#couples therapist Long Island

[alphapsychotherapycenter]

Marriage and Couples Counseling on Long Island

Why Marriage Counseling is Crucial

Marriage is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and growth. However, even the strongest relationships can face hurdles. Seeking Marriage Counseling on Long Island can help couples navigate through difficulties, improving communication, and relight the love and trust they once shared.

The Good of Couples Counseling

For couples struggling to connect or resolve conflicts, couples therapy in Long Island provides a safe and structured environment. With the guidance of an experienced couple’s therapist, Long Island, you and your partner can uncover fundamental issues and work towards a healthier and happier relationship.

Improving Communication:

Effective communication is the quality of any relationship. Counseling helps partners express their feelings and listen to each other.

Conflict Resolve:

Learn techniques to manage the lack of agreements constructively.

Strengthened Closeness:

Rebuilding trust and emotional connection is a key center of attention in couples counseling in Long Island.

Why Select Marriage Counseling on Long Island, NY?

Long Island is home to skilled therapists specializing in relationships. Whether your recently married or celebrating decades together, professional Marriage Counseling in Long Island, NY, can address specific challenges such as financial stress, infidelity, parenting disagreements, or emotional distance.

Finding the Fair Couples Therapist

When looking for a couple’s therapist in Long Island, it’s essential to choose a professional with experience in evidence-based methods, such as the Gottman Method or Emotionally Focused Therapy. The right therapist can help you and your partner create lasting solutions tailored to your distinctive relationship dynamics.

If you're considering marriage counseling or couples therapy on Long Island, now is the time to act. Rebuilding a stronger connection with your partner is possible with the right help.

Take the first step toward a stronger, better relationship today!

[endless-ineffabilities]

The Bolter (part three)

Steve Rogers x f!reader

synopsis : Steve carries out his decision to return to Peggy, aiming to live out the rest of his days with her. But this means he's leaving everything behind - he's leaving you. Did he make the right choice? Will there be anything left with you to come back to?

in this chapter : The reader returns to New York for the first time after Steve left, reuniting with Bucky. We see a little more of what the reader and Steve went through while on the run.

themes/warnings : pining, tension, unrequited love, two sad saps (reader and Bucky) trying to get over trauma and heartache :(, language, brief mention of injuries

word count : <2k

main masterlist ▪︎ series masterlist

2024, three months after Steve's departure

You just finished your second mission since the final battle.

Since Tony. Since Nat.

Since... him.

Only three months, or rather, three long months. You don't know why Sam was worried that you are apparently overworking yourself.

He keeps calling you up, checking in from time to time, making sure that you are allowing yourself to relax. Have a little break. Stay with them in New York for a while. Maybe even have a couple of sessions with the therapist Bucky is seeing.

He must have done a darn good job at convincing you, or maybe you were just exhausted, because you arrive back in New York soon enough.

And Bucky comes knocking on your door not long after.

Your eyes meet, both of you blocking your doorway. Not a single word needs to be said - the understanding you two share runs much deeper.

Two kindred abandoned souls and whatnot.

You step aside to let him through and close the door behind him. His hair is trimmed shorter now, and with his getup, he could pass as just another civilian. It takes another beat of silence before he finally asks, "So how are you?"

You snort at how ridiculous his question sounds. He knows. "How are you?" you counter, eyebrows raised in a challenge.

"Touché," he says, shrugging off his leather jacket and placing it atop your kitchen island. He knows his way around. He's been here before, on the many nights you both shared drinks with Natasha, Sam and... him.

Damn it. You curse internally. It's okay, his name was Steve. He's not the fucking boogeyman.

He gives you a quick once over, immediately noticing that you're putting a lot of your weight on your left leg.

"I fell out a window," you sigh.

"Fuck's sake," he grimaces, shaking his head.

"Hey, we can't all be super soldiers, Buck. My muscles are just a bit softer than yours."

He presses on, still concerned, "Checked in for your physical yet?"

"Booked it for tomorrow," you respond. "But it shouldn't be too bad."

You feel his eyes continue to scan you, but in a non-invasive way. He's checking for more injuries, more signs of wear and tear. He's a lot like Steve, but his gaze is different, less commanding.

More broken.

"Anything new?" you have to ask to distract yourself, and he picks up on it right away. About Steve. He hasn't shown up like he said he would. You had been dreading it - the possibility of seeing a much older Steve, after he got to live out his life in this timeline.

He promised he would try and find you. A version of him, at least. White-haired and wrinkled and weary, but still your Steve. He said you would see him again, in what would be his future and your present, and say a real goodbye. Maybe even tell you all about his life and his girl.

You thought you blocked all that out, but sadly it did not slip your mind. You remember. And you didn't want to be there when it happens.

But nothing did, and you didn't know whether to be worried or relieved.

"Nothing," Bucky shakes his head. "But Dr. Banner is keeping track on whether there are any anomalies in the timeline, specifically in where Steve went back. Everything seems to be normal."

He's fine, and he finally got his normal. And you should let go.

As if he can read your mind, Bucky says, "It's hard to let go, isn't it?"

He's struggling. Of course he is. Bucky also has an old skin to shed, and bones to bury. You never encountered the Winter Soldier back in the day, but you heard of him.

Once you got to know Bucky, you never needed to know anything else. This is who he really is, and he's a good person. He's your friend.

And Steve trusted him. He believed in him. That would have been enough in your eyes, if anything.

"What makes you think I haven't let go yet?" you smile weakly.

He exhales, smiling back. Because, he seems to say, I know you.

Stepping forward, he opts for putting a hand on your shoulder first, unsure. He squeezes gently once, but then changes his mind and pulls you in for a hug at the last second, careful not to add any stress on your leg.

It takes the breath out of you, with his vibranium arm wrapped around your midtorso.

"I'm glad you're back," he mumbles against your hair.

Bucky knows that only you would really understand. The others, maybe they loved Steve too. Admired him. But it was different with the two of you.

Clint can move on with his family. Sam has his new responsibilties. Thor is out of world. Wanda has her own burden to bear. The world will go on as it always has.

But not for us, you think. As he held you tight, you decide that you will help Bucky through it. You will make sure that he gets the peace that he deserves and he is able to let go of Steve. Even if doesn't happen for you, this would be enough.

You offer him a drink after a moment, and he accepts without hesitation.

This is how it starts. This is how the two of you begin to move on.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

2017, ten months after the Avengers' Civil War

"Where were you?" Steve's voice came from somewhere in the room. He was seated in the small living room of your shared cabin, blinds drawn shut, almost out of sight.

You twisted around, and let your duffel bag fall to the floor. Squeezing the bridge of your nose, you let out a shaky breath. "What the hell, Steve, you nearly scared me."

You rummaged through the cupboard, looking for your stashed whiskey. "Nearly," you repeated in jest, when you heard him making his way to you.

You got a much better look at him then. His hair had darkened due to its length, and his beard was thicker. You were going to need several swigs of hard alcohol to resist jumping his bones.

"I was worried," he said, and his tone was gentler. It made you feel guilty, and you didn't know why. "I came back from Wakanda and you were gone."

"I wasn't gone, Steve. Sam needed help getting away with something, you know how it is. We don't exactly have a set schedule on when and where to go, given our fugitive status."

"I know, I know," he said right away, frustrated. What's wrong with him? "But you could have called, left a note - "

"A note could have been intercepted."

" - anything. Just to let me know how you are. You could have been taken in for all I know - "

"You really think I would let them take me in?"

He threw a stern glare your way, propping a hand on his hip. Based on his stance, you thought of how it looked like Captain America was about to give you a good scolding.

But you beat him to it. You were just too tired, and your arm was killing you. "Look, Steve, I had to help Sam and you were still in Wakanda checking up on Bucky. I didn't think it was a big deal. I thought I would be back here by the time you - "

"What's wrong with your arm?" he interrupted you, his practiced eyes easily noticing the damage, and reached for your forearm. "Take your jacket off."

Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head before you can catch yourself. "What?" you squeaked, but you knew just what he meant.

Steve was on full Captain mode, always looking out for anyone he feels responsible for. That's all it was. You had to remind your hopeful self that it was nothing more.

His hands were waiting by the neckline of your jacket, asking for permission. Ever so polite, even when his mood is sour.

You can ignore a lot of things, compartmentalize your emotions. You're used to it all, not getting too attached to anyone or anything as a result of your chosen life.

But you couldn't ignore the burning feeling his fingertips left behind as they grazed your skin. When he guided you to the couch so he can take a better look at the bruises on your arm, you were seated close. The closest you've ever been to each other, but he didn't look fazed at all.

Of course not. This doesn't mean the same to him, as it does to me.

You watched him the entire time, his long eyelashes almost grazing his cheek as he looked down at his work. His brows furrowed in concentration. Once in a while, he mumbled something that sounded like, never should've happened, or gotta watch out next time.

It didn't take long for him to fix you up nicely, your arm disinfected and wrapped in gauze.

After you thanked him, you stood from the seat, ready to compartmentalize that moment too. Because that was not the time to go falling for anyone, especially not someone who was just too good for you.

But he grabbed your hand before you walked away, looking up at you as he stayed seated.

"Steve?" There it was again, that burning. That warmth. If he didn't notice the goosebumps on your skin before, you were sure he saw them then.

"I - " he hesitated, before finally deciding on, "I'm glad you're okay."

You tilted your head, smiling. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, y'know."

His worried and serious expression drops and he smiled, eyes all crinkled.

