#buddy i would have already decided id be going and would have probably already bought tickets to a 3rd show

[carcarrot]

you know what. i just might do it

[faraway-in-headspace]

I?? I searched Chicken Choice Judy on google out of curiosity because it sounds oddly familiar like there’s a similar-sounding name and I found 4 websites selling the shirt design. But the descriptions on these pages are BUCK WILD??

Written version of the descriptions under the cut (very long).

[Begin ID

First image states:  Long ago, when I had hair, I was an undergrad living in a house with nine other men. Near as I can tell, three of them (not sure which three) never bought food, just lived off what they stole from the Chicken Choice Judy shirt But I will love this other seven. We had several house meetings about it, but nothing changed. One day, I came in from grocery shopping. By coincidence, all 10 of us were in the kitchen. I started putting my stuff away. 1st thing I pulled out of the bag was my half-gallon of milk. I opened the carton, took a couple of drinks from the carton, then gargled some of it, and spit it back in. I opened my tub of margarine and licked the whole surface. By now, the room chatter had stopped because the other nine jaws had dropped open.) To your original question, those specific topics would take several years to build, as they depend on several layers of pre-requisites, which would require either that more advanced topics such as algebraic topology to be taught in elementary school, or that the buildup process happened blazingly fast during high school – both of which probably stretch the biological limits of what pre-teens and teenagers can reasonably be expected to accomplish. I spit on all my veggies, took the bread out of the package, and licked and spit on it, then carefully put it all back in the plastic bag. Remind teenage daughters to look through them before going on date with the boyfriend, in case they want to use one. I labeled it all and put it away. None of it was stolen. I never said a word, but I made it a point to repeat the performance anytime anyone was around to see it. Others began to emulate my approach and food theft stopped. Even I found it revolting, but it solved the problem. Works even better if you are sick or can at least make your thieving roommates think you are. While some cities are starting to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the country are continuing to wear masks in public and practice social distancing. Vogue is committed to staying safe, and offering hopeful, optimistic content that highlights moments of camaraderie and exceptional acts of heroism from around the world. We are all looking for a little comfort too—be it a soothing Instagram account or a stylish creator on TikTok. It reminds us of the power of little things.

Second image states:  A couple of guests informed me my office was too minimalist and that they expected more things to be hanging on my wall the Chicken Choice Judy shirt besides I will buy this next time they visited my wife’s and my home. I kinda hope they held their breath while they were waiting for our next invitation. They both went on to backstab me and my wife pretty bad a few years later. Another set of guests tried to squat. I had driven them all the way from Florida to Massachusetts under the impression that they had jobs and a place to live lined up. They offered no money for gas, hotels on the three-day trip, or compensation for the inconvenience and effort. He even tried to weasel out of the dinner he offered as a thank you by forgetting his wallet. The dude got me off the streets years ago and I wanted to pay him back in some way, but my wife and I were in no position to have extra residents in our home. We just don’t have the room or money. I made all of this VERY clear and told my old buddy that we could only house them for a couple of days max. There are MANY other details, but the disrespectful thing my former friend said was wordless. As I was kicking them out and they were angrily loading stuff into my car to bring them anywhere but here, my buddy left his gigantic knife right in the center of my wife’s desk. Like that was supposed to make us change our minds and let them stay? In the days of dial-up, I had a family call and not be able to get through because we were online. They decided to show up unannounced. They literally caught me in my underwear as they were let into the apartment before I could even react to being rudely surprised. Some of my family members have a history of abuse, violence, and stalking, something at least one of the visitors, my mother, was quite aware of since she lived through it with me. Her tagalong friend decided to put in her two cents and tell me I should get a call waiting or a second line because they were trying to call me. That did it! I suddenly forgot I was just wearing underwear and angrily asked my mother’s friend if she was paying my phone bill. My mother-in-law, stepfather and mom’s friend beat a hasty retreat and NEVER did the pop-in ever again.

Third image states:  That was why when we did get to reality shows, Etro and then Dolce & Gabbana plus Jacquemus later in France, it was wonderful. Clothes are all about contact: As a wearer, you feel them on your skin, and as a watcher, you process them with your eye. The watching part can be done secondhand, but the Chicken Choice Judy shirt in contrast I will get this impact will always be second to the real thing. I read some commentators in the U.S. saying, “Too soon” or “Wear a damn mask!” which I always did, but these opinions while valid enough lack perspective. Milan and its surrounding region Lombardy went through what New York did but earlier. Through sagacious governmental management much more effective than that of the U.S., Italy has managed dramatically to flatten the curve across the rest of its territory. These shows just like the reopening of flights, stores, factories, and restaurants were symptomatic of recovery that, far from being taken for granted, is being tended to with vigilance and cherished with gratitude. The digital Fashion Weeks were better than no Fashion Weeks at all, but as an upgrade on the real thing? Nah. Like everyone, I missed the shows in the experiential sense this season. But for the first time since I began covering the collections several years ago, I didn’t miss a single brand or designer’s contribution to Paris Fashion Week. Which is to say, thanks to the Fédération’s online platform, I was able to watch every name on the haute couture and men’s calendars. This brand on-demand convenience not to mention being spared the logistical headaches of zigzagging across the city was pretty great. Also, everything was on time, from the films to the manner in which we filed our reviews. While efficiency can be satisfying, it’s not necessarily exciting. Ultimately, we had to accept that the focus this season wasn’t going to be the clothes but rather the brands conveying some combination of identity, process, and values. And in the absence of standardized criteria as in, showing a minimum number of looks, specifying a time range, it was interesting to observe how heterogeneous these experiments proved to be quasi–ad campaigns versus short films, conceptual or fantastical visions versus raw and documentary style. A proper kimono takes nearly an hour to put on – I’m sure most Japanese girls would much rather spend a few seconds and slip on a dress. Get survey responses from targeted consumers today.

Fourth image states:  Around a decade ago, not long after he started his own label, Massimo Alba made a great mistake. A batch of shirts and T-shirts he was working on that had already been garment-dyed one color were mistakenly exposed to another. Speaking at his showroom presentation this weekend, Alba said: “It’s very interesting to me that so many good things start out as mistakes like this.” That accident was to Alba what the Chicken Choice Judy shirt moreover I will buy this mold-infected petri dish was to Alexander Fleming: a stumbled-upon eureka that led to a career-defining course of the investigation. This collection featured a series of softly tailored jackets, corduroy pants, and shorts, plus light cashmere sweaters that were hand-overdyed two, and sometimes three colors. It’s a process that led to variations in tone that included acid-trip floods of purple on purple to subtle bleeding of magenta across mustard yellow. Like most of Alba’s garments, these dyed pieces appeared at first glance conventionally prosaic. The more attention you gave them, however, the more their exceptional qualities became evident. Take a pale blue jacket, for instance, which at that first glance seemed passingly related to a surgeon’s scrubs. To the hand it was light and almost textureless in its softness: The fabric was a cotton mousseline developed for Alba by Albini. Long-sleeved, in a delicately mottled finish of washed-out sky blue, it made for an ideal mid-summer shake in pink, sleeveless, it was an impactful shirting second skin. Other interesting developments this season included a cotton pant named the Myles with acutely kinking stitched gather at knee-level on both legs and another handsome pant, baggy in white poplin, with patch pockets. A blue tropical weight jacket named the Lenny, after Bernstein, was Alba’s interpretation of a bohemian creative’s ideal piece of workwear. Collarless shirts in ripstop linen and button-up short-sleeves in terry were further finely effective coups de théâtre. Alba is a self-deprecating yet dangerous designer: Try just one carefully chosen piece and that’s it, you’re spoiled for good because nobody else quite compares. The museum in Prague where this portrait is held describes the ring on her first finger as the ring given to her at her wedding. It’s not comfortable. Maybe a lot of girls think that a see-through blouse can attract the attention of boys or they think that it will make her look much smarter. Meghan has no dress sense: no knowledge of fabrics, fit, styles that flatter, proper tailoring, Her father raised her in L.A. Enough said. Her idea of dressing for an event is “dress up” like a little girl dressing up as a princess. Shiny! Tight! Celebrity “fashion” not elegant, just flashy.

/end ID]

[yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy]

Why So Jaded? Chapter 9

FFN, AO3, Enjoy. 

Why So Jaded

Chapter 9

Saturday morning Violet happily got dressed in a gorgeous floral dress that was tea length with a cardigan and beautiful comfortable sandals and did her hair and makeup to reflect a more- sweet, non threatening and likable look as she could, before she went to the florist to pick up the flower arrangements she had ordered for Beth, Tammy and Lisa and had ordered them to look like centerpieces because surely every woman enjoyed getting flowers and was happy when they came out looking and more importantly smelling- divine.

Then she went to the bakery, The Merry Cherry, to pick up the cake and the cupcakes, because Buddy and her had decided, especially since everyone was bringing their kids that they should make the cake tempting enough to encourage the kids to eat all of their dinner, so they got a galaxy cake and galaxy cupcakes which did look really awesome. Then she went to Chocolacier- a boutique chocolatier that was right around the corner from the Merry Cherry, to pick up her huge case of chocolate covered strawberries and four big cases of chocolates, one for each family to take home with them and the last one for Buddy and his guests to enjoy after dinner.

She had spent the night before with Jack who helped her get little gift bags together for all the kids at Party City, a party supply place which went with the galaxy theme because it was gender neutral and age appropriate for all the kids involved and Jack had been invaluable in making sure each child would receive something special, yet age appropriate and more importantly - super cool, before she made another stop across the street from Chocolacier, to Linster Rivera which was a very high end delicatessen and charcuterie bodega to get all the charcuterie elements because she was bound and determined to have a proper cheese and charcuterie board and even bought a huge authentic charcuterie board and a set of cheese knives because she had already gotten some cheeses and crackers at the liquor store’s market but she needed more to round everything out along with some last minute items before she drove into SEB to deliver everything.

Buddy frowned when he heard a thudding at his apartment door before he came and opened the door to see a pile of things so tall, he couldn’t see Violet’s head and knew she must have been “knocking” with the toe of her sandal but the flowers covering her head were breathtaking.

“Hi,” came Violet’s muffled greeting from behind the pile of things as her head had been nestled in the bouquet itself as everything else was precariously stacked within her arms, threatening to overflow them.

“Oh my goodness, here, let me help with that.” Buddy laughed as he took as much from her as he could manage but nearly dropped what he was carrying when he saw her. She was so beautiful. She was always beautiful but today, she was extra gorgeous and disarmingly bewitching that had him swooning, it was like seeing her for the first time all over again as the butterflies once again fluttered almost thunderously within his belly and his heart skipped a beat or two.

“Have you ever heard of taking two trips?” Buddy teased with a chuckle as he did his best to be as unaffected by her as he could and felt he was failing miserably.

“Well that’s the thing, I have another load down there, probably two or three.” Violet answered honestly as she organized what was left and avoided his gaze as she did her best to stamp down her own bashfulness as her cheeks flushed rose.

“Load of what?” Buddy asked as he tried to think of what else she could have possibly brought that he hadn’t prepared for.  

“Well, I got Jack off the bus yesterday and he asked about today and I told him about it and he suggested that we make gift bags for the kids and since we got a galaxy cake, we got galaxy themed gift bags and stuff because they’re age neutral and gender neutral and would be inclusive for everyone. And so we went to Party City and we kind of went a little nuts and then it snowballed from there. So I have gift bags for all the kids, and the baby.” Violet confessed because she had also drug Jack to Target to get together some things for Beth's baby- Roman, and Buddy’s heart melted that she was being so thoughtful and doubted Jack would really do such a thing and figured she was using her little brother as an excuse to do something nice and inclusive for the kids. Which was incredibly sweet.

“Aww, you didn’t have to, it’s just a dinner, not really a party. Very sweet of you to think of them though.” Buddy noted as he put his own stack on his kitchen island and started to unpack what she had gotten, impressed when he saw all the deli stuff as his stomach reminded him it was going to be lunch time soon.

“Yeah Jack, with his silver tongue, justified it as a mini SEB public relations stunt and I have extras just in case any of the kids end up bringing a friend or two.” Violet explained with a chuckle which got Buddy to grin, as he reconsidered his previous thought about Jack but also knew that Violet wasn’t one to be talked into something she didn’t want to do.

“So yeah, I have a big tub with gift bags in the back of my SUV.” Violet informed him bashfully and Buddy could tell she was nervous and anxious and obviously trying so hard to gain approval.

“Well let me help you unload the rest of it.” Buddy insisted as he slipped his own shoes on real quick as Buddy went with her to her SUV in the parking garage.

“How are the spider’s in here?” Buddy asked in a whisper as they walked side by side in tandem.

“Not nearly as bad, just watching, not listening.” Violet answered.

“Well let me know when their webs aren’t in the way.” Buddy said before Violet suddenly pulled them to be between huge SUV’s and Buddy didn’t even ask, he just pulled her into a tight hug and smiled sadly when she hugged him back just as tightly.

“Are you nervous?” Buddy murmured.

“I know I have no reason to be.” Violet answered with a defeated sigh.

“Do you by any chance feel the need to overcompensate?” Buddy guessed gently.

“I still feel like I’m intruding and I gotta make up for that.” Violet confessed.

“You’re not intruding. You’re just as invited as everyone else. They’re all cool with you coming. They were excited about it actually. Keith most of all, which is kinda creepy with how enthusiastic he was.” Buddy teased and smiled when he felt her smile into his chest.

“And even if they don’t like you, I can always get new friends.” Buddy offered which got Violet to snort a laugh.

“That’s ridiculous.” Violet murmured as she finally seemed to relax in his arms though as Buddy smiled happily when she finally did.

“Yeah but I like you better than I do them.” Buddy reassured her.

“You shouldn’t though.” Violet argued softly as Buddy felt her shoulder’s sag which got him to frown.

“Yeah, but I do, it’s too late to go back now, besides it’s going to be ok. It’s just a group of friends hanging out. That’s all it is and the moment they come into my place, you won’t have to be Ms. Parr for the rest of the day, all you need to be and should be is Violet. And that’s more than enough.” Buddy reassured her.

“Ok.” Violet finally caved as she nuzzled her face into the crux of his neck and shoulder before she got a call which caused them to part reluctantly.  

“Hey,” Violet answered when she saw the caller ID.

“Hey, what time is your thing today?” Violet’s mom Helen called.

“Uh, kind of an all day thing, but it technically starts at five, why? What do you need?” Violet asked.

“Could you get Jack, he spent the night at his friend Jaxon’s house and he was supposed to be spending the weekend with them and your Dad and I are already out of town on business and Dash is at Ashley's or Amy’s or I forget which girl he’s going out with now,  but Jaxon’s parents have plans tonight at someone else’s house and they don’t want to be rude to that host by having Jack tag along, so could you pick him up?” Helen asked hopefully as Violet scrunched up her face which Buddy thought was beyond adorable.

“Yup, I got him, I’ll give him a call.” Violet agreed.

“Thanks Honey, Jack will give you the address.” Helen answered.

“You’re welcome, have fun and be safe, bye Mom.” Violet bit her mom.

“You too Sweetie bye.” Helen thanked her.  

“Well, it seems Jack needs me to go get him. I’m sorry, I really wanted to stay and help out more.” Violet began to apologize.

“Well if it’s not too weird, Jack could just hang out with us, he’s more than welcome to and he can stay the rest of the day if he wanted to too, it’s not like he’s going to be the only kid around here.” Buddy generously offered.

“Really? You don’t mind?” Violet asked.

“Not one bit, as long as he’s ok with it.” Buddy answered before Violet reached up on her toes and kissed his cheek sweetly.

“Thank you.” Violet thanked him before she got back on her phone and called her brother.

“Hey Vi,” Jack greeted.

“Hey, so here’s the deal, Mom and Dad are already out of town, and Dash is still screwing his way through a model catalog…” Violet began before Buddy snorted a laugh before he quickly covered his mouth with his hand so he wouldn’t make any more noise as he and Violet shared a meaningful look.

“And I’m still here at work but I’m helping set up for the thing tonight, now my host has offered for you to just hang out with us…” Violet began.

“Yes! I’m ready now, you can pick me up now.” Jack eagerly insisted.

“Oh, ok then, text me the address. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Violet replied before she hung up.

“Hey, by any chance, did you ever have any other nicknames besides Buddy or Bud, because Bartholomew is a mouthful?” Violet asked Buddy thoughtfully.

“Yeah, why? Were you looking for one?” Buddy asked curiously.

“Yeah, because you have the distinction between Violet and Ms. Par and Invisigirl, I was hoping you had another distinction between Mr. Pine.” Violet explained as she self consciously put her hair behind her ears.

“Uh, well, Tali called me Tully, so that’s out.”  Buddy realized as his brain was spinning into a tizzy at the possible implications of what this could mean for them.

“Uh, otherwise, I’ve been called any number of things…” Buddy tried to think of something to give her but was coming up with a blank.  

“What about Barret?” Violet suggested hopefully and Buddy was ready to go down to the courthouse to change his legal name to that because the way she said it was making the butterflies flutter again, like they usually did whenever she was around but now they were about to become a hurricane in his stomach.  

“Barret totally works, honestly I could just answer to ‘hey you’ if you wanted.” Buddy answered as he tried not to giggle. Because Violet having her very own private nickname just for him? Sign him up.

“Well, cause I’ve been thinking about this since Wednesday, and it would be a nice way to cut through all the Ms. Parr, Mr. Pine stuff with, but wouldn’t set Phillip off, like a pet name but I guess, not a pet name?” Violet carefully worded as her cheeks flushed cherry and Buddy was about to squeal in delight. She wanted an intimate pet name for him without tipping off the sensors or anyone else. So she did feel the same way! Oh how sweet the vindication and validation.

“Yeah, Barret totally works, Barret and Violet, Violet and Barret. Winning combination.” Buddy blathered off, trying to keep his excitement to a reasonable level.

“Thank you. Will your friends look at me crazy if I call you that in front of them though?” Violet posed.  

“They shouldn’t care honestly.” Buddy shook his head no with a shrug.

“Ok, well help me with the tub and then I’ll go get Jack before he tries to portal here.” Violet urged before she turned and nearly ran into the SUV on the side of her which made them both erupt into laughter.

“Wow, so smooth.” Violet chided herself as she led the way to her SUV and popped the back hatch to reveal a big clear plastic tub full of gift bags, with all the kid’s names on the tags and yet even more things as she grabbed the big case of chocolate covered strawberries and put all she could on top of the tub's lid in Buddy's hands before she got the remaining flower arrangements before they walked back into the building as Violet made sure he was squared away in his ‘gilded cage’ before she left to go pick up Jack.

Violet was barely parked in front of the house before Jack came running out of the house and practically leapt into her SUV with his backpack.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Jack insisted.

“What is going on?” Violet asked as she waived to Jaxon’s mother before she pulled out of the driveway.

“We don’t have much time. Step on it.” Jack insisted.

“Much time for what?” Violet asked as she got back on the road.

“Are the spiders awake?” Jack asked.

“No, they’re sleeping.” Violet answered.

“Ok, so I was up really late last night and I think I have a breakthrough on Phillip. But I need a lab and hopefully Mr. Pine’s genius will do the rest.” Jack explained.

“You...Do you mean to tell me- that Jaxon’s parent’s really don’t have other plans that they couldn’t drag you along with? And that you literally called Mom and Dad to pick you up, knowing they were out of town and Dash is busy so that left me to get you so that I could watch you myself because you wanted to get one on one time with my asset?!” Violet demanded angrily.

“Yeah, look, you told me that you told him about Phillip’s powers and the fact that he picked up on the fact that Phillip has them, and he was cool about it and he’s been really awesome about everything. If he likes you as much as you make him sound like he does, that gives him- opportunity, motive and availability, the magic trio to work miracles. Because I have a really bad feeling we are running out of time. Like I want this done before you leave for Hong Kong, Tokyo at the latest.” Jack insisted.

“You...manipulator!” Violet growled as she threw her phone at him before he let it phase through him and her phone hit the passenger door.

“You said that he said that he’d do anything for you right? Let him prove it.” Jack pleaded as he got her phone and handed it back to her.

“God damn it Jack, I also told you I could be reading in between the lines and going out on a limb there.” Violet groaned.

“Yeah, I doubt it, come on, plus you know Phillip agreed that the moment anyone from your family is on SEB property that he’d promise to turn off all the cameras and listening devices. This way we get most of the day without Big Brother watching us and listening to us the whole time. Look Edna and I have been hitting our heads against a brick wall here and we’re out of ideas. And with the pictures that came up when you went to Vegas, Phillip isn’t making it hard for anyone to guess what his intentions with you are. And if we can’t find a way to stop him- you’ll be trapped as Mrs. Sebastian for life, however long or short that would be. You’re already miserable being his handler. I can’t imagine how awful you would feel being his wife.” Jack appealed.

“Jack this isn’t your problem to solve.” Violet answered.

“Well your way of handling it isn’t working, it’s just making it worse. If you told Mom and Dad half of what you’ve told me, then you know Dad would beat Phillip into a pulp but we both know Phillip would plant a suicide seed in his head before the first punch could be thrown. Same thing with Mom, that’s why you haven’t told anyone but me.” Jack explained and Violet couldn’t argue with that.

“But you said it yourself that whatever Buddy puts his hands on- he improves. Let him put his hands and his brain on this and the worst that can happen is he can’t come up with something. The best that can happen is he solves this. We just need to give him a starting point. Give him what we’ve come up with so far and have him do his genius thing. He's already been solving your medical stuff and you said you trusted him. So trust him, take the leap of faith Vi.” Jack pleaded.

“How am I going to explain to Phillip that you and Barret are working on a way to expose the very powers that he has killed -who knows how many- for even talking about?” Violet asked.

“Ooh, Barret, so he did go for the pet name that is so not a pet name .” Jack grinned cheekily.

“He did,” Violet confided.

“Well that and Barret is a good way to talk about him to Mom and Dad and get them to like him before they meet him face to face and freak out that you’re hot for the guy who tried to kill the family a decade ago.” Jack said with a shrug.

“Who said I’m ever going to let them meet?” Violet asked.

“As soon as you’re free from Phillip and you can hook up with him and go steady for a while.” Jack answered like it was the most obvious answer.

“Yeah, every day I’m little less and less certain that’s ever going to be a possibility and you’re almost making me regret ever telling you about any of this.” Violet confessed.

“You’ll be thanking me once this works, now call Phillip so he can turn off the cameras.” Jack prodded.

Violet begrudgingly called Phillip and told him that she needed to watch Jack and take him back to Mr. Pine’s floor because she was assisting Mr. Pine with the party which he agreed that the moment that Jack showed up on the cameras, they would all be shut off to protect Jack’s secrecy and privacy and they would remain that way until Jack went home. Even to the lab because he knew how Jack had a fondness for science equipment and Jack practically yelled into the phone that he had a science project that he wanted Mr. Pine’s assistance with which Phillip agreed to as well.  

“Perfect.” Jack beamed when Violet got off the phone.

“You’re lucky he still thinks he has to charm you.”

“And you’re lucky I’m immune so far.” Jack responded.

“It just sucks that Dash isn’t.” Violet grumbled.

“You really think he has a suicide seed planted in his head?” Jack asked worriedly.

“At this point, I assume everyone within a 500 foot radius has it, hell make it a thousand feet including and especially me, and especially Barret.” Violet confessed before Jack reached over and held her hand.

“Well then we have to find a way to find it.” Jack comforted her as she squeezed his hand back.

True to Phillip’s word, Violet could feel all the camera’s shut off and the listening devices get disabled as soon as Jack was seen by the cameras.

Meanwhile Buddy anxiously tried to get lunch prepared, he had to charm Jack. It was clear that Violet favored Jack and was especially close to him, more than anyone so if by a longshot, he could make a good impression with Jack, despite the history, maybe he stood a chance and just as he was getting things together, Jack burst into his apartment with a very irritated looking Violet behind him.

“Hey, Violet said I could call you Barret, you know I’m Jack, we got Phillip to put the spiders to sleep while I’m here, we need to get in the lab, we only got about six hours before your other company comes and we need your help.” Jack said quickly as he practically bounded up to Buddy eagerly.

“Help with what?” Buddy asked as he was completely but pleasantly surprised by this development.

“Help to expose Phillip as a Super, and save everyone who has to be around him, especially Violet.” Jack said as Buddy looked from Jack to Violet who seemed defeated and resigned as she leaned against the counter in the kitchen and looked apologetically from Jack to Buddy.

“Who else have you talked to about this?” Buddy asked them.

“Everyone else we can trust. Violet told me she trusts you. At least look at it.” Jack pleaded as he held up a case that had all the flashdrives of data in it.

“Please? Because I’m out of ideas and options and so is he and everyone else.” Violet finally spoke and the heartbreak in her voice was heart rendering.

“Violet? I really hate to do this to you, but, if you’ll finish cooking lunch, and follow this recipe, that’ll give me a head start on..” Buddy immediately decided.

“Let me clear your lab first.” Violet smiled in relief before the three of them went into Buddy’s lab and Violet pulled up the two computers side by side and started to put in two separate codes with each hand on two separate keyboards as she closed her eyes and focused on her finger movements, coordinating both hands to do separate things before she got two spare key cards and put them into the programmer and then went into The Agency’s database and brought up all the research she had been able to do in the last year and brought up everything every other agent had discovered in their post before the keycards finished programing before she handed one to Buddy and one to Jack.

“Ok, so the key cards are a shortcut to this project and they should disable all other eyes and ears when working on them and this way all three of us can work on this together and Jack I trust you’ll let Edna use yours when you’re not using it, all of this is encrypted, and if Phillip ever gets to see any of this, he’ll assume I’m working on someone named Dragon Eye who is actually a real guy in China who does have similar powers but he’s not nearly as dangerous as all this makes him to be, all the intel is on Phillip, but Phillip has clearance at The Agency and we had to make something he wouldn’t notice or suspect. Here’s how far I’ve gotten, Jack, your turn.” Violet offered before she left the lab and Jack immediately plugged in all the flash drives he kept for this into the computer as Buddy focused on reading all the could as quickly as he could.

“My sister really likes you.” Jack murmured to Buddy as he keyed in his own passwords to get to the contents of the drives.

“She shouldn’t.” Buddy blurted before he fully let what Jack said sunk into his consciousness. Holy shit, Violet really liked him?! Yes!

“But she does. Violet doesn’t trust people as far as she can kick them. She’s been doing the wrong kind of Super work for way too long and it’s changed her, but not for the better. She has no faith in people, much less humanity. She’s incredibly jaded and guarded. So for you to get through all that- says a lot about you.” Jack noted as he pulled up everything for Buddy to see.

“All I’ve been doing is just being myself.” Buddy muttered.

“And that’s all you needed to do. Violet has every reason to believe everyone she knows is in danger and can be used as leverage against her and despite everything that’s happened to her and everything else she’s done- she’s still a good person. And she will sacrifice herself to save others.”

“Even when those others aren’t worth saving.” Buddy finished as he carefully looked at everything.  

“If she deems someone worthy of being saved, then they’re lucky to have her view them as such. And it means that they should respond in kind.” Jack insisted.

“This is true.” Buddy had to admit.

“I like you.” Jack grinned at Buddy as he watched Buddy get to work.  

“Why? You don’t even know me.” Buddy frowned.

“Violet does, and that’s more than enough for anyone, even me. And don’t worry about everyone else, they’ll come around. Just keep having her back and do everything you can with helping us with this. It’ll work out, I got a good feeling about it.” Jack advised.

“There, now that’s everything.” Jack said once he was finished and once Buddy read over everything, his spark lit up like lightning again before he started to link things together, like taking two halves of a sweater and finally threading and knitting them together on both ends to make a whole and complete work as Jack simply sat back and watched on with proud excitement just as Violet came in several minutes later with two big bowls of chicken carbonara Buddy had started as she handed the first to Jack and then simply placed the second one into Buddy’s hands since he was preoccupied and already jumping down the rabbit hole.

“Thanks Vi.” Buddy answered a little bit distractedly as he blindly reached for the fork before he started to feed himself before Violet leaned over and kissed his cheek sweetly which did give him pause as his head skipped a beat or two.

