#i ain't nobody's picnic

[delcat177]

I don't have huge issues getting medication since switching doctors, but once in a while I'll get behind in paperwork visits etc and the well will briefly run dry, and I'll get a few days to study myself outside of usual working parameters

Waiting on my one benzo and my brain is like. I'm over here in the corner going "okay time to do one thing, like, one singular thing, we put the phone down and get some sleep, you were all about this in the middle of the day"

And my brain takes that notion and goes

And I go God damn it brain and I try to think it out, because brains are cats, they have their reasons, and they're usually simple

Humans hate simple reasons, we think they're too obvious so they can't be right, so when I go "right, it has sleep phobia except when it's really really tired and even then" or "it really wants to play a new video game it heard about instead, because that's more fun than sleep and sleep phobia" or "endless distraction box" somehow seem...dumb, because how can you be that right and it not *fix* things?

Because brains are cats, they do not listen to logic, because your logic is "knowing a thing should solve the thing" and that logic sucks, actually

I was going somewhere and then my brain pushed that off the table too, sorry folks my refill's getting in soon

[vixezn]

Request? If ya could! Can a request a yandere wally x reader BUT! The reader also loves Wally and know his yandere tendencies. So reader decided to "train the yandere" like

"Wally, sweety, love of my life, you know I love ya too right? No need for the kidnap and murder or you ain't getting kisses tonight" (-3-)

Oo! I can imagine Wally’s frustration with the reader when they don’t give him hugs or kisses because he did something bad!! Coming right up!

💌 - You love Wally so much, and he loves you too! But the thing is, is that he’s a little.. something!

💌 - Ever since you both got together, you noticed Wally getting really possessive over you! Nothing you can’t fix!

💌 - At first, you didn’t know how to discipline him without hurting his feelings until you found the perfect thing, affection!

💌 - He loves your affection to the bone, and if you don’t give any! He’ll just try harder! So, you use that to your advantage!

💌 - The first time you used that method was when you both were at a picnic, alone, and some neighbors wanted to join! Of course, you were ecstatic!

💌 - Wally on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. He had this grim look on his face and held you close, tightly. You noticed this and got out of his tight hold to help them settle on the grass!

💌 - Wally was surprised! You preferred them over him?! Oh dear, looks like some people need to go-

💌 - You hugged him from behind, surprising him! “Be nice to them and don’t kill them, or else no hugs for the rest of the day!” You whispered into his ear.

💌 - No hugs from you?! This choice was a nightmare! Either let his love have their attention on others or not have hugs from them for the rest of the day!? Both choices were awful!

💌 - “Fine..” He decided that no hugs was too much, he needed your touch! And so, he was nice to them! (Even though he was cursing them out in his head.)

💌 - After that, you decided to use that every time a situation that would require him to go into yandere mode! It was perfect!

💌 - One day, he decided that he didn’t deserve this discipline! He was well behaved, just a little too lovey-dovey! So, he kidnapped you!

💌 - When you woke up at his house, tied up, you realized that the method may have backfired. No worries! You’ll just use it to get out!

💌 - When he came into the room, he was sure that you wouldn’t use that awful method on him! He was in control! Which means that you’ll give him affection no matter what!

💌 - Instead, you had an expecting look on your face, “Wally, Sweetie, love of my life, you know I love you too right? No need for the kidnap and murder or you aren’t getting kisses tonight!” You smiled softly at his flabbergasted face.

💌 - He was taken aback! You know what, fine, two can play at that game! “Stop giving me those choices, or I won’t let you go!” He smiled in return.

💌 - Okay, that’s new! Fine then, no kisses for you, Wally!

💌 - For the whole night, you gave him not one, not two, but zero kisses! He hated that you didn’t give him any affection, maybe it was because you were tied up?

💌 - So the next day, he untied you! Even though you weren’t let outside, you had more freedom! But, you still wouldn’t give him kisses! 

💌 - As an act of frustration, he let you out! Thankfully, when you got back, nobody died! As a thank you, you finally have him kisses and hugs!

💌 - Soon, Wally becomes more tame with his yandere tendencies! No more kidnapping, and no more threatening neighbors with murder! Although, he still likes to keep you close when others come around. He still loves you dearly!

[cactus-cuddler]

𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩 𝓐 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓼

Natasha Romanoff

x female reader

𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩 𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩 𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩

Word count: 2,5 k

Plot: it's your anniversary and as gifts Natasha gave you a picnic under the stars and you something to relive your memories together

Genre: romantic, fluff

Author's note: English is not a language I'm very good at so sorry for any mistakes!!

It's a starry night. The sky is clear without a single cloud, the moon is full and illuminates the surrounding landscape. You and Natasha are on a hill where you can enjoy an amazing view. For your anniversary, Natasha organized a picnic under the stars, something you found absolutely adorable. You're sitting on a beach towel, one of those with an illustration of a woman with a perfect body holding a drink decorated with a small umbrella. Not chosen by chance, it's part of a memory you both share, included in the gift you gave to Nat. The gift package is rectangular and wrapped in Disney princesses wrapping paper, topped with a card featuring a cactus cover and the words "A year of smile" Inside is an album of photographs of you and Natasha, from your first date to your first argument and your first time together. Natasha flips through the album with a tender smile on her lips and tears shining in her eyes.

"I don't know what to say, it's wonderful," she says, hugging you tightly. You kiss under those stars, and after breaking away, you decide to browse through it together. Each page has a lyric from a song that best expresses the emotions you felt when the photo was taken.

It's you, it's always you

If I'm ever gonna fall in love, I know it's gon' be you

It's you, it's always you

Met a lot of people, but nobody feels like you

So please don't break my heart, don't tear me apart

I know how it starts, trust me, I've been broken before

Don't break me again, I am delicate

Please don't break my heart, trust me, I've been broken before

It's you - Ali Gatie

This song opens your scrapbook, and the photo illustrates your first date. You weren't at a luxurious restaurant; on the contrary, you preferred to go and get ice cream together. Natasha doesn't seem like someone who shows her feelings, but at that moment, she was afraid of making a bad impression on you and ruining her chance to be with you. She couldn't even hold the ice cream without dropping it!

"Remember how much we laughed?" you ask and Nat give you an pinch. In fact, the photo on the two pages dedicated to your date are: Nat's ice cream on the floor, a selfie with both of you hugging, a photo of the park you went to, and the ice cream shop.

