#ditto tape
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retrocompmx · 6 months ago
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La historia de Iomega
Iomega se fundó en abril de 1980 (y comenzó a mercadear sus productos iniciales en septiembre del mismo año) y se hizo conocida por su primer dispositivo de almacenamiento llamado Bernoulli Box de 10 Mb vendido en 1982.
En septiembre 21 de 1987 comenzó a despachar los primeros modelos de la segunda generación e Bernoulli Box II de 20 Mb. Meses después el de 44 Mb.
En Julio 21 de 1991, la de 90 Mb. En Octubre 12 de 1992 el Bernoulli MultiDisk 150, dos años después el 230 (150 y 230 Mb respectivamente).
Su creciente línea de productos se definió por su enfoque establecido en 1994 de "ayudar a las personas a administrar sus cosas". 
Se enfocaron en el mercado de pequeñas oficinas y oficinas en el hogar y luego persiguieron el mercado emergente de la fotografía digital, que necesitaba dispositivos de almacenamiento más grandes. 
El principal competidor de Iomega en el creciente mercado de discos extraíbles fue SyQuest Technology, que ya no pudo mantener el ritmo y cerró y parte de su infraestructura fue adquirida por Iomega en enero de 1999.
Había distintos dispositivos de esta marca. Por orden de aparición están:
La cinta de respaldo Ditto en enero de 1995.
El más conocido fue el Zip disk de 100 Mb (marzo de 1995.
En diciembre de 1995 el Jaz Drive de 1 Gb.
En noviembre de 1997 el Click! De 40 Mb, renombrado PocketZip para evitar demandas colectivas por el “Click de la muerte” En 2001 sale el de 100 Mb.
Febrero de 1998 sale a al luz el Jaz de 2 Gb.
En diciembre de 1998 las unidades ZIP de 250 Mb.
y diciembre de 1999 vemos la primer unidad CD-RW interna.
En diciembre de 1998 Iomega compra una manufacturera de dispositivos de almacenamiento francesa llamada Nomaï que fabricaba el XHD 100 (una unidad y discos de 100 Mb muy similares al Zip)
El HipZip hace su aparición en septiembre 22 del 2000.
En diciembre la unidad de grabación de CD externa Predator.
En marzo de 2001 comienzan a vender sus unidades NAS (que originan un fallo catastrófico al exponer archivos de los usuarios que poseían estas unidades al filtrarse en internet).
En abril de 2002 salen a la venta las primeras unidades de disco duro externo portables. 
En agosto las unidades Zip de 750 Mb.
En 2004 los últimos drive llamados Rev de 30, 70, 90 y 120 Gb (2010) que terminaron de cimentar la tumba de Iomega.
Las unidades Zip salieron primero al mercado para usuarios Mac, internos y externos con interfase SCSI, luego en PC con puedo paralelo y al final con interfase USB.
A finales de los 90s enfrentó dos dilemas: La competencia del CD-RW, mas barato y menos problemático. Y luego el “click de la muerte” que hacia que las unidades hicieran inservibles los discos de 100 Mb.
En enero del 98 llegaban reportes de dispositivos de 100 Mb que causaban desalineamiento de los cabezales (como el la disquetera 1541 de la Commodore!). Esto causaba que perdieras tus datos de tus disco ZIP.
Para rematar las filtraciones de las unidades NAS, las fallas en los discos portátiles eGo y que todo mundo que tenía un Zip, los cambiaron por unidades de grabación de CD/DVD.
En 2008, la empresa fue vendida a EMC Corporation por 213 millones de dólares, que luego colaboró con Lenovo, y finalmente adquirida por Dell en 2013. 
En 2010 celebraron 30 años con la salida de las unidades NAS StorCenter y Skin Hard Drive ala serie IX de los discos Cloud Edition.
En 2013, Iomega fue renombrado LenovoEMC, y aunque poseen la mayoría de las acciones, la marca como tal de Iomega desapareció del mercado.
Y tu ¿Aun conservas algunos discos Zip p productos Iomega? Yo en la personal tengo cientos de estos discos, varias unidades 100 y 250 del Zip una unidad externa Predator.
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gabessquishytum · 13 days ago
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Oh the frustration of having sore and painful hands. When all your hobbies involve having - you guessed it - functional hands.
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jodjuya · 8 months ago
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Pens,
a permanent marker,
tissues,
a small pair of folding scissors,
a reusable straw,
a miniature tape measure,
meds,
comb,
face mask,
water bottle,
pocket knife (culinary)
spoon (culinary)
napkins,
snacks,
earbuds, wired
earbuds, bluetooth
reusable folded grocery bag,
miniature multi-tool,
high SPF lip-balm,
paperback book OR Kindle OR Nintendo 3DS,
little umbrella (if it might be needed),
sunglasses,
my regular glasses too, if I don't feel like wearing them but I might need to later,
phone charger, if needed,
(ditto for 3ds charger)
gloves & scarf,
wallet,
Plus whichever other specific thing/s I need with me on that outing.
youtube
@ people who carry bags everywhere what do you put in them what is there to bring other than chapstick, keys, phone and maybe a tampon why are you packing a suitcase to be outside for 5 hours
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mxlmignatte · 5 months ago
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tag dump!
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coolwyous · 27 days ago
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┈─★ 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 ?
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   ⊹ ࣪ ˖ when an unexpected breakup leaves you without a date to your sister’s wedding, it’s perfect, confident lara raj, the goalie for your university's hockey team, who jumps in to your rescue and volunteers to keep up a charade until your family is off your back. but as your friendship deepens, the lines begin to blur between what’s real and what’s for show.
   ˎˊ˗  ❄️  ⊹ ࣪ ˖  🔓୭˚.  ⠀ ᵎᵎ ⠀ 🗝️
   ➴ pairing: hockey player! lara raj x physical therapy major!f!reader
   ➴ genre + wc: 12k, college au, FAKE DATING!, mutual pining, extremely slow burn, friends to lovers, denial of feelings, charming hockey jock lara, super domestic and slice of life-y, reader is a chronic overthinker and people pleaser...., just more fluff idk
   ➴ you might want to tune in...: sticky - kiss of life
┈─★ a/n: goalie lara anyone? the hockey au expands w our favorite team mommy <33 this fic is set overlapping the events of ditto, so if you're waiting for ditto pt 2, this gives a tiny behind the scenes. i am so in love w writing the dynamics in this verse, i hope everyone enjoys! dani's upcoming fic will complete the trio and prob be the longest of the three. also should clarify: megan + ditto!y/n are freshmen; hlbwfil!y/n, lara and dani are sophomores; sophia and manon are juniors.
cw:// mentions of recreational drug use, some suggestiveness? also reader BRIEFLY dates a man...
[*set overlapping the events of ditto-- read first here if you don't want spoilers!]
a new semester, same routine. it’s your second year as the women’s hockey team’s resident physical therapist in training. kinesiology isn’t an easy major, but you love it with your whole heart, and the girls all make it worth it. 
“i’m just saying, matching tattoos would look sick,” daniela says as the golden trio approaches the physio room after their showers. 
“yeah, but not of each other’s faces,” megan grimaces. you laugh at the notion that dani would even suggest it. 
“oh my god, the world’s most beautiful girl,” lara smiles, dropping down onto the cushioned bench in front of you.
“oh my god, i must be a mirror,” you grin back. 
you won’t talk about your soft spot for the trio. you love all of the girls on the team, but there’s a special bond you built with the three musketeers. megan, the baby of the team, who opened up to you about how much she misses her mom as you walk her through some stretches for her back strain. dani, the chaotic team captain with no boundaries, who beams every time you compliment her after she makes it through her ice bath without flinching.
and lara raj. you especially won’t talk about your soft spot for lara, the confident, secure goalie who you’ve grown especially close with. 
you know lara makes it a habit to be this nice to everybody. it comes with the territory. you know lara comes from money without flaunting it, always offering to cover meals for the girls with that insanely heavy black credit card with her dad’s name on it. she’s told you a little bit about how good she’s had it, the perfect parents, a super nice older sister, solid grades and of course, a talent for making sure a puck never flies past her. 
it’s easy to love lara— perfect, confident, generous lara. 
(so maybe you let yourself love her, just a little too much, but that’s for you to keep to yourself.)
lara’s compliments can sometimes come off as a bit much, but that’s the thing you’ve realized with her. while megan is usually too nervous to choke out anything, and dani says whatever is on her mind with no filter, lara finds the perfect balance. lara is observant and attentive, and she sees people for what they care about and finds a way to make them feel seen for it. 
well, you don’t exactly prioritize being beautiful, but it’s a bonus that lara likes to call her loved ones pretty. 
“can i talk to you about something?” she asks as you put stabilizing tape on her shoulder. your supervisor is in the office coming up with treatment plans for that week for the rest of the team. 
despite daniela being the one that boasts the giant “c” on her jersey, lara is the de facto team mom. while dani is the one screaming in coach’s face about his unfair treatment of a player, lara the one constantly waving you down when someone tries to hide an injury or fake feeling better, making sure they get the attention they need instead of toughing it out. their dynamic is polar opposite, the defender and the caretaker but the two best friends complete each other. 
“what’s up?” you hum, watching as the strips of KT tape start to make a mesmerizing pattern against lara’s soft skin. 
“i’m worried about meg’s grade in our english class.” she whispers, ensuring the girl can’t hear you guys from outside the door. “dani chat gpt’s it all and gets away with it, i feel fine, but we’re struggling to help her keep up.”
“you told her not to take intro to british lit with you,” you remind her. 
“i know, but i don’t think it’ll help to rub it in right now,” she sighs. “it’s so much reading."
you feel your brow furrow as you remember your assistant coach whispering something about academic probation to your head coach once last week, when they were doing their monthly grade assessment. the season is going so well, and megan’s been absolutely killing her position as center to the point that she’s the starter, so you can imagine how bad the team would suffer if she gets temporarily barred from playing.
you see the look in her eyes. lara’s worried about what it’ll do to megan if she gets dinged for her grades and has to stop playing, even for a short amount of time.
“when yunjin got diagnosed with adhd, she was able to talk to the university resource center to ask for more time during tests,” you remember, wracking your brain for a solution. the defenseman had told you about it at the very beginning of the semester, as if it was a hack. 
“okay, period. we have a plan a,” lara beams. “you and that big brain, y/n.”
you feel your ears redden and shake your head. “what’s our plan b in case my big brain fails?”
“i will seduce her professor and change the grade myself,” she decides. you laugh but quickly feel yourself furrow as she winces at the you bend her shoulder. she tries to keep you away from changing the topic. “i’ll take one for the team. maybe that should be plan a, actually.”
“hey, no,” you press gently, concerned. she had told you the shoulder was pain free. “is your rotator cuff still bothering you?”
“it’s sore when i don’t stretch it, but that’s just me getting old,” lara waves you off. 
“what do you think i’m going to say to you next?” you ask her.
“oh my god, y/n, always so non-confrontational. like my little conscience in my ear, asking me questions until the guilt eats me alive,” lara laughs, shoving you away from her. “it’s so annoying how good at that you are, you pacifist.”
you smile and put your supplies away, but lara’s words are nothing but the truth. you’re so painfully fearful of confrontation, it’s almost a joke that the career you’ve picked is with a full contact sport. 
you open your mouth to say something, to ask further about the injury, when your phone ringing catches your attention. you feel yourself tense as you see the contact photo.
but lara, perfect, attentive lara, never misses anything with you.
“boyfriend again?”
she gives you a questioning look. she knows everything about you, including how rocky things have been with your less than attentive boyfriend lately. 
“distance isn’t easy on anyone,” you say simply, but her look says enough. she gets up and offers you a reassuring hug.
“you’re not just anyone, so don’t let him treat you like you are.” how the hell does she always manage to sound straight out of a soap opera? you nod, blinking back the rising heat in your chest at the nerves
“it’s complicated,” you remind her, but she’s already giving you that look. you hate how you guys can communicate so much with so little. 
you flag your supervisor to come check your work and step outside to take the call. you can feel lara’s eyes on you the whole time.
“hi felix…”
-
a week passes by, and so do two more phone calls that go the exact same way. all ending with a knot in your stomach at his words. you’re silently grateful that your roommate dropped out in the second week of school. a solo dorm all to yourself is a luxury you don’t take for granted when you’re so constantly fighting on the phone with someone into the late hours of the night.
“he’s mad about me not calling him when he got out of class again,” you sigh over facetime with daniela, as you flop onto your bed after a particularly boring history lecture. “i have explained so many times that i go straight from class to go work on you guys after practice.”
