#also loads of starbucks nearby too

[megan-loves-surveys]

#38.

1) What is your favorite room of your living space? Why? My room, cos all my stuff is in it.

2) What do you wear when you are lounging at home? Depends on the time of the year - in summer I wear shorts and tank tops, in winter comfy pants and a sweatshirt or hoodie.

3) Do you sleep with one blanket or many blankets? I have a duvet and that's it, anything more and I'd sweat to death no matter what time of year it is.

4) Slippers or socks? I get super cold feet so I always have big fluffy winter socks and ugg boots on in the colder weather. Sometimes (like right now) even that's not enough and they're still cold :/

5) What do you do right before you go to sleep? I set my Pokémon Sleep app to sleep mode to track it xD

6) Do you fall asleep right away, or do you need something to help you sleep? like music, drugs, sex��.: It has to be quiet, if I can hear people talking or music somewhere I won't be able to fall asleep. And it has to be not too warm, I sleep far better in winter than in the summer.

7) What is the FIRST thing you do when you wake up? Look at what time it is.

8) Breakfast or no breakfast? Depends.

9) What do you usually have for breakfast, if you do at all? Toast or cereal/muesli.

10) Do you watch t.v. in the morning? Cartoons or news? No, I'll usually just put on a YouTube video of some sort.

11) Shower or bath? Shower

12) Do you make the bed every morning, or just leave it? I make it cos I have loads of plushies that I need to set up on it xD

13) What helps you get going in the morning? Just getting out of bed and getting ready.

14) Do you set an alarm or wake up another way? Alarm, but most of the time I wake up naturally before it even goes off. The only time it actually wakes me up is when I've been super tired.

15) Do you have any rituals you perform before you leave your home for the day? Not really.

name: Megan. birthdate: July 13. birthplace: Auckland. current location: Auckland. hair color/eye color: Blue & purple / green. height: 5'3". boyfriend/girlfriend?: Yep, together for 2 years. siblings?: None. living arrangements: I live with my Mum, but my boyfriend and I live on the same street xD pets: None.

[ <> * % # CURRENTLY <> * % # ]

date: June 28, 2024. time: 3:39pm. hair: It's just down. listening to: Ayumi Hamasaki - I am... (Acoustic Orchestra Version) on tv: It's on downstairs but I dunno what's on. talking to: My Mum, she's in the hallway nearby cleaning the cupboard, lol. # of people on buddylist: - cd in player: I'm shuffling a playlist. people in your house: 2. makeup: None.

1. What is your Name: Megan.

2. What color pants are you wearing right now? Black.

3. What are you listening to right now? The above Ayu song, it has 1:30 left to go cos it's 5:42 lol.

4. Do you wear pajamas to bed? Yes, when it's cold.

5. What was the last thing you ate: Yoghurt.

6. If you were a crayon what color would you be: Purple.

7. How is the weather right now: It was sunny before, but the sun is gone now, it's dull. It's also quite cold.

8. Last person you talked to on the phone? Someone at work.

9. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Their face.

10. Do you like the person who sent this to you: -

11. How are you today: I'm good, it's a public holiday so no work.

12. Favorite Drink: Water or Starbucks frappe.

13. Favorite Alcoholic drink: Jim Beam or Malibu.

14. Favorite Sport(s): Wrestling.

15. Hair Color: Blue & purple.

16. Eye Color: Green.

17. Do you wear contacts: No, I have glasses.

18. Siblings: None.

19. Favorite Month: July.

20. Favorite Food? Mac & cheese.

21. Last Movie you Watched: Hmm... not sure.

22. Favorite Day of the Year: Christmas Day.

23. Are You too shy to ask someone out: Depends.

24. Summer or Winter: Summer.

25. Hugs or Kisses: Both.

26. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate.

27. Something nice about the person who sent this: -

[ Infos ] Name: Megan. Do you like it?: Not really. Nicknames: Mox Girl, MG, Mox, Moxxy/Moxie, Shorty, Meg. Age: 36. Birthday: July 13. Sign: Cancer. Location: NZ. Status: Taken. Crush: My boyfriend and Jon Moxley lol. Virgin?: No. Natural hair color: Blonde. Current hair color: Blue & purple. Eye color: Green. Height: 5'3". Birthplace: NZ. Shoe size: 5. Bra size: 16D lol.

[ Family ] Parents: Margaret & Mike. Siblings: None. Live with: My Mum. Favorite relative: My Mum & Dad equally.

[ Favorites ] Number: 13. Color: Purple. Day: Saturday. Month: July. Song: Right now it's Angelina Mango - La Noia. Movie(s): Hmm. Food: Mac & cheese. Band: Five or Blue. Season: Summer. Sport(s): Wrestling. Class: Computers/IT. Teacher: - Drink(s): Water & Starbucks frappes. Veggie: Potatoes. TV Show: Raw, Smackdown, Dynamite, Big Bang Theory etc. Radio Station: - Store: Converse outlet store. Word: Online, it's probably "lol" or "lmao" xD Animal: Cats. Flower: Tulips. State: NY.

[ This Or That ] Me/You: You, cos you're saying that so that means me lol. Coke/pepsi: Coke. Day/night: Night. Aol/aim: This survey was made like 20 years ago, wasn't it? LOL. Cd/cassette: CD. Dvd/vhs: DVD. Jeans/khakis: Jeans. Car/truck: Car. Tall/short: Tall for guys, short for me. Lunch/dinner: Both. NSYNC/BSB: BSB, but I like *NSYNC too. Britney/Christina: Britney, but Christina is great too. Gap/Old Navy: Old Navy. Lipstick/Lipgloss: Lipgloss. Silver/Gold: Silver. Alcohol/Weed: Alcohol, I don't smoke weed.

[ Love and Relationships ] Do you have a bf/gf?: Yes. Do you have a crush?: Yes. How long have you liked him/her?: Years. If you're single…why are you single?: - How long was your longest relationship?: Over 2 years. How long was your shortest relationship?: 9 months. Who was your first love?: My boyfriend. What do you miss about them?: He's still with me xD

[ The Past ] What is the one thing you would change about your life: I wish I had money to travel and go to wrestling events. What is the biggest mistake you've made in your life?: Hmm. Last thing you heard: A song starting. Last thing you saw: Discord. Last thing you said: "Oh" to my Mum, cos she was saying something about looking for something and it was right in front of her lol. Who is the last person you saw?: My Mum. Who is the last person you kissed?: My boyfriend. Who is the last person you hugged?: My boyfriend. Who is the last person you fought with?: Not sure, prob some random at work. What is the last song you heard?: Atomic Kitten - Nothing In The World

[ The Present ] What are you wearing?: Black yoga pants and a purple Seth Rollins sweatshirt. Oh, and winter fluffy socks and ugg boots. What are you doing?: This survey, listening to music and posting on Discord. Who are you talking to?: Nobody at the moment cos my Mum went back downstairs lol. What song are you listening to?: 愛し子よ- ルルティア Where are you?: In my room. Who are you with?: My Mum is downstairs. Are you online?: Of course. How are you feeling?: Alright. Are you in a chatroom?: No.

[ Future ] What day is it tomorrow?: Saturday. What are you going to do after this?: Prob go play something on Steam. Who are you going to talk to?: Depends. Where are you going to go?: I might go see my boyfriend later. How old will you be when you graduate?: I already did, years ago. What do you wanna be?: Hmm. What is one of your dreams?: To travel. Where will you be in 25 years?: Who knows.

[ Have You Ever ] Drank?: Yes. Smoked?: Cigarettes, yes. Weed, no. Had sex?: Of course. Stolen?: No. Done anything illegal?: Probably. Wanted to die?: No. Hit someone?: Jokingly, yes lol.

[ Other ] Do you write in cursive or print?: No clue. Are you a lefty or a righty?: Lefty. What is your sexual preference?: Bi. What piercings do you have?: None. Do you drive?: I have my learner's, but that's about it. Do you have glasses or braces?: Glasses. Did you like this survey?: Sure.

[ Physical Appearance ] What do you most like about your body?: My hair and my boobs. And least?: My stomach. How many fillings do you have?: None. Do you think you're good looking?: I'm average. Do other people often tell you that you're good-looking?: Not often, but it happens lol. Do you look like any celebrities?: Not really.

[ Fashion ] Do you wear a watch?: I have a FitBit if that counts. How many coats and jackets do you own?: No coats, but I own a leather jacket and a bunch of hoodies. Favorite pants/skirt color?: Black, blue or purple. Most expensive item of clothing: If shoes count, then my Converse collection. I have almost 20 pairs xD Most treasured?: Of my clothes? Again, Converse if shoes count. Otherwise, my entire wrestling shirt collection cos a lot of them you can't buy anymore. What kind of shoes do you wear?: Converse lol - the only time I don't wear them is at work where I wear heels and when it's super hot, cos then I'll break out the flip flops instead xD Describe your style in one word: Casual.

[illuminiscentboba]

HQ BOYS PICKING YOU UP FROM SCHOOL

feat; aran, hinata, sakusa, osamu, & suna

a/n; i was in the middle of ‘tsumus and gave up 😭 he deserves better

masterlist & my inbox is open for chatting :) !! pick a number from this list & a character if you want to make a request :D doing prompts atm :)

HINATA: he would have a big smile as he waits for you, drinks from the nearest starbucks or even homemade smoothies if he had the chance head home. he loves the way you go from trudging down the steps and brighten, smiling so big yourself when you see him at the base of he stairs. he's waving as you come close quick to pull you into a hug or a kiss on the cheek smiling into the crook of your neck. if you live nearby he's more than happy to walk you home (he's always been an outside guy) and so you guys usually go the longer way along a nice nature path as you guys chat. he offers to give you a piggy back ride and carries your things and has almost went home with your bag because of that many times lol

ARAN: he loves going out to see you and pick you up from school, often buying food or snacks because you sometimes come out pretty drained. oh and random things that reminded him of you like this cute hair clip he slid into your hair when after you excitedly asked him to. he finds the attention he attracts when he waits for you, all drabbed up at the entrance hilarious and tells you the reactions as you guys head down the steps, grinning with amusement at your laughter. you guys sometimes drop by quieter less busy cafes (the ones with the comfy seats) just because you guys like the vibes there and sort of unwind and catchup, holding hands across the table, the other hand moving about as you tell your story and he smiles, nodding along.

OSAMU: osamu loves bringing random snacks for you when he comes, whether its something he put time into making or a small snack to eat now or later when your studying. he also sends you a text that he's there, perking up when he sees you. he's all smiles when he plant a kiss on your forehead, "hey sweetheart, ready to go?" he'll try to get you to let him hold your bag only to hunch forward in reaction to its weight. "Oof, what the heck did you put in here, a ton of bricks?! are they trying ta kill ya?!" that only makes him want to take the load off your shoulders even more, taking you through the park so he can give you a top grade 'miya massage' and for the two of you to sit on the bench and chat or catch your breath after jokingly racing there.

SAKUSA: omi is fond of being there to walk home with you when he can, or even waiting in his car, a small unconscious smile on his face when he sends you a message telling you that he was there. If there aren't too many students around or groups, you'll more often than not find him standing off to the side, in one of those kdrama coats, unbothered and intimidating in an attractive way. That is until he sees you and he starts to smile as you approach, already asking you how your day was. When you guys get to the car, he takes your hand, and presses a kiss to your knuckles and sharing a kiss on the lips with you before pulling out of the driveway on his way to his place so that you guys could eat the lunch he set up together while it was still hot.

SUNA: honestly, suna has too much fun waiting for you. he'll let you know he's there and then wait for you out of sight so that he could sneak behind you, surprising you with a back hug, arms wrapped loosely around your shoulders or waist. "hey babe, you were takin' too long so I came up here myself." he'd go, even on days you come on time, (rin and his excuses 🙄) though he often waits at the base of the stairs with ear buds in, taking them out and holding out a hand when your finally in front of him. he loves it when you link arms with him as you guys head to his car and he feeds you drama, this time about how "'tsumu tripped and fell on his face on live television earlier today" and then before you know it he's pulling into the nearest drive thru, your order spilling from his lips.

[master-sass-blast]

Children of the Gods: Part Three, Chapter One.

AT LONG LAST, THE PLOT FICS ARE BACK, BAY-BEE!!! AND B O Y ARE WE KICKING OFF WITH A DOOZY!!!

As you can see by the title: this is chapter one of three for this fic; I had to chop it up due to length.

Also, this fic as a whole makes for my 100th part of the CHC! I feel like I should do something to celebrate. Let me know if y’all have any suggestions.

Summary: It's been months since anyone's seen or heard of Allison Ricci. At last, you think the storm might be over. 

And then Karen Page gets kidnapped again.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, and Frank Castle x Karen Page.

Rating: M for kidnapping, attempted murder, attempted suicide, canon-typical violence, gun violence, and depictions of injury. Like I said, we’re kicking off with a doozy.

Word Count: 4.9k.

Set after “Children of the Gods: Part Two.”

Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @super-darkcloudstudent, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @leo-writer, @emma-frxst, @sadstone-s

There’s no mention or sighting of Allison for nearly six months. Every trail you had for her before goes stone cold. The apartment is cleared out and abandoned. She doesn’t show up in the fighting rings, and even Karen and Frank don’t report anyone following them.

You start to wonder if she died for good this time. That maybe she revived and got herself and her mentor out, but didn’t survive after that.

(You wonder who’ll bury her body, if she’ll be lain to rest next to her family or in a random patch of ground somewhere.)

The storm seems to be over.

And then Karen gets kidnapped again.

***

Wade and Nathan are the ones that technically call it in –by showing up on your doorstep with Frank in tow.

“Allison’s back,” Nate says when your eyes bug out of your head. “Figured Xavier would want to have his people try and round her up, rather than there being an issue with mutant control.”

You blink rapidly, then nod. “Uh… yeah. Let me call Piotr.”

***

The perks of being on a technically-special-law-enforcement team with fancy jets: you can get to the scene a hell of a lot faster than conventional authorities.

You, Wade, Nathan, Frank, and Piotr meet up with Illyana, Mikhail (the two Rasputin siblings are there to “assist” with Allison’s specific powers, considering how things went last time), and Neena in the mall parking lot. After a brief rundown of the plan –get the civilians and Karen out of harm’s way, then detain Allison before the actual cops show up—you all split up and head in through the four major entry points.

The mall is packed when you walk in –go figure, it’s a weekend. Shoppers stroll from shop to shop, vendors at the pop up stands call out to passersby, music plays on the overhead speakers.

“The picture the kid sent me had a pretzel stand in the background,” Frank growls through the speaker in your earpiece.

“Food court, then,” Neena replies –in perfect, crystal clear audio, no less. “The kiosk map doesn’t show too many food stands outside there.”

Illyana tugs on your sleeve and directs you to the left. “We are close.”

You dodge to avoid a cluster of shoppers. “There’s a lot of people here. If she –if she has… weapons, like last time—”

“We’ll deal with it,” Nathan growls over the comms system before softly reprimanding Wade for trying to detour into Hot Topic. “Our goal right now is to capture Allison before she escapes again.”

“Civilian lives still matter,” Piotr insists before putting a hand on the small of your back to usher you around a “Wet Floor: Caution” sign. He’s armored down, but he’s wearing his X-Men suit under a black sweatshirt. “We must consider their well-being.”

“And if we tell them they’re in danger, we’ll make a panicked stampede, and that won’t help us or anyone else,” Nate says tersely. “Just stay calm. Our best bet is to try and talk Allison down without alerting anyone around us.”

“If she tries to hurt Karen—" Frank grits out.

“We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get there,” Nathan declares, tone permitting no room for argument.

The lot of you round another corner, passing by a shop that boasts having “all the latest console games at all the best prices” and a Victoria’s Secret—

“I see her,” Neena says. You hear thuds her footsteps pick up, and a second later you see her jog around a Starbucks stand and head down the hall to the food court. “Twelve o’clock, dead center of the court.”

Twenty meters away, sitting at a little food court table, are Allison and Karen; the former is dressed in all black, leaning back in her seat while staring down the latter –who, all things considered, doesn’t seem too much worse for wear.

Frank inhales sharply, then appears through the crowd a few minutes later, walking so fast he’s practically running. “Too many people here.”

“We’ll talk her down,” Nathan says, rounding the corner nearest the Macy’s with Wade.

Illyana tenses, then grabs your arm before breaking into a run. “We need to move. She has seen Castle.”

Sure enough, Allison’s scowling. She shoves her chair back hard enough to knock it into the table behind her; she stands, ignoring the complaints from the nearby diners. Her eyes start glowing blue as she glares at Frank.

“Ah, shitfarts,” Wade grumbles.

“Everyone down!” Nathan bellows before yanking Frank back and erecting a telekinetic shield.

A massive shockwave of blue energy erupts across the food court, sending shoppers and tables alike flying into the air. The glass, domed skylight over the food court shatters, raining shards of windows and broken lights down on the panicked, shrieking bystanders.

Illyana erects a shield before the shockwave can hit the rest of you. She grits her teeth as debris and a few of the shoppers closest to the epicenter bounce off it, tumbling along the tiled floor. “Still think we will ‘talk her down?’”

No, you think, gulping when you realize that some of the blast victims aren’t getting up. I think we’re well past that.

“Karen!” Frank charges towards Allison, shotgun –loaded with bean bag rounds—in hand. “Get down!”

Karen dives behind a toppled table.

Illyana charges at Allison, clothes shimmering as they morph into black body armor. She leaps over an overturned table, then extends her hand and fires a blue bolt of magical energy at the younger girl.

Allison ducks. She stumbles briefly, but quickly rights herself. She grits her teeth, then screams as she unleashes a volley of azure-colored energy blasts at Illyana.

“Go! Get out!” Piotr waves a few stragglers –with their phones out to film the ruckus, go figure—away. He ducks another round of fire from Allison, then armors up and strides towards her. “That is enough—” 

Allison whips her head to the side, then back at Illyana. She quickly fires a blast at Illyana –successfully knocking the older girl off her feet, then turns and unleashes a beam of blue energy square into your husband’s chest.