"Why that song?" she asked you curiously, with the album on her lap.

"This song reminds me so much of you. You've been through a lot, and I'm very sure that deep inside, you're afraid that I might hurt you one day. But I assure you, it won't be like that," you say as she smiles and turns to the next pages.

I'd do anything in my power to see you just smile

I want you to prosper and come proper

Even if that means I ain't by your side

I'd do anything in my power to see you just smile

I want you to prosper and come proper

Even if that means I ain't by your side

Smile - Juice WRLD & The weeknd

"What do you mean that you dedicated two pages to the first smile I gave you?" she asks, giggling.

To see Natasha's first smile, you had to work hard, but in the end, you managed to make her smile! or not?

You weren't together yet; it was during the first days when you knew each other and you were new to the Avengers. Your colleagues had warned you that Natasha is not someone who smiles a lot after you whispered to Wanda as a joke, 'Is she in mourning or does she always have that expression?' So you decided to take it as a challenge. You were determined to make that woman smile if it was the last thing you did. You invited her to have coffee together under the pretext of getting to know each other better, and to make her smile, you tried making jokes, talking about your embarrassing moments, or simply making funny faces like you would with children. Not even a hint of a laugh or a smile. But then, a mother with a small child entered the bar. The child, who must have been about three years old, waved her little hand at you both, saying 'hello'. Nat returned the greeting with a wave and a smile. A smile. A smile on her lips that lit up your eyes with joy, and you swear you fell in love right then and there. So those two pages are filled with a photo of the bar, the coffee and croissant you shared, the picture you took with the child (since the mother was a fan of yours — like half the planet, by the way), and a photo capturing her smiling lips. “I love it when you smile, babe,” you tell her, caressing the back of her hand.

Hate me, hate me, still tryna replace me

Chase me, chase me, tell me how you hate me

Erase me, 'rase me, wish you never dated me

Lies, tell me lies, baby, tell me how you hate me

Hate me - Ellie Goulding & Juice WRLD

"Our first fight?" she asks you, and you nod.

"It's an important part of our relationship," you reply, looking at the photos. A broken plate, Natasha's living room, popcorn, and Natasha's unmade bed in the photo. Your fight had a happy ending, quite literally, considering your clothes strewn on the floor beside her bed. You were watching a movie — you don't even remember which one, by the way — and you started arguing about who was right between the protagonist and the antagonist. You sided with the protagonist, while Natasha empathized with the antagonist due to his troubled past, though you believed it didn't justify his actions. The discussion escalated, and you angrily smashed a plate on the floor. After half an hour, you both started laughing, deciding to release your pent-up anger by making your neighbors dislike you.

“What a silly fight we had,” you say, laughing as you recall Natasha's flushed face, which matched her hair perfectly.

“I'm still on the bad guy's side,” Natasha whispers, and you glare at her before turning to the next page.

'Cause I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'd be mine, mine

And I see forever in your eyes

I feel okay when I see you smile, smile

Dandelions - Ruth B

“Now the page from when we officially got engaged,” Natasha says. She had organized a romantic dinner, even though it's not your thing. She wanted to create something magical that you could remember forever. She bought a cute dress for the occasion for you and, for once, she want to made you happy by wearing a mid-thigh length dress. She knows you love her body, so that's why she chose that dress. However, you didn't last very long at the restaurant. Everything was too formal, the people were too kind and friendly, and no one tried to kill you, so you ran away even before they served you food and went to eat somewhere more intimate and in your own style. You stuffed yourselves like never before and laughed the whole time. Just the two of you, nothing too elaborate. After one bottle too many, Natasha proposed to you: "I've been wanting to ask you to be my girlfriend all day, but I haven't done it!" she said, a little tipsy and smiling. You both laughed, and you replied, “I thought we already were.”

“Were we?” she asked you in a surprised tone.

"From now on, officially, yes," you said, laughing and talking about your future all night on a park bench.

“I wonder if those at the restaurant still remember us,” your girlfriend asks you doubtfully.

“I don't think they can forget about Black Widow,” you reply, reminding her that she's famous in at least our entire universe. The photos on these pages are: the park bench, a beer bottle, a photo of the two of you in your clothes from that evening (you never put them back on), and the two of you outside the restaurant, satisfied with having left.

“I really had fun that day," she says, kissing your cheek.

"Me too," you tell her, smiling. Now you turn to the next two pages.

And if it's right

I don't care how long it takes

As long as I'm with you

I've got a smile on my face

Save your tears, it'll be okay

All I know is you're here with me

Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Here with me - D4vd

These two pages are dedicated to the first time you were sick, and Natasha did everything to be with you. Luckily, it wasn't anything serious, but Nat was still scared. Not seeing your smile, not hearing your laugh, and not hearing your stupid jokes had made her sad and helpless because she couldn't do anything to make you feel better. But she spent two days in bed with you, cuddling you, giving you kisses whenever you asked for them, and bringing you everything you needed. In those days, she bought you a bear-shaped stuffed animal, two bouquets of flowers, and three boxes of chocolates. After her care, you almost wished you could get sick again, maybe for longer.

"It was almost a shame to go back to feeling good," you giggle, watching her as she looks at the photos: the stuffed animal, a bouquet of flowers, the chocolates, and a selfie of you sick in bed with Natasha sleeping next to you.

"When and how did you take this photo?" she asks, and you reply by sticking your tongue out at her. But in response, she leans closer, stealing a kiss and nibbling on your tongue, and you playfully return the gesture. Ignoring your antics, a smile on her face, she turns to the next page. She doesn't like it when you point out how romantic she is.

Oh, home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Oh, home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Home - Edward Sharpe & The magnetic zeros

Here are the pages that will excite you the most: when you had dinner with your families. Your parents insisted on inviting Natasha's family to your house. They wanted to meet the woman who had won your heart, and you also wanted your family to meet your girlfriend. Natasha was embarrassed; she thought her parents would embarrass her and was afraid of disappointing your family's expectations. But in the end, everything went well, and you all laughed together. Natasha, her parents (Alexei and Melina), and her sister Yelena came over. Her mother brought a Russian dessert for your family to share, and Yelena was quite reserved at first. She's very protective of her big sister, but she warmed up gradually.