And that was one sight you won't ever be able to ignore.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

A week later, Natasha dropped by. Sporting a brand new white-blonde hairdo that suited her just as fine as her signature red.

You teased her about it, saying how she must have been waiting for an opportunity like this to have an excuse to drastically switch out her hairstyle.

The two of you sat on the bench on the patio while Steve chopped up wood in the distance, looking like a right ol' lumberjack.

He looked too damn good, and it annoyed you. He wasn't making any of it easy.

"You could switch your hair out too, you know. It helps in going incognito," she reached over and twirled a strand of your hair.

You swatted her hand away playfully, grinning, "Oh, but my face is too memorable so it might not even work."

"Oh really?" she smiled, with that mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, Steve certainly seems to think so."

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"He looks at you like you're his sun or something," she stretched out, amused by the obvious rush of blood to your face.

You shook your head profusely, because of how wrong you thought her assumptions were. "He looks at me because there's no one else around here to look at. Not for at least fifty miles or even more."

"Honey, please. It's my job to know these things."

"Oh, is it now?"

"Mhmm," she patted your knee, tilting her head in Steve's direction without turning to look at him. "I'm willing to bet Tony's LA mansion that he's looking at you right now."

"No, he's not - "

"Then prove me wrong."

But you turned, and you couldn't prove her wrong.

Your eyes met Steve's and when he realized your attention was on him, he simply smiled.

Like you were his sun, Natasha had said. But she was a bit off the mark.

You were never Steve's sun, but he was yours.

Read part four here ~

taglist (let me know if you wish to be added!) : @vicmc624 @littleliyah16 @babezawa @klammykayla @justsebstan @blue--ingenue @numblytemporary @bradshawass @delicious-xx

It will be a bit more of jumping back and forth through time, before we see everyone back together (even Steve? 🤷🏻‍♀️)

It's the start of a potential Bucky x reader. I gotta be careful here because I might just flip and want the reader to be with him instead.. who could ever look over Bucky???? He's going to make it hard for us that's for sure.

[dreamwritesimagines]

The Eye of the Hurricane [7] - On Edge

A.N: Here’s the new chapter my loves! ❤️ Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, you made my day! ❤️I hope you’ll like this chapter as well and please don’t forget to tell me what you think! ❤️

Summary: New enemies can complicate everything.

Word Count: 3200

Pairing: MobBoss!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Violence, death, guns, crime, blood, explicit language, drinking. This is an AU, friendly reminder that I don’t condone any of the actions depicted on this story and please read with care.

Series Masterlist

You had to admit; your therapist had many good ideas but this?

You weren't so sure this was one of those good ideas.

You pulled the souffle out of the oven and took a look at it, then grabbed a toothpick and put it through the center, only to pull it out completely dry.

“God damn it!” you exclaimed, putting it next to the other five failed attempts, and grabbed the bowl again. “This fucking…”

“What are you doing?”

Your head shot up and you looked over your shoulder. “What the��go away, why are you here?”

Bucky raised his brows.

“Hello to you too Charm,” he said, putting his hands into his pockets, his eyes darting around the kitchen. Even you had to admit that the sight of you in the kitchen was unfamiliar, considering that you barely knew how to make eggs but seeing him in your kitchen was equally strange. Your chef would normally be in the kitchen at this time but you were pretty sure he wasn’t here to see her.

“Who told you I was here?”

“The maid,” he said and motioned at the bowl you were holding. “What is this?”

“Why are you here?”

“I asked first.”

You heaved a sigh and put the bowl back on the counter, then crossed your arms.

“I’m baking,” you said as if there was nothing out of the ordinary with that statement, and Bucky frowned slightly.

“Why?” he asked. “What is this, your plan to play house with your civilian boyfriend?”

You rolled your eyes at him.

“My therapist seems to think it’s a good idea,” you said. “She says I should do things like these to relax my mind.”

“Right, you sounded very relaxed when I walked in.”

“It’s because these fucking souffles refuse to have chocolatey center!” you snapped and Bucky blinked a couple of times.

“You’ve never baked once in your life and you decided to start with one of the hardest things to bake in the world?”

“Go big or go home.”

“I’m right with you on that but when it comes to baking, people usually start with cookies.”

“I already baked cookies, they weren’t challenging enough,” you said, motioning at the plate on the kitchen island and he walked to it to get a cookie.

“Did you poison these?”

“Yeah,” you said and he shrugged, then took a bite of it, a look of surprise crossing his face as he chewed on it.

“This is actually good,” he said. “Is this cinnamon?”

“It’s arsenic,” you deadpanned and he nodded his head.

“You know, if you ever decide to go into it professionally, we can get you a bakery.”

“Uh huh.”

“I’m serious, we’d put it in the neutral territory if it makes you feel any better, it could work—”

“Why are you here?” you cut him off and he popped the rest of the cookie in his mouth, then leaned back to the island.

“I’ve been summoned,” he said. “So has everyone else.”

Your eyes widened. “Everyone else? What do you mean, everyone else?”

“All the bosses in the city.”

“What the—why?” you asked, lowering your voice and he shot you a smirk.

“How long have you been here?”

“Bucky!” you hissed and he grabbed another cookie.

 “There’s been an attack.”

“An attack?” you asked, your heart skipping a beat. “From a family?”

“Not from a family,” he answered. “An outsider, or so it seems.”

“What outsider?” you asked and he chewed on his bite.

“No seriously, if I paid you, would you make more of these for me?”

You smacked his arm and snatched the cookie out of his hand.

“Hey!”

“What outsider?”

“It happened in Stark’s territory,” he said, eyeing the cookie. “He knows more than I do, he and your father had a talk I heard but we will all be informed in the meeting.”

You arched a brow. “And?”

“I swear to you, that’s all I know. Can I get it back now?”

You heaved a sigh and handed him the cookie, making him shoot you a happy smile.

“Thank you.”

“Do you think they’re the same people who were involved in the shootout?”

Bucky clenched his jaw, then cleared his throat.

“Who knows?” he said. “So did you think about my proposal?”

You threw your head back in frustration, then jumped to sit on the island, crossing your legs.

“I did,” you said, leaning slightly back, resting your palms on the island and pretending to be in deep thought. “And you know what, it kind of makes sense to use a marriage for my benefit and rise to power.”

If you didn’t know any better, you would’ve thought he was holding his breath, a hopeful light glimmering in his eyes.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah so, Steve or Sam?” you asked airily and he frowned.

“What?”

“Yeah, I mean Romanoff is with Banner, Barton is married, so is Stark…”

A groan left his lips. “Charm…”

“So that leaves us Steve or Sam.”

“They’re my best friends.”

You shrugged your shoulders. “I know that. So what?”

“They would never.”

“Why not?” you asked. “Because you called dibs on me or something?”

He averted his gaze from you and you sat up straighter, pulling your brows together.

“Bucky,” you growled. “You have exactly three seconds to tell me you didn’t call dibs on me as if I’m a cookie because we’re standing in a kitchen full of knives—”

“I didn’t!” he said. “They just…they won’t, okay?”

“Well then that plan is not going to work because I’d never marry you—” you started but heard a knock by the door, making you turn your head to look at Steve.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” you said. “Bucky was just leaving.”

Steve glanced around the kitchen with his brows raised. “Since when do you bake?”

“It’s very good for mental health!” your defensive answer came almost too fast and he held up his hands.

“Alright then.”

“It does calm you down,” Bucky said solemnly and you narrowed your eyes at him.

“I’m going to take your cookie back.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Steve eyed the cookies. “Can I have one too?”

“See? He asks for permission,” you told Bucky. “Perfect marriage material there.”

“Excuse me, what?” Steve asked, gawking at you before Bucky grabbed a cookie from the plate and tossed it to Steve who caught it mid-air, then he turned to you.

“You know where to find me.”

“Yeah, between some woman’s legs,” you retorted, making him roll his eyes as Steve chuckled.

“I’ll see you around Charm,” he said and walked out of the kitchen with Steve following him. You nibbled on your lip, then grabbed a cookie and laid down on the island, keeping your eyes on the ceiling.

“So relaxed,” you murmured as you bit into the cookie. "I'm so very relaxed."

                                            *

That meeting took hours to be finished and even though you wanted to stick around in the house, you still had plans with Ethan for lunch. You were at the end of your wits from curiosity so by the time Ethan got there, you were still glued to your phone, waiting for a text from Becca.

“Hey,” he said, pressing a kiss on your cheek and you smiled up at him.

“Hey,” you said and took out the small container out of your handbag to put it in front of him, making him tilt his head.

“What is this?”

“Cookies,” you said, taking a sip of your coffee. “I made them today.”

Ethan stared at you. “You made cookies?”

“Why does everyone sound so shocked about it?” you asked back and Ethan chuckled.

“Y/N, while we were dating, you tried to make toast in the microwave.”

“It’s not my fault if microwaves aren’t that advanced yet,” you told him and he chuckled.

“Of course,” he played along, opening the container to take out a cookie. “What brought on this sudden interest in baking?”

“My psychiatrist,” you said as he took a careful bite and his eyes widened.

“You made this?”

You gasped in a dramatic manner and pushed at his boot with your heel. “I take your disbelief as a compliment.”

“You should, it’s amazing!” he said. “So your psychiatrist told you to bake cookies?”

“Well not just bake but more like…you know, relaxing stuff,” you said. “I started with baking because it sounded more interesting than the other options. And more delicious as well.”

“I think you unlocked a talent there,” he said and you hummed.

“Eh, maybe. My souffles disagree.”

“You made souffles?”

