#and a worker passed probation this week

[navybluetriangles]

.

[lilithsterrarium]

After that little warm up i finally feel like i can write again lmao. Time to follow up on that concept i said i would after um. 5 days? So sorry. Anyway, heres the story i promised about a cruel owner using a 1 year probationary period to break a rebellious <

Emily hadnt deserved to be shrunk. She never figured out how it happenned, whether it was the random event that sometimes struck (it was rare these days but it happenned), or someone slipped her a pill as a prank. However it happened, she had been shrunk, and her life had been hell ever since. She knew she deserved better.

At first she hoped to get it reversed, but quickly found she needed an owner to approve it. In the words of the receptionist, "Fuck off, incon. Choices are for real people."

Her next idea turned out to be her biggest mistake. Emily got involved with MRAU- Micro Rights Activists United. Finally, she started to have hope! In the organization meetings, finally people who saw sense! Who didnt think micros should be treated this way! Things were good for a glorious week, and she almost forgot that the world no longer saw her as a person. She decided to attend a rally.

Everything went wrong day of. Within ten minutes of the rally starting, the normal sized attendees had been intimidated into fleeing and every micro in attendance was in a cage, heading to their new home.

Within a week of being captured, Emily considered killing herself a dozen times, and attempted it twice. Her new owner had a whole collection of dozens of incon sluts, each thoroughly broken, docile, and obedient. And he had ordered all of them to help break her. But to one, his favorite, and Emily's new mortal enemy, he gave a special order. "Lilith, make sure the new toy stays alive. I want her broken, not useless." And so even death held no respite for her.

After months of unending torture, she got a ray of hope. Her owner (she still refused to call him master, no matter what he did) told her he had gotten bored. "A toy that i cant properly play with is no fun. So we are taking you to the Human-Micro Relations Office. You are getting your personhood back. Congratulations."

She didnt believe it until she was back in her own body, standing tall once again. It felt so good. But the receptionist interrupted her reverie with a question, directed at the man she so despised: "And where would you like the mark, sir?"

"What?" Emily interjected?

The receptionist shot her a familiar look of disgust. "Incons stay on probation for a year before they het their rights as a real human back. They get the mark of a lesser to identify them, which fades after the year passes".

"I dont really care, put it on her tit i guess," the man says callously.

And just like that, she had her freedom.

1 month. She can't stop looking over her shoulder. She fears if he sees her he will revoke her personhood again.

2 months. She moves across the country. A change of scenery. Away from the memories.

3 months. She has a job at a small coffee shop. She had to beg the manager to hire a probationary incon, and he calls her into the back closet to perform "favors" for him or get fired. But it pays the rent for a studio apartment, barely.

5 months. She tries to date a guy who is a regular at the coffee shop. 3 dates in, she goes back to his place. As soon as he sees the tattoo, he kicks her out without ceremony. "Cant believe ive been dating a bug" he mutters as he slams the door behind her.

8 months. No more dating, but she has friends, goes to parties, finally is enjoying life again. Only 4 months left and she can report her perv manager and take his job, everyone at the store knows shes the best worker there.

11 months, 28 days. 2 days left, the mark is barely visible. She stopped counting down the days a few months ago, but she has day 365 marked on her calendar.

11 months, 29 days. A knock on the door late at night. Groggily, she staggers to the door. Another knock, more insistent. "Im coming, just a minute!"

A third knock, and a shout:

"H.M.R.O. Collections! Your owner has decided not to allow you personhood, and you will be taken to the nearest facility to be re-shrunk!" She freezes, paralyzed with fear. A few more hours abd she would have been safe. "You have twenty seconds before we are authourized to break in!"

She stands there, sobbing, as four men in tactical gear break through her door, and rush her. One tackles her, another presses a rag to her face. The chloroform knocks her out in seconds. By the time she wakes up, she is back in the cage. Half the micros that were here last time are gone, replaced with unfamiliar faces. She doesnt even want to know what happened to them.

Her 2nd worst tormentor lilith, sees her wake up, and brightly exclaims "Welcome back! I knew you would rejoin us at your proper place eventually. Master never actually lets a toy leave alive, after all."

The aforementioned master soon comes into the room. "Welcome back, toy. Did you honestly believe I would let you become a person again? God, you areally are a brainless incon if you fell for that. How did it feel to be that close to freedom? Its the last time you will ever feel it again."

As ger hope dissolves, she realized it was all an illusion. Her job. Her friends. Her home. Her life. They had all been a sham, to show her how little control she had. She sobbed as she finally broke, "im s-sorry, m-m-master. Ill never think of disobeying again"

HHHGGGHGHHGBVDHZHS OH MY GOD THIS ONE IS REALLY GOOD MMVJDHCHXD THANK YOU

DBBDSBXHD IM. GENUINELLY REELING THANK YOU SO SO MUCH

Its such a shame other incons don't know their place... sure, some of them STARTED off as real people, but the moment they lost their size, they lost any semblence of being even close to human whatsoever- admittedly, its a little annoying, especially being kept awake by the little sobs and begging to be "let go". I've tried everything, cuddling up with newcomers, singing them lullabys, INSISTING that they get some sleep for the next day, but they never listen... such a shame, really...

Emily was especially bad. She always glared at me, and I had to admit- the girl carried herself with the same pride and stature of a real person! Even tried taking her own life, not once, but twice- and actively tried to fight me when I tried to stop her... its so hard to gaze upon my master when one eye is swollen and discolored because another incon slugged me in the face...

I don't blame her, but part of me was glad when she got taken away for her "escape". I've seen countless girls do it, of course, and they all come back sobbing and begging for forgiveness- its awfully cruel, but fair... admittedly, I've tried to probe the returns for details, but usually just so I can get off to how badly they were treated later. The only reason I would ever want to leave my cage is just to hear more people remind me that I'm a worthless, stupid, silly incon... oh well, at least master does that plenty <3

I really wanted to be nice to her, but Emily was just too fixated on being a person... on the bright side, she's learned her place these days! Some incons just take longer than others... and I'm here to help until they recognize their new ranking in the world 🥰

(Oh my GOSH hun this is so so so SO fucking good... the use of all the different organizations, the treatment of strangers, from the receptionist to the boss to the boyfriend- all of this is so, SO perfect... I need it so, SO FUCKING BADLY SHHASHHXDHFHS GOSH <3)

[killed-by-choice]

Maria Santiago, 38 (USA 2013)

In 2013, 38-year-old Maria Santiago underwent a legal abortion in Baltimore. The abortionist was Iris E. Dominy, who later admitted to police that Maria lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest during the abortion.

Maria was approximately 12.5 weeks pregnant when she and her baby were killed. The abortion facility was actually a space located in a residential condominium building. An inspection conducted by the Maryland Department of Health on February 20, 2013 discovered that Dominy left after the abortion and the unconscious Maria was alone with someone who was not medically trained and completely unqualified to monitor a patient.

After filling out paperwork for a while, the unqualified worker yelled for someone to come put clothes on the still-unresponsive Maria and mover her to the recovery area. The employee who answered the call noticed that Maria wasn’t breathing.

Not one single person at the entire facility had CPR training. The crash cart sat in the hallway and was not used. In fact, the defibrillator was broken. The abortionist propped Maria up and rubbed her sternum, which was not CPR and did not revive her.

Nobody even knew how much time had passed since Maria’s last breath because she was not given monitoring or medical support. She was taken to the hospital where she died. According to the death certificate, she was killed by severe pulmonary edema, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and hypoxic brain injury.

Dominy received a reprimand from the medical board and was placed on probation until 16 hours of continuing education classes in sedation and monitoring would be taken and verified. She was also prohibited from administering sedation until the board issues its specific approval, but is otherwise allowed to continue practicing medicine… if you could call what she did “medicine”. To many, it seemed like a slap on the wrist for the death of Maria.

(Dominy’s reprimand from the Medical Board)

(License suspension—Panah)

(license suspension—Basco)

(911 call and police report)

(Health inspection)

[testormblog]

Going Nowhere

Most children strive to grow up quickly to escape their boundaries.  I was no different.  Now sixteen years old, I was considered an adult.  Alas, the reverse happened to me; I became a prisoner not an escapee!  My life had become wretched and I was powerless to change it for the next five years of my indenture after my probation period finished.

Every day, I sweated at the Ipswich Workshops then lined up to required technical classes at the Ipswich Technical College, three nights a week and for a half day.  At least this meant I avoided the old codgers at the boarding house.  I only heard their loud snores as I flopped on to my lumpy bed, exhausted and utterly miserable.  Besides, I missed my beloved birds and had left them in Dad’s care.  I hated where I lived but couldn’t afford anywhere else.  My landlord demanded nearly all my wages.  He left me a few measly shillings for my train fares.

One shouldn’t give up hope.  I valiantly tried to keep it and searched for a chance to roll my dice of fortune again.  I read the available jobs listed in the Railway’s Workers Weekly when nobody was looking.  A couple months after I had started work, the Chief Engineer’s Office listed four cadet (apprentice) draftsman positions in Brisbane.  I thought one of these might be an escape route and quickly applied.  My Railway exam ranking secured me an interview and a position.  The top ranked guy scored another.  We virtually evaporated from the Workshops and reappeared in a huge drafting room of hundreds of desks in Brisbane City.  I never returned except once some sixty years later after the hell had met its own demise.

I felt like a jailbird released from prison, and its stepping stone the half way house, into better society.  I didn’t realise that life would be tough on the other side too.  I soon discovered that my electrical studies weren’t useful to a cadet draftsman.  The other cadets were enrolled in draftsman courses or engineering studies.  Thus, I needed to switch.  The Queensland Central Technical College had recently reviewed its engineering subjects, updated them for modern practices and rolled out its 1960 Engineering Diploma, a seven year course.  I decided to do it.  I started three months behind and had lots of catching up to do.  Alas, I was time poor.  I sat in the classroom from six to nine four nights a week and for a half day on Saturday.  On the nights, I waited a couple hours on a draughty train platform for the ‘Midnight Horror.  At 1 am, I staggered up the road to home for a woeful three hours sleep.  I was close to being a dead man walking.  One night, at 2 am, the Bethania Station Master on duty, fortunately one of Dad’s mates, found me asleep in a train carriage laid over for the night.  His daughter, who lived closer to the City, took pity on me and took me in.  I kept my head down at work and college.  I miraculously survived and passed every engineering subject that year.

At work, I went from a place where men swore in English to one where they swore in foreign languages, predominantly Russian.  Whilst the bosses were Australian, many workers were White Russians, post war escapees from Red Russia.  These men chain smoked foul smelling pipes and cigarettes.  A metre thick smoke cloud hovered over everybody, constrained above by the ceiling.  The room was a death cell whether one smoked or not.  Doubtlessly, a lad looking for acceptance by his colleagues, I smoked a few packets of Camel and Rothmans.  I had tasted nothing as disgusting as these cheap cigarettes.  Thus, I didn’t smoke much outside the office nor could I afford to, thus I evaded this addiction.

Everybody in the Chief Engineer’s Office worked silently and diligently unlike their brethren in the Workshops.  No pranks happened here!  I was eager to learn whatever I could.  However, nobody sought to teach me anything.  The men were immersed in whatever segment of infrastructure they had to design.  Being a cadet, they trusted me to do no more than trace their pencil designs on cartridge paper on to blue linen in Indian ink.  These tracings became the blue prints for the manufacture of componentry.  I traced various shaped steel components, scaled to dimensions, for the foundry at the Workshops.  The task was monotonous and tedious due to the careful penmanship required.  For two and a half years, I never drew up any of my own design work.  Nor did my pitiful wage of less than ten pound a week increase.  I earnt marginally less at the Workshops.  Heavens, I could have earnt more birding.

The office bell clanged eight times a day, four times to start work and four times to stop it.  It first rang at 9 am and last at 5.06 pm.  It ruled my day!  As required, I signed on in a book at these times irrespective of when I really began or finished.  The 5.06 pm finishing time clashed with the South Brisbane train timetable.  In those days, no rail bridge connected Brisbane City to the Southside.  On my college free nights, I had fourteen minutes to sprint through the street crowd, down Adelaide Street to George Street then across the old Victoria Bridge, a kilometre and a half.  Missing the train meant at least a half hour wait for the next.  I, being a runner, usually beat the train by a minute if I wasn’t queued to sign the book.  Most of the men in the same predicament signed the book the following morning.  So, I did too.

One night, the Chief Clerk, a power hungry snake, laid a trap for us.  He worded up his team beforehand though.  Somebody leaked his intention but didn’t tell me nor another guy about it.  The next morning, the snake frog marched us two into the Chief Engineer’s office, a suite so palatial it widened my eyes.  I cast my eyes to the floor and stood stone still whilst the Chief Engineer harshly berated us for disobeying the Railway rule.

As my mother unwittingly taught me, take the heat, retreat yet note the score as outstanding and wait for the day to complete.  The chance would come.

Years into the future, a colleague would eventually be promoted to the Railway’s Chief Engineer.  We’d meet again across a desk with me employed by another organisation.  Between us would be a tender for a new rail bridge.  He’d fail to check the document thoroughly.  My allegiance would be to my then employer not to him nor the Railway.  I’d remember the timebook incident and my misery working for the Railway.  That day, the Railway would pay dearly, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth.

That office bell began to sound like the dead knell to me.  Older cadets were resigning.  Then the guy, who began with me, snagged a role with an oil company.  I knew I had to ‘write on the wall’ too despite my indenture and my Railway blood.

[mamun258]

After interviewing with more than 20 companies, "I regret it"

After resigning, many people assume that they will take a few days of rest, plan a trip, and give themselves a small gap before restarting their lives.

Unfortunately, the gap between reality and ideals is always too big. When they get back together and start looking for a job, many people HE Tuber find that it is not easy to find a suitable job as soon as possible at the end of the year.