“go cheat on him or something,” daniela says simply. “he’s an annoying little bitch.”
“dani,” you sigh exasperatedly. you love her, but it’s easy to see why coach blames her for his going bald. she can be extremely difficult and give zero fucks about it.
you’ve always kept an extremely small circle. but lara’s in class, megan has never been in a relationship, yunjin is out with her girlfriend, and you’d rather die than talk to your sister about your boyfriend issues.
which leaves daniela, whose brash, calloused responses remind you just how perfect and emotionally in-tune with you lara is. 
however, what daniela lacks in tact she makes up for in passion and pure heart, so you can always read between the lines and see her intentions are good.
“dude, come get fucked up with me and the kappa theta girls this weekend and you will literally never want to talk to that limp dick loser again.”
okay. mostly good intentions.
you remain silent as you assess the lack of food in your minifridge. usually, the silent treatment works wonders to get dani back on track, and this time is no exception.
“well, either way, you’ve always got lara who’d drop anything to marry you in a heartbeat.”
you laugh. that’d what you needed, the thing the three musketeers are so good at– saying the stupidest things. 
“i’m ready when she is,” you tell her jokingly, tossing an old box of leftovers into the trash.
“been ready. break up with your soggy bitch and i’ll take y’all to the courthouse tomorrow.” you hear her laugh, but then you hear something like water bubbling, followed by a long exhale.
“don’t you have a press conference tomorrow?” you laugh, realizing exactly what the noise was.
“why do you think i’m getting baked out of my mind right now instead of in the morning? for a smart girl you’re kinda dumb sometimes, y/n,” she teases. 
“don’t flirt with me too loud now, my dorm’s gonna end up burnt down by one of your crazy stalkers,” you deadpan dryly, realizing you need to go get something to eat.
“when you decide you’re done with that fucking joke of a man, i know a girl who’s lined up waiting for you,” she tells you between coughs, “and unfortunately for you, it isn’t me.”
“thanking god that i’m the one girl on earth who won’t take a ride on the avanzini train,” you laugh. daniela has always been respectfully inappropriate, and she’s one of the few people you feel comfortable enough to tease. “your ride’s probably messed up anyways.”
“100% satisfaction rate, lots of insistent repeat customers actually,” she defends herself passionately. “i wouldn’t be so bold, y/n, your shit is probably whack if it’s got your man tweaking so bad.”
“and the convo ends nee-ow,” you sigh, shaking your head, but your heart feels a little less heavy after dani’s nonsense. “thanks for cheering me up, captain.”
“thanks for patching us up all the time. we love you, y/n. keep your head up.”
the line dies out, and you go to lace up your sneakers. as much as dani loves to say shit to get a rise out of people, you think back over her words. lara.
perfect, confident lara has always been honest about how much she adores you. at first, you used to think it was just her way of making you feel comfortable around all of them. the hockey team is close, freakishly close, and she was always so warm and thoughtful enough to invite you to all their outings and make you feel included. she never had to– you’re only with them through next year, and then senior year you’ll be at the university medical center working in a real physical therapy clinic for your clinical rotation. your end goal is sports medicine, and you’d love to get hired by the hockey team once you graduate, but you need to keep your options open and be prepared for anything.
plus, you and felix are supposed to look for jobs in the same city once you graduate, move in together, build a life…
that beautiful, melodic voice enters your head as you hunt down your wallet. lara loved to bat her eyes at you whenever you mentioned not knowing what comes after graduation: “aw y/n, don’t you wanna take care of me forever?”
in the early days, you used to think she and dani were the same breed of college athlete. cocky, arrogant, flirtatious. the flirting rang true for the both of them, but you started to see where lara differed. she was tender, caring, and empathetic at times you had least expected. 
the first time she ever told you she’d liked you, you thought it was another one of her mindless flirtations. you had learned to let them roll off your shoulder by that point. but even after you had laughed, she stood there, brows arched, and reiterated it. “y/n, i’m serious. i really am into you.”
you feel your spine tingle at the memory. what are you supposed to do with that? you and felix had just hit a year. a rocky, bumpy year, but you had met just after high school and you figured you owed it your best shot. lara was quickly one of your closest friends, and you had confided everything in her.
she never defined it as a crush, nor did she ever make you feel guilty for it. her transparency was equal parts confusing and refreshing. it made your friendship stronger, if anything. never crossing the line of touching too close or flirting too passionately. you two existed in a weird limbo– lara raj was somehow in love with you, openly so, and yet was so damn perfect she never made it big enough to affect your friendship.
(this is the part where you try to stop thinking about it before your head has a hard time making sense of it all… but… don’t you love her too?)
you step out of your dorm and spot an unfamiliar girl letting herself into your neighbor’s dorm. your neighbor,  baby megan skiendiel’s dorm. you feel a rise of suspicion. chronically bitchless megan, as the trio calls her? maybe you’ll give her roomie danielle a heads up?
meg’s got someone over.  she’s reaaaallly pretty
i appreciate you! ;-; best neighbour ever!
ofc <333
i think she mentioned something about a study partner?
you smile and step out of the building into the chilly night air. lara made it happen. you know megan would have been too nervous to ask for the support on her own, so it must have been with the guidance of the older girls that–
your phone buzzes. felix, again.
“i just barely got home and headed to dinner, like the second you called me,” you tell him quickly as you pick up, wanting to avoid another fight. you can feel yourself already breathless and anxious.
“why do you always talk to me like that? like i’m an idiot. i’m not an idiot, y/n. did it ever occur to you that your standards are just too unrealistic?” his voice is so cold, making your stomach turn as you keep walking towards the dining hall, trying to avoid letting your eyes water before you see someone you may know.
“i don’t think it’s that ridiculous. we’re long distance. we don’t have the easy things to fall back on,” you furrow your eyebrows, nearly disgusted. 
but then he pauses, and you can hear him suck in a breath. your stomach drops at the way his tone changes.
“maybe we should think about that. if the distance is too hard.”
“what the fuck, felix?” you try not to make it a habit to swear, but the tears are already pricking at the corners of your eyes. you want to scream but everything stays trapped in your chest.
“you gave up forever ago,” he accuses you.
“you think so?” is all you can manage to ask. it’s moments like this where you admire someone as unhinged as daniela, who you’re sure could easily give him a piece of her mind, or yunjin, who won’t stand for even a whiff of disrespect.
or lara, you think, who’d know her worth enough to just hang up and move right on along. 
you lose yourself in silence as felix unleashes a rant that feels much too pre-prepared to be brought on by simply missing his call. you feel your chest ache at the thought of everything changing for you. you don’t know how much time has passed before he realizes you haven’t said anything. you’ve always hated that about him. you’re naturally reserved, and it’s almost like he just assumes you have nothing to say.
he ends the call when he’s ready, with a “sorry it had to be like this, y/n,” and you’re too drained to fight him on it. you stop and sit on a nearby bench to wipe your face clean and send a quick rescue text to the only person you really want to talk to in that moment. 
lara’s calling you less than 30 seconds after you hit send. 
“lar, you’re in class, you didn’t have to call me,” you chastise her gently, but you know there’s no point.
“i know you said call you after class, but that’s such an sos, you never need anything so i know this has got to be the real deal,” she tells you.
“i just needed to get out of my head.”
“everything okay?” she asks tenderly. 
“um, no. not really.” you take a deep breath and look up, trying to avoid the well of tears coming back up. “i think felix and i just broke up.”
“oh, fuck that guy. never liked him. i’m coming to get you in 5.”
perfect, always-knows-what-to-say lara raj does exactly that, tracking you by your location just a few minutes later, and insists you two go out to eat and tell her everything. it stings, but lara’s presence makes everything more bearable. maybe this isn’t the worst thing that could have come out of today.
-
you wake up in your dorm and feel the dull, anxious buzz in your stomach as you remember yesterday’s call. but spending the rest of the night with one of your favorite people had made it practically melt away, and by the time she had dropped you off, felix was far out of your mind. 
you’re taking the breakup better than most would expect, but then again, you’ve also been called “the statue” by coach by how non-reactive you are. 
what’s the point in losing your cool and letting others get the best of you? sure, your sister grew up walking all over you, but most of the time, it wasn’t worth it to get into it with her. you’ve been like this since you were little– you hoard your emotions, stoic through all hardships, too afraid to let people see you struggle and think any less of you. your dad’s always been such a worry wart, your step-mom is insanely judgemental, and your sister jordan gets everything she wants, never once having understood what it’s like to feel like a burden.
your sister, who you haven’t thought of all night. why would you? this breakup is about–
oh god. your very demanding, very aggressive, very engaged-to-be-married-in-two-weeks, sister. 
your jaw nearly drops as you realize the extra layer of what your breakup means for you. your hands shake in panic.
breakfast with lara. you feel it anchor you, ever so slightly. there’s an idea that pops into your head that you barely let yourself contemplate before realizing if there’s anyone who could come to your rescue, it might be perfect, angel lara.
“you know i’d never ask anything of you, ever, right?” you start as the two of you sit down, setting your trays onto the table.
“yes, you’re too proud and too hardworking,” lara nods, grinning as you smack her shoulder. 
“okay,” you breathe nervously, “well i am extremely embarrassed to ask you this, but my psychopath of a sister is getting married in two weeks and i already told her i was in a relationship, so if i show up alone, she’s never going to let me hear the end of it, ‘cause she planned for a specific seating arrangement and—”
oh my god, you realize you’re rambling. you try to pivot to what the bigger issue is.
“damn, okay, well let me just say that my my stepmom will be weird, my dad is gonna overreact and make me come back home, i won’t get to finish my program–”
oh my god, again you gasp at yourself. this is why the hell you don’t let yourself panic. you crack.
there’s a pause as you see lara digest all of it. 
“parents love me,” lara finally grins. you let out the breath that had been stuck in your throat. you feel an immense gratitude that she isn’t pushing you to say it.
how could you possibly mutter the words out loud? will you be my fake date to this real wedding?
“i’m so sure yours did,” you roll your eyes, but you can’t help but laugh. she’s got the confidence of a child who was never told no. 
“all parents,” she pushes back, poking you in the ribs. 
“don’t get too cocky. it was between you, daniela, and meg, but meg gets nervous when someone even breathes next to her and dani is-”
“oh my god,” lara covers her mouth with her hand at the image in her head. “she’d be forcing your family members to drink shots out of her mouth and harassing the dj.”
you hold three fingers up, and fold them down as you go through the lineup of your options. “our infant daughter who can barely remember her own name, hot-headed attention whore with no boundaries, or charming and slightly overconfident sweetheart.”
“i’m going to pretend my competition wasn’t those two idiots and just tell myself i was the clear winner from the start.”
“i’ll owe you everything,” you tell her gently.
“i’m happy to do it.” she shakes her head, before a beaming grin. “you know it’s inevitable that we fall in love though, right?”
you laugh, but she reaches out to you, and your hands meet over the table. what a massive reassurance. 
“lara i can’t stress enough how thankful i am, and how anxious over all of it i am.”
“i got this,” she reassures you, confident nod. “i’ve got you.”
“thank you,” you breathe quietly once more, and you feel your heart stir. you do trust her, with your whole heart actually, to make this work.
-
you’re supposed to be sleeping in when the blare of your phone ringing shocks you awake. again, grateful to live alone. 
“ugh, jordy, it’s 6 in the damn morning,” you groan as you bring the phone to your ear. your sister has her own special ringtone, love by keyshia cole, her stupid go to karaoke song. 
“y/n,” jordan drawls, and you roll your eyes as you remember she simply does not care about inconveniencing you. “my friend wants to know if you’ll let her third wheel you at the table. i’ve never met your boyfriend so i want to know he won’t be weird with her.”
you almost don’t remember what she’s talking about, until you feel your body tense. the damn wedding looming over your head. 
the good thing about being notoriously private, you realize, is that you had kept your relationship entirely between the two of you. felix had hated how you never posted him, never let him tag you in anything, never let him meet your family or friends, simply told them “i’m seeing someone” once you had hit six months. you bite your tongue. maybe you could see why he’d be so frustrated… but you’ve always wanted to keep your business to yourself, and having someone associated to you for people to judge you off of would be entirely unfair to you. 
“girlfriend,” you correct her quietly. as soon as the word comes out, you can’t hide from it any more. you and lara are committing to the charade. 