“Thanks Barret.” Violet couldn’t help but coo before she left as Jack did his best to pretend he didn’t see it.

“You-you’re welcome.” Buddy replied before Violet retreated as she left and got her own lunch and before Buddy knew it he had already dived right in again with renewed vigor and enthusiasm and Violet was grateful Buddy had written down a ‘to do’ list on when to start what and already had all his recipes pulled up and Violet happily picked up where he left off while she happily danced away in the kitchen once she synced up her phone with the kitchen sound system so Buddy could focus on her own problem as Jack seemed to float back and forth between the two all afternoon.

“How’s he doing?” Violet asked Jack as she put two of the dishes into one of the ovens while the main course braised in the other.

“Oh he hasn’t barely come up for air, I’ve had to hand him- like two water bottles and a brain superfood bar so far. He’s dove in head first and he’s threading everything all together and making a proper spider web. It’s awesome. He’s even redesigning your suit. Because we’ve narrowed it down on which particular bandwidths that Phillip is “broadcasting” off. Like a radio tower. So the suit, as long as it can cover your head, can, in theory- protect you and he has already designed like a dozen more features that Edna would be drooling if she saw them and every other Super is going to want their own set of them. It’s working perfectly.” Jack informed her proudly as he got into the fridge to see what Buddy had in the way of afternoon snacks.  

“I can see what you see in him. For once you have really good taste in men.” Jack teased before Violet mused his hair.

“You keep that quiet.” Violet urged.

“He’s actually a really good guy though. And he clearly cares about you enough to take all this on with just a single ‘please’ from you and if I had to bet, he’s clearly way beyond head over heels for you. And I think you’re in just as much danger of being the future Mrs. Pine that you are being Mrs. Sebastian.” Jack hinted with a scheming grin.

“My love life is also not a problem to be solved, much less by you.” Violet tried to argue but the little excited grin that she immediately tried to swipe off her face was pretty telling to Jack especially.

“I’m not saying that like it’s a bad thing. You’d two be a cute couple. Whereas in the other one you’d be a hostage.” Jack shrugged as he found a string cheese and started to eat that for a snack before dinner which Violet had been doing so well at following the directions Buddy had left for himself.

“That’s true.” Violet admitted- as she got a blackberry yogurt from Buddy’s fridge and ate that as a snack herself.

“And the moment you pop out a kid, and give Mom and Dad a legitimate grandbaby they will be all on board.” Jack reminded her.

“What about the two they already have?” Violet argued, referring to Dash’s kids.

“They’re from two different baby mama’s and he’s not even with either one of them right now and he’s probably on his way to making a third as we speak.” Jack retorted as Violet did nod in agreement to that as she did her best to hide her own guilty expression.

“Maybe after Barret solves this, he can tackle a way to put a permanent condom on Dash.” Violet muttered sarcastically.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea.” Jack offered.

“No it wouldn’t be.” Violet agreed as she wrapped her arm around Jack and gave him a side hug.

“Do you really think Barret can do it?” Violet asked softly.  

“I do. He’s working like over a dozen angles simultaneously and is using his entire lab to work on all of it. He really is a genius. Like a savant level of genius. Almost makes me wonder if he’s actually a Super himself.” Jack answered.

“He probably is a low grade one, but one that there isn’t a test for yet.” Violet mused. “Either that or one hell of a gifted normal.” Violet shrugged.

“Either way, good brother in law material.” Jack muttered.

“That’s if we can survive Phillip’s best efforts.” Violet murmured with a grimace before she could stop herself.  

“Well Barret gave Phillip the blueprint about how to come clean with you and how to move his relationship with you from asset and handler to genuine and legitimate and Phillip has yet to take him up on it or follow any of it. All Buddy is doing is following his own blueprint and it’s working out for him. That and your chemistry is pretty good if one kiss on the cheek from you sent him into a mini tizzy, I can’t imagine what he’d do if you actually kissed him- kissed him.” Jack teased and cackled when Violet smacked him upside the head.

“Get back in that lab before I hurt you.” Violet ordered.

“Ok, ok, I’m gone, one more string cheese and a Coke.” Jack said before he grabbed the can and another snack before he retreated into the lab again as Violet set everything up for the company and artfully arranged all the snacks on trays. Making not just a cheese and charcuterie board but also a tray for the remaining cheeses and fruits and nuts and of course the chocolate covered strawberries and even wrapped the cases of chocolates and made sure to fill the cards out for each of the families before putting the snack trays back into the fridge and even made an extra dish for the dinner because Buddy had the ingredients and did her best to keep her dress clean with the help of the apron but was all too happy and comfortable to be barefoot in the kitchen and out of her heeled sandals as she continued to dance around the kitchen, listening to her music and feeling right at home for some reason. Violet even had time to take a leisurely break and watch some TV as she waited for everything to finish cooking in the ovens before she set the ovens to be warm for most of the food so it wouldn’t overcook while the main course finished braising and arranged all the bottles of wine and beers before it was time for her to go greet her guests if they decided they would be coming early.

“Hey guys, we got about 25 minutes before our company should be coming. So try to wrap up what you can and just set things to process for a while.” Violet reminded them.

“Ok.” Jack agreed from his spot at one of the pieces of equipment from the other side of the lab.

“Yeah.” Buddy answered but Violet could tell by that tone that he was still super distracted with what he was working on before she simply shook her head and walked across the lab and purposefully sat in Buddy’s lap and placed her arm around his shoulders as the touch completely yanked him out of his hyper-focus.

“Wha- huh?” Buddy asked as he suddenly realized she was not only next to him but obviously in his lap and the serene but expectant look she gave him as she simply reached up and gently threaded her fingers through his hair and grinned when he seemed to melt at her touch.

“Did you hear what I just told you?” Violet asked sweetly but thoughtfully.

“Uh...something about the time?” Buddy asked before he noticed what time it was.

“Oh shit, the dinner…” Buddy realized.

“Nope, I took care of it. I just followed the to do list you left yourself and followed the recipes you had pulled up on the tablet in your kitchen. It’s all done, it’s all ready to go. The main course still has about thirty minutes left, but everything else is done. All the snacks and cold appetizers are in the fridge, already on the trays, all you have to do is pull them out of the fridge and set them on the breakfast bar. I’m just letting you know, you now have about 23 minutes before your guests arrive. So that gives you 15 minutes to wrap things up and set things to continue processing while we socialize. Can you handle that?” Violet reassured him in one of her more calming, soothing tones and Buddy was ready to propose to her in that instant as he readily held her steadily in his lap and was ready to break at least one chair if it meant she’d have nowhere to sit but his lap for the evening.  

“Yep, I can do that.”

“Good, give me your phone so I can set an alarm, just in case and then I’ll go down and see if anyone ends up being early. Ok?” Violet posed before Buddy freely handed her his phone as she put an alarm that would sound in 15 minutes.

“Thank you Barret, see you in a bit.” Violet thanked him and gave his temple a quick kiss she offered before she got up and sauntered away and left as Buddy was hopeless but to watch her leave. God was he falling hard and fast for her.

“Someone’s gonna be Mrs. Pine.” Jack teased in a sing-song tone from across the lab once the door was closed behind Violet.

“Shh! Don’t jinx it Man.” Buddy shushed him.

“Violet didn’t have any aversions to it when I said something about it to her earlier.” Jack added temptingly and nearly fell out of his chair laughing when Buddy reacted to that revelation.

“Wait what?” Buddy pressed as he nearly fell out of his chair as he leaned as far back as he could so he could see Jack clearly from across the lab.

“Look, with Phillip, she’s a hostage, with you she’s happy and more like her old self before she did so many missions as a spy. It’s just an observation.” Jack answered as he put his hands up in defeat.  

“Really? She’s happy with me?” Buddy pressed.

“You really need to ask that? I thought you were a genius?” Jack teased with a shit eating grin.

“Yeah with computers I am, to women and most social situations, not really no.” Buddy confessed.

“None of us can have it all Man.” Jack shrugged. “Come on, we only have like 12 minutes left.” Jack reminded him before they went back to work trying to get as many processes starting as they could before they ran out of time.

Meanwhile Violet waited anxiously at SEB’s entrance, having brought the tub of gifts down and set them up on a table on the other side of security so she could hand them to the kids once they came through the metal detectors before Greg and Tammy and their kids came in and Violet put on a bright, welcoming smile.

“Well hello guys! Welcome to SEB Industries. I’m Miss Violet Parr, acting head of security. And I’ll need all of you to come through the metal detector and then I just have some really quick paperwork for you.” Violet said sweetly as Greg’s little boy Alex, who was 4 smiled brightly at her.

“Hi!” He greeted.

“Hello, what’s your name Handsome?” Violet cooed as she turned to him from the other side of security.

“Alex!” He greeted.,

“Well come on through Alex,” Violet invited as she waived him through before his parents followed him through security as Violet got their paperwork in order.

“Ok, so in exchange for the cameras to be turned off so we’re not in a complete fish bowl, I need both of you to sign these. And while you’re reading these over and signing them. I have these for Evan, Alex and even Kaely, I didn’t know if they would be jealous that you guys got to sign paperwork and they didn’t. So I wrote up something they could “sign” too.” Violet informed them as she showed Greg and Tammy the “contracts” she had written that basically had big check marks next to the things she thought would be appropriate for each kid. Kaely’s paper just had pictures with check marks on. Which Tammy and Greg thought was super cute and agreed to let her show their kids as Evan took his “contract” and snorted a laugh but agreed and signed it while Kaely happily sat on the floor and did the same with hers, choosing to scribble on the pictures while Violet helped Alex with his.

“Ok Alex, while your mommy and daddy are signing their paperwork, you have the most important paperwork. Let me read it to you. Objective number 1, so think of this like your mission, should you choose to accept it- is you will have fun while you’re here. Do you agree?” She posed.

“Yes.” Alex eagerly answered.

“Awesome, so put a check mark right here.” Violet directed as she handed him a pen which he happily did.

“Ok, now, objective number two, you will eat all your dinner so that you can have dessert? Which there is an awesome cake up there, it’s super yummy. Do you agree?” Violet posed.

“Yes.” Alex giggled as he checked that off.

“Number three, most important, there are other kids coming tonight and a limited number of toys, so that means that you have to share what’s up there and do your best to get along, do you agree?” Violet posed.

“Yes.” Alex answered as he checked that.

“Ok, now all you gotta do is sign your name, which if you don’t know how to write your name, you can totally just scribble it in.” Violet reassured him before Alex scribbled excitedly.

“Now we gotta stamp this, can you stamp it for me?” Violet asked as she handed him the “Approved” stamp and had him stamp it which he did, like five times, all over the paper before Violet could get the stamp back with a laugh.

“Super duper approved! Awesome. Ok, so now we put the stamp back and we give this to your parents so they can keep it.” Violet urged as Alex took the paper and eagerly showed his parents who had just gotten done with their own paperwork as Violet traded and made sure that they had initialed, signed and dated it before she did the same and stamped the paperwork herself quickly before she directed them to the gift table to pick up the kids’ gift bags along with the family’s gift case of chocolates to take home which the wives all eagerly took and held onto as the others came and she repeated the process, all the parents thinking it was super adorable that Violet would include the kids and be as awesome with them as she was and Greg, Keith and Scott along with their wives were happy to see this soft side of Violet and the kids were super happy about the gift bags and had already looked through them a little and had found all kinds of goodies and even the "older" kids thought it was awesome that she made theirs different than the little kids.  

“Ok, is everyone here and accounted for?” Violet asked as she did a head count and double checked her paperwork to make sure she had everyone.

“Awesome, well follow me guys,” Violet said as she led the way to the freight elevator that would be big enough for all of them before they all squeezed in and Violet hit the floors with her passkey that she had on a lanyard on her neck.

“So how come he doesn’t have an actual floor on the elevator?” Evan asked.

“Oh it’s a safety precaution. SEB is not immune to corporate espionage and the last thing we need is for Mr. Pine to be subjected to any while he’s here with us since all the projects he works on are all the intellectually property of SEB.” Violet answered politely.

“But I thought that’s what you were here for as head of security?” Scott posed.

“I’m only one person. I can’t fight off everything and everyone.” Violet shrugged before they came to the floor and Violet led the way to Buddy’s apartment and walked in to see Buddy thankfully in the kitchen, putting out the trays of appetizers on the breakfast bar like Violet had suggested.

“Hey guys! Thanks for coming, take your shoes off, stay a while.” Buddy warmly invited as he came over and did the handshake hug thing with everyone as the kids eagerly went over to where the cake was set up to look at it in awe as they realized it was a galaxy cake as Violet simply slipped away to change out of her dress and into more casual attire before she seemed to reappear just as the adults were gathering around the breakfast bar to dig into the snacks provided before Jack came out of Buddy’s lab and into the apartment.

“Well hi.” Greg greeted Jack as he looked from Jack to Buddy curiously.

“Hi,” Jack replied before he soon took refuge next to his sister.

“Is this your son?” Greg asked Violet but he was struck by how ginger Jack was, almost like he could be Violet and Buddy's son if they ever got to have kids.

“No, I’m her little brother, Jack, nice to meet you.” Jack immediately countered.

“My parents are out of town for the weekend so I’m staying with Violet and Barret agreed to help me with a school project.” Jack informed them casually as all the adults blinked in surprise as they looked from Jack to Buddy excitedly.

“What’s the school project about?” Tammy, Greg’s wife asked.

“Radio waves.” Jack answered.

“Oh, cool, well if there was anyone to help you with that, it would be Bud, or uh, Barret, rather.” Tammy nodded as she looked at him and tried to think of where she had seen him before Tammy’s son Evan came around his mom to grab another handful of snacks himself, mostly a handful of blueberries and another chocolate covered strawberry.

“Hey! I know you! You play at Millwood Park a lot.” Evan noted to Jack.  

“Yeah!” Jack beamed in excitement because low and behold, he had a friend at this shindig after all before he happily left Violet’s side to go over to Evan before the two went back with the rest of the kids to play among themselves in Buddy’s living room while Jack happily got to have his own gift bag from among the extras.

“Wow Bud you really went all out.” Beth, Keith’s wife noted as she appreciated the spread.

“Actually, this is all Violet’s doing. Jack and I went down a rabbit hole for his school project so Violet is the one that put this all together. Didn't she do a great job?” Buddy proudly answered as he marveled at these snack trays and happily started putting a little bit of everything together and marveling at the amazing quality of it all, being immensely proud of Violet for putting all this together and saving his bacon to speak.

Almost like a real couple should.

“Well I wouldn’t have done half as good if you hadn’t left a pretty good plan to follow, I just followed your ‘to-do’ list that had all the instructions on what and when to start all the elements. It was a piece of cake because of that.” Violet returned with a little shrug but her pleased grin shamed the sun at the praise, being ever so happy he pleased with it.

“Well now that you mention it, yes it’s obvious you did it because there’s no way he would have thought to include flower arrangements or half of these snack trays and look at that cake and those cupcakes, and this wine selection is flawless, I mean come on, all this does scream feminine touch.” Lisa praised as she gestured to everything as she even noticed Buddy’s table was set up beautifully too before they dissolved into idle chit chat before the oven beeped which signaled that dinner was ready before all the adults got a place around the table and all the kids got to sit around a second table that Violet had set up for them, complete with galaxy paper plates and napkins and cups as all the adults seemed to grab a dish and put it on the table before Buddy said grace and all the mothers got their kid’s plates ready and squared away before all the adults dug into what was left and even Buddy was pleasantly surprised to see Violet’s added dish and thought it complemented the meal perfectly and he was ever so grateful that Violet had just picked up where he left off so he could do the same for her and they had done it flawlessly together and with him sitting at the head of the table and her sitting to his immediate right, he was all too pleased about this and thought she fit in flawlessly, if anything she was the integral part to all of this and with the way they were kind of smooshed around the table, his knee was happy to rest against hers.

“So, where are you from Violet?” Beth asked.

“Uh, well my parents are originally from here but then they moved around a lot when I was little but when I was 14 we settled here back here in Metroville and my family has been here ever since.” Violet answered.

“Oh, so you’re just a hometown girl who’s made it big then?” Beth surmised.

“Well, yeah, I guess you could say that.” Violet mused.

“Where did you go to college at? I mean I assume you’ve been to collage if you’re head of security.” Beth furthered.

“Actually I didn’t go to collage, although I did have internships.” Violet said simply.

“Oh that’s nice, how did you manage that was the application process hard?” Beth guessed as all the guys looked a little worriedly from Violet to Buddy who looked tense who kept looking from them to Violet to gauge her reactions at being poked and prodded.  

“It was really a case of who I knew and developing the right skill set.” Violet tried to explain delicately.

“But what about you guys, since you brought up college, where did you go?” Violet returned, trying to keep the focus off of herself which Buddy and Violet were grateful for which worked for a little while before the conversation came right back around to her.

And then when they learned that Violet was "single" then all the girls seemed to try to make Buddy out to be this amazing catch of a guy. Which Violet thought was adorable because Buddy was getting a little flustered by it but when her hand went under the table to gently squeeze his knee, that had him relax a little and then to hold his hand under the table had him relaxing even more and taking it all in stride.

Then once dinner was eaten and the cake was cut and all the kids eagerly taking a cupcake before Violet put on a movie for them, the adults happily cleared the table and moved the snack trays to the table so they could sit and continue to snack as Violet opened Buddy’s case of chocolates to enjoy with them as Buddy eagerly and happily went through the case of chocolates to find his favorites as his friends gently poked and prodded Violet some more to try to get to know her better which was an easier feat with Violet happily drinking her favorite wine and with Buddy’s hand and hers both seemed to be drawn together under the table and before Violet knew it she was happily holding his hand under the table since they were still kitty corner to each other as they ate and drank happily with their free hand and Buddy was so unbelievably proud of Violet for staying Violet and it really was- for a few blissful hours- just a group of adults hanging out for a dinner.

It wasn’t until after the second movie that Violet put on for the kids, that the group heard the tell tail signs of little ones snoring as they had all snuggled up together on the couch with a couch throw over them and had fallen asleep since it was now almost midnight. But the adults had had too much fun just talking and catching up and getting to know each other better and Violet was very happy when all the women invited her and Jack to their kid's birthday parties and slumber parties and even to out to brunch and stuff which Violet was thrilled to have because she didn't really have any close friends besides other Supers and Tammy, Lisa and Beth were really fun actually as Buddy was grateful that they had eagerly accepted her into the fold.

“I think it’s time we better go.” Beth encouraged them before they all murmured their agreement and Violet happily, yet sleepily let them out.

“Please be gentle with him. Tali did a number on him when she left him, granted he’s changed quite a bit since then, but still. To see how you are with Phillip in the tabloids, I’m worried about how messy that could get.” Beth murmured to Violet as Violet carried Beth’s daughter Riley out to their van while Beth carried her newborn, Roman on her chest, covered in a thick baby blanket.

“I’m aware,” Violet nodded in understanding. “And I’ll do my best to do what I can.” Violet reassured her.

“Thank you Vi.” Beth thanked her.

By the time Violet got back into Buddy’s apartment and to see Jack still zonked out on the couch, she wanted nothing more than to just crash as Buddy was loading up the dishwasher and setting the pots and pans to soak in the sink overnight and noticed Violet was beyond tired herself.

“Why don’t you stay?” Buddy finally spoke up which caused Violet to turn her head to consider him.

“Oh, no uh, I really should get home.” Violet tried to refuse even though the thought of just crashing in Buddy’s bed sounded particularly fantastic.

“Vi, it’s late and you’ve been drinking, please, I’ll move Jack to my bed and you can sleep in it with him and I’ll take the couch. I don’t want you to chance you driving like this.” Buddy gently argued, even though Violet was far from drunk or even tipsy. He was more worried about her driving exhausted more than sober.

“Ok fine.” Violet easily caved before Buddy washed his hands from handling the dirty dishes and then happily came over and picked Jack up and carried him to his own room as Violet happily got her own bag and realized she had actually packed it for staying over which she thought was interesting that she had either consciously or subconsciously done that before she went into Buddy’s bathroom to wash the makeup off her face and brush out her hair and braid it so it wouldn’t tangle before Buddy simply knocked on the bathroom door and when Violet had opened it, he was holding an old tshirt and held it out to her so she had something to sleep in which Violet happily took, even though she technically brought pajamas, she readily accepted his offering, preferring his super soft, oversized shirt.

“Thank you Barret.” Violet cooed tiredly as she took and when she emerged, she noticed that Jack had already been tucked into the bed and a set of Buddy’s spare set of bedding had been taken out of his closet and when she had peaked into the living room Buddy was taking the pull out bed from his couch and setting up the bed and she was able to walk up behind him and hug him from behind and nuzzled his back with her face, letting his scent settle deep into her lungs and happily welcomed the comfort it brought which gave Buddy pause as he simply hugged her arms in turn.

“You’re welcome.” Buddy returned.

“Goodnight Barret.” Violet murmured.

“Good night Vi.” Buddy replied before he felt her pull away and retreat as he looked over his shoulder to see her go and blushed when he noticed she wasn’t wearing pajama pants or shorts or anything and took a moment to appreciate her amazing legs even though she was drowning in his shirt- just enough to be super adorable before she disappeared down the hallway to his bedroom before he finished making the bed and just as he was about to get into it , he heard a beeping sound in his lab which woke him up fully and got him to go into the lab to see what processes had finished before he once again happily plunged himself down the rabbit hole.

An hour and a half later, Violet woke up, having to go to the bathroom and decided to check up on Buddy before she noticed that the lights were still on and his bed was untouched which made her frown before she went around the apartment and turned the lights off before she opened the door to the lab to see Buddy still working on stuff.

“Barret?” Violet called out sleepily which got him to jump before he turned to her and was relieved it was only her.

“Hey, you should be in bed.” Buddy softly encouraged her.

“So should you,” Violet returned as she walked up to him.

“Sorry, I got caught up in…” Buddy gestured to what was in front of him which got Violet to hum and nod sleepily before she straddled his lap in his chair before she laid down on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders.

“You got two minutes to set things to process overnight, then you’re getting in bed.” Violet warned.

“But…” Buddy tried to argue but once Violet lifted her head and fixed him with a look, that even though she was beyond tired, still conveyed the seriousness of her request.

“Do it or I will use my secret weapon on you.” Violet threatened and Buddy was both scared yet intrigued to see what exactly she would do before he simply reached around her and did as she asked before she let her head rest on his shoulder once again and for the last fourth minute it took him to get everything squared away, his heart was hammering, wondering if she was noticing it was taking longer than she told him to take and once he was done, he blew out a breath of relief.

“Ok, I’m done.” Buddy informed her.

“Good, come on, bed.” Violet insisted and got up but pulled him after her and got the lights to the lab on her way out before she led him to the pull out bed and practically pushed him into the bed before she got into the bed with him and pulled his head to rest in her chest as he readily gathered her into his arms and when she started petting his head , her fingertips lazily scratching his scalp as her other hand softly and comfortingly smoothed over his back.

“Is this your secret weapon?” Buddy asked, his words muffled by his own t-shirt she was wearing.

“Yup, works on babies and grown men alike.” Violet answered, refusing to open her eyes and smiled softly in the darkness when he felt her relax and in 5 minutes flat, he was out like a light as she stopped her motions and simply wriggled down so she could cuddle with his chest and go to sleep herself.

But that wasn’t until Violet heard Buddy murmur something in his sleep.

“Hmm?” Violet hummed in question.

“I love you Violet.” Buddy answered, even though he was completely asleep.

“I love you too Barret.” Violet murmured back, a pleased, but happy smile on her face as she fell asleep in his arms.

[bbyboybrock--archived]

Serendipity (C.B) | Chapter 11

Summary: Serendipity: (n) the chance occurrence of events in a beneficial way

Popular youtuber Isabella Hart, known as Bella to her audience, bends over backwards to separate her youtube life from her private life. Known for her overall clean content and her bubbly attitude, Isabella has a wild side to her that only those inside the youtube community know about. When Bella meets Colby during one of the trap house parties she finally meets someone she can be her genuine self with. When trouble arises after their meeting, will Bella be able to hand the pressure or will she destroy her relationship with Colby as well as herself in the process. [This starts in 2018]

Written: 2019

Word Count: 3,821

Warnings: swearing, attempted sexual assault

(I  put a **trigger warning** right before the triggering part of the chapter and **trigger warning over** at the end of that part so you can read around it)

Serendipity Masterlist

The guys decided to throw a party just for shits and giggle. Come March they're all going to have to move out and probably not be able to have parties like this. So they've been throwing one every few weeks. Normally I won't get involved because it's not my house or my party. But the guys have really let the house go since the last party so they need all hands on deck to get the house looking decent. They also roped Kat in this as well.

We literally had to draw sticks to divided up the jobs. Aaron and I were lucky enough to pull the sticks for shopping duty. If I had to stay at the house to help clean, nobody would be happy. Not because I would have been complaining, but because I might have been too bossy. Maybe they're the really lucky ones.

Aaron and I decided to go to Costco. We can get everything in bulk and because Aaron shops there regularly, we shouldn't be too long. Aaron is mainly going because We need someone who is actually legally allowed to buy alcohol. I could have bought everything myself because of my fake id, but the amount they wanted would have gotten me in serious trouble.

"We should stop by Taco Bell. I'm hungry and I know that everyone else is probably too busy working to messing around to eat." I say as I hand Aaron a box to put in the car.

"Sure, we should make sure they didn't post mate anything." Aaron takes the last box from my hands and then closes the trunk.

"Already on it." I send a text to the group chat asking who ate and then send a picture of my receipt from what I bought at Costco so everyone could Venmo me back. Aaron does the same.

On our way to get food my phone blows up from everyone ordering and paying me back. Aaron and I chat a bit and catch up while we make our way to Taco Bell. We haven't had much time to hang out or get to know each other before. He was almost always playing Fortnite when I came into the picture. Every time I went to hang out with someone at the house he was streaming.

"Hey, so how did it feel and how did you make the decision to start doing music?" I ask during a moment of silence.

"Why? Are you thinking about pursuing music?"

"Maybe... It's been on my mind for a while. Along with other possible career changing content."

"I see... Well, I was just trying to figure out what kind of content I could do long term without burning out and keep me relevant enough so I can keep doing this as a career. I've always liked music and I knew I could sing so I decided to try that. Why do you feel like changing your brand?"

"My content is doing well, but I don't get the same feelings that I did when I first started. I've been messing around with some things. I might take a break if my manager agrees. Just to figure shit out and focus on school for a little bit. You went on a few breaks, any advice?" Aaron pulls into a parking spot at Taco Bell.

"If you feel like you're starting to burn out, then take a break before you actually do. Your manager should let you take a break, especially if it means your content will suffer if you don't. When was your last break."

"I never had one." I open the door and head into Taco Bell before Aaron could ask more.

****

Like every party since we've gotten together, Colby and I are practically glued to each other. Not in the annoying making our way that a lot of couples do, but in the way where we just stay near each other. Kind of like a buddy system to make sure we don't get too crazy. If we ever do get separated we either text or meet in a prearranged location. Normally we use this buddy system when we go out for parties. When we do trap house parties there isn't much need for the system. We can text or dip out to Colby's room if needed. We've just gotten so used to being close that we did it naturally.

I'm in a group of influencers talking about follower count and they grow their audience. I don't even know how I got here. I was talking to a smaller group about Halloween. I peek at Colby who is actually enjoying his conversation. Colby instinctively looks at me and quirks his eyebrow. I smile and lift up my cup to him. I ran out of my drink a while ago. I'm defiantly not drunk enough to continue this conversation, or any conversation at this party.

I wink at Colby before excusing myself from my group. Finding a good group at a party is nearly impossible. Colby normally finds someone to talk to while I struggle to find a decent human to stand next to. I pass by several couple or pairs of strangers making out on my way to the kitchen. I don't get the point of going all the way to a party if you're just going to suck the face of someone you're dating. Sure, go ahead and make out with random strangers. But making out with someone you're already dating, and only doing that, at a party seems kind of pointless. Parties are for socializing and hooking up. If all you're going to do is make out with your boyfriend or girlfriend you might as well stay home. It's a social event, so go socialize.