Your mothers immediately hit it off and found various topics to talk about. They pulled out family albums—one from your shelf and one from Natasha's mother's bag, which she had actually brought to show your family. Natasha turned redder than ever. You saw photos of her as a child, with colored hair, and photos with Yelena. They were simply adorable. Of course, you weren't spared from childhood photos either! That day, seeing your families interact and seeing the faces of the people you love getting along with the woman you want by your side for life—and her family—melted your heart. You felt at home. The photos for these pages are more than four; they occupy four pages and fill them with eight photos: Alexei in his Cap costume, Natasha as a child, you as a child, a photo of the three of you—Natasha, Yelena, and you—another of your families talking calmly together, Melina's sweet Russian dessert, a photo of you and Natasha eating (taken by Yelena to tease you), and a photo of your mother and Melina walking arm in arm, gossiping about Natasha's other relatives.

“This part... it's beautiful," Natasha whispers, tears in her eyes.

"We're already a family, babe, can't you see?" you tell her, wiping the tears from her eyes. Now, let's turn to the next page where Nat's first jealous outburst is captured.

Would you love me more

If I killed someone for you?

Would you hold my hand?

They're the same ones that I used

When I killed someone for you

If I killed someone for you - Alec Benjamin

You were at a shopping mall, browsing swimsuits because you were planning a beach trip together. A group of guys who thought they had a chance with you approached and recommended some very provocative costumes. Natasha managed to contain herself for a very short time-barely tried really-and whispered something in one of the guy's ear that made him tremble (literally) with fear. Natasha smiled, pleased with the result, and returned her focus to you. 'You just put something like that in bed with me’, she whispered to you, then gave you a pat on your butt that made you blush.

“What did you say to that boy?” you ask her, not because you feel sorry for the boy but to have a laugh.

“I just told him that if he kept bothering you, I would make him understand what it means to go around without a dick between his legs. Then I explained all the methods I would use,” she says, and you can't help but smile. This is your girlfriend. The photos you selected are: the shopping mall, the swimsuit they suggested, Natasha whispering to that boy, and your beach vacation.

The following pages are all blank. You want to fill the rest together with Nat, including everything you both consider important so that one day you can give this photo album to your children. You're sure Natasha wants some children too. You know she would be the best mother in the world.

Natasha thanks you again for the wonderful gift and confesses that she feels guilty for not having given you something equally meaningful.

"I hope you're joking. Being here with you, eating junk food, is the best thing that could ever happen to me," you say. After that, you take out your phone and start taking photos of the landscape, the moon, the stars, and then of the two of you hugging while eating stuffed sandwiches.

"This day definitely needs to go into our photo album," she tells you, kissing your lips.

“Let's make it unforgettable," she adds, pulling you down onto the beach towel. By the way, it's the same one in the photo on the last composed page, and it's significant to you both for a specific reason: you both like women. Yes, that's all.

You spent the whole night hugging and admiring the constellations, trying to draw your own constellations with your finger. From here on out you will fill those blank pages with unforgettable moments and every time you look at it together you will think every time: "it is these moments that I live for".

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!

[candy616]

Graves proposes to You 💖 (AI ASMR)

Graves will make sure the setting for his proposal is perfect and matches your character. It depends solely on your preferences and could be:

>A very sweet, private moment. Like there's nobody else on this whole world but two of you.

>A dinner and a movie, followed up with a walk through the park… And a picnic under the stars.

>A long walk on the beach when the setting sun casts a warm, soft light across the waves.

>A romantic place with flowers everywhere and a bottle of fine champagne. The place where you two have a connection with.

>A candlelit dinner, flowers and a kiss that never ends.

>A nice restaurant, your favorite dish, a big-ass bouquet of your favorite flowers on the table, the music is right. He makes sure you are totally relaxed, happy and feeling loved.

>He takes you on a vacation to somewhere you two have never been before. It would be a surprise. He'd take you to a beautiful spot, where the sun sets over the horizon, and wait for a perfect moment.

>A trip to a cozy little mountainside cottage where a fire burns in the hearth, to help keep the chill away.

>The most romantic place imaginable, like by a volcano in Iceland, or at a beautiful overlook somewhere… Maybe on top of a tall mountain in Mongolia, overlooking the Mongolian steppe. Something amazing like that.

>In the middle of desert, when the stars are out, and it's all quiet and dark. Just you and him.

>Or he can just say it to you holding you in your bed.

~Of course, the ring is expensive. Even if you don't care about things like that, Graves just wants to show how important you are for him. The most perfect ring for you, something that fits your personality, something you'll love for sure. A special kind of ring that makes you feel like the luckiest girl on Earth. A ring that puts a twinkle in your eye and puts the biggest smile on your face whenever you would look at it. The ring screams, "He wants you to be his".~

So finally, Graves looks you straight in the eyes, takes your hand. You feel like you are the center of his universe. He holds you tight and he says:

Transcript:

Alright, baby. I stand before ya with a proposition so heartfelt, it could cause the devil hisself to tremblee.

Ever since I first laid eyes on ya, I knew ya were somethin' special. There's just somethin' 'bout ya that makes me feel right at home. Mah heart has been yours since the moment we met. Yer laughter, yer smile, yer touch, and yer love, they've given me a sense of purpose that's beyond measure. Darlin', when I say I love ya, I mean it with every bone in mah body. Ya are the most beautiful soul I've ever laid eyes on.

When I'm with ya, I feel like I'm on top of the world. It's like all the pain, all the sufferin', all the heartache jest washes away like it never existed. I've fought some of the toughest battles imaginable, but they pales in comparison to the battles I've fought without ya by mah side, baby. Ah've seen the world and all its ways, and I've come to realize there's no one else who makes me feel the way ya do, sugar. Every single day with ya makes me feel like I'm truly alive, for real… Ya complete me, darlin'.

Now, listen here, love. It's high time we made this thing official. There ain't no one else in this world fer me but you. Mah heart belongs to you and only you. I found ya, I wanna keep ya, so… Will ya marry me, baby?

No, you know what? You and me? We're gonna get married, sweatheart. And that's not a question, that's a fact. I found ya, you found me. Let's commit, let's grow old together. You know I ain't bullshittin', right? 'Cause I gotcha and I ain't never gonna let ya go.. I see it in ya, I seen it since the first time we met. You and I knew this was gonna happen, ya know? I wanna be yer protector, yer shoulder to lean on, and yer biggest champion. Whatcha think 'bout that, darlin'? Let's face whatever the future holds together, as partners, as lovers, and as a team. I love ya, baby.

