#but i think it turned out decent in the end

[andhumanslovedstories]

you think often of how nurses should speak and relate to patients, and i highly appreciate knowing you put this kind of thought in and share it with other nurses. but as someone who often occupies the patient position, i'm curious if you have any thoughts on ways for patients to interact with nurses, when we are in decent enough control of our faculties to make choices about that. i would like this knowledge from both an altruistic perspective in recognizing nursing is difficult and not wanting to voluntarily make it difficulter, and a wholly self interested position of knowing nurses who like interacting with me give better care. what helps as a professional and as a person?

I'm surprised how much I had to think about this question. What do I want patients to do? I don't know. A lot of it is basic human decency, some of it is specific to my nursing workflow, but overall I find it complicated saying what patients "should" do. I cut out about 500 words of navel gazing from this post explaining why. Here are answers I've come up, in no order and not of equal importance.

--a lot of it is basic "polite interaction with another person in a professional setting." If you're asking this question, you probably care about treating people well in general. If you wouldn't say it to a barista, would you say it to your nursing tech?

--don't do joke answers to basic orientation questions like "what's your name" and "where are you right now", because it's annoying to have to clarify if you're actually confused or if you're fucking with me. I know they're annoying. Just answer correctly so we can move on.

--have some flexibility and patience. Hospitals have a lot of moving parts, and each person interacting with you has other patients that also need care. My hospital and state has mandated nursing ratios. The maximum amount of patients I've had in one assignment is five. Other hospitals have far less protection, and nurses may have six, eight, twelve other patients. Our respiratory therapists each cover multiple units. One CNA might cover the entire floor. I know if melatonin is the difference between you sleeping or not sleeping, it is very frustrating for someone to bring it late. I just ask you keep in mind that there's dozens of reasons that might happen besides someone ignoring you.

--help us help you. If you can lift your arm up for me to put a blood pressure cuff on, why are you holding your arm completely limp so it's like putting pants on a toddler than doesn't want to get dressed? If you can help roll yourself in bed, help us roll you. If your IV is beeping, hit the call light so someone can come turn it off. If you don't have urgency issues and you can tell you're going to need to go to the bathroom soon, call before it's an emergency. If your IV hurts when I give you medication at 8 pm, tell me then, not when I'm trying to give you your midnight antibiotic and all the evening staff have already gone home.

--if you don't understand how something works in the hospital (what happens when you hit the call light, how often are people going to take your vital signs, why can't I get up and walk around the room), just ask. It's really easy for people who work in a hospital every day to forget other people aren't familiar with it.

--don't treat doctors noticeably better than you treat everyone else.

--pet peeve number one: if I give you pills in a med cup, you can just use the med cup to get the pills to your mouth. You don't need to pour the pills into the palm of your hand and then pop them into your mouth. You're gonna drop the pills, and I'm gonna end up on the floor looking for a tiny tablet of dilaudid.

--bundle requests, especially low-importance ones. If you ask for crackers and you know crackers make you thirsty, just request your drink at the same time. Don't make me walk to your room, the nutrition room, and your room again ten minutes later.

--I don't expect people in the hospital to be pleasant all the time, and I don't take snappiness personally, but I always really appreciate the patients who apologize or even just acknowledge their behavior.

--I love patients who acknowledge my work. I don't need effusive praise or a thousand thank yous. It means a lot for someone to just be like "hey, thanks for your help tonight."

--have patience with repeating yourself. If you've got something important and complicated to convey, practice a quick understandable blurb that takes no brain power from you. There may be something that you've told the staff a dozen times, and it may be documented in your chart, but in the hospital you see many people who have never worked with you before and for whatever reason didn't read that info in your chart. For example, I'm a float pool nurse which means I almost never see the same patients twice. I can get sent to a different unit and a different patient load at literally any time. I can't familiarize myself with complicated documentation or read every nursing note. Especially not for patients I know I will only have for four hours. I know repeating yourself is annoying, I know it sucks to have to explain your bathroom routine or your preferred pain med or when you like to get pills or whatever every shift. And it's great when people make that information very easy to find! But if you just accept the reality you'll be repeating yourself a lot anyway, it makes doing so less frustrating.

--pet peeve number two: don't exaggerate to make a point. This is such a human thing to do, and god knows I catch myself doing it all the time, but you can raise objections in a way that's factually true. I've got a lot of concrete data that people are very often wrong when they say they're been "waiting for hours" after hitting a call light. The computer has a time stamp of the last time I was in your room. I know it was 45 minutes ago. There's a timer by the call light. I know you called twenty minutes ago. And I know it feels much longer when you are waiting for basic cares or pain control or anything pressing. Things can be unacceptable without needing to be exaggerated. When the exaggeration is the base of your complaint, it undercuts your credibility. Honestly I find it really irritating when I spend a disproportionate amount of my shift with one patient only for that patient to tell another staff member that I've been neglecting them. Just say I did a bad job, don't pretend I wasn't there at all.

--don't ask me to pull my mask down so you can see my face. like cmon dude.

--I'm not saying you have to send all your visitors out of the room when I'm there, I'm just saying have some sympathy for how nerve-wracking it can be to do your job while being intensely watched by five other deeply invested people with limited context for your actions.

--this is a nebulous and difficult one. You might have a lot of emotion that you don't know what to do with. What you shouldn't do with it is channel it into every interaction you have with a healthcare worker. If you feel guilty about how you haven't visited your mother in a while and now she's in the hospital, you gotta find ways to deal that don't involve getting extremely passive aggressive at your mother's night nurse.

[starkeynation]

Is it casual now? Part 2

Part 1

A/N: The moment you’ve been waiting for🥳 Also this might the cliche fanfic story but im a sucker for it so i hope yall do too!

It’s been two agonising weeks since you broke up with Rafe..well, not exactly broke up cause you guys were never officially “together” as he said. Those words cut deeper than you’d ever admit, and you’ve spent every day since crying into your pillow, moping around your room, replaying every moment the two of you shared. Spending all four months with him really felt like a lifetime, and he’d burrowed into your soul in a way no one else ever had. It was infuriating.

But today, you finally snaps. It’s pointless being sad over someone who never truly wanted you in the first place. So, you took Sarah’s advice and go on the blind date she has been setting up for you.

When you arrive at the brunch place, you spot a guy in a blue polo, golden-blonde hair, decent looking, sitting alone at the table. That must be him, you thought. You proceed to approach him, exchange names and settling into the awkward conversations. Honestly, you don’t even want to be here. You’re just here for Sarah and you just had to get out of your room before you go crazy.

While you’re eating, you spot someone coming in. Rafe, he’s here. He sees you immediately seating with the guy but thank god your date is not facing him, or he could see the death stare Rafe is giving. While the kook in front of you who you don’t really remember his name..Matheo? Matty? is talking about his life, you couldn’t help but keep glancing towards Rafe’s direction. The way he needs to constantly tugs down his sleeve because of his huge biceps, his smooth buzz cut that you miss running your fingers through, his sharp jawline that you used to kiss all over- it’s maddening how much you still want him.

As the brunch date ended, Matt offers to give you a ride back home since Sarah’s the one dropping you off before. When both of you reach his car, he notices that his front left tire is flat. “What the- a flat tire? This was fine earlier,” he says, his brows frown. As he open his car boot to grab the spare tire, you accidentally make eye contact with Rafe from across the parking lot. He’s looking at you with a devilish smirk. You shake your head in disbelief as Rafe enters his car and drive off, “unbelievable,” you mutter.

“What was that?” Matt asks, returning with a tire. You give him a soft smile, “oh, nothing,” you reply. At that time, you know this is Rafe’s doing but how did he even know Matt’s car, your thoughts racing.

Later, when Matt drops you home, he invites you to a party at his place tomorrow night. “Um..yeah I’ll think about it,” you say.

“Alright, text me if you change your mind,” he reply. “Oh and y/n,” he continues.

“Yeah?”

“I just wanna say i had fun today,” he says, with a big smile plaster on his face. You return the smile, “yeah me too,” you say, as you walk in to your house. Matt is nice but to be frankly honest , all you remember from today is stealing glances at Rafe.

The next evening, at the party, you are looking for a drink at Matt’s bar when all of a sudden, you heard a familiar voice coming from behind you.

“Did you enjoy your date yesterday?”

You roll your eyes knowing it’s Rafe. You turn around facing him, “it’s none of your business, but yes, i did, thanks for asking,” you give him a sarcastic smile.

Rafe’s jaw tightens, he leans closer to your ear, “yeah? Well I don’t think he’s good for you,” he whispers.

You push his shoulder away. “Says the guy who slashed out someone’s tire just cause he’s jealous. Real mature, Rafe” you say, your voice filled with sarcasm. You walk away, not letting him talk.

The night pass by, you’re dancing and flirting with your date. You could feel Rafe is staring and observing your every move. You shouldn’t be enjoying this but you couldn’t help but to make him jealous. Suddenly slow music is on and Matt reaches your hand for a slow dance. You lean your head on the side of his shoulder as he place his hands around your waist. You search for Rafe to make sure he sees this. A moment later, Matt caresses your face and leans in for a kiss. You didn’t kiss him back. The kiss feels nothing to you, it doesnt ignite a spark in you, not like when you were with Rafe. The kiss only lasted for a moment when all of a sudden, Rafe grabs Matt by the collar and punches him.

