#freight appreciation week

[marastriker]

Freight Appreciation Week Day Two: Dustin

@freightappreciationweek

A sweet angel, has never done anything wrong in his life. He is very shy, but a kind soul. He loves flowers, being included in the weekly freight game nights, and romantic movies like The Notebook. Faceclaim: a mix of Gavin Ashbarry and Ben Lancaster :)

[goblin-iz-whack]

@freightappreciationweek Day 4: Flat-Top

Yeah I am completely abandoning my usual formatting to gush about my boy.

So.

Reasons that Flat-Top is the best StEx Character:

He goes against the norms of his clique. Okay, so basically all of the Freight loves Steam more than Diesel, but he doesn't. The man has some real guts to go right up to Poppa/Momma and refuse to race with them out of loyalty to his preferred form of energy. Sure, the Diesels we are shown are not the best, but he is still loyal to them, which is admirable to some degree.

His design is lit as hell. Not only is he just well designed, but his look tells us a lot about him. The missing tooth and wounds on his face tell us that he is brash and gets into fights, his general unkempt appearance tells us that his looks don't really matter to him, and little details like the chains, graffiti, and collar show us his rebel/punk ways. Also he has little suspenders which are adorable-

HIS BRICK. The gimmick of him messing around with Brick is probably one of my favorite details of the show. Not only is it funny, but a lot of his body language suggests that Brick is important to him, which adds a lot.

HIS LITTLE STORY. The first time we see Flat-Top, he's aggressive and angry, but still shows pride in his job. As time goes on, it is made very clear that he loves Diesels and wants nothing more than to be noticed by Greaseball. Then he gets that. And then the gang beat the hell out of Rusty. Flat-Top comes out of the shadows, gives Rusty his helmet, and tells him to give up. MY GOD. ALL OF THIS ADDS MORE TO HIM THAN MOST OF THE SHOW DOES TO EVERYONE ELSE. ITS BEAUTIFUL.

That ass.

[sawvhs]

i love this blog sm you’re doing the lord work thank u 💕

THANK UUUU im so glad u enjoy my silly blog, just bowing to the whims of my saw fixation as per usual

[artisticdivasworld]

2024 Trucking Year in Review: Challenges, Victories, and the Road Ahead

This past year has been a whirlwind of news in the trucking industry, from regulatory shifts to technological advancements and economic challenges. Let’s take a step back and look at some of the major stories that shaped 2024 for truckers and trucking companies alike. One of the most talked-about developments this year was the ongoing push for stricter emissions regulations. The Environmental…

[shurisasthmaticgf]

calling my boyfriend my husband to see his reaction: lando norris x black fem social media influencer! reader

authors note: lets all pretend this trend isn't old now :) also feedback is highly appreciated and encouraged 🫶🏽

tw// anxiety mention, internet translated spanish

you looked into the lens of your vlogging camera and sighed deeply in frustration, bringing your hands to your head and smoothing your palms over your slicked back hair. nearly a year ago you'd made reservations to visit the Canary Islands with your best friend as a girls trip. when the two of you were younger you'd learned about the islands during a geography class and promised one another that you'd visit when you all were older. the reality of being an adult in your young 20s hit harder than a freight train and the two of you nearly gave up on the trip as a whole because it was so costly. however, when your social media career took off and the brand endorsements, monetization, partnerships, and other deals rolled in the ability to take the trip became a reality.

now, you were only a week away from flying into Gran Canaria and of course a problem came up with the reservation for your first hotel. you explained in a whisper to the camera in front of you, "so i've been trying to fix this problem with our reservations. basically, they've cancelled one of the rooms and i've been emailing back and forth for two days and it's not getting anywhere so i'm gonna go call on the phone and see if that works better." you held your phone in one hand and paced around your hotel room, adding and taking things out of your suitcase nervously.

you muted yourself and picked up your camera to move to another room instead. peeking from behind the door your spoke quietly, "well, while we wait for someone to answer i've been wanting to do this tiktok trend and lando isn't doing anything...oddly enough so i'm taking my chance." a smile crept onto your face as your rounded the corner and saw your boyfriend sitting on the sofa typing away on his laptop. you placed your vlogging camera down on the table in the middle of the room so it still showed you in the frame. then, you moved and sat on the other end of the sofa and stretched your legs out so your feet were just touching the side of his thigh. he lightly flicked your socked foot with one of his fingers and wrinkled his nose, "your feet stink." the eye roll you made made him laugh and you shot back, "you're just smelling your upper lip." he pulled one of the throw pillows from behind his back and tossed it lightly at your face, "no that's your feet, you muppet." you burst into a fit of laughter and pulled the pillow into your chest, squeezing it when you heard the hold music stop on your phone.

an older man on the other line answered, "hello miss?" you unmuted yourself and responded, "yes?" he quickly informed you, "all of our english speaking representatives are busy right now please continue to hold." before you could even respond he put you back on hold making you clench your fist and raise it to the phone. your boyfriend asked you, "what's going on?" you swallowed back your frustration and explained, "the reservations jada and I have for our first hotel were cancelled or something because they're not showing up in my email or anything and i've been trying to sort it out for two days over email and nothing worked so now i'm calling and they don't have any representatives available. i told them i can use a spanish speaker but they cut me off and i just don't have time for this. i'm freaking out because we get back to monaco in two days and the guest room isn't ready and jada is flying in right after we get back. and on top of it i didn't remember to book a hair appointment while we were here so i'm gonna have to go on vacation with my natural hair- i'm gonna have to wear a swim cap in the ocean-" the minute that last realization dawned on you tears began to well in your eyes. you felt your stomach drop and your chest tighten as you were reminded of the many things you had to get done in a short time span. a heavy feeling of panic coursed through your veins in the most nauseating and unsettling way possible.

before you could even spiral further into a full blown anxiety attack lando cut you off, "hey hey take a deep breath. relax for me okay? don't get yourself worked up, we can fix this, yeah?" he held one of your socked feet in his hand, his thumb and pointer finger pressing into a specific spot on your foot out of routine habit. he asked you, "do you remember i had to put two of the reservations under my name?" when your brows furrowed he reminded you, "they were telling you that there weren't any rooms available so we called back later and they found a room for you and under my name." suddenly you did in fact remember that small detail from a year ago that slipped your mind the minute after it was handled. a soft, "oh....y'know after you said that it's now starting to ring some bells." an awkward laugh fell past your lips and you wiped the tear that only made it halfway down your cheek.

lando let his thumb rub circular motions into the pressure point on your foot as he continued, "baby, don't worry about your hair, we can find a stylist to do it before we leave even if you have to stay an extra day and fly back without me. when we get home i'll help you pack your bags so it can get done faster, okay? the guest room is ready because i set it up before we left because i knew you'd worry. everything will be fine, angel." you sniffled and mumbled through a pout, "thank you..." you slowed your breathing, thanking the gods above that your boyfriend was literally perfect.

