve released; you’ve left almost every Pokémon you’ve caught at Oak’s lab. Most have probably spent more time there than with you.”

When Brock saw the way Ash’s face fell, he realized that maybe his clinical assessment didn’t make his friend feel better. Oof, maybe he’d been spending too much time in the classroom and not enough with his friends and family. Like, talking to people. He really needed to go home. Or visit Misty. Or something.

“I’m sorry, Ash,” Brock said. “I didn’t mean it like that. Starting fresh has given you the opportunity to bond with new Pokémon.”

“I hope that I would have done that anyway,” Ash mumbled.

“And it’s given Professor Oak the opportunity to easily study Pokémon from all over the world,” Brock continued. “That’s been invaluable.”

“I didn’t really set out to do that, though.”

“That’s kind of my point!” Okay, it hadn’t been, but Brock was improvising here. “You never plan out what you’re doing, but you always end up doing the right thing and helping people. Releasing your Goodra is just like that. Letting Professor Oak care for your Pokémon while you’re not using them does that.”

“I just…” Ash began. “Doesn’t it sound like I’m abandoning them?”

“No,” Brock said firmly. “Abandoning them is like that what Damien kid did to your Charizard. You give your Pokémon a choice. When you tried to leave Pikachu, he came back because that was what he really wanted, and you welcomed him with open arms.”

“I guess that’s true.”

Brock looked at Ash. It was hard to read his expression, as it seemed to be growing quite dark in Kalos, but he was looking down, which usually wasn’t a good sign for Ash.

“Am I making you feel any better?”

Ash’s head shot up. “Oh, yeah! Totally.”

Definitely not. That was Ash’s fake happy voice. He sold it well, but Brock had never known anyone to fall for it before. The kid was just too dang easy to read. Brock sighed. He was really out of practice with the older brother act.

“Okay, look, why don’t you continue your apparent night of calling everyone you know and call May?” Brock suggested. “She was there when you first left your Pokémon behind. I’m sure she can objectively tell you that you’ve always done the right thing when it comes to your Pokémon.”

“Um, okay?”

“She’ll probably be better at boosting your spirits than I am.”

Brock hung up the phone, feeling strange about what had certainly been his weirdest conversation with Ash to date. He wished that he could have helped more, but he had an idea of who could really knock some sense into Ash Ketchum.

And May was the perfect person to stall him out until Brock talked to her.

“Yeah, I would do that too,” May said into her phone.

Drew was leaning against a tree, brushing through his hair with his fingers. He didn’t think that May even realized that she had stopped walking some time ago. So, Drew was left bored, watching as May gesticulated, talking on the phone with Dawn.

He thought about doing something passive aggressive, like getting a Pokémon out and beginning to train (loudly) right there in the middle of the road. Or maybe just continuing to walk. But, knowing May, she probably wouldn’t notice.

They weren’t officially traveling together anyway, so if he did walk far enough ahead to lose her,  she’d probably just think they were going their separate ways again.

So, there he was, waiting on her. As per usual.

“Wait, Dawn, I’m getting another call…Oh, wait, it’s from him! I’ll have to call you back.”

It took everything Drew had in him not to groan.

He knew he should have traveled with Solidad.

“Hey, Ash!” May chirped.

This one was a video call, leaving Drew privy to both sides of the conversation as May held out the phone in front of her.

Lucky him.

“Hey, May,” Ash said, his tone coming out duller than Drew was used to hearing it.

“Dawn told me that you feel kind of crummy about letting go of one of your Pokémon.”

“Oh, she did?” Ash asked, surprise coloring his voice.

“Yeah. Not that we were talking behind your back or anything!” May frantically added.

Drew scoffed. “Technically, you were.”

If May heard him, she ignored him. But Drew would have bet his aqua pants that she didn’t even remember that he was there.

“Yeah, well, I just got off the phone with Brock, and he said that I should call you and, uh, ask you what you thought about my leaving all of my Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Islands behind with Professor Oak.”

“What I think?” May echoed. “I think it was fine. I mean, did you love them any less?”

“Of course not!”

“And they know that,” May stated. “I mean, look at me. I haven’t used my Munchlax in a Contest in ages because it just doesn’t make much sense there. It doesn’t mean that I favor my other Pokémon to it. And it doesn’t make me a bad Coordinator. Right?”

Drew blinked. That was surprisingly astute for May.

“Right,” Ash echoed.

“So then the real problem is just that you’re sad about one of your friends leaving and you need comfort, so you know what you’re gonna do?”

Ash looked taken aback. “What?”

“You’re gonna call your mom.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are.”

“O-Okay,” Ash said. “I’ll do that right now…Bye, May.”

May lost her authoritative expression and gave Ash a glorious smile and a wave to boot. “Bye, Ash!”

May clicked the phone off and slipped it into her fanny pack, completely unaware of Drew’s dumbfounded expression.

“May…” Drew began. “That was…wow. I can’t believe you thought of that all yourself.”

“I didn’t.”

Drew narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“All of that is just what Dawn and were talking about on the phone. We both said that if we were upset like that, we’d call our moms.” And then she turned to him, catching him completely off guard with a stricken expression. “Drew, am I a bad Coordinator for not using Munchlax?”

Drew sighed. There was the May he knew.

“Not if you let us get to the next town before nightfall.”

Delia was getting started with lunch. Since her household was only made up of herself and Mimey—who  didn’t usually eat human food—this shouldn’t have been a big to do, but for the past couple of years, Delia had been making lunch for herself and the Oaks. It had started with her bringing over little things like pies and casseroles—she knew how busy the Professor was and Tracey had better things to do as an assistant than make a meatloaf.

This custom had slowly evolved into her staying at the lab so they all could eat whatever she had made, which had evolved into her inviting them over to her house for dinner—why bother transporting the food when you could just transport the people?—which had somehow become lunch for four at the Ketchum residence every afternoon. This being because she knew those boys, what with all the time they had to spend feeding the Pokémon in the lab, had no time to feed themselves. She hardly liked the idea of them living off of protein bars and coffee for lunch.

So it was quite a hitch in her routine when the phone rang as she was dropping some potatoes into hot water to cook.

“Ketchum residence.” Delia said as she grabbed the corded phone off the hook and continued with the potatoes.

“Hey, mom!”

“Ash!” Delia, making a quick decision, left her potatoes—they’d be fine on their own for a few minutes—and ran to the video phone in the living room. “Darling, how are you?”

“I…I’m sad,” he admitted.

“Oh,” Delia said, taken aback. Ash didn’t usually come to her with anything but good news, so this was a switch. More than that, she knew her little boy to be a very happy kid. So once her feet were back under her, her mom alarms were blaring in her ear. “What’s wrong?”

Ash had never been one to hold back information, so before he knew it, he was spilling the whole stupid story to her. He was sad about something that he’d done half a dozen times before with nary a qualm. He’d been telling all his friends the same dumb story for the past, what? Half hour? Hour? He didn’t know, but long enough for it to get pretty dark out.

“Aw, Ash, I wish I could give you a hug,” Delia said, her forehead scrunching with worry. Ash suddenly saw how much deeper those lines had gotten since the beginning of his journey, and he wanted to give her a hug too.

Saying: “Thanks, mom,” was the best he could do, however.

“I have to say, though, Ash…has it made you feel better to talk to all of your friends?”

“Huh?” Ash blinked. “Well, yeah. May gave good advice, and so did Cilan and—”

“No, Ash,” Delia interrupted gently. “Hasn’t it felt good just to talk to your friends? Regardless of what they say. Isn’t it nice to check in with them? See what’s happening in their lives?”

“Sure,” Ash said. “Of course!”

“Because,” Delia explained, “it seems that that’s your whole problem.”

“What do you mean, mom?”

“Your Pokémon are you friends. And you’re sad to leave them. And you continue to have to do it. Perhaps you’d feel better if you kept in better contact with your friends, both Pokémon and human. And your mother.” Delia added that last sentence with just a hint of a scolding tone.

“Maybe you’re right,” Ash said, a new smile growing on his face.

“Of course I’m right. I’m your mother.”

They both laughed and Ash felt a better than he’d felt all night. Not a lot, but just enough.

“So, you’re going to continue what you’re doing,” Delia commanded. “Why don’t you give Gary a call? He’s your oldest friend, and I didn’t notice him on your list of people that you’ve talked to this evening.”

“Nope, not yet!” Ash affirmed.

“Then call him. And make sure to tell him that if the mashed potatoes are gluey this afternoon, it’s because you were chatting my ear off.”

“Gramps! We really have to scrape up the cash to hire a secretary!”

Gary had just come inside from finishing Tracey’s job of feeding the Pokémon. And he had to say, he was much more time effective than the Pokémon Watcher was.

And now he was off to do another thing that wasn’t his job. Answering the phone.

Again.

“What?” Gary asked sharply, his tone clearly telling whomever was on the other end that he was sweaty from being outside feeding dozens of Pokémon.

“Er, hey, Gary…”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Gary turned on the video feed and gave Ash a look that he hoped put forth the fact that he was one hundred percent done. “You again?”

“Uh, yeah, it’s me.”

Ash answered like it was a real question, and Gary couldn’t help but feel his sharp edges dull a little.

“What do you need, Ashy-boy?”

“I just wanna talk. Oh, and tell you that if the potatoes are gluey it’s because I was talking to my mom.”

Gary shook his head, deciding not to touch that one and instead focus on Ash’s first statement. “Really? It seemed like you actually had something that you wanted to talk about when you were looking for Tracey.”

“I did,” Ash said simply. “But now I just want to talk to you. If you’re not busy!”

Of course he was busy. He lived at his place of work. Even when he was sleeping it felt like he was on the job. Every moment spent relaxing was a moment that he was supposed to be working.

But…he could make time for Ash.

“I have all the time in the world, Ashy-boy,” Gary said kindly. And then his expression took on its normal edge and he somehow managed to look down at Ash through the screen. “Time for you to explain why you were on the phone with Tracey, then your mom, then me when you haven’t talked to any of us in months.”

Ash—or what little Gary could see of him in the dark—looked taken aback. Gary figured as much.

Ash had never much been able to keep up with Gary.

Gary became more incredulous as the story fell out of Ash’s mouth. He’d hardly known Ash as a person to lack confidence or ever second guess his decisions. No wonder the kid’s behavior of the last hour had been so erratic.

Still, when the story came to a close, Gary had only one thing to say:

“Ash, you’re an idiot.”

Ash, for his part, looked a little offended, leaving Gary glad that he still had the ability to rile up his old rival. Ash had become so mellow in recent years he hardly resembled the hotheaded kid that Gary had set out with at the beginnings of their journeys. Sure, Gary had changed too, but he could appreciate the joy in going through a good-old regression every once in a while.