----------------------------------------------------------------

BONUS for gals who are into this. That was NOT my idea haha. I'm sorry.

Transcript:

Hell yeah, I'm serious. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I wanna put a ring on that finger, swetheart. And a baby… A couple of babies… A whole mess of babies in yer belly… And when we're married, ya can call me Daddy. How's that sound, darlin'? Let's do it. Or I'll be very sad. Like really, really sad.

----------------------------------------------------------------

This beautiful thing by @bellgraves inspired this.

For you, sweetheart.💖

[darksaiyangoku]

RWBY: Airplanes

Blake and Ren sat out on the balcony of the Beacon Common Room. Between them was a picnic hamper and blanket laid out with delicious food; tuna steaks, roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Blake: You really didn't have to go all out, Ren. Some sandwiches would've been fine.

Ren: Maybe. But I wanted to do better than just 'fine'. It's a beautiful night out, we can see full moon and with everyone else out on missions, there's no one to pester us.

Blake: *smirks* You love them, really.

Ren: Yeah, that's true. But *touches her hand* sometimes I like it when it's just the two of us, you know.

Blake: *blushes*

After finishing their meal, the two of them gazed at the dark blue of the night. It was a clear sky, yet the only thing they could see was the shattered moon. No stars were visible tonight.

Blake: *pouts*

Ren: Is everything okay?

Blake: I thought I saw a star out, but it was just another airship. *sighs*

Ren: *small chuckle*

Blake: What's so funny?

Ren: It's nothing. I just never expected you to be so disappointed of a starless sky. *smiles* It's kinda cute.

Blake: *blushes* Hmph, whatever.

Ren: Well we might have stars, but we do have this. *takes out scroll and plays song*

Blake: *ears perk up* Huh? Is this-

Ren: *nods* Yep.

Blake: *chuckles* And I thought Jaune was the cheesy one. But thanks. This is sweet. *closes eyes* 🎵Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now. Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now.🎵

Ren: 🎵Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish. To go back to a place much simpler than this. 'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin' and all the glitz and glam and the fashion and all the pandemonium and all the madness, there comes a time where you fade to the blackness. And when you're starin' at the phone in your lap, and you hopin' but them people never call you back. But that's just how the story unfolds, you get another hand soon after you fold. And when your plans unravel in the sand, what would you wish for, if you had one chance? So airplane, airplane sorry I'm late. I'm on my way so don't close that gate. If I don't make that, then I'll switch my flight and I'll be right back at it by the end of the night.🎵

Blake: 🎵Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now. Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now.🎵

Ren: 🎵Yeah, yeah, somebody take me back to the days before this was a job, before I got paid. Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank. Yeah, back when I was tryna get a tip at Subway and back then I was rappin' for the hell of it. But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant. I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes out of airplanes. Then maybe, oh maybe, I'll go back to the days before the politics that we call the rap game, and back when ain't nobody listened to my mixtape, and back before when I tried to cover up my slang. But this is for Decatur, what's up Bobby Ray? So can I get a wish to end the politics? And get back to the music that started this shit. So here I stand and then again I say I'm hoping we can make some wishes out of airplanes.🎵

Blake: 🎵Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now. Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now.🎵

Ren: 🎵I could really use a wish right now🎵

Blake: 🎵Ohhhhhhh🎵

Ren: 🎵I, I, I could really use a wish right now, like, like, like shootin' stars🎵

Blake: 🎵Mmmmmmmm🎵

Ren: 🎵I, I, I could, I could really use a wish right now.🎵

Blake: 🎵Ohhhhhhh ahhhhhhhh🎵

Ren: 🎵A wish, a wish right now🎵

Blake: Wow... I didn't know you could rap.

Ren: *shrugs* I'm a man of many talents.

Blake: And many surprises. *gets up* Thank you for a lovely evening. I'll see you tomorrow.

Ren: Shall I walk you to your room? *gets up and offers his hand*

Blake: *giggles* Such a gentleman. *takes his hand*

[infamousbrad]

It's not just that, Erik Wemple

The Washington Post just published another of those self-serving articles asking why politicians don't sit down with mainstream journalists (like themselves) for long one-on-one interviews any more, "Opinion: Why 'Call Her Daddy' got more time with Kamala Harris than CNN.'" (subscription-free link)

His main thesis is more generous than most. He mostly-debunks the right-wing complaint (projection) that candidates want friendly softball interviews so they only grant real interviews to friendly journalists.

He says no, and quotes on-background campaign officials as telling him that what it really comes down to, especially this late in the campaign, is that politicians are trying to reach people who haven't made up their minds yet and if people were watching or reading mainstream media, they would have already made up their minds by now. There just aren't enough persuadable voters left on CNN or MSNBC or Fox, on WaPo or the NYT.

But as someone who's subscribed to two daily newspapers and at least one weekly news magazine for my whole life, I don't think that's all of it.

For a lot of years, Greg Palast was one of the most famous investigative journalists in Britain. He specialized in breaking all-original stories about corporate crime at the highest levels. And when he retired from that beat he wrote a book (highly entertaining and you should absolutely read it!) called Vulture's Picnic about his life reporting on money laundering, securities fraud, and other high-level corporate crime, and he attributes nearly all of his success to one rule:

He flatly refused to hire anyone with a journalism degree. He only hired subject-matter experts, because it was easier to explain journalism to a subject-matter expert than to explain subject matter to a journalist. His own degree was in economics. Other than a retired combat photographer who tagged along, the other three people on his reporting team were two retired forensic accountants and a retired corporate lawyer.

Modern day journalists don't read subject matter experts, let alone interview them; they read each other on Twitter. They follow each other in packs, asking each candidate or other person in the news the exact same questions every other journalist asked them. Because to a first approximation, none of them know shit. Story's got to be done in an hour; ain't nobody got time to learn things.

[priestbit]

" sure. nobody wants skeletons in their closet, i get that. " donnie shrugged, watching a couple pack their things into a picnic basket as he tugged his sunglasses off his face, his jaw clenched. in the wake of his newfound monstrosity, he often felt as though he was a blur in the background of a photograph, coasting through the world without ever truly being seen. but serana saw him, didn't she ? she knew what he was, she knew the insatiable hunger that clawed under the surface of his skin.