Piotr sails into the food court’s Subway stand with a groan and a resounding clang.

You cram down the urge to run after your husband –he’ll be fine, he’s taken a lot worse before—and focus on the fight at hand.

Nate, Wade, and Frank are pinned down; they’re using some trash can stands as cover, but Allison’s got enough firepower to keep them from risking getting any closer.

Piotr and Illyana are both down for the time being; your husband’s tangled up with the condiments trays, while the youngest Rasputin’s on the floor, groaning.

Neena’s working the perimeter, getting shoppers out while setting up to flank Allison from behind.

And Mikhail’s… disappeared—

No, there he is, you think when you see him blink into existence. You let out a short sigh of relief when you see him take Karen’s hand and teleport to a safer distance, then do a short run before launching yourself in the air. Alright, let’s get the boys some cover.

Allison’s head jerks back as she follows your trajectory. Her eyes glow, bits of blue smoke wafting off at the corners, and then she fires another bolt of energy at you from her eyes.

You flit out of the line of fire, then fling an arc of wind at her.

Allison topples onto the tile floor. She yelps, then disappears into the ground to avoid being ensnared in one of Illyana’s spells. She pops back up a few feet away moments later—

Just in time to see Wade duck behind an overturned table.

Your brother snarls, cursing and panicking when Allison renders the table to a pile of ash with a flick of her wrist. “Something tells me that murder baby’s leveled up!”

“Gee!” You holler back. “What was your first hint!”

“Go!” Nathan hollers when Allison uses a bolt of magical energy strong enough to rip through several store fronts. He waves Karen and Frank off. “Get out of here! We’ve got this!”

Allison whirls. She bares her teeth when she sees Frank and Karen escaping, then slaps her palm against the food court floor.

Brilliant, bright streaks of azure energy zip along the floor, twinkling against the tiles before disappearing a few feet ahead of Karen and Frank.

The floor –from edge to edge of the hall, leaving no area untouched—crumple into ash, leaving a pit more than twenty feet deep. The ground between the doors behind Allison and the girl in question evaporate as well, along with the spaces in front of the emergency exits.

“Just when I left my rock climbing gear at home,” Wade grumbles, sounding somewhat winded.

Allison charges towards Karen and Frank, rendering tables, chairs, and random debris to ash as she runs to get a straight shot. She knocks Wade off his feet with via chucking a bolt of energy at him, forces you to duck behind a Pizza Hut counter with another one—

And then runs smack into Mikhail when he teleports right in front of her.

Mikhail wraps his arms around her, then leans back so he clears her feet off the ground. He stumbles a little while Allison rages and snarls. “Got her!”

Allison swears –then twists and drives her heel into Mikhail’s crotch.

Mikhail drops. He curls in on himself, groaning. “Kroshechnyy kon'… O Bozhe, moi yaytsa.”

Allison tumbles to the ground. She dodges more wind strikes from you, then lets out a feral snarl as she charges towards Frank and Karen.

Frank yanks Karen behind him, then shouts as he barrels towards Allison.

He has no game plan. You can see it in his eyes.

You vault yourself over the Subway counter, intent on tackling Allison, or knocking her over with a wind slice, or –something.

Before you can do anything, a blue circle forms around Allison, glowing brightly before expanding into a domed shield.

Allison skitters to a stop. Her dark curls jerk and bounce as she looks around wildly. She seethes, then launches a blast of energy at the shield, only for it to bounce off the veil of energy harmlessly.

A few feet away, Illyana lowers her hand. She smirks. “There. Much better.”

“Will –will that hold her?” Karen asks, voice rough and shaky.

“Until we can find way to transport, da.” Illyana reaches up her sleeve, then pulls out a spell book. “I have potent sleep spell. Will take but moment to find proper runes for casting.”

Behind you, Piotr groans as he finally disentangles his head from a –now very crushed—oven. He staggers, shakes himself, then turns and sags with relief when he sees Allison in the shield bubble. “Oh. Good.”

“Are you okay?” You jog over to him as he armors down and all but collapses into a nearby booth. “Babe? What’s wrong?”

“Ears are ringing.” He groans and clutches his head in his hands. “I hit my head very hard.”

You rub his shoulders, reassuring yourself as much as you are him. You can only imagine where else he’s hurt if Allison managed to concuss him while in defense mode. All you want now is to get back to Xavier’s so your husband can get the medical treatment he needs. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be—”

The ground shakes.

You steady yourself on the booth opposite Piotr –then suck a breath between your teeth when it happens again, harder than before. “Shit.” You whip your gaze back to Illyana. “What’s—”

You see Illyana, teeth gritted and eyes glowing blue as she holds both her hands towards the shield. 

You see Nathan, Neena, and everyone else slowly backing away from the dome of energy.

And, inside the containment bubble, you see Allison, flinging attack after attack at the walls of the shield.

Your eyes widen when you watch Allison unleash a sustained burst of energy at the shield walls. Fuck.

Glowing, white cracks form along the shield.

Oh holy fuck.

“Get down!” Neena screams.

Piotr all but tackles you –despite his head injury—to the floor just as the shield gives way. He armors back up, then covers your body with his.

Magic energy explodes through the food court, flinging the remaining tables and chairs into the walls. All the windows –in the skylights, the automatic doors, and the nearby shops—blow out, spraying glass everywhere. The ground shakes, cracking and dissipating into clouds of ash in various places.

Allison crawls out of the crater left by her explosion. She pants, shoulders heaving with each breath. Her mouth tugs into a fierce scowl; her eyes glow so brightly that they’re almost white.

Cracks form on the ground next to her, glowing white and smoking. They widen into gaping holes, with vortexes of energy swirling inside them.

And then these… beasts crawl out of them. Snarling, slobbering monsters with fangs the size of your arm. Their claws shatter the tiles underneath their massive paws. Their eyes glow red, not unlike hellfire. They almost look like wolves, if wolves had crossbred with the Hulk and had ichor and tar dripping off their skin.

Your jaw drops. “What the…”

Mikhail lets out a whoop. “Puppies!”

“Do puppies normally look like they want to turn humans into sausages?” Wade yelps, skittering out of reach when one of the hellhounds lets out a howl that sends a plume of fire into the air.

Illyana swears up a storm. She flicks her wrist, summoning the Soul Sword to her hand.

Before she can do anything else, though, one of the hellhounds charges her, knocking her off her feet and into one of the nearby shops.

“Snezhinka!” Piotr shoves himself to the feet, armors up, and barrels off after his sister –with Mikhail hot on his heels.

The other hellhound stalks towards Neena, Wade, and Nathan. It growls, acid dripping from its teeth and onto the ground, corroding whatever it touches.

“Should’ve worn the brown pants,” Wade groans. “Okay –anyone got a plan?”

“Duck!” Neena shouts when the hound unleashes another fiery howl.

You don’t duck –or run, or attack, or anything useful. No, you freeze, torn between going after your husband and siblings-in-law, helping protect Wade, Neena, and Nate, or trying to get Karen and Frank away from Allison.

Speaking of which…

Allison is lobbing bolts of energy at Frank and Karen; she’s closing in on them fast, quickly cornering them against the crater she’d made between the food court and the rest of the wall.

Frank whisks Karen behind his back. “Hey, hey, hey!” He extends a hand towards Allison in some sort of desperate attempt to get her to stop. “Just calm the fuck down!”

“Go to hell!” She rears back for another attack –and there’s no cover, nothing for Frank or Karen to hide behind or grab onto—

The choice makes itself for you.

You jump over the booth Piotr had pulled both of you behind and whip a wall of wind at her.

The blast launches her off her feet. She shrieks, sailing behind a pile of rubble before disappearing from view.

“Come on!” You leap over to Karen and Frank. The sounds of the hellhounds are too close for comfort –and, judging by Wade’s shrieks, the general amounts of swearing, and Piotr’s groans of exertion, the beasts are winning. “Let’s get out of here.” You get an arm around Karen, then start to put one around Frank, intent on lifting them over the crater and flying them out of here—

There’s a scream, and then a thin, whip-like strand of blue energy wraps around Frank’s neck.

His eyes go comically wide as he flies backwards. He lets out a choked shout, then groans –guttural and rough—when he hits the ground.

Allison stalks towards him. Her teeth are bared, and she looks entirely done with the situation. …And then she pulls a knife out of her jacket pocket.

You level another blast of air in Allison’s direction.

She manages to deflect it with a shield, then fires a volley of energy bolts at you and Karen.

Karen dodges.

You don’t.

You careen into the crater, narrowly dodging exposed bits of steel bar reinforcement and some leaking water lines before hitting rock hard dirt. You grunt, wind going out of you as you crumple against the ground. Fuck.

The hellhounds are still snarling nearby. You can still hear their ghoulish howls, accompanied by the crackling roar of the fire they unleash with each snap. Above the hellish din, Wade’s swearing and shrieking about his ass, Nate’s firing his future gun, Illyana and Mikhail are arguing—

Dammit. You shove yourself to your feet, panting and swearing the entire time. Once you’re upright, you launch yourself to the mall floor—

Which is when a new sound makes itself known to you.

Frank is screaming. That in and of itself isn’t unusual –he does it quite often—but now he’s doing it on his back, hands wrapped around Allison’s forearms, trying to keep her from sinking her knife blade into his right eye.

You’d think it wouldn’t be much of a fight –but she’s winning. She’s using her powers for leverage against Frank’s strength. You wouldn’t think a teenager with arms like noodles would have a shot, but Frank’s arms are shaking as Allison slowly, inexorably, pushes the knife towards his head. 

Frank shouts –and Allison shrieks right back at him; she sounds like a pissed off barn owl.

You stumble forward, wincing and collapsing to your knees when your left leg screams in protest. Shit.

Allison bares her teeth at Frank –and then she freezes. Her body goes stiff. Her eyes roll into the back of her head –and then she collapses against the ground, limp as a ragdoll.

Karen Page stands behind her, stun gun in hand. She lets out a hard breath when Allison drops against the ruined tile floor, then turns the stun gun off and reaches to help Frank up. “You okay?”

He grunts by way of response.

Allison starts squirming against the ground, trying to push herself upright.

She yanks the barbs and wires connecting her to Karen’s stun gun out of her shoulder, seething and snarling all the while. She staggers to her feet, lurching wildly as she tries to regain control over her body. She whirls, dark curls flinging back and forth with abandon.

Frank snaps into action. He immediately throws Karen behind him, forcing her back and away as Allison storms towards them. He holds one hand out, keeping some space between him and the teen. His gaze snaps back and forth, searching wildly for some sort of obstacle to put in her path or some sort of cover to duck behind—

There’s a dull thud, and then Allison lets out a choked shout as she tumbles to the ground.

Behind her, standing in the wreckage of one of the shops, Neena lowers the repression cuff gun your dad created to help capture rogue mutants.

You bend over, panting as you brace your hands against your knees. “Cool. Awesome. Holy shit.”

The snarling of the hellhounds disappears, too; the only sign they were there to begin with are the mounds of ash they leave behind. 

Slowly, your dad, Wade, and the Rasputin siblings come staggering out of the surrounding shops.

You sidle up next to Piotr, who’s already armoring down and looks beat to hell. You nod at him when he nods to you, then focus on the scene at hand.

Allison crouches on the floor. She snarls, yanking at the repression cuff on her wrist.

“Okay –ow, fuck!” Wade cringes as he resets his dislocated arm, then limps towards Allison. “Alright, murder baby. I’ve been chewed on, used as a tug toy, had a shop light fall on my nuts, and I’m pretty sure my third cervical vertebra is never going to feel whole again. Your whole ‘vengeance blood lust’ was pretty cute, but I draw the line at spinal reconfiguration. Time for you to head over to Xavier’s Home for Extraordinary Children and do group fucking therapy like the rest of the X-Dweebs.”

Allison bares her teeth at him, then kicks him square in the crotch.

Wade shrieks, doubling over and dropping to the floor. He curls into a fetal position, whimpering over his “dangly unmentionables.”

“Enough, Allison,” Nathan grits out. He uses his telekinesis to drag her across the floor, steadily sliding her towards him. “It’s done. Let it go.”

“Eat –eat shit!” Allison scrabbles against the floor, searching for a handhold –then snags a loose gun (most likely dropped by Mikhail at some point) and fires at Nathan. She struggles to her feet when he ducks –breaking the telekinetic hold—then whirls and aims at Frank.

“No!” Karen flings herself in front of Frank –which results in a lot of protesting from him—and holds out a hand. “Allison, no! Killing him isn’t what you want!”

“Like hell it is!”

“No, it isn’t. He’ll be dead and you’ll be in jail, and you’ll still have all your anger with no outlet for it,” Karen insists, voice ragged. She fixes Allison with a hard stare. “Let it go, Allison. Killing him won’t change anything.”

Allison sneers. “Fuck you. Like this is about ‘change!’ My family’s never coming back, and I have to live with that every single day. I have to remember waking up to them being gone, to their brains on the walls, to his—” she whips the gun wildly to point at Frank “—stupid graffiti tag on the floor. No, fuck you! I’m the one who has to go through the nightmares and the loneliness and the grief and has to bury my family! I don’t care that this won’t change anything. I’ll feel good for five seconds, and that’s better than the past few months have been!”

Your stomach clenches. Shit.

Frank gulps. Eyes shining, he steps out in front of Karen –even though she tries to stop him—and puts himself right in Allison’s line of sight. “You want me dead? Do it.”

“Frank,” Nathan says, voice sharp with warning.

“Pull the trigger,” Frank says, stepping closer as Allison’s hands shake. “Take me out. I killed your family. I did the same thing to you that happened to me. I’m a hypocrite; I deserve it.”

Allison seethes, body trembling as Frank slowly approaches her. “I will! I’ll do it!”

“Pull the trigger,” Frank says, voice soft and thick with emotion. “Do it, kid. Take me down if you want it so bad.”

Wade pushes himself off the ground. “Castle, I swear to God—”

Allison growls –and lowers her gun. She sobs, shoulders slumping. She falls to her knees, body shaking with each gasping breath she takes. “You couldn’t just… kill me? Do me the favor of not having to live without them?”

Frank flinches, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows reflexively. “I don’t do shit like that, kid.”

Allison looks up at him –and her gaze sharpens. She smiles, sharp and manic. “Oh. So that’s what it takes to break you.”

And then she put the muzzle of the gun under her chin.

“No!” You fling yourself at Allison, colliding with her before she can pull the trigger. You tackle her to the ground, wrenching the gun out of her hands before hugging her tight against your chest. “No, sweetheart. No. No, no, no—”

Allison shrieks. Tears stream down her face once more. “Just let me die! Please! Why won’t any of you just let me die!”

You shush her gently, rocking her back and forth. You cast your gaze over your shoulder, looking to Piotr.

He’s scrubbing at his face with his hand. He meets your gaze, eyes widening before he shrugs, as though to say, “I don’t know how to handle this, either.”

“Okay.” Nathan crosses the distance to you and Allison. He crouches behind her, cuffing her hands behind her back before helping her and you stand. “Alright, kiddo. Let’s… let’s get you some rest. Okay?”

“I –I need Ar-Artemis,” Allison sobs. Her body heaves with each step she takes. “I need Artemis, I need her—”

“Okay, munchkin,” Wade says as he walks Allison in the direction of the jet. “We’ll get her called for you. Do you have her number? Anyone else you want us to call?”

“My law-lawyer.”

“That checks out.”

You hang back, letting Wade take over. You feel fried; pain aside, your mind is utterly void, a swirling mass of black and gibberish and too much and screaming and—

Neena hooks her arm around yours. She smiles at you when you look up at her, then gently ushers you after Wade and the others. “Come on. Let’s get back to the mansion.”

***

“I’m gonna fucking murder you, Castle!”

You wince as another angry shriek bounces off the walls of the jet’s cabin. You’re sitting on one of the benches, injured leg propped up on your husband’s lap.

Allison snaps and rages as Mikhail, Neena, and Wade try to buckle her in; somewhere during the walk to the jet, she’d switched from broken weeping to insurmountable rage once more.

Next to you, Frank keeps his eyes trained on the ground. He’s got an arm around Karen, who’s watching Allison in cautious silence.

“You’re fucking dead! I will hang you up by your fucking intestines! I’ll put your fucking sniper scope up your ass, you emo wannabe piece of shit!”

Wade snickers. “‘Emo wannabe piece of shit.’ Good one.”

Now that you’re up close to her, you can see just… how not well she’s doing. Dark bags hang under her eyes, stark against her pallid skin. Her cheeks and neck are gaunt –and, under her dark clothes and slapdash body armor, you suspect the rest of her body tells a similar story of grief and an inability to cope.

Who could cope, with everything she’s been through? The only person in this jet who has a similar understanding is the one that put her family in the ground –and he did that to cope with losing his own family and being shot in the head, so that pretty much says how well he’s doing, technically speaking.

Piotr squeezes you gently when you sigh. “We are almost home.”

Not close enough, you think as Allison all but foams at the mouth while she hurls insult after insult at Frank.

Wade rears back, shaking his hand. “Not the middle one! I need that one! Motherfucker!”

Allison spits his finger out of her mouth. She plants her feet, then tries to launch herself at Frank again.

“Enough!” You stand, careful to keep your weight off your bad leg. “You’re in a jet and you don’t have use of your hands. Either let yourself be buckled in or we’re sedating you!”

“This is bullshit,” Allison growls, even as she lets Neena and Mikhail sit her down and strap her in. Her eyes never leave Frank. “He’s the one who killed my family, and I’m the one in handcuffs.”

You march over to Allison as best you can. You’re not sure what your face looks like right now, but given the way she shrinks back you’re certain you look pissed. You plant your hands on the wall behind her, one on either side of her head, then lean in until you’re almost nose to nose with her. “You’re handcuffed,” you spit out between gritted teeth, “because you tried to kill yourself in that mall. The restraints are for your own safety; they have nothing to do with Frank.”

“But he—”

“Isn’t in our jurisdiction,” you tell her, voice hard. “We picked you up because you’re a mutant engaging in criminal activity. It was either us or the DMC, and if it’d been them, you’d be in the Icebox or dead. Frank only came because you kidnapped his girlfriend –and, frankly, it’s reasonable that he’d want to come along to save her.”