You pull Rafe away from Matt, “Rafe what the fuck,” you shout, as the music stops and the room falls silent.

“I dare you, kiss my girl again and I swear I’ll put you 6 feet under,” Rafe spits, looking at Matt’s direction, ignoring you completely.

Your blood boils. Your whole body burn with anger. You slap Rafe in front of everyone. “I’m not your fucking girl,” you say, your voice low and deep. Gasps ripple through the crowd. Rafe stares at you, stunned. His eyes mixed with anger and hurt.

You don’t even bother to stay there any longer so you help Matt to his room. “I’m really sorry Matt..Rafe’s an idiot,” you apologise as you press ice to his bruise.

“It’s okay, it’s my fault anyways. I wouldn’t mess with you if I knew you were with him,” he replies.

“Well I’m not.”

“You sure? Dont lie, I notice your attention was drawn to him all night,” Matt questions. You go silent, not sure what to reply cause he’s right, you were flirting with him just to make Rafe jealous. “It’s fine..I think I’m just gonna go to bed now. Can you drive?,” he asks. You nod and apologise to him once again before walking outside.

As you walk outside heading towards your car, you feel a hand grabs your wrist. It’s no one else other than Rafe. “Please can we talk,” he says.

You yank your arm away, “was the slap not enough? Or should I give you another one,” you say, your tone cold.

“Ok fine I deserve it..but please, just hear me out,” he replies, his voice filled with desperation.

“What’s more to talk Rafe? You made it very clear that day that we’re casual and you’re not ready for a relationship so can you go and let me be with someone who actually wants me,” you spit back.

He throw his hands to the air, “okay I know I was a jerk, I’m really sorry. God…I’m so stupid for letting you go but that day, after you left all I could think about is you and how I could make things right,” he admits. “Without you my life is literally nothing, it’s quite, but not good quite and so lonely. Please please forget everything I said, I wanna be with you. Give me a chance please.”

Your eyes are getting teary, your head is spinning, you don’t know what to believe. Your tounge is tied and you don’t know what to say.

“Y/n? Please say something..look, I’ll apologise to that guy for the tire, for the punch, I’ll do anything you say but please just give me one last chance. I miss you y/n.”

You shake your head with a tear running down your cheek, “you really hurt me Rafe..I’m sorry I can’t do this right now.” And before he could say anything, you climb into your car and drive off as fast as you can.

For three days straight, Rafe wouldn’t stop. The constant barrage of notifications—texts, calls, it makes you impossible to think. Despite your silence, he keeps begging to meet and talk, desperate for another chance. Things escalate when he shows up at your house, knocking on the door and calling your name. It’s too much. You couldn’t take it anymore.

You storm outside, determined to end this.

“You said you’d do anything for me, right?” you ask, crossing your arms.

“Yes, yes—anything,” he replies eagerly, nodding.

“Okay. Then stop texting me, stop coming here, and just..give me some space, some time.”

Rafe blinks, stunned, but after a long pause, he finally speaks up. “That’s what you really want? He asks.

“Yes that’s what I really want.”

He nods, signalling that he understands and left.

This time, he really does. There are no texts, no calls, no surprise visits. You can tell he’s really trying to prove himself so he respects your boundaries.

Monday comes, and you have to go to work at the country club. You don’t want to cause you know the chance of seeing Rafe there is high but, you can’t pass up the paycheck. As you carry a tray of drinks toward one of the tables, you spot two familiar figures seated together, Ward and Rafe.

You try to keep your distance, but their table is right across from where you have to deliver the drinks. Just as you approach, you overhear Ward’s voice.

“What happened to y/n? I haven’t seen her around lately,” Ward says casually. “She’s the first girl you’ve ever introduced to the family, and, surprisingly, I like her. You were always so happy when she was around. And I’ve noticed you’ve been a mess ever since she’s been out of sight Rafe.”

Your breath catches. The words hit you like a wave, and you nearly drop the tray. Heart racing, you hurry back to the kitchen, trying to process what you just heard. The weight of it all feels overwhelming. You decide to take a moment to clear your head, heading toward the restroom.

Just as you steps outside to return to your work, you bump into someone—hard.

“Oh, sorry,” you mutter, looking up to see Rafe.

He steps aside, about to walk away, but you stop him. “Wait.” Rafe turns, his expression guarded.

You hesitate but can’t hold back. “I didn’t mean to, but I heard what your dad said just now… Is it true? Am I really the first girl you ever brought to meet your whole family?”

Rafe’s face softens. “Yes. You are,” he admits quietly. “And you’re the only girl Wheezie’s ever like. She doesn’t even talk to anyone else.”

Your confusion deepens. “Then why did you say all those things before? I don’t understand, Rafe.”

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Because I’ve fallen for you so hard,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “All the girls I’ve been with—they were nothing. Just hookups. But you? You’re special. And I was scared. Scared that if we were together, I’d mess it all up. I’m not a boyfriend material—I screw things up. But now I realize… I’d do anything to make this work. I’ll try, for you. I’ll become the man you deserve.”

The sincerity in his voice brings tears to your eyes. Without thinking, you reach up and kiss him. His lips feel like home, and in that moment, all the doubt and frustration melt away.

Pulling back, you cup his face, looking straight into his eyes. “Rafe, I don’t care if you’re not perfect. I fell for you—the real you. If you’re a mess, then so am I. I don’t care if you ruin my life or fuck up my nights. I’ll never change my mind about you. I trust you. The Rafe I’ve spent the last four months with is nothing like what everyone else describe you. You’re loveable, caring, and would never intentionally hurt me.”

Rafe wraps his arms around you, lifting you off the ground as he kisses you again. “I miss you,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry for everything.”

“It’s okay,” you whisper, holding him close. “I missed you too.”

He sets you down, his blue eyes searching yours. “Y/N, will you be my girlfriend?”

You smile, tears threatening to spill. “I thought you’d never ask.” You giggle as he pulls you into another kiss, the world fading away around you.

A/N: i fw ruin my life so hard i had to make the ending feels like this song

[technofeudalism]

the US is entering the age of technofeudal idiocracy. this is the evolution of late stage capitalism, long under development by both neoliberal and conservative forces, constructed on top of a bedrock foundation of anti-intellectualism, patriarchal white nationalism and imperialist universal domination. notice i say universal. that's because i am including mars in the discussion.

if you are just coming to this realization, then yes, you are behind the curve. fascism is not just arriving. it arrived some time ago as part of this evolution. but if you can acknowledge that now and if you want to mobilize, it is never too late. we may not be at the beginning, but we are nowhere near the end.

the weapons you have at your disposal are going to be mostly decentralized, strong communities centered around generous mutual aid and meeting people's material needs - education, food and water, clothing, shelter, child care, physical and mental health, transportation, employment and (very carefully considered) self-defense. and of course, you need to learn how to directly and brutally (legally) fight back against fascism in your community.

all of those links are non-governmental resources. i am not saying you should never use government resources. it will likely depend on your state or local officials. but it should be obvious that showing extreme discretion from this day forward would be wise, particularly when interacting with federal agencies.

another good idea would be to gain an understanding of what it looks like when fascism invades every crack of society. if you are a non-minority (white/cis/able-bodied, etc.), please remember the ways in which a fascist society will always single out people of color, the disabled, religious minorities, the poor, and anyone else that can be unjustly cast as the "other."

lastly, you should think about safeguarding your internet privacy on an ongoing basis rather than occasional usage for specific activities. in other words, hypothetically keeping your VPN turned on all the time may be a greater benefit to you. some may consider this overkill. i would refer you back to three people i tend to trust on the matter more than the common person.

remember: don't panic about things that have not happened, but always have a plan in case something does. it's not a magic solution to the problem, but these are two sound philosophies that can co-exist together and i think there's a decent chance you'll be happier if you work towards adopting them.

[hotwaterandmilk]

I’ve had the Wedding Peach DVDs for 20+ years, but I only recently noticed something interesting on the DX disc of the SARUBIA box set that has me intrigued. I’ve never come across any mention of it before, so I’m not sure if I’m missing something obvious—but here’s what I found.

The bonus content on this disc includes a very limited selection of low-quality settei from the DX episodes. What stands out is that the designs for the characters' revived Fighter Angel forms are labeled "NEO Fighter Angels". Below are the images, though they’re not very clear:

NEO Fighter Angel Peach (NEO ファイター エンジェル ピーチ)

NEO Fighter Angel Lily (NEO ファイター エンジェル リリィ)

NEO Fighter Angel Daisy (NEO ファイター エンジェル デイジー)

NEO Fighter Angel Salvia (NEO ファイター エンジェル サルビア) [This is the least clear of the four, but it's still somewhat visible.]

Wedding Peach has been a passion of mine since childhood and while I'd like to think I know a decent amount about the series, I'd be the first to admit I don't know everything. However, even I—as a pretty avid fan—had genuinely never heard of the revived Fighter Angel forms in the DX being referred to as "NEO Fighter Angels" anywhere else before.

I’ve looked through a lot of official sources—like the 'Secret File' artbook, the settei from the LD sets, and the mixed settei in the DVD collections—and none of them mention this term. These forms aren’t named in the episodes themselves either (the characters call themselves "Love Angels" and "Fighter Angels" only), nor in any contemporary magazine articles I’ve come across. Even the Anime V settei special for the DX just calls these forms the standard "Fighter Angels" - see here.

