#have to wait until the 14th/15th to get them this SUCKS

[clegfly]

@inspectorbram ME MY HONEST REACTION WHEN YOU HYPE UP BIRTHDAY GIFTS AND KEEP THEM SECFET!!!!!!!

[delta-pavonis]

more doctor/curator pleeeaaaase? xo @hardly-an-escape

Far be it from me to deny anyone of more of these two sweet little whores... (I really really like them and will be back to their unhinged shenanigans after the Bang). More under the cut in the middle because NSFW.

Hob is shocked they make it past the entryway after the door to his flat closes behind them. 

But, let's be clear, the only reason they do is because Dream sees the tapestry that hangs in the library that opens to the left of the foyer.

The room has no windows, bookshelves from floor to high ceilings on all vertical surfaces except for the rectangle of glass that encases the textile art in a climate-controlled space. 

“My God, Hob,” Dream is walking towards it like he is being pulled in by a tractor beam on some spaceship, floating and not of his own volition. “Is this real?”

He comes up behind Dream and wraps his arms around the curator. “Aye,” he rests his chin on a black-clad shoulder, “family heirloom, late 14th century. The story is that one of my ancestors learned tapestry weaving in Paris and brought it back to Kent, taught her children, and their children. Gadling-made work supposedly hung in most castles in southern Britain by the mid-15th century. But this one was kept by the family. Why this particular tapestry over others is lost to time.”

A giant white horse rears up across the silken surface, narrowly avoiding the wolves that attack and weave around its legs. In the forest other beasts watch: owls, foxes, deer, squirrels, songbirds. It is very clearly not a unicorn, which is fascinating because it loses the religious symbolism typical of the period. The sun is setting in the background, making the leaves glow with a burnished copper color. 

“It is exquisite,” Dream whispers, leaning back into Hob. “And explains your preference for the Middle Ages.”

“Got it in one,” Hob chuckles. He pushes his hands up the front of Dream's shirt, presses his palms to the flat of his abdomen and digs his fingertips into the trail of dark hair that runs down the center.

Dream sways into it, going pliant in Hob's embrace. “So what's your desired order of operations, doctor? Far be it from me to choose a schedule that might endanger the lives of others by leaving you short on sleep.” He grabs one of Hob's hands and slides it down into his pants, where his cock is sticky and half-hard already. “Also, I think I have a Christmas present I might request of you.” He presses his arse into Hob's groin with a rolling motion, arching his back and moaning obscenely loud when Hob's fingers find the frenum piercing.

Fucking hell this man is such a perfect whore.

“Oh?” Hob murmurs, far more focused on cataloging every little sound and twitch that different tugs and twists of the piercing bring about. Dream is rock hard again within seconds, practically writhing against him, yet he is also the one stringing sentences together.

“Oh yes,” he rocks forward into Hob's hand then back into his crotch. “I want to ride your face until I come with your tongue buried in my arse, then turn around and ride your cock until I come again.”

Hob shivers and groans and uses his free hand to open Dream's fly so he has the space to fondle his bollocks. “You want that before or after I put on my leathers and ride you?” 

Dream cries out again, a generous spurt of precum ending up on Hob's hand when he tugs and twists the piercing; apparently a touch of pain isn't bad for this little dove. “Oh, after. Then I'll be on your face longer, waiting for my dick to get back into the game.”

“Mmm, then you'll be riding me even longer after that, just like you want, you insatiable slut.” Hob sucks on the side of his neck, digs his teeth in to bring a bruise to bloom. Dream moans and bucks with the hardest presses of teeth. “Like some pain with your pleasure, dove?”

“Only in small doses.” His long arms swing up and behind Hob's head, tugging his mouth back to his neck. “You?”

Hob gets distracted by expanding the hickey so it flows down to the top of Dream's shoulder. “Not my jam, but I am more than happy to do just about anything that turns my partner on.”

Dream laughs, breathless and happy-sounding, “No wonder you get typecast as a service top.”

Frustrated with the obstacle, Hob pulls Dream's shirt off, flings it somewhere to the side, then continues to paint the skin of his shoulder red and purple with his teeth. “And does everyone assume you're the twinky bottom?” He strokes Dream's cock slowly and grinds his own arousal into that pert little arse.

A gasp interrupts Dream's continued laughing as he grinds back, so much harder than before. “I love surprising people. Upending their expectations. Watching them lose their minds as I expertly take them apart, piece by piece.”

“Expertly?” He can't help but ask.

“What do they say, ten thousand hours to master a skill?” Dream sounds like such a smug little shit and Hob is beyond feral about it.

He moves one hand up to play with the hair on Dream’s chest, to tweak a nipple and hear that lovely little gasp again. “And how much practice have you had, sweet thing?”

“You sure you want the honest answer to that?” He can hear Dream's raised eyebrow.

“Go ahead. Shock me.”

“I stopped counting at one hundred seventy nine different partners.” 

Hob freezes, a whine oozing out through his teeth. Bloody fuck. 

“Hob?”

“Yeah, give me a sec. If I don't dissociate for a minute I am gonna come in my pants because Christ that is hot. Also explains a lot. My God, how many of those were multiples at once?”

Dream's laugh this time is a deep, sensuous rumble. “Not as many as you might think. And I’ve only been gang banged once.” He turns in Hob's arms, dislodging Hob's hand from his prick and leaning in to speak against Hob's lips, “But that was a long time ago. Now I am more interested in exploring how many different sensations I can have with one partner.”

“Oh, so you plan on going full fluid bond with me, do you?”

The blush on Dream’s face is a gorgeous, deep rose red. “I…” he looks down and away for only a moment and then holds his chin up high, proud and perfect, “yes.”

[lostmeadowjade]

🤡 and 🎢 the fic ask!

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh?

Lol, I don't think I have ever written anything that was meant to be deliberately funny. But the closest that comes to mind when I think about it is a scene from haven't forgotten my way home when Loki learns that Sif's brother is Heimdal.

🎢 Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

Okay, so I have two for this and for completely different reasons.

Before the After (SGA, John/Rodney. E, 46.7k): I started this story with on Dec 15th when we got the prompts, and I wrote every single day until Jan 14th. It was supposed to be a 10k story with the bones of a worldbuilding that would allow readers to fill in a lot of the blanks. What ended up happening is that I got sucked into John's experience in this sudden change in his life, and how he was and wasn't dealing with it, and how did that impact his life, Rodney's life, life in Atlantis, in Pegasus? How different would their experiences be with this weird change I had made?

haven't forgotten my way home (MCU, Loki/Sif, M, 17.4k) This story got written in 2 weeks. In a notebook, transcribed to my phone, because my laptop died. But the wild ride for this one was after the story had gone life. I was going in to work that night, waiting at the bus stop, and there were two people talking about this story while we waited for the bus. They were actively discussing my fic in glowing terms and then we got on the bus and they kept talking. I never said anything to them, and I had to get off the bus before they did, but I floated for weeks after that.

[crucifixes-and-chrysanthemums]

I miiight have forgotten to journal a few times.

Last Monday and yesterday I completely forgot. Last week I didn't remember until Wednesday. This week I didn't remember until way late yesterday.

Tattoo tomorrow!! I am so excited. I've been meaning to get this done forever.

Last Thursday I had an interview with the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation for a CNA trainee position. I never saw myself going into healthcare, but every has told me I'd be good at it. And honestly, I think so too. I need to care about people. I need to help people. It's just who I am. I accept that. Anyway, I was told I'd hear more today and haven't gotten the email I was expecting, so if I don't get one tomorrow I'll email her about it. I'm... Sort of excited, honestly.

Idle hands are the devil's playthings. I've enjoyed having time but it's gotten me in trouble. Bored, sinning, just tired. Whatever. Partially I think it's the season, the time of year. I'm just sort of waiting for spring. James and I were supposed to get dinner today but he had to cancel, which sucks. Such is life.

I've sort of had it down for Katharina again, which is always annoying. I mean, how could I not? - look at her! - but still.

Part of it is I'm just lonely. And it sucks. I'm content enough with it to not force something with someone, but still, man. I would like a hug.

On the upside I've been focusing on making sure I am still doing things. Today, I made a loaf of bread. Yesterday, I went to see Mike. Tomorrow, I will get a tattoo. Thursday, I will go to Adoration and Confession. So on and so on. I actually enjoy bread making! I'll make more. I talked to Mike about it all too, and mentioned that I'm happy to help if they need things done around the parish. He said he'd happily let me know.

I made a vision board, too. I'm trying to be more purposeful. Thinking about what I want in life. What I want to do. Doing things and being mentally present for their doing. Every morning I make coffee. I put the water on to boil, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth. By then the water is ready. Pour into the press. Stir. Five minutes. Press it, pour a cup, add sweetened condensed milk. Enjoy. Second cup, add sweetened condensed milk. Enjoy. It's a nice morning ritual. I've gotta get back in the gym at some point, too.

This week is the anniversary of the world shutting down. March 12th, Covid is declared a pandemic or whatever. March 15th, everything shuts down. God. I remember on the 13th, I was student teaching. There was a whole conversation on if stuff would shut down. I remember it so vividly. They stole some of my best fucking years with this shit.

Oh, yeah, I got Pinterest. It's really nice, actually.

Anyway, that's about it, I guess.

Three good things that happened today: I made some really good bread, the dog is healing up really well, and Lana Del Rey released a new song (The Grants).

Three things to do: keep my chin up as much as I can, email the CNR if I don't hear from them tomorrow, and take care of my tattoo.

11:21pm, Tuesday, March 14th, 2023.

[hit-em-with-the-four]

Lifetime of Waiting *Chapter 7*

Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal X Original Female Character

*smut in the chapter* TW: Mentions of death and Covid

(I’m a whore and cannot stop writing smut alongside with the other content but I’ll try to tone it down. Enjoy!)

Chapter 7

“So you’re going back to British Columbia? And you’re going to Quebec and I’m going to be here?” Tessa asks sitting across from her two soulmates in disbelief.

“You’re not coming with one of us?!” Mat asks.

“Was I asked? No, I have a life here and I can’t just be assumed to come with you two always. I have to be asked and you have to ask.”

“Would you like to come?” Tito asks.

“Well considering I have a life, no I can’t.”

“It’s a worldwide pandemic Tess, we’re not letting you stay here. What if you die?” Mat pipes in.

“So what if I die then? So what? Oh well, nothing we can do.” The two men look at each other in alarm.

“You can’t just say that Tessa, you are not going to die and we’re not going to let you.”

“So what if I die. With this pandemic there’s a chance I’ll die, you’ll die, your teammates could die, Anise could die. Death is going to be a part of this and I understand that it’s normal. I wish death is painless but it’s not and we can’t worry. What if this is the last little bit we ever see of each other? What if I die when you guys are gone.”

“That won’t happen, come with us. Or split time between the two of us.” Anthony says.

“I wanna cry or scream or die or anything to feel. I am so so scared guys. I am living in the states, I’ve been around for too long to not be afraid.” Tessa can’t look the two men in the eye. Anthony moves towards her and she flinches away. “Don’t, I don’t want to be held or talked to like I’m fragile guys. I don’t want to, so do not pity me. I am scared and you two aren’t getting it.”

“We get it Tessa, we do. I promise everything is going to be okay, we are going to make sure that you are safe and nothing is going to happen.”

“I don’t want to die.” She cries, her body shaking with sobs. Mat and Anthony look at each other both hearts breaking equally as quickly.

“Tess, you’re not going to die. Can we take you to bed to cuddle you?” She wraps her arms around herself and shakes her head.

“No, I don’t want to be comfortable. I want to feel Mat. I want to feel pain, feel anything because all I feel is nothing since this whole pandemic started. People are dying, what if I am dying, what if I get it.” She’s not making any sense her body racked with sobs, panic rising in her system. She slides to the floor in a heap. “I-I can’t breathe, help.” Anthony comes behind her and holds her to his chest. Mat kneels in front of her and takes her hands into his.

“Okay I need you to look at me Baby girl. Focus on me and my breathing, look at my eyes. Focus,” Mat says rubbing his thumbs over the tops of her hands.

“Matty, help me.” Anthony kisses the back of her head.

“In and out, mirror us please. Everything is going to be okay.” Tessa reaches out and attaches herself to Mat’s body.

“You’re okay Tessy, I promise.” Anthony soothes as him and Mat have a silent conversation to move to his bedroom. Mat scoops her up and easily walks with her to Anthony’s room. Once situated Mat is on one side and Anthony on the other. Tessa is slowly calming down being wrapped not only in blankets but in the arms of her soulmates.

“We will not let anything happen, if anything Canada is safer for you.”

“Okay, I’ll go. I’ll split the time, half with Matty and half with Tito.” She shrugs. “But you two have to promise me that you’ll be safe and you won’t let me take away from time with your families.”

“You’re our family too.” Tessa takes a deep breath calming her fast beating heart and lets her eyes close.

“I mean your brother and sister, your parents, grandparents! Please don’t let me take time away from them. I will come with you but I want you to spend time together with them.”

“Deal.” Mat says and Tito agrees.

So the three made plans to go to Canada. Tessa helps the boys split her time between the two. She plans to stay a month with each just to begin. So April 14th to May 14th with Mat and May 15th to June 15th with Tito. She knew this was going to do a number on them but she knew that they could handle it. They would figure it out and get through it.

“Okay so Mathew, we’re leaving in two days for a month. Anthony I’ll be with you for a month as well okay? If anything happens or we have to change it we can. Now, I don’t want you two having issues with it okay? Does that make sense?”

“Do we have a choice?” Anthony asks.

“No, deal with it.”

“But what if I get horny?”

“Then you call me and I’ll help you deal with that. If I get horny because between you and me, I don’t know how the fuck you were made but it makes me want to be on you all the time. You could just give me a look and I’d drop to my knees right there.” She shrugs turning around to clean up her random papers she had thrown across the table. The boys smirk and shake their head.

“What look?” Mat asks pressing himself against her back.

“Not now, I need to go home and pack.” She gulps zipping up her bag.

“No, I think you need to answer him Little one.” Anthony chuckles looking at her darkly. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

“No, that’s not going to work.”

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” He asks and Mat runs his hand up her torso to grab her neck. She gasps and her head falls back.

“No.” Mat chokes a bit harder.

“No what?” Anthony asks.

“I think you better answer him Tess.” Mat whispers nipping at her ear softly. She whines low in her throat.

“No Daddy.” Mat releases her throat and she huffs grabbing it again stopping his hand from fully leaving her. “Don’t leave please, keep it there.” She sucks his thumb into her mouth swirling her tongue around it, pleasing her oral fixation.

“Such a good little slut aren’t you? Just want whatever we can give you?” She moans, nodding in agreement. Tessa relishes in the feeling of having the two of them take care of her and just being there.

“So, what should we do to her?”

“Okay, I guess I can stay for just a bit.” She shrugs dropping her hand from Mat’s arm.

“I want to eat her out, I think she needs to relax a bit.” Mat smirks against her neck nipping at it softly.

“Sir please, Mat I need it.”

“Oh, I know you do. You’ve just been so wound up lately, come lay on the couch.” Anthony sits down and pats his lap. Mat helps her strip out of her pants and panties. She climbs nervously into his lap and he wraps his legs around hers, holding her open for Mat. She looks up at him and he captures her lips in a fiery kiss. Mat takes her distraction as a good time to start. He starts by kissing the top of her pussy and down all the way to her hole before giving it a soft little lick. Tessa chokes on a moan that is quickly swallowed by Tito’s mouth.

“Fuck, you taste so sweet. I could spend forever between your legs.” Mat works her up to an orgasm and just as she’s about to bubble over he pulls back and softly strokes her legs as they shake.

“Relax, we’re just getting started.” He chuckles.

“You said that I deserved to relax, let me cum.”

“I did say that, however we’re playing by my rules and I say you aren’t relaxed enough.” He shakes his head in disapproval.

“No, Mat I’m sorry. I don’t wanna disappoint.” She whimpers.

“Babygirl, you know that’s not my name. You’re not disappointing me though, I just want you to enjoy your orgasm and the work up.”

“Fuck,” her head lulls back on Anthony’s shoulder and he chuckles kissing her forehead. Mat slides two thick fingers in her pussy and curls up gently rubbing against the little bud inside Tessa. “Fuck, Mat don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.” Her hips buck wildly. He pushes her close to the edge and stops again removing his hands. She growls and lurches forward at him.

“You’re a fucking dick, why didn’t you let me cum?!” She huffs panting. Mat smirks and chuckles leaving feather touches on her thighs, close to her pussy.

“Shhhh baby.” Tessa lurches out of Anthony’s grip and pushes Mat to the floor holding his hands above his head. He looks at her in surprise.

“You fuck me and make me cum or so help me I am going to go to the bathroom, lock the door and make myself cum without you. You would only get to hear my moans,” she growls feeling desperate and undone and Mat interlocks their hands flipping her around so he’s on top.

“Oh yeah? So cute when you try to be dominant.” He chuckles, his breath tickling her face. His hair tousled and messed up from messing around. Mat leans down and sucks roughly on her neck marking his territory. Tessa’s hands tense and she fights to touch him.