right as you were about to thank lando, the representative on the phone ended the hold music. quickly you picked up the phone and rushed out, "hello? hola?" a woman now spoke on the other line, "buenos días señora. me dijeron que creías que una de sus reservas había sido cancelada sin su aprobación, ¿es correcto?" you immediately switched from english and answered, "sí, me equivoqué. mi esposo colocó la reserva a su nombre en lugar del mío cuando hicimos la reserva el año pasado. " "Good morning ma'am. They told me that you believed one of their bookings had been cancelled without their approval, is that correct?" // "Yes, I was wrong. My husband placed the reservation in his name instead of mine when we made the reservation last year."

lando's head shot up from his laptop when he heard the word "esposo". although his spanish vocabulary was extremely limited, he recognized a few words, and he knew for a fact that you just called him your husband. you pretended not to notice him staring at you as the representative responded, "entiendo que esto sucede muy a menudo con nuestros huéspedes y sus cónyuges." you lightly chuckled and replied, "sí, ¡especialmente cuando la reserva se hizo hace tanto tiempo! pero, antes de colgar. ¿podrían confirmar la reserva si les digo el nombre de mi esposo?" I understand that this happens very often with our guests and their spouses. // yes, especially when the reservation was made so long ago! but, before hanging up. could you confirm the booking if I tell you my husband's name?

your boyfriend watched mesmerized as the foreign language fell effortlessly past your lips. studying in both high school and university left you with a high level of understanding to the point where you could speak well if you chose to...much to his dismay, you often refused because you were convinced you didn't "speak it right". in the back of your head you knew he'd remind you of this as a way to hear you speak spanish more often, even if he didn't understand much of it.

the representative asked in english, "what is the name?" you tried to hide the smug tone and grin as you responded clearly, "my husband's name is lando norris." your eyes remained glued on the pillow between your arms until you slowly dragged your gaze to meet his. that same look that made his whole body heat up with one simple stare, and if you hadn't lifted your head and smiled brightly things would have turned out much differently in that moment. the representative snapped him out of his thoughts when he happily confirmed that the reservation still stood before you hung up.

not even a second after your phone was off lando looked at you expectantly making you laugh. pretending not to notice anything you stood up and said, "i'm going to go call jada and tell her everything is fine." as you shuffled away lando stood up and looped his thumb gently through the strands of beads that sat between your waist and hips. you turned to face him and felt his warm hands against the small of your back, toying with the glass beads until he felt the one he claimed as his. you shyly asked, "why are you staring at me like that?"

your boyfriend asked, "your husband? you want to marry me?" you turned your head away to dodge his kisses and said playfully, "no i just said that so the guy would give me the information i wanted. it was a name drop and a tiktok trend, nothing more." lando slipped his hands from beneath your shirt and squeezed your side suddenly making you jump in surprise, "stop it that tickles!" he pushed you gently back to the sofa, not letting up and saying, "not until you admit that you actually love me." you tapped out on his back and caved not even ten seconds later, "fine! i love you now stop it i can't breathe!" instantly his hands were off of your stomach and grinned cheekily, "i love you too."

fans reactions to the vlog upload:

[p0orbaby]

Blurb idea - reader is super stressed with work. One day she comes home tense/stressed & Leah gives her a romantic massage

-

The moment you step through the door, it hits Leah like a freight train. Stress clings to you, palpable, a thick haze of tension that seems to emanate from the stiff set of your shoulders and the way your jaw is clenched so tightly it’s a wonder your molars haven’t shattered. You toss your bag onto the kitchen counter without a second glance, missing the coaster she’d strategically placed there just this morning. It skids across the surface, narrowly missing the fruit bowl, which is full but somehow devoid of any fruit you actually like.

“Rough day?” Leah asks, leaning against the doorframe with the casual grace of someone who’s spent the last twenty minutes Googling “how to help a stressed spouse” on her phone. She’s wearing an oversized Arsenal hoodie that used to be yours and joggers with one suspiciously fraying drawstring. It’s her unofficial uniform for “solving domestic crises”

You let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh and run a hand through your hair, which is starting to resemble the kind of frizz you only get when you forget your heat protectant spray. “You could say that”

Leah straightens, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward you. Her socked feet make soft padding sounds against the floor, a detail that somehow grates on your frayed nerves. She places a hand on your shoulder, fingers warm and steady despite the fact that she was holding a Diet Coke can just minutes ago.

“Alright,” she says, voice calm but laced with that signature Leah determination. “Take your shoes off”

“What?” You blink at her, confused, as if she’s just told you to recite the periodic table backwards.

“Your shoes,” she repeats, pointing at your scuffed loafers, the ones you bought because some article convinced you they were ‘business chic.’ “Take them off, and then go upstairs. You’re getting a massage”

“A massage?”

“Yes. A massage. You’ve been walking around like a tension-riddled cryptid for weeks. It’s time”

You open your mouth to argue, but she raises a hand, silencing you with a look that suggests this is non-negotiable. Reluctantly, you kick off your shoes, muttering something about how you’re fine, really, but Leah’s already halfway up the stairs, gesturing for you to follow like some kind of benevolent dictator.

By the time you reach the bedroom, she’s already in full preparation mode. The bedside lamp is on, casting a soft amber glow over the room, and there’s a bottle of massage oil sitting on the nightstand. It’s fancy, of course—something organic and almond-scented that she’d ordered from a wellness boutique you’d initially mocked but now begrudgingly appreciate.

“Lie down,” she commands, patting the duvet like a drill sergeant who’s somehow found themselves in a spa.

You oblige, face-down, the mattress cool against your skin. The duvet smells faintly of the lavender fabric softener Leah insists on using, despite your protests that it’s too floral.

She straddles your lower back with the practised ease of someone who has definitely watched at least two YouTube tutorials on this. Her hands glide over your shoulders, firm but gentle, and the first press of her thumbs against the knots there has you letting out a sound so indecent you’re briefly concerned the neighbours might hear.

“See?” she murmurs, her voice low and soothing. “Told you you needed this”

“You’re annoying,” you mumble into the pillow, but the words lack bite, especially when she kneads a particularly stubborn knot near your shoulder blade.

She works in silence for a while, her fingers tracing lines of tension you hadn’t even realised were there. The room is quiet save for the occasional creak of the bedframe and the faint, rhythmic sound of her breathing. It’s a kind of intimacy you can’t quite put into words, the way her hands seem to know your body better than you do, seeking out every point of stress like she’s memorised a map of you.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asks eventually, her voice soft but not pushy.

“Not really,” you admit, and she hums in understanding, her hands never faltering.

By the time she’s finished, you feel like a different person—less like a ball of stress masquerading as a human and more like someone who might actually be capable of enjoying life again.

She climbs off you, stretching her arms over her head like she’s just run a marathon. “Well?”

