#bay now smartphone

[clowningaroundmars]

punkflower hcs bc i need to see more of them being cute teen boys together.... like, playful and creative and stuff

looong long wall of text under the cut (no nsfw)

♡ miles and hobie definitely exchange art often, even collabing on some punk zines and graffiti pieces occasionally. hobie also makes mixtapes on cassettes and slaps a million stickers on them just for his bf. miles appreciates the kind gesture but reminds hobie that he doesnt have a cassette player. "yet," hobie tells him with a wink :)

♡ miles draws a million little doodles for hobie on scrap paper, post it notes, hobie's gear, hobie himself. ofc hobie loves them all, esp when he gets to go home with his arms and chest covered in stars, cartoons, graffiti, and hearts

♡ miles is a lot more shy about dancing in public than hobie is, but whenever they manage to have any downtime at all hobie will wrap his arms around miles and sway them around. if music is playing anywhere, hobie will bop to it and get miles to join in

♡ hobie's love language? touch. any kind, anytime, anywhere, for any reason. words of affirmation come next

♡ miles' love language? quality time, and he's big on kissing. hobie isnt much of a kisser but loves his sunflower just the same, and does not complain at all when miles places little kisses on his hands, ears or his back

♡ sometimes hobie will be a lil mean to miles just as a flirty thing. just usual teenage boy stuff like kicking miles' sneakers, manspreading to get into his space if they're sitting anywhere together, using his height to bully miles into a corner away from everyone so they can flirt some more, crashing into miles on purpose just to be annoying

♡ anytime they get to go on multiverse missions together they somehow manage to get into the craziest shenanigans. breaking into a zoo to stop a villain from mutating the animals, saving a group of schoolkids on a field trip from a killer robot (?), one time hobie even drove a runaway car to stop it from crashing right into jamaica bay and miles was scarred for life

hobie tries to control the car as he haphazardly swerves it around pedestrians and barely manages to miss a group of elderly people.

miles clings onto his seat for dear life. "HOBIE!! you're gonna kill us man, where'd you get your license from!?" he yells.

hobie scoffs. "license?! i said i could drive, mate, i aint mention nuthin' 'bout no license!"

♡ hobie's universe is set in the 1970's and living in a dystopian police-state means it's too risky to bring back a phone with him, so he's often left out of spiderkid groupchats. miles still tries to keep him up to date on the latest memes and inside jokes though. they also have their own inside jokes too

♡ hobie wouldn't bring a smartphone with him anyways since he's so mistrusting of tech in general. video games, laptops, and "smart" tech mystify him, and smart watches? forget about it. when miles gets one for christmas one time, hobie clowned on his bf so hard the watch was never seen again

♡ that being said, they love exchanging music often so the only piece of technology hobie ever brings back to his dimension is an ancient half-busted ipod (it was probably rio's at one point) filled with music miles managed to download for him that week. spiderman-ing and living as a homeless teen means hobie doesn't get much time to explore genres outside of the UK punk scene and listening to brand new genres is often a trip! hobie finds out he loves drum n bass, grindcore, industrial techno, UK drill, deep house and 90's hip hop

♡ hobie gets miles to make him cool posters for whatever venue he plans on (or doesnt plan lbr) playing at every now and then

♡ rio LOVES hobie. hobie is the perfect gentleman (gentlespider?) around her and often tries to help her around the house when he can. miles... does not enjoy how much his mom favors his partner. jeff is also not so crazy about this smart-mouthed punk

♡ miles and hobie absolutely swap clothing as often as possible, with hobie "borrowing" miles' clothes more often. miles' parents keep commenting on how much of a rockero he looks with all the punk stuff and hobie never returns clothes without having altered them in some way (pins n bits everywhere, a mysterious rip or two here n there, pinned-up sleeves, etc)

♡ miles is absolutely horrible at cooking and feels left out when he sees hobie helping his mom in the kitchen. he desperately tries to learn, but it's a wonder how he hasnt sliced his fingers off yet trying to peel and cut platanos so they can make tostones

♡ for a person who's built like a lamppost, hobie is shockingly graceful with his movements. he always slips around a room like a cat and miles is so jealous of that. long gangly limbs should be a deterrent from moving like That and yet here he is, practically pirouetting around miles for fun

♡ which is a total TRIP when they go out swinging around a city. once the mask is on, every movement hobie makes is chaotic, frantic and unpredictable. spiderpunk and hobie are very different people sometimes

♡ rio often points out hobie's thinness as a typical hispanic mom does ("jóven, pero tu 'ta tan flaco, hobie honey come eat! i have leftovers here!") and miles also agrees that hobie could eat a lil more too. he is always sneaking bits of food into hobie's pockets or bags, saving fries and last slices for his partner. sometimes hobie brings home armfuls of tupperware filled with caribbean food back to his boat

♡ in return, hobie is like a magpie and brings back shiny gifts for them, some handmade stuff too. miles' drawers and nightstand are filled with jewelry, bottles, knickknacks, and other handmade accessories. his walls are filled with collages and zines hobie makes for him and rio bought frames for some of the pieces he makes her

♡ the first person to say "i love you" was miles, but by accident. after realizing it, he was nervous as hell worrying that hobie would clown him to death since he didnt seem like a big romantic. instead, hobie went nuts about it in his own hobie way, writing lyrics about miles' face when he said it, doodling them together more often, teasing miles about it often but lightheartedly. he flaunts miles' love whenever he can

♡ miles has a lethal puppydog face and he KNOWS it! one 🥺 look and hobie immediately folds and gives miles whatever he wants. but not before hemming and hawing about it first, playing up his hesitation just to make miles laugh

♡ speaking of laughter, hobie does Thee Most just to see his bf laugh or smile. he will always goof off in the bg, crack jokes every 2 secs and pretend to get hurt sometimes. hobie is naturally sarcastic and goofs off in general anyways but around miles he dials it up to 200

♡ hobie tries to get miles in on the whole anarchism thing but 1. the texts and manifestos from his dimension are different than miles' and 2. miles is a teen boy. he doesn't know anything about the theory of alienation or effective mutual aid and won't really care at the moment. "mm, you'll learn all 'bout it soon enough, though... eventually," hobie muses

♡ miles is not as big on pet names as hobie is. hobie has like 24984 nicknames for miles but miles mostly sticks to just calling his partner by his name. one day during history class tho a lightbulb moment happens, and when they meet up again miles is excited

"hobie!! guess what, i really got it this time. i have a nickname that i know you're gonna love!"

"spill," hobie says as he throws an arm over miles' shoulders.

"so you always call me sunflower all the time, right? and your name is ho... bee. get it? so i was thinkin' i'm gonna call you 'honey bee' now. y'know, you're not the only one who's got corny ass nicknames! it's good, right?"

hobie has to fight not to grin like a jackass

♡ hobie's sleep schedule is atrocious so whenever miles can manage it, he tries to wrestle his partner into any bed and tucks him in. hobie is touched that his sunflower cares so much about him ♡

♡ miles almost never gets permission to sleep over other friends' houses but on the rare occasions he does, he leaps into portals and goes to visit hobie in his dimension. his fave part of New London is hobie's boat, bc they set up a big hammock for them to lay in, feeling the sway of the boat and letting it lull them to sleep. not to mention that the boat itself is totally badass, and hobie more often than not encourages miles to cover it in graffiti

♡ hobie lowkey (but highkey) loves when miles gets a little bossy, forceful or stern. he loves ribbing miles about it (the "ill do it, but not cuz you told me to" line in mumbattan was a total joke from hobie btw LOL) and saying corny shit in response to a demand, but he loves seeing miles being confident and calling the shots every once in a while. it makes him proud

♡ if they can, miles and hobie try to gather up as much food as they can and take it over to the F.E.A.S.T. that's in hobie's dimension. miles meets hobie's "family" there and gets to know the community, which feels so much more tight-knit and welcoming than Visions. once miles gets over the major jarring differences between his world and hobie's, he finds he LOVES New London

♡ miles and hobie teach each other slang from their countries and time periods, you can't change my mind. miles walks around saying shit like "bloody 'ell" and "septic" all the time. the one time hobie said "deadass" completely unironically, all of the spiderkids DIED laughing

♡ miles learns that EVERY spider is a total dweeb in some way shape or form. even hobie! hobie's awkwardness comes out when theyre in big groups of people. hobie is oddly comfy with performing in front of crowds but when he's invited to parties and tries mingling, it's so... sooo awkward. miles secretly rejoices when he finds out hobie's weakness

♡ i'm an adhd hobie truther and i hc that miles buys hobie the weirdest fidget toys he can get his hands on. along with his switchblade, jewelry, and whatever he stole that day, hobie carries various different fidget toys in his vest to keep boredom at bay

♡ hobie definitely writes songs for miles but takes a very very very long time to actually admit it. miles finally finds out when one of hobie's songwriting notebooks falls open when hanging out in his boat, and hobie comes clean about it. with miles' encouragement tho, hobie makes the decision to add some of those songs into the usual setlist his band performs

♡ if miles ever has time, he tries to attend whatever gig hobie and his band has going on. he loves to see hobie perform on stage, his energy and stage presence is always electrifying

[panthera-dei]

Technomancy 101

Hi, friends! I'm back with another witchy FAQ from the past couple weeks. This time from the world of tech magic!

Here are some quick TL;DR technomancy tips for those who may not want to read the long FAQs post beneath the cut:

1. Chest spells (like a jar spell but with a chest filled with in game items that match the intent)

2. Poppet spells using the game characters by giving them items or altering their names/appearances

3. Similar to a chest spell but not necessarily magic per se - using chests or sheds with in-game items as altars and/or offerings

4. Build a shrine / altar / temple with offerings, or leave an item such as a torch in the game world as an offering

5. Burn/bury/destroy ingredients to activate a spell with the desired effect

6. Write an affirmation or a spell on a sign or other in-game item and destroy it to activate as a sigil

7. Build a golem or animal pen or something as a servitor for protection

8. Use some form of sympathetic magic connecting in-game items to IRL items

9. Light sticks, flashlights, plastic lightsabers, and toy sonic screwdrivers make *awesome* wands, especially if they light up and make noise.

10. The possibilities are limited to your imagination!!

(I am choosing Wittgenstein from The Brave Little Toaster movies as my mascot for tech magic, simply because I like him and because I can. Image credit - Fandom Wiki.)

What is technomancy?: Technomancy, techno magic, and tech magic are all terms for a form of magic that utilizes common modern technology, such as smartphones and video games. Technically, “technomancy” could refer specifically to divination with technology; however, in my experience, the term usually has a broader meaning in common usage. I personally tend to use these terms interchangeably, with perhaps a slight preference for technomancy, since I learned that name first.

What are some forms of technomancy?: Common forms of technomancy include digital sigils, emoji spells, shufflemancy, video game spells, and video game altars.

How do I create a digital sigil?: The ways are about as unlimited as creating a physical sigil on paper. You can use a drawing app on a smartphone or tablet, find a digital sigil generator online, use a photo editor on a picture, or even add a string of charged letters to an email signature (just make sure they blend in!).

OK, and what's the deal with emoji spells?: Yes, this is an actual thing (though not a thing that I'm particularly experienced with). They're pretty straightforward. They can be done like a sigil - string emojis together and charge them. Or like an actual spell - put them together and send to cast, or like to charge and send/reblog to cast.

What kind of games can you use for technomancy?: Any of them. Minecraft is a very popular one. So is Stardew Valley. Skyrim and other RPGs are other common choices. As with other forms of magic, the only real limit is your imagination.

What kind of spells can you cast in a game?:

Chest spells - like digital jar spells - are very common.

Poppet spells are another common choice. In games that allow you to create a character, or in games where you can give items to an NPC, you can turn the character into a poppet of someone and give them an item to cast the spell. For example, if I wanted emotional strength, I could create a Skyrim character as a poppet for myself, and have the character drink a strength potion to cast a spell of strength for myself in the real world.

Burying or burning items in games like Minecraft can be done to cast spells that are similar to physical spells that require burning a paper, bay leaf, or other ingredient.

Enchanting! Use the enchanting function in a video game like Skyrim or Minecraft to enchant a physical object. For example, you might choose to connect a physical scarf to a shield in Skyrim, and when you enchant the in-game shield with a damage resistance effect, voila! You now have a fancy enchanted scarf to protect yourself from spiritual attacks.

Customize your avatar to your advantage! In games such as Sky: Children Of The Light, where you can accessorize your character, you can equip different items to cast a different spell on yourself. For example, you might use the Saluting Captain's staff as a cosmetic to cast a spell of protection on yourself, or you could use a particular cape as a spiritual veil.

For deity work & spirit work, consider creating a space in your game (e.g. a chest, shed, home, biome, character, etc.) dedicated to the entities you work with. For example, temples and altars in Minecraft are common. Devotional sheds and chests are popular in Stardew Valley. I’ve named some appropriate Pokemon after an entity or dedicated the critter to them. You can even place a torch or candle in the game world as an offering.

There are lots more out there, too! This list is a starting point, not a limitation. Use your imagination and swap ideas with others, too!

How exactly does all of this work?? How is it possible?!: OK, so the principle behind tech magic is that you're harnessing the energy of multiple sources.

First, the device itself (and if you're using something like a Switch, the cartridge or other physical media). Each of these items has its own materials - electricity, glass and metal, etc. And each of those materials has a magical property that you can use... Glass and metal come from the Earth and have their own correspondences, while electricity is pure energy in itself.

Second, you have the energy of symbolism, or as I like to think of it with a butchered sociology term, symbolic interactionism - i.e., the idea that we create our own reality (or our *perception* of reality) via symbols. In other words, the power of correspondences! A candle is still a candle whether it's physical or digital. Lapis lazuli has the same qualities in this world that it does in a pixelated version. And so forth. So when you use the correspondences in digital spell work, provided that you raise the energy, it can and does have real world consequences. Similar to doing magic in the astral as opposed to the physical world... you are making a conscious decision to connect a digital item to an effect either in the astral and/or physical worlds.

Finally, you're also harnessing the power of belief and the energy of attention, which is where the chaos magic concepts start to come in. The digital worlds are real because you believe they are and you pour parts of your energy and personality into them - and so do *millions* of other people, in many cases. All of that energy is sort of like a reservoir in these games and it's just waiting to be harvested for spell work!