I've searched through online sources too, from the Wikipedia page through to individual social posts and online archives. I genuinely can't turn up anything that mentions "NEO ファイター エンジェル" as a term in association with the series.

I want to be clear that this doesn't mean I'm the only one that has been bored enough to squint and read those LQ digital settei over the years, or that I haven't just missed something else online in my search, or that my interpretation is the sole acceptable reading of this text. I also don't think this label for the DX Fighter Angel forms fundamentally changes anything about the series or the characters, but it interests me in the sense that this is akin to stumbling onto a note that says "Eternal Sailor Moon" on her character design from Stars after people have been referring to this form as "powered up Sailor Moon from Stars" for 30 years. Or something.

So if the Fighter Angels from DX are only referred to as "NEO Fighter Angels" in producton artwork from this release, why might that be? All I can do is speculate. "NEO Fighter Angels" may have been a working title for these powered up forms that ended up being dropped before production finished, or perhaps shorthand for the animators to differentiate between the TV and OVA forms when animating (given there are scenes of the original Fighter Angel forms in the first episode)? It's honestly not clear.

If anyone has any information that might confirm or contradict what I've found about the NEO Fighter Angels, I’d love to hear from you. Discussing Wedding Peach is one of my favourite things, after all.

[paxaz535]

Brothers Best Friend

♡pairing ♡

paige x black!oc

chapter iv

chapter i , chapter ii , chapter iii

______________

it was 9:30 when daveli heard voices entering her room. She was still kind of sleep but the voices were waking her up. she stirred and looked over her shoulder. she could’ve sworn she heard paige’s voice, she was confused.

she decided to sit up slowly, “SURPRISE!” She jumped at the loud sound. She finally opened her eyes to see Angelica, David, Paige and Makayla. Daveli rubbed her eyes to see Angelica had a mini cake with a candle that said 18, Makayla ana Paige had sparklers while David had those party horns that you get at little kids birthday parties.

“What the…” Angelica cut her off. “You better not finish that sentence.” Daveli just laughed, covering her face. “thank you guys but I look so dusty right now.” Makayla laughed and jumped on her best friend. “Wake up! You’re 18.” Daveli hugged her, excited to see her best friend after some weeks.

“Hurry up and get ready so we can go to this mall.” Angelica spoke as she gave the cake to eli. Eli blew out the candle and sat the cake on her nightstand. Angelica then gave the three other young adults a look and left the room. Paige, David and Makayla just nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.

Daveli didn’t peep it, she was too busy trying to make sure the cake didn’t fall off the nightstand. “My baby sister all grown up.” David spoke as he flopped on her bed. Paige came around and sat next to Eli, pulling her in for a hug. “look at you, kiddo.” daveli shook her head, “you officially cannot call me that anymore.” Paige just laughed, they both knew she was gonna continue to call her that.

“Okay, let me freshen up, please.” Everyone got up from the bed and Daveli went to the bathroom to do her routine. “Wait, what time did Angelica want us to go decorate the room?” Makayla whispered as she looked at the two. “I think she said around 11? no later than 3 because i’m pretty sure eli rented out the pool from 6 to 10.” Paige answered as the three left the room.

-

Daveli came downstairs. She had on a long white dress with elegant ruffles at the end with black heels and a mini black purse. she styled her braids in a half up half down style and to finish it off, she had a soft but natural make up look. She made sure to bring some crocs cause she was not walking around the mall in some heels.

Makayla was the first to notice and immediately squealed. Daveli laughed, seeing everyone turn her way. “you actually look decent for once.” David commented as he turned off his phone. Daveli flipped him off. Angelica was still in her room, getting ready.

When she didn’t hear anything from paige, she turned to see blue eyes already looking at her. She giggled, “what, p?” Paige just shook her head. “You’re just really pretty.” She spoke softly, a grin on her face. Daveli cheesed, “Thank you.” she look over to see makayla smirking and shaking her head.

Angelica came out, she had on a black pencil dress with some heels and her hair was in a up do. “Aw, look at my baby.” Daveli smiled, going in to hug her. “You’re so beautiful.” They pulled away. “Thank you, mommy.” Angelica stepped into the kitchen to get something.

“Here.” Daveli looked to see a cute silver tiara. Angelica placed it on her head. “This is too cute. Thank you.” Angelica then went to grab her keys and made sure she had everything. “Let me take a picture of you.” Makayla spoke.

“Okay, come on, we can go outside.” Daveli walked towards the door, “Ma! we finna go take pictures!” Angelica just said okay, “yall come too.” Daveli spoke as she looked at the best friends. “Actually, we were just gonna play the game…” David started but Paige got up and grabbed him by his shoulders. “Let’s go.”

After taking pictures, Angelica finally came out. “Okay, I’m ready, let’s go. Yall gotta be at the hotel by 4.” They nodded, “Okay. have fun, Eli!” Makayla spoke. The two got in the car and pulled off, Eli waving at them.

Makayla peeped Paige looked at the 18 year old before she left, she had to keep it in mind.

______________

“Where you wanna go first?” Angelica asked her daughter as they entered the mall. Daveli thought about it, then immediately answered, “I’ve been needing to go to Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works. those are my top priorities.” Angelica laughed and nodded her head, “Okay baby. it’s your day.” They began to walk into Victoria Secret and the first place Eli went to was the underwear section. she seen some she had wanted a while back so she’s grateful that they’re still in here.

Daveli knew herself so she made sure to grab everything she NEEDED before she spent all day in there. If she could, she’d buy the whole store. “Okay, I’m ready.” They were on to Bath & Body Works.

———

The clock struck 10:40 and Paige found herself playing the game with David. Makayla had to go pick up some things for the party and said she’d be back before 12. The blonde had finally got the confirmation by her friends about the party and was excited that most of them were available.

11:23 pm yesterday

p: yo

are yall free this weekend?

today at 10:00

az: yea i should be

carol: yerppp

jaida: yea twin

p: ight

slide to eli’s hotel party tdy around 4

we staying till sunday

everyone: bet

“Yo, dave. what should I get Eli?” David looked over at her and back to the screen. “Uh.. She likes flowers.” Paige then nodded her head, she set the controller down and grabbed her car keys. “P? come on man, I was just about to whoop your ass.” David spoke as he paused the game. “I’ll be back, bro. just like play by yourself.” David groaned and just turned the game off completely. now that he thinks about it, he should probably get his sister something too.

————-

When Daveli and Angelica was at the food court, Daveli got a text. She looked down to her phone to see it was her dad. Her face slightly dropped and her mom noticed that. “What’s wrong?” She asked. Daveli looked at the screen before showing her mom what she saw.

Angelica put down her lemonade and looked at her daughter. “you gonna reply?” Daveli sighed, she wasn’t expecting to hear from him today. it was almost too much. but who says he won’t text again? she might as well. “I guess.” Angelica just nodded, going to take a bite of her pretzel.

dad :/ : hi sweetheart

happy 18th. here’s 500

hope you enjoy today

eli: thank you

Angelica shrugged, “hey. at least you got 500.” Daveli just chuckled, a part of her was still upset but she couldn’t really do anything about it. The time was now 12:15 and Eli wanted to hit 2 more stores before they left. She still had to pack since she just bought a new bathing suit and some pajamas. Angelica agreed and they both left the food court. She then seen she got a text from Makayla.

makayla: hey momma

we at the hotel

just letting you know

angelica: okay sweetie

send me a picture when yall done

makayla liked this message

—————

When Daveli got home, she was met with an empty house. Angelica had somewhere to be so it was just her. She wondered where everyone went so she decided to facetime call Makayla.

-

Makayla was putting up a birthday sign and other decorations while Paige and David got the plates and napkins set out. Makayla had her friend Emma bring bored games and set those up in a specific spot in the room. It was the four of them helping out while music was playing in the background.

All of a sudden, the music stopped. “Facetime call from Eli Baby” Everyone paused. “Oh shit.” David spoke as he walked closer to Makayla. The girl told everyone to keep quiet and she answered the phone. “Hey girl.” Makayla spoke.

Eli was in her room, she had her duffle bag out while packing some clothes for the weekend. “Hey, kay. Where is everybody? the whole house empty.” Makayla quickly glanced at the three and looked back at her camera. “Uh, I had to pick some stuff up and I think P and David are at the store.” Makayla lied as she noticed David throw his hands up.

Makayla shrugged in defense, not knowing what else to say. “Oh okay.. well, i’ll be here.” Eli spoke as she looked at the girl. Makayla nodded her head, “Okay, we all should be there soon.”

——————

It was now 3:30 and everyone was back at the house. Makayla told eli she had to pick up emma, which eli didn’t have a problem. She loved emma and they got along well so she was excited that she was coming. Paige came back with a book bag, probably with her clothes and david didn’t pack yet so he was doing that right now.

Paige had got the girl a bouquet of pink flowers but she left it in the car, she wanted it to be a surprise. She had to make david get her something actually nice, if she didn’t he’d end up getting her a plushie and called it a day. He ended up getting her new The Weeknd posters to hang around her room since she loved that man so much.