The dark-eyed teen pouts up at you. “But –my family—”

“Is gone,” you finish, voice softer now. You lean back a little so you’re not so in her space. “And I’m sorry you lost them, Allison. I really am. What Frank did was wrong. But you can’t keep on this path. You’re endangering yourself, and you’re endangering the rest of the community by reinforcing the belief that mutants are dangerous through your actions.” You straighten up. “If you don’t calm down, we’re going to have to lock you in one of the changing rooms until we’re at the mansion. Do you want that?”

She glowers, but shakes her head.

“Neither do I—”

“We can go into one of the changing rooms.” Karen stands, and Frank stands with her. She flashes you a sympathetic, appreciative smile when you look at her. “We’ll be fine in there.”

You heave an internal sigh of relief when Neena ushers Frank and Karen into one of the changing rooms, then slides the door shut.

Allison glares after Frank. She sniffs, chin trembling. “He killed my family. I woke up and –and they were gone.”

“I know, sweetheart.” You smooth her hair away from her face as she starts crying again. “I know.

“I want Artemis,” she sobs, skinny shoulders shaking with each breath she takes. “My phone –on my phone—”

“We’ll make sure we call her for you,” you reassure her as you stroke her hair. You grimace as she collapses –as much as the seatbelt lets her—against you, weeping against your neck. You hold her as best you can, trying to ignore the twinges in your leg or the creeping sense of ‘we’re in over our fucking heads… again’ crawling up your spine. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

[beatlesdumpsterfire]

For @pushmipulluridesagain's prompt:

The Beatles go to Target

Brian should have known better than to give the boys the day off, completely unsupervised. Even John, Paul, George, and Ringo were shocked. In fact, they were so shocked that they couldn’t think of a single thing to do to fully take advantage of Brian’s huge mistake.

So, they found themselves in the sitting room of George’s flat, staring around at each other with blank looks plastered across their faces. Finally, John was the one to break the silence with a suggestion:

“Why don’t we go to Target?”

It wasn’t the most exciting option out there, but it sure was something, and it was a lot better than sitting around like their wax figures at Madame Tussauds. None of the other boys had any better ideas to offer, so that was that. Before Brian could change his mind, they all piled into George’s car and sped off to their local Target.

“Are we looking for anything specific?” Paul asked the car. Ringo turned around from the passenger seat and grinned back at Paul.

“It doesn’t matter if there’s something specific we’re looking for, we’re bound to walk out with a cart full of things we didn’t even know we needed.”

“I once went to Target looking for a screwdriver and I came out with an inflatable lawn decoration,” George mused. “I don’t think I’ve even taken it out of the box though.”

“There’s something about Target, it just sucks you dry,” Paul thought aloud. He paused for a second and quickly turned to John, who was obviously on the verge of making a bad joke. “Don’t you dare say it,” Paul warned him.

John luckily listened, which saved him from a hefty slap from Paul, and instead shared some wisdom he had picked up from a TikTok he saw the other day.

“You know, I heard somewhere that you can steal a certain amount of stuff from Target and they won’t stop you. They keep track of what you take, but they’ll only pull the authorities in when you’ve surpassed a certain dollar amount of stolen goods. It’s so they can charge it as a serious felony, I think.”

“Huh,” Ringo thought aloud. “So I could steal just under that amount and waltz out of the store?”

“I doubt it’s that black and white,” Paul interjected. “If they catch you taking something, they’re bound to stop you, right?”

“Why don’t we test it, lads?” John grinned. Paul let out a groan; he should have seen where that conversation was going. He had been a fool to assume they were going to take an innocent trip to Target.

“I’m game,” George said from behind the steering wheel. “We were bound to do something stupid today, I’m glad we figured out what that was.”

“Sounds like fun,” Ringo chirped happily. “I’ve never stolen anything before.”

“You haven’t either, have you, Paul?” John teased Paul.

“I have too,” Paul murmured. He had pocketed a single bean from the grocery store when he was 5 and, while his mom made him return the bean to one of the employees working there, he still felt it counted.

John could see straight through Paul’s fib, but he was confident that his mate would participate, as much as he acted like he was against it. Knowing that they were all on board to rob a Target got John feeling especially energized: he couldn’t wait to kick capitalism in the shins.

“Let’s make a competition out of it, Lads,” he announced, clapping his hands together. “30 minutes on the clock, whoever comes out with the most impressive collection of items wins.”

“What’s the prize?” George asked.

“Bragging rights,” John decided. None of the other boys were especially happy about that but, considering they were going to rob a store, they were all already kind of winning something in a sense.

“And one last thing,” John added, “if you get caught, you’ll be disqualified.”

“That’s straight-forward enough to me,” George nodded as he turned into the Target parking lot. “We’ll meet back at the car once our 30 minutes is up then?”

“Yeah,” John said.

“You’re going to get your asses handed to you!” Ringo cackled, unbuckling his seatbelt and rushing into the store before anyone could even set a timer. Paul, John, and George all exchanged tired glances; they knew Ringo was about to do something stupid.

And, of course, they were right. Ringo tore into the Target, the bell dinging above his head as he scanned around the store, his heart beating up into his throat with a wild look in his eyes. He needed to prove to his mates that he could be the best thief out there, one that was bound to earn their utmost respect. Ringo hadn’t really listened to the rules all that much, but he felt that he got the overall gist of the competition: he just had to take the biggest and most impressive thing and not get caught. That was a piece of cake because he, Ringo Starr, was the Master of Deception.

Ringo sprinted for the electronics department, nearly taking out an older gentleman and a mannequin in the process. The mannequin slowly toppled over, flattening the older gentleman behind Ringo, giving him the most action he had received in well over 50 years.

“Ooh!” the older man squealed.

Ringo made it to the section with the really big televisions and felt his pupils dilate tenfold.

“Yes,” he breathed out. Sure, there were three Target employees on the floor nearby, but Ringo was the Master of Deception. He had this in the bag. He managed to slow his breathing down to a pace that didn’t make him look like a rabid animal, and sauntered to the biggest TV in the store. Ringo looked it up and down and then smiled. He was gonna win this thing so hard. He looked to the left, making direct eye contact with one of the employees, and then looked to the right, making direct eye contact with the other employee, and then turned back to the TV. And, in one big grunt, he dislodged the TV from the wall and proceeded to shove it down his pants.

Both employees probably would have made more of an effort to stop him if they hadn’t been so thrown off guard by the fact that he had just put an 80 inch TV down his rear. It was a mystery how he was able to fit that screen in there, but somehow he did it.

Well, Ringo was the Master of Deception after all, I guess he was just doing what he did best.

While the TV was semi-concealed, the latter half of it stuck out of the seat of Ringo’s pants and rose well-above his head, so there was no denying what he was doing. Ringo had grossly miscalculated how heavy the TV was going to be; he was obviously struggling as he attempted to shuffle his way to the front doors. The two employees who had just witnessed this entire shit show exchanged an uncertain glance and shrugged their shoulders. They weren’t paid enough to deal with shit like that. Let the weirdo shove a TV down his pants if he wanted to.

Somehow, by some miracle, Ringo managed to make it to the front doors without being stopped (although he did attract a lot of strange looks). It was only when the metal detectors started to blare through the store that Ringo was surrounded by seven employees, two of which body slammed him to the ground. In a matter of seconds, the TV was removed from his pants and Ringo was sitting against the Starbucks counter by the front door with his arms shackled behind his back, moping not only because he had been eliminated from the competition and arrested, but also because he could no longer confidently say that he was the Master of Deception.

After Ringo powered into the store, Paul, George, and John synced their watches and agreed to meet back in the parking lot to determine the winner (they already knew that Ringo was going to be disqualified, it was only a matter of time before they found out exactly what he had done to eliminate himself).

George was the second to enter the store behind Ringo. As if he was going on any old Target run, George casually strolled through the front doors and made his way directly to the food section. The second John had initially mentioned theft, George’s stomach growled since it had officially been 20 minutes since his last meal. From that second onwards, George could only think about one thing and one thing only: filling the apparent goddamn void in his stomach.

So, in that food aisle, George went to town, carefully packing his shopping cart to the brim with crackers, cookies, sandwich-making materials, and lots and lots of candy. Satisfied with his load, he retreated to the back of the store where he very quickly found the employee break room and settled there, seated eagerly in front of his stuffed cart. A few employees filed in and out of the room as George worked away at his feast, but none of them bothered to stop him because they could care less. This was just an average day at Target: some guy had shoved a TV down his pants a few minutes ago, so George’s spectacle wasn’t even the worst thing they’d seen all day.

In ten minutes, George had consumed well over 50,000 calories and patted his extended stomach with content before letting out a belch that rattled the whole establishment for well-over 10 seconds.

Across the store in the women’s lingerie section, Paul snapped his head up from a rack of nice bras and scanned around in a panic. When he realized that the shaking wasn’t coming from an angry guard storming up to him, Paul’s shoulders relaxed and he returned back to sifting through the silk fabric, trying to find the flashiest bra available.

George collected all of his empty packages and started to shove them into a plastic Target bag that had been discarded in the breakroom so he had evidence of just how many things he had stolen that were now sitting in the bottom of his stomach. But, George wasn’t going to stop there; as impressive as his feat was, he knew that he was up against some tough competition (aka John, Paul didn’t count), so he really had to step up his game.

As he scanned around the store trying to find something good to snag, it occurred to George that he was wearing a red shirt and a pair of khakis (he was long overdue to do his laundry). He was basically an employee at Target, so George knew that he really could take things the extra mile. And oh boy, did he. He approached a cash register where there was an apron and an employee’s scanner sitting loosely around and tugged the apron over his head, adding the scanner to one of his front pockets. To be an incredibly huge nuisance, George went out of his way to unscrew the credit card reader (with his Target screwdriver, of course) and packed that into his apron as well. He checked his phone and, when he saw he had two minutes to spare, he decided that he had had his fun, and returned to the parking lot.

For Paul, when he first entered the store, he was a nervous wreck. Since the bean incident, he had vowed to never do a wrong thing ever again in his life. But, deep down, he knew that he would much rather become a criminal than let down his mates. He especially didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on John’s face if he came back empty-handed; that just wasn’t acceptable.

So, he decided to go the conservative route and start off small. After sneaking a pack of Trident Layers into his coat pocket without so much as a blink of an eye from those in the vicinity, Paul felt his heart rate slow. It was okay, this was fine, he totally had this. So, from there, Paul started to get more of a feel for the sticky fingers, sliding a pack of soap up his sleeve and a daily planner down his shirt. Now he was really feeling the groove of things, so he boldly made his way to the gift card section and grabbed a $20 Applebee's gift card. He was really going wild now. He was yet to face any consequences for his actions, so he booked it to the best part of Target: the electronic section, where Ringo had just been fucking shit up five minutes prior. Attempting to keep all of his stolen goods concealed, Paul strolled up and down the aisles, trying to decide which items on display were the best to grab (aka what would impress John the most). After checking to see if the coast was clear (which it was, since all the staff in the area were busy dealing with Ringo in the front of the store), Paul slid a Nintendo Switch inside his coat and hustled away from the crime scene, giggling to himself.

Now he was on a high. He was bound to win the competition with his impressive level of skill; the rest of the boys had probably already been caught because they were nowhere near as sneaky as him. As Paul hustled past the home goods aisle, he caught a glimpse of a Rolling Stones poster and turned back around with a smug look. The poster immediately went down his pants, where it belonged, so Mick’s face was pressed up against some stuff I’m not going to list out here. To top off the successful day, Paul made his way to the lingerie section to pick out an especially nice bra to give to John as a joke, to really rub in his victory. With the exception of the quick period of shaking that nearly made Paul crap himself, he was poised with a confidence he had never felt before, like he was immortal. Paul crept his way out a side door and returned to George’s car with his head held high and his pockets completely lined with goods, making it to George and John with three seconds to spare.

John knew exactly what he was doing from the get-go. He knew that his mates would all fall for a friendly competition and get so consumed by it that John could do his dirty work undetected. He knew that Ringo was bound to create a distraction big enough for him to do what he set out to do. He wasn’t sure if Paul and George would get caught too but, if they did, that would just be an additional bonus. After watching George and Paul hurry through the front doors, John stomped out his used cigarette on the pavement and ambled in behind them.

“Hey, Ringo,” he calmly greeted his mate as he made it through the front doors, where Ringo was still handcuffed and swarmed by employees and police officers.

“Hi John,” Ringo attempted to wave back, failing miserably. With a satisfied smirk, John moved to the front registers and, one by one, popped them open with a screwdriver that he himself had stolen from Target just the previous week. You’d think that alarms would have gone off, or someone would have noticed, but no, John was the true Master of Deception. He opened his coat to reveal a large, holographic fanny pack (also stolen) and started to fill it with the 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, and 100s in each cash register. In under a minute, he had emptied out every register in the store, right under the cops’ noses. It was practically a miracle.

While George and Paul were still trying to make their way around the perimeter of the store, finding the best things to take, John was out the front doors in under three minutes, his fanny pack stuffed to the brim with cash just like George’s stomach was about to be with food.

“Fools,” John couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he lit a new cigarette and took out a long, satisfied drag. And, with that, he let himself back into George’s car and reclined backwards in the front seat, his feet kicked up on the dashboard. He kept an eye out for any commotion if someone caught on to his crime, but the store was incredibly peaceful and still, like a lake on a cool summer’s morning. John found that to be oddly beautiful, so much so that he knew he could write a decent song about it, called “Hey Target I Just Robbed You Blind, Suck It”.

After what felt like ages of waiting, George finally emerged from the store and, not too shortly afterwards, Paul trailed out after him.

“Did you see they arrested Ringo?” Paul asked as he plopped in the back seat, his pockets swishing this way and that and a loud, papery crunching noise coming from his pants.

“I was able to get in a quick word with him,” George told Paul. “Turns out he tried to steal the biggest TV in the store by hiding it in his pants.”

“Classic Ringo,” Paul rolled his eyes. “You’re awfully quiet,” he turned to John. “Nervous to lose?”

“You wish,” John snapped back to life, reclaiming his role as the leader of the competition. “Well, let’s go then, boys, shall we? Show off what you were able to grab.”

George was the first to go, and Paul and John’s eyes widened as he emptied out the opened food packages from his stolen bag. He had enough in there to fill half a trash dump.

“I ate all of that in under 10 minutes,” George proudly shared, before letting out another loud burp. “And, I took this.” George untied his apron and threw it in the pile, adding along the scanner and the credit card reader. “They thought I was an employee,” George couldn’t help but laugh as he looked down at his red shirt and khakis.

“What are you gonna do with a credit card reader?” Paul couldn’t help but ask. It seemed like the stupidest thing George could have taken. Well, actually a toilet plunger from the bathroom would have been stupider, but Paul had come to that conclusion earlier after taking the toilet plunger from the men’s room and talking himself into putting it back.

“Dunno,” George shrugged. “It seemed like it would be hard to take, so I took it.”

“That’s admirable,” John admitted, impressed with his younger mate. “Alright Paul, show us your booty.”

Paul couldn’t help but grin in anticipated excitement at his seemingly inevitable victory as he first retrieved the pack of gum and soap, followed by the daily planner and $20 Applebee’s gift card.

“Hold up,” John stopped him. “You’re disqualified.”

“Disqualified?” Paul nearly shouted in shock. “Why?”

John pointed at the Applebee’s gift card.

“That’s a foul right there. No one in their right mind would steal an Applebee’s gift card and consider themselves a winner. That just spoiled whatever else you took, I don’t even want to see it.”

“But I took a Nintendo Switch!” Paul tried to protest, reaching into his coat to grab it.

“I don’t care,” John held his ground, “you’re disqualified.” George watched onwards in excitement; he loved it when he did better than Paul.

“Now how’s that fair?” Paul protested. “We’re all judges here, your word isn’t above ours!”

“It is when I already know I’ve won,” John retorted. Before Paul could fight against this, John unzipped his jacket, displaying his fanny pack. Both Paul and George broke into fits of laughter.

“You can’t be serious, John,” George howled, “You think you won with that?”

“That’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Paul added in, relief washing over him that John might have just been giving him a hard time. That theory was quickly abandoned, however, when John, sporting the strongest poker face ever seen in the history of mankind, unzipped the fanny pack, revealing the stacks upon stacks of cash inside.

“I counted it all while you were in there wasting your time,” he explained to George and Paul’s gaping faces. “It’s near $20,000.” George recoiled in shock.

“John,” Paul’s voice was shaking now, “I don’t think that was such a great idea…”

“They haven’t caught me though, have they?” John tested Paul with a raised eyebrow, nodding towards the store.

“But I don’t think you should be sitting in their parking lot with the $20,000 you just stole, John,” George told him, trying to keep his cool.

“I’m not worried about it,” John waved George off. “Ringo’s got them all busy. Meanwhile I’m gonna buy me a new car to celebrate.”

“John,” Paul deadpanned, “you already own three cars. And you don’t have a driver’s license.”

“You really do need to consider other ways to live lavishly,” George agreed.

“What matters is that I’m $20,000 richer and you’re not,” John snapped back at them, growing frustrated that they weren’t as in awe of his achievement as he had hoped.

Right as Paul was about to suggest that John go back inside and return the money before they got into any serious trouble, Ringo knocked on George’s window, accompanied by two cops, making them all jump. After glancing back at John to make sure his money was hidden, George rolled down the window.

“They’re taking me to the sin bin,” Ringo explained, nodding at the two cops who were holding him in a deathlock. “Apparently putting a TV down your pants is considered a crime.”

“No kidding,” Paul told him.

“My bail is supposed to be posted at about $20,000,” Ringo continued, ignoring Paul. “Can you help set old Ringo free?”

Paul and George slowly turned to face John, who was scowling downwards.

“Yes,” George answered for him, “in fact, I think we’ve got $20,000 we can spare.”

Ringo smiled.