“No, keep your hands there.” Anthony commands from the couch, watching Tessa struggle under Mat. She whines.

“You’re not in charge here boys.” She says and she feels Mat’s thigh wedge itself between her legs pushing roughly into her clit. Her hips involuntarily buck up into his knee.

“Oh yeah? Because your body says something different. Come on, just give in. Give into what your body desires, if you give in we’ll let you cum.”

“You were mean, fuck you.” She bites.

“Oh you’re gonna regret that! Come on.” He stands up and throws her over his shoulder taking her to his bed, Tito following on his tail.

“Put me down you barbarian!” Tessa smacks his back. He spanks her, effectively stilling her moves.

“One second babe.” He chuckles throwing her down on the bed. “Edge of the bed now.” He commands. She obeys and gets on her hands and knees.

“I’m gonna fuck you and Tito is gonna fuck your face. We’re not going to stop until your brattiness is gone.”

“I’m not being a brat though.” She chuckles sticking her tongue out. Anthony slides near her mouth with his cock in his hand.

“Put that mouth to use and suck ange.” His hand in her hair was soft compared to what his and Mat’s other actions were. She practically melts when she reaches his blue eyes staring down into hers.

“Yes Daddy.” She breathes licking her lips.

“Good girl.” She whimpers taking him into her mouth. Behind her Mat spanks her watching her ass jiggle before he’s rubbing his tip up and down her slit. Tessa subconsciously tries to push back on his cock.

“Stay still and I’ll give you what you want.” Mat grunts. She bobs her head up and down on Anthony’s cock before going down all the way so he hits her throat. She gags but keeps down there, breathing through her nose and attempting to relax.

“Fuck…” Anthony trails off and Mat thrusts into her causing her to take Anthony impossibly deep. She pulls off with a gag, drooling dripping down her face. She takes a few deep breaths and Anthony is pushing down again. Her mind goes clear and she feels a haze start to form over her mind as she focuses on the overwhelming sensations between her two men. Mat somas his hard cock into her dripping pussy. She moans around Anthony’s cock causing him to thrust a little rougher in her mouth.

“Holy fuck that feels amazing… shit baby don’t stop.” He grunts gripping her hair in his hands. She hums lazily looking up at him through her lashes. She bobs her head and jerks what she can’t fit in her mouth and it isn’t long until he’s cumming down her throat. She swallows and keeps sucking before Anthony tries to take it out of her mouth. She whines, her mouth feeling empty.

“Aww does the poor baby not like having her pretty little mouth full.” She nods and Anthony takes pity on her letting two of his fingers slide into her mouth. She lets her eyes close and focuses on the sensations coursing through her.

[morizukorn]

Aspiring Heroes Chapter 4 is out!

So just like what I said on my previous post, I will update Chapter 4 in 2 weeks which is right now, it’s my way of making up to you guys, I will probably start updating every 2 weeks but I’m still not sure cause it depends on what my schedule will be but I’ll make sure to update this fic. Enjoy Chapter 4!

Rating - T

Title - Aspiring Heroes

Genre - Action, Fantasy

Summary - A girl born with a powerful quirk sets foot in the most prestigious school for hero training to be a hero.

Preview Chapter 4: The Trial Begins

Ikoaru Akamine's POV

The Quirk Apprehension Test finally came to a close and now the ranking results that Nezu-sensei mentioned earlier are gonna be shown to us, everyone's very nervous.

"I'm sure you've all been waiting for this..." Sensei said, he then clicked a button from the remote device he was holding and a hologram chart appeared.

I'm not expecting very high... But. I hope I'll be at an average number...

And one by one our names appeared by number, revealing the ranking results. My eyes were so focused on finding my name, hoping to at least rank at the average number, the confidence I have was high until I saw my name...

Quirk Apprehension Test Ranking:

1st. Daichi Haru

2nd. Shizue Suzu

3rd. Daenyria Reiko

4th. Oka Doryoku

5th. Niikura Eizo

6th. Hirano Meishu

7th. Furuse Chishi

8th. Azelia Eire

9th. Ryu Arashi

10th. Kumei Chou

11th. Tobe Masutano

12th. Laurel Yoshe

13th. Murvin Yureru

14th. Aries Seka

15th. Fukuda Takeo

16th. Noya Tetsuo

17th. Ikoaru Akamine

18th. Yuki Aoyama

19th. Uozumi Shiryoku

20th. Yano Rezan

"17th..." I-I was expecting a bit higher but I understand, I only did great on the softball test, I'm sure that's the only reason why I didn't get the last place.

17th place is not that bad, the important thing is that I finally know how to use my quirk...

*cries internally*

Suddenly a lot of steam appear before my eyes. "W-what the..." I coughed. I looked to where it came from and it's just beside me. It's Eizo and the steam are coming out from his nostrils and right ear.

"F-fifth... How disappointing, I should've done better!" Eizo yelled as he used his finger as a vacuum to suck the steam he created.

"Disappointed? You're at 5th place!" I said, very confused.

"I know, I should've done better to be at the first spot!"

"Eizo, you're 12 numbers ahead from what I got, you did great."

He paused into a realization. "You're right, I appreciate that Ikoa-chan. But. I have to do better!" he yelled once more.

"Oh, Eizo..."

Looking around, everyone had mixed reactions from their rankings, some were boastful, others were just calmed and some are just happy from what they got. Sensei was looking at us joyfully before he walked into the middle of the stage, capturing our attention.

"Everyone! I just want to say that you all have done very well, be proud of yourselves," Sensei said.

"Thank you Sensei!" we shouted. We felt the deep appreciation he has for us.

Daichi said that this is a competition, for me it's not, we all are thriving for the same goal cause we all want to improve.

And as everyone's calming down, the bell rang. Finally, it's lunchtime!

"Make sure you all will take this time to eat and rest, fill up your energies cause we will get busier at the hero training. Class dismissed!" Sensei announced before leaving the room.

After this will be the hero training, I already feel tired...

I shoved my head down on the table.

"Heyyyyyyyy!" Mei bubbled while waving her head left and right. She appeared out of nowhere, very energetic cause she got 10th place in the rankings.

"I'm so tired Mei..." I grumbled.

"Same here," Eizo added as he slammed his metalhead on the table.

"That's why it's lunchtime! So stand all your ass up, we're going to the cafeteria!"

"Wait. We?" I asked.

"Yeah," Mei replied.

I felt something different in her response which made me smile. My body doesn't want to move, but yeah, it's lunchtime, I'm hungry! I slapped my face and stood from my seat. "Alright let's go!" I said.

"Finally Ikoaru's ready, Eizo your turn! Raise those vibranium asses of yours already!"

Eizo's eye glowed in red again, this time Mei's forehead is where it's aiming at.

"Vibranium huh..." Eizo muttered.

"Hehehe, he hates being teased at..." Mei whispered.

Mei's desperate attempt to make us go with her was successful, we reached the cafeteria and to our disappointment, there are many people in line.

"No... I'm so hungry..." I cried.

"I told you we should've gone earlier," Mei said.

"We'll just have to wait then..." Eizo said.

I've gone to a separate line from the two, where my desired food is being sold.

It feels just like yesterday, I was here, waiting... WAIT!

I looked around the cafeteria in a full alert on my surroundings, the whole place is remodeled, no traces of damages from yesterday and no sign of any possible accident, Shizue is also not here.

Everything's going fine now, I should not worry anymore...

"Good Afternoon! What will you eat today!?" Lunch Rush suddenly asked.

"Oh sorry! Pork stew please!" I immediately answered.

I was so lost in my thoughts...

"Alright! One pork stew for the powerful girl from yesterday, coming up!" the pro hero announced.

Powerful girl?

As I received my meal, I quickly headed out in embarrassment and went straight to where Eizo and Mei are seated.

"You okay?" Eizo asked as he took a bite from his chicken.

"Yeah, I just can't help but remember what happened here yesterday," I answered, taking a small bite on my pork stew.

"I guess you were traumatized from Shizue," Mei commented.

"No, well not really. What happened yesterday was just unexpected that's why..."

"Hmmm, well Ikoaru, you should get used to it cause that won't be the only day you'll experience something like that... Like today. Later on, is our Hero Training period and from what I heard, there will be battles involved."

"Battles!? Already!?" I surprisingly asked.

"That's true, Ikoa-chan, I mean from what we heard. But we're sure that's how it will go," Eizo acknowledged.

"But I don't know how to fight nor I haven't even mastered my quirk yet!"

"Oh! You don't have to worry. Why did you ask? Because your senpai is here to give you a piece of very helpful combat advice!" Mei proudly said.

"Really Mei...?" I said in pure admiration.

"Yes! But during this time don't just call me Mei. It's MEI-SENPAI!"

"Hai! MEI-SENPAI!"

Eizo is looking at us in such disappointment. "Oh boy..." he commented.

"Shut up Eizo!" Mei quickly shouted.

She then took a very deep breath and stood from her seat and continued, "Okay, 1st tip: always remember to be alert on your surroundings and if you ever felt the enemies presence near you..."

Mei is pointing at Eizo, pretending he's the enemy. She immediately readies her hands, doing so many weird fighting stances.

"You have to hit them with a damaging blow! Like this one, I call this... the BUTTERFLY CHOP!" Mei shouted with such dedication.

"You're really gonna do that...?" Eizo said.

Mei gave him a challenging stare, she raised her hand on a karate chop pose then... "HIYYYAAAAAAA!!!" Mei shouted with full force from her hands as she's about to hit Eizo.

Eizo's right eye instantly glowed in full red, he made a quick smirk, quickly moving his metal arm to where Mei's butterfly chop is about to hit.

"THANNNNGGGGGG!!!" And at that moment, Mei hit a vibranium...*HIGH PITCHED BUTTERFLY SCREECHING!!!*

Mei's screeching caused everyone at the cafeteria to look at us. "WAHAHAHAHA!" Eizo laughed sadistically as Mei trembles on the floor.

These two... And Eizo, I never knew he has this side...

I looked at Mei who's basically on the floor like a dead mosquito, with her hand glowing in red.

This is so embarrassing... And the fact that I'm involved in this really damages my reputation in this cafeteria.

Mei already has teary eyes as we help her get up, Eizo's still giggling. We finished our meal then head straight to the clinic, and thankfully Mei's hand was treated.

"This was Eizo's fault!" Mei said as bandages are being applied to her hand.

"You're the one who planned on hitting me!" Eizo said.

I just stood there, not knowing what to do with these two meanwhile, Recovery Girl's face tells me that she's done with both of them. "Nothing changed from both of you ever since the entrance exam," Recovery girl commented.

And the two finally calmed down. The treatment was done and successful, we exited the clinic and the bell rang just in time. Mei kept on revenging at Eizo with her butterfly chop but very weakly whom Eizo just ignore as we walked back to the classroom.

We finally got inside the classroom. Everybody is already settled, quietly seated while waiting for the hero training teacher to come, all our thoughts can't help but imagine who the perfect pro hero teacher to enter the front door.

"I wonder who'll be our teacher???" a classmate wondered.

"There are actually pro heroes from before that studied here then also becomes a teacher here," another classmate commented.

"Who knows? Maybe our teacher will be one of the alumni heroes like Best Jeanist or even... ALL MIGHT!"

All Might, the no. 1 Pro hero, who holds the title of Symbol of Peace, everyone would want him to become their teacher, and if he ever is our teacher then I might even learn to be a great pro hero like he is...

Suddenly a loud knocking sound was heard from the door.

"Who could that be?!"

Full Chapter Links:

FFN-Aspiring Heroes

Ao3-Aspiring Heroes

[witharsenicsauce]

Chosen Stories From the War #27: The House That Death Forgot, Part 3

(Content warning: this chapter contains descriptions of blood/gore, death, and mentions of suicide)

The night never seemed to come. It was like the sun hung over the hills in a perpetual state of anxiety, never settling, never closing it’s glaring eye. The Chosen and their human compatriots sat in the office, a feeling of morose trepidation overtaking them: time passed, on and on, and yet seemed to sit so very still.

Zhang was flipping through the books on the shelves and the papers on the desk, on a hunt for something, perhaps something to tell him there was a way out of this nightmare. Malinalli was, once again, tending to Kon-Mai’s injured leg, despite the Shrinemaiden insisting it was unnecessary. It seemed her brothers were meditating, and even though the Darkstrider had never been one to proactive his psionics before, this time he had joined his brother, perhaps in the hope that it would get them an answer. Any answer.

Kon-Mai looked up at Zhang as he angrily closed the book he held, tossing it on the desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat beside her, hesitating a bit to calm himself enough to hold a conversation “...How is your leg?” He finally asked.

“I feel no pain from it.” She assured him. “Though our medic insists I do not walk on it, anyhow.”

“Just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean you aren't damaging it!” Malinalli snapped. She had  been irritable since returning from her conversation with Ya’uq, and everyone had been keeping to her instructions to avoid incurring the wrath of this 5’5 force of nature.

“I know.” Kon-Mai looked Zhang up and down, leaning closer to whisper. “That girl...”

Zhang sighed, absently thumbing through the pages of the old book in his hand. “That girl?”

“The one who attacked my brother and I.” She said. “You knew her before?”

Zhang had retold them the story he had told Annette and Bryni, his eyes sorrowful as he did. There had not been much to say at the time, but they had all been left with questions they did not know how to ask. “Yes.” He sighed. “The year was 1959. We kept the children with us through December, and returned her and her siblings at the beginning of 1960. What a way to start the decade.”

Something else was weighing on Kon-Mai’s mind though. “...Then you are incredibly old, Colonel Zhang.”

He looked up at her with an almost blank expression. “...And?”

“And yet you fight like a man in his prime.” She shifted so her good leg was under her like a cushion. “Impressive for someone who is at least…” She did the math in her head. “At least 97.”

“99.” He grumbled. “...I am very old, I know.”

“How?” She asked.

“The Grace of the Elder’s Gifts.” He turned to look at her. “You hardly age either, Kon-Mai: they had to test that process somewhere.”

Kon-Mai didn’t know what to say to that, but thankfully, she didn’t need to think long. Annette stood up, a book in hand. “Chilong, you can read Tagalog, you said?”

“I speak better than I read.” He got to his feet. “But I can read it alright.”

She handed the book to him; a spiral bound notebook with a blue butterfly pattern on the front. “The dates are labeled between the years of 1960-62.”

“Frilly notebook.” Gur-Rai opened his eyes and got to his feet. “I don’t want to needlessly gender, but do you think-”

“It could be Bulan’s?” Annette nodded. “If Chilong can translate, we’ll find that out.”

Zhang looked away, and Kon-Mai could see there were tears in his eyes. “I don’t know if I can.” He said, and they knew that it had nothing to do with the language.

“Colonel, I know ya feel bad.” Bryni said. “But if that girl’s as old as ya say, maybe she knew what was happenin’. People don’t just stay young n’ pretty forever for no reason.”

“We still need to get out of here.” Gur-Rai said. “It sucks that she died, but it’s going to suck a lot more if we all die with her.”

Annette flipped open the first page, and pushed the book toward Zhang, who reluctantly took a seat on the floor and cleared his throat.

.

.

She closed the door to the attic quietly. She had not had to remain so silent in a long time, but now she could feel him, and he could feel her.

Or had it always been so? She had felt reprieve when he was locked away in the cellar. Behind the thick stone walls it was hard for him to invade her mind, but because of that reprieve, she had become sloppy. When Bulan closed her eyes, she was there with him, looking through his purple gaze. She could feel him pressing against her eye sockets, looking through her eyes into her world. Coming. She heard  his thoughts. I am coming. I am here for you.

What do you want?

Not want.

Bulan had tried to imagine death once before, and what consumed his mind felt just like that, so empty and horrifying, nothing and everything, blackness surrounding them.

Death. Death. 

.

.

“January 27th, 1960.” Zhang read aloud. “Father has built another gate around our property. He’s thinking of sealing up the secret entrance, but the cook uses it to bring in deliveries. He still doesn’t know I like to sneak out into the garden at night.”

“Pretty mundane so far.” Annette said. “Like a...normal girl.”

“Mother said the new baby is going to be a girl.” Zhang continued. “I’m already tired from the other little ones, I wish she would practice some restraint. She just told me when I get married, I’ll understand.” He turned the page. “February 3rd, 1960.”

“Kon-Mai’s birthday!” Gur-Rai winked.

Zhang shot him a look. “School rules apply here, no talking while I’m talking.”

Gur-Rai crossed his arms.

“Father’s been in a lot of meeting’s recently. He won’t tell us the subject matter like he used to. It doesn’t make his activities any less illegal if he stops talking about them. It just makes it so we live in darkness. February 14th, 1960. I spent time in the garden with Ali and Isanagi. My brothers have a talent for making flowers grow and Isanagi in particular has palms that are very green.”

“Palms that are green?” Malinalli chimed in.

“I believe you’d know it as having a green thumb.” Zhang clarified, and then kept on reading. “March-”

“Why don’t you just skip until you find something interesting?” Gur-Rai cut in once again.