Eli finally finished all her packing and was downstairs chilling with paige, makayla and emma. “you excited?” the blonde asked the younger girl. Eli sighed happily and nodded. “Yea.. kinda nervous though. knowing David, he probably invited the whole city.” Paige just chuckled, nodding her head.

“Well, I only invited three people. you know one of them actually.” Daveli looked over at her, “Azzi?” She asked. Paige nodded her head, a smile on her face. Daveli just smiled, she loved Azzi. The curly head girl was always so sweet to her, they had met when eli was 15.

Daveli then remembered who was coming and looked over at the two girls. “Guess who the fuck David invited.” Makayla and Emma turned towards her, their smile dropping. “Who?” Makayla had a feeling, Emma had a thought but she fully didn’t know.

Eli looked at them like, ‘yall know exactly who i’m talking about’ Makayla then snapped her head towards Emma and back at Eli. “No.” Daveli nodded. “Wait, who?” Emma asked, looking at the two. “Girl, Nai.” Makayla answered, making Emma gasp. “No, he didn’t.” Daveli just nodded, “Yes, he did. He being messy.”

Paige was gonna ask Eli something about the Nai girl but was cut off by David rushing downstairs. “What yall doing? It’s already 3:45, we gotta go.” Daveli rolled her eyes and got up, “took you long enough. Ma!” Angelica came out her room, she wasn’t going to stay because one, she had work, and two, everyone grown as hell. They didn’t need a chaperone, they knew better.

“We about to go, okay?” Eli spoke as she came to give her momma a hug. Angelica nodded, “Okay sweetheart. yall be safe! don’t do nothing to get yourselves in trouble.” Everyone nodded and waved their byes at the woman. “Alright, i’m guessing everybody taking their own cars?” David asked.

“Yea, might as well. Yall following me?” Eli asked as she stood by her car door. Everyone agreed and got into their cars. Daveli was the first to pull off and everyone followed, hopefully this goes well.

ok so i know i said things were gonna get interesting this chapter but i realized the chapter would’ve been way too long

but i promise chapter 6 is where all the good stuff happens

just enjoy this !

taglist - @melpthatsme @prettygirl-gabi @rebecca-woso @starfulani @avvwritesstufff @evry1luvzaee

[see-arcane]

Harding lording his wealth over Hutter, making him feel insecure, dependent,... displaying his masculine dominance on him... kicking the Hutters into the streets... this is why we have no polycule here sir

Going to hold up a very flimsy shield for Harding and say that, yeah, he is very much not an Arthur Holmwood. He is an ass to Ellen outright after Anna is attacked, to say nothing of rolling with the tie-her-to-the-bed-to-spare-the-walls suggestion from Dr. Sievers. Tossing both Hutters out while Thomas is still barely on the mend and Ellen is trying to save their lives was a Bad Friend Move. Also, thanks for the pandemic shout out in the dialogue, Eggers, he is absolutely the kind of guy to break quarantine rules because He and His People Specifically are Too Important.

But all that said, for a period accurate snob, he does have sympathetic elements, and even some decent reasoning behind all the BS he pulls.

His house has become bedlam since he let first Ellen then Thomas in. Ellen's fits are a mystery to him and he follows what the actual (hi there ye olde malpractice) doctor told him to do. He's as panicked and stunned as Anna when Ellen has her seaside fit and when Von Franz does his stabbing blood work.

When Thomas falls over half-dead at his doorstep, he doesn't throw up his hands all at once and have a carriage cart him off to the hospital or the little Hutter home. Thomas is his friend and the guest room is already there and waiting. He plays host as long as his fraying nerves can take it. Then Anna's attack happens. While it was a callous move as a friend to throw the Hutters out, it makes sense for a man very clearly worried for his family in the midst of a huge freak plague to want to reserve all his attention for said endangered wife and kids. The Hutters have turned from friends in his eyes to mad and raving millstones that he has no time or energy for. All that matters to him is Anna and the girls.

To that end, I do believe that he does not/did not hate Ellen--the snap at the funeral was a combo of grieving scapegoating and the plague dissolving his sense--but he did look down on her. Anna's friend she may be, but even with Ellen masking as best she could, Harding clocked that she was Other and outre and did not Mind Her Status. A new status, he must know, as she came from wealthy upbringing, but now she is Thomas' wife. And therefore lower on the ladder, being a non-endowed woman. Know your place.

For Thomas' sake, he mentions.

And, perhaps to save face with himself, he starchily offers to provide the Hutters a ride back home...which the Hutters observably decline, hobbling away on their own feet. Something I think was both Hutters' own parting cold shoulder.

Which circles around to Thomas. Thomas, who took a loan from Harding, who states aloud that he envies his friend and that he is working to pay all back. Harding dismisses this airily. It's clear he either doesn't care or doesn't expect recompense from Thomas. While that can be taken as a sign of genuine friendship/charity, it also carries a hint of a running theme with Thomas in contrast to other more masculine, powerful, moneyed men.

Harding the wealthy charmer who takes care of Thomas' various needs in the doting way one might cover the expenses of a child or a sugar baby.

Orlok, the gravelly Old World overlord, snapping at Thomas to obey one moment, assaulting him another, and thrusting gold at him the way you'd pay it to someone you'd rented out for the night.

Harding is by far the better man in the comparison, but his warm regard towards Thomas is braided into an unspoken social superiority and pseudo-ownership born of Thomas' debts to him. And, in lieu of finally getting the money back as Knock continues to wring him dry, Thomas plays Harding's own (probably) platonic Scheherazade.

tl;dr: No, the polycule was never going to happen here. Anna and Ellen? Ellen and Thomas? Perhaps. Harding and Thomas if another loan needs to happen? Maybe. But not a full cozy conjoining of couples.

[stylesonfilms]

ink & innocence - 27

word count: 5.9k

enjoy & gomd if ur not gonna ride it like....

Aspen sat on the bathroom counter, her feet tucked into sink as she leaned forward towards the mirror to work on the precise line of her eyeliner. The black pencil glided over her eye lid with ease, her pinky nail swiping under and outwards to form the sharp wing. She sat back and blinked a bit as she flickered her eyes between both wings before smiling contently and starting on her bottom waterline. 

"I can't believe you're going to this party," Isobel said in between singing the lyrics to the song, glancing at her friend through her vanity mirror. Aspen only shrugged, capping the liner and tossing the pencil into her purse before reaching to grab her blush palette and brush. 

"I think it will be fun. Harry wants to go, I can tell he does. He hasn't seen Louis or Liam in a while, so I figured why not go? I didn't want to be home alone anyways."

Isobel nodded, rummaging through her makeup bag. "I get it. Did you hear Kirsten was going?"

It was an innocent question, but Aspen sucked in a small breath before popping open the palette and dabbing her brush into it. 

"Yeah, but it's a big party. If I see her, I see her. If I don't, then fabulous."

Her roomate grinned, turning over her shoulder to look at Aspen in the bathroom mirror. 

"Look at you, Asp. All big and mature now, eh?"

She rolled her eyes and huffed, dusting the red across her cheeks before tossing that into the makeup bag.

Aspen climbed off the counter, cleaning up whatever remnants of her brushes and palettes she had. "Do you know what you're gonna wear? It's a bit warm tonight, and I have a feeling Louis doesn't go easy on people for a party."

Isobel laughed and capped her mascara, rummaging through the pile next to her before holding up a top. "Maybe this pink tank and a skirt? You should wear one too, you know. Get all sexy," She wiggled her brows at Aspen through the mirror before they both broke out into a giggle.

The small girl padded her feet back into her room where Isobel was and rummaged through her closet, deciding on a white puff sleeve top with a lower cut, flaring at the ends, and a denim pleated skirt that had two rows of light ruffles. 

She wasn't sure if she got the hang of party outfits yet, but a complaint was never uttered from Harry or Isobel. If it got cold, she'd steal the flannel off Harry's back, knowing he was bound to wear one tonight. 

Aspen set the clothes on her bed, catching a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror that sat in the corner of her room. She hummed softly, adjusting the band of her shorts around her waist when Isobel quipped up.

"You know, you should send Harry a little photo of yourself. Even in your pajamas, you look hot."

"Iz!"

"What!," She cackled, "I'm only being honest. Men love that stuff. Especially when theres a little skin showing. Makes Zayn crazy."

Aspen scrunched her nose at the last comment. "Alright, I didn't need to know that."

Despite the banter, Aspen glanced back over her shoulder to Isobel. She was nose deep in the mirror as she focused on her mirror and the music. She took a small breath and pulled her phone off the bed, sliding it to the camera app. 

She checked the time, only being 1:30. "We've got an hour to finish and meet them, Iz."

Isobel made a sound of acknowledgement, and Aspen could hear how she began to rush a bit. The plan was to meet up with the boys at the mall to grab a bite to eat and the Uber from there to Louis' house. Quite frankly, the girls had been starving and Aspen insisted for Isobel to eat before she drank tonight. 

She took another breath and huffed to herself and her annoying inner thoughts, lifting and tilting her phone. Aspen snapped a few photos of herself. Sure, she didn't know a thing about how to send photos or what was favored, but she knew how to be pretty. 

The girl swiped through a few photos before she stumbled on the one she deemed decent. She bit back a small smile, her teeth hooking onto her bottom lip as she analyzed the photo. With a satisfied hum, deciding it wasn't too out of her comfort zone, she opened up her messages and clicked on his name.