After gently pushing my way through crowds of people I make it to the kitchen. It's crowded but only partly. The air-conditioning is broken again so most people are outside or too drunk to mind the heat. Maybe I'll go see what's going on by the pool after I refill my cup. I tried dressing as cooly as I can with a spaghetti strap black crop top and a shortish white skirt. I tried to expose enough skin to keep me cool while still looking decent. I even opted out of wearing cute black booties and wore sandals with them. The only thing that would make me overheat is my hair but I have hair ties on my wrist just in case.

I walk around the kitchen a few times to find a bottle of anything. Everything is scattered around and I have no idea what I want. I just grab a bottle of what looks like whiskey on the floor and walk over to the counter. I begin to pour while bopping along to the random music that's playing. I can't tell which song exactly, it sounds like a generic Chainsmokers' song if I'm being completely honest. As I pour I feel someone put their hands on my waist. It's most likely Colby. He probably got bored of his conversation too. I finish pouring my drink and turn around to face him. I scrunch my face when I see that it isn't Colby.

"Brennen? What the hell?" Brennen licks his lips and has a devious glint in his eyes.

"Shush... Don't worry about it babe, I just miss you. Let's 'hang out' like old times." His speech is slurred and slow. He brushes loose hair off my face. I push his hand away.

"First off, I'm not your 'babe,' Brennen. Second, I'm with Colby. Even if I wasn't I still wouldn't do anything with you. So no, I will not 'hang out' with you." I try to walk away but Brennen grabs my free hand and grips it tightly. He yanks me back and closes the gap between us. He's so close I can smell the alcohol on his breath.

**TRIGGER WARNING**

"Don't be like that, baby girl. What you and I had was special. I can make you remember what you're missing out on..." Brennen leans down and starts peppering my neck with kisses. I can't move. Everyone who is in the kitchen is oblivious to what's going on. Either they're abiding by the social media party rule or they're too drunk or self-involved to care.

"Get off me. Stop it!" I struggle to push Brennen off as his hands wander. Tears start rolling down my face at the lack of help from the people literally standing right next to me. The music is too loud and to anyone, we just look like we're too drunk and too frisky.

"Shush, you forgot how good I can make you. You'll remember in a second. Forget about Colby." Brennen's hand goes straight under my skirt.

As Brennen's fingers graze my underwear I remember that I was holding a full cup. I pour the drink over Brennen's head and manage to push him away. Jake comes out of nowhere and stands in between Brennen and me with his back facing me.

"You stupid bitch!" Brennen looks at me through his whiskey-soaked hair and over Jake's shoulder.

"I said, 'no' you fucking asshole!" I yell back. I watch as people start looking at the three of us in the middle of the kitchen.

"Your mouth said one thing, but everything else said another. If you weren't trying to sleep with me you shouldn't have worn that." I can't believe the words that are coming out of his mouth.

** TRIGGER WARNING OVER**

"You're absolutely disgusting. I wish I never met you, honestly." I throw my now empty cup on the floor and run away.

I run straight upstairs to Colby's room and breakdown. My chest feels tighter, which forces me to take shorter breaths. My face is completely soaked and the room suddenly feels hotter than it has ever been. I feel a hand go on my back which causes me to jump and turn around. I calm down a little bit when I see that it's Jake.

"Sorry, touching you right now is not the right time. I'm just checking on you. I kicked Brennen out and let the security guard know not to let him back in." Jake sits on Colby's couch and pats for me to sit next to him. I hesitate but eventually sit.

"I-I wasn't cheating on Colby. Brennen... h-he just—"

"I know. I witnessed the tail end of what was happening. This may be a dumb question but, are you okay?"

"I don't know what I am, but okay isn't it." I still can't believe what happened.

"Do you want me to get Colby? I'm getting Colby." Jake pulls out his phone.

"No, don't get Colby. Let him enjoy the party. You should go back and have fun too."

"Do you really think I'm just going to back to the party like you aren't up here freaking the fuck out?"

"Fine, get Colby. Stay here with me. Do whatever you want, but don't tell Colby it was Brennen?"

"Did Brennen slip something into your drink? Why are you protecting him?"

"I'm not protecting Brennen. I'm protecting Colby. Think about it. If the roles were reversed, if I was your girlfriend and someone you considered your best friend did what Brennen did. How would you react if you knew the truth?"

"Isabella, I know you probably have your heart in the right place, and maybe it's because you're a little drunk, but you're not making any sense."

"Never mind, I'm just going to take a shower and go to sleep." I grab my overnight bag and walking Sam and Colby's bathroom.

Jake's right, I'm not making any sense. It's not because I'm a little drunk, its because Jake doesn't know about why Colby and I had our fight a while back. What I really wanted to tell Jake is how would he feel if the situation was reversed and he had already accused me of cheating with a different friend of his. Colby was drunk the day of our argument, and he's downstairs right now either drunk or in the process of becoming drunk. I don't want a repeat of last time, especially after what really happened.

I walk out of the shower and change into some PJs. I walk into Colby's room while drying my hair to find Colby and Jake talking. Colby stops talking when he sees me and walks over to me. He scans my face with concern.

"Jake told me what happened. Are you okay? Did you see the guy's face?" Colby doesn't touch me, thankfully, but I can tell that he wants to.

"I'm fine. Just shaken up a bit. His face was the last thing that I thinking about at that moment." I give Jake a small nod as a thank you for not telling Colby that it was Brennan.

"I'm so sorry. I should have gone with you. The conversation I was having wasn't even that interesting." I cup Colby's face to make him look me in the eyes.

"It's fine. Shit happens. You shouldn't have to pause your life just to protect me from drunk assholes. I'm going to stay up here for the rest of the night. You can stay or go back to the party. But if you do stay, take a shower, you smell like downstairs threw up on you." Colby kisses my forehead before going to get his things to take a shower. He leaves and its just Jake and me alone again.

"Let me guess, this isn't the first time something like that has happened with Brennen?" Jake says inching closer. I turn around to make sure Colby is in the bathroom.

"You're right. Brennen and I had a messy... sort of relationship before I started dating Colby. It ended long before I started dating him but he just won't leave me alone."

"Why haven't told Colby if this has been going on for a while? He's harassing you, Isabella." Jake's nose flares. I guess he has a right to be upset.

"Because they're good friends and I really don't want to ruin that for Colby. I don't want to start drama. Jake, if you're my friend and really care about me you won't say anything to Colby."

"You want me to tell even more lies to my best friend?"

"It's not a lie if you don't tell him. It would be keeping a secret." Jake stares at me with his mouth open.

"For how long?"

"As long as I can. It's harmless, Jake. There's no need to stress Colby out like this."

"Harmless? Just imagine what would have happened if you hadn't pushed him off and I didn't see you. Nobody else in the kitchen would have done anything because to them it just looked like a horny couple. They weren't going to do shit just so they could have a story time video to go viral." I close my eyes and repeatedly clench and unclench my fist.

"Trust me, Jake, I know exactly what could have happened. A few months ago Colby and I got in a huge fight because he accused me of cheating for being too close to you. What do you think he's going to think if I tell him what really happened? It's a touchy subject so it's best for everyone involved to just shut up." Jake looks me up and down and shakes his head.

"Whatever Isabella, you know what you're doing." With that, he leaves the room. I either lost Jake as a friend forever or he's going to be, mad at me for a while. Either way, I can expect him to stay away from me for a while.

I crawl into Colby's bed and wait for him to get out of the shower. Maybe I should have just stayed home tonight. All of this could have been avoided. Colby wouldn't have to worry about me, Jake wouldn't be mad at me, and I could have avoided Brennen in general. Who knows how many of the people in the kitchen were actually paying attention and saw the shit show that went down. Nobody is going to say anything. It would be social suicide for if anyone leaks what happens at these parties. And since nothing seriously bad happened with Brennen and me, that risk isn't worth it.

Colby walks back into the room and shuts the door. He doesn't say anything as he climbs into bed and wraps his arms around me. All my worries from tonight seem to have disappeared. Colby strokes my hair slowly. He has to know that neither of us is going to fall asleep while the floor is practically shaking from the music. The party didn't even look like it was going to end anytime soon.

"Hey, let's go out for a little bit. Just until the party dies down or go back to your place." He doesn't stop stroking my hair, but he goes even slower.

"It's nearly midnight. Where are we going?"

"You'll see. Trust me, it's a great idea" Before I could ask any more questions Colby gets up and does something on his phone for a few minutes before getting both of our shoes and throws one of his hoodies at me.

If someone told me that one day I would be in my pajamas sitting in a Denny's at midnight eating breakfast with my boyfriend, I would never believe them. But that's exactly what we're doing. Colby decided that we can waste time eating and just chill out for a bit. We're most likely going back to the house because I don't have my keys and I don't know if Colby has his.

Colby stares at me with a dopey smile. I can't tell if it's because he's tired or because he's still a little drunk. I manage to secretly snap a photo of him and post it on my story.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked after the waiter placed our food in front of us.

"Just thinking..." He doesn't stop looking at me, he just keeps staring.

"Care to share with the class?"

"What if we move in together. I mean, we already spend half the week sleeping over at each other's place." I can tell by the look in his eyes that he's serious.

"Baby, I love you, but I'm not moving into the trap house."

"Oh God no, I would never make you live there. I don't mean your apartment either. I was thinking we get our own place. When our leases are over, of course." Several reasons to tell Colby 'no' flood my head. It's not that I don't want to, I do, but it's because I'm scared.

"My lease ends in April and yours ends in what, March? You know what, I'll get a place with you. Under two conditions." I figure that whatever is scaring me about loving with Colby will go away by then.

"What am I promising?"

"One, I get to decorate. Your clothing style is amazing, but your interior design can use some work. I'm not living somewhere that resembles a frat house. And two, keep your spooky shit out. No ouija boards or haunted dolls or anything like that." His smile widens and his eyes sparkle.

"Deal! I would have agreed to almost anything. I've been thinking about this for a while." I smile at how happy Colby is.

****

We spend a while eating before taking an Uber back to the trap house. The party is dying down when we walk in. We go straight upstairs and head into Colby's room to sleep. The music was still loud but I'm able to fall asleep.

I wake up suddenly to the sound of my phone ringing. I sit up and look at Colby, who is miraculously still fast asleep. I climb over him and grab my phone. I answer it without looking.

"Do you know what time it is?" I look at the little clock that I put in Colby's room and see that it's five in the morning.

"Jizzy! Hey, you answered! I'm sorry about earlier. I should have known that you'd be worried about being caught. Come over so I can make it up to you." Brennen is slurring his words. I'm surprised that I can even understand what he's saying. I quietly climb out of bed and walk into the bathroom.

"Are you fucking insane, Brennen? How does nothing I say register in your head?"

"Don't be like that, baby. I know you still love me. I love you too. Let me show you just how much I love you."

"Stop. I don't love you. I never loved you, Brennen. What we had— What we did— We just used each other. You used me to have sex and I used you to get free alcohol without fear of getting in trouble. I love Colby and you need to understand that."

"You can love him and still hang out with me. Don't act like you're all innocent. I know you're shaking it up with other guys."

"I ended things between us the second I found out that you were dating Kyra, which I only found out because of your youtube video. I wasn't going to be the person who ruined someone's relationship. If I ended our friends with benefits relationship because you had a girlfriend, then what makes you think I would risk my relationship with Colby?"

"Once a slut, always a slut. You can't stay tied down too long."

"Go to hell, Brennen. Contact me again and you'll regret it." I hang up the phone before Brennen can say anything else. I quickly block his number and all of his social media accounts, something I should have done months ago.

I pace the bathroom for a few minutes. There is no way I'm going to be able to sleep right now. Not after all the stress from the living drama that is being associated with Brennen Taylor. I go downstairs and just walk around the house. I kick out the stragglers from the party. Just a few people that I don't recognize that were probably too drunk to even figure out how to get home. I begin cleaning, starting in the kitchen. The drink that I threw on Brennen is still on the floor. Nobody bothered to clean it up. I clean up the cups that mitered the floor and collected all the alcohol bottles. I place them by the back door, I'll recycle them when there is more light outside.

About an hour and a half later I'm mostly done the cleaning when Sam walks down the stairs. We make small talk as I tie the last trash bag. He helps me take out the bottles and trash before I go back into Colby's room to get a few hours of sleep.

[chimcharstar]

1-50 ho

you got it ho

1. What’s your favorite candle scent?

I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED. ive been Purchasing various smelly candles for my gay divination activities, and i have a few nominees. i first thought of the candle i have now, a pink one with a very sweet vanilla smell, i love very sweet smells because it makes me think of candy which i tend to try to fill my inner void with. however im going to go with the first candle i bought, a dark orange one with a citrus smell. citrus scents are my next favourite and specifically this one reminded me of curiously smelling candles at my piano teachers apartment when i was very young. 

2. What female celebrity do you wish was your sister?

idk. ive been listening to her lion king stuff lately. dont judge me i needed to hear remixes of lion king music i was lost in that sauce in high school. and i just think shes neat. i dont think she would aggressively make me feel bad about everything, UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE

3. What male celebrity do you wish was your brother?

Look……. i really don’t know???? what is the criteria?? do they need to be like my siblings? dare i criticize my arguably criticizable siblings by picking out my ideal siblings? if i pick an ideal sibling, what does that say about what im lacking in my life? do i pick celebrities i hate so theoretically my family shames them into becoming silent and self-defeating

4. How old do you think you’ll be when you get married?

50. i think im going to have to figure myself out for a long time, and achieve some personal goals first. thats my excessively confident prediction and PERHAPS educated guess

5. Do you know a hoarder?

nnnnnoooooooo????? not a real, cant function because of hoarding hoarder. i can see in a few family members, including myself, liking to hang onto things that maybe become sentimental/unnecessary clutter but that sounds like something many non-hoarders experience?

6. Can you do a split?

lemme try one sec

NO

7. How old were you when you learned how to ride a bike?

Idk maybe 7? Or 11? i think my parents taught me at a children age and then i started biking for fun like, later, like pre middle school?

8. How many oceans have you swam in?

1. i dont really remember swimming in an ocean but i may have faded childhood memories of salty water and seaweed

9. How many countries have you been to?

2… i went to idaho for a band trip… my dad really doesnt like travelling

10. Is anyone in your family in the army?

HAHAHA

NO. ACTUALLY YES. but its funny because the specific brand of christianity we are supposed to be is super pacifist so ive heard. but then i remembered one dude apparently who joined the us military?????? it seemed like it was… an unusual choice. i dont really know anything else about this guy, not even his name

11. What would you name your daughter if you had one?

🙏 *inhale* buddy. oooooohhffffff i want to say something gender neutral honestly. i dont want to rock the boat being unconventional or something but im just thinking of all those years trying to live up to a feminine name

12. What would you name your son if you had one?

same i guess… why have i never thought about this????? was i preoccupied naming myself.

13. What’s the worst grade you got on a test?

hmmmmm hmmmmm trying to unlock the vault. i think i remember a 1 or a 0 on a math quiz. i think i got 30% or something very very bad (i dont even want to know) on my last english exam, but to be fair, i was having such a bad mental breakdown my professor did an intervention

14. What was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

like a very very small child? i was obsessed with the save-ums (?!?!?) for some reason. i would sing the anthem�� no. theme song? i dont know. i guess it was catchy and there were lots of fun characters. OHHHH I SEE WHATS WRONG

ITS BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD A TV TILL I WAS LIKE 5 OR SOMETHING. what are you cultured people watching as children? what are the shows? 

15. What did you dress up as on Halloween when you were eight?

>:(

My Halloween experience:

i dont even remember i probably had some kind of fairy wings? i think i remember fairy wings. we went to one (1) house. later on, since we werent allowed to go trick-or-treating, we were each allotted a certain amount of candy, and if we ate more than a designated amount per day, we were in trouble and wouldnt be allowed anymore. i do remember getting in trouble for this. i think i stole someones candy. sibling against sibling. finally we were allowed to go trick or treating, i went with my younger brothers and by then, was a teenager and felt too tall and really uncomfortable

LMAO I JUST REMEMBERED THAT LAST TIME WE WENT TRICK-OR-TREATING NOT IN A RURAL AREA, my dad drove us around in a van and watched us like a hawk i believe. it was very tense and methodical.

16. Have you read any of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games or Twilight series?

i read the harry potter series (I WROTE SIBLIGS LOL) more times than i could count while growing up. i read the first hunger games book and didnt fancy it for whatever reason, and i had an obnoxious twilight-hating phase.

17. Would you rather have an American accent or a British accent?

no

sometimes, though, im really genuinely worried about what accent i do have. im worried i read so much harry potter growing up, it rubbed off on me. when i was a server, people would ask about an unusual accent i apparently had, and once, when i was talking to a super british guy who called me luv at walmart, he was like STOP. WAIT. YOU HAVE A BRITISH ACCENT. and i was like WHAT UHHH BYEBYE AND HE WAS LIKE NO. I HEARD YOU. STOP and i was like that michael jackson meme where he covers his face running away and everyone else in the line was staring

18. Did your mother go to college?

i believe she went to a bible college where people put a grand piano on top of the roof. 

19. Are your grandparents still married?

all of my grandparents are dead.

…. hmmMMMM yow. ok. my grandparents who werent estranged stayed married for as long as either of them were living… however, my OTHER grandparents, i mean the fucking kidnappers, my abuser grandpa… remarried? when he was… really really aging. im judging him for it because i know what kind of person he was.

20. Have you ever taken karate lessons?

I WISH. my parents didnt seem to like that sort of thing (surprise). im interested in it now but… as usual… i feel like its too late, im too old.

21. Do you know who Kermit the frog is?

….. i… i thought i did… hes blessed… thats all.

22. What’s the first amusement park you’ve been to?

ಠ_ಠ 

*crickets*

how could you ask me this?

no wait! i went to the waterslides. then, later on, i was never allowed to go to the waterslides.

23. What language, besides your native language, would you like to be fluent in?

Spanish. ive been “intending” to learn for a long time, and a lot of people who have been really good influences on me and been genuinely kind to me speak it, id like to learn it

24. Do you spell the color as grey or gray?

grey

one sec

yup thats canadian!

25. Is your father bald?

on the top of his head, yes >:(

26. Do you know triplets?

no?

27. Do you prefer Titanic or The Notebook?

no? what is this straight stuff? i listened to the dramatic titanic song and felt nothing.

28. Have you ever had Indian food?

i guess so, at a friends house! i dont think otherwise ive gone to a restaurant and actually had indian food

29. What’s the name of your favorite restaurant?

*gazes tearily at my OWN FUCKING OLD WORKPLACE

the food was sO GOOD MAN. IT WAS SO GOOD. im just not saying because despite how stalkable i probably am already, i dont want to be specific

30. Have you ever been to Olive Garden?

no whats that

31. Do you belong to any warehouse stores (Costco, BJ’s, etc.)?

w

belong? whats bjs? whats a warehouse for?

32. What would your parents have named you if you were the opposite gender?

i decided at one point they would never tell me this and it was no use asking. i do know they almost named my brother a very fusty old fashioned name fitting in with the thomas the tank engine theme 

33. If you have a nickname, what is it?

G is the ONLY one i will accept so far.

34. Who’s your favorite person in the world?

:)

i……… hmmmm…. i really dont like picking favourites. each person in my life has a unique relationship with me (even though a lot of them arent very warm, trusting or close). because of unhealthy middle school friendships ive grown an aversion to ranking relationships as if they have material value.

35. Would you rather live in a rural area or in the suburbs?

rural, i think. i need nature in my life!!! but i also need to be able to have connections to people.

36. Can you whistle?

yes, but not very loudly or accurately

37. Do you sleep with a nightlight?

no, but ive always wanted a nightlight

38. Do you eat breakfast every morning?

ive started to, yeah! this morning i made a whole thing with bread and mushrooms and eggs, and coffee, and i ate it outside watching the traffic. im really trying to treat myself nicely you see. its what id do for someone else.

39. Do you take any pills or medication daily?

THAT

BOY

JUICE!

WELCOME TO MY BUILD A BOY WORKSHOP!

SHOTS!SHOTS!SHOTS!

and im really fortunate to be in pretty good health, and have access to things i do need

40. What medical conditions do you have?

I dont think… i actually have any. id say gender dysphoria but i think it was informed consent. (im VERY lucky)

im pretty sure there are SOME mental conditions running around undiagnosed. MY BRAIN IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY

41. How many times have you been to the hospital?

for myself? once… when i got hives and started swelling up all over, but otherwise was fine. i really wonder what that was. other times was visiting sick/dying relatives which has made me feel sad and apprehensive whenever i enter a hospital or smell the food

42. Have you ever seen Finding Nemo?

yes! i had a gerbil named nemo! 

43. Where do you buy your jeans?

D:

i dont … remember … really nowhere special i actually have yet to find some jeans i LOVE. sometimes there is a pair of jeans that sparks joy. i do not have such a pair

44. What’s the last compliment you got?

my sister said my pants looked good on me. they are actually their pants, which they left on the floor in my room for an unknown reason, and they want them back. of course.

but because im excited about it and want to brag, the real compliment was when i made borscht and my sister not only ate it faster than me, but wanted a second helping. and my roommate stuck his face in the steam and said it smelled good. hell yes. i put fucking cilantro in it. fcking beast mode.

45. Do you usually remember your dreams in the morning?

yes. theyre usually really emotional and symbolic. if ive been talking to my parents, theyre usually nightmares. ive been reading about dream interpretation for a long time to deal with some of the ominous images that can come up

46. What flavor tea do you enjoy?

red rose reminds me of wheni was little my mom would make really sweet sweet red rose tea for me (thats the kind she drinks all the time) and it brings me those good feelings. otherwise licorice spice really appeald to me for some reason.

47. How many pairs of shoes do you currently own?

LMAO UHHH…brb

six. because of social pressure.

48. What religion will you raise your children to practice?

i never thought about this kind of thing…. i really don’t know….. id just want them to know how to be kind to others and themselves and thats literally it. 

49. How old were you when you found out that Santa wasn’t real?

i was one of those edgy kids trying to spoil it for everyone. guess what other common fun thing my parents didnt do

50. Why do you have a youtube? 

i dont! so i dont know what this question means! :)

HOLY SHIT I MADE IT THRU HIGH FIVE 

[i-am-too-sick]

I'm sure you've gotten plenty of sick-with-a-stranger submissions already, but I'll offer mine cause why not. So maybe Orrin goes out on his own, he has an errand to run or a movie he wanted to see or whatever. It probably would've been fine if he hadn't been coming down with something. He knows he should stay home till he feels better, but doesn't, cause he's Orrin. He ends up pukey and faint in a public bathroom (or somewhere even more public) and some kind passing bastard takes pity on him.

Nov(emeto)ber Day 14: Sick With a Stranger

Watch me inadvertently add/include a possible brand new character to the line up. Oops.

@monthofsick

Warning(s): vomiting

Orrin had decided not to take Ruby with him tonight. He was only going to the movies—a nice, leisurely activity that was sure to relax him and keep his heart rate steady.

But he hadn't been feeling that great, and in order to avoid the lecture on how he should take better care of himself, he decided that he needed to get out of the house, the fever chills that rose the hair on his arms and the funny rumbling feeling in his stomach be damned.

He took the bus, and it felt nice not to be stared at for having a dog at his heels. He blended in with the crowd, an insignificant speck in a rolling sea of people, and he absolutely loved it.

By the time he got to the theater, he was downright queasy. Hot bubbles of air kept escaping through his mouth and he did everything to muffle the sounds behind his hands. The greasy, buttery smell of popcorn only turned his stomach more, and the lobby felt like the air conditioning was on full blast. He was freezing.

He was starting to think that coming out on his own was a huge mistake. He felt like he was truly coming down with something now and whatever it was, it was hitting hard and fast.

He stood in line behind a group of friends. They were waiting to give up their ticket stubs and they were all raucous and lively. One of them announced he was going to the bathroom, and it took every once of willpower Orrin had not to immediately follow him. He felt downright sick now, burping thickly but quietly into his fist.

The group moved along and Orrin was grateful not to have to endure the smell of their concessions or hear their voices that grated against his skull. He held out his ticket, just wanting to sit down in the cool, darkened theater.

"No minors past eight o'clock."

Orrin looked at the guy standing at the booth, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I'm 19."

The guy raised his eyebrow. "Do you have an ID?"

Orrin dug in his pockets, but came up empty. He'd bought his ticket online, so of course he'd forgotten his wallet at home.

"You can get a refund at the box office," the guy said, and he sounded sympathetic. He paused before he added, "Hey, buddy, you okay?"

Orrin blinked, confused, and it was only then that he realized he was swaying. He felt like he was pitching back and forth on a ship, and the chills from before were replaced by an intense heat the licked up the back of his neck. He was downright nauseous now and he could tell he was about to be sick.

Turning on his heel, Orrin made a beeline for the men's room, knocking into people in his haste for some privacy. He stomach lurched the moment he pushed the door open, and he barely had time to get to the sink before he heaved into the basin.

Nothing came up at first and each retch was a strain, scraping at his throat and bringing tears of exertion of his eyes. He folded his arms in front of the sink and waited, futilely hoping the nausea would abate.

"Are you all right?"

The genuine note of concern had Orrin looking up into the mirror, seeing the reflection of someone familiar. It was the boy from earlier, one of the ones who had been with the group in front of him. He was washing his hands and looking over at Orrin like he was afraid he might suddenly grow a second head.

Orrin felt something hot and acidic creeping up his throat and before he had a chance to answer otherwise, his lunch decided to make a reappearance. He retched and coughed, two more viscous waves of sick splattering into the sink, before only a trickle of the water he'd had at the house splashed onto the mess.

He felt far from finished, but the nausea seemed to have died down to a more manageable level. The real concern now was the jelly like consistency of his legs and the rushing sound of blood in his ears. He felt faint, and he stumbled back, saving himself from slamming his face into the counter if he passed out.

"Wow, easy there."

Two strong arms hooked themselves beneath Orrin's armpits and slowly lowered him to the floor. He'd forgotten all about the stranger who had been surreptitiously washing his hands beside him.

"Do I need to call an ambulance?"

Orrin shook his head and fumbled for the phone in his pocket. Quinn should be called at the very least. He unlocked his screen, his hands shaking as he searched his brother's name.

"Are you sure? You're white as a sheet and you look like you're about to pass out."

"I might," Orrin said without thinking.

The stranger's eyes widened, and he looked terrified. "Maybe I should get a manager." He seemed completely out of his element, and getting a manager meant that looking after Orrin was no longer his concern.

"Quinn," Orrin rasped, coughing and swallowing a bitter stream of saliva. "Call my brother Quinn."

"Uh...y-yeah, okay." The stranger took Orrin's phone, finding Quinn's name and pressing call.

Orrin listened as the stranger did his best to explain the situation. It was a hard thing to describe when he had no idea who he was talking to or even who he was talking about. Fortunately, it seemed as though Quinn got the gist, and after several minutes of frantically waving his arms and stammering into the receiver, the stranger hung up and rested the phone on Orrin's knee.

"I'm going to stay with you until he gets here," he said. He sounded like there were many other things he'd rather being doing instead, but he also sounded as though he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Probably a good idea," Orrin replied. He held up his arm, jingling the silver medical bracelet he wore on his wrist.

"Yeesh," the stranger said. It seemed as though he thought he should have waited until after the movie to use the bathroom. He handed Orrin a couple paper towels, before squatting down beside him. "My name is Teddy, by the way."

Orrin almost smiled. The stranger had bright red hair and big blue eyes—the name Teddy didn't really seem to fit him.

"Noted. I'm Orrin."

[softboyholland]

i am your sweetheart psychopathic crush

prologue - (https://riarkledale.tumblr.com/post/164622947889/i-am-your-sweetheart-psychopathic-crush)

chapter one - (https://riarkledale.tumblr.com/post/164622947889/i-am-your-sweetheart-psychopathic-crush)

| here’s chapter two. i just wanna say that you guys have been so supportive and kind, it’s so great. every comment and nice thing you’ve sent me is literally the reason why i have the confidence to post my fics. also, in case y’all are wondering how i get my fics out so fast, it’s because i’ve already written them in advance. currently, i’m stuck on chapter ten. the title of this chapter is taken from ‘the space between a rock and a hard place’ by 5sos. so, this chapter is a slightly angsty but it’s more of peter and michelle really bonding, as friends.|

Chapter Two: Faded (I’m Wrapped in Your Arms)

Michelle didn’t show up to school the next day. When Peter didn’t see her at lunch, he got worried. Was she actually hospitalised?