So… This is another subset of chaos magic, then.: Pretty much, yes. I haven't seen it categorized as anything else yet, except for in those cases where technomancy is given its own category.

And what did you mean by “energy of symbolism” again?: Correspondences. Both traditional ones and your own. For example, obsidian corresponds with protection IRL. So if you were making a chest spell in Minecraft for protection, you'd want to consider adding an obsidian block to your spell. Some of this is also stuff that you can brainstorm on your own and explore! Like for example, in the Elder Scrolls series, there are several plants and items that don't exist IRL, such as the corkbulb root - but in the game, that item can be used to make a potion of healing, so for me, it has a healing correspondence. Also, if the game you’re playing has spells already, you can consider how to adapt those spells to affect the real world in a logical, realistic way! Many pop culture magicians have done a great job of turning Pokemon moves into real spells, for example. So feel free to play around (pun intended) and see what works best for you!

How come you only mentioned shufflemancy once in this whole entire post??: That, my friend, needs to be a post for a later date. I assure you, I absolutely can (and probably already have, and probably eventually will) write an entire post about shufflemancy.

How come your formatting is crap?: Because I wrote all of this on a smartphone and pieced it into a post with the mobile app. Bear with me. XD

Where do I learn more and fact check you, smarty-pants?: Tumblr. The answer is usually Tumblr for this kind of thing. Or sometimes Discord. Like pop culture magic, techno magic is simply very new. Some tags to search include tech magic, techno magic, technomancy, video game magic, etc.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

🌤️🌤️🌤️🌤️🌤️

🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼

🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

it feels like a good day to be indulgent :)

Oh I LOVE this ask.

Let's gooooo!

15 for 🌤️

---

Eddie finds a very modern, newfangled looking smartphone connected to a charger on the nightstand on the side of the bed where he supposes he was meant to sleep. If he hadn’t been sleeping on Buck. And, like… Ready to… With Buck. If Buck hadn’t realized. Fuck. Eddie can’t think about that right now. He can’t think about that at all. 

He grabs the phone, spends a minute trying to figure out how to unlock it, and then nearly pukes when he sees the date on his home screen. It’s Saturday, November 29th… 2031. 20-fucking-31. A little over seven years from when it’s supposed to be. Not even the same decade. And… And this means Buck is forty. 

---

15 for 🔼

---

So they go together. Same car and everything. Shannon watches Chris for the night, so Eddie doesn’t have to rush home.

It’s kind of an awkward drive for the both of them. They haven’t been together in front of the others since the fire drill, and Buck’s subsequent visit to the station. And obviously, a lot has changed since then. Nobody on the team even knows Eddie has seen Buck since the lawsuit started. Neither of them wanted Eddie to rat himself out. 

The only trouble is, how do they act now? 

Since they… Well, Eddie doesn’t know what to call it. Argued, kissed, talked, then kissed some more… Started seeing each other. That’s what they’re calling it, right? With the limited time they’ve had. 

---

15 for 🧜‍♂️

---

His heart is beating a mile a minute. He feels like he’s going to puke. “I’ve made a mistake. Maybe you’re right, I’m just a jerk. Uh, sorry. So I’ll just leave you two be.”

“Eddie, hey,” Buck says. “Wait a minute.”

But Eddie has already turned and began striding away, towards the locker room. 

“EDDIE!” Chimney calls after him. He ignores it. 

He’s incredibly annoyed to remember that the stupid locker room here is made of glass. Really, who chose that? So he redirects his path up the stairs towards the roof access. 

---

15 for ⚖️

---

It’s not exactly your choice, is it? The voice challenges. Besides, don’t you want to know what you’re refusing? The consequences of ignoring it?

“Consequences?” Buck asks. 

Because you probably shouldn’t ignore the threat of consequences from a seemingly omnipotent mysterious being. Buck does want to know.  

Gotcha. 

“Wha-”

Before he can even finish his syllable, she’s in front of him. A woman dressed in dark clothing. There’s a fucking scabbard on her hip. Like this is Skyrim or something. One of her hands rests on the hilt of the sword sheathed within. 

---

15 for 🌲

---

Buck can’t tell if Tommy wants to hurt Eddie or consume him.

“Hey!” Buck shouts over the wind. “What the fuck?”

Tommy doesn’t even look at him. 

Eddie’s eyes snap to him immediately. He says something too quiet for Buck to hear over the wind. But it looks a lot like I’m so sorry. What the hell does he have to be sorry for?  

Buck strides up to them, grabs Tommy by the back of the shirt, and yanks him back, off of Eddie. 

“What the fuck, Tommy?” He demands. 

Tommy actually looks at him for the first time. His eyes are a little hazy. 

“This is none of your business, Evan,” Tommy says. 

---

15 for🧟‍♂️

---

“Mhm,” Athena adds. “It’s listen to me, or I let Taylor here do whatever she wants. What do you think of that?”

Matthew looks at Taylor. She winks, and reveals a hunting knife on her belt.

“What do you want to know?” He asks.  

“Good man,” Athena replies. Buck knows that’s a lie. “Where are you all coming from?”

“Cojo Bay,” Matthew grunts. 

Buck pictures a map in his head. Not far from… Conception? Is that the right town? 

---

15 for⚡

---

And then he realizes… No. No, he hasn’t. He’s just asking her to not attack him when she doesn’t get her way. She’s accusing him of doing what she does. What she has always done.

She’s the one being manipulative right now. 

“That’s not what’s happening, Mom,” Eddie says. “I just want to lay some ground rules, before she’s born. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” 

“Yep.”

And that’s it. That’s all. Up to her what happens now. 

[lolirockenjoyer]

Why I headcanon Praxina as a narcissist/sociopath – Praxina's NPD and ASPD traits

‼️‼️For the beggining, important‼️‼️

It's absolutely not a diagnose because it's fictional character, I'm not a specialist, I just very interested with mental disorders and psychology, and we didn't see enough of her behaviours to tell that. That's why I talk about traits, not personality disorder. Like I said, we don't know her thoughts, I can only speculate based on my analysis of her behavior. I will talk about her visible acts or acts that I think she would do (behaviors or thoughts that really fits her).

"Antisocial personality disorder is mental disorder that causes harmful behaviors without remorse. A person might show disrespect toward others and be manipulative, aggressive or reckless". – we literally got short Praxina's description lol. But let's talk about basic ASPD symptomps that I clearly see in Praxina or I headcanon she could have.

• 1. Physical/verbal aggression, hostility or violence toward others.

Do I have to even explain this? This one is thing you don't have to analyze more to see. She has visible problems with controlling her emotions, especially anger and she stays verbally and sometimes physically abusive towards others (mostly her brother). Also good!Praxina showed Praxina solves her problems with agression and violence. The first thing she suggested to do after the little girl fell from the swing was destroying the swing and wondered why Sunny Bay residents can't just put in jail all the people who litter the beach. She also shows the attitude of keeping her emotions inside, considering them to be weak (love is for losers).

• Reckless or impulsive behavior.

This one is maybe not as visible as the first one but we also don't have to get deep into character to see how thoughtless she is. For an example I will use Izira's medallion case (of course there is A LOT more these type of situations but if I will have to exchange all of them, we would stay here forever). When Mephisto showed medallion to Gramorr and Gramorr became furious and ordered them to destroy it, Mephisto was terrified and wanted to quickly destroy it. But Praxina knowing well she puts herself and her brother into danger, she keeps it, didn't even thinking about the consequensces.

• Breaking the law or disregarding rules and social norms.

That's the thing both Praxina and Mephisto do with pleasure. They destroy things, hurt others, breaking the law in almost every freaking episode (and were caught by police once and I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't just one time). At least on earth, we don't know what they were doing on Ephedia and how law and rules look like there but if they do such things on Earth why wouldn't they do this on Ephedia?

I have pretty accurate headcanon they were rebelious and problematic kids who always put themselves in troubles for things like vandalism, fightings (I see Praxina in it more tbh), stealing and stuff.

• Using wit, flattery and charm to manipulate, lie or deceive others for personal gain or enjoyment.

It's not thing we saw a lot but I see Praxina in this symptomp. I can only refer to manipulating Iris in "Thanks for no memories" or Doug in "Smartphone".

• Not taking responsibility for actions or behaviors.

Oh my fucking god it's her freakin' symptomp. Shifting blame onto others, blaming others for your failures, not taking into account the consequences of your actions and completely not learning from your mistakes are things that whole fandom meming from. And that's her fatal flaw and big problem she keeps in herself.

• Lack of empathy and not showing remorse, regret or concern for behaviors.

Bruh, probably I don't have to explain it. Even good!Praxina ABSOLUTELY didn't understand people's feelings, completely couldn't feel other people and didn't get why she should help someone. But really, the last thing we all can say about Praxina is that she has atleast a little bit of empathy.

Now time for NPD which is not as visible as ASPD in Praxina but if you take a look for her character, you really can see a lot of narcissistic traits she shows. In NPD there is more headcanons I have based on things that fits her a lot but not only.

"Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a life-long pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a diminished ability to empathize with other people's feelings". – and there is another almost perfect Praxina's description we could have lmao.

• a grandiose sense of self-importance

This one may be not seen by some people watching the show but I think Praxina is person with very unstable self-eestem and sense of self which is very characteristic for NPD. Most of people suffering from NPD have absolutely no self-eestem so they unconsiously show signs of grandiosity to cope with feeling of intense shame, worthlessness and self-loathing what fits Praxina very much. It was showed a lot how Praxina shifts blame on everyone except herself, absolutely can't stand failure and displace every situantion in which she was the problem by blaming other people to cope with deeply hidden shame for her actions, feeling of imperfection and low self-esteem.

• a preoccupation with fantasies of success, power, beauty, or perfect love

I can only headcanon her fantasies but let's be honest, she's definetely a person who dreams about being famous, succesful and excessively powerful. Especially powerful. Is there any other character which focus on success and power of the spells and attacks like Praxina? (if we were stubborn we could say Gramorr but in his case it looks different). Power is 100% a thing Praxina could envy princesses of, especially Iris.

• a need for excessive admiration

Oh my god, Praxina is such an attention seeker sometimes and it's hard not to notice it. Yes, she obviously wants to make an impression and arouse admiration from everyone (especially her magic) but can we focus about her and Gramorr relationship, because it seems very interesting. I see Gramorr as a Praxina's "equal person" (a lot of people with NPD call it differently and feel it differently but I think this term fits to this the most). I really see Gramorr as kind of authority for Praxina and person she has some admiration for. So if she feels this way, she requires the same? Lol.

Of course she looks for his praise and approval. What's probably the reason she belittles her brother's achievements while exaggerating her own (what's also very characteristic for NPD).

• behavior that is exploitative and takes advantage of others to achieve their own ends

This one and next symptom below, I explained earlier when I talked about ASPD so we can skip.

• a lack of empathy or an unwillingness to identify with the needs of others

• a tendency to be envious of others or a belief that others are envious of them

I bet on the first one. I can see she can be unhealthy envious of princesses and royal family. She can be envy of all of attention, admiration, power and position, she definetely believes she deserves. Praxina is obviously a person who's fantasizing about absolute control and advantage over other people. Look how ecstatic she was when she thought she will enslavement the whole planet with Gramorr. She was so absorbed in her fantasies and sick expectations of herself and others that I don't hesitate to say she literally lost her mind (at the beggining and at the end of last episode). Girl you're delusional.

• arrogance, haughty behaviors, and attitudes.

It is also visible in Prax. She IS haughty towards her brother, princesses and bet everyone else. If we talk about Mephisto. I don't think Praxina really see him as a stupid or incompetent. Her verbally agressive behaviours and probable thoughts can be just defence mechanism to cope with her extreme low self-esteem.

That's it in a nutshell. I just had to share my opinion with you. Iiscussions on this topic are very welcome!!

XOXO.

[tumbleweed-writes]

Now That I Have You: Chibs Telford X OC Chapter Two

Previous Chapter HERE

=======

Molly sat back in the break room the receiver of an old white rotary phone up to her ear. She had made the phone call quickly knowing it would have to be fast given her break wouldn't last long. She was dying to make this call though. She knew that curiosity killed the cat, but she had to know.

She took a deep breath trying to keep a lid on her anxiety. She felt like vomiting afraid to have the knowledge of what had happened when Brian had realized her abandonment of him.

She knew he'd go to her family searching for information. She had no friends left; none that would not betray her to her husband. Her only friends were Brian's friends...and they were not truly people she could trust. She knew Brian would go to her family to find her. It would be his first step once he realized she left him.

 She had the feeling that shit had probably hit the fan since she had left a few days before. She just hoped Brian had not lashed out at her brother. She cringed at the thought of him trying to harm anyone in her family.

She feared knowing what was going on back home. She knew though that she couldn't relax until she knew how things were going on her family's end. She prayed for their safety.

She had managed to keep her anxiety at bay today at least. Her first day at work had been a good one so far. Her coworkers had made her feel welcome and she had found herself able to get into the swing of things easily.

Molly was really missing her cell phone about now, but she'd had to toss it when she ran. She had plans to get a cell phone once she had the funds for such a purchase. She would need a new number of course, but a cell phone was needed in this day and age. For now landlines would be her friend though.

She couldn't risk anyone using her smartphone to track her. She didn't trust Brian not to try.

She wasn't sure what Brian would do now that he knew she'd actually left him and taken Mason with her. She feared just what he was capable of when he had nothing left to lose. She'd always heard people claim that most dangerous time for a woman in a domestic violence situation was not during the relationship but when she left the relationship. She feared becoming another statistic of a domestic violence victim who was killed by her abuser when she tried to leave. 

Brian had always told her he would kill her if she left him. She believed it. He was too angry to be bluffing. She knew he had guns and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to use them. He showed them to her often. She was afraid of them. She felt like he showed them to her as a reminder that he could use them on her if she stepped out of line. 

She spoke her voice not hiding the anxiety she felt. "He hasn't talked to Candace or you has he?"

"If by talk you mean make threats to anyone who will listen." Her brother Jack responded irritated with his little sister's asshole husband.

When Jack had found out just what Brian had done to his sister he had wanted to kill him. He'd wanted to take the hunting rifle his father had left him and put a bullet through the bastards head. He felt so guilty. He knew that the man was a jerk, but he'd not expected it to be this bad. How could he have missed this? How could his sister who he loved so dearly have hidden this for so long? He was her big brother. He was supposed to protect her. He felt like he'd failed her.