The girl scrunched her nose and smiled to herself, double tapping the message to heart it. 

"I sent one," She told Isobel. That grabbed her attention as she whipped her head around and made grabby hands. 

"Lemme see!"

Aspen narrowed her eyes at her friend before chucking the phone in her direction as she grabbed her clothes. "Don't snoop, Iz."

Her friend grinned like an idiot as she picked up the phone while Aspen made her way to the bathroom to get dressed. 

"Fucking hell," Isobel mocked in a deep British accent, snickering. "I'm surprised he didn't 'bloody hell' you!"

"Isobel!" Aspen huffed, stomping her foot slightly. "What happened to no snooping?"

Her roommate only mocked her back before returning back to her makeup in the mirror. "He's got a point, though. You're absolutely stunningly sexy." 

The girl rolled her eyes, adjusting the skirt around her waist before tugging the white top over her chest. She scooped her hair out and shook her loose waves out, grabbing a deep maroon bow clip and half upping her hair. 

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Does to, and he's gonna absolutely eat you up tonight. I can say the same about Zayn with me," Isobel smirked and laughed. 

"Gross, Iz!"

"Woah, woah! Me? Gross? You and Harry are the gross ones. Acting like we didn't hear you guys last week. Oh, Harry! It's so good! Don't stop, you British sexy beast!"

Aspen's face burned a hot red as she huffed and narrowed her eyes at Isobel, chucking her wadded socks at her blonde head. 

"Shut up! You and Zayn did, too!"

"No, we didn't. I stopped him because we didn't want to be disrespectful to you guys. But seeing as you didn't feel the same..." Isobel snickered, zipping her bag closed before tossing the socks back at Aspen.

Aspen huffed, unrolling them and slipping her feet into the white frilly socks. She padded back out to the room, flicking Isobel in her head. 

"Hey!"

"You deserve it." Aspen grumbled, walking to her closet to pull the matching maroon shoes, Mary Jane pumps with a low heel. She sat on the edge of her bed as she slipped them on and clasped the buckle. 

Suddenly, Aspen's phone rang.

Harry.

She quickly picked up, holding the device to her ear as she uncapped her perfume. 

"Hey, baby."

"Hi, Harry. What's up?"

"Nothin', sugar. Just wanted to let you know Zayn and I were about to leave the house now. Still meeting at the mall, yeah?"

The sound of a door opened on Harrys side, Zayn's voice a mutter in the background before it clicked shut. 

"Yes! Isobel just has to get dressed and then we'll be on our way. The Uber is ten out. Is that okay?"

He laughed softly. "Course, baby. We'll grab a table if we beat you. Our's is two minutes away."

"Thank you, H. Iz said she could grab the Uber to Louis' house."

"No, no. Don't be fools. I've got it covered, yeah?"

Harry had insisted that he bought whatever he could, and that meant sending Isobel and Aspen their Uber.

"But you already got this one," She pouted, spritzing on the sweet scent to her neck and wrists.

"But nothing. I've got it, yeah?"

Aspen huffed softly, but gave in. "Yeah, okay. But just this once. Thanks so much for all of this, H."

"Tha's my good girl. And of course, 'm always gonna take care of you."

Aspen felt her stomach flutter at the name, taking her bottom lip between her teeth as her cheeks tinted a bright pink under her makeup. 

"And that picture you sent?" A sharp inhale through his nose. "So fucking pretty. Does so many god damn things t'me, baby. You're the reason for it all."

"It wasn't anything like that," She squeaked, glancing into the bathroom where Isobel was singing the song as she got dressed, distracted in her own world.

"It didn't have to be. It was the best thing I've seen today, little mouse. Don't downplay how gorgeous you are."

"Unless you'd... want stuff like that?"

Harry sucked in a breath. "You'd do that for me?"

His voice was lower, she noticed. A soft rasp to it.

"Yeah, I mean.. it's just for you, right? No one else would see and you've already seen me."

Harry chuckled soft and low, licking his lips carefully. "Just f'me. I'd let no one near what's mine."

"Then yeah, I'd do it for you. Anything you want, H." She sighed contently, a smile twisting onto her lips.

"Anything, huh? You're gonna be the end of me, y'know that? I'll die the happiest man, though."

She giggled softly, a sweet sound that rang through Harry's ears like music.

"You're so silly sometimes."

"Only ever for you."

She scrunched her nose, her smile still dancing on her lips as she capped the perfume and tucked it back to its place.

"I'll see you when you get there, yeah? I love you, pretty girl."

"I love you. See you soon, Harry."

He smiled. "Bye, baby."

"Bye, H." 

Click.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Over the course of an hour, Isobel had finished getting ready, they did their final touches, got into their Uber that Harry so kindly got them, and arrived at the mall.

The two girls stood with their arms interlinked, heels and boots tapping along the tile floor of the mall as they walked towards the food court. There, Isobel spotted Zayn, who she gave a quick wave to before they made their way.

"Harry's in the bathroom," Zayn said, greeting Isobel with a small peck to her lips and pulled out the chairs for them.

Aspen thanked him softly, hooking her purse on the ledge of the seat, smoothing out the back of her skirt. Just as she was about to take a seat, she felt a hand curl around her hip.

"Baby," Harry's voice came in his usual, low tone. He cracked a smile as she turned to face him, his arms snaking around her waist to pull her in for a hug. She smiled into his chest, her arms that wrapped around his shoulders giving him a small squeeze. As they pulled away, Harry pulled her chair out a bit more, tucking her back in once she sat down before taking the seat next to her. 

Harry gave a nod towards Isobel, saying a quick hello before she drowned in conversation with Zayn. Harry hooked his arm over the back of his chair as he turned to face Aspen. His eyes scanned over her outfit, how everything seemed so well put together. A small smirk wore on the corner of his lips once his eyes met hers again.

He wore his usual fitted black tee, paired with his black skinny jeans with rips at the knees and his boots. This time, a dark grey flannel stripped with other whites and blacks hung off his broad shoulders. His fingers were decorated with his silver rings and his lip ring complimented his red, plush lips.

The man ran his tongue over his bottom lip, giving her another look over that made Aspen's cheeks flare with pink.

"You look good, sugar. Better than good."

Aspen gave him a shy smile, bumping her knee with his. "I can say the same about you."

He grinned, settling a hand onto her knee, giving it a small squeeze. "This okay?" He mumbled, glancing down at his hand.

Aspen nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The smile on his lips never faltered as his hand relaxed on her leg, his thumb swirling soft circles into the smooth skin. 

"Thanks f'coming t'night. I know these things aren't your scene, but having you there makes it all better." Harry hummed softly, his other hand brushing through his curls. She only nodded again, a smile pulling onto her lips. 

"Of course, H. Wanna be where you are always, even if it's at a huge house party where I'll feel the music shaking through my body," She laughed softly.

His eyes softened, flickering down to her colored lips, sheen with her lip gloss. 

"God, I really wan' t'kiss you right now."

Aspen placed her hand over the one on her leg, slipping her fingers between his. "Soon, yes? I promise. Want to kiss you, too." She mumbled back shyly, glancing towards Isobel and Zayn who were still enamored with each other.

Harry nodded understandingly, giving her leg a small squeeze before Zayn chipped up.

"Man, I'm starving," He grumbled, flipping through the menu. "I might settle for some wings. What do ya' say, Harold?"

Harry rolled his eyes at the name, his body still facing Aspens as he picked up the menu to hold between them. "Nah, I'll go for something like a burger."

He glanced up at Aspen, who was lightly tapping the table and looking around the food court as if it was suddenly so interesting.

"What're you gonna get, love?" Harry asked softly, nudging her knee with his lightly. She hummed, looking back at him then down at the menu.

"Oh! I um, I'm not that hungry, actually."

Harry frowned, a small furrow in his brows. "Did you guys eat before you came?" He looked at Isobel, who shook her head before he looked back at her. 

Aspen's eyes darted all around the menu. She was hungry, starving actually, but right now was one of those times where she got a huge wave of discomfort around eating. She wasn't sure if it was the people around or what, but her stomach just coiled in embarrassment at the mere thought. 

She took a small breath as Harry cleaned closer, his fingers guiding her chin to make her face him. "Bug? Wha's wrong?"

Aspen shook her head, pulling a smile onto her lips. "Nothing, H."

His frown only deepened as she looked away to the menu, then to her polished nails that tapped along the table. He sighed softly as he sat back up, looking over at Zayn and Isobel, who both wore the same concern on their face. But no one spoke up.

Finally, Harry did.

"Can you help me finish my chips then? The burger is usually enough to get me goin'."

Aspen looked up at him, then back at the menu. There was no getting out of it, not with Harry. So she nodded. "Yeah, sure. I could go for some fries."

He smiled, squeezing her thigh softly. 

After about twenty minutes, their food had come out. Harry ordered a double side of the fries along with his burger, Zayn had ordered a wing platter that he swore was not all for him (news flash, it absolutely was), and Isobel opted for a chicken sandwich with a side of mozzarella sticks.

Harry kept his plate in the middle of him and Aspen. He took a fry off the plate, tapping it into the ketchup on the side before holding it to her lips. "Louis' known to pig out on all the party snacks with Niall. It's best if we all eat until we pop," he noted, perching a brow until she huffed and gave in, taking it from his fingers to take a bite.

