#i am late but is still is 22:00 in my country

[westrangecollectionkoalaposts]

Valkyries appreciation week: Day 7 - Free Day | @valkyrieappreciationweek

Slumber Party!

They purposely came in matching sleeping dresses, and yes, Nesta made them a cake and is showing them as they just arrived, and that weird thing in the background is House's pegasus form

[eldritchsurveys]

1226.

Do you ever worry about your future? (i.e.: college, marriage, kids, etc) >> I'm amused by the examples given, because none of that stuff is of any concern to me. I'm already (unconventionally) married, I'm probably never going to be college material, and I'm definitely not having children or meeting any other of those Common Adult Milestones. The stuff that freaks me out about the future is thinking I'll never have a social support system, I'll never be able to afford any kind of therapy, I'll end up living and dying in a place I hate because I can't afford to live anywhere else, I'll never know what actual financial security feels like, I'll never know what actual emotional intimacy with another person in this outworld realm feels like... oh, and of course I worry about ageing and increasing disability, seeing as I live in a country that is perfectly content to let poor people suffer and die.

Does your family use coasters? Is anyone in your family excessively tidy? >> I don't use coasters, and my tidiness isn't excessive at all, thank you very much.

Are you usually late, early or right on time? >> I am usually early or right on time -- early if I'm taking public transportation because the timing doesn't always line up well and it's better to be too early than too late in that case.

On a scale of 1 to 5 how organized are you? >> 4? I don't know how to quantify this but I do love being organised.

Name a movie you can watch over and over again and not be bored with? >> I don't do this with movies at all, even ones I love. I usually wait at least a year before rewatching any movie (barring exceptions like how I rewatched Lisa Frankenstein like a week after I saw it because Sparrow wanted to see it and I didn't mind rewatching it).

Do you still have your tonsils? >> I do.

What is the worst thing someone has ever done to you? >> There's a pretty long list of awful things people have done to me, and I certainly don't feel like sifting through it to figure out which one was "worst".

Have you ever gone nude/streaked in public? >> I have not.

Do you snore? Steal the covers? Roll around in your sleep? >> I don't share a bed anymore, but during the times when I did, it was usually the other person that did these things. Comparatively, I slept like a corpse.

What is your mom listed under in your phone? . Do you like going to the dentist? >> Absolutely not. The anxiety and aversion I experience at the dentist is over 9000.

What’s the most worthwhile thing you’ve done in the last year? >> I mean... continued existing? That's hard enough as it is. Have you ever made out with someone? >> Sure.

What time do you get sleepy? >> Typically, around 22:00. This can vary depending on how sleep-deprived I am.

What music do you listen to? >> So, so much. I mostly identify as a metalhead but like, this morning on my walk I was listening to (and reminiscing about) gospel. You really just never know, with me.

How old were you when you started to walk? .

Which member of your family do you get along with the best? .

What cheers you up when you’re sad? >> Can Calah, most reliably. Also, various shows I like. Have you ever tanned topless? >> I don't tan, period. My melanin is permanent.

What’s something you’ve been told you’re good at? >> Writing. Are you a cat or dog person? >> I'm not a pet person in general.

Have you ever done drugs? >> I have. I do.

Recommend a really amazing book. >> Just gonna go with Episode Thirteen again like in the last survey.

Recommend a really amazing song. >> You Ain't Coming Back by Zeal & Ardor.

Recommend a really amazing movie. >> In the Earth.

Who’s your favorite actor/actress? >> Matthew McConaughey.

Have you ever run away from home? >> I tried to, anyway.

Do you like your hair, the way it is and the color? >> There's really nothing to like or dislike about it, it's undyed and in a buzzcut. Extremely unremarkable.

Are you a Disney movie fan? >> Not especially. There are a few I like, but not nearly enough for me to consider myself a fan of Disney itself.

Do you eat seafood? >> I do.

So where the hell do you want to go in life? >> Hm. Are you claustrophobic? >> I am not. Do you like getting wasted? >> We used to, but I personally no longer possess the constitution or the interest in being heavily intoxicated. It no longer sparks joy.

Do you prefer Angels and Airwaves or Rihanna? >> I don't prefer either.

If your house was on fire (and your family escaped), what would you save? . Does caffeine make you hyper? >> I certainly don't consume enough of it to experience hyperactivity either way. I have like one eight-ounce serving of coffee like every two weeks or whenever I remember that coffee exists, and I enjoy the somewhat heightened sense of clarity and mental acuity for a while. I'm sure if I had any more than that I'd likely just tip over into being jittery and anxious, which is unfun and pointless. When are you going back to school? >> LOL

Do you like reading self-help books? >> The self-help industry is a racket and I'm not interested. I do read psychology-based books, like for example stuff that works with the Internal Family Systems model, but that's my limit when it comes to "self-help books".

What is your opinion on sex change? >> I'm into it. Very, very pro-HRT and SRS.

It seems like everyone’s addicted to Twitter these days - are you? >> Twitter's site culture never appealed to me, even back when it was somewhat less unhinged. Now? Absolutely fucking not.

What is something you have recently realized? >> I feel like I mostly just circle back to the same realisations but... bigger, or deeper, or whatever. It's not a loop, it's a spiral, etc.

If you could study abroad for a year in a foreign country, which country do you think you would choose, and why? .

If applicable, what song are you listening to right now? .

If you could choose three US states to visit, which three states would you pick? >> Honestly, I'd go anywhere at this point. I just need the novelty.

Do you think you express yourself better in writing or out loud? >> Writing. I'm a very clumsy speaker.

What’s the most amazing miracle you’ve ever witnessed? >> When I think of miraculous occurrences, I always think of times when I was really going through it, when shit was bad bad, and there'd be a moment where something really cool happens and it just... feels so much more profound and vital because of how awful everything else is. You know? Like for example, last year I was having a rough time and I went and sat out in the backyard and I found a perfect cicada shed just sitting on the tree, right at eye level, like it was left for me. I love cicadas. It felt special, like a hint that something was still rooting for me, wanted to give me a little bit of joy and wonder. I still have it, it's on my vanity.

Do you enjoy being home alone? >> Oh my god, it's the best. It's when I feel freest. ...Wow, that really doesn't look like a word, even if it is one. Most free. Yeah, that's better.

What is the most magical thing you’ve ever experienced? >> Dammit, and here I've already used my cicada molt story. Thinking of these things is taking too long, I'm going to pass.

What was the last hot beverage you drank? >> Tea.

Have you ever donated blood? >> I have not.

Would you rather attend a yoga class or a Zumba class? >> Either is fine. Depends on what kind of energy I have that day, I suppose.

Have you written anything down today? >> I have not.

What color is your camera case (if you have one)? .

What are three things you like that start with the same letter as your middle name? >> This would also take me forever.

Which do you use more: Facebook or Instagram? >> I don't use Instagram at all, so Facebook by default. Would you say you’ve had a good week so far? >> It's been fine, I suppose. I've definitely had worse weeks, just in the past month alone.

What are three of your favorite ways to enjoy spring? >> Go for lots of walks to admire all the new plant life, throw open every window in the house, uh... rejoice that I survived another winter? Yeah.

Do you own a pair of pink pants? >> I don't. I wouldn't be averse to it, though.

[clover-fields-and-ghosts]

Hello.

Seems like you found the whole 'Tumblr' blog thing. Any questions will come directly through me, as I am the only working buster here in the New York Bubble District. There aren't a lot of us out there, bubble district-wise, but I'll tell you a little bit about what happened here. Please don't come into my Caller ID section to cry. Bring tissues, maybe?

Bubble districts are ~250-mile radius around, usually normal in most weather and Earth-like behaviors. I've been called many times around the world about the odd behavior of these conditions. Snow in the middle of summer, warm weather in winter, etc. It's been crazy, I've had to, like, speed to the abandoned library just to get language books to understand them. There are up to 2 bubble districts per country right now, and I hope to be getting this whole 'Vigo' situation cleared up... I have an Ad up right now for anyone who's willing to be a Ghostbuster since I've brought the name back up to try and finish what the original, capable, men started. Besides the point.

January 1st, 1990, 00:00:01, Vigo the Carpathian succeeded in transferring his soul into the child named Oscar. The original Ghostbusters(Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Winston Zeddmore) all were KIA, Janine Melnitz not lasting the second blow beneath the firehouse collapsing and the Ecto-1? Weeeeeeelllll... yeah, no, it-- it got destroyed. Everyone was in mourning and terror, the entire Earth becoming a dangerous wasteland of super-charged spirits. When the wasteland appeared, so did these safe-havens, as we call 'bubble districts', to the living and physical plane of existence. Cue, me, being born in 1990, and scratching the surface to survive. I got married at 22 to a man named Jack, had a son, got a dog, they went missing when Kexton(my son) was 6. I've worked my ass off getting certain degrees(engineering, art/design, carpentry, architecture.), as well as some PhD's(parapsychology, psychology, general chem, electrical tech.), to try and understand more about what Dr. Venkman, Dr. Spengler, and Dr. Stantz were researching over. The mood slime has spread into most sewage systems but is oddly steering clear of surrounding sewage areas in a wider 1000 mile radius from the bubble districts.

With the firehouse rebuilt(since May 12, 2017), I've replaced most of the building with new wiring and load-bearing members, but I kept most of the original design the same. I was able to expand the basement to actually hold a stronger, bigger ecto-containment unit. I was able to trade my services for help, it's only fair since we have an insane magician trying to use us as slaves. Also, don't look at any of the pictures in the firehouse. I've heard from previous carpenters that 'they felt like they were being watched, even when there were no eyes in the paintings'. Such strange phenomena; I've taken many tests to see if they were, indeed, haunted, but nothing came up to any conclusions. I may not be as spectacular as Dr. Egon Spengler, but at this rate, I'm happy to have people who can help me out or simply help us fix this extremely sticky and vile situation.

(AN/EDIT: Forgive the late edit, I am still developing Clover as I go along! If anyone has any questions, please DM my main account: slenderkillsbonniemain.)

[qvid-pro-qvo]

hi :-) maybe the prompts “Stay there. I’m coming to get you.” and "Wow." with Sonny please?

we’re back, baby! consider this a woohoo for season 22. sonny carisi x gender neutral reader.

word count: 2164

rating: e for everyone, for long-distance coming together once more (hurt/comfort. no trigger warnings. just love.)

-

It’s been one year, three months, and nine days since you’ve seen Dominick Carisi, Jr. in person. You would add the hours and the minutes, but you think that everyone you talk to gets the picture. When you mention your boyfriend, it’s the one who’s across a country, the one who you call every night, the one who works a tireless job as an NYPD detective. They know, because you can’t stop talking about him.

He’s incredible, after all. Decorated, dedicated, a sweetheart.

He’s incredible, after all. Decorated, dedicated, a sweetheart. You’re gonna marry him, you can’t help but gush, because there’s no one else for you in the whole wide world.

Your friends think you’re insane. After all, there’s something about long-distance that makes everyone nervous. But you don’t let them make you antsy, because you’re the one who gets a call from him every night, especially the nights he works.

Those calls get you through a lot. Those calls get you through good days and bad, those calls are a majority of the relationship now. Calls, FaceTimes, voicemails, texts, emails even… that’s all you both have.

And they go a little something like this.

-

The first call you make after you land in California is to his cell.

Leaving him had felt like leaving your heart and soul back in New York, it’d felt like getting torn apart, it’d felt like a lot of horrible things. But you’d had to, and Sonny’d known that.

You’d known it, too. But knowing doesn’t make packing up any easier. Knowing doesn’t make the plane ride any less lonely. Knowing doesn’t make unpacking a box and finding one of his shirts that accidentally traveled with you any less world-shattering.

It’s to his cell. He picks up almost immediately. You can hear the hustle and bustle of a New York street behind him, a few honks. It’s early, after all, and you’ve traveled back in time. Your body thinks it’s noon, when it’s really nine, and when you step off of the plane the sun hits yours eyes, bright and unexpected. You’re dressed too warm for California, since it’s perfect for the place you left.

You hate it here.

It’s not home.

“Hey,” he breathes into the receiver. You just let out a little gasp. The tears immediately spring to your eyes, but you do your best to keep your head held high, looking around for your luggage.

“Hey, Sonny. I made it. Just. Wanted to let you know.”

“Good. That’s… that’s good.”

The words aren’t enough. They don’t feel like they ever will be.

“So, how’s California look?” he finally asks, when the silence stretches on a little too long. You’ve missed your luggage on the carousel and finally snag it, balancing your phone on your shoulder as you pull off the stuff that’s waiting for you.

So many bags. Your whole life packed away. The rest of it getting shipped.

Your whole life except Sonny. Doesn’t feel like much, but you know it’ll get better. Eventually. With time.

“Sunny,” you finally say, and he snorts.

“Not too sunny without me, I hope.”

You manage a laugh. It’s watery, but it’s a laugh. “Never.”

With time.

-

The morning calls are for you.

He’s already up and at ‘em by the time you’re stirring, and his phone is usually what rouses you. It’s a brilliant alarm clock, one that has you sitting as upright as you can and pulling him close to your ear. His voice makes you want to pull yourself under the covers, settle in and listen for a few hours or days.

“Mornin’, sweetheart.”

You know by this point he’s on his second or third cup of coffee. It depends on how bad the cases are that day, how deep he is in paperwork. But even with the caffeine, the 7:00 AM for you is 10:00 AM for him, and he still sounds like he just rolled out of bed.

“Good morning,” you return, and he chuckles a little, because the sound of your voice is the same level of exhausted. And yet, with his call, you’re rising, throwing back the blankets, moving to the bathroom to start your routine. He’s got fifteen minutes, and you’ve got thirty-five before you have to leave, and you’ll spend the twenty without his voice in your ear thinking about his voice in your ear, and maybe texting him, too.

-

The nighttime calls are for him.

Those, you get to see his face. After all, your 7:00 PM is his 10:00 PM, and some days he’s actually going to bed at that hour. Some days he’s at your shared apartment, sitting in bed with your pillows holding himself up.

Some days he’s in the office. Those calls are short, but sweet.

But what ends up happening is that you start your day with him, and some days, some blissful nights, he gets to go to sleep with you. Seeing you.

“Hey, baby,” you say. You’re usually just getting home at that point, tossing keys into a dish, shutting your door and locking it tight so that Sonny can hear it, see it. It gives him reassurance, the length of a country away. “How was your day?”

“Same old, same old,” he starts out, always, even when the day’s been thrilling, brilliant, a great time. “A day without you.”

And you coo and hum, and he laughs at the scrunch of your nose, and the two of you begin and end your nighttime routines, the days drifting away, another night closer to being reunited.

-

The last call you make from California is for the both of you.

“Wow.” It’s all he can manage. After all, the nights come with face time, and you’ve posed the camera perfectly. You’re dressed to the nines, and you can tell his eyes are scanning you from head to toe. “Jealous of whoever gets to see you at dinner.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “My bosses, Dom. They’re having a going away dinner. A week early, but.”

“I get it, I get it. You’re wanting to tease.” His voice is light, and you wink at him, reaching for your phone and pulling it close so you can see the details. There are bags under his eyes, and he looks a little ragged – it’s been a tough week, he’s told you, one case dogging them day and night. You’re hoping that you can cheer him up, when you get to see him, sooner rather than later.

“Tease you, Dominick Carisi, Jr.? I wouldn’t dare!” you say, and the two of you laugh, through the exhaustion.

“I miss you,” he states. It’s not an admittance, because the two of you have never hidden it. You miss each other, and as your scheduled return date edges closer you can feel the nervous energy. He’s never looked more drained, and you’d do anything to take it from him, the exhaustion.

“I’ll be back soon,” you assure him, and he nods. The conversation lasts a few moments more, and then he has to go, and then you have to go. And you leave with a promise, that you’ll be there before he knows it.

Sooner than he thinks, that’s for sure.

-

One year. Three months. Nine days. But today, that number falls back to zero.

It’s the first call you make once you land, stomp out your boots of the snow you weren’t expecting. You’re used to California winter, mild and warm, and so the New York chill takes you by surprise. Makes you blink, when you peer out from under the awning of the rental car pick-up and feel snow land in your hair. But it’s home, the snow on your boots, the way the wind whips up around your face. You hold your phone up to your ear and let out a shiver.

It rings. Once, twice, three times.

“Hey, doll.”

He answers, and his voice is weary. It’s late, after all, and you’ve lost a few hours, so the direct flight, while five-and-a-half hours, deposits you eight-and-a-half hours in the future with a stomach rumbling for real food and no sun in sight.

