#but best believe I’m making this post and then crocheting one more line

[pataliemortman]

me: can’t stop crocheting bc of hyperfixation

also me: has literal claw hands bc of arthritis

[enigma-absolute]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers :)

…This is gonna make a total of 15 but oh BOY

This was mentioned in a previous ask before but singing a whole cover of ‘Rainbow Connection’ I did with friends joining me on the last third of it. It makes it extra special and I want to post it on here, but I’d rather ask the friend who I’d made this for, with posting permissions first.

Honestly? My silly little neopixel lightsaber I’ve (unwisely, in my mother’s opinion) bought at a recent con. It lights up, it makes noises, I can change the blade colour bc of the light, it’s so far everything I’ve wanted in a cheeky laser sword prop.

On a related note, my silly little sword collection! A LARP foam sword, a wooden katana, and even a steel replica of Sting, also from that same con over a few years!

Fashion! Me from 10 years ago being on this hellsite for the first year would never believe it, but growing and defining my own sense of style and aesthetics over time has not only been fun, but I *feel* happier too. I know what I like and what I don’t, and I’m still learning!

The very fact that I was blessed to go to the uni I did. Sure, the culture is different there compared to of course, my old high school and bible college, but I loved what I studied (more rather than less!) and I’m still in touch with people I’m honoured to call friends. To think some of those cool people live near or in the same city as me!

Not to be simple, but, music! I’ve been getting back into some of my favourite songs and remixes from The Living Tombstone as one point, (Long Time Friends you angy catharsis tune), but also listening to playlists I’ve curated for OCs and Stories and even shared songs with me and my friends over on Spotify has been fun!

Travel!!!! I didn’t know how much I’ve missed travel until my Singapore trip earlier this year - I missed boarding planes, taking off and landing, I missed going out to places like malls and cafes and food and friends outside of my own country. I missed the new sights to see and the good vibes to encounter when you look in the right places. And having my first taste of independent sightseeing at the botanical gardens felt like something new was set in stone.

As of recent, RP has been somewhat active between me and a couple buddies on discord. To the Chrumblr RP gang and Star Wars discord RP server: I love you and I'm grateful you allow me to bring plorbo from my brain into Situations with the characters you play!!!

Painting!!! I haven't touched it in a bit since I've been busy with other things, but I adore, ADORE watercolour and gouache painting. It brings me joy to mix colours and use my palettes to bring characters and situations to life, and I even have a whole sketchbook from 2022-2023 dedicated to just paintings. Sketchy paintings, refined ones - the only goal was to PAINT.

The crochet sunflowers I bought last year! I've got a tiny potted one on my study's windowsill with a broken Miles Morales Spidey keychain, and a longer simpler one in a glass bottle in my bedroom. I really wanna get more crochet flowers, but they were from this one random stall that set itself up like, twice overall at uni last year. That being said, I adore them.

From the same con I got my lightsaber on, I got lucky to buy a print poster of A New Hope from Lucasfilms artist Mark Raats direct. I'm not kidding, and we even had a chat and I did a little 'handy-dandy-notebook' portrait of him in line, even getting to airdrop that to him! Best bit, the poster was $30 on INCREDIBLY archival paper. I just need to get a frame for it...

Just recently, I'd gotten a haircut for the dry ends and long, thick fringe; and can I say??? I love my hairdresser? She's a really sweet Japanese lady who came from just outside Osaka and she's out here in my city doing the best and she once cut my fringe to my standards SO quickly than other hairdressers - I was stunned! I'm deeply grateful to have her work on my hair, and I could not thank her enough.

This is a bit silly somewhat to me, but I love the brown messenger bag I'd bought for myself end of last year as a treat to myself for finishing honours. Did the side strap holders snap twice? Yes. Do I care? no. I love this thing, it feels so *right* for adventure and it brings me so much joy.

Something that makes me smile if I glance at it in my study is my shelf of books. Not sketchbooks, not notebooks that have been filled (though I am proud of that too!), just proper books. From comics to 'Tales from the Loop' and cabin architecture and treehouses, and recently a couple Star Wars visual dictionaries from Pablo Hidalgo... I'm gonna need more space soon. (Shoutout to the copy of Farenheit 451 that legit made me scream and kick my feet because BRADBURY.)

Honestly? Just… friends. Online, real life - if I think about you too hard, I’ll cry. I’m blessed to have met friends online In Real Life (looking at you Swift and uni mates!), and blessed to have mailed and wrote and created silly little things to share my love with ‘em. Good are the ones that stick with you. 💙 Get loved, nerds.

[jayflrt]

OMG WHAT ?? 😡 I cant believe tumblr deleted my ask from you :( that’s so rude !! thank goodness I sent in another one ! ^_^

I’m doing very well, n’ tysm !! n’ small update; I’ve been well, I actually just finished my classes so I’m officially on summer break !! >.< I have so much time on my hands I just don’t know what to do ! wbu ?? how’ve you been ml ! 🫶🏼 AWE TYY !! I managed to get sm inspo and have 3.5k words ! I have to continue writing later today ! >.<

OMG YOU SHOULD !! Im glad you’re getting motivation again ! hopefully you can write something soon !! I’m rooting for you !! 🤧 I’m sure whatever you come up with is going to be amazing esp since you have free time !! ^_^ 🎉 oh yes !! so, it’s called “fanfics and the boy next door” it’s not finished yet sadly cause I was super preoccupied with school ! but now that I’m also free lol I get to hopefully finish it soon !! ^_^

YES I DID OML !! IT WAS LITERALLY THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE 🤧 I miss her sm it was literally insane !! 🤧 n’ TYYY !! It was a surprise from my sis, my sisters and I went together !! It was all vv fun !! oml, I saw that ! resale prices went up to like 3k, it was like so crazy ! 💜 THAT REMINDS ME ! so, once it got to the rep era of the concert the whole stadium was literally SHAKING ! and I mean SHAKING !! it was scary but honestly so much fun LMAOO 😭

OMG YAY THATS SO EXCITING !! 💗 have you found a job that you’re interested in yet or do you know what you want to work as !! 🫶🏼 ooo that sounds nice !! I hope you enjoy your trips n’ pls make sure to be careful !! <33 AWE :( maybe you guys can meet up whenever you can ? even though college is over that doesn’t mean you have to stop being friends !! ^_^ 🫶🏼🥹

hm ! well, I don’t have any plans sadly lol !! I’m thinking of maybe focusing on writing and editing this summer !! I am supposedly going to the beach next Saturday though ! so that’s something to do ! 😅😭 but I guess we’ll see what happens !! 😭🫶🏼 how’s your day been so far ?? anything fun happen ?

(cont.) OMG ALSO !! tysm for liking my theme 🤧🫶🏼 I forgot to thank u for the compliment lol !! your theme tho > it’s so iconic and I will forever love it 🥹

I KNOW I WAS SO UPSET WHEN I TRIED TO POST IT AND THE RED LINE SHOWED UP <//3 AND IT WOULDNT EVEN LET ME RETRY POSTING IT LIKE WTHHH TUMBLR

also im so glad you're doing well !!! and congrats on finishing exams and i hope you're enjoying your summer break to its fullest !! 🥰💖 maybe you can take up a hobby :o like crocheting HAHAH learn how to crochet with me 😌 i was making a shirt and it turned out rlly cute actually :') OMG YAYYY i hope the writing's going well >:)) 3.5k phewwww i see you 😮‍💨 and i've been doing good !! school definitely burnt me out this year so the break is nice HAHAH but getting back to work omg.... i was so tired all the time last summer so we'll see how it goes LOL

omg do you think you're gonna finish the fic soon?? :o i hope it goes well !! ALSO IM GLAD YOU HAD FUN AT THE CONCERT did you like "speak now"? 💘 i am not a swiftie but my friends really liked it :')) OHH YEAH REPUTATION IS A TOP TIER ALBUM im sure it must've been insane to see live !!

there are a few roles im interested in but im also telling myself i need to work my way up to higher positions since they're more mid-senior level positions 🥲 i will be all good tho !! 😌 job hunting SUCKS i hate when entry level positions require years of experience like girl that's not entry level anymore HAHAH also yes!! i think we will be fine since we all live relatively close ,, it's just gonna be so nostalgic thinking back to when i was free to do whatever in college LOL

ooo that sounds fun !! 🥰 i hope you had a good time at the beach <33 my day's been pretty slow ngl 😩 yesterday i went to my friend's party and then tomorrow i think im going to a movie with a few friends but we'll see 🥲 today tho i have been watching gose throughout the day at random HAHAH

[bookshelfdreams]

Ahhhh, your self bound books just look really beautiful? All the color choices and the layout just look soooo good together. And that's such a beautiful gift? I have not read primium non nocere, as I haven't watched Charité but if it is worthy of such a tribute I am definitely giving it a shot anyway. I'd also be really interested of your creative process and choices with the binding, if you're willing to talk about that

hi omg! thank you so much <3<3 Primum Non Nocere is a very good story, and I'd say even if you haven't seen the show, give it a shot anyway, if you're interested? I mean, by all means, try the show as well, season 2 is on Netflix w english subs afaik and it's also really, really good (not perfect, but leagues better than the stuff this country usually makes abt the nazi regime). It's a retelling of canon events from a character's perspective who isn't a focal character in the show - there's probably one or two points at which it skips canon events or may seem a little jumpy, but overall, it's more of a companion piece to canon than a classic fanfic. It's very well researched and detailed; it expands on canon in beautiful ways and honestly, fits with it seamlessly; it might as well be an official novelization (although its focuses are a little different than the og)

as for the bookbinding, I'm really flattered you're interested in my process! I'm still very much a beginner, but I'm slowly figuring out something that works for me.

Also, I don't really know what information you're looking for, so I'm just gonna share some things that come to mind. This isn't really a step-by-step how-to but if you're interested in that, I can try to take some pictures next time I make a book and make a better reference post.

Typesetting

I typeset in OpenOffice because that's my office suite of choice & I'm old; I have never used google docs and I don't plan on starting. I download the fic in html, and then just copy/paste the text chapter by chapter; that's easiest for me. As for fonts, I wanted it to look vintage but I definitely didn't want it to have Nazi aesthetics. I went with Baskerville for the main text (which is such a beautiful font, it might become my go-to) (Garamond is what is most commonly used in books I think, but it almost looks too professional for me. I love that Baskerville has this very distinct, vintage feel to it.) and an Art Deco font for the title and chapter headings. Overall I think it looks more 1920's which, considering that the Nazis really hated the Weimar republic, seems fitting. I'm happy with how it turned out and I hope the author is, too :) As for the rest, it's set in 16pt, 120% line spacing and the margins could be a little larger, tbh, but it works and I'm a little stingy with the paper XD

OpenOffice also lets you draw simple graphics directly onto the document which is what I did for the title page and the little ornaments at the beginning of the chapters.

To make signatures, I use Quantum Elephant Bookbinder. It does what it's supposed to, the only thing that doesn't quite work is the flyleaf option, but I can just add that in the og pdf.

Book construction

I print on copying paper, 80gsqm. It's recycling, 55CIE which is really quite grey; I like it, because white is uncomfortable for me to look at. As for grain, I cut my sheets from A3. The grain is also wrong there, so I ended up wasting half the paper. Whatever; I think it's worth it. Having the grain in the right direction (parallel to the spine) makes it feel so much more like an actual book and not just a stack of copying paper stapled together. I honestly believe it's more important than having fancy paper.

After folding, I do not use a model and an ale for punching holes; instead I put all the signatures together in my makeshift press (2 old cutting boards and 2 bar clamps), I draw some guidelines and then I use a fine saw to cut them all at once.

I sew the signatures on tapes for stability; it makes keeping consistent tension easier. I use linen bookbinder's thread (worth it) and cotton tapes from the craft store (they do their job, and linen sewing tapes are hard to source & expensive). I do not have a sewing frame; but what I do is, I tape the tapes to the underside of my cutting mat, place the signature on top (fold aligned with the edge of the mat) and use a weight to keep it in place. It works okay.

After sewing, I round the spine with this method, which works surprisingly well. I do not trim the edges (I know myself well enough to know that it would not end well) & instead tap the short sides & spine to the table to align the signatures as perfectly as possible.

The rest is done as in pretty much any other tutorial. No backing, because I don't have equipment for that. I like to sand down the edges of the cover boards a little, so they're a bit rounded; I think it makes for nicer haptics.

Decorations

I like to make as much of the book myself as possible. There's several reasons for that; first of all, fancy handmarbled or printed paper, headbands, bookmarks etc are expensive. Second, I have a crafting addiction & what's the point of projects like this when you buy everything you could make yourself, right? But thirdly (most importantly) it's simply that my book blocks look pretty shitty (that's, untrimmed and uneven). But that's okay; you gotta embrace the "amateurishly handmade" look & just have to amateurishly handmake everything. Adding just one or two perfect, machine-produced details looks kinda jarring.

Paper decoration - mix water soluble paint and wallpaper paste and go wild (videos are in German, sorry, idk if this is a thing that's really done in the anglophone world? But I think they're pretty easy to follow even if you don't understand the instructions). I like to use this for covers, mainly, I'm also experimenting with decorating endpapers this way. The paste makes the paper really rough and horrible to the touch; as the very last step, I wax the cover (with a beeswax-based furniture polish. Floor wax works as well, it just doesn't smell very nice). Be careful not to get any on the bookcloth, it will cause stains & ruin everything at the last second.

Headbands - I found this tutorial very helpful.

Bookmarks - this gave me so much trouble. Most amateur bookbinders seem to use cotton, polyester or satin ribbons, which is fine, I guess. I don't particularly like either option. At first I thought I could weave my own; that didn't work out, because weaving tiny bands is harder than it looks (& also the resulting ribbon was much too stiff). But! Bookmarks in professionally made books aren't woven at all; they're braided. Seven-stranded braids work pretty well (tutorial is for 5 strands, but 7 strands work the same). As for the headbands, embroidery floss is best imho (silk would, of course, be traditional but come on). Mercerised cotton crochet thread works as well but isn't quite as nice.

this turned out way too long lol. Sorry. Hopefully the answer you were looking for is in there somewhere. Again, thank you and have a lovely evening!