" but ain't like any'a us have much choice in runnin' anyway, is it ? it's in our nature. vampires, i mean. them, they don't wanna see our world. and we can't be a part'a theirs. it'd be like invitin' a fuckin' lion to dinner. " he thrust his chin in the direction of the children being led home by their parents as he spoke. was it jealousy he felt coiling low in the pit of his stomach, rotting him from the inside out ? sniffing, donnie shoved his sunglasses onto the collar of his shirt with another shrug. talking to serana reduced him to the stupid twenty-year-old he was when he died, she stripped him of any of his arrogant confidence, and he wasn't sure how to parse it. he never had been any good at taking advice.

then serana's hand was on his, squeezing it like cassidy watts used to. it softened the harshness of his scowl and quieted the booming roar of his frustration. for a moment, donnie watts was at peace. clearing his throat, he slid his hand from under hers and began to twist the rings on his fingers, shaking his head. " don't. there ain't anythin' to forgive, " he said, not meeting her eye, " yer only tryna help. i guess . . . some company wouldn't hurt me none. "

❛ i wanna be gone. i wanna run so far, i'd beat the morning. ❜ - @priestbit

" perhaps you could. . . " they sit together in the middle of the modest park. the sun having just set. kids are being led by their parents towards cars that will bring them to the safety of their homes. couples and friends enjoying the warming air of changing seasons with a walk around the perimeter. dogs chasing after their final ball throw of the day. the hood that had been up around her face was pulled down to rest on her shoulders. " you certainly have the time. but morning always has a tendency to catch up to you. maybe not tonight. eventually , though , IT WILL. "

they sit in silence. minutes ticking by until she speaks again. " forgive me , i've just found over the years that running from problems seems to really only make them last longer. they may disappear temporarily. but they are ghosts nonetheless , there to HAUNT YOU until you face them. " it's a gamble , but she reaches over to rest her hand upon his , to give it a reassuring squeeze. " i could help you face them if you'd like. if you'd rather not do this alone. "

[alwaysavonlea]

Shirbert Mayflower Mishaps

Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 20 

“I was offered some Mayflowers too, but I rejected them with scorn. I can’t tell you the person’s name because I have vowed never to let it cross my lips.” (Anne to Marilla, definitely about Gilbert)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anne of the Island, Chapter 20

Gilbert sat down beside her on the boulder and held out his Mayflowers.

“Don’t these remind you of home and our old schoolday picnics, Anne?”

Anne took them and buried her face in them.

“I’m in Mr. Silas Sloane’s barrens this very minute,” she said rapturously.

“I suppose you will be there in reality in a few days?”

“No, not for a fortnight. I’m going to visit with Phil in Bolingbroke before I go home. You’ll be in Avonlea before I will.”

“No, I shall not be in Avonlea at all this summer, Anne. I’ve been offered a job in the Daily News office and I’m going to take it.”

“Oh,” said Anne vaguely. She wondered what a whole Avonlea summer would be like without Gilbert. Somehow she did not like the prospect. “Well,” she concluded flatly, “it is a good thing for you, of course.”

“Yes, I’ve been hoping I would get it. It will help me out next year.”

“You mustn’t work too HARD,” said Anne, without any very clear idea of what she was saying. She wished desperately that Phil would come out. “You’ve studied very constantly this winter. Isn’t this a delightful evening? Do you know, I found a cluster of white violets under that old twisted tree over there today? I felt as if I had discovered a gold mine.”

“You are always discovering gold mines,” said Gilbert—also absently.

“Let us go and see if we can find some more,” suggested Anne eagerly. “I’ll call Phil and—”

“Never mind Phil and the violets just now, Anne,” said Gilbert quietly, taking her hand in a clasp from which she could not free it. “There is something I want to say to you.”

“Oh, don’t say it,” cried Anne, pleadingly. “Don’t—PLEASE, Gilbert.”

“I must. Things can’t go on like this any longer. Anne, I love you. You know I do. I—I can’t tell you how much. Will you promise me that some day you’ll be my wife?”

“I—I can’t,” said Anne miserably. “Oh, Gilbert—you—you’ve spoiled everything.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anne’s House of Dreams, Chapter 18

Captain Jim's mayflowers added the last completing touch to the charm of the night.

"I haven't seen any this spring, and I've missed them," said Anne, burying her face in them.

"They ain't to be found around Four Winds, only in the barrens away behind the Glen up yander. I took a little trip today to the Land-of-nothing-to-do, and hunted these up for you. I reckon they're the last you'll see this spring, for they're nearly done."

"How kind and thoughtful you are, Captain Jim. Nobody else—not even Gilbert"—with a shake of her head at him—"remembered that I always long for mayflowers in spring."

[thickness-protection-program]

When I was a senior I was all about romancing up my high school sweetheart, let's say Jane. I had this one English teacher who i'd chat with, and he was always impressed by the lengths I'd go to impress this girl. I told him all about my plans for this one date; I wanted to take Jane on a surprise date to the golf course after hours late at night. There's a tee box on hole #8 in the middle of the lake, just a perfect little patch of grass out on a dock under the stars. I brought blankets and a cute dessert picnic, and really did the whole thing up, ya know? Very sweet, very cool.

Being teenagers, we absolutely fucked on that tee box in the middle of the golf course. Are there houses and condos right freaking next to the cart path that definitely have windows facing and/or overlooking hole #8? Oh, you bet. But no one busted us, everything was fine, and it was a good night.

The next week, my girlfriend got called to the office for some trivial delinquency. The English teacher happened to be filling in for detention write ups or whatever that day. So as he's filling out her detention slip, he's like "so jane, hole #8 huh?"

And she's like "omg you know about that??!"

And he's like "ahah I'm just messing with you, your boyfriend told me he was planning a nice date"

And she's like "oh phew"

And he's like "wait, know about what?"

And she's like "OMG NOTHING"

And he's like "OH MY GOD"

And they're both like "AAKSKJFCFFBPF"

And that's how my girlfriend inadvertently told our English teacher we fucked on the golf course.

Lmao this sounds like a bit in a sitcom. Ain't nobody mad at your hole in one though

[100yearoldcomics]

May 5, 1922 Mutt and Jeff by Bud Fisher: "Jeff Boiled Down His Answer"

Grammar Nazis: officially an older tradition than Actual Nazis.

[ID: Mutt and Jeff stand talking on a street corner. /end] Mutt: Jeff, I was under the impression you were going to the picnic today! Jeff: No, Mutt, I ain't going!

