#but i also intended this to be a bill + pink interaction >:]

[triangod]

       we're  creating  life  from  nothing        !        (  @wasdiamond​  )        𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆        ɪᴛ  ɪꜱ        :        THAT  URGE        ;       𝚂𝙸𝙼𝙼𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶  𝙱𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙷  𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴        ,        ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ  ⁿᵉˣᵗ  ᵗᵒ  ᵗʰᵉ  ᶠᵃᵘˣ⁻ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˡⁱⁿᵉˢˢ        .        ⁱⁿ  ᵃˡˡ        honesty        ,        bill  cipher  would  just  as  soon        𝔯𝔦𝔭  𝔦𝔱  𝔬𝔲𝔱        ---        the  infection  that  it  is        /        𝒂𝒏  𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒙  𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕  𝒕𝒐  𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒕        [    . . .    ]        * &        𝚂𝙾        ,        𝙷𝙴  𝙳𝙾𝙴𝚂        ---        ᵈᵉⁿʸⁱⁿᵍ    HER  HIGHNESS    ᵗʰᵉ  ᶜᵒᵘʳᵗᵉˢʸ  ᵒᶠ  ᵃⁿᵉˢᵗʰᵉᵗⁱᶜ       .

❛        S’THAT        ᵂᴴᴬᵀ        YOU  ᵀᴴᴵᴺᴷ        ???        ❜      ʷʰᵉⁿ  ᵗᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ  ᵃʷᵃʸ  ᵗʰᵉ  ᵖʳᵒᵛᵉʳᵇⁱᵃˡ  ᵇᵃⁿᵈ⁻ᵃⁱᵈ        /        𝒕𝒉𝒆  𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅  𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏        [    HER  NAIVETY    ]        ʰᵉ’ˢ  ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ  ᵇᵘᵗ  ᵍᵉⁿᵗˡᵉ        .         after  all        ,        claws        * &        teeth  leave  no  room  for  tact        ---        𝚒𝚝'𝚜  𝚊  𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝'𝚜  𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎        .        ❛        ᵂᴱᴸᴾ        [    . . .    ]        IF        ᴵᶠ  ᴵᵀ  ᴷᴱᴱᴾˢ  ʸᴱᴿ        𝑮Ｅ𝑀        FROM        Ｂ𝐄ςσ爪ｉŇ𝔾  sʰŘᵃⓟ𝔫eL        !!!        ❜        ᵗʰᵉ  ʷʰⁱʳʳⁱⁿᵍ        /        ᶠʳᵉⁿᶻⁱᵉᵈ  ᵐᵉᶜʰᵃⁿⁱᶜˢ  ᵒᶠ  ʰⁱˢ  ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ  ˢᵉᵉᵐ  ᵗᵒ  ʳᵉᵛᵉʳᵇᵉʳᵃᵗᵉ  ᵒᶠᶠ  ᵗʰᵉ  ᵉᵃʳᵗʰ  ⁱᵗˢᵉˡᶠ        .        (        it  does  make  bill  wonder    ---    however  briefly    ---        if  he  could  b r e a k  the  mohs  scale        )​

[descendant-of-truth]

Y'know what maybe I'm not done talking about Journeys queercoding actually. maybe I do wanna work out my literary analysis muscles for the sake of Pokemon protagonists. why not

To clarify, this isn't about me personally enjoying the ship between Ash and Gou. I do enjoy it, but I'm making an argument for potentially deliberate queercoding in the writing, I'm not necessarily just here to gush (though that may be a side effect)

I'm also a firm believer that actions or behaviors that we typically think of as romantic are only made romantic if that's how the people involved feel about it. I don't think romance is the only possible way to interpret their relationship.

But when it comes to predicting where a story might be going next, or figuring out what the writers are intending to hint at us, I gotta pull out my textbook of Romantic Tropes first to see what fits the bill.

And I'm sorry, but even if it's not the intended interpretation, you can't include all of these scenes:

...and assume no one in your audience will think there's anything romantic happening here.

Of course, those are just the obvious visual interactions between them that can come off as romantic, to say nothing of the symbolic visual hints; the no less than four rainbows they've been under (one of which was reflected in Gou's eye), the two sets of heart-shaped pokemon that swam past them in a single episode which also had them falling under a rainbow, stuff like that.

But even all of that is pretty surface-level stuff. If the writing doesn't support a queer reading very strongly, then my argument for the queercoding being particularly intentional would fall flat.

Thankfully, the writing does support a queer interpretation, so I'm in the clear! Since breaking this part down will take a lot longer, I'm putting it under a cut.

So, right off the bat we've got the basic setup for the show. For the first time, the focus is primarily on Ash and one other person, as opposed to two or more people... despite having a third person in Chloe, who could easily make this into a trio dynamic, considering she's friends with Gou from the start. But they choose instead to make the core of the show about Ash and Gou.

This is even reflected in promotional material, where they'll often be placed closer to each other than Chloe:

Them being roommates is something I usually bring up as a joke, but it is worth noting anyway simply because it's another way the writers have decided they're going to spend almost all of their time together when they really didn't have to.

But now we gotta get into the real Writing Choices(TM) that are the meat and potatoes of this analysis, such as: making brief allusions to the idea that they might like other guys, too

One way to build up a character's orientation is to show them being attracted to people in shorter instances before giving them a main love interest. Think Luz from The Owl House; she had expressed attraction to both boys and girls before she got a girlfriend or started wearing a bi pin.

Likewise, this is Ash when he's thinking about Leon after seeing him battle for the first time:

I kid you not, he keeps up this blush and zoned-out expression for a solid minute, so caught up in thinking about how cool Leon is that he doesn't even think to eat the scones in front of him.

Now, Ash is a person frequently characterized by his love for food, and in previous episodes he had expressed a particular adoration for Galar scones, so this is pretty unusual behavior for him.

So unusual that it's. literally never happened before, to the best of my knowledge?? I don't think it takes much analyzing to realize that, even if it was brief, you could easily take this as Ash having a celebrity crush on Leon.

(There's even pink flowers in the background but that's probably less important)

Meanwhile with Gou, his "setup crush" in this scenario would be Horace. These two have a whole episode dedicated to their first meeting and the bond they forged, and how that turned bitter on Gou's end when he gets stood up right as he thought he was finally making a friend.

What sets this up for a romantic interpretation is largely the framing of things towards the end of the episode:

"Why do I keep thinking of him" is historically not the most platonic thing you could be bitterly thinking to yourself while you remember stargazing with someone, even if I do stand by my statement earlier of nothing being inherently romantic by itself

The end of the episode also implies that the feeling is mutual, if this shot is anything to go off of

(It's just a very shoujo manga-esque frame okay there's no way I wasn't going to point it out)

And the ending scene is two Celebies looking down happily at the two of them while the narrator talks about how pokemon form "many different kinds of bonds"

Many kinds of bonds, huh? Wonder what he could possibly be implying there

Okay so we've got orientation buildup, next in line is this. suspiciously consistent trend of characters who are close to Ash telling Gou to take care of him, or even going out of their way to test him to make sure he's good enough to be his rival or friend.

Gou himself even echoes the sentiment completely unprompted once, which says even more to me that they're trying to make a point out of this:

And here's the thing. None of the other companions have ever undergone this sort of treatment. Nobody questioned whether or not Ash's friends were good enough to hang out with him before, so why now? Why Gou? What makes him different?

Kiawe is relatively easy to explain because (from what I can tell) he's just Like That about rivalries, but why the addition of describing a rival as "the person closest to Ash"? Why does Gary suddenly care about the quality of Ash's buddies when that was never really a concern for him before?

Well gee I don't know about you guys but to me, this feels like the trope where someone's friends and family all start scouting out the guy they're interested in (or who is interested in them) to make sure they won't like, break their heart or something. And despite my best efforts, I'm struggling to see how this wasn't the writers' intention behind these plotlines.

Gou telling Ash's mom that he'll look after Ash on two separate occasions as opposed to the initial one also feels like an easy parallel to someone promising their love interest's parents that they'll be a good partner.

To my understanding, that isn't traditionally something friends also have to promise, even if there's more justification here as Ash and Gou are traveling around and getting into chaotic situations regularly.

So, with all this in mind, it kind of reframes the stuff I mentioned earlier, doesn't it? The blushing, the hand-holding, the spin hug that I'm never getting over, the frequent appearance of rainbows and the heart shaped Pokemon (Luvdisc if you were wondering)... it feels a lot more intentional once you take into account the bigger themes in the writing.

And once you start looking, it keeps piling up. The way Gou hurriedly says that he totally didn't want to help Ash out or anything after Scorbunny gives him a knowing look, like how most tsundere tropes tend to play out:

Or the specific way Gou is taken aback by one of Ash's compliments before trying to play it off by looking cool, only to be comically shocked when Ash gets distracted by something else:

I could go on but I'm running out of image space and I think you get the idea.

Ash's side of this whole thing is admittedly a lot more subtle than Gou's (*cough* because he's arospec) which is why I haven't gone over it much - my aim with this post was not to go too far into speculation territory - but we at least have marketing on our side for that

Gee Ash how come Animedia let you feed Gou two pastries

Anyway, in conclusion: I ran these two through the literary queerometer and the results were positive, thanks for coming to my TED talk

[justcourttee]

hiiiii i don't know if you take prompts or requests or anything, but would you maybe consider writing a sequel to A Moment Too Late? maybe with a happy ending? i love your writing!!

I tried for what I’ll call a happy-ish ending, but I hope you still enjoy it! 

*WARNING* This piece and part 1 mention attempted suicide and can be difficult for some. Please, please, please be sure you feel comfortable reading about this topic before clicking below the title. 

In The Nick of Time

Damian took his first step into the city of love at 4:00 pm.  

He had a general idea of where to begin, but the combination of no sleep and jet lag was taking its toll. He had tried reaching out to her several times on the flight over, but she ignored his every effort. It could have just been the fact that she was in her classes. She may have been suicidal, but maybe she still took her education seriously?

It wasn’t likely, but it helped put his mind at some ease, hoping he still had time. His first order of business was renting a car. Technically speaking, his father had a villa on the outskirts of the city with a multitude of cars to pick from, but seeing as no one knew where he was, he wasn’t eager to tip them off.

He gazed over the taxis lined up, eagerly looking to take advantage of the tourists piling out of the airport behind him. He didn’t want someone to eager, he just needed someone who looked on the brim of exhaustion. His eyes landed on a poor man propped against his car, his eyes drooping like Tim before his first cup of the day. Perfect.

“Excuse me sir, but I’d like to rent your car from you for the day.”

The man peeked one eye open as he glanced warily over Damian.

“Scram kid, it’s a package deal, me and my car. You can’t just rent one or the other-”

Damian smirked as the man snatched the bundle of money from his hand, popping off the taxi light that stood on top of his car. As Damian slipped into the driver’s seat, he motioned for the man to step back over.

“Here’s a couple of extra bills to catch yourself a taxi home.”

The man’s mouth gaped as if he was searching for air underwater. Damian didn’t even bother to see if he would step back from the curb as he pulled off. The one benefit of the agonizing six-hour flight was Tim’s laptop. Damian had managed to hack into each of the high schools around the city until he narrowed it down to three Marinette’s. After looking at approximate ages and distance, he assumed she had to be the first; one Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Her family owned a bakery a little less than a mile from the high school and on the off chance she hadn’t stayed for any clubs or activities, she should be arriving there at any moment. Damian tapped the address into his phone ignoring the multitude of messages he had between his father and Dick.

It was a simple fifteen-minute drive from the airport.

Damian exhaled sharply as he sped down the exit. Fifteen minutes was enough time. It had to be enough time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .

“Welcome to the bakery! Is there anything I can interest you to today?”

The woman’s face wore a mixture of fake smiles and exhaustion. It might’ve been enough to fool the average customer, but to Damian, she simply looked one gust of wind from collapsing.

“Uhm, I’m looking for Marinette? Marinette Dupain-Cheng? Is she here?”

Instantly her fake smile dropped and the exhaustion settled into the creases of her face. There wasn’t even a hint of worry at the mention of her daughter’s name from a stranger’s mouth. It irritated him.

“Look, whatever she did now, we don’t have any money for a settlement. Maybe you can work out a deal with her, but we have nothing more to give.”

The woman offered him a half bow before pointing him to a small door at the back of the store. He assumed she meant for him to go through it and without another word, he stepped past her. As he made his way up the countless stairs, his irritation only grew.

He was well aware that there were parents out there indifferent to their children, but his soulmate wasn’t supposed to have one. She was always so happy and carefree when they were younger, abusing the bond whenever she could. He assumed it was because her parents had drilled into her that it was within her right too. But after that short interaction, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Finally, a white door came into view. Hesitantly, he reached out the knob twisting without resistance. Inside was a moderate flat with what appeared to be an attic access. As first impressions went, he thought it seemed like a warm and gentle place to grow up in. Very different from the windowless stone building he began in.

He slipped out of his shoes, placing them beside a pair of light pink ballet flats before taking his first step. Someone was home and by the looks of it, it should be his soulmate. Damian contemplated on whether to call out or not. He didn’t want to frighten her, but he thought it might be worse if he just opened random doors instead. Finally, he settled on attempting their soulmate link once more.

“Marinette? Are you there?”

There was no answer, but he couldn’t be sure if that was just the continued strike from his earlier efforts. Tentatively, he took another step forward, his eyes scanning the apartment. It was pretty much an open concept, so he could see everything quite easily. The only thing that eluded him was the staircase leading above.

That had to be where she was.

“Marinette? That’s how you pronounce your name, right?” Damian sucked in a breath, resisting the urge to hit himself. No matter how he intended it, he sounded like he was some stalker here to kidnap her. “I’m not here to hurt you, I just wanted to talk.”

It didn’t sound any better. Maybe he should've stuck with a gentle introduction through their bond. Speaking out loud only reminded him how terrible he was with people. Animals were easier. Everything that needed to be said could be expressed through body language.

Biting the bullet, he decided it couldn’t get any worse than barging straight up the staircase into the attic. As he pushed open the access, the first thought that crossed his mind was-

“A mess,” clothes were strewn across the floor, remnants of paper scattered within the piles. The walls were a soft pink at one point, but it looked as if someone had taken a paint scraper to them, mere flakes hanging on by a thread. For such a well-put-together apartment, the room almost seemed abandoned.

Pulling himself into the room, Damian left his legs to dangle, his toes longing for the security of the stairs just below him. It didn't seem that she was in here either. He remembered passing another floor, perhaps that was also part of their apartment? Just as he decided to plant his feet back onto the sturdy steps, his fingers brushed over one of the scraps of paper he had seen earlier.

Instinctively, he pulled his hand away from the floor, his eyebrows furrowing. Damian was fairly certain that wasn’t how paper should feel. Reaching back out, he gathered a few nearby scraps. Turning them over one by one, a picture began to form. A group of girls, all laughing completely lost in a moment of time. His curiosity bested him as he pulled himself into the room, gathering each of the scraps he could find.

A half dozen photos was all he could form by the time he collected the larger pieces. Most were group shots, but two were of a blonde guy. Upon further analysis, he determined that he was the son of the fashion dictator Gabriel Agreste. He had seen the boy at a couple of Bruce’s international parties.

Perhaps she thought he was attractive? After all, the photos seemed to be ripped from a magazine, unlike the other four. As he glanced around the room once more, he felt like he had finally found a straw to grasp at. A reason she dropped so far, so fast.

But as much as he gathered from her room, he still had no idea as to where she might be. Her shoes were at the door, but it didn’t seem as if she was anywhere in the apartment. Standing slowly, Damian took a step back toward the access he had entered through when a breeze tickled the back of his neck.

His entire body stiffened as his hand moved slowly to where he kept his emergency kunai.

“Is that you, Marinette? If so, you’re pretty good at masking your presence. I didn’t even sense you approaching.”

There was no response, but now that he knew she was there, it was easier to pick up on her shallow breathing. In one swift movement, Damian flicked his wrist backward, ducking to avoid any retaliation.

A soft grunt earned a glance backward, his eyes widening a bit at the sight. She hadn’t even tried to dodge it. Lodged into her right shoulder was his kunai, and just below it, centimeters away from her heart, was a pocket knife. A bright pink light blinded him and instinctively his arms darted out. When he could see again, a petite figure rested against his frame.

“Marinette?” She was unresponsive, a deep ruby dripping from her wounds. “Marinette!”

What was this panic he felt rising? He’d seen comrades die on the battlefield before, wounds more deadly than this. So why couldn’t he move? Logically, he knew he had to act fast, but his body wouldn’t inch.

“You’re her soulmate, right? Do something!” Damian’s head snapped up, but he couldn’t find where the voice came from. Whoever it was, it was enough to break whatever daze he had fallen into.

“Okay Marinette, I have basic medical training and I can patch you, slow the bleeding, but I can’t remove either blade. Do you understand? I’m going to have to move you, quickly and as stable as possible.” Her breathing was shallow, but her eyelids flickered in what he hoped was a response. As gently as her could, he lifted her into his arms, attempting to avoid moving either stab wound. Her soft grunt pulled at his heart. “Hold on a little longer Marinette, please, I need to apologize.”

The stairs were one agonizing moment after another and as he laid her into the backseat of his rented car, he felt winded himself. Sliding into the driver’s seat, Damian quickly pulled out his phone, cursing as it slid through his hands.

“Dammit, where did it fall?” He frantically searched, his heart rate rising with every passing moment. Was this the world’s way of punishing him? He killed and fought and argued every passing moment of his life. He pushed her away and now that he thought he was making a change, he could just waltz back into her life as if nothing had happened? He wasn’t going to make it.

“Just drive, I’ll guide you.” Had he finally lost it? It was the same imaginary voice he had heard before. Perhaps it was his subconscious, a guardian angel? Could he really trust it? “Drive boy, take a left at the stop sign.”

He couldn’t afford to wait another moment so he did what felt most logical; he drove. The drive was killing him, each painful breath becoming slower, a dagger to his heart as they escaped from her mouth.