“I started for souffles but now I have muffins,” you said. “You know, not much of a difference there.”

“Muffins are better than souffles anyway,” he told you, grabbing another cookie as the waiter brought his coffee. “Thank you.”

“So I was going to ask you,” you said, turning your phone in your hand. “Where is your apartment exactly?”

“Between 33rd and 34th street right across from the bank, downstairs there’s a cute—”

“Drawing supplies store,” you finished his sentence for him and he blinked a couple of times.

“Do you have a map in your mind or something?”

“My father made me basically memorize the whole city so yeah,” you said and heaved a sigh. “Great. Stark’s territory.”

He pulled his brows together. “Is that bad?”

“Not necessarily,” you said, running a hand over your face. “So hypothetically speaking—”

“Jesus, we’re back to that?” he teased you and you shook your head slightly.

“No I’m serious,” you said. “Hypothetically speaking, it wouldn’t be a good idea to wander around there late in the evening nowadays.”

His frown deepened.

“Is this related to that attack there earlier today?”

Your eyes shot up to his. “You were there?”

“No no, not very close at least,” he said. “It’s just—there was terrible traffic and I heard the police cards and the ambulance, and people were saying there was an attack.”

“At who? Or what?”

“I really don’t know,” he said, shooting you an apologetic look. “Sorry, I didn’t really think much of it. So is this related?”

You pursed your lips together and shrugged your shoulders.

“I’m not sure but as my dad says, you can never be too careful,” you said. “Alright, here’s the thing. I’ll hire someone to keep an eye around your apartment just in case—”

“Wait, what?”

“Just as a precaution.”

“Y/N, I’m a civilian,” he said with a small laugh. “You said civilians don’t get involved—”

“They don’t, it’s a just precaution,” you repeated, taking another sip of your coffee. “I’m sure nothing is going to happen, but it’s good to be careful.”

He leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.

“I’m not gonna have a bodyguard following my every move, right?”

“No they do that with me, not you,” you said, a smile curling your lips. “I assure you, you won’t even notice they’re around.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Not really, I don’t hire amateurs.”

A small chuckle climbed up his throat and he shook his head.

“This is insane.”

“You wanted excitement,” you pointed out. “I’m just making sure that excitement doesn’t turn into actual danger, that’s all.”

He popped another cookie in his mouth. “Did you bring me these so that I would feel more relaxed?”

You shot him a mischievous grin. “Maybe. Is it working?”

“I feel better about it than I would have with zero cookies,” he joked, coaxing out a giggle from you. “So wait, you wanted to let me know first?”

“Yeah because I don’t want to be the psycho ex who puts people in your tail in secret.”

“No, just the ex who has the ability to pull something like that and bake cookies at the same time.”

“I’m nothing if not versatile,” you stated, making him laugh.

“Oh trust me,” he said. “I’m well aware of that.”

You mirrored his smile and held his gaze, biting at your lip before sitting up straighter.

“So,” you said. “Enough about me. How’s everything at the office?”

                                            *

When you got back home, the meeting was mostly over but apparently Bucky and Sam had stayed for a short talk with your father. Even Ian was sent out of the room which gave you a strange satisfaction but it didn’t last very long when you saw him smirking while talking on the phone in the living room. You stepped inside and flung yourself on the couch, crossing your arms while waiting for him to finish.

“Yeah no, because I said—that’s what I’m saying, just be prepared for anything, we don’t know whose territory it might be next. If it’s ours…”

You checked your nails, humming a song just so that you could get on his nerves and Ian stole a look at you.

“I’ll call you later,” he said and hung up, then put his phone into the inner pocket of his jacket. “Y/N.”

“Ian,” you said. “They kicked you out while the real bosses speak then?”

“I had to step outside to make some calls,” he said and you hummed.

“Before or after they kicked you out?”

“Better than not being invited in at all,” he stated, making your jaw clench. “I half expected to see you eavesdropping in the hallway, you surprised me.”

You clicked your tongue, then shot him a fake smile.

“Do they ask you to bring them coffee?” you asked. “While they talk? Like an assistant.”

“I know you find this hard to accept, but I hold a very important part in those meetings,” he said. “Seeing that I’m the heir.”

“Are you though?” you asked. “Father didn’t officially announce you.”

“And he certainly won’t announce you,” he said and you crossed your legs, trying to seem calm and collected.

“So what is going to happen if our territory is next?” you asked him airily and he sat down on the couch across from yours.

“We are going to retaliate.”

“And you hope our territory is next,” you stated and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Not at all but if it is, we will handle it.”

“And the rest of the city?” you asked. “The other territories?”

He rolled his eyes. “You might want to check your priorities there, Y/N.”

“Do you seriously think our territory can just survive on its own?” you asked back. “Do you think if it somehow leads to a war, if any of the other territories get affected, we will still be fine? That will affect the truce and if the peace—”

“That’s the difference between you and me,” Ian cut you off. “The exact reason why uncle chose me as his heir over you. I don’t care much for peace.”

You stared at him, your heart beating in your ears because of the fury spreading through you over his words but before you could say anything, you heard Bucky’s voice in the foyer. You shot up from the couch, rushed to the foyer to see Bucky and Sam, your heels echoing on the marble floor.

“Hi Sam, nice to see you,” you said without even stopping, and grabbed Bucky’s arm to drag him towards the spiral stairs. “You’re coming with me.”

“What, it’s not good to see me?” Bucky asked but followed you without so much as an argument. You made your way through the hallway after you reached the top of the stairs, then pushed him into your room and slammed the door behind you.

“Charm if you wanted me in your bedroom, all you had to do was ask—”

“Keep dreaming,” you snapped at him and he shot you a mischievous grin.

“Hi.”

“What did you all talk about?”

He looked around the room as if trying to take it in as much as he could, and you followed his gaze as it fell on the fireplace and to your reading corner by the window, then to the antique mirror and your vanity before he approached your bed to sit down on it.

“Lovely room,” he commented and you crossed your arms.

“Tell me.”

“This relationship is starting to feel very one-sided—”

“That’s because it is,” you cut him off. “What is going on?”

He heaved a sigh and ran his vibranium hand through his hair.

“Well, at least now we have a name,” he said. “One of the men Stark captured, he said something.”

You arched a brow. “What did he say?”

“Hydra.”

You pulled your brows together, deep in thought.

“Doesn’t sound familiar,” you said. “What, are they new or something?”

Bucky scoffed a laugh and shook his head.

“Not at all,” he said. “We’re still gathering more information about them but they’re not new, that’s for sure.”

You clicked your tongue.

“And let me guess,” you said. “They’re not just a couple of people?”

Bucky shook his head again and you closed your eyes for a moment, letting out a breath as you opened them.

“Fuck.”

Bucky shot you a dry smile. “My reaction exactly.”

“But either way, if all families are working together against them,” you thought out loud. “It means—where did they attack in Stark’s territory, by the way? One of his places?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“A café.”

“Stark doesn’t own a café.”

“No he doesn’t.”

Your stomach did a painful flip as you stared at him.

“Civilians?” you asked, your voice hoarse. “They’re attacking civilians?”

“They’re attacking everyone including civilians,” Bucky answered and you pursed your lips together.

“So no code then,” you murmured. “They’ll create chaos and…”

“We will stop them before they do that,” Bucky assured you as he stood up from the bed. “But Charm, listen to me. From now on, nowhere in the city is one hundred percent safe, no matter whose territory it is. That whole bullshit you keep pulling with no bodyguards—”

“I don’t have a death wish,” you cut him off. “I know how dangerous it can get in a situation like this. I grew up with the same stories as you, remember?”

Bucky’s phone started vibrating and he checked the caller ID, then put it back in his pocket again.

“I gotta go,” he said. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“To repeat, I—”

“Charm,” he interrupted you as if he didn’t have the time for nonsense, his tone completely serious. “Promise me. Please.”

You frowned slightly, then shrugged your shoulders.

“Yeah sure,” you said and he nodded to himself, then walked to the door but stop when he heard you say his name.

“Bucky?”

He turned to you. “Yeah?”

“This whole thing, it won’t lead to the truce breaking, will it?” you asked, desperately trying to convince yourself. “Between the families?”

Bucky shot you an almost reprimanding look like he could see right through you.

“I’ll lie to you if you want me to but we did grow up with the same stories Charm,” he reminded you. “It will lead to something, and you know it as well as I do.”

With that, he walked out of your room and you sat down on the armchair across from the fireplace with a sigh, your heart slamming against your ribcage. You gritted your teeth together and leaned your head back, then pressed your palms on your eyes.

 “Oh,” you said. “God damn it.”

Chapter 8

[anonymous-dentist]

REBLOGS WELCOME! :D

-

So therapy is going well.

-

“And you know what? You know what else, Mariana?”

“Yes? What?”

Slime leans closer, a sneer on his face as he says: “Your sex playlist sucks.”

And that is too far. Too far. 

Mariana tackles him out of his chair with an offended roar, ignoring Roier’s cries from the other side of the desk. 

“Gentleman, please!” Roier protests. “Not in the office, please! Take it outside!”

Slime’s face screws up in anger. He grabs Mariana’s shoulders, nails digging in through the spandex of Mariana’s suit. 

“Is that what you want?” he asks, voice low. He meets Mariana’s eyes and brings his head closer; almost reflexively, Mariana does the same until their noses are brushing. 

“Is that what you want?” Slime repeats, his breath ghosting over Mariana’s lips. “Do you want to take it outside, Mariana?”

“Oh my God,” Roier says. 

“No,” Mariana replies. “I want you to kiss me.”