Zhang glared at him. “This is interesting to me.”

“Yes, but does it help us?” Even so, he leaned his elbow on his knee as though to get comfortable.

Zhang ignored him, but even so he flipped though a good amount of pages. “March 2nd, 1962. There have been amazing meteor showers all this month. Mother said we aren’t allowed to stay up late, but last night I snuck the little ones outside to watch it. I am glad I did so, because last night was particularly beautiful, and the meteors that fell were the size of stars themselves. I even felt one hit the earth. The very ground trembled.”

Kon-Mai scooted closer. “A meteor shower is never so common on Earth.”

“...March 5th, 1962. The gardener saw something...strange. A creature, he said. It must have been a monkey of some kind, because it was as small as a child but walked upright on two legs. Mother thinks it may be an orphan from the nearby city coming to rummage in our scraps. When we told my father, he panicked and locked up the entire house, said no one goes in or out. We tried to tell him he is paranoid but he says he will not risk his family again. We are so privileged he would ignore a starving child? I’m going to go out tonight with some food. There is no doubt I can help.”

Zhang hesitated, and turned the book so the others could see what was written next. The entry was scrawled hastily, as though in a panic.

“Not a child. Not a child. It’s not even human. It’s skin is grey and it’s eyes, it’s eyes...” He trailed off. “That’s where that one ends.”

“A creature the size of a child, with grey skin…” Kon-Mai looked between Annette and Zhang, who were nodding. 

“Sectoids. Or at least, that was what they used to look like.” Annette looked deeply troubled. “But this is from 1962. The invasion happened in 2015.”

“Our invasion happened in 2015.” Gur-Rai clarified. He did not elaborate, but they could all tell what he was implying.

Zhang kept on reading. “March 6th. I told Mother and Father about what I saw, and Father has confined me to my room for the rest of the week. Mother believes what I saw was a mangalo. Father has been on the phone with the company who installed our gates, he thinks it’s someone else who has come to steal us away again. I don’t know what I think it was. I don’t know what I’d rather it be.

March 15th. Mother and Father are fighting more and more often. Mother wants to rehire some of the old security guards but Father refuses, says they’ll sell us out just like last time. He keeps the doors locked and the windows covered. I can hear the creatures outside, skittering in the bushes. Last night I heard tapping on my window as I slept. I didn’t look, I was too scared.”

Kon-Mai sighed. “That poor child.”

“April 8th. Father has taken to staying up all night. He walks the halls like a ghost, shining his flashlight out the windows at the slightest shadow. I can feel a heaviness in the air. The days have been dark. When I looked out the crack in my window, there was something glowing purple outside.

April 23rd. Marikit is ill, she came down with a fever last night. No other symptoms, her nose is not stuffy but she is wheezing. I have noticed I have had slight trouble breathing as well. Father is up day and night; he says there’s a tall man outside, waiting to snatch us away. Mother is pleading with him to let us out, if only just to take the baby to a doctor, but he yells at her: he says the evil men have returned to kill us, and he isn’t going to let that happen.

May 1st. No one has gone in or out in months. The phones don’t work anymore, and Father is insistent that that means they cut the lines. Marikit keeps getting worse and worse, and now Laarni and Ali are sick as well. Mother has locked the door to the bedroom and won’t open it, I can hear her crying day and night. Tonight I looked out the window and I saw him. The tall man.”

“I’m gonna guess the tall man is our wrinkly friend.” Gur-Rai added.

“I reckon.” Bryni nodded in agreement. Her voice was soft and sad.

“...May 7th, 1962. Father took his gun and went to kill the tall man. He said he wouldn't let anyone hurt us ever again. I begged him not to.” Zhang paused, scanning over the journal’s blank lines. “May 8th. I found Father’s shotgun on the front porch. The door was wide open. My head is heavy and my throat is burning. Mother won’t open the door. All the little ones are sick…” He stopped, his face twisting into a look of horror.

“Zhang?” Annette reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. “What is it?’

“...May 8th. I’m sorry little ones. I hope we meet again…” He ran his hand along the lines of text. “...May 9th. I put the shotgun in my mouth and pulled the trigger. I felt my skull being ripped apart. I felt myself fading. And then I awoke again.”

There was a collective gasp from the room, and everyone held that shock for just a moment. Zhang continued.

“I tried again, this time pointing at my heart. My chest exploded and I couldn’t breathe, and then I could once again.”

Kon-Mai got to her feet, her face pale. “She has already died once before.”

“I am in Hell.” Zhang’s voice shook as he read. “Damned to live in suffering and agony for all eternity, trapped within this house that death forgot.”

.

.

Maybe they could have helped, Bulan thought.

It was a stupid thought. They were just as trapped as her. Most of them even stank of the same psionic power that Ya’uq smelled of. They reeked of the sulfur and metal that filled her senses when she tried to take her own life. Even if they stood a chance to hurt him, and she knew for a fact they couldn’t, no one could. Except for her. 

She picked up her shotgun and closed her eyes. I know you can hear me.

She speaks. Ya’uq seemed to chuckle, tickling the deep regions of her mind. You speak to me, child.

I sealed you away once before. I can do it again.

No. No more hiding. No more rotting away. Like the moon steals the sun’s light, your life is already mine.

.

.

Silence hung in the air for a moment. Then, Zhang dropped the book and let out a noise, somewhat between a laugh and a cry.

“She can’t die.” He whispered, his head in his hands. “She can’t die.”

“Then she’s still in this house somewhere.” Annette sounded afraid and was already reaching for her pistol.

Zhang stood. “No. No, not again. We have to help her this time, if she has been trapped here since 1962…” He clenched his fists. “Taymallat, I did this to her.”

“Zhang, don’t be ridiculous.” Annette insisted. “You didn’t send the Elder here. You didn’t trap her.”

“No, but I was the reason her father locked them away, why he didn’t hire armed guards that could, maybe, have helped them. Instead he tried to fight what was essentially God with a shotgun.”

“Hey, a shotgun can do wonders on the right god.” Gur-Rai winked. “I should know.”

“Well it wasn’t enough.” Zhang snapped. “She’s all alone in here, I destroyed her life once. I have to save her.”

“And in doing so, perhaps we will save ourselves.” Kon-Mai added. “We must locate the girl. She is the secret to unlocking this cursed place.”

“Yeah.” Gur-Rai jabbed at the door. “But to do that we gotta risk running into old wrinkly out there.”

“Perhaps...” Dhar-Mon finally spoke up, taking a deep breath as he broke his trance. The flecks of purple psionic energy that rained around him spun and disappeared like petals in the wind. “Or perhaps we can call her to us.”

“You think she’ll listen?” Bryni asked.

“It needs to be someone she’d trust.” Annette said. “Chilong, she knows you.”

“She hates me.” He crossed his arms. “No trust there.”

Malinalli folded her arms. “I could give it a shot.” She said. “I have the psionics.”

“You’re not even from the same country.” Annette said. “And I don’t suppose you speak Tagalog?”

Malinalli looked away, seeming to blush in humiliation. There was a collective silence all around.

“I’ll do it.” Bryni finally chirped.

“You? She doesn’t know you at all!”

“Yeah, but I ain’t got no glowy power, and I’m 100% home grown.” She gave them a small, two fingered salute. “Human to human, woman to woman? I betcha I can get her to talk.”

Annette and Zhang exchanged glances, and Kon-Mai nodded. “It is our best option, considering.”

“Righty-ho.” Bryni plopped down beside Dhar-Mon. “What do I do, Big Guy.”

Dhar-Mon rolled his eyes and held out his hands. “Do not do anything. Completely clear your mind, and let me guide you.”

“That won’t be hard.” Bryni giggled and tapped her head. “There ain’t much up there ta begin with.”

.

.

To Bryni, this felt kind of like her first time flying. She had no control over where she went, hurdling over the dips and bobs in the air, incapable of managing the way her body reacted to the sheer excitement. Except her body wasn’t even there, which was pretty good because she would have spewed the remains of her last lunch.

Her vision was a swirl of purple light and deep, cold darkness, a void so encompassing that if she looked too close, it threatened to swallow her. She rode the waves, keeping her mind blank like Dhar-Mon had told her to, until suddenly it felt as though she were being squeezed, like the walls were pressing in around her. She took a gasping breath of air, and suddenly-

She was in another room, at the end of a long, dark hallway. At the other end, she recognized the young woman from before, her long black hair coving the bloodstains on her once white blouse. Her back was to Bryni as she peeked around another corner.

“Um…” Bryni cleared her throat. “Howdy!”

Bulan jumped, pointing her gun at Bryni. She wasn’t sure if a bullet would hurt her in this form, but she put her hands up nonetheless.

“Woah there!” She tried to speak calmly. “Settle down, girl. I ain’t here to hurt ya.”

“Ikaw ang babae.” Bulan said. “Sa pangunahing bulwagan.”

“Um…” Bryni was already running into a problem. “I...don’t speak Tagalog.”

Bulan looked irritated, but instead of firing, she bit the inside of her lip and lowered her gun. She seemed to be thinking.

“You...don’t speak English?”

Bulan knew enough to shake her head to that.

“Psionics can’t do the translating, can they?” Bryni half-heartedly chuckled. “...Guess not.”

Bulan took a step towards her. “...Paano...hay...del español?”

“You know Spanish?” Bryni perked up. “No, wait, not me, my...um...mi amiga!” Bryni said excitedly. “Oh god, I had about a year of this and it was in elementary school.” She waved her hands wildly. “Mi amiga speak español!”

Bulan couldn’t help but giggle at that, especially when Bryni made a talking motion with her hand. “Um...dónde?”

“We’re...uh…” Bryni looked around. “...We’re in an office.”

Bulan shook her head. Even if she knew what Bryni meant, she had no idea which room she was referring to. Bryni tried to chew her thumbnail before remembering she was essentially a projection at the moment. Hmm...

“C’mere.” Bryni gestured for her to come closer. “I wanna show ya.”

Bulan looked hesitant.

“Por favor?”

The girl hesitated, then took a few steps toward Bryni, close enough so that the pilot could reach out and put one finger against Bulan’s forehead.

She imagined herself walking through the halls, from the room they thought Bulan had died in, to the maze off halls. Left, another left, right, through a door…

Bulan pulled away, but when Bryni looked up at her, her face was glowing with a smile. “Ang silid ng pagguhit!” She picked up her shotgun. “Alam ko ang lugar na iyon! Kikitain kita!”

“Hold up!” Bryni called after her as Bulan took off down the hall. “Uh...I’ll see you there?” She looked up as though she were talking to God. “Okay Big Man. Pull me out.”

Same rush, same feeling of bobbing up and down, and suddenly she felt solid again, the floor underneath her and people around her.

Bryni opened her eyes and gave a thumbs up. “Looks like she’s headed our way.”

“Hopefully she isn’t stopped by that demon outside.” Dhar-Mon got to his feet. “What did she say?”

“Nothin’ I could understand.” Bryni shrugged. “But-”

There was a thud, then a rabid banging noise against the door, and the group looked around warily.

“That oughta be her.” Bryni said.

In any case, Gur-Rai and Annette still cocked their guns as Kon-Mai walked over, put one hand against the door, and pulled it open.

.

.

He wondered why even after all these years, he had never managed to free himself of this mortal coil. He had never shed this dying body and finally ascended.

Ya’uq felt his old, old body breaking down around him. Even as his psionics held everything in place, even as he slowed time to an agonizing crawl, he could feel milliseconds slipping through his fingers. Milliseconds of precious consciousness that he could not afford to lose.

Do not go gently into that dark night. He would rage against the dying of the light.

.

.

Bulan Kepa pushed past her and stepped inside, looking around, sneering at Zhang. She looked around warily at the others before her eyes settled on Bryni. “Kaibigan mo?”

Bryni gestured to Malinalli, who waved hesitantly, looking very confused. “Um…?”

“She said she speaks a little Spanish!” Bryni cut in. “So I said to talk to ya.”

“Oh!” Malinalli looked pleased. “Oh, yeah, I can definitely translate!”

Zhang crossed his arms and said nothing.

Bulan stepped forward, still unsure about the people surrounding her. “Tu...la amiga?”

“Sí, también soy la oficial médica.” Malinalli had to physically stop herself from speaking so fast, as the poor girl didn’t seem to have a good handle on the language. “Si tiene alguna herida, puedo tratarla.”

“Oficial...médica?” Bulan’s face seemed to light up. “Maaari kang makatulong? Puede...usted ayudar?”

Malinalli nodded and began to reach for her tools, but Bulan stopped her.

“Hindi ako, hindi ako. No *me ayudas.” She was practically bouncing as she began pulling Malinalli towards the door.

“No.” Dhar-Mon stepped in front of her. “Where are you taking her?”

“Ilipat, por favor!” Bulan seemed to be shaking. “Ang mga maliliit!”

“The little ones.” Zhang said, finally fed up with the guessing and the shaking and the state of confusion everyone was in. “She has four siblings, Malinalli, and I assume she wants you to see them.”

Malinalli looked at Bulan. “Tus hermanos?”

Bulan nodded, pointing out the door. “Por favor.” She cried. “Please.”

.

.

They could hear Ya’uq still dragging himself along the halls. As they passed the second floor balcony, now partially destroyed, they heard him muttering to himself down in the foyer and saw hints of his sporadic purple glow. Kon-Mai reached for her brothers’ hands, either for her own protection or theirs.

Zhang hesitated before they lost sight of him, and for a moment he could tell Ya’uq sensed him. The Elder reached out with his mind, and while Zhang blocked his advance, the demon pried one thing from the black depths.

Gone. Ya’uq reeled back. The others are gone.

Zhang turned and followed the group back up to the attic.

The door was the only thing at the top of a flight of stairs, isolated from the main house yet still accessible enough to be a logical place for children to sleep. Bulan led the way, turning to Malinalli, who looked confused.

“...Realmente puedes...ayuda?” Bulan asked.

Malinalli hesitated, unsure if she should give the answer she usually did. Nothing was certain on the battlefield and in here it was even less so. But Bulan still had her gun.

She nodded.

Bulan opened the door, and right away they were hit with the smell of rot. Most of them cringed, and Gur-Rai actually had to turn away, covering his face as though he would vomit if he could.

Malinalli, unfazed by the smell, stepped inside. She had seen the worst of the worst in bootcamp, but as she saw what was causing this stench, even this made her gasp.

The first thing she saw was the baby: practically an infant, still in her crib. Or, rather, it appeared to be what remained of an infant, her skeletal body only barely keeping hold of her dry skin. She looked around, the beds growing in size, each one holding a child more emaciated than the last, all of them nearly dead…

“What happened?!” She cried, before she took a breath, putting her profession face back on. “Qué les pasó a las niños?”

“Nagkasakit sila nang lumitaw ang manglo.” She answered in Tagalog, pausing for a moment.

“She says they fell ill when the mangalo...the Sectoids first arrived.” Zhang translated for her.

Bulan pointed her gun at him, and he held up his hands. Dhar-Mon stepped between the two. “There is no need for that. We are not your enemy.”

Bulan seemed shaken, her eyes still trapped on Zhang’s face. “...Matanda ka.” Lowering her gun, she took a fistful of her own, black hair, staring at it. “......Ano ang itsura ko?”

“How old do you look? Young.” Zhang answered in English at first, not thinking. “You look young. Ang parehong edad noong nakilala kita.”

She lowered her rifle as Malinalli turned back to her. “These children are…” She began. “They should be dead...ellos deberían estar muertos.”

Bulan shook her head. “No...Ellos viven. Ellos respiran.”

“Yes but…” She put a hand on her chest. “My chest...my body is filled with moisture. Mi cuerpo esta lleno de humedad.” She knelt down beside the bed where the second eldest, Diwata, lay, and put a hand on her chest. “Her blood pressure is zero. Su presión arterial es cero. No hay sangre para bombear. No hay vida.”

Bulan shook her head once again. “No!”

“Bulan.” Zhang said. “When Ya’uq came here, what did he do to you? Ano ang ginawa sa iyo ni Ya'uq?”

She refused to answer, power walking over to her siblings once again. “Mentirosa!” She spat at Malinalli. “Salvarlos a todos!”

“I’m trying!” Malinalli cried.

“Bulan, we must know what Ya’uq’s part in this is.” Dhar-Mon stepped forward. “If he is behind the state of your siblings, then we must know.”

“Hindi ko alam kung paano niya ito ginagawa!” Bulan let out a sob.

“She doesn’t know how…” Zhang raised a brow. “...But you know it’s him? Ya’uq?”

Bulan nodded.

“Then we remove him.” Kon-Mai reached for her sword. “If we eliminate the demon, then he shall release the children’s souls.”

“Hindi mo siya papatayin.” Bulan looked up with purple fire glowing in her eyes.

“She says we can’t kill him.” Zhang said. “Bakit?”

“Dahil pinipigilan niya ang oras na lumipat.” She said.

“He keeps time from passing…?” Zhang’s eyes grew wide. “Kon-Mai.”

“Yes?”

“Your leg still doesn’t hurt, does it.?”

“No…” She blinked. “...And it should, by now.”