[yoditorian]

okokok babe u know i have so many thoughts (and i wish to god my memory was good enough to pull my favourite quotes rn but even then every word is gold i’d simply end up sending u back the whole of lacuna)

and i know i’m always saying the same stuff to u but

favourite parts are so hard to narrow down i lose my mind over all of it okokok:

the entire conflict you created with the creed, how real you made it feel in line with what we know as canon, how invested and emotional you’ve made me over rebel’s relationship with it too,,, it’s genuinely something that’s so hard to pin down and you’ve done it flawlessly

the parallels you’ve created and importance you’ve stressed on cork, on the crest, on the blanket. things that have stayed with us and got us thinking every time one of these things has come up because you’ve woven it into the story so intricately that we know we’re in for an emotional time when they’re mentioned??? impeccable

the general presence of shara and kes, two characters we only really know exist and know so little about if we’re not up to speed on all the extended material, is really something that just fills my heart. not only does it weave rebel into canon just a little more (and absolutely realistically) but giving them the family they deserve and making them so real and pulling them off flawlessly to get us attached even if we don’t really know them before name

i could go on forever bUT

i’m simpLY so proud of you and what you’ve achieved through this series. you were so nervous to post it but you did it anyway and in doing so you’ve blessed us with this beautiful piece of work i think about every day of my life and really can’t get enough of. i am in awe of u and your talent and i can’t wait to read everything you ever gift us because your grasp on characters, the stories you can tell, how vivid and raw you’re able to make them? incredible, outstanding, unparalleled

(there’s an irony somewhere between the definition of lacuna and the spot it (and u) now take up in my heart)

lets celebrate lacuna!!

i’m still crying i’m gonna be real with u🥺🥺🥺

i had to put a cut in because this just got Too Long okay okay lets get into it

i cannot tell u how many times i rewatched the covert scenes like,,,,i really feel like everything (especially what goes down in the forge) is deeply steeped in tradition. it really is religious, more so than i’d argue something like the jedi are, and i didn’t want to make it seem like that didn’t matter (although season 2 kind of said fuck the creed so that’s neither here nor there). and rebel’s relationship with it is Very Tenuous because like,,, okay yeah they want to see his face and be able to be with him but they’d never ever tELL him that because it’s so ingrained in who he is. like they love it because they love him and they’d never dare to assume there’s anything more important to din than the creed. they’re wrong tho. 

i really wanted to include a character like cork because din needed to have that very sudden realisation that actually, what he’s done is a huge deal privately or not. cork never thought anyone would find out what he’d done until it got out of hand and that sparks a very real fear in din. cork’s story as a whole was also really important to make din come to the realisation that rebel IS more important to him than the creed, and in a way i think he thinks of himself as weaker than cork for not being able to uphold that. 

its no secret how much i love the crest okay like,,,,, i cried real tears when she died (yes, died. she was a character). and i absolutely adore how the outer shell is sort of patchwork and mismatched, and it just has sUCH ‘lovingly restored’ vibes. its also kind of din’s primary home and again i wanted it to link back to rebel in a way that maybe he hadn’t thought of until they were apart. i genuinely can’t watch The Scene but every time i rewatch the first season and see the ship stripped by the jawas it makes it so much more obvious that this is where he lives. that’s the one place in the whole galaxy he can be just himself, in much the same way that rebel becomes that safe space.

the blanket in all honesty started out as an extremely self indulgent motif bc i still have my baby blanket that my nan crocheted for me. but it kind of became the way for rebel to have a piece of din with them even when he wasn’t around. and then it’s the bridge between rebel and grogu, and him falling asleep wrapped in it kind of physically demonstrates the type of comfort that din feels around rebel. much like chapter four on sorgan it kind of gives him a window into a life he so desperately wants but just can’t have.

shara and kes are literally the loves of my life okay i could write a whole thing about them (like genuinely i was gonna go into their relationship at one point but i simply didn’t have the space). like you say there’s not a lot of material on them and i haven’t massively dived into it outside of who they are and what they did, but there’s so much potential there. i really wanted to explore the mechanics of the rebellion in a way that’s believable and sometimes i feel like too many OCs can take you out of the universe a little bit in that respect. another thing that drew me to these two specifically was the way that poe immediately takes finn under his wing in TFA like,,, he had to have learnt that somewhere and i liked the parallel of both poe and his mum seeing this new person who others in their organisations might be wary of and decide that actually that’s their new best friend. it cements that idea of rebel starting to find somewhere they belong and establishing a life for themselves instead of just existing for din and his conflict with his creed.

i could write a whole other essay about how much of a rock YOU have been through this whole journey like,,, the literal reason this was ever posted is because you encouraged me and inspired me and you will never ever know how grateful i am for that bc i literally cannot put it into enough words. over the course of writing this fic not ONLY has rebel found a friend and themselves but so did i and that’s down to you 💛

[thedistantstorm]

Dawning Delights 08: Secrets and Plans

Summary: Hawthorne invites her newfound family in the Tower to experience a City-Style Dawning with the family that took her in years ago. The holiday is not without it’s charm, or aggravation, and certainly has plenty of surprises in store. A season-inspired, trope-tastic story about a family forged by something greater than blood, finding reasons to enjoy the season - and cherish each other. Main Post

Pairings: Hawthorne/Zavala, Sloane/Amanda, Devrim/Marc

“It sounds like you two had fun,” Ikora says, when Zavala hits command at midday. “Maybe I’ll get snowed in next. Bring a couple good books, some of my nicer teas.” She hands him a datascroll. He’s the one who’s been making the news, the Tower has somehow been strangely uneventful with both its Commander and Clan Stewardess trapped in the elements at their Red War stronghold. She taps a finger to the side of her face before crossing her arms in front of her. “Though, I won’t be exposing any well-contained secrets, leaving my fireteam with the fallout…”

“It was time, Ikora.”

The deadpan expression on her face says she's well aware of that. It's hardly a secret amongst those who knew them best. Still, that didn't mean it would all be smooth sailing. She spares him the lecture on all that, though. No one thinks through their choices quite like the Commander.

Instead, when she speaks, her voice is that weedling, informative alto. “The Arach was quite pleased when the news broke. He went out drinking in your honor. I found him loitering in the Bazaar just before dawn. I believe he meant to wait for the Executor, but," She makes a little sway of her shoulders, "I suggested it might be wise to sleep it off."

“Lovely.”

“Yes. I’m sure our holiday party will be full of Dawning cheer,” She deadpans. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go buy my gift for this week’s soiree.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

She rolls her eyes, but her irritation doesn’t last. “I think you've done enough,” The Warlock muses wryly.

He exhales. Not many would know it as relief; He does not appear to break his composure. But Ikora is not most, and her teasing does not appear kind . "How long will it take them to settle, do you think?"

Ikora turns her head, takes a look around the room. It's empty. "If it was only this, a week. It's hardly new news."

"But?"

Ikora smiles, almost indulgent. "Though plenty of our brood suggests otherwise, my crystal ball doesn't have all the answers. But," She muses, "I don’t need it to know it will certainly be an entertaining new year."

“To say the least,” He answers, a bit exasperated.

There is nothing further to say, and she can see the anxiety of all the work he’s missed by being off the grid last night, so she takes her leave. After all, she does have to buy a present for the gift exchange. But she’s been tasked with acquiring another gift as well.

While Ikora did not often appreciate being made the messenger, in this case, she's happy to oblige. She, like most Guardians, had somewhat of a soft spot for Amanda. More than that, however, Ikora had a true friend in Sloane.

The last few years have been hard. For everyone. Sometimes, she struggles with it still, the emotions she cannot name or express beyond disgruntled behavior toward her Ghost. This year, she's trying. She can't say she'll be the most jazzed up person, or filled with the holiday spirit, but she's going to make an attempt to find joy.

Mortality frightens her, even as immortal as she is. And with the darkness - the threat of another Great Disaster, a second collapse - seemingly approaching, the best way to combat such a thing is with joy. More aptly, hope.

But she cannot waste time thinking about this now. It is what it is. There is much to be done. Sloane had asked her to find a gift for Amanda, a decoy. Only two people on the Tower's staff knew she'd be returning. That plan was not terribly intricate, it just hinged on keeping Zavala and Amanda in the dark. The latter was difficult right up until she left for the holidays. A present would distract her, somewhat.

Ikora had considered routing Sloane through the Farm, but she didn’t want eyes on her if it could be helped. Considering the prior evening’s events, word travelled too fast. This close to the Dawning’s zenith, any hasty moves would be largely obvious. In fact, she’s thankful for the warm cloak she’s wearing to conceal her identity as she browses the Tower’s market.

Years of listening to Cayde talk about his apology gifts for Amanda when he inevitably broke something or otherwise failed to be on the good side of a bet and didn’t have quite enough glimmer to back it up lent enough fuel for presents for the young Shipwright. She liked very specific, very homebrewed liquor, lightning-in-your-veins coffee, and anything that might be more illegal than street-certified when it came to her sparrows. Sloane would err on the side of legal, she thinks, shoving thoughts of her lost friend into the back of her mind. But Sloane would approve of - and likely partake in - some small-batch moonshine from a distillery that had just recently regained its footing following the War.

That settled, the Warlock had her heading. She only needed to find something appropriate for Hawthorne.

-/

The days leading up to the end of the year - work-wise - are far more busy than Zavala anticipates. Before, he’d bring home his work, catch up with it while sipping tea, then spend the rest of his time crocheting or reading for leisure, maybe having a pint with Shaxx or Cayde, indulge the latter in a few hands of poker while Ikora sipped wine and laughed at his inevitable loss in a quiet celebration of the year to come. The workflow with two Vanguard instead of three has slowly runoff into manageable territory, but it’s Sloane that helps him with what he has left to do. Sloane, who always comes through when he needs her.

This year, he enlists her help early. Despite the fact that she has no real plans, and Titan’s celebration growing smaller each year with Guardians being called back from their rainy outpost, he does not want to monopolize her time, and would stress about things done if he’d left for the holiday and she still had his work to do. After all, this year, the last five days of the formal holiday - the time in which the Consensus is in recess, and its representatives are granted leave - are to be spent with Suraya.

“I don’t miss being dragged into those awful parties,” She tells him, when they’re amiably co-existing in a video conference. She reads through a report, double checks his numbers on a tablet and sends the raw data back to him with her approval.

“They do leave a bit to be desired.”

“Amanda told me Jalaal was up to something with the gift exchange,” She imparts in a quieter, less formal tone.

Zavala sighs. “Well, when is he not?” He sets aside the stack he’s been sifting through - it’s nothing that will be sorted before the end of the year and therefore not worth his valuable time. He reaches for the bottle of beer that sits upon a coaster near his workstation, taking a pull of it.

This, since the war, was the closest to ringing in the holiday they could manage. It was a private arrangement between the two of them. Both Zavala and Sloane made themselves unavailable and dedicated an hour or two to discussion, wrapping up their yearly reports and wishing each other good fortune and a happy Dawning in the way good friends did.

“I do regret that I spent the majority of my resources on getting Devrim home for the holidays. I would have liked to get you here as well, have this-” He sloshes his half-full beer for emphasis, “In person.”

“Yeah well,” She trails off, mumbling something, ending with a hasty swig of her own. “Wait.” She looks into the feed directly, the lines around her eyes crinkling as she looks at him, incredulous. “You got Devrim to come home?”

“Ah,” He shrugs. “I wanted to surprise her.”

“You said-”

“It’s surprise one of two,” Zavala elaborates, a secretive smile gracing his usually expressionless lips for just a moment. “If you know what I mean.”

“Wait, Suraya said she didn’t tell you.” Sloane stares at him. “Did Ikora? There was no way-”

Zavala’s blue gaze snaps up to hers and she resists the urge to gulp under his scrutiny. They are talking about two very different things. Two very different things, she realizes.

“Ah, forget it, Sir. It’s nothing.”

“Sloane...” That wheedling tone makes her sigh, but she does her best to be strong. It’s supposed to be a surprise. She can’t- “It’s unlike you to keep secrets,” He says and she groans.

“I can’t tell you. Please don’t-”

“Ages of battle. Centuries of having each other’s backs both on and off the battlefield.” He tilts his head, fixing her with a stare she’s never been able to resist and he knows.

“Commander, this is cruel.”

He inspects his fingernails, glancing back up at the camera as though he’s looking into his deputy’s soul. “I assure you, this is not cruel. Your guilt is of your own design.”

“I-” She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. It’s a losing battle. She just has to hope he doesn’t ruin everything, thereby making Suraya furious with her. “When do you see Amanda next?”

“She is meeting us at Marc and Devrim’s home tomorrow afternoon. With the party tonight, I doubt I’ll cross paths with her.”

Sloane exhales again. “You’re sure.”

His gaze shifts, expression tipping into concerned territory. “What’s going on? Is something wrong? You’re not-”

The Deputy Commander looks scandalized that he’d even suggest what that helpless, understanding gaze does with nary a word. “No! Heavens, no!” She’s shaking her head, eyes flicking to her hands - folded in front of her on the table. “We make due, everything’s fine. You know I-” She shakes her head, not wanting to venture into that territory. Still a bit of a conflict of interest, and it’s a subject they treat with care. “Look. Suraya and Ikora did something.” She pauses, trying to parse the words without being terribly blunt. “Together. For Amanda.”

He gestures for her to continue.

“You know, for being the greatest tactician of all time, Zavala, you’re a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to this sort of thing.” She tilts the rest of her beer into her mouth, letting it drop back to the metal table with a loud thunk. His eyes narrow. “I mean no offense, Sir,” She says, venturing back into formalities. “I just thought you’d have figured it out.”

“You’ve been acting strangely since you got on the line. Normally you’d have finished half that case by now-” He looks to the case of beer beside her on the table. She’s only finished one.

She shrugs. “The crew can have them. I’m sure they’ll be grateful for the gift.”

“Sloane?”

Sheepishly, she sighs. “I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow?”

-/

Sloane has been on comms with the both of them before. When she’d discovered they were together, purely by coincidence, she’d chalked it up as making sense. She was looking forward to being able to see it in person, to make her own opinions on the matter.

That being said, this is unlike anything she’s ever experienced.

He looks cowed, finally waving her off. His earlier words echo in her head: ‘Ages of battle. Centuries of combat,’ and yet he’s at the mercy of a thirty-something-year-old woman. And that woman has been ranting at him for a solid four minutes now. Zavala is usually done after two, interjecting with a well-thought counter.

“I’ll make every effort to avoid her,” The Commander is saying. “She won’t-”

“She’s been planning to meet us in the morning, just like she’s been meeting at our place every time we go over there. This won’t be any different.” Suraya exhales, shakily. She’s wringing her hands now. Sloane can read the anxiety. More than that, she can read Zavala not knowing how to make him calm.

“I’ll handle this,” Ikora says. “I can make up a shipment she needs to handle. I can ensure sure she doesn’t come near him, Hawthorne.”

She nods to Ikora before swiveling back to Zavala. Sloane cringes at it. “I swear to you, if you blab to her, I’m going to be furious with you. Do you understand?” Suraya’s hands are on her hips, her normally sharp eyes made dangerous, sharpened by kohl liner and dark shadow. She’s dressed in a sweater rather than her poncho, hair mostly slicked back, but a few little wisps frame her face. It’s a striking contrast, though not unpleasant. Between them and facing the video unit, Ikora stands with her arms crossed, stoic. She seems… blank.

Sloane frowns, and Ikora’s eyes sharpen in a way that’s terribly intimidating. Sloane rears back as Ikora regards Suraya, asking, “Does that work for you?”

The Clan Stewardess sighs, finally breaking a very serious staring contest with the Commander. Finally, she says, “If you’re sure, I trust you. This one won’t be leaving my sight until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Poor thing,” Ikora quips back, sarcastic - as if he’d be anywhere else - and when Zavala meets her gaze behind Suraya’s back, the Warlock dips her head in an elegant nod that has seemingly little to do with the conversation at hand. “You two get going. I’ll finish with the techs and meet you at the Core.”