You roll onto your back, blinking up at her. “You missed your calling as a masseuse”

She grins, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. “Nah. I’d much rather save my talents for you”

[myveryownfanfiction]

18+ MINORS AND THOSE WITHOUT AGE IN BIO DNI

tags: @illiana-mystery, @iobsessoverfictionalmen, @onedirectionlovers2014

warnings: mensuration, swearing

A tapping at my window made me stir. Eric was crouched down on my fire escape, staring in at me. The crow on his shoulder took off as I motioned him in. He slowly opened the window and ducked in. I smiled softly at him and reached out.

"What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head at me. His eyes scanned over me as he knelt down next to the bed. "You don't look good."

"Period." I muttered. Eric cupped my cheek and nodded. His thumb rubbed over my cheekbone. "Hit like a fucking freight train this morning."

"I can leave if you want me to." He said, leaning forward to kiss my forehead. "Come back when you're feeling better." I shook my head and reached out to grab his shirt. Eric looked down with a raised eyebrow.

"That won't be for a week." I groaned. "Please don't." He nodded and I loosened my grip on his shirt. "What did you do for Shelly?" I asked finally. Eric moved to sit next to me on the bed.

"What do you mean?" he asked, brushing hair off my face and rubbing my back.

"What did you do for her? When she had her period? Did you hold her? Draw her a bath? Buy her candy? What did you do?" Eric looked away and focused on the rain pouring down out of the window. "Eric?"

"She kicked me out basically." He finally answered. "She didn't like me being around her. Said it was too much to handle at once. I played a lot of gigs during that week." Eric turned back to me. "I still bought her candy. Art supplies. Anything she would have wanted. I left it outside the door and headed back out after." I smiled softly.

"That sounds sweet." I said, reaching over and putting my hand on his leg. He nodded, eyes downcast. "What did she say after?"

"She didn't say anything. Just kissed my cheek and practically dragged me to the bedroom." Eric laughed. "That was her way of showing me her appreciation for what I had done." He shrugged, looking back up and meeting my eyes. "I never complained." I smiled at him.

"I would think you wouldn't." I laughed. Eric shrugged, smiling at me. "Well, I'd much rather have you here to cuddle with me." I squeezed his leg. "Unless you have somewhere else to be tonight." I added, noticing the crow sitting on the fire escape. Eric shook his head.

"Tonight I'm all yours." He said, climbing over me and taking his place behind me. I hummed happily as his warm hand pressed against my abdomen. "Sleep. I'll be here when you wake." I nodded sleepily, scooting back against him before nodding off.

[cheynovak]

TikTok Trouble

Jensen Ackles x Y/N f/reader girlfriend

English isn't my first language.

Did not proof read, mistakes are possible

This amazing idea/ request is from @deanwinchestersgirl8734

'Hi do you think when you get time you could do a story about Jensen finding out his wife or girlfriend reader was making secret TikTok videos about him and his characters and liking others videos on TikTok lol"

Please do not copy my work. likes/sharing/comments are appreciated

The roaring energy of the convention was intoxicating. Jensen was seated on stage alongside Jared, basking in the enthusiastic chatter of their fans. As the Q&A portion unfolded, Jensen caught snippets of laughter and whispers among the audience that left him curious.

A fan with a devilish grin stepped up to the mic, clutching their phone.

“Hi Jensen, hi Jared!” they beamed. “Okay, this is a little different. So Jensen, have you seen Y/N’s TikToks?"

The question hit Jensen like a freight train. His brows knitted together in confusion, his lips parting slightly. “Her TikToks?" he repeated. "Wait…she’s on TikTok? What…what kind of TikToks?"

Jared burst into laughter beside him, throwing his head back as if he’d been holding in the knowledge for weeks. "Oh, man, you haven’t seen them? Dude, they’re hilarious!"

Jensen’s ears flushed a faint shade of red as the fan’s grin widened.

“Um, so Y/N has been making these really fun videos about you and your characters. And also…she, uh, likes edits and stuff that people make of you. She even…” The fan trailed off with a giggle, holding their phone up. “Want me to show you one?”

Jensen leaned forward with intrigue. “You better show me now, because clearly, I’m the last to know!”

The fan swiped through their phone and played a video. On the screen, there was Y/N, subtly filming from the corner of the makeup trailer. Jensen was seated in the chair, half in-character, as the crew styled his hair.

The camera then panned dramatically to him. She overlaid a dog ear and tongue filter and captioned it with: “Who's mommy's good boy, you are! Yeah you are!"

Followed by a video of him in a hydrating mask. "Babe... What are you doing." Jensen asks jokingly "I'm batman."

"Of course babe... I support you!"

The crowd roared with laughter while Jensen’s jaw dropped. He let out a strangled laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Oh my God, that woman! That…that sneaky…”

Jared, not helping in the slightest, chimed in. “Oh, wait, the best one's coming. Show him the Walker one!”

The fan gleefully skipped to another video. It was Y/N’s most recent post: on the set of Walker, where Jensen had been directing. The video began with a close-up of Jared leaning casually against a truck, all smoldering Texan charm.

“Hot damn!" Y/N narrated jokingly. Jared turned his head, raising an eyebrow, clearly aware of the filming. With a playful grin and exaggerated Texan drawl, he said, “Want to hop in my truck for a ride, sugar?”

Y/N’s laugh echoed through the video as she turned the camera so she could join in. “Hmm, I don’t know, Jared," she teased, tilting her phone to capture more of his smirk. “Think your truck can handle all this?”

Jared leaned closer to her and the camera, his grin widening. “Darlin’, my truck’s seen plenty of rough rides, but you might just be the challenge it’s been waiting for.”

The audience erupted in cheers and laughter, completely eating up the playful banter. Y/N’s laugh rang out in the video again as she panned the camera away from Jared, who was still smirking behind her.

“Nah, I’m saving my ride for that man," she quipped, and the camera panned dramatically over to Jensen, looking sharp as ever in his cowboy attire. As she got closer to him, she joked, “Save a horse, I’ll ride that cowboy," and winked at the camera.

Jensen groaned, burying his face in his hands as Jared cackled beside him. The audience was in hysterics.

“Oh my God, she’s going to be the death of me,” Jensen said, voice muffled from his hands.

“Nah, you love it,” Jared teased, clapping his shoulder. “Just admit it—she’s out there making sure you’re appreciated by the entire internet.”

Jensen straightened, his eyes glittering with a mix of amusement and faux indignation. “Yeah, well, I guess I need to have a talk with my girlfriend about sneaking around on set with her phone.”

The fan couldn’t resist adding, "She’s basically your biggest fan, though! You can’t be mad!"

Jensen smirked, folding his arms. “Oh, I’m not mad. But let’s just say, if she’s going to film me…she better be ready for some payback.”

The fans erupted in cheers, already anticipating the behind-the-scenes TikTok war that was bound to ensue.