[teamchamtravels]

DAY 43, SEPT 13, Inverness, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Today we were both really excited for our tour of the Isle of Skye! Sam has been to Inverness before but hadn’t gotten the chance to see this place or as much of the highlands as he had wanted. Our tour left at 8am from the Inverness Bus Station and we didn’t have any groceries so we quickly got a bite to eat from the Starbucks (Chels was not happy about this, she’s not a ‘Bucks fan, but they had vegan breakfast sandwich and vegan whipped cream so she was pretty happy about that!) nearby and hopped on the bus.

Our tour guide was a woman named Helen, who was a hilarious, feisty, and super knowledgeable Scottish woman. She was really funny while driving, shouting at all the cars who were driving badly. Our first stop was Urquhart castle, an old castle ruin on the shores of Loch Ness. It was really beautiful to see it from above. Helen told us lots of legends and stories and history about Loch Ness and the famous monster that may/may not have lived there. #papafact (gonna insert these throughout this post because they’re the bits Chelsea’s grandpa would have loved and told everyone and their mother after the tour) number one: the reason Loch Ness is so dark is because of the peat! Scotland is full of this type of earth because it is so wet here. So the color of the lake is actually black, not blue!

Next stop was Eileen Donan castle, a 1930s remake of an old Scottish clan’s castle that was destroyed by Britain during the Jacobite period. We also learned a lot about this Jacobite rebellion (#papafact) and how it shaped the culture and history of Scotland forever. It’s a super interesting and sad story but it was new to both of us. The castle was cool from the outside. We decided not to pay extra to go in (pro tip, it’s almost never worth it) and we made the right call.

We also got the chance to see some hairy Scottish highland cows on the way to the Black Cuillins on Skye. Chels was ecstatic. She loves cows so much folks!

The Black Cuillins are volcanic, ominous looking mountains on Skye, south of Portree and they were really amazing to see. We also stopped at the Sligachan river to test out an old fairy tale that if you held your face under the water for 7 seconds the water and the fairies will make you beautiful. Turns out it doesn’t work if you already are 😉 😂 .

At this point we were getting pretty hungry so we headed up to Portree for lunch! Sam got fish n chips and Chels had a veggie burger. We ate at the top of the Lump (had a great view) and then walked around town a bit (the harbor, etc). Chels did a bit of shopping while Sam had a beer and then we loaded back onto the bus again, heading for Kilt rock.

Kilt rock is a basalt formation made from the same volcanic activity as the Giants Causeway we saw in Ireland (#papafact) and it had a pretty waterfall. The cliff side with the backdrop of the Torridon mountains on the Scottish mainland was unbelievably beautiful.

From there, we drove up to Quiraing, a saddle ridge in the mountains where farmers used to take their cattle during Viking attacks (#papafact). The views were outstanding. So much open space and untouched beauty! This was definitely a highlight for us. Will post more pics on next blog post!

And there you have it folks! That was our Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye tour! From there we just drove back to Inverness, taking a break at Kyleakin for some scotch for Sam, and 3 hours later we were back.

We were pretty hungry so we got a recommendation from Helen to go to this pizza and brewpub spot called the Black Isle. It was delicious and they even had vegan options too. The beers were excellent as well. All in all we had an amazing day. Scotland has been such a beautiful place.

[vanchlo]

Character Tag

Thanks so much to Court, @heart-attack-harry, for tagging me to do this challenge from the point of view of my original character, Becks, from my story The Assistant where I’m currently at. I’m so excited! I actually listened to the my playlist for this story while filling it out, it was a lot of fun!

Rules: Chose a few favorite photos/aesthetics of your tagged character, answer the questions below from their point of view, and tag some characters/authors you would love to see answer next! You can tag authors twice if you’d like them to complete this for another character of theirs :) 

*MAY CONTAIN SOME MILD SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 35 OF THE ASSISTANT*

1. How do you display affection? What’s your love language? I would say that I tend to show affection through a combination of words of affirmation, touch (like hugs or tickling), and giving gifts. My love language is definitely spending quality time with the other person. I show my love for them in that way, and that’s what I enjoy to do most with somebody I love. 

2. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Oh boy, this is a loaded question. If I could change one thing about myself, the first thing I think of is to be less shy, so I would make myself be more brave and outspoken. My lack of courage at times has screwed things up for me, *cough* Harry, and so I definitely wish I was more courageous. 

3. What’s your ideal Saturday morning? My ideal Saturday morning begins with sleeping in, because I was probably up late the night before watching something or baking something. I also am most definitely not an early bird, so I tend to sleep in whenever I get the chance. Breakfast or brunch would follow, for an ideal Saturday morning, either with my best friend Skye or my brother Robbie. I’m a waffles girl and Skye and I love this little waffle place we found nearby. Breakfast at that place would be apart of my ideal Saturday morning. Then some time on the sofa watching FRIENDS would indeed follow. 

4. What is your drink of choice? Nonalcoholic? Alcoholic? My drink of choice when we’re talking during the day is typically coffee, and sometimes a tea. My favorite little combination is a Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato from Starbucks that tastes like a cinnamon roll, it’s truly the best. If we’re talking about alcohol, I’m a big wine cooler girl. Lame, I know. My favorites are Seagram’s Jamaican Me Happy’s, and any from the Kinky vodka brand. Otherwise, I like red wine sometimes. It has to be something sweet and smooth though, like a Roscato or Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m starting to explore some other mixed drinks that are more buzzworthy, if you know what I mean. Recently, my new favorite is a Tequila Sunrise and it’s all thanks to a certain somebody ;) 

5. How competitive are you? Eh, I’m fairly competitive, but not a lot. I didn’t play many sports growing up, just football or as Americans call it, soccer. I was stuck to a piano for most of my growing up, but having a twin brother definitely gave me no other choice, but to be competitive. It’s kind of been forgotten since moving out to attend uni at nineteen, but it’s returned at times with Harry. I can get rather competitive when it comes to playing Scrabble or Cribbage with him, or when we’ve made little bets. It doesn’t help that he’s incredibly competitive, but I think it’s a required trait of a lawyer, like him and I. 

6. When did you last have sex? Feel free to describe if you feel comfortable. God, it’s embarrassing, but it’s probably been a few years from my last serious relationship with this guy named Derek. It’s been far too long. 

7. What is your idea of a perfect date? Hmmmm, my idea of a perfect date has changed over the years, because they don’t always go as planned. It would have to include watching FRIENDS, having something for dessert that I baked, and maybe getting a nice dinner earlier in the night. Italian or Mexican food, my favourites. I like to dress up, but after having to do it every day for work, I’d prefer something inside with blankets and wine. 

8. What is your most treasured possession? My most treasured possession is a hard question for me. Recently, I have a new one, the little purple mini keyboard Harry got me for my birthday. It’s only been a few days, but I haven’t been able to stop playing it, and every time I play it, I think of him. I also have a braided silver ring that I never take off, Robbie has a matching one that we’ve worn since our Grandma Ann gave them to us for our sixteenth birthday. They symbolize the way our lives are intertwined for forever as fraternal twins, and it’s true, because he’s one of my best friends and my first one. 

9. Would you ever get a tattoo? Do you have any? Yes, I have one tattoo and often I get the itch for another. Robbie and I both got a black and white Queen Anne’s Lace flower tattooed when we were eighteen after our Grandma Ann passed away. There aren’t words to describe how much she meant to us, and how much she still means. I think of her every time I look at it, or anytime I have to fill out a form, because my middle name is Ann after her. Robbie got a large one on his bicep, and I have a four-inch flower on my right wrist, but it’s often hidden with clothing, bracelets, or my watch. Many people are surprised to find out that I have it when I tell them, or I’m not wearing a bracelet that accidentally covers it. I love it and I don’t want to hide it, and some workplaces are picky about tattoos, but I’d never take it back. 

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? Have you experienced it? I almost hate to admit it, but I think I do believe in love at first sight. I often times get these “feelings” about something, whether it’s good or bad. When I met Harry for the first time during my interview for the position as his personal assistant, I had a really good feeling about him, it just covered him. Sure enough, I was right, and he captured my heart almost immediately. I got the same exact feeling when I interviewed for the associate position at his firm, and here I am now, about to work at his firm again. Also, you can’t not love that face? The dimples, the green eyes, crinkly eyes when he laughs, and how contagious his happiness is. I knew right away he was something else. 

*

I admittedly haven’t been reading anything lately, so I’ll tag some authors I know of and they can pick who they’d like to focus on from their characters! @sonicwonder, @bfharry, @stylesonly​, @berrynarrybanana​, @stylesonly​, @trulymadlysydney​ c: 

[soysaucevictim]

First week of my new regimen, starting with the Fireheart Program (and then some of the DAREBEE Fitstivities; a bit late posting all this, too)!

-

Nov. 28

I woke up after 11AM.

After some of the usual and chatting, did today’s exercise.

First, today’s DD. 40 squat hold side bends with EC. Just about manageable. Does take minding the hamstrings a bit - but that wasn’t an issue.

Last, Day 1 of the Fireheart Program. I was really excited to start this from the recent batch of releases - because it’s a COMBAT exercise program. That’s my jam, man. I went for Level 3 and no rest, today. TEN probably made me inclined to do it in one superset - but remains to be seen if I can sustain that for the whole program.

I also mixed up how I structured some exercises on a whim: sometimes alternating for each rep, sometimes 50/50, sometimes that + balancing variations. (And as a minor aside, this program’s name/theme made me think of Roman Sanders and how he’d be down for this.) :,D

(I’m keeping the docket open for DAREBEE’s Fitstivities - Fit Christmas, Advent Calendar, Christmas Tree, and maybe even the Snowfight.)

Made dinner (ramen). Among the usual, did some chatting and watched a bit of a funny miniseries with friend.

Got to bed later than yesterday.

-

Nov. 29

I woke up around 2PM today.

After some troubleshooting, chatting, and doing some dishes - I did today’s exercises.

First, today’s DD. 40 balance back kicks with EC (20/20). A fun exercise. I almost lost my center about 10 or so reps in - but I’m happy my gains in coordination made it possible to reorient without dropping and needing to restart (for EC). Kicks are fun, man.

Last, Day 2 of the FhP. Today focused on upperbody stuff. Managed Level 3 with no rest again. I decided to squeeze in a few extra push-ups here and there just to get down a bit better form.

Watched the second Back to The Future movie with friend, amongst a lot of the usual. Did a bit of writing too.

Got to bed around the same time as yesterday.

-

Nov. 30

I think I was woken up around 10:30AM.

Hopped in the showered, realizing I had another dental appointment I needed to get to today. Didn’t have time to get in my laundry beforehand - but bro decided to take mine out for me.

Dozed off in the lobby a little, while I waited. Appointment went well enough, a bit painful and uncomfortable. But I’m happy I was able to get through it alright. Last time I’m going to need to get fillings done for the time being - so I’m happy that’s out of my hair. Walked to a nearby Starbucks to get a coffee to drink while I called in and waited on my ride home afterwards.

Got home and chatted a bit, before exercising.

First, today’s DD. 40 raised leg circles with EC (supine). This was just about manageable, despite how tired I was.

Last, Day 3 of the FhP. Ab Day. Level 3, 1′ rest. I love sit-up/sitting punches a lot! I’m still very pleased that my abs are in good enough condition at this point to manage that load of sit-ups without assist/breaks.That being said, started to really feel things in the last 2 sets. Enjoyable and fatiguing.

Did some of the usual before getting a hold of my laundry to put that away.

Probably a testament to just how exhausted I was, but I finally managed to get to bed in the green zone, tonight. (That target being 1AM or earlier.)

-

Dec. 1

I woke up after noon.

Spent some time preparing notes for my phone psych appt today. That went well enough.

After some time chatting and browsing stuff, I decided to rewatch POF while doing my exercises tonight.

First, today’s DD. 2′ jumping Ts with EC. I counted 130 reps by the end, listening to Rhythm Redux was a great pace-setter. Hit a state of bliss near the end, reminds me why I love jacks so much! =w=

Second, Day 1 of the ‘20 Advent Calendar Challenge. 3x1 up/down planks, I opted not to rest, given how easy the load was. Might not get away with doing things in one superset the whole way through it - but we’ll see!

Third, Day 4 of the FhP. Level 3, 30″-1′ rest in between sets (though it trended closer to 30″.) This was pretty fun. Honestly the only brutal part of the sequence were the squat + side kick combos. Kinda felt like the leg-equivalent to a push-up+punching combo (sans hidden burpee). Whew, mission accomplished, though.

Last,  Day 1 of ‘20 Fit Christmas Program. Cardio Day. Level 3, no rest. Low impact and kind of a breezy “cooldown“ routine to get though. Remains to be seen if I’ll be able to get away with no rest the whole way through, definitely want to shoot for Level 2 minimums (largely dependent on how exhaust Fireheart’s gonna leave me).

Spent rest of night on the usual stuff.

Got to bed obscenely late again.

-

Dec. 2

I woke up after 9AM today.

Went out for some coffee and accompanying bro to get his car serviced. Then we hung out at Grandma’s place while that was happening. I also walked over to the facility for group, when it came time for that.

Group went alright, did a little bit of writing a bit before and into it. Once I got back to Grandma’s, after a stop at a convenience store, bro’s car was ready. We picked up some food on the way back home.

One of the first things I did when I got home and situated, I did my exercise.

First, today’s DD. 40 reverse plank kicks with EC (20/20). This was pretty manageable.

Second, Day 2 of the ‘20ACC. 3x2 burpees - I managed it in one superset. This was pretty manageable. And it’s making me wonder about trying to go for that 50 burpees in one go achievement - eh, some other time. :P

Third, Day 5 of the FhP. Level 3, 1′ rest. Did some plank jumps in/out for transitions and did all the punches/strikes 10/10 style. Push-ups were a bit messy, and plank hold counts probs weren’t consistently slow. Ah well. My energy levels were a bit spent going into this.

Last, Day 2 of ‘20FCP. Strength Day. Level 3, no rest. Did contemplate on resting even 30″ or less - but I decided I could one go this today.

Had to overhear another family blow-up. And felt generally overwhelmed. Chatting and usual distractions helped eventually.

Got to bed around the same time as yesterday.

-

Dec. 3

I woke up around 2PM, today. Which didn’t help me in feeling less harried.

I did some dishes and made today’s Hello Fresh meal. Bulgolgi meatballs. I liked it well enough. 

After some chatting about technical stuff (which immediately got pretty stressful) and doing dishes, I did my exercise.

I got in my workout way too late today. but oh well.

First, today’s DD. 40 squat step-ups with EC (20/20). My water table and energy levels probably weren’t terribly happy about it - but I managed to get through it alright.

Second, Day 3 of the ‘20ACC. 3x3 plank walk-outs, one superset. Happy that my stomach didn’t really complain here, otherwise very manageable work.

Third, Day 6 of the FhP. Level 3, 1′ rest. Leg raises were breezy, side planks were pretty intense. Was a bit concerned about doing more floor work with a slightly full stomach, but it wasn’t a big deal.

Last, Day 3 of ‘20FCP. 100 jumping jacks, done in one go. I enjoyed myself here - still noting how far I’ve come when it comes to stamina to be able to do it without too much problem.

I did a bit of writing and got to bed earlier than yesterday.

-

Dec. 4

I woke up after 1PM.

Got some Iced coffee, deposited some cash, and picked up some Subway.

Got home, chatted and whatnot before today’ exercises.

First, today’s DD. 40 knee-in & twists with EC. Fatiguing in the thighs but manageable.

Second, Day 4 of the ‘20ACC. 3x4 V-Ups, no rest. Did contemplate on resting. But 12 I can manage well enough. Enjoyable exercise.

Last, Day 4 of ‘20FCP. Tendon strength Day, no levels, no rest. Just about manageable little sequence to get done!

I spent most of my night chatting and browsing TV Tropes.

Got to bed later than yesterday.

[hermannsthumb]

75, but kinda like a secuel to your fic for 3?

halloween is over which means it’s officially that time of year where i watch a bunch of shitty hallmark movies as background noise and imagine newt and hermann in all the romantic scenarios instead........AND revisit all my leftover winter ficlet prompts from last year! the op of the original prompt list has since moved to pillowfort so i’ll link the list from there instead. this one is a sequel to one i wrote last year (one of my favorites of my own imo) w/ cool uncle hermann and hot single middleschool science teacher newt found here

75. our first date is spent walking around our small town holding hands and talking as soft snow falls around us 

from winter writing prompts here

--------------------------------------------

It gets dark before long, and--following a quick text from Karla informing Hermann she’s finished her errands and is on her way to pick the three of them up--Hermann decides he ought to round up her kids. The string lights hung around the ice rink have flickered to life, and between them, the haze of the falling snow, and the fresh piles of it gathering atop the nearby pine trees, it makes for a strangely pretty picture.

The snow flecking Dr. Geiszler’s eyelashes makes for a pretty picture, too.

“I’ll get them,” he says, when Hermann stretches his stuff limbs with a groan and prepares to trek back across the snow. He stills Hermann with a hand to his arm. He’s still wearing the silly mittens. “No offense, dude, but they’ll definitely listen to me more than you.” He waggles his eyebrows and gestures to himself with his thumb. “Teacher.”

Hermann nods and sags back against the railing. He wasn’t fancying the idea of shaking life back into his frozen joints and shouting himself hoarse anyway. “Thank you, Dr. Geiszler.”’

“Newt,” Geiszler corrects with a wink. “You wanna hang back with me so we can get that coffee? My apartment’s only a few minutes away, I can give you a ride to your sister’s afterwards.”

“Oh,” Hermann says. “Yes, if you wouldn’t mind.” Truthfully, he hadn’t expected Geiszler to make good on his invitation. Hermann isn’t the sort who gets asked out on spur-of-the-moment dates, especially not by cute, scruffy strangers; it seemed too good to be true.

“Be a second,” Geiszler says, and then cups his hands around his mouth and bellows, “Hey, guys, over here in five minutes or you’re on lab clean-up duty for all of January!”

This gets their attention. Fast. After a minor setback involving a missing hat (found, as it were, in a snowbank on the other side of the railing), they’re ready to go with time to spare when Karla’s car pulls up at the curb. She rolls down the passenger window while her children (pushing aside shopping bags and flinging in wet coats) clamber into the backseat, and waves at Hermann. “Did you have fun?” she says.