The duo nods. Suraya looks over her shoulder at Sloane on the screen. “I’m not mad,” She says as she parts, and Zavala exhales in relief beside her. “I knew he’d figure it out one way or another. I just… want Amanda to have this, and for him,” She jerks a thumb at Zavala, “Not to beat himself up because he can’t keep anything from her.” A breath later, she revises, “That’s not related to work, anyway.”

When they leave, the automated doors slide shut with a hydraulic whoosh behind them. “How are you going to figure something out for her for the morning this short notice? She said there’s nothing coming in.”

“That was close,” Ikora’s Ghost comments mildly, appearing in motes of Light. “I’m glad you knew that console opened, or she absolutely would have seen it.”

She nods to him, then comments, “You’re correct, Sloane. I’ll need you to trust me.”

“I do, but-”

“It’s been planned for two months now,” Ikora divulges, pulling open a small hatch under the center console. Ophiuchus hovers over her shoulder and transmats whatever is in the drawer into her Vault. It looks like a small box.

“Two months?” Sloane asks, confused. “Zavala said Devrim came home two days ago-”

“Don’t worry about it. It would have been far more last minute, but if it eases Suraya’s anxiety, I’ll tell Amanda tonight.” She turns to her partner. “Let Marc know we’re on our way, please.”

“On it,” Ophiuchus agrees, dipping in a sort-of bow before erupting back into sparks.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing of consequence to you. Suraya has her plan, and Zavala has his.” She smiles. “I’m prepared to intervene personally should Amanda get ahead of herself.” She apprises Sloane, “You just keep up the rouse and try to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be… something.”

[ornament-of-rhyme]

Hi! I read your Spazkins fanfictions and I think they're really adorable! Can you perhaps give us some headcanons about them?

Hi there! Despite what it may seem,considering how long it’s taken me to reply to you, I am goddamnstoked that you asked about this! (I am so sorry to keep you waiting,though.) Thank you for asking, and thank you very much for reading mystories. I’m happy you liked them.

As the length of this post can attest,I have a lot of feelings about these characters to share with anyonewho will listen, but I must confess that many of my headcanonsdevelop during the writing process. Seeing as I’ve only written acouple of short fics for this pair, I still haven’t developed myversion of them as much as I would like. However, I do have someheadcanons, both for these characters as individuals and as a couple.It’s entirely possible they’re not exactly interesting HCs,but they help me flesh out the characters as I continue working withthem.

Before I go on, I want to take a moment to state that these are only headcanons, interpretations, and observations, not things that I am trying to present as fact or push into fanon. I’m just having too much fun with these characters.

Since you read my stories youalready know, but for anyone else who stumbles upon this, when Iwrite these characters I use the names Gilbert “Gil” Braun akaSpaz, and Edwin "Eddie/Ed” Hopkins. I’m also throwing in a fewheadcanons about another background character in the film, listed inthe credits simply as Stick, though I call him Norman “Norm”James. In my mind, he’s Gil’s best friend, so he’s relevant toSpazkins in that way.

This cutie is Stick, by theway:

Now, on to the headcanons! Hopefully Ican put them in some sort of coherent order. (Note from future Orn:This post oscillates between being a disorganized essay and a list, but hopefully it’s intelligibleanyhow!)

I’ll start with Gil and Norm, seeing asI headcanon them as having known each other the longest out of thesethree. In fact, I like to think Norm was Gil’s first friend atWelton.Norm was given the nickname Stick by his peers becausehe is the smallest kid in their year. Seriously, look at the guy.

Stick indeed.

I began to associate him with Spazbecause the two of them are seen with the Poets multiple times in thefilm—including at meals, where they are the only two non-Poets atthat table. I imagine they have complementary personalities, and werefast friends because of it. Likely they were drawn to each otherbecause of the things people think are odd about them; namely, Gilhaving health problems and Norm being small and thin. I headcanonthat Gil and Norm are able to bond over being avid readers of sci-finovels and pulp fiction, and once they’re out of school they becomeequally eager viewers of The Twilight Zone. (The latter, Edwin findshimself enjoying as well.)

In my mind, Norm is related in some wayto Nolan. Grandfather, uncle—I don’t know how yet, but I amdetermined to work this into one of my future stories. Due to hisrelationship to the dean, he isn’t bullied like Gil, but he is teasedon occasion, as most boys know he isn’t the type to tell Nolan. (It’snot like he’s overly fond of the man, either.) The teasing he gets isnot as rude as that which Gil has received. But after a number ofyears at Welton, someone came along who did much to stomp out theworst of the bullying on Gil’s behalf…

Two years before the events of thefilm, Edwin Hopkins enrolled in Welton Academy and was assigned adorm room with Gilbert. It was tense at first, with Gil unsure how tointeract with someone so aloof and, according to how Edwin presentedhimself to his peers, apathetic. However, they slowly built up acompanionable relationship when Edwin began to take it upon himselfto blandly intimidate or retaliate against those who teased orbullied Gilbert. Edwin wouldn’t react violently, or even loudly, buthe knew how to get people to knock it off, if only temporarily.

At first, Edwin was taken in by Gil’smore awkward, innocent demeanor and became protective of him becauseof it, while Gil’s feelings developed as he floundered in surprisethat he is being defended by someone he would have expected topartake in the bullying. They started speaking more in their room,and their friendship developed from there.

After Edwin madeit known to others that Gilbert was under his wing, so to speak, thebullying generally eased into lighter teasing. Though it remained anissue for Gil, his time at Welton improved significantly with thischange.

And while Edwin is something of aguardian angel to Gil, Gil pulls his weight in the friendship.Gilbert is the voice of reason, the wiser mind, of the two boys. Heknows how to get Edwin to listen, to stop and think before doingsomething reckless or impulsive. He also takes care of Edwin in hisown ways; he makes sure Edwin is awake in the morning and doesn’tmiss breakfast, offers help with homework, puts in an effort to cheerEd up if he is brooding, and so on.

Edwin is surprisinglythoughtful when it comes to Gil’s needs as well. As I wrote in TheSickly and the Meathead, he even thinks to tell Gil where he’sputting aside his glasses, that way he doesn’t have to blindly searchfor them. This is because when it comes to something he cares about,Edwin is quite detail-oriented. This is also the case with hisinterest in carpentry (touched upon in Safe in the Boughs, as well aslater in this post.) He considers the little things, and he thinksahead. Along that same line, Edwin checks in with Gilbert to makesure he doesn’t miss any doses of medication. He does it so casually,one would think he’d been doing it for years. Gil might be puttingaway his clothes as Edwin works at his desk, and without turningaround Ed asks if he remembered to take his medicine. Gil says yes,because of course he remembered, Ed grunts in acknowledgment, andthat’s that. Gil thinks it’s sweet.

Another way Edwin expresses hisaffection is through gifts, and the best example of this is TheBlanket of ‘58. See, Gil has two more blankets on his bed than theother boys, but they don’t hold in heat well enough for him. Knowingthis, in late November of his second year at Welton, Edwin gives Gila heavy crochet blanket as an early Christmas present. His motherbegan working on the blanket the previous winter after Edwin wrylycommented that his roommate was likely to freeze to death during oneof the cold winter nights at Welton. Despite his typical stoicism,she saw his fondness for Gilbert early on and was eager to make ablanket for this friend who mattered enough to Edwin to be mentionedoutside the context of sports and class. Later, Gil’s mother wouldexpress her thanks to Mrs. Hopkins by inviting their family todinner, where the parents hit it off. It is this meeting thatinitiated the friendship between the Hopkins and Braun families.

Above all, Eddie is a man of actionover words, and thus it is through his actions that he mostfrequently expresses his affections. Touches, kisses, favors—whetherrequested or not—he makes it known to Gil how he feels. And hisfeelings can run deep, especially where Gilbert is concerned. Even ashe threw himself into building their tree house (featured in Safe inthe Boughs), Edwin more than once indulged in idea of one day havinga real house to share with Gilbert.

All that said, it isn’t entirelyunheard of for Edwin to verbally express his feelings to Gil. Termsof endearment they’ve come to use are simply “baby” (Edwinaddresses Gil as such, though it is in private and not too frequent)and “Eddie.” Edwin’s pals at Welton often refer to him asEddie, too, but he finds that Gil’s voice can make it ring with sucha level of emotional intimacy that it may as well be an entirelydifferent name.

Kissing was a bit difficult for them atfirst. It took the two of them a while to get used to heavy kissingdue to Gil’s braces, but eventually they learned how to work aroundit. Another problem that occasionally crops up is that Edwin is verygood at taking Gil’s breath away, and as nice as that sounds, Gilneeds as much as he can get because, of course, he suffers from SteveRogers Syndrome. That is to say, his medical records are expansive,but he’s not on the verge of death. He is even able to participate insports at Welton, but is given much leniency. Chess and croquet aremore his deal.

Alright, I feel like this would be agood time to talk about their hobbies and other activities.

I believe Hopkins may canonicallybe captain of the soccer team. Though if this is the case, why did heflub his kick in the poetry/soccer exercise? To joke around? I don’tknow. My jury’s out on this one, but I think it’s interesting. I’mmostly basing this theory on the shirt he wears in these scenes:

I don’t know a dingle damn thing about sport ball, but I’m pretty sure that shirt denotes something important.

(Along a similar vein, though it isn’tnecessarily relevant to this post, I believe Keating may be thecoach. He even has a history with soccer. According to his schoolannual, he was the captain of his soccer team for a bit.)

Along with soccer,I have a headcanon that Edwin has a passion for carpentry! It beganwhen, as a child, he was told that Jesus Christ had been a carpenter.Thinking that was rad as fuck, Ed took a strong interest in it. Eventhough his faith grew weaker over the years, he maintained his lovefor carpentry independently of that.

General aloofnessaside, Edwin also likes to joke around with and show off in front ofhis friends. He’s even willing to do so in front of authority figuresif he thinks he can get away with it. Though he doesn’t strike me as someonewho brazenly defies authority when he knows it will end inpunishment. Keating in particular has proven he is willing to put upwith Ed’s dumb shenanigans—though, as is shown in the movie, hedoesn’t appreciate or reward them. I agree with Keating’s jabs at thestunts he pulls. They’re not just disruptive, they’re lazy. I like toimagine that the laziness of the jokes is more of a bother to Keatingthan the fact that they’re happening in the middle of class.

As for Gil’spreferred activities, he is a pianist. The organ player at Weltonpicked up on his interest in the instrument, and offered to teachhim. Gil agreed, and discovered he enjoyed it. As he pursued theactivity outside of Welton, his family was able to procure a pianofor their home on which he continued to practice. He also enjoysbird-watching. (With this in mind, Edwin gives him a new pair ofbinoculars for his birthday one year. He doesn’t get the appeal ofthe activity, but Gil lights up when he talks about the birds, so Edhas no qualms humoring him.) And as I said before, Gil has fungeeking out with Norm over sci-fi.

Now for some stragglers:

-Gilbert’s fatherreminds me of George McFly. That’s all I have to say about that.

-Gilbert’smedications are kept in Hager’s office, so Gil has to visit him inthe morning and before bed to take his medicine.

-I can’t tell forsure if it’s true to life, but I like to imagine that Gil is tallerthan Ed.

-Edwinloves the silkiness of Gil’s hair, and Gil likes to card his fingersthrough Ed’s shorter 'do. And, though he doesn’t appreciate the cause,Ed thinks Gil’s consistently red nose is adorable.

-Edwin’s friendsat school are not a tight-knight group. Notice that as he smugly readhis Truly Great poem The Cat Sat On The Mat (coming to a poetry slam near you), Hopkins was looking for the reactions of some of the boys around his own desk. None of these boysstood at the end of the film. Not saying this is canon, but it makessense to me.

-Gil’smother embroiders handkerchiefs before gifting them to him. Some aremonogrammed, others are only patterns or simple images. He sometimesfinds it embarrassing, but she puts so much love into herembellishments that he has never spoken a word of dissent.

-And finally, if you manage to catch agood look at Hopkins in the film, he has some birthmarks on hisface–small indentations on the left side near his hairline, and aline coming off the outer edge of his right brow. Wait, I have ascreencap for this one, too!

Sometimeshe’s asked if they’re scars and what caused them, and just for kickshe comes up with a different answer each time. He doesn’t care thatpeople notice, and isn’t particularly self-conscious about them. Moreoften than not he only remembers they exist when Gil gathers theinitiative to press his lips to them.

And that’s my current lot of Spazkins headcanons!

Thankyou again for asking, iamidentical. Your question not only helped me think more complexly about these characters, but it also led to a new idea for a Spazkins fic. It felt good to share thesethoughts with you.

[garthups]

the maze, part II

Thanks again y’all, still getting used to tumblr. Any feedback appreciated!

Link to part I

“O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!” Lottie gasped, hand to her heart.

“With what, in the name of God?” Sam gasped in response.

“My lord,” She went on “as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head his tighty whities fowled--”

I spit out apple bits laughing, “Dumb shit, I can’t believe you still remembered the bits we made about the monologues.”

“Well yeah, I had to memorize all your lines as your esteem’d understudy, fair O-phoebe-ia.” She bowed. I lead us through a right turn.

“And I get nothing for remembering my Polonius lines? Nothing at all?” 

“I helped him practice on the way in of course.” Matrix interjected. Lottie and I howled and called Sam a fake fan of Shakespeare. We took a left, it had been about five minutes since we got into the maze, and it was taking everything I could to stop looking up. The gang all told me to ignore it. Even Matrix was starting to pick up on when I was slowing down in the front of the group. Still though, I had a fairly confident idea of where we were going. The first station was only a little ways away.

“When you hit 4K I considered unfollowing you dude, god damn. Your followers now outnumber the POSTS on my private.”

“Sorry Lottie, what can I say. The people want them some Sam.”

“Ewwwwww, Matrix, can you like discipline him?” Nobody was saying it but I could feel the question coming. I fucking hated it when anybody talked about instagram latley, but I knew these guys too well for them to not ask.

“Did anyone notice the guy handing out flashlights?” Not what I expected. The maze curved off to our right. “Without a doubt the skinniest man I’ve ever seen.”

“Matrix, no dude.” Sam laughed, “That kid looked exactly like a younger you, ya big beefcake.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean what do I mean? I couldn’t take my eyes off him! Only reason I didn’t say anything right away was because Phoebe was uhh ya know. But yeah, same flop of blonde hair, same stud earring on the left side.” Sam’s comment stuck in my head for a second, which made me feel self conscious. He was right though, I didn’t get a look at the guy at all. Too busy looking at the titanic corn.

“Didn’t really notice his hair and stuff, I guess I might’ve been too distracted by his hands and wrists when I got our flashlight. I think I could see every bone in that guys arm. Lottie? Phoebe? What did you think about him?”