“He has done something to affect the flow of time.” Dhar-Mon exclaimed. “I did not know psionics could. But why…?”

“He’s doing something to them.” Zhang spat. “He’s feeding off of them, draining their life force, but at the end of all of it he slows down time, so much it’s practically stopped.”

“To keep them from actually dying.” Annette whispered. “This way, the family never dies.” 

Zhang looked at Bulan once again, his eyes harsher than they had been. “You look fine. Better than fine. Kaya bakit hindi ka sakit?”

Her eyes glowing purple still, Bulan turned her back on him refusing to answer what sounded like an accusation. She turned back to Malinalli, leaning on her gun carelessly. “Quiero...mis hermanos sanados.”

Malinalli took a breath. “I can’t…” She shook her head. “No puedo curarlas. Even if we went back to the Avenger, they’d surely die in transport-”

Bulan cocked her gun at her and pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed past Malinalli’s face, and Dhar-Mon pulled her into his arms and held up his hand: purple energy, rivaling Bulan’s, glowing in his palm.

“We are trying to HELP YOU!” He spat. “If you harm her, you will face the wrath of TWO DEMONS TONIGHT!”

“Brother, stop!” Kon-Mai cried.

“Sige at subukan! Hindi mo siya papatayin!” She bared her teeth.

“There must be a way to kill him, Bulan.” Zhang stepped forward, his hands up.

She let out the breath she seemed to be holding, letting her gun arm drop, and nodded. “Nasaktan ko si Ya'uq. Sa harap.”

“You hurt him?” Zhang gasped.

She nodded, then let down her gun for a moment. She hesitated, reaching back to undo the ribbon cinching her shirt at her waist.

The crew gathered in closer, curious as to what she was about to reveal. She let drop the ribbon, turned and lifted her shirt to reveal a gaping hole, pulsating and empty, nearly revealing her spine. There was no blood, but they could easily see the meat within.

“That looks like it hurts!” Bryni cried.

“One can...grow accustomed to pain.” Kon-Mai said quietly. “Vox Ya’uq did this?”

“No.” She said, her voice sounding almost sad. “Nang ikinulong ko siya, binaril ko siya sa likuran…”

“...And your wound comes from a shotgun...” Zhang said softly. “Your wounds appear on him. And his on you.”

“But that means y’all can hurt each other!” Bryni cried. “Y’all can die! Maybe if you...” She trailed off, realizing what that meant.

“Anong taon?” Bulan’s question cut her off. “Que año es? Ahora?”

Zhang bit his lip, swallowing. “...The year?” He sighed. “2040.”

Bulan let out a soft chuckle, stepping slowly into the middle of the room. “Kung gayon. Ano ang punto?” She sat down, cross legged, on the floor of the bedroom. “Everything I love...dead...or here.”

.

.

Gur-Rai looked up as he heard someone approaching from the stairs. His position of leaning against the wall was slightly uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to sit, in case he had to spring back up into action again.

He saw his sister coming down the stairs, limping slightly on her broken leg, and he took that chance, jumping up and going to help her. “So?”

She sighed. “There is much to consider.”

“Oh really?”

She nodded, settling on the last stair and letting her leg rest. “Vox Ya’uq can be killed.”

“...And?” He raised a brow. “That’s a good thing, yet you sound like you’re disappointed.”

“He can only be killed by Bulan herself.” She elaborated. “My striking off his hand slowed him down, but according to Malinalli he has already regrown the limb. And Bulan has survived a shot to the neck…”

Gur-Rai pursed his lips. “So I’m guessing that’s why she can’t die either.”

“The two are…” She sighed. “It is a more powerful psionic link than I’ve ever seen. They are effectively immortal. The only wounds that remain are those that are dealt at the hand of the other.”

“So why doesn’t she just kill him?” He asked. “And he’s been wandering this place for ages, why hasn’t he killed her?”

“His presence is what is keeping her dying siblings alive…” Kon-Mai’s voice cracked a bit and she cleared her throat.

“Alive? I can smell the mold from down here.” He shuddered.

“That is the children.”

“Great.” Gur-Rai hugged himself. “And she doesn’t see how keeping them alive is cruel and unusual?”

Kon-Mai hesitated at that. “...I would like to walk for a bit.”

“Your leg-”

“Is in no more danger of breaking than before.” She said as she stood. “I need to get away from that place. It’s making me ill.”

They made their way down the empty hall, watching for the Elder. They could feel him, his aura similar to the elders they knew and “loved”, but it felt much older. It faded in and out like a receding tide.

The hallway felt like it was endless, and the silence felt like it was crushing. Kon-Mai stopped short and Gur-Rai looked up at the door they had just stopped in front of. That same smell of rot was coming from behind it, and he swore he heard whispering.

“...Didn’t that diary say her mom locked herself in her room?”

Kon-Mai nodded. The two exchanged nervous glances and stepped forward, reaching for each other first, then the handle of the door.

.

.

Negotiating was useless.

They had all piled out into the hall when it became clear that Bulan was no longer listening to their attempts at bargaining. She had effectively shut down at this point, refusing to respond to anyone unless it was in relation to one of the dying children. 

“We can’t leave.” Annette repeated for the tenth time. “That...thing, he’s keeping us here.”

“...Do you think we’ll end up like them?” Malinalli asked. “If the children began wasting away when Ya’uq arrived, who’s to say this isn’t his plan? Trap people in here, suck them dry, leave them like that for all eternity.”

“The Elders…” Dhar-Mon’s voice was unusually quiet. “The Elders were always talking about the great void beyond death, how it was a demise to be feared. Who is to say Ya’uq is not also seeking some sort of eternal life?”

“Well that’s right comforting.” Bryni put a hand on her hip, playing with her gun. “Look, the Elders ain’t immortal, and Little Miss Death comes for everybody. I say we take our guns and go at the fucker with everything we got.”

They all turned and stared at Bryni like she had finally snapped. “That’s a terrible idea.” Annette deadpanned.

“It’s the only idea.” Bryni retorted. “Unless you wanna go back in there and convince Bulan to die for us.”

“They have to kill each other.” Dhar-Mon rubbed his temples. “And when one dies…”

“Yep.” Bryni looked away. “Ain’t that how it goes?”

Gur-Rai and Kon-Mai came jogging back down the hall, their faces pale-or as pale as they could seem with already blue skin.

“Are you two alright?!” Dhar-Mon cried, pushing past the group and running to his younger siblings. “Do not run off where I cannot see you! You could get hurt!”

“We’re not children, Brother.” Kon-Mai grumbled, leaning against the wall. “We must prepare some kind of strike against Ya’uq. We cannot stay here.”

“We were just discussing that.” Malinalli said. “I agree we should at least try...better than sitting here to rot.”

There was collective silence all around. And then…

Annette sighed. “Let’s try and get some rest first. Then, we fight God.”

“I’d say he’s the Devil.” Gur-Rai shrugged. “But let the theologians debate that.”

.

.

Even the night had a strange brightness hanging over it, the sun refusing to fully, properly descend into the horizon. The group had settled in a nearby room, the remains of what looked like was one of the children's bedrooms. 

Crammed into the tight space, the Chosen cuddled up to each other. Kon-Mai lay in the center of both of her brothers’ embraces, while Dhar-Mon wrapped his large body as best he could around the both of his siblings. Gur-Rai slept with his head on his sister’s stomach, using her like a pillow, his only sense sense of comfort in this terrifying place.

The only one not asleep was Zhang. Quietly, he slipped from the room and into the hallway, up the stairs, and to the door that was now locked. Bulan had all but barricaded herself inside, but he could feel her.

“Bulan.” He whispered, his voice scratchy.

At first she didn’t answer, but he heard her shift.

“You don’t have to speak.” He said in Tagalog. “Just listen. I know this was all because of me. The Triad should never have brought you or your siblings into what was your father’s business, and in doing so we all but ruined your chance at a normal life.” He took a breath. “I’m so sorry.”

Silence. Then, movement. He felt the door shift just a bit.

“If anyone deserves to be trapped here, it is me.” Zhang continued. “You should be the one who goes free.”

He heard her whimper.

“But please.” He hissed. “I know you love your siblings. You must know that this isn't fair to them. It’s not fair to keep them trapped like this-”

“You kept us trapped.” She growled. “You kept us like this for months. We got to see the sun once a day. I thought you were going to sell my sisters and I into slavery!”

Zhang stood in silence, tears burning his eyes.

“You have no right to tell me what they deserve, old man.” She growled. “You’re just as bad as Ya’uq.”

“...You’re right.” He said quietly. “In that case, the people here cannot leave unless you help them. If not for your siblings-”

Bulan let out a yelping laugh. “Them?! I don’t know any of them!” She spat. “Why should I die for them?!”

“They’re good people!”

“Like you?” She hissed. “There are no good people. There are only those who survive and those who don’t. And we are still alive.” she sounded hesitant for just a moment. “...Please go. If you stay, fine. But don’t expect mercy from me.”

Zhang pulled away from the door, his heart heavy. There would be no winning this battle. They could not even die.

.

.

The sun was still not up by the time they woke, but it hung on the horizon and cast a shadow over what remained of the day. It felt as though no time had passed at all.

The Hieromonk woke first, a chilling feeling in his bones as his siblings stirred beside him. They would have to hunt tonight, and he knew this as he shook his brother gently: this was what he was born for after all.

Gur-Rai vaguely swatted at him. “Mmmmn go away.”

“No, Brother. We must wake up.” He shook Kon-Mai at the same time, whispering to her. “How is your leg?”

“Fine.” She said quietly. “Is it time?”

“It’s as good a time as any.” Annette said as she got to her feet, clearly having been awake for hours. “So what now? How do we plan to lure him out?”

“I shall take care of that.” Zhang said.

“Do you want to die very rapidly?” Annette raised a brow. “Because if so that’s clearly the best tactical decision.”

“Nobody can die in this house.” Zhang assured her.

“That doesn't help.” Annette insisted. “Please don’t get hurt.”

He nodded, but the look on his face was empty and sad.

The rest of the party began to stir, Malinalli sitting up against the wall. Her curly hair was a matted, tangled mess, falling out of what remained of her braid, and her eyes looked tired and haunted. She began opening up some rations they brought, but no one took any. No one felt like eating, either from the magic, or the intense feeling of dread.

They went out into the foyer, minding the broken bits of wood, and pushed open the heavy door. Kon-Mai was looking around, her ears picking up every single sound. Gur-Rai was facing behind them, his eagle eyes scanning the room. Dhar-Mon pulled his hammer from his back and stepped forward, out into the garden.

They shifted into the open space of the yard, the glowing flowers reaching out from their stems towards them. They heard a quiet noise behind them, akin to static, and smelled sulfur and rot.

Zhang took a deep breath in and let it out, his eyes glowing. “He is upon us.”

.

.

Bulan stared at the window as she saw Ya’uq’s distinct purple glow begin to move through the house towards them. They were doomed. Even if death never came to this place, he would beat them within an inch of their lives and drain them dry. They had no chance to do him any harm.

She looked to her siblings, still confined to their beds. Diwata looked lucid this morning, and she was staring at Bulan, her eyes expectant. As though she were waiting. She always had been the smart one.

Bulan scoffed and shook her head. Even if she helped them, they would still lose. And her family, her happiness, hinged on staying right here. Avoiding Diwata’s piercing eyes, she turned on her heel, leaving the attic and stepping into the dark, musty hallway. The door at the end was open, just a crack. Barely enough to tell someone had gone inside but just enough to know…

“Nanay?” She called out to her mother, and heard a soft sound of movement. Bulan jogged, that jog turned into a sprint as she raced down the hall, eagerly awaiting the warm embrace of her…

She did not scream at the sight of her mother. She could not muster a scream, the sound was stuck in her throat at the shock that awaited her. She could only gaze blankly at the sight of her mother hanging by her neck, from the ceiling that should have rotted years ago but didn’t. 

The woman moved, the rotting frames creaking as the rope swung just a bit, and Bulan’s poor mother reached out, her wrinkled hand longing for her daughter’s touch.

Instead of going to her, Bulan looked down at the gun in her hand, and thought of how desperately she wanted to end this suffering. She sank to her knees, the floor underneath her covered in dust that seemed to cover her like a blanket.

This was not fair. Not to them. Not to her. Not to the people trapped here. Not to the little ones. Not to her mother.

.

.

The battle did not begin in their favor. 

Ya’uq emerged from the darkness of the front door, dragging himself out with his gnarled hands. The group scattered, Kon-Mai drawing her sword and cloaking herself, disappearing into the wind. Dhar-Mon held his hammer but also conjured up his own psionic energy. Gur-Rai grappled to a nearby tree, Malinalli dove for cover, and the rest drew their guns.

They were not here to play games. Zhang gave the order. “Shoot to kill!”

Ya’uq rose up to his full height, raised his arms, and made a sound that suddenly cut across the minds of everyone listening. It felt like a needle piercing the brain. Kon-Mai involuntarily dropped her cloak, and Gur-Rai collapsed from the tree branch he had stood on.

“Live. Live. You all live.” Ya’uq whispered desperately. “I see the void. I cannot die. Don’t let me die.”

Dhar-Mon, recovering from the psionic blow the quickest, tried to rush Ya’uq and did, in fact, manage to swing and slam his hammer into the creature’s hip. For a moment, it seemed as though the wound would stay.

Then with a crunch, Ya’uq’s hip righted itself. The Elder gazed down at Dhar-Mon, purple eyes glowing, and as he raised his arms, Dhar-Mon felt the same stinging pain in his head he’d felt when Bhandasura had nearly killed him. He tried to duck away but collapsed, blood dripping from his nose.

Malinalli screamed and rushed over, throwing herself over the much larger man and right into the path of the Elder. Zhang called out for her, and Annette broke formation and rushed Ya’uq. What her plan was, no one would know, because Ya’uq swatted her aside like she weighed nothing. She across the yard, her back hitting the greenhouse and cracking the glass, nearly shattering it. 

Kon-Mai rushed forward toward the beast, but though her leg did work it was still a sore point, and it slowed her down enough that Ya’uq got the jump on her. She swung and, like always, the blade hit it’s target, but Ya’uq seemed to not even notice it, and instead he grabbed the Chosen woman by her braids and slammed her head into the ground, leaving her dazed.

Zhang fired, again and again, but if he was hitting this creature (and he honestly wasn’t sure if he was), then his bullets were doing less than nothing. The Chosen themselves couldn’t bring this thing down. There really was no winning…

Then he heard it. The footsteps.

Bulan stepped from the house, practically glowing in the low light. Ya’uq turned his gaze on her, his eyes wide.

Their eyes met, as though they were having an entire conversation without speaking. For a moment, it looked as though they had known each other their entire lives. This was the reunion of old friends.

Bulan said nothing as she pointed her shotgun forward, and Ya’uq roared and charged her, trying to stop her. 

As the first hit tore into Ya’uq, splitting the Elder’s chest open in a shower of purple ichor, so too did a stain of red splatter on Bulan’s shirt. She cried out, stopping briefly, long enough for Ya’uq to sweep her away with his hand, causing her to drop her gun as she fell to the side. She got back to her feet, holding her now very injured chest and struggling to breathe. He would never deal the killing blow, but she saw him grab for her again and slid out of the way, only just missing his grabbing hands.

Ya’uq let out a roar that shook the very foundations of the house, bringing down some of the intricate baroque stonework. Those who were standing fell to their knees, and those already on the ground tried to cover their heads. Bulan frantically searched for her shotgun but it had disappeared into the aether.

“Hey.” A gravely voice hissed, and Gur-Rai tapped the ground near her. He was laying in the bushes under the tree, and she looked over, their eyes meeting. With a toothy grin, he pulled his machete from his belt and tossed it to her. “Use that.”

She looked down at the machete, smiled, and nodded at him. Getting back to her feet, she took a breath and charged, not daring to waste a second.

The first swipe cut so deep into Ya’uq’s hip it sent him tumbling to the ground on his knees. Bulan too faltered, but she miraculously kept her footing despite the blinding pain. Unyielding, she did not think, she simply swung at him, cutting across his eyes. Her scream was almost as loud as his, but she was undeterred, even though her vision was quite literally nothing but red.

Ya’uq reached out for her one last time, and it looked almost like he was begging. One last word. Please.

One fell swoop. As he bent over, Bulan shoved the blade into Ya’uq’s skull, cracking it wide open. He screamed, the air around him turning to static and pain. Purple light flashed from him for only a moment before his body curled in on itself, limbs bending like a dead spider as he spasmed, then with one last whimper, fell still

Bulan stood tall and triumphant for just a moment, as the darkness in the sky began to lift away. The sun hit her face, the warmth and the light…

Then she fell backwards into the dust. Zhang ran to where Bulan was collapsed, the darkness surrounding them lessening with every step. As he reached her, he saw her chest rising and falling, but his relief was short lived when he saw the blood trickling down her face, and the gaping, bloody wound in her own skull.

“Shaojie…” She hissed, but it was not malicious.

“Nandito ako.” He knelt beside her. “I am so, so sorry. You should not have had to do this.”