Jiayin took a break for more than ten days and started looking for a job. Dozens of resumes were sent out, but there were not many responses. Some companies were concerned about her lack of work experience, and some were unwilling to hire full-time employees at the end of the year.

The only job with progress was a customer service position at an online education company, but after passing the interview, Jiayin only worked for one day. The company HR gave her a probation period statement, which mentioned that within 10 days if the employee leaves on his own, the company will not pay the fee; between 11 and 30 days, if the employee leaves on his own, he will be charged 80 yuan/day. It was originally agreed that the salary during the probation period would be 4,500 yuan and lunch would be provided, but the description changed to a lunch of about 400 yuan per month, which would be deducted from the salary.

Jiayin felt that this company was not formal and the agreement completely put employees at a disadvantage, so she left the same day. In addition, Jiayin didn't even have a reliable interview. After she resigned, she was under great financial pressure, so she began to look for part-time jobs as a transition.

"In mid-to-late December, I worked part-time at an electric power company. My job was to prepare contracts for 2024 for the company's customers. I paid 200 yuan a day for a week. During the New Year's Day holiday, I saw a hotel recruiting temporary waiters, so I started working again. I worked for three days, and it was 200 yuan a day; at the beginning of January, I found a part-time job as an economic census worker, and successfully completed the data report for an enterprise, earning 20 yuan, and some people could complete 4 orders in one morning."

During this period of naked resignation, her total income was about 2,000 yuan, which barely covered her daily expenses. Looking back now, Jiayin feels a little regretful. She feels that her previous job was relatively easy, so she was a little impulsive in resigning. Nowadays, part-time jobs are not always available. When there is no income, she is very anxious and frantically checks the recruitment platform to submit her resume.

The problem Li Fei faced when he was looking for a new job was that none of his ideal companies responded, so he chose to invest in some smaller companies. After a few interviews, the results were still not satisfactory. She was forced to lower her standards and find a research assistant position as a transition. "There is not much room for promotion in this kind of position, and the development prospects are average. I plan to work on it first and then submit my resume in March or April."

Xiangxiang's troubles were accumulated through repeated frustrations in finding a job. After taking a short break after leaving her job, she began to submit resumes. In nearly 2 months, she interviewed more than 20 companies, and more than 80% of them were unreliable.

"I feel that HR people are all rushing to recruit KPIs at the end of the year, but they don't seem to be recruiting people at all, but completing recruitment targets. Many HRs talked to me about one condition on the recruitment software, but it was completely different after the interview. "

For example, she just interviewed for a company that promised to live-stream silver jewelry, with a salary of 8K-10K plus commission. She had informed the other party in advance that she had no live-streaming experience in this category. When she went to the interview, the live-streaming category changed to small-scale live broadcasting. Home appliances, and because she had no experience in the field, her salary became 7K + commission.

In an interview a few days ago, the other company was recruiting anchors selling down jackets. Xiangxiang said that she was 158cm tall and wearing a mid-length down jacket during a live broadcast might not be effective. The other party said that she could go over and try it on for a trial broadcast. When they arrived at the scene, the interviewer only asked about Xiangxiang's work experience and the reason for leaving her previous company, then hurriedly ended the interview and asked her to go back and wait for notification. The salary confirmed on the chat software was an hourly salary of 150 yuan to 300 yuan plus commission. During the interview, it was said that the base salary was only 8,000 yuan plus commission.

Xiangxiang was speechless for this type of interview. The conditions during the interview were inconsistent with those during online communication. "If I had known, I wouldn't have gone. It's like they were trying to trick people into getting an interview, wasting my time and energy."

Later, a friend who works in e-commerce told Xiangxiang that many companies do not really recruit anchors at the end of the year. They just take some resumes for a brief interview and reserve anchor resources in case of emergencies. It dawned on her.

She also noticed that the salary level of current anchor positions is generally low and the requirements are very high. The base salary of anchors who just entered the industry before was 8K, but now it has dropped to 5K-6K. For someone like her with more than a year of work experience, she can only pay 8K, it was even difficult for her to find a job with the same income as before. And it’s not that easy to create a new account now. Companies will find various problems with the anchors. "Even if our other account anchors have the same status, speaking speed, speaking skills, and the same people and background, as long as the effect is not as good as others, the company will still blame us."

Xiangxiang is now extremely frustrated. She is basically looking for a job in the Buddhist department and does not have high expectations for interviews.

3. There is a secret behind the naked resignation at the end of the year

The job hunting environment is grim, why do some people still resign at the end of the year?

On the one hand, all walks of life are currently facing some challenges, which will affect workers in the workplace, such as salary cuts, increased workloads, and high work pressure. Many workers are overwhelmed; another reason is that most young people have personality traits. Stronger, I hope to achieve a balance between work and life and the pursuit of self, rather than blindly sacrificing self to meet the requirements of work.

However, after actually experiencing naked resignation at the end of the year, many migrant workers felt that this was not a good choice.

Jiayin is now firmly opposed to resigning naked at the end of the year. She said that if you stay until the end of the year, the company will give you a year-end bonus, and the Chinese New Year holiday is also a paid holiday. There will be few recruitment positions at the end of the year, and you will not be able to find a new job after resigning. These are all gone. She suggested that migrant workers with little savings should wait until they find another job before resigning.

Qingqing believes that if a job has seriously affected your body and mood, you can resign naked. After all, health is the first priority. You can make some adjustments and recovery after resignation, try different work styles, and find happiness. But if you watch others resign and go out to have fun, or you feel wronged for a moment, or if you don’t have enough savings due to one or two special events, it is not recommended to resign naked at the end of the year.

The matter of resigning naked at the end of the year seems to be a personal behavior and highly accidental. In fact, there are many tricks behind it.

Zhu Jupeng, a human resources expert and founder of 51 Headhunting, explained to "Ding Focus" that naked resignation should be divided into several categories of people. For practitioners in traditional industries such as catering and retail, as well as most blue-collar workers, naked resignation at the end of the year is very normal. Many Those who leave their jobs directly before the Spring Festival and go home to celebrate the New Year may change companies, industries, or cities after the New Year. For this type of industry, it is normal for 70% of employees to return after the Spring Festival; there is also a special group of people with an annual salary of 100 Senior executives of companies with more than 10,000 yuan and higher levels may also resign at the end of the year, then negotiate for new positions, and officially take up their posts after the year. Their job search time is usually longer, and both job seekers and companies are relatively confident. patience.

The discussion on whether to resign at the end of the year mostly refers to professionals with an annual salary in the range of 100,000 to 700,000.

Zhu Jupeng does not recommend naked resignation, nor does he support choosing the time at the end of the year.

He believes that a safer approach is to do some preparation work while on the job, and to interview more to understand the latest market conditions. "Looking for a job is a low-frequency thing, but the job market changes on a monthly basis. People in the workplace have very different perceptions in this regard. Many people may have stayed in their last job for several years and have not been interviewed. I feel it, and only by going to interviews in person can I get real feedback from the market.”

Some of Zhu Jupeng’s clients often start planning before they resign. “I ask them to go for interviews while they are still employed, and then review the feedback to determine whether they should resign, when is the right time to leave, and how much improvement will they get during the interview?” Salary.”

In addition, the end of the year is not a good time to apply for a job.

He noticed that in recent years, the overall job search time to get the ideal offer has become longer than in previous years. Among his clients, some even took eight or nine months to get an offer.

Moreover, according to experience, November and December are the off-peak seasons for recruitment. “After most companies review their performance, costs, and human efficiency at the end of the year, they will conduct an end-of-year analysis. Businesses that have not been successful may need to be optimized and shrunk. At the end of the year, It is more about personnel optimization rather than recruitment. Most companies will not start recruiting until the company's talent mapping is completed, the business direction is confirmed, and the new budget for the coming year is confirmed," Zhu Jupeng said.

What should I do if I resign at the end of the year?

Zhu Jupeng mentioned that the resume is a weapon for job seekers. First, you must improve your resume; secondly, you must interview more and conduct interview reviews; in addition, you must manage expectations well. You can look at opportunities before the Chinese New Year and use interviews as practice to truly develop your skills. Focus on the peak recruitment season from February to April next year. "After all, at this time at the end of the year, the number of positions is not large, and the quality is not high. It is better to prepare first. When the time comes, seize the opportunity accurately and succeed in one fell swoop."

[anthonysstupiddailyblog]

Anthony's Stupid Daily Blog (598): Sun 5th Nov 2023

After work I popped in to HR to ask about this contract that has apparently been sitting in the inbox of my App since the end of August. It says in the contract “This contract will be for a continuous period with no set end date” which I’m hoping is the company’s unnecessarily roundabout way of saying the contract is permanent but you never know with these people. There’s a bit at the bottom that says to make sure to sign and return this contract within one week and I was panicking, thinking that perhaps I’d missed my opportunity to be made permanent. I told the lass about the contract and asked if this meant I was being offered a full time role and she immediately said “No”. Luckily I resisted the urge to go all Stabatha Christie on her ass and she went over to her friend to show her this contract. She speculated that this contract simply meant that I was being extended which I again rolled my eyes at because this would mean another six months of no job security. However her friend then speculated that this might just be confirmation that I’d passed my probation. I quickly told her that I’d been here for a year and a half so my probation was LONG over and she said if this was the case then this contract offer was indeed an offer of PERMANENT ENPLOYMENT!! YeeeeeHaaaa! Finally after three months of solid hard work (and fifteen months of meh work) I have finally been rewarded with a permanent contract. I’m so happy that I finally don’t have this hanging over me anymore and for the first time in a while I don’t have to worry about money. I won’t lie: I was severely under qualified for most of my other jobs I’ve done before this one. I was never a good chef, I was an awful call centre worker and when I worked at Aldi I wasn’t a particularly good slave. However this is the first job that I actually feel like I am suited to and that I’m good at and evidentially the company agrees with me or else they wouldn’t have secured my services for the foreseeable future (unless there’s another guy working here with the same name as me that this contract was meant for). This is also the first job I haven’t blagged my way through, I like the work that I do and so for the first time in my life I’ve been trying my best to work as hard as I could so that I can work here for as long as I can. Although the no headphones rule is fucking ridiculous and we should definitely get more breaks than we do,  I think I’ve found as close a thing as possible to something I can call a dream job. This also means that now I have full time permanent work I can finally start looking into getting a place of my own. Although still living at home is nice and cheap, 34 is waaay too late to still be living with your mother. Hell, 24 is probably too fucking late! But thanks to todays development I may not have to wait too much longer before I have a palace to call my own (or at least a flat above an Indian takeaway with the word “palace” in the name). 

[the-firebird69]

So you put that up there and I'm posting the ones I'm successful at any sense of go ahead and proceed I sort of get it into my accident but I think you're right and I think we're right even with the accident that people need to know that we have progress and all the people so I'm going to post it and see if they want to post it elsewhere they say they have that but not for you guys it is important so we're going to do that.

and there's some huge things I'm happy about. My husband has support up here and there finally and these people were not supporting him and it's very evident and tons of them will see it today it's a huge day for that and he's happy because wow that was hell and really everyone needs to see it even people helping him like mac and his sons he didn't see these people were undermining every effort they were making and making it difficult for my husband and make it hard for them on purpose it's all coming out of them in questioning and they say you'll be sorry and it's because of going after the lasers and they keep talking and talking and play this is sick and stupid and we really need this

You got help with all ends of things and I finally getting help in this critical area of funding. I said it is critical all of us need money and they need money more and it's tight very tight and it's tough times and they don't see it and they're proud and we are and we're getting into them now and a lot of people get some funds yes and it was discussed and it's another stimulus package from what I understand

Blue we are having a good time there's a couple more things. I haven't exhausting amount of things to do and I'm getting help up here they're sending people to help me adjectives and workers and a whole big country of people with ranks and stuff and my own guard and I do understand something I went through like hell week or something to pass and it worked, the improves that I'm working now and he says yeah that's what it was it's the induction. What do you say is now they're just decided to get me help. And the people working for me decided to go up there because they're working for me I'm trying to say this what the hell and he's laughing and he should not be laughing and it's not at me but.. okay zigzag and the others have to approve it to happen so it was kind of a probation but not for real it's just natural and that's what he's saying but it is kind of funny cuz the way he puts it. There's a couple other things

I got all sorts of stuff done yesterday when my husband was sleeping and they said he's sleeping and getting stuff done instead of leaving me alone as well that's why it's cuz they're kicking their butt so he went to town doing it you slept a little longer they start to bother you and you're doing it now and he didn't sleep that much took a nap but it was short and he doesn't recall but he didn't sleep until midnight or so and he got up at 4:00 to 6:00 or so so it's really a short sleep I'm thankful that he's around and helping and it's getting a little better. There are other things too

We have an adventure going on he and I today it's going to be great and I'm going to have a very good time and we want to help restore this area he's going to start in fort Myers and a place that is a little less obvious to people I'm a Ford and it's the lineage of my clan and I'm going to invest some money in it and they want me to and it's going to be nice and it's run by By Ben Arnold and owned and he's going to make a lot of money. And he wants to help get Morgan going again and it's Tommy f and it's going to be rough and Mac will help but he's going to be right there and he sees what we're saying it's going to make a modern car that looks like a Morgan exactly like a replica almost that's a modern sports car people like it they like that kind of thing but this is going to be real so it's more like a Aston Martin something of that nature we're still kind of molded a little bit like it used to be and later I'm going to make a car like that and I know how to do it it's going to be awesome. What are you saying is it's another one of those Bentley cars and I know that the front grill and everything will look a little different and it's going to come out like the old fashioned look will be for sale first for use at very high end events it's going to start out pretty soon they say

Couple more items

I'm getting religiously longer hair well that's one thing I'm happy about but I do have beautiful flowy hair it's happening on my back and I'm like 9 ft tall so it's like 4 ft of hair. So my little monkeys in some sort of GQ pose with the hair all over him. 11 cuz like half his body was covered in the image I had someone's going to recreate it here. Is a few more things so that's one of them

I have a friend here and it's my husband and he's going to start growing he's going to need money because he's going to eat like a horse and it really is not eating that great and he needs to eat better I'm putting recommendations in and we need it now and she can get things here to start them off but really he needs transportation in the bike is not going to hold his weight for long and they say that we have to poison them if you use the grocery service

A few more things and it says so far so good and I'm laughing cuz they're huge for him he told me to. It's really nice it says I'm getting help when you need it and agents and support because it's really a mentally and stressful and I am also ascending with every planet that comes back around and it's really really nice so he's got an idea what to do each planet would be a ring of pearls so I know something else this is a lot of fun but the real pearl she says and they're not that huge and I can tell them girls and I'm going to have fun because they're trying to make one now, and he says this might be where breakfast at Tiffany's has come from and they're mentioning Tiffany and it really is about the colored glass and the light but really that's the way of saying stuff, and they don't know what we're talking about but that's the way it goes.