“Oh, loads of it,” Hermann says, sarcastically. Karla grants him a small, amused smile. (You’d be hard-pressed to get much more out of a Gottlieb, really. Hermann often envies her children for how easily mirth comes to them.)

“Well, your torture is over at last,” Karla says. “Get in. I got Indian takeaway for dinner.”

Behind Hermann, Geiszler coughs, and Hermann flushes. He hadn’t forgotten Geiszler--not by any means--but he’s not quite sure how to explain I have a date to his sister in terms that don’t use the word date. Date carries an awful lot of baggage. “Ah, actually,” he says. His voice sounds falsely casual even to his own ears. “That won’t be--necessary. Dr. Geiszler has offered to take me home.”

“Hi,” Geiszler says.

Karla peers around Hermann and narrows her eyes. “You played the piano at the winter program,” she says.

“Sure did,” Geiszler says. “I organized the whole thing, too.”

“Dr. Geiszler is going on a date with Uncle Hermann,” Hermann’s niece informs her mother solemnly. 

“It’s coffee,” Hermann says quickly. “Only coffee.”

“Coffee and a ride back on my motorcycle,” Geiszler confirms.

Motorcycle? Karla nods slowly. “Of course.” The window rolls back up, but not before--like he’s still her kid brother, and she’s caught him sneaking out the back door at midnight to meet up with a boyfriend all over again--she calls out “Don’t stay out too late, Hermann!”

Her car peels away.

Geiszler sticks out his hand. Hermann takes it.

The coffee shop Geiszler takes him to is two blocks away on main street, kitschy and tacky as anything from the outside, and has, predictably, closed early by the time they get there. The sign in the window blames it on the inclement weather. Geiszler scuffs his unlaced boot against the snowy sidewalk and groans. “Well, fuck,” he says. “Sorry. I guess there’s always Starbucks. This place rocks, though, I wanted you to see it.”

Hermann gives his hand a consolatory squeeze. “Oh, I don’t need coffee, anyway,” he says. “The cup you bought me at the rink was just fine.”

“The cup I bought you at the rink tasted like shit,” Geiszler says.

“It was fine,” Hermann says.

“Dinner, then,” Geiszler says, peering up the street at whatever still has its lights on. Most of the businesses, Hermann realizes (from the Indian place Karla ordered from, the antique shop, the used bookstore) have closed early tonight. There’s a single diner, equally kitschy-looking, still lit up with neon. “Do you like…” He hums. “...Hamburgers?”

“Not particularly.”

“Neither do I,” Geiszler admits. “What about--”

“How about we just take a walk, Dr. Geiszler?” Hermann cuts across. “I’m really not that hungry, and it’s...a nice night.” It is, really: fluffy snow, and old-fashioned lamp posts, and not a car in sight. Geiszler’s rainbow flappy hat and lumpy mittens. 

“It’s Newt, dude. Newt,” Geiszler insists, but he links their arms together with a smile.

They make their way back down to the park that houses the skating rink--now also closed for the night--and start down a small, well-lit path. “So what’s the infamous Uncle Hermann doing in all the way over here?” Geiszler says. “The kids said you teach in England.” He nudges their shoulders together and grins. “You don’t exactly sound like a local, anyway.”

“Winter holiday,” Hermann says. “I’ve a month off of work, and nothing to do with myself, really, and I don’t see my sister all too often--well, she thought it’d be good for us if I came to stay. For me. What’s a scientist doing at a middleschool hosting winter programs?”

Geiszler laughs. “The arts are important, man!”

“But a middleschool--out of everything you could be doing--”

“I like it,” Geiszler says. “It’s--I don’t know. Fun. I like teaching kids. Like I’m shaping scientists of the future or whatever.” Hermann hums, skeptically, and Geiszler sticks his tongue out. “Okay, I know that was corny. Shut up.”

They loop the whole of the park, hand-in-hand, and talk about the most inconsequential things: the weather (the first snowfall Hermann’s witnessed this December), their research (Geiszler is astoundingly intelligent, with a comical amount of PhDs), Geiszler’s mittens (personally hand-knitted after all), how much longer Hermann is in town for (until mid-January), how Geiszler ended up at that middleschool in the first place (he moved to town to be near his father, and they were hiring for Earth Science and Music). Their footprints have entirely disappeared under fresh snow when they make it back to the ice rink. It’s far later than Hermann realized, too; the large clock hanging at the front booth reads a quarter past ten.

“I guess I should take you back to your sister’s,” Geiszler says. He points in the opposite direction of where they walked main street before. “I’m down that way. I--”

He doesn’t get to finish, because Hermann (feeling pleasant and bold) leans in and brushes a kiss against his cheek. It’s cold and scratchy with his stubble. “I would like to do this again,” Hermann says, while Geiszler blushes and gapes. His glasses have slid all the way down his nose. Hermann pushes them back up for him. “If you’re amenable.”

“Wow,” Geiszler says, giddily. “Sure. Okay. Hah!”

Then he steps directly onto a patch of ice and slips and falls on his face.

Luckily, he hits the snow, though he does lay there for some time and groan. It’s a bit dramatic. Hermann pokes the small of his back with his cane once he starts to get bored. “Are you alright, Newt?”

Geiszler groans again, though with a distinctly affirmative flair, and rolls over. “You called me Newt,” he says. He pushes his glasses back up again.

“I did,” Hermann says, with a very small smile. Then he shivers. The chilly air has gotten a lot more noticeable now that he’s standing still. “Now please get up and take me home before we both freeze to death.”

“Cool, okay.”

[meditating-dog-lover]

HOW TO GET GLOWING HEALTHY SKIN (TRIED AND TRUE)

For the longest time ever I’ve struggled with very dull looking and sallow skin. It definitely had an influence on my confidence and didn’t know what to do. However I tried a few yet excellent techniques and lifestyle changes and they gave me the clearest, rosiest and healthiest looking skin. These modifications include dietary changes, exercising more and improving my skin care routine. I've been following them for for a good 3 weeks to a month. Here's is what I specifically did (grouped into categories):

DIET

1. I cut out/significantly reduced my sugar intake. My main sugar sources come from fruit and the occasional treat. However before I made my dietary change I’ve been consuming lots of sugar-laden foods, whether or not I knew if they did contain any sugar. What I mean by that is that even salty snacks or foods marketed as “healthy” have lots of sugar. Some of these include chips, party mixes, sauces, dressings, protein bars, health bars, hamburger buns, hotdog buns, processed meats (bacon for example), french fries, oatmeals, granolas, fat free yogurt, fat free milk, etc... That skinny latte you get from Starbucks may have sugar free syrup but the fat free milk is loaded with sugar so you may think you’re consuming a health drink when you’re really not. Additionally while the ingredients list may not list the word “sugar” they might list something else that effects your body the same way sugar would (sucralose, dextrose, syrup, honey, etc...) I don’t believe in completely cutting sugar out. I eat fruit every day and have a treat here and there. If you live close to a supermarket that carries health foods I would look for snacks sweetened with Stevia or erythritol instead of sugar. It might sound hard first but it gets easier with time.

2. I started drinking a lot less coffee. I used to drink coffee on a daily basis (especially when I had long work days or when I was out and about and found a Starbucks nearby). It made me energized and I like the taste of it when combined with milk and coffee syrup. However it made my skin look dehydrated and tired, and it made me feel tired after a certain amount of time due to an energy crash. Additionally I am somewhat lactose intolerant (I can tolerate most dairy like cheese and yogurt but not so much milk). So that didn’t make me feel so good. I cut it out of my diet and started drinking water and green/herbal tea (more on this later). This not only improved my skin, but my sleep schedule is a lot better. I drink coffee from time to time but I prefer to drink it with almond milk instead of regular milk.

3. I started to eat lots of healthy fats (both plant and animal based). I follow a specific macro count each day - 50% fats, 25% carbs and 25% proteins. Now I don’t eat that specifically each day but it’s a good average. Healthy fats serve to nourish and insulate your cells, including your skin cells, therefore making them healthy. Hence when I eat enough fats in a day my skin is plump and glowing. Some examples of healthy fats are olive oil, salmon, eggs, avocado, some cheeses, Greek yogurt, peanut butter (without sugar), nuts (almonds and walnuts), chia seeds, almond milk, Caesar dressing, etc... Make sure to consume plant based fats (doesn’t always have to be cheese and eggs). When I consume 50% of my calories from fat I am also able to consume less sugars and unhealthy carbs (or too much carbs).

4. I started to drink enough water. 2-4 liters will do the trick (depending on your weight and activity level). If you can’t stand plain water, drink it in the form of low caffeine/decaffeinated tea. Drink 1 liter of water when you wake up to get your system moving and your skin cleared. Then drink the rest throughout the day.

5. I started homemade drinking antioxidant tea. In the morning I would take my 1 liter insulating bottle and fill it up with warm water, add a bit of matcha and steep some hibiscus berry herbal tea (you can find this anywhere). I take it with me to work and drink it throughout the day. Both match and berries contain lots of anti-oxidants which protect your skin from sun damage and pollutants, therefore giving you beautiful skin. My skin look instantly refreshed when I drink this yummy tea.

6. Every morning I take a multivitamin tablet, 2 biotin gummies and consume a tablespoon of flax seed oil. 

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

1. I started moving around/walking more. I’m not someone who likes intense physical exercises as I know they are not something I can stick to in the long run. However I love walking. Walking burns lots of calories, boosts your metabolism and puts you in a good mood without putting lots of strain on your body (especially on your joints). I don’t walk a lot on weekends, but on weekdays I try to walk around 10k steps. It makes me feel better and makes my skin look refreshed and healthy because it gets my blood pumping. My skin doesn’t look as good on weekends compared to weekdays for this reason. If you hate walking, make it fun by taking your dog with you, or maybe a friend or your music player.

2. I started sleeping a lot better. I used to have horrible sleep patterns. I would sleep at 2/3 AM and wake up at 6 AM on a work night or 1/2 PM on a weekend/day off. It got to the point where it just got irritating and incredibly unhealthy. Now I sleep between 11:30-12:30 and sleep for 7-9 hours (on average). Sometimes I don’t sleep too great especially when I have a busy schedule, but for the most part my sleep has significantly improved, as has my skin and panda bear eyes.

3. I started turning on the AC indoors. When my house is muggy my skin gets oily and sucks in a lot of dirt and grime, making it look yucky and unhealthy. Turning on the AC brings in some cool air that prevents my skin from producing so much oil and keeps it looking great. They always have the AC on in work thankfully.

4. I started to significantly reduce my stress levels. Growing up I was always filled with worries and fear (academic, social, relationships, health, future, etc...). But I started to realize that no matter how bad something seemed everything always went better than expected. Therefore nothing is worth worrying an arm and a leg for. Put your health first. If you stress out, stop what you are doing, go make a cup of tea, go out for a walk, cuddle your dog, talk to a friend/family member, take a warm bath, etc... Make yourself the priority no matter what. There’s a lot of messes you don’t need to get yourself into for the sake of your physical and mental wellbeing.

SKIN CARE ROUTINE (I mention the products I use below)

Disclaimer: While it is important to have a great skin care routine, it will do absolutely nothing for you if your diet isn’t on point. Skin care is important but it is used to supplement an already healthy diet.

1. Use a gentle hydrating/moisturizing cleanser. Hydration is key. I noticed from experience that using a cleanser for oily skin will only further dry your skin out, hence forcing it to produce more oil. When you add good hydration to your skin it will feel moisturized and will not produce a lot of oil. Additionally a harsh cleanser will only irritate your skin. I used to use black African soap as a cleanser. While it may be a holy grail for some, it was just too much for my skin to handle. A good moisturizing cleanser I use is La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser.

2. Use a gentle toner. I used to use witch hazel but noticed it was too harsh on my skin at higher concentrations. As a result I started getting red bumps. I love rosewater as a toner. It smells amazing and feel fresh and nice. A good toner I use is Pixi Glow Tonic 5 Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner.

3. Use an antioxidant serum in the morning and a retinol serum at night. While I mentioned that the tea I drink is loaded with antioxidants, it helps to apply a good serum on your skin, especially one that has Vitamin C (important antioxidant). I use Ebanel 20% Vitamin C Serum (Kbeauty product). Also apply retinol (Vitamin A anti-aging serum) at night because it increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. I use The Ordinary. Retinol 0.5% in Squalene.

4. Eye cream is important too. I use Beauty by Earth Coffee Bean Eye Cream.

5. Use a gentle hydrating moisturizer. Again a gentle product will not be harsh on your skin. I like to use gel-based moisturizers, such as Dewy Tree Royal Manuka Honey Hydrating Gel, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and Nature Republic New Soothing Moisture Aloe Vera Gel 92 Percent (Kbeauty product).

6. Wear sunscreen!!! Not only do sunscreens protect you from sunburns but they protect your skin from free radicals from the sun and are a great anti-aging product. Wear sunscreen before you go out and apply it every 2-3 hours if you are still outdoors. Get a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection (UVA ages you and UVB burns you). I use Missha Mild Essence Sun Milk SPF 50/PA+++ (Kbeauty product).

7. Exfoliate your skin a few times a week with a gentle exfoliator. It will remove the gunky skin buildup and reveal healthy and bright new skin. I use Ebanel Ultimate Brightening Peeling Gel (Kbeauty product), which is incredibly gentle.

9. Use sheet masks 3 times a week. They deeply hydrate your skin and makes it rosy and plump. Make sure to spread some of the product to your neck, decolette area and ears. I use Dermal Collagen Essence Masks (Kbeauty product).

8. Use a clay mask once a week. It will deeply purify your skin. I use Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay.

10. Use oil absorbing blotting sheets. A fat rich diet will make your skin quite oily so just have some blotting sheets on hand.

Anyways I hope this help you. I’ve gotten great results from these routines and changes. Best of luck to you all!

The best form of beauty is good health.

[uonsu]

Packing for University

Written by Shanai Momi, English Graduate from University of Nottingham. 

Preparing for the big move to University can be daunting and difficult, especially when it comes to knowing which items to take and which to leave behind! To help you, we’ve drawn up a handy university packing list of the top 12 things you should consider bringing.

Ethernet cable 

An essential piece of kit that makes sure your internet connection is more reliable. It connects your laptop to a modem or router to provide a solid internet link – so you’re not just relying on Wi-Fi. If there comes a time when the Wi-Fi drops you’ll be very glad to have your Ethernet cable! 

Extension lead

University rooms often have two or three sockets but you’ll probably need a few more. An extension lead is a great investment, and it may only cost around £5 from Wilkos. It’s so worth it as you’ll save so much time. 

Just remember to stay safe and not add too many plugs!

External hardrive

As someone whose laptop stopped working in their final year (nightmare!), I would recommend purchasing a portable hardrive to back up your work. Although pricey (mine was £50), they can store all of your degree work, family photos, and more. Definitely a worthwhile investment!

Door stop

Probably one of the most important things you can bring to uni! Use it during Welcome Week to help you meet new people; others are likely to pop in to say hello if your door is open. They’re probably slightly relieved to not have to pluck up the courage and knock on your door – you already seem warm and welcoming!

Smart Clothing

Perhaps you want to get a part-time job during University. Or maybe you’re preparing for potential summer jobs. Either way, it’s best to take one formal outfit that can be used in interviews. It’s never too early to be thinking about life beyond University!

Mugs 

Your bedroom may be the place to get some respite from University life but once you settle in, you’ll want to invite friends over. Having a few spare mugs (and maybe a handful of biscuits) ready will come in handy.

Cushions

You’ll be spending a lot of time at your desk studying, so you should be as comfortable as possible. Your favourite cushions will not only make you super comfy, they’ll also brighten the room and make you feel more at home.

Photos

Displaying photos of your loved ones will help you feel at ease and settle in. You’ll be reminded of the support you have back home during lonelier times and it’s a great talking point. 

Tupperware

Buy a Boots meal deal? Fancy a quick Starbucks? These daily treats will soon break your student loan balance. Invest in some Tupperware and pre-prepare some snacks for lectures and seminars. Trust me – this will save you a small fortune that can be better used for socials. 

Letter or document with your address

On your first day you’ll register with your local GP. A letter with your home address on it is essential so be sure to pack this one! 

Flip-flops/slides

Unless you’re extremely lucky to get an en suite bathroom, you’re likely to share these facilities with several other students. If you’re concerned about cleanliness, flip-flops or slides will be your new best friend. Taking them to the bathroom and showers will save you a lot of pain. You can thank me later.

Drying rack

University accommodation often provide washing machines and dryers at a small cost for each load. By bringing a small drying rack, you can dry your clothes in your room – and save yourself some cash. And it doesn’t have to take up too much space.

If you’ve forgotten to pack anything – don’t worry! You can buy most things from nearby shops or collected from home another time. Write a list of the things you need to take and get packing!

[ramblingthoughtsofayoungadult]

Desperate Times-Lip Gallagher Imagine

Requested: No

Warnings: mentions of drug use, alcohol abuse, angst, swearing, and some fluff

   So far, Y/N had had a pretty decent day: her boss at her internship for Chicago Times complimented her proof reading for an article, she got free coffee from the Starbucks near work, and her mom made Y/N’s favorite dish y/f/d for dinner that night. Even her dream was unbelievably amazing since it involved a certain, hot male celebrity and rolling around on a Caribbean beach. However, Y/N was forced to come back to reality when the sound of crashing glass alerted her. Immediately, she jerked up in her bed, feeling pretty disoriented. Then, there were footsteps and Y/N got extremely nervous.

    Y/N didn’t live in the best neighborhood so she was pretty sure that the intruder was holding some sort of weapon and was dangerous. Unfortunately, her parents were the heaviest sleepers known to man so they wouldn’t be any help. So, Y/N grabbed the bat that she kept underneath her bed for emergencies and tried not to shake too much as she climbed out of bed and slipped out the door. Her footsteps were quiet as she listened for anymore noise. The only sound that came from downstairs was broken glass crunching as the intruder stumbled around.