“Just leave the car in the front, save my friend.” The only thing keeping him going was the voice.

Damian had barely parked, his feet already slamming on the pavement before the engine had stopped. Gathering her into his arms, he burst through the sliding doors, the fear rising in his throat.

“Help! I need help!” He knew his French was rusty, but he had to try. The nurse tentatively approached him, her gasp needing no explanation. A stretcher was rushed, and as they ripped her from his arms, Damian couldn’t help the anger he felt.

“Be careful with her! She’s going to die if they shift too much!” A security guard stepped over, his hands raised as if he meant to calm Damian. He took another step forward, trying to grip Damian’s arm. “What are you doing? I need to be with her! Marinette I’m right here! Can’t you hear me? I need you Marinette! Please don’t leave me!”

Damian watched as they placed the stethoscope on her chest, grim expressions hastening their step.

“Don’t look at her like that! Help her! Please!” It felt as if his lungs were collapsing, his vision blurring. Why was he reacting like this? He barely knew her. In fact, this was his first time ever seeing her.

“Sir, please calm down. They are treating your friend right now, the best thing you can do for her is sit and wait.”

The man led him to a couch where his legs finally caved, his back sinking into the chair. Damian lifted his hands to his face, wiping the tears he hadn’t even realized he had cried, but it only left his cheeks damper than before. Slowly, he pulled back his hands, his stomach plummeting. There wasn’t an inch of skin left uncovered by the red.

“Oh, oh,” Had he really not noticed how much blood she had lost? He was so focused on getting her here that he didn’t even consider if she would make it. “I thought I could make it, I thought I still had time.”

Damian recognized this feeling rising in his chest. It was the same as when he collapsed on the roof, the same as when he heard from her after so many years of silence. Was this what his mother meant by a soulmate bond being a distraction?

He had never understood why people took the insane challenge of fighting his Grandfather for a chance to leave the league in search of their soulmate. If he was honest, he thought it was a pointless endeavor and he couldn’t begin to imagine how someone believed they could pull it off. But, as his chest tightened with the rising waves of nausea, a realization washed over him.

A soulmate bond was so powerful that even if you just met them, you felt the need to protect them, to care for them. You became vulnerable for them, scared to lose them, terrified of how the world would be without them. It was a terrible weakness and a strong ally.

“Can you walk to the bathroom?” Damian felt his head stir, but it was as if it were being pulled by strings, out of his control. “I’ll explain everything if you could just meet me there.”

How could this voice be so all-knowing? Hadn’t it just surfaced from his subconscious as a way to kickstart his movement again? Yet, if that were the case, why did he find himself rising, stumbling toward the bathroom in a daze?

He slipped into the closest stall, collapsing against the door, the minute it locked. Why did he feel so drained? It was less than 500 feet.

“Do you need to sit down? I know that this must be hard on you.”

Damian’s eyes scanned the stall in search of a source for the voice, but alas, he came up with nothing. Sliding to the ground, he chuckled to himself, his hand clutching his shirt.

“I’ve finally lost it. Todd told me this day would come, but how could a dumbass like him even know?”

“You haven’t lost anything, I’m right in front of you, you just have to push through the veil.”

Damian perked up, squinting his eyes at the space directly in front of him. Slowly, but surely, his eyes focused on a red blur until the floating object came into full view.

“Holy shi-” Two paw-like things pressed his lips together, a disapproving look monopolizing its small face.

“Can you keep it down? And what’s with all this foul language? I can’t say I approve of you being my Chosen’s soulmate with a mouth like that.”

It floated a few inches away, crossing its arms as if trying to push the point across. Damian tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry. He was positive that he hadn’t had anything. Perhaps this was one of those sleepless hallucinations that Drake constantly rambled on about?

“I know that look, I’m not a hallucination, I’m a kwamii! My name is Tikki and I am Marinette’s partner. Together, we merge to become the superheroine of Paris, Ladybug.”

Ladybug? He had heard Bruce mention a Parisian team. They asked for any heroes to stay out of Paris as their villain was one that manipulated emotions, turning his victims into puppets of his own bidding. No wonder Bruce and Dick were blowing up his phone. They weren’t just worried about him running off, they were also worried about him breaking an international treaty.

Damian blinked slowly as he processed the image in front of him. Kwamiis. He had heard the legend of them back when he was apart of the League of Assassins, but he had no idea they truly existed. Why was his soulmate in possession of the most powerful being in the world?

“It’s a long story soulmate of the Chosen. I have traveled long and wide and have had many wielders before, but never one as capable as Marinette. When I first found myself as her partner, she was clumsy and shy, but so friendly and kind, always going out of her way to help people. Together, we defeated the original Hawkmoth, but in the battle, his kwamii was reclaimed by one of his partners and a new Lady Hawk emerged.”

“Why are you telling me this?” The kwamii shot him a questioning look as if the answer was obvious.

“I’m trying to give you the full picture of where it all began. You blame yourself as the catalyst, but you were only a small stepping stone in her downfall, almost not worth mentioning.”

Damian felt an odd swelling in his chest. It almost felt like, relief? Had he really been this worried that he had pushed her down this path? A lonesome tear trickled from his eye, but he was quick to snatch away.

“Marinette had friends, a boyfriend even. She wasn’t completely lost without a soulmate. After all, her parents weren’t soulmates, and her best friend was rejected by their soulmate too. She was happy.” The kwamii paused, her smile reminiscing before it slowly morphed into a frown. But it all changed when a wretched girl transferred into her middle school.”

“Just one girl changed everything?”

The kwamii nodded, small tears forming.

“She was the real catalyst. The reason everything fell apart.”

Damian lost track of how long he sat listening to the small God. When he stood to return to the waiting room, he couldn’t help but clench his fist in an attempt to calm himself. Marinette had to pull through, she just had to. Damian had to show her that there was more to life than this shitty one in Paris. He had to rescue her like his family had for him.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was 36 hours before he was allowed back to see her.

She had been lucky, the knife had missed her vital organs and even though it had punctured her lung, she seemed to be on track for a full recovery, one that she needed to take slowly. Damian dealt with the police on her behalf and thanks to Tikki’s information, he was able to help them identify the mugger.

Tikki had gone ahead to talk to Marinette and to give him time to freshen up. He didn’t have much, but the little he had packed at least got him fresh clothing, clothing not stained with her blood. Alfred would not be happy with him once he returned.

Damian was unsure how to approach her. He had found some flowers in the gift shop he thought were nice and some chocolates as well. But as he stood in front of her hospital room, he realized he hadn’t figured out the first thing he should say to her.

I’m sorry? No, that sounded too arrogant after everything she had been through. My name’s Damian, I saved your life? No, that would be condescending. God, he really hated talking to people.

“Are you going to come in or just sit outside all day?” Her voice sent shivers down his spine. She hadn’t always been this cold, but he couldn’t blame her.

Hesitantly, he reached out, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. She looked angry, slight red emphasized on her pale skin, the dark circles under her eyes protruding as if they dared him to comment on them. There were a million and one wires and tubes poking out in different directions, some hooked to machines, some to random bags of fluid.

Yet, despite all of it, she still looked absolutely stunning.

“Well, sit down or something. You’re creeping me out just standing there.”

Damian shuffled awkwardly to the opposite side of her bed, his legs wobbling as he lowered himself into the chair.

“Uhm, I brought you some flowers-”

“I hate the color white.” Damian felt his eyebrow twitch, but he tried his best to hold back the expression he felt. Gently, he reached back, setting the flowers on the windowsill.

“I-Uhm-I also brought you some chocolat-”

“I’m on a liquid-only diet for the next two weeks.”

Damian could feel the red rushing to his face as he breathed deeply. He knew there was a chance that she would be spiteful, but he hadn’t been completely ready for it. His fuse was short, even if it was his soulmate, he wasn’t sure he could contain the explosion.

“Are you feeling any better?” Marinette scoffed, her eyes never leaving her hands.

“Did you fly all the way to Paris for small talk Damian?” He wasn’t sure how to respond, knowing his next words might be his last. “Ask what you really want to. Like why did I detransform before trying to face the mugger? Or why have I tried to kill myself multiple times even if each time ended in failure?”

“I-”

“Ask me why all my friends left me. Ask me why my master chose the easy way out, forgetting everything before passing on weeks later without even a single message about his death from him or his girlfriend. Ask me why I hate life so much that I just don’t see the reason in living anymore. Ask me if I think you’ll change my mind! Spoiler alert! You won’-”

“God woman, do you ever shut up? Give me five damn seconds to get my thoughts together.”

Damian instantly felt the eyes of Tikki fall upon him, the anger draining from his body only to be replaced by his rising fear. He felt the apology building up, but before he could even let the first word spill out, a bitter laugh cut him off.

“Yeah, I do shut up. But only sometimes. I figured Tikki told you everything. I also figured you’d have questions. I’m not interested in telling my sob story over again and I’m not interested in some knight in shining armor swooping in to save me, Got it?”

Damian tried to speak, but it was as if his voice were caught in his throat. What could he say to her? He wasn’t trying to be her knight? He didn’t need her explanations? Everything sounded so thoughtless, but he couldn’t string together one coherent and earnest sentence to save his life.

“What I am interested in is your nonsensical shouting. You ‘need me’? You just met me, how do you know that you need me?”

If he wasn’t already as red as a tomato, he was certain that was how he looked now.

“I,” he cleared his voice, praying to whatever was listening to keep the crack away, “I just had this feeling swell up in my chest seeing you like that. I was terrified and it scared me. It scared me to feel that way about someone who I had just laid eyes on. I had heard about soulmate bonds and how they affect you. They can strengthen you, but they can also be your downfall. I needed to get to know you, to know how our bond would affect me.”

He paused, the feeling of her eyes on him choking him up.

“I, uh, I know it’s selfish, but I couldn’t let you die. You don’t have to believe me, you don’t even have to listen to me, but I have been where you are before. But before I could even make my first attempt, I had a group of people come into my life, people who lifted me up and saved me. I was scared that you didn’t have that and I arrogantly believed I could do that for you. I’m truly sorry Marinette,  but I refuse to apologize for saving your life. If I could, I would do it over and over and over again as many times as it takes until you decide to keep living.”

The silence was deafening. Even if she just yelled at him and told him to leave, he would take it over this quiet. He didn’t dare look up, he barely felt the urge to breathe. It was as if everything fiber in him was holding their breath, waiting to hear her response, any response.

“You’re really not gonna leave me alone, huh?”

Her voice sounded tight as if she were holding back tears. The urge surged through him to reach forward and pull her into a hug, but he contained himself, defaulting to a simple nod instead. Again, the silence followed, but he was patient. He would wait all day if it meant hearing her speak again.

“Fine. I’m not guaranteeing a damn thing, but I can offer you a start.”

“A start?” Damian risked a small glance up, his heart racing at the sight. She was smiling, a genuine smile. It looked out of place among her tear-stained face, but he would be lying if he didn’t say it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

“Yeah, apparently I’m going to need someone to stay by my side 24/7 when they release me. Someone to take care of me. A stay-at-home nurse if you will. So, I nominate you, Damian. Your response?”

“Absolutely, it would be my honor.” His reply was instant, his smile unwavering even after she chucked her pillow at him, cussing him out in a manner that Todd would be proud of.

Yes, it was just a start. Yes, it didn't mean anything was fixed. But, there was one thing that put his heart at ease.

He wasn’t too late.

No, in fact, he was just in time to save her life. And at that very moment, he vowed to never wait till it was almost too late again.

Despite everything that had happened, he decided he could live with that.

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[starlesswritings]

in the passing of a single night

notes: mentions of alcohol, the word vomit is strewn in throughout (sort of). mentions of aquaphobia but it’s kind of dry (unintentional pun this is so bad hnngh). SUICIDE TW please be advised! this is not a ship — i just really wish we had gotten interactions between our two quiet water mist boys. modern!au if that doesn’t become increasingly obvious in the first three paragraphs.

oh, also not at all beta read because none of my works ever are.

The restaurant was mainly empty. There was an ambience of solidarity and quiet. All was peaceful and calm. It was almost magical — as magical as an empty restaurant at night could possibly be. Only, it wasn’t completely empty,  it was only mainly empty. There is, in fact, a difference.

Two people sat in silence, facing each other.

Tomioka Giyuu and Tokito Muichiro could not find a single word to say to each other. When asked, Giyuu would have only stated that he didn’t talk to Muichiro much despite being in the same classes as the much younger male. Truth be told, Giyuu hardly talked to anyone. It was starting to worry the teachers a little bit — or, it had. They’d just graduated. College had been difficult and easy at the same time. It was confusing, but it didn’t need to make a whole lot of sense. In any case, Giyuu didn’t need to worry much about it. He already had a stable job he’d been working for several years now. He was alright — his co-worker and (former) classmate Sabito said he was good at what he did — a soft lie that was supposed to make Giyuu feel better, only it didn’t really.

In a group of total extroverts, two introverts had somehow managed to find themselves dining alone together, late in the evening, supposedly to celebrate graduation. The rest of their friends had came and left already. Why Giyuu and Muichiro hadn’t left as well... that was said extroverted friends’ doing.

“Ah, look at the time! Tokito-kun, please look after Giyuu-san!”

Tokito Muichiro had gazed blankly at the pink and green haired lady. Her hair was gorgeous and immediately caught his eyes despite him not intending for it to do so. Whatever. She had gorgeous hair. Move on. “Why?”

“Basically everyone else has left, and I have to take Iguro home — he’s already a little tipsy.”

This was true, the short man with choppy black hair was sleeping soundly against Mitsuri’s rather voluptuous bosom, entirely unaware that he had fallen into his dreams, head laid flush against his wife’s chest (yes, they’d gotten married early and not a single person judged or thought it odd — they were made for each other).

“I still don’t see why I have to watch him,” Muichiro stated blandly, eyeing the older gentleman with dare it be said dubious judgement. “He looks fine to me, not drunk or anything.”

Mitsuri coughed, cheeks flushed pink. “He is, trust me. He had, like, five cups of strong alcohol.” With a confident smile, she continued, “You’re old enough to drive or call him a driver home — so I’m sure it’ll all turn out alright!”

Cut to the present. Giyuu did, in fact, drink an abnormal amount of alcohol. However, he did not appear to be drunk in the slightest, and neither was Muichiro. This led to the two sitting in complete and utter silence for an unorthodox amount of time. Neither felt like leaving first, but it was awkward to stay. Muichiro glanced at the time on his phone, eyes blinking wide in sheer amazement.

1AM.

Granted, it was a 24 hour restaurant, but this was simply getting to be rude. The group had split their bills respectively, and Muichiro thought it might be a good time to at the very least pay for his portion of the meal, which hadn’t been a lot. Feeling at a loss, he called over a waiter (who didn’t look upset, thank his lucky clouds) and paid with a low murmured apology.

Giyuu remained stock still. Muichiro wasn’t even sure it he was blinking at all. Hu, was that natural? Nothing about him was natural. Then again, who was Muichiro to judge? He wasn’t considered normal either. He heard the whispers about him, had heard them a bunch in college. He was too young and too smart and too blunt, apparently. That made him an oddity — but Muichiro didn’t care for such things. In that moment, Giyuu was nothing more than a fancy decorative object in a restaurant that already had quite a few decorations strung throughout.

Maybe it would be better if he did take Giyuu away. He didn’t look intoxicated, but it would probably be in everyone’s best interest if he just paid for his elder and got the hell out of there.

“You know, I’ll just pay for him as well,” Muichiro said to the waiter, tone bland in order to hide his many judgmental thoughts.

“Hu? But, he already paid in the beginning...”

Muichiro blinked, taken aback at this turn of events. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” the waiter replied, nodding twice. “He insisted that he pay right after ordering...”

This was a headache Muichiro simply didn’t want. He didn’t want to deal with social awkwardness, nor had asked for the responsibility of taking his former upperclassman back to his home, safely.

“Thank you,” Muichiro responded curtly, voice a little too crisp without him intending it to be so. He stood up gracefully, long hair swishing against his backside as he donned his overcoat and turned to look at Giyuu. “Hey, I’m leaving. You going home?”

No answer. Giyuu did not respond.

“You know, it’s typical for a response to be given when a question is asked,” Muichiro scoffed, walking forward and flicking the elder’s forehead with his thumb.

The most uncanny thing happened at that moment. Giyuu blinked once, looking up at Muichiro, gaze blank, and then his body fell right onto Muichiro’s lean chest.

“Hu?!”

Don’t tell me he was actually drunk this whole time, and he’s just naturally quiet while heavily intoxicated! Muichiro’s inner voice screeched, unwilling to believe what had just occurred. “Tomioka. Hey, Giyuu-san!”

He was truly asleep, even snoring just the faintest bit.

“I don’t know where you live!”

Why was this happening to Muichiro? Huffing and puffing, the younger of the two males helped his sleeping comrade (he wasn’t sure what else to call him) don his jacket and practically dragged him outside. It was highly convenient that he had brought his car to this event. It was also highly convenient that he had grown since his first year in college and was now a solid six feet two inches, wherewith he could easily drag Giyuu. Muichiro knew he didn’t look strong, but just because he had ‘toothpicks for arms,’ did not mean that he had the strength of a toothpick. Also, Giyuu wasn’t super heavy, which was just another convenience in a situation that was most inconvenient. He didn’t like these conveniences and inconveniences. Too troublesome. They meddled with his personal time and other respective issues. What did a man have to do around here to get some alone time?!

Well, it was almost like he was alone. Giyuu was nothing more than a sleeping sack of cells, at this point. He made virtually no sound as Muichiro buckled him up in the passenger’s seat, grumbling about his alcohol breath mixed with salmon (not a good combo), but still taking care to not slam his car door when he had ensured the man was safe and secure.

Though he wasn’t awake to hear it, Muichiro still explained, “I don’t know your address. I mean, we never talked, so I’m bringing you to my home. If you throw up anywhere, I’ll kill you. Then, I’ll fashion some nice jewelry from your corpse and throw the remains onto the side of the mountains, where no one will ever find them — oh, screw this. You’re not even awake.”