She whimpered, closing her bloody eyes as best she could. “The little ones. Are they okay?”

Zhang looked around at his team, each of them beginning to clamber to their feet. Gur-Rai, no doubt coming over to get his sword back, knelt down a foot or so from Bulan, his face grave. Kon-Mai was still curled on the ground, wheezing from pain, but Malinalli and Dhar-Mon were already up and attending to her.

Zhang nodded, sinking to his knees as Annette ran over to them. “They’re okay now, Bulan.”

She closed her eyes, tears mixing with the blood. She clasped her hands over the wound in her chest, and he saw her trembling.

“It’s okay…” He said quietly, and Annette stepped closer to her and knelt at the girl’s head, wiping the tears and blood from her face.

“Nanay…” Bulan sniffled. “Nasaan ang nanay ko?” Her eyes were flickering.

Annette took hold of one of her hands, Zhang the other, and in her last breaths, Bulan began to sing.

“Ili-ili tulog anay,

Wala diri imong nanay…”

Her voice faltered, once, and the last lyrics were said in what was barely a whisper. “Kadto tienda bakal papay.

Ili-ili tulog anay.”

.

.

They laid Bulan in one of the attic beds, alongside her siblings, her eyes closed peacefully as though she were asleep. The blankets pulled up around her made it seem so: she was simply sleeping, and at the end of this nightmare, she would wake up.

Maybe one day she would, Zhang thought as he closed the door for the last time. He descended the stairs, the empty mansion whispering to him as he did. He felt lighter somehow, as though being here had lifted an old weight he still suffered with.

Kon-Mai’s leg was throbbing so much just thinking made her want to scream, so Dhar-Mon was charged with carrying her back to the Skyranger. He had been worried for Gur-Rai after his fall, but his brother insisted that all he had were a few scratches. “Nothing like what our poor sister went through.”

“And nothing like that poor girl…” Kon-Mai retorted, her voice weak and tired. “We should create a memorial for her in the Avenger.”

“Her and her siblings.” Dhar-Mon sighed. “She fulfilled her duty to her family. She saved them.”

“What duty, Brother?” Gur-Rai raised a brow.

“The eldest sibling must protect the younger.” He said. “It is why I protect you.”

“Hey now.” Gur-Rai gently punched him in the arm. “Don’t go imprisoning an ancient god to keep me alive, you hear me?”

“Brother.” Kon-Mai insisted. “I would never wish for you to suffer that fate. We all protect each other.” She smiled. “If one of us falls, would the others not be lost?” 

The rest of the exhausted party followed them back down the dirt path, through the trees to the very dusty and slightly sunbleached Skyranger. Bryni kicked open the cockpit and lowered the ramp. “WHOOEE! Poor baby ain’t been cleaned in days!” She laughed. “Well come on everyone! Don’t dilly dally!”

“I must confess, even if it led to this, I’m happy you sent that distress signal.” Zhang admitted to Annette when they entered.

“I suppose I am glad to be out of that wretched place.” Annette nodded. “Thank you, for me and for Bulan.”

“I am thankful we could help her.” Zhang sighed. “...If we truly did.”

“She and her siblings are resting now.” Annette assured him. “We did what we could.”

“I know.” He looked up, watching the Darkstrider cleaning his blade. “And thank you, Darkstrider.”

“Hm?” He looked up. “Hey, Bulan did the hard work. I just lent her the machete.” He twirled it in his hand. “Funny, it doesn’t seem right just calling it that.”

“It doesn’t have a name?” Annette raised a brow.

Zhang buckled his seatbelt. “You know. Bulan’s name...it means moon.” He said quietly. “A symbol of change, and of the passage of time.”

.

.

Inside the house, so quiet and still, as the dust began to settle and the light finally began to fade, a door closed upstairs.

The figure of a girl moved through the house, slowly at first, then with the enthusiasm of a child, sprinting freely though the halls. Abandoning her ripped blue skirt, she had donned a pair of slacks from her own father’s closet, and one of her mother’s fine blouses.

She ran out into the garden, sunlight and wind and air, real fresh air, washing over her face. For only a moment she stopped, not wasting a second. She stooped and picked up that old shotgun, her Ol’ Reliable.

She knew he was still out there, but now she knew she could win, and if push came to shove, well, Shaojie did owe her a favor~

In the year 2040, at the young, bright age of 97, Bulan Kepa threw open the gates, and stepped out into the world.

.

.

.

.

.

Summary: The party, confined to their hiding spot, begins searching through the papers on the desk for more information about Bulan and her family. Zhang, frustrated, takes a break to talk with Kon-Mai; as it turns out, Zhang is 99 years old thanks to the Elders’ gifts. Later, Annette finds Bulan’s diary from 1962, and it is revealed there was a Sectoid invasion around their home, made worse by her father’s paranoia. It is also revealed that although Bulan attempted suicide, she is unable to die. Using Dhar-Mon’s power, Bryni finds and converses with Bulan, and gets her to agree to meet with them. Upon meeting Malinalli, Bulan takes them to the room her sick siblings are resting in, and asks if Malinalli can fix them. However, the children are so far gone, Malinalli cannot treat them, and it is discovered Ya’uq has been draining them of energy to keep himself alive. Bulan refuses to fight Ya’uq, despite being the only one who can wound him, as doing so would kill her in the process. The group attempts to confront Ya’uq themselves, but he quickly overpowers them, and they are unable to wound him in the slightest. When all seems lost, Bulan realizes her family is suffering and joins the battle, at first being struck down by Ya’uq, but upon acquiring Gur-Rai’s machete, she is able to land a decisive blow, killing him. Zhang runs to her, apologizing to Bulan as she dies, but she simply asks him if her siblings are safe. After assuring her they are, Bulan dies with a lullaby on her lips. The gang returns to the Skyranger, where Zhang reflects on the fact that Bulan’s name symbolizes change and the passage of time.

(And so concludes the spooky saga. I think this one was hard to write because I so desperately wanted it to come out good, and just didn’t believe I was able to do it. I think, however, this did come out pretty decently, and wrapping this up, tying in the lore especially, was extremely fun!

Edit: You may notice there is an afterward that wasn’t there before. Yes! I was sitting on it all day and  something felt very...wrong about Bulan’s death at the end, especially with things being how they are. So, I’ve added this epilogue per se. You’ll be seeing her again.)

Archive: https://chosenstories.tumblr.com/

[recycledletters]

this is just a bad hamlet retelling (6/19/22)

(a/n: this is my least favorite thing i’ve written for this project so far lol. that’s fine)

Dear Diary (March 1st, 1997)

    Picture this: you’re walking home from school. It’s a beautiful day in San Francisco so you take the long way home. Your mom hates when you do this but not enough to care, really. He thinks it’s because you’re not over your dad dying. Which is true. He died a month ago??

    But for some reason instead of snapping at you she sits you down and gently tells you as nicely as she possibly can the most infuriating thing you’ve ever heard. Would rather she be mad at me.

(later)

    I’m going to kill my uncle. This is so slimy of him. What the fuck.

(March 2nd)

    I had a weird dream last night. I was in this castle. And dad was there. He couldn’t talk but his mouth was moving. He looked angry. But I felt like he didn’t really want to talk to me. He just wanted someone to hear him. He told me his brother killed him. He told him he is bad for our family. 

(later)

    Mom doesn’t get it. Why does she marry these awful white guys? I don’t want him in the house. I don’t want him around. 

(March 5th)

    I don’t trust him. Mom doesn’t believe me. I think the ghost was right. I don’t know if I believe in ghosts but I feel like I have to trust my guts. 

(March 10th)

    Mom yelled at me today. My grades are slipping. My boyfriend broke up with me. (His mom hated me anyway.)

    I almost did it today. I almost told her: it’s me or him. I want him out of the house. But as I was walking up to her room, the door was open. I could hear them talking. She was… crying. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard my mom cry. And he was comforting her. She was telling him how hard it was to raise me. And he was telling her she was a good mom doing the best she can, and that I was a good kid. 

    Seriously screw this guy. He fucking sucks and this doesn’t change my mind. But I feel like an asshole if I say something now. I’ll wait until later.

(March 14th)

    I got kicked out of private school. Mom divorced him. She also kicked me out.

(March 15th)

    I had another weird dream last night. I was in the castle. I forgot to drink water before bed so i was absolutely parched. You know how in dreams, sometimes you just Know things to be true, without needing any sort of reasoning? I knew if i didn’t drink something I would die. Someone offered me a goblet and I knew it was filled with poison but I was so thirsty.  I drank, and drank, and drank.

[ivorytowerblr]

NaNoWriMo 2017: May 30th

Today was an exciting day of dental work, so not a lot got written.

Word Count: 533 Weekly Word Count: 4056 (of 10000) Previous: November (Masterpost); December (Masterpost); January (Masterpost); February (Masterpost); March (Masterpost); April (Masterpost); May: Week One (May 1st-7th) Week Two (May 8th-14th) Week Three (May 15th-21st) 22nd. 23rd. 24th. 25th. 26th. 27th. 28th. 29th.

“Why are you doing this?” Hekate asked, exasperation and a little desperation in her voice. “Why are you helping him?”

“Money,” Cirina said. “Some of it was challenge, but mostly it was money. I’m not involved with this, and frankly, I don’t care either.”

“Cold and efficient, exactly the way I like my mercenaries,” Kronus said. “I hope you’re not dreaming of a valiant rescue by a sympathetic ally. They don’t exist here.”

“Suck an entire dick.”

“Hekate.” Kronus grabbed her arm again, pressing his thumb into the side of her elbow until she whimpered. “Be quiet.”

Fuck you, Hekate thought angrily, but fell silent, and Kronus released her. I don’t even remember you always having child abusing hands.

Cirina, the mercenary, said nothing, as though the whole thing was of no concern to her.

Between the pair of them, Hekate was marched down the hallway until they reached a room, and Kronus gestured for Cirina to let her go. The mercenary did so, and took a step back, clearly waiting for orders.

“That’s enough for now,” Kronus said. “I’ll call you when I need you to put her back in her cage.”

“Sir,” Cirina said, and nodded once before turning on heel and walking away, deeper into the facility. Hekate stared after her, trying to find any hint at all of remorse or hesitation, and found none.

“She’s quite cold-blooded, I was fortunate to find her,” Kronus said. “Good help can be so hard to come by.”

“Is there any way I can respond to that without you hurting me?” Hekate asked. Because I’m not here to stroke your ego.”

“You could simply refrain from making another tired, smart-assed remark,” Kronus said, and unlocked the door before opening it. “Get inside, now.”

Hekate stepped into the room, and found herself once again in darkness, though not for long. Kronus turned on the lights, revealing a place that looked far less like a laboratory, and more like a kitchen, or esoterically, like a working room.

The sight immediately made her uneasy, even as he prodded her over to a chair to sit down. Hekate had spent very little time with her father in her youth, and as such, knew little of his habits, his interests, but this seemed familiar. Something he had discussed before, perhaps.

He’s always been into some really odd shit, Hekate thought as she sat, and watched him move about. “What is this place?”

“A special one, somewhere to work undisturbed. You’ve been here before, though you don’t remember.” Kronus gestured around him. “As I said, we didn’t particularly want children. It goes counter to our personal beliefs, but… sometimes, things turn out differently than you might imagine.”

“I’m shocked by this revelation, just shocked.” Hekate watched him as he went to a drawer and dug into it. “So, what was it? A birth control failure? I can’t imagine either of you having any moral compunctions about terminating, so why am I here at all?”

Kronus lifted a syringe from the drawer, and took a few moments to make adjustments to it, adding the needle and testing it. “I said you were unwanted. I never said you were an accident.”

[avillarealblr]

Week 5: December 14th - 20th, 2018

The week before Christmas

I highly believe that this is by far my busiest week of this month. Why? Well, besides the holiday stigma and the unconscious pressure to just get this over with to finally have the break that we students deserve, this week is also the prelims week 🙃 so there's that...

Don't get me wrong though, I like how exams are created to test my learning capacity as well as check if I'm improving. But the way our educational system works, it's solely based on grades and ranking a student's progress and IQ. Personally, I admire an approach to which one could be tested logically or through practical methods. But since I'm also a hypocrite here, I suck at practicals so nevermind 😆.

Anyway, before I start rambling again, on the 14th I just heard from my mom that my dad will be be home in the Philippines for the holidays for the first time in ten years. For the past 8 or so years, the rest of our family celebrated in Qatar or Dubai so having him home to celebrate it with us was different. I was really happy like a giddy school child who just tasted cotton candy for the first time😂. I was really ecstatic as well because we get to celebrate Christmas together as a family which was the only thing that I wished for this holiday. My mom also added that his flight's supposed to be on the 15th but I was sceptical because I thought they were only pulling a prank on me and my brother or I just don't like to keep my hopes up (man oh man, I was WRONG lol).

The 15th came and to my surprise, they picked me up at school so that was very happy for me😭♥️. The drive home was filled with stories and quirky anecdotes from one another. I saw my mom cuddling with dad which made me very happy since they haven't seen each other since October. My brother also was very happy as am I. We final7 arrived home and the moment of happiness was briefly ruined because my dad told us that he will only stay until the 27th (which was only 12 days, not even exactly 2 weeks which majorly sucked). His announcement meant that he won't be celebrating New Year's with us. So we decided that we should just the make the most of it and enjoy the company of one another for the time being.

16th was Sunday which meant that it was my only rest day for the week but I was forced to get up so early like 8 am😩 to practice for my childhood friend's cotillion (I'll tell you all about her in the next journal entry). I really suck at dancing...heck I even suck at standing straight 😞 . So I spent the entirely of that day pretending to learn how to dance but in reality I looked like a blind horse waiting to be pushed by a small gush of wind. By the end of the day, I was so damn tired to even lift a muscle so my early plan of just doing nothing, well even that, didn't happen. I just used the remaining time of that day being "Netflix and chill"🤦‍♂️ (it's grammatically incoherent but I'm going to stick with it.)

On the 17th, my parents and I decided to drive out to SM Aura Premier to shop for some items for the house and also do a little bit of shopping. We ate out and then bought dinner for my brother who couldn't make it since he had school. Arriving home, I originally intended to "review" but then I saw my childhood friends so I used that time to just hang out with them. 18th was my friend, Ivan's birthday. Originally, my childhood friends and I planned last night to catch a movie but I promised Ivan first so I chose his thing first. We celebrated with my other pals, Jorvi and Mico, by eating our stomachs out and singing to a very limited number of karaoke songs and then eating ice cream before separating. I came home planning to review again but didn't happen because I had cotillion practices😩👏. So while we had short 10-15 minute breaks, I was browsing my notes and trying to review. I was pooped that day with only a day to review left. Let's hope I do get to review...

The 19th came and I reviewed rigorously. Gotcha. As I always do, I procrastinated and crammed at around 9 pm till 1 in the morning (Nice one, me👏👌). Let's just hope my I crammed enough and I have enough schema left in me.

[johnjohnkook]

If You Were // MiniCat

BASED OFF “WHEN YOU’RE GONE” BY AVRIL LAVIGNE

If you were to mention Craig around Tyler, his whole mood would shift, and he would light up. Craig’s honey-laced tone ran through the giant’s mind all the time, and it was one he could never forget, no matter what he was doing. His eyes so green and inviting, Tyler could drown staring into them. 

His lips, however, they were Tyler’s favorite. They felt like Heaven pressed against his own, the inside of his mouth open vulnerable like it’s the prey to the predator that’s Tyler’s tongue. He first kissed Craig in Illinois when he came out to stay from L.A. It was under a red maple tree in a fountain park. Tyler joked that the tree was Craig’s long lost brother and Craig stood on his toes and shut him up with a kiss. Ever since, Tyler loved his lips on his.

In June, Tyler interrupted Craig’s movie and asked, “You wanna go watch Pluto Nash?” Craig howled with laughter–because he had told Tyler when he was a teenager, his boyfriend at the time took him to see Pluto Nash and Craig actually blew him off in the theater, so it became code for “You wanna suck me off?”–and Tyler grumbled and smacked him in the back of the head. Craig stuck his tongue out and continued his movie.

If you were to ask Tyler if he was single, he would say yes. However, everyone knew better. Craig was his, even if he was too stubborn to admit it. Tyler was Craig’s too, even if Craig was too shy to say anything. They always were not far from each other, and to anyone who gave a quick glance, they’d seem nothing more than close friends, but it was so much more and so unsubtle.

Tyler kept to himself; it’s just how he is. He bottled up his feelings up and tried to fix his problems himself. Craig is the only one who has ever managed to get him to open up, and that was the first time they ever slept together. It felt euphoric and relieving to Tyler, and they did it again and again until Craig found himself practically living with the older boy.

Their friends were not stupid enough to question Tyler and ask him if they were a thing, but Tyler would just laugh and change the conversation. They rarely showed affection in public, and both seemed fine with how they were.

If you were to ask Tyler if he ever got angry, he would yell right in your face. He always got into arguments, most likely the consequence for bottling up his emotions. Therefore, fights with the younger man were loud, harsh, and violent. Tyler promised he would never struck Craig, but he did throw and break things.