He answers. It’s with a yawn, and you realize that you’re hearing the sound of slamming filing cabinets, and you think that in the background you can hear his lieutenant’s voice. He’s living his life, in his world, and you’re so proud of him you can hardly speak. Because you know that he’s working hard when he works late. Working himself to death, it feels like sometimes.

“Hey, Dom. Is this a bad time?” you ask, immediately. Because your surprise is one that works just as well if you’re at the apartment, if you’re cooking him a warm meal or cozied up on the couch for him. But his noise is a negative.

“Nah, just finishing up a case. Took a perp into custody. Wanted to stay behind and see it through before I ditched.”

You’re not fighting exhaustion. You’re trembling from the cold, and shivering from the exposure, and vibrating with happiness as you hand over your credit card to the man behind the counter. The plane ride isn’t beating your delight as you grin at the sound of him. The way his words are lined with the effort of the whole team.

“Great, great. That’s great,” you say, and he must pick up on something. Because his answering hum is teasing, light.

“You sound like the cat that caught the canary,” he laughs. After all, you both have gotten intimately familiar with voices these long months apart, and you know he’s right. So you don’t argue it, just laugh, bite your lower lip as you take your card back.

“Well. Maybe I am,” you say lightly, and push your way through the lines of cars. You keep beeping, hoping to hear something, with no luck just yet. “Are you the canary?”

He chuckles, and you know he’s shrugging with it. “I sure hope so.”

Maybe he’s tilting his head back, leaning in his chair, looking up at the ceiling of the precinct as he talks. Maybe he’s bending forward, hand in his hair, elbows on his knees. Maybe he’s crossing a leg over the other, tapping his fingers on the armrests of his chair. You’ll know soon enough, won’t have to imagine for much longer.

“I think you are. After all, I’ve laid the perfect trap for you,” you say, and you make your voice light, airy. Your carry on and three suitcases are being dragged slowly and carefully behind you, and you finally hear the beep of the car you’re meant to drive for the next three days. It’ll only do a job for one, after all, but it doesn’t need to know that.

“The perfect trap. What’s that?”

“A stop on my way home.” The trunk of the rental beeps, pops open. “I’ve been thinking about it for five hours.”

A beat passes, and you almost think the call’s been dropped. But then Sonny clears his throat, and your grin stretches wide. “What?” There’s a shift in his throat, that you can hear. One that comes with him sitting up. You can see it, if you close your eyes, ignore the windiness of the parking garage.

“Well, you see, if I book it, I can make it that shop before they close. What it’s called… the one by our place?”

And you hear his breath catch. It’s a beautiful sound. It works perfectly with the sound of your luggage tossed in the trunk.

“Yeah, that one. And if I really hurry, then I might be able to pick you up from the precinct.” Your eyes close for a moment, dip your head as you pull back and close the back of the car. When you make it to the car, turn it on, you can hear something like a hiccup leave him, the shuffle of papers, his jaw pop as it unclenches.

“You’re – you’re back in New York?” And his accent is so thick the words run together. “You’re home?”  

And when you laugh it’s thick, too. For a different reason, one that has you wiping at your face, as the engine runs. You sniffle, and he sniffles a little, too, and you can hear his lieutenant’s voice again in the background, muffled.

“Just – just a second, lieu,” he mumbles. He sounds dazed. Confused.

“Stay there,” you insist. “Okay? I’m coming to get you, and then I’ll take you home, and…”

“And?” His voice is hoarse. Cracks, and you chuckle despite yourself. The thought of home. The thought of Sonny Carisi, after all this time. The thought of pulling him close and hugging him tight and leaning into his touches. His touches. The car’s engine is running, and one of your hands reaches for the wheel, runs your fingers along the curve.

“And be yours again, Dom. For as long as you’ll have me.”

[joyfulholland]

Friday, I’m In Love

a/n: so I started writing this last summer, then completely ignored it for almost a year and here we are. I really hope that you like it and you like the concept! please let me know if there’s anything you want to see me write!

warnings: literally the tiniest bits of smut here and there, a mention of blood

word count: 3183

Friday 11th January, 19:21

The knock on your door brings a smile to your lips, signalling your boyfriend’s arrival. You don’t bother getting up, hearing him let himself into your apartment since you’d text him to let him know it was unlocked. The sound of the door closing was followed by him kicking his shoes off and walking into your living room, your head leaning back to grin at him from the sofa.

“Hey baby.” Tom mumbles, leaning down to brush a kiss to your lips before he shuffled around to sit beside you. He’s barely been sitting there a second before he’s leaning across, pulling you to straddle his lap as his fingers push up under the shirt you were wearing. “Missed you.”

“You were gone three days.” You chuckle, your own hands sliding up his chest to rest on his neck, fingers twirling into his hair. “And you worked the whole time. You barely had time to miss me.”

“So you haven’t missed me?” The tone in his voice is mocking, but he pulls back from your hands as his own drop to his sides. You roll your eyes, leaning forward to connect your lips again. Tom smirks against you, his fingers returning to trace patterns on your skin. He chases your lips as you move to pull away, brushing three chaste kisses to them before stopping to look at your face. “I’d like a verbal answer.”

“Of course you would.” Your tone matched his, and Tom squeezes your side playfully as the grin takes over your face. “Yeah, I missed you too.”

The two of you sit there, grinning at each other, in a moment that doesn’t seem to end. Tom was still lazily drawing shapes against your ribs, and you’d started to scratch the back of his scalp lightly, bathing in the moment. After what felt like a lifetime, you lowered your head to kiss him again, Tom eagerly responding. You lightly bite Tom’s bottom lip, a groan coming from the back of his throat as you smirked at him.

“So you wanna show me how much you missed me?”

Friday 1st February, 13:03

“I’ve got exactly fifty-six and a half minutes until I need to be back at work.”

You collapse into the chair opposite Tom, a sigh falling from your lips as you reach for the drink he’d already ordered for you. Tom smirked at you, leaning back in his own chair as he crossed his arms across his chest.

“Well hello to you too.” He drawls, causing you to roll your eyes. Tom’s smirk only grows, but he leans forward to rest his forearms on the table in between you, eyebrows raised expectantly. You roll your eyes for the second time before leaning across to brush your lips against his briefly, before sitting back in your chair. His hand reaches out and grabs yours, intertwining his fingers with yours as he leans back again. “That’s better.”

“You’re so needy.” You joke, squeezing his hand as your eyes drop to the menu in front of you. “Do you know what you’re having? Because I’m now down to fifty-two minutes.”

Friday 8th March, 06:00

The blaring of your alarm causes both you and Tom to groan, your hand blindly reaching out to shut it off as your boyfriend buried his head further into his pillow. His arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you into his side as another groan left your lips.

“I’ve got work.” Your protest falls on deaf ears as Tom’s grip tightens, his face turning to press against your neck. “Tommy.”

“Five more minutes.” He mumbles against your skin, lips brushing against you making you shiver. The action causes him to smile, before he presses soft kisses along you neck. A whine falls from your lips as his kisses move along your jaw, and you can hear the smirk in his voice when he amends his request. “Maybe ten.”

“I’ve got work.” Your repeated words come out as a sigh as he rolls the two of you, his arms coming up to rest either side of your head as he traps you beneath him. His lips continue to travel closer to your mouth as your hands find his chest, pushing lightly. “C’mon Tom, no fair.”

“Pull a sickie.” He finally captures your lips with his, still smirking when he pulls back. “Stay here with me.”

“I have to go to work.”

“Okay well at least be a few minutes late.”

He doesn’t give you an opportunity to argue, connecting his lips with yours again, his tongue pushing into your mouth. You moan as he rolls his hips against yours, one of his hands moving from beside you head to slide down your body. As his fingers skim your stomach, you take the opportunity to roll him over, quickly manoeuvring yourself out of the bed, an annoyed groan leaving Tom’s throat as he glares at you.

“That was just cruel.” He mutters, one arm coming up to rest behind his head. You can’t help but let your eyes follow the movement, before trailing down his exposed chest. Tom coughs, and your eyes snap back to his. “Sure you don’t want to come back and join me?”

You bite your lip, your resolve weakening.

“You can join me in the shower, but I can’t be late.”

Friday 22nd March, 21:48

The slamming of the door still seems to echo around your flat, despite it shutting firmly more than two hours ago. You’d been replaying the argument over and over again in your mind since Tom had walked out, your eyes red and cheeks tear stained. You grip the cushion tighter as you sit on the sofa, staring at your blank phone screen, willing something to happen.

When the knock on the door finally comes, it takes a moment to register. It isn’t until it comes again, louder and harsher that you acknowledge that this time, it isn’t your mind playing tricks on you. Rushing over to pull it open, a relieved sigh leaves your lips when you find Tom on the other side, his face reflecting your own. You fall into each other’s’ arms, another sigh pushing past your lips.

“I’m still pissed.” You mumble against the skin of his neck.

“Me too.” Tom’s response is muffled against the side of your head, but he tightens his hold around you as he pushes your further back into the apartment. This time, the door closes with a much softer thud.

Friday 5th April, 17:41

“We should move in together.”

You’d been lying on top of him on the sofa, having just come home from work when his statement causes you to push yourself up so your face was level with his. Tom’s hand, which had been massaging the back of your head, moved to join his other on the small of your back. He raises his eyebrows when you don’t offer him an answer.

“I…what?” Your brain is still trying to catch up with what Tom had said, your eyes scanning his face for any hint of a joke. “You’re serious?”

“Well yeah, I love you, I wanna hang out with you all the time, so why not.” He attempts to shrug, although it’s hindered by the way your still lying on top of him, hands holding his shoulders. “Move in with me. It’ll be fun.”

“Fun.” You repeat, the smile spreading across your own face. “Yeah. Ok, let’s do it.”

Friday 17th May, 02:42

A groan leaves his lips as you pull away from him again, using the hand holding his shirt collar to pull him with you as you walk backwards down the street.

“We should have got an uber.” He sighs, reaching out to kiss you again, smirking triumphantly when he captures your lips with his. “We’re never going to make it home.”

“It’s less than a ten-minute walk.” You laugh breathlessly, lips still hovering over his. Tom’s hand slides up from your side to cradle your head as you slow your steps. “Would have been a waste of money.” “Yes, but now we’re still in the street when I would really rather be in our bed.” Tom’s managed to pull you to a complete stop again as his lips begin to trail along your jaw. “Or on our sofa. Or anywhere in our house really, I’m not picky.”

“Well don’t I feel special.” He smirks against your skin at your words, dragging his lips back up to yours as the two of you finally stop. You lose yourself for a moment as his tongue slips past your lips, before the sound of a passing car brings you back to your senses and you pull away. Tom’s exasperated sigh is loud as you move away from him, only leaving your fingers interlocked. “Stop distracting me, we’re nearly home.”

“Could be already there if we’d got an uber.” Tom mutters, and you roll your eyes as he finally starts walking. He drops your hand to throw his arm over your shoulders, pulling you into his side as his lips find your ear. “When we get home I’ll show you just how special you are.”

Friday 7th June, 22:18

“So a good birthday week?”

You lean against the door frame of your hotel room, watching Tom lift his head from where he was lying on the bed. His answering smile lights up his face, and you cross the room to lie beside him.

“We’re in a beautiful country, I’ve been doing work to promote my dream job and I got to hang out with my favourite person in the world.” His smile somehow grows wider as you drape half your body over his, hand cupping his cheek as you look down on it. “I don’t think it could have been a better birthday week.”

“I’m glad.” You smile as he turns his head to kiss your palm. “Although I didn’t know Chris Hemsworth was your favourite person.”

Tom snorts at your joke, his arms wrapping around you to hold you closer to him as he does.

“As big a fan as I am of Chris,” He smiles, fingers dragging lazily up and down your spine. “I was actually referring to someone who specifically flew out here to be with me.”

“Is it Harry or Sam? Because I have to say that choosing a favourite brother is very harsh, especially with Paddy not being old enough to fly out here on his own…” His answering laugh fills the room and you can’t stop the grin that takes over your face at the sight of him so carefree. He hums as you bend down to rest your forehead against his, smiles still on both your faces. “Well if it isn’t one of the boys I suppose it must be...”

Tom pulls you down into a kiss before you can finish your sentence.

Friday 12th July, 09:45

“I’ve got a present for you.”

Tom’s head jerks up at your words from where he’d been staring at his laptop screen. The two of you had only been home for a day, having spent the days following the premiere in LA, but you still had the weekend before you were due back at work.

“My birthday was last month.” He smirks pushing back from the table and turning his chair so you could stand between his legs, holding the present behind your back.

“I know that, but I couldn’t give you this because it didn’t exist yet.” You smirk back, nudging his knee with yours. “Close your eyes.”

Tom obliges, holding his hands out expectantly. You place the photo-frame in his palm and wait as he opens his eyes and looks down to see the picture of the two of you from his premiere.

“I thought it would be nice to have it framed since it was such an important night.” You shrug, your smile small as he looks up at you. “Plus, we look really good.”

“You’re amazing.” He beams up at you, his free hand pulling you into his lap. “I love it.”

Friday 23rd August 16:20

You can feel the thin layer of sweat on your skin as you lie in the garden, the heat from the summer sun having reduced you to wearing nothing but your bikini top and a pair of booty shorts. When you feel a section of your legs suddenly become cooler, you open your eyes to find Tom standing above you, holding out a bottle of water. You’ve barely taken it from him when he drops down beside you.

“I feel like we’re on love island.” He jokes, causing you to snort. “I half expect someone to come and pull one of us for a chat at any minute.”

“Maybe Harrison will come round, cause trouble in paradise.” You shoot back, Tom letting out a bark of laughter at your response. “Or one of us will get a text saying we’ve been chosen to go on a date.”

“I hope not.” You can hear him smiling even though your eyes were closed, and he laces his fingers with yours as he speaks. “All my eggs are in your basket, I don’t feel like recoupling.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Friday 13th September 18:09

The sound of glass breaking followed by your string of curses fills the kitchen, which only grow louder as the pain in your hand flares and you see the blood start drip onto the floor. You grasp deftly for the towel and press it had against the slice across your palm as Tom comes running down the stairs.

“Are you alright-“

“Don’t come in!” You shout over him, Tom skidding to a stop in the doorway. “There’s glass on the floor.”

“You’re bleeding.” Tom’s eyes are locked on your hand, where you were still trying to make a makeshift bandage. “Don’t move.”

You bite back a retort as he disappears again, keeping the pressure on your hand. He reappears moments later, having slid on a pair of trainers so he could safely enter the kitchen. He carefully steps around the shattered glass, sweeping it to the side to his foot to make a clear path for you to get to the sink. You let him take your hand and remove the towel, wincing as he runs the tap over the cut.

“I don’t think it’s very deep.” He murmurs, pressing a clean paper towel over your hand, which had stopped bleeding aggressively. “You alright?”

“Yeah it was just the shock.” You shrug, meeting his eyes with a small smile. “Thanks for being a hero, Spiderman.”

“Shut up.” He chuckles, bending down to kiss your cheek. “Stay still while I clean the glass up and then I’ll go grab you a bandage or something.”

Friday 11th October, 05:23

“And then Harry said he- wait, what time is it there?”

Tom’s question makes you realise you’d failed in attempting to hide your yawn, you sigh before smiling at him guiltily.

“Five twenty-three.” You reply, shuffling back down in your bed, no longer feeling the need to pretend you’d been awake before Tom had facetimed you. “Don’t worry about it, keep telling me about your day.”

“In the morning? Shit baby I’m sorry, I thought you were five hours behind not ahead, I woke you up and-“

“Tom it’s fine, honestly.” You can see the lines on his forehead deepen with worry through the screen. “I don’t mind, I’d rather listen to you talk.”

“I swear one day I’ll be able to remember the time differences a lot better than I do now.” He promises, and you smile sleepily at him, encouraging him to carry on. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go back to sleep?”

“Nah, I miss you too much, it’s worth it.” You sigh, rolling onto your side so half of your face was hidden by your pillow. “I’d have to be up soon anyway, just keep talking. It’s nice.”

Friday 22nd November, 11:11

“Make a wish.” Tom’s command snaps your head up from your work, your attention shifting to him instantly. “Come on quick, it’s 11:11.”

“Well I can’t say it out loud or it won’t come true.” You roll your eyes at him, eyes drifting pack to the papers on your desk. You hear him huff, and you smirk to yourself. “Why the sudden interest in wishes?”