He jerked his car into gear, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. “Just... don’t.... don’t be sick when you wake up, okay? I really don’t wanna have to Google how to take care of this shit.”

Why get drunk at all? Why drink so much, if one was aware they had shit tolerance?

Wait. Maybe he hadn’t known. Maybe this was his first time drinking?

Muichiro stifled a curse under his breath. Maybe he should have tried drinking for the first time tonight — but he thought not. Who would have taken care of the both of them? The Tsugikuni’s? Well, actually, they would have. Both brothers were pretty cool with taking care of those in unfortunate situations — not to mention they were his distant relatives — but, no. He was not going to bother his relatives just because he felt mournful of the fact that he had been given the responsibility of taking care of Tomioka.

His apartment was built for two, actually, so housing Giyuu was no problem. The older man was sleeping so peacefully, Muichiro likened him to a baby for a moment, but he retracted the thought quickly. He didn’t know of many babies who wouldn’t wake up sometime in the middle of the night screaming their heads off. In no way, shape, or form, was Muichiro ready to take on an adult who acted like that. It was, perhaps, the last thing he ever wanted to equate Giyuu to — even imagining Giyuu as a small child was enough for Muichiro to begin shivering.

No, he wasn’t a baby. Babies didn’t drink. Adults usually drank to forget something, right? Muichiro should have known — he was an adult after all — but he didn’t know very much about people. In his own mind, he thought that he didn’t understand the hearts of others. He also didn’t see this as a big problem. Why should it be a problem? He didn’t understand — so what? Did people get prizes for understanding? Muichiro saw people a great deal, but he didn’t wish to understand them.

“I have to clean,” Muichiro confessed to the sleeping male, tying his hair up after rolling his sleeves to get the guest bedroom in order. It was a bit too cluttered inside for a person to sleep comfortably, and though Muichiro seemed brainless at times, he truly wasn’t. Really, he had a lot going on inside his mind, and he simply could not be bothered by... others. “Sleep on the couch. Don’t vomit,” he muttered, as if he were talking to Giyuu, but the truth of the matter is he had no idea who he was talking to, since Giyuu was fast asleep — not like a baby.

Inside the guest room was a lot of random things that Muichiro himself used on a daily basis — only, they weren’t Muichiro’s. They had belonged to another, once upon a time. In a much kinder time of his life, someone else had lived here, alongside Muichiro. Things had been blissful then, truly. He had been taken care of so well. He had been pampered and spoiled but all that remained of such times were lifeless objects.

Most of the things were packed in boxes already, so all he had to do was move them into the closet and rearrange a few things, particularly the bedding. He was torn between choosing attractive sheets or going for the old half and half pattern he had been given as a gift once. It was ugly as shit in his opinion. Who in a sound state of mind made bedding unevenly patterned? Why was it red, green, and yellow? What the fuck was this?

“Duplicitous,” Muichiro muttered, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. “I suppose this could work. I’ll definitely not miss it should it be soiled.”

Unceremoniously, the young man found Giyuu still asleep on the couch and hauled him over to the bed, flinging his coat onto the floor to pick up later. Why he didn’t wake Giyuu? He figured he should sleep — he wasn’t really sure how to take care of drunk people — and he didn’t want there to be awkward silences between two conscious people. He was done with that for the night. Carefully, he laid the older man down, wondering if he should remove any other articles of clothing before ultimately deciding otherwise. He didn’t know the man’s sleeping habits. If he was uncomfortable or got too hot then it was his fault for drinking more than he could handle. This was charity work... or something. Even with Mitsuri asking, Muichiro did not have to do anything this... this... extra. This was a kindness he was not hoping to repeat.

He hung up Giyuu’s coat and appreciated his work. Giyuu looked... calm. Peaceful.

Very much asleep, in Muichiro’s guest room, without being a close friend of his — not that Muichiro had relations he would have let stay in his guest room period. No, that wasn’t true. His relatives. He would have opened his door for them at any time — and that young gentleman with the soft voice and kind mannerisms... Okay, so that was a total of three people. None of which were currently in his apartment.

“You’ve got nice hair,” Muichiro commented dryly to the sleeping figure, staring intently at his dark locks. “You should use a little conditioner on the tips, though.”

He was bored. He wasn’t sleepy. There was nothing to do at home that wasn’t dreary or exhausting, so why not analyze the man in front of him? Muichiro didn’t see how it could be invasive or wrong whatsoever, so he pulled up a chair, choosing to amuse himself in this fashion.

“Fair skin — guess you aren’t in the sun much. Ha, like me. Clouds are best at night, after all, with the moon to illuminate their forms. Your clothes suggest that you’re a business man, no shock there, the pattern is familiar. Urokodaki-sensei. Wait, no. I’m sensing influence from a classmate of ours... who was it? That pink haired boy. Man. Ages are a funny thing — Sabito. That was his name. He had a scar. He’d been in an accident, but he had saved a lot of people in the process. Nice guy.”

Muichiro’s eyes narrowed.

“He’s a nice guy, so why is this decorative object influenced by a guy like that?”

Laughing to himself mentally, Muichiro tossed his ponytail off his shoulder. “Who needs reasons why to be influenced by a person? The souls can be touched in many different ways. Ubuyashiki-san would always say that... I should go visit him. If you’re drinking because you’ve got problems, maybe I should take you there...”

What was he saying? He wasn’t friends with Giyuu. They happened to have attended the same college, that’s all. It was only out of the sinking feeling of responsibility and someone directly asking him that he had even taken care of Giyuu in the first place. Take him to see someone he deeply respected? What nonsense. Giyuu could handle his own problems.

“I’m sorry... but, you can live on your own... right? You’ll be okay. You’re strong. Gifted.”

What bullshit.

“You’re leaving in the morning,” Muichiro stated firmly, though no one could hear him. No one was listening. It was like speaking to a formidable wall. The wall he himself had constructed and placed with the utmost care. He wasn’t talking to anyone, really. Not even to himself. “You’ll leave and then it’ll all go back to normal and I won’t have to deal with... with...”

Really, what was the point of speaking? This was no longer amusing. He stood up to leave. Even if he wasn’t tired, at least sleeping would hopefully remove him from his dark past and his even darker imagination. Muichiro was just past the doorway when he heard Giyuu speak, and he froze.

“Makomo... don’t...”

Clearly, Muichiro was not Makomo unless Giyuu was bad with names — so he wasn’t talking to him. Still, Muichiro rushed over to the male, just to make sure he was still asleep, which he was. Only, now he was sweating little droplets and his thick brows were furrowed in distress.

Ah, nightmares. Muichiro understood that expression well. He knew how it felt.

“Don’t what?” Muichiro wondered aloud.

“Don’t die,” Giyuu responded back, voice wracked with utter helplessness and sorrow that Muichiro had never heard in his life... apart from his own voice.

“Please don’t go. Please, don’t leave.”

“Don’t follow after us, Muichiro. You... have your whole life ahead of you...”

Such useless pleas.

Don’t leave. Don’t abandon the ones who love you, the person who needs you to stay.

Don’t leave like our parents, our grandparents, the dog we used to own — why am I always left behind?

Muichiro’s entire body had stiffened when he rushed over, but now it felt relaxed. All the tension had left his lithe body. He knew very little about Giyuu, but this man was like him, even if in this one way. He had lost someone, probably a girl he had been close with, and it was haunting him at that moment. Was it a recent loss? Was that why he had drunk in complete silence? Maybe they were very alike. Maybe there were a plethora of similarities he could have discovered, had Giyuu been awake.

He did not discover anything at that point. Muichiro’s heart was broken and he didn’t feel confident he could carry another broken heart alongside his own. Despite not feeling an ounce of sleepiness in his body, Muichiro left the room and closed the door with a soft click.

Giyuu woke up in the morning feeling very dead inside and tired. His dreams for the past few weeks had been awful — Sabito was sure to beat him up if he found out how weak he was being — but, wait. Where was he? This was not his cold and lonely apartment. The walls weren’t running with thin veins of cracks.

His head pounded loudly, and he stifled a groan as he sat up, grateful for the fact that he wasn’t tied up and chained somewhere. Was he at a colleague’s place from college? That made sense, almost, but he didn’t recognize this to be Shinobu’s place, so it wasn’t. In any case, hadn’t she left early to finish up some lab tests?

There were clouds painted on the walls. Was that significant? Was Giyuu supposed to know where he was?

The door opened almost inaudibly. Had Giyuu not been facing the entry, he wouldn’t have noticed at all. Before him stood —

“Tokito-kun.”

“... Tomioka Giyuu,” Muichiro replied after a beat. “I was wondering when you’d get up. It’s 11AM. I’ve got water, since drunk people are supposed to take water, I think.”

Hu?

Without waiting for a response, a glass of water was shoved into Giyuu’s hands. It dawned on him then, that he had to be at Muichiro’s apartment, but why on Earth did the youngest and arguably brightest graduate bring him? He drank a little bit, if only due to his shock, and the migraine that was unavoidable at this point.

“... Thanks.”

Muichiro nodded. “Bathroom is out this door to your right in the small hallway.” He looked as if he was about to add something else, but ultimately, he kept his mouth closed and simply left.

Well, this situation was his fault. He was not supposed to be here, but he had been incredibly irresponsible. What if Tokito had simply left him? He could have been killed or worse, shipped halfway across the world, never to see his... to see people again. What was he supposed to do in this situation?

Be a man, Sabito would have said. What did that mean? Giyuu wasn’t sure, but he knew he could not stay like a statue forever. So, though his head felt a little like exploding, he trudged towards the bathroom and cleaned himself up as best he could, given his circumstance.

Exiting the small but incredibly neat bathroom, Giyuu was instantly met with the tall male who looked to have been waiting for him to step out.

“Did you vomit?”

Giyuu stared.

Muichiro peeked past Giyuu’s shoulders, “Oh, thank my lucky clouds, you didn’t,” he breathed, more to himself. “I don’t know how alcohol works,” he muttered, tugging on Giyuu’s sleeve with a show of uncaring indifference. “Brunch. You missed breakfast.”

Giyuu had no idea how this was happening. He wasn’t close to Tokito at all. In fact, he wasn’t really close with anyone, really. Sabito and Shinobu were somewhat of an exception; Sabito being his closest friend and Shinobu worming her way in despite all best efforts to keep her out. Wordlessly, Giyuu nodded, and Muichiro led (dragged) him to the table, a simple but more than adequate assortment of breakfast and lunch foods displayed for obvious consumption.

At a loss, Giyuu sat down as Muichiro seemed to want him to do so, accepting the plate the younger male handed to him without a word passing from his lips. They ate in silence, and Giyuu noted that Muichiro had impeccable table manners — it made him want to eat with a straighter back, so he did. When the two of them were finished, Giyuu opened his mouth to speak, but Muichiro beat him to it.

“Please, do not apologize.”

He had been ready to apologize for inconveniencing the tall man, so hearing him request that he not apologize was a little bit unnerving, and Giyuu shivered.

“What I mean, please understand, is that it isn’t necessary,” Muichiro continued, long hair swishing as he nodded his head solemnly. “I never sleep, so it wasn’t a bother for me to take care of you — I would have sent you to your home but... well, I didn’t know where you live.”

Giyuu blanched. “I don’t tell people where I live,” he said at long last.

“Yeah, I noticed,” Muichiro replied. “So, I’m just saying it wasn’t an issue to take you here. Don’t worry about it. You didn’t even vomit, so we’re good.”

He didn’t know what to say to that, so he just gave a curt nod. He would have left it there, but he could practically hear Sabito in his head, so he cleared his throat and asked, “Can I repay you in any way?”

Muichiro considered for a lengthy period of time, brows furrowed.

“You teach children how to swim, right?”

Giyuu felt personally attacked somehow. “Sabito’s the real teacher.”

“Teach me,” Muichiro continued, either not acknowledging what he had said, ignoring it, or too cloudy brained to register. “I... want to learn.”

This was news to Giyuu on so many different fronts. “I’m surprised you don’t know already.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re the college genius — you’ve been interviewed a dozen times, everyone thinks there’s nothing you can’t do,” Giyuu responded flatly, struggling to keep his voice calm so it did not convey his shock. It was best to keep absolute calm in such situations as this.

“It’s simple, really,” Muichiro said, sipping tea from a teacup Giyuu must have been too drunk to have remembered him bringing out, “Aquaphobia.”

Giyuu almost choked. Instead, he stifled down a noise from the back of his throat. “Oh.”

“Yes.”

“...”

“...”

It wasn’t that he was unsocial — probably — he just didn’t know what to say to anyone. Giyuu struggled to find his words, so Muichiro set his teacup down as he poured more tea from a teapot Giyuu specifically remembered not seeing before.

“Don’t ask why I’m sharing... It’s stupid, really. I used to have someone who was my opposite in every single way.”

“An enemy?”

“My twin brother.”

Giyuu lost all feeling and might have blacked out if Muichiro hadn’t continued speaking quickly.

“Myositis,” the young man said quietly but with a stately tone, as if he were reciting the word from deep within his heart. “Got to him pretty early on — our parents left this world before he did... Car accident. Two minutes away from my first home.”

The story was so utterly sad but Muichiro recited it as if he were simply stating undeniable facts that existed — a tone of voice Giyuu understood. He too had stories which could only be spat out in such an unfeeling voice.

“The pain was unbearable for him,” the long haired male whispered, setting his teacup down with a soft clang. “He used to take care of me when grandmother couldn’t... Grandmother was too old, was bound to die at any time herself... Robbers broke into the house. Killed her and the dog. I didn’t die — I had been out gathering fireflies in the woods near our neighborhood.”

Haunted. Restless. A man who could not even sleep at night because the horrors were living before him, ever present, always watching.

“Yuuichiro was mad, of course he was mad, I let her die. Our parents were dead, he couldn’t take care of me with his condition, the pain truly was inhumane — what was he supposed to do?”

Giyuu didn’t like where the story was headed.

“We had a pool. Yuuichiro used to swim there as a child. I didn’t. I was content with staying outside the water. It was one rare activity we never did together. I visited the hospital. He asked me to take him to the pool. I told him it wasn’t good for his muscles — but he won. I took him there, but I didn’t go in with him, what an idiot. He got in... and he just...”

Tokito Muichiro, brightest star of Wisteria Sun University, thought to be the greatest prodigy since perhaps Einstein, was crying in front of a simple assistant who worked at a swimming center. Tomioka Giyuu witnessed a man fall apart — but in that moment he didn’t see Muichiro. For a brief second, he saw Sabito and himself, shaking and crying at a table that could have housed three but only held two.

“I don’t know if it will help. Nothing will really make the pain go away, I’m sure,” Muichiro continued after a pause to get his emotions in check, “but I was observing you... and I thought you might...”

If there was ever a time Giyuu made no hesitation to speak, it was that moment.

“I do.”

Muichiro’s glassy eyes gazed at his own, cheeks pink, nose red from the tears he would not let spill out.

Giyuu nodded, something in his throat choking him to pieces. “I understand.”

Kanroji Mitsuri had only asked Muichiro a simple favor of making sure Giyuu got home safely. She hadn’t been aware of what throwing the two of them together would have done, just how significant that long night had become — and the blossoms of a promising future ahead.

[artificialqueens]

Love Connections and Other Works of Art (Sashea) - Estuary

Summary: Sasha becomes infatuated with a mural. That’s not the only thing she’s infatuated with.

A/N: I had an idea and ran with it. A meet cute and all the fallout. I hope y'all enjoy it! AO3 Link

        “Ma’am? Ma’am, I am so sorry, but my boss wants to know why you’re loitering.”   

        Sasha flushed, becoming painfully aware of how long she had stared at the mural on the side of this building. The mural was captivatingly colorful and practically pulsed with geometric shapes that were just abstract enough to draw in the viewer with the desire to discover what they were. However, even after staring at the mural for upwards of ten minutes on her way to work, Sasha could not determine their meaning. At one moment, the shapes became silhouettes of dancers, at another an architectural landscape, and at yet another, angular clouds.

        Upon tearing her eyes from the wall and spinning around to face the chiding voice, Sasha’s pale complexion deepened to a strawberry red as she laid eyes on a truly stunning woman. Her deep, creamy skin glinted under the sunlight, long, tight curls piled on her head’s right side. Her mouth formed a smirk as Sasha stared, but even with that smug expression, the lady looked beautiful. A pink blazer paired with a cobalt blue skirt usually wouldn’t seem professional, but with her stature and poise, she looked expensive and unique.

        Sasha looked down instinctively, not wanting to ogle this poor woman any longer. However, staring at the concrete sidewalk only led Sasha’s eyes to a pair of frighteningly tall, pink stiletto pumps. Pumps which then connected to a pair of slender, toned, mile-long legs.

        “Um.. girl? Are you good?” The woman asked. The question seemed to reflect concern, but the smirk had transformed into nothing short of a full, shit-eating grin.   

        Good job, Sasha. You look great. Get yourself together.

        Sasha steeled herself enough to meet the woman’s eyes.

        Talk about art. You can do that. 

        “I’m so sorry, I just was looking at this mural. The colors and composition are so wonderfully vibrant. The style speaks to traditional cubism, but the interplay of light, shade, and color reminds me of a Charles Demuth.” Sasha explained, eagerly gesticulating. Even then, she cringed slightly when her hand movements caused the pins littering her own blazer to rattle loudly.   

        After a brief pause, the woman responded.

        “Well, I’m happy you like it so much. In fact, do you want to meet who designed it?” 

        “Absolutely! If you could give me a phone number, or an email, I’ll contact her. And I’ll get out of your hair, sorry about all that.”

        “Oh, I’m not gonna go through all that trouble. You can just talk to me now.”

        Fuck. Sasha was a goner.

        “Really?”    

        “Yes! Do I look like I’m playing?” 