--

Taglist -> Click here to add

@jackles010378 @libby99hb @winchesterwild78 @suckitands33 @mostlymarvelgirl @deans-baby-momma @ancles @tulipsvanilla

@thesilmarillionblog @jays-bonnie-on-the-side @kr804573 @kamisobsessed @hobby27 @globetrotter28 @kindollss

@muhahaha303 @shadysoulangel @lyarr24 @spxideyver @impala67rollingthroughtown @panickedbitch @deansimpalababy

@livya99 @yvonneeeee @ladykitana90 @stoneyggirl2 @imsiriuslyreal @panickedbitch @roseblue373 @n-o-p-e-never

@ariasong11 @lmpala1967 @sherlockstrangewolf

[avidfics]

pretty pretty pretty pls part 2 to moving on if you’re feeling up to it!

Appreciate the request anon :)

Trying to Move On

summary: soccer player abby doesn’t like seeing you with someone else (Moving on Part 2)

warnings: slightly toxic and clueless abby; jealousy, slight groping, fluff, angst, teeny tiny mention of fingering but mostly fluff

a/n: appreciate all the love part 1 received! thanks!

abby knew how to handle a team, she was an awesome soccer player, but she was shit at winning her girl back. It had just been over a week since you sprung on her that you were going on a date and were sick of her not reciprocating your feelings. What the hell did that even mean? Sure she had a certain reputation around campus but everyone knew that you were her main girl. 

After every game it was your body she’d enveloped in a crushing celebratory embrace, it was your name she’d accidentally whisper while she’d be thrusting her fingers into a random girl (which resulted in countless unfriendly slaps across the face), and it was your bed she’d sneak in whenever she was completely spent, snuggling her front to your plush backside. Arms circling your warm waist while her heavy hands always found a way to push themselves to nestle between your thighs. 

Her legs pressed together just reminiscing how your thighs always instinctively would wedge her hand in deeper, a slight high-pitched moan escaping your lips. 

abby let out a sigh. It was her favorite sleep position and kept her hand nice and toasty throughout the night. 

The image of someone else taking her destinated spot in your bed hit her with the force of a freight truck. What if you no longer unlocked your door late at night because your lame date was the one sneaking their hand between your thighs, pulling honey-coated pleas from your lips? 

Her hands balled into fists just thinking about the image. You two were inseparable, truthfully she didn’t know where she ended and you started, and she wouldn’t wish it any other way. If only she wasn’t so clueless when it came to talking about her feelings and desires. 

The beep of a door locking breaks her out of the maddening thought of you with someone else and is replaced with a radiant smile as you round the side of her house to meet her in the backyard, a place she typically practices drills during her free time. 

You had tried distancing yourself from abby over the past week but today she asked for you to come over and spend time together like you used to do. The request wasn’t easy to agree to, especially since you were trying to get over abby. But you could never say no to her, which was a fact abby was well aware of and continued to use to her advantage. 

You immediately regret your decision as you walk onto the vibrant green grass and see abby causally kicking a soccer ball in full leisure attire that would look ordinary on anyone else but was panty melting on her. Loose navy shorts hugged her ass and cut off high on her thighs, leaving out her toned, muscular legs in full view. As she did complicated foot work her muscles flexed in a way that created sinful thoughts sprouting in your mind. Your only luck was the fact that she wore a full shirt, even though her burly arms were on full display, a thin layer of sweat highlighted every little groove and dent along her delicious body. 

But more than anything, what had your heart pounding was the way her face morphed into a blinding smile immediately when she noticed you walking onto the field. 

Which made it almost gut-wrenching when your date from last week finally came into view. abby’s smile went lopsided and her stride fumbled a bit as she glared at the girl standing a bit too close to your side. 

Your date seemed oblivious to abby’s irked glare as she stepped forward, hand-stretched for a handshake. “I’ve heard so much about you and am a huge fan-” her pleasantries hang in the air as abby pushes past the outstretched hand and bends low to wrap her arms beneath your bum and lifts you into the air. ��Abigail anderson let me down now!” you screech even as a smile threatens to break out from her firm lips.

Not that abby is deterred as she smiles from below you. “Let me have my fun, its been forever, doll.” The past week of radio silence is all forgotten as the familiarity between you two returns with smooth ease. 

An awkward cough from your date pops the bubble. You start to struggle away a bit more but abby just gives a stubborn look in retaliation. It takes pinching her ear for her to reluctantly set you down. A pout quickly forms on her lips but she finally drags her attention to your date. “Thought Uber drivers were supposed to remain in the car.” 

The insult takes both you and your date by surprise but luckily, she recovers fast. An easy grin slides on her face. “If I was only the Uber driver, her mouth gave me a pretty intimate tip last night.” 

Embarrassment heated your checks yet you refused to duck down in shame since you were single. But the look on abby’s face makes you immediately glance away. Burning accusations and a hundred demanding questions were silently thrown your way. But to the girl, abby just chuckles. Her face seemed carefree but below veins along her arm became visible as she gripped her hands together in a vise. “Good to know my teachings are paying off after so many nights together.” She gives the girl a dismissive once-over. “Her choice of partner could be better. But now that my team has a few home games lined up, I’ll be here to fill any needs. You shouldn't expect as many calls after today.”

With that she drags you away to the porch even as you apologize profusely to your date. As soon as you enter her place you snatch your hand away. “Fuck you, abby.” 

Any lingering anger had already melted away from her shoulders. That smile reserved only for you came back as she leaned so close that you became squashed against her chest and the metal door knob. She squeezes against you so closely that you can tell her sports bra is unpadded as pebbled nipples drag against your boobs. “Sure, doll. Does right here work?” The soft puffs of her breath tickle your lips. There seems to be a direct link from the bounding beats of your heart to the maddening pulse in your clit. So distracted you almost don’t hear her. “Because I can attach my strap-on in under a minute.” The click of her locking the door behind your waist jerks your thoughts away from the sinful curiosity of what she’d look like with a strap-on tied around her hips. 

And judging by her mocking smile she already guessed what you were imagining. “I’m glad you find humor is my humiliation. This is all just one big joke to you, right? Finally, I found someone who is actually interested in me, and your first instinct is to sabotage it.” Desperately you dash the horny thoughts away to be able to look her in the eyes. Demanding an answer. 

Her brow scrunches. “oh please, there’s been plenty of girls interested in you. It takes forever to get rid of them.” Her callused hand reaches out to snag you closer by your belt buckle. “But if you want to go on awkward dates which will ultimately result in nothing, be my guest sweetheart. Sure, it sucks that we’re together and you want to date around, but whatever.” The pout returns even as her strong grip remains on your belt buckle. That last sentence takes your entire focus, leaving you to be dragged by the brooding girl into the living room. Completely malleable as she sits on her sofa, reclined horizontally, and settles you so your butt nestles against her thighs so you're propped up. She’s fully content now as she hums a little song, tracing patterns along your soft legs. 

As good as being handled by abby feels, what she’s claiming has just shifted the world on its axis. “abs… we’re not together.”