As they ate, Harry found his lips quirking into a smile when he saw how she'd reach for fries throughout, getting more comfortable. He gave her leg another reassuring squeeze and turned to press a kiss to her temple. "Proud of you," he whispered into her ear before the kiss, turning back to the conversation they were all engaged in as they ate.

All though he didn't know what was going on, he didn't need to know in order to be patient and open with her. He knew that some days, these things could be hard. But his suspicion stayed just that. If she wanted to talk about it, she would. He'd just keep an extra careful eye on her from now out.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

The party was overwhelming, an electric haze of flashing strobe lights that illuminated the packed space in bursts of white, purple, and neon blue. Music pulsed through the air like a living heartbeat, the bass vibrating in Aspen's chest as Harry guided her through the chaos. The smell of alcohol and sweat mingled with the faint scent of chips and pizza wafting from the kitchen. People shouted over the music, their laughter and voices blending into a chaotic hum.

Harry’s protective arm around her waist was firm, anchoring her in the madness. His chest pressed solidly against her back, the fabric of his shirt brushing her shoulder blades. He didn’t hesitate to carve a path for them, unapologetically shoving past anyone who didn’t step aside fast enough. Aspen found herself clinging to his arm, grateful for his presence as they navigated the crush of bodies.

When they finally pushed through the sliding doors into the backyard, the air felt cooler, a reprieve from the suffocating heat inside. Strung-up fairy lights crisscrossed the yard, their warm glow casting a softer ambiance on the crowd gathered here. The tables were laden with bottles of liquor, mixers, and stacks of solo cups, and the familiar voices of Louis and Niall greeted them over the thrum of the music spilling from inside.

“Oi, oi! Shots, shots, shots, come on!” Louis hollered, his grin as wide as ever as he held up a pair of red solo cups, one in each hand.

Harry chuckled, his grip on Aspen's hip tightening as he steered her toward the group. “Always so subtle, Lou,” he quipped, grabbing a cup from Louis and passing it to Zayn. He grabbed another for himself before turning to Aspen.

Louis, however, wasn’t about to let her be left out. “Don’t think I forgot you, sun!” he exclaimed, producing a juice box from the pocket of his hoodie with an exaggerated flourish. He lobbed it gently in her direction, grinning when Aspen caught it midair with a laugh.

Aspen giggled, examining the box. “Thanks, Louis,” she said, leaning closer to Harry as if for reassurance. She pressed her back against his side, feeling the steady warmth of his body against hers.

Harry took the juice box from her hands without a word, unwrapping the straw from its plastic cover and expertly piercing it into the foil opening. He handed it back to her with a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Thank you,” she murmured, tapping his chest lightly with her finger in a sweet gesture of gratitude.

“Always, baby,” Harry replied softly, the affectionate squeeze he gave her hip making her heart flutter.

Niall raised his cup, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Here’s to surviving the chaos, yeah?”

The group laughed, clinking their cups together in an impromptu toast. Aspen sipped from her juice box, the sweetness of the drink a sharp contrast to the heady atmosphere around her. She couldn’t help but smile at how effortlessly the boys made everything feel lighter, their humor and camaraderie creating a bubble of warmth amidst the wild party.

As they continued catching up, more shots were passed around, laughter growing louder as the group loosened up. Stories of old antics and shared memories flowed easily, drawing a bright smile from Aspen as she listened. Isobel leaned against Zayn, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, while Niall and Louis attempted to outdo each other in an exaggerated dance-off that had everyone in stitches.

“Alright, alright,” Louis declared, raising a hand dramatically. “I think it’s time to turn things up a notch. Who’s up for a game of truth or dare?”

Harry raised a brow, glancing at Aspen, who shrugged with a small smile. “Why not?” she said softly.

“Perfect,” Louis grinned. “Let’s move this inside, shall we?”

The group began to migrate back indoors, weaving through the partygoers who were still crowded in the living room and kitchen. They found their way to the cozier den area, where a large coffee table and mismatched seating arrangements surrounded them.

Harry claimed the single-seat sofa with a quick stride and plopped down, pulling Aspen onto his lap without hesitation. She let out a small squeak of surprise, but the warmth of his arms encircling her soon made her relax against him.

Zayn and Isobel sprawled out on the plush loveseat, while Louis, Niall, Liam, Kirsten, and her hookup for the night—a tall, dark-haired guy with an easy grin—settled around the coffee table. Kirsten sat a little too close to him, her laughter a touch too loud as she tried to show she was having a great time.

Aspen noticed Kirsten’s eyes flit toward her and Harry repeatedly, her gaze lingering on Harry’s hand resting protectively on Aspen’s waist. Aspen felt a flicker of irritation but brushed it aside, leaning further into Harry’s chest. His thumb began to rub small, reassuring circles over her hip, grounding her. Whatever Kirsten’s problem was, it wasn’t going to ruin her night.

Louis, who was already tipsy enough to declare himself the game master, grabbed a nearly empty tequila bottle from the table. He gave it a dramatic flourish before plunking it down in the center. “Right, then! Time to spice things up. Let the games begin!”

The bottle spun, wobbling slightly before landing squarely on Zayn.

“Ah, come on,” Zayn groaned, throwing his head back theatrically. Isobel giggled beside him, nudging him playfully.

“Truth or dare, mate?” Louis asked, grinning like a cat about to pounce.

Zayn leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Dare,” he said cautiously, knowing Louis too well to trust him entirely.

Louis’s grin widened. “Alright, alright. I dare you to…” He paused for effect, looking around the room. His gaze landed on the tequila bottle. “Take a shot—but you have to do it off Isobel’s stomach!”

The group erupted into laughter and cheers, with Isobel gasping, her cheeks turning crimson. “What?!” she exclaimed, half-laughing and half-shocked.

“You heard me,” Louis said smugly. “Rules are rules.”

Zayn smirked, a playful glint in his eye. “Alright, fine. You’re lucky I like you,” he muttered to Isobel, who covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

With some coaxing and a lot of laughter, Isobel lay down on the couch. Zayn carefully poured a small splash of tequila onto her stomach, making sure it didn’t spill onto the upholstery.

“Alright, here goes,” Zayn said, leaning down. He licked the tequila off her skin in one quick motion, immediately chasing it with a shot straight from the bottle. The group erupted into cheers and whistles, while Isobel laughed so hard she nearly fell off the couch.

“That was disgusting,” Zayn said with mock disgust, wiping his mouth. “But also kind of worth it.”

Isobel playfully swatted his arm, her cheeks still red. “You owe me for that!”

The laughter continued as the bottle spun again, this time landing on Kirsten.

“Truth or dare?” Louis asked, leaning in eagerly.

“Dare,” Kirsten said confidently, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Louis grinned wickedly. “I dare you to call your ex and confess you still think about them.”

The group collectively gasped and laughed, while Kirsten shot Louis a death glare. “You’re evil,” she muttered, reaching for her phone.

As Kirsten dialed her ex’s number and the group waited in eager anticipation, Aspen felt Harry’s arms tighten slightly around her. She glanced up at him, and he gave her a small smile, brushing his lips softly against her temple. Whatever attention Kirsten was trying to stir, it didn’t matter. Aspen only cared about the man holding her, his touch steady and reassuring, his presence a calming balm in the chaotic whirl of the party.

When Kirsten ended the call with a dramatic sigh and a round of laughter from the group, the bottle spun again, the energy in the room growing more playful with every turn.

The bottle spun again and landed on Niall. He grinned, leaning forward. “Alright, hit me with it. Truth or dare, my lovely tormentor,” he teased Louis.

Louis squinted dramatically. “Dare, of course. I wouldn’t waste a truth on you.”

Niall groaned. “You better not make me streak through the yard.”

“No, no. I’m kinder than that.” Louis smirked. “I dare you to sing your drunkest rendition of Baby One More Time by Britney Spears.”

The group erupted into laughter, clapping and hollering as Niall stood up and dramatically cleared his throat. “Fine, but don’t blame me if you all fall in love.”

He grabbed an empty bottle as a pretend microphone and launched into an off-key but enthusiastic performance, complete with spins and air punches. Everyone was crying with laughter by the time he finished, bowing like a performer leaving the stage.

The bottle spun again, landing on Liam. He chose truth, which prompted Louis to ask, “If you had to kiss someone in this room who isn’t your girlfriend, who would it be?”

Liam laughed nervously, looking at the ceiling. “You’re trying to get me killed, mate. But fine. I’d pick Harry because he’s prettier than the rest of you.”

Harry cackled, throwing his head back. “Flattered, really.”

The group kept going, the energy buzzing with jokes and challenges until the bottle landed on Kirsten again. She smirked as if she’d been waiting for this moment. She spun, the bottle creaking as it turned. It slowed to a stop, pointing at Aspen.

Aspen felt the atmosphere shift. Kirsten’s smirk widened as she twirled her red cup around her fingers. Harry, feeling the effects of the alcohol, pressed a kiss into Aspen’s shoulder, his lips warm and affectionate against her skin.

“Truth or dare?” Kirsten asked, her tone already laced with condescension.

Aspen felt a slight wave of nervousness but kept her face calm. “Truth,” she said, deciding not to play into Kirsten’s game.