Gary could practically see Ash’s brain stagger as he asked, “Wah…Why?”

Such a simple boy.

“Just call Misty. She’s the only one of us who’s ever been able to knock any sense into you. I mean, you called Paul before Misty?”

Gary couldn’t help but laugh at that one. Sure, he’d never had the pleasure of meeting Paul himself, and Ash couldn’t bring himself to say too much negative about the Trainer, but still. He seemed like someone you’d cross the street to avoid.

“Well, my mom said that I should call my friends, so I guess—”

“I don’t care. Call her.”

Misty had been surprised to see Brock show up unannounced at her door. Ever since he’d begun university in Cerulean she’d told him that he could drop by any time he wanted, but…well, he hadn’t done it yet, so she figured he hadn’t taken the invitation literally.

Well, apparently he had.

Not that had she minded. Sure, she’d been wet from a swim and her skin had been peeling—the chlorine dried it out—but he’d seen her far worse. She could hardly bring herself to care at all.

At the present moment, they were seated on the couch with some tea, Brock spinning threads about his apparent social incompetence—and maybe that’s why he couldn’t get a date? But he said to put a pin in that until later—and Ash being sad about releasing a Pokémon.

Well, Misty had been there for every instance of Ash giving up a Pokémon. Butterfree (both times, if the St. Anne counted), Pidgeot, Lapras. And then, of course, Primeape, Squirtle, and Charizard. Charizard had been by far the saddest, if she remembered right, and it had taken Ash a while to bounce back from that one. And then there was the instant buyer’s remorse that he’d gone through with Butterfree and that Raticate (which had almost led to their demise…she should probably remind him of that fact. He’d grown far too comfortable since she’d gotten her bike back and she needed something to nag him about).

But if she compared both of Butterfree’s goodbyes, then it was clear that the difference was in whether Ash thought what he was doing was right for Butterfree. It had nothing to do with selfishness and it was…just pure Ash.

Somehow, it wasn’t altogether a surprise to Misty or Brock when Ash called. Brock even had the good sense to leave the room. Misty only hoped that it wasn’t with the intent to snoop through her sisters’ stuff. He’d been creepily disappointed enough when she’d told him they were out of town.

“Hi, Ash,” Misty said, unable to keep a full smile off her face, even though she knew she was supposed to have sympathy for the tough time Ash was going through.

“Hey, Mist.”

“Brock told me about your day.”

Ash chuckled, which Misty took as a good sign. “Yeah, apparently it’s been traveling through the group.”

“So, what chain of events brought you to call me?”

“Well, mom said I should keep in better touch with my friends and Gary wants you to knock some sense into me,” Ash recited perfectly, as though the second part of that wasn’t completely insulting.

Misty smiled. He was just too adorable. “Well, you’ve come to the right place.”

Ash laughed, more fully this time. “I figured.”

“You wanna know what this sounds like to me?” Ash nodded. “It sounds like you’re growing up.”

“Growing up?”

“Yeah. You’re feeling connections deeper, you’re becoming more emotionally complex, and you know better the consequences of your actions.”

“Heh, that doesn’t sound like me.”

A laugh escaped out of Misty. Ash was nothing if not honest.

“I just mean that you’re not the hopeful kid sending worms out against birds anymore. Now you know that if you leave a Pokémon behind, you may never see them again. That’s scary. And your body is, you know, processing that.”

Ash shrugged. “Well, yeah,” he said soberly. “I know all that because…well, it’s happened now.”

Misty smiled, shaking her head. “That’s called life experience, Ash. That’s growing up.”

“I’m not sure I like it then.” Ash pouted, jutting his lip out at Misty like it was her fault.

“Well, then I think now’s the time when I knock some sense into you,” Misty said, cracking her knuckles. “You’re a good person for releasing Goodra, Ash. Of course, I don’t know the circumstances, but you’re you, so of course it was the right thing to do. And the advice that our dear friend Brock should have given you is that if you feel bad about leaving so many of your Pokémon with Professor Oak, then you can always trade them in for a bit. It’s not like it’s a mistake that you can’t rectify. Just like you’re checking in with me right now, you can check in with them any time.”

“You’re right,” Ash admitted sheepishly. “Of course you’re right.”

“Like I said. You came to the right place.”

There was a small pause as the two looked at each other, Ash’s expression morphing into a grin somewhere along the way.

“You really think that I’m growing up?”

Misty felt just a hint of a blush kiss the tips of her ears, but she chose to ignore it. “Well, if any of us thought that you were ever capable of growing up, then yeah. We’ve just decided at this point that it’ll never happen.”

“No,” Ash said, his voice full of jest, “I heard you say it. You said that I’m emotionally complex and I understand the consequences of my actions.”

“Yeah, like now,” Misty said. “If you don’t stop pulling at that thread, then I’ll figure out a way to punch you in Kalos without ever having to leave my Gym.”

“Why are you so mad?” Ash asked through a laugh. “We’re just talking about my emotions!”

“And we’ll have one more to talk about when you receive that punch. Pain.”

“…You know, I bet my friend Clemont could come up with a machine for that.”

“Great, I’ll call him.”

Again, silence settled over the phone line, the two of them waiting to see who would break out of their violent scenario first.

It was Ash, of course.

“Thanks, Mist. For the talk.”

Misty breathed out, the violent energy seeping out of her and rendering her posture hunched, but comfortable. “Of course. Any time, Ash.”

“Maybe…Maybe more often than I’ve been doing?”

Misty felt a bit of joy bubble up in her stomach, but she suppressed it, let it bring a blush to her cheeks. “That would be great.”

“Cool,” Ash breathed, looking relieved, as if he’d thought she’d say no. “In that case, I’m gonna go, so that we have more to talk about later.”

Misty shook her head. Leave it to Ash to come up with the ironclad logic.

“Sure. Talk to you later.”

“Bye, Mist!”

“Bye, Ash.”

The phone clicked off and Misty pressed her fingertips to the still-warm screen. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a rasped, “Bye, Mist,” behind her.

“Brock!”

“ ‘We’re just talking about my emotions.’ ”

“Brock,” Misty said again, this time devoid of fear. Instead, her voice was low and dangerous. “If you heard all that, then you also heard the part about me punching him. I’d like to remind you that that was a very real threat, and he’s in Kalos.

“You’re in my living room.”

The threat was just enough to draw a very feminine squeak out of Brock as Misty proceeded to chase him around the house.

Brock ended up taking a swim that day.

[itwasanangryinch]

3...2...1... Happy New Year!!

For the first (?) time, I’m actually going to make and complete a New Years meme, because fuck it, I had a good year. I’m also going to put much shorter answers for last year since I had wanted to do this then, but then... didn’t.

Favourite new (to me) band: Against Me!     5 favourite songs:

The Ocean

White Crosses

True Trans Soul Rebel

I Was a Teenage Anarchist

Norse Truth

I’ve known about Against Me! since lead singer Laura Jane Grace since she came out as trans in 2012 with her Rolling Stone profile, but I hadn’t heard any of their songs until a couple of years ago. This year was the first year I really got into her music (both here and with The Devouring Mothers) after reading her biography Tranny while on vacation in Melbourne.

Runner up: Miss Guy and the Toilet Boys, seen for the first time at Wigstock 2.Ho

2017′s answer: Ataru Nakamura, the very, very talented trans performer who played Yitzhak to JCM’s Hedwig in Japan (and because of the staging, also played Hedwig for the non-singing part of the script.)

Favourite new (to me) city: Melbourne, Australia.

If you had asked me last year, my answer would have been Tokyo, Japan and this year’s is my favourite for much the same reasons: Melbourne is very easy to get around, very fun to walk around, and I got to see the wonderful John Cameron Mitchell perform there.

Melbourne is absolutely beautiful with so many shops to explore and a free (within the few square blocks I mostly kept to) public transport system.

Runner up: Sydney, Australia. Very similar to Melbourne and might have been the favourite if I had been able to stay there longer, but.... schedules.

2017′s answer: Toyko, Japan. For the reasons listed above. I could actually see myself moving to Tokyo at some point. Not right now, but possibly eventually.

Favourite concert: John Cameron Mitchell: The Origin of Love, Brisbane

This year I have seen this concert seven times in addition to one very abridged show in Portland, Oregon to go along with a double header of Hedwig and How to Talk to Girls at Parties.

On this particular date, the band gelled really well; John was in a great mood, great energy; the crowd was incredible..... Everything just... Worked. (Even tho this was the concert I had the least amount of interaction with John afterwards, lol.)

Definitely looking forward to seeing where John takes the performances for his upcoming stateside tour and at a later, yet to be announced, time in Japan.

Runner ups: (aside from the rest of the OoL tour), Rocky Horror with Mason Alexander Park, Taboo 15 (with Mason), Alice Cooper, and Wigstock 2.Ho where I finally got to see NPH performing as Hedwig.

2017′s answer: Hedwig and the Angry Inch: October 14th, evening. Tokyo, Japan.

In my estimation, this was the best of all of the Hedwig concerts. By this point, everyone had performed this in front of an audience twice before and the show from beginning to end gelled really well. Again, there was an incredible energy between the band and the two lead performers and the audiences for all of the Japan shows were great. From beginning to end, this one was the best.

From about the Tommy monologue til the end, the final Tokyo show (Oct. 15th) was the best because there was this crackling, alive, angry energy that had an almost dangerous feeling to Exquisite Corpse and was the only show (surprisingly!!) where I cried at the delivery of my favourite line “Then love the front of me.” On that show, with the exception of Exquisite Corpse, I cried from that line til John started the encore song, ‘The End of Love’ and I had only stopped there because I had completely forgotten he was doing an encore song.

Favourite movie: Black Panther

I’ve been waiting literal years for this movie to be made and there was not one thing to be disappointed in in its final rendering in my opinion. I realize that unlike a large portion of the audience, this movie was very much not reflective of my experiences and at no point would I claim to be represented by it as anything other than a nerd and a comic book fan.

Being a fan of the Black Panther for years has meant having tone deaf comic lines, sidelined animated stories, and much less content, merch, and even cartoon adaptation than some of his paler counterparts. So to see a film that was technically and narratively perfect being rendered so beautifully and taking the box office for many, many weeks was a wonderful way to start this year.

Runners up: Deadpool 2, Bad Samaratian, and does How to Talk to Girls at Parties even count for this year if I saw it last year in Japan??