Ned was in the library, working on a project with Betty. Yes, Betty Brant, his best friend’s dreams were coming true.

He stared at his cell phone.

It wouldn’t hurt to call her, right? Or text.

Would it be weird if he texted her?

She‘d probably be too sick to text. He should call her.

His finger hovered over her Caller ID, littered with various heart emojis but then-

What if she was too sick to talk?

Peter shook the thoughts out of his head. He was just calling her, it wasn’t a big deal. Jeez, he really was a weirdo. He clicked on her name and held his phone close to his ear as he braced for the consequences of his actions.

Just as he was contemplating on ending the call, she answered, “Peter?”

“Michelle? Hi.”

There was an awkward silence as he tried to think of the right words to say without sounding like a creep.

“So, did you call me because you actually wanted to talk or for me to listen to your breathing over the phone?”

Peter snorted at that, “Right, I was just…concerned,” Concerned? What-Who says that? God, he wanted to web his own mouth shut. “I mean, you weren’t at school today and I still remember when you-“

“You wanna know if I’m hospitalised?” He could hear the smile in her voice.

“Yeah?”

“I’m actually at home. I’ve got these really bad allergies, I wonder why.” Michelle teased.

Peter’s eyes widened, “Is this because of my roses?”

The silence on the other end gave him his answer.

Peter panicked.

“Hey, you’re probably panicking right now or beating yourself up over it but trust me, it’s not your fault. Relax, would ya?” her soothing –and a little nasally- voice calmed him down.

“Sorry about that.”

“You better be scared when you see me on Monday,” And the Michelle he knew was back. “I’ll strike when you least expect it.”

Peter laughed, to cover up the tiny part of him that was genuinely scared by her threat.

“Oh, and tell Cindy to replace me for today at Decathlon. I’ve gotta go. I feel a big sneeze coming up. “

And she ended the call.

Peter wanted to do something.

So, he decided to pay her a visit. He skimmed over the article that made him give MJ the roses. The next step was to remember little details. This had to be the easiest one by far, Peter had observed everything about her. From the way she scrunched up her nose and smiled whenever he or Ned said something nerdy to how she would always tie her hair up on Wednesdays- like it was some sort of routine for her.

It wasn’t long before he found himself standing outside her apartment door, panicking. Somehow, as if she could sense him panicking from inside, she opened the door and stared at him- looking annoyed.

“What are you doing here?”

“I felt bad, about the roses and allergies,” he took in her appearance. Her hair was in a messy bun, her glasses resting on the crown of her head. She was wearing a Midtown High sweater and a pair of shorts. Peter didn’t even know she owned shorts. Speaking of, Michelle had only ever worn skinny jeans in school. Peter had always known that she had a pair of killer legs but man, this was-

“Eyes up here, buddy.”

Peter’s eyes widened, “I brought soup?”

Michelle dragged him in.

This was his chance. Remember little details. He had to show her that he remembered little details about her. “I remembered when you were pissed because you ran out of chamomile tea so I bought you some,” Peter held up the box full of teabags.

Michelle’s head was tilted to the side as she looked at him. A slow smile was creeping onto her face as she said, “Thanks.”

Peter nodded as he faced away from her and made her the soup, trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered at her smile. He set the bowl of soup on the coffee table and flicked through the channels on TV, stopping on a news station that was airing footage of him or well, Spider-Man swinging through New York.

“We have Netflix, you know. You don’t have to watch the news.”

“I know,” Peter smirked as an idea sprung to his mind. “So, what do you think of that spider guy?”

“I don’t know,” Michelle shrugged as she took a sip of her soup. “He did save our decathlon team from plunging to their death so he’s fine, I guess.”

Peter was not satisfied with her answer.

“Fine? He’s awesome. He literally swings from building to building!”

“Which is kinda creepy when you think about it, like where do those webs come from? Are they inside him?” MJ shuddered with disgust.

“Michelle, I’m pretty sure it comes from a device.”

Michelle poked at his cheek, “Well, I’m sorry I don’t have a crush on him like you do.”

“I do not have a crush on him!”

Michelle stared at him for a second, as if she was scrutinizing him. Then, her lips curled into a grin, “I know. I was just messing with you. I guess it’d be cool to swing from one skyscraper to the other.”

Satisfied, Peter opened the Netflix app.  “What are we watching?”

“The Lion King.”

---

If someone had told Peter that he would be spending his Friday night consoling a crying MJ, he would’ve laughed in their face because Michelle never cried, or had little to no emotion.

But here he was, with his arms wrapped around the teenager whose shoulders were shaking with sobs after the death of Mufasa. The movie was paused now, and Peter desperately wanted to tell her that it was okay and it was just a lion.

After he had finally gotten her to calm down, he leaned back on the sofa carefully- afraid that he would unknowingly strike a nerve in her and she would go back to crying.

The sound of her voice startled him, “I’m not a wimp, you know. It’s just that it’s all too familiar. I was 10, and my dad, he’d just lectured me because I was being stupid and I wanted to apologise to him again but he was lying on the floor and-and I panicked.”

She was fiddling with the loose thread on her sweater, refusing to meet his eyes. “It was brutal. There was a period of time in my life where I wondered if it was my fault but my mom, she’d really been there for me, you know? I love her, with all my heart but sometimes, it just-it gets a little rough.”

“Michelle, I-“

“No, it’s ok. You don’t have to say anything.” her frail voice cut him off.

And he didn’t.

Instead, Peter settled for wrapping his arms around MJ and never letting go.

[shamelessly4shameless-blog]

The Sand in Your Shoe (pt 17)

As Mickey makes eggs he tells Ian about Reuben. Churro guy, hopeless gambler and Mickey’s erstwhile patron when he first arrived, although it seems to have come full circle now.

“I only came here because I wanted to get to the beach, you know? I figured I was gonna get caught any day and if I’m being honest, I wasn’t planning on being taken alive, man.”

Mickey says this in such a matter of fact way that Ian chokes on his coffee, completely unprepared.

“Fuck, Mick! Seriously?”

“Yeah. Juvie was shitty but compared to actual jail … no way I was gonna spend the rest of my life there. Couldn’t do it.”

Mickey shakes his head as he whisks the eggs and Ian has to resist the urge to knock the bowl out of Mickey’s hands and crush him against his chest.

“Anyway the plan was to sit on a beach, get wrecked until the cops came. I stayed a few nights, slept in my car, got up in the mornings and got something to eat from Reuben’s place – I kept waiting for sirens but they never came and I started thinking that maybe I got away with it and if I got away with it I needed a plan.”

Mickey sips his coffee and smiles at Ian

“I considered doing a couple hold-ups or turning over a couple houses but that seemed like fuckin’ beggin’ for trouble so I took a chance on Reuben and I asked him how a guy could get money around here.”

“Really?”

Ian is surprised that Mickey would take a chance on anyone but actually thinking about it, the person who has been providing food every morning without asking any questions is probably the person Ian would have chanced too.

“Anyway long story short, Reuben is a gambling man and he was, kinda still is, part of a underground circuit in this bar. Though as soon as I bought it I shut that shit down. I don’t know where they play now. Don’t care either.”

Mickey slaps bacon in the frying pan and likes the salt from the pad of his thumb in a way that distracts Ian from the million and one questions he wants to ask long enough for Mickey to regain his thread.

“Turns out, Reuben is a wicked good player when he’s sober but once the drink starts flowing…meh.”

Mickey makes a tilting motion with his hand and shrugs

“We teamed up. I gave him all my money ...”

“You did what? Was that the money I gave you? You just gave it to some guy?”

Ian looks a little pissed and Mickey clucks his tongue impatiently.

“Yes it was the money you gave me. But I was a little testy with you at the time, on account of you fucking off and leaving me, and giving it all to some dude to stick on black or whatever you do in poker made me feel a little better.”

“Ha! I knew you were pissed at me!”

Ian slaps his fist into his waiting palm triumphantly and Mickey rolls his eyes in exasperation.

“Yeah, I was but I got over it … Not over you, I didn’t say that!”

He counters the crestfallen look on Ian’s face quickly and then sighs.

“I needed to turn dollars into pesos and I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly.”

“Go to a damn bank, Mick. Jesus. That was my entire savings and you just gave it to some guy to gamble?!”

Ian grumbles but there is no real heat to his words. He picks up his coffee mug and rolls it between his hands, the warm porcelain smooth and reassuring. He knows he shouldn’t be mad at Mickey for gambling his savings, it isn’t like Mickey even wanted the money, but it still stings that Mickey had wanted rid of the help Ian had been able to give.

“A bank? With all the cameras and shit? Yeah, no, by all means get pissed because I didn’t go to a fuckin’ bank, Ian!”

Mickey snaps irritably and begins plating up their breakfast, slamming spoonfuls of eggs with more force than is necessary. Ian puts his coffee down on the table and steps up behind Mickey, wrapping his arms lightly around him and resting his chin on his shoulder.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have been shitty.”

Mickey’s shoulders remain tense for a few seconds longer and then relax a bit.

“Don’t worry about it. I probably shouldn’t have told you that bit.”

“No Mick, I want you to tell me anything and everything you care to. I guess I just feel bad and it hit a nerve.”

Ian squeezes Mickey slightly who allows himself to relax fully against Ian’s chest and smiles slightly.

“Take your damn breakfast and go sit down.”

They eat in silence, neither of them big on chatting over a meal, but the minute Mickey finishes his last mouthful, Ian is urging him to carry on with the story.

“Ok, well so we got in there, the game is in the basement and Reuben sits at the table and I’m just hanging back watching, I don’t have a fuckin’ clue what’s goin’ on but Reuben knows that if he fucks my money up, I’ll fuck his face up.”

“Yeah I bet he got that vibe.”

“Right, and the game goes on and one by one guys are dropping out and I’ve gotta take a piss so I head upstairs and when I get back the game is clearly fuckin’ over cause Reuben is grinning at me like a fuckin’ maniac waving fistfuls of cash and yelling that we won.”

Mickey grins at the memory

“Man, the other guys were pissed. This one guy started to come after us and I warned him but he kept comin’ so I shot him in the leg. Not the kneecap though cause for all I know he didn’t speak English so benefit of the doubt that he maybe didn’t understand me telling him I would shoot him if he didn’t fuck off.  His friends were yelling at me and someone pulled a knife which was fuckin’ stupid cause I just shot his buddy so what the fuck does he think I’m gonna do to him? After that the rest got the idea and left us alone. You want more coffee?”

“Uh … no.”

“Mind if I finish it?”

“Go ahead.”

Ian waves him on, marvelling at the change of direction as Mickey happily helps himself.

“Thanks. I tripled my money that night and next day I went back and offered my services as a security guy, cause apparently there had been a shooting in the area. When I had enough money I bought the place off the owner who was fuckin’ desperate to get rid it and I kicked the gambling squad out cause who needs the fuckin’ aggro?”

“But Reuben still plays with them?”

“Yeah and he drinks cause I’m not there to knock it out of his hand. Hence, he loses money and owes money. He’s a dumbass, but he could have ripped me off and he didn’t, so I like to help him out.”

Ian collects their plates and washes them up whilst Mickey sips his coffee.

“You know, your money is what bought this place.”

“It was your money, Mick. I gave it to you.”

“Well all the same. The way I see it, Galagers is as much yours as it is mine. I want you to know that. You said you need to have a boat … this is your boat, Ian. It’s here if you want it.”

Ian can feel Mickey watching him for a reaction, maybe looking for any sign of Ian not being completely sure of this towering emotional inferno that has reignited between them in less than twenty-four hours of being back together.

“I’m all in, Mick. I already decided that. You don’t have to offer me half your bar.”

“It’s not charity, it’s just what’s right.”

Mickey shrugs and moves to stand beside Ian, looking up at him with sincerity

“and I’m all in too, just so you know.”

They don’t need to say more than that. Mickey picks up the dishcloth and dries the dishes as Ian places them on the draining board.

*

Reuben greets Mickey with a hopeful smile and the sort of two-handed handshake that Ian thought belonged solely in old movies like ‘The Godfather’. He ushers them into a small living room and they both sit on the tattered old sofa whilst Reuben’s wife serves them small mugs of hot, gritty coffee.

Reuben makes polite small talk until she leaves the room and then glances pointedly at Ian.

“He’s with me. We’re together.”

Mickey answers simply and the small frown on his face clears in understanding.

“They came back Mickey, they want more money this time and I told them I will not pay.”

“Did you tell them you’re my friend?”

“They did not believe me. You are legend. I am just old.”

He spreads his hands on his lap, his face a mask of hopelessness but Mickey only purses his lips, unmoved by the flattery.

“Do you owe them the money?”  

His tone is cold, almost stern and Reuben blinks at him, the muscles in his jaw twitching guiltily.

“I owe 20,000 pesos. They ask for 50,000. Interest.”

Mickey sighs and nods before picking a little of the coffee grain off the tip of his tongue. Ian is kind of intrigued by the dynamic here. As a younger man, Mickey would probably have been the one shaking Reuben down and Ian can see the faint urge to do some sort of violence to the rather pathetic looking man before him simmering beneath the surface. However, after a little consideration Mickey licks his lip and says

“Pay them what you owe. You can’t get outta that and I’m not gonna fuck someone up because you suck at poker when you’re drunk. But you can tell them to come and ask me for the interest if they really want it.”

“Thank you Mickey. You are truly my dear friend.”

Reuben visibly sags in relief and Mickey stands up. Clearly, the meeting is over.

“Stop fuckin’ gambling with these assholes. Next time this happens, I’m gonna charge you a security fee.”

Mickey frowns before flicking his eyes toward Ian and jerking his head toward the door and leading Ian out.

*

“Don Milkovich, huh?”

Ian grins when they are a small distance away. Mickey laughs and shoves his arm playfully, all traces of his irritation gone now that they are alone.

“Fuck off.”

“You’d look good with a silk cravat though.”

Ian steps in front of Mickey and runs a finger down the open V of his shirtfront.

“Should we be expecting trouble?”

“Nah man. These guys, they play hard but they don’t have the stomach for my kind of rumble. I was the only asshole with a gun in that place and they think I’m some sort of Russian mafia.”

“Why Russian?”

“Because they don’t know the fuckin’ difference between Russian and Ukranian, ignorant fucks. Changed my ID once I got settled here, just to make any nosy pig work a little harder. I go by Alexandre Tereshchenko officially, it was my grandma’s surname before she married Pop Milkovich.”

Ian blinks a little taken aback at this new nugget of Mickey related information.

“I never even thought to ask about your name.”

“Why would you? You know who I am.”

One side of Mickey’s mouth lifts in an affectionate smile and he pats Ian’s cheek lightly.

“None of this shit affects you and me. It’s old and Reuben is wearing my patience seriously fuckin’ thin anyway. He keeps it up he’ll be on his own.”

“What about Christina?”

Mickey shrugs as if it means nothing to him and Ian crosses his arms over his chest, impatiently.

“You clearly like her a lot.”

Ian presses and Mickey nods, narrowly resisting rolling his eyes.

“I do. She reminds me of … well I don’t know. Mandy when she was little I guess. Scrappy and bold as Hell. Kicks her brother’s ass all over the beach when they get into it.”

“Not Yevgeny?”

Ian could bite his tongue in regret as soon as the words leave his mouth because Mickey’s face goes completely cold and he drops his gaze, quickly stepping around Ian and walking on.

“No.”

“Oh. I just thought … I mean they’re the same age...”

“I haven’t seen Yevgeny since he was basically a baby. I don’t know what he’s like so how the fuck would another kid remind me of him?”

Mickey’s tone is far sharper than he intends it to be and Ian compresses his lips guiltily and hunches his shoulders a little as he matches Mickey’s pace.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a thoughtless prick.”

Mickey’s nose twitches slightly but he smiles up at Ian and reaches up to smooth the fabric of Ian’s shirt across the shoulder nearest him.

“Svet takes good care of him and he don’t get hit, yelled at or any of the other shit I would probably end up doing if I was there. Yevgeny is fine.”

“Hey! You wouldn’t be like that! I know you wouldn’t!”

Ian is genuinely shocked that Mickey thinks he would be a crappy father. Mickey just shrugs.

“Maybe, maybe not. Best that I’m not there for the kid to find out the hard way though.”

“But don’t you want to know him?”

“It doesn’t fuckin’ matter what I want. Me and Yevgeny were fucked the moment that judge sent me down. Fifteen years? Shit. He was never going to have a dad after that.”

“Svet brought him to see you though.”

Ian mumbles, feeling very much like he should not have started this.

“That would have been worse. Every Saturday he has to get in a car with his mom and drive two hours to see some guy he barely knows to talk to him for ten minutes and then drive two hours back? Fuck that!”

Mickey frowns disdainfully at the idea of it.

“You’re free now though, we could maybe ask Svet about visitation …”

Mickey stops so suddenly Ian has to double back and turn to face him and when he does, Mickey places a hand flat against his chest and looks up at him almost imploringly

“Ian, please? He’s fine. I’m fine. Now you and me are fine too and that is all I need, okay? Please let this go.”

Ian considers trying to get his point across one more time but one look at Mickey’s face convinces him not to push it and he huffs out a sigh instead.

“OK. Sorry.”

Mickey doesn’t respond and the topic is clearly closed between them. Ian isn’t surprised either really. He should have had the sense to see that the subject of Yevgeny was not going to be a popular one and as always, his timing was fucking terrible.

They have come to the main high street and Mickey pauses on the corner to light a cigarette.

“I need a haircut. I look like a fuckin’ hobo compared to you.”

“I like it a little longer. Makes you look all trendy.”

Ian offers, toying with the slightly shaggy top lengths. Mickey inhales deeply and laughs in a cloud of smoke

“Well fuck that! I’m definitely cutting it.”

Ian grins and begins to step into the street to walk up to the barbers but Mickey catches his arm and pulls him lightly back before hastily letting go.

“You wanna … look, we don’t have to, but if you want to …”

Ian follows Mickey’s gaze as it flicks downwards and he gives Mickey a sweetly lopsided smile at the sight of the pale palm offered to him.

He laces his fingers through Mickey’s own and places a soft kiss on his boyfriend’s temple. Mickey takes another pull on his cigarette to cover up how pleased he is and, they cross the street hand in hand.

[amaloaf]

All of them

3 Fears3 things I love2 turns on2 turns offMy best friendSexual orientationHow tall am IWhat do I miss right nowFavourite colorDo I have a crush ^ already answered these

Favourite place

my room of the senior lounge in my school

What am I listening to right now

a davenchurch playlist (current song: Something I Need- One Republic) 

Shoe size

9-10 womens

Eye color

brown and gold

Hair color

ALSO brownish-gold

Meaning behind my URL

haha Fenton called me a walking paradox as a joke and it stuck!

Favourite song

literally dont have one but im currently loving “Waving Through a Window” from the dear evan hanson soundtrack

Favourite band

either panic! at the disco or fall out boy

How I feel right now

absolutely awful but you sending this completely boosted my mood!! 

Someone I love

oh sweet jesus, Fenton and Ellie and Pear and Cade and Vinny and Dylan and Sydney and Daffy and Simon and Nico and Jayme and Kiwi and Arily and this is going overboard but i cannot hold all my love in

My current relationship status

painfully single and desperately needing to get laid

My relationship with my parents

no

Favourite season

fall

Tattoos and piercing i have

none, unfortunately 

Tattoos and piercing i want

a septum piercing, 1mm gauges, a second piercing, an outer ear ring, sleeve tats of intertwining roses and dandelions, magnus’ railsplitter somewhere (im still deciding on where..) 

The reasons I joined Tumblr

all my middle school friends had it

Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?

not anymore

Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?

i kissed my dad before 

How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?

cosmetically? five minutes max

Have you shaved your legs in the past three days?

unfortunately i did yesterday  

Where am I right now?

at my desk, sitting on pile of laundry im neglecting 

Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?

i like it quiet

Do I live with my Mom and Dad?

both, but unhappily 

Am I excited for anything?

death, also graduation i guess

Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?

my friends Cade and Dylan are good buddies 

How often do I wear a fake smile?

….. next question

If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

the mcelroys, specifically travis 

What do I think about most?

not to be dark but death 

Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

neither, but behind if i have to be

What was the last lie I told?

“no mom i totally bought this”

Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

i dont do either v much but i really like vids when i can get them

Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

yes and yes (i saw three ghosts in my life)

Do I believe in magic?

hell yeah

Do I believe in luck?

mostly

What’s the weather like right now?

clear night skies with a slight fall nip in the air

What was the last book I’ve read?

animal farm by george orwell 

Do I have any nicknames?

M.K., M, Loaf

Do I spend money or save it?

both? 

Can I touch my nose with a tounge?

nope!

Favourite animal?

hgnnnnn cant choose, maybe sharks?

What was I doing last night at 12 AM?

sleeping 

What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?

Hips Dont Lie! 

What is my favorite word?

bludgeoning because im a nerd 

If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?

CUT THE CRAP AND LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE GOD DAMN IT

Do I have any relatives in jail?

i deadass dont talk to my family but im p sure one of my cousins was arrested last week 

What is my current desktop picture?

that picture of the sloth photoshopped on a dolphin with the P!NK lyrics

Had sex?

B)

Bought condoms?

no

Gotten pregnant?

oh god no

Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?

no but my first kiss with a boy i got sprayed on at a waterpark 

Had job?

im a partime paralegal 

Smoked weed?

yep

Smoked cigarettes?

for a long ass time in middle school (if im bein real honest im going to pic it back up again probably)

Drank alcohol?

ya

Am I a vegetarian/vegan?

definetly not

Been overweight?

currently am

Been underweight?

when i was born

Gotten my heart broken?

plenty of times

Been to prom?

yes

Been in airplane?

oh yeah, i love flying

Learned another language?

took spanish for 10+ years and dont know a damned word of it 

Wore make up?

ye

Dyed my hair?

no but i really want to 

Had a surgery?

yes! some work on my ear after i fucked it up as a baby

Met someone famous?

a band called After Romeo 

Stalked someone on a social network?

i tend to go through social media when i find new accounts i like but its never stalkerish 

Been fishing?

got the license and everything

Been rejected by a crush?

yea, ive only ever had one crush where it panned out 

What do I want for birthday?

a binder 

Do I like my handwriting?

no

Where do I want to live when older?

idk, im praying i dont end up back in vegas

Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?

got caught reading awful porn once does that count

What I’m really bad at

ohh im really holding back on saying “everything” but if i had to choose wind instruments 

What my greatest achievments are

my art, my relationships, my baby handling skills

The meanest thing somebody has ever said to me

ill give you the second worse: “ well at least being a fattass made you bouncy”

What I’d do if I won in a lottery

buy a house, get a super crazy nice computer, give some money to the friends listed up earlier on the list and draw for all eternity 

What do I like about myself

my eyes and my good heart and my ability to fake good things

My closest Tumblr friend

oh definitely Fenton or @whyldkratts

Any question you’d like?

feel free to send in your own question! 

Are you outgoing or shy?

yes

What kind of people are you attracted to?

soft bellies, thick legs and hips, nice pecs, soft long hair, nice lips

Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

idk maybe? i hope so, yall can feel free to make the first move ;3

Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

no, i actually like it! 

Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

my buddy Cade

What does the most recent text that you sent say?

ok

What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

Something I Need, Michel in the Bathroom, For Forever, Waving Through a Window, and Freeze Your Brain 

Do you like it when people play with your hair?

oh yes!! please play with my hair!!! ((and playing with OTHER peoples hair??? oh boy howdy dont even get me started!!!!))

Do you think there is life on other planets?

hell yes! 

Do you like bubble baths?

sure, no real pref either way

Do you like your neighbors?

NOPE

Where would you like to travel?

yes!

Favorite part of your daily routine?

sleep

What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?

*sweats* yes?? (probably my boobs and stomach, also my arms)

What do you do when you wake up?

stare at the ceiling and mentally prepare myself for the day

Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?

darker, it lost a lot of melinin when i hit puberty for some reason??

Do you ever want to get married?

yes! even if its just a platonic life partner marriage! 

If your hair long enough for a pony tail?

yep

Would you rather live without TV or music?

telivision my man

Have you ever liked someone and never told them?

yep! one time it went to shit the other time it went fairly ok

What are your favorite stores to shop in?

target and hot topic

Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

normally yes but you gotta kno when to get the hell away from certain folks

Do you smile at strangers?

sometimes

Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?

OH yeaaah

Ever wished you were someone else?

every god damned day

Favourite makeup brand?

cheap 

Last thing you ate?

mashed potatoes

Ever won a competition? For what?

won a college science fair in middle school once 

Ever been in love?

im always in love

Facebook or Twitter?

twitter always (pst mines @emiglody95

Twitter or Tumblr?

tumblr 

Are you watching tv right now?

no

What colour are your towels?

beige and brown 

Favourite ice cream flavour?

cookie dough or coffee 

First person you talked to today?

my mother or Ellie i can remember 

Last person you talked to today?

Pear or my day, again i cant remember 

Name a person you hate?

Prestly, Kevin, Zoe, Mike

Name a person you love?

hmm ive already listed a lot of people already so lets go with: Wilson

Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?

remember Kevin from two asks ago? 

Do you tan a lot?

im outside a lot but my tan is mostly natural 

Have any pets?

my dog, Gus! 

Do you type fast?

yes actually!! 

Do you regret anything from your past?

im not lookin to type a paragraph so lets go with yes

Ever broken someone’s heart?

yeah,, 

Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

every day

Is cheating ever okay?

no, but if your partner got seriously fucked up and it was a total accident and you trust them then MAYBE you can reconsider not throwing their asses out

Do you believe in true love?

to an extent 

What your zodiac sign?

leo! 

Do you believe in ghosts?

id better ive seen three of ‘em

Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page?

“ Its fine”, she said primly as she turned back to the trays of jewelry. 

[victorineb]

Adam Raki and the Accidental Nurse

Today is my darling @hotsauce418‘s birthday and the trash possum extraordinaire requested some Spacedogs sickfic. So happy birthday hotty, I hope you enjoy <3<3<3

Also on AO3.

“Fucking cocksucking asshole cab drivers!”

If he looked at it objectively, Nigel would probably allow that there was a reason cab drivers tended not to stop for him. Six foot of glowering, tattooed Romanian was probably enough to make even your most toughened Californian cabbie lock all his doors, let alone the pussies who drove in this hoity-fucking-toity neck of the woods. Objectivity was not, however, one of Nigel’s strong points, so instead he elected to continue growling obscenities at the entire cab-driving profession as he moved down towards the back of the bus he’d been forced to mount in lieu of any other transport options.

“Motherfucking dick hole son of a fucking whore!”

“Could you please refrain from swearing until you have left the bus, please?”

Nigel swung to find the source of the soft but direct complaint, fully anticipating a welcome chance to knock some cheeky fucker’s face in. What he found, instead, was a face he wouldn’t wish to see damaged by his or any other fists for all the money in the world. Bright blue eyes, wide and innocent looking, were set in a pale, smooth-skinned face, and set off by waves of brown hair, just coming loose from the neat, careful shape they had been tamed into. Nigel took in the young man sitting opposite him, the old man clothes and stiff demeanour not remotely dimming his beauty, and immediately decided to switch from offensive to charm offensive.

He grabbed the rail above the kid’s seat and hung off it, leaning down with a smile to say, “My apologies, gorgeous, I didn’t realise I was being so uncouth. I’d hate to think I made you uncomfortable.”

The kid crossed his arms in front of himself, not meeting Nigel’s gaze, and said, “I don’t like loud noises or swearing, they make me uncomfortable. In addition, I have a very bad headache and am not feeling very well, so I would appreciate it if you could wait until you are further away before continuing your tirade. And my name is Adam,” he added. “Please don’t call me gorgeous, it is demonstrably untrue and therefore either you are mocking me, or attempting to use an endearment inappropriate for someone you have just met.”

Nigel blinked, and then gave Adam a slow look up and down. “Darling, I’m not sure what you see when you look in the mirror, but from here you are very evidently the most gorgeous thing in this whole damn state.”

