#also we’re eating the pizza and planning on going to the theaters but end up just talking and losing track of time so bad everywhere was

[lilgynt]

also a big i told you so in regards to settling like yeah i DONT like most people im PICKY and would rather be alone than annoyed and it WORKED

[kyotakumrau]

2021.03.10 USEN STUDIO COAST 2nd session with Toshiya and Kyo

Fujieda and Takabayashi again came on stage when the tables were ready and after greeting everyone and introducing themselves F asked fans to give band members a loud applause👏

Toshiya and Kyo came back and they both changed for the second session!

Unconfirmed until DIRT announcement, but most likely T was wearing DIRT items: light grey cardigan and black and white floral print set, top and bottom, with a thick white stripe with black frame on the sides. Plus sunglasses.

Kyo was wearing Madaraningen, MANG white shirt with the tie and black slacks, white socks with colorful accent, gold choice of Madara jewellery. And big glasses.

They sat in the same order as for the 1st session.→F K T Ta

T: I'm Toshiya, yoroshiku onegaishimasu

K: I'm Kyo.

The whole time during the 1st session K was turned slightly to the right, but during the 2nd session he was basically sitting facing F.

F: (after he talked about Rock-May-Kan footage) It's the first time you performed Ochita koto no aru sora. Did you have any trouble with it?

T: hm. Chorus is hard.

F: continues fast.

T: yeah. But you just practice and get used to playing it.

F: Shinya said that thanks to the rehearsal you did as the rhythm section songs he got them back quickly.

T: I see. He should be grateful😆

F: How about you, K? Any trouble?

K: don't know (he's looking to the left side of the venue)

F: you've only performed it once.

K: wah! (still intensely looking at the left wall of the venue or somewhere that direction)

F: 😱?! why are you looking there?? Can you see anything?!

K: thingy there is moving and moving...

F: whaaaaat, don't scare us like that!

K: ... (he continued to look there).

👻？😂

F: Didn't you play Jealous first time in a really long time? Wasn't it hard?

T: it wasn't a big surprise, we were planning it originally for the SOGAI tour.

F: the cancelled tour.

T: We were waiting until the last moment to see if we can go on with it or we have to cancel, so we had the proper rehearsal for the tour. So when rehearsing it for Rock-May-Kan show it didn't feel like it's been a long time.

F: K you said it was embarrassing to remember and perform it?

K made the 'robot move' from PV with a totally blank face😂

F: you also played Umbrella, so will you be playing more old songs?

K: Anything is okay except 'Toriko'. There's a drums solo in the end, it's so long and the switch to the next song gets so confusing.

T: How about we leave S and just go?

😂

Then they talked how Shinya fans and other fans would react.

K: Wouldn't fans be troubled with [he made the robot move]?

😆

F: you T don't mind old songs?

T: they're fine/no problem.

F moved the talk to the flyer and their new artist photo.

K: Auspicious/celebrating. Like New Year. And osechi.

F: I see, if using food to explain it's like osechi.

F: How was the filming of the PV?

T: Really long. But speaking of refreshing/Sawayaka, do you know the hamburger shop with that name?

F: it's in Shizuoka (F then again got very enthusiastic talking about how delicious is the meat there, how very juicy etc)

T: so PV is like that (like a juicy meat😂).

F: the single cover art is very unexpected for you.

K: I know and like this artist from before, I asked her to do it for us. I really like it.

After that was time for the merchandise topic. F announced that he confirmed that the rechargeable heat pack can also work as a charger/power bank. K who asked about it in Yokohama and was then told that no, it's just a heat pack just gave him such a look. F, you're not gonna get out of this alive😂

K: ...it'd be such a good item in winter, so it's for the next one? We don't sell it in winter, only for warm season. Wow, heat pack for the warm season...

/s by K👌💯

F started to enthusiastically advertise the towel saying like a muffler it can be worn on a cold day to keep you warm, and K...😂

But T was also poking so much fun at F with his reactions, 'oh I see! Wow!' 😂

T: I think we haven't had wristbands in a while.

K: what are you actually supposed to do with it?

F: you can wipe the sweat off (he gestured wiping sweat from his brow)?

K: I see. Then what about the towel then? (he also gestured using a towel with one hand and a wristband with the other at the same time [kinda like the Jealous robot move], the look he gave F and that pause when he waited for F to dare to answer, oh my, F, you're so dead🤣)

But T and Ta said that guitarists actually use it to keep sweat off their hands etc.

K: so with all of these fans are settled for the show at Tokyo Garden Theater?  (F was nodding to all listed items) These and the ticket and we're good? And the train ticket? Ah no, commuter pass? What should they wear? (F: The hoodie) But then we don't sell any bottoms, should fans go without any pants? What? But we have two items to wipe sweat!

F: fans can bring the travel pouch, usb, they all fit perfectly in the bag! All good items especially if you come from outside of Tokyo.

K: and no bottoms😆

F: well, they need extra money for the ticket and their own bottoms.💦

F also advertised venue limited edition of Ochita.

K: so there are no plans for normal sale? When it gets sold out that's it?

F: yeah.

(it's contradictory with Kaoru's tweet, not sure if I trust F😂)

After that we moved to the section with questions from fans. F as usual split the papers so everyone got some, K this time didn't even read them, just putting them in F's pile😂 but then he was leaning over all the time trying to read what F was looking at😁

F said there many questions about where T stands on the seat choice.

T: on shinkansen I prefer window, on the airplane aisle.

F: why?

T: if I need to stand up to go to toilet etc it's easier.

F: but on the train you prefer a nice view, I see. Shinya said he prefers window seat any time.

T: He's a kid.

F then told her about the rest of the seat preference story (table down idea and S not needing to stand up at all).

F: "are you okay with the pineapple in a sweet and sour pork? Is there any food you're not okay with?"

K: I don't mind. I don't like milk and coriander. But there's something, not exactly food, that I totally hate. You know when you go to a shushi restaurant, conveyor belt sushi, there's alcohol to clean your hands. (K then said if there's a perfume like smell in it you can't enjoy food or something like that).

K (looking at the venue wall calmly): oh it moved.

F: WHAT??!😱

😂

T: I don't mind the pineapple, it's actually very good to help make meat more tender

F: Is there any food you hate, T?

T: The food F doesn't like.

(does it exist??😂)

K: F, you have to understand pineapple's feelings.

F:

K: I thought you F would get pineapple's feelings.

F: I'll try to step in pineapple's shoes...

K: Pineapple is often disliked, but it's being helpful...

K tried to sway F a bit more into becoming a pineapple...

Ta: I'm ok with it, pineapple's feelings are safe.

T: "please tell us F's one good point and one thing you would like him to improve". F is so popular.

F: Not at all😅

K: despite the pineapple...

F: so, T?

T: He can appreciate food/has good appetite, is energetic. Something to fix is that he answers everything with そうっすね/yeahsure

F: K said something similar.

T: About Tooru (he used Takabayashi's given name), he's very good at laying groundwork for projects. Something to improve... well, when I think of something I'll let you know (to Ta).

Ta: Anytime.

K: Ta's good point, he does his job in a matter of fact manner. He doesn't exactly has something to fix, but he can't eat cheese, so fe when we go abroad he can't have pizza.

K: there are so many things F should fix.

F: That ﾊｲﾊｲﾊｲ・yeahyeahyeah

K: ...🙃 just answer with one proper はい

K also complained again about F's eating manners that he opens his mouth too much when eating, sometimes also will turn his head when eating ramen like it's easier to eat (K demostrated F eating posture, arms high and head turned - a bit like Jealous robot pose😆)

F: any good points?😆

K: ...hm. You make every place comfortable. I can relax with you, I wouldn't be speaking at all if you weren't here.

Both fans and F went 'Aaaaaw😊'

Ta: "are there any electronic goods you want right now?"

K: ...hm, solar panels.

F: does that count as electronic goods?

K: isn't it electronic? I want one you can put on the roof and make your own power.

T: yeah, solar panels would be nice.

K: And you can sell electricity to power companies. It's expensive at first, but after 10 years you can start make money, also you can use it if there's an earthquake.

F: can we get it at the store?

K: Why not, you could carry it home on your back!

F: Maybe not...

K: Can I put one on you F?

F: No.

K: then tattoo the giraffe on you, one long giraffe stretching from neck to knees.

F: You like giraffes.

K: Yes (noded)

K got so excited about the giraffe, F won't hear the emd of this idea😂

F: " do you have a favorite female idol or singer?"

K: This morning I was listening to Togawa Jun, レーダーマン.

F: you T?

T: No one in particular. But ones from the past.

F: like globe?

T: isn't it wrong age?

K: globe is the band with Sam?

F: I think that's TRF, in globe it's Mark Panther and Komuro Tetsuya.

F: "how about favorite artist or band you like?" Or just music you like.

K:  I'm listening now to Sekiri (赤痢), an old female band.

F: foreign band?

K: From Japan, with 3 female members.

T: I just use shuffle, listen to music without choosing who to listen to.

F: It's a streaming age now.

T: Is it?😆

F: Ok we still have plenty of time, "what's your shoe size?"

K: 24.5, for sports shoes 25.5.

T: 27, for sports I go bigger, maybe 28 or 29. Boots are better just right. But why do you need such information?😅

F: Usually fans can't ask such things, like do you pull your hoodie strings? (?)

K: I don't.

T: it depends on my mood.

F: ok, not much time left now, we will finish soon.

T: but you just said we have plenty??😆

Ta: "what your favorite album/single cover art?"

T: to pick just one is tough.

Ta: S said that Oboro is in his top 5 now.

T: Favorite cover... hm... what is it, I know, MISSA!😆

F: it's cool, it has members photo.

T: it does?😂

K: For me its DUM. It really captured album's worldview.

F (unsure): are you angry?

K: S answered that Oboro is in his top 5 to the question what's your favorite? Why?😑

F explained the situation, that it wasn't to the same question, K just replied 'I see'.

And then when F just wanted to finish K said they should do all of the leftover questions, but without thinking too long, very rapid q&a

(and absolute nightmare to write down but so SO entertaining🤣 sorry I'm not sure about all the questions it was TOO FAST)

K: hurry up!

F: (something about some time in their life)

K: now, next.

F: what about T?

K just rushed him😆

F: food you want to eat now.

K: choboyaki

F: T, a fragrance you like (?)

T: Aroma.

F: sakura season will start soon, do you have favorite spot?

K: when is soon supposed to be?

F: T, is there something you want now?

T: No.

F: K, do you color your hair by yourself?

K: Yes, next.

F: Bread or rice?

T: Both.

F: what do you buy in convenience store?

K: sweets

F: what do you do first after waking up?

T: open eyes.

D: which convenience store do you like best?

K: Convenience store.

F: do you eat skin on the chicken?

T: I like the skin best.

F: (how do you deal with stress??)

K: stress.

F: T, do you sleep naked or wear pajama to bed?

T: Pajama.

F: (something about Oboro photo shoot???)

K did the robot move in reply😆

F: which style of clothes you like when shopping?

T: simple.

F: To finish, what's your favourite obento side dish?

K (gave F disbelieving look): You want to finish with this?

F: We asked others tok, everyone had different preferences.

K: what were other members answers?

F: for Kaoru green beans or asparagus, for S hamburger, Die... we talked yesterday, but what was it?

K (seriously): I like unagi.

(marinated eel is delicious, but also very expensive, so definitely not a side😅)

F: it's delicious.

K: It is.

T: is this really needed? Don't have one, just nothing that makes food soggy... Ah, but you know when you have a pickled plum on your rice, you move it and there's this pink spot with plum flavor? I like that!

Then it was really the end and time for the last comments.

Kyo: I don't have anything.

F: By this you surely mean you're looking forward to seeing everyone in May...

K (killer face): ...💢

Toshiya: Thank you for coming today. We are having a concert in Tokyo Garden Theater on May 6th, please come if you want to. Thank you.

[fluffymcu]

Letting Loose

Part SEVEN

This series is TICKLE related.

Series Summary:  You’re the little sister of the one and only Captain America. You’re also the youngest girl on the team, so that automatically makes you the avengers’ little princess. And they spoil you as such. They have become your amazing family and you don’t know where you’d be without them. This series will show random adventures and fluffy events in the daily life of the reader and her family, along with an unexpected turn later on as you read.

A/N: I’m so excited to be writing this series! This is my first time writing one and I’m a bit nervous but I hope it all goes well. :) The first few chapters will be about random events, not really following a timeline until Chapter 9. Hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 2,653

Previous       Next

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You were woken up by Peter slapping your face lazily with his hand. You groaned and stirred in your sleep and open an eye up to see what he wanted. He was half asleep too, just patting your cheek and telling you to wake up. “What?” You hummed, your morning voice cracking a bit. It wasn’t light outside, so you knew it was early. But then you realized why he was waking you up. “Oh.” You said, perking up and sitting up on your bed. “Ok, come on let’s go.” You threw the covers off you and went to your bathroom to brush your teeth before going down to see the guys off. They were leaving for their mission today and you wanted to see them and wish them luck.

Peter slid off the bed, lingering on the floor for a few seconds before shooting himself up with a huff and pulled on his shirt on the floor that he took off in the middle of the night. He waited for you to finish up in the bathroom before following you out to the window room, which was the room that you had to go through to get to the backyard where the Quinjet was. You saw Nat, Bucky, Wanda, Tony, Steve, and Sam when you came in, and you both smiled and said good morning.

You went to give Nat a hug, squeezing her tight. “I’ll miss you. I’ll see you in 2 days.” You smiled. Nat rubbed your back affectionately and agreed. You moved onto Wanda, giving her a tight hug as well, her kissing your cheek and smiling at you. “We’ll come back soon.”

Lastly you went to Bucky, him lifting you up and kissing your cheek, and you wrapped your arms around his neck. “Have fun at the movies ok? You’ll tell me all about it when I come back.” He said, giving you a sweet smile and put you down. You watched as they walked outside towards the Quinjet and left, disappearing into the sky.

“Alright then. That’s that. You kids do what you're gonna do and get everything done before noon.” Steve said, patting you back and leaving to his room. You grinned at Peter excitedly. Steve had explained to you that morning that he was allowing you both to skip school today and do something fun to take our minds off the mission, which is why you were now going to go watch a movie that was coming out in the theaters with the team. You were basically jumping in place right now; You hadn’t gone to the movies in quite a long time with everyone. There weren’t many movies that caught their attention but when it did, they would make plans to go see it.

----

You and Peter worked to get what you needed to get done; laundry, dishes, homework, etc. It was about 11:30 and tony suggested that everyone had a snack before leaving. “Get something light to eat to hold you until after. Not anything too heavy cause we’re going out to eat later.” He said. Everyone ate a granola bar and you ran upstairs quickly to put on an outfit. Once the clock hit 11:45, you all were out the door.

Since it was Steve, Tony, Pepper, Sam, Pietro, Peter, You, Clint, Bruce, and Thor, you all had to take the van to the movies. It looked a bit extra, but to transport a big family like yours, it was necessary.

You and Peter sat in the back, in the last 2 seats. They were all separate seats, one on each side on the van. The van was a twelve-seater, so all of you fit perfectly. Everyone buckled up and Clint started to drive towards the theater. Since the compound was a bit secluded, it took a while to get to the city but it was a good pass time to listen to music and talk about Star Wars with Peter. There was traffic as you got closer to the city, so you and Peter took your seat belts off to face each other fully. You were sitting facing him with your leg tucked under you. Peter went from Star Wars, to explaining the physics of the multiverse. You smirked as he talked, loving when he would geek out like this. While he was going on about it, you leaned back and brought your other leg up to rest in across the van, on his lap. He probably didn’t even notice since he was so into what he was saying so you laid your head back against the glass, nodding at what he was saying. You weren’t as sharp as him when it came to multiverse physics or quantum stuff, but it was still interesting to hear what he had to say. After a minute, Peter was calming down from his nerd high and you giggled lightly, shaking your head. “What?” He asked, a small smile on his face.

“You are such a nerd.” You hummed. You meant it with love of course, but apparently Peter didn’t take it that way today. He gasped and put his hand to cover his heart, feigning offense.

“What'd you just say?” He asked, a hint of mischief clear in his tone. You sat up a bit to look at him right. You were about to explain that you were kidding but the only thing coming out of your mouth were giggles as he grabbed your leg that was on his lap and scratched his nails under your knee. That was an extremely ticklish spot you had and you squealed, pulling at your leg. You brought your other leg from under you and put it on the floor to get more grip to pull. You began to laugh louder the longer he stayed in that stop so you tried to use your other leg to kick his hand away. “Plehehehease!” You begged. Peter however, saw this as an opportunity to grab your other leg. “Please what? Get your other leg too? Of course!” He teased. You felt your cheeks heat up and you laughed, slumping more and more in your chair. Peter was now having a firm grip on both your feet and squeezing right above your knees.

You threw your head back and fell to your side, desperately trying to get your legs free. Tony turned behind his seat to look at you both and smirked, chuckling at you and Peter’s insatiable need for games. “Peheheheter! Quihihihit it!!” You hiccupped, shrieking when he moved off his seat and got closer to dig into your sides. You were now trapped, since you were laying on the seat on your back, not having anywhere to go with another seat blocking the front and Peter towering over you at the side.

This made it almost impossible to defend yourself as peter dug his digits into the middle of your belly. He laughed along with you, switching up to your ribs, scratching his index and middle finger at your upper ribs close to your armpits. “Tickle tickle tickle!” He teased in a babyish voice, knowing you could never stand being teased like that. Your face was practically scorching as you fell into silent laughter. Peter laughed at how a few little teases could make it that much worse for you. He grinned widely as shook all his fingers into your ribs. You arched your back violently, shaking your head side to side. “Are you gonna take it back?” He asked, not stopping his attack. You couldn’t form any words, so you just nodded frantically, mouthing for him to stop. Luckily, peter did, helping you sit up and sit in his own chair. You let out an exhausted sigh, melting onto the seat and resting your head on the window. Peter chuckled and sat back in silence, giving you moment to recover. He knew you meant it with love; you would always say that when he would go full nerd on you. But since peter was kind of an impatient person, he got bored easily. And when he got bored, he usually found it most entertaining to torture you whenever he wanted.

Fortunately, traffic had finally loosened up and you got to the theater 10 minutes later. You all hopped out of the van once you parked and made your way into the theater. Many people there were a bit surprised to see almost the entire Avengers team in a movie theater. You received quite a few stares from people, and a few fangirls who asked tony and your brother to take a picture with them. After things settled down, Steve took you to the snack bar to get you some candy. You got a cherry Icee with Nerds candy and gummy worms. Everyone got their own snacks after and got their tickets.

-----

You all made your way to the assigned room and took your seats. You sat next to peter and thor, trying not to eat all of your snacks before the movie even started. The movie was funny and entertaining, eliciting a lot of laughter from everyone in the theater. You all left as soon as the end credits started rolling, since you all were very hungry now. “That was a good movie.” Thor chuckled, everyone else nodding in agreement. “So where are we eating at?” Clint asked. Everybody shrugged and stood in a circle in a secluded corner of the theater lobby.

“I kind of want seafood.” Bruce hummed.

“Ehh, I say pizza.”

“That’s too repetitive. We eat pizza all the time. I say burgers.”

“Burgers sound good, that’s a good post-movie food.” Tony chuckled. You all agreed on burgers, finding a good burger place a few blocks away from the theater. “This place also serves pizza do those who want that.” Clint cheered at that and you made your way back to the van and drove to the restaurant. 

----

The place was nice, not too crowded and it had a nice patio to eat outside. It had a really nice vibe to it; almost as if it wasn’t located in the middle of NYC.

You followed everyone inside the restaurant, lining up at the counter to be seated. There were a few people in front of you, waiting for their seats. Peter, Clint, Pietro, Pepper, and Tony took seats at the benches while Bruce, Thor, Steve, you, and Sam were standing in line. You were standing behind Thor, Steve standing behind you. He had his arms wrapped loosely around your shoulders, swaying you gently side to side. You were letting him sway you, daydreaming about random stuff and assignments that were due soon, listening to the mixed, loud chatter of everybody in the restaurant.

It was taking longer than expected to be seated, and everyone was growing hungrier and more impatient. Your hopes were lifted when you saw the waitress come your way, but were slightly disappointed by what she said. “Hello, I'm so very sorry for the long wait, we’ll be ready with your seats in 10 minutes. We just had a small setback but now we’re back on track.” She said with a smile. The team nodded with a grateful smile and sat up a bit in their seats. You leaned back into Steve again and he put his hands on your shoulders, absentmindedly massaging them. He added a bit of pressure, squeezing close in between your neck and shoulders, causing it to feel weird. Ticklish. You coughed, shrugging your shoulders up a bit to show your discomfort.

Steve smirked and continued, massaging closer to your neck. It started to tickle a lot more so you giggled and whined at him, trying to step away but he kept you in place, increasing his speed. “Steheheve!” You growled. He chuckled and started to flutter his fingers in your neck all of a sudden, making you squeal loudly and recoil. You bent over a bit towards the floor to get your neck away from him, and stepped away, accidentally bumping into Thor. He turned around out reflex and looked away again when he realized it was just you. “Stop!” You scolded. 

“Stooop!” Steve mocked, wearing a big smirk. You tried to give him a death glare to get him to back off but you apparently didn’t look intimidating enough since Steve grabbed you back and held you in a loose headlock, using his other hand to poke at your belly. You face was hidden by your hair since you were bent over, and you tried curling in on yourself more to protect your belly. You bit your lip, trying to contain the laughter that wanted to explode out of you so bad. Steve chuckled evilly, changing his technique to pinching your waist, going all the way up and down your torso. You broke out into giggles, reaching behind him to push at his back to get out of the hold.