2017′s answer: a strong tie between Transpotting 2 and HtTtGaP. T2 because it was so much better than I could have ever hoped it to be. It married themes and footage from the first film perfectly to the characters’ lives 20 years on. It gave me hope for an eventual Hedwig sequel in terms of quality because based on interviews, they share a similar tone in terms of ageing characters. Plus Danny Boyle’s cinematography was truly beautiful with the use of shadows, call-backs, foreshadowing.... A true equal to the most iconic of Scottish films.

HtTtGaP because well.... John Cameron Mitchell’s direction mixed with an alien invasion set against punk rock and the Queen’s jubilee? How could I not love it? To me, it’s a strong second to Hedwig in terms of quality and netted my absolute favourite review via the BBC (‘This is one of the worst films ever made’, trust me Beeb reviewer, if that were true, cinema would be a far more enjoyable art form.)

Favourite vacation: Australia

Long story short: I met my favourite actor five times. It’s very rare in this life that you can actually tell an artist who influenced your life in a very meaningful way just how much their art and they as a person mean to you. This year, after seeing JCM perform live eight times and on video, no lie, thousands of times, I had the chance to actually do this. And unlike how I was worried about for the past three years, I wasn’t actually nervous to talk to him at all. Part of that is that he is a very easy person to feel at ease with, very comforting presence.... And part of it was that during the first Australian show I went to where I’m dressed as the very first Squeezebox Hedwig, John lay on top of me as part of the final number. How could I be scared to talk to him after that introduction??

Runners up: going to see Taboo 15 in New York with my best friend and touring the David Bowie Is exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum (March), going to see Wigstock with Risa. Technically, I ditched work to be able to go, but.... 10/10, I would do it again. I saw a lot of amazing performers for the first time, had a chance to chat with Mason again, and saw the tour de force that is Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig and Lena Hall as Yitzhak.

Hopefully next year, the Hedwig section will be able to be longer. (Or maybe Yitz will perform by himself. Or multiple Hedwigs. Or just the entire Hedwig script delivered at the end of a seven hour drag festival pre-show.)

2017′s answer: Hedwig in Japan. Not only did I get to meet my friend @miyacantdecide for the first time in person, I was able to see the wonder that is JCM as Hedwig live. Even when he’s not delivering the script, his presence as Hedwig is truly something else. And having seen him perform as himself (but in a version of her makeup) this year, I can honestly say that She has a completely different stage presence to Him and how incredible of an actor to be able to deliver such radically different interpretations of the same material and songs??

Outside of Hedwig, I can honestly say that I came back from Japan a changed person. Better in so many ways than I was a year previous. Almost completely made whole again after past traumas (and completed a year later on a different trip.)

2017′s runner up: seeing RENT 20 live. I had a blast hanging out with my mother most of the days and the RENT 20 cast? Holy shit. What talents. Cried from ‘I’ll Cover You (Reprise)’ til the end of ‘Finale B’. Just goes to show: it doesn’t matter if the show’s set in December and it’s hot As Fuck outside if you have a talented cast bundled up in sweaters for 75% of the script.

Favourite album: Golden by Kylie

Not only does pop’s most talented princess talk about her recent breakup with Joshua Sause (sp?), there’s themes of her ageing as this year our princess turned 50. While I agree with reviewers that this isn’t her best musically or vocally, I find myself replaying this one over and over on my stereo and headphones more than almost any other album this year. Favourite song: a toss up between Shelby ‘68 and Low Blow.

2017′s answer: Pollinator by Blondie. It had been two years since the release of 2014′s Ghost of Download, but unlike Ghost’s offerings that went largely unnoticed by me at the time, every single from Pollinator got me more and more hyped not only because of the excellent music evident on songs such as Fun, Long Time, and Doom or Destiny, but collaborations with artists such as Raja (on the video for Fun) and Joan Jett (the aforementioned Doom or Destiny), the honey-thick entrancing song Fragments, and the wonderful Love Line.

This year has been weirder, queerer, and more wonderful than any year yet on record. I’ve been to a number of technically-but-not-really drag shows, revisited some of my favourite artists in concert, met two of my favourite Hedwigs, and saw four total Heds perform.... I’ve read and learned more about the queer experience that not only deepened my understanding of my larger community, but of my own experiences and how they fit within the community. I’ve become more confident being out to coworkers and customers at my job....

I had the pleasure of meeting two of my close friends @hedwig-in-a-jukebox and @fdelopera in person (with plans to meet up again early-2019) as well as making some new friends.

Here’s to an even better 2019! Onwards and upwards.

[some-cookie-crumbz]

Great Outdoors

Great Outdoors Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender Pairing: Kidge Summary: Pidge has accepted that she was the Green Paladin, Guardian of Nature, but acceptance and delight are not synonymous with one another. Especially when fulfilling requests that seem like an agoraphobics worth night mare come true. Standard Disclaimer: If you read and enjoy this, please give it a like/ reblog so I know if I should write more. AN: Have some more fluff! Just gonna keep churning out fluff because this ship deserves it!

Pidge had a love-hate relationship with being the Green Paladin, Guardian of the Forests.

On the one hand, being a Paladin had been one of the best experiences of her life. She’d been given a chance to explore regions of the galaxy that Earth could only dream existed. She had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Garrison had lied about what happened with the Kerberos mission and had required Lance and Hunk both to drag her away from Commander Iverson, whom had gone beet-red when she started her aggressive and manically gleeful assault on his character at the truth being revealed. She learned about all kinds of new technology from various races that, with a few modifications and repurposing on her part, became helpful devices to Team Voltron to use or devices that could be used to help with life back on Earth. Helping to liberate planets that had been controlled by the Galra stood to be her favorite aspect, admittedly, because there was something about freeing people from an abusive dictatorship that felt right. Meeting, befriending, falling for and entering a committed relationship Keith Kogane was a close second but she kept that card under wraps to avoid his ego getting boosted too much.

But that led back to the list of things about her position that she found to be on the grating side.

The planet they were currently on was called Derumanta, a planet filled with a thick jungle environment and a society of people that specifically worshiped the Green Lion and her Paladin. The planet was known to be home to extremely effective medicines and ointments that could help with healing the members of the members of the Coalition. The denizens had been eager to assist the subject of their worship when Pidge made the request upon their arrival, but had a request for Pidge in return. “Nothing big or risky, we promise! It is a simple cleansing ceremony that is typically completed by a priestess, but having the Goddess of Wisdom and Earth Magic partake would be such an honor! So long as this is acceptable to both the Goddess herself and you, Paladin of Black,” High Priestess Bulra, the leader of their Derumantanese people, had explained to Keith with frantic excitement.

Keith had looked at Pidge to his left. “Would you be okay with this?”

She shrugged. “Sure. What’s the worst that could happen?” She had laughed. And if Pidge knew now what, exactly, the ceremony entailed? She’d have been a bit more hesitant in her agreement. The ceremony, as it turned out, involved Pidge being stripped down to what she could only describe as glorified underwear, covered in painted designs with some kind of sweet nectar, and having to stand out in the chill of the forest for an entire night until sundown the following day getting eaten alive by insects. The insects, as High Priestess Bulra had explained, her a type of bug that sucked blood but then used that blood to help pollinate the planet life of the world, creating stronger lines and more powerful medicines depending on the quality of the blood used. They believed that Pidge’s blood, given her status, would create one of the most potent lines of planet life which would lead to extremely effective medicine.

Ultimately, the Derumantanese were pleased with how the night went and sent her back to the small suite she’d been assigned for her stay while they awaited the other leaders of the Coalitions arrival to discuss the terms of Derumanta joining them. High Priestess Bulra had given Pidge a small clay pot with a cork in the top. “It’s a balm to help with the bites. They’ll start to sting and itch in a short while after you wash off the vigu nectar, but this should help you avoid that. It’s also fast-drying, so you won’t have to worry about letting it set too terribly long before laying down,” She explained, gently patting her hands with one of her long, six-fingered hands.

“Thank you,” She said with a small smile, hoping it didn’t come off as completely forced. She then scampered off to the large, shimmering silver skeleton of a tower in the center of their village. It was like a large condo, with rooms for each of the Paladins to relax in and enjoy. It was rare that their visits to other planets got to be a bit on the more relaxing side of things.

There was a small elevator made using lumber and vines that had to be cranked and pulled, but thankfully a larger Derumantanese inside, whom used the pulley to take her up to her floor. The whole building was clearly made using some kind of clay or mud material, an earthy aroma flitting through the whole place. Once she slipped off the elevator in to the hallway of her floor, she groaned a bit.

She had been hoping that there was some kind of window-like object that kept things in and out, but there wasn’t. There were large oval-shaped windows at either end of the hall that allowed the cool air to waft in. There were thin flaps of fabric with symbols – this planet’s equivalent of numbers – stitched in the center to distinguish them from one another instead of real doors but at least there seemed to be real walls separating each unit from each other as well. She could hear the quiet rumblings of the other tenants as she moved, pausing only once she reached the room that she knew was hears. She could hear Lance and Hunk debating the merits of some trivial thing in one of the rooms beside her and sighed, pushing back the curtain and heading into her own.

She was surprised to see Keith, wearing nothing but his red boxers, stretched out on the cot-like bed with a book. He perked up and his eyes seemed to bug out a bit. “Uh, nice Slave Leia costume?” He asked uncertainly as he moved to sit up.

“Thanks,” She quipped, trying not to laugh and suddenly kicking herself for showing him all the Star Wars films. She headed towards a small room off-set the main room that she assumed was the bathroom, nearly tripping over a small table next to it. Inside was a large tub with a large metal bucket of some sort with a long hose connecting to a spout just beside the tub. There was what looked like a pale pink loofah and a few bottles of wash lined along the outer rim of the tub basin. She thumped her head lightly against wall and whined in the back of her throat. She shouldn’t have been expecting that this place would have an incredibly modern bathroom, but a girl could dream. At least they had a fully functional toilet and small built-in shelves with towels and wash clothes.

“What the Hell did they do to you?” He asked in mild disbelief, indicating the red bumps all along her exposed skin.

She let out a sharp bark of laughter and twisted one of the knobs to start filling the hanging tub with water. She then set the jar of ointment on the small counter of a sink. “Well, it involved my blood being used to pollinate the vegetation on the planet,” She said bluntly. She reached back to start tugging off the ties of her top and glanced back at him curiously. “Would you mind pulling out a fresh change of clothes for me while I try to wash up here? I need a long nap.”

“Of course,” He said gently before disappearing back into the main room. Pidge smiled a bit, grateful that he was there with her. She did wonder, as she ditched the clothes and stepped into the tub, what he’d done with his own room. She knew for a fact that the Derumantanese had offered each of them their own private quarters, so she had to wonder if Keith had simply explained that the two of them were in a different kind of relationship or had simply snuck into her room after their escort left them to their own devices.