At this, Adam flicked his eyes up to Nigel’s for a fraction of a second before he looked away again. He sighed and said, “I can’t tell if you mean what you say. Normally I would attempt to understand, but I’m really not feeling well enough to do so today. My stop is not far away, would you mind if we don’t talk anymore?”

“I don’t mind darling,” Nigel grinned. He was suddenly very glad to have taken the fucking bus this once, if it meant getting to sit next to this strange, pretty kid for a little while. “But in return, might I sit with you, seems like all the other seats are taken. Promise to keep my trap shut,” he added, holding his hands up as Adam narrowed his eyes. The kid peered at him – or at least, near to him – for another moment, then gave a curt nod of his head, and moved a little to the side to make space for Nigel.

True to his word, Nigel didn’t utter another syllable. He did, however, take advantage of Adam’s resolutely front-facing gaze to look his fill. At first, he simply admired the kid’s trim figure, his long legs and the way his surprisingly broad shoulders tapered into a slim waist. Eventually, though, he lifted his gaze above the kid’s neck and began to get concerned. There was sweat on Adam’s brow, and high colour in his cheeks. He hadn’t been lying when he said he was sick.

“Adam, I know I said I would be quiet, but you don’t look good, darling. Are you going to be ok?” The question drew no response, and Nigel began to get truly worried at the glassy look in Adam’s eyes. He was about to try again when the bus started to slow, and Adam stood jerkily, swaying a little as he gathered his things. Apparently this was his stop. Reluctantly, Nigel stood to let him past, already wondering if he should offer to see the kid home, if that would be unwelcome to this closed off young man. His mind was made up for him, though, when Adam fainted clean into his arms.

“Adam? Adam?” Nigel stared into his face in alarm, instinctively hefting the kid up into his arms.

Adam stirred a little at his name and blinked up at Nigel, who immediately felt a rush of relief. It was short-lived though, as Adam woke only long enough to murmur, “Please, no doctors,” before passing out again.

Nigel looked down at him in dismay, at a complete loss as to what to do with the unconscious young man in his arms. He gave Adam a little shake in desperation, but Adam remained resolutely out of it. Nigel wasn’t exactly one to panic, but right now, suddenly in charge of an unwell young man he didn’t know from… well, from Adam, regardless of how familiar he’d got with his appearance in the last twenty minutes, Nigel would definitely admit to being just the tiniest bit fucking fraught.

The bus driver piping up, “You two getting off or what, I’m on a timetable,” wasn’t helping matters either.

“Gimme a fucking minute,” Nigel barked at her, casting around for help from the other passengers and finding nothing but carefully turned-away faces.

“Buddy, either you and your sweetheart get off, or I’m closing the doors and leaving, what’s it to be?”

Nigel looked down into Adam’s sleeping, flushed face and made his decision.

“We’re getting fucking off, ok?”

“Hallelujah,” came the response, and Nigel barely kept himself from growling at her in response. He hefted Adam again, retrieving the kid’s bag from his shoulder and slinging it over his own, then awkwardly manoeuvred both of them towards the doors. As he passed, the driver asked, “He ok?”

Nigel just glared at her and said, “Giving a fuck included on your fucking schedule, is it?” She looked mildly shamefaced and he threw her a sneer before carrying Adam down to the sidewalk.

Fortunately for Nigel, it was the middle of the day and Adam’s was a quiet residential neighbourhood, so there was no one around to accuse him of mugging the kid. Instead, he was able to lay Adam down on a nearby bench and, with a muttered apology, go through his bag in search of his ID. A couple of minutes and a quick search on his phone told him Adam lived five minutes from the bus stop, in a pleasant looking little house. Nigel took a moment to question what the hell he was doing, then lifted Adam into his arms once more and started walking.

He should take the kid to the hospital, Nigel knew, should drop him safely into a waiting room, make sure he got attended to and then just leave. It shouldn’t matter that the kid had asked him not to, he wasn’t well and it sure as fuck wasn’t Nigel’s job to take care of him. As if Nigel knew how to fucking take care of anyone anyway. He continued to walk, though, Adam settled surprisingly comfortably in his arms, huffing warm breath against his neck and exuding way too much heat for either man’s comfort. Nigel wasn’t sure he could have stopped if someone had told him to, some weird urge inside him telling him to stay with the kid, to make sure he didn’t have to see anyone he didn’t want to, to get him back to his home and pray to every motherfucking deity he didn’t believe in that there was someone there who could take proper care of Adam.

As they neared Adam’s house, Nigel fully expected someone to rush from their front door and ask what the hell he was doing to their nice young neighbour. No one did though, and Nigel found himself stepping up to Adam’s front door wholly unmolested, digging the keys he had retrieved from Adam’s bag out of his pocket, and carrying the kid over the threshold as if they’d just got fucking wed.

“Yeah, this’d be a fucking romantic one for the grandkids,” Nigel muttered as he kicked the door closed behind them and carried Adam straight upstairs, in search of a bedroom. “How did you and Grandpa Adam meet, Papa Nigel? Well, kiddies, I harassed him on a bus, then he fucking passed out and I broke into his house.” Nigel shook his head and gave a sigh of relief as he found the bedroom, clean and neat as a goddamn pin. Nigel carefully laid Adam on top of the sheets, removed his shoes and jacket, laid the comforter from the end of the bed on top of him, and then stopped to wonder what the everloving fuck he was supposed to do now.

Going outside and having a smoke was looking like a really good option right now.

Except, Adam was still really flushed, and he was making this little snuffling sound in his sleep that was breaking Nigel’s heart, and – after Nigel had a quick look around the house – it was really fucking obvious that there was no one coming home to take care of him. So instead, Nigel took out his phone and asked Google what the fuck you do for someone with a fever.

The first thing, getting the person to rest, Adam had kindly taken care of by passing out. Apparently the loss of consciousness was a bad sign, and Nigel once again contemplated calling an ambulance, before deciding to give it a few hours before making that decision. Adam was breathing comfortably and he seemed peaceful, so Nigel decided he was more asleep than unconscious anyway.

The second thing, getting him into some lightweight clothes, was going to be a bit more challenging. Nigel had certainly given plenty of thought to relieving Adam of his clothing before he’d realised the kid was sick, but his imaginings hadn’t involved him ransacking his drawers for a pair of pyjamas – clearly bought from the same old man store as the rest of his wardrobe – and then manhandling his unconscious, sweat-soaked body into them. They certainly hadn’t involved leaving his underwear on out of respect.

Finally, Nigel got Adam settled again and went in search of ice (for hydration), a washcloth (for cooling), and a back door (for a fucking smoke, for Nigel’s fucking sanity). He found all three, along with a fully-stocked first-aid kit and, after a blissful if abbreviated cigarette, returned upstairs to find that Adam had kicked off the comforter but otherwise looked much the same as he had when Nigel had left him. Nigel replaced the blanket and then sat next to Adam on the bed, placing a bowl of water next to him and beginning to wipe Adam’s face and neck down with it. Nigel felt acutely the strangeness of doing this to a stranger, and tried to remember the last time he had shown an ounce of kindness to another person. He thought of Gabi, and winced, deciding quickly that she had no place in this house. Nor did he, of course, but he was in too far now to leave. Far too far, he thought, as he smoothed Adam’s damp hair back from his forehead.

Nigel jumped when he realised the kid was pressing into his hand, and removed it quickly, only to find blue eyes suddenly peering not quite at him once again.

“You’re from the bus,” Adam croaked, his voice small and weak.

“That’s right, Adam. My name’s Nigel. You weren’t well so I brought you home.” Nigel hoped to God he was managing to sound kind, rather than threatening. He wasn’t sure he remembered how.

“You called me gorgeous,” Adam murmured, and Nigel wondered how awake he actually was.

“Yeah, I fucking did, gorgeous, that’s right.” Nigel slowly reached for Adam’s hand, telegraphing his movements so as not to frighten him. “Listen, darling, I don’t want to trespass further on your space. You got someone I could call to come take care of you?”

Adam closed his eyes and Nigel wondered if he’d passed out again. If he had, he really would have to call the doctor this time. After a moment, though, they fluttered open again and Adam shook his head fractionally. “No, no one. Harlan is still in New York and my father’s in Queens.” He gave a weak little laugh that worried Nigel immensely. “That means he’s dead. Harlan said it was a joke but I don’t understand why it’s funny.”

Nigel’s heart dropped as he realised that Adam had no one. He scrubbed a hand over his eyes and tried to think what to do.

“It’s ok, Nigel, you can go. I can take care of myself. The fever will break and then I will be fine.” Adam’s voice was small, but firm, the same way it had been on the bus, and just as it had then, it decided Nigel at once.

“Don’t hate me, gorgeous, but I’m not gonna take your fucking word for that,” he said. “Think I should stay and check for myself.” Adam shook his head again, but Nigel ignored it. “Now, think you could drink something for me before you go back to sleep? I brought some ice up, it’s better for you than water, so doctor fucking internet tells me.”

Adam just squinted at him some more with those beautiful blues, and then asked, almost a whisper, “Why would you stay?”

Nigel smiled at him, and this time he was almost certain he managed to make it kind. “Because you need me to, gorgeous.”

Finally, Adam raised his eyes to Nigel’s, and Nigel’s breath hitched. Even sick, this boy was truly beautiful, and Nigel couldn’t think of many better ways to spend his time than simply to look at him. Adam just nodded, resigned, and then looked away, towards the glass of ice chips Nigel had brought up.

“Think you could manage a couple?” Nigel asked, and Adam nodded again. Nigel beamed at him – fucking beamed, when had he ever – and grabbed the glass. He helped Adam to sit up a little and then held one of the chips to Adam’s lips, who looked a little reproachful but didn’t make a move to stop him. He managed three of them like this, before his eyelids started to droop again, and Nigel took the glass away.

“One last thing, beautiful, before you sleep. Let me take your temperature?” Nigel had found one of those fancy thermometers in the first-aid kit, the kind that went inside your ear and gave instant readings. Adam acquiesced easily, and Nigel took the reading. 38.8oc, high but not in the danger zone; they could avoid the hospital as long as it didn’t get any higher. Nigel looked back at Adam to give him the good news and found that the kid was already asleep again. He looked angelic to Nigel, flushed pink and with his hair forming into curls around his forehead. He looked like something Nigel wanted to protect.

Nigel woke the next morning with a stiff back and a dull ache everywhere else from spending the night in a chair next to Adam’s bed. He also woke with Adam’s hand clutched tightly in his own, and wondered at himself for getting attached so quickly. It had happened once before, of course, but… no, that wasn’t a thought he needed to have right now. He stood and placed his free hand against Adam’s forehead. No cooler than the day before, Nigel estimated, but no worse, which was good, he supposed.

He tucked the covers more firmly around Adam’s sleeping form, lingering just a little to take in how the early morning sunlight made him glow. Just looking, Nigel thought, fucking looking never goddamn hurt anyone. He spent the next hour finding ways to keep himself busy, taking a shower, having a smoke, snooping through Adam’s stuff (telescope, space books, space models… whole lot of space stuff. Nigel was really hoping he wasn’t one of those fussy nerd types, like on some bad sitcom, but Adam didn’t seem much of either from what he’d seen). Anything to keep himself distracted, because the urge to simply sit by the bed and watch Adam sleep was unsettlingly strong.

Eventually, Nigel deemed that enough time had passed for it to be completely reasonable for him to check in on his patient. He gathered another bowl of water and a clean cloth, along with painkillers and more ice chips, and climbed back up the stairs to Adam. As he set down his supplies, Nigel glanced at Adam’s face and found a blue eye cracked open, observing him closely.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Nigel said.

Adam continued to peer at him for a little while, and then said, “You’re still here,” his voice not much more than a croak.

“That I am, sweetheart.” Nigel perched on the edge of the bed and brushed Adam’s hair out of his eyes. The boy didn’t flinch, but Nigel could see the touch made him tense and he withdrew his hand. “Thought I’d be gone with the morning light?”

Adam’s eyes had followed Nigel’s hand as he drew it back, and he kept them trained on it as he said, “I don’t understand why you are here. You don’t know me, you have no reason to care about me. I don’t like not understanding, please could you explain?”

“Thought maybe if I helped out an angel, I’d get myself a free pass to heaven,” Nigel grinned, tossing a wink Adam’s way for good measure.

Adam just frowned and looked faintly irritated. “I am not an angel, Nigel, angels don’t exist. Nor does heaven, or at least it is a relatively unlikely theory and not a good explanation for your presence in my home.”

Nigel could do nothing but chuckle at the response. The kid wasn’t easy and, dammit, Nigel always liked a challenge.

“Ok, beautiful, but you won’t like it.” Adam just pouted at this, and Nigel was hard-pressed to think that he’d ever seen anything more fucking adorable in his life. “Truth is, Adam, I don’t have a good reason. Not every day that some gorgeous kid falls into my arms, thought I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

“Nigel, I’m not sure at this point if you are in fact capable of being serious,” Adam protested, his voice weak and strained, “but please try.”

Nigel felt a little stab of guilt at teasing the kid when he wasn’t well, and decided to stop being an ass for a minute. “Ok, Adam, I’ll be serious. But first you’re gonna sit up and suck down a couple of these ice chips for me, yeah?”

Adam nodded, and let Nigel rearrange him without protest, accepting the piece of ice and placing it between his lips. Satisfied, Nigel told him the whole story, that Adam had asked not to be taken to a doctor, that Nigel had carried him home, that it was obvious Adam lived alone and Nigel hadn’t wanted to leave him when he was so unwell. He left out the parts about thinking Adam was the most beautiful person he’d ever clapped eyes on. Bit fucking much to lay on the kid at this point.

Adam seemed to accept this explanation, despite the fact that it didn’t really even make sense to Nigel how they’d ended up here. So Nigel figured he could ask his own question.

“Why didn’t you want a doctor, gorgeous?”

Adam sucked on another ice chip contemplatively and then said, “I don’t like doctors, or hospitals. There are lots of people there, many of whom are loud and aggressive, and there are germs and disease everywhere.”

“Well yeah, it’s where fucking sick people go.”

Adam regarded him coolly and added, “In any case, a low-grade fever does not require a doctor, only rest and hydration.”

Nigel shrugged and asked, “So you won’t go see the doc now if I suggest it, then?”

“I would prefer not to,” Adam confirmed.

“Fucking rest and hydration it is then.”

Adam’s temperature cooled during the day – assisted by a not-at-all fucking awkward bath, during which Nigel had done his best not to see anything he wasn’t meant to, and had still seen enough to turn his attraction into full-blown lust. Adam was beautiful, lithe and perfectly-proportioned, with soft-looking skin and a pretty scattering of freckles. Nigel tried very hard to tell himself he wasn’t doomed when he caught sight of them and didn’t believe himself for a second.

It had gone back up in the evening though, and Adam writhed miserably in his bed as Nigel alternately tried to warm him up and cool him down. Eventually though, he settled, and looked up at Nigel beseechingly, clearly exhausted and drained. “Would you read something to me, Nigel?”

“Like a bedtime story, gorgeous?” Nigel teased, gently. He was beginning to learn that Adam didn’t really respond to sarcasm or irony, but that he was ok with being teased, so long as it wasn’t cruel.

“Yes, but not a story, please. I don’t enjoy stories.” Adam said this with such a straight face that Nigel couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“Alright sweetheart, what would you like then? I saw a lot of space books downstairs. You want me to read about the stars?” Adam nodded, a small smile on his face at Nigel’s suggestion, and Nigel dutifully trooped downstairs, returning with a selection of books from which Adam pulled one with a pink and purple nebula on its cover. Nigel settled himself in the chair by the bed and propped his socked feet up, having checked with Adam that he didn’t mind. He was going to have to do something about his clothes tomorrow; for himself, he could happily have worn the same ones for a third day running, but he didn’t want to fucking smell around Adam. He opened the book and started reading, quickly realising that he wasn’t going to understand a word of it and not caring in the slightest. It was easy to just let the words flow, no understanding needed beyond how to say them, so long as Adam knew what they meant. Before long, both men were asleep, and when Adam’s hand crept out to curl around Nigel’s ankle, neither one was any the wiser.

Adam’s illness continued into a third day, and a fourth after that, and Nigel went nowhere (save for a fucking trek to the fucking grocery store since Adam didn’t seem to have anything in his fridge that Nigel counted as food). Instead he continued to provide cups of tea, and warm (“not too warm, please Nigel”) baths and to read to Adam from whichever book he requested. He had found some clothes in a size close enough to his own to be wearable, and though they were in a style far from his usual, they had the advantage of being clean. When Adam saw him in the neat button down and slacks, he had stared for a moment and then just nodded and said calmly, “they don’t suit you,” before burrowing back down under the covers. Nigel had stood for a moment, unsure quite what to make of that, and then had gone to put his own clothes in the laundry.

Adam slept a lot, and Nigel found ways to occupy himself – watching shitty daytime TV, smoking, calling his associates to make sure they weren’t fucking up in his absence (“What does it matter to you where I fucking am or what I’m fucking doing, nenorocitule? Do as I fucking say or I’ll rip your dick off and use it as a fucking paperweight, got it?”). Mostly, he watched Adam, having admitted that he could blindfold himself and it wouldn’t matter. Adam was etched on the inside of his eyelids, like the afterburn of a blinding light. Might as well enjoy the object of his doomed infatuation while he could.

When Adam was awake, they talked. Nigel had wondered if he would have anything to say to this strange, detached boy with his head in the stars, but conversation flowed between them with unexpected ease.

“You swear a lot. More than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Sorry about that, angel. Bad habit, years in the making. I can stop, if it bothers you. Try to, anyway.”

“No-o… I don’t think I mind when you do it. When other people swear, it sounds painful to me, like being struck. But yours is more like punctuation. You don’t swear out of anger, it’s simply part of your speech pattern. I enjoy the way you speak, there’s a rhythm to it that’s soothing.”

“Think that’s the first time anybody’s called me fucking soothing, gorgeous.”

“No one has ever called me gorgeous before, so that makes us even.”

“Must all have been fucking blind, beautiful.”

And,

“You ate it yesterday, Adam.”

“I was still feeling very unwell yesterday, it didn’t occur to me to complain.”

“But you’re well enough to do it today?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re telling me you only eat fucking macaroni and cheese?”

“And chicken and broccoli.”

“And you won’t eat the soup I made, from scratch, with ingredients that I trekked back on foot from the fucking grocery store five miles away, because all you have in your fridge is fucking mac and cheese and chicken and broccoli, unless you’re too out of it to know the difference?”

“Yes.”

“Well as long as we’ve got that fucking sorted.”

And,

“Where is your accent from?”

“Fucking Romania.”

“Were you born there?”

“Yeah. Lived there, too, until not so long ago.”

“But now you live here. Why did you leave?”

“Stupidity.”

“Who was stupid?”

“Me. Other fucking people too but, looking back, mostly me.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Not as much as I thought, gorgeous.”

And,

“What’s with all the space stuff?”

“I’m interested in space.”

“No shit, gorgeous. Kind of a smartass, aren’t you?”

“I have above average intelligence, yes.”

“Are you fucking with me right now, Adam?”

“I don’t know what you mean, Nigel.”

“You fucking are, I can see you smiling. Feeling better then, darling?”

“I’m beginning to.”

By the fifth day, though, it was clear that Adam was on the mend. He wasn’t as tired, his temperature was much lower, and he was able to get out of bed for a while, so Nigel could serve him mac and fucking cheese with only minimal complaining. He would likely be well enough to look after himself come tomorrow, Nigel realised, his stomach twisting painfully. There would be no reason for him to stay. No reason to keep waking up to the sunlight making Adam’s skin glow. No reason to listen to him talk about the stars and make it sound like the best story Nigel had ever heard. No reason to sneak smoke breaks only to stamp the cigarette out halfway through so as to get back to Adam quicker.

No reason to stay around the man he knows he’s fallen in love with.

That night Nigel climbed the stairs feeling sick himself. Five days and he couldn’t imagine an evening not spent with his feet on Adam’s bed, reading about some comet or distant galaxy, asking questions just for the sake of listening to Adam talk in that focused, expert, utterly engaged way he had when it came to the stars. Tomorrow he would go home to his empty apartment, where the only books were crappy paperbacks and nobody had anything interesting to say. He ached at the thought of it.

He wouldn’t say a word of it to Adam, though. He’d crashed into the kid’s life without asking, without giving him the chance to say no. And if he knew even part of what Nigel was, no was exactly what he’d say. No, and get out, and stay the fuck away from me. Nigel never wanted to hear those words from Adam’s beautiful mouth, never wanted to see his lovely face twisted in anger and disgust. So he climbed the stairs to the bedroom where Adam was already in bed, took his seat, let Adam choose a book, and, as always, asked his permission to put his feet up, everything exactly the same as the previous nights. Right up until Adam said, “No.”

“No?” Nigel asked, freezing in the act of lifting his feet.

“I don’t want you to put your feet up,” Adam explained.

Nigel felt a bolt of hurt go through him. Was this Adam pulling away already? Trying to put some distance between them so that Nigel would get the picture? The kid was smart, after all, far smarter than Nigel, he would already be thinking about tomorrow and-

“I’d like you to sleep next to me.”

Nigel’s brain froze along with the rest of him this time. He just stared at Adam for a few moments, trying to figure out where the joke was. When he finally remembered that Adam didn’t tell jokes, he made a concerted effort to form enough words to ask, “Could you just repeat that for me, gorgeous?”

“I’d like it if you slept next to me tonight. There’s plenty of room, you wouldn’t be uncomfortable.”

Oh, so Adam was feeling bad for him having to spend so many nights sleeping in a fucking chair. That made sense. Nigel could work with that.

“I can just go sleep on the couch, darling, you don’t have to share your bed to save my back.”

Adam frowned and flicked his eyes towards Nigel’s for a second. “I’m not making myself clear, am I? Sometimes it’s difficult for me to explain my meaning.” He began playing with the edge of his blanket, beginning to look distressed.

Nigel leaned across and put his hand on Adam’s, saying gently, “It’s ok, sweetheart, I’m not going anywhere. You take your time and keep going until I understand, ok?”

And then, instead of saying anything else, Adam just leaned in and kissed Nigel softly on the lips. Just a press, and no more, and it was the sweetest thing Nigel had ever felt. He nearly fucking whimpered when Adam pulled away again, looking adorably nervous and biting his lower lip in a way that made Nigel want to pull him back and take over.

“I want you to sleep with me, so that you can hold me, because I like you. And because you will go away tomorrow and I might never see you again, and I didn’t want never to have kissed you. I don’t know if that’s ok but I just…”

He trailed off, and Nigel gaped at him for a second before pressing him down to the bed and covering him in more kisses. “Sweet boy, gorgeous thing, I wanted to kiss you the second I clapped eyes on you, didn’t you know that?”

“No,” Adam said, panting the words between kisses, “you didn’t say.”

“Well, I guess that’s fucking true.” Nigel pulled back far enough to look at Adam properly. “Adam, let me make this perfectly fucking clear, the only reason I would leave is if you asked me to.”

Adam smiled at this, the first time he’d smiled fully at Nigel, and Nigel couldn’t help but kiss him again. Again and again. And when he was done (for the fucking moment) he curled both of them together beneath the sheets, Nigel’s chest pressed firm to Adam’s back, their legs entwined, and drifted off to sleep imagining that he would never let Adam go to sleep without kissing him ever again.

It wasn’t until about four in the morning when Nigel woke, still with Adam tucked against him, and asked himself what the fuck he was doing. He was a thug, a criminal, a killer. He had no business being with a sweet kid like Adam. He might have left the truly bad parts of his life behind in Bucharest, but he was still ready and able to kick a few heads in when they needed kicking. He still carried a gun to work. He still could put Adam in danger just by being in his life.

Besides that, Nigel knew there was something off about Adam, something different in the way he perceived the world. He was a creature of habit and routine; he’d had something close to a meltdown on their third day together, when he was well enough to know that his meal and sleep times had been disturbed, and had only settled when he’d extracted a promise from Nigel to follow his schedule from then on. How would someone like that cope with Nigel in his life, who came home at all hours, who ate leftover takeout for breakfast and hadn’t had a regular bedtime even when he was a kid?

Nigel buried his face in Adam’s hair and breathed in the clean, warm scent of him. He wanted this forever, wanted nothing more than this boy in his arms, breathing calmly and making soft little noises in his sleep. He’d take just the rest of this night, though; he could have that, no harm done, except maybe to his heart. He’d make Adam understand it was for the best, somehow.

The next time Nigel woke, it was to Adam gently brushing his fingers through his hair, pushing it off his forehead with a feather-light touch. Nigel cracked open his eyes and gazed up at his angel, bathed in the morning’s glow, and tried to fix the image in his mind, wanting to be able to remember Adam this way. If he could just keep this memory to draw on, maybe it would be enough, maybe it would ease the pain he knew leaving Adam behind would cause.

Adam caught his eye and, realising Nigel was awake, smiled down at him contentedly. “You did this to me very often while I was sick. It felt good, so I thought you might enjoy it too,” he said.

“I do, gorgeous, it feels very good.” Nigel leaned into the touch and tried to memorise it too.

“Also it means I can detect that you are running a temperature and likely have contracted the same virus I had,” Adam continued, matter-of-factly.  

“What?” Nigel asked, suddenly wide awake. He took stock of his body and realised that, fucking fuck, he was indeed feeling hot and sweaty, and his head was definitely aching in a way that usually indicated he’d hit the vodka too hard the night before. He pushed back the covers and made to get up, only to have Adam gently push him back down.

“Why are you getting up?” he asked, frowning.

Nigel tried again to rise, but the room swayed around him and he had to give up. He looked back at Adam, who was wearing a confused expression, a little crease appearing between his brows. Nigel reached up to smooth it away, and smiled gently at the kid. “I should go home while I can, gorgeous. Just let me get my shit together and then-”

“O-oh, no, you can’t go home. You took care of me when I was unwell, and now I will take care of you. I can’t take care of you if you go home. Unless I come with you but that seems like an unnecessary effort when we are both here already.”

“Gorgeous, you can’t take care of me,” Nigel sighed.

“Why? It’s Friday, so my employer told me not to bother coming in. That means I have three days to look after you, by which point you should be past the worst of the symptoms. Then you can still go home if you wish, though in fact I think you should stay here.”

“Until I’m all better?”

“Yes, but I actually meant permanently.”

Nigel could only gape stupidly at Adam for a good minute, as Adam straightened the covers around him, seemingly content to wait for Nigel’s response.

“Adam?” Nigel said, slowly.

“Yes, Nigel?”

“Did you just ask me to move in with you?”

“Yes, Nigel.”

Nigel was reasonably certain that he wasn’t running enough of a fever to be hallucinating, so he had to conclude that the beautiful boy currently methodically plumping his pillow had gone insane, and said so.

“Though I am not neurotypical, Nigel, I am perfectly sane.”

“We’ve known each other for six days, gorgeous, and you were fucking unconscious for most of them. You can’t ask someone to move in with you after six days.”

Adam looked at him, confused again. “But I don’t want you to leave. You said you would only leave if I asked you to, but when I think about you leaving, it hurts. So I want you to stay.”

It took everything Nigel had not to pull Adam down and kiss him and just say yes. Instead he said, “Sweetheart, even if it wasn’t far too soon to be asking, I’m not the sort of person you want in your life. I’m… I’m not a good person, Adam. I’m a very fucking bad, bad person, in fact.”

Adam finished fussing with the bedsheets and got up from the bed himself, gathering the discarded mugs and glasses from his nightstand. “I don’t think that’s true, Nigel.”

Nigel sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face. “Believe it, angel. I’ve done things that would scare you. That would make you stop liking me real fucking quick if you knew about them.”

Adam stopped straightening the room and turned back to the bed. “I’m aware that you make your living doing something not strictly legal, if that’s what you’re worried about. You are not quiet when you talk on the phone.” Nigel opened his mouth to protest but Adam held up a hand to stop him and continued. “And in any case, it doesn’t matter to me how you are with other people, or what you do for work. What matters to me is that you have been kind and patient with me, that you cared for me when you didn’t have to, and that you have been in my home for six days without making me feel uncomfortable or distressed. In fact having you here has made me happy, which is very rare for me. So I would like you to stay. Please.”