Steve ‘tsk’ed and brought his hand under to pinch at your armpits, immediately making you bring your arm down. You started to blush profusely as you started to realize people were probably watching you be embarrassed by your brother. You laughed loudly when Steve scribbled his finger in your belly button, sliding his hand under your shirt. You let out a high-pitched squeal that was almost too high for anyone close to hear, but Steve laughed when he heard it. You desperately slapped at his hand and wiggled around enough to free yourself.

With a loud pant, you pushed yourself away and kept him at arms length. Steve giggled your messy hair, looking like you just got in a fight with a bull. “God, you’re so embarrassing!” You whined in between your residual giggles. Steve let you get away and you ran over to Tony, snuggling up to him. Tony wrapped an arm around you and sighed, resting his head in the wall and closing his eyes.

A few minutes later, you were all called over to your table, eager to eat. You sat next to your brother and across from Peter. Pepper was sitting on your other side, next to Tony. You ordered your food and you were playing iMessage games with Peter while you waited for your food to arrive. You grinned when the waiter placed your burger on the table, thanking him and digging in. Since Steve’s burger hadn’t arrived yet, he was constantly stealing your fries. It took a lot of self control to not growl at him for taking his 10th fry. You were fine with sharing anything, as long as it wasn’t your gummy bears, ice cream, or fries. But you stood strong and let him take the eleventh. Finally, he stopped and you thanked the higher force up there in the heavens that he did.

In the next few minutes, everyone had their food, quickly digging in. You were thankful for this event today, because it took your mind off the mission that Bucky, Nat, and Wanda were on. By the time you had all gotten home, it was night time. Only one more day after this and they were home.

You spent the rest of the night in Steve’s room, cuddling with him while he read his book. He had a record player in his room and some soft 40’s music was playing softly in the background. Although you mostly had modern music on your spotify playlist, you really enjoyed the old music that he would play. It made you feel a little nostalgic, but it was a good feeling. It didn’t take long for the music and Steve softly rocking you side to side to make you fall asleep. He smiled faintly when he saw your sleeping form and laid you down next to him. It was then when he realized it was late, and turned off his lamp to go to sleep.

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

Here We Are, Born to be Kings - AUgust Day 9

Title: Here We Are, Born to be Kings

Author: Purple_ducky00

Rating: Teen

Warnings: N/A

Pairing: Rhodey/Tony

Square Filled: G2 Dramatic Proposal

Link: Read on AO3

Summary:  Prince James is in love with Lord Tony Stark, a childhood friend. However, the Starks have been disgraced due to embezzlement charges. Can they overcome this?

++++++++++

“Your Highness. Lord Stark is here to see you.” Quentin Beck holds up his nose.

 Prince James Rhodes rolls his eyes. It’s not like Beck should judge. He was only hired because his family was in serious debt.  Tony is working out of his.

 Tony walks in a few minutes later, hair askew. “Wow, Rhodey, your servants hate me. I call it an achievement.”

“They just think it’s ok to judge since their scandals happened long ago enough for people to forget. You don’t deserve this.”

 “I probably do.” Tony shrugs. “It doesn’t bother me. Actually, it gives me the chance to ditch my politeness because they already dislike me.”

 “Oh for that luxury,” Rhodey sighs. He hates the protocol he must go through. Maybe that’s why he finds Tony so refreshing.

 They first met at a football match. Tony was on the other team, and he told the young prince, “We’re not playing any easier because you’re the prince. So, be ready for that.”

 Rhodey laughed and started playing. Tony’s team was clearly better, and they defeated Rhodey's team easily. After the game, Tony invited him to grab some lunch. They have been fast friends ever since.

 Now, Rhodey is 22 and Tony is 21. Tony’s father died last year, and Tony inherited his estate. After going over the numbers, Tony’s godfather, Obadiah Stane informed him that Howard had been falsifying records and was basically bankrupt.

 Dazed and reeling from his parents' sudden death, Tony doesn’t know what to do with this information. He reaches out for help, but as Howard had been stealing money from his peers, everyone refuses to help him. Rhodey offers to bail him out completely. Tony won’t let him. He decides he will work to pay off his father's debts.

 Tony was always incredibly smart. His patented inventions were used worldwide. He decides to start his own company, Stark Enterprises, where he builds and sells hi-tech machinery and entertainment devices. As his company quickly grows, he branches out into clean energy and satellites. Not even a full year after starting his company, Tony is very successful. With only Stane and his PA, Pepper Potts, at his right hand, Tony makes sure that he himself takes care of the books. Every entry is painstakingly entered and checked by the big boss himself.

 Rhodey is very proud of his friend, but it seems that his family is the only one in the kingdom that is. King Terrance and Queen Roberta love the young man as a son, but they often wonder if he is taking on too much, causing his sleepless nights and unhealthy eating habits. Tony waves them off saying he had had those problems before his parents had died.

 Prince James’ PR agent tells him that finding someone to date might be a good look for him. Everyone is looking for news of the royal family, and they will only assume the worst if they don’t hear from each member. Queen Roberta’s cooking classes and bingo games are televised. The king does a podcast twice a month. Jeannie plays tennis professionally. James is the only one without a big public profile, and he prefers that. However, there are some people who think that James is being pushed out of the spotlight or being abused in some kind. To quell any quickly rising rumors, Rhodey agrees to attend sports matches and talk to the press for a few minutes each time. When Tony’s not working his ass off, he often accompanies Tony.

 What Rhodey doesn’t tell his PR agent is the reason he doesn’t date. He is hopelessly in love with Tony and admitting that would be bad for a few reasons. 1.) Everyone in the country is against Tony. They would slander his name even more if they thought he had got his “money-grubbing claws” in the prince. 2.) Tony is straight. He had never told Rhodey otherwise, and he has only dated women as far as Rhodey knows. 3.) He doesn’t want any reason to make Tony uncomfortable in the only place he is welcome other than his home. So, he skirts the topic because fake dating is not his idea of fun.

 Now, Tony’s here and Rhodey knows he’s giving Tony heart eyes. “So, you’ve got a day off from me. What’s the plan, Rhodey?”

 “You pick today. I’m up for anything.” Rhodey trusts that Tony won’t do anything Rhodey can’t.

 Tony sits on the chair beside Rhodey. “I need to sit. I don’t think I’ve stopped moving for a week.”

 “So, what you’re saying is you need sleep.” Rhodey retorts.

“No, I need to spend time with my Rhodeybear. We never did that Star Wars marathon after Rise of Skywalker came out, did we?” Tony pokes him. “We can order like tons of pizza and greasy foods and bro it out like the old times.”

 Stuck in a theatre room with only Tony and highly unhealthy food? “Sounds like a great day. Let’s queue up the movies. I’ll have |Miss Cabe order our food. The usual?” Tony nods and heads off to the theater.

 Rhodey pulls out his phone and texts a maid, Bethany Cabe, to place an order for the following: an extra-large bacon pizza, two orders of cheesy curly fries, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings. Rhodey has cases of Tony’s favorite beer, so they did not need to worry about drinks.

 As they settle in to watch the movies, Tony tells him, “Wake me up if I fall asleep. I don’t want to miss Episode Six again.”

 “Come on Tones, Return of the Jedi isn’t the best.” Rhodey smirks.

 Tony glares at him. ��It’s my favorite. Leave me alone. Go ahead and like Empire or whatever one you like the best. Geez.”

 “You know mine is Episode Three. The tragedy, the pain, the John Williams’ scores? A masterpiece.”

 “Anakin deserved better.” Tony mumbles as he eats a bite of pizza. Rhodey sighs. He’s heard this rant many times, and he’ll probably hear it again tonight. Tony really gets into these movies.

 Tony falls asleep at the end of A New Hope, his head falling on Rhodey’s shoulder. He looks so exhausted so Rhodey lets him sleep through Empire since Tony thinks it’s overhyped or something. Rhodey likes it. When Return of the Jedi starts, Rhodey nudges Tony awake. “Episode 6? Honeybear, you are an angel.” Tony kisses his cheek.

 By the time The Last Jedi comes on, both of the men are sleeping. Jeannette comes in to check on them and snaps a picture of Tony lying on top of Rhodey, both snoring away.

 Rhodey wakes up a few hours later and freezes. Tony is sleeping peacefully on him, his head on Rhodey’s chest. He doesn’t dare move in fear of waking Tony up. He slowly reaches for his phone and scrolls through Instagram and other social media apps until Tony wakes up.

 Tony wakes up slowly, but when he’s fully awake he jumps up and goes. “I’ve got to get to work!”

  “Hey Tony. It’s Sunday. We were going to spend Saturday and Sunday together, right?”

 “Oh. Oh. Whew. I thought.” Tony slumps. “Probably hallucinating from all that grease.”

 “Maybe we should get a little more sleep in a real bed.” Rhodey suggests. Tony nods, and they walk up to Rhodey’s room. Since they were kids, Tony always slept in Rhodey’s bed with him. They only ever slept and/or cuddled, and Rhodey has a king bed in case either of them needed their own space.

 They go to Jeannie’s tennis match then accompany her to an expensive Italian restaurant for dinner. The next morning, there are pictures splashed across the tabloids. Stark trying to get in with the Royal Family? Read more on page 3! One says. The Apple Doesn’t Fall far from the Tree – Another Gold-Digging Stark! Rhodey shakes his head. He was afraid this would happen. He calls his PR agent, Maria Hill.

She answers with a “Now do you see why having a partner would be good?”

 “Yes. Do you have any candidates who would be willing to date with no sex and/or strings attached? For public only?”

 “You don’t know how many celebrities only hope for that. Let me see which ones I can get. I’ll send you over a packet when I get them.”

 When he gets the packet, Rhodey isn’t surprised to find that 75% of them are women. Skipping through them, he tells Maria to reach out to an A-list actress Natasha Romanov. She is a beautiful woman, and they seem to have a lot of the same likes and dislikes. She agrees to meet with Rhodey at a small café near the palace. He introduces himself as Rhodey, then corrects it to “James or Jim” when Romanov gives him an odd look. “I’m sorry. My best friend always calls me Rhodey. It’s just what I expect now. I mean, if you want to call me that in private, it’s fine. Maria thinks it’s better if you call me James or Jim when talking with the press.”

“Tell me about this best friend.” Natasha leans forward. “He sounds like a nice guy.”

 Rhodey launches into a detailed description of Tony: his strengths, his flaws, his quirks, etc.  When he’s done, she asks, “And you’re dating me because you can’t date him?”

 “How did you…?”

 “You’re in love with him. Just look at your face. It’s ok. I won’t tell the press. I have almost the same problem. I’m in a poly relationship with a different celebrity couple. However, since Hollywood, even with its sex scandals, still looks down on poly relationships. I need a beard to keep our activity on the downlow. Is that acceptable for you?”

 Rhodey nods. “Of course. And you’re right. I love Tony, but I need to keep the press out of his life. His father put him through a lot, and he’s trying to make up for Howard’s sins. He doesn’t need the extra press coverage. Also, I don’t know if he likes me like that. I’ve never seen him date a guy.”

 “Well, I’d like to meet him.”

 +++++++ Natasha and Tony eventually meet. Tony is happy to meet her, but Rhodey feels that Tony is wearing one of his many masks. |When they kiss goodnight, Natasha tells him, “Rhodey, he likes you.”

 “Not that I want to doubt you, but I’m highly doubtful on this one here.”

 A few months pass, and Natasha and Prince James are photographed at red carpet events, at sports games, and at galas. Rumors are spreading that Prince James might propose soon. Natasha shows up at the palace for a surprise visit. “Hey, can we talk?” She pulls James from his family dinner.

 She tells him how the couple that she is dating are planning on coming out to the press as poly with her because they know some younger people who are receiving hate for their relationships. They want to be allies for such people. And they want her there when they come out. “Can we say we amicably split? I’d love to keep in contact with you.”

 “That sounds good.” His phone pings. He has a google alert set up for Tony because the press likes to come up to him for hostile interviews at the most inopportune times. James does his best to save him. “Listen Nat, I will talk to my publicist, but I have to go.”

 The press has trapped Tony on the palace driveway. “What do you think of Prince James marrying Ms. Romanov?” One reporter asks.

 “I didn’t know they got engaged, but I think they are an excellent match. Well-suited for each other.” Rhodey can see Tony is keeping his press face on but was not ready for the sudden press conference.

 Another reporter sneers. “We know you were trying to get a piece of the royalty. Will you try for the princess now that the prince is spoken for?”

 “Excuse me?” Tony reels. “What are you talking about?”

 “They’ll never have you. You’re just a charity case to them. What do you think of that? Did you think Prince James really liked you? Especially after what your father did?” Another reporter shoves a microphone in his face.

 Tony loses his mask. “Do I think Rho- Prince James really liked me? I have known the prince since we were young teenagers. I know he likes me… as a friend. But anything more? No. He never did, never will. I know what my father did; I know what I have to do to fix it. My father and Prince James have no correlation. What are you even trying to say here?” Rhodey can see the pain in Tony’s eyes. They flash when he says that Rhodey will never like him as anything more as a friend.

 “Excuse me.” Rhodey steps forward. “Can you step away from him, please?”

 The press apologizes and steps away. “Now, I want to say this once more and hopefully never again. Lord Stark is not his father. Lord Stark is paying his father’s investors back as quickly as he can. He started up his business on his own with his trust fund from his maternal grandmother. Howard never saw or added to a penny of that fund. What is the point of hating a man for the sins of his father? Keep rolling. I am talking to the country as a whole. Leave him alone, please. I want to say one more thing. Tony Stark, you are the love of my life. The reason I have not dated is because the only person I have ever loved was you. Yes, Natasha and I dated, but we did to keep other things hidden. I’m sure she will let you know at some point. It’s not my job. Tony, again, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and perhaps rule with you. I do not have a ring yet because I had not planned to propose to you in front of live TV today, yet here I am. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

 “You’re serious?” Tony gasps.

 “Completely.”

 “Then Rhodey, my Honeybear, my Platypus, my Sourpatch, I will marry you in a heartbeat.” Tony smiles widely, and Rhodey kisses him deeply, in front of the cameras. As they turn to the palace, Tony turns back to the cameras, lifts his middle finger, and says, “Fuck you” whilst smiling sweetly.

 ++++++ The country is so shocked at Prince James’ dramatic proposal. People wonder if Tony is a good fit for the prince due to his blatant disregard for protocol. Princess Jeannie posts the picture she took of them sleeping in the theatre room on Instagram, the caption “I knew it.” She broke the internet with the most likes on an Instagram post.

  Tony goes through his numbers and his father’s numbers again to make sure everyone is paid off. While looking at his father’s records again, he notices some discrepancies from Obadiah’s report. The truth comes out – Howard had not done anything wrong; it was Obadiah. He falsified documents, records, and even bills to give him much more money. Obadiah is fired and imprisoned. Tony’s name is cleared. Anthony Stark marries Prince James Rhodes a happy man.

[noona-clock]

Working On It - Part 8, Final Chapter

Genre: Teacher!AU

Pairing: Brian (Day6) x You

By Admin B

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Oh, yeah, and I love you, Nothing’s Wrong

About Two Years Later

Honestly, you could’ve sat in your car for about an hour and just cried. Cried with joy, of course, because you’d just finished your very last final of dental school. You were officially done, graduating in just a few days.

It had been a long, difficult two years, but you’d done it.

Not without some help, mind you. A lot of help.

Brian had made it seem like it would be no trouble at all to help you out financially, but he had obviously been very optimistic. It hadn’t been easy; he’d had to make a fairly large dent in his savings, but he also hadn’t let you stop him. He had continuously made the argument that it would all be worth it in the end.

Plus, he’d ended up moving in with you and Sammy before the end of your first semester which had lessened the load quite a bit.

But now. Now, it was all over. No more classes, no more tests, no more practicums, no more tuition.

All you had to do was find a job.

Sammy had helped, too, of course. He’d helped you study as best as he could, and he never complained when you took your textbook to his soccer games. He’d even pestered you to contact your old work to see if maybe they would re-hire you as a hygienist, something you planned on doing tomorrow.

Truly, how could you have survived this on your own?

A very long, heavy sigh escaped your lips as you headed to your apartment, clutching your keys. Now that you were done with school, the urge to leave this tiny, old place was overwhelming; you could barely wait to find an actual house with a yard and a garage and privacy.

Speaking of, you figured you would get some for a little while seeing as the middle and high school were still in session; both Brian and Sammy would still be at school.

It would be nice to have some alone time, but... you’d been so busy the past two years, you were very much looking forward to spending more time with the two guys you loved most in this world.

You unlocked the front door of your apartment, letting out another sigh as you walked in.

But then you froze when your gaze landed on just the two guys you’d been thinking of. They were standing in the living room, and the apartment was filled with streamers and balloons and a big banner which read ‘YOU SURVIVED’ hung up on the wall.

“Wha --” you gaped, your brow furrowing.

All of a sudden, Brian and Sammy erupted into cheers. Sammy even blew a noisemaker while Brian threw some confetti into the air.

“What is this?!” you chuckled, setting your bookbag down and making your way over to them. You held your arms out and wrapped them tightly around Sammy (who was now a couple of inches taller than you - don’t get me started). 

“You’re officially done,”  Brian grinned, accepting your embrace once you’d finished hugging Sammy. “It’s time to celebrate.”

“Both of you are supposed to be in school!” you pointed out, trying to scold them but failing miserably.

“I got a sub for the rest of the afternoon and checked Sammy out early,” Brian explained with a casual shrug.

“We weren’t going to miss this momentous occasion!” Sammy cried before blowing the noisemaker again.

You leaned into Brian, one arm around him with your hand clutching the back of his shirt. You hadn’t been expecting to see them until later, so being greeted by their smiling faces right as you walked in the door? You were already a bit emotional from having finally finished school, but now you were simply overcome.

Brian squeezed your shoulders when he heard you sniffle, and Sammy blew the noisemaker yet again to try and liven the mood.

“What are we doing to celebrate?” you asked with a watery grin.

“Whatever you want,” Brian replied. “We can have a night in, we can go out, we can do anything your heart desires.”

“Ooh!” Sammy gasped. “Can we invite Jae and Dowoon over to play League of Legends?”

Brian let out a single, very amused ‘ha!’ “We’re celebrating your aunt, not you.”

“No, that’s fine,” you chuckled. “Invite Sungjin and Wonpil, too, we can have a little party.”

Brian had a solid group of friends from college, and over the past two and a half years, you’d gotten to know them pretty well. After you’d run into Jae and Wonpil at the movie theater, Brian had introduced you to Sungjin and Dowoon over lunch. They had quickly accepted you into their friend group, and you’d even introduced them to Sammy on Brian’s birthday that first year (you hadn’t been able to get him any presents, but you had thrown him the best party you could at your apartment).

And now, hardly a weekend went by when Sammy didn’t request inviting over his two favorite video game partners. You’d even asked Sungjin to stay with Sammy one weekend when Brian had insisted on whisking you away for a romantic weekend in the mountains. You’d basically been on the verge of a mental breakdown at that point; the stress of school and money had gotten to you, but Brian had successfully calmed you down in the span of two days. He had a way of doing that, actually. Making you focus on the positives to help you overcome the negatives.

It was just one reason why you loved him so much.

“Are you sure?” Brian asked as Sammy pumped his fists in the air and whooped victoriously. “I mean, they’re coming to your graduation party next weekend, you’ll see them then.”

“I’m sure,” you replied, trying to hide a sly smirk. You stood on your toes as Sammy grabbed Brian’s phone from the kitchen counter and presumably began to type out an invite text to Jae. You placed your lips close to Brian’s ear and whispered, “You can ask one of them to take Sammy for the night.”

Brian’s eyebrows shot halfway up his forehead. And his lips curved into a smirk to match yours exactly.

You could see it now: Jae would ask Sammy if he wanted to continue their video game back at his place, and while you knew this meant Sammy would stay up until almost dawn playing, Sammy didn’t know you knew. So he would think he was getting away with something, and you and Brian would have the place to yourselves to celebrate in a different way (if you catch my drift).

It was a win/win scenario in every possible way.

Except for the fact that Sammy would be gone. You cherished alone time with Brian, obviously, but you still missed Sammy when he wasn’t around. After almost three years of being his legal guardian, you realized it was sometimes kind of hard to remember a time when Sammy hadn’t been yours. 

The two of you talked about his parents a lot, of course - Sammy’s counselor in middle school had urged him to bring them up at home since you were one of his only connections to his parents. But it had gotten to the point where you laughed more than you cried. You had more good days than bad days.

You’d gotten so close with Sammy these past three years, and he just felt like... yours. Like he was your son. And you knew your brother and sister-in-law would’ve wanted nothing less.

But anyway. Enough emotional talk and back to your current situation.

All four of Brian’s friends were able to come over, and the evening played out exactly as you’d imagined. Brian ordered about five pizzas for everyone, and Sammy was at a stage where he was eating so much, you honestly wondered if it would be enough.

Jae and Dowoon plopped right down onto the couch with Sammy and picked up a game controller. They would only set them down to eat and again later when it was time to leave.

Sungjin and Wonpil kept you and Brian company, talking about this and that, congratulating you on completing your degree finally, asking about your future plans. (Side note: you noticed Wonpil started to ask a question - “When are you going to --” and Brian cut him off. You tried not to think too much about it, but it was fairly suspicious...)

Once all of the pizza was gone and the sun had gone down, you watched as Brian shuffled to the couch and bent to whisper something in Jae’s ear. Jae nodded, winking conspiratorially at his friend before setting down his controller.

“Well, who’s up for continuing this at my place?” he asked, turning to eye both Dowoon and Sammy.

Sammy immediately spun to look at you with hopeful, pleading eyes, and you pretended to let out a ‘well, I guess’ sort of sigh.

“Sure,” you relented. “Just don’t stay up all night.”

Sammy sprung from the couch and ran into his room to pack an overnight bag as Sungjin and Wonpil began to clean everything up.

As soon as the door closed behind them about ten minutes later, Brian’s lips were on yours, and he promptly picked you up and carried you into the bedroom.