She shrugged it off and pulled a small lever that dumped the opened a small shoot in the bottom of the bucket and dropped the water on her. Only to release a high-pitched series of swears because it was freezing cold.

“Are you okay?” Keith called, voice on edge with concern.

“Damnit Keith, no having sex where we can all hear you!” Lance shouted from the other side of the wall, banging on it with one hand for added emphasis, while Pidge tried to keep from biting her tongue with her chattering teeth. She reached over and twisted the other knob, hoping to warm up at least a little bit. She should have checked it before she dumped it on herself, admittedly, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating.

“As if you even know what a woman having sex sounds like, Lance!” Keith barked back, irritated and fast approaching the bathroom.

That earned a small snort out of her while she could hear Hunk letting a low whistle at the burn. “Okay, listen here, you 80’s cliché bad boy-!” Lance started to snap back, voice cracking as he rose in octave from indignation.

“I’m trying to get cleaned up and dumped freezing water on myself!” Pidge cut in, preaching up to press a few damp locks of hair out of her face. She pulled the lever again to dump the water on herself and bit the inside of her cheek, another flood of frigid water washing over her. If the water was cold regardless, what was the purpose behind having two damn knobs? “I’m fine, Keith, I’ll be out in just a bit.”She insisted, keeping her volume up to be heard on both sides.

She heard Keith let out a low hum, clearly still concerned, but he respected her privacy regardless. Her shower ended up taking a lot longer than she had planned, as the strange loofah was extremely brittle and felt like it was ripping her skin open when she tried to use it to scrub off the vigu nectar. She swapped it out for one of the little wash clothes on the counter but it did take a little longer to get it all off.

When she poked her head out, the room was empty but Keith had left a change of clothes neatly folded on the table beside the room. She smiled and changed into them eagerly, appreciating the feel of the soft fabric against her skin. She took the time to pick up the ceremonial garbs she’d been wearing before, unsure if they were passed down or had been specifically made for her, and folded them into a very small stack that she left on the tank of the toilet. She could ask High Priestess Bulra what to do with them after she had taken a bit of time to unwind and rest up. She headed out to the front room, sitting on the edge of the cot and starting to apply the balm to the bites that she could reach.

She was just finishing up with the parts she could reach when Keith returned, with a t-shirt added to his outfit, carrying a small tray of piping hot food in one hand. “Think you can eat?” He asked as he walked into the room.

She smiled at him and nodded eagerly. “God, yes! Thank you,” She beamed, shifting to sit more at the edge of the bed. He pulled the small spare table over, set the tray on top of it for her, then carefully climbed back on the bed to sit right behind her. He took the jar from her wordlessly, opened it again, and pushed the back of her shirt up high enough that he could reach the bug bites there. “You’re a God-send, you know that?” She moaned out quietly at the feel of the cool cream being rubbed along her agitated skin.

He chuckled. “You sure about that? I’ve heard quite the opposite before,” He mused.

“Well, those people were idiots,” She grumbled, using the knife to cut into the hot loaf of some kind of bread. A dark red jam of some sort spilled out but she continued to cut a sliver off, scooped some of the jam up, speared a piece of bread and plopped it in her mouth. Despite clearly being bread and jam, it tasted more like pork chops and mashed potatoes. “What is this?” She asked curiously.

“No idea. I just went to the ground floor and told the staff that I needed a meal for the Goddess to regain her strength post-ceremony. They said this would be a high-protein meal that should get you back in tip-top shape before tomorrow morning,” He explained calmly.

She hummed and continued eating, too hungry to really be interested in conversation. It was funny, she realized, that she hadn’t thought twice about how good a plate of warm food sounded until it was right in front of her. Once he finished apply ointment to the remaining bug bites, Keith grabbed her hairbrush and started carefully working through the tangles in her hair. He even took the time to braid it for her as she finished licking the last remnants of jam from her fork. “Man, being the nature Paladin sucks,” She huffed, turning around to throw her arms around him.

He laughed and took her up in his arms easily, setting her hairbrush aside and then carefully pulling them up towards the head of the bed. She stayed latched on to him, burrowing her face into the crook of his neck and enjoying his warmth. “If I had known what this ceremony entailed I would have said no for you. Those bites look pretty miserable,” He commented, one hand cupping and massaging the back of her neck.

“I still would have done it, though, for the sake of keeping the peace and buttering them all up. Being sacrificed to a bunch of mosquito-bee hybrids was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of additional medical supplies. It’ll be good to be a little less reliant on the cryopods, after all. I mean, less time in there is more time liberating planets and kicking Galra butt,” She pointed out.

“Yeah, but it still bothers me that they didn’t go over everything with us before they took you away for the whole thing. They specifically said that you weren’t going to be in any danger,” He said.

She snickered a bit. “Getting swarmed by bugs isn’t being placed in danger. From what I understand – and, feel free to correct me, since you have more experience with this than I – getting swarmed by insects is supposedly a regular thing when you go out into the woods. I just got a really huge dose of it, but I guess it makes up for all the time I’ve spent indoors,” She said, shrugging a bit as she settled one hand against his chest and closed her eyes.

He chuckled a bit at her but didn’t prod further. There was a wind chime of some sort hanging in the window of the room, gently jostling and chiming with the breeze wafting in. As loathe as she was to admit it, there was something soothing about the natural air and the sound of the chime and the shared heat with Keith that kind of made the whole ordeal worth it. Nature was still over hyped, but she could see the simplistic pleasure to something like this.

[reddirtramblings]

My first season of beekeeping.

Several people have asked about my bees and my first season of beekeeping so I thought I would share some photos my daughter, Claire, took of a hive inspection yesterday. When I’m working alone, I don’t have enough hands to take photos very easily, and I haven’t yet created a setup like some beekeepers to take video. Maybe I will someday, but now, I’m doing good to hold the frames, smoke the hive and watch out for the small insects.

They don’t always take kindly to being disturbed.

Lighting my smoker.

Beekeeping has its own language.

The first thing I had to learn was all the different beekeeping terminology. Just like gardening, beekeeping has its own language. I may mention one or more of these terms throughout this post so I want to explain them as best I can.

Hives are the structures you place your colony in so when you refer to your colony, you’re referring to the bees themselves. The hive is where they live. A Langstroth hive is composed of many parts, but usually has a bottom board, two hive bodies (sometimes called boxes, deeps or mediums) and one or more supers for honey. Supers are not usually as deep as a hive body because they hold the beekeeper’s honey, and capped (finished) honey is heavy stuff.  The Langstroth hive also has an inner cover, a base, the top cover and a queen excluder. Hive bodies may have ten frames or eight frames, and they are very heavy when filled with honey, brood, and bees.

[Click on the photos in the galleries to enlarge them.]

A full hive inspection.

Walking through two borders down to the hive.

Walking down to the hive past my little green she shed. The hive is located beyond the southern magnolia tree I planted over twenty years ago.

I try to do at least a partial hive inspection every two weeks, and I visually look in on the bees almost daily watching them going to and from the hive. I can often tell what is going on in the hive just by watching their front door. For example, if we’re having very hot weather, many of the bees will hang out on the outside of the hive to give the nurse bees and their brood space for better airflow. Other bees will use their wings to fan the front of the hive. In the evenings, there is often a traffic jam as the bees return to the hive, the pollen baskets on their legs and their honey stomachs full of pollen and honey for the colony.

By our pond, I watched on a really hot day as worker bees sucked up water and carried it back to the hive. Water is also used to cool the hive.

The day before yesterday, I opened the entire hive down to the bottom hive body and did a full inspection. We’re two-thirds of the way through summer. I was trying to ascertain whether the queen was laying well, and just generally, whether the colony was happy and thriving. They are, although I’m not sure if they might be a little honey bound. I did see the queen for the first time since the bees released her from her queen cage. The queen bee is very shy and moves very fast. Sometimes, it’s hard to find her, and she, being the most important bee in the colony, you don’t want to accidentally squish her.

Bees can become honey bound and then the queen doesn’t have anywhere to lay. My beekeeping mentor, Pat White, told me to try putting on the super (the smallest box on top) without a queen excluder and check on things in a week. This is to prevent the bees from possibly swarming this fall, or not raising enough brood to get through winter.

Not the most flattering picture, but it does show the entire hive yesterday. I’m getting ready to take off the top cover, and next to me are the super and its more shallow frames. Beekeepers only take honey from the super. I’m moving the queen excluder and my top rock out of my way.

Beekeeping keeps a red-dirt girl humble. I feel like I learn one thing and then forget two things every time I go out to the hive and check on my little colony. In late March, I started with one package of bees. Knowing what I know now, I would buy two packages or nucs because you can sometimes solve problems with one hive with frames of brood from another. A three-pound package of bees has about 10,000 bees and a mated queen whom they don’t know. That’s why you carefully introduce her to the workers, and they hopefully accept her. A nuc or nucleus of bees has three to five frames of bees with brood, honey, and some pollen, along with a current year’s mated queen. I think I’ll invest in a nucleus next year, but I’ll talk to my mentor first. A nuc is, of course, more expensive.

In the beginning, I fed my package of bees regularly to help them make honey when there weren’t many flowers, and I also fed them when our temperatures rose to over 100°F for two weeks about four weeks ago. I stopped feeding them a week ago when temperatures moderated. It is hard to know when we’re in the middle of a honey dearth in my part of Oklahoma. The heat sure makes things hard, but goldenrod is starting to bloom so it, with the asters and simple mums, should keep the bees happy. They are all still feeding on the summer flowers. Hopefully, I’ve done enough to prepare them. I’ll know more in a week or two.

Taking off the top cover to expose the inner cover. There were lots of bees in the top hive body after the inspection the day before. Angry honey bees.

Here, I’m prying open the top cover, and I’ll need to smoke them right after especially if they’re grumpy.

Smoking the bees to get them to go down into the hive. People think smoke calms them, but really, it just tells them their hive is on fire. Poor bees.

After I smoke them, the bees run back down into the hive body. All their little faces were staring up at me though.

After talking to Pat, I went down with the super and empty frames to install them. I thought I might look again at the top hive body, but the bees were still angry from the day before and weren’t having any of it. I knew that when one immediately stung my glove. No, it didn’t hurt because she couldn’t sting through my glove. So, I just pulled one honey frame from the outside and then decided I could look at things more closely next week.

Lifting the first frame out of the upper hive body.

Nectar honey frames are usually on the outside with brood frames in the middle. This isn’t always true, but nothing in beekeeping is always true.

Inspecting a honey frame. I didn’t go any further because I’d already tried their patience the day before.

Putting the frame back into the hive.