Nigel watched Adam give this speech, much as someone else might have read out a shopping list. It wasn’t impassioned, or desperate, it was a simple laying out of facts. Adam wanted Nigel to stay, so he had asked him to. Adam knew exactly what Nigel was, and he didn’t care. Adam was a fucking angel and Nigel was a bad, bad man.

But, Nigel considered, being a bad man didn’t mean he was a stupid one.

“Tell you what, gorgeous, I’ll move in with you, on one condition.”

Adam’s bright blue eyes seemed to light up with Nigel’s words and he smiled, wide and happy. “What is it, Nigel?”

Nigel grinned at him in return and flipped the sheets back in invitation. “That you put down all that shit and get back into fucking bed with me so I can show you just how happy you make me.”

Adam bit his lip and shook his head, but there was a gleam in his eye that Nigel found impossibly appealing. “But you’re unwell, Nigel, I don’t want you to strain yourself.”

“Darling, unless you want to be responsible for me dragging my feverish ass out of this bed, you’d better come over here because there’s no way I’m going another second without kissing you fucking silly,” Nigel growled.

And as Adam slid into bed next to him and let Nigel gather him up to be kissed, Nigel considered that, fever or no fever, he couldn’t remember ever feeling better in his entire fucking life.

[hoenursey]

Hi, can I ask the I guess story of Othello real quick even just a summary if you don't want to go in depth because I was excited about hearing about it, but then I was also really thrown off seeing Othello being a slave and all and now I'm just kinda confused?? Because Nursey in silk with a choking kink DOES sound amazing but I guess I'm just confused af now

lmao, okay, so. originally i was writing just an au of nursey and dex playing desdemona and othello, respectively. however, othello’ character background is that he was a former slave and a moorsman, or a person from the moor, and moorsmen are black people.

the beginning of othello starts with roderigo and iago outside of the house of brabantion, desdemona’s father. roderigo is jealous of othello because he’s in love with desdemona and she pretty much turned everyone down and she’s like dainty and pretty and hot as fuck, like the most beautiful fair girl ever and shit, but she’s falling in love with othello. also i’m pretty sure roderigo saw her and othello chilling or w/e. so basically, in the middle of the fuckening night, roderigo and iago start yelling to brabantion to come outside and talk to them. brabantion is generally a pretty cool dad and he’s like “bitch she doesn’t like u stop getting drunk and coming to my house my daughter turned ur ass down already”, rod and iago proceed to say a bunch of racist shit and say “check her bed she’s out being a slut with a black dude lol” to which dadbra says “she would never she’s so sweet and she’s also turned down literally everyone who’s ever wanted to date her” but desi, my girl, is actually gone from her bed, so dadbra is like “you’re right!!! i can’t believe my daughter is fucking around before marriage in the middle of the night!!! i trusted her!!! time to go chase after othello, who i welcomed into my house, with a bunch of pitchforks” which they do. they show up to othello’s crib like “what’s up here’s our accusations time to throw you in jail for fucking my daughter because if she turned down all the hot dudes in the entire city she’s definitely not gonna fuck a black dude out of wedlock unless there was some type of witchcraft involved” to and othello is like “uhh okay cool i’m dealing with the house of senators rn so like. can this wait a second my dudes” and they’re like “perfect! we’re gonna show them what a terrible black dude you are!”

they go in front of the senators and they’re like “what’s the sitch why is this angry mob here my dude” dadbra is like “uh he fucked my daughter, i’m sending him to jail for witchcraft or kidnapping bc there’s literally no other way she’d fuck a black dude when she doesn’t even like these hot white dudes”

othello’s like “uh actually i married her”

everyone: “what”

and he kind of explains like “buddy yeah i’m not super good with words so i’m not gonna bs you. i married your daughter. no kidnapping, drugging, or witchcraft. she fell in love with me and so now we’re married. she’s at the inn down the street also so like i’m def not fucking her since we’re at my house and she’s at a hotel”

everyone except dadbra is like “oh okay that sounds reasonable” but dadbra is like “you’re telling me that my good white upper class daughter fell in love with a black dude who she’d be afraid to look at? i’m calling bullshit it’s clearly witchcraft”

the duke p much is like “uh… but where’s the receipts tho i don’t see any witchcraft” and the senators are like “go get desdemona so we can confirm this also othello bro keep talking”

othello’s like “yeah i was a warrior and i travelled a lot and dadbra used to like me a lot so he invited me over to hear my stories about the wars and how i fought and battles and being on ships. i told him my entire life story from when i was a kid all the way until now, how i was captured and sold as a slave, how i bought my own freedom and just all types of cool shit and then when she did her chores around the house for dadbra she would come around as soon as she finished and ask me more and ask me to tell her more stories” essentially desi thinks he’s hot and a tragic hero and she’s like “everything that happened to you sucks but you’ve also got some sick ass stories so maybe that makes it a little better? idk sorry all this bad shit happened to you but you’re rly interesting to talk to. if any friends had any stories like yours i’d probably fall in love with them”

othello’s like “yeah uh i’m not that smart and i’m more of a military dude than an intellectual but i know a fucking hint when i see one”

he says the sweetest thing too like “she loved me for the horrors i had been through and that i had the strength to come out on top, and i loved her for feeling so strongly about me and having passion. here comes my wife now and she’ll tell you the exact same story”

desi comes in and is like “yeah dad sorry i shouldn’t have like run out in the middle of the night to get married but i really do love him promise no messing around”

and this is part of the reason i think brabantion is kinda cool bc he’s not actually a racist he just said some shit without rly thinking and let the things that he’s used to hearing influence him and he’s like “oh, well, you’re in love. that’s fine then sorry i didn’t realize. i’m super glad you’re my only daughter because after this whole disaster, if you’d had any younger sisters i know i would have overreacted and acted like a prison warden to them and women don’t deserve that. i’m still a little upset abt u sneaking out in the middle of the night but like blessings on your marriage i guess.

so that’s like…. act one

later on some fuckery happens, iago decides to be a dick, because they’re all together for some reason that i don’t feel like saying idk something abt the turks and also because he’s a miserable worm

cassio is one of their friends who’s also there and he’s, like, some type of foreign i think (probably spanish or italian) and has respect for women and his wife (who’s not there) but bc he’s spanish or italian (probably italian as verona is mentioned and shakespeare REALLY has a thing abt italy??? idk he’s a pasta fucker) or whatever he does the thing where he kisses people on the cheek and because it’s the elizabethan era, he kisses women’s hands, and earlier he had like politely greeted desdemona and iago’s wife and called them beautiful and smart and shit and called iago out on being a misogynistic piece of shit. iago like actively hates his wife and also literally anyone else’s happiness so he’s like i’m gonna fuck up cassio’s life and i’m gonna fuck up othello and desi’s and also he’s a jealous racist misogynistic asshole wants to fuck up othello and desdemona’s (healthy, loving, trusting, equal) relationship so he’s like

"hey othello. ur wife’s a slut. she’s fucking cassio behind ur back lol”

and othello, who thinks his wife is the shit, is like *daveed diggs voice* “whaaaaat”

iago: “yeah totes she’s a massive hoe”

and othello is like “nah not my wife. maybe someone else’s wife, but not mine”

and iago is like “no bro im serious. we’re sleeping in the same bed (i don’t know why i mean his fucking wife is there isn’t she) he’s been having like wet dreams about her and saying ‘damn i wish u weren’t with that black dude’ and he’s been rolling over in his sleep and dry humping me whilst moaning ur wife’s name” (honestly iago the reason you don’t like women is because you’re gay and jealous calm down)

(literally that was so extra i can’t believe how overwhelmingly bisexual shakespeare was that he needed to slide that gay ass shit in there)

anyways othello’s like “okay so that’s a little weird but that doesn’t mean she did anything. maybe cassio just wants to bang my wife. that’s understandable, as id also like to bang my wife” (they’re super into PDA they’re so in love)

iago: fair. also iago: i mean there’s no way to prove it but like… maybe your wife gave him something. like, idk, does she have a hand embroidered handkerchief maybe? just a thought just a thought lolothello: ya i gave that to her as like a courtship gift she never goes anywhere without it bc she loves me so muchiago: yeah well uh i cassio wiping his beard with it so they’re definitely fuckingothello, my dumb son: NO!!! THAT DEFINITELY MEANS THEYRE FUCKING IF MY WIFE GAVE AN ITEM OF GREAT SENTIMENTAL AND PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO HIM!!! MY ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY FAITHFUL AND COMPLETELY INNOCENT UP UNTIL THIS POINT WIFE!!!!

so he’s like “uh i have to kill her i guess now :(((((((”

problem is he’s still fucking in love with her like he literally loves her so much and can’t even bear to stab her like a normal person would do if they’re trying to kill their wife, so what does he do? he fucking kisses her awake to explain what he’s doing and why he’s doing it and then gently smothers her to death

so gently, in fact, that she doesn’t actually die, just passes out

a servant walks in and is like “boi what the FUCK”

othello: uh

it’s desi’s handmaiden lmao and he’s like “i had to she’s fucking other men” to which she says “no she’s not you idiot” and then desdemona wakes up to say something dramatic and then properly dies

except no she doesn’t bc othello literally is just really really fucking in love with his wife so he’s an incredibly ineffective murderer despite literally having been in the military for almost all of his life but that’s all i’m explaining bc my hands are tired and i answered this all on mobile plus that’s all you need to know for my story

[moomoocentral]

Japanese Haru Hana Magazine Interview with MAMAMOO (TRANS)

Q: How do you feel about promoting in Japan for the first time? Wheein: We all like Japan, and we have travelled here privately before. However, since we do not have much opportunities to meet fans like this, I am very happy. Hwasa: Although it is slightly different from rookie days, it feels like going back to the beginning. Moonbyul: There are many fans that I have seen for the first time, and there are also fans who cried when they saw us. I hope there can be more chances for us to meet fans like this. Solar: Because I’ve liked Japanese anime since I was little, I familiarized myself with the Japanese culture very quick. Although I am nervous, I am very happy to be able to promote in Japan like this. Q: What motivated you guys to become singers? Wheein: I became naturally invested in music due to my mother who works with art. I really like singing and dancing, so I started practicing hard since middle school. Hwasa: We all got put together through passing auditions. Wheein and I were in the same class in middle school, and carried the same dream ever since we were at our hometown. One time, we told our parents we were going to Seoul for auditions together. But actually, we lied as we went there to play. (laughs) Q: If we talk about Mamamoo, we must mention your adlibs during performances on stage. The SBS Gayo Daejeon performance was really great! Moonbyul: That was Solar’s and my idea. Although I wasn’t able to show the best during the broadcast, Wheein’s part is worth to watch. Solar: Because I look like Sechskies’ Kang Sung Hoon, Wheein pointed at me while saying “Our team has a Kang Sung Hoon too”. (laughs) Moonbyul: As for me, I referenced BTS’s “DOPE” in my rap. I am good friends with Jin, so I messaged him a few days before the show. After the performance ended, Jin told me gratefully, “With such a grand line-up, I am very happy that you referenced us.” Hwasa: Our strength is to utilize adlibs to perform freely on stage. Even with the same song, we will deliver a different performance each time. I am glad that people are able to enjoy our performance every time, not only once, twice or thrice, with new set of expectations. Q&A Session Q: Other than rap and vocal, what are the other members’ role? Wheein: I am the secretary. For example, if we have to leave a message under the name of Mamamoo as a team, I am always the representative to write it. Hwasa: Wheein is in charge of aegyo (cuteness). There is a sense of cuteness in her that makes people want to take care of her. Wheein: Yes, that’s it. (laughs) Hwasa is the “guide-to-good-food”. Every time we go eat, Hwasa is the one who looks up delicious restaurants. Hwasa: I am the type of person who cannot tolerate hunger. (laughs) Rather than knowing where to eat, I am just good at quickly searching for good food around. Solar: Moonbyul is the one who is first at anything. She is always the first to do makeup and hairstyling. She is a stable person. Even when she has to wake up early or is tired, she is always first to get up, and then she rests after getting her makeup done. Moonbyul: Solar is the organizer. It isn’t the type of organizing where you tidy your room, but she “organizes” in order for Mamamoo’s schedules to be carried out smoothly. She is good at leading the members. Q: Mamamoo is very popular among females. What do you think is the secret to this? Hwasa: Why is it so? Maybe because we give people a friendly image. We have many songs that directly reflect female’s perspectives, and that probably created some sort of sympathy. Solar: I think so too. Majority of our songs reveal the emotions of females that cannot be expressed usually. Especially through Moonbyul’s rap, the emotions are expressed more directly, which touches female’s hearts. Also, when Moonbyul raps with strength and energy, rather than guys, girls make these “Ah~~~~~” screaming sounds. (laughs) Moonbyul: As females, we also want to hear others call us cute, but we really don’t know how to dress ourselves. (laughs) But then our fans tell us that they like it the way we are. (Reporter: Are there any other compliments on you guys?) Wheein: “Very handsome.” (laughs) Q: Is there anything you are interested about the Japanese culture? Wheein: Fashion and food. There are many good Ramen restaurants that I often visit at Itaewon in Korea, so I have wanted to try Japanese Ramen for a long time already. I am looking forward to it. Solar: I really like dramas and anime. We really love “Spirited Away”. I also liked “Gokusen” before, and watched the entire series. Moonbyul: For a period of time, I was really interested in the hotspring [at Yufuin Floral Village]. Because Solar visited there before and it seemed fun, I went afterwards. Just a few days ago, Hwasa went as well. (laughs) Hwasa: I actually just went there two days ago. (laughs) I had so much wagyu beef~ If I go overseas, the food never really fits my taste. However, Japan is the only place with food that fits my taste, so I really like Japanese cuisine! Also, lately I have been enjoying Junji Ito’s horror manga. Honestly I used to not favour horror things, but after reading reviews of it I decided to read it and I was shocked. So I went and bought the entire series. Wheein: I was most shocked by the fact that you bought the entire series to read. (laughs) Q: What is your ideal type like? What kind of person will you become when you are in love? Wheein: I like people who are romantic and sentimental. If there is someone I like, I will only look at that person. (laughs) Hwasa: I am the type who is dedicated too. No tactics, but just expressing everything in my head. When I was little, I longed for a romantic love, and I liked men who carry a slight aura of danger. But now I prefer someone who is bright and humorous. Solar: Me too! Someone like Yoo Jae Suk sunbaenim and Jung Hyung Don sunbaenim. (Reporter: What about Eric Nam, whom you partnered with on “We Got Married”?) Solar: His personality is really good and he is very gentle. He has good manners and is a very nice person. But because he is a heartthrob, if I had to date him for real, I don’t think I could tolerate it. (laughs) Moonbyul: I like someone who is fresh and polite, a very honest boy. It will take me a long time to fall in love, but once I do, I will only think about that person. Session where they have to introduce each other Hwasa, according to Wheein: She surprisingly looks like a kid in private. For example, she is easy to be cheated. She looks like she knows everything, but turns out she does not know anything. For a Hwasa like this, I discover new things every time. Wheein, according to Hwasa: When I get to rest, I enjoy going out and travel or something. But in Wheein’s case, she is at home playing with her cat and resting. We have areas in common but also not in common, that’s why we are this compatible. We’ve known each other for almost 10 years already~ Solar, according to Moonbyul: She is like a vitamin, with a healing kind of presence. She gets along with me gently like a friend, and understands me the most. Without Solar unnie, I don’t think I will be able to come this far. Moonbyul, according to Solar: She is a very dependable kid, the group’s driving force. I am the youngest at home, so in the beginning, it was very difficult to take on the role as a leader. But with Moonbyul’s support, I was able to do well. She is a buddy that I can share everything with. Knowledge to become a MooMoo #KimDoHoonCEO (Tell us something about you and Kim Do Hoon CEO) Moonbyul: Kim Do Hoon CEO is like a father who gave us each our individualistic colours. When we go off track, our CEO brings us back to the right track. Wheein: During trainee days, our CEO often allowed us to sing demos as a way of practice. Hwasa: I would practice until dawn during trainee days. Our CEO would stay up and compose until very late too, so we would listen to songs together at night. I really like old hit songs, so our CEO would recommend me many good songs. #MooBoong (Your lighstick is a radish! What led to this?) Wheein: It is because there is Moo in Mamamoo, which means radish in Korean. When we still haven’t had the official lightstick yet, our company gave fans each a radish doll. Since then, fans even brought real radishes. (laughs) Hwasa: Our fans designed that lightstick! Solar: It’s called “Design By MooMoo”. There were many occasions when we used our fans’ designs. We also performed on stage with outfits that our fans designed. Moonbyul: And the baseball cap. (laughs) #MOOMOO (What leaves you the greatest impression when interacting with MooMoos?) Solar: Our fans are very fun. I am very happy that we get along well. During ISAC, they even wore radish masks. Although they looked like ghosts from afar. (laughs) Among the fandoms of other Korean groups, MooMoos are pretty popular! Moonbyul: I am happiest when I hear compliments from other singers saying “Mamamoo’s fans follow the rules really well”. With MooMoos’ presence, I feel more reliable. A feeling that makes me feel that I can do anything. I am always thankful. Trans by tgc. Chinese Trans cr. Guarding Star (Weibo) http://media.weibo.cn/article?id=2309404067873952776702&jumpfrom=weibocom&lfid=2302832169099637&luicode=10000370

[floridageekscene]

Before we get into the questions, I’d like to say that cosplaying draws some of the best people in the world. Before I got into it, I associated grown adults wearing costumes as some sort of deviant lifestyle; like how much must their life suck if they have to pretend to be someone else? Then I fell into it, and I realized that it can be a powerful tool to brighten up the life of a child who may not have much going right; or be a momentary enjoyment to someone who’s life has been knocked down. It’s not easy to explain until you’ve done it. There’s a gift there for the artists that can do it, and do it well. Not everyone can afford a theme park ticket, but they can go to a con at the local library for free, or go to a community event at the sheriff sub-station, and meet Chewbacca and Darth Vader and Stormtroopers and Rey. To see a kid’s reaction is really special. It might be the only time that child will get so close to a hero that they see on tv, and I think of that when I do events. I remember fondly a response that Don Spiers gave to a local news reporter along the lines of “within the four walls of a con, anything can happen, and dreams can be realized. It’s the only place in the world where that can happen.” Leo Nocedo : How did you discover cosplaying? Troy Whigham : I was a WW2 reenactor sitting bored in my office one day (the usual requisite before spending a lot of money and filling my house with a lot of stuff I don’t need) when I started looking for something to fill the down-time during the WW2 reenactor off-season. I found Necronomicon and became interested in sitting in on some of its creative writing panels. I didn’t want to go alone, so I roped my reenactor buddy, who had his Bachelors in Literature, and we went dressed as WW2 pilots. We got a lot of “Love your costume! What character are you?” questions so we started making up a backstory as we went along: ghosts from the B-25 “Lady Be Good”, video game characters from “Call of Duty”, sidekicks to “Captain America”, and such. After that, I decided I should probably invest in a real sci-fi costume, and we both enjoyed “Game of Thrones” for its parallels to actual historical events, so we went down that rabbit hole. We met a lot of great people at the next con who were also GoT fans and we swapped information and Facebook tags and pretty soon we had a whole new social circle. Leo Nocedo : What was your first cosplay? Troy Whigham :  Technically, you could say our WW2 pilot uniforms, but our true dedicated cosplay would be “Game of Thrones” as Ser Jorah. Leo Nocedo : What are your next 3 cosplay plans? Troy Whigham :  I’m a member of the 501st and Rebel Legions here in Florida, so my next plan is to finally assemble my Resistance X-wing pilot costume. I already have the ANH Rebel pilot, TIE pilot, Jedi, and Scariff Rebel Soldier completed and approved. I just need to get the Resistance Pilot pieces measured and trimmed to fit, and get the flight suit tailored. Leo Nocedo : Have you ever been in a cosplay contest? Troy Whigham :  Only a few times, and only with a group. I’m not anybody special. I’m not trying to promote myself as an individual; I prefer to support those who can do a much better job with their costumes than I can. I prefer to be the shoulders that someone else stands on to achieve their own measure of greatness. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer sewing, armor making, or wig working? Troy Whigham :   My background actually comes from building scale models as a kid. I can sew (most reenactors are forced to learn eventually), but right now I only sew by hand (I have a 1950’s Singer machine, but I haven’t learned how to use it). So, I prefer to work with hard pieces, like armor or helmets or props. If I sew, it’s to modify something I’ve bought off-the-shelf or something that absolutely can’t be obtained somewhere else. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to do photoshoots at cons or at specific locations? Troy Whigham :   I’ve done both. Con photoshoots are great for convenience and for meeting other costumers, but I enjoy dedicated location shoots for the party that goes along with it. My Star Wars groups do an annual photo shoot where we all come together and do a pot luck picnic in Pinellas County while shooting pictures for trading cards. My GoT group does a similar thing at Bok Tower. For my Ghostbuster and SHIELD groups, we literally get into some cars, either an Ecto or my SHIELD Xterra with a support vehicle, and convoy to different spots. Cons tend to be a bit more rushed, because everyone has other things scheduled. Location shoots tend to be more dedicated and relaxed, and who doesn’t enjoy a good road trip? Leo Nocedo : Is there a type of character you cosplay frequently? Troy Whigham :  Rarely will I do a “title character”, like Batman or Iron Man or a main character from a show. I prefer costumes where you can have multiples and the more you have, the better it looks. For example, you can have 1 Ghostbuster, and it’s a good Ghostbuster. You have multiple Ghostbusters, and it becomes a show. So, most of my costumes are characters that you can have multiples of. Leo Nocedo : Do you have any favorite cosplayers? Troy Whigham :   I do. I’m going to blame the guy that threw me down the Marvel superhero rabbit hole. David Mansfield of Super Dave Cosplay has built a full-on hard-shell armor-plated Iron Man suit. The thing is amazing; missiles pop out, laser beams come out, it’s just fantastic. The problem is, he has to be buckled and screwed into it, and with the suit on, he has limited mobility and limited vision. Because I’d worked with Stormtroopers and Darth Vader cosplayers through my involvement with the 501st, I offered to be his handler to keep things under control while he was “on-stage”. I didn’t want to just walk out in a t-shirt and shorts; I wanted to look somewhat official and related to him, but I didn’t want to drop a lot of money on something that I might wear only once. So, I reached into my closet and pulled out a business suit, added some sunglasses and a $20 ID badge and boom, I was Tony Stark’s SHIELD security man for his first public appearance. As soon as we walked out onto the show floor, people went nuts. The crowd reaction was amazing. I’d seen how people react to Chewbacca and Vader, but the reaction to Iron Man was a whole different level of “wow-ness”. Kids stopped in their tracks. Parents were amazed by the engineering. We couldn’t move; it was picture after picture after picture. I don’t think Dave was really prepared for the response and the mob we generated, so it was good that he had me there to keep things chill. At the end of the day, as we were exhaling, we looked at each other and nodded “yeah, we gotta do this again.” Funny story about that Iron Man suit. We were at SyFy Bartow and Dave had entered into the costume contest as Iron Man. In the process of being assembled into the suit, he managed to snap a servo that allowed the mask to lift up and down. For him, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was always having to fix something on the suit; loose wires, broken plastic, unglued Velcro, chipped paint. It was constantly under repair. So he was ready to just toss the whole thing in the garbage and get on with his life. Fortunately, he was talked out of it (not by me) and glued it together just long enough to walk across the stage for judging. He ended up winning 1st Place in it. So, now I give him a hard time about winning a contest while wearing a costume he pulled out of the trash can. Leo Nocedo : What’s the most detailed cosplay you’ve ever done? Troy Whigham :    For my Star Wars costumes, everything has to be made to a standard, so I can’t really take credit for any of those. I’m constantly adding bits and pieces of bling to my Night’s Watch and my SHIELD costumes, so probably my most detailed would be one of those. Leo Nocedo : What are your top 3 craftsmanship tips? Troy Whigham :    1. Look for advice on YouTube. There’s a lot of great crafting videos on there, some better than others. 2. Look for advice from those that have been there, done that. 501st and Rebel Legion (and the Mando Mercs) are great for giving advice to those trying to build up to the approval standards, and a lot of that advice can carry over into other cosplays. The radio I wear for SHIELD is actually my TIE pilot intercom system, right down to the radio chatter. 3. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You learn more through failure than you do through success. Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite cosplay you’ve done? Troy Whigham :    SHIELD. Absolutely SHIELD. I can do as little or as much as I want. Business suit and a badge = SHIELD agent. Jeans and a t-shirt and a $15 hat = SHIELD agent. Tactical boots, pants, vest, radio, patches, cuffs, weapons = SHIELD agent. I can customize to suit the environment; warm weather, cold weather, marching or just standing. For people that don’t have a lot of money, or need something that they can also use in everyday life, I recommend doing a SHIELD cosplay. You can be tactical, you can be science, you can be technology. SHIELD does all of it. And with the MCU chugging along, SHIELD will be chugging along, too. Leo Nocedo : What is your worst cosplay “horror” story? Troy Whigham :  I’ve never had anything important break or rip or snap, so I’m luckier than most. Leo Nocedo : What’s your funniest cosplay story? Troy Whigham :    Our GoT group had gotten quite large at a con once; almost 18 people. Because GoT is an ensemble show, there were a lot of different character options and we had managed to get an almost complete set of the key characters just by bumping into people as we wandered around. Everybody was still getting to know each other, but we just gelled right away as a group, and would frequently get stuck with picture after picture after picture. The space between the two escalators at the Tampa Convention Center became our deathtrap. We couldn’t get away! Just as we finished photos for one group of people, a fresh batch would come down and ask for some, too. We learned that if we peeled away in batches of 3 or 4, and then reconvened at a new spot, we could move about a con a lot better. So, that afternoon we were in the process of reconvening, walking single-file down the back hallway to register for the costume contest and the hall was packed with people. The men would hold up their swords as beacons for the others to follow behind. As we were coming up to a cut-out, a lady, phone in hand, started to take the picture of our character in front. Then she saw the next one, then the next one. “Hey, it’s … and there’s…. and it’s… and he has…!” She was so excited that she couldn’t form a complete sentence. By the time I got up to her, she was shaking – seriously shaking – as if we were rock stars. That’s when I realized the power that a good costume, and a good group, could have on someone. Its powerful stuff and something I respect. Leo Nocedo : What’s the best in-character interaction you’ve ever had? Troy Whigham :  Our SHIELD group was in the DragonCon parade, which is massive. The people of Atlanta really turn out for it; just huge groups of people 5-deep standing on the curbs waiting and watching and having a great time. Kids to grandmas, they all turn out. I love marching on the sidelines interacting with the people, dancing and giving high-fives the entire way. There aren’t any barricades. You just walk right up to someone and give a high-five. Well, ahead of us was a mixed group of superhero costumes. Clair Bauer, as she’s known presently, was dressed as Wonder Woman (and an excellent one at that). A little girl bolted from the side and ran right up to her, because here was a real live Wonder Woman and the little girl couldn’t believe that she was real. In that instant Clair realized what was going on, and what her responsibility was. Clair smiled at the girl, gave her a quick hug, then gently guided her back to the curb so that she wouldn’t get run over. As cosplayers we have to remember that to some people, we are the character we represent. Clair did that, and I was fortunate enough to witness it. Leo Nocedo : Have you ever cosplayed with a family member? Troy Whigham :  No, but my sister and niece were impressed that I got so much recognition as a member of the 501st when we went to Disney one weekend. Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite cosplay photo of yourself? Troy Whigham :    I’ve come to the conclusion that I just don’t photograph well. That said, there are photographers that do manage to put lipstick on a pig and make it look pretty, so there are photographers that I’ll invite to shoots specifically because they do good work, and they’re good to work with. Leo Nocedo is one of them. Joe Tomasone, Bri Kupfer, Travis Kirk, Greg Rice, and Michael Trefry are others. Susan Schaller dabbles in both cosplay and photography. One of my favorite photos came about randomly. It’s just a simple shot of me as SHIELD walking along in my first DragonCon parade, taken by a stranger. Someone I know saw it, tagged me, and it came across my feed. I found the photographer that took it and thanked her for the picture; that it was one of my favorites from the weekend. It blew her mind that a random stranger would take the time to PM her directly to thank her for a photo she snapped almost on instinct; she totally didn’t expect it. If someone manages to take a good picture of me, I take the time to acknowledge their talent. They put lipstick on a pig and made it pretty. Leo Nocedo : What are your go-to stores for cosplay materials/full cosplays? Troy Whigham :  Every cosplayer eventually finds something at thrift stores. You don’t need to drop $400 on a business suit if you can find one that fits well for $25 second-hand. But, with a suit you have to know what to look for, like sticking with natural fibers – wool, cotton, silk – and how to accessorize it. Polyester fabric doesn’t hold shape. A black suit can be used for so many costumes: Blues Brothers, John Wick, SHIELD agent, Men in Black. There’s a lot of stuff that can be purchased cheap and re-purposed for props. I’ve seen VCRs be converted into remote-controlled machine gun turrets. Eventually you develop an artist’s eye for things. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to buy pre-styled wigs or style your own? Troy Whigham :  SHIELD doesn’t have time for wigs. That’s why we wear hats. Leo Nocedo : Have you ever had someone mistake you for a different character? Troy Whigham :  All the time. When I do my GoT Night’s Watch, everybody assumes that everyone with a black cape is John Snow. In the 501st, TIE pilots are called Darth Vader on a regular basis. We take it in stride. At least they try. I never correct the person; I just go with it. Leo Nocedo : List all the cosplays you’ve done. Troy Whigham : WW2 pilot, X-wing pilot, Ser Jorah, Night’s Watch, TIE pilot, Scariff Rebel Soldier, SHIELD agent, 17th century Royal Navy sailor, Thomas Wayne (Bruce Wayne’s dad), Muldoon from “Jurassic Park”, random ACU guy from “Jurassic World”, and WW2 infantryman (I talked some of my reenactor friends into coming to a con in a costume, so we dressed as WW2 infantry and got pictures with all of the WW2 themed superheroes – Wonder Woman, Captain America, Batman, Catwoman, Superman; we even got a picture with Colonel Sanders and a Desert Shield Eagle!). Leo Nocedo : What’s the biggest con you’ve cosplayed at? Troy Whigham :    DragonCon. Hand’s down. We do a panel for kids called the Junior Agents of SHIELD where kids have to solve a puzzle to earn their SHIELD badge and ID card, then they go through a path to get autographs and pictures with Avengers characters. At the end, they get their picture with Director Fury and Tony Stark. The first year we did it, we had to turn families away. We’ve been invited back every year ever since. I’m going to reiterate how cosplayers are the best people in the world. The first year we went to DragonCon, Dave and I went to Atlanta sweating about whether we’d find enough characters for our panel. We met a few at the parade, and a few just walking the hotels. We’d explain what we were doing and that we needed help, and people jumped in. On the morning of the panel, a few backed out with family and business obligations, but we sent Directory Fury, whom we’d known for all of a day, up to the main level and he came back with some excellent people to fill spots for the panel. Every year we’ve managed to find some really great people, and even though we only see them once a year, it’s like we just saw them yesterday. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer cosplaying characters with props, or characters that you don’t need to carry a prop around all day? Troy Whigham :  A good prop can go a long way. It draws attention. At some cons, you’ll see a lot of the same character, but if you’re that character with a good prop, you’ll get noticed a lot more. That said, props can get heavy. They can be bulky. You have to go through weapons check, which is another delay to getting on the show floor. It’s all about your priorities. Leo Nocedo : Have you ever lost a cosplay piece at a con? Troy Whigham :  Once is all it takes. Fortunately I was able to get it back. Volunteer staff don’t get the credit they deserve, so I’m giving it now. Thank you volunteers! Unpaid, unrecognized, but very much appreciated! Leo Nocedo : Have you ever bought a cosplay piece at a con? Troy Whigham :  Yes. Badges, pins, IDs, patches are usually easy to find. One time I found a resin-cast Maltese Falcon for a Humphrey Bogart cosplay I want to do. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to cosplay solo or in a group? Troy Whigham : Groups. I’m in it for the social interaction and the opportunity to meet different people. Cons are good places for that, because you can walk right up to someone dressed in the same theme as you and make an instant connection. I’ve met a lot of great people that way. If you want to go to a con but you can’t find anyone to come with you, just come in costume and you’ll have friends within an hour. Leo Nocedo : If you had a chance to meet your all-time favorite cosplayer, what would you say to them? Troy Whigham : I’d tell him that his cosplay is weak, if only he was taller, and to get off my coattails. He knows who he is, and right now our mutual friends are laughing. Leo Nocedo : Have you ever done a cosplay panel? Troy Whigham :  Yes. I would encourage everyone who gets into this hobby to do it at least once. I know public speaking is a scary thing, but it’s also a good way to exchange information, and in a convention setting there’s a lot more freedom without judgement. Inside the four walls of a convention, dreams can come true. It’s a good place to get experience because at some point in your business life, you’re going to have to give a presentation to people that aren’t as open and forgiving as attendees at a sci-fi con. The great thing is, at a con, you don’t even have to be yourself. You may lack self-confidence, but does Tony Stark? Bruce Wayne? Natasha Romanoff? If making yourself a starship captain gives you the strength you need to give a one-hour presentation, then go for it. Inside those four walls, dreams can come true. Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to buy or make cosplays? Troy Whigham :  Coming from a reenactor background, where the uniforms and equipment are all bought from cottage industry shops, I have no qualms about buying a piece from a store and customizing it. Amazon has become my go-to for medieval and tactical gear, simply because of the selection available. Etsy is a good place for specific designs, and eBay (love it or hate it) is also an option if you don’t mind correcting things. What usually happens is I’ll get one piece here, another piece there, make a piece myself, and then hit the thrift store for something to use as a prop. Leo Nocedo : If you could tell your past self anything about cosplay, what would you say? Troy Whigham :   I should’ve been doing this sooner. The balance of male to female is about 50-50; much more preferable for dating than reenacting where it’s almost 80% men to 20% women. It’s also open to creativity, and is a great way to meet good people. Leo Nocedo : What is your ultimate dream cosplay? Troy Whigham :  Oof. Tough question. I’ve already hit my dream cosplays. I think I’d make a good Skipper from Gilligan’s Island if I can find a group of people to do the other characters. I already have the stuff to dress. I’d also like to do a Sheriff Buford T. Justice cosplay someday, and finally catch that sumbitch Bandit. Leo Nocedo : What’s the most difficult cosplay you’ve ever done? (Craftsmanship, wearing of, ect) Troy Whigham :   X-wing pilot. I built the helmet myself, which was initially more challenging than I imagined, then I had to modify the extraction straps to fit my short, fat body. It was my first serious costume and it took me a couple of years to finish it. Leo Nocedo : What’s the most difficult character makeup you’ve done? Troy Whigham :  Never tried. Leo Nocedo : What, in your opinion, makes a cosplayer a “pro” cosplayer? Troy Whigham :   People that can make money at it. I think being a pro cosplayer is a modern invention; people weren’t doing this at this volume twenty years ago and getting paid for it. Look at “GalaxyQuest” for a representation of what the scene was like. That said, I know cosplayers that aren’t pro, that could make money at it, but prefer to do it for fun because they find it rewarding in and of itself. Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite part of cosplaying? Troy Whigham :  The reaction from people when I do it right. I don’t mean that I expect accolades, but when kids faces light up, or someone laughs because they’re having fun, or people just simply give a compliment, that’s the best feeling in the world. No matter what other problems are going on in my life outside the four walls of the con, getting that validation inside of it makes all the effort worthwhile. Leo Nocedo : Make up your own question! Troy Whigham : If you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. When I walked into my first con in costume, I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a good quality costume. Quality attracts quality, and if you’re bringing your “A” game, you’ll get noticed by other “A” level cosplayers; they will come up to you and start chatting and pretty soon you’re in a good circle of people and having a great time. Case in point: A lot of Deadpool costumers thought Deadpool was all about being a clown and a jerk. No, no he’s not. The best Deadpool cosplayers know when to strike a funny pose for a picture, and when to be cool with other characters. Deadpool lampoons stereotypes. You have to know who the Deadpool character is; what his perspective on reality is. Otherwise, you’re just a guy in a spandex onesie ruining the con experience for everybody else. Don’t be that guy. Be that guy who brings the right props, plays with others well, and is open to suggestions on improvements and fresh ideas for the character. You’d be surprised at how many friends you can make that way. If you’re going to your first con and don’t want to drop a lot of money, you can go as a zombie hunter. Some jeans, a t-shirt, and a re-painted Nerf gun from a thrift store. Total cost: the $4 you spent on the gun and the $4 you spent repainting it with spraycan truck bed liner. Bloody it up if you want. Or don’t. You’re your own muse. You’re bound to meet Umbrella Corp, or The Walking Dead, or other random zombie lovers. Have fun with it. That’s what it’s all about.