And he does.

-

Really, therapy is going well. Better than Mariana had expected, what with the single least experienced person on the island acting as his therapist. Because Roier of all people was obviously the best choice, ignore his murderous grudge against his ex… whatever, and his fun new hobby of putting children in pits to fight to the death. The guy whose last relationship ended in literal murder is obviously the best person to be the island’s court-mandated couples’ counselor. 

But, well, it’s working, surprisingly enough. Slime hasn’t wished death upon Mariana in days, and Mariana is almost allowed to tuck their daughter into bed. And Flippa? She’s happier than ever (though, really, that isn’t saying much.)

-

“What the fuck are you doing?!”

“What does it look like I’m doing, Mariana? I’m meditating. Just like the doctor ordered.”

The chainsaw in Slime’s lap disagrees with that statement. As does the blood spattered across his face. And the dying BadBoyHalo groaning on the floor in front of him.

Bad rolls onto his back and looks up at Mariana pleadingly. He mouths, ‘help me’.

Flippa stands over him holding a gun three times too big for her tiny little egg hands. She waves it cheerfully in greeting as she notices Mariana in the doorway.

Mariana rolls his eyes and groans, throwing his arms into the air. “Chinga su madre, man, what did I tell you? Stop killing people on the rug! Do you know how hard it is to clean it?”

Bad coughs blood onto said rug indignantly. Bastard.

“Well, maybe people shouldn’t try and kill our daughter on the rug,” Slime calmly responds. He speaks slowly, and Mariana is thankful for it. His translator can only work so fast, and most of his husband’s murderous rampages go by too quickly for the translator to pick up. It’s a pain.

“Oh, is that what happened?” Mariana asks. 

Slowly, he walks towards Bad, whose eyes are slowly draining of life. He’s got maybe ten more seconds left before he’s forced to respawn. Mariana could save him right now. 

He pulls out his sword instead. 

Juanaflippa backs up, already covered in too much blood for her tastes. 

“He-” Mariana points at Slime. “-is the only person allowed to kill eggs. Mamahuevo, fuck you.”

As soon as Bad is dead, Slime jumps to his feet and pulls Mariana into a bruising kiss, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and holding him tight. The chainsaw digs into Mariana’s back slightly, but it’s hard to pay attention to that when his husband is right there. 

“You are so hot when you’re killing people,” Slime murmurs. 

And Mariana doesn’t quite understand what he said, his translator out of sight, but he knows when he’s being sweet talked well enough. 

“Me encantas,” Mariana says. “Now…” (What are the words?) “...put the chainsaw down and take me to bed.”

And he does.

-

Once, there was a time when Mariana couldn’t remember why he married Slime. Well. He still doesn’t know why he married Slime, or when. It just sort of happened one day, and maybe they should have gotten divorced long ago for Flippa’s sake. But, hey, they got married before they even knew each other. They spent most of their marriage apart. Now that they’re being forced together, Mariana can definitely see the appeal of being married to Slime. He’s funny, and he’s smart, and he’s very attractive. Who cares if he’s literally made out of slime? That just makes him special. 

A human, a slime, and an egg. What a family. 

-

Juanaflippa is still learning how to write. Her English is messy, but her Spanish is messier. Mariana tries not to think that it’s his fault for not being there for her, but he also knows that it is kind of his fault. He knows that, so Slime doesn’t need to keep rubbing it in like the asshole he is. 

“Oh, wow, Flippa! That’s great!” Slime coos upon being presented with Flippa’s most recent attempt at signmaking. Mariana can’t really understand what’s written, but he thinks that he knows one or two words: ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. 

Flippa hops up and down excitedly and quickly scrambles back up to her room to get another sign to work on. 

Mariana idly watches her go, sprawled out across Slime’s couch with his translator in his hand ticking away. One annoying thing about his husband is how fast he talks, it’s impossible to keep up. Literally impossible. Luckily, Mariana’s been working on his English when he’s been alone, so he can at least try to figure out what’s going on without having his translator out all of the time. 

Slime sighs and slumps onto the couch by Mariana’s feet. Without hesitation, Mariana kicks his legs up onto Slime’s lap; Slime doesn’t move them. 

“She’s learning so fast…” Slime says. 

Mariana nods. “Yes, you are a good teacher.”

“Yeah, I sure am.”

The accusation is left unsaid, but Mariana hears it, anyway. 

Lightly, he kicks Slime in the chest. “Hey, fuck you. I’ve been trying.”

“I’m sure you have,” Slime responds, and the condescension is dripping so thickly from his voice that it’s in a puddle on the floor. Or maybe that’s just Slime himself. 

Mariana kicks him again. He doesn’t say anything, though, because maybe therapy has been working. A week ago, they would have been yelling by now. Today, though? He’s happy enough to stew in his discontent. 

He likes the quiet, anyway. Slime is a lot prettier when he isn’t screaming his head off. Very nice to look at. Muy guapo. He pretends that Slime isn’t looking back if only because acknowledging it would make him blush, and he would like to keep his dignity, thank you very much. 

Eventually, Juanaflippa comes back downstairs with a new sign. 

‘Te quiero, papá,’ is written on it in shaky chicken-scratch letters, and it’s enough to almost make Mariana cry. Almost. 

He slips off of the couch and pulls Flippa into a hug. “Aww, Flippa, yo también te quiero.”

She wiggles in place happily. The wiggling becomes more enthusiastic when Slime goops his way into the hug as well, tucking his chin into the crook of Mariana’s neck. 

Slime says, “Te amo, Juanaflippa.” And, well, it’s not quite right, but he’s got the spirit. 

Mariana looks up at him with a slight pout. “What the fuck? Why don’t you say that to me?”

Slime rolls his eyes. “Fine, I guess I can say it, I guess.”

And he does.

-

And then there’s the sex. But that was fine before, to be honest. The only thing that has improved about it is their playlist. 

-

Slime’s new house has a bedroom with enough space for the both of them, and it’s almost nice enough to make Mariana consider partially moving in. Almost. 

Their beds are on opposite sides of the room because, frankly, they aren’t ready to properly share a bed yet. But the floors are bare so as to make it easier to push their beds together when wanted. 

Mariana wants. 

He pokes his head out into the living room. Slime is right where he left him, facedown on the rug after a long day of renovating. Juanaflippa is asleep upstairs, nobody else is awake on the server to interrupt or eavesdrop, it’s the perfect opportunity. 

“Hey, Slime,” Mariana says, and that’s enough to get his husband to roll onto his back with a groan. 

“What are you still doing here?” Slime yawns. He covers his mouth halfheartedly, stretching his legs out sleepily. “I thought you went to bed.”

“I did,” Mariana confirms. “You have a bed. Come on, get into it with me.”

And usually that’s enough to get Slime up and moving, but he doesn’t so much as look at him. No, his eyes slip shut, and he lets his arms fall across his body like a mummy’s. 

Oh. He’s tired. 

“Estoy cansado,” Slime sighs. “Lo siento, mi novia. No sexo tonight.”

Mariana can’t help but be disappointed. The sex is one of his favorite things about their relationship. It’s the one thing that he and Slime could agree on before the court case, the one single bit of solidarity in their relationship. 

But… it is late, and maybe Mariana is a bit tired as well. 

So he goes out of the bedroom to pick Slime up, only buckling a little under his weight. (For a sentient pile of goo, he’s fucking heavy.)

Slime’s eyes flutter open, and his face wrinkles in confusion as he’s moved. He looks up at Mariana blearily, unsure as to what he’s doing. Honestly, Mariana doesn’t know what he’s doing, either. This is weird. 

“Your back is going to hurt if you sleep on the floor,” is Mariana’s excuse even though he knows fully well that Slime doesn’t have a spine. 

“Oh, cool, alright,” Slime says. If he snuggles into Mariana’s chest a little, neither acknowledges it. “Gracias.”

“De nada.”

He drops Slime into his bed and hesitates. What now? Does he… tuck him in? He’s a grown man, he can tuck himself in. 

Mariana turns to… go, he guesses, to go back to his own house, but he’s stopped by a goopy hand wrapping itself around his wrist and refusing to let go no matter how hard he tries to pull away. 

“Slime, come on, let go,” Mariana groans. “Maybe I want to go to bed too, huh?”

“Then get in here,” Slime says, and that’s all the warning Mariana gets before being yanked down with a yelp onto the bed. 

Slime hums, and then he’s out like a light, snork mimimi, and all. Mariana stares at him for a good moment, and then he sighs and takes his glasses off. He takes Slime’s glasses off as well, and, after placing them both onto the bedside table right next to each other, he lets himself relax. There isn’t quite enough room for the both of them, but he thinks it can make it work. 

And he does. 

-

So, yes, therapy has been working. It’s been working very well. 

(Now, if only someone could get the therapist a therapist. Mariana is starting to get sick of hearing about Roier’s relationship problems at what are supposed to be his therapy sessions. At this rate, Mariana is going to kill Spreen himself if only to stop the complaining.)

[mikeyreilly]

Can you write something where Mat Barzal fell in love with the team physical therapist and she also fell in love with him ?

as an occupational therapy student this pains me...

you begin working for the islanders organization at the beginning of the 2022-2023 season

the first time you meet mat is at a preseason team dinner where the medical team and the players all attend

mat noticed you right away and was def chirped by marty and zeeker for staring too long

"who is she? havent seen her around."