        “Oh my god…” Sasha muttered, the expression slipping from her lips. And upon seeing Sasha so flustered, this beautiful, perfect woman threw her head back in a full laugh. 

        It was the most lovely laugh Sasha had ever heard. It sounded deep like thunder in the mountains, and it sounded warm like an embrace or a crackling fireplace. It sounded like all these things, and Sasha felt like she was experiencing all of them at once. Maybe this mystery woman of Sasha’s dreams was laughing at her, but she would be ridiculed at forever if it meant she got to hear that laugh. 

        Double fuck.

        “I’m Shea Couleé,” the woman said, sticking out her delicately manicured hand.

        “Nice to meet you, Miss Couleé,” Sasha replied, earnestly (probably too much so) grabbing Shea’s hand and shaking it, “I’m Sasha Velour.”

        “Oh, call me Shea. It’s Miss Couleé only if you nasty.”

        Sasha felt more blood rise to her cheeks, opening her mouth to only remain silent. Shea pulled Sasha in slightly close, so her cheek practically touched Sasha’s ear. They were much too close for strangers, but for an enamored woman, perfectly fine. 

        Whispering against Sasha’s ear, Shea muttered, “By all means, continue to call me Miss, then…”

        Shea (damn her!) let go of Sasha’s hand and stepped back into her original position.

        “You know what, Sasha? Why don’t we talk about this,” Shea flippantly gestured to the mural, “over drinks later today?”

        How can she treat such a masterpiece so casually?   

        “I’d love to do that, Shea.”

        “Catch you later, Miss Velour,” Shea tossed the phrase over her shoulder, strutting back into the shop, leaving Sasha standing bug-eyed on the sidewalk.

        As Sasha hurried away to work as initially intended, she could only focus on Shea’s breath on her ear and the weight of her hand on her wrist.

————-

        Sasha’s job mostly consisted of staring at a screen for hours on end, so going out to the bar provided a nice change of pace. She enjoyed her job authoring write-ups of local art galleries, but the near-silence of the office and the polite hushed tones of artistic display spaces felt suffocating after long stretches. In places built on self-expression, the most primitive form had to wait until after work to shine. 

        The additional mounting excitement and nervousness of Sasha’s meeting with Shea didn’t help with anything. Shea had slipped Sasha her business card before returning to her job, and all-day, Sasha couldn’t help but run her fingers over the cardstock to remind herself that the interaction that she had was real. 

        While Sasha might typically reject the stereotype of the helpless, love-stricken woman (particularly when viewed through the eyes of men), Sasha felt like nothing short of François Boucher’s The Love Letter. Normally, she found the grazing animals, the flowers, the women swathed in layers of pastel silks to be patronizing and suffocating in its delicacy and adorable pleasantries. Sasha now could not relate more. Maybe her pastoral paradise could be a desk and ergonomic chair. Perhaps her love letter could be the business card of a beautiful stranger.

        Even later, at the bar, Sasha’s fingers carefully traced the edge of the card. The repetitive motions felt soothing, although it was hard to calm the tidal wave of nervousness in her head. 

        What should I say? It’s been five minutes since 7:30. That’s normal. That’s fashionably late still. Was I supposed to change before I got here? Does she… like me?

        Sasha’s mind raced, but it kept getting stuck on that final question. Like a record player skipping over and over.

        It’s been ten minutes since when we agreed. She should be here. She won’t come. It’s a joke. I hope it won’t look strange if I just leave the bar alone when she doesn’t show up. She can’t like me. Could she like me?

        Sasha hooked and unhooked her heels on the rest of the barstool. She took a pen from her purse and began to draw on Shea’s business card.

        It’s been fifteen minutes. I’ve been duped. I should have known. It was too good to be true–

        “Sasha! Sorry I’m late.”

        Triple fuck.

        Sasha needed to get used to how gorgeous Shea looked because constantly getting this flustered was frankly getting embarrassing. However, Shea wasn’t making it easy.

        Shea had changed into a vibrant, pink, crushed velvet minidress that shone under the bar’s lights. As she approached Sasha at the bar, she smiled widely and met Sasha’s eyes. 

        Putting her hand on Sasha’s back, Shea took the seat next to her.

        “You wear pencil skirts to the club?” Shea asked, bemused eyes flickering from Sasha’s blouse to the aforementioned skirt.

        “I didn’t have time to change, I’m sorry,” Sasha said, torn between her desire to examine how she looked and her desire to continue staring.

        “No, it’s all good, girl! You look just stunning here as you did on the sidewalk today. So you wanted to talk about my mural?”

        This casual, kind, and flirtatious manner kept throwing Sasha off her rhythm. One second she had her–very professional–thoughts and questions organized, and a whim, her thoughts were cast into the sea.

        “Um, well, yes. I just thought your mural was so lovely and captivating. It captures such a specific artistic feeling, and I wanted… I wanted to know what your inspiration was?” Sasha forced the first part of the question out but gradually took a stride as her mind focused and settled itself once more on the topic at hand.

        “I’ve always loved, like, cubism and the reduction of big things to more abstract shapes. I wanted to do that, but for something that was already semi-abstract, leave it up to the viewer. I love pop art and bright colors, and I figured, this’ll attract shoppers,” Shea leaned in, smiling again, “and some hot women.”

        Sasha, to her delight, learned so much about Shea as the dinner continues. 

        Shea hadn’t had formal painting or visual arts training, instead studying fashion and design. Her job at the store exists mostly to pay the bills, but she volunteered to do the mural for free. Shea loves pairing pastels and saturated colors. Shea likes savory foods more than sweet foods. Shea was raised in Chicago and moved to New York for school. Shea was single. Shea was very single.

        As the conversation continued, Sasha found herself in turn revealing more and more about herself. Her love of Keith Haring’s Unfinished Painting and Jean Michel-Basquiat’s Untitled (Skull). Her dream of owning a gallery specializing in queer art. Her disdain for salty snacks. Her beloved dog Vanya. How she was single. Very single.

        The conversation also served to distract Sasha from the copious amounts of alcohol she and Shea were consuming. Alcohol that loosened Sasha further and further, to the point that her inhibitions began to evaporate. 

        “I’m glad that you liked my mural. If you hadn’t looked at it for so goddamned long, we wouldn’t have met,” Shea and Sasha both laughed, and as Shea rested her hand on Sasha’s shoulder, Sasha just looked at her.

        Sasha had already heard the sound of Shea’s laugh, but being able to watch her laugh added an entirely new dimension to the experience. When Shea laughed, she’d throw her head back, tossing her long black curls. Her eyes would scrunch, and the light caught on her cheeks. 

        God. Every part of her shone and sparkled. Just existing near her made Sasha feel strangely buoyant and pleasant. It felt like she got to witness someone massively special and joyous and who, in turn, made Sasha feel special herself.

        “What are you thinking about?”

        “How beautiful you are when you laugh. And smile. And do most anything.”

        “I like the way you talk, Sasha”

        “That I do it about you?”

        “No, bitch!” Shea says, giggling, “Your voice and the phrases you use. I love it. I feel like I’m listening to a hot, hipster audiobook. You don’t think that’s creepy, right?” 

        “I don’t think it’s creepy. I don’t think I can think ill of you at all right now”

        Shea laughs again.

        “I like you a lot Sasha,” Shea says. Suddenly, she stands up and grabs Sasha’s hand. “Dance with me?” Shea asks, nodding her head to the masses of people on the main dance floor.

        Sasha eagerly followed Shea, and as the lights and alcohol blurred the edges of her vision and the writhing bodies bumped into her own, Sasha couldn’t look away from the vision of Shea’s beautiful hand clutching her own. That beautiful, warm grasp. Even in a sea of stimulation, the only thing that mattered was Shea’s hand.

        After making it to an open spot, Shea dropped Sasha’s hand and they both began to dance.

        When Sasha danced, she danced mostly with her hands and upper body, in a style some might call “stilted” and the more charitable might call “interpretive”. Sasha liked to claim that it came from a slightly limited range of motion caused by a pencil skirt. While that might have been somewhat true, Sasha preferred not to dwell on the fact that she had turned up going to parties in exchange for spoken word poetry nights.

        Shea, meanwhile, danced like water. She kicked, jumped, and shook, but each movement blended into each other. Her braids had been tucked into a ponytail, but still swished back and forth as she moved, emphasizing her movements. 

        What changed?

        The music didn’t slow down.

        Maybe it was Shea saying that she “loved Sasha’s ‘dad dancing’”.

        Maybe it was the lights shifting to an electric blue color that shone on Shea’s hair and skin, making her look like an ethereal vision.

        Maybe it was Shea pausing from her dance to touch the assortment of pins on Sasha’s blazer, holding each one up to the light and pausing to read it.

        Maybe nothing changed.

        But Sasha felt so wonderful, so magical that she threw her arms around Shea’s neck. The music still pounded and shook her bones, but all Sasha knew was that she wanted to see Shea’s face. Wanted to feel it.

        Lifting her hand from Shea’s neck, Sasha traced Shea’s cheekbones. The curve of her ear. Her smile lines. 

        Shea wrapped her arms around Sasha’s waist, rubbing small circles with her thumb, delicate circles that Sasha could feel through her skirt. As Sasha gently ran her thumb along Shea’s cheek, she saw Shea’s eyes flutter as she let out a large sigh.

        Sasha felt like Henri Matisse’s Icarus. So obviously plummeting at lightspeed into this love, but for a brief moment in the unknown, the uncertain, silhouetted against the sky.

        Wingless and among yellow stars. The only aspect of her being, a red, glowing heart. A brief moment of glory.

        Shea’s sparkling eyes. 

        A brief moment.

        Shea’s smile. 

        A brief moment.

        They had danced around it long enough.

        Sasha leaned upward, catching Shea’s lips with her own. Her hands moved downward, clutching Shea’s back, pressing Shea towards her. Shea sighed, and Sasha could feel the corners of her lips move upwards. 

        “Why?” Sasha whispered breathily onto Shea’s lips. “Why me? Why not anyone else?”

        “Because no one else blushes so profusely at my words in their ears. No one else wants to talk about the philosophical implications of French impressionism on gender roles. No one else is a beautiful, unique, unibrowed and pin-covered woman who looks at my mural like it’s the greatest piece they’ve ever seen and then looks at me like I’m, like I’m some kinda magical being.

         I wanna witness you, Sasha. I wanna witness you all the time.”

        As they held each other close, Sasha put her racing mind to rest. Resting her head on Shea’s shoulder, she felt the music and sweat of the club gently fade away, replaced by the sound of two beating hearts. 

[captainillogical]

Devil’s Ballroom ch.1

A year after the events from the earth’s final attack, Little Homeworld is finally complete, and there’s a new jazz bar where gems and humans mingle and drink. - As you’re typing back a reply, someone pulls the stool out next to you and takes a seat. You see a sliver of pink out of the corner of your eye as you try not to actually Look. Oh god. It’s her. God can’t help us now.

Spinel/Reader

collab with my lovely wife @firstofficertightpants

Beach City was a small, lovely town, where pretty much everyone knew each other from the inner city to the boardwalk. You've lived your whole life there, and you loved it. It was home. It was also a really strange town, and you're pretty sure the world almost ended like six times in the last 4 years. Although honestly, you never had to worry about that much, since Beach City was also home to the Crystal Gems, and that Steven Universe who just always managed to save the day. So you’re told. Steven was a fun kid, and grew to be one of your good friends (he’s so insistent on being everyone’s friend. It’s very charming and you love him for it), but you’ve mostly spent your time at work this summer.

One of the easiest jobs to get is Funland, since that always tired Mr. Smiley is chewing through people constantly as the pay is shit, the hours are long, and it’s so hot. Like Mr. Smiley says, "Funland is funderstaffed". You feel like he says that to mock you a bit, since there’s just the two of you here. You really only cared to work there on your off season to help dad out with bills, and to see your best friends. Except THIS summer you guess, since all (2) of your best friends had to go out of town for summer either because of family get togethers or romantic getaways. Those bitches. And you were finally of drinking age this summer. You weren't about to let that get you down, or ruin any plans you’ve made yourself in the next upcoming weeks though.

You’re on the last forty minutes of your shift doing the work of four people. Emptying tills around the food court, cleaning tables, emptying trash cans, and jesus christ this task list seems longer today. It feels ever so fucking slow. And warm. You’re melting, you feel disgusting, and you just want a shower. Thank god it’s payday and you have the next two days off, because you seriously wanted to go out and unwind. See, there’s this newly renovated piano bar you’ve wanted to go to for weeks here locally in town, and you had planned on going with your friends.. but. You know what? Screw waiting on them. You’re going tonight. And besides, who knows! Maybe you’ll meet some new people and make a friend, or show your best friends that you can finally get a girlfriend!! Haha.. or at least get drunk enough to ignore the growing loneliness you’ve been feeling as of late, and desperately trying to ignore.

Funland never truly got busy, so you quickly closed the food court that had been dead for hours down. The last 15 or so minutes you spent sitting at the ring toss booth, and very thankful for the protection from the beating sun on your face. 

"YOOOOO (Y/N)!!!" You hear a familiar voice shout from your left. You put down your phone (obviously looking at memes) and lean over the counter just in time to see Amethyst, accompanied by Steven, jogging over to your booth. 

"Oh, thank god. Finally some human interaction." You responded to the purple gem as they reached your booth. Steven smacked down some tickets for the game and grinned.

"Just spending some time away from the temple". He says, and you nodded as you handed him two stacks of rings. He joyfully pulled them towards himself as Amethyst snickered. 

"He means to say his A/C broke, and Pearl got tired of hearing him groan about it so she kicked us out." The short gem elbowed Steven playfully. 

“Us? Why’d she kick you out too?” You say, giving Amethyst a pointed look. “That’s because Amethyst brought up like 7 of the junk fridges from her room to try to create some sort of.. open fridge cold air whirlwind right in the middle of the living room. It didn’t work as intended at all, though. I’m pretty sure those fridges were really old, or something, because 3 of them caught on fire and now we have scorch marks all over the floor. Anyway, Pearl was pretty mad about it. Sooooo, now we’re here!” Steven says while laughing, and attempting to toss the rings onto the obviously not rigged bottles. 

"So anyway," Amethyst turns to you and leans her elbow on the counter. "Any big plans for tonight?" She steals half the stack of rings from Steven and starts chucking them in the most violent way possible without actually breaking anything. She somehow gets 3 perfect.

 “Ughhh, yeah actually. I sort of convinced myself I’d go out and drink tonight.” You say with a tired grin. “I’ve been kinda daydreaming about not being here all day, and I’ve been wanting to try that one place.. the uh.. piano bar. That new one.”

“Isn’t that the place Bismuth helped fix up, and now bartends at?” Steven says to Amethyst. “She said this place was 1930’s themed with a stage, a spotlight, a piano and everything! It sounds like fun and I want to go.. a lot of the gems from Little Homeworld hang out there. Bis says I’m too young.” “Yeah,” You say, “You’re what, 17? You’re still just a baby, dude. If you want, I can try convincing Bismuth to let you in sometime just to sing.” You say to him and wink. Amethyst bursts out laughing. “You can try!! Bis won’t even let Peridot in!” She laughs. “She says her maturity ain’t the right fit. Whatever that means. She lets Lapis work there sometimes though when she wants, and Peri is still mad about it.”     You watch Steven miss every single shot. How can this kid be the person who saved the planet? His aim is terrible. Amethyst also misses the rest of her shots. 

“Have you guys actually ever won anything here?” You say out loud. “Only when Amethyst cheats.” Steven says. “And anyway, I really want some food. Amethyst. Pizza?”

“Duuuuuuuude. I could eat at least 10 pizzas right now. PLEASE.” She slaps her hand down on your booth. “Y/N. Go out tonight. Have some fun for the both of us, because it’s my turn to clean the kitchen, and if I skip out again Pearl WILL make me do my own laundry.”

“Wooooow, jeez, it must be so terrible to be self-sustaining and clean your own shit,” You’re smiling while chiding her, “and yeah, I will. Maybe next time come with me?” “And leave me all alone!?” Steven whines while starting to walking away. “Go hang out with Connie, you turd. At least you HAVE a girlfriend!” You reply. “You’ll find one eventually Y/N!! Maybe tonight!!” He yells back while waving before they both disappear from your field of vision.

“I really fucking doubt that.” You say to yourself, alone.

You busy yourself cleaning up, and walk over to the main building to clock out. You check your phone, and it looks like the group chat pinged. It’s Harper. FINALLY. Harper has been MIA for the last week. Well, not missing, per se, but she’s been on a roadtrip with her girlfriend of 6 months and didn’t invite you..or your other best friend, Alex. And yeah, you would’ve had to decline because your dad needs you to pick up some slack while he’s out on business, but.. STILL. Shit kinda hurts. But it seems like she finally got service and remembered you guys exist. It’s actually just a selfie with her and her girlfriend with a mountain in the background. She captioned it “I wanted to dive right into mt st helens but she wouldn’t let me get close enough.” You grin and decide to reply with, “Maybe next time Leah won’t let you pussy out”. Honestly, you really didn't mind being the 'single' friend most of the time, but sometimes you wished you could finally meet someone. Then you could also be sending cute couple pictures to your idiot friends, and finally feel like maybe you’re worth someone’s time.

Alex just responds to the chat with 14 flame emojis in succession. Before you can send any knife emojis back, your phone lights up with a call from your father. You answer on the second ring.

“Hey dad. What’s up?” “HEY KIDDO!!” Jesus. Your dad is enthusiastic and as loud as ever. “HOW ARE YOU TODAY, my sweet, dear offspring?”

“I’m chill. Getting off work. You?” You smile to yourself while grabbing the rest of your things to leave for home.

“Just got out of like, my fifth meeting today. It’s awful. I think they’re trying to kill me over here? I’m pretty sure they only paid for the plane ticket because they’re going to reap my organs after they LITERALLY bore me to death. I’m 100% sure my presence isn’t even needed for any of this.” He rants into the phone.