It had been a while since either of you had spoken. You were cuddled up in bed, and you were fairly sure Brian had fallen asleep. But when you turned over to face him, his eyes were on you, warm and curious as they always were.

“What is it?” he whispered, raising a hand and smoothing your hair back from your forehead.

You simply gazed at him for a few moments, taking in his handsome face while you had the chance. And then you whispered back, “Thank you.”

“For what?” he murmured before leaning in and pressing his lips to your forehead.

“For everything. I don’t think I can ever put into words how much it means to me that you --” You took a breath, already feeling the lump of emotion forming in your throat. “God, this sounds so cheesy, but you changed my life. If it weren’t for you, I would still --”

“You would’ve found your way here eventually,” Brian interrupted. “You didn’t need me.”

“But you came into my life at just the right time. I... I was struggling. I didn’t even know how badly I was struggling, but you helped me. I don’t know how I can ever repay --”

Brian stopped you with a kiss, and you knew if you tried to bring it up again, he would just keep kissing you.

So... 

“No, really, I am going to --”

Your lips curved into a smile as Brian pushed you over onto your back, attempting to deepen the kiss through your grin.

Did you know your boyfriend or did you know your boyfriend?

You’d heard Brian and Sammy’s cheers as the dean read out your name and you began to walk across the stage to accept your diploma. Your cheeks warmed, and you lowered your head a little in embarrassment.

And then their cheers got even louder when you shook the university president’s hand and smiled for the quick photo op.

You knew they were proud of you, but did they have to be so loud about it?

When every single student in the auditorium had walked across the stage, you followed your classmates out, trying to keep an eye on your boys so you would be able to find them in the crowd of people.

As soon as you stepped out into the sunshine, you heard two voices calling your name, though one was saying ‘Aunt’ in front of it. You stood on your toes, trying to see over all of the graduation caps surrounding you.

All of a sudden, Brian’s arm shot up through the crowd and waved around. You began to weave your way through to get to him, your lips pulling into a smile as you shuffled closer.

“There she is!” Brian crowed the second he saw you. “The graduate herself come to grace us with her degreed presence.”

“Shut up,” you chuckled, your cheeks pink as you tilted your head to accept his quick kiss.

“All right, come on, picture time.” Brian slid his phone out of his pocket and waved Sammy over to you.

Your nephew came to stand next to you, putting an arm around your shoulders. You put your own arm around his middle as you held your black leather diploma envelope against your chest.

Brian took about a dozen pictures, instructing Sammy to hug you, kiss your cheek, look at you with fond pride - and by the end, he even had to instruct Sammy to smile.

“Come on, Sam,” Brian chuckled. “Look like you’re proud of your aunt, at least!”

“I am! I think it shows in the previous twenty pictures,” Sammy pointed out with a roll of his eyes.

“Okay, okay, fine,” Brian relented. “You come and take the pictures, then.”

So Sammy and Brian switched places, Sammy taking the phone while Brian took his place at your side.

Unsurprisingly, Sammy didn’t have to tell Brian how to pose in the pictures. He hugged you and kissed you and looked at you with fond pride and smiled all on his own.

“Okay, I think that’s good,” Sammy said impatiently after probably the fifth pose.

“No, just one more,” Brian requested.

Sammy groaned.

“Just one! It’ll be a good one, I promise!”

“All right,” Sammy sighed, lifting the phone up yet again.

You stood there smiling, waiting for Brian to put his arm around you or hug you or something. But you didn’t feel his touch. You only heard him say your name.

“Hmm?” you hummed, turning to face him.

But he wasn’t there.

Your eyes shifted downward, and the sight of Brian kneeling on the ground next to you made your heart stop.

Wait, not only was he kneeling -- he was also holding a small, black box in his hands, opened to reveal the most beautiful ring you’d ever seen.

You immediately gasped, your diploma envelope falling to the ground as your hands flew to cover your mouth.

Brian, meanwhile, was smiling as brightly as he’d ever smiled. Sammy was cheering, and you glanced over to see he still had Brian’s phone up, recording everything.

“Y/N,” Brian began when you turned to look back at him. “Will you marry me?”

Your eyes filled with tears, and you wasted no time in nodding your head.

Before you knew, Brian had swept you into his arms, holding you tightly and murmuring how much loved you into your ear.

And the ring was on your finger.

The past three years had been the most difficult, challenging, heartbreaking, and rewarding years of your life. You’d lost your grandmother and your brother, the only family you’d ever known. You’d struggled living paycheck to paycheck, your bank account going into the negatives too many times to count. You’d worried and cried and stressed more than any person should.

You’d lost a lot of things, but you’d gained Sammy. You’d gained a son - a wonderful, amazing, perfect son. And now you were gaining a husband. A wonderful, amazing, perfect husband.

Most people did it the other way around - gain the husband first and then the son. But you couldn’t remember the last time your life had been normal. 

Maybe now it would be.

We’ll just say... you were working on it.

Epilogue I

[trashyeggroll]

Can you do a Birthday Fic & Love Confession for ThunderGrace?

I would absolutely love to do so 🥰🙏🏼

Fanfic trope mashup - Give me 2 tropes + a ship and I’ll tell you how I’d use them in a fic. 

I’m definitely going with Grace’s birthday here because she has the backstory to lend us angst over a lifetime full of forgotten/uncelebrated birthdays. I’m pretending Anissa knows at least the foster system part of it early on. We’re also doing this pre-disappearance because WHO tells someone they would wanna spend their last day on earth with you but then doesn’t bookend that with a love confession? Smdh Anissa.

There’s that really common storyline we see about someone throwing a big party for someone else who INSISTS they don’t want one, ending up with an upset birthday celebrant, but I think Anissa is going to be a little smarter than that.

We start with Anissa not even knowing Grace’s birthday until she happens to peep her driver’s license when she flashes it to buy alcohol at the store, and what?! it’s only two weeks away! Anissa gets immediately overexcited and Grace keeps trying to downplay it, even to the point of being a little irritated with her bubbly happy kind-of-girlfriend.

At first, Grace THINKS Anissa is planning some huge party for her, and it makes her progressively more frustrated, but as we know Grace “I was seeing plenty of people 😤” Choi is not the best communicator and she kinda just lets it ride, prepared to fully lose her cool if she walks into a surprise party.

But when the day comes, it turns out Anissa really did listen when Grace told her about all of her bad birthdays in the past. Grace doesn’t want some big party, but you don’t need lots of people for birthday fun. Anissa has actually arranged for a day for just the two of them, and they hit up all the kid birthday staples: Pizza at a Chuck E Cheese, bumper cars and lazer tag at a local arcade center. They paint little ceramic figurines (Grace: a tiger statue, Anissa: a mug). They see a movie and eat more pizza in the theater’s little party room, which Anissa even had them decorate with paper birthday stuff and a “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE” sign in balloons. That’s also where Anissa has the birthday sheet cake delivered (baked by none other than Lynn Stewart).

They end the day at a local hotel to check off the “pool party” box, and of course Anissa has rented a room for when they’re finished with the “reliving childhood” part of the day—except they’re both pretty exhausted from the day’s activities and end up just cuddling in the giant hotel bed.

While they’re dozing, Grace actually does lose it, but in actuality it’s not frustration like she expected; she is overcome with emotion—affection and gratitude for Anissa—and has one of those super cathartic cry sessions. Anissa holds her through it, letting her cry it out, wiping away her tears and offering what comfort she can.

When she calms down, Grace is in that post-cry clarity moment, and against all odds, becomes the first one to say, “Today was a great day because I spent it with you. We could’ve gotten fast food and taken a nap, as long as it’s with you, because I love you, Anissa. I’m in love with you.”

( pause while the author sniffles a little )

To which there is no fumbly “you too” business, Anissa Pierce says it right back, “I love you, too,” and it’s the simple cherry on top of a great day.

Depending on how blasphemous I’m feeling at this point, the joke would be, “Oh, I know you love me, because you did all that for me today and were about to let me go to sleep in a hotel bed with you.” 😏

[spaceagesap]

Mountains II

Whoops sorry it’s been literally forever, hope someone somewhere still gives half a shit about this thing <3

Previously on Mountains: Pt 1

- - - - -

“So this is it.” 

“This is it,” Maggie confirmed, watching Alex with equal parts apprehension and amusement. 

Alex scanned the room, nodding appreciatively. It was a small place, with room for only a few mismatched tables inside. The real selling point, Maggie had told her, was the patio.   

Two large garage doors made up one wall of the restaurant. On nice nights, they were pulled up so that the smell of pizza was all but lost to the smell of dirt and leaves. The patio was lit with a few strands of string lights strung between the building and the trees, which stood atop a narrow strip of earth that unraveled into big boulders that made up the riverbank. The river beyond rushed over the rocks and tree roots in its path with rumbling enthusiasm. 

That night, the restaurant was empty, save for Maggie, Alex, and the skeleton crew who held down the fort in the offseason.   

“Best pizza place in Aspenvale,” Maggie said as she ambled out onto the patio with her hands shoved into her pockets, picking the table closest to the river before taking a seat.   

“Only pizza place in Aspenvale, you mean.” Alex sat down across from Maggie, leveling her with a knowing smirk. 

Maggie hung her head, shaking it as she laughed lightly. 

“Who tipped you off?" 

“The phonebook,” Alex shrugged as she scanned the beer list. 

“The phonebook? Who uses phonebooks anymore, Danvers?” 

“I forgot my book. I was bored.” 

“You know there’s a TV in the room, right?” 

“Yeah, well. For what it’s worth, I saw that there are three different ice cream shops, so I have some questions about that.” 

“I’m sure we can find some answers.” Maggie paused and had the decency to look a little contrite. “Sorry. Usually I don’t look to build friendships on lies.” She picks at the label on the bottle in front of her, looking sheepish. “Had to give you a reason to call me, right?”   

“Called you anyway, didn’t I?”   

Alex arched an eyebrow and Maggie felt her heart give a little flip, but did her best to ignore it. 

- - - - - “No way.” Alex shook her head. “No. There’s no way that’s real."

Maggie leaned back in her chair, smirking. “Swear on my badge.”  

“You’re exaggerating. Again. Show-off.” 

“Maybe a little,” Maggie grinned, shrugging. "But it was definitely a bear and I definitely saved at least two rabbits.” 

“A hero the likes of which this world has never known,” Alex deadpanned, taking a generous swig of her second beer. “I’m sure they’re already making plans for a statue in the middle of the town square, Sawyer.”

“That’s Ranger Sawyer to you, Danvers.” 

“Doctor Danvers, if we’re getting formal.” 

“Right, right,” Maggie nodded. “Doctor of what, exactly?” 

“I studied bioengineering." 

“Really?” 

“Why would I lie about that?” 

“Maybe you’re trying to impress me,” Maggie shrugged. 

“Don’t have to lie to do it. That’s your wheelhouse.”

“Noted,” Maggie laughed. “So, tell me, how does a bioengineer end up with the Geological Survey?” 

Alex shrugged. “More partial to dirt than blood."  

“Of course,” Maggie nodded, smirking. "Anything else I should know about you, Doc? Going to tell me what brings you to our fine corner of the range just as the weather’s starting to turn to shit?” 

Alex eyed her carefully for a moment, considering the question.   

Because Alex Danvers was good at undercover assignments. Whether she was working or not, Alex focused on the needs of the people around her constantly — what they needed to hear, what they wanted to hear, what might put them at ease, what might make them trust her. Alex Danvers was good at undercover work because she was good at using trust to her advantage. 

But she didn’t need Maggie’s trust, didn’t need her help. She was undercover, sure, but only insofar as she couldn’t very well say that she was a part of a government organization that didn’t, strictly speaking, exist. She was on a bogus assignment looking for something that wasn’t there. There were no complex roles, no involved backstories, no need for layered lies or deceit. For the most part, she could tell the truth. Or at least, some version of it. Alex was surprised to find that it was something of a relief. 

“Chasing ghosts, mostly,” Alex said. 

“That’s a first. Ectoplasm in the soil?” 

Alex chuckled, absently running a finger over the scarred table top in front of her. “Not as such, no.” She chanced a look up at Maggie. “My boss sent me here for a few weeks. Said that I needed a break and that if I was too stubborn to take a vacation on my own, he’d mandate the next best thing.” 

“Your boss put you on an assignment a hundred miles away just to get you out of the office?”

“Something like that." 

“Right,” Maggie smirked. “Sounds like you’ve got a healthy relationship with work. So who’s up here with you?” 

Alex frowned, confused. “No one. Just me.” 

“Oh,” Maggie said. “I mean, I just thought...” she trailed off, hesitating for a moment. "You said that you had a ride coming the other day when I met you. I figured she was here with you.” 

“Right,” Alex remembered. “My sister. She wanted to see the town. But she lives in National City. She, uh, flew back.”  

"So you’re here by yourself for a few weeks of peace and quiet while you tear up my beautifully maintained trails for soil samples?” 

“Guess so.” 

“Let’s hope you find something good, then.” 

Alex laughed lightly, “I wouldn’t count on it.” 

Maggie raised an eyebrow. 

“There’s some evidence of a rare mineral here, but it’s flimsy at best,” Alex said. "I think my boss expects that I’ll spend a lot of time outside finding a whole lot of nothing."   

Maggie nodded, smirking. “So you have a sister, you like Bill Withers, you read phonebooks for fun, and you work too hard,” she said. “That about sum it up?" Alex laughed, worrying the paper label of the bottle between her fingers, “Guilty as charged.” 

“Lucky me,” Maggie tilted her head. “Can’t say that I’m not a little thrilled to have a new face in town. Things tend to get pretty slow around this time of year. Town shrinks back down to 200 and suddenly you’re hearing the same boring stories you’ve heard from the same people every year since you were 11.” “I’m sure they’re nice stories.”

“And I’m sure you’ll hear plenty of them. Reserve judgement.” Alex chuckled, and then it hit her all at once. It was one of those moments when, without meaning to, you suddenly finding yourself taking stock. You take notice of the way the light’s hitting the trees, the way the breeze carries the smell of afternoon rain and conifers, the way the music from inside the restaurant is just the right volume as it mixes with the sound of the river and they seem to have agreed on the same key.   

Alex took stock and realized that without design or intention, she felt remarkably content. Good, even. Her cheeks hurt, tired from smiling more than she was used to, and her shoulders held none of the tension that seemed permanent in National City. She wasn’t thinking about bullets or bad guys or national safety. She was just a girl, eating pizza and drinking beer with Maggie Sawyer, who was funny and smart and had dozens of stories that were vivid and thrilling, if half-true at best. 

Ostensibly, they were two people who’d met by chance, getting pizza because Maggie was hungry and was also the only person Alex had spoken to in Aspenvale, outside of Loretta. But Maggie didn’t treat her like she was just someone she’d happened to pick up, someone who was just an excuse for company.   

She listened when Alex spoke, teased her gently, talked to her like they didn’t need the grace period most require to become comfortable with another person. She was open and honest (save for exaggerated accounts of heroism) and kind, and Alex found that there was something in the way that she smiled that made Alex feel like if goodness still existed, it called Aspenvale home. It had been a long time since Alex had been close to anyone outside of Kara. She was friendly with Kara’s friends, sure, but they didn’t often spend time together unless Kara was around, too. Suddenly, the idea of Maggie as a friend, as someone who was just hers, made Alex feel — 

“You still with me, Danvers?” 

Alex turned her attention back to Maggie, shaking her head to dispel thoughts too heavy for an uneven patio table topped with a couple of empty bottles and a few remaining slices of greasy pizza. She returned to safer thoughts of rivers and trees and the Stevie Wonder record playing inside.   

“Yeah, sorry,” Alex said. “What did you say?” 

“Just wondering if you wanted to see a man about some ice cream." - - - - - “Sometimes I think about it,” Alex admitted through a spoonful of ice cream as she and Maggie walked side-by-side along the bank of the river. “I mean, I wonder where I’d be if it hadn’t been for Kara, if she'd never come to us, if we’d never adopted her.”   

Alex stopped near a large boulder, promptly climbing atop it and sitting down, elbows on her knees. Maggie joined her a second later. 

“I’d be worse off, I’m sure,” Alex said, watching the river as she ate another spoonful. “Kara’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Even when she’s insufferable.” 

“I’m jealous,” Maggie said. "I always wanted siblings.” She grabbed a nearby pebble and tossed it into the river with a satisfying plunk. “I was a pretty happy kid, but I always felt like I was missing something.” Maggie squinted up at the dark sky, considering. “You know, someone willing to back you up, no matter what.” 

“You need a lot of backup as a kid, Sawyer?” Alex said, half-joking. 

“Oh yeah,” Maggie blew out a sigh. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it here now, but that took a long time.” 

Alex quirked an eyebrow in question.   

"Aspenvale’s a small town,” Maggie explained. "People talk. As soon as you get caught kissing the Mayor’s daughter backstage after theater practice, your personal life is suddenly everyone’s business.” 

There it was. 

Alex had been pretty sure she’d read Maggie right, but the subject hadn’t really come up. And in truth, Alex was still new to this. She’d come out a little over a year ago, but in that time, she’d only been on a handful of relatively unsuccessful dates. Aside from a label to put with the sensation of turning into a blushing, stuttering mess around pretty girls, not much had changed. Alex Danvers still didn’t have much time for a love life. 

Somehow, knowing that Maggie was gay made things feel different. Not for the first time tonight, Alex wondered what it might feel like to be on a date with Maggie Sawyer. She wondered what it might be like to mean something to Maggie, to be more than what they were, which was something between acquaintances and friends. 

Perhaps it was a testament to just how few friends Alex had and just how long it’d been since she’d allowed herself to connect to anyone in any way, outside of her immediate family and friends, but Alex found herself sort of thrilled by Maggie.   

“The Mayor’s daughter, huh?” Alex smirked, fighting to keep her voice steady.   

“Yeah,” Maggie laughed. “Too bad she was dating the quarterback of the football team at the time. Big guy, lot of big friends.” 

Alex turned to look at Maggie, concern etched on her face. “Did they...?” 

“I was quick and scrappy. They usually didn’t get the opportunity.” 

“Usually?” 

“They might’ve caught up once or twice.” 

Alex tried hard to swallow the lump in her throat, tried to quell the rage building in her chest. The idea of Maggie becoming an outlet for the anger of an entitled teenage boy made her furious and nauseous in equal measure. 

“Jesus,” Alex breathed. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I can’t imagine.” 

Maggie shrugged. “It’s nothing. Ancient history now,” she said.   

It wasn’t nothing, Alex knew. “And it’s better now? People don’t give you a hard time anymore?” 

Maggie nodded. “For the most part, yeah, it’s better. It’s not perfect, but it’s good.” 

Alex took a deep breath. “I’ve wondered how things might’ve been if I’d been out when I was in school,” she said. 

Maggie turned her attention to Alex. “Where’d you grow up?” 

“Midvale." 

“Probably a little different, then,” Maggie smiled good-naturedly.

“Probably,” Alex agreed. “For what it’s worth, though, if I’d grown up here, I would’ve stuffed more than a few of those jocks into garbage cans.” 

Maggie laughed, head tilted ever so slightly as she looked carefully at Alex. “I appreciate it, Danvers. And I don’t doubt it.” - - - - - “Danvers,” Maggie Sawyer’s voice came over the speaker on Alex’s phone the next morning. "Got something you might want to see.” 

“O…kay?” 

“You free? I’ll pick you up.” 

“I-uh, yeah. Definitely.” 

“Perfect. You ready now?” 

“Sure.” 

“Great. Ten minutes." 

Alex was not, in fact, ready. She was, as it turned out, still in bed. 

It was 6 a.m. on a Thursday. And while National City Alex Danvers would’ve been awake and halfway through a run at 6 a.m., Aspenvale Alex Danvers was finding that staying in bed with a cup of coffee as the sun made its lazy debut was, at least on occasion, deeply preferable. Alex saw nothing wrong with her bed in National City, but this bed was bigger, softer, warmer, and came with the added bonus of being far, far away from national emergencies and alien crises.  

Though she’d never admit out loud, Alex could acknowledge privately, in the security of this room, that perhaps J’onn had been right. Maybe she had needed a break. 

As soon as she hung up the phone, Alex stowed her coffee on the nightstand and hopped out of bed, pulled on her black jeans and sweater, and did her best to smooth out the part of her hair that always seemed to lay funny after she slept on it. 

Eight minutes later, she was outside, coat and hiking boots on, hair laying mostly flat. Maggie pulled up a moment later, the windows of her truck rolled down. 

“Morning, Danvers,” she greeted as Alex slid into the passenger seat. “Nice glasses.” 

Alex’s hand flew to her face, touching the plastic frames of her glasses self-consciously. “Shit. I don’t usually — I just forgot to — " 

“Stop. They’re cute,” Maggie assured, turning toward Alex and tilting her head, eyes warm as she smiled. Alex felt a blush rising to her cheeks.   

“Thanks,” she said, her voice barely loud enough to be heard over the engine as Maggie put the truck in gear and pulled away from the inn. 

“Sorry, after I called I realized that not everyone here runs on Ranger time. Hope I didn’t wake you.” 

Alex waved her off. “No, I was up.” 

“Here, brought you some coffee to atone.” Maggie handed Alex a cup from the cupholder.   

Alex accepted gratefully, taking a sip. And, to her credit, she tried very hard not to grimace when she tasted it. She failed, though, and Maggie noticed. 

“Sorry. I should’ve warned you. I’ve been told I tend to make my coffee a little strong.” 

Alex thought that “a little strong” was something of an understatement for a substance that , but kept that to herself. 

“No, no it’s fine.” Alex took another sip. “It’s nice. Thanks.” 

In so many ways, Alex wasn’t used to this. Wasn’t used to having someone other than Kara or J’onn or her mother call her. She wasn’t used to spending so much time with anyone other than Kara, let alone several consecutive days -- for pizza, for coffee, for ice cream. She wasn’t used to someone thinking about her, to being on someone's mind. 