“Oh, how predictable,” Kirsten mocked with a laugh, drawing out the words. Some of the group shifted uncomfortably, exchanging uneasy glances. Louis and Niall, who were already protective of Aspen, gave Kirsten pointed looks, while Zayn frowned, his arm tightening around Isobel.

“Alright,” Kirsten said with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes. “Is it true that you haven’t slept with anyone yet?”

The question hung in the air, the laughter and chatter of the room falling into an awkward silence. Aspen’s cheeks burned, a mix of embarrassment and anger swirling inside her. Before she could even think, Kirsten added with a snide tone, “I mean, we all already know the answer. It’s kind of obvious.”

Harry’s expression immediately hardened, his protective instincts kicking in as his grip on Aspen’s waist tightened. But before he could say anything, Aspen felt a strange surge of boldness, almost like an out-of-body experience.

“No,” Aspen said sharply, her voice carrying a weight no one expected. “I get it all the time. Every night, in fact.” Her gaze flicked to Kirsten, unyielding. “And the way Harry uses his han—”

Harry let out a surprised laugh, his eyes wide with amusement as he clapped a hand over Aspen’s mouth. “Alright, alright,” he said, his voice shaking with laughter. “We get the point, baby.”

Aspen huffed, pulling his hand down and settling it back around her waist. She took a deep breath, her adrenaline still pumping. Her cheeks burned red, warm to the touch. “Fine,” she said, her voice calmer now but laced with edge. “I’ve got a question for you, Kirsten. Truth or dare? Actually, I'll pick for you. Truth.”

Kirsten raised a brow. "Right, sure. Okay."

Aspen gave a small, sharp nod. “Alright. Is it true you’re still a jealous, bitter bitch?”

The room fell into stunned silence, the air electric with shock. Then, laughter exploded from everyone except Kirsten, who sat rigid, her face turning bright red as she looked around, clearly humiliated. 

“Aspen!” Isobel gasped, laughing despite herself.

Louis clutched his stomach, tears forming in his eyes as he doubled over. “Bloody hell, I didn’t know you had that in you!”

Aspen’s heart was racing. She had never cussed before, much less hurled an insult so openly, but she felt oddly liberated. Her ears burned hot with red, complimenting the feel of her cheeks. Harry was grinning down at her, his wide eyes filled with equal parts amusement and admiration.

“Well,” he said, standing and tugging Aspen up with him. “I think that’s our cue.”

Still chuckling, he grabbed her hand and began leading her toward the stairs. “Be right back, everyone!” he called over his shoulder.

The group was still laughing and teasing as they disappeared up the steps. Once they reached the privacy of a guest room, Harry shut the door behind them, leaning against it with a mischievous smile.

“Where did that come from?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine wonder. “You’ve got a fiery side I didn’t know about.”

Aspen crossed her arms, her cheeks still warm. “I don’t know. She just— ugh, she made me so mad.”

Harry laughed, pulling her into his arms. “Well, it was kind of hot,” he admitted, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. 

She scrunched her nose and huffed, laying her hands on his chest.

"Sorry, I wasn't even thinking. I didn't know my mouth could even say those words."

"Oh," Harry raised a brow in amusement, "that mouth can do plenty good, doll."

With that, the man dipped down to capture her lips in a kiss. He breathed out softly as the sweet taste of her lipgloss tainted his mouth, his bottom lip swiping along. Once her lips parted, his tongue made way to swirl around hers. Harry groaned and squeezed her waist, his thumbs slipping under her shirt to the bare skin of her waist as the taste of her juice flooded his mouth as well.

Harry’s hands tightened on her waist, his thumbs grazing the soft, warm skin just above her hips. His lips moved against hers with a rhythm that sent a gentle hum of pleasure through her chest. Aspen melted into his touch, her fingers fisting the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring herself to him. Every kiss was more intoxicating than the last, and Harry seemed intent on taking his time, savoring every second of their connection.

“God, y'taste so good,” he murmured against her lips, his voice low and laced with a mix of desire and awe. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss as his hands slid further under her shirt, palms spreading across the small of her back. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver racing down her spine, and Aspen couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped her.

Harry took the sound as encouragement, trailing his lips from hers to her jawline. He pressed open-mouthed kisses along the soft curve, his breath hot against her skin. “How’d I get so lucky, huh?” he whispered between kisses, his voice raw and reverent. “You drive m'crazy.”

Aspen felt her cheeks flush, but it wasn’t from embarrassment. There was something about the way he spoke, like she was the only person in the world who mattered. Her hands moved on their own accord, sliding up his chest and over his shoulders, fingers brushing against the bare skin of his neck. She tugged him closer, her lips seeking his again, the kiss growing more fervent.

Harry chuckled softly against her mouth, his chest vibrating under her touch. “Easy, love,” he teased, though the way his hands gripped her waist betrayed his own restraint slipping. He lifted her effortlessly, walking them backward until the back of his knees hit the bed.

He sat down, pulling her into his lap. Aspen straddled him instinctively, her knees bracketing his hips as her arms looped around his neck. The new angle brought them impossibly closer, and she could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her. Harry’s hands roamed up her sides, his fingertips brushing just beneath the fabric of her shirt, teasing but not crossing any lines.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his green eyes searching hers, the flicker of caution softening his intensity.

“Yes,” she whispered without hesitation, her voice barely audible but steady. She leaned in, her lips finding his again, the kiss slower this time but no less passionate.

Harry’s hands settled on her thighs, his thumbs tracing lazy circles against the bare skin under her skirt. The small, deliberate motions sent sparks through her, grounding her in the moment. He kissed her like he had no the time in the world, his lips coaxing hers into a rhythm that felt needy, electric, and utterly consuming.

Aspen lost herself in him, the world outside the room fading to nothing. The soft scrape of his stubble against her skin, the faint taste of alcohol and juice mingling on his tongue, the way his grip tightened whenever her fingers brushed the back of his neck or shifted her hips—it was all too much and not enough at the same time.

Harry broke the kiss just long enough to press his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the quiet space between them. “Y'know, 'm so fuckin' proud of you for what you did out there. You are so god damn perfect.” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but the weight of the words made Aspen’s heart stutter.

She smiled softly, tucking her bottom lips between her teeth as her cheeks held that same tint, her fingers threading through his curls. “You’re not too bad yourself,” she teased, though the way she looked at him betrayed the sincerity of her feelings.

He grinned, his dimples flashing as he leaned in again, this time pressing soft, lingering kisses along the column of her throat. Aspen tilted her head, giving him more access, her fingers tightening in his hair as a soft whine escaped her lips. Her hips squirmed a bit, pressing down against his for a split second.

The sound seemed to spur him on, his fingers coming up to tug down the hem of her top. His lips ventured, lips and teeth latching onto the skin of her boob. She let a moan ripple through her chest as her fingers curled in his hair while he sucked in a deep mark, one that left her skin tingling and body squirming. The man slid the material of her shirt back up, covering the mark perfectly. 

Harry's hands slid up to cradle her face as he captured her lips once more. The kiss was slower now, gentler, but no less intense. It was a silent promise, an unspoken declaration of just how much she meant to him.

As the heat between them grew, Harry pulled back slightly, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “We should stop,” he said, though his voice was hoarse, and his lips hovered so close to hers it seemed like he might change his mind any second. 

He didn't want to stop. He wanted to flip her over, pull her pretty ass up, and push so deep into her until she couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to make her scream through the loud music and her thighs shake until she couldn't walk. He wanted to hold her against his chest and tell her how pretty she was while he thrusted into her with slow, caring strokes. All because of that damn fucking skirt, taunting him to just be flipped up and to take her like she was the best fuck toy he ever had and loved.

Aspen nodded, her cheeks flushed and her breathing unsteady. “Yeah, probably,” she agreed, though neither of them made a move to separate.

Instead, they stayed like that for a moment, tangled together in a mess of limbs and emotions, their foreheads pressed together as they tried to catch their breath. Finally, Harry let out a soft laugh, his hands dropping to her hips. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he joked, though the fondness in his tone made it clear he wouldn’t have it any other way.

She smiled, resting her hands against his chest as she leaned back slightly. “Guess we’re even, then,” she said softly, her voice laced with affection.

[l0relaii]

GREETINGS

need me some thoughts about Connor.

Deviant Connor who's got a thing for his 20-25 year old neighbor after he moves in with Hank after the war where he ends up going on a date w her and she invites him insidee... oop... smutty thots?

oh jesus my first time writing for connor i'm a bit nervous ngl

you were hank's neighbor

you were the only person he actually trusted because you helped him a lot with his grief after his son died

you'd come over and cook a decent meal for him once in a while, you'd get him in bed when you found him black out drunk on the floor, you'd feed and walk sumo

you even took the adorable saint bernard into your home when hank got too overwhelmed and couldn't take care of him properly

you sat down at his kitchen table watching him eat the soup you'd made him

he'd told you he'd been assigned a case and his partner was "a damn android"

you laughed a bit at his annoyance

"why don't you give him a chance?"

"yeah sure, maybe we'll even become friends, why not move him here with me? i see you're already sweet on him"

only if he knew that all his jokes would become true..

his sarcasm only made your smile widen

"oh come on hank, maybe you will grow.. fond.. of- what'd you say his name was?"