She rolls her eyes. Both her heavy hands grips your waist - pressing her rough fingertips into your cushioned skin. With anyone else you’d feel self-conscious but with her you just felt cherished. “I think I’d know if we were going out or not.”

“Just because you’re jealous doesn’t mean you can make things up.”

The prettiest clueless expression morphs across her face. “So even though I stole a copy of your keys, we hang out every single day, I listed you as my wife on my insta bio, and I'm always dry humping you whenever I sleep over your place, that doesn’t mean we’re together?” Another wave of embarrassment makes you bend over and cower your face in her neck. “I swear you’re so dumb sometimes. Abs, you can’t just assume. You have to ask.”

“Do I have to get on one knee?” you laughed at her clueless joke. “Babe, what will it take for you to date me?” The soft question is followed by her heavy paws climbing higher and higher along your inner thighs. A whiny moan slips out your mouth when her thumbs get dangerously close to your outer lips. 

Still, you playfully acted as if to ponder the question over. “Hmm, I’ll add you to my roster.”

That smile, you absolutely adored, returns. As if pleased with your answer, twin kisses are pressed to your inner wrists. “As long as I’m placed at number one I’m certain I can get rid of the others.”

[chvoswxtch]

getaway

pairing: karen page x fem!reader

summary: karen has been working too much lately, so you planned a little weekend getaway.

warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol, explicit sexual content (minors dni)

word count: 1.3k

a/n: the other half of our lil pride week surprise. @thyme-in-a-bubble was the one who suggested karen & the cabin, so y'all can thank her. as always, feedback is welcomed/appreciated!

Trying to get Karen Page to slow down was like trying to stop a freight train with your bare hands. She was strong willed and dedicated to things she was passionate about, and while you loved that about her, your girlfriend seemed to be a magnet for drama and danger. So, with the help of Ellison, she was given a mandatory vacation, and you planned a whole peaceful and romantic weekend for the two of you in a cabin upstate.

The one rule you imposed was to fully disconnect. You confiscated her phone, turned it off, and locked it in the glovebox of her car along with your own. The city and all its trouble could wait for a weekend. 

While Karen was a little restless at first, when you mentioned going for a swim in the lake behind the cabin and informed her that you’d conveniently forgotten a swimsuit, she suddenly had a lot more interest in making the most of this trip. The two of you went on a walk through a beautiful trail in the woods, even had a little picnic, relaxed in more ways than one in the hot tub on the deck, cuddled up together on the porch swing and stargazed while sipping wine, and made sticky messes of yourselves making smores in the fire pit.

All you wanted Karen to do was relax, and you were determined to make sure that she did. The blaze of the fire was the only light in the living room, and the crackle of burning wood created comfortable background noise while you two lounged on the plush couch. You’d loosened Karen up with a few glasses of wine, and the golden glow of the flames illuminating her face ignited a craving within you. Leaning in, you pressed a soft kiss to her neck, and you didn’t miss the content sigh that left her lips, encouraging you to continue. 

You left a trail of wet, open mouthed kisses along her neck, gliding your tongue along her skin, faintly nipping at the spot below her jaw you knew drove her crazy. Reaching for the hem of her oversized wool sweater, you teasingly pulled it upwards, revealing more and more of her soft skin until it was bunched up above her breasts. Without wasting a second, you cupped one of her breasts in your hand and squeezed it gently, earning a soft noise from Karen, and you leaned over to wrap your lips around her nipple. She slipped her hand into your hair, arching her back slightly as you swirled your tongue slowly around her peaked bud and sucked on it softly.

“Fuck, baby.”

That whispered moan went straight to your cunt, and it only made you crave her more. You showed her other nipple the same dedicated attention, squeezing her soft breasts in your hands, relishing in the soft moans that slipped past her lips. Pressing a kiss against the skin in the valley between her breasts, you started to trail your lips down her stomach, slipping down the couch until you were on your knees in front of her. Karen watched you, her captivating blue eyes hooded with pure lust, shifting her hips upwards as you tugged her panties down her hips and thighs, carelessly tossing them aside.

Pushing her thighs apart, you let out a soft moan at the sight of her pretty pussy, reveling in how wet she already was. Spreading her open with your fingers, you ghosted the pad of your thumb over her clit, biting down on your bottom lip when her hips subtly shifted upwards in search of more.

“So pretty.”

Glancing up, the look on her face nearly made you come on the spot. Karen’s cheeks were flushed from the wine and the arousal, her soft lips were parted, her chest was lightly heaving as she stared down at you with lust blown eyes. She looked so beautiful like this, her sweater pushed all the way up to her chest, her soft breasts exposed and nipples glistening with your saliva, and her legs spread wide open displaying her pretty wet pussy. Rubbing your thumb over her clit gently, you whispered softly.

“I wanna help you relax, baby.”

Karen’s lips split into a sinful grin as she slipped her hand back into your hair, brushing it away from your face, tracing her thumb along your bottom lip.

“Yeah? Then why don’t you be a good girl for me and make me come.”

A fresh wave of arousal soaked through the thin material of your panties. You loved when she talked to you like that. It never failed to make you wet. Staring up at her through your lashes, you leaned in slowly, dragging your tongue along her soaked folds teasingly. You began to trace your tongue around her clit in slow circles before wrapping your lips around it and sucking gently. Karen sank her top teeth down into her bottom lip, letting out a soft moan as she moved her hand to the back of your head.

“That’s a good girl. Let me see those pretty eyes while you eat my pussy.”

Alternating between sucking on her clit and flicking your tongue over it repeatedly like a metronome, you maintained eye contact with Karen the entire time, moaning against her core as her taste coated your tongue. She was slowly rolling her hips against your face, tangling her fingers in your hair and tugging gently while watching you.

“That’s it…just like that…that’s my good girl.”

You stared up at Karen intently, watching as she leaned her head back against the couch, closing her eyes for a moment as her lips parted and a sensual moan escaped. Her free hand snaked up her stomach, grabbing her own breast and squeezing it before toying with her nipple, rolling it between her thumb and index finger. You were completely mesmerized by her.

“Fuck that feels so good…making me feel so good baby girl…gonna make me come on that pretty face.”

A desperate moan escaped you at that and Karen’s lips split into a grin as she laughed softly. Opening her eyes to look down at you again, her crystal blue eyes had turned several shades darker, resembling the midnight waves of the Hudson. 

“You want that, don’t you? Wanna make me proud, pretty girl?”

Nodding fervently, you gripped onto her soft thighs tighter and started to suck on her clit more fervently, gliding your fingers along her inner thigh before slipping your index and middle finger into her pussy, pumping them at a steady pace. Karen let out a loud moan, letting her head fall back against the couch again. You were determined to make her come, to make that balloon of euphoria explode inside of her, filling her body with the confetti of gratification and leaving her feeling weightless. 

Karen’s thighs tightened around your head and she tugged roughly at your hair when she came, making you moan while you watched her fall apart, the vibrations of it causing her thighs to tremble even more. She bucked her hips wildly against your face, riding the wave of her orgasm in its entirety as you lapped at her pussy, still pumping your fingers steadily and relishing in the sweet sound of your name leaving her parted lips.