But Maggie thought about her. Alex knew she did. Maggie texted her to ask her about her day of "ghost hunting." She sent her pictures while she was out walking trails with captions like “look at this rock, doesn’t it look like J.K. Simmons?” or “you ever seen a marmot, Danvers?” or “in case you still had doubts about the axe.” Maggie had even called yesterday to warn her about another unexpected afternoon storm.   

“Are you warm enough?” Maggie asked, glancing at her as they drove down Main Street and toward the edge of town that bordered the park. “I can close the windows. I just — “ 

“Nope,” Alex shook her head. “I’m great.” She took another sip of coffee, relishing the way that the cup warmed her hands. In truth, the cab was chilly, but it was the kind of chill that can make you feel lucky to be out, to be out in the world so early in the morning. The kind that’s just this side of uncomfortable, that’s a reminder that fresh air is a powerful drug and that hot coffee in cold weather is a little something like everyday magic. 

They drove in silence for a few minutes, the town disappearing behind them as tall trees cropped up on either side of the increasingly winding road.   

“Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?” 

“You are." 

“Are you going to answer?”

“Nope.”   

Alex rolled her eyes. “Is this how it ends? Are you kidnapping me for real this time?” 

“Kidnappers don’t usually bring coffee, Danvers.” 

“Good point,” Alex nodded. “But I have to say that the amount of Dolly Parton you listen to strikes me as kind of suspicious behavior.” 

“Yeah, that tape’s been stuck in there since I was in high school,” Maggie laughed. “Given my musical preferences back then, let’s just say it could’ve been a lot worse.” 

“It’s growing on me, I’ll admit.”     

Alex almost didn’t catch it then. If her head had been turned a little bit further, if she’d just a little more focused on something outside the window instead of on the music and the coffee and Maggie, she probably wouldn’t have noticed it at all. But as it happened, she did notice. She noticed the way Maggie took her eyes off of the road for just a second to look over at Alex. She noticed the way Maggie smiled, the way she bit her lip, the way she drew in a deep and almost-silent breath. Alex noticed, and it made her heart feel full — so full it almost hurt.   

Because something about being there with Maggie, something about the way the mountains looked in the early morning sun and the way the trees stood tall over the road and the way the coffee was just a tad too strong but just the right temperature made Alex feel good. Really good. 

Maggie pulled the truck to a stop in a tiny dirt pull-off on the side of the road a few miles from town and stepped out, slinging a pack over her shoulder. Alex followed, coffee cup still in hand. She wanted to ask what, exactly, they were doing, but Maggie beat her to it. 

“Don’t ask, Danvers. It’s hard to explain." 

And so they made their way over fallen leaves and twisted roots and dirt that still held a hint of yesterday’s rain and a near-brush with frost overnight. They walked for a handful of minutes before Maggie stopped several feet back from the point where the ground dropped off sharply into a deep valley. Maggie stooped, waving Alex closer.   

“Here,” she said, pointing. “You ever seen anything like that?” 

Alex bit the inside of her cheek, hard. Because the truth was that she had seen something like that. It was blue and glowing, its crystalline surface catching the morning light just so. Though she hadn’t ever seen it in person, Alex knew what it was in an instant that it was Rag’norium. 

Maggie reached forward, extending her hand toward it, but Alex caught it, stopping her. 

“Don’t touch it,” Alex cautioned.   

“What is it?” 

Classified was the word on the tip of Alex’s tongue. Because it was true. Technically speaking, Rag’norium didn’t exist. It wasn’t in textbooks or on periodic tables accessible to anyone without a hefty government clearance level.   

But this was Maggie. Maggie, who brought her coffee and asked about her family. Maggie, who had only known Alex for all of five days but treated her like she meant something to Maggie, like she mattered, like they were friends. Maggie, who thought about Alex at least once a day and made sure she knew it.   

Alex couldn’t tell her what it was, but she also couldn’t just shut her down with the “classified” card.   

“It’s hard to explain,” Alex said, hoping that Maggie might be satisfied with that.  

“Try me.” 

Dammit. 

“It’s a mineral,” Alex ceded. “Really rare, really volatile.” 

“Okay, so why’s it here now?” 

Alex frowned. “What do you mean ’now’?” 

“I run this trail every morning. I’ve never seen it before.” 

Everything Alex knew about Rag’norium flew in the face of a claim like that. The deposits weren’t naturally occurring — they were, essentially, a byproduct from ships powered by super-dense Thalydian cores. It started with something like exhaust and condensation — trace amounts of concentrated Rag’norium left behind by the ships react with the nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere — and, a week or two after the ship’s departure, a Rag’norium vein was discovered. 

It’d happened exactly twice in the entire history of the D.E.O.: Once in 1968 and again in 2003, the latter occurring several miles away, the epicenter of Alex's field work thus far. 

But a Rag’norium vein here, now, meant that a ship had been here recently and that Alex wasn’t searching for decades-old deposits. It meant, of course, that all of a sudden, Alex was investigating undocumented contact, possibly with a group that meant Earth harm.   

Thalydian cores were outlawed in many parts of the galaxy. They were a notorious staple of older ships, now used almost exclusively by smugglers. Whoever they were, they likely weren’t stopping by to check out the World’s Largest Ball of Yarn. 

“You run this every morning?”   

Alex chided herself internally for sounding less than professional as a note of admiration crept into her tone. 

“We all have our vices, Danvers.” 

“And you’ve never seen this?” 

“Pretty sure I’d remember it.” 

Alex nodded. “I need to get some samples. Can you —“ 

“Way ahead of you.” Maggie opened her back to pull out a small field sample kit. It wasn’t quite D.E.O. caliber, but it would do. Alex arched an eyebrow, impressed. 

"Rangers are more than crowd control and saving pretty girls from surprise rainstorms, Danvers." 

Alex felt a blush rising to her cheeks and ducked her head as she accepted the kit from Maggie.   

"Yeah, I've heard rumors of a fair amount axe-wielding." 

"You and that axe," Maggie shook her head. "Should I be worried?" - - - - - "This mean you found your ghost?"   

Alex climbed into the passenger seat and pulled the door closed, trying and failing to find a graceful way to answer the question without really answering it.   

"I don't know," she said.   

It was true. In a way. Alex didn't know what she'd found and she had even less of an idea about what it meant.   

"Best guess?"   

Jesus she's persistent.

"Some version of it, yeah."   

Maggie nodded. "This where we run into the 'Classified' wall?" 

"Sorry." 

"S'alright," Maggie shrugged. "You'll tell me if it's something dangerous, right? If it's something that puts the town or the Park at risk?" 

If Maggie noticed Alex's hesitation, she didn't let on. 

“Of course,” said Alex. And as Maggie pulled the truck back out onto the two-lane road, she tried hard not to think about the fact that outside of the usual, unavoidable things like who she worked for and why she was in Aspenvale, this was the first time she’d lied to Maggie.   

Alex Danvers had lied plenty of times about plenty of things on plenty of occasions, but something about this lie, here, to Maggie Sawyer, settled in her heart like a stone.

[lalka-laski]

What’s the last vegetable you ate, and when did you eat it? Ermm... some peppers in my cheesy chili burrito yesterday. The healthiest way to go about eating veggies, I know

What was your last Facebook notification for? A like on a photo

What bands have you seen live? Too many to list. I live for shows!

Tell me an interesting fact about your mother: She was born in Belfast & moved to the States when she was 3(?), but spent most of her summers back "home" as a child and teen. This was at the heart of The Troubles in N. Ireland so she has some colorful stories for sure.

What do you think is the most important thing to happen to you before the age of 13? I couldn't narrow it down to a single event. Unless we count the trauma I experienced that gifted me my PTSD, anxiety, & various other mental illnesses. But I don't want to deem that as "important."

What were you super against as a young child but aren’t anymore? Hm... I definitely had a lot of internalized misogyny growing up, so really any side effect of that. Now I love women, support women, and root for women, instead of shaming them or letting my jealousy overtake me!

What are your plans later today? Blue Barn Cidery! It's a beautiful day to get day drunk :)

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend? See above! Then tomorrow I'm getting brunch with the in-laws & then possibly day drinking round two? Do I have a problem??

Who do you talk to the most? Glenn, with Kathleen as a close second.

What are some things you do regularly that make you feel old? Welp, I just went to the mall yesterday and was absolutely baffled by all the shit I saw on the racks. That made me feel ancient!

Who is your best guy friend(s)? Sean. And Glenn too, but ya know he's technically more than a friend :P

Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker? I don't mind my complexion but seeing as everyone feels the need to poke fun at it or make snarky comments about it, I guess I'd like to be a touch darker.

If you had a tiny scar on your face, would you get it removed or just keep it? I'd like to say I'd keep it. Scars add character.

Have you had an x-ray in the past year? Nope

Do you think your first love still loves you? He still has feelings for me. Most of which are regrets and "what ifs" so I wouldn't say it's LOVE necessarily but, yeah.

What is something that is “going right” in your life? My beautiful, fulfilling relationship with Glenn. And my equally beautiful & fulfilling relationships with my other loved ones.

When did you feel ready to start dating? Honestly I never felt "ready." Relationships were always scary territory for me.

When was the last time your pet bit you? If you don’t have a pet, have you ever been bitten by someone else’s? I don't have a pet.

Where were you the last time you made out? Our bed

When was the last time you cried tears of joy? I came close to it yesterday! It's a frequent occurrence for me (and for that I'm grateful)

How do you type your sad smileys? :(

Do you have “decorative hand-towels” that cannot be used in your house? Nah

What was the last soda you drank? Root beer yesterday

What was the last thing someone made fun of you for? I got a scuffmark on my brand new sneakers yesterday and Glenn said "Are we surprised? You ruin all your shoes" (To be clear I wasn't offended. He's right! I'm reckless with my shoes because I prefer just being barefoot).

Have you ever had any type of surgery? Yeah, a few minor ones.

Should kids be allowed to get tattoos/piercings without parental consent? Umm, not sure

Who was the last person to hit on you? Can we count Glenn?

What was the last thing you decided not to do, that you were supposed to? Answer the phone

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to tell someone? Oh boy. Any kind of rejection is hard for me so anything in that realm.

What do you put on hot dogs? Mustard, and maybe some relish or sauerkraut

Ever fallen in the shower? I don't think so? Which is surprising.

Do you think that things will get better? They're fantastic right now but yes, I do see them getting even better than this!

Have you ever legitimately saved a person’s life? I mean, not to my knowledge. But who knows.

What’s your favourite book genre? Realistic fiction/domestic fiction/family sagas

Have you ever walked out of a movie at the theatre? Yep

Do dogs like you? Weirdly, yes. But the feeling isn't mutual. Sorry, pups!

Would you say that you project an air of authority? Not even a little bit

Have you ever jumped off a high dive into a pool? Nah

Do you use one towel when you shower or two? (one for hair, one for body) One

Have you ever been to one of the great lakes? I live right on one of 'em

Who do you know that had a baby recently? My friend Tori just had a beautiful baby girl!

Do you like Usher’s songs? Yeah, he was pretty iconic in my middle school years. His music takes me back to cucumber melon body spray & glittery eye shadow.

When was the last time you went to a waterpark? It's been too long!

Have you ever ridden a train? Yep, and I love it.

What do you eat your French fries with? Ketchup or mayo

Do you have family problems? Who the hell doesn't?

What’s the last food you ate that was stale? Hmm... chips?

How do you like your grilled cheese? I recently discovered the delicious of adding a little Caesar dressing to a grilled cheese and OH MAN OH MAN.

What is the most challenging meal you have ever cooked? This is baking, not cooking, but I made some focaccia bread the other week & really struggled. What was your favorite thing to do as a little kid? Reading and writing, of course. I was also a big fan of drawing & any other type of craft.

Have you ever been close to drowning? I don't think so.

Have you ever had a panic attack? Mhm

Do you like doing housework? No thank ya

Would you ever get implants? Yeah

Do you own a robe? Several!

Do you have a little sister? What’s her name? Kathleen

Do you like crust on pizza or do you cut it off? Yeah, I leave no crumb of my pizza untouched.

What was the last song you listened to? Kangaroo by David Gray

Have any of your family members been to jail? Some members of my extended family

Is there anyone that you feel you still need some closure with? Nah not really.

Can you remember when you first learned how to read? I don't remember but it was younger than average.

What event in your life has transformed your personality the most? Didn't I already answer this?

Have you ever had any teeth pulled? Fucking seven. At once!!

Do you still want to be what you wanted to be in elementary school? Yeah! I always wanted to be an author (and illustratorr, but I scrapped that one).

What’re some TV shows that you would like to get into? I'm not much of a TV watcher so I can't really think of anything.

How would you feel if you were drafted for the military? I'd die?

What is your favorite Queen song? Under Pressure ft David Bowie. Of course <3

Do you know how to use any foreign currency? I go to Canada several times a year so yeah. Though that hardly counts, ha.

Been kissed by someone who you knew was “bad” for you? Yep. But never again.

Ever taken an at-home pregnancy test? Yep

When was the last time you were at a loss of what to do? Daily?

What did you do on your favorite date with a guy/girl? My favorite date days with Glenn are when we stroll Park Ave hitting up all our favorite little shops and bars. We always make a stop at this delicious chocolate shop and stock up on sponge candy, and then we end the night at our favorite Japanese restaurant for ramen & sake!

What’s a movie you have seen in the theater more than once? None I don't think?

What is the reason you’re still alive? My family & friends

Have you ever had sex in someone else’s bed/bedroom? Yeah

Do you ever brush your hair before you go to bed? Sometimes

Have you ever had a dream about sleeping with a celebrity? (You don’t have to give details.) DANIEL FUCKING RADCLIFFE LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

Has anyone ever told you that they needed you? Do you think they meant it? Absolutely

How did you feel when you woke up today? What was the first thing you thought about? Felt pretty damn great actually! I was excited for the day ahead. I didn't even mind the fact that I have to work this morning :)

Do you still tell your parents that you love them? We're not that type of family. We express our love in different ways though, and I'm perfectly content with it.

Have you ever said “I love you” to someone you weren’t going out with? Yeah

Think of the last person you had sex with. Do you think they’ve slept with anyone else since they last slept with you? BOY HE BETTER NOT HAVE lmao

The last time you dyed your hair, what color did you dye it? Same as it ever was

Think of the last time you went out to eat. Who paid? Glenn & I went to the food court at the mall and got separate things that we paid for on our own

Do you save at least 15 percent of your income? HAAAAAAAAA no

Do you ever go on Reddit? If so, what are some of your favorite subreddits? It's my go-to bedtime reading! I love askreddit, antimlm, amitheasshole, glitch_in_the_matrix... tons more.

Were you ever a flower girl or ring bearer in anyone’s wedding when you were little? I was the flower girl for my aunt's wedding! I made it all the way down the aisle, then turned around & noticed everyone staring at me and burst into tears. Classic Elizabeth.

Are your parents in good health? Thank God, yes!

Have you ever been a caregiver to a sick/disabled relative? No

Is there any type of medicine you can’t take? For what reason? Not that I'm aware of

Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What do they look like? I have several cute pairs! But my go-tos are just nightgowns or big tee shirts most of the time.

Do you have any interesting pillow cases? Uh I wouldn't call any of them interesting.

If something on your body hurts, which part is it most likely to be? None!

Are you more afraid of spiders or bees? Neither really

Have you ever worn fake nails? If so, what did the last pair you wore look like? WOW I am literally wearing press-on nails as we speak. Yes, I'm trash. And yes, I love it.

Is Russian or Native American history more interesting to you? Both?

[crimsongenetics]

all the SO questions

Gdi Russian. I’m not even going to link the damn thing.

1. Tell the story about how you met.

Everyone knows how we met. Jeez.

You know what? I’ll link the very first thing he ever sent me. I think that’ll be new material.

2. Was it a gradual increase of trust and love, or was there a specific moment where you knew “I want to be with this person for a long time”?

I think at first it was gradual, for the friendship, learning to trust him, and then all at once I realized I was actually in love with him

3. Describe their eyes. Describe their hands. Describe their laugh.

The first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I want to see before I go.

The most stable things in my life at any given moment and exactly what I don’t realize I need in any way possible.

One of my favorite sounds even when it’s at my pride’s expense. 

4. What’s your zodiac sign and mbti type? What about your partner’s? Do things like that reflect your actual compatibility or is it just bunch of bunk?

Gemini and fuck if I know ok fine I think I’m ISFJ. Maybe. I don’t know how this shit works. Strider is a Saggitarius and shit he’s sitting right next to me hold on ISFP?

Load of shit straight from the bull’s anus.

5. Are you long distance? Have you met in person before? When do you get to see them again?

We lived a block from one another for years without realizing. We still live a block from one another but now we spend most of our time together.

6. Tell me a story about a happy experience you two shared. Something that makes your heart warm whenever you think about it.

That first New Year’s eve when we started dating. He almost didn’t fucking kiss me because he thought I wouldn’t want to, and when I initiated it anyway, kissing was still so new to us that his reaction is one I’ll never forget.

7. Tell me a funny story. Did they do something silly? Did you do something silly? Talk about your inside jokes.

He called me daddy the other day and it was a hot fucking mess, let me tell you.

And yes, I mean in the standard way of calling something a hot mess. 

(Mostly.)

8. Are your families supportive? Does it matter if they’re not?

Yes, they are, but I went into this 100% willing to defy the fuck out of Dirk and expecting him to not even look in my direction. 

‘Lo and behold I now call him at least once a week to catch up on things.

9. Would you ever have a pet together? Do you already have one?

I guess so? We have separate pets, I don’t know if we’d have one together. 

10. Do you have children together? If not, are you both interested in raising children some day?

Whoa there. Slow your roll, we’ve only been dating two years at this point.

Plus, me raising kids? How cracked is your skull right now?

11. If they’re having a bad day, what do you do to help?

He likes to be held and cuddled somewhere, maybe with a movie or some music or something, and he talks to me if he needs it.

12. If you’re having a bad day, what do they do to help?

Usually just him being there makes things significantly better. If I need to talk he listens. It’s basically the same shit I’d do for him, except I talk a lot more than he does when he’s upset.

He always listens to what I need to say even if it takes half an hour to get it all out.

13. What’s something that your partner does that would be annoying if anyone else did it, but it’s cute when they do it?

His incessant tapping or moving. It’s not necessarily cute but I know it comforts him and I know when he’s doing it something’s happening that’s affecting him.

If anyone else did it I’d probably tell them to calm their shit.

14. Have you ever went on a vacation or adventure together? Tell me about it. If not, do you have plans to do something fun in the future?

We went to Malibu with his family. I was tricked and then pleaded to. I liked it, the beach was really cool and I get along with his family like they’re just friends of mine, and I learned how to kind of surf while I was there.

Also other things I won’t mention here. It, admittedly, was a good vacation.

15. What’s something that you learned about yourself because of being with your partner?

I’m not as good at being alone as I tried to tell myself for a while there.

17. Which one of you kills the bugs (or captures the bugs and places them safely outside)?

I have cats.

18. Describe the perfect day with your partner. It can be something that’s already happened, or something that you plan to do.

Anything without work or school where we can be together without deadlines and just do whatever the hell we want to do that day, even if it’s never getting out of bed.

19. Do you prepare meals together? Does one person enjoy cooking more than the other?

Don’t let either of us cook. Ever.

20. What are the best restaurants to go to? Do you see movies at the theater? Do you do things like golf or bowling, just to bond more?

We live in Manhattan, really? Any of the non-chain places have a chance at being fantastic, but the pizza’s always good.

Yes to movies, no to ball sports. We have other things involving balls we can do to bond, thanks.

21. Tell me about a time that you got into an argument over something silly.

We bicker all the damn time, ok. How could I possibly pick one out?

22. Tell me about a time that you got into an argument over something serious. How did you compromise? What did you learn?

I honestly can’t even remember one enough to explain. We’re way better at communication than we were in the beginning.

25. Do you two have a “song”? What is it and how did it become your song?

Pfft. Closer.

I’ll just let that live.

26. Has your partner ever inspired something creative like your art, writing, etc?

The boy character in my book is vaguely based off of him, which was more accident than intentional.

27. Do you have extremely similar personalities and interests? Or extremely opposite? Or is it a balance that just makes sense? How do you try to better understand each other? Do you ever have to experience things you’re not interested in, or vice versa?

That’s…

Hm. We’re pretty different, but something about the way we work together keeps us pretty in-tuned to one another? At this point, understanding each other isn’t hard, it’s just trying to figure out what the hell kind of a point he’s trying to make.

I understand him a lot better when it’s serious matters. Other things? No fucking idea what goes on in that head of his.

28. Has your partner ever changed one of your opinions on morals, politics, society, etc?

Just on movies, but I don’t think that counts.

29. Tell me about a time that you were really proud of them.

He won two awards for his work last year and it wasn’t until I was sitting at that stupid table watching him go up for a second speech that it hit me and I realized I was unbelievably fucking proud to see what he did with something he didn’t believe was something he’d be good enough in to win at.

30. Does physical affection and/or sexuality have a role in your relationship? Are both of your needs being respected and fulfilled?

He’s clingy as hell, I’m horny 24/7 it seems like. We even out and aren’t ever left hanging.

31. How often do you talk? On the phone, Skype, in person? Are you two the type that stays up too late because the conversation is too good to end?

We nearly live together, you can guess this one.

32. Talk about your sense of humor, and your partner’s. Do you laugh a lot together? Which one of you is funnier?

We barely have the same sense of humor but we still laugh at things together. It’s usually in the vein of things we say to each other.

33. Is there anyone who doesn’t like the idea of your relationship? What’s the reason? How do you and your partner overcome disapproval from others?

I don’t think so? If there is, they haven’t stepped forward yet.

34. Have there been any hardships that have ultimately brought you closer than before?

Getting Strider to pass Creative Writing 101.