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Cosplayer of the week : Troy Whigham Before we get into the questions, I’d like to say that cosplaying draws some of the best people in the world.

[blog-optimisticcoffeestuden-blog]

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

"Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

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I am looking into purchasing 2 triplex apartment buildings. They are both brick buildings built in 1990. Both have been maintained fairly well and have a really good price on them. Now I am trying to find out on average what the cost of insurance would be. Just wanna be sure that it will be well worth my investment and not a sink Hole I have already checked taxes, utilities, and of course viewed the apartments. Now I just need some figures on Insurance. Thanks for any and all help.""

Help me with me car insurance?

i am 34 years old have a new license with pass plus and recentley bought a car. what is the cheapest car insurance for me(third party) thanks

Is there such thing as any car any driver insurance? How do I get it?

I have four drivers in my family and at any time 3-4 cars. Is there an insurance policy that allows the drivers to be interchangeable? Or is there a policy that doesnt depend on who's driving what car with just a standard rate? Ideally I'd like to nominate anyone to be able to drive any of the cars depending on the situation. How do private car garages/dealers sort out their insurance? They have changing cars and drivers so it seems! Thanks for any help!

CAR INSURANCE FOR A 16 YEAR OLD?

would it be more expensive for car insurance for a brand new car or a used car.

How? First car insurance under 2k?

I've passed my driving test and followed almost every rule out there: Low insurance group car Park in a garage/driveway Try fully comp and third party Try pass plus discount Try a 'black box' scheme Use named drivers Get a lower engine size Etc. Everything I try, my insurance quote is always 3K+ however I did manage to get it to 2.6k with a 'black box scheme'. A lot of people I know drive and their insurance varies, some have paid a lot and some a little but everything I try fails. I understand as a 17 year old male car insurance is always going to be steep and 2.6K is probably a good quote but is it at ALL possible to get a quote for around 2K or less? That's still a lot in my opinion but would be just about affordable. I simply don't understand how a 17 year old at college 5 days a week is expected to be able to fund this, even if they do work weekends (which I do) It's extortionate""

Does a ticket make ur car insurance go up?

ok so im not going in to details about how this happened but basically i got a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road. will that make my car insurance go up? im 16 if that makes any difference to it...but some telll me it will and some tell me it wont help???

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

""I am driving from OK to TX tonight, and have active car insurance, but expired paper insurance, please help!?""

Okay, my car insurace is active, up to date, but I did not receive a paper copy of my insurance in the mail. I tried to print it out but my printer is jammed. I do have the expired proof of insurance in the car...if I get pulled over for any reason when driving from OK to TX, how much trouble will I get into? Thanks for any insight on this!""

Car Insurance Help?

Where can I find Car Insurance with no license needed answer ASAP??

How much do you guys think insurance would cost on a 1999 Honda cbr 600 f4 for a 16 year old in ontario?

I know there are many answers but i an general estimate, and what about a hysoung gt250r""

Web site to get insurance quotes?

Web site to get insurance quotes?

Car insurance question?

i was just wondering...if you chose to pay off car insurance all in one do you pay it off as soon as you get insurance or do you pay after the year is over ?

Insurance notification?

if you go to the doctor with insurance and pay the co-pay there, will the people paying for the insurance still be notified. I need to go the doctor to get birth control, which i can legally get without my parents {I'm 15}. I was wondering if I use my insurance card that's linked to my parents insurance, will they still find out that I went if I pay for the $10 co-pay? I have a boyfriend for about a year but we aren't having sex. I want it to clear my acne and to have lighter periods, although if I ask my parents they will think that we are having sex.""

Question about buying a car without insurance?

Hey everyone, I need answers without criticism as Im new to this and know as much as you did when you bought your first car. I live in Texas and I have my learners permit but will get my license in around a month or so. We found a great deal on a car I love, and my parents want to buy it. However, as I said, I dont have my license yet, therfore, I dont have insurance. I was wondering, if my parents want to buy the car and keep it at home in the garage until i get my license and can get insurance, how would it work from the moment I buy the car until I drive it home. My parents have full-cover insurance with State Farm in both their cars, each pays their own insurance, would their insurance cover a second (technically third) car? What would be the step to take? How can I drive the car in peace without being nervous about getting pulled over or something? Please no rude answers, im trying to do things right, thus im here asking, Thanks""

How much do you pay for ur car insurance every month and how old are u?

I pay $83.09 every month and i am 20 years old. is that too much??, keep in mind that i never had any kind of accident or anything and i started driving when i was 15. I kinda starting to think its a waste of money if u think about it.""

How Much Is Too Much For Car Insurance?

Hi, I am an 18 year old male living in Huddersfield and in full time education at college. I passed my driving test in September 2010 and now its December, i decided to get an update of quotes on different cars such as 1.0 corsa's, 1.2 clio's and so on, but i was curious so i decided to check on my dad's 2005 1.4 diesel toyota. It came as a bit of a shock to me but i got a quote for 2600, on my own name some of the quotes i was getting were far to high, the lowest was 6000. So my question to you is, do you think 2600 is a reasonable quote to be a second driver on my dads car? I turned 18 a month ago and have had my driving lesson for just over 3 months, my dad has had his for over 30 years and has around 30 years no claims bonus, so do you think it is a reasonable quote ?""

Moped Insurance for my 16yr old son?

I am looking for moped insurance for my son. I am going to be paying for it and i would like to do it monthly. Does anyone know of some cheap insurers? And also should i insure it in my name or his name? Ive tried a few and because ive been putting in my sons name they wont alllow me to pay monthly as he is under the age of eighteen. Also if i put in my name, i havn't taken a bike test. Do i need to take a bike test to insure a moped in my name? Im sooooooo confused!!!!!! Please help!""

I'm 19 and I need cheap health insurance?

Okay, I'm 19 years old and I use to have some kind of plan with my mothers insurance but it was the kind where once I turn 18 I can no longer be on it. I really want to get insurance, but I don't know where to start. (I work only part time and can't get a full time job right now) I don't know what insurance companies are best for me or anything. I would greatly appreciate any help. Also, if I got insurance and then later found out I was pregnant what would happen? Would they cover that as well? Is there any insurance policy that covers pregnancy... if not, what could I do?""

What's a good car to get cheap on insurance ?

I'm from uk

HELP PLEASE! CAR INSURANCE?

OKAY SO I LIVE IN FLORIDA COUNTRY AREA IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND I WAS WONDERING HOW MUCH WOULD CAR INSURANCE COST ON A 1989 BUICK LESABRE THE INSURANCE WILL BE PUT IN MY AUNTS NAME WHO IS A (SENIOR CITIZEN) AND HAS A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD AND RECEIVES SOCIAL SECURITY. ****ALSO DOES SHE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSURANCE AS SOON AS SHE PUTS IT ON THE CAR OR DOES SHE WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH? HELP PLEASE?

Can you drive your parents' car without insurance?

i am 16 and live in Washington and I was wondering if I had to pay my own insurance to drive their cars.

How much does an office visit to the doctor typically cost when you are pregnant without insurance?

How much does an office visit to the doctor typically cost when you are pregnant without insurance?

Whats the cheapest car insurance company for a first time driver?

I just got my provisional license, I'm 19 and I'm looking to buy a car. Now with that car I'm also going to need insurance. My parents went to their car insurance company and said that adding me to their insurance would raise their insurance from $500 to 2,000 meaning I wold have to pay $1,500 for my part every 6 months, $3,000 a year! Is there another car insurance company that could be cheaper whether it be just me on the policy or with both my parents? I don't have a car yet because I want to see how much it would be all together. Thanks for your help!""

What is the cheapest teenage auto insurance in texas??

in austin, texas just got a permit ....drive a honda,-accord ... am going to be 16 in like 4 months""

Does my son have to be put on my car insurance?

My son is 16 and he is driving my husbands car and my husband tells him that he cant drive the car everyday because he is not on the insurance. Does he have to be on the insurance?

What will the insurance cost be for a 2008 Mustang GT?

Ok, my son is about to turn 16 and his mother and I want to suprise him with a new 2008 Mustang GT premium. http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/mustang/models/index.asp?v=html# That is the page that shows the models of all mustangs and we chose the GT premium for him. The car will go in his mothers name, so how much do you think the insurance will be?""

What does a good student car discount mean?

like, what grades qualifies for a good student. I've looked on a lot of insurance pages and it doesn't say what grades means your a good student please help!""

How much does it cost for 2 door car insurance?

Getting my second car soon...found a 2006 honda civic LX...this is a 2 door car (coupe) verrryyy nice and I need to know what insurance would be monthly/yearly for this. I'm still on my parents insurance- 19. Female. No accidents; tickets. North Carolina. College Student. Please help. Thank you.

How much will insurance offer for a car I paid 3000 for 6 months ago?

Peugout 106 1.1 Bought for 3 grand 6 months ago although he got it down from 3500 from a reputable dealer. It is likely to be a total loss so how much do you think they will offer me for it?

Insurance for new drivers?

hi i am about to turn 18 and for my birthday my mom and me are going to lease a car for me. the car is 20000 and its new. the insurance is crazzzy expensive but my mom is going to by a car to right when i am so is just keep that i mind for the insurance and stuff. what is the cheapest way to get insurance?? please help

Which insurance is cheap for 20 years old new drivers in WA Everett.?

Which insurance is cheap for 20 years old new drivers in WA Everett.?

Whats the cheapest auto insurance for a 17yearold you have found?

Right now on my parents plan I'm quoted at $215 a month have u found anything cheaper?

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

How much is the average car insurance if I'm 18?

How much is the average car insurance if I'm 18?

Insurance premium increase for life insurance.?

Can my insurance company increase premiums (from $175.29 a quarter to $331.86 per quarter)when ever they wish? I retained my group life insurance for myself ($70,000)and for my husband ($50,000)after leaving my employment 15 years ago. Connecticut General(CIGNA Group) recently increased the premiums to the amount specified and said if we did not like it we could cancel. I've paid so much money into these policies and I do not wish to cancel now. There's no cash value on either one. We are in our fifties and preparing to retire and will not be able to afford premiums this high. What can we do, if anything? Any light you can shed on this issue is greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance for your time and assistance.""

Car insurance for a japanese import?

I am looking for car insurance for a japanese import car and I am trying to find companies which will deal with imports and are cheap. I am only 18 so I know that the insurance will be pretty expensive but if anyone has had any experience with imports at this age and can tell me some companies to try that would be great. The car I am looking at is a Mazda mx-3 1.5i . If anyone knows how to get cheap insurance for this I would like to hear from you. It would be cheaper if I was a named driver and could earn no claims discount but I don't know if any of the companies who do that accept imports. Any help or advice anyone could give me would be very much appreciated. Thanks

Does anybody know where to get cheap auto insurance for a 18year old?

Does anybody know where to get cheap auto insurance for a 18year old?

How to find Affordable Care Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis in Indiana?

How do you find a affordable insurance plan when spouse has multiple sclerosis? I can't get any information. I see that people say they got a good plan, but I can't find any for us. How do you stop the harassing phone calls after you try to see plans? Please help, thank you.""

Cheapest Car Insurance?

Whats the cheapest I can do for Auto Insurance? I lapsed a few times with my first Insurance, and had to switch cuz it was too much to renew. Then I qot a speedin ticket, 18 over limit (the speedin was unintintional), but its all paid for, and Im usinq Cuise Control reliqiously from now on. And I very cautious as far as wrecks qo.. Anyone have any suqqestions where my best bets would be? I need somewhere under or at $200 at most, per month. And yes Im aware of other details about the car itself is required, but as far as what I just presented, whats my best chances? (KY Farm Bureau, State Farm, qeico, and Allstate are out, Ive tried them)""

How much does driving test cost in the uk and insurance for a 17 year old?

how much does driving test cost in the uk and insurance for a 17 year old and how many driving lessons should i take ?

""Car insurance, full coverage versus liability?""

I drive a 98 Chevy Suburban, because it has a lien holder (bank) it has had full coverage insurance the life of the loan. Next month when we get our tax refund we plan to pay it off, not that much owed. Due to it's age wouldn't it be logical to drop the full coverage down to liability insurance. I know with it being that old the full coverage insurance would hardly pay out anything if it was a total loss anyway.""

What's the insurance price for a 10 ft boat?

I would like to know how much The insurance would cost for a 10 ft fiberglass fishing boat? Anyone can give me an estimate? Thanks

my friend wreak my car and he has full coverage with geico but does his insurance cover my car to. he wants ?

my friend wreak my car and he has full coverage with geico but does his insurance cover my car to. he wants to pay for it without calling his insurance cause he wants to pay cash it has been over a month. nothing has been done to fix my car. He did give me his car to use till this is settled but can i contact his insurance to see if i can get a claim to have my car fixed as soon as possible. called and they said that no information can be released without insured consent. in Yahoo! Answers

How much on average is motorbike insurance for a 17 year old girl in the uk?

:) i can't drive, but i wanna get a motorbike when i turn 17. how much would the insurance and tax etc be?""

How does business insurance work in a lawsuit?

As a small business, I'm finally getting around to looking at business insurance. God forbid I should get sued, but that would be the only reason I would get insurance at this point. If I get sued (assuming I did nothing wrong that would terminate coverage), what are my responsibilities with regard to paying legal fees? What role will the insurance company play or what control will they have in the litigation process?""

NY registration insurance lapse 2 years ago?

I know I sound ridiculous. Over 2 years ago I moved, and left my car at a relatives with plates etc. Never turned them in. I don't believe I cancelled insurance either . I just moved back and would like to register and insure the car again. I checked my drivers license and it is valid with no suspensions or restrictions etc.. I went online to get a quote from the same insurance company and it seems like I could have signed up right now with a very reasonable quote. lucky or can I expect something else when I go to the DMV?""

What kind of Insurance should we have when doing a Re Fi Loan?

I am looking over the paper work and one form mentions that we have options at time of closing for different types of insurance. We have Home Owners Insurance/ I noticed disability and mortgage and Life help please

Where can I get temporary van insurance?

I'm looking for temporary van insurance for my van as I want to drive it to Spain for a few days but don't use it enough to warrent paying for a year's insurance. I would also need european breakdown cover, so if someone could help with that as well, I would be very grateful.""

Have car insurance prices gone up in the past few months?

Hello About 3 months ago i looked for car insurance prices for my myself as an additional driver on my parents car and was getting quoted prices for 1300 ish, now i looked again this morning and they are more like 1700-2500 what has happen ? I dont get why they would fluctuate this much, any ideas ?""

Self Drive Hire car insurance?

Is therer any insurance company out there will insure under 21 on self drive hire cars?

How much will getting dentures cost me without having any dental insurance?

How much will getting dentures cost me without having any dental insurance?

Auto Insurance question?

First of all, I was involved in an accident. I was hit from the rear and then I slammed into the car in front of me. Im not that smart when it comes to my policy, and I would like to change that. Im not exactly sure where Im covered in this area. Like I said, Im not auto insurance savvy, so if possible, keep explanation of coverage and the location of coverage in general terms. These are based on an average coverage. I need to find the following: The cost of a medical checkup for my passenger The front and rear damage to my car The damage to the car in front of me The damage to the car behind me The total amount of liability protection for bodily harm and property damage Any help would be greatly appreciated.""

What is car insurance rates?

I'm doing report, and i need to write bout 3 ways that how teenage car accidents rising affect us. One of my answer is car insurance rate would go up; &yet i don't know what that means. some one help?""

""Can I drive someone esles car, I f I dont have car insurance?""

Hi everybody, I have a quick question. My friend sometimes gives me a car. His car is insured and registered. But I don't have a car and don't have a car insurance obviously. Another thing is that he was my roommate and my drivers license are registered for the same address as his dl. Right now I live in another place. I have heard that if your drivers licenses are registered for the same address it might be a problem. So my questions are: - Is that ok for me to drive his car? - And should I change my drivers licens address ? or this is not true about this rumor?""

When is the right time to buy life insurance?

My son is due on Valentine's Day. Should I already have life insurance, or should I wait until after I get married, which is happening on the 17th?""

Can insurance drop you before a termination? ?

I was terminated from my employment on 10/1/2011. I had surgery on 9/12/2011 and the medical insurance company claims that my coverage was dropped on 9/11/2011. I am in Pennsylvania and my insurance was through my work. Is this legal? I was on company approved time off when the surgery occurred, so I was still legally employed and paying my premiums.""

What Are Some Good Health Insurance Companies?

I used to be a 1099 worker but just recently got switched over to a salary but i still do not have health insurance. Are there any affordable health insurance companies out there that ...show more

I'm 17 years old how can i get my insurance premium cheaper please? Any help is appreciated thanks?

Heya i was wondering how a 17 year old guy can get his insurance premium down please thanks

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Cheapest car insurance in nj?

Cheapest car insurance in nj?

Can I put my daughter's car insurance in my name after filing for bankruptcy?

My 18 year old daughter just got her license and is now getting her first car. Her car insurance rates would be crazy high if she gets it in her name because she's young and a new driver. I would like to put it in my name so it will be cheaper for her, but I'm going through a bankruptcy right now. Can I still put the insurance in my name? She has a full time job and would be paying for the insurance on her own.""

""For my roads test, do i need to have insurance on the car i use (virginia)?

I am 19 years old and I am long over due to get my license. My mother let her insurance lapsed and she is the only person who's car I can use. Do I have to provide a insurance card when I go to take my roads test

Car insurance termination?

I got a very weird letter from Allstate. It was written in bold black text, basically saying that my car insurance will be terminated at the end of my current 6 months period, attached was a copy of a claim I had 2 years ago for a fender bender ($90). When I talked to my agent, he tells me that Allstate cancels everyone who have had a claim within the last 3 years. Can that really be the truth, are insurance companies really legally allowed to drop you due to a claim over a 3 years period? AND will I have problems getting signed up at another company due to this? The state is NY""

""Am I paying too much for auto insurance, or is it average for my age range?""

Insurer: GEICO Premium: $240/month (6-month policy, includes collision and comprehensive w/ $1,000 deductible) Gender: Male Age: 20 (almost 21) State: FL Driving for: 5 years Accidents/tickets: None Vehicle Type: SUV Vehicle Year: 1995 Supposedly, my premium is supposed to go down when I turn 25, at least that's what GEICO said. The other companies are just as expensive. What are your thoughts?""

Speeding ticket...how much will my insurance go up?

I received a speeding ticket. If found guilty of it, how much can I expect of an increase in my insurance premium? It is my first ticket. I have USAA insurance. It is a minor infraction. (1 point in here in Cali.) Thanks for the help!""

Whats the cheapest place to get car insurance when you got 2 dui's over three years ago?

Whats the cheapest place to get car insurance when you got 2 dui's over three years ago?

Insurance for a car you don't drive?

I'd like to get a 79 monte carlo and I want to register it and insure it as a running car I don't drive. It's kind of like the insurance used for motorcycles when they just sit in the garage during the fall/winter months. Does anyone have any idea how much it might be. I'm a 20 yr old guy, but I would imagine it wouldn't make a difference for a car that isn't driven.""

Anyone have a phone # for Wells Fargo Auto Insurance Claims Dept? All the online numbers are for quotes.?

Just got hit and person gave a non-working number for the insurance company (I guess Wells Fargo Auto Ins took over Wachovia Auto Ins). Thank you!

""What would be the best insurance group to go in, if I am a first time car owner/driver?""