It was a bit breezy which also puts them in an ill temper, and my colony isn’t the friendliest one I’ve ever seen anyway. They are pretty mighty though so I don’t take it personally. I am, after all, breaking into their home. So, I pulled one honey frame and looked at it and then decided to just install the super and be on my way. No reason to upset them further that day.

Placing the super on top of the hive body. After you lay down some smoke, you place it on an angle to keep from squishing bees.

Placing shallow super frames in the super. Since I’m not taking honey from this hive until next year, it’s okay that I didn’t put on the queen excluder. I want her to have room to lay more eggs.

Replacing the inner cover and reaching for the top cover.

Placing the top cover back with the red rock on top.

I think having gardened for years and years it’s easier for me to get into the zone of calm you need to keep from being frightened of your bees even when they’re upset. I’m respectful of them, and I appreciate the job they do helping to pollinate my garden. I also admire how they care for each other. I’ll leave you with one more bee pic, and it’s my favorite of the day. Check out the small honey bee returning to the hive. Most of the foragers were out gathering nectar and pollen because I always check my bees in the middle of the afternoon. Fewer bees. Fewer problems.

My favorite photo of the day is of a worker bee flying into the hive.

So, that’s this week’s honey bee fun. I find the whole process rather miraculous. Please comment with any questions you have, and I’ll try to answer them. If I don’t know the answer, I bet I know someone who does.

My first season of beekeeping My first season of beekeeping. Several people have asked about my bees and my first season of beekeeping so I thought I would share some photos my daughter, Claire, took of a hive inspection yesterday.

[magicalgirlartist]

Finally drew my Sentinel Comics OC, Diamond Heart! I originally came up with her as a concept for a fan deck a couple years back, and am planning on transferring her to the RPG once it comes out.

Character notes, lies about publishing history and story arc, and game mechanics below the readmore. (With deepest apologies to mobile users.)

Character Notes

Diamond Heart is an archetypal magical girl. Her civilian name is Yukiko Chevalier. She grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She’s of mixed heritage, being both Japanese-Canadian (mother) and French-Canadian (father), but she doesn’t speak much Japanese--mostly English and Quebec French. Her outfit, though difficult to see, is made up of a silver dress, white jacket, gloves, and boots, and metallic blue accents, plus an actual diamond heart as an embellishment to the jacket. Her powers mostly involve bursts of magical energy and transformation.

Publishing History (all lies)

Diamond Heart is a relatively new character in the Sentinel Comics lineup. Back during the manga boom of the late 90s/early 00s, Sentinel Comics acquired the translation rights to a few different manga series, mostly short shonen series and some superheroes. One of these series was a magical girl series called Heart of Diamond (Daiyamondo no kokoro, although honestly only weeaboos called it that), which had seen limited success in Japan due to everyone comparing it to another, more popular magical girl series, saying it was a direct ripoff. However, the Sentinel Comics translation was very popular in North America and it brought in a new reader base for them. One of the things readers liked was that they stuck very close to the original script, or at least as close as possible, rather than going the 3Kids route and making it take place in America or changing the characters’ names for no reason.

Unfortunately, Heart of Diamond was the only series that took off for Sentinel Comics. The other series didn’t sell well, and the translation rights were eventually sold to other companies. Heart of Diamond was one of the few series that was completely translated by Sentinel Comics. This left Sentinel Comics with a bit of a dilemma: Heart of Diamond sold well and brought in a previously untapped market of teenage girls. How could they hold on to that when Heart of Diamond ended? It was only about 30 chapters long, after all.

So they did what comic companies do best: reboot. (okay that’s not fair but still) Once Heart of Diamond ended, they announced a new book called Diamond Heart that would be coming out soon. Said book featured a new protagonist with the same powers and costume as the old one, but with a new supporting cast. Two new girls (Emerald Heart and Topaz Heart) were added to the roster, bringing it to a team of five (up from three in the original manga). Her mascot also got a makeover, going from a floating jelly-like ball (affectionately nicknamed Slime-chan by fans) to a small stone creature, a sort of cross between a less-ugly gargoyle and a less-gigantic inuksuk. Her basic story stayed the same--fighting evil aliens (called Titons) that live on Saturn’s moon Titan, but she was now officially part of the Sentinel Comics universe, and the team had full control over her story.

Reactions were...mixed. Some Heart of Diamond fans felt like Yukiko and Diamond Heart were just “fake ripoffs” of their favourite thing (which was already 100% a ripoff but y’know). Most fans took to the new book, though, and Diamond Heart ran right up to the Oblivaeon event.

Most issues of Diamond Heart followed the original “monster of the week” formula that Heart of Diamond had used, though with more focus on the overarching story about the Titons. There was also some focus on how the team fit into the Sentinel Comics multiverse as a whole, but as the Canadian setting was relatively separate from the rest of the major goings-on in the other comics they tended to remain fairly isolated. They knew of other heroes and other heroes knew about them, but there wasn’t a lot of cross pollination happening. The weird part of Diamond Heart was that it was trying to follow a very Japanese plot, but doing so from a very western perspective. Comparisons to Sentai Rangers were drawn constantly among western fans. Occasionally the book would have crossovers with other heroes (notably Nightmist, the Argent Adept, and Guise) in an attempt to boost sales, bring new readers in, and reestablish Diamond Heart’s place in the multiverse. These crossovers usually only lasted about an issue or two before going back to regular production.

Story (also lies)

At the start of her grade 11 year, Yukiko found a necklace with a sliver-white heart-shaped pendant in her new locker. She figured it had belonged to the last person who used it and tried to figure out who that was to return it to them, but no one she asked about it had ever seen it before. She kept it as a good luck charm and started wearing it everywhere.

It wasn’t long after this that an alien attacked her school, screaming something about a silver-white necklace. Figuring they were looking for her, Yukiko tried to escape, but ran into a short, round creature made of rocks just before she could escape the school. It introduced itself as Rochmananov, Guardian of the Heart Stones, and told her she’d been chosen to lead a team of magical warriors against the evil Titons. Naturally Yukiko didn’t believe it at first, assuming she’d bumped her head and everything happening was some kind of hallucination, but Rochmananov managed to change her mind by getting her to say her transformation incantation, “Heart of Diamond! Release!” She transformed into Diamond Heart, and though still a bit in shock was able to defeat the alien attacking her school with Rochmananov’s help.

Afterwards, Rochmananov (later nicknamed Rocky) explained that it had hidden the Diamond Heart in her locker so she’d be able to find it, as it was her destiny to lead the Gem Hearts. Yukiko wasn’t particularly enthusiastic, thinking that anyone else would do a better job, but Rocky insisted she was the right person. The two of them set about assembling the rest of the team, which was fairly easy thanks to Rocky’s ability to see people with magical potential. After a few issues they had the whole team--Sapphire Heart (Michelle), Ruby Heart (Neha), Emerald Heart (Charlee), and Topaz Heart (Jackie).

As a team, the five of them protected Ottawa and searched for a way to bring an end to the Titon threat. They fought other enemies as well, mostly in crossovers, but generally all their foes were Titon-related. They stayed in Ottawa up until the OblivAeon event.

Signs of OblivAeon started showing up in Diamond Heart around the same time as they did everywhere else, though since there wasn’t a lot of activity in the Ottawa area before the event itself, there wasn’t much. Teams had been told to wrap up story threads and loose ends before OblivAeon showed up to reset everything, so shortly before the event itself was published the Gem Hearts found a way to magically transport themselves to Titan, and in a several-issue climactic battle finally defeated the Titon King. They used a Titon spaceship to get back to Earth, having exhausted most of their powers in the fight, and by the time they returned the OblivAeon attack was in full swing.

The team mostly fought Aeon men and kept to the ground protecting civilians, unable to do much else with their depleted powers. Finally, Rocky revealed that he had a way to give them a power boost, giving them his own energy to restore them at the cost of his life.

Michelle, Neha, Charlee, and Jackie all tried to find help through the various multiverse portals, and were still in those other worlds when OblivAeon was defeated and the doors between worlds slammed shut. Yukiko, devastated by the loss of her friends, searched desperately for a way to bring them back, but couldn’t find anything. After the Sentinels of Freedom were formed, she went to them looking for help, and that’s about where things stand now.

Character Arc (still more lies)

Yukiko starts the series as a cheerful teenager, friendly and always willing to help. She doesn’t have a very high opinion of herself, though, and has to be convinced of her own self-worth constantly through the series. As the series goes on, she matures more and even manages to ask her long-time crush Parker Matthews on a date. Parker eventually becomes aware of his girlfriend’s secret, and spends a lot of time worrying about her as a result. He tries to go with her to meet the Sentinels of Freedom, worried about her safety, but she tells him she can take care of herself and goes alone.

Part of Yukiko’s character arc (in the Sentinel Comics universe, she gives up the mantle of Diamond Heart in the Mist Storm universe) was to deconstruct the “power of friendship” trope. Part of her power set as Diamond Heart is to amplify others’ powers or take their power and add it to her own. Because of this, she feels more like a supporter than a leader. Her friends make her strong, but as far as she’s concerned she’s useless without them.

Card Game Mechanics (yet more lies)

The Diamond Heart deck is made mostly of oneshots with four “ally” cards (the other Gem Hearts), one“mascot” card (Rocky), and one equipment card (her Diamond Pendant). She has 28HP. Her base power is called “Glittering Diamond Burst!” and its text reads: “Diamond Heart deals one non-hero target 2 energy damage.”

“Ally” cards have 7HP each. Their power names are in the flavour text at the bottom of each card. Each “ally” card gives the player an added ongoing passive effect:

Sapphire Heart: Reduce all damage dealt to Diamond Heart, allies, and mascots by 1. (“Dazzling Sapphire Shield!”)

Ruby Heart: Increase all damage dealt by Diamond Heart, allies, and mascots by 1. (“Searing Ruby Blast!”)

Emerald Heart: At the start of your turn, each Hero target regains 1HP. (“Healing Emerald Wave!”)

Topaz Heart: At the start of your turn, choose one of your Hero targets. They deal each Villain target 1 Energy damage each. (“Roaring Topaz Storm!”)

The “Mascot” card has 5HP. Its card name is just “Rochmananov.” It grants the player access to the following power: “Reveal the top card of your deck. If it’s an Ally, put it into play. Otherwise, discard it.”

The Diamond Pendant is an equipment card and therefore has no HP. It grants the player the following passive effect when in play: “You may draw or play one card at the end of your turn.”

The rest of the cards in Diamond Heart’s deck are oneshots. Some include:

The Power of Friendship: Diamond Heart deals one Villain target X energy damage, where X is the number of hero targets in your play area.