Five more news and I'm happy about the dragon is getting tons of attention and more and more by the day and everyone say it's real and Dand D and dragon worship and dragons statues all that stuff is Selling. Huge dragon lore and people are wearing dragon tattoos near my husband and dragon shirts and they're crazy dragon Ball z stuff all over the place they won't leave them alone and they keep saying I'm collecting dragon balls that I'm your dragon and you can see the damn difference you're a stupid human it looks like yep if you don't say it don't say that and they're getting in trouble because they're yelling and stuff and lots of saying well we're not really a real dragon and they're interested in what my husband's up to so that's healthy

We have more stuff to talk about but I'm excited about a few other things

And one of them is you're going to be free from his injury shortly and it will heal when he's growing it really he needs it too the ice thing is getting very old. No can't wait and these two next door will fix it he'll be eating yourself out of house at home won't be able to use the bike to get food and water and they're nuts they need money for food and they can go drain him down they say. We have a counter plan and Mac has a contra plan even Tommy F doesn't want to deal with it

Really are ignorant people

It's a huge huge cross over door no but it's Thursday no it's Friday it's Good Friday and this is the day that Jesus is supposed to get grabbed and go to jail and stuff so my husband says that getting money from John to remember Lord would be inflammatory it might be my Max are trying. And he says for the guy doesn't want to and he paid already no he hasn't, paid for it and hed get a house maybe.

Few other things I'm happy about we're getting these things ironed out but we're going to publish cuz this sounds pretty cool

Hera

Good

Zues

Haha

Hera

We like it we're going to polish now Olympus we really like it and we're going to publish now and I'm getting a lot of these things going Thor Freya we had some of them going but we see what you're saying that stuff kind of works and it's the day and once it goes by it's over Moana Ariana we have this rolling and we need support and we're finally getting it but boy does this stuff sound interesting to them and really Jesus was grabbed for sacraments and all this other crap and nobody cares about that Frank Castle hardcastle and we're going to town and going to get this stuff done Blockbuster

[seanfalco]

Not Even Death | Nathan Young x Reader

Word Count: 1.6k Prompt: “Why are you crying?” + “I just watched you die!” + “I promised nothing would ever separate us.  Even death.” Requested by: @waterlily502​ Warnings: Blood/Gore, Character death (tho it’s Nathan so he’s okay lol)

It was growing late, the shadows growing longer and you shivered at the chill wind that blew right through your hoodie as you took another swig from the bottle before passing it back to Nathan, the liquor warming you on its way down.

“I should probably head home,” you murmured, though you made no move to get up.

“What, no, you should stay!” Nathan argued, tipping back the bottle, finishing off the rest of it and letting it clatter to the roof with the other empty beer cans and bottles from earlier that week.

“I can’t,” you whined, leaning your head against Nathan’s shoulder.  Though you desperately wanted to stay, not only as a reprieve from your family, but since his miraculous resurrection, things had been different between you and Nathan and you found you wanted to be near him more and more, as if afraid you would blink and he’d be gone.

“I wish I could,” you admitted and Nathan shifted next to you.

“Well, why not then?” he asked, watching you, his green eyes strangely mesmerizing.  “I have a perfectly good mattress -- it’s a little small maybe, but if we sleep close we’ll fit,” he said with a meaningful wink.  “I could keep yeh warm tonight.”

“Nathan,” you groaned, his offer not helping, “my dad’ll kill me if I don’t show up again,” you explained, hating that you couldn’t just come and go as you liked.

You were an adult, dammit!

“Well, that’s bollocks,” he exclaimed and you sighed, finally pushing up off the bench.

“I know,” you replied wearily, gripping his outstretched hand and pulling him to his feet.  “Y’wanna walk me home at least?”

“Yeah, why not.”

——

As the sun set the temperature dropped even further and the wind buffeted you, forcing you even closer to Nathan’s side.

“Y’want my jacket?” he asked, noticing your chattering teeth.  Not waiting for your answer, he shrugged out of his dark jacket, begrudgingly handing it to you.

It wasn’t much, but it was still warm from his body heat and it cut the wind a bit.  “Thank you,” you replied gratefully, drawing your hands inside the long sleeves and wrapping the edges of the jacket tighter around you.

“You’re lucky you’re so cute ‘cause I don’t do this for just anyone,” Nathan grumbled and you grinned up at him, bumping into his shoulder with yours.

“I’m cute, huh?” you asked, your lips twitching coyly as Nathan shrugged, tossing his head, his gaze not quite meeting yours.  If you didn’t know any better you’d say Nathan was flustered, but Nathan never got flustered.

Up ahead a rustling sound caught your ears and you tugged on his sleeve to get his attention, noticing the hunched figure not far from you, lurking in the alley near some overflowing bins.

“Bit jumpy aren’tcha?” Nathan teased with an amused chuckle, following your gaze, “it’s just some homeless scroungin’ for his evenin’ meal.  Don’t tell me you’re one of those girls that’s scared of the dark?”

“Shut up!” you huffed, giving him a shove, “I’m not scared of the dark, okay?”

Eyeing the man warily, you let Nathan tug you along.  You could’ve sworn he was grunting and twitching, kinda like Tony, your first probation worker, before he’d attacked you and Kelly.  The thought made you shiver.  However, as you and Nathan passed the mouth of the alley, the man straightened suddenly, his hooded head swinging right to you and you grabbed onto Nathan’s arm.

The bin the man had been looting through clattered to the ground, the metallic clang echoing down the deserted street and he gave a lurching step forward, sniffing hungrily.

“Nathan, I’m pretty sure there’s somethin’ wrong with that bloke,” you exclaimed, your voice shaking, and not from the cold.

Fear crossed Nathan’s face as he looked over his shoulder, the man now definitely following you, his unsteady steps picking up speed as the two of you walked faster as well.  “I, uh, I think y’may be right about that,” Nathan finally agreed, taking your hand and breaking into a run.

The slap of feet and hair raising guttural grunts behind you spurred you on and you pulled Nathan around a corner, cutting through someone’s backyard, but you could still hear your pursuer behind you.

“Y’know, I’m gettin’ real tired of all this excitin’ shite happenin’ ever since that bloody storm!” Nathan panted, hurdling over a stray toy left behind by some kid.

“Yeah, fuckin’ same!” you exclaimed, catching sight of the bloke still chasing you, a mad glint in his eye.  It almost looked like he had something in his hand.  “I think our maniac has a knife,” you cried, your fear, if possible, spiking even higher.

“Fan-fuckin-tastic!” Nathan replied wryly.

As you pushed through the hedgeline everything suddenly went eerily quiet and you tugged Nathan off to the side, crouching down underneath a parked car, hoping to throw your pursuer off.  Holding your breath, you waited and the vagrant finally broke through the bushes.  From your hiding spot you watched his feet stumble past, searching for you, a frustrated growl ripping through the night air that made you jump and reach for Nathan who grabbed you as well, his eyes wide.

You waited several minutes til all was quiet and you could no longer see the stalker.

“Whew,” Nathan exclaimed, letting out a long sigh of relief, “looks like we lost th’fucker.  That’ll teach ‘im t’mess with us--”

Nathan’s brazen exclamation cut off, turning into a strangled cry as he was suddenly wrenched away from you and you shrieked as you saw the flash of a knife slice down through the air to embed itself in Nathan’s chest.

“NO!” you cried, watching with horror as he gasped, blood gurgling from his lips to trail down his chin, his shirt already steadily darkening with blood.  The maniac’s arm pulled back to stab Nathan again and with the last of his strength his eyes met yours.  

“[y/n], run!”

But you couldn’t.  Fear froze you in place, trembling and sick, tears welling in your eyes as the killer dropped Nathan’s lifeless body to the ground, next turning his sights on you and when his eyes met yours, bloodshot and dark, as if his pupils had dilated far beyond the normal range, you finally shrank back, tripping over your own feet as you tried to back way.

Falling backward it felt as if time had slowed, catching up to you as you hit the ground, the air rushing painfully from your lungs and for a moment your vision swam as the figure stood over you, crouching down toward you.

Scrambling backward your hand landed on something long and wooden and you looked at it, curling your fingers around it desperately -- the handle of a discarded shovel left near the shed, and with all your strength you swung, the shovelhead connecting with your attacker’s skull with a metallic clang, knocking him off his feet.

Taking your chance you scrambled upright and swung again and again and again, until the man was no longer moving.  You nearly backed away, dropping the shovel until you remembered the ending of nearly every slasher film you’d ever seen, and not keen on being taken by surprise when the killer wasn’t actually dead, you made sure giving him one last whack for good measure before stumbling away to retch behind the bushes.

With the killer taken care of you hurried back to Nathan’s body and collapsed next to him.  Unbidden, tears began to well in your eyes, and even though you knew he was immortal it didn’t make it hurt any less.  With the adrenaline leeching from you, emptiness took its place, along with the realization that you’d killed a man with your own two hands and you gave into your sobs, pressing your face to Nathan’s shoulder.

“Hey, why’re you cryin’?”

Nathan’s voice jerked you upright and you quickly wiped at your eyes as he pushed himself up, scowling down at another shirt ruined.

“I just watched you die!” you cried, unsure how else to answer, how to put into words the fear you’d felt, even if you knew he couldn’t die-die.  It was like watching him fall off the Community Center roof all over again and then finding him impaled in the locker room.  It just… it hurt.

A slow grin spread across Nathan’s face as he regarded you.  “Oh c’mon, I promised yeh nothin’ would ever separate us.  Even death,” he said cheekily, grinning wider at the flush that crept across your cheeks.

“You arsehole,” you muttered, making to stand when Nathan suddenly grabbed the hem of his jacket, holding you in place.

“You care bout me,” Nathan teased before his lips met yours, cutting off the sharp retort you’d had ready on your tongue, turning it to a soft moan.

“Nathan,” you murmured between kisses, but he seemed determined not to let you speak yet.  “Nathan,” you tried again, this time gently holding him back as you pulled away.  “What are we gunna do about the body?” you asked, nodding to the dead bloke several meters away and Nathan sighed.

“I dunno, let’s roll him into that ditch over there,” he suggested.

Once the deed was done you looked down at yourself and frowned.  “God, I’m a mess,” you muttered.

“You’re a mess?  Look at me!” Nathan cried, gesturing to his blood stained shirt.

“I can’t go home like this.  Besides I don’t want you walking back alone now,” you argued and Nathan frowned.

“So what, you’re gunna turn around and come back to the Community Center now after all that?  What about your dad?”

You shrugged.  “I’ll just tell him I stayed with a friend and my phone was dead.  Besides, didn’t y’want me t’stay with you in the first place?”

“Well, yeah, but--” Nathan exclaimed as you took his hand, heading back the way you’d came.

“I’m gunna need t’borrow some of your clothes for th’night,” you said, cutting him off, gasping as Nathan put his arm around you.

“You could always sleep naked,” he offered, earning him a jab in the ribs and an unamused glance.  “Alright, alright, I had t’try, didn’t I?”

[gapatriotusa]

So this has been a big week for cops. First, Kim Potter, who accidentally killed a black man whos dastardly "crime" was hanging an air fresher from his mirror, was rightfully convicted of manslaughter. The question remains how much prison time she'll get. Personally I dont see she'll get much (time served and a long probation) because she expressed sorrow, took responsibility, she's woman and she's white. But at least she was found guilty. A year ago she wouldn't have been indicted. I also think it was a bit much to deny her request to spend Christmas with her family. Beyond all the hoopla of her crying during the trial, there is the question of why air fresheners are criminalized. Is there a real traffic safety issue or is it so cops have a pretext to sneek a peek in people's cars? I suspect its the latter.

Another cop shooting on 12/24 killed a 14 yo girl who was in a dressing room trying on dresses with her mother. The Burlington store had earlier ask a man to leave. He got angry and started attacking the workers and customers. The cops were responding to a call about "shots fired" at the store. The cops, with their usual practice, entered the store with guns drawn. As the video shows one cop decided to take point with his AR-15 rifle. When this cop encountered this person he fired 3 rounds killing the person. Now AR-15s are high powered rifle and can easily penetrate sheet rock walls but he just popped of three shots even though this person was armed only with a bike lock. When the smoke cleared a hole in the wall lead cops to find the dead girl. Of course cops will get a pass and even killing this girl no one will ever be prosecuted.

This "fire first and sort it out later" attitude goes back to when the NYPD killed a man who was simply holding out his ID when the cops approached him for.....well just because. No one was ever disciplined or charged. Or the cop that killed an elderly woman because she wouldn't drop the kitchen knife she was holding. See the woman DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. Yea the cop made gestures like pointing to the ground but the woman just didn't understand and she started walking toward him. So he just killed her. Of course the cop was never disciplined or charged. Or the time Oklahoma City cops killed a deaf man who was sitting on his porch holding a piece of pipe. Sure they yelled at him to drop the pipe but HE'S DEAF. And it wasn't just one shot; it was 5 or 6. Even though bystanders were yelling the man was deaf it made no difference and there was no discipline or charges.