"thats y/n. shes the teams newest physical therapist. she will be with us at home and on the road if needed."

fast foward a couple of months, you and mat are joined at the hip

you spend all your free time hanging out with each other: early morning coffee dates, late night drives after games, movies nights cuddled up on the couch

you werent sure after which of your countless platonic hangouts did you start to look at mat differently

maybe it was after matt martins 2023 poker tournament or maybe it was after a long road trip where he came over and demanded you cuddle him until your arms went numb

mat knew from the moment he saw you that he would fall in love with you

falling in love with you was the easy part, not showing it was the hard part for mat

he tried to remain subtle but every cuddle sesh had him wanting more and it takes everything in him to not kiss you after a home game win when he sees you walking in the hallway back to your office

without fail, mat will visit you in the physical therapy room at least twice a week

he doesnt even need anything most of the time, he just wants to chat. he wants the chance to be in your presence and just admire your beauty

the first time mat admits, out loud, that he loves you is when you are asleep in his arms (or so he thinks) and he whispers "im so in love with you and you have no idea. wish you would let me call you mine some day."

although you are not an official wag, sydney martin always makes sure to include you at wag events

the girls are so invested in you and mat getting together

they are the first people you admit to that you like mat, maybe even love him; but they already knew that

"girls, i cant. im the teams physical therapist. plus he only sees me as a friend. he would never see me like that."

mat takes you as a plus one to a wedding during the offseason

of course you color coordinate (mats request) and the other guests cant help but comment on how cute you two are

during the bouquet toss, you stand in the back hoping that the bouquet wouldnt come close to you

you were wrong as it lands perfectly in your hands

you run up to mat all excited and gushing about how pretty the bouquet is and how unexpected it was to catch it

in the middle of your ramblings mat mutters "fuck it" under his breath and pulls you in for a passionate kiss

"wow. that was just..." you say breathlessly

"yeah. ive been waiting to do that for months."

not really physical therapist specific but hope you enjoy anon

[welcome-to-oslov]

Ooh! I just thought of a "what if" scenario I don't think we've considered before.

What if: Tilrey *had* just been sent home to Thurskein, after Malsha or after Verán or after Linden? How would he have coped & reacted?

I don't think an AU of that would be particularly interesting haha, but curious just as a thought exercise.

Maybe going home right after Malsha would've been his best chance to heal somewhat back into a normal Skeinsha kid (though he could never be the same person he was/would've been), but idk; he was already pretty damaged in his thinking by that last chapter with Malsha.

I feel like going home after Verán (rather than being moved into Linden's) he might just be so cynical & depressed it'd be hard to re-adapt -- but going home after those first couple months with the Island Party would've been an enormous relief & probably his best chance for second lease on life (thinking around the time he was sobbing on the icy balcony about not wanting to become a block of wood, after making it clear to the therapist that he wished he could be let out of this 😭)

Being shipped back to Thurskein after Linden... well, we haven't yet gone through with him his time with Linden 😬, but I think the Tilrey who showed up back home would've felt as unrecognizable to his Mom as he does at Gersha's door at the beginning of ASB to those of us who first met him in AKoB 😢.

You know, I never thought about how it must feel to meet him in ASB after you’ve only known him in AtKoB! That really would be sad. And excruciatingly sad for his mom, too, if he’d gone home then. He wouldn’t have known how to interact with anyone. His head would still be in “serve/please Upstarts” mode. I can even maybe imagine him making friends with Supervisor Fernei just to get near someone who has contact with the Upstart world. I think his mom is already with the rebels by then, so maybe she and Dal could deprogram him. That’s what it would take!

I agree with your speculations about what would happen if Tilrey returned after Malsha or toward the start of the Island period. He would still miss Malsha, I fear, but the adjustment would be easier. He might be the one who radicalized his mom instead of vice versa. He might even return to Dal and hope to rekindle their relationship. They might make a try of it, even marry, but I suspect that wouldn’t go well in the long run. He would still have nightmares, and she would try to help and not know how. He might become dependent on her strength instead of finding his own.

And what about Bror? Would Tilrey miss him intensely? If Tilrey returned to Thurskein later, after Linden, I can just maybe imagine Bror requesting a transfer to Thurskein to be with him—which you can do, especially if you have strings to pull. (It’s much harder to move from a Laborer city to Redda than vice versa.) So then we have an interesting scenario: Bror in Thurskein trying to adjust while he helps Tilrey heal, but also missing the family he left behind. Poor Bror—but I guess that’s a possible path to an HEA for those two.

[gaytotaldrama]

duncney week day 4 (a day late): first 'i love you'

an unsent letter from C to D, years after the end of the show.

duncney song of the day: 'i've got your number,' elbow

also on my ao3!

Dear Dunc

To whom it may conce

For the idiot with the green mohawk

Duncan, 

I don't go to therapy, but Bridgette does, and she told me about this exercise her therapist set her where you write down everything you want to say to someone in a letter and then you don't send it. Therapy would take up way too much of my time, yet here I am on my bed, writing to you of all people.

It's been years since we last saw each other, or even spoke - since they carted you off the island and tossed you into some disgusting cell. I'm sure you're already aware, but destroying Chris's house was a really  stupid  idea. I understand that you were trying to prove your "villain status" or whatever, but all I could think about watching you leave was DJ and his rabbit. It made me feel  sick,  seeing what happened to you. Gwen and I pretended to be happy about it, but I don't think either of us were at all. 

I know she called once or twice, while you were in there. I know Geoff and DJ came to visit you. I know Bridgette sent you little care baskets through the mail.

I know I never did any of those things. It all hurt so much, still. And even when it didn't, I never figured out what I would say to you.

But now, I have an idea. More or less.

However angry I was with you after you and Gwen kissed, it didn't mean I wanted to see you thrown in  prison.  I know I can be petty and vengeful at my lowest moments, but I always imagined you'd be eliminated in some humiliating spectacle. You'd go home. And we'd never have to see each other again, unless Owen ever decided to throw that reunion bash he was talking about.

And then when that bash happened, you were locked up again for violating your parole. And you weren't there.

I thought about filling these pages with all the reasons you were awful to me, every nitpick and tiny detail that made me hate your guts. But it's not like I was the perfect girlfriend, either. And, Duncan, we were just  kids.  None of us knew what we were doing, what it was we even wanted. Chris knew that and he used it against us every which way, exploiting us on international television.

I don't know if I really forgive you yet. I guess I'd have to see you in person to know. I've spent most of my time post-Total Drama working to forgive myself. Which has worked. Somewhat, at least.

Geoff says you're in Seattle. He says you're working as a tattoo artist. He says you go to AA meetings every week at the recreational center. That's good. That's really good, Duncan.

I work. Sanford, Sanford & Patel - started as a secretary, but I've clawed my way up a bit since then. Helped win some major cases. Hopefully it won't be long before they're adding a Reyes up on that sign.

Bridgette, Geoff, and I have game night every Wednesday evening. We take turns cooking dinner. Sometimes Bridgette slides me a CBD gummy to help me fall asleep at night. I jog, in the mornings. When I can, I go to the gym. Every now and then, I pick up Geoff's guitar and strum it a little. I still remember when you taught me my first bar chord. I couldn't make a  sound  on the B minor then, but I've gotten better, now. I've really gotten better.

I have a cat. This little precocious furball that Bridgette brought back from the shelter. She likes to claw at my nice leather desk chair and she doesn't like strangers at all; I adore her. Her name is Scruffy.

Every couple of months, I fly out to visit Gwen in Vancouver. They showed me the inky moon you put on their collarbone - I think it's beautiful. We go and get coffee together, catch up. She's got an art exhibition down in Bellingham in the fall - I plan to go, but I don't know if you'll be there. I don't know if I want you to be or not.

I've had a few boyfriends, but none of them could keep up with me. One time, Gwen and I got drunk and slept together. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, but it was kind of good. Which is kind of funny. To me, at least.

Oh, and Geoff and Bridgette are engaged. Which I guess you already knew. It only just happened, so there are no real plans yet, you know those two. Never once made a list in their lives. But I guess if you're not at Gwen's show, we'll see each other at the wedding.

Would you talk to me? If we met again, would you even talk to me? I like to think I'd talk to you. But it's a hell of a lot easier to say it in writing than it is to do it in person.

Would you miss me?

I've missed you. I know people say you never stay with your high school sweetheart, but look at G and B, case in point. We didn't stay together, but sometimes I imagine what it would have been like if we had. Where we'd be right now.

Damn it, ok, I'm just going to say it: I love you. We never got around to telling that to each other while we were dating, but I think it's always been true, since all the way back in season one. I love you, Duncan Russo. It's totally humiliating, but I do. I still really, really do.

And I wish you were

Maybe if I

And I guess there's nothing to be done about that. Over a decade, and I'm still hung up on the boy who I kissed in the back of the Killer Bass cabin, right after puking my guts out. There's only so many people who would kiss someone with vomit breath, but you did. You didn't care. I mean, it was totally disgusting, but you kissed me back. I'll always remember the way you kissed me back.

Just...I just hope you're ok, ok? Or if not, then that you're something close to it. That show screwed every single one of us over, some more than others. The shit Chris did to us was messed up, and if I could go back and time and withdraw my audition tape, I would.

But then I guess I'd never have met you. And I don't know if that would be better or worse for me in the long run.

Thank God you'll never see this letter. 

Love,

Courtney

[redhead-reporter]

º ✧ 。updates to mj's insomniac canon !