Secret Identity: Diamond Heart deals herself 1 Psychic damage. If she takes damage this way, you may draw two cards now.

Rainbow Gem Love Barrage!: Diamond Heart deals one non-hero target X energy damage, where X is the number of oneshot cards in your trash.

Here to Help: Search your deck or trash for an Ally card and put it into your hand. If you searched your deck, shuffle your deck.

(non-comprehensive list, also has never been playtested because it doesn’t exist let me live)

RPG Mechanics:

The Sentinel Comics RPG isn’t out yet, but when it is I’ll make Diamond Heart for real and put her mechanics here.

[secret-rendezvous1d]

aw daddy harry and the missus would so on the first night of the baby being home would just be staring at her in the bassinet and talking about how much they love her instead of being able to sleep right away

I do so many of these scenes, but, the thought makes me so weak. 

Persephone is only a couple of days old when she’s given the all-clear to come home with her mummy and daddy on the day the missus is released, still so tiny and fragile and delicate to touch, smelling strong of the new-baby smell that babies are blessed with when they’re born mixed in with the slight hint of the hospital smell that took to lingering on the pink blanket that Anne had brought for her, embroidered with her initials in the bottom corner by Anne’s gentle stitching. It’s the late afternoon when they arrive home, walking through the threshold of their house and instantly being hit in the face with their smell; vanilla candles and pollinated flowers that homed underneath the windows of their living room. A complete change up to the smell that they’d been swallowed up by for the last couple of days. 

The rest of the afternoon is spent just the two of them and their fresh newborn. Phone calls coming in left, right and centre as plans were made to have a small get together at the weekend to allow everyone to meet the newest member to Harry’s life, ranging from close friends and their partners who were eager to get a hold of the newborn baby to family travelling down and through the heart of London to see the newest and tiny member to their own family. Texts coming in from Gemma, insisting she get photos in her phone of her little niece because the ones that Harry sent to her once she was born just weren’t enough to show off to all her friends and stick into a little photo album that she was making to keep as memories.

By the time that the night came around, the missus is already snoozing on their bed under Harry’s orders of her getting as much rest as she needed to get whilst he looked after their little girl, curled up in one of his thick sweaters and a pair of his loose boxers that felt comfortable on her sore hips. His body sprawled out beside her, glasses on his face, with his little girl flat on his chest, snuffling and grunting and releasing the sweetest sounds as she fisted at his t-shirt. A book in his hand as he read by lamp-light, his free hand resting on his daughter’s tiny body, with his bare fingers patting gently over her back. Torn away from his book when he heard his wife groan out from beside him and roll onto her back with tired eyes. 

“Have you put her down or have you just been holdin’ her since I fell asleep?” She snickers, mingling her toes with his as she hitched her leg over one of his, draping an arm across his stomach, “you look pretty fit as a dad. ‘specially when you wear your glasses.” 

“Think they call ‘em DILFs these days, don’t they?” Harry murmurs with a smirk on his lips, tilting his head to give her a glance before dog-earring his page and closing up the book in his hand, “how are you feeling? Feel good? Do you want me to run down and get you some food? I ordered some chinese because I didn’t want to cook but I didn’t feel like waking you up to eat so I kept yours in the oven to keep warm.”

“Hmm,” she shakes her head and nudges her nose into his shoulder, “think she can be put in her bed now, I think, yeah? Give you a break to go for a wee or go for a shower. Neither of us have had a wash since before we went to the hospital. I mean, the shower in the cubicle did nothing for me afterwards. Didn’t feel like our shower,” she admits, running her fingertips through Persephone’s soft and wispy hair. 

“How about, when she goes to sleep, we have a bath ourselves? It’ll be much more comfortable for you, I think,” he suggests, sniffling softly and scrunching his nose up to adjust the glasses sitting on the bridge, “you can even eat your takeaway in the bath. I won’t be upset or put off if you want to scoff those chicken balls in front of me.”

“You’re annoying,” she frowns, sitting herself up on the bed and reaching for the baby, “give ‘er here. You can go and run the bath for us, if you want to? Make it warm, yeah? I’ll put her down and make sure she’s comfortable so we can have a nice and peaceful bath,” she wiggles her fingers, lifting the baby from his chest and cradling her to her own chest as she stood to her feet and stepped around the room with gentle steps, swaying her hips.

It’s not long before her green eyes are falling closed to the low hum of the water and the gentle swaying motion, and it’s not long before she’s laying down the baby into her wicker bassinet and tucking her up with a white blanket, taking the monitor with her into the bathroom as she stripped down to her naked form and dipped herself under the water. Waiting for Harry come back, with a couple of plates and the chinese takeout he’d ordered for her to eat once she found a craving some food, to sit with her and keep her company in the vanilla-scented bath. 

Tummy tingling when he stripped down to his boxers, a blush forming on her cheeks when he peeled them from his hips and let them fall to his ankles. His naked form, slightly changed in some areas from gaining sympathy weight with her during her pregnancy, standing flush in front of her before he’s stepping into the water and sitting opposite her. Passing her a plate and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispers, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her plate upon her knee-caps, taking a bite from one of the slightly cooled-down chicken balls.

“You’re welcome,” he smiles, sitting in a similar position and nudging his toes against hers with a grin, “I had a feeling you fancied them. Always do when I order chinese for us.” 

“No,” she gulps back the food in her mouth, shaking her head with a soft smile, “I mean, yes. Thank you for buying us a chinese but, thank you for everything. I don’t think you understand how much you’ve done for me over the last few days. I don’t think, uh, I don’t think I could have done all of this without you,” she whispers, a little bashfully as she feels her face heat up.

“I’m your husband. I should be there for you when you need me,” he reaches for her hand and wraps his fingers around hers in a soft hold, shaking it softly and running his thumb over her wedding band, “a few days ago, you did the most wonderful thing. You gave birth to our daughter. Our baby. I’m so proud of you. And I want to show you that in a way that takes little pressure off of you as possible. I really am proud of you, and, I couldn’t be any happier or more in love with you than I am right now.”

“Are you trying to make me cry?” She giggles softly, popping in the rest of her chicken ball and chewing it softly, “because I’ll leak from my boobs and I really don’t want to do that right now. Crying sets them off.”

When they’ve finished off their meals, and the water around them is getting cold and making goosebumps form on their skin, they decide that getting out and cosying up in bed with a sleeping baby in her bassinet and a bunch of telly shows and documentaries that they needed to catch up on from over the last couple of days, dressed in thick sweaters and in an outfit that they deemed to be the most comfortable for them.

But as soon as they dressed themselves, and took a glimpse at their tiny and snoozing baby, they were infatuated with how tiny and fragile she looked as she slept. Worry running through them with the fear that she could stop breathing unexpectedly or wake up suddenly with an uncomfortable belly and a need for comfort by someone who could get to her first. Settling down beside her bassinet, cross-legged and eyes focused on her.

“We finally have her,” Harry whispers, a grin on his lips as the tip of his pointer-finger tickled at the underside of Persephone’s foot, from the base of her toes to the curve of her heel, “she’s here. She’s finally with us. She’s no longer a white smudge on a black photograph. She’s no longer a nudge to the hand or a hiccup. She’s no longer just a bump. She’s a baby. Our little girl. She’s here and making us parents.”

“Here to keep us awake at night and covering us in as much bodily fluid,” she snickers, squeezing his knee, “she’ll poo, wee or vomit on one of us. Or both of us. I can see you walking in with a wee patch on your chest or vomit down your back.” 

“You reckon?” He chuckles, a dimple popping on his cheek, “I don’t think so.”

“You’ll be eating your words,” she teases him.

“Won’t make me love her any less. Poo, wee or sick. She’s still our daughter,” he whispers, “you know, we’ll be dealing with sick so much when she’s much bigger. Milky puke down my back or on my chest won’t be as bad as what we’ll get when she’s a bit older.” xx

[all-sortsa-stuff]

Just One Dinner

Just One Dinner

Pairing: Jim Kirk x Reader

Word Count: 948

Warning: Mild language, and some bit of fluff  (It’s my first try, sorry!)

You were seeing, what felt like, the millionth patient of the day due to the accident in the Botany lab. There had been a newly discovered plant, from a recent away mission, that had been brought aboard and once it had pollinated, released a noxious mist that sent twenty-three crewmen to the medbay for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.  All you wanted now was a quick sonic shower and a change of clothes.  You were supposed to be meeting Jim in thirty minutes for dinner.  You relented after three weeks of begging and one attempt at having Bones convince you.

“Bones, tell her…  Tell [Y/N] she should have dinner with me.  I will make her something delicious.  Then we will have some wine.  It will be great.”  Bones just raised that brow at him.  You could only roll your eyes.

“I don’t need convincing Captain.”

“I told you to call me Jim.”  You took a breath as he interrupted.

“I don’t need convincing, JIM.  I told you I would rather not.”  Bones stood there looking between the two becoming more annoyed the second. He crossed his arms with a huff.

“You do realize this is a medbay and not a damn bar to pick up your next conquest.  We have patients to see, Jim.  [Y/N], you figure it out.  But I’m not listening to his whining anymore.”  Leonard snatched the PADD from you and stomped off to his office grumbling something that should not be heard in good company.  You frowned at his retreating figure as Jim moved close behind you whispering in your ear.  His warm breath causing thrill bumps on your skin.

“It’s just dinner.  Just one little dinner.  If it turns out horrible then I won’t bother you again.  Please?”  Turning to look at him and those damn blue eyes of his.  You narrowed your eyes and pointed a finger at him.  

“Fine.  One dinner and that’s it.  After that, you need to leave me alone.”

“One dinner.  One dinner and you won’t want me to leave you alone Doctor [Y/L/N].”  That signature smirk of his appeared as he started to walk out of the medbay.  “Tomorrow night, 1800 hours, my quarters.  I will be waiting.”

 The time was drawing close and you knew you would be late.  “Dr. [Y/L/N] to Captain Kirk”

“Don’t tell me you are canceling [Y/N].  You agreed to one date.  I promise I am not as bad as the rumors.  Not anymore at least.”

“Oh no.  I am not canceling.  I am running behind.  We had a rush of patients over the last few hours.  I will be an hour late.  I promise I will be there.”

“Good.  Finish up there and I will see you in an hour.  If not, I will come find you.  I promise YOU that.”  The communicator went silent with that.  You took another long breath and went back to your patients.  Hoping you would finish on time.  An anxious feeling started to build in your stomach. Perhaps you were a little excited to have dinner with the Captain.  Now just to get there would be the key.