Hi, I am going to turn 17 in the autumn and I am looking for a first (used) car. But I am unsure about which insurance group is the best to go in? Someone told me I could get insured fairly cheaply on Group 5? I would like a reliable car, at the moment I am looking at Ford Focus, Volkswagen Polo, and Fiat Punto. I want it to be fairly new, and look good. I can spend up to 2000. Hope you can help

How much would my car insurance cost?

I can't find any information online. I haven't bought a car yet, but my dad was looking at this 2005 Ford Mustang. It is V8 Automatic, 2 doors, I have taken a Self Defensive Driving class, and I am currently 16 years old (I turn 17 in a few months). I don't have anything on my record either. So any estimate on how much insurance would cost? I can add some extra info if you need it. Thanks.""

Any experience of Swift Cover Car Insurance???

I am with Diamond at present and despite being with them for 6years and having 5years NCB their renewal quote is very high. I am potentially downgrading from a 2.8 TDX 4x4 to a 1.2 SXi Corsa and the reduction is only 30!! I looked on confused.com and Swift cover seemed to have a good rate (i know the really cheap ones on there are not so good- high excess etc). I looked on the website and it seems pretty good with only 100 excess compared to 150 with Diamond. Has anyone used Swiftcover for insurance before and would they recommend them or not??? Thanks : )

Can I get car insurance for one month?

I need tags for my car and I have to have insurance. I can't afford more than 150 so does anyone know a good place I can go that would let me do one month or just somewhere that is cheap online that i can pay a little amount then cancel the rest?

Health insurance for over 65 yrs old immigrant?

Im looking for health insurance for my parents. Theyre both 65 yrs old and have health issues (although, they dont require immediate health care but just being prepared in case an ...show more""

Are there any insurance companies that will cover Suboxone?

My girlfriend takes Suboxone strips twice a day and the Suboxone cost was covered by a program she was in. That program recently expired and we are trying to find out which insurance companies would cover the drug because she simply can't afford to buy the strips out of pocket. She only makes about $200-$250 a week so we were trying to find a low income solution. Are there any companies that we could potentially look into? AETNA is one that we are considering but we wanted to see what options were out there.

Car insurance- how do I do it.....?

I am looking for a car to buy but I want to know how much it will cost beore I decide on a car. Is there a way of finding this out without actually having the car yet? I have tried guessing but the search cant find the model or registration year and then it asks for the name that the vehicle is registered to. I am looking at a Nissan Figaro 1.0 automatic, Smart car automatic, peugeot 206 automatic or Mazda 2 (automatic) can anyone help me?""

""Insurance wise, am I allowed to drive my parents' car?""

My parents bought me a car (Honda Accord), and my name is only under that car at the current moment, whilst their names are under all of the vehicles in this family. So, if I was driving my dad's Acura TL, registered under him and my mom, and I got pulled over for a random checkpoint, would I be okay?""

Is it cheaper to get insurance on the same car or on a second hand car?

hi im taking driving lessons and my test is soon. I want to know if it is cheaper to get a second hand car and get insurance on that or get insurance on my brothers car. Which one is cheaper?

Cheap car/insurance for a young lad?

18 year old son has just passed his test. Looked at a Fiat siacento(I know thats wrong but you know what car I mean)1999/1100cc/65000miles/good nick/500,I thought bargain. Until I checked the insurance.... 3000!!! Before I start ranting about the cost of insuring a young lad(and the cost of my own insurance) can anyone tell me a cheap car that is also cheap to insure. Thanks.""

How can anyone afford private health insurance in USA?

I'm thinking about going into private business in the USA, but I'm concerned about how to insure myself with health insurance. The policies I'm seeing are extremely expensive, and the deductibles are quite high. How do people who start their own business manage?""

How much is a 2010 Jeep Sahara cost a month for insurance?

How much is a 2010 Jeep Sahara cost a month for insurance?

How much would insurance be on an eclipse for a 17 yr old guy?

im a 17 year old male, in search for a good first car from 3k to about 5k in price. i love eclipse models from 96-99 (gsx, rs or gs). does anyone know how much insurance is for these cars at my age?""

Where is the best place to get cheap car insurance for young drivers in the uk?

Hey everyone, ive tried all the usual avenues to find cheap(ish) car insurance for my 18 year old cousin and to be honest they are coming back with ridiculously expensive quotes, does anyone know of there are any companies in the uk that do offer a good deal?""

Is there such a thing as divorce insurance?

My parents are getting a divorce and, since it's California, the courts favor the female. Even though my mom and dad earn about the same money, my dad has to pay this huge amount to my mom for child support because she got more time with my younger brother. He's 12 and he told the mediator that he would rather live my dad full time, but the court gave my mom more time and made her the custodial parent. How old do you have to be to tell the court which parent you want to live with all the time? Also, just like there is medical insurance, has anyone ever heard of divorce insurance? It would kick in if you're ever stuck with child or spousal support. I haven't found anything on the internet yet.""

Cheap car insurance for a new driver?

like the title say do ya know a car insurance that is real cheap for new drivers got my license this month and my car and now i just have to register it and get insurance and i got a job and i just want to know how im going to budget stuff and how much you expect i should pay a moth

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

Albany New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12245

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-happens-i-cant-pay-my-home-insurance-philip-austin/"

[iamnotthedog]

EUGENE TO ARCATA: AUGUST 12-13, 2001

When I got to Eugene, Oregon, after only about four hours of driving, I was already sick of the interstate. I didn’t want to take the truck up over about seventy miles an hour for fear that it would fall apart, so driving on the interstate was not only boring, but pointless. I gassed up at a Shell Station on 7th Avenue in Eugene, then decided to head west to Florence and take the 101 south along the rugged Oregon coast.

Headed south from Florence, you can smell the ocean—you can even hear it off to your left, beyond the trees—but you can’t see it. A dense forest surrounds you for miles—a forest so dark that you can’t see anything inside it beyond the first twenty yards or so. I passed a few logging trucks—dozens of logs tethered to the beds, dreary-eyed men in dirty shirts and baseball caps behind the steering wheels. Just north of Reedsport, the forest opened up into a series of lakes, then I crossed the mouth of the Umpqua River and was back in the woods all the down to the Coos River and Coos Bay, when the 101 took me inland for a stretch until I got all the way down to Port Orford, when I got my first view of the Pacific. South of Port Orford, the drive alternated between views of flat, sandy beaches and dense forests all the way down to California.

So much for an afternoon spent driving along the rugged Oregon coast.

Driving into California, I had this strange sense of being home. It was my first time ever feeling like that about anywhere since leaving Morrison. I stopped in the small harbor town of Crescent City—it would seem just from passing through that almost half of the town’s population is inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison. I bought a cup of coffee from a very small espresso shop in a very large parking lot next to what looked like a warehouse of some kind—possibly a storage facility for boats in repair. Then I spent the late afternoon hours driving slowly down the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and the 101 as they twisted through Redwood National and State Parks.1

At a paved pull-out for the Big Tree Wayside—a 304 foot-tall and 21 foot-wide coastal redwood just off the Scenic Parkway in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, I noticed a bathroom with closable doors and decided to stop and freshen up. The sky looked like rain, and I was going to have to find somewhere to stay that night or I’d be stuck sleeping in the cab of the truck again, so I wanted to make myself look presentable. My new sweater, jacket, and jeans were holding up fine, but I needed to change my t-shirt, and I still wanted to use those clippers I bought to shave the hair off my head.

I pulled the truck up alongside the bathroom, cut the engine, and yanked my pack out from behind the passenger seat. I took out my Buddhist Bible, an envelope with $186 dollars left in it, a small black bag of toiletries, eleven pairs of brand new wool socks, my underwear, a few old t-shirts, and my sleeping bag. In the bottom of the pack were my clippers. And that was everything.

I folded the envelope of cash and stuck it in my jeans pocket, grabbed the clippers, and got out of the truck. There was only one other vehicle in the parking lot—an aqua marine minivan with Oregon plates and a Clinton/Gore ’96 sticker on the bumper. No one was in the minivan as far as I could tell—they were probably off down the trail, looking at the Big Tree Wayside.

I walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

There was one outlet in the bathroom, just below a small mirror above the sink. I took off my jacket, sweater, and t-shirt and draped them over the door to the stall, then plugged in the clippers and turned ‘em on. They worked, but rattled a bit, so I took out the little bottle of oil that came with the set, bit off the tip, and oiled ‘em down. While waiting for the oil to get down in there, I looked at myself in the scratched up mirror.

I had been growing my hair since Don had shaved it all off for me in our kitchen on Wall Street one late summer evening before entering my sophomore year of high school. I had grown out of the grunge look by then, and had unfortunately chosen to go with the short and spiky, bleached blonde look instead—a look that luckily didn’t last long, as my newfound love for marijuana soon had my personal aesthetic choices steered more towards the pseudo-intellectual hippies and au naturel styles of the late 1960s and early ‘70s. So basically, I had long hair. Then short regular hair. Then short “styled” hair. Then regular hair. And back to long hair. All of which is terribly boring, I know, but the fact that I hadn’t cut my hair since Don shaved it all off when I was still in high school and living under his roof meant something to me as I stood there in that cold bathroom in the middle of an old-growth redwood forest on the fog-drenched North Coast of California, completely alone and shirtless with $186 dollars in my pocket, an oily, buzzing set of electric clippers in my right hand, and a truck put together from pieces from a junkyard somewhere up in Washington waiting for me outside the heavy brown metal door.

I grabbed some toilet paper from the stall and wiped the excess oil off the clippers, then snapped a #2 extension on the blade—which would cut my hair down to a quarter-inch in length—and made the first pass right down the middle of my head. A good foot of thin blonde hair fell into the dirty porcelain sink in front of me. I moved the clippers to the right and swiped again, then again, and worked my way down to my right ear, then started swiping up the back, which I couldn’t see. I had to rely on touch, pushing the clippers up my head with my right hand, and following with the palm of my left. After several minutes, when almost all of my hair was in the sink and I was working back around the left side of my head, getting all the last hairs I had missed, someone pounded on the door and I about jumped out of my skin.

“Hello?” I yelled, brushing hair from my face. “It’s unlocked!”

A tiny little man in a pastel overcoat with glasses as big as the entire upper half of his face pushed open the heavy door about a foot and peeked at me. I smiled at him. “Odd place to give yourself a haircut!” he said. “Mind if I come in to have a wee?”

“Not at all,” I said, turning my attention back to my work. The man came in the bathroom and went into one of he stalls to blow his nose. Satisfied with the evenness of all my now-quarter-inch-long hair, I popped the extension of the end of the clippers and began using the bare blade to clean up the edges, just over my ears and then in the back, which I again had to rely on touch in order to do. “I’m sorry about all this,” I said to the little man. “I had to do it.”

“Well, you’re looking good!” he said, exiting his stall. Sidling up to the urinal on my left, I noticed his overcoat was soaked.

“Did it start raining out there?” I asked.

“No, no,” he said. “I got wet rambling around in the forest.”

I turned off the clippers, blew the hair off them, and put them back in their plastic box, then turned my attention to getting all the hair out of the sink and into the garbage can. I grabbed a handful of paper towels from the dispenser next to the sink.

“These are some beautiful woods,” I said. 

“Sure are. Have you and your friend been out hiking today?” The little man finished pissing, zipped up, and started washing his hands in the sink next to mine.

“I’m out here alone,” I said. “On my way down to Yosemite.”

He shot me a quizzical look. “Isn’t that your truck parked right outside?”

I threw a wad of paper towels and hair into the garbage can. “Yes.”

“Well, buddy, there IS or WAS most definitely someone in your truck not two minutes ago.”

Without thinking twice about it, I burst shirtless from the bathroom into the parking lot. My eyes scanned over first the truck, then the foggy redwood forest surrounding the lot. No one was in the truck, but the passenger door was wide open. As I approached it, I saw my Buddhist Bible, my toiletries, my socks, my underwear, and my t-shirts on the seat. My pack was no longer there. Nor was my sleeping bag. Quickly scanning the periphery of the parking lot, I saw a short, long-haired figure in baggy clothes—various shades of green and brown—slinking into the trees by the exit to the parkway. Leaving my jacket, sweater, t-shirt, clippers, and hair in the bathroom and my open truck in the parking lot, I took off like a madman into the woods. The long-haired figure took off as well.

I quit playing basketball—and all other sports, for that matter—once I started smoking weed and playing in a rock band in high school. I decided that I didn’t have time for sports—that it was a good idea to focus all my energy on learning how to roll perfect cone-shaped joints and playing seventh chords on a goddamned acoustic guitar with flames painted all over it instead. After my buddies and I got busted, though—and after Don took the apartment away and the band broke up—I began to miss the camaraderie offered by organized sports, and I had decided to join the track team. And when I had joined the track team, I had immediately regretted not running track for my entire junior high and high school career, because—despite smoking at least six unshared joints a day—I was a very good runner—far better than I had ever been at basketball.

My point is that when I want to be, I am pretty fast. So it wasn’t long after I took off through that parking lot and tore through the ferns—sprinting shirtless through the wet fog, under the dense forest of Douglas fir and Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway on my right—that I started to gain on the long-haired thief, who I could by then see very clearly. He was a young man with not-very-well-kept dreadlocks—like thick, moldy rat tails on his head—and he was wearing a green hoodie and khaki-colored cargo shorts, with long brown socks pulled up to his knees and tall black boots laced up over his ankles. He had a dark red pack of his own tethered securely to his back with a grey bedroll tied to it, and my sleeping bag and pack were tucked under his right arm. He jumped and sprinted and skipped and twisted out of the underbrush, bursting out onto the parkway to the right, where I could then hear his footsteps on the pavement as I plowed forward through the forest, hoping to catch up to him while I was still under the cover of the trees, where he couldn’t see me until I burst out of the woods and...what the hell was I going to do then? I was hardly a fighter. I had only been in one fight ever, actually—back in high school—and that had ended pretty badly. So I just pictured myself throwing a flying tackle at the kid, just like a cop tackling a bad guy in one of those network television crime shows I currently watch but never want to admit to watching, and then he would drop my shit and run away. Easy, right?

The kid slowed and turned to look for me, so I cut back deeper into the woods, sprinting faster now, jumping over fallen, moss-covered logs and piles of dense ferns, and then I cut out onto a narrow dirt road and turned hard to the right, sprinting as fast as I could, knowing that if I beat him to the intersection of whatever service road I was on and the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, I could either throw that flying tackle at him that I was thinking so hard about—really getting excited about, actually—or I could at least force him back into the woods to slow him down and catch him there.

When I got back out to the parkway, though, sopping wet and breathing heavily, the thief was nowhere to be seen. I was turning around in circles looking for him, completely exasperated, when the aqua marine minivan with Oregon plates and a Clinton/Gore ’96 bumper sticker came around the bend and pulled up to me, driven by the little bespectacled man from the bathroom. He rolled down his driver’s side window.

I decided to stop for the night and check it out for myself.

As the last few colors disappeared into the coastal night sky, I walked into a large grocery store on the western side of town called the North Coast Co-op and bought some bulk food—nuts and dried fruit and sesame sticks and chocolate—and I got an apple and a bag of carrots from the piles of colorful organic produce lining the northern half of the store. While waiting in a rather long checkout line, I surveyed my surroundings and actually ended up getting a little weirded out. Literally everyone around me—the apron-clad employees conversing loudly behind the customer service counter, the old woman in a sweat suit one check-out line over, the pimple-faced kid in a trucker cap rummaging through the empty cardboard boxes at the front of the store, the family of four picking through the produce in their cart (the father discussing whether or not they should put back the organic unfiltered apple juice and get a bag of apples instead), the aromatic geezer wobbling around in front of me in line with his one gigantic dreadlock coming off the back of his head—everyone had a certain feel to them. A certain “Summer of Love” kind of feel. They weren’t all wearing bellbottoms with flowers in their hair or anything, but they were all definitely red-eyed, all spacey and slow-moving, and they all had a tendency to stare at one other, or off into space, with faint smiles on their faces.2

When I got up to the front of the line, the girl at the counter who rang me up smiled at me and asked if anyone had ever told me I looked like Justin Timberlake.

“I haven’t heard that one,” I said, smiling back.

I paid and got the hell out of there, then ate my snacks in the Co-op parking lot, watching the hippies leave with their groceries. After I ate, I left my truck in the lot and went for a stroll around the Arcata Plaza. The plaza is a quaint, grassy square surrounded by local businesses—gift shops, art galleries, a photography store, a furniture store, some restaurants, some clothing stores and boutiques, an ice cream shop, a record shop. The square had several young people lounging around in it, smoking cigarettes and playing with dogs. The majority of them looked like homeless-by-choice types, and had the backpacks and panhandling signs to go along with that assumption. I saw several white kids with dreadlocks and knit Rastafarian hats, and I smelled a lot of dog shit. The grassy square also had a statue of President McKinley in the middle of it, and someone had put a paper bag over McKinley’s head.3

After walking around for an hour, I got a beer in one of four bars lining one side of the square, and asked the bartender where I should go to take a load off. She was Indian, with huge eyes, long, wavy black hair, and big hand-carved wooden earrings in her ears. Her skin was literally glowing in the dim bar light. I told her I had been driving for days. She suggested I go to the Finnish Country Sauna and Tubs—a café that apparently had a courtyard in back surrounded by little shacks with hot tubs and saunas in them.

“People fuck in the tubs a lot, which is gross,” she said. “You’re sitting there trying to relax, but you’re too busy looking for little drops of semen in the bubbles the whole time.” She stuck her tongue out. “But get a sauna! It’s well worth ten bucks. It’ll clean you out.”

“I could use a good cleaning out,” I said, sipping my beer. I leaned back and rubbed my hands over my newly shaven head. I thought about the checkout girl and laughed to myself. There weren’t many people in the bar—only about a dozen, including the bartender—but I was relieved to find that not everyone looked as spaced out as those nut jobs in the grocery store. The bartender washed a few glasses, then leaned on the bar rail and peered back into the back room, where a couple of older fellas in armless denim jackets were starting a game of pool. “Where should I sleep?” I asked. “I’d rather not spend money on a hotel.”

She smiled. “Sleep anywhere!” she said. “Seriously. The homeless basically run this town anyway. We have a homeless guy on our City Council.”4

She bought me a shot of Jameson and I thanked her, then went back to the Co-op, got my truck, and drove it three blocks to the Finnish Country Sauna and Tubs. I sat in a sauna for a half hour, took a cold shower, bought a cup of hot tea, and then drove to the Arcata Marsh and Bird Sanctuary, another three or four blocks away, where I slept in the cab of the truck, right next to a sign that said “No Overnight Parking.”

The following morning, I awoke to a blue sunrise and went on a short walk through the marsh to look at all the birds, finding their breakfast in the mud flats that had been exposed by the early morning low tide. Then I left Arcata, due east on Highway 299, through the Trinity National Forest and back out to Interstate 5.

 The Redwood National and State Parks—comprised of Redwood National Park and California’s Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks—protect some 133,000 acres of eerie and majestic coastal redwood forest, which include almost 40,000 acres of old-growth redwoods—the tallest and one of the most massive trees on Earth. Along with the redwoods, the forest is also home to Douglas fir, Sitka Spruce, Pacific Madrone, Bigleaf Maple, California laurel, the evergreen hardwood tanoak, and red alder. Ferns cover the understory of most of the forest, particularly the sword fern near ample water sources. And huckleberry, blackberry, and salmonberry provide food for many animal species, and were also a major part of the diet for the Yurok, Tolowa, Karok, Chilula, and Wiyot tribes who first inhabited the area, and the European settlers who moved in much later. ↩︎

 I know I’m sounding like a real dick here—like I’m some overly-generalizing Yankee, and there’s no way everyone in the goddamned grocery store was not only high, but also weird (etcetera, etcetera)—but I’m telling you, it really seemed that way. I tried to tell myself that it was just me—that I needed to loosen up a little—but I honestly felt like I was grocery shopping with the Manson Family. ↩︎

 The reason why there is a statue of the 25th President of the United States in the center of the Arcata Plaza is a reason all-too-fitting for such a bizarre town—a town that McKinley not only had nothing to do with, but also never even visited—not once. The reason? The statue was a gift. And that is all. The statue had been commissioned by 81-year-old George Zehndner in San Francisco in 1905, and sculpted by a young man named Patigian. It had survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 before being shipped by steamboat away from the burning wreckage of San Francisco Bay and up to the port of Eureka. Zehnder than gifted it to Arcata, where it has stood for over a century, causing both tourists and residents of the peaceful little hippie town alike to ask, “Why is McKinley here, again?” ↩︎

 This seemed so crazy to me that I later looked it up. Arcata didn’t have an actual homeless person on their City Council. They have, however, had former homeless people, which I suppose is close enough. It makes sense, too: the homeless people hanging around Eureka, Arcata, and the verious beaches and harbor towns north of Arcata make up a fairly large portion of the Humboldt County population, and they have for the greater part of the last fifty years. I’m not actually sure if this is or has been proven, but it is the opinion of several Arcata residents that the first big influx of homeless to the area came after the Vietnam War, and the second came after the death of Jerry Garcia and subsequent disbanding of the Grateful Dead in 1995. ↩︎

[themoneybuff-blog]

Money story: Small acts of kindness create social capital

This guest post from Christine Hughey is part of the money stories feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks from all stages of financial maturity. I met Christine in January when I attended Camp FI in Florida. Christine is starting a new Nashville food tour company, so when I spent a week there in April, naturally I let her show me around. It was awesome! In this article, she shares how small acts of kindness have proven to be worth more than she ever imagined. Im about to share something that completely changed my life yet its something that I didnt know much about until a few years ago. Its a concept called social capital, and I believe that it can change your life too (and make you wealthier in the process). Now, if youve been reading Get Rich Slowly for a long time, you might have seen J.D. write about social capital in the past. He too is a big believer in its power. But many of you have probably never heard of the idea. What is social capital?

According to Wikipedia: Social capital is a form of economic and cultural capital in which social networks are central; transactions are marked by reciprocity, trust, and cooperation; and market agents produce goods and services not mainly for themselves, but for a common good. [] Social capital has been used to explain the improved performance of diverse groups, the growth of entrepreneurial firms, superior managerial performance, enhanced supply chain relations, the value derived from strategic alliances, and the evolution of communities. Theres a lot of jargon in that definition, but what it really comes down to is this: Social capital is all about networking (in a non-slimy way) and about giving without the expectation of return. Although its not tangible, social capital is very real and very powerful. Its also very valuable. That said, I dont see social capital discussed much on personal finance and financial independence blogs. I imagine thats because its hard to assign an actual dollar value to it. How do you assign a dollar value to helping somebody move? How do you quantify the savings when your neighbor mows your lawn for you all summer? Whats the price tag on growing flower, fruits, or vegetables, then giving them to your friends and family? In the world of personal finance, we tend to look at numbers first. Social capital doesnt work in that way. Social capital is about creating value and creating a positive impact among your social network, whether that value and network are small (like on a neighborhood level) or large (like volunteering time for a larger project). Social Capital in Real Life Social capital might make more sense (and seem less abstract) if we look at a real-life example. My husband was the one that really taught me about social capital. Jack and I came from drastically different backgrounds, and we did very different things for work. While I worked a full-time salary engineering job, he worked as a gig-style man for hire entrepreneur. When we first started dating, I noticed that he was often doing strange favors for people. He owned a truck so he would get calls to help everyone and their friends move. Ill never forget the time that he got a call from his best friend Robert asking if he could help Roberts co-worker move a washer and dryer. Sure enough, early on a Saturday morning Jack was off moving some womans washer and dryer to a temporary home. A week later, he got another call to move the washer and dryer into the womans new permanent home. I consider myself a very nice person, but I couldnt believe how much time, effort, and gas Jack spent moving the same washer and dryer to multiple locations for someone he didnt even know. But as a result, that random woman is now one of our very good friends, and Jack will be DJing her wedding this fall. Other great things have come from Jacks act of kindness. Robert hired Jack to manage the audio for some of the numerous music festivals that he puts on here in town. Amberly, (the random woman) helped support and promote a new DJ gig that Jack started in 2015. Shes one of his biggest supporters to date. What now seems like a super small gesture led to over a thousand dollars worth of income for us when we really needed it. Social Capital from the Garden Heres another example. I grow cut flowers for bouquets. When I was young, my dad didnt believe in purchasing cut flowers because they die quickly. It seemed like a waste of money to him, so we never had them in our house. While we were dating, Jack learned that I love cut flowers. Every couple of weeks, hed buy me a new bouquet so that Id almost always have beautiful cut flowers in my house. It was an incredibly special gesture since flowers were something that I would only purchase for myself on rare occasions. After we were married, our financial world hit the fan. After two job losses, our income fell by 80%. Naturally, there was no room in our budget for cut flowers. When things finally settled down and we bought a fixer-upper home, cut flowers still werent in the budget. I missed them, so I decided to grow my own. Being an engineer, I decided to conduct some tests to see which varieties were worth the cost. My first test for an investment of about $20 consisted of four different flowers, but only the cosmos and zinnias were successful. Although not every variety grew, I enjoyed tending the flowers and watching them grow. And, of course, it was awesome having fresh flowers in my house again. Plus, I had so many flowers that I made bouquets and gave a bunch away to friends.

Last year was the second year of my flower-growing experiment. I planted more seed varieties and added lily and dahlia bulbs to the mix. I had an explosion of flowers for five months out of the year. I was completely in love! I started giving flowers to more and more people: neighbors, friends, colleagues. At the time, I worked as a tour guide for a company here in Nashville. My tours required taking groups of people into very busy restaurants in the downtown area. Getting quick service of our food and drinks was critical to the success of my tours. I was so appreciative of the bartenders and servers that would help me and my tours that Id bring bouquets of my homegrown flowers to them on my Sundays off. I didnt realize it at the time, but we were all building social capital. When the restaurant folks helped me, I was grateful. When I gave them flowers, they were grateful. All of us were building a sort of invisible wealth that comes from a network of reciprocity. The Rewards of Social Capital Earlier this year, I started my own food tour company in Nashville. Its a scary thing launching out on your own! How do you build a business from scratch? Fortunately, the bartenders and servers that I gave flowers to have become my biggest cheerleaders. Theyve taken my tours, left glowing online reviews, and recommended me to the customers in their restaurants. Theyve put my card on the wall of honor reserved for the best companies in town.

This scary time in my life is a little less scary because of social capital. In the past, when I was performing the small act of kindness of delivering flowers, I wasnt expecting anything in return. I was just grateful for the help theyd given me already. I never imagined thered be any kind of financial gain. But in the end, there has been. Just because something cant be documented in our net worth doesnt mean that its without monetary value. Those flowers have been converted into real dollars today. More than that, theyve created traction for increased business in the future. When you own your own business, your reputation is everything. (Your reputation can make or break you in a community-centered city like Nashville.) When you go the extra mile, whether moving a washer and dryer for a stranger, or giving flowers for no special reason, you create a positive impact. You build social capital. While writing this article, Jack and I did the math. We calculate that the social capital weve fostered in Nashville has brought us over $10,000 of direct value to our lives in the past year. Thats huge for a household with an income of $65,000. (Plus, since the value doesnt come to us as dollars, theres no tax on it.) When you take a love of gardening (or writing or social media or whatever) and you spread your gifts to your neighborhood and community, your generosity will come back manyfold in ways that mean more than money. These seemingly small acts of kindness create social capital that can bring value to your life down the road. Someday when youre looking for a job, or trying to start a business, those first few tough months and years will be so much easier when you have your community behind you. Take some time to build social capital while building wealth, and watch how it improves your life. J.D.s note: Heres another way Christine has built social capital. In April, I visited Nashville to attend a blogging retreat. (Yes, really.) Christine invited me and my buddies to join her Nashville food tour. While that didnt pan out my colleagues were up late drinking the night before haha! she did take the time to share some of her favorite food with me while also extolling the virtues of her city (and its hockey team). It was a fun (and delicious) experience, one that I hear theyve shared with other friends. Social capital has been huge in my life. Seriously, I believe its been almost as valuable to me as monetary capital. And its just as valuable to Christine. https://www.getrichslowly.org/kindness-creates-social-capital/