A string of saliva was connected between your mouth and her pussy when you reluctantly pulled back, slowly slipping your fingers out of her and bringing them to your lips to lick them clean. Once Karen caught her breath, she opened her eyes to look down at you with a blissful grin.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”

Letting out a soft laugh, a grin stretched over your lips as you leaned your head against her thigh and gazed up at her lovingly.

“Mm, once or twice.”

Karen leaned over and cupped your face in her hands, pressing her lips against yours in a soft kiss before whispering against them.

“Why don’t you let me show you how much I do.”

tags: @ninejloveb0t @firesunflamed @oscarisaacsleftknee @ameliaswife @kmc1989 @mentallyunstablebish @pone21 @urlocalgeek @winkev1 @edencherries @tuttifuckinfruttifriday @lalalalalolalalalola @clarasmoon @cheshirecat484 @viennangel

[thatchickwiththecamera]

If I'm There

This is from a request sent to me by @lma1986

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x Female Reader

TW: Death, Loss, Grief.  

Any and all feedback is appreciated!

Y/N groaned upon entering the hotel room and flung her body onto the crisply made king sized bed. The pelican case she had been holding was discarded somewhere along her journey. Noah, her boyfriend of two years, simply smiled at her antics as he rolled their remaining bags into the entryway. 

Noah’s band, Bad Omens, had just wrapped up their latest North American tour with a four day run of shows across central and eastern Canada. Y/N was a member of the band’s visuals team and worked as the lighting and video technician alongside Matt at Front of House. Her and Noah met four years ago when she was running visuals for one of the bands supporting Bad Omens on tour. 

Noah, Matt, and Nicholas liked her work and decided to extend an offer to join their growing team prior to the next tour. After two years of working with Bad Omens and two years of tip-toeing around shared feelings, Noah finally asked her on a date and as they say, the rest is history. 

With this tour coming to a close, it meant that they had the next two weeks off to do whatever they wanted before the guys had to be back in Los Angeles to finish tracking the new album. Everyone was scheduled to fly back to their respective home states at various times throughout the next day. While all of the gear was to be freighted back to the LA to either be stored in the warehouse until the next tour or to be moved into the awaiting studio space for recording. 

“I am so ready to sleep in my own bed,” She exclaimed, voice slightly muffled by the pillows. “I think the mattresses in the bunks are getting worse with each tour.”

“Either that or we’re just finally starting to feel older.” he said, flopping down next to her, “I mean, we are almost thirty.” 

“Don’t remind me.” She groans.

Before she can raise the question of who gets first dibs at the shower, she is interrupted by the familiar sound of her sister’s ringtone chirping from the phone in the front pocket of her hoodie. 

“Yellow!” She tiredly exclaims, placing the phone on speaker. 

“Y/N” the serious tone of her sister's voice cuts through the speaker. 

She immediately sits up and looks over at Noah, now sporting a concerned look on his face that she was sure matched her own. 

Her sister rarely called her by her first name. Mainly using childhood nicknames. Never her given name. 

“What’s wrong?” Y/N questions. 

“Y/N…it's Olivia.” Her sister continued, voice shaky. “There’s been an accident.”

She went on to explain that Olivia, Y/N’s best friend since as long as she could remember, had been hit head on by a drunk driver on her way home from dinner with friends from work. She had been rushed to the local trauma center where the medical team had managed to stabilize her but they stated that the next 24 hours were going to be critical. 

Noah was immediately on the phone with Matt, who five minutes later knocked on their door ready to drive them to the airport. 

The small airport chapel was dark and empty. The smell of incense lingered in the air from a Mass held earlier in the day. Y/N sat quietly in the last pew staring up at the large crucifix hanging on the wall above the altar and tabernacle. 

Despite eventually developing a vehement disinterest in organized religion as an adult, Y/N had been raised in the Bible Belt of the deep south and had grown up in and out of church as a child and young adult. She had witnessed and experienced enough over the course of her life that made her unable to completely let go of the notion that there was a greater power at play somewhere in the universe. 

Her grandmother always expressed belief in the power of prayer and when her usual sage advice fell on the deaf ears of a stubborn teenager, she always told Y/N to ultimately pray about it. 

“Give it up to God,” she would say, “Put it in his hands.” 

There were no direct flights out of Toronto, which left them stuck at JFK in New York City for the next three hours due to a layover. Noah’s many years on the road made it possible for him to sleep pretty much anywhere despite his tall frame. But her anxiety prevented her from finding any respite of sleep on the uncomfortable metal chairs outside the gate. 

Which is why she now found herself sitting in the Our Lady of the Skies chapel talking to a wooden crucifix. 

“I don’t know how to talk to you or if you even are actually there and listening,” She states, eyes stinging from the tears that threatened to form, “But at this point I’m desperate.”

“If there is one person in this lifetime that deserves to live a long and fulfilling life it is her,” she continued, “she can be one of the most naive people I know, but she has only ever brought kindness and love into this world because of it.” 

“You’ve already taken so many from me…,” she pleads, unable to hold back the tears as a few escape and trail down her cheeks. “Please don’t take her too.” 

A moment later she felt the warmth of an arm wrap around her and turned to see Noah sit down next to her, their carry-ons bags sitting on the floor in the aisle next to the pew. 

She buried her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, placed a tender kiss on her head and held her close as she finally let the tears pour out. 

Upon landing in South Carolina, Y/N's sister met them at baggage claim. She looked as tired and spread thin as Y/N did. She knew just how much Olivia meant to her little sister, and also considered her a good friend. But her bond of friendship was no wear near as unbreakable as the one that had been built between Olivia and Y/N over the years.

She wrapped Y/N up into a tight hug and let her know that Olivia had been rushed back into emergency surgery about an hour before they had landed. They had found internal bleeding that was previously missed due to the severity of the initial trauma sustained in the crash, causing her previously stable condition to quickly deteriorate. 

Upon arriving at Columbia Memorial Hospital, they quickly located Olivia’s parents in the waiting room outside the Intensive Care Unit. Olivia’s mother, Mary grabbed Y/N in a  bone crushing hug the second she saw her, thanking them for coming as quickly as they did. She followed the band and knew the journey they had made to be there. Before they could speak further, a man dressed in surgical scrubs emerged from the large bay door. She felt Noah take her hand and give it a squeeze.

Mary walked over to the doctor. He grabbed her hands and shook his head. Y/N couldn’t hear the words he spoke, but Mary’s reaction to them told her all she needed to know. 

Olivia was gone.

Y/N felt numb. She felt her emotions shut down. She wanted to cry, to scream, to fall to her knees but her body just remained frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. Noah’s hand never left hers and his grip never faltered.

They briefly expressed their condolences to Mary and other member’s of their family before leaving them space to grieve. There was no reason for them to stay at the hospital while Mary began the heartbreaking task of preparing for her only child’s funeral. 