“girlfriend?” she sounds surprised, but not annoyed. “okay, but she needs to wear my colors or i’ll kill her.”
you breathe a quiet laugh. at least jordan can always make things about herself. “i’ll make sure she knows.”
“anyways, my friend, she’s so cute, says she’s in your research methods class,” she pivots back to her initial ask. “i’ll tell her she can link up with you whenever. i’ll give her your instagram.”
before you can say anything, jordan hangs up unceremoniously. you furiously get dressed and brush your teeth, trying to rush to lara as soon as physically possible. this adds a kink to your plan. 
you make it to her dorm in a few and punch in her keycode, letting yourself into her room quietly. you poke around to see if her roommates are home and if you’ll wake her, but luckily, the only person you see in the bed is her. 
your heart thuds. perfect, sweet lara raj, slumbering like an angel, her lips parted slightly and her brows furrowed in her sleep. 
“lar,” you gently hum, approaching with caution. “lar, it’s y/n.”
you had let yourself into her dorm after her insistence before, and as she stirs awake, a smile takes to her lips. “i was hoping it’d be you when i heard the door.”
“um, so, issue.” you whisper, kneeling by her bed as you play with her hair to help her wake up. “my sister basically wants a friend of her’s to hang out with us so she’s not uncomfortable at the wedding, but i have no clue who the friend is.”
lara rubs at her eyes sleepily, reaching for her phone as she looks up at you. “which means…”
“i’m really sorry.” the weight of this isn’t lost upon you. “is there any way we can be like, pretend exclusive for the next week and a half? if this girl sees you out with someone and texts my sister then it’s all pointless.”
“oh, so like, fully off the market?” lara arches an eyebrow.
“i know it’s a huge ask.”
there’s a heavy pause, and you wish the earth would open up and swallow you alive. what an embarrassing situation to force lara into. you’d fully understand if she’d push back. 
but perfect, helpful lara raj simply grins up at you and shows you her phone, finger hovering over her dating apps folder as she deletes them one by one in front of you. 
“i’ll delete my tinder right now.” she says easily. “not about to blow your cover.”
you let out a deep breath and swarm her in a hug. “lara, you’re a godsend.”
“not my first time hearing that,” she beams back at you. 
you get a dm in that moment from a random photography instagram that had followed you later that morning. the profile picture is of a tree, giving you no hints about this girl’s identity. 
peanutbutterlover02: hey <3 jordan said i could come crash you guys! are you busy today? maybe we can do dinner together?
you breathe shakily. your first test as a fake couple.
“let’s do it,” lara says confidently, and you realize she’s reading over your shoulder.  
“if my asks ever get too weird, please, please say something.” you tell her firmly. “i don’t ever want you uncomfortable just to help me out. we can scale it back any time if the lines get blurry.”
“y/n, this is like a dream come true for me,” lara teases. “i’ll speak up if i need to, but don’t worry too much about me, okay?”
“thank you,” you breathe shakily, and send a reply to this girl with a time and place. 
-
you’re getting ready for the hang out after practice when lara texts you. 
meg and dani found out we’re going to the makers market and want to come... maybe a small group will make her more comfortable?
our first exposure is a group thing?
if that’s okay?
won’t they be weird about us acting like that?
do you trust them to keep a secret?
you’re heading out the dorm but pause in your tracks. one massive factor you didn’t consider— the girl with no filter.
oh my god daniela
and that big mouth
i will beg her
no don’t do that, pretty girl. i’ll talk to her. she’ll always do it for the team.
lara always manages to find a way. you feel your chest loosen and keep walking, shooting a message to jordan’s friend before jumping back to lara. 
my hero
;) we’ll be there in like 5
you spot the girl on the bench in front of the library, exactly where you agreed to meet up. 
“hi!” she greets, pulling you in for a hug. “you’re jordy’s sister. i’m manon.”
“how do you know each other?” you ask curiously. jordan is a bitch, in every sense, and manon seems so… normal?
“jordy is my hair girl.” she smiles and taps at the intricate patterns along her scalp. “cleanest parts i have ever seen.”
“i’m y/n,” you smile, and let out a small breath before you commit fully to the act. no turning back now. “my girlfriend and her friends will be here super soon.”
as if on cue, you hear old justin bieber rnb blaring from an approaching vehicle, and recognize lara’s car right away. 
“hi ladies,” lara beams from the window as she pulls up to the curb. you see the ginger hair and blonde curls in the back.  “your uber is here.”
manon squeezes into the back, and you take the passengers seat. you suck in a breath. maybe you and lara should have practiced how to be, what to do, how to navigate this, especially in front of two of your closest friends. lara makes easy work of chatting up manon and keeping the conversation flowing until you guys get to the makers market, a bustling farmers market for art where they block off a whole street for vendors. 
you’re too busy overthinking to notice megan and daniela’s widened eyes as lara snakes an arm around your waist as you all start walking. your skin tenses at the contact. 
lara, confident, unshakable lara, does it as if you’ve been hers for years. this might not be a mission destined for failure after all. 
-
manon is extremely sweet and undeniably hilarious. the evening goes on without a hitch (maybe besides dani trying to race megan to see who can eat their korean corn dog faster causing both of them to choke) but even the small hiccups are nothing compared to how natural lara is at making this so convincing. she’s touching you at every opportunity, taking pictures of you each time you turn back to look at her, buying every thing you even look at. you know it’s all for show, but you can’t help but think of how easy she makes it seem. if felix was this competent, he’d be the one you’d want here right now, but lara does all the things you begged him to do, without having to be asked.
you guys are back on campus before 9pm, but you’re having too much fun. you spend a lot of time buried in anatomy textbooks or watching orthopedic surgeries, and tonight, you just want to enjoy it with your friends.
“we can go back to my room,” you offer to the group as you guys wander out of the parking garage. “i have a single.”
the group agrees, and the five of you make it to your dorm in just a few minutes walking. lara’s hand snakes into yours, and you feel your spine tingle.
“do you guys smoke?” manon raises her brows hopefully, holding up her bag. you guide them all up the stairs of the building and into your room, plugging in your twinkle lights.
“fuck yeah,” dani beams. 
“aren’t we getting drug tested this week?” megan asks worriedly.
“next week, kiddo,” lara rubs the top of her head playfully. “and we’ll just skip you. no pressure.”
manon takes a pre-roll out of the hand-painted altoid tin in her purse and you head over to crack the window. in just a few minutes, you’re all laughing on the floor of your room, nodding along to music playing from your speaker, passing the joint around amongst the group.
“why didn’t they give you captain?” you ask lara. “you’re such a good role model. minus the recreational drug use and flirting with everyone you know.”
“they wanted to, actually. did you know that?” megan says, a bright grin on her lips.
“you said no?” you ask in surprise. lara is staring at the ground, thumb rubbing along the bottom of your braids.
“i didn’t want it.” she shrugs calmly, taking another inhale. “i like hockey, i just like other things too. can’t make it my whole life, duh.”
“plus, she doesn’t have the same face i do for interviews,” dani butts in, flexing dramatically. “cameras love the curls + dimple combo.”
manon snorts, and you and lara exchange smiles. you won’t talk about how comfortable it feels to have lara leaning against your shoulder, playing with your hair, the proximity of her washing a wave of comfort over you.
“hey do you guys think i have negative aura just ‘cause i didn’t smoke?” megan asks, nose wrinkling as she watches you guys hand the joint amongst yourselves.
“no. you’re bitchless because you’re scared of your own shadow,” daniela quickly answers, and megan’s face drops.
“bro, i can totally pull.” 
“i see no bitches,” dani claps back. “all you do is text that tutor of yours. get her to at least show you a titty or something, come on.”
the four of you laugh in tandem as megan glares at the blonde.
“don’t talk about my tutor like that.”
“a boundary, from the baby?” lara all but cries, beaming so brightly you feel like she might fall over. “baby’s first boundary! get the camera!”
megan rolls her eyes and waves her off. you guys talk and talk into a random hour of the night, enjoying the calm of getting to know someone new and change up the routine just a bit. this yap session is a welcome change of pace, and you’ve never enjoyed yourself more than listening to dani debate with anyone who disagrees with her, watching megan push back weakly, manon simply laugh at everything, and lara reel it in when it gets too crazy while still adding fuel to the fire. you could stay like this forever, you think to yourself.
“it’s so late,” you realize as you finally look at your phone for the first time all night. “you guys can stay so you don’t have to walk back when it’s so dark.”
“i live next door,” megan tells manon, excusing herself. “this was fun.”
“we should totally do it again, thank you guys for being so fun,” manon smiles, before assessing your room. you have your bed, the extra bed, and a wide space between the two beds in the middle of the dorm. “if it’s okay to stay, i can totally sleep on the floor with no issue.”
“no way, you’re the guest,” you insist, reaching under your bed to locate your extra blankets. manon and dani start cleaning up the ash tray and trying to air out your room. 
your brain runs through the possible combinations. manon on the floor, jordan finds out and kills you. dani on the floor, she’ll complain all night. you guys could figure out sharing beds, manon and dani could—
your eyes widen, and as if she’s thinking about the exact same combination, lara’s panicked gaze meets you at the exact same time. 
“no fucking chance,” lara whispers. “the animal needs her own bed."
the only viable solution makes itself painfully clear as you shrug and whisper back to lara. “we could sleep on the floor.”
“perfect. always with the plans,” she beams back happily. lara directs the two, gesturing to the separate beds. “you’ll be here, and you’ll be here.” 
“i can’t do that to you,” manon frowns, seeing you set up the pillow and blanket on the carpeted floor.
“it’s too small for us to both fit. we’re happier like this anyways,” lara insists, and it’s enough for manon to offer a smile of gratitude. everyone gets into their assigned spots, the smell of incense and the buzz of your fan lulling you into drowsiness after lara turns off your lights.
“good night manon, thanks for hanging out with us,” you tell her, happy to have made a new friend.
“say good night to me,” daniela pouts.
“you’re the reason we can’t make normal friends,” lara snips back.
manon laughs. “i love you guys already.”
“good night,” lara whispers in your ear as she arranges herself besides you, pressing a kiss into your hair. the feeling is so foreign coming from her, and yet you feel your body seek her out as you press back into her hug. 
you close your eyes and let her pull you close. you know there’s an end in sight, but maybe you’ll let yourself pretend it could be longer.
-
the next morning, everyone disperses to their own dorms before the day starts. you make it through your classes though it’s a struggle with the lack of sleep. by the time you come out of your final class of the day, ready to head towards the ice rink to prepare for the girls’ practice, a familiar figure is standing outside your classroom, leaning against the wall. her eyes light up as she spots you.
“what are you doing?” you ask, seeing her practice bag slung over her shoulder.
“we date, so i walk you to practice,” she says simply, reaching out for you. “duh.”
you remember that her last class of the day ended over an hour ago, meaning she must have waited for you. you shake your head in surprise. “your class is closer to the stadium.”
“i’d rather walk with you,” she says back easily. perfect, charming lara raj, always ready to push back against your excuses.
“there’s no need to be that public,” you respond. ugh, why can’t you just accept the gesture. she wants to make your life so easy and yet something in you can’t accept the generosity.
“what if manon sees us and is wondering why we don’t seem loved up?” lara challenges you. “i’d hate to have her tell your sister we’re fighting.”
“more people might ask questions,” you whisper nervously.
“let them.” she smiles, forever a beacon of confidence. “not their business.”
you’re running out of reasons to push her away. “coach?”
“we can tell him it’s new. who’s he gonna tell?”
she takes your hand in hers, and you let her, wishing you had let her a long, long time ago.
-
it becomes way too easy to go through these motions with lara. when you’re alone, she’s respectful, never needing to make any advances that don’t suit the moment, allowing your friendship to still be anchored in some normalcy. the touches are intimate but never suggestive, the compliments are tender but never too intense, and she’s only ever kissed you on the head or on the hand.
but you start to struggle when you’re alone, craving her closeness but confused as to why you’d want that if it’s just the two of you. you think about the timeline of this insanely busy week. tomorrow, the pre-game party. day after, the championship game, and the day after that, you fly in the morning to make it to the wedding by the evening. your facade is coming to an end, and you know you guys should figure out what the story will be as to why you’ll inevitably “break up,” but each time you guys hang out late at night with manon, all you can focus on is immersing yourself in the experience.
you’re all laying on the floor of your dorm, smoking dani’s weed this time (megan as the exception, too nervous to risk it the week of such an important game) and chatting mindlessly. manon won’t be able to make it to tomorrow’s party, so you guys all make it a point to have another of your yap sessions in your room. 