 Meanwhile, Jim was frantically trying to salvage the mess he had created.  He may have sounded calm through the communicator but calm he was not. The pasta dish he had been assured by Sulu would impress [Y/N] has literally blown up in his face.  He had to take a quick sonic shower, to get the pieces out of his hair, after cleaning up around the small kitchen of his quarters.  Now he was trying to come up with something quick that would taste delicious and not look like he had been in a rush to make it.

That didn’t work either. Luck was not on his side tonight. The next dish he attempted burned as he rushed to set up a romantic table.  When he noticed the burning smell he turned quickly knocking against the table sending the glasses and the flower vase falling to the floor, crashing against the other and smashing into bits.  “What the hell?!  I just wanted this to work.  One nice dinner for this beautiful, smart woman, who is way out of my league, but she said yes. And this is what happens.  Ughhh.”  Jim raked his hands through his hair as surveyed the damage.  The door chirped just then.  Shaking his head, he walked to answer.  As it opened you smiled brightly at him for a second before taking in his sour expression.

“Is everything alright Jim?” He sighed moving to allow you into his quarters.

“Not really.  I had planned this great night and it went right to hell.  Everything is burned, the table is smashed and I know I look like a complete ass. [Y/N] I am sorry.  I wanted so badly to make a good night for you.  Show you I am not who I used to be. Not what everyone seems to think I am.  But it’s okay.  I promise I won’t harass you again about dinner.”  The defeat on his face broke your heart.  He had not been trying to merely bed you.  He had been trying hard to impress you.  You grinned taking two quick steps towards him, pressing your lips lightly against his.  

“Do you still have any of that gut rotting liquor you ‘confiscated’ from Chekov?  I think we both need it tonight.”  The shock on his face slowly turned into the warmest and sincerest smile you had ever seen.  He nodded.

“There is still half a bottle.”

[luciferneedsconsent-blog]

Beekeeping

Castiel’s new beginning 

Characters: [Castiel, Cain, Dean Winchester, Crowley{mentioned}]

Pairing: [none]

Word Count: 1836

Rating: M//PG-13

Prompt: A New Beginning

Trigger Warnings: Major character death, implied depression

Read on AO3

“What are you doing here?” Dean questioned. His lips pulled into a smirk while his eyes flashed black. He held the First Blade tightly in his hand, it being completely stained in a deep red liquid. Although he was much stronger now than when he was a human, Dean fixed his posture to make himself appear his strength against the all-powerful angel.

“You’ve gotten too powerful. You erased the planet. You know why I am here, Dean.” Castiel spoke smoothly. His eyes had turned colors, changing his vessel’s regular blue eyes into a much brighter form. The pupils had turned a light blue, while the edges were a much deeper color. His grace was bubbling in the pit of his vessel’s stomach, urging Castiel to lunge forward, though he stayed back.

Dean twirled the blade in his hand, feeling along each of the sharpened teeth on the blade turning his fingers red as well. “Oh, somebody isn’t happy.” Dean snickered to himself, throwing the blade to the ground and letting it land tip first on the terrain. His eyes returned to normal while his glance shifted from the blade to Castiel, opening his arms widely as if he were going to accept a hug.

Castiel’s heart shattered into a million pieces at Dean’s words. He loved Dean with all of his heart, always protected him when necessary. They had a profound bond, one to break every single barrier across and form of astral and physical plane. “Do you remember when you were human? I made a promise to you, that if you ever got this bad and erased the planet, I would kill you. There’s only two of us now, Dean.” His eyes though piercing, held a certain softness in them. Cass’ features weren’t tight or clenched the way that Dean’s were. Sure, he was livid that he had allowed Dean to get this bad. He was annoyed that Dean had escaped any means of reviving him, but that was in the past, and he had to own up for his mistakes. That’s what his Dean would want. His Dean never wanted to get this bad, and never would if given the chance. But this Dean was completely different. This Dean found peace in killing. This Dean found purity in hurting the little guy. And this was Castiel’s mess to clean up. He knew that much, and it killed him to think about doing the right thing versus the consequence. His Dean never wanted this life, and would never. Castiel owed him that. To save him once and for all.

“And what are you going to do, Cass? Smite me? I’m hopped up on every form of demon blood known to the Earth.” Dean responded, his tongue flicked against his cheek as he awaited a response from Castiel.

Castiel sighed heavily, bowing his head in regret. “No, Dean. I’m going to make you feel penitence.” It was his calling, he knew he had to do it. The grace inside of him coursed all throughout his veins, turning his blood hot with fire as it powered him up like a machine. Castiel’s next movements rivaled the speed of light. As quickly as he could heal someone, he had manifested closer to Dean, grabbing onto the palm of his hand tightly and unleashing every single grain of angels grace he could contain across Dean’s body. The two creatures fought each other, fighting to be the strongest. What could only be described as electricity transferred between the two of them; Dean’s made out of the grime sucked from each crevice of the pit of hell, Castiel’s being the weight of heaven. At the end, there was only one victorious winner. The light of heaven was no match for the demon inside of Dean, sending him falling to the ground. Cass held onto his hand tightly, urging him to get up. But there was no use. Dean had been burned inside and out, his skin turning to ash the second he made landfall. Castiel fell to his knees beside Dean, holding onto the man he once knew. A black smoke surrounded him, and a burning sensation could be felt itching on his skin. Cass’ gaze turned downward, his nails scratching at the burned scar on his forearm. His eyes widened, jaw dropping in surprise. He had contracted the infamous Mark of Cain.

                                                                      ---

Castiel wasn’t the same after Dean’s death, (this being generously put, of course). He had let all care go to the wind. His vessel’s appearance changed drastically. What was once a dashing, young man turned into what could only be described as a deplorable man. He had dark bags underneath his eyes, and the palest skin to ever be seen. His hair was completely askew, tangled in knots and cowlicks far beyond what the eye could see. What was once a neatly trimmed scruff grew into a crabgrass of fur bordering along Castiel’s neck and mouth. Not to mention the tears in his cloth weathered away like the sediment on rocks constantly being hit by salty waves.

Castiel was paying the price of wiping out his only remaining friend. Everything in his being told him to go back and reverse his decision. The Mark whispered to him every waking moment of his now depressed lifestyle. ‘Go back, Castiel. Save him. Bring him back. Let him rise!’ Castiel only ignored the temptation, knowing the Mark had grown fond of its previous owner. As much as it pained him to live a life without his Winchester, he knew he couldn’t return. If he did return to Dean’s death site, he would let his heart take flight and revive the only man who could make him feel every emotion known to the existence of man. So he kept walking. Castiel walked until the soles of his shoes wore out.

As each day went by, the power of the Mark grew stronger than ever. Cass knew it wouldn’t be long before the darkness would start to take her toll on his frail heart, and he sought out help. Though he wasn’t fond of the demon, he had contacted Crowley. He needed the whereabouts of a specific being, and Crowley was the only one to seem to know where to find him. It wasn’t long before Crowley delivered the information to Castiel, and with a heavy heart, Castiel departed, in search of his redemption.

Avidly following the directions he was given, Castiel soon crossed over into a state called Missouri. He walked a few miles, stumbling onto a hidden pathway and to the gravel road. There, he had clearly been expected. A man stood before him, leaning against a wire fence, long hair blowing in the wind. He wore dark clothing from what Castiel could tell, but had facial hair to combat Cass’ own.

“You look weary, traveler.” The man spoke softly. “At least that’s what I would say if I didn’t know any better.” He pushed his back from the fence and stepped over to Castiel, who had clutched at the irritation when it had begun to burn nearing its original owner.

“Please, help me!” Castiel gasped out. The man who knew first hand of its powers grabbed Castiel’s hand, removing it from the scar and looking down at it.  

“It’s just as I thought.” The man spoke, removing his grip from Castiel.

“What can I do?” Castiel’s voice strained to ask, quickly regretting it once a hand had slapped him across his cheek.

“The Mark does as she wants.” The man stated.

“Cain, please!” Castiel begged once more, earning a daggering stare from the man himself.

“What do you want, Castiel?” Cain spat, his eyebrows narrowing on his weakened frame.

“I don’t want this!” Castiel sobbed, eyes turning puffy while his eyes filled with salty tears.

Cain raised an eyebrow, listening closely to what Castiel had to offer. “I can’t live with this burden, Cain! Every hour all I hear is it calling to me!” He fell to his knees, clutching onto Cain’s mighty hand.

Though he was a tough man, he was also a sentimental one. Knowing the mark and her afflictions, Cain pulled Castiel to his feet, a softer look on his features.

“What you need, Castiel, is a new beginning, a new life, if you will.” Cain stated simply.

Castiel’s nose wrinkled in confusion. “Wha-what do you mean?”

Cain released his grip from Castiel once he was able to stand on his own. “Seclude yourself, Castiel.” Cain’s tone was strict, almost demanding as he made his point. “The more people you’re around-though it would be difficult if they weren’t all murdered- the more the mark is going to call for you. It wants blood, Castiel. And if it gets fed, it gets stronger.”

Castiel rolled his lips in, trying to understand.

“You need to take up something simple. Something you enjoy.” Cain stated.

Castiel thought a moment. “What did you do?”

Cain smiled softly, looking over his shoulder and pointing to a few white boxes in the distance. “I keep bees.”

For the first time in a while, Castiel’s eyes lit up. “Show me.”

                                                                  ---

Cain taught Castiel everything he needed to know about Beekeeping. He informed Castiel about how hives should only be placed about three feet or so from whatever garden he wanted pollinated. Bees only travel about five miles for pollination due to any wing damage or weather influences, and that’s why Cain recommended they stay close to the hives. Castiel also learned that bees constantly-mainly the drones- fly in and out of the hives, so keeping them in an area away from animals will result in fewer-if any- stings.

When the student had finally become the master, Castiel parted from Cain and his small abode. The beings bid their ados, and from then on, Castiel had found his own place to stay. He converted the convenience store where he once worked -the same one where Dean had picked him up from- into his own house. Castiel rebuilt it entirely, using spare parts and furniture from other places in the ghost towns surrounding him. Coincidentally, there was a flower shop not too far from where he had created his new house, and he constantly frequented the shop for fertilizers and seeds. He traveled to the nearest bee farms and collected their hives that were overflowing with honey. Cass had attached a trailer to the back of Dean’s old Impala and drove around collecting as many as he could fit around his new environment. His new life wasn’t so shabby, but it was definitely lonely.

[peterconnorsagro-foodblog-blog]

Farmers’ Market Trip 10/5/19

(Post authored 2 days after the trip). 