The drive to her sister’s house was silent. She showed Y/N and Noah to the guest room and left them to unpack and prepare for bed. 

Y/N found little sleep that night. As sunlight began to stream in through the bedroom window, she turned to peer at the clock on the nightstand. 

It read 6:00am. She quietly rose so as not to disturb Noah’s sleeping form in the bed next to her. She quickly dressed, grabbed her sneakers, and headed out the front door. 

Y/N ran. 

She ran until her lungs felt like broken shards of glass. 

She ran until her legs felt like they were made of jello.

She ran until her feet were numb and weighed heavy like cinder blocks.

In school, she ran after her first heartbreak, she ran when her father died of cancer, she ran when her mother became absent in her own grief leaving her and her sister to fend for themselves, until she would eventually pass as well. 

She ran when all of life's problems seemed to pile up as high as the peaks of Mount Everest and bare down on her shoulders. 

When life didn’t make sense, Y/N ran. 

Olivia had always been the one to run with her. When her own body would grow tired she would remain on the bench at the trailhead of the old high school cross country course, making sure Y/N knew she wasn’t alone. 

But now Olivia was gone and the bench by the trailhead sat empty save for the water bottle Y/N had discarded at the start of her run. She tried to ignore the empty spot as she set out on her second loop. 

As she circled around again she spotted a second water bottle sitting next to hers on the bench. She felt the already growing agitation stir inside her further at the idea of having to interact with a stranger on the course. She prayed they would just run their route and leave her alone. 

Halfway through her third loop she heard the sound of another person coming up from behind her and expected them to call out what side they would be passing her and continue their run. 

Instead the person fell into stride next to her. She turned her head, ready to tell the stranger to politely fuck off, but stopped when she saw Noah running next to her.

He didn’t say anything, just kept running, never leaving her side as they continued to complete two more loops. He knew this was something she had to do, and despite his own fatigue, he wasn’t going to let her do it alone. 

Toward the end of her fifth loop, she felt her legs start to give way. Her toes snagged on a root sticking up in the middle of the path and she waited for her body to hit the dirt. She thought that maybe she would just lay there for a while and let the earth swallow her whole, but the impact never came. 

Instead she felt Noah wrap his arms around her. Pulling her firmly into his chest. The weight of everything she tried to hold inside started to fracture and crumble around her. The emotion she tried to run from rebounded back like a lightning bolt striking her directly in the heart. She thrashed against his hold and hit the bottom of her fists against his chest. 

She screamed out in rage as the hot tears streamed down her face. But despite her best attempts at getting him to let go, his hold remained firm. Noah was sure that his chest was red by the time she finally relaxed in his arms. He took the opportunity to kneel down and scooped the sobbing figure of the woman he loved into his arms. She didn’t have the energy to protest as he carefully carried her home. 

The funeral took place four days later. It was held at St. Joseph's Cathedral downtown where four generations of Olivia’s family had been baptized, confirmed, married, and eulogized. She could not deny that the Mass her family prepared had been beautiful despite Y/N not knowing much about the ways and traditions of the Catholic Church. 

After the service, Mary came up to the both of them and thanked them again for traveling back like they did and for staying for the service. 

“You were the closest thing Olivia had to a sister and even though it may not have seemed like it at times, you were and still are like my second child.” She stated. “Thank you for being her friend and being in our lives.” 

Tears once again formed in her eyes as Mary pulled her in for one of her soul squeezing motherly hugs that Y/N learned to cherish over the years. 

“I love you so much” she said, reaching up to grab either side of Y/N’s face, wiping away the tears with the pads of her thumbs. “And I am so proud of you.”

“I love you too.” Y/N replied, before hugging the woman once again. 

The next day they were scheduled to fly back to LA, but not before visiting Olivia’s grave. It was covered in layers of floral arrangements and marked by a temporary placard with ‘Olivia Renee Barber” and her dates of birth and death engraved on dark metal. 

Noah stayed back as Y/N paid her respects. He wished that he could take all of her grief and carry it on his own shoulders so she didn’t have to weather the burden. He knew from his own experiences that she had to go through this process at her own pace. Loss was not linear and there were no magical boxes to check as you grieve and heal.

There was one thing he knew for absolute certain. As long as he was around, she would never go through anything in this world alone. He’d be there to catch her when she’d fall and just as he knew she’d do the same for him in return.

[marastriker]

Freight Appreciation Week Day One: The Cabeese

@freightappreciationweek

AV (OLC)

He's my dad of the caboose family, he's a lot of fun but has no idea what discipline is. Too tired for crime at his age, but will encourage it. Maintains that funky mustache. Rat energy. Faceclaim: Michael Staniforth.

CB (the red thing)

The younger sibling with all the younger sibling energy. Once dragged a racoon through the house. Is just cute enough to get away with shit constantly. Out of touch with reality and has trouble making meaningful relationships. Faceclaim: a mix of Todd Lester and Ben Draper

BV (update caboose)

The older sibling, all of the responsibility, none of the fun. Shirked off responsibility as a kid because he wasn't born just to look after his creature of a brother. Smooth criminal, sly and charismatic, but a better person than he actually lets on. Faceclaim: Gary Sheridan

[goblin-iz-whack]

@freightappreciationweek 7: Free Day

For this day, I decided to do some of the lesser known and obscure Freight Trucks:

OLC Freezer Truck/Zero "Burr":

I decided to call him "Burr" because we already have a Zero (Post 2018 Volta), and you go "Brrrr" when you're cold.

I also decided to change him to a Refrigerated Boxcar because it felt more old/antique, esp since our preconceived notion is that Freezer Trucks (Like Volta and the new Zero) are Electric and flashy.

The only real headcanons I have for him is that he's an older Freight Truck, and he tells terrible jokes.

Prince of Wales' Guard "Sentry":

"Sentry" literally means like....guard-

He's a Security Truck, I think it'd be a decent contrast to the higher tech Killerwatt.

He's serious about his job and all, but he is easily distracted by good looking trains.

Mail Van/Strike "Crank":

I know it's commonly accepted that his name is "Strike," but I have an oc with a very similar name, so I call him "Crank" as in "Crank Mail" which is a hostile/fanatical letter.

Idk if a Mail Van is a Freight Truck but idc-

He is just a littol man. He has a terrible little mustache.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

What's Been Going On.

Hey gang.

First off, before I make a cut, I just want to thank y'all for your patience and understanding the past couple months with my... distinct lack of interesting posting. I really appreciate it. I spend so much time here that I tend to eventually burn out and then feel bad when I physically can't provide y'all with new stuff. I love this blog and the community here, and I'm grateful that y'all are so understanding.

The TL;DR for those who aren't able to read below the cut due to the content warnings: I've lost 2 relatives in the past couple weeks, and one of them hit me very hard. I am sad, but I am trying my best to carry on. It will hurt for awhile, and I'm not okay right now, but I will be... I always am.