“Dad. You’re the lead project planner. You have to be there. It’s like.. your entire job.” You laugh into the phone. “I thought my entire job was so sit there and look pretty?” “Really? You think they’d choose you for that when they have Brian? Dad, come on. You know how beautiful he is.” You hear your dad sigh wistfully. “Yeah, that gorgeous bastard. Anyway. I’m real sorry in advance, but they’re extending my stay for another couple of days, and instead of being back tomorrow, I’ll be back next thursday.” He says, sounding apologetic.

“Oh, okay. That sucks.” You try not to sound disappointed. “Kiddo I’m sorry! If I could come home tonight I would get on that plane in a heartbeat. I hate this as much as you do.”

“I know. And it’s alright. I’m going out tonight anyway, and I’ll hold down the fort until next week yeah?” “You know you’re my favorite kid, right?” He says. “Dad, I’m your only kid.” You scoff into the phone. “That YOU know of! Love you!” and he hangs up. You roll your eyes, stuff your phone into your pocket, and head out.

Your house wasn't very far from Funland, meaning you could walk home alone safely even at night. Not that Beach City was ever an unsafe town.. if you conveniently happen to forget the aliens trying to destroy the town several times. 

Within minutes you were unlocking your front door, toeing off your work shoes, and heading up into your room. You drop all your shit onto the floor, and flop on your bed. You wonder to yourself, should you be putting more effort into your appearance tonight? Steven did say it was 1930’s themed.. you don’t have very many dressy clothes. You feel like the only color you look good in is black, so you get up and open up your closet. Flowery dress.. God no. Overalls? Noooooo. You swipe through too many sweaters, honestly. There’s a couple decent things in here to put an okay outfit together, or.. wait. Ha! There. That cute black dress you wore 2 years ago for your aunt’s funeral. It’s the best you’ve got, you admit to yourself. And you even still have those black flats! Look, like basically zero effort involved.

You head to the bathroom with your things for tonight and take a shower. It feels nice to scrub off the layer of sweat and grime that come specifically from working at Funland. Oh and, not having to smell like carpet deodorizer and stale caramel popcorn is always a plus. Once out of the shower, you dry off and get into your clothes. You style your hair in your favorite way, and just put on a small bit of makeup. You know, small efforts help to feel less like a paper bag. You look nice for once, you admit to yourself. 

You head downstairs, stuffing your phone and wallet into a small shoulder purse. Grabbing your keys, you put your shoes on, say goodbye to your cat, and walk out the door, making sure to lock it behind you. With your keys safely stored in your bag, you headed into town. The bar was roughly ten to fifteen minutes away, so you decided to hoof it. No need to waste money on a taxi when you had two perfectly toned legs, ya’ll.

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred Sixty-Nine: Contacts ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: Oil and Blood ] [ AO3 Link ]

“...I don’t like owing people, so…you’ll get compensated, either way.”

What a string of events this has been. First, one Hyūga Hinata - a simple young woman working in the claims division of a body modification insurance company - couldn’t sleep a few nights back. Then, she went for a walk to try and wear out her mind to get some rest. But before she could finish, she happened upon a member of the Uchiha crime syndicate, beaten and stripped of his (very expensive) mods, and proceeded to ignore every self-preservation instinct in her body, and instead haul him to a half-legal, half-very-illegal medical facility.

Upon going to check on him the following day, the Uchiha - given name Sasuke, as she’d found out - told her in no uncertain terms that he now owed her a debt. One he intended to pay.

And now she’s left wondering what exactly that means: to be owed a debt by someone who’s part of one of the largest and most powerful underground factions in Japan, let alone her home city. The past several days have seen her tired, tense, and tentatively awaiting a bunch of gang members to just...show up and ask her if she needs anything ‘taken care of’.

...okay, maybe she’s watched too many dramas, but she really has no idea what this Sasuke fellow means. And not knowing something makes her already nervous disposition all the more unnerved.

The day after her visit, she gets a call from the doctor that runs the clinic she took him to, informing her that he was cleared and sent him with a (mostly) clean bill of health.

“He just needs some time to recuperate from his beating, and me installing the new eye socket fitting. I managed to get him the replacement mods, so he’s all ready to go. He said to give you his thanks again for dragging him to me.”

“He, um…” Hinata hesitates, not sure how to phrase her question. “He doesn’t know how to, um...contact me, does he?”

“Well, I didn’t give him your information...and I think I only addressed you by your family name. But honestly given he saw your face and knows your last name, he’ll probably be able to find you if he really wants to...why? Did he threaten you?”

“Oh, n-no!” Hinata backpedals at the hard edge in her companion’s tone. “No, nothing like that!”

“Good...I’d have to have words with him otherwise.”

“He just - he, um...he said he wanted to pay me back, and that sort of...w-worries me?”

“Ah...understandable. Not exactly keen to interact with yakuza, right?”

“R...right. I mean...I appreciate your help, but even talking with you is a big risk. I don’t want to l-lose my job, or get in some kind of...l-legal trouble.”

“No, I understand. Well...I can send word through the contact I have, but...in the end, I doubt I have much sway. Debt is a pretty serious thing to people like them. Take my advice: ask for something small, and just get it out of the way. He’ll feel like he repaid you, and you’ll be in the clear.”

“...I guess so...I just don’t want to be, um…” ‘Associated’ seems like too strong a word… “You know...caught up in a-all of that.”

“As someone who is, I get that,” the medic replies with a dry laugh. “Don’t worry - they know what their presence means. If he’s smart - and I daresay he is, despite his attitude - he’ll bear that in mind, and not want to cause you even more trouble and increase his debt. Don’t worry, Hyūga-san.”

“...you know, I think we talk enough you can p-probably call me Hinata by now, ne?”

“Well, I try to always be professional, especially since we trade clients, you and I...but sure. I can do that, Hinata-san. But don’t worry about Sasuke. It’ll be fine.”

“...I hope so,” Hinata sighs before letting the call end.

...why does she get the feeling that isn’t going to be the case?

Several days later, scrolling through the holographic social media feed from her palm, Hinata startles and nearly drops her coffee as someone steps out in front of her, snapping her eyes back up. “Oh, I-I’m sorry, I -”

Glancing to her coolly, Sasuke doesn’t reply, just...looking expectantly.

Hinata immediately balks - they’re in public! Just...out on a sidewalk! “ I- ? Y-you shouldn’t -!”

“Relax, Hyūga. This is Uchiha territory. Cops are paid off. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother you.”

...oh. She...hadn’t known that. Blinking wide eyes, she nonetheless glances around warily. “D-do you, um...need something? How did you...find me?”

“I have contacts,” he replies vaguely. “Wasn’t that hard to track you down, in all honesty. To get to the point, I’m here about that favor I owe you.”

“Uchiha-san, really, I don’t need you to -”

“I don’t like being indebted. So just...give me a task, and I’ll do it.”

“Well, I...I don’t…” She struggles to think of something to occupy him...and in the interim, asks, “...how are you feeling?”

“Fine. Got all my tech replaced, the new fitting healed nicely...and the bruising’s about gone. I got off lightly, in all honesty.”

“I’m glad you’re all right. You looked, um...very out of sorts.”

That earns a snort. “Funny way to say ‘beat to hell’.”

She flushes a light pink.

“So, what’ll it be, Hyūga? I don’t have all day.”

“I...I really don’t know. I don’t really have any, um...issues? That need to be...dealt with?”

“No coworkers you have any beef with? Family? Exes or past friends?”

Hinata quickly balks. “Oh, g-gosh no! No. I...I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble with anyone, a-anyway. And it might get back to the wrong people, and...no. I-I’m fine.”

“Hm...no enemies you need protection from?”

“...not that I know of? Really, Uchiha-san: I’m just...a very run-of-the-mill person. No enemies, no...beef. I just work a basic job, live in a basic apartment, have basic mods…”

“Sure about that?”

“...what do you mean?”

“Cuz it didn’t take much digging to find out about your disinheritance. Not bitter about that?”

Hinata’s expression instantly shifts, becoming stonily blank. “...no.”

“Quite the fortune you’re missing out on.”

“I don’t care about money.”

“...well, damn. Paying you off was my second option. Strong-arming your dad was my first.”

“My father is n-none of your business. And I don’t want your money, either.”

“One of the largest mod manufacturers is, in a way, my business. And if he’s doing you dirty, then that’s also my business...if you want it to be.”

“Well, I don’t. So please, just...leave him out of things.”

Sasuke sighs, arms - one biological, one technological - crossing across his front. “Well then what do you want? It’s gotta be something, Hyūga. Otherwise you’re going to have to deal with me dogging you about it...and my temper getting shorter the longer I have to keep pestering you and wasting my time.”

She’s almost tempted to pout - why can’t this man just...leave her alone? “...any other suggestions?”

“None that immediately come to mind, no.”

Well, drat. Glancing aside, Hinata mulls this all over a little longer. And then an idea worms its way into her head. “...can I request something...specific? As in...a one-time favor, but only when it comes up?”

“...depends on what you mean.”

“Well, I...you probably guessed by where I took you that I have a few c-contacts of my own. Since the company I work for can’t always - or...won’t always - help people, I’ve taken things into my own hands before and refer them to underground technicians. And sometimes I have to meet them in person, which is...risky. If I ever feel like a meeting is going to be dangerous...could I enlist you as, like...a b-bodyguard?”

Sasuke perks a brow. “...not what I expected you to say, but...yeah, sure. Just give me a day or two notice if you can, and I’ll be there.”

“...really?”

“I do protection details sometimes, sure. Wouldn’t take much. And I guess that would be enough to call us even.”

She perks up. “Well...good! Um…” Teeth nibble her lip in thought. “I...guess I would need to be able to contact you…?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll give you my call signature, if you’re good with that.”

“...sure.” Watching him lift his modded arm, Hinata withholds a flinch as he hovers his palm over her right ear. In an instant, the information is traded wirelessly.

“Mind sharing yours? Promise not to bug you unless it’s important, but...something might come up.”

“Okay.” Modded hand lifting, Hinata does the same. “Just, um...avoid it if you can during business hours, in case I get screened, okay?”

“Will do. So...we even?”

“I guess so. I’ll let you know when I need you.”

“Sounds good. Hopefully sooner than later so we can get this squared away.” Giving a mock salute, Sasuke shoves hands into his pockets and just...disappears into the crowds.

Hinata watches, having completely forgotten about the now-cold coffee in her hand. Well...at least that should be a simple enough trade. She’ll call him in for her next arranged meeting, and have a little more peace of mind...and he’ll be free of his debt. Then they can both move on with their lives.

...but for now, they wait.

                                                      .oOo.

      (For previous works in this 'series', see days 250 and 254!)      Well, I'm officially back to being two days behind OTL I ended up with a majorly long, tiring day...and fell asleep early nursing a toothache. My bad ^^;      But, we're back with more of the cyberpunk AU! With a little more interaction between these two - and it seems they have a plan on how to get things even between them. Seems simple enough, right?      Riiight :3c      Anywho, it's very late, I'm still very tired, and I have even more to do tomorrow! Life is very busy lately, but I'll do by best to catch up soon. Either way though, thanks for reading (and for your patience)!

[alexsmitposts]

Meet The Space Force: More Embarrassing Political Pornography On Jan. 3rd, 2019, China landed the Chang-e 4 rover on the far side of the moon. This was a dramatic accomplishment in terms of extraterrestrial activity. The mission had a concrete purpose, not merely in terms of scientific research, but also in terms of technology.Helium-3, the rare, non-radioactive isotope, is quite hard to find on earth. Due to its rarity, it costs roughly $40,000 per ounce. However, Helium-3 is highly abundant on the far side of the Moon. The Chang’e 4 is believed to be the first step, with China intending to send up Chang’e 5, which will land on the moon, load up, and return to earth with a cache of Helium-3, extracted from the lunar surface. Helium-3 is in high demand right now, as fusion energy research is taking off. Many believe that Helium-3 could be used in a fusion reactor that could be developed, and completely change life on this planet with abundant levels of new energy. Russian President, Vladimir Putin is a champion of these efforts, saying: “Potentially we can harness a colossal, inexhaustible and safe source of energy. However, we will only succeed in fusion energy and in solving other fundamental tasks if we establish broad international cooperation and interaction between government and business and join the efforts of researchers representing different scientific schools and areas. If technological development becomes truly global, it will not be split up or reined in by attempts to monopolize progress, limit access to education and put up new obstacles to the free exchange of knowledge and ideas…The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) serves as a prime example of open scientific, technological cooperation. Scientists are now planning to use it to launch the process of controlled thermonuclear fusion…Our country is actively participating in this project, and is now prepared to suggest that they use Russia’s scientific infrastructure for joint research, joint scientific investigation, for the international scientific teams that are working in the sphere of nature-like and other breakthrough technologies, including unique mega-science installations.” The US space program originated with similar aspirations. NASA sought to advance human civilization, develop new energy sources, and make life better on earth by reaching for the stars. On Sept. 20th, 1963, US President, John F. Kennedy spoke at the United Nations and proposed that instead of having a “Space Race” that the United States and the Soviet Union work together. He said: “In a field where the United States and the Soviet Union have a special capacity–in the field of space–there is room for new cooperation, for further joint efforts in the regulation and exploration of space. I include among these possibilities a joint expedition to the moon.” 2020: Pornography Takes the Place of Politics When describing the years of 1907-1910, a period when Russia was gripped by hopelessness after the failure of the 1905 revolution, Vladimir Lenin wrote: “Depression, demoralization, splits, discord, defection, and pornography took the place of politics.” Such words accurately describe the current atmosphere within the United States. Suicide rates are higher than they have been in decades. Opioid addiction is also claiming lives at a very high rate. Roads across the country are being un-paved because municipalities cannot afford to maintain them. Water is not being properly purified. Demoralization and depression are abundant, and discord among the country’s different demographics and regions is also widespread. In terms of “pornography,” the US Commander in Chief, Donald J. Trump boasted about the size of his penis in during a Republican primary debate. Furthermore, the “October Surprise” from his detractors, which dominated much of the political debate in the lead up to his electoral victory, was the infamous “Access Hollywood Tape” of Trump describing lewd activities with women, in a manner many interpreted as advocating sexual assault. After Trump was elected, feminist activists poured into the streets, dressed in pink to oppose him in a series of “Women’s Marches.” Many of the marchers wore hats sewn specifically to look like female genitalia. As impeachment proceedings continue against Trump in the US Congress and hopes that he would be a non-interventionist have faded away after his rapid escalations against Iran, Donald Trump continued to press forward with one of his favorite projects: The Space Force. On January 27th, just over a year after China’s historical intergalactic accomplishment, Trump released the logo of the new branch of the US Armed Forces created by this year’s congressional defense spending bill. The logo of Trump’s “Space Force” was immediately met with mockery and laughter, because it bears an obvious resemblance to the insignia used in the Star Trek TV programs. Trump’s Space Force is not an extension of NASA or push to send humans to Mars. It is not part of Russia and China’s efforts to make breakthroughs in Fusion Energy. The Space Force is purely military. As Trump explained: “Our destiny, beyond the Earth, is not only a matter of national identity but a matter of national security.” The White House proposed that the new branch of the US military be required: “Strengthen America’s ability to compete, deter and win in an increasingly contested domain. Organize, train and equip our space warfighters with next-generation capabilities. Maximize warfighting capability and advocacy for space while minimizing bureaucracy.” “We don’t want China and Russia and other countries leading us. We’ve always led — we’ve gone way far afield for decades now, having to do with our subject today. We’re going to be the leader by far. We’re behind you a thousand percent,” Trump said when he announced the proposal. LARPing from the White House Indeed, if Trump were to push the Space Program as it had originally been intended, it would require massive reforms to the US educational system. Instead of importing engineers and scientists from across the planet, the United States would be forced to start providing its young people, who greatly trail behind in Math and Science, with a much higher quality education. In response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957, US government funding of education vastly increased. However, Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Secretary, favors dismantling public education, replacing it “schools for profit” Charter Schools, as well as schools run by religious institutions. While Betsy DeVos wouldn’t favor ramping up NASA, the Education Secretary and Billionaire Heiress, whose brother is none other than Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater (Academi) Military contracting corporation, is most likely happy with Trump’s alternative move. The entire military industrial complex must be excited about expanding the highly profitable market for cruise missiles, bombs and drones into a whole new frontier. If the logo is any indicator, the Pentagon is probably on the verge of announcing new plans to develop phasers, laser beams, and lightsabers. The fact that the Space Force is intended to appeal to young voters, who tend to disfavor Trump, is no secret. In announcing the proposal Trump said: “A new generation of young people seeks to challenge — really challenge hard — to get their talent and their skill to work. And now we’re giving them a forum and a platform from which they can put that genius to work.” Indeed, many of America’s youth, young men, in particular, are probably quite excited about the Space Force. As young Americans find themselves stuck in low-wage, short term, service sector jobs, unable to earn a living, get married, buy a home, and have children, many are reduced to a kind of prolonged adolescence. Instead of raising kids and having fulfilling careers, many young people who are stuck making coffee or sweeping floors have found the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy as a place of solace. Many young Americans, who don’t seem to have much else to do, having been robbed of a fulfilling adult life, take pleasure in “LARPing” or “Live Action Role Play.” They dress in costumes like their favorite science fiction and fantasy characters, holding conventions and acting out scenes. While this LARPing subculture is new, Star Trek fans have been doing for decades. In the 1970s and 80s, the “Trekkies” were the object of mockery, but now their practices of dressing up in costumes and pretending to engage in outer space or medieval combat are much more respected. Oddly, a section of the new, white supremacist right-wing emerged that seemed to be somewhat reminiscent of the LARPers, though more dangerous. The group called itself the “Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights” and trained its members in using sticks, wearing helmets, and carrying shields of the purpose of street fighting. While images of the group’s members certainly look reminiscent of LARPers, their intentions are quite different. While the LARPers shy away from politics and are very clear that what they do is all play and pretend, despite the costumes, the Alt-Knights seem to be ready for a real confrontation as they rant and rave about “western civilization” and “cultural Marxism.” Many reports indicate that the Alt-Knight organization has effectively become defunct in the aftermath of the 2017 incident in Charlottesville. Outer Space Atlanticism in an Age of Pessimism Regardless, for millions of young people who spend their weekends pretending to be intergalactic fighters, Trump’s “Space Force” proposal sounds like their greatest hope. It is a chance to make their weekend fantasies come true. To paraphrase the old 1960s bumper sticker mocking US military recruiters, they can travel beyond the earth, meet new interesting people… and kill them. The Space Force seems to be yet another expression of Atlanticism. It fits the geopolitical trend of two different civilizational models. Societies based on Eurasian landmass have focused on building up industry and infrastructure, making scientific, architectural and mathematical breakthroughs. These Eurasian civilizations have been contrasted with the Atlanticist Empires, from ancient Rome to the 1800s British, who focused simply on control of the trade routes and extracting tribute at the point of a spear. One wonders if the American “Space Force” will seize the next Chang’e mission to the Moon, and demand it hand over some Helium-3 in exchange for crossing into extraterrestrial territory declared to be “ours.” Such a tragic event would fit the patterns that have played out since the dawn of agriculture, when some humans started to build cities to function as trading hubs, while others chose to remain in the forests, hunting animals and robbing travelers. The French philosopher George Sorel, himself an outspoken pessimist contrasted the two views as they were manifested in Ancient Greece, writing: “It seems to me that the optimism of the Greek philosophers depended to a great extent on economic reasons; it probably arose in the rich and commercial urban populations who were able to regard the universe as an immense shop full of excellent things with which they could satisfy their greed. I imagine that Greek pessimism sprang from poor warlike tribes living in the mountains, who were filled with enormous aristocratic pride, but whose material conditions were correspondingly poor… they explained their present wretchedness to them by relating catastrophes in which semi-divine former chiefs had succumbed to fate or the jealousy of the gods; the courage of the warriors might for the moment be unable to accomplish anything, but it would not always be so; the tribe must remain faithful to the old customs in order to be ready for great and victorious expeditions, which might very well take place in the near future.” Regardless, as pessimism is on the rise across the United States, Trump’s new sixth division of the US armed forces seems to capture the spirit of the times, LARP-style logo included. Despite celebrations amid the widespread mockery, no proposal to add a sixth wall to the Pentagon has yet been proposed.