“with the exception of the obvious happy couple,” manon starts her question, staring up at the ceiling. “have you guys ever been in love before?”
“no.” megan’s nose wrinkles. “i just barely started kissing people.”
“a few times,” lara confesses, calmly. she had mentioned a few of her relationships back when you guys were just friends, a few flings you noticed her get caught up in. you never minded, lara was never ever supposed to hold back just because she had admitted to liking you, but you couldn’t help but wonder about these girls every time you noticed her get into something new. “maybe three. i’m not in the business of denying my feelings.”
“which one was the deepest?” manon asks curiously.
lara pauses, contemplating. you don’t expect anything from her. in 48 hours, she won’t owe you anything. but yet, perfect, angelic lara, always manages to catch you off guard.
“this one,” she says, and you can’t tear your eyes away from her. her confession rattles through your chest. “it’s like a dream, but i know it’s a dream, and i’m trying to enjoy it as much as i could before i have to wake up.”
you feel your pulse in your neck. manon and megan both turn to look at you. any other time, you’d avoid the question and leave it there– sure, you had liked felix, enough to stay with him all that time, but there was never anything about him that rattled you, that unnerved you and comforted you all at once. had you ever even really liked him in the first place? had you admired, respected, felt seen by him?
(had you ever once loved him, even half as much as you love lara raj?)
you let out a shaky breath. maybe you can be brave enough to say it out loud, just this time, let yourself pretend before it’s all over.
“once,” you finally admit. lara’s eyes come to meet yours. 
“yeah?”
“perfect girl is easy to love,” you tell her simply. your chest warms and she brings her nose to rest against the tip of yours. 
“once, for me too,” dani says, staring blankly at the ceiling. the admission surprises you, and you can tell lara and megan seem just as caught off guard. daniela lets out a quiet breath. “just once.”
“what happened?” you pry gently.
daniela laughs, and it’s the first time in the two years you’ve known her that you’ve ever heard her with a hint of something more in her voice. “it fucking hurt. i didn’t ever want to go through that again.”
“should i be scared?” megan asks, brows furrowing in concern. 
“no,” daniela says quickly, waving her off. “i’m a lightning strike. being in love is so, so beautiful.”
“how do you know when it happens?” the ginger asks, voice gentle.
“you just know,” manon says simply. 
megan pauses for a beat, before letting out a quiet breath. “i want to change my answer.”
“oh?” you ask.
“tutor girl?” lara arches a brow, turning away from you to peer over at the youngest girl. 
“she’s so easy to like. she’s so, so smart, and so nice to me, even when she’s being playful, she’s doing it to make me laugh. she believes in me, through everything. every time i’m around her i just feel like i don’t have to be anyone but myself, whoever i am that day. i’ll call her when i’m on the road, and it makes me feel better.” megan doesn’t usually have this much to say about anything, and it warms you to hear her go on and on like this. she looks down at her hands, playing with her fingernails. “i invited her to the party tomorrow, and it sucks ‘cause i know i’ve got no fucking chance.”
“i think you’re really brave for letting yourself dive in. sometimes it just feels to say it out loud, even if nothing comes from it,” manon tells her, smiling in encouragement.
“i think i’m in love,” megan whispers quietly. 
gentle snores are heard from the corner. you all peek over to see dani peacefully slumbering from her spot on the floor. 
“leave her there,” lara laughs. “we’ll deal with her complaints in the morning.”
“can i stay here tonight?” megan asks, grimacing. “i can’t tell if my stomach hurts because of the party, the game, or the fact that i’m super down bad.”
“always,” you offer a nod of reassurance. 
manon and megan shuffle in to fit into the other bed, and lara joins you in yours. dani’s quiet snores are somehow extremely comforting. 
“thanks for letting me talk about it, guys,” megan thanks you quietly. manon smiles and the two turn back-to-back in the bed.
lara’s eyes are warm, still fixed on yours as you face each other in the tight squeeze into your twin bed. you close your eyes and curl up, lara resting her chin on the top of your head as she hugs you from the front. you feel your entire body melt into her.
her voice is gentle, and infinitely tender as she murmurs into your hair. 
“y/n y/ln, i’m in love with you.”
“ugh. i want that,” manon groans from the bed. 
you don’t open your eyes. lara’s voice lingers in your ears. what a beautiful song to fall asleep to. 
-
the party the next day is 10x as insane as the girls initially told you it would be. bodies everywhere, volume threatening to split your eardrums. jordan has tried to call you at least twice to make final arrangements before her wedding in two days, but each time you try to find an empty room, you’ve found either yunjin and her girlfriend making out, a random group snorting something off a table, or a screaming couple in the middle of a fight. you make your way back downstairs and decide your sister can wait.
besides, it’s one of your last times getting to play house with lara. perfect and confident lara, who lights up as soon as she spots you coming back downstairs, handing you back the drink she had so dutifully been watching over.
“watch watch watch,” lara pulls you in, motioning over to the corner. “i think the baby is trying to make a move.”
you see your favorite awkward ginger and a cute little sorority girl in the corner of the room, trying to speak over the pounding loud music. you instantly recognize the body language between the two of them.
“uh, wrong. that girl is trying to make a move, and megan is in fight or flight.” you laugh, taking a sip from your drink. “except she’s doing neither, and instead she’s freezing.”
“okay, whatever, no more national geographic. let’s go get drunk,” lara grins devilishly, snaking an arm around your waist before she pulls you over towards a circle where daniela is holding some frat boy friend of hers hostage and getting him to drive the boat as she screams in laughter. 
you’re still worried about baby megan though, until you see the familiar figure of her tutor slipping out the door, the ginger following soon after. you give them a few moments but they don’t come back in together. either megan will have a lot to share tomorrow morning, or you’ll have a lot for lara to ask about.
daniela comes around to everyone in the circle, pouring shots out into each of their mouths from the bottle of hennessy she’s got gripped. you laugh at the antics of the team captain. lara pulls you closer and you’re transfixed by the smell of her perfume, the softness of her hair on your bare shoulders as she anchors you close to her to dance.
you don’t mind getting lost in her, maybe this once. 
you’re not sure how much time has passed of you two dancing, locked in your own little world, before dani is pouring shots out again, clearly trying to get rid of whatever of the bottle is left. 
“where’s the baby?” dani asks as she gets to lara, pouring the shot and assessing the room around her. 
“i saw her going outside like a half hour ago. hasn’t come back,” you inform her.
lara swallows down the shot and makes quick work of pulling out her phone, never once letting go of your waist. “it looks like she’s walking back from campus.”
you do the math. 20 minute walk to campus, she left 30 mins ago and is already heading back to you guys. 10 minutes with tutor girl? maybe you won’t ask her about what she got up to tonight or why she was gone. you guys chat a little longer before the ginger in question pops back in through the door, making her way to you guys with a frazzled expression.
“hi puppy dog,” lara welcomes her back, teasing grin on her face. “how was it?”
megan shakes her head, clearly disoriented. “i don’t even know any more.”
“i know how to fix it,” daniela reassures her, before dragging out a table in the middle of the circle you guys are in and dragging a few randoms to surround it. she lifts up the empty hennessy bottle before placing it on its side flat on the table. she cheers, stealing a cup from the girl next to her and downing its contents in one easy go. “spin that fuckin’ bottle, baby!” 
lara laughs and holds her cup up to yours. your buzz has already set in, and you want to be coherent to get you all home that night, but one quick knock back won’t kill you. you grimace as you tap cups with her but swallow it down. daniela grins and cheers' her own cup against megan’s forehead (much to the younger girl’s displeasure) before screaming loudly about how the game is about to start. 
lara is laughing along with you at dani’s antics. “she gives the hockey players such a bad fucking rep.”
for a split second, you second guess not inviting daniela to the wedding– if all went south, dani would know exactly how to create an incredible distraction as you ran away.
but instead, you have to be brave and face it head on.
with lara, you remember, and your chest loosens at the thought. you’re grateful it gets to be with her at your side. 
“hanni pham, meet baby megs,” daniela beams, and you realize the bottle is pointing directly at your adopted ginger daughter. lara can’t stop laughing, and you get it– megan looks like she’s about to shit herself.
hanni, a cheerleader who you met in your communications class, seems to love the hollering of the circle as she struts over and plants a quick peck on the corner of megan’s mouth. dani is screaming at the top of her lungs for her to do more, but megan’s strong hands keep a polite placement on her shoulders to distance the two of them. 
“thank you, um for that, but i’m good for the night,” the ginger wrinkles her nose sheepishly. “gonna go wait in the car.”
“another boundary,” lara emphasizes, turning to you, and the both of you laugh.
“our baby girl is so, so grown up,” you fake-cry, slipping a hand into the furthest pocket of her jacket. she pulls you in closer and the two of you realize each time you say something to each other, you miss what happens in the outside world. how beautiful to get to disappear away from it all with just a look.
the group is staring expectantly at you as you realize daniela’s on the couch, the swedish exchange student from your calculus class perched comfortably on her lap, the two of them oblivious to the world through their frenzied make out. you were next in line, thus it now being your turn.
you comply nervously, terrified to get paired with some gross stranger, but lara, perfect, confident lara, off one too many shots, reaches down to stop it with her thumb, causing it to land on her. you hear some groans, but a majority of the people in the group cheer you on, chanting your name as lara turns to face you, not once letting go of her grip on you.
your throat goes dry at the look she gives you. her dark eyes twinkling, her beautiful rich skin, shining from the heat of the party and the alcohol running through both of your veins.
“come here baby,” she beckons, smiling widely at you, bringing the hand not on your waist up to your neck. your skin tingles at the contact.  “been wanting to kiss you all night, you’re so pretty.”
you have two choices: push back and make an excuse, or commit. and with all the bravery in the world, the bravery that perfect lara raj gives you, you’re able to push past the what-if’s and let yourself crash into her. 
the kiss, tasting softly of lara’s gum and the drinks you’ve shared, is electrifying. you’ve never once allowed yourself to wander that far into imagining what kissing lara would be like, and you’re almost grateful. nothing could compare to how perfect kissing perfect, incredible lara raj would be. she’s confident and assertive, letting her tongue brush against your lower lip, your mind going absolutely blank as she tightens her grip on your waist. 
“how was that?” she asks with a grin, and the rest of the world is lost to you guys once more.
“how do you think it was?” you ask back breathlessly, unable to form words beyond that.
“perfect,” she whispers, the smile she has threatening to split her mouth.
“okay,” you breathe. you can still feel the tingle of her lips on yours. 
you don’t mention it once the hour is late and megan is dragging a half-slumped daniela into the car with you guys while lara offers a ride to meg’s crush’s little roommates. you don’t say a word about it as lara drops belle and minji off, then presses a kiss to your temple when she drops you and megan off at your building, insisting she can keep daniela in her room to keep an eye on her. you fall back into your bed after a quick shower, the feeling still lingering. 
the end is near, and you know it. you decide you won’t think about it, and fall asleep.
-
you wake up to a knock on the door. you rise with a slight headache, letting out a quiet groan, before you peek out the peephole and recognize a flash of bright orange hair.
“can you help me?” megan asks fervently as you let her in. she holds up various materials: paper, pens, an envelope, and a bright red ticket. “i want to make something for someone, but i feel so fucking lost as to where to start.”
“you want to invite her to the game tonight?” you ask, connecting the dots.
“yes,” her eyes light up. “i’m giving her my spare ticket. front row, so she can see us.”
“the one you think you’re in love with?” you smile, loving the enthusiasm. 
“i think i want to say something, or at least try.” megan nods, confidently for the first time since you’ve known her, and drops her voice into a sigh.  “you don’t know how special it is to feel seen for yourself.”
“oh, i do,” you breathe, memories of the past two weeks taking over your head. you rub a reassuring circle into her back as she parks herself at your desk. you head over to the bathroom to take down your hair and start your morning routine. “say what you feel. i’ll stay with you if you’re nervous.”
“your sister’s wedding is tomorrow, right?” megan clarifies, looking up from the desk. “what happens after that? between you and lar.”
you feel a pang in your stomach. 24 hours left in your little charade, and now, you don’t know how to untangle everything you’ve intertwined with her. you feel your smile threaten to fall, but you try to put on a brave front for the concerned younger girl. “don’t worry about that. focus on you.”
“i don’t think you should end it so fast,” she responds, her eyes softening. you hate the way her puppy dog eyes pierce straight into your heart. “you guys have something really amazing there.”
“it’s not real,” you remind her.
