#and probably some tattoos that she'll hate by the time she's 25

[pacinglikeghosts]

so....seems like y'all were frustrated with us after that last chapter (which has been fun for us to read!). as compensation, here is an excerpt from a fic im working on in the same universe as dad!carmy, with olivia as a teenager! also known as, the misadventures of carmen berzatto raising a teenage girl. olivia is sixteen in this, so ten years after the original fic!

“Can I talk to you?” Olivia asks, joining Sydney on the couch. The restaurant's closed on Sundays, under the guise of the Lord's day of rest, which usually prompts times like this, Sydney researching god-knows-what while Carmy runs errands, and Olivia tagging along on his trips or working on her homework. In the chaos of the kitchen, the dull moments were just as exhilarating. 

Sydney looks up from her laptop, a tab on recent restaurant closures on her screen. “Uh…yeah, um, sure.  What’s up?”

“I need advice, and I don’t want to ask Dad or Auntie Nat,” Olivia says, pulling her knees to her chest. Sydney’s eyes widen, panic crossing over her face as if she’s running through every possibility. “Jesus, Syd, I’m fine!” Olivia insists, fighting back laughter over the panicked expression. “I just…I’m into this guy in my math class. I want to ask him out, or whatever, and we’ve been talking for a while, but I don’t want to embarrass myself and ruin everything. I didn’t want to ask Auntie Nat, because she’d give me some stupid shit about trusting my heart or whatever, and Dad’s Dad.”

“You’re asking me for relationship advice?” Sydney asks, a bit bewildered. Olivia nods. “Well, I just want to tell you that I’m probably not going to have great advice…I’ve only had one real relationship in the past twenty years, and it didn’t exactly start on the healthiest of terms.” 

Olivia shrugs. Another thing they’ve been transparent about, solely because of its impact on their lives through customers and people in the grocery store, was Sydney and Carmy’s relationship. It’s a little gross to Olivia even now, but her parents are happy, so she can’t complain too much. Especially when she could have a parent six feet in the ground or spend her weekends shuttling from one parent’s place to another. “That’s fine,” she promises. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“What’s this boy like?” Sydney asks, awkwardly drumming her fingers on her legs and her laptop. 

Olivia pulls her phone from her hoodie pocket, unlocking it and typing for a few seconds. “His name’s Logan, he’s on the debate team and plays lacrosse, and he’s really cool. Cooler than me.” 

“Okay, let me see a picture of him,” Sydney encourages, setting her laptop down on the coffee table. 

Olivia turns her phone around, showing off a few photos she pulled from his social media profiles. Sydney presses her lips together in a poor attempt of hiding the smile on her face, shaking her head. “What’s so funny?” Olivia asks with a frown. 

“Nothing, honey, don’t worry about it,” Sydney forces out, attempting to keep a straight face. “I’ll think on some advice, okay? Finish your homework.”

“What–Syd, what’s so funny about him? He’s cool, and hot, and—”

Sydney shakes her head. “I told you, I’m going to think of some advice. It’s been a few years, I haven't really thought about this.”

[squirrelno2]

Back at it again with my Jedi oc, this time introducing a clone to be her pining lesbian counterpart. For context this is set incredibly early in the clone wars so Jedi and clones really haven't learned anything about each other as groups except what Kaminoans told them and then whatever they've picked up as individuals/through the grapevine. and also '25 (name to be revealed in the course of me writing this fic but also she'll have a character tag on this post) has Issues. that too.

It was a strange number for a squad. CT-1525 had been expecting a normal squad of nine plus herself as the lieutenant, with a sergeant to answer to and everything. Instead, she was assigned to a Jedi who’d be running relief missions with only a small squad, and she’d be the Jedi’s primary point person. Not that ’25 hated the idea of being in charge, but it wasn’t what she’d expected at all. Especially when the Jedi, General Tayonissa Miran, didn’t show up on time.

“So if she’s not here after fifteen minutes, do we just go back to Kamino?” asked one of ‘25’s new subordinates. CT-907. She’d never met them before today, but she suspected they wouldn’t get along. 907 was obviously cavalier about everything.

“Enough,” ’25 said. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

She could feel other clones and the natborns who worked here in the Jedi Temple hangar watching them. She wished they could just board the ship assigned to them, but that was for General Miran to order.

At last, one of the bustling figures in the hangar came for them. A Mirialan woman with a cloud of black hair and muted purple and fawn-coloured robes sprinted toward them, then paused a few feet away to draw herself upright. She caught CT-1525 looking and smiled sheepishly.

“Hello,” she said as she approached. “I’m sorry I was late. You’re, uh – CT-1525?”

“Yes, General Miran,” said CT-1525. She was already at attention, but she tried to stand a little straighter anyway. Her new general’s face quirked with something – amusement? Disgust? ’25 had her experience with both. She didn’t really like either one.

“I’m not a general,” Miran said. “At least, I don’t think so. Considering you’re the only ones reporting to me.”

“You’re a Jedi, sir,” ’25 said. “And no padawan.”

Miran stared at ’25 for a long moment. ’25 took the chance to stare back at her. The general – Jedi, whatever – had skin that was such a deep, dark green it seemed to sparkle. Diamonds were tattooed on both cheeks, in a pattern that ’25 imagined had been symmetrical before whatever had scarred her and left her right eyelid drooping over a damaged eyeball. Short, wild curls fell into General Miran’s eyes, and ’25 wondered if she would permit a suggestion about tying it back on the battlefield.