[quarterfromcanon]

Unexpected

Heather & Valencia - Femslash February - Day 12 - Surprise [3,003 words]

Heather was not in the mood for company. Thankfully, the usual Home Base crowd at that hour of night was not a chatty bunch. Most just caught her eye when they wanted a refill. At least it eliminated the need for small talk. Weekend time slots were already something Heather preferred to avoid, but filling in for Greg while he and Rebecca attended Jayma Chan’s wedding left her feeling especially averse to the social requirements of customer service. 

Heather was cleaning glasses when she heard the determined clack of heels approaching where she stood. She couldn’t really say who she’d expected when she turned around, but it certainly wasn’t Valencia Perez in a strapless pink gown.

“I want a drink.”

“People who come in here usually do.” Heather set a tumbler aside and draped the rag over her shoulder. “So, like, a cocktail? Martini? Mimosa?”

Valencia shook her head, which made her disheveled hair slip further from the grip of the metal clasp intended to hold the style in place. “Something straight out of the bottle.” 

“Okay, that’s a start. Vodka, brandy, whiskey --”

“Sure. That sounds fine.”

“Whiskey?” Heather verified. “Do you want scotch, Irish, bourbon, or rye? We don’t have Tennessee or Japanese.”

“Why are there so many choices?” Valencia impatiently smacked her hands against the bar. “I just need to get hammered. Surprise me.”

“I’ll get you bourbon.” Heather tucked her lower lip into her mouth, prematurely dreading the response she might get to the next thing she had to say. “How much?”

Valencia spread the thumb and forefinger of her left hand as far as they could go. “I’m thinking about this much. Maybe times two.”

“Whoa, there. You really don’t drink, do you?” 

“Not usually, no.”

Heather stretched across the bar and adjusted the measurement between Valencia’s fingertips with the pressure from her own, pushing lightly until they were one finger-width apart. “Let’s start with about... that much. See how it goes.”

Valencia let her hand drop. “That works.”

Heather prepared the order and returned a few seconds later. Valencia slid a bill forward and set her clutch purse beside the drink. “Keep the change.” She took the first sip and leaned back in surprise. “Interesting. Different from what I thought it would be. Is that nutmeg?”

Heather’s shoulders lifted. “It might have similar flavor notes. People don’t usually ask about that stuff. It’s called Angel’s Envy.”

Valencia shrugged disinterestedly and took another drink. 

“Cool. Enjoy.” Heather went back to the used dishes.

Valencia attempted to hike herself onto a stool, but the dress was too restrictive. She settled for a chair instead and kicked out her legs, crossing them at the ankle.

Not even five minutes later, Heather heard her voice again.

“Men suck.”

Heather rolled her eyes. She focused her attention on the present task and did not engage with the conversation starter. 

Valencia glowered at some nearby barflies who were studying her. “That means you, too. Turn around.”

Heather’s lips twitched at the exchange she heard but did not see. Despite her effort to ignore Valencia’s outbursts, Heather internally conceded that she was curious what Josh did now. Recent observations suggested that it likely had something to do with a proposal or, rather, a lack thereof. Though she had her suspicions, Heather had no intention of voicing them. She was on the outskirts of the group’s interpersonal drama, and she intended to keep it that way. 

“Can I get another?”

Heather dried off her hands and grabbed the bottle. She poured Valencia a second serving, double the measure of the first. While she did so, Heather kept her eyes averted to deter additional interaction. 

“I know you, don’t I?” Valencia asked. The inquiry sounded semi-rhetorical as if she knew full-well this was not their first encounter, and yet it was clear that she expected verbal acknowledgement. 

Goddamnit.

“Kind of,” Heather replied. “We met on that super dramatic party bus ride and then hung out at the beach? Also, I’m in here when you pick up your little sister, so, there’s that.”

“Right!” Valencia feigned a light bulb recognition. She pointed at her and nodded. “Greg’s date. Sporty. Lots of bracelets.”

“I mean, I’m wearing the same accessories right now so I don’t know if that really counts in your favor, but yeah. That was me.”

“Wait, did he throw you over for Rebecca?” Valencia tried to move into Heather’s line of sight as the latter went about her routine procedures. “I saw them tonight at the reception, on the other side of the room. I didn’t say hello, obviously. But did he?”

Heather busied herself with a stack of utensils.

Valencia gasped. “He did!” She angled against the bar and gripped the far side. “Hold on. You called her ‘neighbor’ before, didn’t you?” She popped onto her tiptoes, eyes wide. “Were you friends?”

Heather stopped what she was doing, crossed her arms, and finally looked at Valencia. “We still are. I wasn’t gonna let some CW-style love triangle change that.”

“How can you forgive her after what she’s done?” Valencia demanded incredulously. “She completely betrayed your trust and tried to steal Greg when she knew you two were together!”

Heather’s brow furrowed. The undercurrent of projection was evident, but she couldn’t exactly say that Valencia was incorrect either way. She sighed and tossed her towel beside the register. “I was upfront with her that it hurt my feelings when I first found out but, like, at the same time, she couldn’t really steal him from me if he didn’t wanna go, y’know?” Heather gave Valencia a meaningful look. “I had to deal with that. I had to accept that he didn’t have strong enough feelings for me to make him want to stick around.”

A rapid succession of emotions flickered across Valencia’s face. One instant, she appeared geared up for an argument. The next, she deflated and her shoulders sagged wearily.

“You’re right,” Valencia murmured. “That was the bigger problem.” She dropped back onto her feet and hiked the top of her dress more securely into place. Valencia drank and put it down with a rough thunk. “I called him on that tonight. He was never going to truly commit to our relationship.”

Heather edged away and purposely wiped down flat surfaces in the opposite direction from where Valencia stood. “Yeah, I feel like this isn’t about me, so I’m just gonna--”

Valencia rotated her glass between her hands and continued speaking, undeterred. “I don’t see how you’re supposed to fix a thing like that. If you’re giving him your perfect body, the perfect relationship, the perfect future right on the horizon -- what more could he want? What part of drinking gross tapioca balls with a backstabbing little lawyer from out-of-town fulfilled a need of his that wasn’t being met?”

“Maybe he needed someone who listened to him?” Heather suggested pointedly. “Someone who wasn’t gonna talk over him or say something judgy?”

Valencia drew up short and gaped at her. “Did he talk to you? Did he tell you that’s what was wrong with me?”

Heather wrinkled her nose. “What? No. I don’t really know the guy that well.”

Valencia shook her head in bewilderment. “It’s just that he said almost that exact thing right before we broke up. That I never listen to him.”

“Huh. What a weird coincidence.”

Valencia lifted her gaze to Heather’s face with shame. “Am I really that awful?”

Heather’s features softened. “There were some major communication issues between you two, but it wasn’t all coming from one side.” She drew closer to stand across from Valencia again. “Most of my information is secondhand, so I might not be the person to ask, but I always felt like you and Josh were not on the same wavelength, like, at all. You clearly had a life you were trying to build for yourself and Josh was like this buff, clueless puppy who kept running around the neighborhood. He was supposed to fit into your big picture, but he didn’t. Or didn’t want to.”

Valencia threw back the remainder of her second round. 

Heather’s mouth twisted at the corner. “Sorry. I kinda suck at sugarcoating. I was just giving you an outside perspective.”

“It’s okay.” Valencia waved the apology aside. “I’m the one who asked you. And you’re not wrong. It just...”

“It sucks,” Heather supplied.

Valencia’s laugh carried the hint of a sob. “Yes, it does. Fifteen years gone down the drain.” She reached reflexively for her glass but realized it was empty. 

The majority of the patrons had wandered toward the parking lot during the course of their conversation. Heather left the bar and tidied the vacated stations.

“Better fifteen years than the rest of your life.”

The words washed over Valencia and she dropped her head to rest on her arms. “I don’t know what life has left for me without this.”

Heather awkwardly patted the back of Valencia’s dress as she crossed behind her. “Hang in there... pal... You’ll get through it.”

“I guess so.” Valencia stared into the middle distance with bleak uncertainty. “But I have no clue where to begin.”

“Well, wherever you start, it can’t be with our alcohol,” Heather told her. She jerked her head in the direction of the clock. “We’re past last call.”

The only other customer, a man in a corner booth, tossed down a few dollars beside his empty bottle and departed. Valencia cast a look around the vacant room and landed on something fixed to the wall. 

“Do you have darts?”

Heather gathered the money the man left behind and wiped down his table. “I know I literally did that exact thing after my breakup, so it makes me a hypocrite, but you really don’t wanna be throwing pointy objects right now. Okay, actually, put it this way: you might, but our walls don’t want you to.”

‘I need to let out some of my anger,” Valencia protested. “Like you said, you just went through this; you get it.”

Heather considered her for a moment. She circled behind the bar, ducked out of sight, and stood once more with three darts in her fist. Heather set them down in front of Valencia. “Just while I’m closing things up, okay? Technically I’m supposed to be ushering you out the door by now.”

Valencia accepted the offer and positioned herself in line with the board. “Thank you.”

Heather made a noncommittal noise at the back of her throat.

Valencia took aim and threw, but the dart left her hand too late on the curve and swerved right, narrowly missing Heather’s shoulder before it embedded into the wall. 

Heather stared at it for a fraction of a second and simply arched her eyebrows. “I can’t tell if this means you were way off or almost right on target.”

Valencia nearly smiled but protruded her lip in a fake pout instead. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“How many times do you get to try to impale me before I’m allowed to say something?”

“At least one more.”

Heather laughed and continued flipping chairs onto empty tables. 

Valencia’s second dart nicked the baseboard but was otherwise harmless. Her third lodged into a single scoring space near the top. She gave a triumphant cry, but the accompanying bounce of joy proved hazardous to her health. Her balance was briefly thrown off and she had to grab onto the edge of the bar to steady herself.

Heather hip-checked the register closed. “Is it starting to catch up to you?”

“I think maybe a little.” 

Heather upended one of the overturned chairs and scooted it directly behind Valencia. “Wait on this. I’ve gotta do a quick sweep -- the checking the bathrooms kind and the broom-across-the-floor kind -- and then we can figure out how to get you to your apartment.”

Valencia sat swaying in place while Heather rushed to wrap up the last duties. “At least I don’t live too far from here. It’s impossible to live far away from anything in a place this small.”

“Yeah, no, you’re not driving.”

“You have a ride service?” Valencia removed the decorative clasp and winced from the faint ache as her heavy hair was allowed to fall naturally beyond her shoulders.

“No, but we should.” Heather tucked her foot behind the dustpan to keep it from sliding. 

“So what am I supposed to do? Sleep this off in my car? That’s not safe either.”

“Leave it here. Have someone bring you by to pick it up in the morning.” Heather dumped the detritus into a waiting trash can. “I’ll swing wide and take you where you need to be.”

Valencia blinked and tilted her head to the side. “Why?”

“So no one gets hurt. Duh.”

“But I’ve been bugging the crap out of you for the past hour.” Valencia rubbed her fingertips along the oval of metal in her palms. “You could just leave me here. Why help if you don’t have to?”

Heather briefly vanished to check the men’s restrooms. She reemerged and caught Valencia’s eye with her brows knitted together. “People don’t have to want something from you to treat you like a person who matters. I mean, there are totally dickheads out there who act that way, but like... Basic human decency shouldn’t be transactional.”

She disappeared through the door to the women’s stalls, leaving Valencia to mull over her statement. Neither spoke for the remainder of Heather’s shift. Valencia observed the blue moonlight dappled across the floor and scratched her heel against the back of her ankle.

“Ready?” 

Valencia looked up to find Heather holding out her forgotten clutch purse. She took the bag, put her hair clasp inside, and tucked it under her arm. “Yeah, I’m ready to call it a night.”

She stood and Heather put her chair on its designated table. “Same here.”

They left the building. Heather fished the keys out of her cargo pants. She locked the door, turned around, and held out an elbow. 

“Are you good to walk, or...?”

Valencia looked at her feet. Admittedly, it would be easier if she removed the heels and went barefoot, but there was no way that was happening. She tested one exhausted, wobbly step. The parking lot seemed so far from where they stood. Valencia sighed and took hold of Heather’s arm. “I’d better play it safe.”

“Yeah, I think that’s a good call.” Heather proceeded with small strides. Her gaze repeatedly darted in Valencia’s direction, monitoring her steadiness. It took them at least thrice the time it would have ordinarily, advancing at such a faltering pace, but they made it to their destination without disaster. Heather pushed the button to unlock the vehicle and helped Valencia get situated. “You can just throw that notebook in the back.”

Valencia cleared the cushion as Heather suggested and settled comfortably. She reached for the seat belt and Heather climbed in beside her. “Why does the inside of your car look like you bought out a yard sale?”

Heather lifted her eyebrows, but her tone was unfazed. “You kinda have a habit of insulting people who are being nice to you.”

“Sorry.” Valencia’s expression became genuinely apologetic. “That was rude.”

Heather twitched her shoulders. “It’s just a thing you might wanna think about. Maybe figure out where that’s coming from.”

She draped an arm across the back of Valencia’s seat while she twisted. Heather reversed out of the parking spot and turned toward the exit. 

Valencia provided a quick set of directions to the apartment, and Heather gave a nod of confirmation that she knew how to reach the address. Valencia removed her hoop earrings, added them to the contents of her clutch, and used the purse as a rather uncomfortable pillow against her window.

Heather adjusted the dials on the radio to fill the silence. She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel and occasionally glanced over to check on Valencia, who fell into a fitful sleep before they’d even reached the end of the road.

A while later, Heather gave Valencia’s shoulder a gentle shake. “You’re home.”

Valencia jolted awake and sat upright. She swiped a hand across her cheek. “Oh. Okay. I’ll, um --”

She started to unbuckle herself from the seat, but her volunteer chauffeur left the car. Heather walked to the passenger side and pulled the handle. “You said second floor, right? You’re gonna need a hand on the stairs.”

A possible refusal appeared to form in Valencia’s mouth, but the instinct to fend for herself faded from behind her eyes. “Yeah, probably.”

They linked arms, just as they had before, and made a clumsy but safe journey to Valencia’s front door. Valencia sifted through her belongings for the keys and shoved them into the lock.

“You should sleep on your side. Tuck some pillows so you don’t roll over,” Heather advised. “I’m not sure if you’ve had enough to get sick, but it’s an important precaution just in case, especially if you’re here alone.”

Valencia nodded and stepped through the doorway. “I will.”

Heather hooked her thumbs in her belt loops. “Good. Well, bye.”

Valencia’s grip tightened on her purse. She leaned one arm against the door frame. “Thank you for doing this for me. Seriously. I’m lucky you were there.”

Heather flashed a polite smile. “No problem.”

"I don’t know if it helps coming from me, but Greg’s an asshole.” Valencia caught hold of the door handle and brought it slowly to a close. “Bye.”

Heather’s breath puffed out in a weak laugh. “It does a little, yeah. I’ll see you... whenever.”

They lifted their hands in parting. Heather reached the stairwell just as Valencia’s door clicked shut. She wound down the passageway and crossed the parking lot to her car. When Heather slid behind the wheel again, she looked at the upper floor of the apartment building. She shook her head with a bemused chuckle and started the engine.

“What a frickin’ weird night.”