(Also one time he hit his head so hard he forgot he was dating me. Turns out he was in love with me a lot longer than I realize though, so that ended up being a learning experience. Hardest damn few days of my life until he confessed a second time, though.)

35. What’s their contact name in your phone?

Just Strider.

36. Tell me about what your partner is good at. Are they an artist, are they good at math, do they play a sport, etc?

Have you ever seen the pictures he takes? Jesus, I’m no art guy, but the colors on them. And the way they look when he does those set things, where they all fit together even if they’re pictures of totally different places or objects. I don’t get how he does it.

I don’t always get his films either, but he’s good enough to have won things, so I know he’s better than I can give him credit for. He’s not half bad at DJing either.

He’s also really damn good with those fingers of his.

37. Get really sappy and gross for a moment. Be so gushy that your friends would groan in mock annoyance if you told them. What’s adorable about your partner? What makes your heart melt? What’s something cute that they did that you’ll always remember no matter what?

Sometimes he says something really stupid and he knows it was really stupid but his embarrassment ranges from full-on red-faced to just the tips of his ears or the back of his neck and between the paleness of his skin and the color of his hair it never manages to look anything less than flattering and I kind of hate that but at the same time jesus he’s gorgeous.

Which is only exemplified when he takes off his sunglasses. You don’t realize what someone really looks like when they wear tinted eyewear and, while he’s attractive with them on, being able to see his eyes and discern what he feels is so absolutely stunning half the time I stop computing for a second or two.

Sometimes, if he’s done something he knows was a really good idea or was something I didn’t think of, he gets this stupid shit-eating grin on his face and it’s the cutest goddamn thing I’ve ever seen, even when I’m so annoyed at seeing it that I almost don’t want to look at it.

38. Let’s talk about life goals and hopes. Do you two have a similar idea for the future (regarding careers, getting a home, family, finding meaning)? Do you two make a good team? Can you imagine spending the rest of your life with them?

I think we’re both just taking it one step at a time and promising to stay on our track together for support, be it as boyfriends or best friends. I’m not going anywhere.

39. Reflecting on all of your experiences, what advice would you give to a young couple?

Communicate. God, you can’t know you’re with the person you’ll love forever if you don’t talk to them and listen enough to love them no matter what you hear.

40. Is your partner on tumblr? Tag them here and write them a small message, it can be anything.

@fuckdavestriderheistheworst

Hey bitch you’re on tonight. GIF war? Just you wait.

[d3ndroica]

Big Apple 8

Part 1     Part 2      Part 3     Part 4     Part 5     Part 6      Part 7

Friday morning, Madge headed to work with an extra spring in her step. Maybe because it was Friday and there was an afternoon holiday party at work. Or maybe because she had weekend plans with Gale. There was a constant fluttering in the pit of her stomach, half anticipation and half anxiety. In the morning she threw herself into the minutiae of lab work. She had a quick meeting over lunch confirming the expected schedule for the holidays - Madge had a few days off including Christmas. The lab’s holiday party was a casual thing starting at 2pm. Madge had finished most of her lab work in the morning, and as she checked email her mind wandered. Saturday dinner with Gale loomed in her mind. A Date! Okay, maybe a date. They hadn’t really specified, but Madge was feeling optimistic.

To help distract herself from the inevitable overthinking, Madge texted with Thom. He had been super grumpy since his show ended and she figured she could kill two birds with one stone, cheering him up and distracting herself. She convinced him she would come to his place for dinner and a movie or something. He only agreed because it was “totally gross” out and he had practically no disposable income, but at least he agreed.

The holiday party was, well, a bit awkward. Even though she’d done a few happy hours, having the bosses and other people she didn’t know put a damper on the party spirit. But there was wine and free food and a group gift exchange in which Madge scored a new travel mug and coffee shop gift card, so it wasn’t all bad.

She showed up at Thom’s after work with frozen pizza and ice cream. As usual, Thom proved to be an excellent distraction from whatever was on her mind. They watched a stupid comedy and made snarky comments through the whole thing. When the movie was over Thom switched over to Real Housewives and before Madge realized how late it was, she was half asleep on the couch, so she just stayed the night. Saturday was cold but clear. Madge was bundled up on the subway, reading a book on her way home when she got Gale’s message. She had to fish for the phone from her coat pocket and take off her gloves to unlock it. Gale 10:51am can’t make it tonight something came up sorry :(

Madge 10:54am OK. Everything OK?

Gale 10:55am Yeah OK. rain check?

Madge 10:57am Yeah np

Except, of course, it was a problem. Why, she wondered. He hadn’t explained, and she hadn’t asked, but it felt like rejection. Something came up, which could mean anything at all, or nothing. The idea of a rain check was little consolation.

Madge tried to make new plans. Well, she texted Rue about doing something, but Rue had a performance. She’d be free on Monday, so Madge agreed to meet up then. Madge also emailed Delly a sad diatribe about men being stupid, but mostly she felt like the stupid one. Ugh. So she wound up spending Saturday night doing laundry, watching Sex and the City streaming online, and getting drunk on cheap wine. She glared at her phone but did not text him. She’d decided that since he had canceled the plans she’d initiated, it was up to him to re-engage. Sunday she finished her holiday shopping. Delly called to commiserate about their lack of dating lives. That evening, Madge called her dad, catching him up on work and the city - everything except Gale. She didn’t talk about her dating life with family if she could avoid it. Her dad spent about 20 minutes describing the latest episode of Midsomer Murders he’d seen, practically scene by scene, except he kept mixing up which characters were which, so Madge was left with a  bizarre muddle of people who may have been blackmailing and/or sleeping with each other.

Monday rolled around all too quickly. Madge felt forlorn, a cold dreary Monday and still nothing from Gale. She had a busy day scheduled in the lab, prepping her new cell cultures. She was determined to be sure everything was pristine this time around. As she was breaking for lunch, she ran into another lab tech, Vinayak, whom she’d chatted with at the holiday party. He was watching some viral video a student had made for their biology class about cell reproduction processes - Madge had to appreciate it, it mentioned apoptosis! She got sucked into a short conversation with him and some other coworkers about it and other biomed social media. When she finally got back to her desk she checked her phone and found a series of messages waiting. Rue had messaged with a suggestion for a dive bar to meet at before the movie. And Gale had texted. Finally. Gale 11:23am hey

Gale 11:29am you free tonight?

Madge 12:41pm Sorry :( have plans Been stuck in the lab Maybe tomorrow?

Madge sighed. The more she thought about it, she realized she was angry at him. Did he think Monday night plans were just as good as Saturday? And why was it always the same day, couldn’t he make plans a few days out, give her some warning? She hadn’t really thought about it before but now it occurred to her that he had only ever made plans on the same day with her - never in advance. She wasn’t sure if that was supposed to tell her something about him - or about her. And he was mostly MIA on weekends which seemed, if anything, not promising. The whole things left her feeling grumpy. She was happy that she had enough of a life to not be at his beck and call (not a fair accounting but whatever, she still considered herself new to the city and for once she had plans so she could at least feel good about that). She was also annoyed that she wouldn’t see him.

Still, she was determined to have fun tonight, meeting up with Rue to see the latest Wonder Woman movie. Returning to the lab after lunch, Madge struggled to get through all the steps of the day’s protocol. After a hectic afternoon, Madge managed to be only a little late meeting Rue at a dive bar, just in time to take advantage of the cheap (and weak) happy hour specials before the movie. Madge barely even had time to look at her phone. They talked about the holidays - Rue’s shows were scheduled throughout so she would be in town working through all the holidays. She asked about Madge’s work. Madge started explaining her day, but gave up when she saw Rue’s blank look. They moved onto other topics before walking to the theater. The movie was entertaining, and they made vague promises of getting together again soon before each heading home.

Gale 1:03pm tomorrow should be ok I have a meeting til 5 then free

Madge 6:20pm Sounds good. I should be able to get off early tomorrow

Gale 6:41pm U up for morningside? Could eat nearby?

Madge 10:34pm ok Any ideas? Or just meet at subway stn?

Gale 10:39pm sure just meet 116th st subway @ 6?

Madge 10:50pm Soudns good ….so I just did the thing where I turned on the computer and started scanning the exact same feeds I’ve been looking at on my phone 😩😫

Gale 10:52pm 😆 home now?

Madge 10:54pm 👣🍿🎵

Gale 10:59pm long day?

Madge 11:04pm soo long It was hard But good, you know?

Gale  11:06pm you know i said day not date right? you didn’t send a going home with someone emoji

Madge smirked at her phone.

Madge 11:07pm You think if I were with long hard & good I would be on my phone?

Gale 11:08pm well good isn’t mindblowing so it depends if you want 🍆 or 💏

Madge 11:09pm It can’t be both? (Unless you’re accusing me of ethnic cleansing bc those people are weirdly yellow)

Gale 11:09pm  ok you’re alone so want to explain what was long, hard, and good for you today? inquiring minds want to know 😉

Madge 11:10pm Just another busy day curing cancer ;-)

Gale 11:11pm I heard it’s more complicated than that

Madge 11:12pm Well that’s what makes it so hard

Gale 11:14pm lol, guess i have to give you that one sounds stimulating 😎

Madge 11:16pm So - how was your day?

Gale 11:17pm well not as long or hard as yours 😉

Madge 11:18pm Well It’s not about the length of your day but what you do with it ;-) 

Gale 11:20pm 🙊 I’ll try to remember that looking forward to 2moro

Madge 11:21pm Me 2 :)

Gale 11:22pm 👍

Madge hesitated, typed, it’s a date, and told herself to press send. She wavered. She wanted him to say it was a date. Why couldn’t he say that? She knew he could see that she’d been typing. She deleted the words she’d written.

Madge 11:25pm my long day is catching up with me  See you tomorrow

Gale 11:26pm goodnight Madge set down her phone and thought about what she would wear the next day. She took a shower, washed and dried her hair. She pulled on comfy flannel pajamas and laid down for bed. And laid there. Awake.

Madge 12:13am Hi

Thom 12:15am Yo

Madge 12:16am Seeing GH tomorrow

Thom 12:17am 👍🔥  r u 2 DTF

Madge 12:18am NO We’re not even dating

Thom 12:19am nedn fuck him then u’ll know

Madge 12:21am Can you be serious for one minute? We’re supposed to go to morningside park Is that a terrible idea?

Thom 12:22am u rly worried?

Madge 12:23am I barely know him and we’re going for a nighttime stroll in a strange park. If this were a horror movie I’d be saying how dumb I was

Thom 12:24am STOP UR NOT IN A MOVIE anw he’s mr consent 100% ggg

Madge laughed out loud at that - mostly at herself. She didn’t even know where that had come from but Thom as usual managed to calm her while bordering on TMI.

Madge 12:25am lol Sorry

Thom 12:26am npgf now go 2 bed b ;)

Tuesday morning she opted for a shorter workout than usual, allowing some extra time to prepare for that night. She could not even pretend she thought this was going to be casual. She was still a little annoyed at him, but having a little advance warning was better than none. She could at least pick out her outfit knowing she’d see him.

She wondered what would happen. She knew she could be in for a big disappointment, but she couldn’t help hope. As distracted as she was, work was helpful for keeping her occupied. She was still determined to get the labwork right. She managed to push most of the thoughts of Gale to the side as she peered into her microscope to observe her lab cultures.

They sent a few texts midday, not much more than confirming the night’s plans. Before she knew where the time had gone, it was 6pm and she was packed with a thousand other strangers on the train, protecting her small allotment of breathing room from the other jostling passengers, speeding towards … something. She came through the turnstiles and he was there. Leaning on the wall, head bent down toward his phone, his eyes were skimming the turnstiles. For her. Her heart beat a little faster. How long had it been? He looked good. He was clean shaven; he wore a beanie with a Knicks logo pulled down low over his head.

Was this happening? She ran her fingers through her hair and walked over. Gale smiled when he saw her and tucked his phone into a pocket. His “hi” was warm. Madge’s mind chased the question whether it was a friendly warm or something more. If she had been hoping for time to stop, it didn’t - their eyes met for a moment and then suddenly he was adjusting his scarf and leading her toward the subway exit far too quickly.

She had done a cursory web search to see what food was nearby. Maybe Gale had too, or maybe he just knew the neighborhood. As they left the station he said, “Well, there’s seafood, a beer garden, or middle eastern right on the corner. There’s other stuff nearby. What are you in the mood for?”

“How about middle eastern?” she suggested. “I haven’t had a good falafel in ages.” Madge had already checked out their website.

“Falafel?” From his dubious tone, she guessed it wasn’t what he’d expected her to choose. 

“Is that okay?” She quirked up an eyebrow and looked at him. She had assumed he would be okay with his own list.

“Sure,” he agreed, seeming amused.

They quickly spotted the middle eastern cafe across the street, with a cute storefront. Gale took that extra stride as they approached the door and held it open for her. As he stepped through after her, Madge rubbed her hands in the warmth of the cafe.

They were led to a small table along the wall, and quickly shed their coats and scarves. They sat, Madge facing the inner restaurant and Gale facing the window, coats draped over chairs. Sitting across from each other, Gale asked Madge about her day. Whether real or imagined, the gleam in his eye led her thoughts directly to the long and hard convo … Shit, was he trying to be dirty or was it just her? It was going to be harder to keep her head clear with him right here in front of her. Madge saw the waiter coming to fill their water glasses and opened her menu as if to remind herself where they were. She was sure her cheeks flushed as she rambled something about her workday. When she asked about his day, Gale talked briefly about work, about working through bugs in their code, and a customer who kept changing their priorities.  

The menu choices looked pretty standard by Madge’s experience. They decided to share the appetizer sampler which included hummus, baba ghanoush, grape leaves and the like. Madge added falafel; Gale picked chicken shawarma. It wasn’t long before they’d put in their order with the young waiter.

Soon after the drinks arrived Gale asked, “So when are you going home for Christmas?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah,” she said. “Not til next week, my flight is Tuesday. I hope the weather doesn’t mess up my flights or anything. I’m just going for a few days - visit my dad and see a few friends. You?”

Gale shook his head. “Still need to get tickets. I’m going, I just don’t know the details yet.”

“Really? Isn’t it kind of late for that?”

“Well, I’m just catching a train. I’ll figure it out this week.”

Madge shook her head, amazed at how cavalier he was about leaving Christmas travel details to the last minute. “What about work?” she asked. As odd as it seemed, he had to know what he was doing; unlike her, he had done this before. He had lived here a lot longer than her.

“I took some time off,” he shrugged. “And i can work remotely if i need to.”

“Must be nice,” she answered.

Talking about Christmas plans led to talking about family. Gale talked about his more than she expected - two college aged brothers she had trouble keeping straight, and a twelve year old sister. He seemed extremely protective and fond of them. The waiter came and went, bringing appetizers and main courses. Gale asked about her family and hometown, things she usually didn’t talk much about.

She told him about her dad’s obsession with British crime dramas. ”We always watch a few when I’m home, except half the time he falls asleep in the middle, so I don’t know what the point is,” she laughed.

One side of Gale’s mouth twisted up in a half smile and their gazes held. “What do you do if he falls asleep?” He popped the last stuffed grape leaf into his mouth.

Madge shrugged. “I still watch it. I mean, by then I’m usually hooked anyway.”

“Are you sure he’s the one who’s obsessed?” he asked with a smirk.

They dawdled over the last crumbs on their plates until Madge asked the passing waiter for the bill. Turning back to Gale she asked, “So how far is Morningside from here?”

“A couple blocks. But we don’t have to go tonight,” Gale hedged.

“No I want to,” Madge countered. “I mean, that was the plan right? And a walk would be nice.”

“Okay, then,” Gale agreed, but he didn’t seem as enthusiastic as Madge had expected. A little doubt worried her thoughts.

After Madge paid the bill, they pulled their coats on and headed for the street. “Thanks for dinner,” Gale said.

“Well I did owe you,” she answered. “But you’re welcome.”

Outside the sky was that strange shade of purple caused by orange city lights reflecting off the dark clouds overhead. The streetlights lit their way down 116th street to the park. Madge shivered against the cold and pulled her gloves on as they walked.

“We could do the park another time,” Gale offered. “If it’s too cold.”

“Shut up,” Madge said, eyeing the darkness ahead of them. “I’ll be fine once we’re walking.”

Other than her toes, because her boots that could both look good and can handle walking were not well insulated, and her nose, she did warm quickly. She kept her hands in her pockets,mostly because Gale’s hands were in his pockets. Now that they were on their way, Gale seemed relaxed.             

As they approached the park, Madge’s uncertainty grew. She felt her awareness of the dark shadows ramping up and her heartbeat picking up the pace.

“Do you do this a lot?” she asked.

“No,” he admitted with a grin. A jogger with a dog passed by.  

“I’m all for trying new things but are you sure this is safe? Because it seems kinda crazy. And I would really like to not wake up dead in a ditch somewhere tomorrow.”

“Trust me, we’ll be fine,” he shrugged off her concern. “Give it a chance and if you want to leave, just say so and we’ll leave. Buddy system, remember?” On her own, Madge thought the buddy system sounded awfully platonic, but somehow he made it sound flirtatious.

“Right,” she said.

There weren’t many people around, just a few figures here and there who all appeared to be on their way somewhere. Gale headed to the left when they entered the park. There were street lamps here and there providing pools of light enough to follow the path easily. You could see the buildings on either side of the park, the ones to the west towering over them from the top of a steep and tree-covered hillside. They walked together past the dog run where a few stragglers were still chasing each other. Their owners stood off to one side, chatting to pass the time while watching the dogs. Gale raised an arm in a friendly gesture; one of the dog walkers reciprocated. When they reached a fork in the path, they turned further into the park and north again. 

Other than being dark off the path, the park seemed fairly innocuous. Madge’s nerves began to calm down. “So is this your favorite park?” she asked. 

Gale shook his head. “Nah. It’s too small. But I like it. It feels homey.”

“Homey?” Madge was dubious. 

“Well, yeah. You’ve got playgrounds and b-ball hoops, baseball fields, the dog walk. You’ll have to see it in the daylight sometime,” Gale said.

Madge pursed her lips, annoyed.

Gale must have realized it.  “Sorry I bailed on Saturday,” he said quietly.

“Uh-huh,” Madge replied, noncommittal. The silence stretched between them as she debated whether to ask more. Her mouth was dry. “So … what happened?”

With a rueful sigh Gale answered, “um, well. It’s not a good story. My roommate Jimmy had stomach flu last week. As in, literally immediately after we talked about getting together, he starts puking his guts out. And doesn’t stop. I was kind of hoping it was just food poisoning or something. But then it hit Carlo on Saturday morning. I figured I was next.”

“Oh,” Madge said, wrinkling her nose and, to be honest, trying not to laugh.

“It wasn’t pretty,” he added. “I basically spent the weekend watching sports in my room and cleaning everything in the apartment. I figured if we came Saturday I’d ruin it by getting sick. Or something. It didn’t matter - I never got sick, but still - guess I got lucky. They’re both fine now, anyway.”

“Oh, that’s good,” she agreed. “So ...  um. Why didn’t you say so?”

“Sorry,” he sighed. “It’s not exactly, you know, a pleasant image. I was going to email you … but I don’t have your email. So that plan kinda fell apart.”

“Oh,” she said. “Well I’m glad you’re okay. And at least we’re here now.” She was mostly relieved that it was a decent reason. Still, if she had only known, the last few days would have been easier, at least. But, complaining now seemed silly -she felt immature, and didn’t want him to know she’d felt so insecure and jealous over it. She had no right to feel those things.

“Yeah, we are,” Gale agreed, his mouth curving into a smile as he looked back at her - she hadn’t even realized she’d slowed down. He reached out a hand to her. “C’mon, then.”  She took it, feeling his heat through the fingers of her gloves.

Up ahead there was water on their left, between the hillside - no, the cliff - and the path. Madge eyed the water as they walked. She joked, “My roommate knows where I am and who I’m with. So, you know, you can forget about any plans you had to slash my throat and toss my body in the water.” The cliff face across the water looked imposing in the dark, a hulking shadow.

“What?” Gale shook his head. “Wow that would make me the worst buddy ever.”

“I’m just saying, logically, it’s a bad idea,” she argued, trying to sound matter of fact.

“Oh, thanks,” Gale answered. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? I think you’ve been watching too many crime dramas with your dad. And come on,  Slash your throat? Seems unnecessarily messy.”

She laughed.

“Besides this is no place to dump a body. It’s not THAT remote,” he scoffed.

“Oh, thanks, that’s comforting,” she answered, still laughing.

“Well when you said you were afraid to go in city parks alone in the dark I had no idea you would accuse me of being a knife-wielding maniac.”

“I never said maniac,” she protested.

“It was implied. If you can’t trust your buddy who can you trust?”

“I trust you,” She grumbled. “But -”

“But what?”

“You want to talk about implications, how about this? What are the implications of me being alone with you in a strange park at night. I want to see the park and I’m sure it’s great but it’s really not why I’m here. If you want to be buddies that’s fine, but -”

He cut her off, saying, “I thought it would be romantic.”

“What?”

“The park. I thought it would be romantic. A walk through the park, moonlight, holding hands.“

Madge stepped in close. She tilted her face to his and kissed him. Her lips moved against his, soft and slow. He responded, and she felt his arms wrap around her.

She smiled against his lips.

“Romantic, huh?”

[aion-rsa]

The Eric Andre Show: Why This Ritzy Season Is “The Best Yet”

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Eric Andre has made reinvention a staple of The Eric Andre Show. What started as a lo-fi spoof of the celebrity talk show circuit has evolved and devolved over four seasons. In season 3, Andre’s refreshed look featured a Katt Williams-esque perm. In Season 4, Andre completely let himself go: He neglected to bathe and turned the set into what he called “ratty and disgusting and gray, like a Soviet prison.” 