PLEASE ONLY READ IF YOU'VE FINISHED SM2 OR ARE OK WITH SPOILERS (and don't click on my blog either, bc my banner image is a spoiler too)

º ✧ 。yes, it's true - everyone's favorite journalist told jameson to, and i quote "KISS MY ASS" and quit her job at the bugle. no paycheck is worth writing things she doesn't believe in to appease a man she DESPISES. she is now the host of a new podcast called the new normal and occasionally helps peter with administrative work for the emily may foundation º ✧ 。unless otherwise specified ? mj lives in the house in queens with peter. once she got her security deposit back and they sold all her apartment furniture, they used the funds to do a few cosmetic changes - nothing TOO crazy, since they want the house to still feel like itself. but a fresh coat of paint (that they did themselves with a liiiiiittle help from pete's spiderbots), money to repair the broken front window, and a new big bed for the primary bedroom went a LONG way to making it feel like home º ✧ 。mj was always a BADASS, but now it's official - hell yeah she was trained by silver sable while in symkaria, learning not only the language but how to FIGHT (aka drop mfers in close combat with an upgraded stun gun) and ride a motorcycle. though she doesn't plan on entering any amateur boxing matches, both she and peter feel a LOT better about her having the proper tools to defend herself if anything else should happen º ✧ 。mj visits harry at LEAST once a week, sometimes more if she can swing it. she updates him on how life is going, plays new episodes of her podcast before they release to 'get his opinion', reads him books - anything just to keep TALKING to him, to not give up on the hope that one day he'll open his eyes and answer her º ✧ 。of COURSE she has nightmares about the symbiote - feeling like she's still being chased through the tunnel in the dark, feeling those tendrils wrap around her ankle and drag her across the floor, waking in a cold sweat CONVINCED she got consumed by it once more and screaming to be released. who wouldn't? unfortunately seeing a professional therapist isn't exactly in the FREELANCE budget she and pete are on these days, but they do have each other. they're both open and honest about their STRUGGLES and it makes the whole thing easier. º ✧ 。speaking of NIGHTMARES - peter literally dying in her arms? yeah, it's up there vying for top spot on the REPLAYS list. sometimes she can still hear the speech he gave her, how he tried to apologize and say his goodbyes, and it makes her physically ILL. if you thought she was defensive of him before? needy before? LOL MEET NEW AND TRAUMATIZED MJ she quite literally never lets go of him if she can help it º ✧ 。pete might've stepped back from suiting up, but he and mj are still VERY MUCH on team spidey - right now it's mostly in a support role, having miles and ganke (and hailey and rio sometimes) over to the house as often as they can. occassionally they talk shop, trading insights the couple has from their almost DECADE of experience with pete wearing the suit solo, but honestly? mostly it's just to talk about life - how high school/college is going, always feeding the BROKE students like they wish someone would've done for them. taking care of pete's little brother like FAMILY. º ✧ 。when coney island reopened? pete and mj waited HOURS in line to make sure they were two of the first people to ride the speed demon - it's STILL her favorite ride, after all. and YES this is fucking important information to know get away from me

[bitchapalooza]

OKAY SO I OFFICIALLY FINISHED CH SEASON 3

Spoilers obviously

Okay good, Marry WAS written to be the way I thought she was(kinda but I was right).

I’m sad that Cloney Island was only one episode. Would’ve been nice to have a 2 part season finale, especially with the abrupt way Cleo and Frida were pushed back together— realistic for teenagers, especially a dramatized version of teenagers, but still would’ve been nice to see them fight a bit more, give sad longing glances over their shoulders after turning away, and then build that up to the climax of the episode where they make up in true sappy teen drama fashion that would be very in character for them both in the first place.

Aaaaaaaand Abe and Joan triangle once again but this time with Confucius! Wow! I am still not rooting for JoanAbe lmao, I think Joan and Confucius have way more chemistry than even Joanfk did. They seemed to have a lot of fun together.

Harriet and JFK… I still can’t see them working. I’m sorry. My new impression of Harriet is she’s one of those jealous types. A home wrecker and a cheater even. She just assumed she and Confucius were back together without asking, telling me that she’s definitely a bit of a control freak or definitely very impulsive(ocd possibly? Someone with more knowledge do an analysis, my basic level knowledge isn’t enough or factually sound). I honestly used to adore Harriet’s character, her annoying personality was passable enough to grow on me. But now it’s just insufferable. I mean I still love her character, but not really in the I adore her way, just that I wanna continue to see her fuck things up and see how much drama she can cause. And how her and JFK’s relationship will be ruined because I genuinely want it to be ruined because there’s really no substance behind it, just raging teenage hormones and the threat of imminent death.

I do genuinely feel bad for Scudworth but I for the love fuck cannot remember his ex-lover’s name. But I do hope Scud gets to see her again and they can actually be together in peace. They seemed nice together! I thought it was really cute, Scud was actually getting a win this time.

Uh Topher— or should we call him Christopher now?— being proud of his Clone lineage because some guests liked him was actually amazing in that I want a list of those people to avoid them which could be easy because they most likely were some of the January 6th capital rioters, that’s the only conclusion I can come up with that summarizes my entire assumption about those, uh, “fans”. But I guess it’s good he’s accepting who he’s been cloned from? Question mark? I’m scared of the micro aggressions to come. Someone contact his therapist that may or may not be Scudworth in a wig in the first place, I’m a little scared.

If season 4 is greenlit, if not already that is, I hope Gandhi gets to come back. There were several good call backs to him, especially how Scudworth inexplicably had several of his belongings in his possession? Sir what the fuck.

AND MY GOD THE F-BOMBS WHERE SO OVER DONE BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT IN A BAD WAY. They were perfectly balanced in my opinion and combined with the delivery of each Fuck combined with each Shit and every other curse mentioned, it was perfect. Compare it to either H/zben H/tel + h/lluva b/ss or Rick and Morty and you’ve actually got a script that although littered with curses, doesn’t rely on those curses to make the show funny. The fact each profanity wasn’t always expected coupled with the delivery is what made it good AND natural, not forced. Scudworth’s FUCK in season 2 walked so everyone’s FUCK AND SHIT in season 3 could run like fr.

I’m sad Cleo’s back with her terrible foster mom. I don’t like Frida’s foster dad. Having a sweater with your daughter’s face on it is….. strange. Confucius’ are kind of as I expected, but tbh I still say they’re fostering him for the publicity and check. Skunky Poo’s return was disturbing which seemed to be on purpose. I think I saw Van Gogh with two dads in the background and I’m only saying this because tbh I think he deserves two moms instead lmao, give this boy his two moms.

Abe this season felt like an in between of season 1 and 2 but mostly still s2. But I did love his interactions with JFK and Confucius. Especially JFK. And how fucking casual JFK essentially came out as bisexual lmao. All in all, these two were fucking hilarious this season. But yeah uh Abe is a toxic asshole by the way but we all knew that and honestly that’s why I love him and if Joanabe really IS endgame, I can cope with the fact that these two are highly likely to marry after graduation and divorce several years later, they’re terrible for each other.

I think this season was a lot better, which makes sense with what seemed like was a bigger budget. The animation actually looked a little different, not bad different but good different, much smoother??? I may have to go back and rewatch season 2, but right off the bat s3 animation really felt different, it felt more alive in a way and I really loved it. I hope we get a season 4 fr. And I hope it’s the final season, I cannot see it getting a s5 UNLESS it’s a parody/joke to how most shows these days keep stacking on the seasons without any heartfelt material in it (*cough* supernatural and the simpsons and bobs burger *cough* *cough*)

[sparxaf]

Okay had to make a list and do this proper. Please provide a snippet of It Could Have Been Me. The people need to know!

And I want whatever you’ll give me about:

- Suresh something something

- Couples therapy

- Arjun After Hours

Maybe I missed it but was the Bobby Marisol fic left off this list 👀

Okay 🤣 This is gonna be forever long. You know I can't summarize!

If It Could Have Been Me: Noah's wanted her for far too long and he finally has her. For now.

Her walls clenched around him as he let himself succumb to the magic and madness of her sweet body. Poetry and music and lines from old books flooded his head, but they didn’t make any sense. They were a sensual muddle of noise and words. A rolling, tumbling jumble of feelings that weren’t namable. Weren’t even knowable. And without the ability to name them, he became feral. Savage. Utterly unable to find the civilised man that needed those artful things to make sense of the world. There was no more sense. There was only her. Fucking her.  Loving her. 

Suresh Something Something: MC, a very popular islander, was shockingly dumped by public vote. In a Love Island first, the fans were so upset by the abusive way she'd been treated on the show, they banded together and voted her off out of concern for her emotional health. At the 6 month reunion, she thanks fans for caring so much and announces that on her flight home from the dumping, she met another Love Island alum and they've been dating ever since. It's either Lucas or Arjun. They bring him out and he's head over heels for MC and proposes on air. Suresh has a complete melt down about it and posts up on the guy who isn't the least bit intimidated. Arlo, humiliated by Suresh's behavior, punches him in the face. Did I brainstorm all of that JUST to have him get punched by a semi-pro boxer? Yes. Yes I did.

Couple's Therapy: MC is in the waiting room for her first couples therapy appointment, but her fiancé hasn't shown up. Seb's girlfriend also hasn't shown up. To their confusion, they end up getting called together for their visit because Seb and her boyfriend have nearly identical names. They're both too mortified to tell the therapist and just play along, like they're an actual couple. They end up going to many therapy appointments together as if they were a real couple, and they learn how to communicate and end up falling in love.