Many of the arguments started from Tyler. Tyler sometimes would come from work ticked the fuck off, and Craig, being the caring boy he is, would do anything to make the older feel better, and Tyler’s rage would get the best of them, especially when it cost him his job.

Tyler has broken a lot of things from throwing them in pure rage, and Craig would shout insults that he never meant in return. They would always makeup with either Tyler taking the boy out or a steamy night in the bedroom, or even somewhere between. 

The two even had an argument so brutal, Craig left Tyler for three weeks before they finally apologized to the other and spent the rest of that day cuddling on the couch, watching sappy movies, and making up for lost time.

If you were to ask Tyler if he ever hurt someone, he’d ignore you and change the subject. Tyler and Craig never had a label. When they were out with their friends, they hung out like they have never been intimate between the sheets. 

Tyler really messed up in October.

During an argument, Tyler slapped Craig right across the face. Not only did he hurt Craig, he broke his promise–that hurt Craig more. Craig left him that day, without a word, and Tyler didn’t blame him. 

Craig and Tyler were never the same. Craig eventually moved out of America and back across the world, and Tyler lost respect from his friends for the longest time. Tyler was alone again.

If you were to ask Tyler about the springtime of 2015, he’d show the biggest smile ever to be seen. Craig was gone for a year and a half before he ran into Tyler again on an April afternoon at a convenient store in Illinois. Tyler was a mess, but Craig seemed to be doing well.

They caught up after Tyler invited him out for coffee. Craig was only in Illinois for a week, and that brought Tyler down, but he was glad to see Craig and hear his voice again. He thought he made a stupid mistake when he brought Craig to the same fountain park. Craig felt a sense of nostalgia.

Craig had let it slip, and he knew he shouldn’t. “I miss you.”

Tyler smiled and responded by pressing Craig against that very tree and pressed their lips together for the first time in a long time.

They made love that night.

If you were to ask Tyler about September 15th, he’d tell you that was the day his heart broke. Craig loved Tyler and Tyler loved Craig, but neither have ever said the words. Instead it was “I miss you,” when Tyler left for work or when Craig had to fly out to the United Kingdom, they called every night just to say “I miss you.”

Craig was gone for a month–a long, torturing month–in the United Kingdom. On September 14th, the day before Craig was due home, Tyler planned a romantic evening and spent his money on gifts for Craig, the most important one being a gold band. He was going to propose to Mini. He was going to take him out to the zoo because Craig loved animals, and then, he wanted to take him out to eat at Craig’s favorite restaurant, and finally, they were going to drive up to the tallest hill that allowed trespassing and he planned to propose to him there, under the stars.

He was so excited and nervous, he couldn’t sleep. Instead, he called Craig and they talked for hours until Tyler started to fall asleep on the phone and barely heard Mini whisper, “See you tomorrow, piggy.”

Craig never made it to Illinois.

Tyler waited and waited and waited, but Craig still hadn’t came. He had glanced over his appearance many times, still very nervous, and by the time it was five in the evening, he was so worried, he was paranoid.

His phone rang and it was Craig’s mother. She was sobbing.

“He’s gone.”

He got an airplane ticket to Nebraska and planned to drive the rest of the way. However, he only made it halfway through Iowa simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was on the right side of the highway, driving north when a car was struck by a semi-truck on the opposite side. The collision drove the car to the left and hit his car from the left side, and since he had just taken off his seatbelt before the crash to get ready to pull into the nearby gas station, he was flung against the passenger side door and was severely injured. He was barely breathing when the medics came and he was gone before they made it to the hospital.

And Tyler was heartbroken, way more than the time when Craig left because this time there was no chance Craig was coming back.

Tyler cried for days. He wouldn’t do anything but lie on his bed and cry into Craig’s pillow. Occasionally, he’d pick up the velvet box and cry harder at the golden band with ‘My Mini’ carved into the inside. 

The clothes Craig left, Tyler never touched them. The ones on the floor, the ones in the hamper, the ones in the closet, they stayed there because Tyler couldn’t bare to move them. Tyler was broken and empty. Everything reminded him of Craig, and he wished he could hold him again.

When Tyler flew out to the United Kingdom for the funeral, Mrs. Thompson gave him a folded piece of paper.

“He kept a book here for when he comes that’s filled with how he feels,” she explained, “like a diary.”

It was a sketch of himself as a pig/man hybrid with “To Tyler, my piggy” scribbled at the bottom. Tyler bit back tears before flipping it over and reading the back.

Tyler,

I miss you like fucking crazy, you know? That’s pretty much why I’m writing. I miss you like so much. I’ve already packed my things for tomorrow. I’m so excited to come home to you.  I want to marry you, Tyler. I know we’ve never talked about us, but as long as I’m with you, I don’t care. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know that you’ve made mistakes, but so have I, and I want you for the rest of my days because I am so completely, hopelessly, crazily in love with you. 

Forever yours, 

your Mini

If you told Tyler that Craig would want him to be happy, he’d laugh sadly and say, “I’d do anything for him.” Months after Craig’s tragic passing, Tyler wasn’t any better, but at least he found motivation to leave his house. Still, he never touched Craig’s things; he left them the way he had did.

 “I miss you,” Tyler found himself whispering into the night air one night as he lied on the hood of his car as he stared up at the stars on the tallest hill in his town. The ring that was supposed to be on Craig’s left ring finger was instead on a chain around Tyler’s neck. He held it in his hand as he looked up at a star that was shining ever so brightly in the sky and whispered with a smile on his face, “My Mini.”

[survivorkomnata]

Episode #4:  "and that's what you missed on glee" - Ally

Woo tribe swap! we made the right call booting fed, and now Kato has majority on my new tribe! Ideally i think Alyssa would ve here instead of luke maybe but i dont mind, i think Im good with both him and TJ

I mean, honestly, what's even the point of living in a world where hallways are empty. LIKE, YOU SPEND DAYS CRAFTING A PLAN THAT YOU THINK IS GONNA WORK, BUT THEN BOOOOM, SWAP FUCK. NOW I'M ON A TRIBE WITH 2 PEOPLE I'VE NEVER MET, SOMEONE FROM MY OLD TRIBE I WAS PLANNING TO VOTE OUT NEXT, AND MISS CAN'T READ THE CHALLENGE RULES JESS WHO I'M NOT EVEN SURE IS LOYAL TO ME. SURE WOULD BE NICE TO GET THAT IMMUNITY IDOL!

BUT IT'S COOL. MY PLAN STILL KINDA WORKED! I'M REALLY CLOSE TO THE END, AND THIS IS A NEW TRIBE, MEANING NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE THE IDOL YET. HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA NOPEEE! WITHIN 3 FUCKING HOURS, SOMEONE FOUND THE IDOL, MEANING THERE'S SOMEONE ON THIS TRIBE WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN TO THE END OF THE HALLWAY ON THEIR ORIGINAL TRIBE AND MAY POSSIBLY HAVE 2 IDOLS. AND HOW MANY DO I HAVE? ZEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO. What the FUCK. FUCKING BALLS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. AND OF COURSE WE BLOW AT THIS CURRENT CHALLENGE I'M FUCKED IT'S ALL FUCKED THINGS WERE GOING SO WELLLL GOD FUCKING DAMN IT. So yeah that's how I'm feeling right about now.

With Federico gone I have to change my strategy, it’s a new game for me, I have two options rn, 1. Stixk with Jake and try to get one person from original Tagaki to flip or 2. Flip on Jake and work with them basically destroying my connections with the original Kato alliance. My position in the game rn is not one to envy tbh lmao so I NEED the immunity. Zach and I connected easily so I think I have the option to work with him there.

After an interesting tribal, it was tribe swap time. I was so nervous until I realized I had a og kato majority on  my new tribe. Me, Stephen, and TJ are sticking together which is perfect since I will still have a safety net at tribal if we happen to go, which is a possibility rn since Zach is killing it in the challenge. Hopefully things change as the challenge continues and hopefully I will stop making stupid mistakes in this challenge.

Tribe Swap!!!! So I ended up on New Kato with Zach, Karthik, Miguel, and um Jake. MY CROPS ARE WATERED, MY SKIN IS CLEAR, MY DEPRESSION IS GONE, MY CRUSH CALLED ME BACK. Everything is great bc of the swap results. If we lose then we have a pretty simple majority and vote out in Miguel or Jack although I am getting along with them so far.

The challenge is basically tasks but with puzzles. I REALLUY SUCK AT PUZZLES SO IM SORRY IN ADVANCE. Zach however is freaking killing the game right now. He is carrying our team on his back just like he did on the old tribe and this means 2 things.

1. Zach is someone that is valuable during the premerge portion of this game. Tribes are NOT going to vote him out because he is just too valuable.

2. Zach is someone that I would not like to permanently align with. If Zach makes the merge and keeps this challenge energy going he will win immunity multiple times and only those that are close to him will be able to be targeted.

3. (I KNOW I SAID TWO) He is someone that I SHOULD align with. He makes for a pretty easy meat shield in the event that I become vulnerable. If he does lose an immunity and becomes a target, he makes for an easy idol play. Just place one of those badboys on him and poof you basically get to choose who you want to go home.

I hope we win this challenge and the deamon that is TJ does not come through for his tribe. He's really fucking cute though like did you see that live tribal? ugh my heart gingers are so cute.

I forgot the fucking Australian is good at puzzles and is Australian.  Fucking time zone advantage!!! (Plus I suck at puzzles). Its fucking 2 am for me and Im gonna stay up and fight against the Aussie Its gonna be a LONG night.

I'm getting ready to turn Stephen into a "prawn" bc thats what they call shrimp for some reason

OK SO I FORGOT TO SAY THAT JESS AND ALYSSA ARE ON THE SAME TRIBE I HAVEVVVVVEVEVEVEVEV TO LAUGH IM SORRY. Cinematic Gold.

I can’t wait till after merge or swap or whenever so i can vote out Zach and send him a voting confessional he has to solve as a jigsaw puzzle

Alright, so I like my new tribe at the moment. Not only do we have a majority of old Kato members, but I know Ally from a previous game (which I didn’t know earlier). She seems really nice, but I know I need to stop making everyone to be the nicest person on the planet and remember that this is a game. I’m playing to win. I need to immediately figure out if Stephen and Luke are going to vote with me (specifically Luke after last vote) or if I need to start charming Liam so that I’m in with Liam and Ally.

So uh. Fuck Me i guess. My tribe is 100% going to tribal. It could be worse. I could be stuck with Luke and Miguel after the Fed blindside. But still I guess? At least I have Jess. I adore her. I’m just really nervous for this tribal??? I just almost went home so??? How much can I really grind like this is crazy. I feel like I might be able to solidify a majority with me, Jess, and Isaac but then do we vote out Stephen or Daniel? Actually no I already know who we’ll vote out. Jess says she doesn’t like Daniel so if the feeling is mutual she’ll come after her and I’ll be like um hey who was more active in the challenge chat? Daniel or Jess? Yeah, it was Jess. No way.

ANYWAY YEAH. Getting ready for the impending tribal because our tribe literally has -1 points smh

I AM SO IRRITATED UGHHHHH. Ally and I are currently swapfuck victims, and the Takagi idol is GONE. Would've been nice for someone to leave it for us....oh well guess I'm getting 15th/14th bye friends

My tribe was creamed by Kato 2.0 ironically. Once again I’m at tribal council while within a majority alliance. Og Katos have decided to stick together which I’m glad for, it makes the most sense and it keeps me safe and most likely moving forward to f13 and one step closer to merge/jury. I’m getting very close to the farthest point I’ve ever made it in a Survivor ORG, f13, and I want so badly to make it farther and beat my record. I’m taking it step by step and day by day in order to reach this goal and every step of the way I’m showing more of a new side of myself, one that I hope will get me far in the game.

So this tribe is basically under mine and lukes control rn. We are just about to go into an alliance chat with Ally, we already have an alliance, our real alliance, with TJ, the only threat is an idol, but with these connections we should know whats going on. Simple

Tribal discussions have started, and i find myself having control over my tribe along with Stephen. We have alliances with TJ and Ally and I’m feeling great especially since I’m the first tribal I was in I was at the bottom of my tribe and now I have risen to the top, I’m excited to see what happens next as the game continues.

So umm.... Zach found the idol at Takagi so thats amazing. Interesting swap and it doesnt seem to be a bad draw for me since I am in a Takagi majority with zach and Tim both of whom I trust. Its all nice to have some new ppl in Jake and Miguel both seem to be good to talk to. But in terms of the game, it still requires some time to figure out if we would actually be to work together meaningfully due to tribal lines and all. Looks like there is a divide in the original Kato tribe which was apparent from the vote which is good for us. Zach proved to be the hero once again and won the immunity for the tribe all by himself.

So things do seem pretty neat and smooth on my side so far. Its going to be F13 now and I havent still been to tribal council even once which has given me safety but its just getting a bit boring now. It just seems like its the time and opportunity given to me to get my troops ready and be prepared for the war thats  about to begin.

So TJ has decided to flip on our alliance and vote Luke out, sigh. It’s annoying how as soon as you think you’re on top someone tries to kick you back down. I still think voting out Liam is the best move though, I can bring TJ back with some choice words. Besides, i heard all this from Ally, who may be laying to save Liam by getting us to vote TJ, though its unlikely based on how she said it.

So when I first saw my new tribe, I was pretty content. I'm glad I wasn't stuck on a tribe with TJ....and from first glance I thought our tribe was pretty strong. Well we totally sucked at the challenge. Now I'm hoping we just vote out RatBoy because he literally doesn't do shit, but people are worried about his potential advantages. I also just vote Jess out of another game, and she made some petty comments I wouldn't be surprised if I go home this tribal just because of that : ) Anyway, I'm gonna try to ensure the others the safest option is RatBoy if we want our team to have any shot of winning a challenge next round.

ONCE AGAIN! It is quiet as shit around camp and I am REALLY fucking anxious. I'm making an official alliance with Jess and Isaac which should keep them both loyal. I really believe Jess wouldn't do that to me. We're sharing idol clues and shit so she has my back at least for now. I don't know how it's going for Isaac in building relationships but supposedly his social game sucks so fingers crossed. The three of us will make majority leading into this vote and we will most likely vote Daniel. Fingers crossed this works out because if my head is on the chopping block again..... I don't know. Obviously I was a top contender to go out on my last tribe so it's like... Would it really be that costly to vote me out here on the half of my tribe? Probably not. But also Jess and I worked our asses off in this challenge even though our puzzle ability is questionable. So I guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully I don't get so hopeless that I make another "Going home" confessional.

Holy shit. This swap has be shooketh to the CORE. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. It was expected but I still did not prepare for it...

I have Stephen who is literally the biggest wild card for me in this game from my old tribe. I hope I can somehow work with him and build a layer of trust with him so his crazy ass doesn't come after me.

Then there's Daniel. I honestly have some MAJOR TRUST ISSUES with him right now. We are in another game together and I refuse to let that leak into this game but it's totally in the back of my mind. I just don't ever see the two of us working deep into this game but the only reason I have to keep him around is to appeal to Stephen right now. If I take him out in this vote.. I'm going to lose Stephen's trust 1000%. The plan is to keep him around ONE MORE ROUND and then take my shot.

UGH Alyssa. I hate that even in a god damn random draw... I got put with her. BECAUSEEEEE..... this is where my heart tells me one thing and my head tells me another. Our past game has left such a bad taste in my mouth (she beat me at Final 2) and I don't want a repeat of that. HOWEVER, it's way tooo early to take her out even though this TECHNICALLY would be the perfect opportunity to do so. All I have to say to Stephen/Daniel let's do Alyssa and Alyssa would go this round.

Reasons for not voting out Alyssa right now: 1. Strong competitor in comps (so we don't keep losing). Losing = Tribal. Tribal=BAD. 2. She's someone who I KNOW on this tribe. There's a bit of trust there. 3. She's Alyssa.

Then there's Isaac aka: Ratboy. Aka: Ghost. Aka: WHY ARE YOU HERE?! jk. I just can't get a read on him. His strategy seems to be to run into a bomb shelter and hope he doesn't get voted out. He might have an advantage from the basement and to me that's super scary at this point. I want us all on an even playing field and with him possibly having an advantage.. that's SUPER dangerous on a 4 person tribe after this round.

I somehow got put in the middle of two alliances for this vote. On one side there's the original Takagi tribe alliance consisting of: Stephen, Daniel, and myself. Then there's The Tree Amigos consisting of: Isaac, Alyssa, and myself. I think the only way to get out of this vote somehow decently is to vote off Ratboy and say that it was either him or Alyssa and I swayed off of Alyssa to keep her safe. I'm going to have to tell her this about an hour before the vote to calm her tits and to not totally blindside her. If I blindside her she's just going to be more insecure than she apparently is in our relationship here. She's already asked me if I lied about my idol search... so there's that.