He knew that he had to be smart about how he went about Brian. He had to help his sister in any way possible. Getting her far away from her soon to be ex husband was the best thing for her and his nephew. He knew the focus needed to be on keeping them hidden. Brian could never know where to find them. 

Molly closed her eyes trying to fight back tears. She was afraid, not just for Mason and her, but for the loved ones they left behind in Louisiana. She feared Brian would hurt her family to hurt her. She was afraid he'd hurt her family to punish her for leaving him. She wouldn't put it past him with as cruel as he proved to be time and time again.

"I'm so sorry." She apologized hating that Brian was harassing her family trying to find out where she went. She felt so ashamed. 

She felt so stupid; hiding the pain from her family for so long. It felt like they were cleaning up her mess. They had to put up with the fallout of her mistakes while she ran away. 

Jack spoke his voice firm; he'd always been the strong one. "Don't apologize Molly. Mason and you being safe is all that matters. Brian can run his damn mouth all he wants. He's not getting information from anyone. Geoff and I told him to get the hell out of our faces and told him we'd call the cops and report him for trespassing if he showed his face around us again. The bastard's not getting to you Sis. You're going to divorce his ass and he's going to leave you the hell alone. You're better than him, don't forget that. You've done nothing wrong."

Jack sighed knowing he had no choice but to be strong one. Their father had died when Candace was an infant. Jack was the oldest and the only male in the household, he'd stepped up and been a father figure to his two younger siblings. Molly had been the middle child and they were close enough in age to have grown up pretty close. Molly was the one he'd come out of the closet to. She was the one who had accepted him and loved him always. He knew he'd do what it took to protect her always. 

Even though Jack's sisters were both grown women now, he hadn't stopped playing the overprotective big brother. He would die before he would ever let someone touch a hair on Molly's head again. The same story went for his nephew. He would die to protect them. As long as he lived and until his last breath he'd keep them from Brian Parker. 

Molly twisted the spiral cord of the phone of the rotary phone around her finger as she spoke up. "Has he gone to the police? He hasn't reported me missing right? You don't think I made a huge mistake leaving so fast?"

"Yeah, he's gone to the cops, but they aren't listening. I mean you went to the cops first and told them you were leaving so not to believe if anyone reported you missing and they know what he did to you. How many times have the cops been called to your place by the neighbors? You told them your husband is a threat and you're leaving. You told them if anything happens to you then they will know who did it. You finally got that damn detective to speak with you and you clued him in on what you're doing. I know you don't think they took you seriously...I mean let's face it Molls...all the damn help they were to protect you all this time. How many times have they been called out and no arrests were made when it was obvious what Brian was doing."

"I wouldn't press charges, Jack. I was so mortified and afraid that I'd never admit what he did to me. They couldn't make an arrest for assault without me pressing charges. I mean they held him overnight once or twice to keep us apart...but his dad always bailed him out. So, the cops just did what they could with what they had." Molly interrupted cringing at her past dealing with the police when it came to Brian.

Jack let out a heavy sigh and she was certain her rolled his eyes at her comments. Her brother had a general distrust of law enforcement as it was and this entire situation had just made him all the more bitter. "Yeah, whatever...That cop took a report at least. You showed them all those pictures as proof of what you had to say. They aren't taking Brian's dramatics seriously. They aren't going to tell him shit. There's no law against you leaving town without telling your husband. He tried to claim you kidnapped Mason, but they aren't buying that one. They told him it's between you and your lawyers if you're divorcing him. There's no custody arrangement in place so it's not like he can argue you violated anything by taking Mason with you."

He paused for a moment Molly shaking her head. "I am divorcing him...I don't even want to think about custody right now. I am afraid of what will happen with that...look at what Brian has to his name and look at me."

"Hey, he's not getting my nephew. The courts are going to favor you. Find a lawyer and get the ball rolling. Geoff and I will front you the money if you need it...anything to help get the process started. The sooner Brian is out of your life the sooner Geoff and I will sleep at night. You still have the Polaroids, right?" Jack responded the noise of the bar he tended on the French Quarter, clear in the background.

Molly cringed thinking of the Polaroid photos; pictures of all the bruises Brian had ever given her. They were proof of his depravity. 

She still had them knowing that she would need them in the divorce. They along with the police records were her secret weapons in the divorce battle that was sure to come.

"Yeah, I have them." She replied her stomach knotting up.

She knew that she had a long road ahead of her. The first thing she needed to do was get a lawyer and put the divorce into action. She wanted full custody and no visitations. It was the only way Mason would be safe. Brian could not be allowed access to their child. She knew if he had access to Mason he would take the boy to punish her. She couldn't trust that he wouldn't take Mason out of the country or worse kill him to punish her.

She wanted nothing from Brian but her freedom. Brian Parker could have the house, the cars, and the money. She only asked her freedom and her maiden name back. She just asked for the safety of her child. She wanted her child safe and kept far away from Brian. She would fight until her dying breath to keep Mason from his father. She wanted Mason and her both to be free of Brian Parker. 

She knew her lawyer had to be a damn good one. She needed the best if she was going to fight Brian. He had the money for a team of lawyers. She need someone willing to fight for her. She needed someone clever and someone who was ballsy enough to take her case.

She cringed hoping she could afford someone decent. She had a feeling she didn't have the budget for a retainer for anyone worth a salt. She had a feeling that her brother and his boyfriend had enough savings to at least help her for a while...but she felt gross accepting the help after all they'd done for her.

Jack spoke again breaking her out of her thoughts of what needed to be done. "How is everything there? Is the rental house okay?"

Molly spoke up the lie sliding out of her mouth easily. "Everything is going fine. The house is great. Mason loves his room and the neighbors seem nice."

Actually the apartment wasn't great; the air conditioner didn't work. The water pressure in the kitchen and the bathroom was a joke. Her landlord was more of a slumlord. And it seemed her closest neighbors to the right fought at all hours of the day and night and her neighbor to the left just glared at her attempts to be friendly.

She knew though that this was her problem. Her brother had already done so much for Mason and her. She couldn't ask for more. He could never know how horrible the house was. He had to believe that everything in Charming was just fine.

She knew if he had a clue how horrible the house was then Geoff and he would rush out to California and insist on finding her a better place to live. They'd drop their lives and rush to her rescue.

She could not constantly count on her brother and her brother in law to rescue her. She had to learn to stand on her own two feet for once in her life.

She had to be a big girl and take her life by the horns. She couldn't be weak anymore. She had been weak for too long now. She had to be the type of woman she had known she could always be. Mason needed his mom to be strong. She couldn't run crying to Jack to fix her problems.

"So, you're settling in okay then?" Jack asked always the father figure wanting to make sure that his little sister and his nephew were safe and sound.

Molly decided to leave out the part about her little VW bug breaking down as she replied. "Yes everything is going well. My job seems great so far and Mason is adjusting. The Bug got me here in one piece."

She felt her cheeks flush as she thought of her car and the handsome but rough looking mechanic she had spoken too.

It was strange finding someone attractive after being in a loveless marriage for what seemed like so long. She'd not allowed herself the pleasure of gazing longingly at another man in so long. She'd not allowed herself the opportunity. She'd thrown her focus into being a mom and forgotten that she was also a woman who had desires.

Brian hadn't shown her any love in so long; unless he was trying to lure her back to him. That was the only time he would kiss her or tell her she was beautiful; when he wanted to trap her back in the marriage. She'd not felt desired in so long now. She'd forgotten how it could feel to feel desire for anyone. Brian disgusted her. She forgot how it felt to long for a man.

Filip or Chibs or whatever his name was, was the complete opposite of Brian. She wondered if this was why she found him so handsome.

Yes Chibs was a little rough at first glance given the scars and the tattoos she'd spotted under his workshirt. He was not her usual type. It was what she'd seen after looking at him for a while though that had struck her.

He had kind eyes and an even kinder smile. His hand had felt strong against hers so different from her soon to be ex-husbands hands.

She could tell that Chibs was the type of man who worked hard. His hands were rough but his grip on her hand was gentle. She had a feeling that underneath the tough exterior was a warmhearted person. He'd been so sweet to her during that small interaction. She'd felt as though he truly was kind despite the rough appearance.

Brian's hands were soft from never really having to lift a finger nor ever knowing a hard days work in his privileged life. His hands were harsh against her skin. Underneath the professional polite southern gentleman he pretended to be was a cruel man. She couldn't even call him a man. He was a monster. He had no kindness within him.

Chibs' dimples didn't help her little growing crush on the man; she'd always had a thing for dimples. And don't even get her started on his accent. Her knees had grown weak when he had called her love.

Molly had found herself checking for a wedding ring amongst the biker rings Chibs' wore on his hands. She had felt a little sense of joy when she had spotted no wedding ring.

Molly felt ridiculous; here she was developing some sort of school girl crush on a mechanic who probably didn't even notice her. She felt pathetic for even checking to see if he was taken. This was not the time for love.

She knew that now wasn't the best time to develop a relationship with someone, not when Mason and she were still so fragile.

She knew that Mason and she needed time.

No matter how handsome she found Filip Chibs Telford, there was nothing she could do about it.

A man who seemed to be that wonderful didn't need a disaster like her, she told herself. Any attraction she felt would have to be her little secret. Besides who was to say she would ever see him ever again?

—————-

Molly wanted to cry tears of joy when she walked towards the daycare at Saint Thomas Hospital and spotted Mason playing with a little blonde boy.

They were building a little city out of Lego blocks. Though Mason was quiet, allowing the other boy to do all the talking, he looked happy.

Molly had feared that her little guy would retreat into his shell and find himself unable to connect with any of the other children. She had feared that all her son had been through would hold him back from being a happy normal five year old boy. She wanted so badly for him to have a chance at happiness.

Seeing that her son had apparently made a friend was reassuring. It was a sign that hopefully her baby boy stood a chance of being happy here in Charming.

Both boys stood up each boy spotting their mothers. Mason ran to Molly and the little blonde boy ran to a dark-haired woman in a white doctors coat.

The little blonde boy spoke up to his mother his voice clearly full of excitement his words practically stringing together with as quickly as he spoke. "Mommy, I met a new friend. His name is Mason and he doesn't talk but he's really cool and he has a Spiderman toy. Can he come to my birthday party?"

The dark-haired woman smiled down at her son as she spoke. "That's great baby. I have to ask his mommy first though, Abel, and make sure that it's okay."

The dark-haired woman turned to face Molly as she spoke. "I'm Tara Knowles Teller and this is my son, Abel Teller. It seems our boys have become friends."

Molly reached out to shake the woman's hand spotting a brace on the woman's right hand. She glanced down at the stroller the woman was pushing spotting an infant within it. She couldn't imagine having two little ones with as exhausted as she was with Mason. She glanced at Tara not helping but to notice the woman seemed polite but tired. She imagined it must be exhausting being a working mom of two.

Molly tried to pretend she hadn't been studying her new acquaintance so intently as she spoke knowing she was probably also talking just as quickly as Abel Teller she feeling anxious at the chance to make a friend. "I'm Molly Garrett and this is my son Mason. I'm glad to meet you both. I just started here down at the lab. I'm the new phlebotomist. I'm new in town."

Molly found it strange not using Brian's last name Parker. Garrett wasn't even her mother's maiden last name. It was acutally her grandmother's maiden name. She'd been going by it as an attempt to hide from Brian.

Her maiden name was Dupuis. She was hoping that if she got her way she could return to that last name. She had to hope that she could get her way enough to let Mason take her maiden name as well. She hated the idea of him having his father's last name.

For now at least outside of any signed documents she was telling people her last name was Garrett.

She had wanted to pick a name that Brian wouldn't think to look under if or when he came looking for her. Her rental agreement had been signed under her brother's name in hopes that Brian would not find her. Her work documents had been signed with the Parker surname but she trusted the hospital would not release such personal information to where it would available to Brian.

The two women shook hands as Tara spoke up apparently not minding Molly's obvious anxiety. "How do you like Charming and Saint Thomas?"

"Oh, it's wonderful. I love Charming. It's so quiet compared to New Orleans. The quiet is a welcome change from the city. I really feel at home here. The hospital has been great. I feel right at home here as well." Molly explained hoping she didn't sound too peppy. She scolded herself for the thought knowing that Brian had always berated her for sounding too happy. He told her it came across as fake and sounded annoying. She knew it wasn't true. She tended to be a positive person. She knew people didn't find it fake. She knew Brian just couldn't stand to see her happy.

Tara spoke not helping but to notice that Molly seemed to be caught in some inner dialogue by the small frown on her face. She rose an eyebrow writing it off as just a case of nerves. She imagined it might be intimidating being new in town and starting a new job. She spoke hoping that she could offer a chance at friendship for the woman. There was something about her that seemed sweet though nervous. "That's good to hear. If you aren't busy this Saturday, my son is having his sixth birthday and we would be happy to have you over if you don't have any plans."

Molly smiled loving the idea. It was good for Mason to do what any normal kid would be able to do despite their personal drama.

It was good for both of them to socialize. Life here in Charming would be easier if they both made friends.

"We'd love to." Molly stated thrilled that her son had seemingly made a friend. She had to hope that she could make a friend as well. She missed having friends. It was something Brian had never allowed. He could never stand her having any friendships outside of his approval. Her only friends were his friends and she hated them all. They all treated her like she was less than important. It didn't feel like a real friendship. 

"Great, let me write down the directions and the time." Tara stated reaching into her purse and pulling out an old receipt and a pen before scribbling down the information about the party.

Molly took the receipt from Tara not hiding her elation knowing that things were taking a positive turn for Mason and she.

The boys both waved goodbye to one another as did their mothers.

Maybe both Mason and his mother had made a friend? Maybe this really would all turn out okay?

————————————-

Chibs found himself bent over Molly Garrett's Volkswagen bug focusing on what was under the hood. He grumbled to himself at the disaster below him.

The car was a mess and he had to wonder how the woman had driven the damn thing anywhere.

He had already fixed the flat and now he found himself focusing on the transmission. He'd also maybe noticed the air conditioner and don't even get him started on the mess with the windows barely rolling up and down. There was also the issue with the door handle on the drivers' side sticking.