Arjun After Hours: Arjun goes into CA with an agenda. Pick the easiest to convince girl, get into the villa, get famous, and prove his family wrong about what a loser he is. But meeting Olivia, brilliant and unbearably loyal, throws a wrench in everything. He falls hard and tries to hint at the truth he's not allowed to tell. Her relationship is a joke. Her partner has been using her since day dot and her so called bestie has been sabotaging her. Despite falling just as hard for him, she won't believe it and chooses loyalty. Heartbroken, Arjun returns to his life of dog grooming and disappointed parents. So imagine his surprise when he gets a knock on the door...

Oh, and no, the Bobby/Marisol story wasn't missing. It was in the section of active WIPS I believe. The sex scenes are too good (and horrifying) to leave unfinished 🤣

God, I forgot how fun these story ideas were. Thank you for the ask, my friend! And thank you to anyone who managed to read all of that 😘

[alphapsychotherapycenter]

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[cartoonrival]

I've been on T for 3 years, and I've been indecisive all my life. I went in a whole lot of circles for months trying to make up my mind about whether I wanted to or not.

The process I went through was basically: I came out around Nov. 2020. thought that I would probably eventually want to start T based on watching other people's progress videos and started doing research about the effects. saw a therapist to try and be sure starting T was the right thing for me (therapist ended up being really shitty and thought that going on T would make me binary + not asexual, spoiler alert it did not). put it off another 5-6 months longer than I had intended to be sure shitty therapist wasn't influencing my decision. made up my mind not to start, because I was sure my extended family would cut me off. My thought process at the time was like, if could just be stuck on a desert island I would do it, if I could just live in isolation forever, then I would do it, but I couldn't handle the idea of explaining to anybody why I needed to. started breaking down crying a couple times a week at the idea of never getting to go on T. met a guy at a party who had just started T and I was so consumed with envy that I couldn't think about anything else the entire time. made an appointment with my informed consent clinic 1 month out to make sure I was sure, and then told my parents. They freaked out a little because they were convinced that going on T would make me bald and also dead (neither of those things has happened yet), and then they got over it, and the rest of my family ended up being fine. Finally started T in May 2021. One minor health issue since then (too many red blood cells), but zero regrets.

Sorry this is long. I think probably a lot of the indecision I went through might have been unnecessary, but the process of sorting through my own doubts about it was still really important. I don't know the situation you're in, but for me the most important thing to figure out was whether I was avoiding doing it because I didn't want the effects, or because I was worried about what other people would think. Also idk if i can include links but check out this piece by Daniel Lavery, it just perfectly captures the kind of justifications I was running through trying to talk myself out of starting https://thenewinquiry.com/the-stages-of-not-going-on-t/ I think indecision must be incredibly common and normal, if not universal.

thank you very much for this. i think i personally have a very hard time imagining myself in situations i’m not in or in a hypothetical future so like. i have no fucking idea what i would do if i started growing facial hair. there is genuinely no way for me to know if i want facial hair until i see myself irl with facial hair, for example. that’s i think where the core of my indecision comes from is i’m so wildly guessing about a future that does not exist yet and i cannot fathom what it would be like until i’m there. a lot of my transition has been like that but this is obviously the most significant decision i’ve confronted so far so the fact that i cant visualize it stresses me out more than usual. so like asking myself hypothetical questions doesn’t work because i truly don’t know, beyond the fact that i want a deeper voice. but what if i dont!!!!!! but at THAT point i’m definitely in the deserted island scenario where if i wasn’t around other people i would want it deeper. and that’s really the only outwardly obvious change that’s also permanent. so maybe i shouldn’t die wondering. cuz i was daydreaming abt it constantly for months then the day came to start and i got so scared suddenly and now for the past month it’s been causing me endless grief abt this thing that i want to do but also don’t want to do. but i can’t figure out what the reason for not wanting to is. if it’s fear or not wanting to. i’m rambling! thank you for answering <3

[still-a-morosexual-help]

I'm finally playing s5 of love island the game and they really made this whole thing just to psychologically torture the new mc huh? MC's gonna leave the villa needing 10 years of therapy to get over this shit. I'm all for exploring toxic characters and dynamics but holy shit??? Isn't this supposed to be a game? Aren't games supposed to be fun? I'm just sad and frustrated the whole time, I'm playing S2 in-between S5 chapters just to get some serotonin.

Seriously they introduce her shitty irl ex who she was with for a long time only for him to cheat on her with a waitress he spent months flirting with

Then they reveal in a challenge that MC bought a ring to propose to him with just a day before she found the pic of him with the waitress on his phone

Then they introduce the girl he cheated on her with!???

Remember when S2 had a whole discussion about how "no means no" and even if the person doesn't directly say the word "no" if they're uncomfortable and showing signs they want to stop/be left alone that should be respected and when one of the LIs gets too forceful when flirting with MC, he gets called out by both MC and whoever she's dating at the time and then he apologises... REMEMBER THAT? Why is S5 MC's cheating ex so insistent on flirting with her and even after she says no he's like "i know you i know you don't mean that" bitch leave her alone this has been going on for almost the whole game and I'm so frustrated and at this point it's become weird and creepy. And the fact that all the others characters think MC still likes him even after she says she doesn't??????

The fact that she decides to get serious with the guy she's coupled up with only for her to walk in on him kissing another girl (his best friend's "girlfriend" btw) less than a day later????? Because he thought she cheating on him with her weird clingy cheating ex?????? when in reality creepy-ex was trying to flirt with/kiss MC and she was trying to get him to leave her alone???? And when MC gets pissed at current-boyfriend for kissing another girl he begs for MC to listen to his reasons but when she tries to tell him the truth about what happened with her ex (which her current partner didn't even witness for himself and only heard a rumour about from the villa's most unreliable gossip) he says he doesn't want to talk with her???????

KILLING SPREE. K I L L I N G S P R E E. Babygirl pls go on a homicidal rampage i'm begging

I can't put into words how frustrating this whole thing is. This isn't even all of it. This is nowhere near all the bs s5 MC has got to put up with pls girl just leave no amount of money is worth any of this the only thing you'll be able to use that money on anyway is a good therapist

[demidevildiva]

welcome to marina, DOGA APPLE KIRAZ ( female, her/she ) ! they are a TWENTY SIX year old NYMPH (SUN) who resides in TOWER HILL. They work as a THERAPIST and are said to look a lot like BAHAR SAHIN. People around the island find them to be HONEST and CONFIDENT, but also BLUNT and IMPULSIVE. what do you think?

TW: child neglect, sa implied, arson, depression implied, body dysmorphia

𐦍 VERSE UPDATE 𐦍

Name: Doga Apple Kiraz Birthdate: May 4th Sexuality: Bisexual Specie: Nymph (sun) Occupation: Therapist Birth Place: Marina Island Residence: Tower Hill Height: 5'5"

[ Background ]

After her parents divorce Apple and her older sister Nilu were separated into different households, but the two often spent weekends, holidays and summers together often switching between homes. Apple being the younger of the two remained with their mother, while Nilu was placed in custody of their other parent - Mimi.

Her mother fell into a deep depression that lead her to a life of abusing alcohol and drugs alike. It wasn't long before she lost her job and turned to moving in her boyfriends to help pay the rent. None of these boyfriends ever lasted more than a couple months at least.

It wasn’t until Apple began to mature into her teenage body that things changed for her at home. One of her mother’s many rolling boyfriends took advantage of her one weekend night, and her mother did nothing to stop it. Filled with rage Apple burned the home to the ground with everyone inside and ran away to Mimi’s home alongside her sister.

Apple went through a couple of years of self hate and body dysmorphia. Despite the effect of darkness on her abilities, she forced herself into dark and small spaces as a way of tormenting herself. She hated the body she occupied, the thoughts in her head, and the way she'd was perceived.

After years of therapy, she began adorning her body with tattoos and piercings that would lead to her gaining some form of control over her ill thoughts. She also took to modeling for a pin up company which also helped her overcome her body image problems. She used the money she gained from this to go to school and graduate college debt free.

Another thing that helped her get out of her head was creating art of different kind. Whether she was painting, drawing, or sculpting - there wasn't a medium that she didn't completely lose herself into.

[ headcanons ]

Apple is a therapist who specializes in depression, and dysfunctional thoughts.

Lives in Tower Hill with roommate Parker Davis

Wears mainly heels and short dresses and the occasional pair of jeans

Freelance artist - prefers charcoal art just in case y'all wondering

Is bisexual with a stronger preference for females/femme presenting individuals

[ definable marks ]

Tattoos: Choker - Upper Chest - Under Left Arm - Beneath Breasts - Right Arm - Right Wrist - Left Arm - Back (picture of lilith in center instead) - Right Thigh - Left Thigh - Feet Piercings: ears, nipples, chest dermal, lower back dermal (one on each side), belly, clitoris (horizontal hood), inside mouth (smiley & frowny as well as the tip of her tongue) 

[ wanted connections ]

Friends - drinking buddies, art buddies, childhood friends, college friends

People she met through work

People she met through her cam girl days

Romantic - hookups, one night stands, fwb, situationships

[diskaywrites]

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑴𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝑭𝒂𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒕 #𝟏𝟎: 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒙𝑴𝑱𝑭 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑶𝒇: 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 (𝑶𝑪), 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕 𝑻𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏, 𝑹𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝑴𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏

.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽

Admitting that he was wrong was a new feeling for Adam Cole. He was a man who didn't like to admit that he was even capable of being wrong. Former therapists had mentioned something about narcissism, but Adam knew that couldn't possibly be it. No, no he wasn't a narcissist. He cared too much about those around him. Selflessness was one of his best traits.

Just ask the therapist who sat across from him now. Just ask the man who sat next to him on the couch in the office.