Mutt: You must not say, "I ain't going." Jeff: But I ain't going!

Mutt: That's awful grammar! I'll give you a little lesson and set you right. It goes like this: "You are not going..."

Mutt: "...he is not going, we are not going. They are not going." Now can you say all of that, Jeff? [ID: Jeff takes his top hat off to scratch his head. /end] Jeff: Sure!

Jeff: There ain't nobody going! [ID: Jeff walks off, leaving Mutt startled behind him. /end]

[annaphoenix1994]

Masterlist Here:

Beaver Hollow - Favored Sons

"I think we got a pretty good take, Charles." Arthur admitted as he and the fellow outlaw had begun to make the long drive back to Beaver Hollow from New Hanover, taking advantage of the vast landscape for a well-needed hunting trip. The men were out the whole day, deciding to travel back to camp shortly after dusk, expecting to be there by mid-morning or early afternoon.

"I do too. We needed it, that's for sure. I'm going to take a left up here and take a shortcut through Cumberland Forest. It'll be a longer ride, but it avoids all the main roads. I heard there's been patrol everywhere along the main road around Cornwall's place."

"Yeah, I have too," Arthur sighed, lighting a match by striking it along the sole of his boot, bringing it up to his lips to light his cigarette. "I wonder how things are back at camp... Since we've been gone."

"Well, if I had to guess, I'd say Dutch is probably thinking of some way to cause another so-called distraction, Karen is probably putting a hurting on the bottle, Mary-Beth and Tilly are reading a book, Pearson is surviving off of vegetables, and Minnie and Sadie are probably plotting to start some trouble." Charles chuckled.

"I think you might be right," Arthur chuckled along. "I told her to not go anywhere, but I wouldn't be surprised if she did anyway. That woman ain't no picnic and she makes me want to jump off a cliff sometimes." He admitted.

"Ah, don't say that. Nobody wants to jump off a cliff. You know you love her."

"No doubt I do, it's just that we're so much alike we bump heads almost too much. I can't suggest anything to her without her getting all riled up. Once she sets her mind to something, ain't nobody changin' that, not even me. I've been even more worried about her now that she's pregnant and runnin' around shootin' guns and ridin' her horse. It just ain't right."

"I understand, but I don't think she's that way because of selfishness. I think that's just her instinct."

"What do you mean?"

"When I spent some time at the reservation, Rains Fall told me about her. She's known to the tribe as Akicita, which is a name for a warrior. He told me that she helped them move to the new reservation in Wapiti when the last peace treaty went sour. After she did that, Rains Fall was told she was killed over conspiracy by the Army."

"Shit. Small world."

"That's for sure. What bothers me is that Dutch has suddenly taken sides with Eagle Flies, dropping everything he stands for to practically use him and his men to his own advantage."

"Yeah, I've noticed that too. That, and Micah bein' so close to him now. It's like he forgot that John and I have been closest to him. He has no idea that Hosea is still alive. Hosea told me himself that he didn't want Dutch to know because he knew he had changed."

"Micah is going to cause everything to go down much faster."

"Stick 'em up, cowboys." A gruff voice said alongside the wagon. Arthur paused, his right palm hovering over his revolver as he dared to look at the agitator, seeing the curved head of a familiar Arabian horse. "Very funny, Dutch." Arthur grumbled.

"I always think so," Dutch chuckled, putting away his revolver.

"You're gonna end up getting shot one of these days."

Dutch scoffed, "Nah, I'd make sure I'd die at the hands of myself before someone else kills me. What're you two doin'?"

"Heading back to camp. We got a lot of game from where we went hunting at."

"Looks to be so. Meet me up on the cliffside just ahead, the both of you." Dutch ordered, kicking The Count into a canter ahead of the outlaws, both of them looking at each other in frustration.

"I guess he doesn't want this meat to be treated, huh?" Charles sighed.

"He probably didn't even look. If you want, I'll go see what Dutch wants and you go back to camp?"

"Are you sure? He asked us both to go."

"I'll tell him why you went on ahead. I'm sure he wouldn't need the both of us anyhow. Besides, I'm sure you'll keep things on the right track back in camp anyway."

"If you say so," Charles shrugged. "I'll drop you off just ahead."

Charles drove the wagon along the wide trail for a few hundred feet before seeing the cliffside Dutch had mentioned earlier, seeing a few silhouettes nestled above. Squinting his eyes, he could see that Eagle Flies was accompanying the gang leader. "Arthur, that's Eagle Flies and his men. This can't be a good idea. I-I should stay too."

"Come up top, Arthur!" Dutch announced.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I can't let him continue to use these men for his own benefit." He grumbled, turning the wagon to follow the narrow trail that led up to the top of the cliff, dismounting the wagon and pulling the parking brake.

"So good of you two to join us." Dutch commented as Arthur and Charles met up with him to look down at the trail from atop the cliff.

"What's goin' on?"

"Rebellion. The smell of cordite and integrity. It is a beautiful thing."

"What are you all doing?"

"An eye for an eye. We didn't start this, Arthur. They did."

"We? This ain't our fight." Arthur shook his head.

"It surely is-"

"-Whatever it is you're planning, it ain't a good idea. They want you to fight."

"Nobody will be killed." Eagle Flies added, looking at Charles to exchange in hateful glances of distaste for one another briefly.

"We're just gonna trap a few of them in the valley, disarm them, tar and feather them and remind them to leave these boys alone." Dutch explained as he retrieved a small case of dynamite.

"You have the energy for pranks?"

"Come on, Arthur. It's just tweaking Uncle Sam's nose a little. I need you to help me," He scoffed, motioning for the outlaw to follow him on foot down the steep trail leading to the area of the valley for their attack. "Besides, it's perfect. People will see these boys, they won't notice us and they'll think we're gone. Everyone will blame everything on the Indian problem and we'll disappear up the river. But first, we need to trap them in this pass. Help me dynamite up these trees."

"So... You're using them?"

"No, sir... Never. But, it is mutually beneficial to draw attention to one problem and a veil over another."

"These are good people, but their situation is real complex, we ain't helping them."

"Sure we are. Come on, let's get this done."

Arthur sighed as he picked up the spool that relayed the fuses for the dynamite charges, carefully unwinding them over the trail to four separate trees, following Dutch's lead as he placed a single stick of dynamite on the tree, securing it with a pre-cut piece of yarn from one of Eagle Flies' men.