Below the cut, cw for descriptions of deaths, cancer, depression.

So, as I mentioned, I lost two family members in two weeks, almost exactly a week apart from each other. One, my youngest aunt (dad's sister) who I wasn't close with but I saw occasionally, from a sudden heart attack. The second, a little over a week later, was my uncle (dad's brother and my godfather) after a LONG battle with various cancers but the final one was leukaemia, and he passed away this past Monday. This is the one that hit me like a freight train because I was very close with this uncle.

For context, PRIOR to all of this, I haven't been sleeping well since just before the time change for some reason – so about a month or two. I just can't sleep through a whole night anymore, and it's frustrating and leaving me exhausted for weeks on end (the insomnia is important to note and it will be relevant in a sec).

Last year I think it was, maybe the year before, my uncle was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had undergone months of radiation and it went into remission. Then about a year or so, it came back as a different cancer, but I can't remember which one it was. Half a year ago, he got leukaemia, and was undergoing chemo and blood platelet replacement therapy for a few months.

On Remembrance Day weekend (November 11), the family found out that there was nothing more they could do for my uncle's treatments. This was devastating news for all of us to hear. Of course we hoped he would be okay until after Christmas, but his prognosis was already less-than-2-months after that revelation.

A week later, my aunt passed away suddenly. No pre-conditions other than probably being overweight and a heavy smoker, but my cousin (her 17-year-old daughter) found her in her room. I am closer with the cousin than the aunt, so I was texted by one of my other aunts at 2am Friday morning to talk to my cousin, since I have gone through a traumatic sudden-death of a parent and this cousin trusts and relates to me. And the only reason I saw the text was because I was already awake due to my insomnia. I called the cousin and stayed on the phone for 6 hours with her to ensure she was going to be okay. I took the day off work to sleep.

Exactly a week later, my uncle was rushed to the hospital with a brain bleed and pneumonia. I was texted by a DIFFERENT aunt, this one being the one I am closest to and knows how close I am to my uncle, last Thursday. I found out on the Friday I took off of work that he wasn't going to get better, that the bleed was essentially killing him slowly.

This uncle, for outsider understanding, essentially became a second father to me after my dad died and I moved to be closer to his family. He became the parent my mother wasn't. This uncle ensured I was always okay, and would drop everything for me. So to say I was devastated to learn that I was losing him forever brought up a lot of core memories from when my dad died is an understatement. First, my aunt dying young, like my dad, from a sudden heart attack, like my dad. Then my father figure in my life dying shortly after? Lots of turmoil this past couple weeks for me.

On Sunday, November 24, I said my final goodbye to my uncle, and he passed away on the 25th. It hurts so badly that I want to scream non-stop. I took that Monday off to grieve, and worked from home the rest of the week to sit in my grief alone. One of the things I am so grateful for was that I was able to say goodbye to him, and to tell him how much he meant to me, how much I love him. It gave me a sense of closure that I didn't have with my dad when he died. One of my biggest regrets about my dad passing is that morning he died, I never said "I love you" like I usually did because I was running late for work.

I did not want to make that mistake again. I got to hug my uncle, and tell him I love him so, so much, and I got to thank him for always being there for me when dad died. That he helped me through my grief when I finally did break three years after he died.

I let him know he was loved; I am so grateful for that opportunity.

I miss him so much it physically hurts.

Just because his death was inevitable, it doesn't make it any easier. It feels different than my dad's death, for sure, in the sense that I lost dad too young and unexpectedly. But it still hurts to lose someone I love even if I know he's leaving us. I am just glad he's not suffering anymore; he was in immense pain when I saw him last.

So, this past week, I have been sitting in my grief, crying at mundane things because they remind me of him or things we did together. I've played video games to distract my mind, and tried my best to work on this blog, albeit at a minimum.

The surprising thing I think about this whole ordeal is the immense support I'm getting from my coworkers, and my employer's understanding about my situation. I have a job that's primarily digital, so they've let me take as much time as I need to feel up to working fully again, and I am just EXHAUSTED, but I want to try to go back to the office on Monday, to get back to the routines that make me feel comfort. Work has said that if I'm having a hard time I can go back home, which, again, is so generous. I was at a different job when my dad died, and they didn't want me gone more than a week. This has been literally 2 weeks non stop of me working / not working / working from home..... I just cannot wait until Christmas break so I can finally just REST. I am extremely lucky to have the job I have, and I am very aware of that. The fact that they're letting me have more grievance leave than normal for a non-immediate family member boggles my mind, but again, I am grateful.

So yeah, that's what's been going on with me the past couple months. It's been chaotic, I'm tired, and very very lonely. AND to top it all off, I'm feeling my seasonal depression seeping in earlier than normal because of all this stress and anxiety, and I just... ugh. I need to get back to routine.

This is also why I'm doing the Christmas cards this year... because I want to have a bit of happiness this holiday season in what will probably be even more depressing than normal. My Dad's death-iversary is on January 11, and will be 17 years since his passing. It will be harder to cope with this year more than ever now, I think. Best I can do is continue to talk to my therapist to keep me from sinking further, and not bottle everything all up like I did 17 years ago.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I haven't been "feeling it" these past couple months, and I know it shows in the lack of content I've been posting or producing. But I am so grateful to this community for understanding without the context y'all didn't have before now, and I hope you guys understand that I won't feel like myself again for awhile.

I'll try my best, though.

Love y'all. 💜

[artisticdivasworld]

Managing Stress on the Road: A Guide for New Truck Drivers

If you bought it, a trucker hauled it. As we celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, it’s important to not only acknowledge the hard work and dedication of drivers but also to address the challenges they face on the road—especially the stress that comes with the job. For new drivers, adjusting to long hours, unpredictable schedules, and the isolation that comes with being on the road…

[isaterriblebore]

Stex Appreciation Month Day 2: Pearl

Favourite Actor?

I love Reva Rice of course but I also go the chance to see Ashlyn Weekes as Pearl from the Wembley production and she was amazing! As for Opal (post 2018 Pearl) - I loved Sophie-Rose Middleton!

Favourite Song/Scenes?

I love Whistle for Me and Next Time You Fall in Love. My favourite scene is the scene after Race 3 in the new Wembley production.

Favourite Costumes?

I prefer the 90s Bochum costume but I loved the tutu Pearl had in the earlier London production.

Favourite Ships/Friendships?

Ships: Pearl/Rusty or Pearl/Greaseball Friendships: She's close with all the coaches and maybe most of the freight too.

Headcanons?

She has a tiara collection... based on the Bochum Pearls each getting a different style of tiara <3

Unpopular Opinion?

I don't really have any... Photo 1: Reva Rice - London 1992. Photo 2: Sophie-Rose Middleton - Bochum 2024. Photo 3: Amanda Coutts - UK Tour 2012. Photo 4: Ashlyn Weekes - Wembley 2024. Photo 5: Beverley Braybon - Bochum 1992.