HOPEFULLY this goes well for me. This tribe swap wasn't the ideal outcome for me (I was kind of hoping to get swapped with Tim) but I THINK I can make out of this alive somewhat okay?!

omg i love getting swapfucked... such an aesthetic the tribe layout im on rn is 3 from kato (tj luke stephen) and 2 from takagi (me n liam) i feel like i've done a p good job @ bein social with the other tribe,, and stephen suggested an alliance btwn him luke and i so we have that now (called 'international') i rlly wanna try to save liam tho and i think tj might've given me the chance to do thathe messaged me last night and was basically like "i want to flip to takagi and vote out luke" and i was like ok sis! and immediately ratted him out to stephen (and im gonna rat him out to luke too) and i'm hoping that'll be enough to vote tj out. a lil part of me was like "what if this is a SETUP?" and he was gonna immediately run to stephen/luke and tell them im not trustworthy but idk it doesn't seem realistic. but im hoping that we can vote out tj now cuz i want him here the least out of everyone on the tribe hehe. im PISSED about the challenge. zach having a majority on his tribe and still going out of his way to carry his whole ass tribe on his back and drag them to a win and leave me and liam to DIE? NOTED, ZACHARY. if i survive this fkn swap im COMING for you!!!!!!!!!!! JUST WAIT!!!!!!!!!! also some bitch on og takagi got the idol before me so fuck everyone on that tribe.... and that's what you missed on glee

I am in so much freaking fear right now. I know this feeling all too well about tribals with five people. I've been in a 3-2 majority before and been idoled out in exactly the same fashion as I could see happening today. So, right now, I'm playing TJ the Villainous Ginger and trying to plant seeds here and there to hopefully avoid being the person voted out tonight. I'm trying to guarantee the minority votes Luke and the majority sticks together, and then I'm trying to build my relationship with Luke by talking to him about all of the potential situations with this vote and how we could maybe prevent an idol screwing us up. We need original Kato and original Takagi to go back to around the same number of people so that the options at merge become a little more... fun :)

So we won the challenge!!!! I could not be more relieved that we pulled it off and are safe. Zach really is the MVP this time. With the Kato Tribe immune, all 5 of us stay for next round which is great because the individuals on my tribe are all people that I would'nt mind working with. Miguel and Jake especially because they are my window to working with people I have yet to work with when a merge comes. For now I am going to lay low until mid merge (really late early merge) and then strike.

ok so as i predicted, a swap occurred. here are my thoughts: - i'm in a majority (with karthik & tim) - i talk to jake & miguel a lot. i like them both a lot, they're rlly funny. - if i had to send one home (given we go to tribal), i think i lean to jake. he's closer to alyssa/stephen and unless miguel is rlly playing me (which, props to him), he's (jake) more likely to do damage down the road and be against me and all that jazz. but i love them both as people and theyre both enjoyable beings. and for some tea that i gathered (which may very well be wrong/distorted): miguel/luke/stephen/federico/jake had an alliance. stephen & jake flipped. miguel doesn't know jake flipped but he did. this could be baiting me but afaik they're not on the greatest terms (or, well, aren't that close i guess). this shows that alyssa has great sway (not shocking!) and that she's gonna be someone i want out sooner rather than later, and that's kinda why i'd vote jake out over miguel, just to weaken her. alternatively, i could take the route of using her as a shield but ppl are sexist n will just assume im a bigger threat bc im a MAN ... when women > men in gameplay for the most part but ANYWAY! i said it.

also, with the idol system being identical, someone (only options being ratboi & alyssa, which the former will likely leave tonight) may have two which is very scary.

right now i feel comfy. i know in merge i'm finna get fucked up with.... being such a physical (and social) threat early on but bitch i'mma fuckin try my best. i regret telling karthik about my idol. i've contemplated voting him out because then no one will know but i love him too much and he's by far who i'm closest with, i think.

i anticipate the two people leaving will be ratboi (isaac) and liam. the former i'm fine with, but the latter imma be really sad with. liam is great and i love him so much and i feel like he's someone that would be more loyal to me than the average person in this game. but, however the cards fall, so be it.

Stephen just said he's sorry that he left me out of the first vote... this is awesome that he doesn't know that me and Alyssa are the reason that first vote was Shea. I really like Stephen, so this is awesome that he thinks that, it makes it a lot easier for us to work together in the future. Now I really need to make sure I survive this tribal so that I can keep this up. Please Luke, don't flip on me... Also, why did Jess and Alyssa have to be swapped onto the same tribe. I don't want to lose Alyssa to her for a second straight game, lol.

So, scenarios: Me and TJ vote for Ally, Ally and Luke vote for Liam, Liam votes for Luke. We tie, and either Ally or Liam go, but now I have broken Ally’s trust; Me Ally and Luke vote for TJ, Tj and Liam vote for Luke. TJ goes home, which is fine cause he betrayed us, but that may cause problems with other Katos and now Kato doesn’t have majority on our tribe; Me and Luke vote for Liam, TJ votes for Ally, Ally votes for TJ, Liam votes for Luke. A mess, Liam goes home, TJ and Ally both feel betrayed.....this is too much i’m going nuts. At the end of the day i dont want to lose TJ or Lukes trust over Allys trust, so I think voting Ally is the best move??????? God I hate this, remember when Luke convinced me we were on top? That was nice, lets go back to that.

So i realised that by getting tj on board to vote luke, then spilling to me and luke and getting us to vote Tj, ally and liam would have their pick. however, we are communicating pretty well so i think that cancels out her manipulation. However Luke is offline so rip. So now it comes down to if Luke is voting Ally, Liam, or TJ, and is Ally and Liam are voting TJ or Luke. I trust that TJ is voting Ally. Hmmmmm.... If i vote ally and fail I have made a powerful enemy, however if I dont vote Ally and make a mistake I’ve lost TJs trust. I don’t think I have a choice, I could throw my vote away and vote for Liam.... no thats stupid. Its either Tj, and throw my lot in with Ally, or stick with Kato and vote Ally out. Choices, choices.

I’m playing my idol because these people are on crack and I don’t believe a word that’s coming out of any of their mouths.

Daniel is voted out in a 3-1-1 vote, tie ending in a 3-0.

TJ is voted out in a 4-1 vote.

[thegloober]

Yankees 12, Rays 1: “That’s for you, bitch”

Stephen Tarpley has gone from September call-up to potential postseason LOOGY

Mark this one down as one of the best games of the season. It wasn’t a thrilling comeback or anything like that, but damn, that was satisfying. The Yankees blew the Rays out 12-1 in the four-game series finale Thursday afternoon and it got a little salty. At 98-61, the Yankees have their most wins since their 103-59 championship season in 2009.

(Getty)

Teammates Are More Important Than Half-A-Million Bucks CC Sabathia cost himself $500,000 by sticking up for his teammate Thursday afternoon. Andrew Kittredge threw behind Austin Romine in the sixth inning (more on that in a bit), then, in the next half-inning, Sabathia drilled catcher Jesus Sucre with his first pitch. Obviously intentional. Sabathia was immediately ejected and, on his walk to dugout, he pointed to Kittredge and the Rays dugout and said “That’s for you, bitch.” What a badass.

thats for you, bitch. pic.twitter.com/XC258lBlnE

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) September 27, 2018

Sabathia was in total control Thursday afternoon. Five scoreless innings on 54 pitches. He retired the first eleven batters he faced and allowed just a single against the shift and two hit-by-pitches, one of which was intentional. He went into this game needing seven innings to trigger a $500,000 bonus, and, given the score and his pitch count, Sabathia was well on his way to pocketing half-a-million bucks Thursday. Instead, he threw at the first batter possible to stick up for his teammate. He is the man. Imagine not wanting the Yankees to give this guy one-year contracts until he decides to hang ’em up.

On the mound, Sabathia looked as good as he’s looked at any point this season. He had it all working. Inside cutters and backdoor sliders to righties, inside sinkers and sweepy sliders to lefties, and elevated heaters for swings and misses. His swing-and-miss pitch locations:

All elevated fastballs. Sabathia was masterful. Five strikeouts, eight swings and misses among his 55 pitches, and a 74.9 mph average exit velocity allowed. There have been over 4,000 individual player games this season in which a pitcher allowed at least ten balls in play. In this start, Sabathia had the 15th lowest average exit velocity among those 4,000+ games. Give him the $500,000 anyway, Yankees. You can afford it.

A Big Early Lead After that disappointing loss Wednesday night, the Yankees came out in the best way possible Thursday afternoon. They put a hurtin’ on opener Jaime Schultz* and took a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Brett Gardner opened the game with a double to right that came two pitches after it appeared he struck out. He reached out to foul off a curveball, and initially I thought Sucre caught the foul tip. Replays showed it hit the ground, so the at-bat continued, and Gardner doubled.

* Isn’t the point of the opener strategy to use a *good* pitcher against the top of the lineup? Schultz went into this game with a 4.55 ERA (4.94 FIP) in 29.2 big league innings and a 5.75 ERA (3.83 FIP) in 36 Triple-A innings this year. I dunno. Doesn’t seem like someone you want facing the top of the order.

Schultz walked Luke Voit and Giancarlo Stanton back-to-back with one out, then the Tampa battery gifted the Yankees a run. With Neil Walker down in the count 0-2, Schultz bounced a curveball, Sucre let it slip through his legs, and Gardner trotted home on the wild pitch. It also moved the runners up to second and third with one out. Walker struck out and couldn’t get a run in, but Miguel Andujar picked him up. The three-run bomb:

No idea how Andujar kept that ball fair. That’s a backup slider that looked off the plate inside, yet Andujar was able to wrap it around the left field foul pole for a three-run home run and a 4-0 lead. He’s up to 72 extra-base hits on the season (43 doubles, 27 homers, two triples). That is tied for 14th most in baseball with Nolan Arenado, Nick Castellanos, and Matt Chapman. It’s the third highest extra-base total by a rookie in franchise history, behind Joe DiMaggio (88 in 1936) and Aaron Judge (79 in 2017).

The Yankees jumped out to a 4-0 lead and they added to it in the fourth inning. Gleyber Torres singled, moved up on a wild pitch, and Romine brought him in with a single. Adeiny Hechavarria reached on an infield single, Gardner moved the runners up with a ground ball, Judge brought Romine home with a sacrifice fly, and Voit doubled in-and-out of Mallex Smith’s glove in center for another run and a 7-0 lead. Including the ninth inning Wednesday, the Yankees scored 13 runs in the span of five innings against the Rays.

Piling On I suppose this is where I explain Sabathia’s ejection. He grazed Jake Bauers with a fastball in the bottom of the fifth, and Kittredge, being the joke that he is, decided to throw a first pitch fastball behind Romine’s head in the next half-inning. Romine was not happy, understandably, and Sabathia stormed out of the dugout before Aaron Boone cut him off. Garbage move by a garbage pitcher and a garbage organization.

The Rays are eliminated, Kittredge sucks, and the postseason is less than a week away. I didn’t want the Yankees to start a brawl. The Yankees had nothing to gain and a lot to lose. Sabathia did what he had to do and that was that. But, before Sabathia could drill Sucre, the Yankees torched Kittredge for four runs in that sixth inning, after he threw behind Romine. The inning went strikeout, infield single, triple, sacrifice fly to the warning track, homer, homer, fly out. Voit and Stanton went back-to-back.

The four-run sixth inning gave the Yankees an 11-0 lead. Stanton added a solo shot in the ninth. The Yankees scored 32 runs in the four-game series. It’s the most runs they’ve scored in a series in Tropicana Field since September 2005, when they scored 32 runs in a three-game set. Also, the Yankees secured their first series win in Tropicana Field since September 2016. (They beat the Rays in a road series last September, but that was the alternate site series at Citi Field.)

Leftovers Unless the Yankees use him in relief this weekend (can’t see it), Sabathia’s regular season is over. He finishes with a 3.65 ERA (4.16 FIP) in 153 innings. Pretty awesome season for the big man. Also, he finishes the year with 2,986 career strikeouts. He’ll have to wait until next April to become the 17th member of the 3,000 strikeout club. Only Randy Johnson (4,672) and Steve Carlton (4,136) have more strikeouts in history among southpaws.

Twelve runs on 13 hits and four walks for the Yankees. Gardner (double, triple), Voit (single, double, homer), Stanton (two homers), Andujar (single, homer), and Hechavarria (two infield singles) all had multiple hits. Stanton and Voit drew two walks apiece and Gardner had one as well. Voit and Stanton, the 3-4 hitters, went a combined 5-for-6 with a double, three homers, two walks, five runs scored, and four runs driven in. That’ll work, gentlemen.

Luis Cessa tossed three innings following Sabathia’s ejection and allowed a garbage time solo home run to C.J. Cron. I couldn’t possibly care less about that. Jonathan Loaisiga handled the ninth. The regular late-inning relievers all got the afternoon off after working pretty heavily the last week or so. Good game all around.

And finally, Stanton’s two home runs gives the Yankees 24 individual multi-homer games this season, tying the record held by the 1961 Yankees and 1966 Braves. Also, the Yankees are up to 260 homers on the year. That is the second highest single-season home run total in baseball history. The list:

1997 Mariners: 264

2018 Yankees: 260 and counting

2005 Rangers: 260

2010 Blue Jays: 257

1996 Orioles: 257

The Yankees have three games to hit five home runs to break the record. Doable. Definitely doable. I hope they get it done this weekend. It’d be cool as hell.

Box Score, WPA Graph & Standings For the box score and updated standings, go to ESPN. MLB has the video highlights. Here’s our Bullpen Workload page and here’s the win probability graph:

Source: FanGraphs

Up Next The final series of the 2018 regular season. The Yankees are going to Boston for a three-game weekend set. The Red Sox have already clinched everything they can clinch. The series is meaningless for them. The Yankees still need to clinch homefield advantage in the Wild Card Game. The magic number is one. Lefties J.A. Happ and Brian Johnson are the scheduled starting pitchers for Friday night’s series opener.

Stephen Tarpley has gone from September call-up to potential postseason LOOGY

Source: https://bloghyped.com/yankees-12-rays-1-thats-for-you-bitch/

[aprilsimpsonhunt-blog]

Hi everyone and welcome! I’m so thrilled that you’ve stopped by! I’m honored to be part of the Thankful Sewing blog tour, hosted by  Sewing by Ti, Sewing with Sara and Mahlica Designs! The theme was thankful sewing, so I decided to make something for hubby, to show him how grateful I am for all he does for the family. To be honest, I had this post (and project) planned in my mind for quite some time, but time got away from me and before I knew it, the 26th was just around the corner. So I spent the last couple days whipping up a colorblocked long sleeve tee for hubby and I hope you love it!

My husband is the most giving, warm hearted person I know. He loves kids and will do anything for them (including spoil them to death.) His love language is gift giving, so he loves surprises and LIVES for the holidays. Now I can’t keep a secret to save my life. I probably ruined the entire experience of receiving this shirt because I asked him a million questions. “what panel do you like best? Should I use the rayon French terry or the cotton lycra? Long sleeves or short?” & so on and so forth. I know. I suck. But in my defense, I rarely sew for him(he prefers store bought). When I do, I always worry that it will be something that he never wants to wear. So I made this shirt as scrumptiously soft and beautiful as I could….and if he doesn’t want to wear it, at least I will! 🙂

I keep meaning to just bite the bullet and purchase a men’s tee sewing pattern, but I always forget until there is a project in front of me (and no $$ in the sewing budget). So I did what the same as I did the last time I made him a shirt (you can see that project here). I did something that the internet calls “rubbing off” a pattern…which makes me giggle every time I say it. (apparently, I’m a 13 year old boy). I’m an old hand at it now, but first few times I did it, I followed the very clear, concise directions from this Melly Sews blog post . (She is making a boys’ shirt in the tutorial, but the process is the exact same for a man’s shirt.) I’m a bit of a rebel and just get right to it, copying the shirt onto fabric, instead of tracing paper or printer paper… although literally right now as i’m writing, I’m realizing that I keep doing myself a disservice by doing this. If I would have traced it first, I wouldn’t have to repeat this process every single time. haha. Oh well. I’ll throw it on my massive to do list.  So learn a lesson I didn’t and be sure to trace your pattern out! 😉 

Trace onto paper or fabric & add 0.5″ SA to all sides except the folded side

I’m a rebel & skip the paper part 🙂

tracing the existing sleeve

I had to do a bit of creative colorblocking here, simply to make the panel size work for my husband’s Large size frame. (it was a youth/standard panel) I tried SO HARD to a video tutorial for you, showing how I did it…but I honestly  ended up with about 15 minutes worth of out of focus video where you could barely see what was happening. I don’t know how the YouTubers do it. I would have to spend hours to edit out the sounds of my #momlife alone.

Since there is no fun video, here is what I did: I added 2 strips to the sides of the panel. Each was 5″ wide by the length of the sides of the panel (I believe it was 24″). I still didn’t have the length I needed to create the entire front of his shirt, so I then added a strip of white cotton lycra to the very top. This strip was 6″ tall by the width of the panels + 5″. (The very top strip was solely for the underarm/armsyce and neck area, so it didn’t need to be as wide as the bottom of the shirt.) I did manage to get pics of the process for you, so it wasn’t a total tutorial fail! 🙂 The photo on the right (above) is the front and back of the shirt, sewn together, before adding the sleeves.