“I just noticed the time that’s all.” He shrugs, but the look on his face betrays him. “Thought you’d like to make a wish.”

“You were trying to trick me.”

His mouth drops open at your accusation, hand flying up to his chest dramatically.

“I was not.” Tom replies, his tone full of astonishment but you could see the smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “I can’t believe you’d say such a thing.”

“You were trying to see what I wanted for Christmas weren’t you.” You grin, finally putting your work down to study his face. “As if I would just casually wish it aloud.”

“I’m offended that you think so poorly of me as to resort to such tricks.”

“You know for someone who’s a professional actor you really suck at lying.”

“I was going to offer to bring you a coffee whilst you worked but I’m not going to now.”

“I can’t believe you thought I’d fall for that.”

“Worth a shot.” He grins, shrugging as he leans forward to drop a kiss to the top of your head. “Guess I’ll have to try harder.”

You’re still grinning as he brings you your coffee a few minutes later.

Friday 6th December, 20:51

The Christmas tree lights cast a soft glow around the room as the two of you lie on the sofa, the only other light coming from the TV. You weren’t really paying attention to Home Alone, preferring to watch Tom’s face as he watched the film instead. You knew Tom was aware of what you were doing by the way his lips twitched up every time you smiled, and you can’t help but press a kiss to his neck when he chuckles at the screen.

“You’re missing the movie.” His voice is soft, his eyes moving down to yours. “It’s much more interesting than my face.”

“Disagree.” You hum, reaching up to brush your thumb across his lips. “Besides, I’ve seen it before.”

“You’ve seen my face before.”

“And yet I never grow tired of looking at it.”

Tom’s chest rises as he snorts at your answer, your body rising and falling with the action. You lean to capture his lips with a kiss, Tom responding eagerly. You shift above him so your legs are either side of his, your hands sliding round his neck. A moan falls from Tom’s lips as you subtly grind against him, pulling back slightly.

“We’re really gonna miss the movie if you start with that.” His voice is gravely, and you grin as he leans up to reconnect the kiss he’d broken seconds before. You smile against him, pulling back to repeat your own words.

“Well we have seen it before.”

[freshstartbaby]

Chapter 3

PREVIOUS PART

Lux - Easy

“Save appearances and you save everything.”

« I quitted the job ». Those words were resonating in Florian's head. He tried to think about anything else, like the man he just killed and make sure he didn't forget any clue. But he couldn't. He was thinking about this sentence and what it really means.

He kept washing his hands, trying to remove the blood from it. Whose blood was it ? The man who snitched on him. Yea, Florian said he will take care of it, so he took care of it.

It was supposed to be a quick and clean job and it started that way. A single head bullet. But Florian lost his cold blood when had to make the body disappear.

He thought about Rebecca's last sentence and things became messy. His moves became less precise and more animalistic. So now he was in his bathroom, trying to get rid of some blood.

Once he was done, he took a shower and got back to his bedroom with his towel around his waist. First he sitted and then he let his upper body crash on the bed. His eyes started to close slowly when he heard some heels steps on the floor.

« Flo is that you ? » a voice said in the hallway

Florian opened his eyes when the door moved and revealed his wife.

« Hey » she said softly « I didn't know you were home »

She laid down on her husband's side and left a peck on his lips before putting her head on his bare chest. Florian put a hand on her back and grabbed it slightly.

« Your mum called, her, your father and your brothers will be there in few weeks» she said quietly

« That's a good news» Florian said, eyes still closed

« You left early this morning » Elizabeth said caressing his arm with her fingertips

« Yea, I got few things to do » he said shutting back his eyes

Things to do. Business to handle. Elizabeth was used to those kinds of answers. She was aware of illegal stuff his husband and her own family was in. So she was satisfied with this kind of answer. The less she knew, the better it was. But deep down, she knew something else was bothering her husband.

Suddenly, she blamed herself for thinking that way. She had this feeling for some years now but come on, it had been less than three days that he was just out of jail. He must have a lot on his mind. Maybe he needed time to re adapt.

Her fingers kept traveling on his skin. Seeing him that way gave her naughty thoughts. Indeed they had some business to catch up on their own. Even if she could have conjugal visits, it wasn't the same. Now that he was out, they could go back on trying having a baby.

Maybe it would work this time.

But Elizabeth also thought about how many times pregnancy tests were failed.

She sat up straight in a second. She seated up and started going towards the bathroom

« I got you a new phone, he is in the living room » she said to Florian before closing the bathroom door and locking it.

His eyes opened quickly when he earned the lock. He knew what she was doing when the door was locked. He knew it for years now.

In fact, once the door is locked, she will go to the cabinet. Grab the gold little box. Drop white power on the flat surface in two or three lines. Sniff it. Put some on her upper gum. Put back the little box where it was. Flush the toilet. Wash her hand and exit the bathroom.

And it was exactly what happened.

Florian got up feeling powerless about the situation. He got dressed and went to the living room. Once he grabbed the new phone Florian crashed on the couch. He needed to send a text to Rebecca.

While the phone was turning on, Elizabeth was back in the living room. Without his eyes leaving the screen Florian told her

« Now that I am back, maybe you could get back on at least trying to consume less »

—-

On her side Rebecca was visiting her family with Youri. It's been few months since she hasn't. And with everything that's going on she felt the need of being surrounded by hers.

Her mother, her father and her siblings were there. Rebecca would rather her father not to be here but she could tolerate his presence. To be honest the bold personalities of her mother and her relatives would make him disappear in the conversation.

Rebecca has a little sister of 24, Brianna, and a little brother of 22 David. Even if they didn't see each other often they were very close.

Brianna was one of the very few person Rebecca used to confess. She was a very good listener and gave very good advice for her age. She wanted to become an artist, indeed she was very talented with photography and had a very unique style in painting.

David was affecting more discipline. He was ending his last year of college and wanted to integrate the army. Which was bothering a lot his mother and his father.

For his mother it was because she knew she wouldn't handle it if her only son was coming back home in a coffin.

For his father it was different. It was because he always had despise black people who were stupid enough to wanted to fight for a country who didn't want them. He used to be an activist himself and had very little thought about a lot of things.

Not that all of them were wrong. But it has the power to upset Rebecca. Actually she had two triggering subject with her father: the art of being a good black person and interracial relationship.

Rebecca always found it funny that her father had so much passion when he was talking about being a black person with dignity, when she knew very well he wasn't a good person at all.

When grew in her 20's she understood that being an adult was a tough thing and that nobody was perfect. But she also remembered well all the day and night when her father was beating her mother almost to death. She remembered the bruised face of her mother, the moment when she couldn't even talk because of the pain. And with all of that in mind the big speech of being a good black person was just empty.

During the dinner when he was speaking, Rebecca couldn't help but look at him with lousiness. If he could only shut up. His presence was bothering her so much.

Her biggest regret in life was that she couldn't convince her mother to leave him. He didn't deserve one percent of that lady.

« The things is that black women think that white men can make them integrate the society more easily, give them a statut, that's why they neglected black men » Robert said

The conversation was not running about this subject at all and an awkward silence took over the place. Rebecca looked at her mother, warning her with a look that she wasn't letting this type of shit go away.

« Robert, could you, please, do not make those types of statement in front of Youri » Rebecca said in a calm voice

« Why ? Because his father is white ? That's not my problem he needs to know the truth »

« Ok let change the subject » Brianna said while taking a sip of water

« No no please Robert, what truth are you talking about exactly ? » Rebecca said

Robert looked at Youri then back at Rebecca

« Look we have a very clear exemple here, you have a baby with a white man. But the least that I know is that he is not really around since a good time. And nobody wants to talk about it. If a black man would have acted like that the whole world would have blamed him. Moreover look at you, showing of about your son talking German like it will make him more white than he is, or making you more white that you already sound»

« Robert ! » Maya finally said looking at him like crazy

He had gone well too far.

Rebecca looked at Youri making sure that he didn't understand everything. He looked a little bit lost about the situation and looked at her wondering what was going on.

« First of all, this is the last time I allow you to talk about my son. I hope that it is clear enough because if you even try to pronounce his name I would beat you ass with my own hand. My relationship with Florian is very messy. But you know what ? Men are trash, I have learnt that a long time ago. It is just that some of them won't be by your side and others will try to kill you with their own hands. Like you used to do it so well. I have picked my poison. » Rebecca said

« Ok stop, let's end this con-« Maya said trying to calm the situation now that everyone has said what what's on their mind

« And for god sake stop thinking black women need men to be someone, we clearly need no one to shine-«

Rebecca was cut by the buzz of her phone

Henry Cavill:

Hi Rebecca, I hope you and Youri are alright. Just letting you know that I'll be in NYC in two weeks. I hope we can spend some time together. Call me when you got time

Take care

Hen

She blew heavily at the end of the text. It wasn't exactly the good moment. She deleted the message and put her phone back on the table.

Everyone was looking at her.

« You know what, never mind, just forget everything that I have said »

Her phone buzzed another time. She rolled her eyes hoping that it was Henry again.

Unknown:

Becky, this is my new number.

Kiss Youri for me.

See you soon

This time Rebecca doesn't look upset. She blinked slowly and saved the number before putting back the phone on the table. The text wasn't signed, but she knew from who it was obviously.

« Should we start the dessert ? » she said looking at her mother with a small smile.

Everyone seems to relax, happy that at least one of them would end the conversation.

Rebecca is a resentful woman and never has a good relationship with her father. But since she had troubles with Florian, it seems like his father liked to use it against her. And against Youri. It was driving her crazy.

It really killed her that he could come to Youri. Sometimes she asked herself what would have happened if she wasn't weak that night.

—-

Few years ago

It was near 2:00 AM. Rebecca was sitting on the carpet of her living room. Working on some project she has been thinking about lately. She rather put her time in some ideas than being in her empty bed.

She felt lonely. She often felt that way lately. But tonight the feeling was coming at her strong. Headaches, goosebumps, freezing, tears ready to drop for any stupid reason.

She inhaled the smoke of her cigarette when her door rang. Her eyebrows frowned at this sound. She put down her cigarette and got up before walking through the front door.

Her heart dropped when she looked in the door's hole. What the hell was he doing here. A cold sweat took over Rebecca's body in one second.

« Becky, it's me, open the door » Florian said close to the door

Rebecca's breath wasn't stuck in her throat. She hasn't talked or even seen him for months now. And it was better that way. They weren't together anymore. Their friendship had died with their relationship. And now he was a married man. There was no reason for them to catch up.

« What do you want ? You're not supposed to be here. » Rebecca said, the door still closed

« We need to talk Becky »

« Stop calling me that way, you should go home »

« Please, let us have this conversation. We can't keep avoiding it. »

« I don't have anything to say. Really, you should go home »

« Really Beck ? You don't have anything to say »

« I don't. » she tried to say putting her hand in front of her mouth so he can't eared her crying

But it was a lie. One of the biggest she had said this year. She felt over sensitive tonight. And it's the night he found to show up, finally.

She had a lot to say and she was weak.

« Well I have and I miss you. » Florian said behind the door

Her cries became harder after this sentence. Pain was taking over her. She missed him too. So much. If he only knew.

Rebecca quickly wiped her tears and tried to fix her face when she finally opened the door.

Now face to face, she could see him perfectly in his all black nike jumpsuits and his open camo puffy jacket. Hood on his head, she almost had forgotten how much she likes his face. 

Now face to face, he could finally face reality and see how badly he hurted the woman he was in love with.

He was so ashamed. He had done this. He was the reason why tears were all over her pretty face.

Their body crashed. While Rebecca buried her face in his torso, back to crying, Florian hugged her back tightly and caressed her head.

« I am so sorry baby. I am so sorry »

You left me. I trusted you. You broke me.

It's what Rebecca wished she could say. But the noises she made while she was crying stopped her. She started breathing hard.

« Hey I'm right there baby. Look at me, look, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm yours. » Florian said, lifting her chin with one of his hands so she could look at him in his eyes.

I'm yours. In contrast to Rebecca, it was the biggest truth he told. Since he left her few months ago, there was not a single day when he was sure that it was a mistake. A huge one.

He looked at her puffy eyes, still releasing tears. How could he have done this to her. Few seconds dropped before their lips met.

Naked in Rebecca's bed, catching their breath, lovers stayed silent. Realizing the mistake and the consequences of their act. They were both lost in mixed feeling.

For Rebecca, it was the disgust and a kind of release. Disgust because she never thought one second in her life that she could have sex with a married man in purpose. She wasn't like that. At least that is what she thought. She promised herself it was the first and the last time something that serious arrived. But it was too late. It already was the one of too many times.

Release because of what he told her. He was hers. He told her he was hers. What they had wasn't insignificant at the end. She felt a little bit better knowing that she hasn't wrongly judged what they had for years.

For Florian it was different. He felt soothe and trapped. Soothe because he had Rebecca back. He knew it wasn't going to be an easy task. But he had her back. Since the day they stopped talking, everything was just wrong. He needed her by his side. Trapped because now he had to put a mask in front of the most important people of his life: family and love.

That night, Florian came to Rebecca to have a discussion and try to get her forgiveness. But what they have done that night was just about to bury them a little bit more.

—-

« You know, you're daddy ain't wrong » Maya said softly sitting down

« Please Moma can we not do this. « Rebecca said

« I know your daddy isn't blameless. Actually he has made a lot of mistakes, and I'm in the best position to tell you that. »

Rebecca put down the glass she was wiping and looked at her mother, waiting for the next part of her speech.

« But you need to find a solution baby. You can not wait for Florian to commit to you until forever. You have a son together, and we haven't seen him for years. What does that mean for you ? Are you even still with him ? »

« It's complicated Moma »

« He used to be there at every single thanksgiving since you two met, he knows us, he has a baby with you, the least he can do is show up sometimes. »

Rebecca took another glass, trying to keep it together. She knew all of that. She knew it damn well. And she was kind of ashamed of the situation

« Look, you need to fix this situation or tell us the truth. If y'all not together anymore you can tell me baby. It doesn't matter for us. What matters is you being happy and getting full support of us. What's matter is Youri understanding that relationship are not meant to be this way »

Rebecca stayed silent, hardly swallowing. She knew this part of her life was a big mess, and she didn't need her family to put pressure on her for that.

« Look baby, you're a beautiful woman. I'm sure you could easily find someone else. What I mean by that is don't stay trapped in this hole. Fix it or move on. »

Maya was ready to leave the kitchen when she stopped. She looked back at her daughter before saying.

« I want to see him the next time you come, or don't come back at all. »

——

Wassssup yall

Let me know what you think

Elizabeth addiction ?

Rebecca and her father ?

Henry fucking Cavill ?

Xoxo

NEXT PART

liquorlaughslove  xsweetdellzx   killa-kyootie

[missfay49]

Just Listen

Summary: The fam-ILY gets together for a Christmas celebration.  

Warnings: Logan and Virgil get in a fight but they make up, obligatory interaction with relatives, alcohol, food, Christmas, cursing, countdown, mention of past injury, struggling with recent hearing loss

Word Count: ~3000 

Oldest to Youngest: Logan/Remus/Roman/Janus/Virgil/Patton/Alec

Other Characters: Aunt Patty and Uncle Mitch, Aunt Mel and Uncle Jim, Titi, Grandma Sanders, Grandpa Sanders, Maman, Nico Flores

DD:HH:MM:SS - Days : Hours : Minutes : Seconds

AO3

Once upon a time, there were seven cousins born of four siblings.  The oldest sister and her husband had twins and named them Roman and Remus.  The second oldest sister and her partners had a child and named him Alec.  The youngest sister had one child and named him Patton.  And their brother, the youngest of them all, had three children named Logan, Janus, and Virgil.  

00:16:02:32 until Christmas Day, 7:58 AM

Logan, the oldest cousin, was leaning against the kitchen counter holding a fresh cup of coffee in one hand and rubbing his right temple with the other.  He blinked against the early morning sun of Christmas Eve streaming in.  

“You’re up early!”

Logan jumped at the movement to his right and found his aunt looking at him. 

“Good morning, Aunt Mel.  I made coffee.”

“Bless ya, kid,” she said, turning toward the machine.  When she came back around to grab the sugar, he was gone.

00:13:25:17 until Christmas Day, 10:35 AM

“Who took the last piece of bacon?!”  

Roman froze in his spot on the floor in front of the T.V.  If he were just very, very still, maybe-

“J’accuse!”  Remus shouted from the kitchen door over the sounds of chatter and clinking kitchenware.  Roman spun around to see Remus pointing at him menacingly.