“I thought it was makeup. Like corn syrup.” Lottie was talking slowly. “The closer we got though, the more I thought it looked like real, like, blood.”

My foot slipped. I caught myself, bringing the other foot down hard and running forward a few steps before stopping. I swore and looked back. At first I was confused by what I saw, so I walked back to where I slipped slowly. There was a mouth in the dirt. And a chin jutted out from the soil.

“Whoa, you good Phoebe?” Matrix said. My phone flashlight came on.

“Hey that thing looks like a face.” Lottie said. It was horrible. A perfect face in the mud. An old man, with his eyes closed. The same color as the earth around it. But he was grimacing in pain, brow scrunched and mouth downturned, a grotesque drama mask. No, hold on, the face was pale and grey and I thought I could see pores.

“Yo who the FUCK made that thing?” Sam said. He was kneeling down while me, Lottie, and Matrix distanced ourselves. 

“Sam, Sam don’t touch that thing please.” I whispered intensely. My sweat was concentrated on my forehead and temples. “Please Sam, please.” He froze half knelt down, arm downstreached, and he looked at me.

“It’s fine Phoebes, don’t worry. Just some sick thing someone buried. I hope.”

“Please Sam, let’s just go. It’s really grossing me out.” Lottie was putting her arm around me, and I covered my eyes up. Lottie must’ve made a face, because Sam’s tone changed.

  “Alright dude, no worries. We can keep moving. Fucking weird though.” I uncovered my eyes and Sam had a hand against the face. His eyebrows were scrunched up in confusion as he ran a couple fingers along it. Suddenly he pulled his hand back to himself and started walking. I didn’t need anymore faces in this maze.

“Come on guys. Fuckin weird. Cold, and it felt like it was breathing. Ugh. Well if we see it on the way back, I’m getting a photo.”

The farmers must’ve planted the crop out from the middle, because as we got farther into the maze the corn looked like it was getting taller. I tried not to look up and stave off anxiety by talking to the gang. Ever since I slipped on that face it was hard for me to participate in a light hearted conversation like before. Everyone seemed much more quick to brush it off, but it stayed with me. Just how off it was. When I turned back in, I caught Matrix saying something about high school, or something.

“That’s how it was, Lottie. Go Spartans though, I guess.” 

“That’s really good coming from a walking varsity jacket. Spartans, really? Did you go to Teen High in Municipalityville?” Said Lottie.

“It was a small school! What can I say?”

“Dude tell them about your biggest rival.” The fact that Matrix went to an auto-generated high school cheered me up.

Matrix sighed, “The Northside…... Bulldogs. Happy, shrimpy?”

“Extremely.” Sam pumped his fist and gave Lottie a low five. I smiled. Didn’t know how they were managing high fives though, I was totally freezing and kept mine tightly balled in my puffy vest. The cold was getting worse now that it was later in the night, I assumed. I could see my breath spilling out in front of me, maybe it was all the walking that was making me take shallower and shallower breaths.

“Right uhhh, Phoebe?” Matrix asked. I realized I hadn’t heard his question. “It is Phoebe right?”

He didn’t sound like he was kidding. Lottie laughed, “Seriously?”

“Bad with names, god, my bad.” Ouch.

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t even hear what you said.”

“I was just saying how these guys don’t know how hard it was to be in the school spotlight all the time. Dunno if you guys had a volleyball team, but I guess being captain had similar clout to being the best at a big theatre school like yours.”

“Oh,” --God I felt so awkward-- “well no I was just kinda, like, in Little Shop. Basically that was it.”

Sam chimed in, “Hah that’s rich. I guess all those superlatives were nothing then. I’m telling ya bud. Phoebe,” he nudged Matrix while putting emphasis on my name, “was the coolest of the cool.”

“Yeah, Phoebe,” Lottie gave Matrix another nudge, “remember when you single handedly brought crochet tops to the valley? We were never the same. I remember seeing all those freshmen on the library computers printing out knitting patterns. They all wanted to be like you.”

“Uhh guys, could we not? Not that I don’t like reminiscing, but I’d rather be on my maze A-game.”

“I still get a memory pop up in my photos of me wearing a crochet top like once a month.” Sam laughed, guess no A-game. I looked at the corn to my left to avoid eye contact with anyone. Then, out of nowhere, Sam said exactly the question I was afraid that one of them would ask. “Hey speaking of which, how come you never post anything Phoebe? Like the last thing on your feed is your dorm pic. What have you been up to?” And I just let the question hang there. Lottie looked back too, and it looked like even Matrix had slowed his gate in front of us. I hadn’t noticed, but at some point he was turning us each and every way and my pathing wasn’t guiding us anymore.

“Yeah I dunno it’s just been kinda…” I said “boring? I guess. I’m not good at it anymore” And that was when Phoebe screamed. Loud, Loud Scream. Not like when actors try to scream, it was scraping her throat raw. Summoned from deep within, as unholy as what we all saw when we turned to her.

An arm, long and sickly was jutting from out between the stalks, out from the wall of the maze itself. A sick, pustulating arm. The maze itself was plenty wide enough for the four of us, the arm just stretched halfway across the width. I saw more than one elbow on the thing, articulating it at unnatural angles, white sickly skin sloughed off in some places.

There’s no way to react to that sort of thing. I was on the ground before I realized, screaming along with her, tears running down my cheeks. Somehow though, Matrix managed to react. He ran up hitting the thing on one of its elbows. I think he was screaming along with the rest of us. Lottie hit the thing with him, until a couple of hits and the arm came apart at the joint. They managed to pop some of the bubos and yellowy green pus spat over their clothes.

Sam pulled me up and we ran. There was nothing else to do, so we didn’t look back at the arm. All I knew was we needed to get out. We ran ten feet back to the last turn we had taken-- a right turn. We got to the wall of corn. I tried not to get too close, or look too hard at the corn for fear of what else lay behind it. We rounded the corner and.

It was the entrance. Just that single corner and there was the kid at the ticket booth. I had stopped, Sam did too. Lottie kept running, I don’t know if her eyes were open. My heart beat faster and faster, but I couldn’t leave my friend out there, so I kept going too.

We all left the Maze. 

[sprayingdrips]

Week 7: July 4 - July 10

Its 30 minutes passed midnight on a Monday and week 7 was a lot too.

I worked the entirety 4th of July the weekend plus more days. 

I watched more movies and am in the middle of watching Seven Pounds. But what’s crazy I started a 16 episode K-Drama, 16 hours total this drama has and still have not finished it. I like it but I think I figured what I don’t like about it. I think I have three or four episodes left.

The drama is called Abyss and regardless I do actually like it and will continue watching it. What it don’t like about it are typical things in all stories but its the way it’s played out. The male lead is creepy. Not the best way to put it but he’s on this weird crush land crash where he’s definitely been for a while but he got engaged. Not saying this scenario is not possible but it just... not executed well? Male lead always had a crush on the Prosecutor Go but Go introduced him to his now ex-fiancé. The flashbacks we get of him and the fiancé are that they are so in love but also I lowkey got a marrying for money vibe from her and was not mad about that. I think the way the break up was done was well thought out because it sounded suspicious because why would you say that stuff in that way especially if you were in it for the money. And being truly in it for the money, would me she would have the power to maybe manipulate him into getting plastic surgery because he is so in love with her. An ugly face does not stop the majority from chasing a bag. After all that shit that went down in episode 1 we get “ugly” to “handsome” male lead. And the reverse happens to the cocky female lead (Prosecutor Go) because she was cocky. 

Now there is only so many episodes but they are an hour long each. And as they try to solve crime and hide from a murderer (largely kinda bad at both). The male lead tries to kick it off with Prosecutor Go because his ex fiance is a cheater and liar and he still likes Go. (SHE DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO. I DONT BLAME HER. ) Which is were the problem lies. A serial killer who is targeting nearly all of yall is on the lose and you still tryna kiss someone who said no. Like she did initiate the first one if I remember correctly but uh idk about continuing it like this. Its some weird forced thing and I just don’t see any chemistry. Maybe if GO’s character was created differently? We mostly get flashbacks about how cocky she is about her looks. I slightly don’t blame her but then it’s more of yeah i’d ignore a group of a bunch of men trying to ask me out everyday. Which makes me wonder how Go and the lead know each other? Like they show them in middle school? together and he knew about a math problem better than her but there’s no explanation to the separation from then to the other flashbacks. Like he’s in the group of men always following her trying to ask her out but then in one episode she's like “nooo i gave you the box of chocolates because I liked you duh. so obvious.” like it really ain’t and the scenario he said is really more believable that hers. The flashbacks line up to what he said. It’s not surprising that Go would get so many boxes of chocolate that she wouldn’t just pass them around for others to have.

Also the lead is..He’s just not smooth about and is so bad at reading the room when its a good idea to do it. Sometimes he does it in front of his ex and it gives off this weird trying to get back at you vibe when it just does not hit because his ex did all of that to protect herself and her mom from a crazy serial killer. Like the serial killer shows up near all of them and he only worries about Go like they’re both so into each other but they’re not. And he does that whole I’m a manly man I protect and it just does not fit him. 

I think most of my problem is that he’s moving on in the weirdest way. Like maybe if went out and partied first instead of having this my-fiance-dumped-me-i-tried-[redacted]-and-say-its-all-of-Go’s-fault-but-I-lived-and-now-im-super-handsome-let-me-try-to-get-back-with-my-fiance-because-something-was-off-about-that-call-and-she-said-she-was-pregs-oh-saw-her-get-hit-buy-a-truck-revived-oh-she-said-where-Go-was-located-and-almost-got-her-killed-im-mad-wtf-and-shes-not-pregs-:(-oh-she-did-all-of-that-bc-of-her-mom-i-guess-ill-help-but-fuck-her-i-still-like-Go??? Can this be a little more healthier please?

Anyways, the plan for this week is to legit stretch everyday. Blender donut or frog. Crochet more clouds. I forgot to mention I crocheted a cloud. I don’t know if I mentioned that last post but I did it on Wednesday during a zoom with my roommates and it was near the end. and make one more palette and post them. my orginal plan was five palettes and post but damn the dishes are still not over. also this collage video idea and more jobs applied to this week than last. Honestly turning in four in one day was a lot with the systems going on.

I have work later today and my first ASL 2 test (bruh already???)

[mbergen]

Tammy came home over the weekend.  She had signed up for another week, but it wasn’t meant to be.  I won’t deny she had me worried, but she is fine.  On her 20th day, she scheduled It off.  She hoped that she would be rest and recoup for the next week.  When I talked with her that morning, I knew she was exhausted and so tired.  I had noticed in the last week she was getting more quite.  I was already uneasy.  Late that afternoon, she text and said she was leaving.  She had a car scheduled in an hour and she was driving home.  I wanted her to fly, but it wasn’t going to happen.  She want to get out now……She needed to drive, and have alone time….I was getting more worried.  I really didn’t want her to leave that late from New York City, a city she had never driven in.  But everyone who knows Tammy knows she loves to drive.  I think that is where she gets her peace and alone time.  She can drive straight through from Illinois to Harlingen Texas, (near Mexico Border) in 22 hours…..Crazy Driver…..I decided to text Katherine, her best friend at home.  She is a Nurse at IVCH in Peru.  If she would contact anyone else, it would be her.  Yes, they had already been talking.  As she left New York City, she called and I could tell she was already feeling better.  The weight was lifting.….Katherine sent me texts all evening and night.  Then I was up at 5 to make sure she got home…..What a Saturday it was….Yes, she pulled in Sunday by noon…..So here is her story in her words….

Tammy Bergen 22 hrs ·

I am gonna start this off by saying today is day 22! And the 1st day in 21 days that I have woke up in my own bed! I have missed my family and my friends so much! I might even say that i have missed Illinois! New York was a beast! I have seen thing and did things that i have never dreamed of. And I met so many so many great nurses, APN’s and Drs! They were from all across the United States! The staff was very welcoming as well. They would have lunch donated at times. My last day they had breakfast donated and brought in to us! And REAL coffee! 😍 lol while I was there I worked on 9 different units. I worked a couple of units more than once but for the most part everyday was like starting a brand new job. Everything was always new. The staff, the nurses I worked with, what supplies were available, what type of patients there were. Every unit was like opening a door to the twilight zone. You never know what is gonna be there. And the attitude was strong and everywhere! That is the best way I can describe it. It was not easy for me to go on every day with 5-6 hours of sleep mixed with the constant change. I was never able to develop “a work rhythm”? I’m not sure if that’s the word I am looking for but… And As many of you know, I have struggled with depression my whole life. And I ended up finding myself in a very very low spot. Around day 15 I started to cry everyday and I think day 19 I almost cried all day! (Fyi it’s very hard to tell if someone is crying when they are wearing all this head gear!) It was sooo hard. Even though we were there to help and shine some light into the darkness that is going on in New York right now, I lost control of myself and the darkness crept inside me... On the 20th I had the day off. They allowed us to have 2 pto days in this 21 day contract. My plan was to destress as much as possible and trudge through work one more time… and then cancel my 1 week extension and go home! But by the end of day 20 all I could think about was getting out of this cold dark place that I had found myself in. So rented a car and got the hell outta there at 7pm! It was truly one of the best things that I have ever done for myself. As I began driving away from NYC I could truly feel the heaviness of it all leave my body… and I could smile! A real smile! I talked to my mom and my best friend Katherine almost all the way home. I even had Cassidy on the phone for an hour and an half! And we had a great conversation! I was excited to surprise Cameron at the house so I never told him I was coming! Lol And I thank god my family and my friends are here for me everyday! A part of me is very ashamed or dissatisfied in myself for leaving a day early. But not any more. I am so proud that I was able to help in such a terrible situation! I have learned many things about myself through this experience. I will never regret it! But I don’t think I want to go back to NYC... ever! Lol thank you to everyone that sent us stuff! You guys really really really helped me personally!! And we shared with many others as well! I will never forget this experience! Aunt Connie told me that I would not be able to come back from this the same person. At the time I didn’t think to much about it. But…. she is so very right... not always! But this time! Lol I am just so happy to be home!❤❤❤ ps. Britt Novak is still rockin it in NYC! You got this girl!

Tammy is now home and doing well.  Now she has 2 weeks of quarantine before she can return to work.  I know she has missed the kids tremendously.  She has come back a changed person in so many ways…..She  has learned a lot about herself and will be stronger for it.  She will never forget the patients, nurses, doctors, and all the experiences of New York….She has accomplished something not many of us could or would ever undertake.  But she is a Nurse…..She took that Oath….She Believes in what she does….

WE ARE ALL SO PROUD

….She is an Amazing Nurse….

Now it is time for all the …..THANK YOU’S…. Her days were so busy.  14 hours of the day were work and transportation.  That didn’t leave much time for eating, sleeping, waiting for your mail for 45 min.  and of course a through shower and disinfecting.  She became more physically and mentally exhausted every day.  So she didn’t have a lot of time to show her appreciation.  The one Company that needs a HUGE THANK YOU is Vactor Manufacturing from Streator Illinois…..