The need for policing reform is clearly needed, but any discussions get mired in 'defund the police' and 'supporting cops.' GA passed this stupid law that local governments can't reduce funding for police. Yet there may be legitimate reasons for doing so. And, as reform advocates have pointed out repeatedly, reforms would likely result in an increase in police funding.

[bisexualnathanyoung]

Community Blowback

Fandom: Misfits, Nathan Young x Original Character

Summary: When Mel Albright, a low-life stoner with a heart of gold, ends up on community service, she assumes it’s just another thing in a line of mishaps that is her life. Will the aftermath of a freak storm and the help of a green eyed idiot show her that maybe things being fucked up aren’t always that bad after all?

Masterlist | Previous Chapter 

Chapter Two: Questionable Decisions and Stupid Feelings

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: brief mention of domestic abuse, drinking, drug use. other cannon compliant ones I may have missed. 

My hand was healing, and I hadn’t had any more lightning mishaps. I was hoping maybe that was just a fluke. The storm was a supernatural occurrence. Maybe the lightning just left some residue on me. Or something like that. There was no way to be sure. 

Community service was normal some parts of the week. As the days went by, the less I thought being dead was a better option than being there. Don’t get me wrong it was still community service, and I did not want to be there, but it was alright.  Sometimes Alisha got on my nerves. Nathan still didn’t shut up. Ever. Simon threw off my vibes a little bit. Curtis and Kelly usually didn’t bother me. It could definitely have been worse. I certainly expected much worse. I wouldn’t say it was fun, but it got entertaining. When I was constantly working, all I had to look forward to was the usual midnight drunks. That was a toss-up though. A lot of the time they were just sad, but sometimes they were either funny or slightly terrifying. They still showed up, but it wasn’t my responsibility to throw them out. I ignored them. I was usually in the back, paying enough attention, but lost in my own head. If I wasn’t thinking about my crippling trauma (which I tried not to), I was usually thinking about some dumb shit Nathan said. I couldn’t figure out whether I wanted to give him a kiss or a slap. Or both. 

A week had passed since the whole business with the probation worker, and I thought it was going to be a normal day. Picking up rubbish and the like. I was staring at the ground thinking about how much I hate when people litter when I heard Curtis say,

“What is that?!” I looked up, and it appeared to be naked person slumped over. Not the weirdest thing to happen to me considering recent events. 

“Is he breathing?” Kelly asked. 

“I hope so. I don’t feel like burying another body,” I responded. Alisha walked over to him and poked him with her grab claw, “Hey, nude guy. You’re naked!” He rolled over giving us all an eyeful. 

“You!” Nathan exclaimed and proceeded to chase after him. Alright, what the fuck. 

“You wanna tell us who that was?” Curtis asked. 

“He’s my mum’s— he lives with my mum…” Nathan answered. 

“Your stepdad has a massive cock,” Alisha pointed out. 

“What?! No! And he’s not my stepdad, alright?!” Nathan responded defensively. How many times have I said the same thing about dumb men my mother has brought into her life? I walked over to him. 

“Weirder people have lived my mum. Good luck,” I patted him on the back and laughed at his expense. We threw out ideas on why he was passed out naked behind the community center. 

“What if the storm messed him up?” Kelly said, throwing out another idea. 

“That’s bollocks, what are the chances?” Nathan responded. 

“I dunno, man. Weird shit’s been goin on,” I added. 

————

Sally told us the day before we wouldn’t have to wear our jumpsuits to assist with the elderly. I decided to wear something cute. I rarely had the chance to these days, and I wasn’t going to get dressed up to go to the shops. I decided to wear a black dress. It had rose detailing in the front and a bit of a lace-up back. It was a little bit low cut, but I figured what the hell. It was probably the first time I hadn’t worn a sports bra to community service. The outfit was definitely more akin to the stuff Alisha usually wore rather than my usual t-shirt and skinny jeans. I just wanted to look cute. I wasn’t trying to impress anybody. At least that’s what I told myself. 

Forever avoiding socializing, I took it upon myself to man the food and drink tables. It was basically what I did every day for work anyway. I politely made my way around the room seeing if anyone wanted anything. I was making a plate for some random old guy when I noticed Nathan following some pretty blonde girl to the table. I was at the other end, but I kept an eye on them. I felt myself inching closer and listening in on their conversation. She’d have to be really desperate to fall for whatever the hell this is because it sure ain’t flirting. I stared at the table, barely trying to complete my task and continued to listen to them. “He’s such an idiot,” I thought before realizing I was smiling to myself. 

“Can you pass me those sausage rolls?” She asked him. 

“I’ve got it!” I butted in. I grabbed and then leaned over the table to give them to her, not making any attempt to hide my cleavage as I bent over. An old woman seemed to be trying to get Nathan’s attention. 

“I think she wants to dance with you,” the pretty girl said. 

“Go on, Nathan,” I teased, slightly pushing him towards her. 

I went back to try to remember what I was doing before and the pretty girl worked on the opposite side of the table. 

“You know if you want him you should just ask,” she said, “Men aren’t good at picking up the subtle things.” Her tone wasn’t mean or demeaning, but of course, I got offended anyway. 

I gasped, “I do not want him!” I chucked whatever poor soul’s plate I was making into the bin and stormed off. I plopped down in a chair next to Kelly at the table she was sitting at. 

She looked at me, “You are so ridiculous,” she said. 

“What?!” I said and held my hands up in surrender. She shook her head at me. Yeah, I might’ve known what. 

We were in the locker room getting ready to leave when Curtis ripped a piece of paper off of his locker that someone had stuck there, “Someone knows. They know we killed our probation worker.” 

We argued about it for a little bit. Curtis seemed convinced that the note was talking about the probation worker whereas Nathan argued it wasn’t. I kind of agreed with Nathan. It was way too vague to mean anything. 

“So if we’re all done freaking out here over nothing, There’s somewhere I need to be,” Nathan said, finishing the conversation before walking out. I had to leave for work soon, so I caught up to him.

“What’s got you running outta here so quickly?” I asked. 

“I gotta tell my mum about her— the guy she lives with,” he answered. 

“Her the guy she lives with?” I mocked. 

“Whatever,” he grumbled. 

“Why didn’t you just call her? You didn’t think she’d want to know right away that the guy she lives with is lounging around naked in public?” 

“I did! She won’t answer me.” 

“Well, good luck with your mum and naked guy,” I said, giving his shoulder a little squeeze. 

“Thanks,” he responded sarcastically, and we went our separate ways. 

The next morning Nathan was running around showing all of us his evidence that he had collected of ‘the guy that lives with his mum.’ After a failed attempt at getting the group to help him tell the guy to fuck off, I simply added, “If he comes into the chip shop naked, I’ll get somebody to tell him to fuck off.” Then, we were off to do the same mindless shit as every other day. 

As I was staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, I was thinking about stupid Nathan Young again. I was worried about him. We had all exchanged numbers after our whole murder cover-up, so I thought about calling him and asking if everything went okay with his mum. It was the middle of the night, so I decided not to. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about it too much. 

I slammed the snooze button on my alarm clock more than once before finally sitting up in my bed. I glanced at the clock. Shit. I had about ten minutes to get dressed and run to the other side of the estate. I quickly threw on some clothes and brushed my teeth and headed out, glancing at my phone for the time over and over. 

 I practically ran to the locker room to put on my deodorant and attempted to put on makeup. I went up to the mirror before dropping everything and struggling to pick it up. I threw some coverup under my eyes and put on mascara and chapstick. Good. Enough. 

I quickly joined the others in the main area. Great. Dealing with old people again. Once Sally had fucked off somewhere else, I took to staring out the window and watching a little bird hop around. I really wasn’t in the mood to entertain old people. The bird flew away, and I kept watching the pavement like it was something worth looking at while trying not to fall asleep. I pulled a cigarette out of the box in my pocket before deciding I probably shouldn’t sacrifice the lungs of all these old people and stepped outside. I lit my cigarette and leaned up against the building and began to smoke it. At least I don’t have work tonight, and I can go home and take a fucking nap. Or just smoke my pot until my eyes go fuzzy. Do I need more rolling paper? I don’t think so… Shit. I hope the ones I prerolled aren’t dried out. They shouldn’t be I—

My thoughts were interrupted as Nathan ran out of the community center and zoomed past me. What the fuck is up with him? I flicked my cigarette onto the ground and decided to follow him. I was a bit of a distance back, so he didn’t notice me until he was sat under the bridge, rolling a joint. 

“Are you alright?” I asked him. 

“I’m fine. So kindly, fuck off,” he responded with spite in his voice. I sat down next to him anyway. 

“Obviously not,” I responded, “How’d it go with your mum?” Probably not well based on how he was acting. 

He furrowed his brow, “What?... Oh. Yeah, not great,” he told me, looking away. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked. 

“No.” I watched him take a drag from the joint. 

“Sometimes talking about it helps,” I encouraged. 

“Well not for me,” he responded, “Besides, there’s nothin’ to talk about. She took his side like every other prick she’s been with.” 

“I get it,” I replied. 

“Do you?” He looked at me, probably not wanting to hear it. 

“Considering I’m here for trying to protect my mum from her mistake of a husband,” I responded, “yeah, I do.” 

“How’d that get you community service?” he asked. 

“I had just moved out, so I wasn’t legally part of the household anymore, which ta-da qualified me for an ASBO instead of just counseling or whatever. And, get this, he had the fucking nerve to say that I should be greatful he wasn’t charging me with assault,” I said as I leaned my head up against the post we were sitting against. 

“Was your mum there when it happened?” he continued to question me. I knew he was just trying to take the focus off of himself, but he already got me started, so I just kept going. 

“Was she there?” I scoffed, “She fucking started it. Running her stupid mouth. I was just trying to get out of there, and he raised his hand at her. So I punched him. And he slapped me instead of her. So I kneed him in the bollocks and put a kitchen knife in his face. Next thing I fucking know I’ve got a court date, and they’ve changed the entire story. I haven’t spoken to her since. She’s spent my entire life trying to punish me for being born, and I’m done with it. If she goes and gets herself killed, it’s not my problem,” I finished, tears threatening to fall from my eyes. 

“Shit,” Nathan responded, putting his arm around me and handing me the joint. I took a long hit and closed my eyes as I breathed it out. I can’t believe I just said all that. I hadn’t told anyone the whole story except for the judge, and, of course, he didn’t believe my version of events. When I opened my eyes, I noticed the others walking toward us. Oh yeah community service is a thing I’m supposed to be doing right now. 

“Have you two been out here snogging?” Alisha asked with a laugh. 

“No?” Nathan responded, moving away from me. 

“Gross,” I deadpanned. 

“Some old woman was lookin’ for you, Nathan,” Kelly said. I started to take another hit of the joint, “You shagged her?!” Kelly exclaimed. I started coughing as the smoke came out of my mouth 

“I’m sorry?” I blinked. 

“Yeah, nice one, I gave her a right good seeing to,” Nathan grimaced. 

“You totally screwed her,” Alisha laughed. 

“No. No!” Nathan tried to defend himself, standing up. I pulled my knees up to my chest. What the actual fuck is going on right now?

“You nailed that old woman? Aw, that is wrong,” Curtis added. 

I put my head down on my knees, “I need a minute.” 

“Did you enjoy it?” Simon teased. 

“Shut up, you little freak!” Nathan responded. 

“I think he enjoyed it,” Simon continued. 

“Are you into that?” Curtis asked. I took another long hit from the joint. 

“Nooo!��� Nathan responded, “She didn’t look like that when we started. You remember that bird Ruth from Tuesday? That wrinkly old bint is her. It was the storm; it made her young again.” 

“Please tell you didn’t,” Alisha said, mimicking oral sex with her hand, “He did!” Curtis and Alisha started laughing. 

I looked up, “Is that really necessary?” I rhetorically asked. They ignored me. Nathan started to walk away. Kelly went after him. 

“Nathan, wait, I didn’t mean to tell ‘em. It just came out,” she told him. 

“Oh, well great job, nice one, well done,” he responded sarcastically. He started to walk away and turned around, “And stay outta my head!”  

“Granny Fucker!” Kelly yelled back at him. With a huff, I got up to my feet. Why does everything have to be impossible with this group? I ran up to Nathan. He turned to me, 

“What?! You come to take the piss too?” He snapped. 

“No,” I replied, “I’m worried about you.” 

“I don’t need your fucking sympathy, alright?!” 

“I know— I just, call me if you need anything, okay?” 

He got in my face, “I don’t need you to be my personal therapist. Just leave me the fuck alone! And this,” he snatched the joint from my fingers, “is mine!” I watched him walk away. Whatever. 

Later that evening, I was watching the O’s I was blowing disappear into the ceiling as I laid on my back on my bed. For the first time in a while, my mind was empty. Thank God for drugs. My mobile rang, and I shook the blanket to find it. Please don’t be work, I begged the universe, knowing it was probably work. Our entire staff was high about 60% of the time, so it didn’t really matter if I came in high, I just didn’t want to. My phone fell back onto the bed and I answered it without looking at the caller ID. 

“Hello?,” I answered. 

“Do you wanna have a drink with me?” Nathan’s voice said, sounding kind of somber. 

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” I responded. 

“Meet me outside the community center,” he said and hung up. 

It wasn’t the smartest idea to be walking alone in the dark, but considering the last time I was terrified, I basically committed murder, I wasn’t too worried about it. Not to mention, I did it constantly trying to get home from work. I could hold my own. I approached the community center and saw Nathan sitting there with a case of beer. I sat down next to him. He already smelled of alcohol. 

“Are you drunk?” I asked. 

“No,” he responded. I shot him a look. “Okay, maybe a little bit,” he admitted, “Nothin’ I can’t handle.” 