“You already had some!”  Roman yelled back, pulling his plate close.  Remus, not breaking eye contact even once, methodically kicked off his flip flops and set his plate gently on top of a bookshelf.  He crouched a little and rolled his shoulders.

“Remus, no, my juice, Remus!  NOOO-”

00:13:23:03 until Christmas Day, 10:37 AM

From his cozy spot beneath the sheets in the spare bedroom, Virgil heard a scream and a thump.  And then several more thumps.  He blinked and stretched, smooshing his face into the pillow.  For one precious moment, he imagined he could go back to sleep but the dream was pierced by Aunt Patty’s shrill voice scolding someone down the hall.  

He shoved himself up on his elbows and sent a hostile glare at the general brightness of the room.  Things quieted down but it was too late - he was up.  He stretched for several more minutes before finally straightening his clothes and stumbling out to follow the smell of breakfast.

00:12:40:54 until Christmas Day, 11:20 AM

Virgil shuffled past the subdued twins in the living room and into the kitchen, stopping at the door as his brain tried to process what was happening.  His younger cousin, Patton, was furtively opening and closing all the cabinets, searching each and every one.  Apparently he found what he was looking for, because he started chuckling to himself and reached behind some cups to pull out a huge plastic bag of cookies.  He opened it and spun around on his socks, walking headlong into Virgil.

“Ah!”  Patton nearly dropped the bag, and a couple cookies fell out onto the floor.  Virgil laughed as they picked them up together.

“Whatcha doing, Pat?”

Patton waved him close, whispering.  

“My mom keeps hiding the cookies.  She said if I keep eating ‘em she’s gonna have to make more for tomorrow.  That sounds like a win-win to me!”  He took the floor cookie from Virgil and pocketed it.  They took turns peering into the dining room where the older folks were talking.

“You do you, cuz.”  They bumped fists and Virgil scooped some cold leftover eggs onto a paper plate to take with him to the living room.  Remus shoved past him coming back into the kitchen.  

Whatever Remus had planned to do in here was lost when he spotted Pat.

“Oo!  Cookies!”

00:11:22:49 until Christmas Day, 12:38 PM

“What exactly are we watching, Roman?” asked Patton, popping a couple Tums into his mouth and flopping down into a recliner.  Roman was still planted in the middle of the living room floor, but now Virgil was keeping him company, fast asleep on the couch with an empty plate in his lap.  Roman didn’t look away from the screen.

“A Christmas Prince.  It’s about a journalist that falls in love with the prince of a whole Christmas-themed country!  And the bad guy’s not too bad lookin’ either.”  Roman squeezed a pillow to his chest.

“Oh, right, I thought it looked familiar!  Did you watch Jenny Nicholson’s breakdown of it?”

“Who?”

Patton smiled at the look of wonder on Roman’s face as he followed the characters on screen.  At the silence, Roman turned around to look at him, distracted but curious.  Patton waved him off.  

“Never mind.”  Better not to spoil it.

00:07:12:24 until Christmas Day, 16:47 PM

“Dinner tiiime!”  Aunt Patty peeked into the living room.  “It’s all ready, you guys hungry?”

“Yisss!”  Patton launched himself out of the recliner with Virgil following slowly behind.  Roman tore his eyes away from the current Hallmark movie with great effort, checking his phone messages.

Aunt Mel was in the kitchen with their little cousin Alec.  Just as they passed through he let up a screech, making them all jump.  Roman’s phone went flying.

“AAAAA DON’T WANNA WASH I’M STILL PLAYING!”

“AH, sweet Jesus,” Roman clutched his chest dramatically as the rest started laughing.

“Alright, keep it together, ya hooligans,” Aunt Mel teased them.  “Alec, I’ve had too much wine today for you to be screaming at the water.  You told me yesterday you love playing with the water-”

Auntie continued to help Alec wash his hands and the cousins tumbled into the dining room where Logan and the grandparents were already gathering.  Logan braced at the incoming chaos.  

“What happened to you?”  He asked them.

“Didn’t you hear Alec screaming?”  Virgil deadpanned.

“Oh,” Logan straightened his glasses.  “Yes, that.”

The rest of the family came up from the basement talking heatedly about the Saints and the Vikings.  Who was winning or losing at that particular moment was unclear, but dinner would proceed regardless. 

00:04:47:19 until Christmas Day, 19:13 PM

“Defuse!”  Remus slammed a card down onto the table.  “Whew, that was close.  I almost exploded in a fiery, kitten-y death!”

“Boom!” Alec cheered.  Nearly the whole family was gathered around the kitchen-table-turned-game-table, even the grandparents and great grandma, Maman.  Aunt Patty and Uncle Mitch were downstairs watching the end of the football game, and Titi was just a few feet away putting a new batch of sugar cookies in the oven.  She shot a good-natured stare at Patton.  

“Sorry, mooom,” “Sorry, Titiii” he and Remus chorused.  “Patton tricked me!”

“Hey!”

“That’s okay, you two can help me decorate these later as punishment.  Remus,” Titi pointed to the person beside him. “Help Maman with her turn, remember?”

“Oh, yeah!”  Remus leaned over the centenarian.  “You got any actions, Maman?”

“Quel est ce dessin?”  She held her cards up to him and pointed.

“That’s a cat dressed as a taco, Maman.  C’est un mème.”

While the game continued around the table, Virgil watched Logan discreetly.  Sitting to his left, something was wrong with his oldest brother.  He wasn’t sure what yet, but it was definitely… something.

“Nope!”  Logan put a card down over Uncle Jim’s attack.  Aunt Mel went next, then she helped Alec with his turn, and then, there it was; Logan’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.  His eyes flitted back and forth between the players and the cards.  He stared at their faces, but not quite at eye level.  Patton’s, Roman’s, Grandma’s turns all passed the same - he was concentrating so hard.  Why?

“Virgil?”  Grandpa nudged him out of his speculation.  “It’s your turn.”

Logan was staring at him expectantly.  

“Oh.”  Virgil glanced at two mismatched cats and drew.  An exploding kitten.  He was dead.  “You’re turn, Lo.”

Logan spent a second longer waiting to see if Virgil was done, and then played his own cards.  As they both watched Remus go next, Virgil leaned in closer.

“What is up with you?”  He whispered.  Logan didn’t take his eyes off Remus’ cards.

“Hey!”  He kept whispering, jabbing Logan in the ribs.

“Ow!”  Logan yelped, then lowering his voice.  “What?”

“I asked you a question, don’t act like you can’t hear me.”  

Logan squinted at him, then his face shifted.  He looked stricken.  

“I’m playing “See The Future”,” someone said.  “Hand me the deck.”

00:04:22:44 until Christmas Day, 19:38 PM

VIRGE: what happened?

A new round had started and Virgil hoped that switching to text would let them continue their argu- debate without distracting the rest of the family.

BIG BRO: Nothing

VIRGE: bullshit

Logan ignored his phone, watching the game progress counter-clockwise this time.  Virgil did not accept this strategy.

VIRGE: !

VIRGE: !

VIRGE: !

VIRGE: !

VIRGE: !

VIRGE: !

BIG BRO: Stop

VIRGE: tell the truth.  

BIG BRO: (Seen)

They paused to take their turns, and when Virgil picked his phone back up, Logan was already typing.  He tried to be patient, but the energy was clear in the way his foot tapped the ground.

BIG BRO: It seems my hearing has not entirely recovered since that explosion during chem lab a couple months ago.  I’ve got tinnitus in my right ear.  It is quite difficult to pick up sounds over the ringing when they’re coming from that direction.  

BIG BRO: Or sometimes from any direction.  So, I’m concentrating a little more.  That’s all.  

Virgil glanced between the texts and Logan several times, Logan staring with seemingly great intent at his cards.  

VIRGE: THATS ALL?

BIG BRO: Calm down, it’s not a big deal.

VIRGE: have you been to a doctor?

Logan stopped to play another “Nope” card.  Virgil was ready to scream at the delay.  The chatter at the table seemed louder to him now and much, much different.

BIG BRO: Yes.  And I’ve done plenty of my own research.  There’s not much to be done unless I want to get surgery or start wearing hearing aids.

VIRGE: so wear hearing aids until you decide about the surgery

BIG BRO: They’re expensive, Virgil.

VIRGE: dads insrance must cover some of it and ive got some extra money

BIG BRO: No.  Thank you.  That money’s yours.  You worked hard for it.  

VIRGE: your e taking it

BIG BRO: That’s not the problem.

VIRGE: then what is.?

BIG BRO: (Seen)

VIRGE: why won’t you make it easier on yourself?  you know none of us will care if you wear one.  the explosion wasn’t even your fault, it was that other kid

Virgil sent the text and looked at Logan, waiting.  Remus was nearly finished with his turn; Logan was next.  The turns passed, but Logan didn’t pick his phone back up from the table.

VIRGE: why

Logan glanced at the text preview when it came up on the screen, still not moving.

VIRGE: i know you can see this

VIRGE: why

VIRGE: why

VIRGE: why

“Because!”  Logan shouted, slapping his cards down.  Everyone fell into a stunned quiet.

“Are you guys cheating?  Mom says cheating is wrong.”  Alec’s voice broke the silence a second later.  Virgil stuck his tongue out at him.

“I assure you we are not cheating,” Logan smiled at Alec.  “Virgil’s just being a pest.”

The game resumed, Patton taking an absurd amount of actions before drawing another Beard Cat card.  Was it even legal to have that many cards?

Virgil leaned back in his chair, tired from the stress.  His phone buzzed.

BIG BRO: This is my last semester.  I’ll get one after graduation.

00:00:41:12 until Christmas Day, 23:19 PM

Roman carried two mugs of coffee into the living room as back-to-back commercials for 24 Hours of A Christmas Story played on the T.V.  He handed one to Virgil and got back under the throw blanket.

“Thanks.”

“Whatcha doing?”  Roman peered at Virgil’s laptop.  There were at least a dozen tabs open.  The current screen showed some kind of fancy earpods.  

“Just killin’ time.”  Virgil opened yet another tab.

“Yeah, it’s a bummer Janus picked a college so far away.  But the train’s due in a few minutes!  Then it’ll be officially Christmas.”  

“I mean, he still has to, like, get here from the station.” 

“Whatever,” shrugged Roman.  He flipped through the channels.  All commercials.  He settled back on the Hallmark channel, laying down and closing his eyes while they waited for the latest must-have-product ads to end.

“Remember when we played dress up together?”  Roman mused.  “Mom taped all those toilet paper rolls together so we could have swords and we all fought over the two paper crowns from Burger King?  Do they still make those?”

“I have no idea,” Virgil laughed.  “That was so long ago, how do you even remember that?”

“Because I was a fabulous ruler!  The kingdom prospered unendingly under my leadership!”  Roman flung his free arm wide, not bothering to open his eyes.  “It was glorious!”

“All you did was declare free love-”

“An important doctrine!”  Roman jabbed at the air once before letting his arm flop back down and graze the carpet.  “All Janus did was universally pardon thieves and liars, was that so much better?”

“Well, I was playing a thief.  Maybe I’m biased.”

“You would…” Roman muttered.  He didn’t finish the thought.

“Roman?”

 A little snort was the only response.  Roman was fast asleep, coffee untouched and the remote resting by his head.

00:00:00:03 until Christmas Day, 23:59 PM

00:00:00:02...

00:00:00:01...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Virgil was stirring; he snuck like a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

in hopes that his brother soon would be there.

Christmas Day, 01:23 AM

“Wake up!” 

Roman gasped.  Someone was shoving him into the couch cushions.

“He’s here!”  Virgil bounced on his shoulder again, almost knocking the laptop to the ground.  

“Okay!  Jeez, I’m up.  I’m up!”

Virgil was already gone, shoving his boots on while a taxi drove away outside leaving two figures in the darkness with their bags.  By the time Roman was on his feet, Janus was shouldering through the door with a backpack and giant suitcase, a cute boy following just behind. 

“What is up, king?”  Roman and Janus clasped hands and half hugged.  “Who’s this?”

“Oh, you know.”  Janus shrugged off the bag.  “This is my boyfriend.  Nico, this is my cousin, Roman.”

Nico stifled a yawn and waved.  “Pleasure to meet you, Roman!”  Virgil came in setting down two more bags and nudged Janus.

“I thought we all agreed not to bring dates again after what happened last-”

“Oh, sweetheart, you must be exhausted!”  Roman interrupted as he picked up one of the bags.  “I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.”  

“Thank you so much, our stuff took forever to load off the train.”  Nico started to follow him.  

“Hands to yourself, Ro,” Janus hissed after them.  “I like this one.”  

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roman grinned, disappearing around the corner into the hallway.  Nico hesitated.

“What…?”  

Janus waved him off.  “I’ll tell you later.”  When they were both out of sight, he turned to Virgil.  

“It looks like half the county’s parked in our front yard.  Is dad up?”

“He didn’t stay.”  Virgil shrugged.  “He got into a fight with Titi last night and left after an hour.”

“I see…” Janus sighed, looking down the hall for a moment.  “Can’t break tradition now, can we?”  He smiled up at his little brother.  “Did you get taller?”

Virgil answered by way of a bear-hug, squeezing the breath out of him.

“I missed you, too, Virge.” 

Christmas Day, morning-ish

“Merci, Maman!  Thank you!”  Everyone spoke over each other, unwrapping the sweaters she had made for each of them.  

“Yellow was very, uh, popular this year, no?”  She teased them.  “I hope that you like them.”

“Mine does not have yellow, it’s gold.”  Roman corrected everyone.  Aunt Patty scolded him.  Janus laughed.  

“Don’t complain, Roman, yellow is just the superior color,” said Janus, wrestling his own sweater on.

“Yours is more black than yellow!”  Roman pointed out.  Janus’ head popped up through the collar.

“Did I say yellow?  I meant ‘black’.  Black is the superior color.”

“Black’s not even a color,” Roman called after Janus shimmying away to grab a cookie with Nico in the kitchen.  He came back a second later.

“Why does this cookie look like it’s frosted with vomit?”  Janus held one up, looking affronted.

“Don’t suppress my creativity!”  Remus shouted from under the tree.

Christmas Day, sometime, who cares anymore?

Logan stood in the hallway, reading an email from Virgil, sent at three that morning.  It was lists of hearing aids, their pros and cons, and prices.  And another email from Janus a few minutes ago with links on how to get disability funding.  That would explain Virgil’s note at the end...

I love you.  Please don’t be mad.  I told Janus.

He rubbed a hand over his face and chuckled.  Had he really thought he was going to keep this a secret for even a day around those two?  He pocketed the phone for now and walked through the house.  

There was Patton and Roman watching a girl in a beret talk on youtube.  Roman had a horrified look on his face.  Janus was in the kitchen teaching Alec how to play chess, and not going easy on the kid at all.  Logan peeked downstairs.  There were Virgil and Remus and Nico, playing charades with the aunties.  Remus was making some obscene gesture that had Aunt Mel on the floor laughing and spilling her wine, and Aunt Patty was yelling at both of them.

Logan wandered to the couch and plopped down.  It’s a Wonderful Life, was playing on the television.  Logan hummed along with the closed captioning as the characters celebrated saving George Bailey from false charges.  The vibrations in his chest felt right.

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For days of auld lang syne

~

The End.

@sanderssidesgiftxchange @kieraelieson

[lovemesomesurveys]

1. Do you like having your picture taken? No.

2. Have you ever done a photo shoot, professional or non? I’ve had pictures taken at photo studios and I have a cousin who’s a photographer that did my college graduation photos.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why? I mean, nowhere right now. BUT, there’s a lot of places I’d love to visit one day. Various countries and places here in the US. I just want to be able to travel a lot one day.

4. Who would you take with you on this little adventure? My family.

5. What would you say is the most daring thing to do in a lifetime? That’s going to be different for everyone of course, but basically something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Conquering a fear.

6. Would you ever do that? I don’t know. 

7. Have you ever done crossword puzzles? Yeah. I much prefer word searches, though.

8. Ever actually completed one? Yeah.

9. Pick up the closest book and write a sentence at random from it. There isn’t a book near me.

10. Do the same with a lyric from either a cd or the radio. Nah.

11. Have you ever tried to analyze your own dreams? Yeah, many times. I’ve tried to look up what some things symbolize and what it might mean for me. 