Tammy mentioned to us she could use some Safety Glasses.  Aunt Connies’, Son in Law, Matt Rinaldo works for Vactor in Streator Illinois.  He went to HR to ask about Safety Glasses for the girls.  By noon, he had been given around 50 Safety Glasses.  HR also game him many FACE SHIELDS.  Their parent Company Federal Signal had sent them to their employees.  The employees had decided to give them to the Front Line people in the Medical Field that needed them.  They had already given a number of them to Morris Hospital.  Matt brought them to Connie who boxed them up and sent them to the girls.

They were so needed.  As soon as she received them they were gone.  So not many pictures were taken.  I had been reading posts on the FB site of the Staffing Agency from the other nurses.  Those who had connections, were ordering them in quantity’s for their friends.  The hospitals didn’t have any.  They were pretty desperate to get them.  These Shields were so Appreciated.  So …..THANK YOU VACTOR…. also Matt and Connie for sending them to New York…..

Face Shields and Safety Glasses from Vactor….Overlooking the Times Square… NYC

So many other items were sent.  So here in Tammy’s words again are all her Thank You’s

Tammy Bergen 15 hrs ·

There are so many people I need to thank besides my family that have donated their time to make sure that we have what we needed! I want to make as many as I can but please dont be upset if I forget to mention anyone because you all made this so much easier! 1. Vactor Manufacturing in Streator Il donated a box full of safety glasses and face shield! ❤❤❤!! They are in very high demand in New York! And as soon as people seen them… they were gone! The hospitals no longer supply face shield because they are just not available anymore. I wish I could have got more pictures but there just wasn’t time. But I assure you that they were amazing! Thank you Connie Malavolti, Ashley Malavolti and Mat Rinaldo for the hook up! It was definitely needed! The shields protect us from much more than the glasses alone cuz there is a lot of coughing and spraying going on! 2. Amanda Davis for the goodies and the wonderful prayer that came with! It was very special! 3. Chauntelle Biagi-Bruer for the goodies and kind words! 4. Aunt Connie and Jeanie Lutz for getting several hand made masks for me to take at the very last minute!❤ and thank you Connie for the bag of super healing rocks! I wore them everyday! 5. Tammy Schlesinger Gunter for all the goodies and kind words! 6. Baily Jane and Betty Parks for the awesome lotions and cookies! ❤ 7. Jeny Orozco for the amazing words of encouragement and all the awesome gifts! 8. Tiffany Gebhardt for the awesome gifts and kinds words! 9. Mary Jaegle Milashoski for the awesome gift of dry shampoo! (it seriously made Britt Novak’s day!)and the other goodies as well!❤❤ 10. Jessica Torres for all the amazing goodies and encouragement! 11. Frances Ilnicky Van Ameyden thank you for the goodies and the great conversation that definitely brought a smile to my face! 12. Tina M Wenzel for the gifts and (over the top!) Encouragement! I am so very thankful! 13. Brenda Bickerman thank you for delivering the lysol wipes to my house before I left! I could not find any anywhere! 14. Gale Reno for the bag of snacks, gloves, mask crochet ties and other things that you sent at the last moment. 15. Nicole Bouxsien and family made several masks for us to take with. 16. The Eastgate Quilter ladies for making all the masks and redoing the design to include the laces to save our ears!❤ 17. Theresa Fisher for the crocheted ear savers! 18. Bobbi Van Schaick for the box of goodies! That came along with a great story! Definitely something that I would have done! Lol 19. Sharon VanLanduit for the amazing shoe inserts! They helped soooo much! And lastly, Katherine Twardowski for taking care of my 2 older babies while I was gone! (I really hope you will recover quickly! Lol). Tina Bergen Dolder and Ed Dolder for being everything for Carly while I cant! And for all the school teaching! And Margaret Bergen for the daily encouragement and text messages! Scottieonepaw ScottBergen and Brandy Lockett for all the love and support! And there has been so many others who have said some of the best things! I will never forget! Cameron Bergen and Cassy Cruz I am home! And I love you both so much! We WILL be spending some quality time together real soon! Like it or not! Lol I truly can not say how thankful I am to have you all in my life! I have the best family and friends that anyone could ever ask for!❤❤❤ I am feel very blessed to have been a part of NYC at this time of need. But this Is definitely my home! ❤❤❤

Comments…..

Jeny Orozco Love you Tammy!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Betty Parks Thank you for giving your ALL.

Tiffany Gebhardt Np Tammy Bergen…just my way of saying thanks for what U guys went and did! U went above and beyond what u had too! Hope to see u back around soon until then take care of urself and know u got friends who care! ❤️

Tina Bergen Dolder A shout out to Brenda Holloway Bickerman, Jerimey Bouxsein Nicole and family, Gale Reno ( Erin Marie Megan Holly let your mom know!!

Megan Dose Glad your back!!! 😘❤️❤️❤️

Bobbi Van Schaick The least I can do

Mary Jaegle Milashoski So happy that what we could do for you .. made a difference and brightened your day ..!💜💜

Amanda Davis 💜💜💜💜💜

Frances Ilnicky Van Ameyden Your selflessness in this horrible time of Covid19 has shown us what Love of Neighbor is all about. God bless you!

Jeanette Brewer Stay safe and you r a hero Stay safe

.

Thank You to All who has supported and followed Tammy. I as MOM want to give a SPECIAL THANK YOU, to Tina, for being the BEST SISTER Tammy could ever have.  She has done so much that you all will never know.  She was their from the minute Tammy made this descion to go, by getting supplies ready and MANY MANY other things concerning Carly’s care.  My Kids are all so AWESOME….Brittney is still their finishing her extended week.  She is doing ok.  Everyone has been so supportive of the girls and of all the Medical Personnel.  These people are helping and reporting the truths of what is happening in New York City.  They have answered the call not knowing where they were going to work, where they were going to stay.  They all knew they were putting their life on the line…..But they all went anyway…..They worked 12 hours straight covered in PPE.  So many had shortages of PPE, and much hospital supplies.  Some of the story’s I read were mindboggling to think nurses had to operate in such a manner and do things that were so unethical in the hospital setting.  And then the stories of the patients.  So heart wrenching……So many that passed alone….With only the nurse present….The last words from the family’s on the cell phones of the Nurses….

…..Memories these Medical Personnel Will Never Forget….

Tammy’s Home From New York ….. Coronavirus…..Thanks To All Tammy came home over the weekend.  She had signed up for another week, but it wasn't meant to be. 

[spoonfulofsexy]

Party Like A Stark

Peter Parker x Stark Reader

Part (5/6)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4  Part 6

Summary: Your 19th birthday party was a memorable one and maybe the best one yet.  One of the best things that came out of the party was Peter.  There’s definitely something budding between the two of you, but will it last?

Warnings: just some cursing!

Masterlist

AN: Hey friends! I know this is being posted late, it literally took me hours to write this chapter! Also don’t think I don’t like Zendaya’s character after reading this! I just thought it could work! also The actor or Ned, Jacob, is Filipino, and I’m filipina so I wanted to kinda to make his birthday party accurate to how it would be in real life haha anyway sorry for the long wait! I hope it was worth it!!

The last few weeks have been great for yours and Peter’s friendship.  Peter started coming to the Headquarters on the weekends, which meant more time to get to know each other.  The synopsis that you have gathered on Peter from the last few weeks is that he’s a major dork, like walks into a glass wall dork.  The amount of times he has walked into glass is quite impressive, but not for the cleaners who have to clean off the face mark of Peter Parker.  He is also a very sweet, and kind guy.  He really puts others before himself.  It’s really nice to have someone like that as a friend, because he always texts you to see how you’re doing that day or will drop everything to help you with something.  

Peter was like no one you have ever met before, and you were kind of mad at your dad for keeping him from you for so long.  Even Pietro and Wanda love hanging out with him.  You four will train together to help give one another practice on handling someone that has similar abilities as you.  Peter is getting better with tangling Pietro up in his webs, which was an L on Pietro’s pride.

After training, Peter will help you with upgrades on your armor, or bike.  Your dad is usually busy, so it’s nice to have Peter by your side when you get stuck or need an extra hand.  Your dad tried to convince you to build your own suit, but this was more your style. Your thing was more light, so it gave you the option to use your martial art abilities.  You had gauntlets that were inspired off of your dad’s iron man hands, each hand having repulsor beams.  Also, the gauntlets gave you a killer grip and more strength in your punches.  Another part of your armor were boots made out of gold titanium alloy that had flight boosts.  But you didn’t use your boots to fly around far distances, more like help you do sick air kicks and flips.  All your armor is painted a metallic black with an accent of deep purple.

Let’s not forget about your baby, your bike.  Your dad bought the Apache RTR 300 and the two of you amped it up.  You kept most of the same body work but added a few things.  New brakes were added so you could stop instantly, and mini missile guns were added to the sides.  The bike was also upgraded to be very quiet for stealth missions, but let’s not forget about your safety.  It has a tracker in it just in case it gets taken or you go missing.  Another great thing it does is taser anyone who tries to steal it, because you’d be kidding yourself if you thought no one would try to steal a multi million dollar bike. Fun fact you were nicknamed, the bullet, because of how fast you could go on your bike.

Another key part of your armor is your helmet. Your helmet has a layer of gold titanium alloy, so it can take hits without damage. It is designed like a sleek motorcycle helmet, but the inside has everything the iron man suit does.  FRIDAY is programmed in it to assist you with combat or riding.  You’ve also got an amazing sound system running through there, which is always helpful on long drives.  Both your bike and helmet matched your armor, and you usually wore your black leather jacket for, you know, style.  

~~~  

Today, Peter was tinkering with making a new web fluid while you were working on your gauntlets.  As you looked into a magnifying glass to see where to place a chip Peter spoke up.

“So are you busy Saturday?”, he asked as he busily poured a chemical into his beaker.

“Uhhhh”, you answered to focused to think about the question.  You placed the chip down and looked away from the glass. “No I don’t think so, why?”

Suddenly smoke started to rise from the beaker and Peter quickly threw the fire smothering blanket on it just incase it combusted.  He saw the unimpressed look on your face and he tried to smoothly hide it behind him with a laugh. Trying to distract you from his tenth failure, he carried on with the conversation.  “Well, Ned is having his birthday party, and I was kind of wondering”, he scratched the back of his head nervously. “If you wanted to come too?”

“Would he mind if I came?”, you asked Peter.

Peter thought for a few seconds.  He knew Ned would absolutely freak out if you came, but in a good way.  Peter shook his head with confidence, “He would love it if you were there.”

You smiled at the thought of finally going to a party with “normal” people around for the first time. “Yeah, I’m down”, you accepted Peter’s invite.

“Sweet! I’ll text you the address and time”, he said as he checked on his failed science experiment.

~~~

“Hey dad you busy?”, you came into his lab.  

He picked his head up from the blueprints he was staring at, “Never for you, pumpkin. What’s up?”

You grabbed a stool and sat across the counter from him. “Peter invited me to his friend’s birthday party this Saturday.”

“Are you going?”, he gave you a curious look.

“Well, am I allowed?”, you asked wondering if his question was a trick.

“Of course, you’re 19 (Y/N). I’m not going to stop you from going to a party”, Tony’s attention went back to his papers.

“Oh sweet, thanks!”

“Mhm”, he hummed clearly done with the conversation.

Slowly, you slid a glossy picture of Iron Man on top of his papers.  He looked up at you confused, “What’s this?”

“Well I was wondering if you could sign it for Ned, he’s a huge fan”, you said sweetly, hoping this would help convince your dad.

“He’s a friend of Peter?”, he raised an eyebrow at you.

“Yeah, and he’s like crazy smart too.”

“Alriiiiight”, your dad grabbed a sharpie.  “What should I say? ‘Don’t do drugs’?”, your dad joked.

“No just say ‘Happy Birthday Ned, your friend Iron Man’”, you shook your head.

“I’m not his friend!”, Tony argued back.

You groaned and threw your face into your hands.  “I know, dad, just say you are!”

“I know, I’m just being irritating”, your dad laughed and started to sign the photo.

You took the signed present. “Geez, now I know how Pepper feels”, you sighed and left his lab to go back to your room. As you walked, you decided to shoot Peter a text.

You: “Got my dad to sign something to Ned, do you think he’ll like it?”

Peter: “Wow, way to out shine my gift.”

You: “Is that a yes then?”

Peter: “I’m pretty sure it will be his prized possession next to his lego death star model.”

You: “Wow that’s an honor!”

Peter: “I’m telling you he loves you guys.”

You laughed at the idea of his best friend “fanboying” over you.  

Before you knew it, it was time to get ready for the party. You put on a white floral print chiffon crop top with an off-the-shoulder neckline, short sleeves with crochet trim, a sweetheart neckline, and button front. For pants you wore high waisted jeans with the ankles rolled, and you paired them with baby pink faux suede pointed toe flats.  

You said bye to your dad before going to the garage.  There you put on your leather jacket and slid your helmet on.

“Hello (Y/N)”, FRIDAY said after the helmet was all the way on.  

You straddled the seat of your bike and turned on the engine, “Hey FRIDAY, can you show me how to get to Ned’s house?”

“Of course.”

The road in front of you lit up with a line that showed you where to go.

“FRIDAY, can you play my jams playlist?”, you asked as you drove alone.

“Yes, any specific song to start?”, FRIDAY asked.

“Uhhh”, you changed lanes as you thought. “Sorry Not Sorry by Demi?”

“That’s a great choice.”  The music began to fill your ears, making the ride to Ned’s feel shorter.  Before you knew it you were pulling up to his apartment.

You got off your bike, and locked it down with your dad’s gravity pads.  Those made it impossible to lift the bike up or even move it.

Your heart rate began to pick up once you took off your helmet.  You felt out of place already, I mean you barely knew the kid and now you were showing up to his party.  You took a deep breath and knocked on apartment 203.  You could hear the music and talking on the other side of the door.  Suddenly, an older looking woman answered the door.

You put on your friendliest smile, “Hi, I’m here for Ned’s party.”

She looked at you confused, like she was analyzing every inch of you.  You’ve faced murderers, and killer robots but never has someone made you feel so nervous.  Then a familiar face walked up to the door.

“Mom who is-”, Ned’s jaw dropped when he looked at you. “Oh my god!”, he shrieked.

You awkwardly laughed, “Happy birthday, Ned.”

“Mom, this is (Y/N), (Y/N) Stark!”, he pulled you into the apartment.

“Ohhhhhh, welcome”, his mom shook your hand.  

“How did you know about my party?”, he asked completely starstruck.

“Well, Peter told me about it”, you took off your leather jacket and hung it on the coat rack.  

Ned’s smile was wider than ever, “I still can’t believe you’re here! Do you want food or any drinks?”  You followed Ned through the crowded room to the kitchen where there were platters of food all over the counter.

“We’ve got lumpia, which is like a filipino eggroll.  Some pancit, which is my fave! We also have some fruit salad and sticky rice wraps!”, Ned took you down and listed the whole line of food.  By the end of it your whole plate was full of samples.  