Yes, she'd only paid TM Auto to fix the flat and the transmission, but Chibs had felt the need to fix all the other problems as well. He knew the other repairs would have to come out of his pocket. He was not about to shock the woman with a bill for extra work she did not agree too.

He wasn't sure what had gotten into him. He tried to tell himself that it was just that wasn't right Molly having such a shitty car when she was more than likely a single mom of a very young boy. He felt awful thinking about her driving in such a lemon with a kid to care for. She seemed so sweet and lovely. Her kid was cute though quiet. He felt terrible picturing them in a mess of a car that might be unreliable for their needs.

He tried to tell himself that he was just doing a good deed. He tried to convince himself that he was only throwing a coin in the karma well. He'd done so much bad shit in his life, that he might be wise to do a kind selfless act to score some points with the man upstairs.

He tried to pretend that this had nothing to do with how attractive he found Molly Garrett.

He knew that he was lying to himself though, Molly was a beautiful woman and seemingly good-hearted. She had smiled at him without any fear of the scars on his face and his rough appearance. Her smile had made him feel so warm and lovely. It was a feeling he could grow accustomed to.

In his opinion even though the interaction had been so brief he couldn't help but to sense that there really seemed to be something special about Molly Garrett. He had told her his real name after all. He'd be lying if he tried to say his heart didn't skip a beat when she'd said his name.

Most women didn't smile at him. Most women weren't so polite to him.

Well the croweaters smiled at him and were plenty sweet, but they didn't look past the scars on his cheeks or the fact that he was a biker who looked dangerous. They only saw the novelty of hooking up with a samcro member. Any sweetness they showed him was false. They didn't even know his real name. He hooked up with them and forgot them.

He had never let the croweaters get close to his heart. How was it that a woman he barely knew had gotten so close to his heart?

Chibs looked up from the bugs' engine when Jax spoke approaching him frowning at the Scot and the fact that he was clearly putting far too much work into this job. "I thought you were just fixing the flat and the transmission? She isn't going to pay for any extra work."

"Aye the damn things a mess though. I was goin to fix it all...I'll pay fer whatever she doesn't want ta pay for." Chibs explained ignoring the look of confusion on Jax's face.

Chibs spoke again trying to play off the fact that he was doing something so considerate for a woman he barely knew. "She's got a little lad. It isn't righ er havin a mess of car when she's tryin to be a good ma. No use ta make things harder than they should be on er. She seemed stressed. Feel bad thinkin this damn car could add more stress on her plate. Jus tryin to do a good deed."

Jax raised an eyebrow wondering what had gotten into his brother. Chibs had been working on this car for a few days now not letting anyone else touch it. He rose an eyebrow at the good deed comment. This was so out of character for his brother. He had no clue what had gotten into his Sgt of Arms.

He found his answer as Ratboy spoke up looking up from the bike Tig and he were fixing. "She's pretty freaking hot too man...total milf. Great ass and tits for having a kid. Cute little blonde with a sexy southern accent."

The look of boyish glee quickly disappeared from Rayboy's face as Chibs glared at him not saying a single word. The intense gaze he shot him dared the man to keep talking though and see what happened.

Tig apparently missed Chibs' glare as he spoke adding on to the discussion of Molly Garrett. "If you don't hit that I may. Girls gotta nice figure. Like Rat said, great tits for having a kid. It was a shame they were hidden under that scrub top."

"Fuck you." Chibs blurted out, his voice harsher than he meant it to be, surprising all three men. None of them had expected to see the Scot speak so passionately and so defensively about a woman that he barely knew. Talk about a woman in this manner was nothing new to the men. Chibs had never reacted like this before to talking about a woman's body.

A few years ago he'd probably have happily discussed how hot the single mom was. He would have happily thrown in a few comments about wanting to have a quick screw with her.

Something had gone off in him though hearing the men who he shared a patch with discussing Molly like she was just some croweater. The thought put a sour taste in his mouth. He felt sick hearing them discuss her like she was up for grabs by the mc. He felt disgusted hearing them discuss the sweet blonde as though she was some croweater willing to sleep with anyone in hopes of becoming an old lady.

He spoke again his voice tense. "She ain' a damn croweater. Don't talk bout her like she's up fer that shite."

He swallowed the thick lump developing in the back of his throat gazing down at the car again ignoring the looks of confusion on his brohters' faces. He was relieved as they moved on to talking about one of the croweaters thankfully choosing to leave the subject of Molly Garrett alone.

Molly Garrett remained at the forefront of his thoughts. He was overcome with the realization that Molly was different from any woman he'd encountered in a long while. This thought both fascinated and disturbed Chibs. He was becoming attached to a woman who he'd only spoken with for a few minutes.

It had been a wonderful few minutes though and he found himself craving more. He had to wonder if he was losing it. Perhaps he was taking the end of his marriage to Fiona harder than he thought. A voice in the back of his head told him that there was something more there than him just taking the change in his relationship status hard. 

Molly Garrett had invaded his brain and he found himself defenseless against the invasion. He found himself thinking of her when he allowed his mind to stray away from work and the club.

He didn't know how he had become so entranced with the woman. Yes she was sweet and she had a nice smile and a nice figure. He saw pretty girls all the time. What made her so special? It wasn't like him to become so...infatuated.

Part of him wanted to go find some croweater; a blonde maybe. Someone that sort of looked like Molly to work out his frustrations on.

He had found himself unable to do just that though. It wouldn't seem right and it wouldn't be the same.

No croweater would have Molly's smile or her those hazel eyes. They wouldn't have her accent. He knew they wouldn't give him the same feeling that seemed to overtake him when he'd met Molly.

He felt like a schoolboy all over again; having a crush on some pretty girl who probably didn't even notice him.

It was pointless he told himself. Why even bother to dream of what he could have with her? He was playing a foolish game.

A girl like that didn't look for guys like him. He was dangerous too dangerous for a sweet woman and her little boy.

He cringed knowing the past few months had proven his dangerous side. Jax, Tig, Opie, and Chibs had recently gotten out of jail for a murder charge of Damon Pope's daughter....well Jax, Tig, and Chibs had gotten out of jail....Opie had not been so lucky.

The charges had not stuck of course given their freedom...but the arrest alone was proof of the danger that lurked around Chibs.

He knew SAMCRO's business dealings made him a threat to those who were closest to him. Drugs, guns, prostitution, and porn were not worlds in which security could be found.

He'd watched loved ones die due to this world. Tig had lost a daughter. Opie had lost his first wife and then his own life. They had all lost brothers. This life was one of death and endless threats.

At least Fiona and Kerrianne were too far away for his sins to touch them...Kerrianne only had her mother's dealings with the True IRA to contend with.

Chibs knew that the life he had chosen had no place for gentleness nor safety.

Molly was a mother and mother's looked out for their young. They didn't choose outlaw bikers to share their lives with.

He would only have Molly in his dreams.

It would be best to just forget all about Molly Garrett.

Why did it feel so impossible though? Why did the thought of forgetting her sound so awful?

——————————————-

Jax sat back in bed with his wife Tara his mind still wrapped around how strange Chibs had been acting lately.

He had known Chibs Telford for a decade. He'd known him ever since Chibs had patched over from SAMBEL to SAMCRO. He had never seen the man act like this in all those years.

It was as though the cute blonde with the Volkswagen bug and the little boy had ensnared Chibs' mind.

Something was happening within his SGT At Arms and Jax felt lost as to what to do or say about it.

Jax knew that things hadn't been easy for his friend lately. The end of Fiona's and Chibs' relationship had been hard on Chibs though he'd admitted he knew it was right.

They'd parted from one another Chibs leaving her in Ireland and they'd seemed to come to an agreement to remain estranged for a little while at least. Chibs had seemed to sink back into croweaters and the club for a while.

He'd thrown himself in the club during the fourteen month stint the vast majority of the club had done upon returning from Ireland and making sure Jimmy O' was dead.

He'd not focused on his relationship with Fiona then. He'd tried to live as he had during their estrangement.

Shit with the club had been hectic. Clay had stepped down and Jax had stepped up. They had buried brothers. They had gone through traumas and chaos.

Chibs had little time to consider Fiona then.

There had been a longing there though, the hope that his wife and child might somehow return to him and they'd be a united front here in California. It had been a fool's hope.

Chibs had a few months prior attempted to talk his estranged wife into reuniting admitting he'd missed her and he hoped it was time to live as a married couple, now that Jimmy O' was gone and they'd had time to think about the future without the threat of the man hanging over them.

Fiona had rejected the idea though and Chibs was left reeling from the reality that the marriage was over.

Fiona and the end of their marriage had broken Chibs. The man had spent so long wishing for and wanting his wife by his side only to discover that it wasn't going to work out. He had admitted that he knew it was time to let go but it still felt bittersweet.

Of course Chibs hadn't been faithful to Fiona in their time apart prior to their reuniting in Belfast and after. He had been unfaithful all those years before he got her and their daughter back, but they had been estranged. Fiona had been "married" to Jimmy O' leaving Chibs alone on a different continent unable to do a damn thing about it.

Chibs had to sit back knowing that his wife was being held prisoner by Jimmy O' and his Kerrianne was being raised by the bastard.

Chibs had been heartbroken over it; the loss of his wife and daughter to a man he had trusted. He had been left scarred and emotionally destroyed.

SAMBEL had taken him in and he'd thrown his misery into the club. He had dealt with the pain by being as hedonistic as possible. Hoping that the women and the booze would kill the sorrow. That cycle had continued in SAMCRO.

He had proven to be a loyal Son in both charters despite his hedonism.

When the Sons had returned from Belfast there had been an understanding that Fiona would remain in Belfast with Kerrianne. She had zero interest in leaving the cause. The True IRA was her first love, not Filip Chibs Telford. Chibs had been told by Fiona to live as he had prior to their reunification.

Chibs had drunkenly admitted to Jax that he resented Fiona's insistence that he remain living the way he had even after he'd promised to kill Jimmy O' to protect his girls. He had hoped she would be his wife again. He had longed for his wife and she'd shown him that the longing was not enough to make her want to cross oceans for him.

After Fiona had given him the most recent rejection, Chibs had become a shell of a man.

Chibs had found himself unable to sink back into a lifestyle he'd lived for over a decade. It had been a shock to those who knew him. It seemed that something was happening within the man that no one truly understood.

The only thing Chibs did at parties now was drink his body weight in Jameson. He seemed heavier emotionally. He seemed resigned to a sense of loneliness.

Jax looked to his wife as he heard a familiar name he barely picking up at it in his thoughts of his brother's odd behavior. "What did you say?"

Tara rolled her eyes irritated that her husband clearly hadn't been listening to her. She spoke as she continued to apply lotion to her dry legs. "I said Abel made a new friend at daycare a couple of days ago. I invited the little boy and his mom to Abel's birthday party this weekend. The mom seems like a sweetheart...a little awkward socially...but sweet all the same. She's new in town and her kid is cute but doesn't really talk according to Abel...the kid seems shy. Anyway, her name is Molly. She works down in the lab, just started at Saint Thomas."

"Molly Garrett? Southern, blonde, looks like she's probably in her twenties right? Five year old kid, kind of scrawny for his age?" Jax asked wondering if it could be the same Molly that Chibs seemed so stuck on.

"Yeah, Molly Garrett. Her son's name is Mason. She doesn't look to be our age. She looks like she's barely in her late twenties. She's a cute little thing. I can't place her accent... but you're right, it sounds Southern, maybe Louisiana. Like I said she seems nice, but nervous. Abel really likes her son, even though the kid doesn't talk. Like I said, I think he's shy or something. How'd you know her full name? How do you know any of this? Do you know her?" Tara explained a little confused by the look on Jax's face.

Jax laughed not believing the irony of it all...well he wasn't quite sure if it was actually irony. It was probably more of an odd coincidence than anything. "Chibs is fixing Molly Garrett's car. He's been super weird about her. He's insisting on doing extra work on her car out of his pocket, and he practically ripped Rat and Tig's heads off for getting a little too vulgar talking about her looks. I think he's into her even if he's claiming he's just doing a good deed for a single mom. I've never seen him act like this before. I mean, don't get me wrong. Chibs has a big heart but he usually reserves it for people he knows and trusts. I've never seen him act like this towards a woman he's just met. Pretty sure he's not just thinking with his dick on this one."

Jax could clearly see the cogs turning in Tara's head as he explained the situation. He spoke again rolling his eyes. "Don't do what you're thinking about doing."

"What?" Tara asked trying to feign innocence.

Jax shook his head wondering what it was with women and trying to play matchmaker. It was like every woman had a cupid complex.

"Don't try to set those two up. Don't interfere." Jax replied already having the feeling that his orders were going unheard.

Tara placed her lotion bottle back on the bedside table suddenly wondering why she cared so much.

To be honest she had always had her issues with the Sons and this life. She had hopes that Jax would leave the life but his stepping into the role of club president showed he had no interest in leaving. She felt bitter towards SAMCRO more often than not.

She felt resigned to this life.

Chibs had always been good to Jax and her though and he'd always been good to Abel and Thomas.

Not to mention Chibs had been sweet enough to make a Celtic blessing when Jax and she had gotten married. He really cared about Jax and their family. Chibs had unwavering loyalty to those he loved.

Chibs had always been respectful to Tara and she appreciated it. She knew that Chibs would protect Jax with his life. That was why he'd been chosen to serve as SGT of Arms by Jax after all.

Tara felt a twinge of sympathy thinking of Chibs' personal troubles. Jax had been open about them with her and had shared Chibs' few drunken rants about his estranged wife and his disappointment in the estrangement and end of the marriage.

She felt for the man. She knew it must be difficult being apart from a woman he'd longed for only to realize that the longing had been meaningless. She also knew it was heartbreaking for him to be apart from his child.

She had questioned why he didn't just leave SAMCRO and go to his family if he wanted them so bad...she had realized though that most people didn't leave SAMCRO, not by choice and not alive.

Still though she felt for the sense of loneliness that was written all over Chibs' face. It wasn't right him clearly being as lonely as he was.

Molly seemed sweet which made Tara question if she was setting the poor girl up for disaster trying to bring her into this life.

She felt conflicted about the thought. She wouldn't wish what she'd gone through as an ol lady on anyone. A voice in the back of her head told her it would awful trying to bring Molly into the life Tara had known.

Another voice in the back of her head insisted though that Molly might be good for Chibs even if the life might not be good for Molly.