12. Would you put up posters in your room? Yeah. I have some things hung up. 

13. Can you sing? I can’t sing well at all. I wish.

14. Do you ever sing to yourself while doing everyday tasks? Yes.

15. What's your favorite color of post-it note? Pink.

16. How many cassette tapes do you own? Zero.

17. How many cd's do you own? I don’t have any CDs anymore.

18. Ever bought a cd for just one song? I probably have. 

19. What would your perfect day consist of? Beach days are nice. Or since it’s winter, renting a cozy cabin in the snow sounds lovely.

20. Have you ever lied to get off the phone or out of talking to someone online? Yes.

21. Have you ever written a survey? Once. It was several years ago during the Xanga days. I wish I still had it saved.

22. How about a song? If so share it. No.

23. Or maybe a poem? If so share it or one of them. I dabbled with poetry when I was 16. I am definitely not sharing one, they’re super cringey.

24. Is your vcr flashing 12:00 all the time? I don’t have a VCR. Wow, cassette tapes and VCRs how old is this survey?

25. Do you read your horoscope? No.

26. If so, do you base your day on it? No, I’ve never been into astrology. I used to read it when I was younger like in an magazine, but it was always just for fun.

27. Would you rather chew gum or use mouthwash and why? Chew gum. Mouthwash is way too strong to me and I find it irritating for my mouth and yeah it’s just not a pleasant experience.

28. Do you floss? No. :X

29. Are you addicted to napster like me? Okay, now you’ve mentioned Napster so this survey is super old. Napster was like late 90s and early 2000s. 

30. How many times a year about are you sick? I rarely get things like a cold, which I find interesting because I feel like my immune system is crap, but I feel sick and crappy often for other reasons.

31. Ever been in an airplane? Yes, a few times.

32. If so where were you flying to? Georgia and back and to Disneyland and back.

33. What radio station to you listen to most? It’s been a few years since I’ve listened to the radio.

34. What color are your shoes? I wear my black Adidas the most.

35. Was fuzzy wuzzy a bear? He was. He had no hair, though, so he wasn’t actually fuzzy.

36. Do you know how to play dominos? I’ve never really played.

37. Or do you think I just mean pizza by that? No, I know what dominos are.

38. Speaking of pizza, what's your favorite kind? (toppings and/or place to get it from) My favorite is from this local place. I like to get white sauce, feta and ricotta cheese, crumbled meatballs, garlic, spinach, and pesto and olive oil drizzles. I’ve been really craving that lately.

39. What color are your eyes? Brown.

40. How many surveys have you filled out this lifetime? Oh pffffft, I am not even going to attempt to figure that out. There’s no way I could. I’ve been doing surveys for so long and sadly so many of them are gone because they were done on Myspace and Xanga. :(

41. Describe your bedroom, include all details. Okay, you want details? Here we go...

It’s small and has way too much stuff. For one thing, there’s giraffe stuffed animals all over, including a 4 ft one in the corner. There’s a dresser by the window that has my TV and Christmas decorations on it. To the right of that is a 6-cube shelf with some of the aforementioned giraffe stuffed animals as well as giraffe knickknacks, some coloring books and coloring supplies, a mini Christmas tree on top, a few more giraffe stuffed animals, a nice picture frame with my dog, Brandie, who passed away, and my BB8 droid I made at Disneyland. Above the shelf is an I Love Lucy wall clock. My closest is nearby and is full of medical supplies, 3-drawer file thing with random stuff I insist on holding onto, my shoes, and all my jackets and sweatshirts. To the left of my dresser is my bookshelf with a lot of books and other figurines and knickknacks of various things I like and hey surprise, surprise, more giraffe stuffed animals! Across from the bookshelf and dresser is my bed, which is also my desk cause I keep my laptop on it, my chargers, my phone, a coloring book, a couple packs of colored pencils, my Bible study stuff, my remotes, and my Nintendo Switch. I have a pile of clothes, too, cause dresser and closet are too full. I have like 8 throw pillows, a body pillow, a back pillow, and a couple actual pillows. I have a few stuffed animals that sit on my bed as well, which are a huge squishmallow giraffe, a small squishmallow pug, a small squishmallow Dumbo, a small squishmallow Baby Yoda/Grogu, and a Baby Yoda/Grogu plushie. To the right of my bed is a TV tray that has my bottles of water, my medicine and pill crusher, a box of straws, a glass, a Starbucks Doubleshot energy drink, chapstick, my wallet, a Zip-loc bag with half a glazed donut and half a chocolate one, and a small bag of shortbread cookies. Behind the TV tray is my 3-drawer bedside table, which has a makeup storage thing on it that I plan on cleaning out and getting rid of cause I don’t wear makeup anymore and could use that space for something else, a bottle of lotion, a couple little room sprays from B&BW, and a jewelry tray. Hung up on my walls around the room are a few giraffe framed paintings, a couple beachy canvas paintings, two Alexander Skarsgard calendars, a bulletin board with various stuff pinned to it, and a marker board. There’s also a hamper in here, a floor lamp, a ceiling fan/light, two fans, and an ottoman.

42. Name one person your life is made better by. My mom. She’s my best friend. 

44. How about someone else's? Huh?

45. Can you do math with ease? Ha, noooo. Me and math never got along.

46. What size is your computer screen? It’s 13.3 inches.

47. If you could only talk to one person online who would that be? Someone from the survey community on here.

48. Name your favorite type of music and why. I like a variety of music--various genres and decades.

49. Are you a vegetarian? No.

50. How about an aspiring actor/actress? Not at all.

51. What famous person dead or alive would you interview if you had the chance? Alexander Skarsgard.

52. Which movie can you watch and say the lines along with the actors? There’s a lot of movies I could do that with. I try not to cause it gets annoying, but it happens.

53. Name one of your passions in life. I don’t know. :/

54. What's your least favorite time of day? Evening time.

55. Who's your favorite member in a band, singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, and why? The singer, typically.

56. Do you use hairspray or gel? I use neither.

57. Describe your favorite meal. Wingstop’s boneless garlic parm and lemon pepper wings. I also really enjoy my nightly bowl of ramen.

58. What color is the inside of your head when you close your eyes? Black.

59. Ever listen to classical music? Not typically, but it is nice.

60. Have you ever said lol in real life without thinking about it? No.

61. Do you find you use internet language when writing notes irl? I use “wtf, “wth”, “omg”, and “lol.” 

62. What songs would be on your ideal cd? Like I said, I like variety, so a mix of songs.

63. Say one thing you've learned today. Nothing, really.

64. What is the best present you've ever given someone else? I don’t know.

65. What is the best present someone else has ever given to you? I’ve been given many nice gifts throughout my life. I’m appreciative of all the gifts I’ve received.

66. So hey, what's your full name? Stephanie is all you need to know.

67. Describe yourself while drunk. I was chatty and annoying.

68. How big are the windows in your house? Regular, common size? .

69. Do you wear a watch? Nope.

70. What's the kinkiest thing you've ever done with someone else? Nothing.

71. What's the largest age difference between you and someone you've dated? Just a year.

72. How many mirrors do you have? Just one in my room.

73. Write one sentence stating what you want people to say about you after you've passed on. I don’t know, man.

74. Have you ever sailed? Nope.

75. How fast can you run? I used to be able to go pretty fast, but not now. I don’t have the upper body strength or energy I used to have.

76. What do you believe in? I believe in God.

77. How long does it take you to get ready to go out? Not long at all. I just change clothes, quickly do something with my hair, brush my teeth, put on deodorant, put on my shoes, and then grab my bag and mask and go. And a coat if needed.

78. Do you shower daily? If not how often? No, I shower 3-4 times a week.

79. What one thing would you change in your life if you had the power to do so? I’d make it so I had good health.

80. Describe the ideal superpower and what you would do if you had it. Teleportation. I’d travel all over.

81. Are candles romantic or a fire hazard? They can be both.

82. Name something you've done in the last 24hrs no matter how big or small. I had coffee and donuts. Exciting stuff.

83. Do you wear necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, rings? I haven’t worn any in awhile.

84. What colors are you wearing right now? Just black.

85. How often do you change the sheets on your bed? Twice a month.

86. Have you ever gotten lost? Not alone, thankfully, but yeah.

87. What's on your computer desk? I mentioned in the question about my room that my bed is also my desk and I listed the things on it.

88. How many folders are on your desktop at the present moment? Zero.

89. When your talking do you ever use your hands to do quotation marks in the air when saying certain words? Sometimes, if I find it necessary to do so.

90. Which landmark would you climb if you could? None.

91. Do you own or have you read, or thought of reading any self-help books? I read the Chicken Soup For The Soul books when I was younger but that's it. <<< Same.

92. Ever seriously questioned your sanity? Yes. 93. Can you breakdance? No.

94. What's in your fridge right now? Food and drinks. I’m tired from listing everything in that room description question lol.

95. How many people do you live with? I live with 3 people and a doggo.

96. Have you or would you ever do anything more than kiss in a public area? No.

97. What is the strangest thing you've ever done? Uhhh. I don’t know.

98. Name an instrument you've never played but would like to. Guitar.

99. Have you ever been on tv or the radio? Myself, as well as my story, was on TV after my accident happened. 

100. What is the worst thing anyone could ever do to you? Physically hurt me.

101. Are you a fast typer? Yes.

102. How high have you counted before getting bored? I don’t know, but probably not very high. I probably would get to 100 and be over it.

103. Describe how you sleep. (ie. your position and/or how you fall asleep) I sleep slightly propped up and turned to my left side. I have indigestion and post-nasal drip issues, so I can’t sleep flat. I have a whole nighttime routine consists of scrolling through Tumblr, doing surveys, and listening to ASMR until I feel tired enough to fall asleep.

104. Are you straight, bi, gay? I’m straight.

105. Do you ever do something else while on the computer? If so what? Sometimes I’m watching TV.

106. What is the most expensive item you own? My MacBook Air.

107. How about the least expensive? My little knickknacks.

109. What do you do online? Check my social medias, watch YouTube, scroll through Tumblr, and do surveys.

110. Name some stores you've bought clothes in before. Boxlunch, Hot Topic, Kohl’s, JCP, Target, H&M, Macy’s, Forever 21... those are a few that come to mind.

111. Have you ever read a book and not understood it? If so which one? I struggled with mythology. I just couldn’t get into it, so that definitely didn’t help, and it was hard to follow.

112. Have you ever watched a movie and not understood it? If so which one? Yeah. Whenever that happens I jump on Google and read up on it afterwards. 

113. Do people pick up your slang language more than you pick up theirs? I pick up lingo from others most often. 

114. Are you easily influenced by other people, or current trends? No, I wouldn’t say that.

115. What makes you unique in your own opinion? I don’t feel very unique.

116. Name your worst quality. Where to start... .

117. Name your best. I like that I’m open-minded.

118. What would you like to do with your life? I need to get myself together and figure that out.

119. Do you blowdry your hair? Nah.

120. How many clocks are in your house? We have like 3 wall clocks and there’s digital clocks throughout the house on appliances and electronics.

121. Are they all set on the same time? The phones and electronics are. The others are a few minutes fast. My parents set their digital clock like 15 minutes fast.

122. Have you ever intentionally set a clock ahead or behind the actual time? Like I said, we set some of them a few minutes ahead.

123. What do you think about when you first wake up in the morning? "What time is it?"

124. Which browser do you use? Google Chrome.

125. Do you bite your nails? Ugh, I don’t bite them but I pick and clip at them with clippers constantly. 

126. Would you ever leave little notes to your gf/bf? Sure, I think that’s cute.

127. Ever been to a farm? Yes.

128. Tell me about your dream last night. I don't remember. I rarely ever do. What typically happens is I’ll remember when I first get up, but then it like vanishes. My dreams are like Snapchat. If only there was an option to save or screenshot them like Snapchat.

129. Ever seen a shooting star? No, actually.

130. Say one thing about yourself you've never told anyone. Uhhhh. I’m so boring, I can’t think of something interesting to share.

131. Do your days fly by or seem to last forever? It often seems like the days go by slow, but then before I know it it’s already been a whole week again and I’m like wtf it was just Monday? That’s how the years tend to feel, too. There’s definitely some days that just really seem draaaaag, though. And there’s something about January that always feels super long. 

132. Have you ever stayed in a fancy high class rich hotel? Yes. 133. Have you ever stayed in a rent-by-the-hour motel? No.

134. What in your opinion is the best advertising slogan out there? If they get stuck in your head then they’re doing something right. It’s gotta be catchy. Jingles work well.

135. When they start sending rockets to the moon for us civilians, will you be on the list to go? Noooo, absolutely not.

136. How are you feeling right now? Tired, kinda hungry, and lonely.

137. Have you ever written anything on your skin? Yeah.

138. If so what? Random stuff. That was something a lot of people seemed to do in like middle school and high school for some reason.

139. Which website do you frequent most often? Tumblr and YouTube.

140. What color are most of your clothes? Black.

141. Do you own any plants? Nope.

142. Are things as bad as they seem? They sure seem bad to me.

143. Describe the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you. My mom is amazing. She’s sacrificed so much. I’m 31 years old and require aid with some things and here she is still taking care of me and doing so much for me on top of working a full-time job, being a caregiver for a family friend as well, taking care of us as a family and of things at home, and she very rarely has anytime for herself. She’s spread very thin and works so hard and yeah I just could never thank her enough. She’s the absolute best and I would be so lost without her. I couldn’t keep going if it weren’t for her.

144. Ever looked directly at the sun? Yes.

145. Have you ever made a pin hole camera to watch the eclipse? No.

146. What's your favorite cereal? All the main sugary ones, ha.

147. Who do you miss? My loved ones who have passed away.

148. Name something you just can't forget no matter how hard you try. Uh, a lot of things. My mind doesn’t like me to forget things like that. It likes to remind me of them often. Things like that hit at random times as well, like my brain will be like, ‘hey remember when...’ and I’m like, ‘ugh, yes I remember you won’t let me forget.’

149. Describe the worst fight you've ever been in whether physical or verbal. I’ve never been in a physical fight, but there were some verbal ones. I don’t want to get into them right now.

150. Say something else about yourself you've never told anyone before. Noooo. 

[kodigriffinofficial20]

Ok, so here is the next Q&A that I’m posting. This one was filled out a while ago so bear that in mind when reading it. Some of the answers are not very recent or accurate. I tried to go through and update the ones that were wrong, but I might have missed a couple.

1. Zodiac sign?

I’m not ted Cruz.

2. Sexual orientation?

Alycia Debnam Carey.

3. Relationship status?

Seeking someone to rule the world (and eventually the universe) by my side and cuddle.

4. Someone you miss

My grandmother.

5. Person who’s arms you’d like to be in?

Alycia Debnam Carey.

6. What you find attractive in Men/Women?

A sense of humor mainly, good taste in food, and be able to understand me. Also being Alycia Debnam Carey is pretty good as well.

7. How tall are you?

6 foot 3.

8. What you love about yourself?

My imagination.

9. What you’re doing tomorrow?

I don’t even know what I’m doing today.

10. What are your future plans?

World domination.

11. Your last night out in detail?

I have never had a “night out” in my life.

12. Your favourite book?

The Darth bane trilogy. But just one book would have to be, journey to the center of the earth by Jules Verne.

13. All of pets you’ve ever had?

A dog named precious, a dog named Lucy, a dog named Licorice, two cats named Freckles and Boots, three gerbils named Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, four ginea pigs named Oreo, Arrow, brownie, and Cookie (I know, food based names), algae sucker fish named Algae (clever right?), and about 10 gold fish. My current pets are three dogs named Bear, Lady, and Blue.

14. Something that changed your life?

I almost died from a collapsed lung and that is when I realized I wanted to become a writer.

15. Do you remember your last dream? Probably not. But the last dream I do remember is me and my family had just moved to a new house with a ranch on the property and we let our dogs lose on the property while we sat on the porch.

16. What your last text message says?

“Should I add a fox a coyote or a wolf to the story?”

17. Do you respect your government and the way your country is run?

Respect? Yes. Like it? Not really. Wish some things would change? Yes.

18. Where you would like to live?

In the mountains with land, a few trees and a small river on the property. I don’t really have a specific place in mind.

19. Your favourite flavour of ice cream?

Neapolitan.

20. Last thing you ate?

Doughnut. (Jealous?)

21. Which swear word do you use the most?

Crap. I’m a very sheltered person.

22. Your plans for summer?

Staying home and hating people from afar. I social distanced before it was cool. And I will be doing it after the quarantine lifts as well. The only things I will do is go to Taco Bell, Culvers, and McDonald’s maybe Denny’s, probably not though.

23. Any upcoming concerts?

I didn’t go to them before, I definitely won’t go to them now.