“Did your family make all of this?”, you said impressed at all the work that went into this.

“Well my titas helped but yeah”, he gave a proud smile.  

You took a bite of food, “Well it’s delicious who ever made it!”

“Thanks, they take pride in their food”, Ned laughed.

“As they should.”  Your eyebrows raised as you remembered to give Ned his gift. “Here, I have a gift for you!”, you pulled the large envelope out of your backpack.

“You didn’t have to!”, Ned said while accepting the gift.

With a mouth full of food, “It was no problem, really.”

Ned excitedly opened the envelope and pulled out the picture of Iron Man, “DUDE NO WAY!” Ned’s smiler grew even larger, which you thought was impossible. “THIS IS AWESOME THANK YOU SO MUCH!”

He hugged you, and your tried not to spill your plate.  “You’re welcome, there’s also money in there so you can buy stuff for college, or anything really”, you laughed.

“This is the best birthday ever, now we just need Peter”, Ned finally let go of you.

“Speaking of the devil”, you motioned to Peter and Aunt May walking in.

Peter’s eyes lit up when he saw you, but someone else was hoping he was looking at them.  Michelle was standing at the counter behind you but when he came up and hugged you, she felt a bit of her die. She looked down disappointed, she should’ve known that he would overlook her once again.  She has always had a crush on him, but she accepted it would never happen especially with college. Even though she accepted it, it still hurt to watch the person she loved be interested in someone else.  Jealousy began to build as she watched him hug you, but not only were you his crush, you were a Stark.  She hated everything that your father has stood for and you being the offspring made you no different in her eyes.

She walked up to you and the group. “Look who showed up late”, she motioned at Peter.

“It wasn’t my fault this time”, he put his hands up in surrender. “Oh this is -”, Peter was cut off in the middle of introducing you.

She took a close step to you, you already knew this wasn’t going to be a friendly interaction. “I know who she is.  She’s a Stark”, she said with disgust.  Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as to why she had pretty much spit on your name.  “My friends call me MJ, but you’ll call me Michelle.”

Her tone was not inviting, it irritated you knowing she was acting this way just because of who your dad is.  You took a step closer to her to match her hostility. “Okay, Michelle, I don’t know who you think you’re talking to-”

She cut you off with a sarcastic laugh. “I know exactly who I’m talking to. (Y/N) Stark, the daughter of a murderer and a joke for a hero.”

Your blood was boiling at this point, how dare she even speak of your loving father like that.  “You have no right to talk about my dad like that.  He has saved more lives than you can count, actually he even saved yours”, you poked her chest aggressively.  She rolled your eyes, clearly not taking you seriously.  Ned and Peter watched from the sides not sure whether or not to intervene. “Remember the fight of New York City? Well the government tried to nuke New York, and you know who risked their life to prevent the complete leveling of this city, my father”, you said the last part through gritted teeth as you tried to keep your composure.

“How about him inventing Ultron? Really saved many with that”, she took a jab at the sensitive topic.

You took a deep breath, “He was trying to prevent the world from disastrous attacks.”

“Well that’s ironic”, she nudged Ned trying to get a reaction.  “He murdered all those people.”

“He also helped save them.”

“Just because you save people doesn’t cancel out the fact that you have killed. He’s a joke”, she mocked.

That was enough, you didn’t know what came over you.  You pushed her backwards, “You have no right to talk about my dad like that. I’m tired of listening to you act like you know us!!  You’re a nobody!! My dad and I risk our lives for people like you and this is how you repay us! Talking us down like all we do is sit on our asses! My dad has stayed up countless nights, because of the things he has done! I don’t need you disrespecting him to my face!” You pushed her again, making her fall onto the couch.  Now she was looking up at you, and you could see the change in her attitude. You got down to her level and put a hand on each side of her face. In a low intimidating voice you said, “I don’t give a shit what you think, but you keep our name out of your mouth.”  

You pulled away only to notice that everyone was watching what had happened between you and Michelle.  Your rage settled as the embarrassment sunk in. You looked at Michelle guilty and red rose to your cheeks.  

“I think I should go”, you hugged Ned. “Sorry for ruining your party.”  Quickly you grabbed your jacket and helmet and walked out the door.  Before you could put your helmet on you felt someone grab onto your arm.

“Hey, c’mon you don’t have to go”, Peter stopped you.  But looking at Peter infuriated you, because why didn’t he stand up to Michelle with you.

“Oh look, Parker knows how to talk”, you said irritated.  You rested your helmet on your thigh as you were sat on your bike.  “Why didn’t speak up, Peter. You’re going to let people talk about me and your “mentor” like that?”, you shook your head in disbelief.

“No I didn’t know if I should step in, I didn’t want to disrespect you”, Peter explained.

You rolled your eyes at the bullshit excuse, “She literally embarrassed me infront of Ned’s whole family.  They probably think I’m some kind of savage for getting mad like that.”  Thinking about it just brought back the feeling of being exposed like that infront of all those kind people.  You were disgusted not only with Michelle or yourself, but with Peter.  

“No, they probably forgot about it already”, Peter tried to comfort you.

“Whatever, Peter. I can’t go back in there!”, you threw your arm in the direction of the door.  “I’m leaving.”  You put on your helmet and started the engine.  

Peter grabbed your arm again, not sure what to say.  You just shook him off and drove away.  The whole way back, the scene kept replaying in your head.  The way you rose your voice and got physical in front of all those people.  You’ve faced so many people like that before, why did she break you?  

You sped into the garage and hit the brakes hard making you stop while the back wheels lifted off the ground.  Your bike went back to the ground and you shut it off.  You ripped the helmet off in frustration and threw it the ground with an angry scream.

“Woah, what did that helmet ever do to you?”, Steve tried to settle you down. “I’m guessing the party didn’t go well, huh?”, he made you sit down on your bike.

You breathed heavily as you tried to fight off the tears.  “I looked like an idiot”, you finally managed out.  You looked down at your feet with shame.

“What happened?”,Steve asked as he knelt down to your level.  He could see the tears running down your face, making his chest ache.  “Aw c’mon, you don’t have to cry”, he rubbed comforting hands on your arms.

You rubbed a tear with the back of your hand. “This bitch, she came at me for no reason.  She was calling dad a murder and just disrespecting us in front of everyone.”  Steve gave you a sympathetic look and let you keep talking. “I can’t believe I let her get to me”, you said with a sob.

“Hey everyone breaks after a while, you’ve been so tough dealing with all the crap people give you.  I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself.”

You let out a sad laugh, “You know what’s the worst part?  Peter just let her throw dirt on our name like that.”

“Spider boy?”, Steve was actually surprised by this. “I thought-”

“So did I”, you bit your lip.  Did Peter actually agree with his friend? Maybe, she convinced him that you guys were monsters after all.

Tagged:  @elaacreditava​ @harleyquinnandscarletwitch​ @randisnotonfire @theperksofbeingyourmum @redstarstan @mamallama613 @peter-pan-hoe @alexiajmariani @avengersandchill @blueskaikru @wizardinthewrongplace @legendarydazekitten @farfromjustordinary @tomhollandisthicc​ @ur-average-princess​ @kingwolfey​ @jriles124 @superisatomboyuniverse

[noonetosmilefor]

old hollywood actors asks.

thanks for asking me all these questions, @hopedreamssoul. <3

Jean Harlow: Do you have a garden? If so, what kind of plants do you have? - I have a very big garden. We have all kind of trees, cherry trees, a walnut-tree, peach-tree, roses, tulips and all kinds of shrubbery.

Humphrey Bogart: Do you travel a lot? Where have you been? - I really love to travel. I love it so much. If I had more time and money I’d be away everyday. I already been to: Austria (jokes on you, I live there), Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain, UK, Turkey, Croatia, Greece and Bosnia.

Myrna Loy: Do you like going to parties? - Not really. I love houseparties with very good friends though.

Spencer Tracy: What time do you wake up? - When I have to go to work at about 6 AM. If not at about 9 or 10 AM.

Grace Kelly: What do you do when you're bored? - Watching random YouTube videos.

Jimmy Stewart: Do you have a good sense of humor? - I think so.

Veronica Lake: List some random facts about your physical appearance. - I have freckles, LITERALLY EVERYWHERE, especially in summer, very tall, blue eyes, natural, long light brown hair but in summer they turn really really blond-redish. 

Gary Cooper: Do you talk a lot? - Depends on the people and the topics.

Jean Arthur: Do you have any siblings? - Yes, two younger sisters.

Clark Gable: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? A bit of both? Something else entirely? - A bit of both. That changed lately.

Barbara Stanwyck: What are your hobbies? - Reading, listening to music, going to the cinema, binge watching tv shows.

Cary Grant: Do you have any pets? Have you ever had any? - Yes, currently 7 cats, 2 ducks, a few chickens, a few fish.

Gene Tierney: What are three things you like about yourself? - My eyes, my hands and sometimes my freckles.

Bing Crosby: Can you sing or play a musical instrument? Would you like to? - I can’t sing but can play the transverse flute.

Katharine Hepburn: Who do you admire? Why? - I admire my grandparents. Because they’re married to each other for over 50 years now and they’re so lovely.

Fred Astaire: What are your favorite sports? - I really enjoy swimming.

Ginger Rogers: Is there anything you've said that you'd like to take back? - A lot of things, sadly..

Gregory Peck: What is your dream job? - I’m more of a free spirit. I do what I currently long for. (I know, that’s hard.)

Audrey Hepburn: What are your favorite quotes? - “Give a man a gun, he’ll rob a bank. Give a man a bank, he’ll rob the world.” / “I don’t pretend to be captain weird. I just do what I do.”

Donald O'Connor: What is your favorite ice cream/sorbet flavor? - Chocolate.

Carole Lombard: What makes you laugh? - My friends, my pets and my sister.

William Powell: Describe your hairstyle. - I don’t have a certain hairstyle.

Bette Davis: Do you hold grudges? - Yeah, sometimes.

Frank Sinatra: What countries would you like to visit? - Canada and the USA (SOON!), Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands.

Lauren Bacall: Do you like to read? If so, what are your favorite books? - I LOVE TO READ. I love Noah by Sebastian Fitzek, it’s my favorite book of all time. But I’m also very into the Harry Potter series AND of course The Hobbit + The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.

James Cagney: What would you call your autobiography? - Wtf happened.

Rita Hayworth: What is your middle name? - Tamara.

Peter Lorre: How many languages do you speak? - 4ish.

Irene Dunne: What does your neutral face look like? - Pissed.

Henry Fonda: If you could do anything for anyone, what would you do? - I’d buy them (my best friend) ice cream. (Ok, I always do that every time I pick her up from work, because I know she loves it.)

Lucille Ball: What are some of your favorite jokes? - Parallel lines have so much in common, it’s a shame they’ll never meet. 

Jack Lemmon: What is/was your favorite subject in school? - English.

Marilyn Monroe: Do you like your name? Why or why not? - I like it. Because I was named after my uncle (Christian).

Gene Kelly: What color are your eyes? - Blue/grey.

Greta Garbo: Do you get sick easily or a lot? - Not really. 

Joel McCrea: Describe your laugh. - Kind of goofy.

Debbie Reynolds: What are you afraid of? - Spiders.

Dick Powell: Are you a night owl or a morning person? - Night owl.

Elizabeth Taylor: What is your religion? - None.

S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall: What was the best year of your life so far? - I guess 2014.

Joan Bennett: Do you worry much about your appearance? - Not really.

Robert Taylor: Describe your family. - Intact and a strong bond, even though my parents are divorced.

Eleanor Powell: Describe your bedroom and post a picture if you want. - At the end of this post you’ll see my bedroom how it currently looks. I have a few plants, two bookshelves (you can only see one from this ankle), a really big comfy bed and still the balloons my best friend gave me on Tuesday.

George Burns: List some random facts about yourself in general. - I laugh a lot but can get very serious at the right moments. I’m often a bit to curious. Hit me up with a spontaneous trip and I’m with you.

Gracie Allen: What is your shoe size? - 39/5,5/7,5.

Montgomery Clift: How tall are you? - 176cm/5′9″.

Lana Turner: What are you allergic to anything? - YES. Nearly every animal with fur. Hay, gras, mold, dust.

Paul Henreid: Are you a coffee person or a tea person? - Tea. I don’t like coffee.

Hedy Lamarr: As a child, did you have one article of clothing that you absolutely loved (like wouldn't take it off type of thing)? What was it? - Yes, my red Lion King jumper. I wouldn’t take it off. I also slept in it.

Claude Rains: Do you wear makeup on a daily basis? - Nah, I’m too lazy for that.

Cyd Charisse: If you had to describe yourself in only a few lines, what would you say? - I’m weird, I’m a weirdo, have you ever seen my without this goofy laugh? No? That’s weird, right?

Peter Lawford: What are your pet peeves? - When people chew too loud.

Vera-Ellen: Who are you jealous of? - A few people.

Buster Keaton: Are you easily offended? - No.

Paulette Goddard: Give a sample of your handwriting. - You’ll also find that picture down there.

Bob Hope: Do you have any dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, Kosher, etc.)? - No.

Dorothy Lamour: Say what are you live in, but be broad (e.g.: American Southwest, Maritimes, Central Europe, North America…) - In Central Europe, Austria, near Vienna, in a small town, in a big house with a big garden.

Charlie Chaplin: What kind of people get on your nerves? - Those who treat others like shit or constantly criticize them but can’t take it if someone criticizes them.

Ruby Keeler: What are your gender and preferred set of pronouns? - Her.

Tyrone Power: Do you have any stuffed animals? What kind of animals are they? What are their names? - I only have one big brown teddy. His name is Jamie Lokibear. (Idek man, don’t ask me.)

Joan Blondell: Are you at all nostalgic or sentimental? - YES.

Ronald Colman: Do you know any songs/poems/passages from novels or stories by heart? What are they? - YES. I especially admire this one: “It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end - because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing - this shadow. Even darkness must pass.” and always remember it when I’m said. I don’t even know why. It get’s me up and give’s me hope every time I think about it.

Ingrid Bergman: Are you good at doing impressions of people? - Yes, certain people.

Mickey Rooney: What book are you reading at the moment? - Only one? I’m reading I Saw A Man, Norse Mythology and A Song of Ice and Fire - A Clash Of Kings.

Judy Garland: Do you believe in an Afterlife? - Yes.

Groucho Marx: Do you tend to be sarcastic/ironic? - Everyday.

Jeanette MacDonald: Do you prefer warm or cold weather? Cold. 

Harpo Marx: Do you talk a lot? Too much? - A lot. But not too much.

Joan Crawford: Write a poem describing one or many of these three things: your eyebrows, a baked potato, a yellow tie-dye sock. - “You’re bushy or thin, you’re mushy or slim. But I know without him the yellow tie-dye sock may be a sin.” (Wtf, brain?)

Chico Marx: Can you change your voice/fake accents? - Yes.

Mary Martin: Can you cook/bake at all? - I’m not that good at cooking, but my baking skills are pretty good.

Zeppo Marx: Do you think you're funny? -Yes.