After four years off air, The Eric Andre Show returns to Adult Swim on Oct. 26 with a complete 180. The new set is bright, colorful, and ritzy. “I wanted the set to be Liberace inspired,” Andre told Den of Geek ahead of the season 5 premiere. “I just wanted to do everything the opposite.” 

The changes to the show are not only cosmetic. Andre’s longtime sidekick Hannibal Buress quits the show after the first episode, and is replaced by a clone. Eventually the clone also quits.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with a heavy heart that i announce that the yin to my yang, the wickedly funny @hannibalburess ends his reign as co-host tomorrow night at midnight @adultswim. Love you HB. It's been an amazing decade with you.

— Eric Andre (@ericandre) October 24, 2020

Structurally, The Eric Andre Show mostly remains in tact. He may look more glamours, but Andre still opens every show by manically recking his set. The man-on-the-street pranks are as gross and random as ever. He even got his good friend, Grammy nominated rapper/singer Lizzo, to put on the green suit for Bird Up.

These antics do come at a price. As he told Jimmy Kimmel in a recent interview, Andre landed in the hospital with a concussion after stunt in which John Cena throws him through a bookshelf went wrong. Andre bounced right back. A comedian who masters the art of reinvention can have a long and prosperous career, so long as he’s not snapped into pieces by a WWE superstar.

Though it comes in the midst of a nightmare of a year, Andre’s career is prospering right now. In June he debuted his first ever stand-up special which is available on Netflix. His long gestating feature-length prank film, Bad Trip, was originally slated to premiere at the canceled SXSW 2020, and have a theatrical release shortly after. Those plans changed with COVID-19 upheaving the movie theater industry, and Netflix picked up the film and plans to release it next year, according to Andre.

Over zoom, we spoke with Andre about the return of The Eric Andre Show and what he has in-store for season 5.

Before we get into The Eric Andre Show season 5, you had your first stand-up comedy special drop on Netflix over the summer. Your closer absolutely killed. How did you come up with the mom / phone bit?  

There was this Knitting Factory show years ago in Brooklyn, and I did it to my mom. I would prank my friends with that autotech shit, just to scrambled brains. And then I was like, ‘Oh, my mom would be perfect to do it to.’ And I’m on the east coast. Usually when I do a stand-up show in L.A. she’s in bed because she’s three hours ahead. But I was in her time zone. She’s in Florida. So I pranked my mom, and it worked so fucking good. And the audience was going fucking bananas. And then I tried to prank her again at a different show. I tried to recreate it, and she already knew the gag. So she’s like, “Okay, you’re pranking me again.” So I was like, “How do I keep this up?” Because it just worked so well. And then I just started doing it with people’s moms in the audience.

I used to do it in the middle of the set, but it would bring the house down and I couldn’t recover. I couldn’t go back to my material afterwards. So I really had to start doing it at the end. And it’s just such a great… and it’s G-rated too. Everyone relates to mom confusion. Everybody’s mom, at some point, or many points throughout their lives, is very confused, doesn’t get a pop culture reference right. So everybody can relate to mom confusion, and auto-correct, and auto-fill, and all those things that scramble mom’s brain. So it’s a good G-rated dismount after a bunch of R-rated material.

It’s been a long time since The Eric Andre Show has been on air. And in that time, a lot of really, really bad TV shows have debuted. Is Bird Up is still the worst show on TV?

I hope so. I hold that trophy high. So fingers crossed that we continue. Maybe I shouldn’t reveal. We got Lizzo in the Bird Up outfit this season. We did Lizzo up.

How’d you convince her?

We were friends with her before she was famous, so she’s good friends with my director. So Lizzo being famous is crazy to us. So we just texted her. I’m like, ‘Lizzo, come do the show,’ and she was like, ‘Cool.’ That was probably the easiest casting. She was really good at it. She may be much better at it. She flourished. She got in that outfit, she brought her flute.

In the trailers it’s pretty obvious that there’s a crazy new set design for season 5. What were your inspirations behind the look and feel of the new season?

So I basically did everything the opposite of season four. So the previous season, season four, I lost weight. I got pale, I grew out my hair. I didn’t brush or wash my hair. I didn’t wear deodorant. I got really stinky. I didn’t wash my suit once, I grew out my fingernails. And the set was really ratty and disgusting and gray, it was like a Soviet prison. 

In season five, I wanted everything the opposite. It was a ritzy and rich set, I wanted the set to be Liberace inspired. I got rid of all my body hair, I waxed my pubic hair, I shaved my armpit hair, I bic’d my head bald. I would tan every day. I bleached my teeth. I got my fingers and nails manicured, pedicured. I would put on a ton of brut cologne every morning. I gained weight. I just wanted to do everything the opposite, season five from season four. So that’s how we got to the look.

I know sometimes it can be difficult for actors to gain or lose weight. How was it for you?

I’m not very good at it. My body doesn’t want to. I wasn’t good at losing it, I wasn’t good at gaining it. I am far from Christian Bale. He also has a team of nutritionists that calculate how to fucking do it. But I was eating peanut butter jelly sandwiches and pizza every night before bed. That’s my go-to. And I got pretty puffy. I probably put on 20 pounds, but it was inconsistent. I couldn’t nail it. It’s fucking hard. And you’re depressed, and you’re irritable, you’re cranky, you’re sugar crashing. It’s fucked up. It’s not good for your body. I’d never do it again. No more body modifications, I don’t think. Life’s too short to put your organs through that.

Does having that extra weight help you throw your body around during those opening scenes?

It doesn’t. You’re huffing and puffing, it’s hard to tie your shoes. It stresses my body. I didn’t even gain that much. I can’t imagine Christian Bale gaining 60 pounds, that guy’s going to die soon. It really stresses your body out. 

What was it like editing and putting the finishing touches on this season during the pandemic? 

It wasn’t ideal. We started editing before COVID happened. So that was good. We got a good chunk. We got into our groove with the season before COVID happened, and then we finished remotely from home. But we were already in the groove, and it’s not our first rodeo. It’s the best season yet. We knew what bits were working and what wasn’t. So it wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t insurmountable.

With the man on the street bits, do you think that there’s going to be a heightened sense of shock value because it’s airing now?

It’s hard to remember the before times, but I don’t know. Maybe, that would be an added bonus if it feels heightened stakes. But yeah, it was filmed before the quarantine.

I remember you telling us in a past interview that you had a couple of close encounters on the set of Bad Trip with some of the pranks, particularly the barbershop scene. On the set of season five, did you have any close calls or interesting stories from season 5?

There’s this one where I’m a news reporter and I’m in Newark, New Jersey, reporting on the street. There’s this passed out businessman, stuntman behind me that looks like he jumped off a building and tried to commit suicide. And then he started getting up, and I go to my news camera team. I’m like, ‘This guy, if he doesn’t stay injured, I don’t have a story.’ Boom. And I started kicking him on the ground. The guys bleeding out the back of the head, kicking him on the ground. I’m like, ‘Stay down, motherfucker. I need this story.’ All these people came out of coffee shops and this one guy was like, ‘I’m going to fucking kill you.’ And I was like, ‘No, if I don’t get this story, I don’t get the promotion I need, this man is my big break in news.’ And he’s like, ‘I’m going to fucking kill you.’ And we had to, we pushed that guy to the limit before he clocked me, and then we had to cut and reveal.

When it comes to the guests on the show, I always think back to James Van Der Beek calling the experience a “fever dream.” Were there any interactions off the camera with guests this season that stuck out to you?

It’s way more exciting on camera for my show, than off camera. Oh, the best was, I forgot about this, so we had Robin Givens on the show. She’s an actress, she’s been around for a few decades. She was married to Mike Tyson at one point. And I’m lighting her up, so we’re dropping cockroaches from the ceiling, and we have maggots coming out of food. The show is like a haunted house. So she’s freaking the fuck out, and her publicist, or her agent I think, is fucking pissed. I didn’t know this at the time. I’m in front of the cameras interviewing her. My second AD told me, her agent is running around, we don’t let any of their agents or publicists on the stage while we’re rolling, because we don’t want them to stop the interview.

So my second AD and my first AD are running this woman around, her pissed off agent, they’re running her around in circles. She’s like, “End this interview now, how do I get to the studio?” My second AD goes, “Go through that door, take a left, take a right,” and then they’re just sending her around in circles. She comes out, ‘I went through that door.’ They’re like, ‘All right, go outside, here’s a shortcut, go through the elephant door, go here.’ And they’re just sending her around to locked doors and around the building, just running laps around the building, while I’m dropping maggots from the sky in front of Robin Givens. She was so pissed. Yeah. We definitely got the release form ahead of time on that one.

Are you guys at the point where, for the most part, the guests know or at least have some sense of an idea of what they’re stepping into? Or are you still catching people off guard?

We purposely try to get guests that have no idea what my show is, who I am, what Adult Swim is. Every once in a while we do, but we just light their ass up. You know what I mean? I think even if you know the show, when vermin and pestilence are exploding out of the desk, you’re still going to have a great reaction. So it’s foolproof in that way. But yeah, we definitely try to not get hipper, younger guests. We try to stay over 40. So there’s a definite age limit to my fan base. Not all the time, some middle-aged bands and even older fans, but for the most part the fan base is millennials, gen Z

With your stand-up special, the movie Bad Trip eventually coming out on Netflix, and now the new season of The Eric Andre Show, those are three very different mediums you’ve worked across recently. Is there a medium right now that you find the most creatively fulfilling?

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

To me it’s not the medium, it’s the idea. With The Eric Andre Show, obviously I have pure creative freedom. I’m in the zone with it the most. I think standup is the hardest. The movie was no small feat. But yeah, any and all mediums. 

The post The Eric Andre Show: Why This Ritzy Season Is “The Best Yet” appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

The Not-So Worst Day of Peter’s Life

This fic is a part of the @friendly-neighborhood-exchange for @fromsiberia

                      Rating: General            Warnings: N/A   

I enjoyed writing this - I hope you enjoy reading it! 

Peter takes a class trip to Stark Industries. What could go wrong (or right)?

Read on ao3

“So, we have a field trip planned,” Peter mentions casually while eating lunch on Sunday.

 Tony swallows the food in his mouth, “Great kid. When and where?”

 “It’s this Friday, and it’s at Stark Industries,” Peter’s mouth contorts into a strained smile. “Did you do this?”

 “I did not, cross my heart and hope to die,” Tony runs a finger across his sternum. “It was probably someone in our HR department. Why, you don’t want to go?”

 “it just puts me in a tough spot because I’m ‘working’ here,” Peter makes finger quotations, “and no one believes me but Ned and MJ, but that’s because they know my alter ego.”

 “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to call out sick and not go in that day? Or do you want me to acknowledge you and just rave about your intelligence? I’m good with that, too.”

 “No! Just do what you normally do. If we run into you, you can just say hi to me to prove you know me, but I don’t need a whole letter of recommendation or anything!” Peter scoffs.

 Tony nods understandingly, “I will be the ultimate professional, but I cannot speak for Happy. Or Bucky, if he’s around.”

“If I’m around where?” Bucky saunters into the room, dropping a kiss on Tony’s cheek.

 “Speak of the devil,” Tony smirks. “Peter’s class is going to SI on Friday for a field trip.”

 Bucky’s eyes glitter. “Good to know.” He grabs a water bottle from the fridge and walks back out. “Going for a run with Steve.”

 “Make sure you shower afterwards!” Tony yells after him.

 Peter turns on Tony as soon as Bucky leaves, “Please don’t let him embarrass me.”

 “I will do what I can,” Tony ruffles Peter’s head. Standing up, he takes his plate and sticks it in the dishwasher. “Hey, I just got some of that stretchy material in. Wanna test it?”

 Peter eagerly follows him into the lab.

 +++++++++++++++++++

“So, Tony didn’t set it up?” Ned asks, biting into his pizza.

 “No, he had no idea. I guess they do field trip things fairly often, so they just have someone in HR schedule them.” Peter wrinkles his nose. “Really Ned? Pineapple and sweet peppers? Ugh, that’s nasty.”

 “You just have boring tastes, extra-cheese man.”

 MJ shakes her head, “Bacon’s where it’s at.”

 Peter and Ned look at each other and shrug. Neither of them can refute the fact that bacon is one of the better pizza toppings.

 “So, Penis, are you going on the field trip on Friday?” Flash Thompson walks up to stand at the end of their table. “I wouldn’t blame you for not going, you know, because it’s going to be so embarrassing for you when we all confirm that your Stark Internship is all in your imagination. Right guys?” Flash’s little posse of friends all agree and laugh.

 “I’m going.” Peter smiles at Flash.

 “Alright. It’s your funeral,” Flash replies then turns to his crowd. “IF we see Tony Stark, maybe he can tell us about Spiderman! Unlike this idiot here, Spiderman actually works with Iron Man! He’s like the coolest superhero out there. Okay, let’s go. Bye losers!” He does a little wave at Peter’s table. Peter gives him a thumbs up in response.

 “I mean, it’s funny to me that Flash loves you and hates you, but why do you put up with that?” MJ comments.

Peter shrugs, “It doesn’t really bother me. If he wants to run his mouth, trying to make me feel small, let him. At least he’s doing it to me, and not someone who will actually be affected by it. By the way, tomorrow night, we’re watching Clueless. Bucky hasn’t seen too many rom-coms, and I mean to change that. Tony said you are welcome to come. He’s making like six different types of popcorn.”

 “I’m in.” MJ nods as Ned raises his hand and waves it to show he also will be there.

 The bell rings to indicate the end of lunch break, and the trio splits up to go to their respective classes.

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tony meets Peter when he gets to the Tower after rotations. “Hey Pete, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that Harley’s going to be here this week.”

 ‘Oh ok, maybe we can finish that project now that… OH NO! Don’t tell me he’s going to be at SI on Friday!” Peter groans as Tony grimaces.

 “Unfortunately, he will be, and you know there’s nothing I can do to stop him once he’s on a warpath.”

 “My life is over,” Peter mourns. “Why can’t his college have normal spring break just like everybody else?”

 “Probably because the universe is just bent on screwing you over.” Peter hates just how amused Tony sounds.

 He folds his arms. “You’re the worst dad ever.”

 “Sure son. Want to talk it over a game of catch?” Tony has his biggest shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

 Peter shakes his head. “No, I just remembered. Aunt May said she’s going to have supper ready at 6:30 so I got to go. Love you, Dad.” He quickly hugs Tony then runs out the door.

 “Love you, too kid!” Tony calls after him.

 “Look at you, being less and less emotionally stunted as the days go by,” Rhodey comments from the doorway.  “I guess Barnes and the kid are doing you good.”

 “Oh, shut it, platypus.” Tony shoots back good-humoredly. “You were the one who started the process.”

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday night, dubbed “Movie Night,” comes, and Tony, Bucky, Peter, Harley, Ned, and MJ are watching Clueless on Tony’s huge theater-sized TV. JARVIS turns on Clueless, and everyone soon gets lost into the hard high-school life of one Cher Horowitz.

 Peter sympathizes with Cher’s driving issues as he also had a hard time learning to drive. He cringes, thinking of the time he had to drive Flash’s father’s car to chase Liz’s dad. Tony shudders at the fashion, or lack thereof, of the 90’s.

 When the movie ends, Harley points out that although Cher’s last name is supposedly Horowitz, her report card is labelled as Cher Hamilton. MJ tells them she doesn’t like that Josh is Cher’s step-brother – it just weirds her out. Peter asks Bucky what he thought of the movie.

 Bucky thinks about it for a second then asks, “Isn’t this basically modern-day Emma?”

 “Emma?”

 “Yea, the Jane Austen novel. Like, Cher is clearly Emma. She’s so happy she got Dionne together with Murray so she thinks she’s good at this stuff. She takes Tai in order to help her become popular. That means Tai is Harriet Smith. Cher tries to set her up with Elton, whose name is taken straight from Emma – Mr. Elton. Cher thinks she’s in love with Christian, who is pulled from Frank Churchill. The only difference here is that Christian is gay, not already engaged to Jane Fairfax. Josh, of course, is Mr. Knightley, except that he’s Cher’s stepbrother, not a family friend. Because Elton says he’s in love with Cher, not Tai, Tai feels unwanted. When Josh starts showing her attention because Cher asked him to, Tai starts to fall for him just as Cher realizes she’s in love with him. This is equal to the scenes where Mr. Knightley dances with Harriet when Mr. Elton snubs her. Harriet believes he is interested whereas he’s only doing Emma a favor. Harriet tells Emma that she thinks she loves Knightley. As a result, Emma gets a reality check. In the end, Tai dates the skater boy Travis, who is the modern-day Robert Martin, deemed as unworthy by Cher/Emma.” He pauses when he sees everyone just staring at him, open-mouthed. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

“Oh my gosh,” MJ whispers. “I think I love him.”

 “Sorry, he’s mine,” Tony wraps his arms around Bucky. “Bucky, darling, I don’t know because I don’t read mushy stuff like Jane Austen, but based on MJ’s reaction, you must have hit the nail on the head.”

 Bucky nuzzles Tony’s cheek with his nose until Harley fake gags, “There are children present!”

 “The book is better, but the movie was ok,” Bucky wrinkles his nose.

 Peter clutches his chest, “It’s a rom-com classic! I can’t believe it!” He dramatically falls off the couch onto the floor, acting as if his heart had failed him.

 “Oh, no, we lost him. What ever shall we do?” Harley deadpans, stuffing a pillow on Peter’s face and holding it there until Peter rolls over.

 “You are all a bunch of children,” Tony laughs. “Honey, don’t you feel like the parent of some very unruly children.”

 Bucky snorts, “Gee, I wonder who they got it from.”

 “Gasp. Betrayed by my own boyfriend. Now I have no one in the cruel, cold world.” Tony splays a hand across his arc reactor. “Woe is me.”

 All too soon, though, it was time to go home, and Peter wishes all his nights could be like this. As Peter leaves one last lingering look at Tony and Bucky on the couch, he feels Harley nudge him. “Hey, at least you can leave,” the blond nineteen-year-old grins. “I’m going to have to deal with them, and I don’t think they’re going to wait until they get to their room to start. Seriously, I may have to gouge my eyes out by the end of the week.”

 Peter pats Harley on the shoulder, “I’m sure you’ll manage. Have a good night.”

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Peter spends Wednesday night with Aunt May, but Tony asks for his help in the SI lab on Thursday. Two hours into working on improving Peter’s suit, Peter admits, “I’m a little nervous about tomorrow.”

 Tony immediately puts down his tools, “Ok… talk to me. What’s wrong?”

 “I just… don’t know what’s going to happen, and I don’t want to make a big deal about the whole internship. Like, I don’t even care if they don’t believe me. Now it either becomes a big deal, or they'll all still think I’m a liar. And what if someone makes the Spiderman connection?”

 “Hey, kid. You'll be fine, but if you don’t want to go, don’t go. You’ve got nothing to prove to anyone. I’ll support you with whatever you choose.  And the Spiderman thing? I don’t think anyone’s going connect the dots. They'll probably think Harles is Spiderman before you." Tony knocks his shoulder. “All I’m saying is I will be happy to see you if you decide to go, and I would never be ashamed of being seen with you. I’ve basically adopted you. If you want to add fuel to the flames, I can even call you son.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

 “No! Please don’t! I don’t need that as well.” Peter groans.

 “Ok ok fine!” Tony holds up his hands. “But let me know if you need me to be a school emergency contact. I know May’s been having longer shifts, but she won’t accept my help.”

 “She’s a strong independent woman, Tony. She doesn’t need you.”  Peter jabs playfully.

 “No she does not. I admire her. The only person I admire more than her is Pepper. And I’ve met Thor, Peter.”

 Peter gasps dramatically, “Don’t diss on my Thor!”

 When Peter goes to leave that night, Tony pulls him into a hug. “Love ya, son.”

 “Love you, too, dad.” Peter’s heart fills with happiness. He supposes tomorrow won’t be too bad.

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday comes, and May wakes Peter up for his class trip. He groans but gets up. “Ugh. Today is going to be a train wreck.” He tells her.

 “You know, you don’t have to go on your class trip,” May remarks, looked amused.

 “Yea, I know, but I feel like I should just go.”

 Peter gets to school, and Flash seems to be waiting for him. “Oh, hey guys. Here he is! We’re going to see today just how pathetic Parker is. I hope you’re ready.” Flash smirks at him.

 “Oh, believe me, I am not ready for this trip,” Peter concedes, “but for reasons that are so much different than what you’re thinking.”

 “Ok, boys, enough fighting. It’s time to go,” Mr. Harrington calls from the front of the classroom. “Everyone, pair up and get on the bus.”

 Peter and Ned fall in line together, followed by MJ and Betty. The pretty blonde taps Peter on the shoulder. “Hey Peter, for what it’s worth, I believe you.”

 “Thanks Betty! I appreciate it.” Peter smiles back at her.

 The four of them sit together in the back of the bus, ignoring all the chaos going on in front of them. “It gets worse,” Peter confides to Ned, “Harley’s gonna be there. You know it’s his goal in life to make me as uncomfortable as possible.”

 “Relax, Pete, he’s like your brother. That’s what family’s for.”

 The bus ride takes approximately thirty minutes to get to Stark Industries. Once everyone is out and lined up two by two, Mr. Harrington leads them up to the facility. He fumbles with the paperwork as he walks up to a security guard. Once the guard is satisfied, he takes them in to the front desk. Bambi is working the desk, as usual. She hands out visitor’s cards to every member of the party, and her face brightens when she sees Peter. “Oh, hi Peter! I didn’t realize this was your class. You should just be showing them around, don’t you think?” She winks at him.

 Peter loves Bambi. She treats him like her own grandchildren. “Hi, Bambi. It’s good to see you. Today, I think I’m just following along with the rest of them.”

 As the rest of the class had already left the receptionist desk to wait for their tour guide, no one heard Peter and Bambi’s interaction. Mr. Harrington calls him over, and Flash looks at him suspiciously. “What, did you ask her to act like she knew you?”