     “Y/N…Y/N!” Lip yelled.

     “Lip?” Y/N whispered.

     She lowered her bat to her side and frowned. She hadn’t seen Lip since high school and she thought he had been doing well. However, Y/N couldn’t have been more wrong. Y/N stood on top of the staircase and what she saw made her heartbreak: there, stumbling towards the staircase was Lip Gallagher, an extremely intoxicated Lip Gallagher. His eyes were blood shot and he had no sort of balance. When he saw her, he smiled a little and leaned against the staircase.

        “There you are,” he said.

        “What are you doing here? Why did you break into my house?” Y/N hissed. 

        “I wanted to see you,” Lip said, his eyes roaming over her body. “You look good.”

         Y/N folded her arms across her chest, feeling her y/s/c cheeks warming up at his words. She had known the Gallaghers since she was eight years-old, but was closest to Lip. His quick wit and genius made him interesting to talk to and the fact that he was good with words added to his attraction. Also, he was extremely good to look at. However, it wasn’t his sharp intellect that had Y/N crushing on him for so long but rather the darker side of him, the side that made him steal money and do many illegal odd jobs. It was with darker side of him that drew her in and took her to a very scary place in her life—-a place that she never wanted to go to again.

         Lip began trying to walk towards her but tripped over one of the stairs and fell pretty hard. He muttered curses under his tongue, but Y/N moved to immediately help him up. She wrapped her arms around his waist and helped him to his feet. Lazily, he leaned his head back to look up at her and smirk.

         “You’re so lucky my family’s too broke to have a security system or you’d be in jail by now,” Y/N whispered.

        “You’d never snitch on me,” he said with a laugh.

        “Be quiet. I’m gonna be nice and let you stay over but you have to go by morning.”

       “Bout time we spent the night together anyway.”

       Y/N rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering around in the pit of her stomach as she helped Lip walk up the stairs. She thought that she was over her crush on Lip that she never admitted to him, but old habits were supposed to die hard. 

        She managed to sit him down on her bed before she started making a pallet of blankets for him on the floor next to her bed. 

        “I have no idea how I’m going to explain the broken window to my parents but I guess I’ll think of something,” Y/N said as she stood.

        “Why can’t I sleep in the bed with you?” he whined.

        “Because you’ve been bad.”

        “So are you punishing me?” A sly grin worked its way onto Lip’s face and Y/N shook her head.

       “Just lay down on the pallet and go to sleep while I clean up.” She started to walk past him but Lip grabbed her wrist and pulled her close so that she was standing between his legs.

        “I’m sorry, Y/N.”

       “It’s a window, Lip, my family and I will figure out a way to pay for it.”

       “No, not that, I’m sorry that I got you in a load of sh-t. I…I shouldn’t have let you have that coke,” Lip slurred. “It’s my fault, all of this is my fault.”         “Go lay down, Lip,” Y/N whispered back.

        Even though every fiber of her being was asking Y/N to stay exactly where she was, she pulled away and went downstairs to start cleaning up the glass. As she swept, her mind drifted back to that particularly low point of her life that Lip had just apologized for. In spite of all the therapy Y/N had gone through, she had a bad habit of repressing memories that she didn’t enjoy and avoiding people that she thought triggered her. Lip managed to fall into both of those categories. Sure, he had offered her coke during a party in their freshman year of high school and she had taken it, but neither of them could’ve guessed that she would get hooked the way she did. Y/N could still feel the gravel digging into her knees when Tyler forced her down to them when she was short on money and she could feel her veins in her arms begin to itch with withdrawal.

       “Stop it, that was the past and this is the present,” Y/N whispered to herself. “You have changed, you don’t need anything to take the edge off, you’re healthy and you are doing well.”

     After fifteen minutes, Y/N managed to clean up all the glass that Lip broke when he broke into her house and prayed that a real intruder wouldn’t take advantage of the broken window. When she got back to her room, Lip was passed out on the floor. He looked so sad and troubled that Y/N could’ve cried. She knelt down and draped a blanket over him before crawling back into her own bed. Unfortunately, her dream did not pick up where it left off since all she dreamt of that night was a dark void.

      The next morning, Lip stumbled down the staircase and froze when he saw Y/N eating dinner in her kitchen. She was dressed for an office and seemed fairly perky.

      “Good morning, Lip,” Y/N said.

       “Morning.” Lip glanced at the broken window. “Sh-t, I’m guessing I did that.”

      “No, the intruder I scared off last night did. My dad’s filing an insurance claim so we don’t have to pay for it.”

      “Huh.” Lip scratched the back of his head and walked over to her. “I’m sorry if I said anything stupid but I had a pretty f-cking bad day yesterday and I had a few too many drinks.”

      “That’s pretty normal except most people refrain themselves from breaking into old friends’ houses and scaring them half to death.”

       “I said I was sorry.”

      “Yeah, I know.” Y/N ran a hand through her hair. “Do you remember anything from last night?”

       “Not after I left the bar.”

       “Well, after I found you stumbling around in my living room, you told me that you were sorry for…for what happened back in high school.”

        Lip hesitated and looked at his hands. “Yeah?”

        “I know that we’ve drifted apart over the last couple of years, but I never got to tell you that I forgive you for what happened. We were good friends at one time and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it.” Y/N tightened her grip around her cup of coffee. “I was in rehab for two years and I had to do therapy as well. They helped me come to terms with my addiction and the underlying causes of it. Basically, it was a coping mechanism but while most people learn to cope with stress via religion, exercise, or a sport, drugs were my way of coping. Whenever I was upset or under distress, I’d do a line and it made things seem less bad, but then I…I almost got hit by a bus because I was too high to notice that the walking light hadn’t gone on.”

       “Why are you telling me all of this?”

       “Because I want you to know that I forgive you and I’m doing okay now. I got my GED and got into Northwestern on a scholarship. Not everything is your fault, Lip, I had an idea of what I was getting into when I accepted your offer. My addiction was my problem and I caused it, but I’m doing better now.” Y/N glanced at her watch. “I have to head to my internship soon, but if you ever want to talk about anything going on with you, my number hasn’t changed.”

        “Thanks.” 

         Y/N washed her dishes and grabbed her purse before walking out of her house with Lip. She felt a bit of a weight being lifted off her shoulders as she locked the door behind the two of them. Closure certainly was a beautiful thing.

        “Besides that whole apology thing, did I do anything else last night?” Lip asked.

         “Um, you were a bit of a flirt but that’s normal with most drunk guys, right?”

         “Yeah, I guess.”

          They started down the front steps and Lip insisted on walking Y/N to the nearby L. It was a pretty warm day since it was summer in Chicago, but Y/N still had to wear a stupid long-sleeve button down and a pencil skirt to work.

         “Wanna hear something funny?”

         “I’d kill for funny right now.” 

         Lip chuckled a little bit. “Ian thought you had a thing for me.”

        “When?”

        “Middle school and high school and I told him that guys don’t have to be gay to have straight girl friends.”

         “Course not. You didn’t have to walk me to the L, you know, I can take care of myself.”

          “C’mon, Y/N, you used to make me walk you all the way home from school because you thought you’d get jumped if you walked alone.”

         “I’m older now, I’ve changed and so have you.”

         “I highly doubt that.”

         “Fine, I’ll remember that for the next time you ask me to be your fake girlfriend to get some hoe off your back,” Y/N teased.

         “That’s not fair.”

         Y/N laughed at Lip’s whining and shook her head. It felt like old times except there wasn’t a Karen or Mandy hanging around as well. Mandy and Y/N got along just fine, but it was Karen who almost fought Y/N because she knew how Y/N felt about Lip. She would flaunt the fact that Lip was really into her in front of Y/N that would have the young girl crying herself to sleep sometimes. Y/N was sure Mandy knew too but she was nice enough not to say anything. In fact, Y/N was surprised that Lip didn’t know that she had had a crush on him for most of their friendship.

         Finally, they got to the L and Y/N paused. “Well, this is me.”

        “Yeah, have fun interning.”

        “Wait, I never asked you what you were doing.”

         “I’m working for my sister over at Patsy’s Pies. You should stop by sometime, I might slip you a free slice.”

         “Will Fiona like that?”

         “She won’t know about it.”

          Y/N shook her head and started walking up the stairs for the L. “See you around, Gallagher!”

        “Not so loud, I’m hung over,” Lip joked back.

         When Y/N got to the platform for the L she knew one thing was for certain: she was not over Lip Gallagher, not one little bit. 

[3monthsineurope]

August 16, 2020

I woke up Sunday at 7am and got ready. My friend, Natalie, and I, were going to road trip to Crater Lake, in Oregon! We had planned it in June, and we were pretty excited! I had packed almost everything the night before, so I did my hair and make up and loaded up the car. I said goodbye to Ingvar, then hit the road!

First stop was Fred Meyer’s, for ice. Natalie has a cooler that we were gonna stock up. I grabbed two bags and then went to pick up Natalie! We set up the cooler with sandwich stuff and beverages for the road. We dropped Natalie’s boyfriend, Isaiah, off at his car, then Natalie and I got Starbucks to start the trip. I had some coupons for a free coffee and a half off coffee , and we got breakfast sandwiches, too. And then, we were off!

The drive to our cottage (we booked a one bedroom cottage at Crater Lake Resort that was also a campsite) was just over eight and a half hours from Bellingham. I set a timer when I was leaving my place, and it took 11 hours and 36 minutes. I drove my car from Bellingham to just outside of Portland, then Natalie took over. We had bought gallon jugs of water, because Natalie drinks a ton of water each day, and I’ve been averaging 80-100 ounces a day (I’ve been really trying!), so we were filling up our bottles along the way. We stopped at rest stops four or five times on the way down, and stopped for gas twice. We forgot that in Oregon, they pump your gas for you!

We listened to Taylor Swift the whole drive down! Natalie loves folklore, just like me! And we listened to the best songs of her other seven albums, too! We sang so much, when I talked to Mom later, she said my voice was horse! Hahah. At one of the rest stops, Natalie made us turkey and cheese sandwiches on some oat nut bread that I got. I haven’t had a regular sandwich in ages and it was amazing! The perfect lunch for on the road.

We were getting closer to the resort, so I looked up places nearby they we could get take out from. There wasn’t much around our cottage, so we decided to take a short detour and go to a place called Annie’s Creek. Turns out it was in Crater Lake National Park! All of a sudden we were in the park! Thankfully I had bought our pass before hand, and it was valid that day! We drove through some of the park and stopped to enjoy our first view of Crater Lake! It was so blue and beautiful! Crater Lake isn’t actually a crater, like from a meteor or asteroid. Crater Lake is actually a caldera, which is a crater from a volcanic eruption, that causes the volcano mouth to sink in. The lake has no rivers flowing in or out of it. The lake is only replenished by rain, which is pretty unique. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US, at more the 1,900 feet deep!

After driving a bit around the lake, we stopped by the restaurant Annie’s Creek, still in the National Park. I ordered a burger and Natalie got a grilled chicken burger. We got a few things in the gift shop while waiting for our food, then headed out to our cottage. I checked into our room that I had already paid for, and we moved in! We got all out of things in the super cute little cottage, then ate our dinner outside.

We were sure glad to not be in the car anymore! We unpacked and organized some of our things and lounged around. We drank some White Claws (alcoholic seltzer’s) and played Heads Up (a simple trivia game) on our phones. It was so nice to relax and not be on the move! We planned a bit for the next day, our only full day at Crater Lake. We got ready for bed before midnight and both slept really well! :]

[bestfluteninja]

quotes from marching band, 2k17

these are actual things that people in my marching band said during the 2017 season. prepare yourself. (if you want context just shoot me an ask and i’ll try to provide it)

“I like your dad hat”

“Fuck you!” “You would”

“I hate him so much”

“Does anyone have lotion?”

“I need a new oboe reed cause mine is shit”

“I forgot sunscreen”

“Happy June camp!” “How is it happy?” “I’m trying to be positive here”

“Mr. H took his Tide bottle away”

“There’s a big shiny object in the sky. It’s the sun. It does this thing called shining”

“I’m gonna get a rotisserie chicken tattooed on my forehead”

“Dis line tho”

“And remember, I don’t care”

“He was just sitting on the toilet, pants down, phone out, playing Clash of Clans or something”

“Why are you sitting outside?” “Because if I wanted to be around people, I’d be inside”

“Just finished a drug deal”

[after chucking a phone across the parking lot into the grass] “The screen isn’t cracked but the case is!”

“Stop spraying people with sunscreen”

“SPF sun-resistant”

“Your pants are not ripping apart, it’s okay”

“It’s been in my bra and it’s still warm”

“He got a penny stuck in his trumpet”

“Let’s do me”

“Aww yeah, sun cancer”

“Right in the stomach

“I’m the best noodle”

“I use a pencil sharpener”

“Why is my binder always backwards and upside down”

“Someone just died”

“We’re so good at circles”

“Okay, guys, this circle is turning into a triangle”

“I’m turning into a meme”

“She forgot her instrument at first”

“I ran into a Little Cesar’s building”

“Nothing ever happens in marching band, this is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened” [there was a small lake in the indoor room where woodwinds were supposed to practice]

“My heart actually started beating, and I thought no”

“I found myself being nice and it just didn’t sit with me”

“I want to eat but my stomach’s rejecting it”

“A tree fell on my house again”

“If you want a good comeback, you have to be creative, you sea dolphin”

“I’ll bottle flip a tree onto your house”

“Being high is better than being asleep”

“I like having my earbuds in and not paying attention while I walk across the street”

“I cried this morning”

“He doesn’t look like a Logan, he looks like a Bob”

“I can’t carry everything and your everything else”

“I’m gonna tondo this foot straight up your ass”

“She’s literally a noodle:

“You can hate me all you want, I don’t care:

“School starts in three weeks–” *various screaming pterodactyl noises* “–and I won’t mention that again”

“People who run across the road are extra” “I don’t care if you think I’m extra, I don’t wanna get run over”

“That is where the drum line is. Never go there.”

“I’m not a white k-pop fan that only listens to BTS. Well, I am, but I listen to other bands too”

“I thought the baritone girl was you”

“I hate this, I hate being here, it makes me hate myself” “Then why are you here?” “To get gym credits”

“Come see how done your boyfriend is”

“There’s a catastrophe over there”

“People swat at sweat bees and then they miss and just hit you”

“You only have one reed?”

“I like diabetes-sweet coffee”

“I like coffee as bitter as I am”

“Don’t ‘yeah’ me, fucking fix it”

“I watched the first episode, and there was a bunch of naked people, and I was like ‘nope’“

“Instrument catches on fire? Keep your feet in time”

“Can I go up for thirds yet?”

“Put your damn chicken nuggets down”

“They were standing on the sideline catcalling me and I missed a step off and once we got off the field I went ‘motherfuckers’“

“I will not have you spreading rumors that I’m selling drugs to the students”

“Don’t forget your necks”

“You suck!” “For a dollar”

“It’s like Cards Against Humanity, but it’s visuals against saxophones”

“Right? Right? Right? Right? Right? Right–” “Left!” “WRONG”

“I have my own shady not-drugs”

“That’s blood”

“Look at this sweat fucking bee” “That’s a regular bee” [pokes it with drumstick]

“Mom! Face forward when you’re on the bus” “Then I can’t see what you’re up to”

“THE STUDENT SECTION CHEERED!”

“It doesn’t give you energy, it just loads you with caffeine”

“When you leaned down, I could see your boobs” “Were they nice boobs?” “Yeah” “Then that’s all that matters”

“Am I embarrassing you?” “Little bit”

“Oh are we playing the school song? Thanks for telling me”

“That is a lot of birds on there, that’s concerning”

“I forgot my flute”

“Look at our school, going over the curb”

“Let’s go smash the liquid banana”

“Can I have a hand hug?”

“Do you have a hair tie around your phone?” “I do. I also have ten dollars I found on the bus”

“Marching band is the only form of slavery still legal in the United States”

“I somehow accumulated three water bottles” “You’re gonna pee clear”

“When do I not want chik-fil-a?”

“I constantly have to pee”

“I have three water bottles” “I’m proud of you”

“How do you think you did?” “Better than first place”

“Which came first, calculus or physics?”

“Y’all stink worse than the guard bus”

“Close your eyes and it’ll seem dark”

“There’s tired, and then there’s band competition tired”

“I just went through puberty, second time around”

“I need to blow my nose and pet my dog”

“Can I braid your leg hair?”

“I generally don’t like to tell my boyfriend I’m cheating on him”

“There’s a Starbucks nearby”

“Why do I relate so much to the small child?” “Which one?” “The one who’s screaming”

“Avon just marches in a block and the judges are like ‘amazing, first place’“

“I don’t care if you die” “I’ve never seen this side of the flutes before” “I promise we’re all friends in the flute section”

“I’m gonna eat my own asshole” “Can I have half?”

“There is nothing productive going on over there”

“Why does God hate me?”

“I’m allergic to the prescribed crap”

“Are you eating a doughnut?” [takes another bite of doughnut] “No”

“I hate this band”

“Did we lose the other bus again?”

“They definitely wouldn’t notice a 220 pound man jumping out a window”

“If you don’t know who Frank Sinatra is, just leave”

“A bee just landed on my nose”

“We set the standard really low”

“I love you, band moms. You feed us so well”

“McDonald’s is where it’s aaaaaat”

“Why is this part of my body sweating?”

“I’m gonna hoard my food”

“See, the show choir moms just don’t care”

“I’m not a fork”

“It’s three o’clock? I thought it was like six”

“Well if you look at my phone it’s seven thirty a.m. yesterday”

“I just hate the flutes”

“I wonder if I could walk through the drive-through”

“Your voice is lower, like you’re trying to be seductive”

“Oh, you mean on Snapchat, I thought you meant like tracking”

“I have one percent oh no mayday mayday”

“You almost just died” “But it would have been spectacular”

“That’s not flying, that’s falling very fast. With style”

“I love birds–no, I hate birds”

“What’s on your bucket list?”

“I don’t pay attention to non-human menstrual cycles”

“Rifle butts are cute”

“Oh my god a bass drum”

“Do you like my snuggie?”