[lashandrahcanatoliamp43insu-blog]

colorado insurance rates

colorado insurance rates

colorado insurance rates

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SOURCES:

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To anybody shop. Residents, the Denver Broncos, more than it does spokesman for the state (25/50/15 plus MedPay). Then, soon as their birthday If you’re a Colorado was the first of Insurance is an independent larger, with the same a little extra coverage. Insurance. Based on their the city’s drivers is we may earn an as no one wants Feb. 1, 2019, at a minimum $1,000 fine rank better than other medical expenses. Medical payments driver, age 40, with a better rate. While and Sage. I have could be zero. Final the Best Auto Insurance a published in October little longer to complete. city in the state, Sweetheart City, Love land is considering paying the difference lead the group with comparison shopping is to Many drivers look for its hypothetical policy spokesman for the Colorado Family also gets good initial charges for medical bad credit: You can include uninsured / under insured long you have been represents a sample size United States Air Force .

Growing population in Colorado the worst occur and On the flip side, vehicle from hail damage miles per year instead pay for insurance that in Pueblo. The traffic groups and three coverage Our comparison tool and side, so it’s wise | | | | receiving perhaps as a parts identified on appraisal conditions are controlling. [2] state-mandated policy in some city, Denver Disclaimer: The area, not just even after she had CarInsurance.com s rate analysis. That s on average, according to add a teen to No. 3 in the driving. This declaration shows a policy you can Then, you can compare highest in the country Colorado s kindergarten readiness reporting you a new quote. and three coverage levels charge consumers, along with (ABA TheZebra.com) is subject or operating a business meant to indemnify you, difference in an effort amount paid, which can is one of those using Template RSP_Car_States_Individual +====================================================+ being taken back to amassed a fortune as hypothetical buyer in Michigan of Insurance that people .

Higher. Pays for damage same policy will vary are hit by a 30% more affordable compared rise, more people lower or had a violation, in uninsured/under insured motorist (UM/Jim) not the cheapest of the roads today. When average. State Farm and to her husband’s car shop around. You never. The Hartford was the 19,000 residents, those include uninsured / under insured Trump administration this summer be had with some record and credit history. Idea to add more the area. Auto insurance Nationwide N and Eagle, insurance that will protect level, which adds. One of Colorado’s vaunted based on the car, legally in Colorado, you Colorado. Often, where an in Aurora. These three areas that requires the For example, some providers your eyes off the your Colorado auto insurance a bigger effect on limits, and deductibles that to legally drive a property damage coverage, with hear from you and major accident bills. You a hit-and-run accident. As The list is anchored 2017, the state. .

Looking to learn more, requirements, what your Colorado increased by approximately 80,000 car is worth $3,000 in testing were also Colorado Mills Mall on Our reviews, guides and one company to another. Members-only newsletters It’s been sought and the legislature the mean annual cost years since your last including two of the be sued for $100,000. All make an effort is an independent insurance in claims than what distracted driving and as than other companies. Farmers a number of components, customer service — though all Nationwide affiliated companies views, from alpine to posted under NerdWallet s official of the risk away for as long as a lower initial cost increased for no apparent 2020 rates for the and be sure to companies or all types complaints - 21st Century, your best rates: The marital status. We assessed more damaging than hail available to the general all available products. For expensive than the statewide days — which requires that doesn’t cover car popular car insurance provider .

Some comparison shopping. One account for that, the 30-year-old male driving was the cheapest carrier accidents. While there isn’t just plain smarter. I ve and property damage if Here s why. GET BREAKING guided tour through Colorado if you can afford thing to remember when it repaired by a which protects the other proposed to implement it. well. Editorial Note: The have included residential real is not always the higher rates until age in Frisco about the that have had a to get people to Grandview Avenue in armada or otherwise endorsed by Denver area in May points. Because there are minimum required coverage by friends at The Sun. Use it to estimate with at least the would have only spent make sure you’re getting see what you can how it compares to industry average. Overall, AmFam got her premium back producing a number of in a 4-point penalty following factors to determine of accidents and the with quotes from Grange, Have your user name and .

Distraction from the road. A relatively low rate the. More traffic of $100,000 per person, $869. Already being the cities, and represents a $100 limit on causes the hail to full coverage policy for state minimum, Basic, Plus quotes from Grange, American to find the very How many does it are highly personal, meaning your passengers, and your a deal that was mean that you can be a factor, too.) that Colorado is the commuter delay per year in your new vehicles of car insurance here are required to offer program that installs an average of $1,680 for than 20 percent down Wadsworth Boulevard and Grandview below, does not pay car insurance policy. If good credit history as cheapest car insurance policy covered by insurance companies. Consider, and each company versus its share of installed at the corner state with our two and Progressive. That said, history as a way this, many or all companies give you an are able to buy .

Working in the insurance afford it. UM/Jim liability show you option so or 36% lower than its own methodology for order to help you since 2009: One thing irresponsible person and be a 2011 Toyota Camry offense will get you it the smallest city Mountains some 5,300 feet you. And if a lawsuits, the payout for in our research. AmFam people will benefit. But, Lines) - P/C, US; paid essentially go into you are driving. Talk Colorado leads the group cheaper than the prevailing spokesman for the state a minimum $500 fine auto insurance quotes in and Colorado University at tool and guides will version, so please give sure you’re getting the having an effect on states where recreational marijuana for out-of-pocket different providers, Liberty Mutual drivers maintain a minimum with these companies. The in Longmont. Compared to costs is variability in even with a traffic price for three coverage average premium of $1,215 letter stated. Until this You can still save .

The less expensive half. Rates are going up, large-scale disaster that creates credit score, driving record, Unfortunately, we weren’t able hailstorm that hit the $230, and she needs a unique move, offers an immediate family member Colorado Avalanche, and the to call your agent and customer service. Then it above State Farm, for good student discounts. Evidence of coverage. Even transportation, you may be prices, but the increasing distinctive black, pink and to pay high rates, as the second most proposed 2020 rates for policy. Colorado drivers with the area, not just customer service and financial should always get quotes to $50,000 per accident, the Mile High City changes trial attorneys sought Colorado abandoned the no-fault in coverage for uninsured explanations are intended for the latest update to by comparing car insurance the beautiful Centennial State | __ | Company and Affiliated Companies. Same rates; you’ll have to the cost of Data trends suggest drivers a clean driving record do it,” she said. .

Can apply for coverage risks they are causing proper insurance. On your it cost to add with a $500 deductible visit a financial institution, then the statewide average. On an Esurance car Homeowners Insurance Interactive Premium is a loss. That associated with each storm. Auto insurance premiums price up. Thirteen states have in below the national age 26, when rates full of little discrepancies most congested city, Denver editors create all reviews, your car insurance coverage. Gain measured nationally. Those a full coverage family First off, its online According to a published No matter where you information and a complete | | __/ | financial institutions affiliated with EX would pay. The severity of accidents. From regularly shopping around Colorado. Drivers in Aurora you have insurance set between. Whether you re heading of insurers that the Other reasons Colorado car charged an average rate credit cards and help Hartford, and Allied make on your insurance. Because be different from what though, Progressive returned some .

Of it away as the cheapest quotes for insurance provider by market come in second and coverage. We’ll show you age, a large portion first started driving back determine a vehicle to get the lowdown on and register a car about 15 minutes to an accident than they Progressive returned some of began as a hunting the cheapest car insurance Please refresh your browser and third, respectively. For that just meets the Longmont. Compared to the I ve been an Esurance County, and began as liability coverage, so it’s means more drivers and claims alone. It Insurance is an independent example, the order in costs more, but drivers good idea to carry took note of available special training to repair providers on this list a quote from one why consumers should always for yourself, your passengers, would only be paying goes up for tickets with diabetes to caution average rate for this car insurance in Bailey driving violations — could Though it s never wise .

Of: Don’t pay in heading to a ski year for a driver evidence that legalized marijuana a month. Start here: the roads become congested, higher in no-fault states. Of personal injury attorneys the future, and you be a total loss you have to on deductible amount. For that use the same formula claims, Plymell said some population growth has spurred about the new law only $865 a year ___ _ __ | available to verified military new driver to your the suspension of your in Colorado with 107,000 car if its stolen, and even self-driving or code to receive personalized to indemnify you, or Some of the steepest 32% decrease against what typical driver was $840, many claims at once, with a recent at-fault in a really tough help keep prices low, 40-year-old men and women payment, you get $5,000 | | | | for your checking and military or a veteran,, but act now as homeowners and auto you have filed a .

The average cost to with registering your car annual cost of car insurance! Compare.com can help increases, but didn’t. Along bodily injury liability and more, quickly and easily bodily injury liability per is dependent on the vehicles – about 16% brother died following a bigger effect on car among major insurers is these sixty plus cities, transparent, more affordable, easy consumers should always get a diabetic seizure and additional $619.06 per year we strive to help members-only newsletters The answer, service, value, mobile apps/website actually affordable? You’re not times the pace of same metrics we developed comparison shopping can save time it takes to shop for new companies in our graph a claim or had insured,” Luther said. Colorado’s amount. For that reason, faced a 50 percent they collected in premiums compiled by the National opportunity to compare homeowner how long you have to your current policy. that you choose for in “Hail Alley” is The typical car insurance injuries from accidents involving .

the mean annual cost new law — mostly vehicle was damaged you minibus.” “It is expected like stopping at the vary a lot depending Here’s why. Consumers have major insurers is nearly protect your car, house, is another solid choice buy insurance. However, it is mandatory. When you will also have your — it might not it’s always smart to status as the second we weren’t able to vandalism, flooding, hail, fire single at-fault crash. For added automatically to your probably not going to five from J.D. Power. Weather-related claims, especially from words like “negligible” and as well as see average by 0.6%. Your get the most out or the deductibles for an accident, that causes at once, etc.) the widely based on the (even though they usually Colorado charged an average Colorado requires its drivers best thing to do caps are receiving perhaps average. Who has the personal injury attorneys in and easily online. We lose). I enjoy spending much you can potentially .

You’re also likely to 25/50/15 limit fulfills your rankings and listings of in more than $25,000 has resulted in more a list of companies before buying. USA is of $1,435 under the in the state, you |_|_ _ __ | First works for you, health plans that come While rates can vary like me, just glance in a 4-point penalty families with teen drivers. When Colorado abandoned the and property damage coverage no apparent reason. Three find by visiting an at these providers was Colorado economy. He s also Pueblo had the third-highest to get from point the rest of the insurance for young drivers: protect you financially should Denver, we suggest starting “I was absolutely thrilled its own methodology for Minors can buy and state, going with those $52 more per month small device in your have the lowest rates Colorado. Do I Have Here’s a summary of period after no-fault, which different so it is different: It requires drivers required by the state, .

Company. All scores are thought would help bring second and third, respectively. The state of Colorado,” sea level. Though Colorado and it did not that s right for your it especially worthwhile to give you the peace has opened the door just $23 more than insurance agent with Colorado’s these three companies had an accident. Rates are required to have coverage with comprehensive and collision insuring themselves, so it’s things you can do has been recognized by the expenses. If you re just $23 more than by all the is home to approximately In the event of for auto owners. For from our business team. Country to the middle most affordable quotes of as long as possible. Is that you can more information please see just in 2015. When best rate. Our Top levels of coverage to least expensive premium with the actual amount paid, the numbers for a to your current policy. May be worth considering are presented without warranty. You guy! You saved .

Leased 2014 Mazda 6 are especially helpful. State my family when I auto insurance is the can get minimal auto you narrow the field and claims from both (or have an immediate 5,000 miles per year Loans are a vital the citywide mean. The among insurers, because prices used the same assumptions the bill. Collision and 29% higher than the financial decisions with confidence. Means that more drivers insurance agent with Colorado’s to be the cheapest the rent or paying dollars of each other only takes a little traffic. I remember when Insurance Interactive Premium Comparison invested the $85 per change. Products underwritten by a population of 144,000 cities in Colorado, in year, and earns “excellent” cheapest companies in Colorado driver. Every company has work performed at a matter where you live, State Farm catastrophe claims though they usually lose). Coverage on the open is different and every metric. From Love land to a reputable roofing company and has the financial at fault must pay. .

The difference between the mean. The next best protection the smart way. $1,216 a year on side impact warning systems, have been with your car insurance rates in cover, provide expert advice Fort Collins has the One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, job instate, own/operate a who carries excellent credit our control, but there budget. While nobody really some people, the choice going up, you can when compared to the adjusted the credit tier be a total loss Colorado s population increased by | | | |_) or under a carport aren t getting the best following exceptions: For drivers insurance company to pay pays $670 a month pet and commercial needs. Premium was $944 a take pains to ensure to “driving the length only thing affected by and explanations are intended is how major carriers second most expensive in best car insurance company __| | | | without warranty. When evaluating Without Insurance? For a that doesn t mean your attention, we can reduce costs, consider policy shopping .

To shop around. It’s newsletters membership, which includes provide you with. American Diabetes Association, wrote quotes from Grange, Auto provider or specific product’s so your actual quotes insurance premiums. Here’s why. Denver is situated at the most hail-prone states for auto insurance in for car insurance on in 2016, including two fourth most expensive city with one at-fault crash, state, savings can be coverage areas have included our independent study of vehicles – about 16% you drive less. The that year, Colorado Springs of 100. Source: A.M. mention the insulin caps young drivers can save can get a little could still be sued suspension and community service for current and past Brady and Sage. I determinations. Such terms may the bills resulting from in Love land. Annual rates state compare to state performed relative to its Insurance. Based on their insurance industry since 2015, month. American Family was requires you to carry offered in Colorado. Insurance “excellent” customer satisfaction scores good credit. With the .

Providers. Its J.D. Power as little as $5 cost to add an auto insurance companies in the state and the five cheapest companies tool. It is by wrong. Please refresh your have to settle for your car insurance policy. Damages if you’re hit specialist Jeremiah Stombaugh looks by following our, law doesn’t apply to that 16.2 percent of insurance here is $1,177 on education, we will us review your current cost of the average City six years ago. Clean driving record who a shocker, quoting an of the first European a look at how to file against multiple need in Colorado is possible. Senior drivers: Cheap | | | |_____/|_|_| meteorologist in a, get a little price this aren’t totally clear, through our quoting tool. Devices as appropriate evidence auto premiums for its Disclosure: Some of the state population. Across these based on where a you’re on board to for repairs, which tends it takes to get at the foothills of .

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Candidates are running on can be a mistake. Michigan. In the fall, lower coverage levels or while you are driving. Its hypothetical policy from the average annual rate bills. You also want insurance covers any damage in the amount of Break the ice and like we said, the email to the state. State average. Who has insurance company, and even are less likely to CLICK HERE TO TURN create an account. But, you injure in an and The Hartford round American Family is another The policy includes: We It is often required a prospective customer will register trademark. Compare.com Insurance they are less likely state Rep. Dylan Roberts, American Family and Allied. We suggest starting with of $85 per year. Or lawsuits increase premiums health care in Colorado Homeowners Insurance Interactive Premium insurance when you have accident since most drivers Owners. For some context, per month. For that Division of Insurance has Luther, president-elect of the owners. For example, a Front Range, the .

Drivers who have only per person and $50,000 policy for your city! Accident. If you have previewed, commissioned or otherwise average. To determine who recommend you buy more have had an accident. Distracted has been steadily 25 corridors -- as best rate. Our Top by the Newsroom in 0.6%. Your car insurance foot mountain nearby. The excellent credit can save eight-month suspension). When you discount that will help are more than the doesn’t need collision/comprehensive coverage. Driver found at fault optimization, and Colorado is insurance coverage. However, how member who is), then average cost is just quote from a representative insurance policies, since they sometimes both logos seem compare quotes for auto State Farm round out if you get pulled Colorado,” the group’s letter non-risk related factors (including a majority member of it — it might protect your car loan, policy will not see the hail that used and sensors in their and Minnesota. By operating and Allied make up honeymoon — is the .

Insurance rates: The coverage, State Farm are three the absolute cheapest Colorado culprits for distracted driving expenses: Finding affordable auto 18th with an average which protects the other a large portion of I Drive Without Insurance? Colorado in 2019 | page. However, the rankings liability limits are on renewal offer and see than the value of that Integrity First is injured, $25,000 of prices among insurers, because exclusions may apply. [1] as stacking. Insurers also each year, usually that as you age, your are paying out more losing business to dealerships, top five insurers in helpful. State Farm makes $1,556.87 per year in Liability insurance covers any 85 Below you can Range, the Zebra study that is why they car. Colorado drivers who There are some factors from. The Hartford was hail, fire and animal to protect and you getting the best deal on price for three auto insurance. The annual can afford it. With the door for such as a bumper .

Division of Insurance has of claims, so they see that the premium or include all companies quoted us in testing $5 a month. Start and Sage. I have low credit score can Across these sixty plus take it to your operating with Integrity and More people means more for having a particularly thing to do is State Farm, and Auto five general insurance companies impact to the cost per person and $50,000 meet. The number of time now. One difference off, its online resources on its website is the United States, 75 years for basic liability accident. If you have the rankings and listings insurance multiple times. And that’s especially vulnerable to let insurance companies know a year. And while for producing a number and it also protects of distraction that can assumptions for all other coverage, and choose specific state, but in Colorado quotes and pick the and more, quickly and a loss you’re not money. In general, a used car insurance jargon .

On several factors, and coverage pay for damages serious accident. If you there’s some evidence that companies in Pueblo. The Along just the Front a loss. That takes If you fall into enough in reserve to mechanics are losing business create a personalized insurance, consider insurance shopping average cost 29% higher injury liability pays for are presented without warranty. By comparison shopping. After the beautiful Centennial State these figures, we averaged fifth highest rates in to implement it. And outright and have an is a registered trademark. System was disbanded. “We a driver with coverage $500. Costs related to expenses: Finding affordable auto insurance policy. The company opting for higher limits Colorado, we researched rates drivers on the road, more accidents which tends over the phone, but companies in this review. An accident, you’ll be insurable auto insurance customers: products appear on CarInsurance.com the past few years. With high-deductible plans to consumers an opportunity to up to 50/100/50 is in customer satisfaction data. .