"Adam, why don't you tell me what you remember about the first time you met Max?" therapist to the AEW locker room Nova Angle questioned as she looked up from the notes she was taking. her ice blue gaze was enough to make Adam want to run from the situation. Why had he agreed to meet with his former flame for some sort of twisted couples counseling?

Ah, right. 𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.

Adam side-eyed the well-dressed Long Island native who sat next to him on the couch. The navy suit may have been fresh-pressed, but Max looked worse for the wear. The bags under his eyes implied that he hadn't been sleeping well. The faintest smell of gin on Max's breath meant that he was drinking again. What had made the man he loved...formerly loved...fall apart so succinctly? Again, Adam knew it was his 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. He and Roderick had done this. Taven, Bennett, and Wardlow had helped; but Adam had been the master puppeteer pulling the strings.

"I'm sorry," he ducked his head, twiddling his thumbs as he leaned with his forearms on his knees.

"That's okay, Adam," Nova kindly nodded, before beginning to repeat herself, "I asked-"

"I 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 what you asked, Nova. I...I was talking to Max," Adam let out a sharp breath that he didn't know he was holding, "I'm sorry."

Max looked over at him for the first time since they had walked through the door, "Y...you're sorry?"

"I..." this was the hardest thing Adam had ever had to do, "I was jealous. I was so, so jealous. The world loved 𝒚𝒐𝒖. The world wanted 𝒚𝒐𝒖. I was so used to being the one the world wanted that I-"

"Man, no offense, but 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸 the world, I wanted you," Max huffed, pushing himself off of the couch as he turned to look at Adam, "and how did you repay me, huh? How did you repay my love and affection? By stabbing me in the back for your friends! Did I even matter to you!?"

"Of course you matter to me!" Adam shouted, pushing onto his own feet. He was prepared for a fight if need be. "I...I love you so, so much Max. More than I've ever loved anyone. More than I love myself. I was 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅. I didn't want you to realize what I already knew! That you're better than me!"

"You idiot!" Max now stood nose-to-nose with Adam. He could feel Max's breath on his skin and it caused a small shiver to run down Adam's spine. The scent of gin was stronger now, but Adam wasn't looking at his lips because of that. "I love you! I have always loved you!"

The two simply stared at each other for a moment before Nova cleared her throat, gently pointing out, "Love. You both said you 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 each other. You're so focused on other things, which we will work on, but you're so busy being angry you haven't paid attention to the obvious."

"L...love? You 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 me?" Adam questioned, a soft look in his eyes, "Still?"

"Still," Max ran a hand through short-cropped hair, though he couldn't look Adam in this eyes, "I can't sleep. I...I'm drinking again. You...you left me with a broken heart. You left me a broken man."

Adam closed the gap, pulling Max into a tight embrace. Max's head rested on his chest and Adam felt his eyes well up with tears. This felt like everything he had missed. This felt right.

This was just where Max was supposed to be.

[cryptidsurveys]

Saturday, July 20th, 2024.

10 HOW’S How did you get one of your scars? Enough about the scars I know about; let's go with one that's a mystery instead. There's one just behind the knuckle on my right index finger, around a centimeter in length. I think I've had it for the majority of my life, perhaps even since childhood, but I have no idea how I received it.

How did you celebrate your last birthday? I volunteered at the animal shelter in the morning, then went out to lunch at Ruby Tuesday with my parents. Also, it was a really snowy, slushy day, so that was an extra plus.

How are you feeling at this moment? Probably as close to relaxed as my brain will allow me to be. I woke up around 5:30am, laid in bed for a while and listened to a tarot reading on YT, had my usual oatmeal for breakfast while reading through some comments on a reaction video, cleaned my room, made some art while sipping coffee, and now I'm here - just passing time until I go for a movie with my mom. It was her birthday a few days ago, so we're going to go see Despicable Me 4.

How did your night go last night? It was chill. I had dinner, chatted with my dad, then fell asleep to an Event Horizon podcast about searching for techno signatures on exoplanets.

How did you do in high school? High school was a mess.

How did you get the shirt you’re wearing? One of them was a gift from my dad; it's a Bigfoot shirt that he bought at the mall a couple of years ago. Then I'm wearing a blue tank top over that; it was given to me by the animal shelter a few weeks ago, along with a minty-green t-shirt.

How often do you see your best friend? He lives in California, so I never get to see him in person.

How much money did you spend last month? Aside from the usual expenses, I don't think I really spent any extra money.

How old do you want to be when you get married? It's not so much a matter of age as it is finding the right person, being emotionally ready for that type of partnership, etc.

How old will you be at your next birthday? 36. I don't know whether it's a curse or a blessing that I've been allowed to survive for so long, lmao.

9 WHAT’S What is the most important part of your life? My family and my cats, improving my overall wellbeing, volunteering, etc.

What did you do last weekend? I stayed home on Saturday and did the usual (cleaned my room, made art, watched entirely too much YouTube…), and on Sunday I was at the animal shelter from around 7-11am.

What did you last cry over? This is going to sound so silly, but let me explain. The last time I cried was in therapy. We were talking about my art and my therapist made the suggestion to try something new - as a sort of mindfulness exercise, just to see what came up - like trying to paint a picture upside down or something along those lines. I was resistant to it; like no, the whole reason I paint landscapes and hardly ever branch out in terms of technique is because I like the mindlessness of it. I don't want to think, I don't want to feel, I don't want to "see what comes up." We explored it a bit more and I just started to cry. I realized it was because I'm so far out of my comfort zone in my everyday life that I need that island of safety and routine in such a discomforting sea of everything else.

What are you worried about? The same future stuff as always. But in my immediate life, I'm not really all that worried about anything.

What is your mother’s name? I'm not going to give that.

What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? NOT painting my landscapes upside down, lmao. Trips to the Mountain Park. Cuddling with my kitties. Talking with my dad. Reminding myself of how far I've come, everything I'm grateful for, all the things that are going right, etc.

What would you rather be doing? I'm fine with this.

What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? I'm not even looking for a significant other atm.

What did you have for breakfast? Oatmeal.

EIGHT HAVE YOU’S Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? Yeah.

Have you ever had sex on the beach? Just thinking about it makes me feel itchy. All that sand…in all the wrong places…

Have you ever been backstabbed by a friend? Not really.

Have you ever been out of the country? No.

Have you ever dated someone younger than you? Yeah.

Have you ever liked someone who already had somebody? Yeah. They were polyamorous, though, so the fact that they were already with someone wasn't a barrier. However, I did very quickly discover that such relationship dynamics aren't for me.

Have you ever been brokenhearted? Very much so.

Have you ever read an entire book in one day? Probably.

SEVEN WHO’S: Who is the last person you saw? My dad.

Who is the last person that you texted? My mom.

Who called you last? My dad.

Who is the last person you hung out with? I haven't really "hung out" with anyone recently.

Who did you hug last? My mom.

Who is the last person that texted you? My mom.

Who was the last person you said “I love you” to? My dad.

SIX WHERE’S: Where does your best friend live? California.

Where is your favorite place to be? At home, out in nature, or at the animal shelter.

Where did you sleep last night? My bed.

Where did you last hang out? The animal shelter, I guess.

Where do/did you go to school? I'm not going to list the schools I attended. I'm also not in school at this time, nor do I have any current plans to go back.

Where did you last adventure to? The Mountain Park, last Wednesday. It was much needed. I don't feel like I got enough of it, though. It made me realize that most of my life has been consumed by the routine of going to the animal shelter and I really need to get out there on a more regular basis.

FIVE DO’S/DOES Do you ever wish you were someone else? I don't really want to be anyone else, but I do wish I could be…like a different, healthier, stronger, more confident version of myself.

Do you think anyone despises you? Ehhh, maybe Alex at the shelter…? Like, I don't think she necessarily full-on despises me, but she can be very…hmmm. Critical, petty, fake. We keep it friendly and professional, but yeah. I'm under no illusions.

Do you like someone right now? No.

Does the future scare you? Yeah. Which is why I'm trying so damn hard to become more independent/self-reliant now, before it's too late.

Do you have any secret powers? Naw.

FOUR WHY’S: Why are you best friends with your best friend(s)? I honestly don't even know how to answer this. We've been friends since we were teens, and idk, we just get along well together, have the same general sense of humor, like some similar things, etc. It's a very easy, drama-free friendship these days.

Why did your parents give you the name you have? My parents didn't give me my current name.

Why did you get a myspace? Curiosity, I guess, and as a way to keep in touch with a few people. But I spent so much time there because I loved taking surveys, messing around with my layout, and that sort of thing.

Why are you doing this survey? The questions looked interesting.

THREE IF’S: If you could have one super power what would it be? Either teleportation or a very fine-tuned sense of intuition (so I could be in the right place at the right time, know what to say or do to have the most impact, etc).

If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? I guess not.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Maybe somewhere like Beulah or Rye. I want to be out in the woods/mountains, but close enough to where I currently live in order to stay at the animal shelter + have all the conveniences of my current city without an overwhelming commute.

TWO WOULD-YOU-EVER’S: Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? Yeah.

Would you ever get back together with any of your exes if they asked you? No.

LAST ONE: Are you happy with how your life has turned out? It hasn't exactly "turned out" yet. I mean, I'm still living it, still progressing, etc. Am I happy with how things are now, though? Yes and no. On one hand, I'm extremely proud of how far I've come and I try to give myself a lot of credit for that - because it sure as hell has not been easy - but on the other hand, I still have so far left to go.