Mary Tyler Moore: What are your parents' first names? - Karin and Peter.

Edward G. Robinson: Draw a self portrait. - Nah, I’m not that good of a drawer.

Doris Day: Who do you miss? - Two of my cats..

Dick Van Dyke: Can you sew/knit/crochet/etc.? - I can sew and knit.

Janet Leigh: What are some things that you feel guilty being happy about? - Being alive.

Basil Rathbone: What is one belief/conviction you'll never give up? - That everybody has a right to live.

[ajohnnygoldmain]

1-99

Ok, I did ask for it.

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? False! My bedroom has an open floorplan walk-in.2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? No3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Out. I can’t sleep with my feet covered unless it’s seriously cold.4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before? No5: Do you like to use post-it notes? In theory more than in practice6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Sometimes7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Bear8: Do you have freckles? Yes9: Do you always smile for pictures? I try to :)10: What is your biggest pet peeve? Currently, people who walk too slow/groups who walk in a line side by side and take up the whole sidewalk so you can’t pass them. >:(11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Sometimes. Less so since I started using my pedometer. 12: Have you ever peed in the woods? Yes?13: What about pooped in the woods? No14: Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing? Sometimes, but not often15: Do you chew your pens and pencils? No16: How many people have you slept with this week? One17: What size is your bed? Queen18: What is your Song of the week? How Far I’ll Go from Moana19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Absolutely!20: Do you still watch cartoons? Yeah!21: Whats your least favorite movie? Easy Rider is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life, and I’ve seen some bad movies22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Not sure23: If you’re a girl, bra size? If you’re a guy, pants size? Pants: 34x3024: What do you dip a chicken nugget in? BBQ sauce or honey mustard25: What is your favorite food? PIZZA

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love? The whole HP series.27: Last person you kissed/kissed you? My boyfriend28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Nope29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? How much $$$ are we talking?30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? Um.31: Can you change the oil on a car? I learned how, but I haven’t had a car in several years32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Nope!33: Ever ran out of gas? No, thankfully. Came close once.34: Favorite kind of sandwich? Grilled cheese35: Best thing to eat for breakfast? Either breakfast sausage or toaster strudel36: What is your usual bedtime? Midnight - 1am37: Are you lazy? Is this a callout?38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Power Ranger twice, alien twice, a few other things.39: What is your Chinese astrological sign? Horse40: Are you horny? ;)41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Nope42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos43: Are you stubborn? I can be :)44: Who is better…Leno or Letterman? Indifferent45: Ever watch soap operas? Yep46: Are you afraid of heights? Kind of47: Do you sing in the car? Only if I’m alone48: Do you sing in the shower? Sometimes49: Do you dance in the car? Not really50: Ever used a gun? Yes51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? 201252: Do you think musicals are cheesy? Yes, but that’s not a bad thing53: Is Christmas stressful? Only during food prep54: Ever eat a pierogi? Yep!55: Favorite type of fruit pie? Dutch apple56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? I never really had one thing I wanted to be when I grew up57: Do you believe in ghosts? Yeah58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? ALL THE TIME59: Take a vitamin daily? I wish I did60: Wear slippers? I have some, but no61: Wear a bath robe? Nope62: What do you wear to bed? Just underwear usually63: First concert? Oh heck, I don’t remember64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Target65: Nike or Adidas? Indifferent66: Cheetos Or Fritos? Cheetos67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? Nope69: Ever take dance lessons? No70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? Whatever makes them happy :)71: Can you curl your tongue? No72: Ever won a spelling bee? No73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yes74: Own any record albums? Nope75: Own a record player? No76: Regularly burn incense? No77: Ever been in love? Yes78: Who would you like to see in concert? Adele79: What was the last concert you saw? Transsiberian Orchestra80: Hot tea or cold tea? Both81: Tea or coffee? Tea, or a latte that includes chocolate82: Sugar or snickerdoodles? Snickerdoodles83: Can you swim well? Yes84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? No85: Are you patient? I try to be86: DJ or band, at a wedding? DJ87: Ever won a contest? Yep!88: Ever have plastic surgery? Nope89: Which are better black or green olives? Black90: Can you knit or crochet? I cannot91: Best room for a fireplace? The study92: Do you want to get married? Yes93: If married, how long have you been married? N/A94: Who was your HS crush? I don’t remember having one. I had elementary and middle school crushes, though.95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? No96: Do you have kids? No97: Do you want kids? I think so98: Whats your favorite color? Cobalt blue99: Do you miss anyone right now? I have a few good friends who live in other states that I miss

[idealisticrealism]

Blindspot 2x13 recap

(Aka the one with Shepherd’s real name)

So much going on in this ep! Weller gets his Boss Pants on to stop some terrorist farmers, and then ends up kidnapped by the creepiest terrorist with the most boring name, our very own Shepherd AKA Ellen Briggs. Meanwhile Roman is barely present (sadly), Jane is adorable, Tasha is an awesome friend, Reade is a mess, and Patterson needs to be swaddled in blankets and protected at all costs.

A very delayed and slightly shorter review this week, but lbr I’m gonna have so many thoughts about the Rich ep that it’ll more than make up for it haha.

Lol I was wondering why I had no memory of this opening scene and then I remembered that my crappy livestream was having issues the other day and I didn't see anything before when Shepherd says goodbye to Kurt on the couch. Oh man I can't believe how much I missed? I'm LOVING this young rebel Kurt (we knew he snuck out to see Sarah, but dude he literally punched a guard for it?? And ughhh he's all angsty and has those intense blue eyes and okay legit who is this actor because I am getting young Wentworth Miller vibes from him and it is WORKING FOR ME. Aaaand then Shepherd shows up and ruins my buzz, bc of course she does. Also she is either a really old-looking 30yr old here or a very young looking 50yr old in present day haha. "To really protect people, you need power. This place is the first step in getting it" yeaaaahhhh mm-hmmm this place is totally a Sandstorm recruitment spot. I just know it. And aaaahhhhh that whole scene was a memory that he was recounting to Jane as they approached the school, I’m so happy about it. Also lol remember earlier in the season when like half a scene could go by before you even realised Jane was in the room? That's now happening to Nas instead (literally it seemed like Weller and Jane were alone given how focused they were on each other). Also damn, Archie is so tiny! What a lil munchkin. Also I love how much more positively he responds to things that Jane says vs things that Nas says? I appreciate that subtle difference there writers, thank you

Sigh Reade what is with this endless string of bad decisions? You clearly do not want this woman in your apartment right now, and you weren't planning on getting her number either. Dude. And you missed your daily morning workout with Zapata! Which I, for one, am delighted to learn is a thing that they do. And then awww Patterson calling them 'the three amigos'. She is too cute. I need this team to be together forever okay?? Like for their whole careers and then when they retire they can all go on cruises together and hang out and stuff. But anyway then she shows them the tattoo they'll be following-- some fake Genesis quote (the bible passage, not the band) that some farmer posted about, and when they ask how she found out about it, she hedges and says she doesn't want to bore them with the details. And Reade totally speaks my mind when he asks, "Since when???" haha. And then she says it's ‘too much math’?? Nope, uh-uh, something is wrong here. Patterson never misses an opportunity to get her math on. Is she deliberately being evasive or is she having difficulties with mental calculations etc? Seriously c’mon Tasha and Reade, don't just let that slide. But they head off, both saying 'let's move' at the same time because they're two lame-o’s that are just super lame and I love them

Lol the secretary lady gushing over Weller. And then Jane corrects her that he's the Assistant Director rather than an agent and hmmm who’s gushing now?? Aaaaahhhh Wifey is so proud of her man. Like just genuinely proud and amazed by him and ugh save me. And then hahaa "you both work for the FBI too?"-- *ex-terrorist/unpaid FBI asset and shady NSA agent look at each other*-- "Sure" haha. But wait a sec, is this the same boss guy? He kept that job for twenty years? Nice. And then omg 'Ellen Briggs'. I'm sorry, I think you just named a florist who lives in the suburbs with her husband and four kids and who crochets in her spare time, not a psychotic terrorist leader. I just... Ellen. It’s so... harmless-sounding?? And then the boss guy talks about how this army lady that occasionally came to give talks convinced him to keep one random student and then even paid that student's fees? Like how did that not see weird to him???  And then the moment the three of them leave the friendly reception lady calls Sandstorm??? Geez. It’s like I’ve always said, never trust people who smile too much. All those gleaming teeth gotta be hiding something. Also lol I feel like Nas (and even Jane) didn't really need to be there for that but I appreciate that Weller brought Jane with him at least. lbr Nas probably invited herself along bc being the unwanted third party is kinda her specialty

So now the team has a name to go on, but still don't seem to be having much luck. Damn military firewalls. But wait she was a Major General, and the Deputy Director (seems like the deputies are the important ones in this show) of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency? Is that a thing? I'mma google it. Huh it actually is a thing; the DTRA is "the official Combat Support Agency for countering weapons of mass destruction." So basically she was once part of the jedi order but then turned to the dark side. Well, I guess fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and we all know where hate leads... on a completely unrelated note, though, I am going to have "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" stuck in my head for approximately the next 600 years. Thanks, show. But anyhow totally unsurpirsingly most of the info about Shepherd is redacted or missing so they still don't really know much more than they did before. But they do figure out that she's paying for the care of an old colleague/friend of hers so at least that gives them a place to start looking. And lol for the second time this morning someone has said let's go' and everyone immediately leaves.... except Patterson, who just chills and enjoys the cushy desk chair and climate control in her lab haha. 

Lol Zapata trying to suggest that Reade sees a psychologist. That's actually a really good idea, Reade. Though I will admit your last experience with a psych wasn't a great one...

Weller you recognised that game SO FAST. How old were you even in ‘88? Six? Though apparently this game was a super big deal, like it was a miracle win for them somehow? Idk enough about baseball history but could this game and the Dodgers be an allusion to something that happened with Shepherd/Sandstorm in 88? And then when Jane introduces herself as Remi (which must be weird for her) he says she's not on the Dodgers. Does it actually mean something?? And then after Nas is all "give up he's got dementia" Jane is the one that comes up with an idea, suggesting that Weller talk to him about baseball to maybe get through to him. She also totally unnecessarily touches his arm as she suggests it which I am appreciative of. I am so Jeller-starved that I’ll take whatever I can get lol. And then ughh the way she watches him as he talks to the old man. Nas sees it, she knows what's up... and ugh Jane looks so sad for him when the guy just says the line about Kurt playing for the mets (and that he was supposed to be a national but 'they would never allow that".) She wanted so badly for Weller to get some answers bc she knows how awful it is to not know something so huge about your life and ughhhhh my babies

So the team has reunited and Jeller are up to speed about the farmer with the plans for a big kaboom. And then suddenly they find him with facial recognition... in their own building. And loolll I love that the whole team immediately starts running-- except for Patterson, who is like "Running? Nah thanks. You guys got this" haha. Also seriously like did the team take the stairs? Or did they just sprint into the elevator and then all stand there awkwardly shuffling their feet while the elevator took them to the correct floor? Because this is a detail that is very important to me and I must know it. And then they catch the guy who is *gasp* an informant, but my main interest is that the team managed to gain two random agents on the way?? Like how did they get them? Were they in the elevator and just ran out with the crowd?? "Hey guys what's going on oh okay we’re running now??". And then wtf this dude is working for them??? Oh wait, no, he's working for Mr DoucheyFace, who is literally having him entrap private citizens, which both Weller and myself are pretty sure is a no-no. And which Weller yells at him about (mysteriously suddenly sans jacket) and takes over because he is the MAN IN CHARGE. And I dig it. 

So anyway aaaahhhh Jane/Roman is everything and ugh Roman is having confusing ~feels~ about Shepherd and I don’t like it. And come on lbr they would totally give the files on Shepherd to Roman. They need to know what he remembers and that would be one of the best ways to do it. But ugh of course Jane is scared that he's gonna remember the Zipping and ugh my babies

Speaking of babies, ugh Patterson is still not looking good (health-wise, not appearance-wise, because she always looks gorgeous). The now-jacketed Weller is picking up on it too, and ugh he's concerned about her and also knows she's keeping something from him. And then bam she drops the bomb that she used the info from Omaha and omg Weller's face is like sTOP BREAKING THE RULES EVERYBODY and then omg he strides angrily back to where Doucheyface is and the guy calls him 'sir' which pleases me bc he da boss and also bc the team doesn't have to call him sir bc they’re his squad hehe. And then Weller is really doing his taking charge thing (update: the jacket is gone again lol) and oooooh he's let the douche convince him to send the informant guy out into the field against his better judgement and oooohhhh he's gonna regret thiiiiisssss. Aaaaaand yep he does, bc psycho farmer lady sees right through the informant’s shit (never try to fool a pissed off woman) and dude they couldn’t have given him a vest?? I have a hard time believing Weller allowed him out there without a vest. And oooh now we’re having a bike chase kinda reminiscent of 2x01 while RUDE FARMER PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING AT MY BABIES. But natch our super squad take care of them, though meanwhile doucheyface ruins Weller’s mojo and the crazy lady gets away. Bummer.

So Nas clearly has no problem giving Roman all Shepherd’s files, contrary to what Jane was saying. And I love this spinning camera effect that captures Roman's confusing feelings as he looks at the photos and ugh he wants to know if Briggs is his last name too (thank god it’s not) and why she didn't legally adopt them and then ughhh he has 'warm' feelings towards the pictures of Shepherd and maybe THIS is what Jane was afraid of? Him forming an attachment to Shepherd?? But in any case ugh I just wanna hug my baby boy

Mmmm more Shouty Boss Weller. I love when he shouts at people I don't like. And I love that he has the power to fire this guy. But man things don't look great, the team can't find the lady anywhere..... and then their system reports a robbery which proves that Crazy farmer lady has a whole ton of explosive stuff (not a literal tonne. But a lot. idk) to blow something sky high. And so naturally Jeller, the A team and the perfect combination of Strong Trustworthy Justice Man and Caring Compassionate Understanding Lady, are the ones to go talk to the farmer guy they captured to try and learn what the target is. I mean who wouldn't want to spill their guts to these two. I'd say anything just in the hope that they’d think well of me. And clearly Farmer Joe feels the same, because he tells them where the target is, and they all race there-- Weller naturally again choosing Jane to stick with him. #Lifepartners. But then Patterson radios in--- a Big Truck is racing towards the building and is almost certainly carrying the explosives. So what does Weller do? Why, stand in the middle of the road, of course! Because you know he just hasn't been almost-killed in an explosion for like a couple of days and the poor dude's going through withrdawals. But of course he’s such a badass that even a speeding truck ain't gonna dare mess with him, so it ends up crashing instead (okay, the bullets he expertly put into its tyres might have had something to do with that) but tbh rn all I can think about is Jane watching this situation??? Like she must be so scared for Weller standing there unprotected (no one can convince me she wasn't going to try and tackle him out of the way if the truck had gotten any closer) but she would also trust in his judgement and his abilities and let's not lie here, she totally found that whole moment as hot as we did. But anyway fantasies aside, crazy lady jumps out of the truck with a detonator in hand and is immediately surrounded by the team. And then ugh everything that both Jane and Weller say to her reflects so much of the FBI vs Sandstorm/ good vs bad theme of this season and ughhh he walks right up to her and takes the detonator from her hand and dude you're not making it easy for me to focus on the Serious Life-Threatening Business rn bc I'm already back to thinking about how much Jane probably wants to shove you against a wall rn and gawd this is just a lot for me to handle rn

Oh but here's a proverbial bucket of cold water, in the form of Nas, coming into Weller's office and instantly killing the mood. Geez, lady, you're like that visitor that overstays their welcome and misses all the cues to leave. She’s also again playing the unwanted stand-in for Jane in this scene (legit this would have been a great scene between Jeller but instead is completely uninteresting and feels insincere, despite it being meant to be deep). Also she mentions something about Sandstorm and personal stuff causing him to lose sight of the ‘bigger picture’ and I am so sure that this is foreshadowing for when she's revealed to be some kind of sneaky traitor who was using them this whole time for her own shady gains. It's coming, I know it.