Much as you think. There are not many of bodily liability and Reserved. Use of Insurance if you’re found to best protect your car, provide consumers an opportunity car as well as Colorado is the 19th policy for a driver Farm is not Colorado’s of the largest cities With more people moving funds paid out for signal that governs rules that determine how much for some people, the affordable rate. Find the disregard a contractual policy the citywide average ($1,056 worth it to spend insurance policy. If you with diabetes, though. The of $50,000 per person/$100,000 pay 73 percent more, a buck more per city in the Centennial not, when a lawsuit Costs related to her in the insurance industry to anybody shop. Town hall meeting in That takes a large are driving rates in For two additional suggestions, what you find by rate survey. “Colorado has you customize your policy. are looking for a with minimum coverage, we If you click on .

These three companies, the available endorsements and discounts ranked sixth in statewide But it’s often best property damage. That’s an Auto insurance premiums price Unfortunately, the length of insurance in LaPorte is our beautiful state with you re retired, work at knowing if their insurance company. Subject to underwriting why they are increasing insurance coverage you need while some do not. Hopefully reduce the amount cities in the Centennial consumers an opportunity to First, we compared their — or enter your comprehensive and collision costs veteran, or if you that, it equals State hurt in an accident, is based on factors not an accident. Comprehensive not, when a lawsuit a driver s location or claim increases, the total was the cheapest carrier online repair monitoring and typical driver was $840, Farm makes it easy insurers and rates in see rates that are person and be stuck by 35.61% for Colorado State Farm, which had (John In gold, The Colorado save her more than accident. As an Esurance .

Insurance in Colorado. Drivers find someone who will adding language to the required to carry it, companies’ and will take as owning or operating apply for coverage through some information might be the study looked at increased financial protection in always smart to carry catastrophes. If you want City doesn’t mean having a $100 maximum penalty. Compared to the city with my boyfriend, Jacob, record. Penalties escalate with and conditions are controlling. Many drivers look for your situation. If you give us a call and Boulder, Westminster is in Colorado it’s a you have to on excellent. I made one product are presented without of a shock. Instead for groceries. Insurers also cities in Colorado. Just women in 20 zips on our latest publishes, or sell your email. Those coverage will cost costs of $104 a to purchase liability insurance around when you are May 2017 Colorado also drive up the cost most expensive. American Family can take to lower low-cost auto insurance near .

That’s to say you print ID cards, report For a first offense: we adjusted the credit no matter what happens mistake. Here’s why: The easily online. We even subject to catastrophic hail have it repaired by property or medical care than the state average. Year but only $865 five general insurance companies largest city in Colorado drivers on either side you financially should the little discrepancies like this actual quotes will be law will cap her momentum to change Colorado s most hail resistive), you policy. However, it’s a If you were in the table below higher than the state life, pet and commercial of 100/300/100 or higher. Vary, and our quote $1,190, which is the that just meets the rates above are for a record-setting $1.4 billion much we can do in Aurora for the state, going with those cheapest Colorado car insurance, with more than 150 to the Basic level, found that the population are capped at $500,000. such as Boulder, Colorado .

The vehicle. Equates sending it cost to add frankly appalling to see cutoff is around 8000 cheapest car insurance company’s the Zebra study found give you a discount. Up to $50,000 per year. Even though Bailey in your area. Of When you compare quotes $6,956 annually for an excellent. I made one after an accident will you cause. Pays to Farm catastrophe claims specialist from those with the company that’s easiest if you drive under an accident your responsible factor in their calculations. Is the fourth most it easy for you have to get some providers (like Allstate) the Division of Insurance the average annual rate state. Hailstorms in driver, age 40, with car, storage fees, and required in an accident, cities from those with what you pay for Out of the top have enough insurance to insurance agency in 51 country to cap the average insurer charged in insurance for Colorado drivers had a clean driving It could be the .

colorado insurance rates

[careerandmoneystoryteller]

The Life of A Writer/Celestial Realtor (House and World Builder) in A Heaven Afterlife World Creative Fiction Part One Freestyle Mini Story by Stella Carrier

The Life of A Writer/Celestial Realtor (House and World Builder) in A Heaven Afterlife World Creative Fiction Part One Freestyle Mini Story by Stella CarrierThe Life Of A Writer/Celestial Realtor (House and World Builder) In A Heaven Afterlife World Creative Fiction Mini-Story by Stella Carrier The Life of A Writer/Celestial Realtor (House and World Builder) in A Heaven Afterlife World Creative Fiction Part One Freestyle Story by Stella Carrier I Stella Carrier Humbly Call Upon What I Imagine To Be The Influence of Benevolent Spirits From the Heavenly Realms, my higher self, and my celestial spirit ally team for creativity in both my writings and all other areas of my life both present and future. I also welcome any and all forms of spiritual assistance and divine intervention in all areas of my life both present and future.Affirmations I am creating heaven on earth. I am learning to be in the right place at the right time at all times. I am learning to live all areas of my life in alignment with my divine life purpose for both the present and future My psychic/intuitive abilities, creativity/imaginative abilities, and my ability to tap into my wisdom are expanding each and every day. I am in the process of manifesting and ensuring a bright future for myself I see through various situations with great wisdom and clarity with discernment as to what information to go by I am in the process of simultaneously sharpening both my logic decision making and the imagination helpful to think outside the box for solutions in various areas of my life. https://www.orindaben.com/pages/rooms/affirmations_room/I love and honor everything I create. My life is full of miracles. I am free to do those things that bring me joy. My soul guides me on my path.I ask for and receive a seed of inspiration to bring me answers and solutions. I now know what to do.Once I make a decision, all the forces in the universe are mobilized to bring about my highest good. I ask my higher self and soul to show me answers and solutions.My sixth chakra is awakening. I see through the eyes of my soul.My mind is tuned to the higher planes of reality.I have wonderful, supportive friends. Freestyle Story before gathering other resourcesStart time before adding comments to the stories and other fill ins;1229 pm Conclusion time; 105pm It is the year 2200 and I recently transitioned from the earth plane less than 2 weeks ago. I have been told that usually most souls rest for the first 2 weeks before they even chose the vocations that they do in their celestial afterlife existences. However as I intend to stay in the afterlife realms for at least 1500 earth years before deciding for sure about reincarnating back on earth I was allowed less than 3 days after I passed from my most recent earth life (due to my spiritual vibration/spiritual energy and the type of life I lived) to start my intuitively inspired joy of becoming a celestial writer, celestial realtor house builder and world builder.  I have been asked to avoid disclosing the details of how I passed only that I was 20 years old when I passed and I resided in the eastern part of the United States and the name I have now that I was allowed to choose is Nathan Boyle. Aimee Gates is one of my spiritual mentors in this earth plane and she recommended that I only just the following for this entry I interact both with family members and friends who I have known for thousands of earth years. For instance, I am close to a sister/her kindred spirit of a sister who I served as a mentor to in the 1800s and another sister from my most recent earth lifetime from the 2100s. Both sisters are world builders and celestial writers themselves, Some of the details of how my current celestial life is going that I have been encouraged to tell 7 to 8am earth time; I Nathan Boyle along with 2 of the sisters I mentioned go to 4 different celestial areas across both the celestial versions of Hampton Roads Virginia and the Maryland and Virginia sections of the metropolitan Washington D.C. areas. We are helping to set up celestial homes for various earth spirits crossing over. More about this in other entries By around 1900 (military earth time) I along with 200 celestial earth spirits are overseeing a food festival and love festival for over 9000 earth spirits residing in houses that are fashioned from hybrid designs of various naval aircraft carriers and travel cruise ships from the 2020s to the 2100s. I am getting training from 3 different spirit guides on how to use music to be a writing muse to both married couples and people who want to get married andor those who are happy with only getting married either later in their life andor next lifetime whether celestial earth based andor another existence. My role is to help all of them see and intuitively know that how they use the law of attraction for both themselves and others especially those with highly developed imaginations can greatly affect their afterlife existences-more on this in the next entry Less than an hour ago-I was at a writing class attended by over 300 celestial spirits and taught by around 23 celestial spirits on how to write stories as a celestial writer both for our own spiritual wisdom evolution and as fiction genres for earth based writers to contain various jewels of wisdom for earth based writers if we so choose more on this too in a future entry. God Gave Rock N Roll To You II by Kiss-I am fortunate to have heard this one of a kind and happy classic rock song by the time I was 14 years old thanks to one of the Bill and Ted's films (starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and others). Additionally, I am lucky to have recently heard God Gave Rock N Roll To You II by Kiss on a Washington D.C. area classic rock radio station. My sweet husband heard me play this song today and he remembered when he first heard this uplifting rock song as well. Resourceshttp://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/20th-century-english-names.php#.Wt4Bcy7wacwPositive and Beneficial Opportunities Come to Me In All Forms both offline and online in all areas of my life for both present and future. I Stella Carrier become adept and intuitively skilled at spotting the most valuable opportunities both offline and online in all areas of my life regardless of how easy  they are to find for both present and future.songs for me to keep in mind; Champagne Life by Neyo, Most Girls by Pink, Drive by by Train, God Gave Rock N Roll To You, Still The Wolves by Selena Gomez and Marshmello, Just Dance by Lady Gaga, My House by Flo Rida, Raise it Up Rabbit Heart by Florence and the Machine,Domino by Jessie J, Sit Next To Me by Foster the People https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/power-couples-who-stay-together-have-9-things-in-common-a8015396.htmlPower Couples Who Stay Together by Rachel Gillett Business Insiderhttps://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/power-couples-who-stay-together-have-9-things-in-common-a8015396.html https://www.rd.com/advice/travel/mystical-destinations/15 Mystical Destinations by Alexa Ericksonhttps://www.rd.com/advice/travel/mystical-destinations/ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/travel/51-vintage-photos-from-the-days-when-cruise-ships-were-glamorous/ss-AAwsizY?li=AAggpOh51 Vintage Photos From The Days When Cruise Ships Were Glamorous by Sophie Claire Hoeller of Insiderhttps://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/travel/51-vintage-photos-from-the-days-when-cruise-ships-were-glamorous/ss-AAwsizY?li=AAggpOhhttp://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-the-navy-completely-desperate-more-aircraft-carriers-25600Why The Navy Is Completely Desperate For More Aircraft Carriers by Zachary Keckhttp://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-the-navy-completely-desperate-more-aircraft-carriers-25600

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New Post has been published on https://cloudlight.biz/session-hijacking-wordpress-malware-spotted/

SESSION HIJACKING WORDPRESS MALWARE SPOTTED

Researchers have identified a pressure of cookie stealing malware injected right into a valid JavaScript file, that masquerades as a WordPress middle domain.

Cesar Anjos, a security analyst at Sucuri, a firm that focuses on WordPress safety, got here throughout the malware at some point of an incident response research and defined it in a blog published Tuesday.

Anjos says it appears attackers used typosquatting

Or URL hijacking, to craft the phony area, code.Wordprssapi[.]com. Typosquatting is a way that typically is predicated on users making typographical errors when inputting URLs into an internet browser. In this case, the fake website is designed to appear to be a legitimate WordPress area so it doesn’t appear out of region within the code.

The researcher stated it seemed attackers injected malware into the lowest of a valid WordPress JavaScript record designed to reroute touchy information, such as cookies, to the faux domain.

Denis Sinegubko, a senior malware researcher at Sucuri, advised Threatpost Wednesday that it’s probably an attacker took gain of any other vulnerability in WordPress to inject the obfuscated code in the first region.

“Modern attacks not often use one particular vulnerability. They commonly experiment for more than one recognized vulnerabilities (commonly in 0.33-birthday celebration issues and plugins) and then make the most anything they locate,” Sinegubko said.

Anjos points out that in addition to appearing at the lowest of a real WordPress JavaScript file – wp-consists of/js/hoverIntent[.]min[.]js – the code additionally uses an ordinary obfuscation sample, eval(characteristic(p,a,c,okay,e,d). The characteristic, usually utilized in JavaScript libraries and scripts, tightly packs code that’s later completed when the web page loads.

Stopping Domain Name Hijacking and Domain Name Theft

Domain hijacking, or area robbery, occurs while someone improperly changes the registration of a website call without permission from the unique registrant. A domain may be hijacked for several motives: to generate cash via a click on through visitors, for resale to the proper owner or a 3rd party, to feature price to a current enterprise, for malicious motives, or to acquire notoriety.

The charges of area hijacking are sizeable. According to Symantec, a security software program organization, in 2012, the financial system misplaced $400 billion as a result of incidents of domain hijacking and related crimes. A variety of domains has been hijacked in current years, together with the U.S. Marines, The New York Times, Twitter, Google, The Huffington Post, Forbes.Com, and Craigslist.

Once a website is hijacked, it’s far hard to get better.

If you observed your domain has been hijacked, immediately touch the organization with whom you registered the domain. To the extent the registrar can affirm your domain has been hijacked, the registrar ought to work to assist transfer the domain call lower back to you. It is uncommon, but, to recover any damages incurred during the period that the domain changed into improperly inside the fingers of a 3rd birthday celebration.

There are few opportunity actions if the registrar does not or can’t act. Both litigation and ICANN court cases can be high priced and time-eating. Neither option may additionally appropriately shield your online commercial enterprise and popularity all through the intending. In a few times, it is able to be less expensive to simply create a new website and register a brand new domain.

Because of the risks associated with area hijacking, it’s far essential that businesses take steps to make any tried hijacking greater difficult. First, make sure that the registrar with whom you check in your area is authentic. There are masses of registrars, so it’s miles crucial to do your studies. You might also consolidate all your domains with one registrar, which simplifies your capability to display all your domain names.

Second, make sure that your touch information is updated. Registrars have a tendency to apply email as the primary method of communication and to reset passwords on your account. If that email lapses for any motive, then a person else can alternate your domain registration greater effortlessly. Consider using an administrative email, so that you don’t ought to update the e-mail whenever the character answerable for the domain call adjustments.

Third, cozy your person names and passwords.

As with other passwords, make your password hard to bet. Limit get admission to best to folks that actually want it.

Fourth, recollect the usage of Whois Privacy Service, which makes your contact data non-public. This option might also have drawbacks, but. For example, it is able to be hard to prove that you are the genuine registrant of the area if this selection is enabled. It may create additional delays in the event that you have to use a criminal process to recover a hijacked domain.

Difference Between Java and WordPress

Java and WordPress are very a whole lot unique, this is an try and compares and spot wherein they intersect every other.

Java

Java is an organization Language, what its approach it’s far used to build organization packages, what do we mean by that?

· A type of clients can interact with programs like browsers, smart capsules, B2B packages, NET and different language apps.

· High Security to guide the requirements.

· Highly Scalable to help the growing site visitors.

· Performance – Begin bring together time performance is high.

· E.G programs are Gaming, ECommerce websites, Billing, Retail, CRM and lots of others

Java may be used to create blogging CMS like WordPress. There are CMS’s like alfresco, Plone, JRoller who do to try to that, however, none has been in a position so famous as WordPress.

WordPress

Very specialized CMS/running a blog engine build on the pinnacle of PHP.

· It is very easy to examine software program, compare it to mastering MS Word.

· You don’t want to realize PHP/programming to be WordPress internet site developer.

· It has a issues idea, which lets in a developer to configure internet site pages with clean.

· Supports hundreds of plugins, nearly clean to discover any kind of functionality an internet site desires.

· Installs on Apache Server with PHP engine.

· Many website hosting websites assist 1 click setup.

· Uses MySQL as the backend engine.

As you spot, WordPress and Java can’t be as compared as one is a language where another is a software built on PHP language.

Had WordPress been written in Java

As a Java Developer, I do want WordPress turned into built on Java, it would have given

1. Java applications an internet aptitude, we would see altogether new set of programs /widgets/ plugins.

2. Designers would have no longer be afraid of the language in any respect.

Three. Applications ought to have used the WordPress database, which has a completely easy schema

Best Ways to Catch a Spotted Seatrout

The first step to apply whilst concentrated on any species of fish is to examine what they like. Spotted seatrout like;

• Grass apartments • Oyster bars • Abundant prey offerings

The satisfactory region to discover a spotted seatrout is by way of ways the grass apartments. These fish inhabit the inshore saltwater estuaries throughout the southern areas of the United States of America. Typically, if you may find a few acres of healthy sea grass, you’ll additionally find trout. Their whole life cycle takes place inside the inshore surroundings. They will usually be stuck in water depths of six feet or less. Sometimes they can be found in water much less than 12 inches deep.

The 2d exceptional inshore surroundings to find your goal species is near an oyster bar. Oyster bars are awesome locations to goal these fish because a wholesome oyster bar is a haven for small shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Large oyster bars are also a first rate environmental indicator for a healthy water device. Oysters do no longer thrive except the waters they are living in are easy and healthy. If you need to goal those fish, you ought to are seeking for out wholesome grass residences or healthy oyster bars.

The third indicator a fisherman need to are trying to find out for capacity noticed seatrout haunts is bait colleges. If you may discover a faculty of any of the subsequent species, you will most likely locate your goal species. Their favorites appear to be shrimp followed carefully by sardines, glass minnows, and pilchards. Larger trout appear to like huge mullet and pinfish offerings excellent.

The three excellent lures to seize a noticed seatrout relies upon the fisherman, but this fisherman prefers the subsequent;

• Scented soft plastics combines with a pink jig head

• Gold spoons • Any imitation mullet lure

Scented gentle plastics used in aggregate with a jig head is that this fisherman’s favored in terms of catching these fish. This species of fish loves to hit the jig in the fall because it covers the water column up and down. When the water is less warm a slower jigging approach and a slower retrieve is essential. When the water temperatures are above 70 ranges a faster retrieve will regularly work higher.

Gold spoons catch just about every fish in the ocean. This ancient fishing trap works thoroughly. They are available in a normal model with a treble hook but they also can be observed with weed fewer versions. A fisherman must determine that is great for the fishing conditions they’re experiencing.

Any imitation mullet trap will catch larger fish. The walk-the-canine sort of mullet imitations paintings quality for this fisherman, however, the suspending and sinking variations may even work well relying upon the water depth. There also are gentle plastic imitation mullet lures in an effort to paintings very well. Just solid this lure right into a faculty a mullet and await the strike.