“looks pretty real to me,” she tells you back simply, and it lingers with you. you shake it off and approach her to start braiding her hair for the game. 
-
lara has to do follow-up interviews with dani and the team following their championship win, and she promises to make it on the first flight out to your hometown. you’re kind of grateful she misses the rehearsal dinner, since manon does nothing but gush about how beautifully in love you and lara is and how she’s certain you guys will be doing this in no time. jordan, suspicious of you until manon opens her mouth, simply presses a kiss into your temple.
“happy you’re happy, sis. maybe the quiet ones do win every once in a while.”
lara stays at a hotel instead of with you and your parents in order to give you guys somewhere to drop the act. you find it increasingly difficult to remember what it used to be like before the touches, before the embraces, before falling asleep together every night. 
she looks so beautiful in her incredible dress and your dad can’t stop gushing over what a peach she is. your step-mom, who never approves of anything you do, doesn’t look completely unimpressed by the gorgeous date you’re seated with. you’ll take it as a win.
the ceremony goes off without a hitch, and you make it to the reception dinner in one piece. halfway through the night without incident is a huge win. and lara, perfect, charming lara, is making friends with every person she introduces herself to, a cheeky compliment for every aunt of yours in their sunday best or every cousin asking suspiciously if you’re actually together. she finds the perfect balance of affection, not too much to be overdoing it, but just enough to keep you feeling calmed throughout the night. 
“you play hockey with y/n?” your stepmom asks as she and your dad join you at the table with lara and manon as you all eat. you bite back a groan, considering you’ve explained a million times that you don’t play, just help treat the players.
“i play goalie, yes,” lara smiles good-naturedly.  “y/n basically is there to patch us up after every game. contact sports can take quite the toll on the body.”
“what do you want to do with hockey?” your dad asks curiously. you can see your sister and your new brother-in-law dancing like idiots behind him on the dancefloor and let out a content sigh. somehow, lara is carrying herself without a single bit of help needed, and it soothes your anxious nerves.
“reminisce about it fondly when i’m old and grey,” lara laughs. “i just finished this sophomore season, so i’ve got two more seasons playing collegiate, and that’s it for me and hockey. after i graduate, i’m going to do a fellowship with a clinic.”
“physical therapy, like y/n?” manon asks curiously.
“marriage and family therapy. i want to be a therapist. i would love to work with student athletes.”
“no way,” you breathe quietly. how has lara never mentioned this? she had started school as a business major.
“my friends have a hard time balancing school and sports and some of them are really hurting over it. i’ve always been lucky enough to have good grades.”
“nobody should ever have to pick something they love over their wellbeing,” your step-mom says to no-one in particular, and you swear there’s something like approval in her eyes.
“lara is an extremely nurturing person,” you tell your dad in particular. “i think she’ll make a huge impact in whatever she does.”
“well, miss raj, i hope y/n doesn’t hide you away from us any more. i’d love to see you around more often,” he smiles, and you two exchange a glance.
“that’s up to y/n, isn’t it?” she asks, something twinkling in her eyes.
“i’m certainly thinking about it,” you smile back. the night is won.
you come back with her to her hotel room so you can celebrate the victory in peace, without worrying about your family overhearing. 
“did i kill it, or did i destroy it?” she beams excitedly, kicking her heels off as she swipes one of the shots from the minibar in the fridge. “that went so fucking smooth.”
“you were perfect.” you could cry. perfect, angelic lara raj, making the impossible happen. a weight is lifted off your shoulders.
“i told you parents really like me,” she beams brightly, swooping you up in both arms to snake her arms around your waist and pull you in to a hug. 
“everyone really likes you,” you laugh, pushing her back, but her arms stay locked around you. you could push again, but you don’t want to.
she’s never held you like this, behind closed doors. you don’t know what possesses you to let her. memories of your kiss from spin the bottle race through your mind. you feel your mouth go dry as you realize what your body is seeking– it wants to kiss her again.
“all that matters is what you think about me,” she tells you.
you simply hum in response, feeling her hands trace lower on your hips.
“hey, y/n,” she whispers into your ear, the warm breath sending a shiver down your spine. “remember how when this all started, you wanted me to tell you if things ever got too blurry?”
you nod, your words caught in your throat. you barely manage to get anything out. “it’s over now, don’t worry.”
“that’s the issue. it’s supposed to be over, but…” she trails off, her fingers tracing circles into your back. she looks away, but you feel a sudden wave of bravery take over you, and you reach around her neck to trace gentle lines into her nape. her eyes come back to you, dark and hooded.
“tell me,” you press gently, and the room feels like it might collapse in on you both.
“lines are a little blurry,” lara breathes.
“i think i’m okay with that, if you are,” you whisper back.
“you already know what i think,” lara says, almost as an accusation. but then she’s reaching for the zipper on the back of your dress, eyes flickering to you as if to ask for permission.
you push past your own thoughts and let yourself capture her lips with your own, an answer to her question. you won’t overthink it, not this time.
-
you wake to an empty bed, the smell of lara’s skin still lingering on the sheets. you inhale deeply as you try to hear for the shower in the bathroom, maybe her voice if she’s in the hallway on the phone. but as you hear nothing, you sit up, and realize lara’s belongings are all completely gone. she left without letting you know? after all that? you can’t wrap your head around a viable explanation, so you reach for your phone. among the texts from your friends and family, you see lara’s contact, a text from 30 minutes ago.
changed my flight. i added late check out so don’t worry about overstaying. we can talk when you’re back on campus. be safe.
you see the next notification.
6 missed calls. 
all from felix.
you feel your heart sink. lara has always been a light sleeper, first to rise at the slightest noise. you can only imagine what she must’ve felt seeing his contact pop up over and over, so insistently, as if he’s even entitled to your attention any more. your heart aches at the thought of lara’s confusion. 
(that’s not to even touch on your own confusion– where does all this leave the two of you?)
you call her immediately.
“lara,” you say, and it’s like a warning and a question all in one. “i haven’t talked to him since the breakup. i don’t know what he wants, and i don’t care.”
the line is silent for a moment, and you’re caught off guard. you can hear the airport PA system from behind her, but you’re more surprised at how quiet she is. lara, confident and forward, always has something thoughtful and ready to say, forever the model of composure. she finally lets something out, and you feel your heart break all over again. 
“i know you, y/n, and i wasn’t ready to hear you tell me it was over.” she confesses, and her voice sounds so, so painful over the phone. you wish you could wrap her in your arms then and there. “i got lost in it, i know i did, maybe it was selfish because you just got out of something serious, and i wanted you to myself.”
“lar, i’m sorry. what are you thinking right now?” you ask, but you quickly realize it’s the wrong question. her tone changes quickly, faster now, almost insistent.
“no, y/n, please stop. you do this thing, where you won’t give a clear answer. you’ll just ask questions and put all the options out on the table and let people draw their own conclusions.”
“here’s my clear answer,” lara continues. “you are my favorite person on this planet, and i’m so serious about that. so i want to hear it from your mouth. i want to hear what you pick, no bullshit, no yielding to let me make the final choice. with a super clear head, i want you to pick me, or not pick me, knowing all the facts and hearing me say it first. you need to have the final say in something for your life.” 
you’re in complete shock, staring into the mirror as she presses forward, her voice firm over the hum of the phone.
“i won’t hate you, if you don’t pick me,” she tells you, voice softening, always the reassuring one. “but i wanted to make sure you knew that i’d pick you if it came down to it, and i’ll be waiting patiently for you to pick me. just how i always have.”
“lar…”
“think about it,” is all she says, before the line goes dead, and you’re left alone with your thoughts. 
the airport makes you sick to your stomach and all you want to do is just talk to lara, but you know she deserves more thought than just your anxious impulse. a clear head, and no hesitation. you owe it to lara.
a day of traveling later, and you’ve dragged your bags with you to the hockey rink. megan, yunjin, and dani are all there, taking practice shots into the net even though the season won’t start up again until the fall time. 
you see lara’s gear on the bench, but she’s nowhere on the ice to be seen. you hunt a little further to see her in the very top nosebleed seats of the stadium, watching the three practice intensely. you don’t hesitate before racing up the seats, and your stomach drops as she locks eyes on you. her eyes are distant, cold even, but you can’t blame her. she deserves answers.
“i need to tell you something,” you press, sitting down in the seat next to her. 
she lets out a quiet breath and turns to face you. you reach out, holding her face in your hands, and your heart aches. she is so impossibly perfect. the truth, as much as it terrifies you, is the least she deserves.
“that night, our kiss, the past two weeks, it meant everything to me,” you admit, your voice shaky. “maybe i’m worried that i’ll lose you as a friend, if we take this leap, but we tried on these hats and it was honestly the most perfect experience ever. and you are so, so perfect, it would be impossible to not want to be with you, and i’m sorry i was such a coward about what i asked of you without acknowledging what it meant for us. it was unfair and it was confusing.”
her eyes warm, but you drop your hands. you have something more to add, the part she truly does deserve, and the part you’ve been too afraid to confront. you continue, your heart threatening to leap out of your chest.
“i need to choose myself, for just a little bit. i’m not going to ask if that’s okay, because i know you’d tell me it is even if it isn’t,” you tell her, and she laughs quietly in response. you take it as the encouragement you need to keep going. “i'm going to be alone for a little bit, i won’t go back to my ex, i won’t find someone new, i just need to be alone to figure some things out, and i’m going to tell you to go do your thing and not wait up for me. if we can be friends through it, that would be amazing, but if not, i won’t hate you either.”
you drop your head slightly to meet her gaze. she’s looking up at you with something in between heartache and pride, and you know exactly how she feels. there’s something painfully bittersweet about the moment.
“i need just a little time to learn how to be a better me, and then it’ll be my turn to come ask you to pick me,” you whisper, tracing your finger across her lips, your favorite lips, before resting your hand on her cheek once more. “and i’ll be okay if you don’t pick me, or if by then you’ve picked someone else.”
“i’m proud of you for this,” she says simply, wrapping an arm around your shoulders to pull you into a hug. 
you feel hot tears pricking at your eyes, but you manage to smile at her anyways. the end of one chapter, the start of another, you can only hope.
-
your dad has asked about lara every single time you call for the past few months, and you simply navigate around the question with expert precision. you can’t tell him everything, but you can tell him parts of the truth.
we get to see each other every day. we’re still the team moms. daniela still conspires to make us get married. we’re going to see each other over the summer once the semester ends.
you won’t tell him about how your sleepovers have stopped, and you guys haven’t been alone together in a room since the day after the wedding. she’s still so, so nice to you, but there’s a boundary now.
it’s not awkward, as much as you know things could have ended in disaster. perfect, generous lara raj, who’s always put your friendship ahead of whatever feelings have come up for her, doesn’t flirt with you any more, but still makes an effort to make you feel seen. 
manon, who you got so close to that she moved in as your dorm roommate, is shockingly understanding as you come clean and tell her everything. nobody makes the dissolution of your fake relationship weird, and your family is none the wiser. you come out relatively unscathed from the whole thing, the only casualty being you and lara. your friendship is different, you guys aren’t as close, but that’s okay, because she’s still in your life, and that in itself is more than enough. 
except for tonight, two weeks before finals, where you decide it’s the night to put into practice all the growing you’ve done to stop being so scared of the what-if’s. it’s your turn to be confident and brave, and let the potential win outweigh the risks.
you feel your stomach lurch as you call her, the starting part of your plan. you guys don’t do this any more, the late night phone calls, so you’re half expecting to have to pivot to a plan b, but she answers by the second ring.
“y/n,” she says simply, and you feel your stomach flip at how genuinely excited she sounds. what an angel.
“hi,” you breathe. “um, just curious about your plans tonight.”
“what’s up?” she asks, half-curious, half-suspicious in her tone.
“are you free?” you ask again.
“for you?” she asks, and you half-expect her to turn you down then and there. but she doesn’t and her soft tone makes your heart thud. “always.”
“no, don’t start,” you wrinkle your nose. “i’m supposed to be the one trying to charm you.”
“charm me? why?” she asks, and you can practically hear the smirk on her lips. ugh, it was almost easier when you guys were back to being just friends. you wouldn’t get this flustered this easily.
“i want to see you when i say it.” you shake your head, feeling the familiar flush that lara leaves you with. “damn, you’re throwing me off. ugh, lara, okay just, come to your car.”
“my car?”