“This army has serious organisational issues,” General Miran said at last. ’25 was so startled she nearly laughed. She choked it back just in time. General Miran shook her head, turning away from ’25 to look at the others.

“Tell you what,” she said, pitching her low, husky voice up so every clone could hear her. “Let’s skip the title confusion altogether. It’s just Tayo.”

“Sir,” ’25 said. “We can’t – that would be –“

“I promise if we have to look like a normal, put-together army team you can call me ‘general’ all you like,” she said, patting ’25 on the chest. ’25 stared down at the place where General Miran’s hand had just connected with her armour, unsure what to say or do.

“We have regulations,” ’25 said feebly. “The chain of command –“

“They wanted Jedi to run this war for a reason, right?” said General Miran. “So here’s some Jedi wisdom. I am not more important than you. You’re all here in case something goes wrong, or the assignments I get would put me in over my head on my own. And probably so the rest of the GAR can keep an eye on me.”

“Sir –“ ’25 protested. Miran held up a hand.

“Let me finish,” she said. ’25 slammed her mouth shut, mortified.

“I am not more important than you,” Miran said again. “I’ll watch your backs. I’m happy to have you watch mine. But our job is protecting all the people out there, and making sure they live through a war they never asked for. So if you have to, you leave me behind. This bowing and scraping ‘general’ nonsense won’t cut it. You need to know I’m no different than you.”

’25 had heard of things like this already. Self-sacrificing Jedi, putting clones under their command above their own well-being. Her brother was serving one such general right now, General Windu.

“That has to cut both ways, sir,” ’25 said. “If one of us gets hurt, and it’s between us and the people we serve.”

Miran sucked in a sharp breath, staring at ’25. ’25 hardly dared breathe. She didn’t regret saying it, but she knew she’d overstepped. Not to mention the squad had heard. If any of them disagreed with ’25, she’d just signed the general up for a very awkward position.

“Then we should hope it never comes down to that,” Miran said at last. “Because you’re my responsibility, too.”

So are you a general or not, sir? ’25 didn’t say it. She’d pushed her luck enough for today.

With a sharp intake of breath, Miran smiled at her squad.

“Well, come on, then,” she said. “Let’s get started!”

[humaforever]

Huma relationship Questions

1. Acts like they’re dying when they have a cold.

Harry of course. He just knows that his dramatics will get Uma's attention. He doesn't really care if that's not always a good thing.

2. Gets mad at the TV.

Uma, because people are dumb. She can't stand stupidity.

3. Gets the worst road rage.

Uma does most of the driving, but probably Harry because he will blame all his mistakes on the drivers around him. It's simply easier that way, especially when he's explaining himself to Uma. Just blame everyone else and don't take the fault for anything.

4. What do their text messages look like?

Probably something like this-

5. Packs the whole closet for an overnight trip.

Harry would for sure do this. He can't look imperfect, c'mon! He would probably even pack some of Uma's clothes, for her but also, mostly for himself.

6. Hates the in-laws.

Harry def hates Ursula more than Uma hates James Hook. But let's not make it a competition.

7. Hits the snooze button…11 times.

Both, but probably Uma more so. She likes sleep okay! Who doesn't?

8. Makes the other late for work.

Harry. He needs the kisses and cuddles and it would be rude of Uma to deny him of that. But also Harry will make himself late for work because he can't bear to leave Uma.

9. Who wants multiple kids

I feel like Uma doesn't like the thought of kids just because she's scared that she'll hurt her kids. But I think they'd eventually have kids. Harry probably wants multiple just because he loves his siblings a lot.

10. Takes in the stray dog.

Uma, cuz she's a softy

11. Suggests a 3am trip to McDonald’s.

Uma would suggest it but Harry would encourage it with every fiber of his being and be so excited to go on a date at 3am

12. Who takes longer to get ready

Harry. We all know this.

13. Can’t make up their mind when it comes to dinner.

Probably Uma, I feel like Harry is just down for whatever.

14. Needs to be reminded of all their appointments.

Harry. He has a short attention span and his mind wanders.

15. Bribes the other into doing chores.

I feel like this is kinda canonically Harry right? Like he has no chores on the Lost Revenge in Uma's book. But then again I think he's a hard worker so neither maybe.

16. Picks the movies.

They take turns picking the movie

17. Takes the safety steps when building a pillow fort.

Not the safety steps but Uma is very strategic about how she builds her fort

18. Kisses the other’s injuries better.

Harry. It makes Uma smile and he loves having the extra reason to kiss her

20. Kills the spiders.

Harry's scared of spiders so Uma takes them outside. She'll kill a person but not a spider.

21. Hogs the blankets.

UMA! Girlie needs all the blankets

22. Takes pranks too far.

They don't do pranks. Mal took a 'prank' too far and they were both traumatized from it

23. Makes the dirty jokes.

Harry makes dirty jokes at inappropriate times. He just likes to let the whore in him loose sometimes

24. Keeps a piggy bank.

Harry, it's good for him to keep track of his finances. Plus he has a cool octopus one that reminds him of Uma

25. Has no problem having ice cream for breakfast.

Yeah neither of them care what they eat for breakfast. They were robbed of all the good foods, they don't follow social standards

26. Gets a tattoo when they’re drunk.

Harry's probably done it more times but it's a close race.