 “No, she just knows me. That’s Bambi.”

“No shit. Isn’t that what her name tag read?” Flash retorts, and Peter mentally nods. Flash does have a point there.

 “Midtown High?” A voice says, and Peter freezes. No. He knows that voice. He turns slowly to find that his fear is, in fact, reality. “Hello, my name is Harley Keener. I’m a part-time intern of Tony Stark, and I will be your tour guide today. Does anyone have any questions before we start?”

 Annabelle raises her hand, “Will we see Tony Stark or Pepper Potts today?”

 “You are in luck, because Tony himself instructed that I show you his lab today. Ms. Potts is the CEO of the company, so I can’t really say if we will see her or not. She is a very busy woman.” Harley smiles. Peter feels his eyes on him, and when Peter looks up, Harley’s smile becomes a smirk. Peter’s spidey-senses tingle with a sense of foreboding.

 Flash nudges Peter, “Hey Porker, that is what someone who interns for Tony Stark would look like. He’s mature and actually attractive… unlike you.”

 “You think he’s mature? He’s the devil incarnate. The only reason he is leading this tour is because he wants to make my life miserable,” Peter hisses.

 Flash scoffs, but he just rejoins his partner at the front of the line.

 “Hey, kid.” Harley addresses Flash. “I’m sorry, but I need to ask you to stay with your partner in a two-by-two line unless I say you can spread out. I don’t want to cause problems, but I’m sure you understand that we have precautions that we must take in order to let guided tours through here.” Peter holds in a laugh when Flash looks properly chastised.

 Ned leans close and says, “And that’s where family has your back as well, even after you call them ‘the Devil incarnate.’”

 Harley leads them through department after department, explaining how each of them work. After explaining, he would ask if anyone had any questions. Finally, on the sixth floor, Flash can’t resist any longer. “I have to ask, Mr. Keener, do you know anyone by the name of Peter Parker?”

 “You mean Tony’s other intern? Yea I know him. He’s a little shit most of the time, but yea. Any other questions?”

 Everyone in the class turns back to Peter, who can’t help but smile smugly. “I have a question,” Peter asks, “Why did you decide to guide this tour? This isn’t your normal job here.”

 The blood drains from Peter’s face when Harley just smiles and says, “It was something I wanted to do, and Tony owed me that favor after he lost the bet.”

 “Oh crap.” The foreboding tingles are back.

 Mr. Harrington looks confused, “I’m sorry. I guess you two know each other?”

 “Yes, we have worked together on many a project with Mr. Stark,” Harley informs him. “We just have a little harmless rivalry – like to poke fun at each other.”

 Flash looks like he’s just going to faint. Peter wants to laugh at him, but he’s mature. He’ll laugh about it later.

 Harley continues, “Now, if no one has any questions about this department, I will take you up to the next floor. Please be warned, this is Tony Stark’s R&D floor. We will have to confiscate any phones as we do not allow any videos and pictures on this floor.” They climb the stairs. “Before we go in, please hand all your phones and/or recording devices to Alessia here. She will return them to you once we come back out of this room.”

 Once everyone forks over their technology, Harley puts his hand on the scanner, and the doors open. “Please line up against the wall, and don’t touch anything.” He tells them.

 Peter groans aloud when he sees the view in front of him. Bucky frickin’ Barnes is sitting on the frickin’ table where Tony is fixing his frickin’ arm! He knows Bucky and Harley have something up their sleeve.

 “You ok there, Parker?” Harley asks, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

 “Yeah. I’m great.” Peter grits out.

 Tony and Bucky seem to be in their own little world because neither of them looks up. Tony closes a plate on Bucky’s arm and runs his hand down the arm until he clasps Bucky’s hand in his own. Bucky touches Tony’s face with his right arm, and Harley clears his throat loudly. Bucky slowly drops his hand, and they both turn to look at the class, Bucky’s eyes seeking Peter out.

 Tony smiles his press smile, “Welcome, guys, gals, and non-binary pals to where the magic happens. This lab here is my personal lab, and very few people have access to this select lab. Consider yourselves lucky. Sergeant Barnes here just had some problems with his arm, and, as I was working here today, came to visit me. If you see over there, I have my helper bots.” Tony walks over to ELL-E. “This darling here is one of my newer ones. Say hi, ELL-E!” Everyone awws when she raises her claw and waves. “I have three of these at home, all built when I was in college. Since I work most days at the tower, I keep them there. DUM-E was the first AI bot I ever made. He’s a mess, though. That’s why his name’s DUM-E.” He claps his hands together. “Now does anyone have any questions… actually, wait, I have a question for you kids. We are in the process in updating the Stark phone. Does anyone here own one, and if so, do you have any suggestions in improving it?”

 Raoul raises his hand, “Well, I must say I do love the latest update… the easy access to setting up disability features really helped my mom use her phone better. She used to make one of us use her phone for her because most phones either don’t have the features or make it hard to find where to turn them on.”

 “Thank you. Fun fact – that update was drawn up and coded by your very own classmate over there, one Mr. Peter Parker. I don’t know how much of a bragger he is – I sure was one when I was his age – but that young man is brilliant. I am honored to have him working here as an intern.” Tony sends a smile towards Peter.

 Flash raises his hand, “Hi, so if Peter interns for you, and you mostly work from the tower, does that mean Peter works at Stark Tower around all the superheroes?”

 “Yup,” Tony smiles. “To be honest, I think he had the biggest freak out when he met Bucky over here… or maybe Thor. Sorry, Buck, I think Thor is his favorite.”

 A few other students raise their hands to ask questions, and Peter zones out. A loud clapping sound wakes him from his reverie.

 “I hate to interrupt, but it’s almost time for lunch,” Harley speaks up. “Do you want me to take them down now, or is there anything else you want to say?”

 Tony spins back around to face them, finger in the air. “I just had a brilliant idea. Why don’t you join me and Sergeant Barnes for lunch? We’re going down to the cafeteria. Just order what you want on my dime. We’ll accompany you down in a minute.”

 “Sir, you don’t have to,” Mr. Harrington sputters. “The students did all bring lunch…”

“Oh, it would be my pleasure. I have more money than I know what to do with. I insist,” Tony says. Then he smirks and says, “I know, Ms. Jones, that I should sink my money into charities and things. Please provide me with several of your choice, and I promise to make a large donation.”

 MJ’s mouth opens and closes, then she nods. “Fair enough.”

 “Ok kiddos,” Harley says, “let me take you down to the cafeteria. If you want your phones back, please make sure you pick them up from Alessia.”

 Peter and Ned are the last ones to leave the lab. Peter turns right before he walks out. Bucky and Tony wave at him. He groans, “They’re going to do something at lunch. I can feel it.”

 Five minutes later, Tony and Bucky arrive in the cafeteria, holding hands.

 “Holy shit! Are they actually together?” Adria gasps in a loud whisper.

 Ned rolls his eyes. “Of course. What, have you been living under a rock?”

 After the power couple get their food, they sit at the table where Peter and Harley are sitting. “So, did we do ok, kid?” Tony asks.

 “Well, now the whole world is going to know you’re dating. They’re not ‘just speculating’ anymore.” Peter smirks.

 “Babe, we can have a make out session on the table now!” Bucky’s eyes twinkle. “We don’t have to hide anymore!”

 “Gosh no, please, please no!” Peter groans. “Ugh. I hate you all right now.”

 “We love you, too,” Harley coos.

 Twenty minutes later, Harley and Mr. Harrington round up the class to proceed with the tour. Bucky pulls Tony up and says, “Come on, Mr. Stark, you have a meeting with Ms. Potts to which you must not be late if you know what’s good for you.” “Oh, are you giving me orders, Sergeant Barnes?” Tony asks back, and Peter knows his face is bright red.

 “Just… go.” He mutters, and he’s sure only Bucky was able to hear him. Bucky takes it as a cue to leave. He takes Tony’s arm.

 “Here is where I must take my leave,” Tony, ever the showman, bows. “Thank you all for touring my humble company, and I do hope you all have enjoyed yourselves. Bye, Petey.” He wiggles his fingers. Peter hides his face in his hands.

 “Kill me now,” he pleads to Ned.

 The rest of the field trip goes off without a hitch, and the ride back to school is peaceful. Peter imagines everyone is on Twitter going on about Winteriron or something. He realizes that Tony and Bucky did this so that no one would bother him about the internship. Once again, he is choked up to see just how caring and thoughtful Tony is.  The next person who says differently can catch these hands. He thinks.

 Peter leaves quickly when school ends so he doesn’t miss his bus that has a tendency to show up early. Tony is waiting for him at the tower when he gets there. “So how did we do today?”

 “You guys were embarrassing, but I guess I’ve come to terms with it.” Peter grumbles. “That’s what family does. Thank you for taking all the attention off of me. You didn't have to go semi-public with your relationship.”

 “Let you have the spotlight? Never! Don't you know I need it all?” Tony jokes, then smiles softly. “I only did what Rhodey would’ve done to me.”

 Peter smiles, “Rhodey is a gift to this world.”

 “Peter, my dear, you are brilliant, but let me tell you, that is the smartest and most correct thing you have ever said,” Tony takes him by the shoulders. “But if you ever tell my honeybear that, I will deny it vehemently.”

 “Understood. Hey want to play a game of chess?” When Tony agrees, Peter gets the chessboard out that Wanda had given him. Apparently, it had belonged to her father. Peter just likes the glass pieces.

  Epilogue

On Monday, Flash apologizes to him when they return to school. “Hey Parker, I… uh… I’m sorry for all that shit I said about you. I guess it just seemed unreal, and I shouldn’t have made fun of you like that.”

 “Yea, you shouldn’t have. Being a dick doesn’t make you cool; it just makes you look like a dick. But I do understand. My life is pretty surreal. No harm done – just don’t do it anymore to anyone.” Peter tells him.

 Flash nods, “Yea, I know. So, have you met Spiderman? Is he as cool as he seems?”

 “Nah, I hate him. He’s a total loser. He once stole my ice cream sandwich and didn't replace it or apologize.” Peter smiles. “Now, Thor? He’s not called a god for no reason. He would never do that.”

 Peter walks out of school much happier than usual. Maybe this field trip wasn’t so bad.

[luhslilbitch-blog]

Music Teacher - (d.l.)

Summary: Y/N breaks into her music teacher Derek Luh’s classroom to record her new song in his recording room.

Warning(s): Smut/ Sexual Content, cursing

Song that goes along with it is called Desire by Meg Myers play song when the * appears.

- I apologize for any mistakes

ALSO I DID NOT STEAL THIS, THIS IS ACTUALLY A CHAPTER FROM MY IMAGINE BOOK - Derek Luh Imagines

Your P.O.V. :

As I was sitting in my Geometry class next to my best friend, B/F/N, I was writing some lyrics in my song book.

'I wanna feel you in my bones. Boy I'm gonna love you'

'I'm gonna tear into your soul'

My writing was cut short as the bell sounded signaling dismissal for last period. "Y/N, guess what bitch? Last period with Daddy Luh," B/F/N said wiggling her eyebrows.

"I know, babe! I'm excited, think I look okay?" I asked spinning in a circle. I started to laugh because I know there is no way in hell Mr. Luh would ever find me attractive. I mean I'm only a 18 year old student and he's a 25 teacher, probably with a girlfriend or something.

We walked into Mr. Luh's classroom side by side, "Y/N, look at him! Lookin' like a whole meal today," she said as I looked him up and down. He was wearing a suit and tie with tight fitting dress pants.

When I looked up into his eyes his were already staring back at mine with a smirk on his face. Oh shit, did he notice I was checking him out? a light blush spread across my face as B/F/N and I moved to our seats.

"Aight guys, settle down now," Mr. Luh said smiling at the class. "So, today I want all of you to write some lyrics for a song that you guys will be presenting to the class Monday. Take your time and help others out if they need anything. And don't forget that I can help you guys too," he said while taking off the jacket to his suit, he rolled up the sleeves which exposed the beautiful body art on his arm.

Tearing my eyes away from him, I was met with a smirk and a chuckle from B/F/N. "Oh my god, what, B," I said a bit annoyed.

"You're totally fucking in love with him," she said laughing at me. I slapped her arm giggling also.

"Am not you bitch," I said a little too loudly, which caused Mr. Luh to look at us.

"Something you guys wanna share with us," Mr. Luh said pointing towards the class.

"I, um, I'm sorry, well we're sorry," I said blushing looking towards B/F/N who was just as embarrassed as me.

"Cool, now get to work, ladies," he said smiling.

I quickly pulled my notepad out from my backpack and began to scribble more lyrics into it.

'Honey, I wanna break you. I wanna throw you to the hounds.'

'Yeah, I gotta hurt you. I gotta hear it from your mouth'

My notebook was snatched from my hands by B/F/N as she read over my lyrics. I knew there wasn't much I could do so I let her read as I bit my lip nervously.

"Damn, Y/N. Gotta dirty little mind up there, don't ya," she chuckled. I snatched my notebook from her hands quickly.

"Shut up! It just flowed out alright," I said angrily.

"Okay, damn, bitch. But anyways, I hope you do not sing that in front of the class because it's clearly about sexy ass up there," she said nodding her head in Mr. Luh's direction.

I looked down at the lyrics and I cannot deny it, it totally is about him. Looking up at him, I admired his strong jawline and beautiful tattoos. The bell rang letting us go home for the end of the day.

"Okay, guys! Don't forget to finish your songs for Monday, have a good weekend," he said waving goodbye to the class.

"Bye, Y/N," he winked before I said goodbye and hurried out the door.

"Oh my fuck! He freakin' winked at you," B/F/N shouted in my face.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," I said shoving my books into my locker. I stuffed what I needed for homework and slung it over my shoulder as I walked out the doors to my car, B/F/N right on my heels.

"Think you could get off my ass, B/F/N?" I laughed putting my backpack into the trunk before getting into the drivers seat, B/F/N sliding into the passengers seat.

"Alright, let's get you home asshole," I said putting on my RayBan's and plugging up my aux cord. K.Flay's High Enough boomed through the subs in the car. I sped to B/F/N's house dropping her off.

"Bye, babe. I love you," I said pulling her into a tight hug, "see you tomorrow for a girls night?"

"Of course, Y/N, love you. See ya!" she said running up the steps and into her house.

I left her house and drove to mine listening to the music and dancing along.

--

"Ma, I'm home!" I shouted as I walked inside the door. It's only me and my mom here, my dad and her divorced about a year ago. They just weren't meant to be as a couple I suppose, because they are still best friends.

Walking into our kitchen, I found a piece of paper with a note written on it:

'Hey sweety, I won't be home until next Friday. I'm sorry it was so sudden my boss, Mr. Stephens, said he needed me for business trip to New York. I'm so sorry dear, I'll make it up to you when I get back, girls night, okay baby? Love you, hun! See you Friday evening!

p.s. There is $750 in the envelope on the fridge, please spend it wisely, sweetheart.'

Sweet whole house to myself for a week! I threw my backpack on the ground and pulled some fruit and water out the fridge for a snack. After my snack I took a shower and changed into some leggings and my NASA crop top.

Running down the stairs I went straight to the fridge to find something to eat, it was empty, so I decided to order pizza.

As I waited for the pizza man to come, I wrote some more lyrics in my notebook,

'Boy I wanna taste you, I wanna skin you with my tongue'

'I'm gonna kill you, I'm gonna lay you in the ground'

Ding Dong! Getting up from my spot on the couch a ran to the door and payed for the pizza and ate as much as I could.

--

As the sky began to turn dark, I remembered that the school was going to be open tonight for our school's theater classes play. So, I grabbed my Nike's and car keys and ran into the car. Shifting into gear, I made my way to the school while listening to Mr. Luh's album called 'Hollywood Blvd.' I pulled into the student parking lot and parked closest to the music classroom.

I got out and started walking at a fast pace into the building, I had to sneak past the teachers who were watching to make sure nobody went to the wrong area in the school. It was easy because they weren't paying any attention, they were gathered in a circle talking about their worst students.

I made my way to Mr. Luh's classroom door, which was surprisingly unlocked. Quietly, I grabbed the spare key to the studio which was under the mat in front of the door to the recording room.

I got in and set my keys and bag down and pulled out my notebook, so I could take it in with me. Flipping on the lights, I went straight for the mixing board and set everything up. I began to mix up beats to make the rhythm just right, that took about and hour of frustration. I stood up and started stretching, looking at the clock which read 8:30 p.m. , "Jesus Christ, I've been sitting in that damn chair for and hour," I said to myself.

I grabbed a pair of headphones and flipped on the microphone and started the music. I opened the door to the recording booth and set my notebook up and began to sing,

* "Baby, I'll learn to touch you, I wanna breathe into your well. See, I gotta to hunt you, I gotta to bring you to my hell."

"Baby, I wanna fuck you, I wanna feel you in my bones. Boy, I'm gonna love you. I'm gonna tear into your soul."

Derek's P.O.V. :

Little did Y/N know, I've been here since she began mixing up beats. Yes, I get it, might be creepy but I just wanna see how well she's coming along with her song. And I kinda want to know why the hell she sneaked into my studio.

"Desire, I'm hungry, I hope you feed me. How do you want me, how do you want me?"

"How do you want me, how do you want me? How do you want me, how do you want me?"

"How do you want me, how do you want me? Honey, I wanna break you-"

Her voice was amazing, strong but yet so soft and sweet. I didn't realize it until now, that this song was about me! That's what her and B/F/N's name were fighting about, and why Y/N was checking me out while writing her lyrics.

Y/N, walked out of the recording booth with a large smile plastered on her beautiful face.

"Y/N, that was amazing. But, I hope you don't plan on singing that song in front of the class. 'Lil provacotive, don't ya agree?" I said chuckling slightly. Her smile fell and she began to speak.

"Oh, shit! Mr. Luh, I'm so sorry. I should've asked to use the studio, please don't tell th-" she spoke but I cut her off short.

"Why didn't you tell me this song was about me," I said cockily.

Your P.O.V. :

I looked into his chocolate eyes as he smirked at me, "I, fuck. I-i mean, it would be wrong if I told you. Y-you were not even supposed to find out about t-this s-song," I stuttered as he walked closer in my direction. I backed up slowly until my back hit the wall behind me.

He put his hands on either side of my head and leaned down to look into my eyes, "Y/N, I'll tell you how I want you," he said referring to the lyrics to my song. My gazed flicked from his eyes to his lips as he spoke. Looking back into his eyes, he smashed his mouth onto mine, the kiss was rough and full of lust.

He swiped his tongue on my bottom lip for entrance, I wasn't sure what to do so I just stood there with my lips resting against his. He grabbed me by my thighs and lifted me from the ground which caused me to let out a gasp, he took that as his chance to shove his tongue into my mouth. His mouth tasted of fresh mint and it was driving me insane. Our tongues fought in a battle for dominance, him winning of course. He slowly pulled away, causing me to groan at the loss of contact.

"Baby, tell me what you want," he whispered against my neck as he sucked on the soft flesh, surely leaving marks there.

"I want y-you, please, Mr. Luh," I moaned as he moved his growing erection against my wet core. With that he pulled his shirt over his head and let it fall to the ground. I took mine of as well, the clothing on the floor began to pile up until we were both left in our undergarments.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Y/N?" he asked with a look of guilt.

"Yes, Mr-," "Y/N, please call me Derek," he whispered against my lips.

"Yes, Derek, please I want this. Take me, all of me," I whispered against his chest as I traced my tongue over his triangle tattoo, this earning a low groan from his lips. "You're tattoos are so- beautiful, Derek," I said kissing back up to his neck. I began to mark his neck near the Arabic tattoo.

He pulled me back up by my thighs, during which he pulled down my underwear. He started to draw figure eights against my clit, "oh, Derek, that feels so-" I was cut of by his lips on mine.

"You're so beautiful, Y/N," he moaned against my chest. Reaching behind me I unclasped my bra and threw it with the rest of the clothing piled on the floor. He looked at my breasts, and groaned at the sight of my hardened peaks.

I reached down and slid my hands down his hips, tracing over his prominent v-line. "Derek, p-please. No more t-teasing, just fuck me already," I moaned as his fingers still moved against my wet heat.

"Are you ready, Y/N? Please tell me if I'm hurting you," he said lining up to my entrance. Looking into his eyes I nodded yes in approval. Slowly, he slid into me, I've had sex before, but they were never as big as Derek.

"You okay," he said worriedly. "Yes, Derek. You're so big," I moaned as my eyes rolling into the back of my head. He started to thrust deeply into my heat.

"S-shit, you are really tight," he moaned loudly against my chest. He pace began to quicken as his thrusts continued to hit my g-spot.

"Mmph, Derek. I'm g-going to cum. I c-can't last much longer," I screamed out as my nails scratched down his muscular back. "Me too, I'm almost there," he whimpered.

My grip on his back tightened as he became sloppier with each thrust. My head tilted back as pleasure ripped through my body as I came on Derek. He groaned in pleasure as his release followed mine, he continued to thrust to drag out both of our highs. He carefully set me down, so my feet touched the ground, my legs gave out. As I was about to fall to the ground, Derek slung his arm around my waist to help steady me.

"Thank you, Derek," I smiled up at him. He nodded and lightly placed his lips onto mine, we didn't deepen the kiss our lips just pressed against each other. We stayed like that for a few minutes, until he pulled away grinning.

"Y/N, I don't want this to end this way. I want you, not for sex but for you to be mine. I know it's wrong, but I'm sure we can make this work," he said as tears filled his eyes.

"Derek, I want this too. We can do this, I have the whole house to myself for a week, we can spend time there?" I said kissing his forehead.

"Y/N, this might be too soon but, I've known you since you were a freshman. Y/N, I love you so much," Derek said kissing me all over my face.

"I-i, love you too," I said pulling him into another kiss.