"We don't have a lot of time!" Eagle Flies warned from above. "The patrol should be coming in a few minutes!"

"I sent for some of that dynamite you and Bill commandeered from Van Horn. Good work with that, by the way."

"Bill played drunk."

"The perfect man for the job."

"So, you finally got to see Colm hang..."

"Yeah, after all those years. Hard to believe, oh, but it was worth the wait. See, we're tying up the loose ends, Arthur. One by one."

"I think that should do it! Come on now, quick, get back up here!" They heard Eagle Flies warn.

"Are you out of your damn mind?" Charles growled, getting the younger man's attention by grabbing his forearm.

"I'm quite sane, friend."

"You know what your father told you about revenge missions. It's foolish!" Charles warned. "This will just create more problems."

"I see that it is clear that you are not on my side in this."

"Not in this," He pointed down below to the valley. "This is just going to prove how ignorant you are to the Army. This will get you killed one day."

"Ignorance is not my position. But pride? Absolutely. If you don't want to participate in this, then please, continue on." He scoffed.

"As you wish. I'm not going to encourage this behavior." Charles nodded, standing to his feet to meet Dutch and Arthur as they had jogged back up the steep slope of the trail to get into position.

"Where are you going, son?" Dutch asked.

"Away from here. I'm not sticking around for this."

"What happened?" Arthur asked as he watched Dutch shrug Charles' concern from his shoulders, kneeling down next to the plunger that would detonate the charges as Arthur followed Charles to the wagon they arrived on.

"Eagle Flies. He's-He's not right in the head anymore. He's fueled by Dutch's ideas. I can see right through him now. He's playing them like a fiddle and I'm not encouraging this ignorant behavior."

"I understand." Arthur frowned.

"You coming with me? Or do you want me to wait on you down the trail a bit?"

Arthur sighed, "I better stay here."

"Okay, then. I'll head on up the trail and pick you up later if things don't get bad."

───※ ·❆· ※───

"You sure you want to split up now?" Minnie asked Sadie as they had been trotting along the path leading towards Cumberland Forest.

"Yeah, I think. I just...I just need to be alone for a bit." She frowned.

"I understand." Minnie nodded, noting that Sadie had been fairly quiet during their ride back towards camp.

"I'll see you around, Minnie. I'm going to take the long way around."

"Okay. Be careful."

"You too."

She nudged Trace into a lope as he held his head high, his ears pricked forward as he seemed eager to blow off some steam. Obliging to his wishes, she loosened the reins, letting him stretch his legs along the angled trail, keeping her guard up as she always hated to ride alone, especially now that she had been carrying a child. Almost a half mile into the quiet ride, with nothing but hoof beats filling the air, she began to slow the gelding after seeing a suspicious wagon sitting alongside the road with no driver present. After fully stopping her horse, her hand rested on the grip of her pistol as she saw a large man standing close to a tree, his back turned to her briefly before turning his attention towards the oncoming hoof beats. "Charles?"

"Minnie," He sighed. "What're you doing out this way?"

"Me and Sadie were out riding around."

"This far out?" He questioned.

"Yeah."

"Okay, then."

"Where's Arthur?"

"Up the road with Dutch. He and Eagle Flies' men are planning to trap some of the Army patrol coming down this way." He explained.

"Like that's a good idea." She scoffed.

"I know. I don't know what Dutch has planned, but I assume it'll come with a lot of noise."

"No doubt-"

Clutching onto the saddle horn and a fist full of mane, Minnie held on as Trace spooked at the loud and abrupt explosion nearby, soon followed by gunshots and a Calvary horn. "Woah! Easy, dammit!" She cursed as she felt for her lost stirrup with her foot. "I guess there's Dutch's signal."

"You ain't going to go fight, Minnie." Charles warned.

"I'm not, but I need to make sure Arthur is at least safe." She argued.

"I'm sure he is. I'll go make sure of it. He'll kill me if he knew I let you go and put yourself into the line of fire. Just stay here and make sure these horses stay calm, okay?" He explained as he ensured his sewed-off shotgun was loaded as well as taking a fist full of arrows with him as he sprinted towards the commotion.

"Fucking Hell," Minnie grumbled to herself. "I can't just sit here and wait for silence." Traced pawed the loose dirt harshly, chomping at his bit as he was eager to run from danger.

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Where's Paytah?" Eagle Flies breathed as the gunfire had seized for a brief moment.

"Damn, they're sending riders from the fort. We need to leave." Arthur advised.

"But where's Paytah? Was he killed?" Eagle Flies questioned again, looking over the landscape for his friend, sighing in relief. "He's alive."

"Well, that went just about according to plan." Arthur grumbled at Dutch.

"I'm trying. I'm trying, Arthur, with everything I have and I will keep trying and you'll keep doubting me and we'll keep failing."

"It ain't like that, Dutch. Look at me. Look at me! It's just... I'm worried about folk!"

"I know, I-" He argued before his speech was interrupted by a sharp whistle from a cannonball, the explosion landing a few hundred feet from the outlaws. "We should go."

"Now where's Eagle Flies?"

"He went to get Paytah," Charles added as he ran up to them, catching his breath. "I'm going to go back to the wagon and tell Minnie to leave."

"Wait, what-"

"Her and Sadie were out this way and she crossed paths with me."

Arthur sighed in frustration and anger, "They went and finished off those O'Driscoll's. Goddammit!" He shouted as he stormed towards the wagon that held the dynamite for the job, cutting the single horse free from its harness, mounting it to use for his escape route as his horse was at Beaver Hollow.

"Ain't no time for anger at your wife now, Arthur," Dutch added, looking towards Eagle Flies' direction as he could see he was assisting Paytah. "Run, son! Run! Come on. This area's gonna be crawling with soldiers in a few minutes. We gotta leave. Now."

"What about Eagle Flies?" Arthur asked as he held the horse steady as Dutch waited for The Count to approach him.

"We gotta go, Arthur. Come on! We need to ride hard! Stay with me!"