Tara knew that if Molly decided the life wasn't for her at least she gave the pair a chance. She knew that Chibs might benefit from some softness from Molly. Tara had to trust that Chibs wouldn't mistreat Molly if she were to influence the two towards one another. It wouldn't hurt to reintroduce the pair would it?

If Chibs was as interested as Jax said then it couldn't hurt to maybe try to help the two find one another?

Despite her own issues with the club perhaps Molly would fare better?

Tara could admit that maybe she was doing this for selfish reasons. Maybe it would make her feel less miserable to have a seemingly normal ol lady to commiserate with? Lyla was nice enough but her past was different from Tara's. Gemma was...well Gemma. Molly seemed so normal. Tara wanted someone she could relate to on that wavelength.

She decided that she wanted to throw a kind gesture karma's way and this was not misery seeking company, as she spoke up. "I'm not going to interfere...I'm just going to...push things in the right direction."

She ignored the look Jax was giving her as she spoke again. "What? Molly might be good for Chibs. Like I said, she seems sweet. And he's been really down lately...with Fiona and everything. You mentioned he's been miserable lately."

She paused trying to make her point seen. "And it's better than your mother getting involved. You know she's going to grill Molly once she figures out what's going on. Once she sees that Chibs is paying out of pocket for all those repairs and connects the dots that Molly is an attractive young woman she might assume the worst. Your mom won't hesitate to accuse Molly of taking advantage of Chibs. If Chibs practically ripped Tig and Ratboy's heads off for little comments then imagine how he'd react to anything your mom might say. It might be smart to get the two acquainted outside of the garage. Maybe if we reintroduce Chibs and Molly and get the ball rolling on something more than some free auto repairs then Gemma will stay out of it."

Jax let out a huff realizing that his wife was right. Gemma Teller Morrow was protective over the men in the club. She had long been the queen of SAMCRO, the den mom.

Even though Tara had stepped into the role of the Pres' ol lady...Gemma still walked around like she was queen.

He knew Tara and his mom had a love-hate relationship that usually favored hatred. He knew his mom could be brutal if she thought someone was taking advantage of a guy in a kutte. She saw it as a threat to the club.

He had a feeling from what he'd heard about the woman, Molly was soft enough to be terrified if his mother approached her. He had a feeling a miserable Molly would make an even more miserable Chibs. The man seemed stuck on her and most likely would not appreciate Gemma making her uncomfortable.

The last thing he needed was a pissed of SGT at Arms and a pissed off mother. He had enough shit on his plate with the club alone.

Gemma would play twenty questions with Molly once it was clear that Chibs had a thing for the blonde. It was better she play twenty questions if Molly was dating Chibs than play twenty questions if Molly was just a customer getting some free auto repairs.

Maybe Tara had a point? Better his wife and he interfere than his overbearing mother.

Maybe they could push things in the a favorable direction for all involved?

[starlesswritings]

unfinished orv fic #2

it's really not the second but who's counting?

Joonghyuk had no idea if he was going to murder Kim Dokja or if he's going to murder him.

Ah, peace was never an option.

"Give me my phone back!" Dokja squeaked, limbs flailing as he tried to reach the phone that was in Joonghyuk's hand, far enough Kim Dokja could not reach.

"No."

Dokja's eyes got teary. "You don't understand! I need that!"

"You're just going to fawn over that fictional character like always," Joonghyuk snarled as he shoved his large hand in Dokja's face, effectively keeping him away in this fashion.

"The Secretive Plotter is amazing! He's so cool, and a lot better than you," Dokja yelled, furiously clawing in the air, hands and arms not long enough to get his mobile device. "Far more attractive."

Joonghyuk deadpanned, "He's just a blob of text on your screen." Was he really that unattractive? Everyone else seemed to think Joonghyuk was anything but ugly, however Dokja often said the opposite. It was ridiculous, that this one person was capable of burrowing underneath his skin in such an annoying manner. "Just words, nothing more."

Dokja looked offended. "He's more than just words, Joonghyuk! You wouldn't understand! He's a character! He's like a real person! You couldn't know. You don't love stories!"

It was true, Joonghyuk wasn't one for reading much. He found it too tiring and time consuming, which was hypocritical since he liked to game and that could easily take hours. "The Secretive Plotter sounds like an actual asshole," he muttered.

"You take that back!"

"You're not getting your phone back today. This is confiscated until further notice."

"You're not my parent nor the boss of me, give it!"

Joonghyuk stared sadly at the little child trying to crawl up his legs and arm, not amused in the slightest. "I might as well be, you fool," he seethed, keeping Kim Dokja at bay. "You have a smartphone addiction, which is unhealthy at your age. Go outside and breathe fresh air."

Kim Dokja screamed as if the words had literally burned him. "You... you suck!"

Yoo Joonghyuk was not paid enough to watch over this brat. "You tire me."

"I want my phone!"

"No."

Kim Dokja's eyes welled up with angry tears. Without saying another word, he stalked out of the living room into his bedroom, slamming the door shut. Had he been Joonghyuk's actual child, or sibling, he might have whacked him on the butt with a spatula or something similar, but Dokja was right. He was not his parent, and therefore, he simply sighed, setting the phone onto a high place where Dokja could not reach.

This hadn't been what he wanted.

The house phone rang, and he angrily picked up with a harsh, "What the fuck do you want?"

A calm voice over the phone sounded a bit scalded, and he nearly whacked himself on the head. "Is... is now a bad time to call?"

"Yes. I mean, no, not at all, Uriel. What do you need?"

"I just wanted to ask if you felt like coming out to lunch, but I guess that's out of the question —"

Joonghyuk would have normally said no, that he didn't want to go, that he should stay home with the little kid (brat), but he was tired. He just wanted a break. Still, he couldn't leave Kim Dokja. "Give me a few minutes."

"It was about time that you took that thing away, he's going to be blind before he's thirty if he keeps going like that," an acquaintance muttered.

"Michael!" Uriel cried, smacking him on the shoulder. "Little Dokja simply wants to be like other kids." Turning to Joonghyuk, she added, "Did you really have to take it away and ground him like that?"

"He's not grounded, I just took it because he was being..." Joonghyuk held his tongue before he said something he would regret later. Uriel might have looked innocent and unassuming, but that woman was terrifying. And, for reasons he didn't really understand, she seemed to adore Kim Dokja.

Sun Wukong laughed while Uriel looked ready to pommel the dark haired man into the ground. "Maknae is being difficult, eh? Well, he is at that age, you know. Children only think about two things."

"Relationships?" Uriel asked.

"Murder," Michael muttered, to which Gabriel smacked him on the head.

"Homicide?" The ABFD asked (no one could remember his name, not even ABFD himself, and he had gotten stuck with this stupid set of letters).

"How is that any different?!" Gabriel exclaimed.

Sun Wukong laughed nervously, tearing a hand through his golden hair. "I was going to say rebellion and getting older, but I suppose that all your suggestions do have merit."

Joonghyuk slammed his head into the table, not caring that he was getting looks. "I fucking hate kids."

Uriel gasped. "You love Yoo Mia, don't you?"

"She's my sister. I'm legally required to care for her. Kim Dokja, on the other hand, that stupid squid looking rude ass motherfucker," Joonghyuk snarled, but a new voice interrupted before he could finish what he had been planning to say.

"Kim Dokja is... what, exactly?"

The blood in Yoo Joonghyuk's body froze ice cold. The other adults at the table looked surprised, but Sun Wukong smiled broadly.

"Persephone! I knew you'd come."

He did? Joonghyuk would have to beat the crap out of that blond bastard later.

"Where is he? I thought I left him in your care, Yoo Joonghyuk."

He was going to die. He needed to bury himself out of this situation. He could dig up the ground with his spoon and make his way into the wild, never to be seen or heard from again. "About that..."

"Han Sooyoung is watching him, I don't really see what the problem is," Michael singsongs, looking every bit like a man Joonghyuk wanted to punch directly in the face. Uriel cast a worried glance for Joonghyuk as Persephone stiffened.

"Is this the sort of thing I pay you for?" she asked sweetly, tone barely masking the power and quite possible rage behind her voice.

He was screwed. Not even dying would save him now. "Uh..."

"Fortunately, I actually like Han Sooyoung a bit, so your life is not yet forfeit," Persephone went on seamlessly, and Yoo Joonghyuk resisted the urge to glare at her without restraint. She was playing with him, and he did not like it one bit. "But tell me, what has my adopted son done now?"

"He's being difficult."

Michael added, "He's just fawning over that dumb main character in his favorite novel."

Persephone's eyes glittered. "Ah, Ways To Survive in a Ruined World?"

Joonghyuk's eyes snapped to her, observing her with a strange look that was hard to describe. "You've read it?"

"Han Sooyoung has told me a bit about it. What's wrong with the novel? Don't you like it?"

There was something in her tone that made him feel uncomfortable. What was Han Sooyoung doing talking about Dokja's favorite novel with his adopted mom? "I haven't read it, nor do I feel like ever reading such garbage." He turned to look away. "It's rotting that pitiful child's brain."

Persephone laughed. "Oh, what I'd give for my husband to see the blindfold over your eyes right about now!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Joonghyuk asked, eyes narrowing dangerously.

She let out a tight giggle. "Maybe you should read the novel and see, Yoo Joonghyuk."

Uriel seemed to know what she was talking about. Blood spurted from her nose, and Gabriel shrieked in distress. Michael whined over the fact that their table was getting stares for everyone being so weird. ABFD sent a manic death glare towards the onlookers, and had Joonghyuk been less confused, he probably would have done the same.

"I don't like reading," he deadpanned.

Persephone simply smiled. It was very unsettling. "Oh, who knows? You might end up really understanding this story, though?"

He had a headache. He did not want to deal with this shit right now. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means, that you should read the novel!" Sun Wukong barked loudly, laughing like a dying eel.

Yoo Joonghyuk did not want to read the stupid novel. However, he would have been a liar if he did not admit that Persephone had piqued his curiosity. There was clearly something about the novel that was worth looking into — particularly Yoo Joonghyuk. Something was calling to him from beyond his mortal plane of understanding.

"I'm not reading it," he announced, rising from the table as he donned his jacket and rose to leave.

Uriel giggled. "See you later, Joonghyuk!"

Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.

Joonghyuk stared at his phone as if it would bite him at any second. What a dumb title. What a dumb story. The Secret Plotter hadn't even been introduced for more than one chapter, and Joonghyuk already wanted to punch him in his supposedly good looking face.

Truly, the character was quite punchable. Infuriating. Joonghyuk was now slightly concerned about Kim Dokja's taste in characters he favored. Surely this scumbag was too much like a thug or a punk for Kim Dokja to enjoy reading about him?

Apparently not. The Secret Plotter had been Dokja's favorite character for the past year. Solid.

He could only handle reading ten chapters in one sitting before deciding that was definitely enough for the week.

[ambrosiaheights]

Character Profile: Emmaline

Art by me (main: @diabolical-blue)

Emmaline is the main character of Ambrosia Heights and the only POV character (the story is told exclusively from her perspective).

Appearance: Emmaline has blond hair, green eyes, pale skin, and is 5'8" tall.

— 🌹 —

Emmaline’s family and friends would describe her as quiet, reserved, even shy. However, that surface-level passiveness masks a headstrong, stubborn spirit and a fiery temper which only emerges in dire circumstances or in cases of disturbing injustice. When particularly provoked, she can even be prone to violent outbursts, but she bottles up her more explosive emotions to keep these at bay.

Her socially reclusive background and sometimes hard-to-love personality are not the only obstacles standing in the way of what she wants more than anything else. As someone with no desire for physical intimacy, but a deep desire for an emotionally intimate and committed lifelong partnership, Emmaline has faced misunderstandings and hurtful assumptions her entire life - leaving her feeling like her dreams of companionship will never be more than a far-flung fantasy.

She wasn’t always this cynical, though. From a young age, Emmaline possessed a deep love of the sort of fantasy stories and fairy tales where everything works out in the end. In fact, when she was ten years old, she thought she actually met someone who came from a world much like the ones in her stories: a blue-skinned elf child who needed help finding his way home through a portal hidden on her grandmother’s estate. Unfortunately, the ensuing twenty years of complicated family drama and a miserably unfulfilling adult life has led Emmaline to wonder if most of that magical childhood experience was just her imagination - until the night of her thirtieth birthday, when she finds herself unexpectedly transported to that very world herself.

— 🌹 —

Random facts about Emmaline:

Though not particularly confident with her own social skills, when Emmaline is interacting with someone who is even more shy and reserved than herself, her instinctual reaction is to take the lead for both of them, giving her the false appearance of a naturally confident or even dominating person.

Emmaline has no interest in fashion and dresses herself solely for comfort. In her own world, she’s most commonly seen wearing a t-shirt, jeans or shorts, and sometimes a plaid flannel shirt. She doesn’t usually feel comfortable in dresses or skirts and tends to avoid them if possible. The most consistent part of her wardrobe is a silver necklace with a rose-shaped pendant she received as a gift on her tenth birthday.

She has had a special interest in technology from a young age. Though no “tech genius” by any means, she still enjoys figuring out how electronic gadgets work and even taught herself how to repair her own phone.

She is pretty attached to her smartphone and keeps much of her favorite content offline - movies, songs, video clips - especially when preparing for a long trip which might involve unreliable Internet access.

From a young age, Emmaline fell into the role of “keeping the peace” between her parents, who oftentimes didn’t get along. Her mother in particular would use Emmaline as her confidante and would vent to her about her troubles in an oftentimes inappropriate capacity.

Emmaline is an only child and had a very lonely and isolated childhood. She was homeschooled, never attended a traditional school, and never really made any friends her own age. She took comfort in the fictional worlds of her favorite books instead, and would often daydream about befriending the elf boy she thought she met when she was ten years old.

Emmaline has a religious background due to her parents' beliefs (particularly her mother's), but is undecided about where she stands on many of those beliefs personally now that she is older and living independently.

Her parents were apocalypse preppers who believed the end times were imminent, and prepared their off-the-grid homestead accordingly. Although Emmaline wasn't always sure if she believed them, their beliefs still had a significant impact on her development, leaving her feeling disillusioned and unprepared for an adulthood she wasn't even sure she was going to be alive to see.