24. Something that you’re proud of?

No, not really.

25. Do you still talk to your first crush?

Nope.

26. What language do you want to learn?

All of them. But more realisticly spanish first, then Italian, and maybe German later on. That’s if I ever actually do that, so it most likely won’t happen.

27. Where you have lived before?

Sandwich Illinois (I know, sandwich?)

28. Eye color?

Green, sometimes blue, sometimes blue green.

29. Favourite style of clothing?

Comfort. I will always look like I am going to the gym in clothes two sizes to big. Because those clothes are comfortable and I don’t care what people think of me. Or pjs if I’m home.

30. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

As long as it takes to pee, brush teeth and walk out my room. So, about three to four minutes.

31. Where did you go today?

The kitchen. The bathroom. And the living room.

32. Where are you right now?

In my bed.

33. How many countries have you visited?

Does America count if I live there.... oh I went to Idaho once trust me that place is a different country.

34. Something old?

My blanket I sleep with every night that my mom made me when I was born.

35. Something new?

The husky dog that I recently got named Blue.

36. Something inherited?

A set of three, snake handled swords of varying lengths that I got after my grandpa died.

37. Is death more scary than life?

No.

38. Experience you’ll never forget?

Nothing because memory is fleeting and so is life. Everything you have ever or will ever experience ceases to exist at some point in the future. But probably the time I almost died from a collapsed lung.

39. What’s your favorite part about today so far?

Writing this.

40. Who is your hero?

Spider-Man.

41. Are you happy with where you live?

Absolutely not.

42. Do you like your handwriting?

Can’t stand it.

43. What do you wear to bed?

Shirtless (because it’s hot) and shorts.

44. Tea or coffee?

Neither I am a water or cool aid man. I know very boring but sometimes I will dip into the strong stuff and drink a Pepsi or Dr Pepper. Unless I feel like drinking a beer, a root beer that is.

45. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate most of the time. Just depends on what I am craving.

46. Are you excited for anything?

Being done with my almost done book.

47. How late did you stay up last night and why?

1:00 🕐 Couldn’t sleep because of reasons.

48. What’s your ringtone?

Whatever the phone came with.

49. Did you have a dream last night?

I think so, I feel like I did but don’t remember it.

50. Picture of yourself

[prorevenge]

Shop owner ends in hot water for being a crook

Cast: Me - yours truly, F - friend and coworker, B - boss, or bastard, you choose.

Some backstory (sorry for the long one, but there are things I need to make clear):

This happened 10 years ago. I was 18 and this was during the spring period of my junior year. I wanted to get money for a new mobile phone and a school trip to Austria, in order to practice on my German (my major was Math and German). My dad didn't want to give me the necessary 350 Euros for them, even though I was a 4.0 GPA student, calling me spoiled and selfish and asking me to get a job, just like all other normal teens at that time (actually none of my classmates were working, all were given the world by their parents for being in one of the most elite high schools in the city, but hey, you can't choose your family). So I got me a job at a local tobacco shop. It was right across my block of flats, so it was taking me 2 minutes to run from my flat to the shop, no big deal.

The owner of the shop (B) was a short man in his 40s, a man with good demeanor, or so I thought. He owned 4 other shops and needed workforce. We initially agreed for a payment of 15 Euros/day, I would work 4PM to 1AM, 4 days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays, so I would not miss on my schooling. He would pay me once every 2 weeks and even stated he would give me a raise after the first month.

The tobacco shop was selling not only tobacco products, but also alcohol, coffee, nuts, candy, chips, coke and its products etc. It allowed customers to get a cup of coffee which was freshly ground, as well as freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice.

So I started in the beginning of March. I was working with two other people, a 45-ish-year-old fat woman with a whining character, who would usually take the morning shifts from 6AM to 4PM and a 19-year-old beautiful girl (F). Also, I need to mention that, at that time, the store would share a toilet with a Courier service office, this is important for later.

There is one more thing I need to add - my country's labour codex states that employees must get a double payment during official holidays and also have at least 12 hours of rest between shifts. This is also important for later.

So initially I was doing fine - I did a couple of days of training, I learnt how to operate and clean the coffee machines, the juice machine, the cashier, the receipts (I needed to press Enter 3 times to enter the products in the system and take a receipt), this is important for later as well). It was quite easy, because I operated fast with money and calculations, and overall was quite trustworthy. I had some small incidents with minors who came asking for beer and cigarettes, but I would not sell the items to them, as it is illegal (my colleagues didn't care about that, but I was taught to uphold the law). Some of the frequent customers, who lived in the hood, would also initially be annoyed with me as well, because they were expecting from me to know the brand of cigarettes they smoke. Yes, there would be conversations like "two packs of my cigarettes - which brand? - Marlboro, you are supposed to know that - sorry, I only work here since recently - well, I come here every day, you should have remembered by now...". Eventually, this stopped, but I got the stink eye from some of them from time to time, because I am a sworn non-smoker, for me all cigarettes are poison, no matter the brand and the strength, and they didn't like that.

Overall, the job was not hard, and I had free Wi-Fi, so I would often bring my laptop to watch Youtube videos or listen to music online (at that time smartphones were expensive as hell and I had a regular mobile phone)

My first two fortnightly salaries were okay. I was supposed to get 120 Euros each, I got something like 110, but this was because I would get a random snack from the shop when I got hungry, and B would deduct all from my payment, which was okay. Also, B initially wanted me to add the tip to the cashier (the tip was the change (5, 10, 20 cents), which the customers would often not take and in the end it would add up to a few Euros), but we agreed for it to remain for me, as the other employees would also take it with them.

A month has passed. It was April, the days started to get warmer and B had permission to set a couple of coffee tables with chairs in front of the shop, so customers could drink their coffee and have a chat with a friend. I was instructed to take the tables and chairs back in the shop around 20:00, and a sign was posted on its front door.

So here started the problems.

After my first month I approached B for a raise, he said I was still a bit rusty and to wait at least 2 more weeks. He also gave me the contract to sign. I never got a copy, but, since this was my first job, I didn't know I needed one. I never got a raise as well, because I was "losing his customers". Bastard.

I had good relations with our colleagues at the courier office, but once I had a problem with them, because I took out the trash, but forgot to clean the juice machine. I threw the orange remains in the toilet, but one tiny piece of orange seemed to remain on the edge, so I was yelled by B and was fined 10 Euros.

There were two other times I was fined 10 Euros, for forgetting to turn the outside lights off and for forgetting to put the daily report in the shop log, but this was my fault. My second coworker would also report me for missing a trash bag or failing to put the items in the fridges in order, but she never took out the trash and never tidied up, so this actually went against her. I never had problems with F.

I had problems with some of the local customers, though. I live in a considerably poor neighbourhood and there are different types of scumbags who live there. There is this group of 10 people, in their late 40s and 50s, who are alcoholics and were sitting at the coffee tables until dark, as if this was the local pub. When I asked them to leave, because it went past 20:00 and I had to take the tables to the shop. I was yelled by them drunks and later by B as well, because I was "losing frequent customers for being rude and disrespectful to them", even though I almost ended up in a knife fight with one disgusting animal.

The cherry on the cake was the incident with an entitled mother, because she had sent her child to buy her beer and cigarettes and I refused to sell the items to him, because it is against the law. I then got a fine of 30 Euros by B and was pretty pissed.

In the last week of my work, in the beginning of June, B asked me to go and work in other shops, stating there was a sick employee and he needed me there. It was Friday, I ended up working from 15:00 to 22:00 in the local shop, then he took me to one of the other shops, where I worked from 23:00 to 08:00 on Saturday. Then he asked me to work from 23:00 to 11:00 on Sunday and wanted me to be at 16:00 in my local shop, but I refused, because I was exhausted. He threatened to not pay me extra, and we agreed to go to the shop at 19:00, after I got some sleep (I was supposed to get at least 12 hours between the shifts, as I mentioned above, but he didn't care).

After this exhausting time B wanted to change me to another shop, but I refused due to my schooling and also because I wanted to remain in the same shop. But he got some new workers and said I would not be working until the end of the week. Eventually I understood he had terminated my contract and also refused to pay me for the last 2 weeks, nearly 200 Euros in total with the extra shifts.

There are a few more things, which are important:

Some of my free days I spent with F. She was at work and I was in the shop with her, having a chat and being together, because she had some mild form of anxiety and didn't want to remain alone. During this time I noticed she used a different combination to enter the products in the system - enter, enter, 1, enter. I understood that this would enter the items in the system, but would not send the information to the receipt machine, and this would not get a receipt and thus the boss would not have to pay VAT for the items. I also understood later that he asked for everyone else to do it, everyone but me, because I wanted everything to be legal.

There was a new coworker, whom B liked and tried to seduce. He was overtly sexist and wanted to hire attractive girls, whom to pay more and to be more clingy towards them. I didn't like that at all. So the new coworker ended up being very crooked and actually stole around 400 Euros, which B blamed me for, and said he had camera recordings, but this was all bullshit.

So after all of this I was angry and wanted revenge. Initially I spoke to a friend, who advised me to report him to the local Labour Inspection office, which I did. It almost ended with a lawsuit and I was threatened by my boss this would cost me dearly, so I backed my claim, because I needed a clean legal certificate, because I was going to the Bulgarian Naval Academy in a year and didn't want to jeopardize my future. My dad got softer on me and paid for my phone and the trip, saying I earned them, because it wasn't my fault for why I didn't have the money, it was the moron of a boss.

Years have passed. I got discharged due to medical reasons and came back to my hometown. I got a new job and was living with my father, until I get better. The shop was still owned by this prick and he was going around town in a very expensive car, and I even saw him once to smoke Cohiba cigars, which usually go 15-20 Euros a piece. In the mean time he was still paying 15-20 Euros a day to the shop assistants, and I understood he was desperate for workforce.

So I decided to turn all of this against him. I knew some of the workers, as we grew up together, and they complained how much of a crook B was. I hated him for being so cheap on his employees and so large in personal spending. We started a rumour about how bad of a boss he was and to stay away from him. Word got out and he not only started losing assistants, but no one would want to ask him for a job.

One time police was nearby. Someone had broken one of the shop's large windows with a stone and stolen a large amount of cigarettes. The losses were for about a thousand euros, from what I understood. B also had to pay for a new window, and that would cost him more. Apparently, he had pissed off a lot of people.

I also suggested to some of his former employees, whom I knew vaguely, to file individual reports against B in the local Labour inspection office, like I did all those years ago. I explained they would definitely rattle his cage. A lot of reports went in, and I understood there was a major inspection of all shops. They could also use my information, but I asked them to take me off the case, I didn't want any recompense, only to watch him burn.

Eventually, B disappeared. What I understood, is that he ended up with a lot of problems, because he was charged with mistreatment of his personnel, violation of the Labour codex, felony tax evasion and a number of other charges.

So far I know that he is somewhere in the UK, while the business is handled by his brother and wife. His shops were cut in half due to the lack of workers, and I understood they were about to close another one as well. His business is not as successful as before, and I also understood it is frequently inspected.

Now, I know B didn't end up in jail, or at least I don't know about it. But I don't care. Sooner or later everyone gets what they deserve. I will not be the person to put him behind bars, but most of those people still greet me with smiles and give me updates on the case. They also thank me for giving them the idea of filing reports and using their rights. I guess I am the mastermind behind all of this, and, to be honest, I will be extremely happy, when he gets what he deserves from being a crook and a piece of trash. And the best part is - I don't have to do anything about it.

TLDR - I had a disgusting crook for a boss during my first job. He exploited me and other employees, I suggested to them to file reports against him, and he got into a lot of trouble for this.

(source) story by (/u/zerberos666)

[dream-gloh]

Quarantined chronicles : day 1

00:49 - still can't go to bed honestly but it's time that I do. My mom and I got into a fight so I can't go to sleep. Or wake up late. I'm gonna wake up at like 6, read, and then get up at 7. Let's hope my plan goes well.

9:18 - I slept a bit after 1 and I woke up at 7:40 so I got a pretty good sleep. I'm still not out of bed yet, I've been catching up on true beauty (SPOILER WARNING suho left the damn country and hasn't been back in 3 years wtf) and scrolling through Tumblr but that's pretty much all I've been doing for the past hour. Still in bed as I write this.

9:24 - so I was trying to brush my hair, but it's a fucking lions mane up there. I'm gonna wash my hair later today anyways so while I wash it ill just brush our the tangles. Aaand my family's awake.

9:39 - I'm finishing up my morning bathroom routine. Tmi, i guess, but like my period started on Friday (2 days ago) and its already over? It usually lasts way longer, but its just been wacky since 2020 began. But everythings been wacky since 2020 began so this isn't much.

10:07 - i was watching toilet bound hanako kun, its a really good anime i woukd definitly recommend it also omg my bby mitsuba, my poor bby, and may I say how I love the piano soundtrack at the ending it always makes me want to cryyy

10:22- watching friends and eating breakfast.

10:39 - room cleanup while I jam to some songs!

11:18 - filling in my bulletjournal while listening to lit (oneus)

15:47 - so for the past few hours I was pretty bored. I've ate lunch, I watched some Netflix, I went to the basement, I read to my brothers, and then I decided to wash my hair. And after I finished washing my hair and showering I changed and read my brother what does the fox say. Pretty boring but not too uneventful.

16:24 - playing subway surfers with my brothers cause I'm just that bored

18:18 - binged friends, and read some manga because I was feeling like shit. Still am.

19:27 - omg i was scrolling through ticktok for so looooong. Imma learn some tiktok dances i feel bored.

22:41 - so i didnt learn renegade since it was wearing my energy off BUT instead a jammed and danced to a random play dance by myself which was fun. Got a bunch of dust in my nose and now i cant stop sneezing. Also tore apart the entire house looking for earbuds. I was in my room, on the floor tearing up when i stood up and looked at my bed aND THERE IT WAS. like the hell did you come from? Also ive been jamming to pretty much's song featuring NCT DREAM, UP TO YOU, for the past few hours and i just feel so gOOD.

00:50 - watched tangled and im in tangled feels again.

[westrangecollectionkoalaposts]

Valkyries appreciation week: Day 7 - Free Day | @valkyrieappreciationweek

Shopping!

[ellenneedscoffee]

some asks

I saw @whiisker share this and thought I’d give it a go. Originally posted by @lilflowerkiddo

• 1. have you ever been in love?

I have and still am. I’ve been with my boyfriend going on five years now.

• 2. who is your favorite artist?

There are so many! Charlie Bowater, Shirley Barber, Yehuda Devir, the list goes on.

• 3. what is your favorite music genre?

I cant say i have a favourite. I like all kinds of music, except for country but Luke Combs is an exception.

• 4. have you ever had a penpal?

I have two. I've known them for about 8 years I think? One of them is a fantasy author and I’m creating the covers for her new series. 

• 5. are you single or in a relationship?

Yep. I’m taken.

• 6. what color are your eyes?

blue.

• 7. what is your favorite word?

antidisestablishmentarianism.

• 8. do you play any instruments?

No but i’d like to. 

Favorite color?

Purple but I also really like emerald green.

• 10. do you have any nicknames?

Not really. Some people call me Elle but that’s mainy my dad.

• 11. what is your favorite flower?

Orchids.

• 12. what qualities do you find attractive in a person?

Well, My current boyfriend is technically my first so I’d say I love his humor and and his smile. Although sometimes I hate his smile because it means hes about to be a cheeky shit and I should be worried.

• 13. do you have any pets?

I have a land seal- I mean a Blue Healer and 3 cats. 

• 14. have you ever traveled outside of your home country?

No but I am planning on going to Bali at the end of the year. I would also love to visit Japan and the US.

• 15. what language(s) do you speak?

English. I did learn Indonesian when i was in primary school and high school but I only remember the very basics like “Good Morning” and “thank you”.

• 16. who was your first crush?

The crush i can remember was I guy I “dated” when i was 12. Turns out he was best mates with my boyfriend before he decided to hit his girlfriend and threaten to come to my bf’s house with a crow bar. Yeah, we don’t speak to him anymore...

• 17. do you wear glasses?

I have glasses but i don’t need them. I swear they’re just clear lenses because they don’t do anything.

• 18. what is your favorite pastry?

croissant

• 19. do you prefer swimming in a pool or in the ocean?

ocean. 

• 20. bright, dark, or pastel colors?

Half of my wardrobe is black.

• 21. what is your favorite social media app?

Instagram.

• 22. what is your sexuality?

Straight.

• 23. do you have any siblings?