“Do you want to talk about what happened earlier?" I asked, grabbing a drink. 

"No, I wanna forget all that. I just needed someone to get wasted with," He answered. 

"Oh, that's brilliant," I rolled my eyes. 

"There's more in the community center for when we finish this," he added. 

"Oh, I'm becoming an accessory to robbery now?" I joked. 

"Hey, they owe it to us! We're the ones picking up shit and de-graffiting everything." 

I laughed, "Yeah because we're court-mandated." 

"Whatever. I still say it's ours for the taking. We're part of the community, aren't we?" He defended, taking the drink to his lips. 

We finished the booze while talking about stuff that didn't matter. Giraffes. Bananas. Dumb shit. He got up, “Alright, that’s nice for a starter; time for something stronger.” 

I shook my head, “I think you’ve had enough.” 

“Come on, I’m not even hammered yet,” he replied. 

“I’ve got some hash at my place if you wanna get high instead,” I offered. I’d been saving it for a rainy day, but I figured saving my friend from alcohol poisoning was a good enough reason to get it out. 

“That works,” he said, smiling. God, he’s so cute. I hopped to my feet and went on our way towards my flat. 

“You know what I wanna talk about?” He said as we were walking. 

“What?” I asked. 

“What the hell were you wearin’ the other day? With your tits flyin all over the place?” I’d forgotten about that. I laughed, 

“My tits were not flying all over the place.” 

“Might as well have been. It was weird. You looked like a girl.” Well, that’s wonderful. The guy I sort of maybe might like doesn’t even think of me as a girl. 

“Maybe because I am a girl, dickhead,” I said. 

“Really?! I hadn’t noticed,” he joked, “just don’t be doing that shit, gettin’ my cock all confused. We’re supposed to be mortal enemies, me and you. I’m the one that doesn’t give a shit about anything, and you’re the one that gives all the shits.” 

“What are you talking about?” I started, “I haven’t given a shit about anything since I was five years old.” 

“Oh, I’ll believe that,” he said sarcastically as we approached the stairs of the complex, “ ‘Call me if you need anything’,” he began to mock me in a high pitched, English accent, “ ‘there’s still paint on the pavement’, ‘leave Barry alone’’ 

“Who the fuck is Barry?” I asked, looking at him quizzically. 

“You know… your little weirdo friend,” he answered. 

“Simon?” I questioned. 

“Do you think I give a shit what his name is? Perfect example of you caring and me not,” he said, getting in front of me and putting his finger in my face as he spoke. 

“Whatever, get out of the way, this is mine,” I said, pushing him aside, “besides, I only care about stuff that matters.” I unlocked the door, let us in, and flicked the light on. 

“Nice place,” he said, “what’s that?” He was looking over at some canvases I had thrown in the corner. 

“Nothing. Stay here,” I instructed him as I went off to my bedroom to get my stuff. 

I threw it all down on the coffee table and proceeded to roll the joint for us. 

We smoked in silence for a little while before Nathan spoke up, 

“Do you wanna know what’s fucked up?” 

“Everything,” I responded, taking the joint from him. 

“No. Well, yes, but besides that… I’m thinking about apologizing to her,” he said. 

“Who?” I asked, passing the joint back to him. 

“Ruth,” he said before taking a hit. 

“Who?” I repeated, I’d forgotten her name. 

“The girl…. woman,” he corrected himself, “that the storm turned young again.” 

“Why d’you want to apologize to her? Shouldn’t she be apologizing to you?” I asked. 

“I don’t know…” he responded, “I just feel like I was kind of a dick to her.” 

“First of all,” I said lifting up my pointer finger, “you’re a dick to everyone. Second of all,” I lifted up the other finger symbolizing two, “you don’t owe her shit.” 

“I know, but… how was she supposed to know she was going to turn back old? It’s not like she did it on purpose,” he continued. 

“She still knew though. She could’ve at least found someone closer to her own age instead of being a creep like that,” I crossed my arms, “It just pisses me off that she would do that to you. If I see her again, I’ll give her a slap. I’m not afraid to hit an old woman, nobody messes with my friends and gets away with it.” 

“I don’t think that—,” he paused, “I’m your friend?” 

“Do you think I give my emergency hash to people that aren’t my friends?” I said, smiling at him. He shrugged. 

“Well, this one’s about done,” he said, glancing at the quickly dying joint in between his fingers. 

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I said, “I’ll make another.” I bent back down on the table and started making another one. 

“Do you want to finish it?” He asked. 

“No, you can have it,” I said, finishing rolling the next one. 

“Do you want to finish it together? Do a blowback?” He asked. 

I felt my ears get hot, “Yeah, sure,” I answered. It probably wasn’t the best idea, but I’d already smoked away my decision-making skills. 

I dropped the unrolled joint onto the table and went to face him. I leaned in as he inhaled and flicked the remainder of the joint onto the table. Our noses were almost touching as he exhaled into my mouth. Our lips collided as he brought me into an open mouth kiss, the smoke coming out of my nose. He put his arm around my waist as we pulled our bodies closer. I brought my hands into his curls. I wanted to melt into him. It had been a long time since anyone had kissed me like that. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I felt like my whole body was on fire. I reciprocated and brought my tongue against his as I tightened the grip on his hair. He brought his hand up to my breast, and record scratch, I came back to my senses and pulled away. 

I gently took his hand from my body, “You’re drunk. And high. You don’t need this right now.” And I didn’t either. The last thing I needed was to get attached to some boy that just wanted to sleep with me to get over someone else. Sure, the circumstances were a little different, but that’s essentially what it was. 

“I should go,” he said, getting up to his feet, “we can just forget this ever happened.” I didn't want to forget. 

I stood up to face him, “You don’t have to. It’s late; you can stay here if you need to.” 

“No, it’s alright,” he said, walking towards the door. 

“Nathan?” I said. He turned around to face me, “Be safe,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. 

“Ow!” He exclaimed, shaking his arm, “Did you just use your power on me?!” 

“No! I don’t know! I don’t know how it works!” I frantically said. I felt like I was going to cry. 

“Whatever, I gotta go,” he said and then left the flat. 

I collapsed back onto the sofa, smoked the joint I rolled, and fell asleep. 

----

The weekend came and went, and I couldn't stop thinking about him. It was stupid. It didn't mean anything, so why was I still thinking about it? It wasn't like he was attracted to me. Besides how I felt, I didn't want to make things awkward between us. I still had to deal with him for many months to come. But sometimes it seemed like awkward was written into my DNA. 

At community service, we were off picking up rubbish again. I hung back a good distance from the others, hoping no one would notice. It was mainly because I didn't want Kelly to know about mine and Nathan's little snogging session, and I couldn't seem to stop thinking about it. 

Nathan left the others and ran up to me, grabbing the collar of my jumpsuit with his claw grabber, "Hey, are we still friends?" 

I smiled, "yeah," I pushed the grabber away, "as long as this nasty thing never goes towards my face again." 

Of course he immediately put it directly in my face, "Oh, like this?" 

I took mine and used it to move his out of my face, "Do you know how many germs are on that thing?" 

"No, do you?" He asked, looking at it. 

"Well, no, but I can assume a lot," I responded. 

"Yeah, but you don't knooow," he said, putting it back in my face. 

"I will pour this entire bag of shit on your head," I threatened. 

"You wouldn't," he said as I got closer, holding the bag with two hands, "hey, you can't even reach my head, you're too short!" 

"I'll find a way," I responded, "I'll take out your kneecaps." 

"No, you're not!" he pushed against my bag with his grabber, and I took mine and hit it against his, 

"I challenge you to a duel!" I said. 

"Oh you're on!," He responded, "wait what do I get if I win?" 

"Uh, you don't get shit poured over your head," I stated matter-of-factly. 

"That's not good enough. How about a handjob?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I proceeded to go ahead and beat him with the grabber. 

"That'll be a no," I said, "and besides, I've already won now." 

"I wasn't ready! That's not fair!" he said, throwing his arms in the air. 

"Get ready for the shit!" I said, laughing as I launched towards him. He widened his eyes and then turned around and ran the other way, 

"Get outta the way! She's gonna take out my kneecaps!" He yelled, running past the others as I chased after him. We decided on a truce as we were putting things up since I couldn’t catch up to him. 

————

“I told you there’d be other people messed up by the storm, and you didn’t believe me,” Kelly said to Nathan when we were back in the locker room. 

“Yeah, well, I was wrong, wasn’t I?,” Nathan responded, “there’s a hurricane of weird shit out there.” I closed my locker and turned around to see Alisha mimicking oral sex with her fingers yet again. 

“Will you fucking stop it?!” I snapped, leaning against the lockers. She looked towards me. 

“What? You trying to get Gran’s sloppy seconds?” She responded. I gasped and crossed my arms, 

“I’m not even having this conversation right now!” 

“We need to be ready for when they come after us,” Simon said, facing the group. Really? 

“What are you talking about?” Kelly asked. 

“The other people that got caught in the storm,” Simon answered. 

“Why would they come after us?” Curtis asked in response. 

“Because that’s what people do,” Simon answered. 

“Yeah, but if it’s affecting all these people, why would we be special? They’ll go after someone important,” I added. 

“And if they go after us, we’ll just tell them it was all your fault,” Nathan said, opening his locker, “... you know that note you found in your locker? I think it was talking about the probation worker.” We gathered around to see Tony’s missing person’s flyer taped to the inside of Nathan’s locker with “I KNOW” written on the bottom of it. 

Shit. 

_____

Next Chapter

[super-unpredictable98]

Hard Candy (~Misfits AU~)

Chapter 15: Matching Tattoos

Warning: Strong language, mention of needles, angst, alcohol

(Hard Candy Masterlist)

- I fuckin' hate this new probation worker - Nathan grunted - he's such a smug bastard.

- Is it because he reminds you too much of yourself? - I teased and he simply stuck his tongue out in response.

This week's task was to gather all the shit scattered around this huge area and toss it in a bin. Shaun wasn't very friendly when telling us what to do... As always.

- Oh, nice! - Nathan found a forgotten beer in an old fridge.

He cracked it open and took a big swig, passing it to me right after. I shrugged and took a swig as well... My dad always used to say: "life is too short to think if something could kill you".

- Not as bad as I thought it was gonna be... - I gave him back the can.

- So, what you doin' later? - Nathan asked while mindlessly playing with my hair - 'Cause I was thinkin' a drink, maybe a quick shag... Or a long one, whatever you like.

- I’m going to a tattoo parlor with Kel and Si, she's getting a touch-up.

- Oh, you gettin' a tattoo as well? - He cocked an eyebrow.

- Yeah, I've been wanting it for a long time, I finally had the perfect idea.

- Y'know, that sounds painful, maybe I should come along and hold your hand.

- Alright - I smiled, I would never get tired of him being flirty even though we were already in a relationship.

- Hey, Lyds - Alisha walked up to us - have you seen the guy in the mask lately?

- What? No! Why would you think I'm seeing him? - I was caught by surprise and completely lost it.

- Relax, I asked Simon and he told me I should ask you.

- Saw him last week just like the rest of you - it was getting harder to keep the front, it just felt like they saw right through me.

- Ok, if you do see him, let me know, alright?

- Sure - I agreed without really understanding why she wanted to know. Yeah, it was her future boyfriend behind the mask, but she didn't know that... Right?

I was pretty much quiet for the rest of the time, Nathan didn't seem to notice since he talks for the both of us. 

I was only able to forget that conversation with Alisha when the day was over and we could finally go to the tattoo shop. I was only a tad bit scared, I know I shouldn't, seeing as I have several ear piercings and two nipple piercings, but I guess it's only natural to freak out a little.

The owner of the place, Vince, was a big scary-looking guy, but he seemed nice enough, at least to me and Kelly he was.

I explained that I wanted an hourglass with the sand going up, in the colors of my hair. Everyone loved the idea, I was quite proud of it. Vince quickly sketched it up and got everything ready to start.

- Here, Lyddie - Nathan offered me his hand as I laid down and exposed my hip - you can squeeze it if you want, I don't mind.

- Oh, so butch... - I mocked - Thanks though.

The pain was not as bad as I imagined, but I pretended to be struggling so Nathan would feel useful. It was cute how he was sitting by my side stroking my hair and planting kisses on my face as I quietly whimpered.

- You're doin' so good, Lollipop - he would whisper praisingly - no, don't look, just keep holdin' my hand. Look at me instead.

- All done - Vince announced after about 45 minutes. 

- It looks amazing - I admired the finished product as he wrapped it up - thank you.

- No problem, just remember to apply the ointment every day, avoid swimming and being under the sun.

I got up to look in the mirror, it was exactly the way I wanted it. Nathan gently put his hand over it with a smile.

- It looks so sexy, now I'm not the only one with ink.

- Oh, yeah - I ran my finger over his wrist - I love them so much.

- It's really nice - Si complimented shyly.

- Thanks, Simon. You should get one.

- I have a phobia of needles... - He clearly didn’t follow our dad's advice.

While Kelly was getting her tattoo touched up, Simon and I quietly waited while Nathan went around the shop like a little kid wanting to see and touch everything. Sometimes I feel like my boyfriend is, in fact, a Golden Retriever who just happened to live in a human shell.

- I've seen some weird shit over the last few weeks, but this... This goes against the very laws of nature - Nathan stood in front of the picture of a cock that had barbed wire tattooed all over it - Whose cock is this?

- It's mine - Vince said, slightly annoyed by Nathan's tone.

- Really? I'm not bein' funny, but why would you do somethin' like that?

- It expresses how I felt when my girlfriend left me.

- You couldn't just get drunk and sleep with a prostitute? - Nate chuckled.

- Each one of these tattoos, means something to me, when I ink my skin, I feel it.

- Whatever gets you off, man - Nathan walked across the room to look at another picture, this time it was a rose - hey, Lollipop, would you fancy me even more if I had this one, or does it look a bit gay t'you?