Ah, thankfully here's a much better duo. Weller is making Patterson stop using Omaha because using it is crossing the line into Bad Guy Zone and compromising themselves. And she gives in, but has a last bomb to drop-- Mayfair had spoken to the old guy in the nursing home back when he was in charge of the DC office, suggesting Weller be promoted/transferred to DC the year before. But Shepherd blocked it, ensuring that Weller was still with the NYO when Jane was found. Ooooooohhhh Weller, how deep in this web are you tangled? And why?? Dramaaaaa. Also as a sidenote, Patterson's voice has sounded off throughout this entire episode and I am so interested to know if Ashley just like has a cold atm or if she's deliberately altering her pitch as a subtle sign that ~something is amiss~. I mean she's a voice actor so this is literally her jam...

Naw and another pair that I enjoy so much more than any that includes Nas! Tasha gives Reade some gentle ribbing about their gym date, but in true Zapata fashion, is genuinely caring beneath the jokey exterior. And she tries to support him with his possible 'new relationship' and tells him not to get in his own way. Which we all know he's not going to listen to bc he's Reade and he's a freakin disaster

Weller in the nursing home is actually super cute. And then he's trying to get info from the old guy about why Shepherd (I can’t call her Ellen, it's too weird) wanted him to stay in NYC. And the guy says "You're the face of the franchise, her star player", but okay WHY. Why is he their Chosen One???? And what the hell is the Truman Protocol?? Is it a nod to the movie The Truman Show, where the guy has been watched his whole life, playing a role his whole life, without even knowing?? And then shit, they go to his room to talk privately (bad idea) and BAM a wild Shepherd appears?? Plus a dude who must be wearing super bulky coat to have been able to sneak that GIANT GUN into a nursing home???

Aaaaaahhhh Jane shows up at Roman's cell and is taking about what they'll have for dinner and it sounds like they do this all the time which is THE CUTEST THING. But then Roman's too focused on Shepherd and her light terrorism so it kinda puts a dampener on things. Just like when he questions her about whether she's being used by the FBI, and ughhhh I love that she is so sure when she says she helps them because she wants to (because they're her faaaamily ughh). But ugh I hope his anti-FBI-ness and insistence that they control her doesn't make her waver in her belief of her place in the team.... though lbr she already made her choice about where her loyalties lie and I can't see her ever turning away from the team. Not from them, and definitely not from Weller. Maybe not even if Roman's life depended on it, though I really hope we never have to find out for sure.

Sigh okay I have to say I just really don't like Nikki. They've given us nothing likable about her, and instead have her not only insult Reade's good qualities but also encourage his bad ones. He was already starting to spiral and she's just puling him down faster and ughhhh it’s frustatinggggg

And okay I have such conflicting feelings about Oliver. On one hand he's a bit of a cutie pie and he's genuinely sweet to Jane (ngl I 'aawwwed' a lil bit at the handholding scene), but on the other hand I know that he would just never be able to be able to accept Jane's true self and her past in the way that Weller does, so it's clear they have no real future. Plus, given my ridiculous prejudice against my own accent (and the cousin-accent of New Zealanders) every time he speaks it legit drives me insaaaane. I just need him to not talk, ever. Sigh but anyhow definite points to him for making Jane smile. Shame that his comeback basically means he's probably gonna die or at least meet with some unpleasant circumstances in the near future....

Naw Zapata showing up in Patterson's lab to make sure she's okay and that she's eating and ughhhhhh Tasha Zapata is SUCH A GOOD FRIEND. And ugh I love her so much for trying, even though it's only making Patterson flip out more. And seriously the voice thing is getting even more obvious and actually I just noticed Patterson also looks like she's wearing less eye makeup than usual and I feel like this is about to--- aaaaaaand she's on the floor. Noooooo. Sigh my baby, I hate seeing bad things happening to youuuu

And nooo my other baby. I'm sorry Weller honey I actually kinda forgot that Shepherd had you lol. And uuhhhh wtf is this 'powerful medicine' she used to get the old demented guy lucid? Bc lbr lady if you have something that can reverse Alzheimers, then seriously give up on the Sandstorm crusade and just patent that shit, you'll be a billionaire in no time! But anyhows Shepherd is being her usual super creepy self and is gushing over Weller, who is apparently 'saving the country' with her. Somehow. And so we know that she and Remi came up with the tattoo plan together, but she was the one that involved Weller in it. And she seems to fully expect that he'll help 'when the time comes' which definitely indicates that she knows something that we don’t. And wooooowwww she's kneeling in front of him legit stroking his thighs and GAWD WOMAN YOU CREEP ME OUT. Why must she be SO STROKEY all the time??? And then she cuddles with the old dude (who she apparently cared about) while she stabs him in the chest, before telling Weller that he'll have no choice but to join her, and that in another life, they could have been family. WHAT. THE. FUCK. Does she mean literally, like she was somehow connected to someone in his family-- ie, had been with his dad or something? Or is she being more poetic?? I literally cannot get a read on her, mostly bc she's all over the freakin place!!! She's a mess. But ugh anyhow Weller's gonna cut himself free soon and ugh I just wanna know who he calls first bc I obviously want for him to call Jane bc she's his ~person~ and ugh I need her to race to where he is and be so relieved when he's okay and ugh I just need some more Jeller huggin' alright???

Anyway sorry for the short(er) review-- tbh I really enjoyed this ep as I was watching it live, but I realised later that a big part of the enjoyment was the anticipation for another great Jeller moment... which never happened. I mean I get why, bc the ep had to reintroduce Oliver and also have Weller abducted, so there was hardly a chance to end this ep with another awesome Jeller moment like we got last time. But STILL. We all know I rate ep quality by the quality of the Jeller it contains, so to me this ended up just being a ‘good’ ep rather than an amazing one. But hey, Rich makes any ep and instant fave, so bring on ep 14!!!  

[hesternny-blog]

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[bigtinyworldtravel]

Unlike dogs, cats don’t usually travel very well.  So when we cat lovers are on the road, we rely on the local cat populations to get our purr fix.  With nine months and over twenty countries under our belts, we found some of the best cat hotspots on the world.

If you love cats as much as I do, these locations are sure to put a whisker-induced smile on your face!

Now, truth be told, we found cats almost everywhere we went.  Or rather… they found us (or perhaps just me).  We were even visited by felines in a couple camps in Namibia!  We used to joke that we wouldn’t see a cat all day.  The thought would strike me, and I’d casually remark, “where are all the kitties?”  And one would just appear!  Perhaps my clothes are secretly infused with catnip.

It delighted me to no end!  We even took to naming them in our Instagram stories.  I befriended over 160 individual felines (I kind of lost count after that).  But some places were more cat-saturated than others.

#6: Rome, Italy

The famous Colosseum is actually home to a number of cat colonies, and in Rome, any groups of five or more felines are protected by law.  However, cats aren’t too fond of large crowds (and neither are we), so with the throngs of tourists, they mostly kept out of sight.  They do get a mention on our list, though, for the cat-themed Colosseum magnets and official notices upon entering.

#5: Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia

I have to mention this gem for those seeking the big cats.  If you’ve been following our adventures, you’ll know we struck out on seeing lions and cheetahs when we spent a week in Namibia’s Etosha National Park.  Therefore, we went 8 hours out of our way to backtrack to the Okonjima Nature Reserve – a reserve specifically dedicated to education and rescue of large cats.

Mostly a sanctuary for leopards, the site also shelters cheetahs and lions.  If you want to see the big cats in their element, you have a much higher likelihood of seeing them on one of the game drives here.  You can read our entire leopard-seeking adventure here.

#4: Kotor, Montenegro

Now here, we saw lots of kittehs!  Known for its stray cat populations, this cute little town in Montenegro is also a charming place to explore in its own right.  Climb the fortress ruins behind the center of town, and you’ll have plenty of feline companions with whom to share the view.

Kotor even has a dedicated cat museum (that we somehow stupidly missed when we were there)!!

We also follow @kotorkitties on Instagram, whose mission it is to care for the Kotor cat population through a trap-neuter-release program and public education.

#3: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Also known as “Kings Landing” by Game of Thrones enthusiasts, this walled city on the coast of the Adriatic Sea quickly became one of our favorite places.  Not only is it a stunningly beautiful place to visit, it comes with some remarkable history and unique architecture to explore.

The main old town is centered around a plaza with narrow alleys ascending in stairs to the outer walls.  And each of these winding paths house dozens of nooks for kitties to take shelter, from which they’ll mew at you for scraps as you pass.  We got in the habit of carrying cat treats on us, and I stopped frequently for those who would permit my affection (much to Aaron’s chagrin).

From the bus stop to the local grocery, the bridge through the wall to the pier, we found feline friends around every corner!  Our Airbnb in Dubrovnik was even bedecked in cat-themed linens and curtains!!

I should also mention that this was true for most of the places we visited in Croatia.  The large hill overlooking Split was sprinkled in paw prints, cats joined us at the sea organ in Zadar, and I had a kitty curl up in my lap in Trogir (I was chosen!!!).  This could be one of the reasons we fell so much in love with Croatia!

#2: Japan

It should be no surprise that Japan nears the top of this list.  With compact living – particularly in the cities – cats make the perfect small, low-maintenance companion for the hardworking Japanese.

Japan has a particular affinity for felines, and this can be seen in everything from the maneki-neko “lucky cat” welcoming guests into shops and “cat girls” at the maid cafes to cat-themed dishware and the original cat cafes that have now swept the globe.  We also saw them lining the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto.

A cat is quite comfortable at Cafe Jalala Cat Cafe in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan is even the home of both Aoshima and Umashima – two literal cat islands!  These kitty havens are home to over 100 cats each, far surpassing the human populations of about 15 and 30, respectively.  We didn’t get a chance to see these last time, so you can bet that these are high on our bucket list for our return trip!

#1: Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul (not Constantinople) has become world-famous for its street cats (possibly due, in part, to the cat-aholic’s favorite documentary, Kedi).  And it’s easy to see why!  Not only can they be found wandering the streets everywhere throughout the city, but they are actively protected and cared for (even during a pandemic!).  Local residents put out boxes for shelter and dry kibble for food.

Believe it or not, but there are actually more stray dogs in Istanbul than cats.  We saw our fair share of the former, but we never would have suspected, even after a local pooch followed us along the waterfront for well over a mile.  Perhaps I just have eyes for cats, because they appeared to be much more plentiful.

Why are there so many there?  This article actually answers that question quite well.  Evidently, cats are considered a very clean animal and are thus revered in Muslim communities.  It helps that they are also fantastic hunters, keeping mice and rat populations at bay.

If you want the full feline immersion, we found the highest populations on the Asian side in Kadıköy (Catikoy? :3).

Cat cafes

If you find yourself lacking in purrs and whiskers, try to find your closest cat cafe.  Originating in Japan, this idea of sipping a latte while playing with kittens has understandably become quite popular worldwide.  We have a cat cafe at home in Portland, and we also visited one in Bristol (in addition to two in Tokyo!).  This is a fantastic way to get your kitty fix without a large local stray population.

Cat Festivals

People love cats all around the world!  I definitely want to check a few of these out!

CatCon (Los Angeles, California, USA) – What could be better than an entire convention dedicated to CATS??   Famous internet cats, panels, and more cat photo ops than you can shake a feather toy at!

Edmonton International Cat Fest (Edmonton, Canada) – This festival is much like the convention above, but 100% of its profits goes to local cat rescues.  And great news!  They’re hosting a digital festival this year on May 30th for just $10.  We might just do that… :3

Kattenstoet (Ypres, Belgium) – This massive cat parade has a dark history, and I almost didn’t include it.  Originating in the Dark Ages, it is thought this cat throwing festival symbolized ridding oneself of evil spirits during a time of witchcraft.  Now, no cats are harmed, and only stuffed animals are thrown to expectant children below amidst massive cat floats and spectators bedecked in cat costumes.

Cat Video Festival (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) – The internet is made of cats,  right?  We love watching their furry antics, and this festival collects the best gems from the interwebs into a night of catertainment.  We were fortunate to attend a similar spinoff in our own city, where we got to see Moshow, the cat rapper live!

Catfest (London, UK) – Panels, kittens, vegan food, videos, shops, and all things cat – what’s not to love?

Housesitting

If all else fails (or if you’re like me and just can’t get enough kitties in your life), you can also consider housesitting during your travels.  Not only do you get to come home from each day of sightseeing to a warm fuzzball, but this type of arrangement has the added bonus of free lodging!  It is by far our favorite way to travel.

We loved the time we got to spend with Jack, Mr. Purrkins (yes, really!), Bille Sox, Marvel (I loved his antics more than Aaron did), Lola, Jackson, Dimka, Captain Ahab, Zissou, Blackie, Ron, Oscar, Kedi (in Istanbul!), and Chispo, and we miss each and every one of them.

You can read more about our experiences with housesitting and other ways we save on lodging here.

Final Thoughts

As some of you might have figured out by now, I am a tad obsessed with cats.  I dearly love our two little fuzz balls at home – so much that I crocheted little minis of them out of their own fur to take traveling with us.

We’re sad we haven’t gotten to Southeast Asia yet, as we hear places like Malaysia are also quite fond of cats.  Once we do, I imagine we’ll need to update this post with a few more!

I’m always looking for new cat experiences around the world, and I can’t wait to discover new kitty havens.  Someday, perhaps I’ll even find a cat who wants to travel with us!

Check out some of our favorite worldly felines in our latest video!

Where have you found the best cat spots around the world?

Like this post? Every like, comment, and share helps us grow, travel more, and continue to share amazing stories like these with you!

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  The Top 6 #CatHotspots in the World - If you love cats as much as we do, then you'll want to check out these top cat hotspots around the world. Get your cat fix where purrs abound! #bigtinyworld #catlover #worldcats @HeyKitties Unlike dogs, cats don't usually travel very well.  So when we cat lovers are on the road, we rely on the local cat populations to get our purr fix.