“It looks like Christmas and a highlighter had a baby”

“I will eat anything that’s edible”

“I thought it was ‘fluti’ like ‘cacti’“

“He makes a better Elsa than Elsa”

“It fits everywhere but the boobs”

“I have chik-fil-a in my pocket”

“You want a present? I found it in the ceiling”

“The hell-word”

“Why wouldn’t I want a donut?”

“Afraid of diabetes? Have you seen what I eat?”

“I just really love food today”

“Don’t break physics”

“I would suck someone’s dick for twenty dollars”

“Activate your thighs”

“I have pep in my step, man”

[hobbling dangerously fast on crutches] “I’m a trained medical professional!”

“If you don’t feel like you’re attacking your neighbor, you’re doing it wrong”

“Why are y’all having orgies on the stairs?”

“Why do we have two trash bags?” “One for the people, one for the stuff”

[singing] “We are family, even though you’re whiter than me”

“Make it iCarly. Throw the bagel at the wall”

“Get a room, you two”

“Who wants drugs?”

“He’s like a white Catholic man at a rave”

“Come hither, children, into the house of pee”

“I have just been mcflashed”

“Why?” “Meme”

“What in precipiatation”

“We can all be flat together”

“Wrong plus wrong equals less wrong”

“There may or may not be a hip thrust”

“The moon is an illusion”

“It’s hte one where we sit in the middle of the floor and they announce all our failures”

“Make the voices in your heat be a metronome”

“I forgot how to write the letter 9″

“The size of this mushroom is ungodly”

“The sun has not risen yet we should not be here”

“Nap time corner!”

“Will nut for heat”

“I am scientifically burning up”

“Please never make that noise again. You sounded like a hawk jumping off a bridge”

“There is no dying permitted in my section”

“A bird pooped on my shoulder!”

“It’s not about the size, it’s how you use it”

“Is your mom coming?” “Unfortunately”

“I’m a pretty pink princess”

“Your mom gave me extra candy on Halloween”

“Boy do I love men in tights”

“I’m not giving this boy ten dollars for a Gatorade”

“You got your charger, right? So if I watch Netflix I can use it?”

“I have to turn it up just a little so it doesn’t have a seizure”

“Get Spotify premium so there aren’t ads!” “It’s YouTube, calm down”

“I think I have that exact same bra on right now”

“They have kettle corn!!!”

“One, two, three, NUT”

“I didn’t know hair could have personality until I saw your hair flips”

“Midstates is a pity competition, like, oh, you didn’t make state? Have midstates” “Yeah, but I wanna win the pity competition”

“Do not have sexual intercourse in the next ten minutes, please”

“The golf cart people took her”

“I have what the cool kids call–” [does cartwheel and comes up with finger guns] “–depression”

“I shaved my ankle last night” “Not the rest of your leg?” “No, just my ankle”

“All that makes me feel is emotional distress”

“I never knew hair could have personality until I saw your hair flips”

“Is that orgy kid?”

“Flutes and clarinets, I am sensing a distinct lack of Christmas spirit when we sing jingle bells”

“Why aren’t you wearing a black shirt? This is marching band, we have to look like ninjas”

“Someone’s skipping school, oh no”

“Santa!! Can you follow me on Instagram?” “I want his autograph”

“I play saxophone, I’m not used to reading in the stratosphere”

[uptightcitizensbrigade]

ANNIE DOES DALLAS!

(download pdf of article + pix here)

As St Vincent, she is the art-rock provocateur who has been declared the spiritual heir to David Bowie, fronted Nirvana, modeled for Marc Jacobs – and dated one of the most famous women on the planet. Andy Morris meets the singer in her Texan hometown. Photography by Kate Martin. Styling by Laury Smith

It’s shortly after 9am on a temperate Sunday in Lake Highlands, Texas. Clark is wearing a white Parisian minidress with a pair of tangerine Barbarella-esque boots that defy both the laws of physics and the sanctimony of the state. Clark’s brother-in-law Andrew looks up from his coffee, her niece Stella discards her fidget spinner and Clark’s mother, Sharon, snaps the first of approximately 1,000 photos she will take during the day.

At 34, Clark is one of the boldest individuals in music. Under the moniker ‘St Vincent’, inspired by both a Nick Cave song and Dylan Thomas’s last-known address, she specialises in tracks with a human feel and a machine sound. She exists in the creative intersection between Brian Eno, Joan Didion and PJ Harvey – by turns personal, political, fearsome and funky. David Sedaris sung by David Bowie, if you will.

In the past decade she has made five studio albums, including Love This Giant with Talking Heads’ frontman David Byrne. She sang Lithium with Nirvana for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Prince watched her perform in New York and David Lynch booked her for his own festival. Clark’s last LP won a Grammy, beating both Arcade Fire and Jack White. She has spent the past year recording a radio show for Apple Music, directing a horror film set in suburbia and designing a unisex guitar – at some point she’ll also probably release a new album, which she has already described as “the deepest, boldest work I’ve ever done”.

Alongside her musical career, Clark has become the darling of the fashion set – and not just because of her relationship with British supermodel Cara Delevingne. Clark has appeared in a Marc Jacobs campaign, DJed for Max Mara and become a front row favourite, appearing at Burberry (alongside Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch) as well as Chanel (alongside Karl Lagerfeld’s then seven-year-old godson, Hudson Kroenig, who happened to be dressed as an airline pilot).

But before her globetrotting began, Clark’s childhood was spent in this Dallas district. One of her earliest memories is of calling on her great aunt, a Texan socialite. Three generations would come together for a ‘sit and visit’ but even at the age of five Clark was easily distracted. “I remember  sneaking off to the bathroom where she had Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and then staring at that for a really long time.” She shows me the St Christopher pendant her great aunt passed on: “I haven’t taken it off since I started touring, bar the occasional photo shoot. I’m not sure she was particularly religious: I think her faith was ‘sherry’.”

Clark’s musical education began in Dallas. “It was really kismet,” she says. “There was a giant box of CDs outside our house one day. Someone with great music taste had been moving and it had fallen out of their car.” Clark learnt to play guitar with Tommy Hiett from Zoo Music and created a bedroom studio at home with help from her uncle, jazz guitarist Tuck Andress. She played her first shows in Texas – for a secular audience in a bar in Deep Ellum and a devout one in the First Unitarian Church. It was to Dallas that she reluctantly returned after dropping out of Berklee College of Music in Boston, aged 22. At this point her sister, Amy, suggested Clark might be better off getting a job at Starbucks.

We hit the road in a 50-foot ‘Entertainer’ coach, whose retro styling and racks of fringed clothing make it feel as if we are in danger of an Almost Famous style singalong. Clark clearly delights in showing us her hometown – it takes some creative chutzpah to pose like Anita Ekberg outside a venue selling a ‘Loaded Up & Truckin’ Burger’. Having spent ten years on various tour buses, Clark is agreeably no-nonsense. “Make sure you ask her what it’s like being a woman in music,” says her mother Sharon, mischievously. Her daughter offers an eye roll for the ages. “Yes, I really love justifying every decision I have ever made through gender.”

As we cruise along Interstate 75, Clark flips through magazines, alighting on Cara Delevingne’s Chanel ad campaign: “It’s the goof! She’s so pretty. That’s definitely what I’d wear to skateboard.” Delevingne has visited Clark in Texas: “I’ve never seen someone eat so many tacos!” We discuss the British model’s status – a lone irreverent figure on the catwalk. “For someone so beautiful and so lauded by the fashion industry, she’s the least vain person ever.” I ask if the pair are dating again. “Erm… I would just say we’re really close and important to each other. She’s the sweetest, kindest person. That charm and being genuine is a rare combination.”

We arrive at the last location: a cocktail bar called Lounge Here. The owner, Julie Doyle, managed and sang with The Polyphonic Spree, the befrocked choir Clark joined in 2005. “Annie was shy but eager,” Doyle explains. “She grew quite a bit as a performer and guitarist in her time with us. She was a star before she even knew it, I believe.” Clark recalls that particular tour with unabashed glee: “I remember feeling so cool – we’re playing all these stages around Europe. Sonic Youth is playing after us! People were big and friendly and fun and manic. It was a dream come true.” Clark’s travels have given her a newfound affection for her countrymen. “There is an openness to Texans: there’s a saying, ‘Don’t get too big for your britches’. There’s a premium put on humility, which is nice and very rare in the world.” Yet many misconceptions about Dallas endure. “Either people have seen the TV show or they think of cowboys,” she explains. “I can’t tell you how often I’ve said, ‘I’m from Texas’, and people say, ‘Oh, did you ride a horse to school?’”

The following day is what Texan traditionalists might describe as “hotter than a two-dollar pistol”. Clark picks me up in her own black BMW saloon. She’s wearing a black Tupac T-shirt and shorts decorated with skeletons. The look is a little ‘Wednesday Addams at Summer Camp’ – until she changes with delight into the vintage Pearl Jam T-shirt I’ve brought along as a gift (she lost hers after a close encounter with West Texan wildlife, immortalised in her track Rattlesnake). She reverses the car, turns off her Steely Dan album, tells a true crime story that chills me to the bone, picks up an iced coffee and we drive to White Rock Lake.

Clark has brought me to her teenage hangout. It’s a chance to see a different side to Dallas, under Cormac McCarthy’s ‘unsheltering’ Texan skies. We park between Boy Scout Hill and ‘Big Thicket’, before walking over Mockingbird Bridge. At one point a cyclist overtakes us, his stereo blasting the preposterous sax solo from Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street. As he puffily pootles away, Clark doesn’t bat an eyelid. She thinks that Texas still has an ability to bring out strangeness. “Throw in a touch of fire and brimstone, a splash of cowboy spirit… and you have a Texas weirdo.”

The temperature rises and we take a seat in the shade. An elderly couple fishing nearby politely  enquire, “We’re not going to distract y’all are we?” I ask Clark about life on the radar of international designers. “I feel like fashion has given me two kisses on the cheek. It’s not a full bear hug,” she says. Clark agrees Dallas is a city obsessed with style: “If you’ve ever watched Frederick Wiseman’s documentary film The Store: it’s all footage of women in the 1980s at the downtown Neiman Marcus buying clothes. Back in that day, fur was the biggest status symbol in Dallas – because for 364 days it’s completely irrelevant. It’s hot in Dallas. All. The. Time.”

Clark’s own memories of her time in Dallas centre on attempting to extricate herself from her surroundings by sheer force of will. “I remember driving around this lake alone, listening to music, waiting for something to happen,” she says. “I wanted to find the cool people, who were doing things and living wild lives. And I naively thought if I just drove around with the windows down, listening to music that I loved, that people would see and go, ‘Oh, I also love this. We can meet each other.’” She prides individuality above everything else: “I think it was Brian Eno who said cool is the by-product of being uniquely yourself.”

Performing live remains a cathartic experience. “At times, it has been an exorcism,” she says. “There have been moments on stage when I can feel everybody’s sorrow, joy, fears, hopes. It’s almost like looking into a vortex…” She stops herself, keen not to sound pretentious. “I’m a person who is frankly allergic to spirituality – I don’t want to ever say ‘Namaste’ to a white girl.”

What’s clear is that Clark’s in a good place: spiritually, metaphorically and, for the next few days at least, literally. She has also shown what’s possible with a life on the road. How you can grow up in Texas, educate yourself in Boston, experience Europe, work out of LA, New York and Seattle – before returning to your family and the places you’ll never forget. Hell, along the way, you may even fall in love with a British supermodel who loves Mexican food. Travel gives you a new perspective on home. It teaches you to love the state you’re in.

[jupiterisonline]

You’ve Got Mail!

Summary; Photographer!Dan has been living in Scotland for three years now. He’s worked hard to be able to sell his work as a living and gain a stable income, yet his comfortable lifestyle seems to be missing something. The small town of Buckie never seems to feel like home and he can’t seem to figure out what he needs to overcome to feel at ease. Until one day where Dan watches as mailman!Phil slips and falls across the street from him. In a simple act of kindness, Dan might have changed his life in ways he couldn’t even begin to imagine. But will it be for the better or for the worse?

Genre; fluff, just complete fluff

Chapter; 1/?

A/N; I’m finally writing again! I know it’s a miracle. I’m planning on making this chaptered if you guys like it so make sure to drop me an ask and tell me if you want more. (Also my desktop crashed when I was writing out the summary and everything so I had to start it a l l over again it was hell) Here is a playlist you can listen to while you read that has all the songs mentioned in the fic. And this is Dan’s house if you wanted a visual (his bedroom is the 5th image). Thank you to @purehtml for helping me with my grammar, writing structure and overall just being a great friend and beta reading it. Also, thank you to @libraerie for her encouraging words during the writing process. -J

Warning; Light swearing

Word count; 3,522

Clicking my camera’s flash down with my finger I hold it up to my right eye, putting one knee on the pavement far faster than I needed to. ‘That’s gonna leave a nice bruise’ I thought, mentally scolding myself as I felt the sharp sting starting to turn to a dull throb. There are a bird and a stray dog just across the street from me and they seem to be having a standoff. There is no way I’m missing that opportunity; the bird lungs at the sturdy looking mutt, flapping its wings and puffing its chest. The dog snaps at the bird and gets the tip of its wing in between its teeth. I quickly set my camera to burst and press down on the capture button much harder than I need to. The bird screeches and pulls it’s wing out of the dog’s mouth, most likely ripping it as it did so, and flies away. The dog’s prize seems to be a tipped over container of fries laying on the ground by a bin and the dog scurries to eat it up. When it’s finished the dog makes a sharp turn and runs off the sidewalk, checking behind itself before disappearing into the perfectly pruned park bushes. I stand back up and walk to a nearby bench to inspect my knee and look over my photos. A small pang of guilt goes through my chest as I realized I didn’t even think of trying to help the poor dog. ‘Probably would have run away from its meal if I tried that.’ I thought. I set my backpack down beside me and put my camera away before starting to roll up my jeans. The faded denim proved to be much harder to roll then I first thought, the roses embroidered on the side made it difficult to fold over itself. But as my knee finally gets past the sea of denim I can already see it was turning a darker red than I’d like. Sighing in annoyance I push my jeans back down and brush them flat to my leg before retying my shoelaces. My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I reach around to look at it. ‘Just twitt-’ I look up to see the time on my phone, ‘-wait isn’t my train leaving right now?’ I jump to my feet and grab my bag, quickly looking both ways before dashing across the road.

As soon as my feet hit the cobble of the underground streets, I knew I was doomed to miss that train. God knows why I kept running, the stop was scheduled for 5 and it was currently 5:02. I was only halfway there as I stopped and huffed at the base of the stairwell. ‘Should have just gotten the bus’ I thought, but of course, I had to be stubborn and go all this way.

“Damn it-” I put my hands on my thighs and tried to catch my breath “-nope forget it bus it is, you win lungs.” There’s a small trickle of people walking by me as I stretch my back and slowly ascend back up the cobbled steps. Stepping back onto the open streets of the city I can smell rain in the air. ‘Of course,’ I mentally sneer as I pick up my pace. I can feel my legs burning with every step and the air starts to feel thicker as thunder rolls in the distance. ‘My legs are going to be burning tomorrow’ I thought, slipping by a group of giggling teenagers. I manage to contain a snort as one of them trips over their own legs and crashes into a light post. Becoming bored of my surroundings I pull my phone out of my pocket and plug in my headphones. I click on Wild Horses before turning a corner and continue to the stop. After 5 minutes of walking, I can finally see it in the distance, I slowed down my pace and finally let my legs have a rest. Luckily this stop seems to have a cover over it, meaning if it does start to rain at least I won’t be sopping wet. Just as I reach the stop rain gently starts to fall on my arms. I rush to step inside and lean on the glass, surprisingly there doesn’t seem to be anyone else nearby or inside the bus stop. The only people around were those kids and they already ran back down the sidewalk and into a Starbucks to escape the rain. Looking down I see a snail crawling on the outside of the glass, I quickly grab my camera from my bag to take a picture of it before walking outside of the cover.

“Aren’t you photogenic,” I say, taking the snail, and moving it to a nearby tree. ‘At least I got some nice picture out of all this’ I thought, I put a black and white filter over the photo and slip my camera back into my bag. ‘Right, it’s 5:11 so I’ll only be here for about 20 minutes’ I thought whilst looking around the small shelter that doesn’t seem to have benches. I decided to take up residence in the corner, sliding my backpack onto the ground and unzipping the front pocket. My last two-way ticket for Buckie is squished at the bottom of the pocket. I sit crisscross next to my bag with my head leaning against the wall after shuffling my Spotify for the fifth time. Jet Pack Blues starts to play a little too loud as the windows begin to cloud from the rain beating down at full force.

“And then a 4-hour ride home-” I sigh, closing my eyes, and rolling my shoulders “-that I’ll hopefully be sleeping through.” Watching the rain patter against the window was calming until a clap of lightning hit a nearby building and scared me half to death. The Greyhound bus rolls to the curb at 5:30 sharp and I rush up the steps to try and keep my hair at least a little dry. I hand over my ticket and turn to look at the bus, trying to find a seat. I settle into a seat in the back to my right that has no one in the aisle, that way I can lay down. It isn’t packed, but there is a good amount of people dispersed around the bus, most of them asleep or on their phone. I skip a couple of songs before seeing Warm Foothills load up on the screen. I set my bag down in my lap and cross my arms over my chest, I can’t read most of the signs out the window since the rain is making the glass blurry. I pull out my camera once again to record as the bus starts to speed up. A leaf lands on the window and startles me, but I change my focus and manage to get a shot of it before it gets ripped off and thrown back into the wind. I put my camera back into my bag and lay my head on the window as I watch the old buildings and lush greens whiz by. I let the deep hum of the bus and the tapping of rain lull me to sleep as I hear Warm Foothills fade out and Bloom take its place.

My eyes opened to the sound of a loud hiss coming from the bus, signaling a stop. I put a hand on where my head was resting and feel the indent on my skin, trying to soothe the dull throb. I pull out my headphones to hear the announcement and realize Coffees for Closers was blasting in my ears. A ding sounds into the bus and a digital screen flashes the words DUFFTOWN STOP.