  I’m in love with how this project came out. I used this buttery soft rayon French terry from Aurora Design Fabrics, as well as their watercolor Walking Dead Fandom panel. These were 2 pieces that I had been hoarding for myself, but seeing as this was a thankful/grateful project and meant to show my appreciation for someone who puts up with a LOT of grief from me from time to time, I felt the urge to share my pretties.

He actually smiled when I presented it to him. He smiles often throughout the day, but is not a fan of pictures, so that fact that he let me get photos of him (especially smiling photos) is a win in my book. Hubby is one of my favorite people and I’m so grateful to have him by my side. We have 4 children, so on any given day, I’m about ready to pull out my hair/have a panic attack/run away and never return….but all he has to do is walk in the door and the entire mood of the household lifts and things begin moving peacefully along again. I don’t know what kind of magic it is, but whatever it is, I’m glad it’s mine. 🙂

I loved doing this photo session so much! I waited until the very last minute (what else is new) and was a bit nervous I would lose daylight, but we ended up at the spot right on time to catch the last of sunset hour. Hubby rarely gets to be the center of attention, so it was fun having him be that. The kids were supposed to be playing on a play set that was around the corner, but they wanted to be with daddy, of course. I’m glad they did, because the pics of the kids with him turned out to be some of my favorites. I can’t wait to make him another piece and get more pics!

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading! I hope you enjoyed seeing my project! What are you working on this week? Have any special holiday projects coming up? I would love to hear about them/see them!

Until next time,

Sewing and Swimming,

April Simpson Hunt

  Enter here to win a pattern from Sew by Pattern Pieces & a $20 credit for Simply by Ti fabrics and notions!

Our Thankful Sewing Bloggers are creating something special to share with you to celebrate this month of Thanksgivings! As an extra special surprise, we also have a couple giveaways during each week of the tour. Share your thanks with Petite Stitchery who has a new pattern to share with us, a free pattern giveaway from Sew by Pattern Pieces, and a chance to win a shop credit each week from Simply by Ti!

Intro to the tour

November 1st:

mahlicadesigns

Sewing with Sarah

Week 1:

Nov 1st: Tenille’s Thread

Nov 2nd: Candace Ayala

Nov 3rd: Hazelnut Handmade

Nov 4th: Musing of a Seamstress

Nov 5th: Sewing Portfolios

Monday Nov 6th: mahlicadesigns

Nov 7th: Seams Sew Lo

Week 2:

Nov 8th: Margarita on the Ross

Nov 9th: Stitched by Jennie

Nov 10th: Sewing with D

Monday Nov 13th: 5 outof 4 Patterns

Nov 14th: Tales of a Southern Mom

Week 3:

Nov 15th: Hazelnut Handmade

Nov 16th: Octaves of Color

Nov 17th: Kainara Stitches

Nov 18th: Kutti Couture

Nov 19th: The Petite Sewist

Monday Nov 20th: My Heart will Sew On

Nov 21st: Needles to Say

Week 4:

Nov 22nd: Back 40 Life

Nov 23rd: Lovemade Handmade

Nov 24th: Sewing by Ti

Nov 25th: On Wednesdays We Sew

Nov 26th: Paisley Roots

Monday Nov 27th: Mermaid Mama Designs ***YOU ARE HERE

Nov 28th: Sew Haute Blog

Nov 29th: Ma Moose Handmade

Nov 30th: Everything Your Mama Made & More

  **some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. These links serve to give  credit for any referrals/sales that come from my posts. They aren’t big, but each one adds up and helps me keep sewing! Thank you so much for your support. If you would like to know how the affiliate links work, please read our privacy policy and let me know in the comments!

Thankful sewing blog tour Hi everyone and welcome! I'm so thrilled that you've stopped by! I'm honored to be part of the Thankful Sewing blog tour, hosted by  Sewing by Ti, Sewing with Sara and Mahlica Designs!

[hellojessicabrown]

October Recap - Did You Miss Me?

Happy first week of November friends! With the last day of October being Tuesday and no favorites post in sight it's time for a recap! October was BUSY. We had something to do almost every weekend and still had trouble fitting it all in. As a resolve, after a few weeks of silence, I decided that I would take the rest of the month off and hit the ground running in November. Though it was super busy, October is always my favorite and I'm happy it didn't disappoint this year. Here are some of the highlights! The first was on a Sunday and the beginning of the fun we got to have last month. Our friend's adorable little man turned 2. We spent the afternoon at the park playing on the swings and dancing in bubbles. It was such a sweet little sunshine party.

The 14th rolled around and we were off and running to Chuck E Cheese's by 10am for another sweet little boy's birthday party. This birthday boy was super excited to be turning five! He melted my heart when Chuck E Cheese came out and he grabbed my hand so we could run to him. My whole dang heart guys! What's even better is there are two more siblings that have my love too. We are so rich in this family's friendship.

Tuesday the 18th was a fun day for me at work. We had media content day that we will be using soon. I got to ride in this cart for one of the shots... October 20th I took the whole day off work. I had a doctor's appointment at 8am and we had a wedding to attend at 3pm. When I returned home Jeremy and I decided to up our coffee game and get a Chemex. If you don't know what it is I highly suggest looking into it. I will add a post later this month on the things you need for it and how to make good coffee with it. Our friends happened to have closed on their house a few days before and we had time to spare so we dropped by. I got the tour of house and Jeremy helped put together the outdoor furniture. We had decided to leave by noon to be able to go home and get ready for the wedding. On the way home we stopped at Firehouse Subs and got lunch. I had the Philly Cheese steak on wheat. YUM! By 2:15 Jeremy and I were ready and headed off to a wedding. The beautiful little ceremony took place at Lemp Mansion in St. Louis. It was a gorgeous space. The wedding was for the daughter of our good friend Zina, who Jeremy worked for when he started out in IT. Since we don't attend many weddings I took this as an opportunity to dress up in something I normally would not wear. After the couple were officially married we helped set up the reception with the bride's mom. Back at the mansion we had a couple glasses of red wine with meats and cheeses and then it was time for the celebration. A little more red wine and dinner and Jeremy was ready to go home. (He had been trying to keep up on shots with the bride's mom, bad idea). We were back in the car and headed home by 7:30pm. Jeremy had a restless night and I was ready for some good coffee and breakfast the next morning. We went to our favorite, The Mud House. It happens to be one of our favorites for the coffee. They use Blueprint Coffee which has amazing flavor. A caramel mocha latte and Southern Breakfast were my choices for the day. We slowed down the excitement until Wednesday the 25th when we attended our first Blues game of the season. Even after they traded our favorite players I can't get over how much I love hockey. We had amazing seats, it was beer stein night and we beat up on the Flames winning 5-2. Have you met AVA yet? She's impressive. Thursday was my friend Katie's birthday and I had a gift to drop off on the way to volleyball playoffs. I always use her as my creative outlet. Her sons quilt, tshirts made with my silhouette and now this fun door mat. Jeremy helped me with the spray paint after I cut the stencil out with my silhouette. Not too shabby for my first attempt. Thankfully Target still had 3 left when I went searching for them. Better priced than Amazon too. Now I can't wait to make mine! I just can't decide on what I want it to say. I'll share once I decide. On Friday the 27th I left work at 3pm and headed home to pack the car for camping. We had reserved a campsite at Hawn State Park a month in advance and even though temperatures were only going to be in the 30s, we were going to stick it out. We arrived at our campsite by 5:30 and got the tent up as quickly as possible. By 7pm we had a fire going, steaks cooking and a drink in hand. Once we had our fill at dinner we headed to the tent to turn on the space heater and get comfortable. When morning arrived I was ready for coffee but the little camp stove wasn't having it. Jeremy built a fire and boiled our water that way and made breakfast sandwiches for us and scrambled eggs for Ke$ha. After breakfast it was time for hiking and we had all day. The hiking at Hawn State Park is extremely entertaining. Rocks, inclines and water make your trek a little bit more rough. We went a total of 7 miles and made it back to the campsite by 2:30pm. During the hike we were warm but as we got back it started to get really cold. A man came over to us with lighter fluid to get our fire started quicker. It's cheating in our book but I was not going to argue this time, I was cold and willing to suck it up for a quick fire. Jeremy and I had lunch close to 3pm and guzzled down coffees. Ke$ha took this time to roll around in the dirt. We sat around reading and playing the Switch until we retreated to the tent about 8:30pm. As much as we love to camp, we also love to pack up early on Sunday morning and get home to enjoy the rest of the day. Once we packed up (faster than we ever have before) we got on the road home. We stopped for coffee at Starbucks and then unloaded the car while Ke$ha stayed in the yard. She had a blast laying around in the dirt and we were not about to let her in the house before her bath. Once the house was in order we packed her back up and took her to a self grooming station at Treats Unleashed. With the dog clean we could head home and take our showers. While Jeremy cleaned up I went out and vacuumed my car. Husky hair and camping dirt do not a clean car make. I was happy to get cleaned up and ready to carve pumpkins. Jeremy and I always try to do pumpkin carvings that are hard and stressful. This year, we turned on It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and settled on faces. They turned out great! Mine is the first. And here is Jeremy's. After we carved pumpkins I also roasted the seeds. We started doing this 2 years ago and love the little tradition. I did cinnamon brown sugar and season salt with pepper. Last but not least was Halloween. Jeremy's aunt inspired me to make my own shirt and I had to do ghost elbows. So stinking cute! I was so excited to get home. Every Halloween we do a bonfire in the driveway, play a movie with the projector on the big window of the house and pass out candy. I was headed home to grab Jeremy so we could get a pizza from Aldi and get on with our festivities. Unfortunately we ended up having to order pizza and skip the bonfire because I got into an accident on the way home from work. A girl cut across two lanes of traffic in front of a semi truck and hit me. Thankfully the damages are not too horrible and no one was seriously injured. The little kids helped perk up my night afterwards though. My mother in law brought my nephews over and my cousin brought her littles over as well. So cute right!? Starting this first week of November I am going to make it a point to do a recap post every week. There will be much more that I share, especially starting November 15th after I get a new phone with a decent camera on it. I would really like to try vlogging too. Let me know in the comments content you would like to see and I will happily oblige.  

[cchantellemarie-blog]

Goals.

In two days from now, I’m going to be 28 years old. I am still not sure how I feel about that. I feel like your late twenties turn into a giant game of “Who the fuck am I, and what the fuck am I doing?” I hear around 30 is when you start to really know who you are, and boy, am I ready for that to happen.

What I do know, is that I’m blown away at how fast time is going. The fastest it has ever gone. I blinked and almost 11 months has gone by since I’ve left Illinois. I had all of these dreams, and goals, about what I wanted for my life in Oregon. Safe to say, it is nothing and everything I wanted it to be.

Here’s a timeline of my Pacific Northwest experience so far.

June 26th, I have left my little ‘ol town of Plan in Illinois.

June 27th, I made it to Yellowstone. i have only one negative thing to say about my trip to Yellowstone... That I wish I could have spent more time there. I stayed 2 nights at a campground in Yellowstone National Park.

I drove in the first day; down from Montana. I made a point to stop around Gallatin National Forest. Montana... oh Montana. The most beautiful countryside I have ever seen. If they didn’t get an unacceptable amount of snow there, I would consider residing there.

I made it to Yellowstone by sunset that day. It was everything I dreamed it would be.

I only really had one whole day, June 28th, to see all of Yellowstone. I’m telling you right now, It’s possible, but it was definitely a tease. i will be returning, and staying for at least 5-7 days. I also won’t be bringing my dog. He wasn’t allowed in the park due to wildlife dangers. He was allowed to be in the car, and on the main roadways, parking lots, and pullouts. But not on any of the trails. I did get to see the beauty of it though, in all it’s majestic glory.

On june 29th, I made my way to Seattle. I stayed for 2 nights, and made the whole trip about Joey. We went to pet, and vegan, friendly restaurants, 3 different dog parks, and walked all around. He loved it.

From Seattle I drop down into portland on July 1st, and then straight to my farm in Silverton. I worked my ass off here. I participated in a program called WWOOF, which is a work trade program. I worked on someone’s farm for 20 hours a week, and I got to stay there for free, and they fed me. It was definitely the easiest way to get my foot in the door, but allowing time to have time to check out the area, look for a job and somewhere to live, all without breaking the bank. I stayed in a yurt, which was surprisingly comfortable.

It was a big learning experience for me, and I loved all of it. Every drop of sweat, every bee sting, every lonely second... all of it. I got to learn a lot about Organic Farming, stay for free in beautiful countryside of Oregon, and meet a couple really cool girls.

July 14-17 was my first experience with String Summit, or Strummit as they say. I will be going back. It felt like home and I loved it. <3

Less than a month passes, and it was time for me to move on to the next adventure. Eugene, OR. I moved July 23rd.

Chase called me to tell me I was hired August 15th. My first official day of working at Chase was August 24th. And by August 31 I was moved into a new and improved living situation.

I had new roommates, and a new job that I loved, and life was great! I even climbed my first “mountain” Spencer’s Butte. <3

November 14th, My best friend moved here! <3

It got really cold here in Eugene. Colder than I thought it was going to get. Granted, the coldest it got was like 23 degrees which is nothing compared to the brutal negative 20 with the wind chill in Illinois. It had 2 days of crazy weather. The first “crazy” day was freezing rain. Everything, and I mean everything, had a 1/2 inch covering of ice.

The 2nd day of “crazy” winter weather in Eugene, was a snow day. They closed down most of the town, and school was called off, because we got 3-4 inches of snow. haha Even the locals said it was an abnormally cold and brutal winter. That gives me hope.

Everything seems like it’s going alright. There was some turbulance. My bike got stolen. My car died, so i had to junk it. I got $100 for it. I left my nice expensive cell phone on the bus... I just couldn’t catch a break. At the end of January, my house owner tells me they will be selling the house, and we have a couple months to look for a new place. This gave me the perfect opportunity to do what I came here to do. Be independent and live off on my own. That’s right, I moved into my very own, spacious studio apartment close to downtown. I signed the lease March 8th.

Things became a little stagnant after that. I was feeling pretty lonely. I was told this would happen around the 6 month hump. We were going on month 9; Month 6 with no car.. and riding the bus. So what else do you do when your so overwhelmed with finances and life stress?! That’s right, I took out a personal loan for $3000 to buy a piece of shit car that is in the shop right now as I write this blog. I bought it on 4/20. This craigslist ad is the only picture I have of it, because Since then, exactly a month ago, I have had it less than the amount of time it’s been in the hands of a mechanic.

In good news... My branch manager is so wonderful, because she finds me the hours, even though I’m only scheduled as a part timer. She has helped me in so many ways. I really do love my team, even if I have been feeling like I’m getting sucked in to climbing a corporate ladder, working for the enemy. But I like it and it gives me good benefits, decent pay, and volunteer work. On April 30th, I walked a 5k for Veterans with a volunteer program called Carry the Load.

Something even more exciting was that my mom and grandma came to visit me on May 6th. My mom had emailed me an itinerary. She meant business. So may 6th, when their plan arrived at 12, they would drive down from portland to Eugene. We would explore Eugene a bit, and I would show them around.

May 7th we left for Portland. We spent all day downtown, walking around, and seeing the city. I finally got to experience the Saturday Market.

May 8th, we went on a cruise around Mt. Hood, and visited the Gorge, Multnomah Falls, The Bridge of the Gods, and the majestic Mt. Hood herself. I actually got to walk around in the Hotel that the shining was based off of, and shot at.

May 9th and 10th, we spent in Seattle. We did every tourist attraction there is to do. My mom really hooked it up with the city perks. An underground tour, Harbor tour, Ride the ducks, Chihuly Museum, Space needle, the market where they throw the big fish... It was so wonderful. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to experience all that I did here.  

Our adventure continues on May 10th. We drove as far as we could up Mt. Rainier. there was 14 feet of snow towards the top still so the roads would be closed off for another month or 2. Still so beautiful.

Then on our drive back on May 11th we cruised the entire west coast from Aberdeen to Florence. It was jaw dropping. Absolutely mesmerizing. I love it. I can’t wait to go back to these places and really take my time enjoying them.

Mom left the following day on May 12th. The trip was great. I loved seeing a familiar loving face and hugging my loved ones. When you live close to them, It’s something that is taken for granted. I miss them so much, so it was heart warming to visit with them. Especially because mothers day was that following sunday, May 14th, was mother’s day. What a perfect way to celebrate it.

Now, it is May 20th, and the only thing that is changed is my mechanic. I have gone to 4 different mechanics since I bought the car. Hopefully this one is the winner. I am due for some good fortune. <3

It really is crazy how much time has flown by, and all of the things that I’ve actually accomplished, and done, and experienced. I am truly proud of myself for once in my life. I am still sober, Still smoke free (even though I had a minor slip up for a month or two.), vegan and down 40 lbs.

I can’t wait to see what else can happen in a year. I know that I have big plans for my life, I just don’t know how I’m going at attain them yet.

Until next time. <3