— 🌹 —

An excerpt from chapter 4 in which Emmaline ponders her frustrations about her upbringing (third-person narrative observations, not first-person internal thought):

So she would do what she was told, because she didn’t have a choice. She wouldn’t express her anger when she got upset. But she would still feel it. Every injustice, every hypocrisy she witnessed, every freedom that was limited or taken away from her, every hopeless tear shed as she pondered her grim future under her parents’ unrelenting control – it was just pushed deep down, shoved into the far corners of her soul, ever boiling and festering but utterly ignored. Like a volcano rumbling, rumbling, rumbling in the background, spewing the occasional bout of steam or ash, but never permitted to fully erupt.

[blurscolours]

The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea | Prologue

Masterlist

Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.

Warnings: Alcohol Consumption, Car Breakdown

Word Count: 1503

Amnesty Bay, Maine – Summer 2012

You had been looking forward to this road trip all spring. Time to yourself, to celebrate the start of summer, off exploring the East Coast. You had planned on starting in Maine and working your way south along the coast to Boston. Reality turned out to be quite different.

Your car was by no means new. It had been well loved and well driven for many years before it came into your possession, but you had done the yearly maintenance, oil changes, inspections…None of that mattered now as it sputtered and choked on the side of a winding road overlooking the ocean. With one last shudder it completely stalled, steam ominously hissing from under the hood.

You pulled out your smartphone and sighed at the utter lack of service. Phone technology had grown by leaps and bounds…service coverage had crawled behind. You pulled out your paper map and located yourself in Amnesty Bay, stranded between the town and the lighthouse. You popped the hood, turned on your hazard lights, and grabbed your bag; sliding out of the car to get a better lay of the land.

You determined the lighthouse was definitely closer. You propped the hood open, ostensibly to take a look at the engine…it revealed none of its secrets to you. Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you turned and started up the road to the lighthouse. The walk took roughly twenty minutes, during which not a single car passed you. No bars of cell service appeared on your phone either. It was warm, thankfully, with a nice breeze off the ocean, but you were still grateful to arrive at the backdoor of the lighthouse.

You took a steadying breath and knocked firmly, suddenly realizing there was a possibility that no one was home. Your fears didn’t have time to take hold, however, as almost immediately a man came to the door with a smile.

“Can I help you?” He asked in a Kiwi accent, a tea towel over his shoulder and sleeves rolled up, obviously in the midst of the dishes.

“Hi! I’m very sorry to bother you, my car broke down a ways up the road and I was wondering if I could borrow your phone to call for a tow?”

“Absolutely! Come on in, it’s just in the kitchen. I’m Tom by the way, nice to meet you” He stepped out, holding the door with his shoulder and shaking your hand warmly on your way into the house.

You smiled brightly and introduced yourself in return. “I really appreciate it, thank you very much.”

He followed you into the kitchen and pulled down a phonebook, opening it to the towing company. “Definitely call this one, the other is a bit out a lout.” He tapped the number and you nodded firmly. “Tell them to take you to Randy’s by the marina, he won’t overcharge you.”

You laughed warmly and dialed the number. A friendly woman answered the line, and you requested a tow to Randy’s shop, explaining where you’d left your car. She gave you an expected cost and arrival time of the truck before you ended the call.

“She says it will be about an hour, I should start back so I don’t miss them. Thank you again…” You turned to face Tom, who’d gone back to doing his dishes, trailing off as there was suddenly a huge man in the room. He had the fridge open, leaning on the door as he peered in, looking for something.

“Nonsense!” Exclaimed Tom. “We’ll give you a ride back to your car in about an hour, you’ve already had quite the hike. Arthur, why don’t you grab our guest a beverage while you’re in there?”

The man, Arthur, suddenly seemed aware of your presence and turned to look at you, now holding a can of beer. So that had been what he was looking for.

“What’s your poison?” He rasped. “We’ve got beer, soda, lemonade?”

“Oh, uh a soda would be great, I guess. I appreciate all your help.” You didn’t have the wherewithal to refuse the ride, or the drink, from either of them. You took the can from Arthur, and he gestured to the table before taking a seat himself. You sank slowly into the chair, feeling his eyes on you, assessing. Tom’s voice broken the tension, thankfully.

“This is my son, Arthur. He usually has better manners, but he just woke up after all.” He chided warmly.

You introduced yourself to Arthur as well, taking a sip of your soda while he took a long pull of his beer.

“So, what brings you to Amnesty Bay?” Arthur broke the silence. Ah there it was, the questioning was no longer just in his eyes.

“Road trip” You answered lamely, before shaking your head at yourself. “I was ready to explore the East Coast, my car was not apparently.” You smirked ruefully and relaxed a little when he echoed your expression.

Conversation flowed a little more easily after that, his suspicion dissipating. Tom joined you both with the last of the coffee from breakfast. Arthur revealed himself to be less intimidating than his appearance, especially as the beer got lower in the bottle, and the effects of his night before were washed away.

The hour passed before any of you really noticed, the honk of the tow truck in the back yard startling you all. You hurried out to apologize, turning back to the Curry’s and waving in thanks before hopping in the cab with the driver.

The trip back to town was easy, the assessment of your vehicle didn’t take too long, but the news was not good. Several parts needed to be replaced and none were on hand in the shop. It would be at least a week and a fair chunk of change as well.

You agreed to the work and took your suitcase out of the trunk, leaving your keys with Randy. He gave you directions to the local inn where you could stay while you waited for the car to be functional again, but his tone didn’t give you great confidence in the accommodations would you find there. You headed out to find the Inn, passing by Terry’s Sunken Galleon, stopping quickly as you heard a shout from near the door.

“Brokedown Girl!”

You looked back to see Arthur bounding over to you, strongly reminding you of a golden retriever.

“This does not look like your car is ok…” He said as he stepped up beside you. He wasn’t even winded. Tom was bringing up the rear at a much more reasonable pace.

You sighed and shook your head. “A week at least, everything they need is out of town.”

“Oh man that’s rough…” He shook his head.

Tom had gotten close enough to get the gist of the situation. “Well, we’ll just have to make the best of your bad situation.” He clapped Arthur on the back. “Once you get your room at the Inn come meet us a Terry’s and we come up with a plan to save your vacation.”

You blinked, utterly stunned. “I couldn’t impose like that, truly I’ll find something to do.”

Tom shook his head and Arthur slowly followed suit. “We will not hear of it.”

And they meant it. No sooner had you joined them at the bar, getting a rum and coke as it was now afternoon, than they had a whole list of destinations for you to choose from.

The repairs ended up taking two weeks, and your vacation turned out better than you could have ever planned. You also ended up with two lifelong friends. You stayed in touch with letters, emails, texts, and phone calls. The consistency of Arthur’s contact was much less reliable; the man kept jumping in the ocean with his phone in his pocket…

The world changed in 2013 when the long-posed question “Are we alone in the universe?” was answered with a world resounding, violent “No!” Beings from other plants, meta humans, violence, and crime made the world a darker place. Arthur became darker too, more self-destructive as he wrestled with his heritage.

He’d told you everything, the story of his parents, the story of Atlantis, during a 2:00 AM drunk dial. He was sitting on the shore somewhere in Georgia with a bottle of Jack Daniels, face timing you snug in your bed back home. It had been a lot to take in, but you never doubted him.

In 2018, when the ocean regurgitated all of the filth your kind had been polluting with for centuries, you were not surprised. Arthur had implied there might be conflict soon. Since that day, Arthur had been unreachable. Tom confirmed he was alright, but that he was now spending his days in Atlantis, leading his people.

You wondered when you might be able to hear the story from him, but never did you suspect that you would play a role in what was to come.

Read Part One

Masterlist

[linuxgamenews]

Introducing Please Touch The Artwork 2 A Free Hidden Object Adventure Game

Please Touch The Artwork 2 releases the hidden object adventure game playable on Linux with Windows PC. Thomas Waterzooi's exceptional development skills have played a pivotal role in this achievement. Available now on Steam with 100% Positive reviews. So, today's a big day in the world of digital art and hidden object adventure! Please Touch The Artwork 2 has just hit the scene and this release is totally free. You can also play it on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Appstore or Google Play. Or if you're more of a desktop fan, it's available on Linux via Windows / Mac through Steam. At least until the native release is available. And here's the best part – it's all about pure, unadulterated fun with zero ads, hidden fees, or paid DLC. This is all about enjoying at your own pace, without any pesky interruptions. Still due to receive a native build. The Please Touch The Artwork 2 release takes you deep into the world of James Ensor, a legend in Belgian Modern Art. The game is a playful stroll through his iconic works. It's not just about looking at art – it's about engaging with it in a unique way. You're there to help out some quirky characters by finding lost items and fixing up the paintings. It's a blend of art appreciation and a bit of detective work, all wrapped up in a fun, short trip. The thing about this release is that Please Touch The Artwork 2 is backed by the Flemish Government. Celebrating both the Belgian EU Presidency 2024 and the 75th anniversary of Ensor's passing. The idea is to make art accessible to everyone, and making this adventure free is a big step towards that.

Please Touch The Artwork 2 - Release Trailer

The gameplay? It's like stepping into a hand-painted world where you assist a skeleton artist. Your task is to collect hidden items for the people and solve puzzles along the way. The artwork comes straight from Ensor's collection, giving you an authentic experience of his style. Here's what you can look forward to:

Exploring Five Unique Worlds: Each world is a gateway into Ensor's mesmerizing art, filled with mysteries and hidden treasures.

Hints for Tough Spots: If you ever get stuck, the Please Touch The Artwork 2 release offers hints to help you out, keeping the frustration at bay.

Simple and Intuitive Controls: The point-and-click style makes navigation a breeze, and the zoom function lets you get up close and personal with every detail.

Casual, Hand-Painted Art: The interactive elements and animations are straight out of Ensor's own works, bringing a unique life to the experience.

Relaxing Soundscapes: The audio is just as immersive as the visuals, creating a calm and captivating atmosphere.

Highly Accessible: It's light-hearted, playful, and suitable for pretty much anyone looking to dive into a cozy art adventure.

So, if you're into exploring new and creative worlds, the Please Touch The Artwork 2 release is worth checking out. The game is a fresh take on art, puzzles, and storytelling, and it's all just a download away on Steam. Available to play on Linux via Proton with Windows PC.

[linnisims]

LOST IN PARADISE

Chapter 4: The trip

Sunday morning

The sea was calm and the sun was gradually rising on the horizon.

Kaylie's alarm clock rang. It was 6 o'clock. That's not normally the time she would have to get up. It was unusual, but she had already woken up several times during the night anyway. She was nervous. She was looking forward to the trip with Matthew, but also hoped that he would actually come. She couldn't remember the last time she had met up with someone without being in constant contact via her smartphone. Probably never before. Matthew was different. She found it difficult to read him, but that's exactly what attracted her to him. He seemed a little “old school” to her. But that's exactly what made him special, Kaylie thinks.

Kaylie got up with the first alarm clock.

She began to get ready.

She rummaged through her wardrobe to find something warmer, which Matthew advised her to do. She had left all her clothes in Bridgeport because she didn't think she would need them here.

In the end, she was able to create an outfit that was color-coordinated, suited the occasion and would keep her reasonably warm. She glanced at her watch, then in the mirror again. It was already 6:50am. Kaylie realized her heart was beating a little faster at the thought that Matthew should be there any minute.

She went downstairs and looked out of the window to see if Matthew was there yet. And there he was, right on time. It's almost as if Kaylie hadn't expected it any other way. She smiled. It was nice to see that he kept his word. It was even nicer for her to see him waiting for her outside her door.

She went out so that he wouldn't have to wait any longer. Secretly, she didn't want to wait any longer either, so that she could finally be in his presence again.

'Good morning,' he said as he watched her come down the stairs. He eyed her unobtrusively and kept to himself how cute he thought she was in her outfit. He smirked slightly at the floor.

'Good morning, Matthew,' she replied to him with audible good mood. She went down the last two steps a little faster, walked straight up to him and hugged him in greeting without giving it much thought this time. She enjoyed the moment when she felt him put his arms around her.

“Are you ready?” he asked to make sure.

'Yes, I can hardly wait'.

'Very good'.

''We've got good weather,'' Kaylie noted, but looked at Matthew expectantly, as if waiting for his confirmation.

''Perfect for fishing,'' he said.

As they made their way in the sailboat to the fishing spot Matthew had chosen, the sky was overcast with clouds. It was still cool, just as Matthew predicted. Kaylie admired the slightly reddish sky and the beautiful view.

“Where are we sailing to?” she asked curiously.

'To a bay further north of here. It's a great fishing spot. We've always been there,' he explained to her.

“We?” Kaylie asked cautiously.

Matthew hesitated for a moment and turned his gaze away, looking out over the vast ocean.

''My uncle and I''.

Kaylie didn't know if she should inquire further based on his reaction, but she was curious about him. Curious to know more about him. Thinking about it, she realized that she didn't even know how old he was. She only knew his name. It's strange that she didn't question it until now either. Everything is completely different with him. It's not always the same superficial conversations like the guys she met in Bridgeport.

'And… not so often now?'

'No. He died three years ago.'

Kaylie was visibly uncomfortable. She hadn't expected this answer. She realized how she herself shuddered.

'Sorry, Matthew. I…didn't mean to seem too nosy. I… I'm sorry…,' she said in a depressed voice with a dismayed look on her face.

'It's all right. You couldn't have known,'' Matthew seemed composed, but there was humility in his voice.

Kaylie had resolved to find out more from him that day. But she hadn't expected to put her foot in her mouth with her first question. It demotivated her for her plan. She also didn't want him to feel that she was asking him questions.

She looked at the sea with a very unpleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach as they moved shallowly along the water.

“He went into the Navy and never came back,” he began.

Kaylie raised her head and listened carefully. The fact that he started to talk about it of his own accord was a great relief to her in this situation. It meant a lot to her that he obviously trusted her.

'His name was José. He was like a father to me,'' he continued. It was the first time in years that he had spoken about it again and, above all, that he had spoken to anyone at all about it. But Kaylie wasn't just anyone to him. He wanted to try to trust again, and with Kaylie he was obviously starting to be able to…

''I don't know my parents, they never wanted to get to know me. I've lived alone in the old fisherman's house ever since. It used to belong to my uncle.''