“i have your keys, before you freak out. dani helped me. so just come to the car and be patient.”
you hang up, and you wait eagerly. grand gestures aren’t your thing, but they’re lara’s, so you figure she deserves something that reflects how well you know her.
she arrives, and you can’t suppress your smile as she takes it all in. her car, filled to the brim with pink balloons, three different bouquets of flowers in the passenger’s seat. you’ve decorated it with pictures of the two of you from your years of friendship, including countless of candids taken by the girls of the two of you together. on the dashboard, you have a giant, handwritten sign with pictures of lara’s face, and in big bold letters: #17, GO OUT WITH ME?
her eyes are wide, and you wonder if you’ve maybe gone too far with everything. in the months since the wedding, you guys have stayed friends, sure, but maybe you misread her? maybe this wasn’t the grand gesture you thought it would be?
“y/n…” lara starts, before offering you an apologetic furrow of her brows. “i have a girlfriend.”
you feel your stomach sink. you’ve deleted your instagram since all this happened, and you and lara don’t talk about those kinds of things any more, plus megan was so heartbroken about you guys not ending up together, it’s super possible she didn’t want to mention the new relationship to you. plus plus, daniela’s terrible with secrets, so why would she help you with this whole thing in the first place,  but she can absolutely show up when she needs to– damn. your shot disappears in front of your very eyes.
“oh my god, lar, i’m so sorry. i um–” you stammer.
she’s staring at you with those dark eyes, before a stupid grin takes over her stern features. “hah! see, told you you should have jumped on me sooner.”
you feel your eyes nearly bug out of your head. oh my god. 
“what do you think i’m going to say to you right now?” you nearly growl, your heart still pounding at the near miss.
lara screams laughing, nearly doubling over as she pokes a finger into your cheek. your skin jumps at the contact. “hopefully you’ll say, kiss me and be mine, no more waiting.”
you sigh and take her face in both hands, emboldened by your new outlook on life. no more being afraid.
“lara raj, i’m sorry for making you wait. thank you for being so, so perfect, and letting me be ready for you. i’d like to love you for a really long time, if that’s–” you pause, realizing you were about to ask for her permission.
you clear your throat and look her directly in the eyes. “you better let me love you until the earth blows up.”
“i like that so much better than what i thought you’d up with,” she beams brightly, opening the door to he car and sitting in the drivers seat, motioning for you to come towards her.
“i bet you do,” you laugh, letting her pull you into her lap.
“told you we’d fall in love eventually,” she grins cheekily.
you sigh and press a fingertip against her nose. “actually, i was in love with you way before all this. just needed to figure some things out.”
for the first time since you’ve known her, lara raj is speechless. 
“got your fine ass,” you grin, before you lean in. “now that you’ve shut up, i’m going to kiss you.”
“you were so, so worth the wait,” she whispers, and you let yourself believe her. the girl of your dreams, perfect and confident lara raj, and she’s finally yours.
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indieyuugure · 2 months ago
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Hey indie :]
Favorite bands, songs and music genre of each turtle? :]
Hello! :] (I see my ditto face emoticon has been reciprocated)
Not sure on favorite bands and songs, but I’ll list genres and bands they like.
Leo’s really not super picky about music, but in general he likes rock. So AC/DC, Nirvana, Queen, and Pearl Jam type stuff.
Raph listens to music more—mostly while he’s drawing—and tends to like rock, metal and hip hop. So same bands as Leo as well as bands like Metallica, Black Sabbath, Beastie Boys and Rage against the Machine is stuff he likes.
Donnie also listens to music while he’s doing stuff, though for him it’s usually building stuff and figuring out coding and enjoys electronic/industial and alternative rock. Nine Inch Nails, The Chemical Brothers, and KMFDM on top of a lot of the stuff his brothers like because it’s familiarity is the kind of stuff he likes.
Mikey listens to music probably the most of his brothers, and is also the least picky, although he electronic seems to be the exception (he says he “can feel the music turning him into a robot”). All of the rock bands his brothers like, basically all rap and hip-hop he can find and every 80s-90s pop one-hit-wonder you can think of as well as virtually every boy or girl band under the sun, he’s listened to it and probably liked it.
Hopefully that gives you a decent idea of what they like. I tried to stick to better known bands as well as ones that were actually in the time my turtles are in/were popular enough at the time that finding a record or tape at a store wouldn’t be impossible.
Good question! :]
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lilatara · 5 days ago
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"Jacoby didn't kill her. He was trying to help her."
It actually really annoys me how much Jacoby is treated like some kind of harsh truth teller and not someone with zero ethical boundaries who we see violating the trust of multiple teenagers.
Like, I am SO tired of people watching him manipulate Bobby (using Laura's confidential sessions, mind you) and their takeaway being that "oooh, Jacoby has his number!" Please. Jacoby has NOTHING but jealousy of a teenage boy who got to fuck the girl he was obsessed with.
Ditto James and Donna listening to a tape of a girl who has clearly learned how to play into just what her sicko doctor wants to hear, and them deciding that oh wow, Laura was kind of a villain. No, Laura was someone who went for help and crashed right into a man who became so fixated on her, he was hoarding her personal keepsakes and listening to tapes of her voice on loop.
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salternateunreality2 · 19 days ago
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Hey Salty~
I’m tired so I apologize now if this isn’t as interesting a thing to mise over as I think it may be.
AGSZC are about to take a roadtrip BUT WAIT!!! This isn’t like before. Because. For this trip, they have to pack each other’s bags. They cannot touch their own bag until they’re in the car and much too far away to bother returning back. :)
The only things they can make sure are added to their bag are any medications, medically necessary accessories and mental health/functioning aids. This includes things stim toys, eye masks (light sensitivity, migraines, etc.), cooling blanket/vests (overheating, tactile sensitivity, etc.), headphones (auditory overstimulation, something to drown out too loud snoring thus saving at least one life, etc.), plus other stuff I can’t think of rn.
They are allowed to leave with only the clothes on their bodies, personal PHS and wallets in hand/pockets. Here’s hoping they remember each others favorite snacks or drinks.
How goes it when they’re finally able to stop the car in some parking lot and search through their bag? Did they at least remember each others tooth brushes?
(@violetinkclouds) 💕💕💕
Thanks for the ask @violetinkclouds !
I'm using dice to determine who gets whose bags, RIP dear AGSZC.
Angeal - packed by Cloud
Genesis - packed by Sephiroth
Sephiroth - packed by Zack
Zack - packed by Genesis
Cloud - packed by Angeal
Did Angeal rig the dice roll because he doesn't trust Genesis or Zack and is scared of what Sephiroth deems "essential"? Should he be scared that backwater mountain boy Cloud is only barely less deranged than the rest of them? We shall never know.
Cloud's bag:
* an "unnecessary" amount of underwear, in Cloud, Zack, and Sephiroth's opinions. Not enough in Genesis'. Turns out to be just right with one spare pair if he changes every day.
* All of Cloud's essentials for his own health: toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soaps, creams, vitamins, etc.), clothing, a big, soft blanket, a big, soft hoodie (Angeal's), shoes, chargers, batteries, etc.
* All of Cloud's essentials for everyone else's health and safety: eye mask, headphones, earbuds, loaded playlists, snacks, so much motion sickness medication, sleep aids, horse tranquilizers, stomach aids, pillow, more blankies, a personal fan, a first aid kit, a gallon of sunscreen, and a vehicle big enough for him to have personal space.
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Zack's bag:
* Genesis did not trust anyone in the group, including Angeal, and packed Zack's bag for himself, then copied the "essentials" for Zack.
* 7 different iterations of Loveless in various forms (CD of the musical, ipod of the book on tape, the book...) Zack got a cheap paperback copy for himself, otherwise the number would have been only 6.
* An absurd amount of underwear. Zack kept reusing the same pair until Angeal MADE him change, but even if he had shat himself twice a day, he would have been fine. Ditto for outfit changes. Zack's luggage takes up most of the trunk.
* Way more hair and skin care items than Zack has ever used. His 5-in-1 was burned when Genesis found it, so Zack has all-new shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, body wash, and moisturizer, plus about 5 other products and normal toiletries.
* Apple snacks.
* He forgot fidget toys. Zack forgot fidget toys. Angeal disobeyed the rules and snuck fidget toys into Zack's bag because it's not about Zack being happy, it's about Zack not waking Cloud and inviting his wrath upon them all.
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Genesis' bag:
* toothbrush. Toothpaste. A moisturizer that the salesperson said was high end, which had the term "anti-wrinkle" prominently on the front and back. 1 pair socks. 1 pair underwear. Ration packs. A roll of duct tape.
* There will be blood.
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Sephiroth's bag:
* a hairbrush, kitty pajamas, sword polish, WD-40, leather polish, petroleum jelly (half gallon), engine oil, vegetable oil, hair grease, grease the musical, a copy of the odyssey...he kinda got stuck on a theme.
* Sephiroth is content, and just finds a stick in the woods to use as a toothbrush.
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Angeal's bag:
* Hard tack, beef jerky, MREs.
* toothbrush, toothpaste, one pair of underwear, one pair of socks, deodorant, one extra set of clothes, a warm jacket, thermal underwear just in case (they're going nowhere cold, Cloud's Ma just burned the necessity of thermal underwear into his brain).
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Yeah, they're not doing this again, Angeal's mom heart can't take it, and the countryside can't take the fallout of the SephGen conflict.
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strange-little-spy · 1 month ago
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Chapter Twenty-Four – Star-Spangled Man with A Plan  - 1100 hours
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I cannot believe I have to write this—
Word Count: 1050 words
Warnings: light platonic fluff, some mild angst
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“Who's strong and brave, here to save the American way?” The very moment the dancing girls started to sing, Addie ducked behind the column and groaned. She missed seeing Steve stumble out but she heard his uncertain voice, reading the que cards taped the back of the metal shield he was given. “Not all of us can storm a beach or drive a tank.
But there's still a way all of us can fight.”
“Who vows to fight like a man, for what's right, night and day?”
“Series E Defense Bonds.” Steve continued. “Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun.”
“Who the hell wrote this stupid song?” Addie asked nobody in particular. But she had to stay, she had to stay for Steve. It’d be a while before he would see Peggy again, so she had to stay.
“Who will campaign door-to-door for America? Carry the flag shore to shore for America? From Hoboken to Spokane The star-spangled man with a plan!”
After the performance, Addie made a beeline for Steve’s room, nearly smacking into him as he was coming out.
“Oh- sorry! Hi, Addie,” He stepped back and smiled, making her feel a little warm.
“That was monumental.” She couldn’t help but laugh a little, her hands shoved in her jacket pockets.
“You can say that again. The girls were cute though.”
“Steven Rogers.” She gave him a light swat on the arm. “You wanna go get a drink? I mean, as soon as you strip of your pantyhose.”
Steve snickered and nodded. “You pulled the words right out of my mouth. I’ll meet you outside in ten.”
“Yes, sir!” She saluted and he shut the door.
Ten Minutes later…
“Over here!” Addie caught Steve’s eye across the street as he jogged over to her.
“Still can’t get used to being able to breathe.” He half-joked, a smile plastered on his face.
“Screw asthma.” She nodded, linking her arm with his. It was strange. She had always thought of this as her lot in life. Who knew a certain Sergeant would bust that up.
“So… what did you think?” He made a thumbing motion to the theater as they left it behind them.
“Don’t get me started.” She had to shake her head. “I have some words but none of them are constructive.”
“Ditto.”
She snickered, not really seeing his response coming.
“At least we’re doing something for the effort.”
“True,” She nodded again as he held the door of the club for her. “I…just, you know.”
“Wanna get out there and kick tail?” Steve finished for her as they were escorted to a table.
“Uh-huh.”
“I know what you mean,” He nodded, tugging at his tie and loosening it just a hair. “But it’s not as if we can just walk away and demand to get transferred.”
Addie was silent for a few seconds, tugging at the curls at the end of her hair. “Why not?” She suddenly looked at Steve.
“What??”
“Why can’t we demand to get transferred? You’re captain, I’m a commander, Peggy is pretty high up in the SSR, so why not??”
“I don’t think it’s as easy as that, doll.”
“Then why don’t we ask around??” She scooted her chair closer, getting more and more curious. “I’m sure Colonel Phillips doesn’t need to know.”
“Addie, you’re about to get us thrown in the brig.”
“I don’t care!” She whisper-shouted. “I took one look at that silly act they made you do and I said to myself ‘If this is all they’re gonna let us do, it’s pointless for us to have even volunteered’. You’re not a toy, Steve.”
He looked down and then sighed through his nose. “You didn’t volunteer.”