I have two sisters. I’m the middle child.

• 24. what is your favorite scent?

Strawberry and cream body wash. My god so good.

• 25. where do you want to travel to?

Japan and the US.

• 26. what is your favorite film?

West Side Story. 

• 27. who do people say you look like? (celebrity/family member)

I look really similar to my younger sister (well duh). Total strangers recognize me because they know her and vice versa.

• 28. who is your best friend?

I've struggled with friends over the years but I can say that my current friend group are my best friends. We’re like a family, My friend’s son calls me Aunty Ellen.

• 29. what is your dream job?

Full time Illustrator. (*sigh* It would be a dream)

• 30. do you know how to drive?

Yes I do. I've had my licence for 9 months now.

• 31. who is/was your favorite teacher?

My grade 3 teacher, Mrs Roach. She’s so lovely.

• 32. are you a feminist?

Yes.

• 33. what is your zodiac sign?

Cancer

• 34. do you enjoy reading?

I do. I really want to read more. I’m currently reading Gumiho: Wicked Fox.

• 35. do you have any hidden talents?

I can twitch my nostrils like a rabbit.

• 36. have you ever dyed your hair?

Defiantly. I cant even remember the last time I had my natural colour.

• 37. what is your favorite thing in your bedroom?

My laptop

• 38. what is your biggest fear?

Failure. 

• 39. can you whistle?

Yes. (take that Pepper Pig)

• 40. do you make your bed every day?

I try to.

• 41. do you have any tattoos and/or piercings?

No. I might get a tattoo one day but i cant commit.

• 42. have you ever been on a roller coaster?

Yes and it was horrible I hated it. 

• 43. surfing or skateboarding?

Neither.

• 44. are you a dog or a cat person?

Cat.

• 45. what is your favorite animal?

OTTERS!

• 46. do you have a skincare routine?

I guess. I use a green tea face wash and toner and then i like to use an eye serum.

• 47. what time do you typically go to bed at and what time do you wake up at? 

Lately I've been going to bed around 10:30 - 11:00 pm and waking up between 8:30 - 9:00 am. But I depends if i have work that day.

 48. what is your favorite memory?

It only happened this past weekend but dancing with my boyfriend at a friend’s wedding. It was the couple’s dance and I don’t know why but I got really emotional lol.

• 49. how tall are you?

5 ft 4

• 50. what is the best gift you’ve ever received?

My laptop and drawing tablet.

• 51. do you have a garden?

I do but its all weeds.

• 52. do you like bugs?

Not really? Moths freak me out. I hate how big they get and fly in your face.

• 53. what is your natural hair color?

Brown.

• 54. what is your favorite food and drink?

I loooooove seafood. Salmon sashimi, prawns, oysters give me now! and bubble tea.

• 55. do you want kids?

One day. Defiantly not now.

• 56. what is/was your favorite class?

Art and Photography.

• 57. what color shirt are you wearing?

Black. 

• 58. if you could time travel, what year would you go to and why? 

I do miss the 00′s. 

• 59. what is your skin color?

I’m very pale.

• 60. hugs or kisses?

Depends who’s giving them.

• 61. have you ever drank alcohol?

Yes, I get very drunk on Fireball but I love it! It tastes like a cinnamon doughnut. 

• 62. have you ever done drugs?

No but i’ve considered trying marijuana at least once. 

• 63. netflix or youtube?

Youtube.

• 64. ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Frozen yogurt.

• 65. succulents or flowers?

Succulents but all mine are plastic.

Original post by lilflowerkiddo

[ua-miruko]

[8/6]

ua-miruko 2:30 PM

@ua-todoroki @ua-kaibara @ua-mar SUP LITTLE BITCHES you're mine now 🔥 🤪 🔥

ua-todoroki 2:30 PM

Oh.

ua-miruko 2:30 PM

YEP! OH!!

You're rollin' with TEAM MIRUKO NOW

Now we got a few objectives I wanna explain, but the most important one? KICK EVERYONE'S ASS

And when I say everyone, I MEAN

EVERYONE

... But especially Hawks' team

ALSO Endeavor's. I wanna run him into the groooound

ua-todoroki 2:33 PM

I can do that...

ua-miruko 2:36 PM

yeah, you better 😈

ua-todoroki 2:37 PM

:/...

ua-miruko 2:39 PM

oh, c'mon... you don't got more to say than that???

ua-todoroki 2:40 PM

Idk what to say.

It's good to be working with you.

ua-miruko 2:40 PM

good to be workin with you too! you were on of my requests so i'm glad the good ol gov was lookin out for once!! 😤😤

yer rly strong so i'mma be expecting a lot from you 👀

ua-todoroki 2:41 PM

Was I? Huh.

I'll do my best.

ua-miruko 2:43 PM

yeahyeah... didn't want anyone who'd hold me back and you almost won your festival way back when, yeah?

ua-todoroki 2:44 PM

Yeah.

ua-miruko 2:46 PM

yeah...

ua-kaibara 2:46 PM

Right..

ua-miruko 2:46 PM

aha! another one 👀 sup kid

you i don't know shit about lol

ua-kaibara 2:48 PM

Not surprising

ua-miruko 2:50 PM

tell me bout yerself?

what's ya quirk like

ua-kaibara 2:51 PM

I'm Kaibara Sen, one of UA's students but that's.. mostly obvious I think most of this program is UA students. My Quirk is Gyrate. I can basically just.. rotate my body parts like a drill. It's mostly useful for hand-to-hand but I wear metal gloves so I can use my hands as legitimate drills also..

ua-miruko 2:53 PM

🤔 interesting.....so yer a close combat kinda guy, yeah?

ua-kaibara 2:53 PM

Primarily, yeah

ua-miruko 2:53 PM

....you ever get flung through the air?

ua-kaibara 2:53 PM

Yes

ua-miruko 2:53 PM

EXCELLENT

ua-kaibara 2:53 PM

I am kind of scared to ask why

ua-miruko 2:54 PM

cuz im gonna fuckin fling you like a dart, that's why!!

ua-todoroki 2:54 PM

She'll probably do that to you.

Yeah.

ua-miruko 2:54 PM

listen, whatever ya gotta do to add more POWER to yer attacks, i expect ya to do

so, thermo?? you gon be doing a lot of flinging too

ua-todoroki 2:55 PM

I can help transport people with my ice, but it takes a bit of getting used to.

ua-miruko 2:55 PM

expect yall to practice that on your own, then!

ua-todoroki 2:55 PM

Yeah.

ua-miruko 2:56 PM

i do a lot of fighting and we'll be doin a lot of training together but i ain't gonna hold your hands the whole way

ua-kaibara 2:56 PM

I thought we were learning about heroics, not flying

ua-todoroki 2:56 PM

We'll need to be careful about how our quirks interact.

ua-kaibara 2:56 PM

...that's a joke

It didn't come off as one I don't think

ua-miruko 2:56 PM

....work on your humor, kid

ua-kaibara 2:56 PM

It'll be dry as ever by the end of this

ua-miruko 2:57 PM

you got a pretty huge shot, thermo, so our job will be makin sure to dodge yer shit....

nice nice

ua-todoroki 2:57 PM

Yeah.

You could also mess with my ice if you stomped the ground, I think. Shatter it.

ua-miruko 2:58 PM

oh fuck yeah.... 👀

ua-todoroki 2:58 PM

So we'll have to be careful about that.

ua-miruko 2:58 PM

nah i WANT that

that's a fuckin great combo

ua-todoroki 2:58 PM

Oh. Really?

ua-miruko 2:58 PM

stomp on your ice, send a whole STORM of ice shards out to kill EVERYONE

ua-todoroki 2:58 PM

I guess ice is sharp.

Huh.

ua-miruko 2:58 PM

we can call it SHATTER STORM

or somethin

HELL YEAH COMBOS

ua-todoroki 2:59 PM

I've never used it like that...

ua-miruko 2:59 PM

yeah!! you got a pretty basic way of using your quirk, i wanna force ya to do it in new fun ways

ua-todoroki 3:00 PM

Still. If I'm trying to capture a villain and you shatter all of it, we could lose them...

It'll be interesting.

ua-miruko 3:00 PM

yeahyeahyeah, we'll see what happens

ANYWAY

yall, we got a few days before we officially start but if ya got time, i wanna test you out a bit

spar with me 👀

ua-todoroki 3:01 PM

Sure.

When?

ua-miruko 3:01 PM

and everyone else too! expecting to fight you all before the week is done

whenever you're free! my schedules clear the next few days

ua-todoroki 3:01 PM

So is mine.

ua-miruko 3:02 PM

👀 awesome

ua-mar 3:09 PM

Wow! A high ranking hero! To think I finally see you in the flesh! I’m Alta Valentine of 2-B and it’s a pleasure and absolute honor to be here! 😸

Ahaaa, this is the first time a hero has called me such a name.......... BUT I PROMISE I WONT LET YOU DOWN 😤😤💪

ua-miruko 3:12 PM

damn, that's a name....yer a second year! interesting!

tell me yer quirk? ua-mar 3:15 PM

My quirk is called Marble! I can amplify the strength, endurance, and speed on anyone I leave contact on for 5 minutes! I can’t amplify their quirks however. But it’s great for long distances if we’re separated!

ua-miruko 3:16 PM

... No shit???

Holy fuck

ua-mar 3:16 PM

......but once I use it.....I get slower 😅

ua-miruko 3:16 PM

🤔 i see

imma need one of those baby backpacks for you then...

what's it like with multiple peeps?

ua-mar 3:16 PM

......baby backpacks😳?

ua-miruko 3:17 PM

yeah! i can just carry ya quick if ya get too slow!

ua-mar 3:18 PM

Oh.....if you say so 😅 

My limit is about 4 people

ua-miruko 3:19 PM

niceeeeee.....

ua-mar 3:20 PM

I hope I can be a great assistance to you all! 💪

ua-miruko 3:22 PM

im thinkin ya will!!!

hold up yall, suddenly we got a newcomer....

@s-inasa GET IN HERE

s-inasa 3:23 PM

IM SORRY MA'AM

IM TERRIBLY SORRY FOR MY TARDINESS

WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN

ua-miruko 3:23 PM

BETTER NOT OR I'LL KICK YA ASS

s-inasa 3:24 PM

YES MA'AM!

ua-miruko 3:25 PM

AWESOME

ua-todoroki 3:25 PM

Oh...

ua-miruko 3:29 PM

not rly familiar with you either so!! tell me bout yourself when yer ready!

we were talkin some preliminary quirk combo techniques and also discussing how we're gonna do some sparring before the week is through!

s-inasa 3:34 PM

IM YOARASHI INASA, MA'AM, FROM SHIKETSU HIGH!

MY QUIRK IS BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE WIND! 

ID LOVE TO SPar..

Todoroki...!

ua-miruko 3:35 PM

THE WIND, HUH 👀

... yall know each other?

s-inasa 3:38 PM

We...do.

ua-todoroki 3:38 PM

Yeah.

Hi.

ua-miruko 3:38 PM

....uh? why yall so awkward all of a sudden lol

ua-todoroki 3:38 PM

:/...

ua-miruko 3:38 PM

yall got bad blood or something?

ua-todoroki 3:39 PM

It's kind of complicated.

s-inasa 3:39 PM

...very complicated.

ua-todoroki 3:39 PM

It's ok.

Hopefully this will help.

ua-miruko 3:39 PM

...right

listen, yall can talk it out if you want or leave it at the door but i'm telling yall now, i dont care for anything getting in the way of this lol

s-inasa 3:40 PM

It..wont interfere, ma'am!

ua-miruko 3:40 PM

better not 😌

cuz if it does yall are cleaning toilets instead

s-inasa 3:41 PM

NOTHING WILL GET IN THE WAY MA'AM!!

ua-miruko 3:43 PM

good to hear!!

OH SHIT so if you're a windy boy, that means... you can do a lot of flinging, huh 👀

s-inasa 3:44 PM

I can make anyone fly ma'am! And make tornadoes!

I control currents too!

ua-miruko 3:44 PM

PERFECT

aiight so torpedo, yer gonna be makin powerdrill fly a LOT

you'll be helping me get some air too, i bet 😤 NICE

s-inasa 3:46 PM

Anything you say ma'am!

ua-miruko 3:47 PM

nice........with enough air we can use that shit to break through  into any building, heh...

oh FUCK YEAH we gon do some DAMAGE

ua-todoroki 3:49 PM

We can also combine our quirks well.

ua-miruko 3:50 PM

yeah!!!

want as many combos as we can get in here!

make sure each of ya practice with the power up princess too, s'gonna feel weird

suddenly doin your thang with a big ol boost all of a sudden

ua-mar 3:51 PM

Wow! Everyone is so impressive! 😯

ILL TRY MY HARDEST MIRUKO 😤👍

ua-miruko 3:52 PM

💪 😤

ua-mar 4:07 PM

Oh! Miruko Sensei! Forgive me for asking this late, but what kind of training will you put us through?

ua-miruko 4:08 PM

eh...we'll see as we go along but it'll be the general shit... weight training, quirk training... might be a surprise but i do a lot of covert shit

so yall will get a nice lil crash course on that as well

get familiar with all the protocol of doin more public patrols versus shit like stake-outs

....LOTS of beating people up tho

arrests and shit!! it'll be exciting!

if you can keep up, heh

ua-mar 4:13 PM

Oh! I see! I was asking to see the difference in Japanese internships and American internships!! So we’ll cover the whole lot? That is exciting!

ua-miruko 4:13 PM

pretty much lol

ua-mar 4:13 PM

And I may be slow ,  but it’s too soon to be underestimating 😏

ua-miruko 4:14 PM

😤 good!

ua-miruko 9:16 PM

... OI nearly forgot

when yall stop by, go get yourselves situated with the staff, they'll get you all set up at the agency

give you ID cards and all the shits

those cards will give ya access to my agency whenever ya want!! you'll love it, i got a gym set up and EVERYTHING

so feel free to hang out whenever ya want 👀

ua-todoroki 9:22 PM

Oh... That's cool.

ua-miruko 9:22 PM

yeah!! got a fun lounge too, super fuckin tricked out

s-inasa 9:23 PM

A gym?? Great!

ua-mar 9:24 PM

Tricked out , huh? 😯🤔

ua-miruko 9:24 PM

i expect yall in there a bunch 👀

MHM.....got a TV and a bar and the works!!

.....yall cant go into the bar 😡😡😡

ua-mar 9:28 PM

Ack! Miruko Sensei! You can trust us that we won’t trespass into certain areas and focus on our main objective! 😅

ua-miruko 9:29 PM

yeah you better 😡 😤 listen i like a good party too, but we save partying for AFTER we beat the bad guy

s-inasa 9:29 PM

DOES THE BAR HAVE PROTEIN SHAKES

ua-miruko 9:31 PM

BITCH WHO DO YOU THINK I AM

OF COURSE

ua-mar 9:35 PM

So we can go near the bar, but only for protein drinks?

ua-miruko 9:35 PM

... YEAH!!!

s-inasa 9:35 PM

YEAH!

ua-mar 9:44 PM

Understood then! Protein drink are the only exception! If you don’t mind me asking, is there anything you recommend we work on specifically? Any skills that can be learned from you 🤔 ?

ua-miruko 9:46 PM

good question!! you're real perceptive, i like that 👀 

my style is more close-to-middle range... mostly like to brawl but my PUNCH is PACKIN and my KICK can send fuckers 'cross the country!!!!

so if there's ANYTHING SPECIFIC yall are learnin from me, it's how to kick the shit outta someone LOL

imma make the two of yall who are more used to long range attacks focus more on your bodies while the rest of you work on your OWN power... finding ways to make yourself larger, faster, STRONGER!

🤔  what's also important to me tho... is the environment and the advantages or disadvantages you'll be facing

withstanding the heat, the cold.... dealin with heights and the underground... it's all shit i deal with regularly

yall are probably gonna end up everywhere but underwater lol

ua-mar 9:55 PM

Hmmm. Intriguing. You are certainly strong and intense when it comes to an all out brawl. And I’m guessing you’re just as swift and agile making you quite the one not to provoke at all. With you’re ranking, your skills and experience must be incredibly well rounded and fluid 🤔 

I trust that you will indeed make us more stronger ☺️!

I only ask that you absolutely don’t hold back and don’t underestimate us! 💪

ua-miruko 10:06 PM

hold back? nahhhhhh...

the goal here is to have yall beggin for mercy... 😈

ua-mar 10:12 PM

Oh goodie!~ Well we hope to learn and apply the same 😇! Only from the best! Once again, it’s an honor that to intern with you Miruko Sensei ☺️!

ua-miruko 10:14 PM

you too, kid!

ua-todoroki 10:18 PM

Good luck with that.