- Nathan... - I gave him a look that I hoped was enough to make him shut up.

- Oh - he finally noticed that was another one of Vince's tattoos - I mean it would look gay on me, 'cause I have a beautiful face, but you get away with it, with your face. I'm not sayin' you're ugly, it's just... You've looked in the mirror. No offense, man.

- Jesus Christ, Nathan, stop talking! - I cried and Kelly covered her mouth not to laugh.

- It's alright - Vince looked at him with a penetrating gaze.

Nathan hissed and grimaced for a second, reaching for his shoulder. 

- Are you ok, Nats? - I held his hand.

- Fine, Lydia - he nodded.

- Lydia? - I laughed - Since when do you call me that?

Soon enough, Kelly was also ready. I paid, but when she tried to reach for her wallet, Vince stopped her, saying it was "on the house". 

- I think he fancies you - I nudged Kelly's arm as we left the shop.

- D'you really think so? He's not exactly my type.

- Yeah, he was all over you.

- So... How about you and I go get a drink? - Nathan asked.

- Sure, you wanna come to my place, or are hitting a pub? - I tried to lock arms with him, but he pulled away from me.

- Who asked you? I'm talkin' to him - Nathan pointed Simon - this is more of a guy's night, quality man time... Beers, football, maybe some wrestlin'.

- What's up with you? First calling me Lydia and then acting all mean out of a sudden? - I frowned - Did you get upset 'cause I told you to stop talking?

- Come on, man, let's go watch some wrestlin', we don't need her...

Nathan looked at me like I was insane and then pulled Simon by the arm as they changed paths.

- It's alright, Lyds, you can come to my place, we can get a drink and watch a movie - Kelly let her head fall on my shoulder - Nathan can go fuck himself.

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

Turns out a slumber party was a great idea, I needed a little time away from the testosterone. Kelly ordered pizza, we watched some very bad (but extremely entertaining) reality shows, drank a few beers, did each other's nails and hair... It was a lot of fun.

- You stayin' over tonight? - Kelly asked when we were laying on the floor reading a magazine and rating the outfits in it.

- Sure, if your mum doesn't mind.

- She doesn't care, it's fine. She actually likes you...

- Kel... Why do you think Nathan was acting so weird today?

- He's a dick, you know 'im! 

- Yeah, but not like this, he's usually just annoying in an endearing way.

- Only you can think bein' a dick is endearing... I don't know what happened, but it's his loss, innit? 

- I suppose - I turned around to stare at the ceiling with a sigh.

- Too bad I don't have a guitar here so you can sing one of your songs from the future like you always do when you and Nathan fight - Kelly mocked.

- I do that a lot, don't I?

- I like it, the songs you play are fuckin' amazing. You should really think about sendin' the video Simon made to someone, like a producer or somethin'.

- Those aren't even my songs...

- I know, but they were not written yet, it's not a crime if you take ‘em for yourself.

- It's not a crime, but it isn't right.

- Says who? You have the chance to do somethin' you love and you're very good at. Most of us don't have that chance. It's not stealin' if the thing doesn't exist.

I kept thinking about what Kelly said, she was right I guess... You can't steal what doesn't belong to anyone, and it would be a great chance to build a career and eventually get myself on the West End like I've always wanted. 

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

Next morning, as I was putting my jumpsuit on, Simon came in looking like he was about to drop dead. His eyes were red, he was pale like a ghost and even shaking a little bit.

- Lydia, I'm so sorry, please don't be angry with me - he pleaded on the verge of tears. 

- Si, are you ok? - I cradled his face and with the other hand tried to check if he had a fever - What happened?

- It's Nathan, he's been... Hitting on me - he couldn't look me in the eye.

- What? - I thought I heard it wrong for a second and almost wanted to laugh, but Simon seemed too distressed, I didn't have the nerve.

- He brought me here for drinks yesterday, he put some music on and started  asking me about my sexual experiences... Then he kissed me and tried to take my trousers off.

- Nathan kissed you? - I blinked heavily a few times, not knowing how to react.

- Yeah, he put his tongue in my mouth, and he also said he wanted to do some... Dry humping.

- What did you do?

- I ran away! Very quickly.

I just stared at Simon not knowing what to feel, not even sure if this was real or just some sort of twisted dream... When Kelly walked in and asked if I was ok, I couldn't hold back my tears. I broke down sobbing on the floor.

- What happened? - Kelly turned to Simon.

- Nathan kissed him! - I shouted - He fucking kissed him and tried to have sex with him.

- Is that true? - She seemed just as confused as me.

- Yes, but I didn't do anything...

- He's such a dickhead, he's just windin’ you up.

- You think so? - I tried to breathe.

- Yeah, he's just takin' the piss... Come on, let's find 'im.

- Lydia - Simon held my hand before Kelly could drag me out of the locker room - are you upset with me?

- No, Si, it's not your fault - I shook my head - thanks for telling me.

Kelly and I walked around for a bit looking for Nathan, we asked Curtis and Alisha, we even asked Shaun, no one knew where he was. By the time we found him on the roof, I had managed to stop sobbing uncontrollably and was now sobbing controllably, which I believe is called progress. 

- You think you can dick around with Simon and hurt Lydia? - Kelly kicked his chair, making him fall over - You're fuckin' mistaken, mate! I will fuck you up so  bad not even your mum will recognize you!

- Jesus! Stop kickin' me! - Nathan whined.

- You put your tongue in his mouth!

- Ok, alright, so I got a little bit fresh with him - he got up and dusted himself off - I was starin' at those big beautiful eyes... He's like a handsome shark! I couldn't help myself, I love Simon.

- But, Nathan - I looked at him in disbelief - what about us? And since when do you call him Simon?

- There is no "us", we're over!

- Stop that, come on... Enough screwing around - I walked over and tried to kiss him, but he pushed me away once again.

- No! I can't pretend any longer, I won't!

- Why are you quotin’ Jerry Maguire in your head? - Kelly squinted. 

- I've watched it four times last night - Nathan grinned - it's like he's Tom and I'm Reneé, someone else is the ugly speccy kid.

- You mean me? - I tried not to scream - Nathan, you know how insecure I am about that! Why would you say this?

- So you're tryna tell us you're gay or somethin'? - Kelly put a finger to his chest.

- Is this because you found out about us? About Simon, and now you're mad at me? - I asked in a last desperate attempt - Is that it? You're trying to get revenge? I never lied, I just couldn't tell you!

- What are you talkin' about? - Nathan rolled his eyes.

- Nothing - I finally accepted there was no way.

- You should want me t'be happy, maybe he's what's been missin' from my life - Nathan sighed - why d'you think I was always so mean to him? It's much easier to humiliate, degrade, and generally shit all over someone than it is to admit that you love them!

- I know, it took me so many fucking years to admit that I loved you, and look where it got me? I must be really fucking stupid to run after you like I did. You told me not to give up when you mess things up, but this... This is too much! - My voice trembled - You could've cheated with anyone, but Simon? Of all people? I wish I never met you, Nathan!

- Let's go, Lyds, you deserve way better than this fuckin' cunt!

Kelly took me outside and got me some water, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay how kind she's been to me in the last couple of months. 

- I can't believe I said that - I wiped my face with a tissue.

- That wasn't even half of what he deserved - she stroked my hair - but what was that about? What did you think Nathan found out?

- It's nothing, it's stupid.

- Why are you mentally rappin' about Alexander Hamilton?

- So you don't read my mind.

- You can tell me anythin', did you and Simon... Get together that time with Nathan and the old lady?

- No! Ew! - I recoiled - That's not it, it's something else, but I can't tell you right now. One day you'll know, just not now.

- Okay, take your time...

For the next few hours, Kelly tried every trick on the book to make me laugh and distract me from that disaster of a day, but I was just feeling like shit, it would take time (probably lots of it) for me to recover. I'm way too sensitive and romantic, Curtis always told me that would be the death of me, I guess he was right.

- So, I think we should go to that pub nearby and find you a nice bloke, proper fit, to take away this sadness - Kelly suggested as we changed to leave.

- I don't wanna hook up with anyone right now, I just wanna curl up on my couch and watch the pro-shot of the Legally Blonde musical.

- Then I'll do it with you.

Nathan's scent let me know he was in the room before I saw or heard him, I peeked over my shoulder and there he was... Behind Simon, with a red envelope and those loving eyes that he used to look at me with.

- This is for you - He gave Simon the envelope.

- What is it? - Si asked, uncomfortable with his proximity.

- Read it. We'll take things slow, and when you're ready to develop the physical side of our relationship you just let me know... No pressure.

- Thanks...

- It's just so hard when you're so cute, and I'm so horny, and there's only a couple o'thin layers o'cotton separatin' our genitals...

- Don't look - Kelly whispered - don't give 'im the taste.

- But he's wearing my favorite tank top, I can't not look at those shoulders and those arms... He's built like a lanky sexy greek god.

- You can do so much better, Lyds! I promise ya!

- Wait a second - I pointed - look at that heart tattoo, when did he get that done?

- Don't know... 

- Kel, I think we should go to the tattoo shop, something isn't right here.

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

Kelly and I went to Vince's shop, it was pretty late so it was probably closed, but we didn't care. This whole shit started after we set foot on that place, so he must have something to do with it.

- Hey - Vince came out of the back, his face lit up when he saw Kelly - everything alright with your tattoos?

- They're fine - Kelly said - you know the guy that was with us yesterday? The gobby one, yeah?

- Is there something wrong with him? - Vince tilted his head.

- Um... Yeah - I pressed my lips together - did you tattoo him? I saw he has a new one, I thought he might’ve come here.

- No - he looked away.

- You did it... - Kelly narrowed her eyes - Did you turn 'im into a gay?

- He had a big mouth.

- I know, it's just the way he is, he never means what he says - a tear rolled down my cheek.

- Can't turn people gay 'cause they're dickheads - Kelly scolded - you got no idea what you did, you ruined their relationship, you broke my friend's heart!

- Can you undo it? - I sniffled.

- I did you a favour, you can be with someone much better than that gobby little shit.

- I tell 'er that all the time, mate, but she loves 'im. So can you please undo whatever you did? - Kelly walked up to him.

- It's nice that you're being so protective of your friend, I always liked you, you know?

- What? - she grimaced - Now you're just bein' weird.

- I can make you happy - he pointed the tattoo gun at her - I'm gonna make you so happy.

Kelly hissed the same way Nathan did when we were all there. As we were about to leave the shop, she let go of my hand. She insisted that she needed to talk to Vince about something, I tried to stop her, but it was useless. 

Feeling completely alone, I went to the only place I could think of... My brother's flat. 

I made sure no one was following me, the entire way I kept looking around paranoid, but better safe than sorry...

When I arrived, he was nowhere to be seen, so I just laid down on his bed, way too tired to stand, no more tears left to cry.

- Lyds? - He came out of the shower after a couple of minutes.

- Hey, Si - I groaned without moving a muscle.

- I knew you'd come by today.

- So I guess I understand why you didn't wanna tell me about the big thing that would happen...

- Aw, Peanut, come here - he sat by my side and pulled me into a hug.

- Why is this happening? What did that guy do to him?

- It's gonna be ok, Lydia, I promise you - he kissed the top of my head.

- I got so scared, I thought he was winding me up because he found out about us.

- I can't tell you it's not a fucked up situation, but everything is alright in the end, if it's not alright yet, it's because it isn't the end.

- Saw you talking to Alisha today - I tried to take my mind away from Nathan - I mean, past Simon talking to Alisha.

- Did you now? - He snickered - Were you spying on them?

- No, I was just doing my job... 

- I don't know if I believe you, but okay - he teased - you wanna eat something? I bet you haven't eaten all day.

- Yeah, I'm starving.

- Come with me, let's choose something you like - Simon took my hand as we went to the kitchen.

- Can't believe you kissed my boyfriend - I was finally able to laugh at the situation, knowing that it wasn't really Nathan behind all those hurtful words.

- He kissed me! By the way, I have no idea how you deal with that, he's a horrible kisser...

[they-callme-ami]

Double Dutch. (aka the drunk! Elijah, Aurora, black!MC and Tobias fic)

Note: This story uses lots of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and is mostly intended for a black audience--you can still read for funsies or whatever, but I better not hear some shit about it not being inclusive or using 'improper grammar'.

Tags: @what-do-you-mean-theyre-evil @tyrils-star @melaninnntae @indescribablybre @prism-goddess

It started innocently enough: you were helping Aurora wrap her hair, pinning it up and tying the scarf around it.  Elijah rolled into the living room in his pajamas. You three were the only ones at home since you three had worked later than Jackie, Bryce and Sienna and didn’t feel like going out that night.  But y’all weren’t opposed to chillin and talkin’ shit. 

It had been a long ass day. Ethan was getting on every damn nerve you had, either talking about his mom and their strained relationship or bugging you about your cases. The man just did not leave you alone, and normally it was cool--but today he needed to back the fuck up and stop talkin shit about Tobias. It was gettin old. Not only that, but you had your own intern to deal with--which is what you were going on about now.

“I’m telling you Elijah--I love Esme but that girl is too fuckin much!  She always stay talkin back to the other attendings, nearly started a fight with another intern, and even when she asks for my advice she don’t listen! Thinkin she know everything….fuckin stubborn headass..” You sigh while twisting your hair.  

“Uh-huh. Sounds like a familiar head-ass doctor I know.  You were on trial last year, stoopid!  I know your ass not talkin bout Esme.  She’s a breeze compared to Sothy… he barely knows how to do anythin--it's a damn miracle he graduated y’know.”

“And who’s fault is that Elijah--oh, excuse me, Oracle.”  Aurora smirked and laughed as Elijah could only sit there, ultimately taking the L.

As y’all were about to go in on each other, there was a knock at the door.