“I volunteered to help you.” She gently poked his arm. “Why did you join up, Steve? Why?”
“To fight this war, what else?”
“No, no, why did you want to fight bullies all the way back in Brooklyn when we were both string beans?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Exactly.” She leaned back in her chair. “So does being a dancing monkey mean we’re fighting bullies because it’s the right thing?” She pointed to the doodle he had scratched onto the paper tablecloth.
He was quiet for a moment, turning the idea over. The only noise was the buzz of the club and his pencil strokes.
“It buys bonds,” He finally tried, but his tone spoke more words than what he really said. “Bonds fight the war.”
“Someone else can do the shows.” She frowned. “Captain America is a name, but who’s holds that name is the one that America will be watching. If this country sees it’s best soldier being kept in a dressing room, then..well, moral’s gonna go flat.”
“You say this like you know what’s going to happen.” He still didn’t seem convinced.
“I’m from the future, Stevie.” She tilted her head. “I know who’s gonna win the war.”
“Right, right, sorry—I forgot about that.” He set his pencil down, brushing aside the eraser shreds.
“Do you want to come with me?” She questioned, looking into his eyes. “I mean, overseas.”
“Of course, I do.” He returned her gaze. “But I have a job.”
“You don’t really mean that.”
Steve shifted himself in the seat, scrutinized by her gaze. “Alright, fine. I don’t want to do this for the rest of my military career. Why don’t you go? I’m sure the tours will get overseas soon enough.”
“I want you to come with me, though! I don’t like to see you miserable.”
“The feeling is mutual, believe me.”
“Cute.” She crossed her arms and rested them on the table. “But just know that where you’re going, I’m right alongside you, okay? If you’re not going over the pond yet, then neither am I.”
“Oh, c’mon, Adds, please don’t make a fuss over me.”
“But you’re my best friend, Steve!” She grabbed his hand. “I care enough to make a fuss!”
Steve frowned, tapping the lead of his pencil on the table, making little starry dots. “I care, too. What about a deal?”
“Go on.”
“If I tell Senator Brandt that we need to get overseas as soon as possible, that’ll make both of us happy, okay?”
“Steve, you’re a genius.”
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Thank you for reading! Dividers by @strangergraphics
Original prompt by @the-superoriginal ~ written by yours truly, all relation to actual people are purely coincidental
Tag list: @fictionalmenjusthitdifferent ~ @oh-to-be-a-murderer ~ @thebestmerc-1 ~ @itzzkaylaaa ~ @twoarrsandonesea ~ @natt-romanoff - @proud-owner-0f-americas-ass - @lady-of-imladris @crazyinlovewithmarvel @dollface-xoxo(too bad I tag u anyway) @the1-and-only-peggycarter @lunamarvels @thescarleteevee @official-natasha-romanova
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doppleganger-rental · 1 month ago
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On this day (Feb 26) in 1984 the original Star Wars was finally broadcast on network television for the very first time. The film had been broadcast on HBO the year before on Feb 1st, 1983. An interesting note: the film was actually first available to pay-per view customers beginning in September of 1982. At that time, pay-per-view subscriptions were a luxury most people couldn’t afford. But by 1983, VCR sales were soaring and Star Wars was a top seller/renter. By the time HBO began airing it, ratings were not what they had hoped for. Ditto for CBS the following year who reportedly had to give refunds to advertisers because ratings did not hit their projections. All I know is, I was 14 at the time CBS aired it and our family watched it but I had decided I wanted to record the entire audio on my tape recorder so everyone had to be quiet 😬
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tokki------0 · 4 months ago
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DITTO
Summery:A high-school girl invisible to the world struggles to preserve her existence before disappearing, leaving her friends with hazy memories of her.
WORD COUNT:2000+
Author's note :
This is my first story, I hope you like it!!! If you want to continue this story i put it on wattpad it will be a complete story here it's only a one shot!!!!
Seoul, 1998.
Ador High School, on the eastern outskirts of Seoul, seemed frozen in time. With its long gray hallways and windows that let in a pale light, it was a place where each student built memories—fleeting but precious. Ban Heeso, however, didn’t feel the same nostalgia her classmates seemed to cherish.
Heeso was a quiet girl, with an ethereal air, as if she were always halfway elsewhere. Her long black hair framed a calm, thoughtful face, and her dark eyes seemed to look beyond the ordinary world. Her classmates found her strange, distant. Yet she belonged to a group: Hyein, Minji, Hanni, and Haerin. Together, they shared their days, their secrets, their dreams.
But Heeso had a secret she had never dared to share. She saw things others couldn’t see.
It all began one autumn evening when Heeso discovered an old VHS camera in a dusty school closet. Intrigued, she decided to keep it. From that day on, she started filming, capturing fragments of life: Hyein laughing as she ran across the courtyard, Minji writing in her journal, Hanni and Haerin sharing quiet moments on the rooftop.
But something was wrong.
When she watched her recordings, strange details appeared. Sometimes, the image would blur, and a figure she didn’t recognize would appear in the background. Other times, scenes seemed to reverse, as if past and present were colliding.
One day, while watching a video of the five of them on the rooftop, Heeso noticed something unsettling. She herself wasn’t in the footage.
Hyein, the youngest of the group, loved being filmed. Curious and energetic, she saw Heeso’s camera as a way to freeze their memories in time. But one evening, while watching a tape, she felt a chill.
“Heeso… why aren’t you ever in the videos?” she asked.
Heeso shrugged. “I’m behind the camera, that’s all.”
But Hyein knew that wasn’t the real answer.
Minji, the leader of the group, was the most mature. She looked after her friends, protected them. But lately, she had been feeling strange, as if something was lurking, something she couldn’t understand.
One day, she found a folded letter in her locker. There was no sender, no signature—just a single sentence written in black ink:
“Can you see me?”
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Hanni, always cheerful and optimistic, tried to keep the atmosphere light. But even she felt the strange tension weighing on their group.
“Heeso, do you think people can really disappear?” she asked one evening as they watched the city fall asleep from the rooftop.
Heeso didn’t answer right away. She stared at the horizon, as if searching for an answer in the distance.
“Maybe some people aren’t meant to stay,” she finally murmured.
The days passed, and winter settled in. Snow blanketed the streets of Seoul, rendering the world silent, almost unreal. Heeso continued filming, but she noticed her friends becoming more and more blurry, as if they were fading away.
One morning, upon arriving at school, she noticed something had changed. The gazes were different. The hallways seemed emptier.
And most unsettling of all, no one seemed to remember her name.
The Disappearance
The day Haerin vanished, everything changed.
It was a cold Monday. Heeso remembered every detail. Haerin was sitting by the window, watching the snow fall softly.
“Heeso… do you think anyone will remember me?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Heeso wanted to answer, but before she could speak, Haerin was gone. Not physically, but from everyone’s memory. The next day, no one mentioned her name. Her belongings were gone, and it was as if she had never existed.
Only Heeso remembered her.
Then it was Hanni’s turn.
One evening, as they descended the school stairs together, Hanni stopped abruptly.
“Heeso… am I going to disappear too?”
Heeso wanted to reassure her, but the words wouldn’t come.
The next day, Hanni was gone. Her seat in class was empty, and when Heeso mentioned her name, Minji looked at her in confusion.
“Hanni? Who’s Hanni?”
The Last Day
Only Minji, Hyein, and Heeso remained.
Snow fell even more heavily that day, covering the school in a silent white blanket. Heeso knew it was the end.
She gathered her two friends on the rooftop.
“I want you to know something,” she began.
Minji and Hyein looked at her, their faces filled with concern.
“You are my friends. You have been my light in this place. But… I’m not supposed to be here.”
Minji frowned. “What do you mean, Heeso?”
Heeso took a deep breath. “I’m a memory. An echo from another life. I wasn’t meant to exist.”
Hyein shook her head. “That’s not true. You’re real, Heeso. You’re here.”
But Heeso knew it was only an illusion.
At midnight, Heeso disappeared.
Minji and Hyein remained on the rooftop, frozen in the cold. The next day, they no longer remembered her.
Ban Heeso had been erased.
Year 2024.
In a forgotten box, an old VHS tape was found. When it was played, a young woman saw images of a group of friends laughing, crying, living as if time belonged to them.
But in every frame, a blurry figure appeared in the background.
And at the end, a voice whispered:
“Can you see me?”
PS:If you liked this story I'm doing a full story on wattpad!!!!
My wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Chipauuuuuuuur
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five-nights-at-artsys · 8 months ago
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HELLO, HELLO? // MENTORSHIP
hi lol this was supposed to be the anniversary artwork but i got somethin' even better for that so. yall can get this
[image id: a digital drawing consisting of four semi-chibi fullbody artworks of four characters.
from left to right, there is kim (a woman with curly brown hair and a red vest full with pins, smiling), phone guy (who is depicted here as an anxious man with a security guard uniform and glasses, holding a blue telephone while awkwardly looking at the camera), phone dude (who is depicted here as a man with bleached blond hair and shorts, holding a phone to his ear with a smirk), and tape girl (who is depicted here as a woman with tied up dark brown hair and a pink hoodie, holding a cassette tape on one hand and a vr headset in another.
text reading, "uh, hello?" and "hello, hello?" can be seen in the corners of the drawing, glowing a faint white. the background consists of tapes and retro 80s patterns. end id.]
alt. version under the cut
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[image id: ditto as the above, but this time the characters aren't overlayed with certain colours. end id]
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onelastskip · 5 months ago
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wahhhhh i posted this on the keyframes discord server but just some kf + chi aubade stuff
Little things that remind the cast of Chi :3
Deja: Chipmunks, Cream puffs, Shy Guy (Mario), Fluffy blankets, Stuffed animals, Cute patterned Washi tape, Rose quartz, Wind chimes, Dating sims, Fairy lights
Cam: Squirrels, Crepes, Cherry 7-11 Slurpees, Sweet chili chips, Silly cat pictures, Pokemon cards, Soju, Ditto by New Jeans, Pretty dice, Keychains, Shoujo manga
Percy: Rabbits, Mochi, Paper stars, Pears, Claw machines, Embroidered clothing, Chokers, Necklaces, Waffles,
Elio: Ursa minor, Cinnamon rolls, Pink maidenhair ferns, String bracelets, Overalls
Jamie: Chunky knit sweaters and cardigans, Lace, Mice, Cupcakes, Chrysanthemums
Reynah: Butterflies, Strawberries, Mimosas, Milk tea, Dogs tilting their heads
All of them: The colour pink, Smell of vanilla, Fun earrings, Cotton candy, Cameras/photography, Mugs
i will probably do things that remind chi of her friends later idk teehee
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let-me-be-an-egg-toast · 5 months ago
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part 2
shout out to @zia-the-weirdo and @get-a-snack-at-an-ungodly-hour for this (part 1)
so "Microphone Guy" would probably be found in the upper floors (maybe 50+) and you need to find them 7 times and completely interact with them just to get them
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(what you see at first [you need to click the error])
but it wont be automatic they'll actually ask to "join your amalgamation" and you can refuse, which makes them only appear whenever you keep ignoring dandy (odd-numbered floors) and will offer you health kits or bandages (this can also happen if you don't play as them ngl)
if they say something like "today i was feeling extra silly" they will give you what looks like either the eject button, valve, or smoke bomb, but its actually not
the "eject button" causes a random Twisted to be sent flying through the roof, the "valve" causes the machine to be filled up with something called "lICORice" instead of ichor (still does the job but yk you have less ichor now), the "smoke bomb" will blind both the player and twisted (for 30s) with "glitchter" (glitter+glitch)("GET GLITCHTERED") and to the other players they see the player/twisted walking around with glitch/ichor-like substances on their face and hands moving about trying to find something to cling to
you will need to press "A" rapidly once you get glitchtered to remove the substance off your face but the Toon will have smudges on them and a disgusted/sad wiggly face with your screen having smudge-like marks
if you fail to do this right after getting glitchtered you will have it for 30s
the said objects in question look normal at first until you see they're more darker/desaturated versions of themselves or their hue is a little off
example:
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original vs fake
this also applies too for the health kits and bandages if "microphone guy" was feeling extra silly TM where instead of just healing they also boost a random stat by 40%
"microphone guy" has two special objects: the Flute (item) and the Note Staff (trinket) (BOTH ACTUALLY VERY DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO LORE)
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The Note Staff can be obtained by completing all of "mic guy"'s 7 interactions and all research on every Toon, or just completing the research for "mic guy"'s Twisted form ("The Twisted Clef")
Ditto, but instead of research for the Flute you need to survive every single Twisted existing or just Twisted Clef in one run
the Note Staff grants +5-10% research everytime and 30 extra tapes at the start of every run but wait here's the catch
there is a 1/35 chance of a Corrupted Tape spawning and when used it stuns all Twisteds on the floor permanently until you get out
the visual effects are actually different
instead of just stopping in their tracks the Twisteds will convulse and scream
so that's disturbing :D.