“It means a lot to you, doesn't it?” she asked gently. She was touched by what he told her.

'It's getting a bit dilapidated and it's not a long-term solution, I guess,' Matthew evaded the question. ''Enough about me. So you moved to this island all by yourself?' he asked.

'Yes,' she said. 'My father thinks it's all crazy,' she quoted. 'We don't have a very good relationship.

'He's probably worried about you?'

'That's not it,' she replied. 'He'd just like me to live according to his ideas.'

“And your mother?” he asked.

'I don't know her. According to my dad, she left us when I was just three years old.''

'I'm sorry to hear that,' he said in a hushed voice. 'It's nice that you're doing what you feel like doing.'

“So far, I haven't regretted it either,” she said, smiling gently as she looked him straight in the eye.

Matthew smiled gently back. He understood what she was trying to say.

When they arrived at the bay, they docked. The sun was already fully risen. Matthew unloaded the fishing tackle and his rucksack from the boat and stowed everything on the shore. He pulled out the two folding chairs from behind a tree and positioned them on the shore with a perfect view of the ocean.

Matthew explained how to use the fishing rod and showed her the best way to cast it. Kaylie listened spellbound.

Matthew prepared the fishing rod for Kaylie. Still visibly inexperienced with the fishing rod - but highly motivated - Kaylie tried to follow Matthew's tips, cast out and landed a good cast in the water.

'Hey, that was good!,' said Matthew enthusiastically.

“Thank you,” Kaylie said proudly. She was clearly enjoying it. She enjoyed trying something completely new. She was interested in learning new things. She never thought she would be interested in fishing, but she seemed to be casually interested in his favorite activities.

Matthew noticed that Kaylie was obviously enjoying herself. It was nice for him to see that someone had taken a liking to his hobby and was clearly interested in it. He enjoyed his time with her and was impressed by her light-hearted manner, her enthusiasm and, above all, her smile.

After a while, Matthew placed his fishing rod in a rod stand that he had anchored in the ground with his uncle to prepare some new bait. Kaylie practiced a few casts in the meantime. Matthew watched with a little grin on his lips. After only a short time, it looked as if Kaylie wasn't doing it for the first time. He stood next to her.

“Admittedly, I didn't expect that…” he was embarrassed and stroked the back of his neck.

“That?” Kaylie followed up.

“Well, that a wo-” Kaylie interrupted him, “That a woman from the city could fish?” she continued. Kaylie laughed, she took it with humor. Then they both laughed.

'I didn't mean it like that,' he laughed. “But yes, I am surprised,” he added.

“Maybe it's the teacher?” Kaylie was obviously flirting with Matthew for the first time and she liked it. He liked it too, he started to grin. His eyes shone.

''In your case, you're clearly a natural,'' he said with a grin.

They both looked at each other a little sheepishly. There was silence.

Suddenly, Kaylie jerked forward a little. She was startled by the unexpected tug and then stopped.

“YES!” Matthew said enthusiastically.

“Oh, wow!” Kaylie nervously pulled in the string.

“Wait,” Matthew said calmly. He could tell that Kaylie was a little excited and was finding it a little difficult to coordinate everything at once.

Matthew stood behind her. “May I?” he asked carefully before gently touching her elbow and stabilizing and supporting her arm a little with his hand.

Kaylie felt her heart suddenly start to beat faster again at his touch. She was surprised by his touch. Another situation she hadn't expected from him. She grinned broadly. It was a nice feeling and she found it hard to concentrate on fishing.

“Try to stay calm and hold on,” he said in his calm, deep voice.

'Okay,' she replied more quietly.

“Now you can slowly pull in the line”. Kaylie followed his advice. “Don't forget to hold on,” he said quietly and gently corrected her arm. “Like this?” she wanted to make sure.

“Exactly”.

Kaylie slowly but deliberately took a step back. She wanted him to realize that she liked his closeness. Now she stood a little closer to him so that she could feel his upper body against her back.

At that moment, Matthew slowly released his hand from her arm, but remained standing. He wasn't sure for a moment whether she really meant to do this or whether she was just looking for more grip on the sandy ground.

Kaylie looked after his hand, a little disappointed, but then she noticed how his arms gently gained access to the fishing line from behind and he helped her pull in the line with his hand.

Kaylie's lips formed into a broad, happy smile and a feeling of happiness took hold of her. Matthew also enjoyed the moment and felt that he could finally allow closeness again after many years.

Together they easily managed to pull the fish to shore. Matthew let go of Kaylie because he wanted her to have the feeling of success alone.

'Hey, you did it!,' Matthew said enthusiastically.

Kaylie was delighted with her first catch and Matthew's encouragement. She was happier than she had been for a long time and it wasn't just because she had just succeeded, but because of him.

“What do I do now?” she asked him. ''What are you going to do?'' 'I...don't know,' she looked a little humbly at the fish.

“You don't want to do it, do you?” Matthew realized. ''I don't think I can do it,'' she replied. “OK, then…” Matthew carefully removed the fish from the hook and carefully threw it back into the sea.

Kaylie looked at him with shining eyes. He was so understanding and loving. She was glad that he had taken the decision off her hands. Matthew didn't expect Kaylie to kill the fish. She should have fun with it and not feel uncomfortable.

He smiled at her sympathetically and carefully took the fishing rod from her hand. 'We should take a little break,' he said gently.

'That sounds good,' she said, suddenly hugging Matthew. 'Thank you,' she said happily. Matthew was caught off guard by her sudden embrace.

Matthew hugged her gently. He felt drawn to her. He enjoyed the moment, he enjoyed her attention and her loving touch. It was as if Kaylie was sparking something completely new in him. Something that was lost in him years ago...

Previous part: https://www.tumblr.com/linnisims/752989950504468480/lost-in-paradise-chapter-3-sunday-morning-four?source=share

[falseandrealultravival]

A gas problem at the World Expo venue and BBC, NHK (Essay)

The monster with many eyes (The mascot of EXPO)

In March 2024, gas erupted at the Osaka World Expo in Japan, igniting welding sparks. The venue is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay made of reclaimed waste, and an opposition lawmaker pointed out that methane gas would be emitted just before the accident.

That happened. I often watch NHK news but never saw anything about this accident. Until my family found out the news on their smartphone and told me, that if NHK had covered the accident, they would have seen it, and NHK was not the family's news source. In that case, ``NHK intentionally did not cover this accident.''

NHK is Japan's national broadcasting station, but more accurately it can be described as a ``broadcasting station for the Japanese government.'' Currently, 70% of Japanese people are considering canceling the World's Fair, but NHK probably decided not to broadcast it because they considered that if they reported this accident, it would be a blow to the Japanese government.

If it were the UK's BBC, it would not be a ``broadcasting station for the British government,'' so if a similar accident were to occur in the UK, it would likely broadcast it. In addition, NHK is subservient to the government, and many people in Osaka Prefecture now say, ``I don't want to take my children to the World Expo because it's dangerous.'' Even if NHK does not broadcast the news, the news will be transmitted.

Rei Morishita

2024.05.01

万国博覧会会場のガス問題とBBC、NHK（エッセイ）

２０２４年３月、日本の大阪万国博覧会の会場でガスが噴出し、溶接の火花に引火した。この会場は大阪湾に浮かぶ、廃棄物を埋め立てた人工島の上にあり、メタンガスが出てくるであろうことを、この事故の直前、野党議員が指摘していた。

それが実際に起こった。私はNHKのニュースをよく見るが、この事故については全く目にしなかった。私の家族がスマートフォンでこのニュースを知り、教えてくれるまでは。もしNHKがこの事故を取り上げていたなら、目にしたはずだし、家族のニュースソースもNHKではなかった。そうすると、「NHKは意図的にこの事故を取り上げなかった」ことになる。

NHKは日本の国営放送局だが、より正確には「日本政府のための放送局」であると言うのが相応しい。現在日本人の７割が万国博覧会中止を考えているが、もしこの事故を報道したら、日本政府の痛手となると考慮した結果、ＮＨＫは放送しなかったのだろう。

もしイギリス・ＢＢＣであれば、「イギリス政府のための放送局」ではないので、もし同様の事故がイギリスで起きたら、放送することもあるだろう。また、政府に対して卑屈なＮＨＫ、現在大阪府民には「危険なので、子どもを万国博覧会に連れて行きたくない」と言う人も多い。ＮＨＫが放送しなくても、ニュースは伝わる。

[chamerionwrites]

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Northern California, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and National Immigrant Justice Center filed a legal challenge today to the Biden administration’s new asylum ban.

The challenge was filed swiftly after the new policy’s unveiling. The ban largely mimics two Trump-era policies — known as the “entry” and “transit” bans — which were blocked by the courts. It prohibits asylum for everyone at the border who transited through another country en route to the United States (i.e., people from countries other than Mexico) except for those who are able to obtain a scarce appointment to present themselves at a border port through a flawed mobile application; the rare person who first sought and was denied asylum in another country; or those who can prove that they qualify for one of a few other extremely narrow exceptions.

“The Biden administration’s new ban places vulnerable asylum seekers in grave danger and violates U.S. asylum laws. We’ve been down this road before with Trump,” said Katrina Eiland, managing attorney with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. “The asylum bans were cruel and illegal then, and nothing has changed now.”

The filing argues that asylum laws do not allow the administration to restrict access to asylum based on an individual’s manner of entry or whether they applied for asylum elsewhere. It further explains that migrants cannot meaningfully seek asylum in transit countries because many lack a functioning asylum system, others have systems that are stretched to the breaking point, and most are not remotely safe for asylum seekers to find refuge. U.S. courts have recognized these principles in rejecting the previous asylum bans that the new rule tries to combine and re-impose.

“People fleeing persecution have a legal right to seek asylum, no matter how they reach the border,” said Melissa Crow, director of litigation at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS). “Our asylum system was designed to protect people fleeing imminent threats to their lives, who do not have the luxury of waiting for an elusive appointment or for an application to be adjudicated in a country where they are in danger. The Biden administration has had over two years to set up a fair and humane asylum process post-Title 42. That it has instead chosen to resurrect and repackage illegal Trump-era policies is reprehensible.”

The case also cites numerous issues with requiring people to use the flawed CBP One mobile app to secure an appointment to seek asylum, including lack of financial resources to acquire a smartphone, lack of adequate internet access to use the app, technical glitches, language and literacy barriers, and an insufficient number of available appointments. These multiple, compounding barriers to CBP One access will leave many asylum seekers stranded indefinitely in dangerous and life-threatening conditions in Mexico.

“This unlawful rule relies on a mobile app that functions poorly, is available in just three languages, and requires people to enter a lottery for a woefully insufficient number of appointments,” said Keren Zwick, director of litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center. “Even more egregious, the rule perpetuates false notions that people fleeing persecution are safe in Mexico and Central America, and it offers purported solutions that will be routinely unavailable, especially to migrants who are not from the Western Hemisphere. In doing so, the rule levies special harm on some of the most vulnerable migrants, including women, LGBTQ people, and Black and Indigenous people.”

The challenge to the ban was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, American Gateways. Central American Resource Center, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Tahirih Justice Center.

[corner-stories]

the thicc viscount

Mia Dearden. Stephanie Brown.

Team-Ups. Pitbulls. Scars.

2189 words.

(ao3.)

On an average night in the Pacific Northwest, Mia Dearden was in the midst of thwarting a weapons trafficking case. No big deal. 

With the assistance of one of Gotham’s many bats — who just happened to be investigating the same group of smugglers on the other coast — she chased down a truck full of illicit substances through the heart of downtown Seattle, utilizing the motorbike she had been tinkering with for months. 

The blonder and more talkative Batgirl proved to be quite handy during the chase, as she took the handles of Speedy’s motorcycle as Seattle’s resident archer leapt onto the rushing semi-trailer truck. The vehicle zipped past Smith Tower as Speedy made her away towards the cab, her heart beating fast as determination surged through her veins. 

At least the Seattle residents who were whipping out their smartphones to record the scene were bound to get a sick new video of their local hero.

With her trusty combat knife — which included an integrated glass-breaker — Mia breached the windows of the vehicle and slipped right in. Inside the confined space of the vehicle, the driver grit his teeth and pulled out a blade of his own. Fortunately for the plucky archer, the only thing he was able to do was nick her forehead right under her hairline. 

Even more fortunately, Mia was used to the concept of fighting in a confined space as a bleeding head wound painted a red line down her pretty face (which said a lot about her kind of lifestyle, but she didn’t like to think about that). 

In due time, Mia managed to incapacitate the driver with a few swift strikes, then managed to stop the vehicle before things got even more messy. She didn’t even have to rely on her last resort, as it wouldn’t bode well for Speedy if the people of Seattle saw her drop a vehicle of smuggled goods into Elliott Bay… for the third time. 

With the weapons trafficker apprehended and the semi-trailer truck halted in front of the Seattle Public Library, Mia hopped out of the vehicle and plopped the perpetrator onto the sidewalk. As she secured his hands and feet with some heavy duty cable ties, she swore she could hear him grumbling about how two random-ass nineteen-year-olds with capes managed to thwart his entire operation. 

Once everything was done, Mia had just enough time to secure a sterile pad over her bleeding forehead before Batgirl zipped by on a motorcycle that was definitely not hers. 

With a playful smith, the Bat offered the Archer a ride, and who was Mia to refuse such a lovely prospect? 

The authorities came by just as the pair of plucky blonde heroes escaped the vicinity. As they moved through the streets and Batgirl let a few excited whoops out into the Seattle night, Mia could feel her heart racing in her chest like it was about to burst out. Her entire being was filled with a rushing sensation that she couldn’t exactly describe, yet one that brought the goofiest smile to her face. 

It was moments like these that made Mia wish that the night could never end. 

But soon an hour passed and Mia was forced to focus on other things — namely, how to fix that gash on her head. 

Standing in the bathroom of her “arrowloft,” she glanced up to her mirror and focused on the gauze she had haphazardly taped to her forehead. She had initially believed that she did a good enough job playing roadside doctor, but looking at the dressings now she figured that Lian could’ve done a better job. And Lian once forgot seven letters of the alphabet. 

Mia sucked in a breath as she reached up to her wound. She gently undid the dressings and tried not to wince too hard as the semi-healed cut came into sight. Unsurprisingly, disrupting the bandages caused the injury to start bleeding again. 