“Oh! Finally, must be the package I ordered.  I hope y’all are ready to see me strut the halls in my new---”  You open the door, only to see Tobias there in some sweats with some take out food and a paper bag.

“Not a package, but I’d love to see what you plan on struttin in.”  He teased and smirked.

“SHIT---Uh---why are you here so late---”  You had your bonnet on and a big ass t-shirt with some stains on it and some basketball shorts.  It was the first time he'd seen you so casual.

"Easy there firecracker, I didn't expect you to look--what are the kids saying--'beat and snatched' 24/7." He pecked your lips and walked in. 

“I invited him Y/N. Tobias, don't ever try and say that shit again and bring me my wings.”  Aurora smiled and laughed, seeming to not be phased by her boss seeing her in a scarf and acne cream dotting her face.  Was she just so tired from work she didn’t care?  Who were you kidding, this girl was a complete trip after a long day and was just sayin ‘fuck it’.

“Elijah, I got Tobias to grab you some of that shrimp scampi from that place downtown, and Y/N--he got you your favorite cause I told him and you his new boo thing.”  Aurora smirked with a wing in hand, and Elijah playfully gagged while Tobias handed out takeout containers and handed yours over. Yup, it was your favorite dish from your favorite place.  

“Now--I was invited for 3 reasons: A.) I have a car so I could do the food run and get y’all spoiled asses some good food.  B.)  I live 5 blocks away from the liquor store so--” He held up a bottle from the bag he had--Hennessy, cause of course he’d get the most stereotypical dr--”And C.) I had to pull a double shift so I’m tired and nice enough to share some college Ramsey stories with y’all.”

So there you were, sipping on your glass and laughing as Tobias was explaining how Ethan thought that ‘double dutch’ was some kind of dessert or innuendo for a threesome with exchange students.

“Wait wait---no no you gotta be kiddin me.  Fuckin 4.0 Med school GPA Ramsey--future head of Edenbrooks Diagnostics Team--thought double dutch was some kinda play on words?  I have to laugh…” Elinah snorts. You couldn’t help but burst into whoops and hollars, laughing and even Aurora couldn’t hide the smile on her face after she almost choked on her drink.

“Uh-huh.  Even after I told him what it was, he insisted that he had to see ‘it’.  I took him to my old neighborhood, and watched four 9 year old girls school him while he nearly fell flat on his face!”  Tobias laughed and smiled as he recalled the memory.  “For someone so fuckin smart--I swear to god he’s a dumbass.  Arrogant too, he never wanted to jump rope at the gym anymore.”

Something inside you flipped on.  You took a sip of Henny and smirked.  

“Well, I knew he had the fuckin long-ass neck of a giraffe, but clearly them legs ain’t doin him a favor either.”  Tobias nearly spat his drink and crumbled on the floor into laughter, Elijah slamming his hand on the table and laughing with him.  It was taking all of Aurora’s willpower to not laugh and act a fool.  “I mean, I know he ain’t got any rhythm either!  Mothafucka was clappin OFFBEAT during Donahue’s karaoke night, but I’m supposed to trust him to count how many heartbeats a patient has.”  You joke again, and Elijah was holding his sides.

“Fuck---he---Y/N shut the hell up!”  Tobias laughed and playfully pushed your shoulder.  “Pass me the damn bottle….y’all lemme tell you somethin worse than that--his cooking.  The man can’t stay on beat let alone beat a fuckin egg.  Y/N--tell ‘em bout the chicken.”

“He---He invited me home after work or somethin--and he wanted me to help him with this recipe he saw for chicken.  Y’all, it was the BLANDEST ass recipe I ever saw in my life.  I was terrified to eat whatever the fuck he was makin, it was so bad his dad even helped out and said how it needed some proper seasoning.  I had never seen an old man so disappointed in such an empty spice cabinet.  I had to leave.”  You snicker as you retell the story.  “Even worse?  He tried to bring me some leftovers afterwards and by god was that mothafucka dry as HELL---y’know what, lemme calm down cause I am not about to yell over some bland ass chicken.”  You chugged down the Henny and grabbed the bottle to pour another glass.

“Y’know….for someone who seemed real eager to stuff a chicken, he cannot seem to tell he got a stick stuffed far up his ass.  No wonder he walks around like an emotionally constipated man-baby.”  Aurora said with a straight face as she chugged her own drink.  You turned away, laughing and doing a spit take as Tobias slammed his fist on the table, snorting while Elijah simply was in awe at Aurora’s words. 

 “My first week there, I was assigned to Y/N and cause my auntie was makin me give her full on oral essays of every case I had, I missed out on one of ours and nearly let a patient die.  Now---his ass knows this.  He knows exactly who the fuck I am and who the fuck my aunt is.  And what did he do?  Chewed me out without a second thought.  I was *this* close to curb stomping his ass I swear--He even called Y/N amature after saving someone’s life because it ‘was sloppy’ and ‘wasn’t professional enough’.  And another thing--” 

You watched Aurora stand up, Henny in her hand, and just goin off on Ethan.  She was tearing into him, from him being able to get off the hook for punching Declan, verbally avicerating innocent interns, being all high and mighty--man, she hated his ass.  Elijah was just eating his scampi, vibing and Tobias was smiling like a proud parent, eating his burger. 

 “He gon have the nerve--the audacity--the CAUCASITY to assume that I’M trippin because I told him about Landry being all rude and dismissive of one of his black-female patients.  He nearly put ME on probation for helping deliver the baby properly when Landry prescribed her the wrong treatment for something cause neither of them will ever fuckin LISTEN and--”  You could not have been any more impressed.  You were just soaking it all in.  She finally sat back down and ate some of her wings.

Tobias sighs and grins.  “Damn. Elijah, you been real quiet...you wanna add your two cents?” he asks while Tobias took a big gulp and sat the glass back down.  He took a deep breath.

“No, no….I just want his long-neck-headass, mommy-didn’t-love-me-so-I’m-a-lil-bitch-headass, grudge-holding-grown-ass-man-headass, lemme-insult-my-interns-headass, pompous, privileged, irritating, high and oh so fuckin’ mighty ass to humble himself and learn to get his head and the stick he got outta his ass.  It ain’t cute to just bash everyone around you cause yo ass is feelin like Hamilton, ‘smartest in the room’ mofo.”  He said, all very calmly while finishing his drink.   You, Tobias and Aurora just exchanged a look….and broke out into a fit of laughs and smiling. 

A few drinks later and a hella amount of roasts later, you were cuddled up with Tobias while Elijah laid out on Aurora's lap. 

"Damn…..we really been up for hours now. Jackie and Sienna still out…" Elijah piped up and checked his phone. "They're at Bryce's place, having a 'girls night' with Keiki and sleepin over…..ooooo, Tobias should sleep over too!" He showed y'all a photo Sienna sent. 

"Uh-huh, you should! We can watch movies and... oh Elijah your hair is sooooo soft." Aurora smiled and was playfully twisting it. Seems like the drinks were finally hitting.  Tobias could tell too.

He managed to help Elijah back in his wheelchair and followed his directions to his room.  He came back out to you helping Aurora to her room.

"Byyyye boss. See ya at work! If you do stay over, y'all better be quiet while he rearrange them guts!" She poked you laughing as you rolled your eyes and got her in bed.  You walked back out, feeling tipsy yourself and plopped on the couch...with Tobias.

"Y'know….your friends definitely know how to go all in on a roast session. I found out shit about Ethan I didn't know till now."

"Mhmmmm….Henny is….is a miracle worker…" you slurred and laughed, laying up on him. "And yoooooouuu….are a fine-ass pillow." 

Before you succumbed to the exhaustion and hennessy, you felt Tobias's lips peck your cheek gently and his arms hold you tight against him.

The next day at work, you were taking your break and went outside to the courtyard...much to your surprise you found a few children--presumabley patients-- playing double dutch with some jump rope.

"Apples, peaches, pears, and plums

Tell me when your birthday comes! 1! 2! 3! 4!"

They were counting along as you hopped inside the rope, showing off a bit and laughing. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Ethan walking towards the building.

"Hey, Ethan, wanna join? It may not be a dessert or two dutch girls--but it'll be fun!" You called out and teased while working the ropes. You could see his face turn red from where you were, and him muttering softly about Tobias. You couldn't help but laugh as you kept skipping and hopping away.

[scotianostra]

Happy 59th Birthday Scottish actor Frank Gallagher.

This is a story I like, I picked up a lot from interviews Frank did, I like stories where someone overcomes some sort of adversity, even if it is of their own making.

  Frank is best known for his role of Gangster, Lenny Murdoch, he was born 1962 and brought up in Coatbridge,  his education started at the local St. Monica Primary School. He lost his father aged two and his mother brought up Frank and his 4 siblings single handed. As a child Asthma and chest-related illnesses saw the schoolboy spend years in and out of hospital, on return to school he was playing catch up but never  achieved the promise he showed before his illness, he spent the last two years of his High School playing hooky.

  In an interview Gallagher admitted by his teenage years arrived so did a taste for Buckfast.  By the age of 16 the youngest Gallagher brother was practicing  hard to become an alcoholic and was in and out of juvenile court for petty crimes so often he was on first name terms with the clerk of court. Barlinnie Prison was just a couple of miles along the motorway and it beckoned him to reside there for a spell. But then a guardian angel came down from Heaven (well, Cumbernauld) to rescue him, offering an It’s a Wonderful Life changing moment.

  “I had a probation officer, David Ramsay, who was also a social worker – a lovely, big, gentle man. And he was exasperated with me. One day he took me aside and said to me: ‘What do you want to do with your life, Frank?’ “At this stage it was desperado stakes. So he said to Ramsay: ‘I’ve always fancied being an actor or a singer.’ And within a couple of weeks I had an audition at the Citz [Citizens Theatre in Glasgow].”

  Frank admits to the next stage of his life not being plain sailing, the social work department paid for him to attend a drama course, the trouble was getting him along to them, he recalls Ramsay catching him halfway through a buckie session and persuading him to return to the class, his lack of high school education meant he thought he was out of his depth, Gallagher admits that “I had been having problems. I wasn’t confident. I didn’t even know what improvisation meant. It was only later on I realised it meant showing off" On his return to class that night, half foo o' the tonic wine gave him the confidence to perform. Frank says “The trick then was to go sober, which I managed. And before I knew it I was making my own way to the drama club, taking the bus.”

A teacher at the drama group saw his potential and got Frank an audition to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, which he passed, Gallagher finished drama school in 1987; his first part on stage came in 1988 with John Cairney’s musical about Robert Burns, Scot Free. He cites his "lucky break" as the part he landed with Peter Mullan's Orphans in 1997, if you watched the film Frank was "Tanga" the Chinese takeaway delivery driver

  He also made five appearances in Taggart as different charters, as well as many stage roles, he has played bad boy Lenny Murdoch in River City since 2005 now, although he was away from the screen for two of those years, he is married with one son.

[asleepypisces]

A friend of mine recently shared how loud silence can be, specifically from her white friends following the murder of George Floyd. We might feel inclined to offer sympathy with statements like “I can’t believe this happened” or “this doesn’t feel real,” but it is the very privilege of being white that is causing us to feel shocked while this is an every day reality for black Americans. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims of police brutality and racism as well as all black Americans, but that is not enough. Thoughts and prayers are never enough. Now is the time for white Americans to reflect on our privilege and use it. Teach other white people about the barriers in society that exist for black Americans and call them out (this includes friends and family) if they are being racist, even when it’s uncomfortable to do so. Listen to and amplify the voices of black Americans - share their words, posts, work, businesses, art, etc during this time and ALL of the time. Lastly, learn! This is a result of a history of racism in the United States, the oppressive system that is the police, and an unjust justice system. What you shouldn’t do is share videos of these murders (share the graphics of artists instead), photographs of protestors (it can put them at risk), speak over black Americans, or be ignorant for the sake of blocking out negativity. You cannot and should not ignore this reality. What can you do, besides attending a protest (which you should if you are able)? See below!

There is a lot of information about contacting government officials and legislators, places to donate, and petitions to sign. I compiled the information I found. Know the words below are not all my own, with information gathered from a Medium article titled 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice and a USA Today article titled Resources, ways to donate: How you can take action from home after the death of George Floyd as well as information I found on my own.

Contacting legislators, lawmakers, and other officials:

* Google whether your local police department currently requires all on-duty police officers to wear a body camera turned on immediately whenever they respond to a call. If they don’t, email your city or town representative and police chief to advocate for it.

* Google whether your city or town uses evidence-based police de-escalation trainings. If not, again email your city or town representative and police chief to advocate for it.

* Call or email your federal legislators in support of the bipartisan (sponsored by Sen Lee (R-UT)) Smarter Sentencing Act (S. 2850) which reduces the length of federal mandatory minimum drug sentences by half, makes the Fair Sentencing Act’s crack sentencing reforms retroactive, and expands the “safety valve” exception to mandatory drug sentences. This is would reduce mandatory minimum sentences on a federal level! Obviously decriminalization is the goal, but supporting this legislation is a start.

* Call or email your federal legislators in support of the bipartisan(sponsored by Sen Rand (R-KY)) Justice Safety Valve Act (S. 399, H.R. 1097), which would allow judges to give sentences other than the mandatory minimum sentence for any federal crime which should again reduce mandatory minimum sentences! Again, a start.

* Call or email your federal legislators in support of another criminal justice reform bill, the Second Look Act, which would make reduced sentences for crack convictions from the previously passed Fair Sentencing Act retroactive, reduce mandatory minimums for people convicted more than three times for drug crimes from life without parole after the third offense to 25 years, reduce mandatory sentences for drug crimes from 15 to 10 years, limit the use of solitary confinement on juvenile prisoners, etc. Again, it’s a start.

* Call or email your your state legislators and governor to support state-wide criminal justice reform! This includes reducing mandatory minimum sentences, reducing sentences for non-violent drug crimes, passing “safety valve” law to allow judges to depart below a mandatory minimum sentence under certain conditions, passing alternatives to incarceration, etc.