After the farm trip last saturday, I went to the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ market. Although sponsored by the same group, the Ecology Center, there were many subtle differences between the Saturday and Thursday Farmers’ markets. Right off the bat, the first thing I noticed was three stalls selling hot food. The Thursday market was focused on selling produce, unprepared meats, and baked goods, while this farmers’ market seemed more focused on making a day of going to the market, with hot food and many tables. This market was also much larger, containing many different stalls, a handful of which were also at the Thursday market. This market also brought back the live entertainment (curiously enough, the same violin-playing girl as Thursday), and the childcare section. Other than the hot food and larger size, the farmers’ market was strikingly similar to the Thursday market. Stalls still sold everything from loose produce, to specialty meats, to more niche products, such as beeswax and raw honey. The market still accepted EBT, but the prices on everything but produce were still prohibitively high for someone like me, who is not on EBT, but still can’t justify paying 20$ for a chocolate bar. My first conversation was with a meat vendor from PT Farms. Full disclaimer: I don’t have a kitchen, and would have no way of cooking meat, but I used to work the Whole Foods meat counter, so I’ve always felt a special kinship with the meat dealer. The vendor was selling mostly chicken products, the most interesting of which being chicken feet. I struck up a conversation with the vendor, asking about their farm, especially pertaining to her chickens (I love chicken). The vendor talked about her farm’s regenerative system, where the baby chicks are raised in pens that are rotated around the farm, allowing the chicks to feed regeneratively on different parts of the farm. Once the chickens are grown, they are released to pasture, where they have the freedom to roam. Unlike the farm’s cattle and lamb, which are on regenerative grazing patterns, the farm allows the chickens roam, as their impact on the pasture is not as large. She then began to tell me about her bees, which pollinate her olive trees and lavender field. Although I never thought about it, it makes sense that a farmer would want to cultivate bees, to ensure that their crops get pollinated. Someone got behind me in line, so I thanked her for her time and left. Next, I went to the chocolate stand. I am a big chocolate guy, so I thought it’d be cool to experience the stand with my newfound ESPM 155AC mindset. I asked the attendant where the chocolate was from. She said “I don’t know, I think Peru?” I was pretty surprised that she didn't know the chocolate’s source. Being conditioned to the local food culture of the farmers’ market this stand seemed out of place. She further explained that the CEO of the company visited the farms (plural) personally to ensure that they were fair trade. It turns out that the chocolate stand was a company, and they were at the farmers’ market celebrating their merger with another chocolate company. This felt very off from the surrounding family-operated farms selling local goods, but I tried her weird chocolate drink, which tasted as bitter as black coffee, and was as thick as motor oil, grimaced internally, and thanked her for her time. Lastly, I went to a goat dairy stand, where there was no line. Full disclaimer, I am not a cheese guy, but the stand was open and I didn’t know anything about dairy. I introduced myself, accepted and ate the sample she offered me, and asked her where her farm was. “Santa Rosa,” she said. I asked her if the fires in Santa Rosa, which were a few years back, were really rough for her and her farm. She said although she evacuated, her farm was lucky, but many of her neighbors’ land was burned. She described a harrowing story where people left their pasture gates open before evacuating, allowing the pasture animals to escape, and that the animals, some with burns, were later reunited with their owners in the main town. The sense of community of the town really struck me. Rather than retreating to their own damaged lands, the town came together for the benefit of everyone. Even a farmer such as the one I was talking to, who didn’t lose anything, still pitched in to help those who were not as lucky. After that story, we began having a fascinating discussion about the scale-up economy. She said that as she and her husband got older, her farm was beginning to scale down to ease them into retirement. This has made her farm barely profitable, and she is struggling between scaling back up and retiring completely and finding a different job. She said that the only small farms that survived for a long period of time were those funded by silicon tech multimillionaires. “Maybe that is what the market for small farms will be, just a lot of rich peoples’ passion projects.” I found that to be a shame, this woman clearly loves her farm and enjoys working with animals outside, but she was being pressured by California’s expensive land (she owned her farm’s land). This sounded exactly like the example from lecture, where the dairy was forced to sell his cows when the EU forced the dairy to purchase $100k pasteurizing machines, effectively forcing the dairy to scale up or quit. This woman was being forced to scale up, or retire, and she still didn’t know what choice to make. A person got behind me in line so she thanked me for the conversation and politely booted me out of her stall. After that, I checked out some of the produce, then left. 

[mindthump]

9 Tactics for Promoting Your Next Event http://ift.tt/2zbHS0q

Events, large and small, can be a great way to promote your business, and perhaps turn a profit in the process. I didn’t take the idea of launching an event seriously until I read Joe Pulizzi’s book Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses. Inspired by Pulizzi’s perspective on events as a content marketing tool, my marketing agency launched events in China and Hong Kong to build an audience and our company’s brand in the Asia market. I recently hosted a virtual, online summit with 61 experts on influence like Dave Kerpen, Chris Brogan, Adam Grant, Dorie Clark, and Jonah Berger, and for next year am involved in organizing events in the US and UK.

Organizing an event is hard work, even if it’s relatively small. As a former director of the Hong Kong chapter of Startup Grind, I hosted over 20 events, most with fewer than 100 attendees, but even these minor events were major exercises in project management. One of the greatest challenges to pulling off a successful event is marketing it.

According to Constant Contact, 59 percent of event marketers seek help in finessing their social media strategy. It’s no secret that great artists steal, so an effective way to refine your event promotion strategy is to look to the people who are ahead of the social media marketing curve.

Let’s start with one of the U.S.’s biggest events of the year: the Super Bowl. In 2016, PepsiCo revealed that 40 percent of its budget for the big game went toward digital. Why? Because that’s where the conversations were happening. Pepsi began with the lead-up to the event, which included a 12-day fan countdown on Twitter and a partnered ad with Tostitos featuring Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. During the game, Snapchat provided live footage and real-time content.

What kept the conversation going was Beyoncé’s performance with Coldplay and Bruno Mars, including her first performance of the song “Formation.” Following the performance, Beyoncé immediately released news of her 2016 Formation World Tour. Given the timing, Beyoncé, her tour, and her album were and forever will be linked with the PepsiCo halftime show.

You and I may not have access to the kind of dollars the Super Bowl organizers do, and event promotion, as with any marketing, isn’t as simple as throwing money at a particular form of advertising and hoping for the best. Still, we can learn from organizers large and small how to better market our own events. Here are 9 steps you can take to ramp up your event marketing strategy:

Related: Former Apple and Pepsi CEO John Sculley: Great Marketers Do This

1. Develop a multifaceted marketing plan.

You will never drive the results you want by focusing all your energies on a single platform. Instead, take an approach of organized diversification, starting with email marketing and social media. Create a dedicated hashtag, which will serve as a tracker through every stage of your event. Get your PR team to send out event reminders and take out ads in local newspapers. Most importantly, make sure your website is configured well and that the steps to finding more information about your event are both easy and small in number.

Related: 4 Strategies for a Strong Early Marketing Plan

2. Consider paid ads

Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter are just a few of the many social media platforms that provide paid advertisement services. On a large scale, paid ads can tell you just about anything you want to know about your audience -- including their location, their age, the device they’re using and even the time they’re most likely to be on social media. Though some information might seem insignificant, remember that all of it can be used to keep your customer engaged long after your event ends.

Related: How to Break the Mold of Standard Event Conferences

3. Employ retargeting

Eventbrite, a useful resource for any organization looking to step up its next event, cites retargeting as one of the best tools to get potential attendees off the fence and in the door at your event. Consider retargeting an even more precise approach to paid advertising by specifically focusing on those who have visited your event page but didn’t click “Buy.” Though you might think retargeting is simply a form of pestering, note these statistics: Fifty-nine percent of people have an entirely neutral reaction to retargeted ads, and 30 percent actually react positively to them. Further, retargeting can boost your ad up to 400 percent.

Related: The Price Is Right: Turning a Profit in the Event Planning Business

4. Back up your online efforts with signage.

According to an infographic from Ethos3, 65 percent of the population learns visually, so backing up your event with physical graphics is a surefire way to create even more buzz. Take bluemedia’s work at Super Bowl 50. The national signage company was tasked with creating building wraps, banners, stadium graphics and even branded fences for the game. The reach of the promotional graphics is undeniable -- more than 70,000 people flooded Levi’s Stadium, and CBS reported that more than 167 million people watched Super Bowl 50, making it the most watched event in history.

Related: 12 Organizations Entrepreneurs Need to Join

5. Enlist your presenters.

When I launched my virtual event, Influence Summit, I partnered with virtual summit expert Bailey Richert who helped me create graphics, swipe copy for emails and social media posts, and an affiliate program for speakers so they could easily share the word about the event and profit from it. Nicole Holland, organizer of a similar online event called the Business Building Rockstars Summit, invited the speakers to produce short videos which she promotes on social media, and we speakers promote to our own audiences.

Related: 25 Ways to Market Your New Business on Little or No Money

6. Collaborate with other event organizers.

Rarely is another event a direct competitor to yours, but there are many that are potential partners or collaborators. If you and another event have similar audiences, but cover different topics and don’t compete in terms of scheduling, then there may be a great opportunity to cross-pollinate. “I collaborate with various groups and publications,” says Ariel Shapira, organizer of Video Trends Conference 2018 in Tel Aviv, Israel. “I also collaborate with other events – I don’t see them as competition but as partners – cross publication works very well.”

Related: 4 Great Tips for Planning a (Nearly) Perfect Product Launch Party

7. Host mini “preview” events.

Perhaps no entrepreneurship related organization has taken this as far as Startup Grind, which has hundreds of chapters hosting thousands of local events each year. By the time their annual global event rolls around each year they have thousands of excited attendees lined up to buy tickets.

Related: 7 Factors to Consider with Free v. Paid Public Speaking

8. Create a great event.

Sometimes organizers get so distracted marketing their event they forget that the best marketing is the buzz created by attendees who love the event. "The most important part of event marketing is creating a remarkable event,” says Christopher Kneeland, Co-Founder, The Gathering. “Spend sufficient time and money making sure your event is uniquely compelling. If you do it well, your attendees will do your marketing for you.”

Related: 3 Ways to Secure Impressive People for Your Event

9. Feature your event, even after it’s ended.

Combine pictures taken at your event with promotional photos and posts from attendees who used your hashtag to create a second wave of interest for your brand. By tracking post-event engagement, you’ll be able to gauge the effectiveness of your budget, the ROI earned and simply whether your attendees enjoyed themselves. Also, consider mentioning the partners who helped you with the event by expressing gratitude. Not only will this be karmic, but it will also give those brands the recognition they deserve.

All in all, remember that the above tactics are not the only ones that will bring your event success. Authenticity is the No. 1 driver of consumer engagement, so make sure your event’s offerings align with your brand to create a lasting impression.

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