Mia grumbled as she grabbed a washcloth and began cleaning her head gash, as well as the line of blood on her face. 

Once the gash looked slightly less concerning, Mia only briefly toyed with the concept of stitching herself up, but soon sighed and deferred to using butterfly closures, as per usual. 

As she worked she affixed her gaze towards her reflection, then thought long and hard about whether or not she would be adding another scar to her collection. Her eyes would only briefly glance upon the uneven tissue on her arms, shoulders, or abdomen, and occasionally towards the ones on her face. 

It was moments like this where Mia could take in how she looked. Every day she got older she began to see features of mother etched onto her face — from her shade of blonde to her pair of gentle brown eyes. However, Mia couldn’t remember her mother having faded lines across her cheek and jawline, or a nose that was slightly bent from too many fist fights. 

At this point in her life she couldn’t remember which scar came with which story. The ones from her hero life and the ones from her biological father’s rage were beginning to look the same. 

After applying the butterfly closures, washing her bruised knuckles, and popping a few ibuprofen tablets from the value-sized jar, Mia left her bathroom and tried to act like a normal human being in front of her guest. 

Stephanie Brown had made herself comfortable in the little Seattle loft that Mia (and Speedy) called home. Unsurprisingly, her attention and focus had been placed on the unit’s other resident.

Viscount Theodore of Dearden — or Teddy, as his master liked to call him — was Mia’s sixty-pound rescue dog. He was officially deemed to be half pitbull and half god-knows-what, but his beloved human liked to consider him one hundred percent couch potato.

Currently, the absolute unit of a pittie mix was lying on the floor of the loft’s living area, smiling and wagging his tail as Stephanie happily rubbed his stomach. 

The Archer couldn’t help but smile. As she walked over she grabbed a sweater off a chair and pulled it over her torso, perhaps in an attempt to take attention away from the blemishes on her skin. At least when she finally arrived at the two on the floor, Stephanie was much more preoccupied by the lazy blob on the carpet. 

Mia’s place was reasonably clean. Sure, the odd kettlebell or quiver had been dropped on the floor, but she managed to make the place look presentable when she learned she would be having a guest. 

On the coffee table were Batgirl’s and Speedy’s costumes. As Mia plopped herself onto the couch, she couldn’t help but notice how put together Stephanie’s suit seemed to be. Plates of lightweight, high-density plastic were bound together by flexible, yet rugged textured material. Even if it couldn’t take the entire bite out of a bullet, it could let the wearer live to see another day. 

In contrast, Speedy’s suit was as battered and battle-worn as one would expect. Seeing it next to a nearly pristine suit made Mia feel like an absolute slob. Perhaps it was time for Speedy to give her gear a more intricate makeover and not just a paint job. 

“Who’s a chonky boi, huh?” said Stephanie in a playful, baby-like voice. “Who’s the chonkiest?” 

“Having fun?” asked the Archer. As she laid on the couch she tried to ignore the aches in her muscles and joints — the ibuprofen certainly liked taking its sweet time to kick in. Perhaps it was time to switch to extra strength. 

Stephanie nodded and smiled from ear to ear. “Lots of it, you should’ve told me you had a big ol’ stocky boi.” 

“Yeah, it must’ve slipped my mind,” Mia replied, amused. 

For a moment she yawned and rubbed her tired eyes. She wasn’t even sure how late it was anymore, but a quick glance at her window implied that it was early in the morning, if the sun just barely rising above the horizon was any indication. 

Stephanie continued to give the pitbull stomach pets, so much so that Viscount Theodore began lying on his back completely and let his stocky legs stick upwards. He had the doofiest smile on his face as he basked in the attention. 

“By the way, I told Oracle that we stopped the thing,” Stephanie soon spoke. 

Mia nodded. “And…?”

“She’s glad we finished the mission, but she’s not too happy about leaving the truck in front of the library,” Stephanie confessed, shrugging. 

Mia’s first reaction was to let out a chuckle. “Well, then remind me to leave a note next time — Caution, Do Not Open: Smuggled Soviet-Era Assault Rifles Inside.” 

Stephanie let out a laugh, then beamed at the Archer in a way that could remind one of a very excited golden retriever. 

“You’re funny,” she remarked, her words sounding genuine. “Why don’t we hang out every night?”

“Because Gotham’s on the other coast,” Mia replied, partially joking and partially not. 

Mia had only worked with Stephanie once before, and by now that time felt far behind her. The case involved a plain-clothes investigation on the east side of Gotham. Truth be told, neither Mia nor Steph were planning on getting into a fist fight in a grocery store parking lot, but at least they were both versed in the art of rolling with the punches — literally. 

Tonight was certainly a lot more chaotic than punching a bunch of dudes in front of a Whole Foods, but even with the bruises on her knuckles and the new mark on her face — Mia would not trade it for the world.

Plus, it was just nice to have company sometimes. 

Nowadays her family members were often spread thin across the country. Whether it be Dinah working with the Birds or Roy working with the League, the fact always seemed to stand that everyone was just busy. Unavailability never came from malice, it just happened and Mia knew it. 

But it didn’t stop her from spending months alone in a Seattle loft, and during such times she would truly miss the Californian sun. Sometimes she wondered why she picked such a drearily overcast city to operate in for Speedy’s attempt to “go solo.”

At least she had a big chonky rescue dog to keep from feeling too isolated.

Speaking of which, Mia looked at her absolute unit of a pitbull on the floor. The second the two made eye contact and Mia patted her thigh, the thicc viscount immediately got up from the floor, shook his head so fast that his ears slapped his stupid skull, and hopped onto the couch. 

Despite being sixty pounds, Viscount Theodore of Dearden seemed utterly convinced that he was a lap dog and lounged on his owner’s legs as if he were a pomeranian. Mia didn’t seem to care though, as affectionately scratched his forehead and gazed lovingly into his beady, black eyes. 

Stephanie could only smile as she pulled herself off the floor and sat on the couch. 

“Ahhh, I see — your master gets priority, huh?” said the Gothamite in a playful tone. 

For a moment Mia watched as Stephanie continued to adore Seattle’s most blobby pitbull, spending a few seconds to take in the other blonde. 

Stephanie’s eyes were blue, but a lighter shade than Mia expected. On top of them, she couldn’t help but notice faint marks on Stephanie’s face — or perhaps, the lack thereof. 

Looking at Stephanie now, Mia could not have guessed that half the shit she read in Spoiler/Batgirl’s files actually happened to her. But perhaps some people were better at hiding their scars than others.

Before Mia could fall any further into her mental rabbit hole, she forced herself to speak. 

“By the way, you’re welcome to crash here for a night,” she said, doing her best to maintain the appearance of a normal functioning human. “Gotham’s a long teleporter ride away, y’know?”

Stephanie looked utterly charmed. “You’re too kind.” 

Mia smiled bashfully. “It’s the least I could do.”

A few seconds passed and Stephanie gave Mia the same warm, loving look that she had been giving to the dog all night. 

“It’s nice to know I still got time to play with this chonky boi,” said Stephanie, giving Viscount Teddy a few more stomach pats to emphasize her point.

Mia gestured behind her, where there was a staircase leading to the loft’s second floor. 

“You can take my bed, it’s just up there.” 

Stephanie’s smile was quick to falter as she shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t.” 

“It’s fine, you’re my guest,” Mia assured. With a playful expression, she then glanced towards the large sixty pound pitbull now falling asleep on her lap, effectively pinning her to the cushions for the rest of eternity. 

“Besides… I think I live here now.” 

The pair of plucky blondes then let out a lighthearted, mutual laugh.

In no time Stephanie’s unease faded away, and suddenly she laid back on the couch, lounging happily as if it was where she belonged in the world. 

“Well… if you insist, Speedy.” 

[maqias]

been contemplating communication methods for a setting for a fantasy rp server i've been brainstorming for a while now, and something i keep coming back to that seems just ridiculous and fantasy enough while still being pretty practical in theory is a shellphone, or a seashell cellphone.

in my head, they can be fairly expensive to get a hold of, though any adventurer or traveling worker (messengers, carriage drivers, etc) worth their salt will immediately invest in one for the sake of both convenience and business ventures. because seashell phones are made of illusory magicks and are often sold by wizards and warlocks of all sorts, virtually any seashell can be turned into a shellphone, albeit they'll function a little different or get you a couple weird looks

a knobbled welk, or a queen conch, for example, will get you more landline-esque phone shapes - and will often require vocal components to call others and "dial" their numbers, and often not have much else to it. very novelty - nobles/the bourgeoisie love it, especially seashells you can still hear the sea from, but not too loud so as to overpower your conversations. they also love it because it lets them hear the sound of their own voice, since "dialing" other numbers requires vocal components and for the speaker to "technically" ""cast"" someone else's phone number

a basic scallop? a sea scallop, or a bay scallop, or even different types of clams? flip-phones. all of em. some of them are less so flip phones and more so the sliding phones with little keyboards that come out, but regardless these are a little cheaper - and smaller - than the knobbled welks or the queen conches, but they're more convenient, easier to carry around in your pocket, and how common they are makes it extremely easy to replace your shellphone's shell for another, bringing re-casting/repair costs down.

and the cycle continues on like this. flatter seashells make good smartphone-equivalents. smaller, round seashells - little periwinkle shells, for example - make really good toy shellphones, which often people will enchant themselves for how easy it can be, and how it isn't worth to bring to a professional wizard to make it function like one.

plus, the way I see it, buying a commercial shellphone involves these really refined, upped, seashells with almost porcelain features - if they're the fancy ones - or very rigorous tough material that makes you say "is this a seashell?!" if it's an adventurer's shellphone. but any ol' spellcaster with enough determination and a bit of chalks and inks and sundry material components can just grab a seashell from anywhere on the beach and be like "fuck it, i cast iphone"

anyway, just a few thoughts for the magic setting i'm writing. next time i'll elaborate upon magic mirrors as a form of communication i think

[xistential-thought]

Week 8 Update

There are officially two more weeks left for the quarter.

I am pleased to say that despite the sleepless nights and constant wave of work that keeps getting piled on me I'm staying afloat.

Maybe afloat is the wrong word. The waters of academia are choppy and seem to want to pull me down any chance it can. Having done school for almost 6 years now I feel like an experienced sailor who is able to navigate the waters on nothing more than a piece of wood from a capsized vessel. Imagine the scene from the titanic where Rose is floating on the door (except I am actively paddling on top of it).

I just finished my first official article with the Cal Aggie and working on one more for next week. I am proud of myself. I set up a goal this quarter that I wanted to start writing and get some samples published. I think that I am going to request the rest of the quarter off since I just want to focus on school stuff for now.

I need to catch up in most of my classes but I feel like it's doable. I spent all night reading "The Code" for our in-class presentations. I got that out of the way, and now I can go back and make my presentation better.

The book was actually really easy to read and follow along with. As a bay area native, it was fascinating to learn the history behind Silicon Valley. I did not realize how connected Stanford and UCB were to the war efforts and how this also led to an increase in technological innovation in the area.

Reading about the culture at Stanford and the intentions behind its design were fascinating to learn. I was really interested to learn also about the culture at Stanford from the first group of chip creators to the capital venturists of the '60s and '70s. I was also interested to learn about the wave of "hackers" who had leftist perspectives on the use of computers for social liberation.

It gave me a better appreciation for all the technology I have access to. Most people now have access to smartphones or public internet access. We benefit from the technology that capitalism was able to mass produce.

[graywhalewatchingbaja]

The Extraordinary Journey of Gray Whales: Baja's Natural Wonder

Each winter, the pristine waters of Baja California transform into nature's grandest theater as thousands of grey whale watching baja complete their epic migration from the frigid Arctic seas. These magnificent marine mammals travel over 6,000 miles to reach their breeding grounds in Mexico's warm, protected lagoons, creating one of the world's most remarkable wildlife encounters.

The heart of this extraordinary spectacle lies within three main lagoons: San Ignacio, Magdalena Bay, and Scammon's Lagoon. Each destination offers unique opportunities to witness these gentle giants in their natural habitat. San Ignacio Lagoon has earned fame for its "friendly" whales, who often approach boats with apparent curiosity. Magdalena Bay provides calm waters perfect for mother-calf pairs, while Scammon's Lagoon hosts the largest concentration of breeding whales.

Local guides, many descended from generations of fishermen-turned-conservationists, navigate small boats called pangas through these sacred waters. Their deep understanding of whale behavior and respect for these creatures ensures meaningful encounters while maintaining the animals' well-being. These experienced captains know precisely how to approach the whales without disturbing their natural patterns.

The behavior displayed by gray whale watching in Baja lagoons astounds even seasoned wildlife enthusiasts. Mothers teach their calves essential life skills, from proper breathing techniques to surface behaviors. Visitors often witness spectacular breaching displays, where these massive creatures launch themselves skyward before crashing back into the water. Spy-hopping, where whales rise vertically to peer above the surface, offers incredible eye-to-eye connections with these intelligent beings.

Conservation efforts have transformed these lagoons into protected sanctuaries. Once hunting grounds, they now represent one of marine conservation's greatest success stories. Local communities have embraced eco-tourism, developing sustainable practices that benefit both the whales and human visitors. This shift has created a model for wildlife tourism worldwide.

The optimal viewing season spans from December through April, with each month offering distinct experiences. Early season brings the first adult arrivals, while mid-season showcases mating behaviors. The latter months present the most touching scenes as mothers nurture their newborn calves in the lagoon's protective waters.

The ecosystem surrounding these lagoons supports an incredible diversity of marine life. Bottlenose dolphins frequently accompany boats, while numerous seabird species soar overhead. The desert landscape meeting the sea creates a unique backdrop for these marine encounters, with stunning sunsets painting the sky in brilliant colors.

Accommodations along the lagoons range from comfortable eco-camps to traditional Mexican lodges. These facilities embrace sustainable practices while providing necessary amenities for an enjoyable stay. Fresh seafood, local cuisine, and warm hospitality enhance the overall experience, connecting visitors with the region's rich cultural heritage.

Photography opportunities abound in these crystal-clear waters. The predictable surfacing patterns of whales, combined with excellent light conditions, create perfect scenarios for capturing unforgettable images. Whether using professional equipment or smartphone cameras, visitors regularly document extraordinary whale encounters. https://graywhalewatching.com/gray-whale-watching-in-baja/