* Call or write to state legislators, federal legislators, and your governor to decriminalize weed.

* Call or write to state legislators to require racial impact statements be required for all criminal justice bills. Most states already require fiscal and environmental impact statements for certain legislation. Racial impact statements evaluate if a bill may create or exacerbate racial disparities should the bill become law. Check out the status of your state’s legislation surrounding these statements here.

* Call or write to state legislators, federal legislators, and your governor to end solitary confinement in excess of 15 days. It is considered torture by the UN, and it is used more frequently on black and Hispanic prisoners.

* Write to the US Sentencing Commission (PubAffairs@ussc.gov) and ask them to:

* reform the career offender guideline to lessen the length of sentences

* change the guidelines so that more people get probation

* change the criminal history guidelines so that a person’s criminal record counts against them less

* change guidelines to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes

* conduct a study to review the impact of parental incarceration on minor children. With more data, the Commission could modify the Sentencing Guidelines and allow judges to take this factor into account when sentencing individuals for non-violent crimes.

* conduct a study to review whether the Bureau of Prisons is following the Commission’s encouragement to file a motion for compassionate release whenever “extraordinary and compelling reasons” exist.

* consider amending the guidelines to reduce sentences for first offenders.

* Write to your state legislators to end cash bail. Your wealth should not determine your freedom. Legally innocent people are in jail not because they’re guilty, but because they cannot afford the price of their freedom.

Petitions:

(If you need postal code for non-US people who sign 90015 is Los Angeles, CA; 10001 is New York City, NY; and 75001 is Dallas, TX.)

* Sign the petition here that aims to “reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately.“ https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd

* Sign the petition here to “demand the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder." So far, the petitions has garnered more than 1 million signatures. You can also sign by texting "Floyd" to 55156. https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis

* Sign the petition here “demanding justice for George Floyd and his family by adding your name to our super petition. When you sign, our platform will automatically send your message to County Attorney Michael Freeman, who has the power to arrest and charge these police officers.” All officers must be held responsible. https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/#petition

Text:

* Text “Justice” to 668366.

* Text “Floyd to 55156 to sign the petition mentioned above.

Donate money:

* GoFundMe: Organized by Philonise Floyd, George's brother, the fund was created to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings and to assist the family in the days to come as they “continue to seek justice for George,” according to the description. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd, which benefits his children and their educational fund.” https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

* NAACP: Donations to the NAACP go toward: helping “win landmark legal battles, protect voters across the nation, and advance the cause of racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.” https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6857/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=15780&_ga=2.209233111.496632409.1590767838-1184367471.1590767838

* Black Lives Matter: You can become a "Global Member" by donating $5 to support their campaigns. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

* Communities United Against Police Brutality: A Minneapolis organization who accepts donations via mail or PayPal for “office costs, copwatch equipment, court filing fees and other expenses." https://www.cuapb.org/

* Minnesota Freedom Fund: An organization that helps pay jail bonds for those who cannot afford to fight discriminatory and coercive jailing. "Every dollar of financial donations to Minnesota Freedom Fund helps us help free people," the website states. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

* Reclaim the Block: A grassroots, Minneapolis organization that demands “that Minneapolis invest in real safety solutions like violence prevention, housing, responses to mental health and opioid crises, and protections for workers instead of 14 more cops.” They are focused on building community-led safety solutions. https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home

* Black Visions Collective: Aims “to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota.” They are recommenced by the Minnesota Freedom Fund as they are out on the field right now. https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2

Donate Supplies:

* North Star Health Collective: Recommended by the Minnesota Freedom Fund as they are also out in the field right now. Accepts first-aid supplies. The link will take you to the website for information on what they need and where to send it. https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/support-north-star-health

Where to shop:

* If you are looking for clothes, I linked Maya Rigby’s (aka @lovlae) Depop. 100% of her proceeds for the next week will be going to Reclaim the Block. If you don’t need clothes, she has cute scrunchies available! https://www.depop.com/mayarigby/

* Philadelphia Printworks “supports local and national organizations doing work in the areas of food security, police brutality, immigrant rights, tlgbq+ rights, mass incarceration, and more. Support is determined by the needs of the organization and may be financial and/or resource based.” For example, 100% of the profits from the National Bail Out shirts goes to the NBO. https://www.philadelphiaprintworks.com/

* @ghosttownusa is donating 100% of Depop proceeds (@ablesistersvillage) to North Star Health Collective.

*Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign is inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem and supports a variety of organizations including Essie Justice Group, Black Futures Lab, and Higher Heights (as well as many others.) https://phenomenalwoman.us/pages/about

Lastly, be politically active and vote in all elections! Following the recent twitter response of Trump towards people protesting police brutality and considering the future of The Supreme Court, this presidential election matters. Local elections matter too and directly impact our community in our everyday lives. They are the ones who can change policing in our communities. Stay informed on candidates and if you want to do more, canvassing and volunteering at the polls on Election Day are two ways you can volunteer. However, remember that the solution to end police brutality is not a simple matter of voting Trump out of office - consider the victims of police brutality before this presidency. This requires supporting the campaigns of black candidates, specifically women, through organizations like Higher Heights which is “the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies.”

Please feel free to add on or send me any suggestions/corrections, and may George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all victims of police brutality and racism rest in peace and power. 💕🖤

[gvbejvmesmichaels]

Task 10

Briel’s Honey Do List Master List of Everyone’s Schedules

Monday:

Bella’s Schedule:

9am -- Ballet -- DJ dropping off before work; Madie’s mom taking them both to gymnastics. 10:30am -- Gymnastics; Madie’s mom feeding them and taking to school. 12:30pm -- Pre-K; Velvet and Grey picking up from school and she’s hanging out with them until 6pm.

DJ’s Schedule:

9:30am-2:30pm -- Camp art; Teaching 3-5 section 2:30pm-5pm -- Camp art; front desk

Jay’s Schedule:

Morning -- staff meetings Afternoon -- court; I think??? **likely to work late**

My Schedule:

7am-1pm: Volunteering at Urban Farm 1pm -- on: Studio time while everyone else is busy

Who’s responsible for dinner? Me Anything else I need to do? Check on pieces in kiln. Pick up drycleaning? I think?

Tuesday:

Bella’s Schedule: Morning -- with me at the Collective 12:30pm -- pre-k. DON’T FORGET TO PICK HER UP AT 2:30!

Connie’s Schedule:

She has her check-in with her probation officer today. If she fails her drug test, there’s no visitation on Friday. DJ’s Schedule: Morning -- Camp art; front desk. 1pm-4pm -- Intro to Art History at the CC. PRETEND YOU DON’T KNOW. He still thinks he’s being sneaky. Let him continue to think that. He’ll probably quit taking classes if he knows you know.

Jay’s Schedule:

Court all day. (Again, I’m pretty sure he has court???) He’s likely to come home early. I think???

My Schedule:

Morning at the Collective

Receive and review shipment.

Unload clay order. Make sure extra was included to make up for last week’s dried up portion.

Allocate the new brushes and palette knives.

Figure out why the fuck K ordered 40 gallons of resin.

Afternoon:

Take Bella to school.

Meeting with Odette and Xuan at Destiny Management.

Who’s responsible for dinner? Jay Anything else I need to do? Pick up the special dog food Felony likes.

Wednesday:

Bella’s Schedule:

Same as Monday - except Jay is dropping Bella off at ballet and you’re picking her up from school. 

DJ’s Schedule:

Off from the Collective. Probably will wind up on my couch hanging out with the dogs.

Jay’s Schedule: 

I don’t think he has court... I think he has meetings at the office? I know he told me earlier… ask him again later.

My Schedule:

Morning at the Collective:

8am staff meeting at the Collective.

BRUSH CLEANING DAY!

11am meeting with potential new vendor for kiln cleaning.

LEAVE FOR SCHOOL NO LATER THAN 12!!!

Afternoon:

Camp art: Teaching the 9-12 year old section how to use the ceramics wheel. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a fucking disaster.

Who’s responsible for dinner? I feel like it’s going to be a takeout night. Anything else I need to do? Probably get clay out of weird places.

Thursday:

Bella’s Schedule:

10am - music class with Waverly 12:30pm - pre-k — I’m dropping off and Jay is picking up 3:30pm - Daddy and me French class with Jay. I really need to figure out what that class is really called.

DJ’s Schedule

Morning: Teaching at Camp Art Afternoon: That class he doesn’t know that I know he’s taking.

Jay’s Schedule

I have no fucking clue but I know he’s off earlier enough for that French class.

My Schedule

Nothing set in stone other than GB’s class. I’ll probably have breakfast with Nik.

Working from home: payroll - go offline so Kale can’t fuck with the files again.

I also need to do the schedule for next week and verify student attendance.

Who’s responsible for dinner? Me, but Jay will probably take over when I get home. Anything else I need to do? Follow up with the social worker to find out if Connie passed her drug test and if we actually have visitation.

Friday

My and Bella’s schedule:

We’re supposed to have visitation with Connie in the morning. If visitation falls through, we’ll go to Urban Farm and take care of the baby ducks again. If we get to visitation, and Connie no shows, we’ll go to Jay’s office and steal him for early lunch. If Connie does show up for visitation, we’ll go somewhere with milkshakes for lunch and then maybe walk around Central Park.

DJ’s Schedule:

He won’t be at work and won’t answer his phone. He gets weird on visitation day. If Connie doesn’t show up, he’ll somehow know and will be on a mission to find her.

Jay’s Schedule:

Court is closed, I know that much. If Connie’s visitation is cancelled in advance, see if he wants to play hooky on Friday and spend the day at the beach.

[angst-fairygodmother]

Lucky Man (Shaun Merton x Reader)

A/N: Look, I know this is a party of one, but I am very fond of the probation worker, and it’s my blog so... :P Word Count: 889 Content Warning: references to sex

It had started as just sex.

Actually, it had started with you being bored and morbidly curious how his actual performance stood up to his bragging about his sexual prowess, and, after weeks of flirtatious comments and propositioning you, him promising “just one kiss, and it doesn’t do anything for you, I’ll leave you alone.”

You hated how said kiss had made you moan and pull him closer. You hated how you’d surrendered to him for the first time then and there, how you’d let him lift you up onto your desk, how you’d hiked your skirt and wrapped your legs around his waist. You hated the rough, delicious drag of his jeans against your inner thighs. You hated that you’d gasped and cried out and come apart twice for him. You hated that it had quickly turned into a pattern of fucking each other senseless in one office or the other (or the locker room, toilets, storage closet, or wherever. Neither of you were particularly picky about where you found the time or space to be alone) and then going right back to pretending – you were pretty sure it was just pretending – that you couldn’t stand each other.

But the thing you hated the most was that you didn’t hate any of it, or him, and no matter how much you reminded yourself of the arrangement, you found yourself catching feelings. Maybe you should have expected it when you started working in the community center, that you would fall for someone there, since your long hours and the isolation of your job meant that you didn’t really see anyone else. But why did it have to be with the often dick-ish probation worker and not someone…less abrasive, and maybe closer to your own age?

Shaun’s lips trailed along the side of your neck and you sighed, leaning into his touch even as your mind spun, searching for some reason you shouldn’t be doing this. Luckily, or unluckily, you couldn’t decide, your stomach suddenly growled loudly and he pulled back to stare at you.

“Hey, don’t give me that look,” you chuckled. “I haven’t eaten all day, and you’re the one who brought take-away as an excuse to come in here.”

You gestured to the cartons of rice and curry that were sitting on top the stack of green vinyl chairs near the door. He shook his head with what might have been called a fond smile on his face before passing you one of the white boxes and leaning against a set of shelves with the other.

“Hey can I ask you something?” you said hesitantly, poking at your food thoughtfully.

He looked up from his own, surprised. His eyes flickered over your slightly frowning face. Then he shrugged, his own expression carefully guarded.

“Why are you such a dick to them?” you asked, gesturing toward the door, indicating that you meant Simon, Alisha, and the others.

“It’s obvious they’re involved in some shit,” he said after a moment’s consideration.

“Right but…” you frowned further in confusion. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“If I know what they’re up to, I’ll have to get involved.”

“So you’re just actually that lazy that you’re a dick because you don’t want to do your job?”

He rolled his eyes and made a mocking face at you. “No.”

“I don’t get it. What am I missing?”

“You’ve been involved in a lot of it. Am I wrong?”

You looked away, not wanting to lie to him but not sure what he was getting at.

“I thought so,” he smirked. “That’s a good reason not to get involved by itself then. Because if I report it…they’ll get caught. And I have no doubts it would end with all of them, all of you, in prison.”

“So you’re protecting…us?”

He shrugged. “They’re a bunch of dickheads, but they probably don’t deserve to do hard time. You certainly don’t.”

It was the closest he had ever come to showing actual emotion, to confessing that he cared. You stared at him, trying to process this information and only falling harder as a result.

Setting your food aside, you hopped down off your seat on the desk. He stared down at you as you took the few steps necessary to cross your closet of an office and place yourself within his space.

“What is that look for?” he asked, eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“You act like you don’t care because you actually care a whole hell of a lot?”

He shrugged, shifting uncomfortably. You reached up, wrapping an arm around his neck.

“You are just full of surprises, Shaun. And each one of them just makes you more attractive. And that’s very unfair.”

“Oh?”

“Mhm,” you said, stretching up onto your toes to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “How am I not supposed to fall for you when you’re all…strangely perfect like that?” You scrunched up your nose in mock annoyance, your joke distracting you enough to not think about what you were admitting.

“Fall for me huh?” he muttered, leaning closer so that his breath ghosted over your face.

“Uh-huh,” you responded with a nod.

“Well, aren’t I a very lucky man then?”

He smirked before leaning down to kiss you hungrily, and soon your takeaway was wholly forgotten.