Dutch and Arthur galloped along the trail, keeping their minds sharp and their adrenaline pumping as they were terrified of the next raid from the Army. Taking a slight curve, Arthur saw Charles slowing down from his dash back towards the wagon, seeing Minnie still atop Trace, the same place Charles had left her. "Get her outta here!" Arthur managed to shout as they galloped past, seeing Charles nod his head at Arthur's direction. "Left up ahead! Into the trees!" Dutch shouted. "Okay, let's dismount here, we won't get the horses down this path. Let's carry on by foot, try and sell them a little snake oil."

"You think?" Arthur scoffed.

"It's all I got! Get outta here!" He yelled at The Count, slapping the stallion on the hindquarters. "Let's see if we can lose them down here." He panted, his aging lungs not being as reliable as they used to be as he forced himself to sprint.

"There's more comin'!" Arthur shouted. "You go on ahead and I'll hold 'em off!"

"Alright, Arthur!"

The men made haste in shooting off the soldiers that made their way closest to them. Seeing a distant bridge peeking along the landscape, he knew they were coming up on a cliff side that rimmed the Dakota River. "It's a dead end!" Arthur yelled, looking as if he were a mouse cornered by a hungry cat, looking in either direction frantically for an escape route. He began to panic as the only way off of the cliff was the now-destroyed man-made swinging bridge that had been previously cut down. "This is it, this is..." He mumbled, looking to Dutch for answers.

"Well, Arthur..." Dutch sighed, shrugging his shoulders, oblivious to the glare of frustration and betrayal on Arthur's face.

"Put your hands up! I said put your damn hands up!" An officer shouted, followed by a half-dozen soldiers.

"Okay, okay," Dutch nodded, turning his head towards Arthur. "Follow my lead. I got a plan. This is a good one," He whispered. "Hello, officers."

"You keep them hands up and come here. Put your hands up!"

"Hello, Captain, we uh, we can't do that. Your men, those men they killed, they were good men. You're fighting nature, Captain..."

"Get over here!"

"Ask my friend here. My whole life I tried to fight change. It's a waste... I see that now... it's a waste. You can't fight nature, Captain. You can't fight change. You can't fight... Gravity."

"Enough with the speech! Come here!" The Captain demanded.

Dutch clenched his jaw, squinting his eyes at the soldiers before seeing a green bottle land before the Captain's feet, bursting into a million pieces. Confused, every soldier, including Arthur and Dutch, looked up to see Minnie standing proudly on the cliff above them, a black bandana covering her face as Arthur watched her light the fuse for the dynamite stick in her hand, watching her drop it so effortlessly as the men below still seemed so paused at what they were witnessing. Watching her wave her fingers sarcastically, the dynamite exploded shortly after landing in the middle of the group of soldiers, giving Arthur and Dutch plenty of enough time to make their leap of faith towards the raging Dakota River, losing their hats in the process. Shooting the remaining soldiers that managed to survive the blast, Minnie quickly mounted Trace, making a dash towards the base of the mountain in hopes of catching up to Arthur and Dutch.

"What a Helluva woman!" Dutch shouted as he took a deep breath of air after rising to the surface.

"We would've surely been dead!" Arthur grumbled as he reached for his hat that had been caught in the current behind him, placing the soaked leather hat on his head as he continued to swim towards the empty bank for safety.

"Here! Grab my hand!" He heard Dutch shout from the bank. "Come here, big boy, I got ya. We're okay. You're okay."

"What a mess!" Arthur coughed.

"I know, but a mess is what we need. We just escaped from chaos. Eagle Flies must've been taken."

"Taken or killed."

"Well, we can't go find out."

"No, not now."

"Charles... I'll... We'll send him. Where is he?"

"He's probably close by. He was with Minnie when me and you passed them earlier."

"Okay. Let's split up. I'll go tell him. You rest up then go meet him at the reservation. Tell Miss...Missus Morgan I said thank you for saving our lives."

"I will."

"We are gonna make it, brother. I can feel it. Faith, Arthur. Have faith!"

Arthur shook his head as he looked over the raging river, wondering how in the hell he had just survived nearly drowning twice: once during the shipwreck outside Guarma and now. He swore to himself that he'd never step foot on another ship again, let alone go near water. He sat on the bank for a few moments to gather his thoughts before hearing heavy hoof beats approaching. Without deep thought, he would've been sure that the Army had caught up to him. But thankfully, it was his own wife, although he was relieved, he had a bone to pick with her.

"You alright?" She asked as she dismounted Trace, looping her thumbs through her gun belt as she approached her husband.

"You," He grumbled, forcing himself to stand to his feet. "You done went after the rest of them O'Driscoll's with Sadie after I told you I didn't want you leaving camp, but you go and get yourself into a gunfight and then come throw yourself into the line of fire with the Army?"

"If I didn't you wouldn't be standing here talking to me right now! You'd either be dead or sitting in jail!" She argued. "Don't start this shit with me, Arthur."

"Why'd you do it? Huh? Why?"

"To save you and Dutch from getting your hide tanned!"

"No! Not that! Why'd you go with Sadie? Do you enjoy making me so infuriated with you when you do this?" He scoffed.

"She asked me to. And I just went to be a distant set of eyes. I didn't go in and fight, I-"

"It doesn't matter! You still went! Especially after I told you about me not wanting you to leave camp-"

"Oh, so now that I'm your wife you think you have the authority to tell me what a can and can't do?"

"No, not at all. I guess you've seemed to once again forget that you're pregnant," He scoffed. "And I guess you seem to forget about what I told you a long time ago."

"No, I haven't. I know, Arthur. I'm sorry that it happened to you, I really am. I-"

"If you were sorry, you wouldn't be putting yourself into a situation for it to happen again." He spat, his jaw clenched as his anger had subsided into complete sadness. He hated getting angry at her, but he knew that she was one to stick to her mind, oblivious to another person's opinion, even her own husband's. He couldn't lose her and every day it felt as if she was testing her luck.

"I... I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"Would it make you feel better if I just packed up and went and stayed with Hosea?"

"No."

"Why not? Because it's still keeping me in the line of fire since it could be any day now that the law will catch up with us."

He knew she had a point and it hurt to shake his head in agreement that she was right. "I cant lose you, Minnie, but it feels like you're constantly testing my patience and your luck. I can't take it no more."

"I'm not trying to test your patience..."

"Then you're testing your luck, but I wish you'd just swallow your pride and stay in camp."

She frowned, bowing her head in defeat, "I'm sorry, Arthur. I just want to protect you."

"And so do I, but I need to protect you by keeping you in camp, not out fighting our battles."