the Flute is permanent (not consumable) and by itself can give one additional star to all your stats and even stun all Twisteds for 15 seconds and heal everyone by one heart
but only once each floor
using/equipping the Flute and the Note Staff together, you can get 10-15% more research, 40 instead of 30 tapes (retaining the 1/35 chance), stun countdown is now 20s, and full healing
if you're playing as "mic guy" however, the Flute will grant 2 stars for all stats and 3 if paired with the Note Staff
it will also affect "voice.", where instead of "mic guy" vaguely singing they're now playing the Flute with the Note Staff floating and circling them
These are the countdowns for "voice." (path finder = twisteds knowing your location) Alone - 30s Stop All + 20s Slow Down + 10s Path Finder + 1 heart + 25s cooldown +Flute/Note Staff - 35s Stop All + 25s Slow Down + 15s Path Finder + 1 heart + 30s cooldown +Flute + Note Staff - 40s Stop All + 30s Slow Down + 20s Path Finder + full health + 40s cooldown
so with Flute and Note Staff "mic guy" is just Boxten/Poppy with a double-edged ability
here's the auditory effects:
Alone: vague singing + layered whispers
+Flute: flute + layered vague vocals
+Note Staff: singing now follows a 7 note melody
+Both: same as flute but now also following 7 note melody
You'll get the achievements Melodic Measure (Flute + Note Staff) and Star Sonata (using both as "mic guy")
also "mic guy" is the only one who doesn't get insta-killed by Twisted Dandy, only receiving normal damage
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bro got too lost in the sauce
anyways this is The Twisted Clef, and I think its obvious that the cords in this idle pose become both a G AND F clef
also btw their eye is supposed to subtly look like a whole note anyways so
twisted clef is a roaming Lethal about the size of 2 Toons or more and they're supposed to be very creepy
twisted clef floats around and has their own "biome" or i guess floor layout where it looks like a floor full of tunnels, vents, and hallways
If this happens the achievement " 'Lost in the Music' " is gained
they have a very rare chance of spawning in floors 90+ or if you die in floors 80+ and immediately go back again for your 2nd run
The odds will increase if you refused to let "mic guy" join you
if you're playing as "mic guy" Clef can't spawn
NO OTHER TWISTEDS WILL SPAWN WITH THEM.
if clef goes through a tight space they will get out of their idle pose and start physically climbing through the space
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vents are tight spaces that are almost the size of a Toon, hallways are tall spaces, and tunnels have varying sizes
now heres where Clef's ability really takes place
Clef can mimic ANY sound - Toons, any action sound effect (collecting extracting etc), Twisteds', and if with voice chat - even clips of players' voices
the more tighter a space is the more their sounds can echo, which can cause confusion to the player because they will hear a sound at the end of the hallway but Clef is actually in another one
the pipes in the hallways/tunnels will sometimes leak, but its not ichor - its actually "lICORice". if you ask "mic guy" about "this"lICORice" (if you refused to let them join), they will say something like "at least its not body fluid" or "its very edible"
all the machines are now for this "lICORice" instead of ichor, and your only reward for surviving Clef is getting 100% research on them
the hallways are the only thing without a blackout effect, but they only have one large lamp each, which flickers when Clef is near
if Clef has their sights on a player and said player is running in a hallway/vent, they will be stunned immediately by Clef, who then slows down as they approach the player, twisting their cord around their neck and slowly dropping them into the darkness of their face "puddle"...
yeah thats the mechanic and jumpscare
for the first 2 minutes Clef will actually be stationary, disguising themself as one of the wires hanging from the ceiling. the difference between them and the other wires is that the exposed yellow parts are frayed and branched, not claw-like and single like Clef's "hands"
if no players managed to get caught by their hands then they will become roaming
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here's a thing: the only twisted to be able to spawn with them is Dandy.
dandy won't come for the players first instead he will HUNT clef down (if no players are in his way during this) and because of this clef has the chance of "dying" and disappearing early due to dandy
If you see them die you'll get the achievement "The Death of Sound" and for the rest of the game there will actually be NO SOUND AT ALL
if a player comes while Dandy and Clef are fighting they will stop and turn their attention to the player, both chasing them down
also yes its canon Dandy LOATHES "mic guy"/clef for many reasons though ill let you figure the reasons why ;)
for now, IF YOU REACHED THE END OF THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH I PUT TOO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS LMAOOO
i hope you enjoyed because this won't be the last post about this little shit
have a Paper Splatter skin
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starcwrld · 1 year ago
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STARCLUSTER: THE FIRST ALBUM -- REWIND
01 ditto 02 twilight zone 03 cool with you 04 soul to soul 05 lorelai 06 pung 07 rewind 08 remember summer days 09 telephone number
the album. era highlights. the vlog series moments. san fransicso. moments. styling. stages. promotional events. photocards
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"REWIND" marks the debut studio album from the acclaimed K-pop group Starcluster, celebrated for its enchanting city-pop sound and nostalgic atmosphere. The album stands out with a triple title track structure, with each title track featuring its own set of B-sides.
In Tape One, the title track "Ditto" shines for its cinematic brilliance and poignant storyline. The narrative follows the girls' journey from carefree teenage years to adulthood, delving into the fears of growing older and highlighting the solace they find in each other's companionship. The associated B-sides, "Twilight Zone" and "Cool with You," received their own music videos. Shot with Kodak film strips and old Canon digital cameras, the vlog-like style of filming adds an intimate touch. "Twilight Zone" captures the girls exploring the town before their graduation night, while "Cool with You" showcases the significance of their graduation. "Ditto" serves as a summary, encompassing various essential memories from their youth.
Tape Two, featuring the title track "Soul to Soul," unfolds a romantic storyline. The music videos for "Lorelai" and "Lights" accompany it, portraying sisterhood and platonic love, respectively. Shot exclusively with Kodak film strips, Tape Two takes on a more film-like quality compared to the vlog-like style of Tape One.
Tape Three, titled "Rewind," takes a nostalgic trip back to the 80s. Featuring covers of "Telephone Number" and "Remember Summer Days" by Junko Ohashi and Anri, respectively, this tape offers a unique retro experience. While "Rewind" received an official music video, the girls took charge of filming for "Telephone Number" and "Remember Summer Days," reintroducing the vlog-like feeling as they showcase their everyday lives. The time-traveling camera in the "Rewind" music video adds an intriguing element to this journey into the past. Overall, "REWIND" encapsulates Starcluster's ability to deliver captivating music, accompanied by visually stunning and thematically rich music videos.
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era highlights
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ not that expensive surprisingly even though each song got a music video… the three that really had the high budget were ditto, soul to soul and rewind. The b-sides were filmed and edited by the girls themselves to give that intimate like feeling. "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ this got their first PAK and it got a good amount of music show wins. Ditto had the most performances with like 5 stages, soul to soul had like 3 and rewind had 2 so they were booked and busy ! "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ some fans were mad though because the last two songs were covers and they were expected like 9 new songs …. "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ ditto went viral on social media and the album’s filming style was the trend as well. Many people would do a compilation of clips similar to the style in twilight zone and cool with you. Old cameras were trending again too for the filters that were put on the video. "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ a five video long vlog series went up with each girl documenting their experience with filming the music videos and their promotions. "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ They also got a little reality TV show where they traveled to san francisco! "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ there was a lot of cute interactions between the members and their fanbase really grew during this time as well. Hana and Soyi got the most new fans while Kiyoko began to get a lot of fan boys. "
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ overall a really fun era! Being very vague with the descriptions here because i’m planning on actually writing out a lot of their best moments during this era so this will be a multipart series kinda ! :D"
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thewintersoldierdisaster · 18 days ago
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I’m visiting New York for 4 days!! Please please please give me a rec of all your favourite spots to visit, eat (!!), shop, and do.
Idc if the list is a million things long ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
omg how fun!!!! nyc is one of the best places in the world and i’m so happy to give some recs! i’ll pop it all under a read more and have it organized 🥰🤍
visit/do
cheesy af but go to the top of the empire state building bc the view is unmatched
top of the rock is also a great view
rockefeller center obvs
fao schwartz is always fun to stroll through even if the old store on 5th was cooler
window shop on 5th ave, i could honestly do this all day - with a ralph’s coffee and comfy sneakers? perfection!!
central park! people watching here is unmatched
bryant park! smaller and cuter but still the best to sit around on a nice day
the high line!! definitely have to walk through there
check out grand central and look at the mural on the ceiling (fun fact, there’s a tiny strip of like black on the ceiling that looks like electrical tape almost, that’s what the entire ceiling looked like before it was cleaned!!)
if you have time, hop on line (early!!!) at the tkts booth in times square to get decently priced broadway tickets - the inventory varies so i’m not sure what you’d be able to see when you go, but the offerings are usually good (this is also a good way to see times square bc otherwise you can avoid it lol)
south street seaport is fun to walk around
i love wandering around the four story barnes and noble in union square
hop on the nyc ferry (this one has a fee, i believe) or the staten island ferry (free! and you don’t have to get off at staten island and can just stay on for the round trip) for an easy way to see the statue of liberty (ellis island was cool but i wouldn’t waste a day or time on it when seeing lady liberty from the ferry is better)
i love popping into the eloise shop at the plaza bc she’s a personal hero of mine
check out the ny public library and say hi to patience and fortitude (the lions!)
sit on the steps at the met and pretend to be blair waldorf or serena van der woodsen (i am a blair, with serena tendencies)
look at all the jewelry store windows on 47th (the diamond district!) it’s nice to make an aspirational wishlist
go check out the oculus at 1 world trade, it’s v cool
i assume you’re here because of hockey, so definitely stop into the nhl shop - it’s so cool and they have a ton of like memorabilia (next time i go in i’m getting a little snoopy embroidered on an isles hat because apparently that’s something they do!!)
eat
bagels, any hole in the wall will do. bacon egg and cheese or loaded up with a mound of cream cheese
people like the banana pudding from magnolia bakery, i hate bananas so i leave that to your discretion
levain bakery for chocolate chip cookies (with walnuts is my favorite!)
joe’s shanghai in chinatown, but also almost any other dumpling place in chinatown. i’ve never had a bad meal, i just never remember the names of places and when i worked downtown i would just wander into any place lol
ditto for little italy - never had a bad meal and always had even better cannolis
din tai fung is the hot ticket, i haven’t been able to get reservations so let me know if you do!
any hole in the wall pizza place will do, but i do have a soft spot for rose’s in penn station bc she had my back on many a drunk train ride
idk how overrated it is, but i love junior’s cheesecake (strawberry topping!)
jack’s wife freda (solid brunch, gets busy tho and is downtown)
my family likes to go to carmines after a broadway show as our tradition and it’s never failed - the wings are stupid good and the titanic ice cream sundae was beyond ridiculous to share with my cousins
katz’s is a classic for a reason and i firmly believe everyone should try it at least once
russ and daughters was a favorite when i worked downtown
veselka is also a classic for a reason
i’ve been dying to try mary o’s scone shop so if you go please let me know how it is!
ellen’s stardust diner is v fun, v loud, but also a classic touristy thing to do
magic hour rooftop bar at the mocy is where i set squeaks’s 30th and it’s so freaking fun!! i had my 23rd birthday drinks there and i loved it
eataly is a little pricey but fun to walk around
shop
okay so i don’t usually shop that much in the city bc i like to pretend that i can stick to a budget but!
brookfield place is a mall/fancy food court/art exhibits so that’s an experience all on its own
shops at columbus circle ^ ditto minus the art
canal street! (i love a dupe for purses that are more “trendy” or that i don’t want to spend real money on bc it’s stupid overpriced, next time i go into the city i’m on a hunt for a loewe puzzle bag dupe)
i’ll pop in and out of different boutiques and stuff as i find them and then promptly forget their names
but downtown has some really cute shops - i loved working down there bc i would always be shopping on my lunch break lmao
gotta get yourself something i 🤍 ny, it’s practically required 😊
i hope you have THE BEST trip and tell me all about it when it’s done 🤍🤍
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