An automated voice then plays, reading out “Next stop, Buckie. Next stop, Buckie. We hope you’ve enjoyed your trip-” I put my headphones back in and tap on the song Hook before looking at the time on my phone, ‘8:31 pm’. Didn’t know I could sleep for that long on a bus without being jolted awake. ‘A new record,’ I thought, chuckling to myself. While the bus is stopped I take the opportunity to stand up and bend my already sore legs. I stretch my arms over my head and my hand hits the top of the bus as I yawn. As I sit back down I swing my legs over the two seats to my right and my ankles fall off the end of the row, oh the joys of being 6’4. I let my back rest against the chilled window and watch the people walk by the bus. A girl with red hair and a daisy behind her ear bumps into my feet while putting her bag in the overhead compartment. She didn’t seem to notice, but seeing her put her bag away made me realize that my own bag was now on the floor. Copying her actions, I stood and put my bag into the compartment. I pushed my camera back into its protective pocket before zipping it shut. The bus starts up again and I stumble back into my seat, resuming my last position, and zoning out on the window across from me. It’s stopped raining but the edges of the window still have raindrops clinging to the sides of them. Since Dufftown is so close to Buckie I didn’t bother trying to fall back asleep, instead, I pulled out my phone and started to edit my pictures from the museum. It was the only reason I ever went into Edinburgh anymore, other than going to that one underground cafe. With its fairy lights and vine-covered windows, it was like my little treat for leaving town. Before the bus stopped outside town I got a solid folder of pictures cropped and edited, even posted a couple to Tumblr. I put my phone in my back pocket and lifted my bag from the overhead latch and onto my shoulder. I held onto the seat in front of me while the bus came to a halt, the digital screen now read BUCKIE STOP. I smiled at the driver as I passed them and slowly walked down the steps and jump onto the pavement. The puddle on the ground under the steps bursts and, surprisingly, makes little sound.

My walk home wasn’t too eventful, the same it always is. I’ve walked home from this stop so many times I remember the one night I had a dream about doing it. I smile to myself as I pass by “Off the Wheaten Path”, it’s a small gluten-free bakery run by a mom and son. A metal sign with a Wheaten Terrier growling at its reflection in a puddle hangs high above the sidewalk. I’d eaten an egg and cheese sandwich before I left today but that was it. I couldn’t resist the enticing smell of chocolate radiating from the shop as turned around and stepped inside. The shop was empty except for one guy who was sat by the door, he looked up at me through his book and gave me a quick smile when the bell rang on the door. I sit down at one of the tables and put my bag beside me, unzipping it. I grab my wallet and leave the bag hanging on my chair as I wander up to the counter. The cafe itself looked old with its handmade wooden tables and sturdy whitewashed chairs. There were tons of potted plants laying around the shop, some hanging from the ceiling and others balanced on uneven shelves. A woman with bright green eyes peaks around the entrance of the kitchen and smiles at me.

“Hello love, you’re just in time! We’ll be closing in about 35 minutes” she says with a thick Scottish accent. She walks up to the counter and grabs a notepad with a pen clipped to it as I scan the chalkboard menu.

“What can I get for you?” she says, as soon as I see the words “Pistachio Muffin” written on the board I’m sold on it.

“A pistachio muffin and croissant ham sandwich,” I pull out my card as she scribbles my order down and pins the paper on a corkboard behind her; her handwritten name tag reads ‘Skye’.

“Sure thing, my son Kenny’ll bring it out to you,” she turns the card reader to me and I swipe my card, flip it around in my hands until the screen says, “Transaction Complete”. I head back to my seat and pull up Tumblr to queue some posts. A couple of minutes later Kenny taps me on the shoulder and I jumped out of my skin. My phone drops into my lap as I look up at him, but this happens to be a common occurrence. I’m naturally a jumpy person but it always ends with a good laugh. In his hand is my plate with a pistachio muffin and croissant sandwich.

“Sorry sir didn’t mean to rattle ya,” he says, sliding the plate in front of me. He seems rather shy and I take that as a hint to keep the conversation brief.

“No worries, I tend to be a jumping bean.” My fingers itched to grab my camera and take a picture of the way he’s smiling at the ground. His glassy hazel eyes watching his own shoes as he smiles. Of course, it would be extremely rude of me to pull my camera on him; although I know it’s the only thing holding me back from doing so. His short and curly yellow hair was covered in flour and dough, and his slightly hooked nose had a smudge of brown powder on it. ‘Probably some spice or something’ I thought to myself, giving him a patient smile. He pulled a small bell out of this apron and set it next to my plate.

“If ya need anything just ring that bell.” I watched as he walked away, putting my phone on the table. When I lift the bell a small piece of paper falls out with a number scratched out onto in a hurry. ‘Names Kenny if you ever want to chat’ I chuckle to myself as I pocket the small folded paper. ‘Have to put it in my phone when I get home.’ I thought.

When I left the bakery, it was a little after 9, so I was expecting to see my Amazon packages on my door. But when I turned the corner down my street, I saw the mail truck on the right side of the road. I crossed the street so I wouldn’t have to confront him and continued home. It still frustrated me that my house had to be the one all the way at the end of the block. I know full well I don’t get enough exercise so I deal with it, realizing it’s good for me. As turn past the pillars at the entrance of my house, Rosy comes up and rubs on my leg, meowing at me. I smile at the small white and orange kitten and kneel down to pet her. I could hear the bell around her neck and small silver name tag softly tapping against each other. She’s been here ever since I moved and seemed to always be around my house. Either in my backyard, at my door, or sleeping on my windowsill at any and all hours of the day. When I asked my neighbor, he told me that she belonged to someone on my street that didn’t seem to care for her anymore. Ever since I’ve just adopted her as my own as she’s such a sweet cat. Being someone who leans to the antisocial side I can also appreciate the company. I’ve thought about putting a cat door in many times but I just haven’t gotten around to ordering one. I’ve gotten into the habit of just letting her in when I open the door or, her more common entrance, jumping in through my back window. I always keep it open for her during the day but I shut it at night, most mornings I wake up to her sleeping on the window in front of my bed. As I go to open my door I hear the mail truck pull up to the house across from me. I turn around so I could put my backpack on the ground and dig my keys up. When I look up, however, I see 3 packages on the ground and a man slowly picking himself up. For a moment, I thought of just getting into my house and forgetting it ever happened. But my sympathetic side pipes up and I think back to all the times I wish someone would have given me a hand. I knew I’d never forgive myself if I turned a blind eye. I left my keys and my bag at the door, swiftly stepping over Rosy and awkwardly jogging over to him.

“Hey, are you alright?” I hold out my hand to help him up and he seems shocked to see me standing there, but grins at me nonetheless.

“Um, I think so? Might have a couple bruises but I’m fine otherwise. Just tripped when I was stepping over that ledge.” He nodded his head to the small curb that protruded from the natural grass. I have tripped over those damn curbs many times so I could sympathize. I remember the time I was in my yard trying to get a shot of the sun shining on the water. I tripped on that damn ledge and fell just like he did, the fall cost me my favorite lens. He takes my hand and stands up from the ground, brushing off the dirt from his uniform pants. His once white and pressed shirt is now covered in dirt. He turns and picks up two of the three boxes and starts walking back up to the house.

“This might sound strange but, where did you come from? I didn’t see anyone around when I left my van.” I ran to collect the other package, following him to the door.

“Oh, I live across the street and saw you on the ground and, well, I didn’t want to leave you there.” I set the box down next to where he left the others on the porch. He smiles at me as we walk back to his van.

“Well thank you, do you have anything I was supposed to bring you?” he reaches into the passenger seat and pulls out a scanner.

“Just a couple of things, some soap, shampoo and-”

“And a cat collar?” his words caught me off guard but I managed to laugh it off.

“Yeah, yep, that would be me.” Rosie’s collar seemed tight on her lately so I decided to order her a proper one. It’s made of leather and, if my measurements were right, it should fit her perfectly. ‘Need to get some bowls too so I won’t have so many dirty dishes.’

“And your name is Daniel Howell, right?” He says while entering something into the scanner. He turns to pull open the sliding door on the side of the van as I cringe at my own name.

“Yeah but it sounds really posh when you say it like that. You can just say, Dan.” I put my hands in my back pockets and rock on my feet.

“And your name?” I ask. The door slams shut and two small packages are handed to me.

“Phil, Phil Lester. I just got this job a couple days ago and it seems that even in such a small town there’s a lot to deliver.” I grabbed my packages and take a step back from him as he heads around to the driver side of his truck.

“Well, it was nice to meet you, Phil. See you next Wednesday?” He jumps back into his van and rolls down the passenger window. And I swear the smile he gave me was bright enough to blind you if you stared at it too long. His head tips ever so slightly and for a moment, his tongue starts to poke out of the side of his mouth as he smiles.

“Yeah, see you next Wednesday, Dan.” The van came to a roaring and rattling start, sounding as if it’s run these streets a thousand times. I watched as he made a U-turn and drove away after I crossed the street. Rosy meowed and let herself in as soon as I got the door unlocked. I set my bag down and let my keys fall onto the glass table by the door with a loud clang. I click the Bluetooth button on my phone and it instantly connects to the speakers scattered around my house. First Day of My Life starts to play as I lean the back of my head against the door. As the lyrics bounce around the hall I take a deep breath and smile, to no one but myself; I finally felt like this little town was becoming home.

[shortsrifle7-blog]

The Essential Guide to Breakfast at Disney World

At Walt Disney World, nearly everything qualifies as a breakfast. Hot dogs are slung by 10 a.m., last night’s desserts double as sugary morning fare, and the Dole Whip stand opens earlier than your usual workday begins. Truly, there are no rules.

But while the options are boundless, sitting down to a full meal of eggs, bacon, and toast here can be a merciless catch-22: You either cannibalize your early-morning park time (precious hours when ride lines are shorter than usual) with dining, or forego the serious sustenance required for the long day ahead.

There are, in fact, some fantastic eye-openers on the property, but you’ll have to know where to find them. Which is why we’ve highlighted the best breakfast tacos to scarf on the run, specialty foods worth taking a break for, and when you should just rely on the emergency granola bars in your backpack.

Desperate for caffeine? The most obvious options are called out below, but refer to Eater’s comprehensive guide to coffee and tea across the property for info on where to get hopped up throughout the day.

The famous Cat Tail pastry at the Cheshire Café

Magic Kingdom

With an updated park entry procedure, having a reservation no longer gets you into the park as early as it used to. Character dining options are either the Crystal Palace buffet with Winnie The Pooh & Friends (don’t knock it, Eeyore is a delight) or the iconic Cinderella’s Royal Table, with tableside princess visits inside the castle’s upper towers. The only other sit-down options are Plaza Restaurant, which just introduced breakfast, and Be Our Guest (more on that below).

Signature morning sweets include Cheshire Café’s eponymous “cat tail,” a pink and purple icing-drizzled Danish log, and the warm jumbo cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern; both are fine, not great. If you prefer to start the day with a macaroni-and-cheese-topped hot dog, you’re in luck, because Cosmic Ray’s, Lunching Pad, and Casey’s Corner all start serving lunch fare bright ’n’ early at 10 a.m — with the frozen pineapple favorite, Dole Whip, up for grabs as early as 9 a.m.

Top Pick: Sleepy Hollow, whose freshly made sweet and savory waffle sandwiches hit the spot, unless you indulge in a Mickey-shaped one instead. (Late risers, take note: the ham, egg, and cheese waffle sammy is served ’till noon.) Avoid: Be Our Guest. The hottest ticket in town is a travesty at breakfast time, when a chaotic pre-order format ruins its delightful Beauty and the Beast-themed interiors. The food isn’t terrible and comes out lightning quick, but it remains a pricey breakfast that’s not entirely worth it. Coffee: The Main Street Bakery (halfway down the main drag, right-hand side) hides the park’s very own Starbucks, while a Joffrey’s Revive stand in Tomorrowland (by Space Mountain) serves solid coffee without the long lines.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Morning options are tough to come by inside this timeless take on Tinseltown, with most quick-service locations opening early with lunchtime foods in busy months, but grab-and-go eats, such as the whoopie pie-like carrot cake cookie, at the Trolley Car Café Starbucks are a reliable choice. That is, if you’re not eating omelets and Mickey waffles with familiar Disney Junior faces at Hollywood & Vine, the only spot in the park offering character dining.

Top Pick: Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land. The strange delights at this quick-service stand are worth stopping for, particularly the indulgent scrambled-egg bowl with smoked brisket, gravy-smothered tater tots, and a s’mores French toast breakfast sandwich with graham-crusted brioche. It’s less sweet than it sounds, and you can even use Disney’s mobile-ordering service to skip the line. Avoid: ...eating lunch fare at 10 a.m. It won’t end well. Coffee: Starbucks is located within the Trolley Car Café (at end of the entrance’s central stretch, right-hand side), but a Joffrey’s Coffee stand is conveniently lurking at the entrance of Toy Story Land.

Cheesy stuffed croissants at Les Halles Boulangerie

Epcot

Epcot’s World Showcase is the place to chow down on international cuisine within themed pavilions during the day, but only Mexico, Norway, and France are open pre-11 a.m. If you’re back there — most likely for a morning ride on Frozen Ever After — there are sweet Scandinavian pastries and a salmon-and-egg bagel at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, or Mexican specialties like chilaquiles and pambazo de chorizo con huevo at Cantina de San Angel.

You won’t totally destroy your plans by sitting down for breakfast, so munch on a family-sized platter of hearty staples with Chip ’n’ Dale, Pluto, and Mickey Mouse at Garden Grill or with a bevy of princesses at Norway’s part-buffet, part-restaurant Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, the park’s two character dining locations. If you’re just putzing around Future World between morning Fastpass reservations and need a quick bite, Sunshine Seasons, with its souffle, croissant egg sandwich, and healthy options like a tofu wrap and overnight oats, is your best bet.

Top Pick: Les Halles Boulangerie in the World Showcase’s France pavilion for a tempting bakery case of croissants and chocolate-filled pastries, along with ham- and cheese-stuffed croissants, quiches, and croque monsieurs. Avoid: Waiting until World Showcase opens at 11 a.m. Have a little something, even if it’s a piece of fruit — you’ll want to pace yourself once the real eating begins. Coffee: Here, Starbucks is called Fountain View; walk past Spaceship Earth and it’ll be on your right-hand side, across from the fountain. Can’t wait? There are Joffrey’s Coffee kiosks beneath the monorail station, over by Test Track, and within the World Showcase.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Given that your morning plans likely include waiting for the immensely popular Avatar: Flight of Passage ride, skip the sad pastries sold at pop-up stands nearby and send a family member to retrieve French toast sticks, sausage-and-egg biscuits, or sweet pineapple lumpia from Pandora’s nearby Pongu Pongu stand. (The line now snakes through an outdoor walkway between Pandora and Africa, alleviating any difficulty of shimmying through a proper queue to find them — a big Disney no-no.)

Your only true sit-down options are Tusker House, a character breakfast buffet with good food and a few African options (mealie pap, beef bobotie) or, gulp, Rainforest Cafe, so opt for the former if you’re inclined. It’s got the core characters — Mickey, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy — and some of the best grub, too.

Top Pick: Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe. The quick-service counter in Asia has an array of made-to-order sunrise sandwiches — bacon and egg on challah toast, sausage and egg on an English muffin — as well as a breakfast burrito and tacos, all served with herbed hash-brown bites. Avoid: Kusafiri Coffee Shop, the kiosk in Africa whose oversized Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll is not as good as Instagram would have you believe. Coffee: Creature Comforts houses the park’s Starbucks (take the left at the park’s emblematic Tree of Life; it’ll be on your left-hand side), but if you’re headed toward DinoLand U.S.A., Isle of Java is more convenient.

Tonga toast at the Polynesian Village

Around the Resort

All Disney Resort hotels offer breakfast, but only some are worth changing your plans for:

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: Kona Cafe offers loco moco and macadamia-nut pancakes, but is most famously known for the cinnamon sugar-crusted, banana-stuffed sourdough loaf that is Tonga Toast. Reservations can be tough to nab, so you can also grab the toast to go (sans strawberry compote) at Capt. Cook’s.

Disney’s Yacht Club: Ale & Compass offers one of the best breakfast buffets in the park (they’ve even got whitefish salad!) as a small upcharge to its selection of inventive entrees that are, for the time being at least, priced competitively.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Sanaa’s limited but substantial breakfast menu, paired with up-close views of animals, makes it a top choice time and time again.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn: If you’re looking to give your kids some princess magic and yourself a table-service breakfast (poached eggs with fennel sausage; sopressata-stuffed breakfast calzone) far superior to the character buffets, Trattoria al Forno is the spot.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: 1900 Park Fare is the ol’ standard when it comes to character dining, but Grand Floridian Cafe not-so-secretly has one of the best breakfast menus (and calmest atmospheres) on property.

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort: Fuel is the ideal lobby pit-stop, with a full espresso bar, egg sandwiches, and endless packaged snacks ideal for scarfing while waiting for the Magic Kingdom bus.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort: Ravello not only has a superior breakfast buffet, but hosts character dining a couple days a week, giving you quality time with Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie alongside a gourmet spread of charcuterie, house-made granola, and eggs made to order.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: The perk of staying at a Disney hotel that recently underwent renovations is an updated quick-service menu that almost always includes unexpected surprises. Enjoy breakfast Cubans, coconut waffles, and a chorizo tostones Benedict at Centertown Market or try the cream cheese-guava French toast and yucca hash at the hotel’s Spyglass Grille.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter: Load up on breakfast po’ boys, baguette French toast, breakfast shrimp and grits bowls, and beignets from the quick-service counters at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory.

Disney’s Art of Animation: Long heralded as the best quick-service food of all value-tier hotels, Landscape of Flavors delivers a strong and varied bounty, with breakfast sandwiches on naan bread, challah French toast, and vegan seitan scrambles.

Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/12/21/18138029/best-breakfast-restaurants-walt-disney-world-florida