[sordidpassionsandlockedemotions]

(High-school mundane Magnus,Alec fluff au)

Alec was actually slightly nervous pacing around the house waiting for Magnus to drop by,they’d both planned to work on the project for the weekend and finish it that night. Figured no avoiding working on it with his crush on hearing a knock at the door glanced at the clock wasn’t like some big deal was it? Making his way to the door opening it to reveal the person standing there. Brain immediately went ‘woah’ but he shook it off. “Hey Magnus.” 

Seemed as if the other had embellished the makeup,and outfit from school that morning. It was eye catching enough,the clothes and Magnus without the slight change of outfit. Biting his tongue a moment moving aside to let the other male in. “Hey Alexander,so take it just us?” Nearly coughing Alec quickly followed up with a reply. 

“Uh no mean my parents,little brother is out of town but Izzy’s here-.” Was he talking too fast? Seemed so great start to what was just a stupid report nothing more. Just then Izzy came bounding the stairs,”Izzy where are you headed?” Please say nowhere he pleaded silently on seeing her dressed up for some party most likely. 

“Alec,big bro it’s called a party have fun working on your project.” She was out the door shutting it before he could try convincing her to stay,or say anything. Meanwhile Magnus just looked amused while he was internally panicking because here he was home alone with Magnus freaking Bane to work on a project but he also was spending the night-and he really set himself up apparently. 

Pointing awkwardly to the living room trying to recall how to talk,”Right-uh so figure do it in the living room can order pizza later or whatever and-.” Great he’d only gotten worst this is why he normally didn’t like talking with Magnus,spending time. Okay he loved it but not in the capacity of feeling like some obvious idiot one of many because the other had that affect on so many. 

“Or we could throw a party,cause trouble since have this place to ourselves.” Followed by a laugh,”Guess not your type of scene though is it?” He headed into the living room meanwhile Alec flicked himself to snap out of it otherwise the only work getting done would be a series of stupidity. Following him and sure enough as soon they started working he was able to regain his ability to focus by doing all the hard work,more than his share.

Laying on his stomach writing with his feet in the air,tongue stuck out writing but his eyes glanced at Magnus big mistake because brown eyes met his hand sprawled accidentally smearing lead over his hand and the blank paper nearby luckily nothing of what they’d done,or important. “We’re done maybe now can have the rest of the night off,Alexander?” 

Dropping the pencil studying everything around him,”Yeah sure I’ll order the pizza,can grab soda and cups,you can pick the movie.” Doable enough right? Everything put back away in their bags and Alec scrubbed at his hands really harder than needed in the kitchen to get rid of the lead. Ordering the pizza than reappeared with two cups of soda pausing on seeing what was a massive fort instead of the living room. “Uh Magnus?” 

A head poked out,”Bit childish?” Yeah it was but mainly Alec was kind of impressed not that he’d say so. Instead glanced at the time wondering what to do now,pizza and a movie shouldn’t seem like a nerve wracking experience yet here it was the biggest ever. Then was the question of the inevitable sleeping,and breathe he trailed off noting could worry later.

“Uh yeah-mean suppose it’s fine though kind of cool actually and will make it seem like a really comfy theater so there’s that.” Hopefully space enough he could stay a good distance away because if not major design flaw for sure. Unless was one of those ways to mess with him,which Magnus did a good amount as Izzy claimed ‘flirting’ but Alec wasn’t all that sure. “Pizza will be a while so figured make some popcorn here take the soda.” 

He was trying to find the popcorn when Magnus appeared in the kitchen leaning against the counter,”Hey Alexander how long till the pizza’s here?” Alec almost freaked out at the sudden voice but instead finally retrieved the popcorn before turning to face-eyes noting how he was so smoothly leaned against the counter swear it was second nature for him. 

“10 minutes estimated- but just depends naturally.” In about 5 they were inside the fort eating popcorn,pizza,and drinking soda watching some action movie Alec honestly didn’t even recognize at all. Paying attention to it,and not the eye catching figure next to him. Though at one point saw a hand steal popcorn out of his bowl,”Hey you have your own.” 

Magnus just tossed a piece into his mouth,”Yeah I know yours is better though,could say it’s sweeter for some reason.” His eyes landed on Magnus putting the bowl on his left side before glancing back at the tv noting out of the corner of his eyes a head shake followed by a shifting from Magnus. “But also just have more I’ve eaten most of mine.” 

He gave a nod a few more movies later Alec was just so tired,maybe just the result of trying so hard to be indifferent around Magnus the amount of time together. Meant to head up to his room or something but just passed out vaguely aware of what he thought was a pillow. 

Eyes opened slowly noting sun through sheets? Remembering where he was but more aware of what was body heat and his head-was on Magnus’ chest so hadn’t been a pillow. Quickly uncurling from him scooting away knees tucking up to his chest he really wasn’t sure how to say anything when the other woke up. Clearly fell asleep first so wasn’t like could just be left unknown. 

Then he saw Magnus stir,maybe it would just go unmentioned or something along the lines of him having just been tired nothing else to it anyways right? Crossing his legs running a hand through his messy hair right as those eyes opened,”What time is it Alexander?” All he said but Alec overthought it to death before glancing at the time on his phone. 

“9 in the morning,you probably have to go don’t you?” The thought actually hurt a bit maybe because much he’d been on high alert,he’d had fun and wasn’t that terrible waking up close to Magnus-not that he’d bring that up ever to anybody. “I’ll clean this up,see you Monday?” His voice had warmed up fairly fast but just as with Magnus’ had been some rasp-though Magnus’ had been much more a good thing than his own. 

But then there hands touched on a cup Alec had reached for pulling it back yeah Magnus was staring at him with something he couldn’t place. “Not really and I should help you clean up,long as I can maybe get some coffee for it?” Why not no need to be weird he scolded himself. 

“Uh yeah sure Magnus.” Cleaning up was mostly quiet same with coffee but there was some energy that was unspoken,words he figured on Magnus’ end maybe something like ‘so can’t hang anymore’. Cradling his mug in both hands eyes lowered at it maybe Magnus would just finish and leave already. Because he felt like the 15 minutes was a century long. 

“Hey can I ask you something,Alexander?” His pulse elevated even more hated when people asked that,and he knew vaguely where it could go. What with what had happened,couldn’t quite lie about it or if he’d been too obvious deny it that great. Instead watched those ringed fingers around the mug in Magnus’ hand before glancing at him. 

“Sure Magnus.” Regardless what was bound to follow Alec figured the act was up unless some miracle happened to help him avoid it. Watching him place the mug down wait was he actually nervous? Magnus Bane never was so that didn’t help sooth his nerves at all. 

“Why do you think I wanted to do the project with you?” Huh,not what Alec expected at all in fact his brain scrambled for an answer. Actually thinking on it they both could have easily done it on their own,or Magnus with anybody he wished to. 

When it clicked his eyes widened,”Wait you’ve been crushing on me?” No way Magnus was so out of his league,and surely everybody knew better. Besides-oh that explained a lot actually which made him feel even more stupid hearing the laugh that followed. 

“Took you long enough,yeah thanks for noticing have been all year Alexander.” Blushing he stared at his mug well then he must have really taken a while as Magnus put it. “And what about you,mean did wake up to you looking like were going to flee your own house.” 

“I uh-no I wasn’t just waking up-okay look I honestly hadn’t intended to fall asleep or curl up next to you.” 

“But you liked it,just like I did didn’t you?” 

Nodding about to say more but Izzy came loudly down the stairs announcing her existence before walking into the kitchen,”Morning Alec,Magnus.” She grabbed a box of pop tarts before vanishing out the door with a fleeting,”I’m off to enjoy my Saturday,be back later.” Alec just stood there slightly confused meanwhile Magnus just watched but when she was gone felt eyes fall back on him. 

“Yeah.” Dumping his mug out vaguely aware of a ringed hand putting the empty one next to it in the sink. They were so close and Alec still had no clue where the conversation was headed either. But then turned around only to notice they were closer than he’d thought. “Hey Magnus?” 

“Yes Alexander?” 

“Maybe we should give this a shot,or I don’t know guess if you want-because-.” Trailing off couldn’t help get lost in the proximity,how it was now out there for better or worst. “I’d kind of like more nights like last night.” Putting his heart on the line,made him feel sick but the risk was already there for sure. Magnus seemed to stand there thinking for what felt ages and each second made him think he’d really screwed up.

Then there was a soft smile causing the glitter lined eyes to sparkle all the more,”Sounds good,though I’m not going to ask you out just yet.” Okay whatever was Alec’s initial thought but then was a slight bit of panic. “After all been a intense morning without that.” Yet as he said that Alec couldn’t stop shaking the impulsive action growing like a fire inside him. Maybe,just maybe could kiss Magnus here and now couldn’t he? 

Right then almost was like he lost control of his own actions,because he did finding his lips pressed against Magnus’. Arms around him even when buried his face into the other’s chest a reassuring hug of sorts meanwhile his head was so dizzy. “Sorry.” Was now looking into his eyes again searching if had really just messed up,or really anything. 

“You could have asked,but either way it was nice so don’t be.” 

[ouatimaginesnetwork]

“Dream Come True” Chapter 6

Hey guys! I’m back from the Riviera and I’m on chapter 12 of the story, looks like it’s gonna go past 15 though. Here’s the next chapter, this one gets interesting!!!!

~Hannah banana :) 

Robbie’s pov

He hadn’t seen her all week, and it was killing him. He had friends, but they had come and gone. Other than his sisters, she was probably the best friend he’d ever had. And he couldn’t get the image of her in her towel out of his head. “This is silly, I should just text her. Who cares about the tabloids? She does,” he internally argues with himself. About six days after the incident, she had texted him. “It feels weird not seeing you,” she sent. “I know what you mean. I miss hanging out,” he sends back. “Me too. When can we chill?” she asks. “I don’t know. I really want to see you, but I don't want you to keep getting bombarded by tabloids. Maybe there’s a way to sneak around them?” he questions. "I don’t know. I mean you’d think they’d take our word for it, we’re just friends, we’re not even that close, but no, they have to blow everything out of proportion,” she shoots back. It hurt him for her to say they weren’t that close. "I know. It’ll be okay though. Maybe you could come here?” he counters. “That’d be awesome, where am I headed?” she asks him. He sends her the address and hops off his couch, anxious to see her.

Regular pov

“Well, guess I better get ready Beau, maybe you should come with?" you say to your dog, pulling out your phone. “Hey Robbie, want me to bring Beau?” you send the text. “Yes, yes, yes!” he sends back. You laugh at his response and run into your room to get ready. You could feel your heart fluttering, and realized what was happening. “No (y/n), you’re just friends. He needs you to be his friend right now,” you tell yourself in the mirror, trying to be convincing. You turn to your tiny cupboard like closet and pull out your favorite pair of light wash jeans. You throw your favorite t-shirt on; a black, paint stained, rolling stones t-shirt. Once again your hair was a (h/c), wavy mess and you just let it be. You didn’t put on any makeup, you didn’t want Robbie questioning your behaviors around him. “Come on Beau,” you call your dog to your side and hop in your mini SUV. From the address that Robbie gave you, he lived in a house of some sort, up in the foothills from L.A, away from prying eyes.

When you get there, you stare in awe at the house before you. It wasn’t at all what you expected. You expected a giant, fancy mansion, but instead you found before you a large, log cabin looking type house. Robbie walks out to the front porch and waves you over. Beau runs up to him. “Hey buddy," Robbie bends down to pet him. You walk up smiling, and anxious. “Hey (y/n), I missed you,” he squeezes you into a hug, making you melt. “Hey I missed you too,” you chuckle. Robbie pulls away and opens the door for you and your dog. Beau runs in and you follow. “So what should we do today?” you ask him. It was Saturday morning and you had all day to hang out. “Well, I was thinking we could make pizza, been really craving it,” he replies. “Sounds great,” you wander into his kitchen and find the pizza supplies already laid out. “Wow, you come prepared,” you laugh. “I had a feeling you’d say yes,” he replies. You pick up the supplies and say, “How does this work? I guess now I have to admit that I’m not the greatest cook.” He laughs and says, “Don’t worry, I am.” So you make the dough and laugh, “Aren’t we supposed to throw this up in the air or something.” “Be my guest,” he replies. You smirk and grab the dough from his hands. You place it over your hands and try to throw it into the air. Somehow, the dough hits the ceiling fan and flies over on the counter. You laugh loudly and say, “Dude I am so sorry, I promise I didn’t plan that.” Robbie doesn't reply because he’s doubled over in laughter. You laugh along with him. “That- was- too- funny,” he gasps in between chuckles. “I know,” you giggle. You grab the dough from where it landed and straighten it back out. Once the laughter dies down you ask, “So what kind of toppings we gonna put on this sucka?” “Do you like pepperoni?” he replies. You shake your head yes. Robbie pulls the pepperoni out of the fridge and begins to lay it on the pizza. “Wait,” you stop him, “You forgot the sauce.” You grab the jar off the counter, and try to open it, but it won’t budge. “Stupid thing won’t open," you grunt. “Here let me,” Robbie offers. “That’s okay I got it,” you say. The jar pops open and sauce is thrown all over your shirt. Robbie can’t help but snort in laughter as you fake frown. “This is my favorite shirt,” you whine. Robbie turns and says, “Don’t worry, you can borrow one of mine, I’ll be back in a sec.” He runs off to an unknown location in his house. A minute later he comes back with a baggy green shirt. “Robbie, I don’t know if that will fit me,” you say embarrassed. “(Y/n) relax. This is actually one of the shirts Pan wore on Once, so it’s a lot bigger,” he assures you. “Okay, if you think it’ll work,” you shrug. He hands it to you and says, “Bathroom’s down the hall on the left.” You nod and follow where he pointed.

2 minutes later you return in his shirt. “You were right, it worked,” you tell him. “(Y/n), I’m always right,” he jokes, making you laugh. “I put the pizza in the oven,” he adds. “Great,” you smile. “So can I get a tour?” you ask him. “Of course, follow me,” he gestures. He shows you around the house. It was large, but simple. It reminded you of an old hunting cabin, but modernized. "Robbie I have to admit, I imagined you living in some giant mansion like most celebrities,” you tell him. "I don’t like those fancy houses, I would just get lonely,” he replies. “Well your house is gorgeous,” you say. The timer goes off and the pizza is done. “Yum, I’m starving,” you run back into the kitchen. Robbie laughs and follows. He pulls the pizza out of the oven and sets it on the counter. “We could eat outside, have a picnic,” you suggest. “That’s actually perfect, I have a cool spot to show you,” Robbie replies. He leads you outside and Beau follows.

About 20 minutes later you find yourself in the middle of a forest, staring at a beautiful little pond with a waterfall. “Oh it’s beautiful here,” you gasp. Robbie shocks you by saying, “Come on let’s go for a swim.” Your cheeks turn a deep red and say, “Robbie, I don’t have a bathing suit.” He counters with, “Yes but you have that baggy shirt, that covers you. Come on be adventurous.” “Oh alright,” you give in. Robbie pulls off his shirt and you turn away, blushing. Robbie jumps in and says, “The water's fine!” “Be right in,” you say nervously.

Robbie’s pov

He watches her flustered and smiles at her cuteness. He could feel her attraction, she turned away when he took off his shirt. He couldn’t help himself, but he watched her as she gracefully unzipped her jeans and slid them right off. The shirt covered her enough, but he got a glimpse of her tender white cheek peeking out of her underwear. “God she’s beautiful,” Robbie thought. To his surprise, she stared right back. “Cannonball,” she shouts gleefully and jumps in towards him. Her body dropped below the surface and he anxiously waited for her to come back up. He gasped when he saw her. Her (h/c) hair had little water droplets coming off of it, and her (e/c) eyes sparkled. She smiled a toothy grin at him, making his heart soar. His own shirt now clung to her, and he could see the outline of her chest, moving up and down. His mind wandered thinking about how goofy, yet imperfectly perfect she was. She swam around the little swimming hole, giggling with joy. “She’s just a friend, you need to watch yourself,” his mind warns him. The other part of him, his heart, told him another story. “You should just go for it,” he thought. He was pulled out of his daze when she grabbed his leg from below the water, goofing around.

Regular pov

“Hey!” Robbie gurgles as you drag him below the water. You surface and laugh whole-heartedly. “What was that for?” he asks you, pretending to be hurt. “Just having some fun,” you reply. You and Robbie swim and eat your pizza. After about an hour, the two of you decide to walk back to the house. Robbie slips his shirt back on, but you know you aren’t going to be able to slip your skinny jeans back over your wet legs. You pick them up off the ground and say, “Come on, I’m exhausted.” Robbie lets you walk in front of him and you can feel his eyes on you as you walk back to the house.

Back at the house Robbie says, “What next?” “Well, shall we continue with our Harry Potter marathon?” you ask. “I’d love too,” he replies. “Before though can I get some dry clothes,” you ask. Robbie shakes his head and says, “I’ll be right back.” A few minutes later he returns with a pair of sweatpants and another one of his baggy shirts. “Thanks, be back in a sec,” you pass him down the hallway. Inside the bathroom, you realize your underwear is soaking wet, and that you’ll have to go commando. “Shit,” you mutter to yourself. You’re dry by now and slip on the comfy sweatpants, pulling off your wet top. When you pick up the shirt, you smile, it was one of Robbie’s old theater shirts. You throw it on and walk back into the living room. “Ready for the Chamber of Secrets?” he asks you. “Ready,” you grin. You plop down on the couch next to him and start the movie.

About a quarter of the way into the movie, you began to drift off to sleep. You were so tired, you didn’t realize you began to fall into Robbie’s side. You also didn’t realize that Robbie put his arm around you. Pretty soon you're in a deep sleep, resting against his shoulder. Once you’re really asleep, Robbie swings his legs onto the couch, adjusting your head so that it lays on his chest. Your legs were already folded up on the couch and you began to snore. Robbie lightly chuckles and says, “Sweet dreams princess,” he plants a kiss on the top of your head.

The movie ends and you wake up to the credits music. You slowly open your eyes, realizing the position your in. “Robbie?” you call out in a hoarse voice. He opens his eyes and looks down at your head on his chest. “(Y/n)? Oh we must’ve fallen asleep,” he replies. Neither of you move from your position. “Robbie I should probably”- he stops you, pressing a finger to your lips. You look up at him with wide eyes and he moves towards you. His lips find yours and fireworks dance behind your eyes. The kiss is tender, light, and short. His lips are sweet tasting and you hate the fact that you’re about to pull away. Everything in you wants to stay right there, but you knew you couldn’t get involved. You slowly pull your lips from his, opening your eyes. “Robbie I should go," you whisper, removing your legs from his lap. He stands up and follows you. “Come on Beau,” you call out to your dog, who, to your relief, comes quickly running. “(Y/n), wait”- you cut him off. “I’ll see you later Robbie,” you wave from your car and pull out the driveway. He watches your car slowly fade away, sorrow written all over his face.

[lovinglunaxxtothemoonandback]

Almost. Over.

Ugh PEC is just the worst this year...so ready for it to be OVER.

Monday during the day was better but then the evening rolled around. Then the night. And I couldn’t sleep again. Tossed and turned forever. By the time Kory was able to call I was having a panic attack. I don’t know what’s wrong, I’m not scared to be here or anything. I think it’s just the fact that we’re so incredibly alone here that’s wearing on me. Stupid thoughts run through my head. Like, god forbid, what if something happened to me? Luna would have to be in protective custody until Kory got back from Texas. THAT’S how alone we are. Then it gets to me how different this week would be if we were still in NJ. I would be hanging out with friends, going to my aunts to help her recover from her surgery..we would be busy. 

How terribly I’m feeling makes me feel weak. I hate that I cry and get nervous. I hate that I’m sad. 

Anyway...after another maybe 4 hours of sleep Monday night..Tuesday morning was very rough. But we had plans and I was going to stick to them. We went to the local movie theater for their summer movie special. This week it was Sing, which she didn’t love when we got it on DVD but I figured for the price, it was worth a shot. I was free, she was $1. Popcorn and a drink for her was another $2. So $3 altogether. Crazy! She did pretty well..sat on my lap because the seat kept folding on her! We made it until almost the end of the movie but she wanted to leave so we left. 

After her lunch and quiet time we hung out for a bit. I had grand plans to clean but I was just too tired. So we sat around. After awhile we popped out to Target and Big Lots. I wanted to buy some sleepy time tea to see if it would help. I had a coupon for Big Lots and bought MORE supplies for my class. Luckily my CC extended my credit limit so I was also able to pay for my big walmart order for school. Altogether, this is costing me over $500. I get $275 reimbursed by the school. So cool...

After that we went to chick fil a for our free food. Big mistake. It was freaking mobbed. I didn’t have anything cow or the energy to create something. Luna wore her cow pjs so I saved a whopping $3 on her meal. There were no seats and Luna threw a fit that we were going home to eat.

I slept a lot better last night. Fell asleep easily before Kory was even done with work. I woke up a lot but was able to fall back asleep. 

Today was supposed to be our zoo day but we got there and the stupid petting zoo wasn’t open. Bought a groupon and everything. I have to try and get in touch with them and find out when we can go. Luna started crying and I felt really bad so I moved up the froyo for lunch date I had planned for tomorrow up to today. We both enjoyed it. Now she’s in quiet time, should be done soon. No idea what we’ll do this afternoon. One of my orders is available to be picked up at walmart but I feel like we should just save that until they’re all ready.

One more night alone tonight. Unfortunately, they get Kory home from PEC later and later with every passing year. His first year, he was home by like 4ish. Last year his flight was delayed and he got in around 11. This year he has a stupid layover and we’ll hopefully be picking him up around midnight.

Approximately 34 hours to go...I can do it! Tomorrow we’ll maybe attempt the zoo again..or maybe make Kory jealous and check out ikea ;) then we have our grand finale planned! Setting up her princess tent, making a pizza for dinner, and eating and watching a movie in the tent!