"why? d'you want to buy one for yourself? i don't think they're for sale for civilians darling"

"oh don't be an asshole hank. if you need anything else you know where to find me"

you said as you got up from the table and went to grab your coat

"connor."

"what?"

"his name's connor"

connor knew about you too. hank drunkenly blabbered about you when he found him laying on the floor

"leave me alone, you fuckin' android! get the fuck outta my house"

"i'm sorry lieutenant, but i need you"

he heard hank calling out your name while he dragged him to the bathroom to try and sober him up

"i don't know who that is lieutenant, but i can assure you, she's not here. it's only me, you and sumo"

"then go and get her"

"is she your wife lieutenant?"

"no you pervert, she's my damn neighbor"

"i'm sorry to inform you but i don't think we have the time for that right now"

"shit.. sumo! attack!"

the only thing he got in return from the dog was a little bark

"good dog.."

after connor managed to sober him up he saw you coming to pick up sumo. he was.. glad that you weren't hank's partner,though he didn't know why he felt that way at the time

your eyes met for the first time. you could see his LED turn yellow. he was analyzing you

and you think he liked what he saw when you noticed a blue tint in his cheeks

that was.. interesting

you didn't see him again after that, not until the war was over. not until he moved in with hank and you learned that he was a deviant

you found yourself intrigued by him. without even realizing you were coming up with different reasons why you should come over at hanks place more often

you wanted to cook him a nice dinner, or to give sumo a bath, or to give him back a book you burrowed

and everytime you ended up staring at connor. he was certainly different than when you first saw him

not so rigid, more.. human

his presence was nice. you felt protected, secure around him, horny flustered even

he was currently watching you scratching sumos belly on the carpet, getting ready to take him out for his evening walk

hanks gruff voice suddenly startles him

"you know it's not polite to stare"

"jesus hank, you scared me"

"why don't you ask her out?"

"like.. on a date?"

"yes like on a date"

"..why?"

"don't play coy connor, you've seen how she looks at you too"

he did notice your heart rate being higher around him, your oxytocin and estrogen levels increasing when you acknowledged his presence

you hear hank shouting out your name while you're putting on sumos leash

"connor said he wants to join ya on your walk"

"really?"

he nudges him in his chest managing to get a strained "yes" from him

the walk was a pleasant one. you talked with him about hank, about sumo, about his life and how everything changed for him after the war

"how did you feel? you know, when you uh- deviated"

"it was scary at first, i felt- human.. it's hard to explain."

"i understand"

you give him a side glance noticing his LED is yellow, he's analyzing something, he's analyzing you

after that evening it kinda became your thing, going out everyday to walk sumo around the neighborhood

hank mentioned to you that connor is learning and exploring different emotions and that he's eager to experience anything that a human would feel and do

"maybe you could help him with that"

help him with that? yeah sure why not? unfortunately you failed to pick up on his suggestive tone

connor was indeed exploring. he felt.. weird around you. what was that feeling? his system was heating up whenever he thought about it, whenever he thought about you

he did some research and he associated his reactions to human arousal. was he..? aroused..?

he knew you certainly were

one evening you invited him at your place after you walked sumo, your explanation being that hank was really tired that day and you didn't want to disturb him any more

he accepted after he made sure he wouldn't bother you, of course he accepted, he couldn't wait for you to do this even though he'd never admit it

he noticed your hormone levels and the way your legs crossed and you squeezed your thighs

he also noticed your body heating up and the pheromones you released

you noticed the slight baby blue tint in his cheeks and the..pinkish hue of his LED? more like a peachy tone, similar to the yellow one but definitely different

that's new

what was also new was the bulge is his jeans. was he hard? could he get hard?

apparently he could, and he just realized he did

"i'm sorry, this has never happened before-"

"d'you need.. any help with it?"

"i guess i do.. could uh- could you help me?"

"i thought you'd never ask"

ajsjnxd cliffhanger i'm sorry you're gonna have to send me some details i don't think i'm ready to write the whole thing 😭😭

[knight-a3]

Hazbin Hotel Sketchbook 2: Part 9

Masterpost

Spider fam

At this point, I'd done most of the main cast and started branching out, because I like doing character design. So I took a crack at the Spider Family. Notes will be under the cut.

At the very end, I was doing some 1920s flapper girl research. You only get one guess why.

Overview: So the whole family is spiders because the mob is a whole family-wide web of crime. But the more deeply involved, the more spider traits they have.

More notes under the cut

Arackniss: the heir

As the heir to the family business, Arackniss was highly involved. It's made him pretty tired and grumpy and no-nonsense. He functions on coffee, usually black because he's just after the caffeine. He's also a smoker. He's gotta have his cigarettes.

He has three sets of arms, and is unable to retract any of them. He usually has an overcoat and sticks his extra arms in pockets, which hides them pretty well. He's able to climb walls and jump well.

Design-wise, I wanted to differentiate his head shape from Angel's by slightly changing his hairstyle. And his eyebrows are actually a pair of eyes. (Jumping spiders have 4 pairs of eyes, 8 eyes total)

Angie: the wild child

Anthony had always been pretty wishy washy in his desire to participate in the family business. He enjoyed some aspects, but not others. Overall, he just enjoyed partying and shooting up (in more ways than one). Their father was Catholic and consequently pretty homophobic. Anthony's siblings knew (Molly was very supportive, Arackniss was too tired to care), but he never came out to their parents in life. It caused a significant rift in their afterlife, leading their parents to disowning him. Which Angel was fine with, he was more interested in serving himself anyway, and he eventually turned to Valentino for affection.

Angel has three sets of arms, but can retract his third set. He can jump decently, but can't climb walls. His hair is fluffier than Arackniss's because Angel cares more about his appearance and has a whole beauty routine.

Molly: the spoiled daughter. Guilty by association.

In canon, Molly is in heaven. But I think she knew what the family business was and benefited from it. She didn't participate herself(she's a spoiled daddy's girl), but didn't care that her family did bad things like murder. So I'm putting her in hell with the rest of them. Ma and Pa still spoil her.

I tried to wrap my head around the anatomy of her four legs, but just couldn't get it to work in a way that I liked. So, she also has three sets of arms, but can retract the two extras(because her involvement with the business was very hands off, at most she would do something in the business front). She can't climb walls or jump well.

Ma: the mob wife

I guess she is technically an OC. But I honestly just wanted to play with character design. She's a classic femme fatale. She has two sets of retractable legs that come out from her back. The symbolism is that she seems harmless at first, but she's deceptively dangerous. She can jump well, climb walls, and has venom. I know jumping spiders aren't venomous, but this is fictional and it works thematically.

Pops: the mob boss. Despite how he looks, he was not inspired by Waternoose from Monsters Inc. I realized that afterwards. I also didn't know until after that Viv had designed him. I've looked at it since, and am not particularly impressed. But it's pretty old at this point, and was for Zoophobia rather than Hazbin Hotel. SO...

Because he was the boss, he's the most visually transformed. Worst of the lot. He smokes cigars and is a coffee snob.

He has three sets of legs, and his mustache is made of spider fangs. His eyebrows are a pair of eyes, like Arackniss. He's got a venomous touch, sort of like Thrax from Osmosis Jones.

20s flapper fashion studies that I used the extra paper space for.

[memen18-m5r3]

wacky karaoke night!

[solaestial]

new kids in town 😳

(bonus ver without omori ui under the cut)

[monsterbisexual]

amanda + adam in saw (2004)

bonus:

[catncore]

thank goodness for the gossip that gets us through the day the twink composers are at it again

[yourlocalbadgerscales]

My fanart of Zoya Zabini! Click the pictures for better quality :)

Inspired by this picture (found on Pinterest):

[stevethehairington]

i am once again thinking of a good omens wicked au, but this time instead of the obvious crowley as elphaba and aziraphale and glinda, im thinking of the OPPOSITE.

im thinking of how AZIRAPHALE fits elphaba's character in that he is an outsider amongst his peers and he's a little bit awkward and he's got so much faith in the almighty/the wizard. he's got "parents" (read: god) who expect so much from him and siblings who are ashamed of him. and he's got dreams! he wants to do big things! he wants to work hand in hand with and make the almighty/the wizard proud!

and im thinking about how CROWLEY fits glindas character in the sense that he's suave and charming and people are drawn to him. he knows how to talk to them and how to get them to do what he wants, and he's the one that teaches aziraphale things about the world (a la popular, like tempting aziraphale into eating meat and drinking wine and all these very human things he never would have thought to do without crowleys influence).

im thinking of how the two of them start out absolutely loathing each other, as mortal enemies, one could say... but how over time and as they bond more and more, as they see different sides of one another, that loathing turns into something else. something just as strong, just as passionate, but softer. gentler. sweeter. it turns into love.

and of course everything gets shattered when upon meeting his idol, aziraphale learns that god isn't what he thought she was. it turns out god is just a pipe dream. all there is is a floating head, the metatron, posing as god. and not at all the great and powerful entity aziraphale believed. and the metatron CANT help aziraphale, can't fix him. and thus the downfall of aziraphale begins.

[aflawedfashion]

I groaned at the writing of the 19 year old with too many ideals and not enough life experience, but there's a perspective shift in episode 3, so when we see her again, she's not a cringy character anymore