[kisskissbanggang]

50 Questions Tag!

Tagged by sublime @rubyyong 💕

1.What takes up too much of your time?

Procrastinating! (Or work lately)

2. What makes your day better?

The sun on my face and a cup of coffee.

3. Whats the best thing to happen to you today?

Ugh I made some delicious fried rice for breakfast this morning, and it's my day off!

4. What fictional place would you like to go to?

One of the first settings that really drew me in was The Matrix to be completely frank with you. Or I really enjoy the waste and weird world of the Tank Girl series.

5. Are you good at giving advice?

Good at giving, but not taking.

6. Do you have a mental illness?

The therapist said I had mild anxiety and PTSD 🤷🏻‍♀️

7. Have you ever experience sleep paralysis?

Nope!

8. What musician inspired you the most?

Okay am I allowed to say Patrick Stump and how I still believe his musical peak has been his solo stuff

9. Have you ever fallen in love?

I'd say so. 👀

10. What’s your dream date?

I'm a sucker for day trips. Pizza Week is coming up in Portland soon, as is Burger Week. There's some national parks around I want to visit. The hotel used as the Overlook Hotel is about an hour away. Plenty I want to do for amazing day trip dates!

11. What do others notice about you?

Mostly, how much deeper my neutral tone is than my "work" voice I put on. Also I have a horrid laugh like a seagull squawk.

12.Whats an annoying habit you have?

Good at giving advice, bad at taking it. I'm a slave to my own desires, laziness being the top of that list.

13. Do you still talk to your first love?

Nope!

14. How many exes do you have?

Like real, pre-fiance era? Because if we don't count middle school past middle school, do we count high school past high school? Anyhow... Like 7? Or 8?

15. How many songs are in your playlist?

My wake-up playlist for my commute is about thirty songs?

16. What instruments can you play?

I used to play saxophone more than a decade ago lmao

17. What do you have the most pictures of?

Selfies and food.

18. Where would you like to go before you die?

Someone bring me to Australia pls.

19. Whats your Zodiac?

Sun sign: Capricorn

Moon sign: Aries

Ascending: Gemini

Chinese: Rooster

20. Do you relate to it?

My natal chart is pretty accurate, I'd say!

21. What is happiness to you?

Happiness is akin to contentedness for me. If I'm content and pleased, whether that's with hard work or relaxing, then I'm pretty happy. I like meeting my goals.

22. are you going through anything right now?

Just getting used to my new job and trying to balance writing with that!

23. Whats the worst decision you ever made?

Oof. Some of the worst are guy related, but I've started some bad fights in this relationship. I have an amazing relationship but it really is work.

24. Whats your favourite store?

Daiso!

25. Whats your opinion on abortion?

A right and sometimes a necessity.

26. Do you keep a bucket list?

A loose one, perhaps.

27. Do you have a favourite album?

Hey surprise it's Infinity on High by Fall Out Boy

28. What do you want for your birthday?

Awh I just had one a few months ago! I just want a yummy cake on my day off. Maybe a day trip to the skating rink!

29. What are most people’s first impressions of you?

Goofy or intimidating and little to no in between

30. What age do you seem according to most people?

Under 25 still, apparently!

31. Where do you keep your phone while you’re sleeping?

Under my pillow when I'm using a regular charger cord. Otherwise it's on my charging pad on the nightstand.

32. What word to you say the most?

"Ugh"

33. Whats the oldest age you would date?

Does it really matter? Though you do tend to lose inherent shared interests the older you go.

34. Whats the youngest age you would date?

Refer to previous answer. 😘

35. What job/career do most people say would suit you?

Ugh people really insisted I should be a teacher. Thankfully my dude agreed that idea was bonkers.

36. Whats your favourite music genre?

Alternative rock or electro-funk.

37. If you could live in any country in the world, where would it be?

I'm fine being here for now, but I've humored Canada a few times.

38. What is your current favourite song?

Come Alive - Chromeo ft. Toro Y Moi

39. How long have you had this blog for?

Only a handful of months! I started this blog right before Christmas.

40. What are you excited for?

SUNSHINE UGH I require photosynthesis.

41. Are you a better talker or listener?

Talker. I can speak to crowds, I can talk to strangers, I can make small talk. However, I do love listening. That being said, I'll speak for you if you think you can't or don't want to.

42. What is the last productive thing you did?

I just came back from the mall where I dropped off an Amazon return?

43. What do you want for Christmas?

I currently get the majority of my cosmetics and skincare products during holidays from my mother since she knows I don't want to spend that kind of money. I look forward to it!

44. What Class do you get the best grades in?

English and art!

45. On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling right now?

Solid 6? It's a fair enough day.

46. What can you see yourself doing in ten years?

Hopefully living in our own place with a couple of dogs!

47. When did you get your first heartbreak?

Awh, like romantically? I must've been 12? After my first boyfriend?

48.  What age do you want to get married?

I mean we're getting married next year 👀

49.  What career did you want to have as a child?

I wanted to be a zookeeper or marine biologist or a movie director! And I did end up studying something akin to one of those.

50.  what do you crave right now?

Someone make me some s'mores my sweet tooth has been killing me.

Tagging: @wildernessuntothemselves @00-k @ultimate-kpop-trash-scenarios @justanotherblackchick @taurusjaehyun 💕💕💕

[bountyofbeads]

Trump Admits He Spoke to Ukraine About Biden; Pressure to Impeach Builds https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/us/politics/trump-impeachment-whistle-blower.html

Let’s be clear about terms here. Trump didn’t try to extort “opposition research” on Biden from Ukraine. He tried to extort Ukraine into *ginning up disinformation* about Biden, and cloaking it in the seeming legitimacy of a law enforcement investigation.

We had this same problem of terminology throughout the Russia investigation, too. Trump and his campaign didn’t solicit “opposition research” on Hillary Clinton. They solicited computer crimes and stolen documents. Opposition researchers don’t do that.

As Trump Confirms He Discussed Biden With Ukraine, Pressure to Impeach Builds

Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned of a “new chapter of lawlessness” and a turning point in the House investigation of President Trump.

By Nicholas Fandos, Jonathan Martin  and Maggie Haberman | Published Sept. 22, 2019 Updated Sept. 23, 2019, 9:21 a.m. ET | New York Times | Posted September 23, 10:00 AM ET |

WASHINGTON — President Trump acknowledged on Sunday that he raised corruption accusations against former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. during a phone call with Ukraine’s leader, a stunning admission as pressure mounted on Democrats to impeach Mr. Trump over allegations he leaned on a foreign government to help damage a political rival.

In public and in private, many Democrats said the evidence that has emerged in recent days indicating that Mr. Trump pushed the Ukrainian government to investigate Mr. Biden, and his administration’s stonewalling of attempts by Congress to learn more, were changing their calculations about whether to charge him with articles of impeachment.

The influential chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, who has resisted such action, said the House might now have “crossed the Rubicon” in light of the new disclosures, and the administration’s withholding of a related whistle-blower complaint. A group of moderate freshman lawmakers who had been opposed to an impeachment inquiry said they were considering changing course, while other Democrats who had reluctantly supported one amplified their calls. Progressives, meanwhile, sharpened their criticisms of the party’s leadership for failing to act.

The fast-moving developments prompted Speaker Nancy Pelosi to level a warning of her own to the White House: Turn over the secret whistle-blower complaint by Thursday, or face a serious escalation from Congress.

In a letter to House Democrats, Ms. Pelosi never mentioned the word “impeachment,” but her message hinted at that possibility.

“If the administration persists in blocking this whistle-blower from disclosing to Congress a serious possible breach of constitutional duties by the president, they will be entering a grave new chapter of lawlessness which will take us into a whole new stage of investigation,” Ms. Pelosi, Democrat of California, wrote in the letter.

The allegations center on whether Mr. Trump pressured Ukraine’s newly elected leader, implicitly or explicitly, to take action to hurt Mr. Biden’s election bid at a vulnerable moment for the former Soviet republic, possibly using United States military aid as leverage. Ukraine has been fighting Russian-backed separatists, and the Trump administration had temporarily been withholding a $250 million package of military funding. There have been no indications to this point, however, that Mr. Trump mentioned the aid money on the call.

Mr. Trump showed no sign of contrition on Sunday, telling aides that Democrats were overplaying their hand on a matter voters would dismiss. Publicly, he worked to focus attention not on his own actions but on Mr. Biden’s.

Speaking to reporters, the president defended his July phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as entirely appropriate, and stopped short of directly confirming news reports about what was discussed. But he acknowledged that he had discussed Mr. Biden during the call and accused the former vice president of corruption tied to his son Hunter’s business activities in the former Soviet republic.

“The conversation I had was largely congratulatory, with largely corruption, all of the corruption taking place and largely the fact that we don’t want our people like Vice President Biden and his son creating to the corruption already in the Ukraine,” Mr. Trump told reporters before leaving for a trip to Texas and Ohio.

It is still far from clear that the latest scandal surrounding Mr. Trump’s conduct will lead Ms. Pelosi or other top Democrats to bless full impeachment proceedings and a vote. The House Judiciary Committee is already investigating whether to recommend articles of impeachment against Mr. Trump over other matters, but Ms. Pelosi has consistently questioned the strength of the case.

Proponents of impeachment have repeatedly pointed to damaging revelations — including several instances of possible obstruction of justice by Mr. Trump detailed by the special counsel investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election — that they believe warrant seeking Mr. Trump’s removal. But they have run into resistance or indifference from their colleagues and the general public, in part because any impeachment proceeding could end in an acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate.

On Sunday, the pattern appeared to be holding, with the vast majority of Republican lawmakers refraining from comment about the latest allegations against Mr. Trump. A few prominent lawmakers suggested, however, that the White House should disclose the contents of the phone call with Mr. Zelensky.

“I’m hoping the president can share, in an appropriate way, information to deal with the drama around the phone call,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “I think it would be good for the country if we could deal with it.”

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, was more critical, deeming it “critical for the facts to come out” and saying, “If the president asked or pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political rival, either directly or through his personal attorney, it would be troubling in the extreme.”

At the same time, interviews with more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers this weekend made clear that they believed the latest allegations had the potential to be singularly incriminating, with the potential to advance the impeachment drive just as it appeared to be losing steam. Not only do the allegations suggest that Mr. Trump was using the power of his office to extract political gains from a foreign power, they argued, but his administration is actively trying once again to prevent Congress from finding out what happened.

“I don’t want to do any more to contribute to the divisiveness in the country, but my biggest responsibility as an elected official is to protect our national security and Constitution,” said Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, adding that it is “becoming more and more difficult” for Democrats to avoid an all-out impeachment inquiry.

Several first-term lawmakers who had opposed impeachment conferred privately over the weekend to discuss announcing support for an inquiry, potentially jointly, after a hearing scheduled for Thursday with the acting national intelligence director, according to Democratic officials familiar with the conversations. A handful of them declined to speak on the record over the weekend, with some still reluctant to go public and others looking for cues from Ms. Pelosi and their freshman colleagues.

Representative Tom Malinowski, a New Jersey freshman who has supported an inquiry, said the fresh revelations made it clear that Congress must move more decisively.

“There are lines being crossed right now that I fear will be erased if the House does not take strong action to assert them, to defend them,” he said in an interview. “If all we do is leave it up to the American people to get rid of him, we have not upheld the rule of law, we have not set a precedent that this behavior is utterly out of bounds.”

The Intelligence Committee chairman, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, said Sunday morning that the accumulating evidence of wrongdoing, and of a presidential cover-up unfolding in real time, left the House with few other options. Mr. Schiff spoke with Ms. Pelosi before making his remarks to coordinate their statements, two people familiar with their conversation said, a sign that the speaker may be more comfortable moving toward a direct discussion of impeachment.

“I have been very reluctant to go down the path of impeachment,” Mr. Schiff said on CNN. “But if the president is essentially withholding military aid at the same time he is trying to browbeat a foreign leader into doing something illicit, providing dirt on his opponent during a presidential campaign, then that may be the only remedy that is coequal to the evil that that conduct represents.”

Mr. Schiff first brought the existence of the whistle-blower complaint to light a little more than a week ago, and has been the party’s lead negotiator with the acting director of national intelligence, who has refused to turn it over to Congress.

Progressives in Congress have watched the stonewalling with seething frustration, and in recent days, they have begun to openly second-guess Ms. Pelosi’s go-slow approach.

“At this point, the bigger national scandal isn’t the president’s lawbreaking behavior — it is the Democratic Party’s refusal to impeach him for it,” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, who commands considerable influence among progressives, wrote on Twitter late Saturday night.

Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington and the co-chairwoman of the Progressive Caucus, said in an interview that she was now ready to vote outright to impeach Mr. Trump, rather than simply continuing the investigation, and that she planned to make her case in public.

“There is no congressional authority anymore that we are being allowed to exercise, except the one that we have not exercised yet,” Ms. Jayapal said.

But the more crucial issue is whether Democrats from the districts Mr. Trump won or nearly lost can stomach a push to expel him.

Representative Dina Titus of Nevada said once a transcript is made public of Mr. Trump pressuring Mr. Zelensky, she doubted that even Democrats from competitive seats could continue to resist impeachment.

“Once that comes out,” said Ms. Titus, an impeachment proponent, “I don’t see how they can fight it any longer.”

Strikingly, some traditionally cautious veteran Democrats said the party might have no choice but to move toward impeachment. They believe that Senate Republicans, who are clinging to their majority of 53 seats, would pay a political price for protecting Mr. Trump if they voted to exonerate him in the face of damning evidence of malfeasance and a House vote to impeach.

“They’ve got to take a second look” at impeachment, Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and national party chairman, who is an ally of Ms. Pelosi, said of fellow Democrats. He predicted that the latest revelations would “push some of our folks over.”

James Carville, the longtime Democratic strategist, said he had opposed impeachment, but now thinks the House should move “quick and clean” after obtaining a transcript of Mr. Trump’s phone call. “Let the Senate Republicans stew,” he said.

A cross-section of comments from readers across America on the latest scandal involving the Trump and his administration and impeachment:

"I'm seeing a lot of comments on here pointing blame at House Democrats for their handling of this. But Democrats aren't the problem here, and lashing out at them only plays right into trump's hands, creating the very divisiveness that helped him in 2016. We must not lose sight of where the true corruption lies. I agree that impeachment is more than warranted at this point. But with Barr's justice department now acting like Trump's personal lawyer, and trump's Republican lackeys trying to protect and enable trump at all costs to the country, Democrats are stuck between a rock and a hard place. House and Senate Democrats are the only ones trying to minimize and limit the damage that Trump's corruption is causing to our country. They're the only ones trying to keep a check on this out-of-control administration. But they face an uphill battle and need leverage. That's up to us. It's up to us to march, to make calls, to write letters, to protest, to boycott, to volunteer, to donate, etc. It'll be up to us to vote blue in 2020 (no matter who), up and down the ticket, in numbers too large to manipulate. If there was ever a time to unite and "walk the walk", this is it."

ROBERTA, KANSAS CITY

"It is time, Speaker Pelosi. We have been patient through the Mueller investigation and final report; we have been patient through Trump’s egregious actions, behavior, lies, bigotry, cruelty, human rights’ violations against desperate refugees, polluting our environment, denying us affordable and accessible health care, ad infinitum. You have your smoking gun, Ms. Pelosi and Chairmen Schiff and Nadler. How much longer are you going to sacrifice our democracy, our Constitution, justice, law, order, peace, and security for political expediency?"

KATHY LOLLOCK, SANTA ROSA CA

"I sided with Pelosi when she advised a thoughtful, patient approach the last time The Squad was clamoring for an impeachment inquiry, realizing that without any Republican support, impeachment would die in the Senate and fire up Trump’s base ahead of the 2020 elections. But enough is enough. Trump openly admits he obstructs justice and conspires with foreign powers, and he does it with sneering impunity. Sure, the GOP would block any of Pelosi’s attempts to hold Trump accountable, but we need to see SOME evidence that our leaders believe in their duty to enforce the rule of law and check the president’s clear abuses of power. The world is watching. Let’s try to save face just a little and show everyone that, although we who stand for the rule of law and the principles that this country were founded upon are down, we are NOT out. Even after winning back the Oval in 2020, it will take some time to restore the dignity the office presidency long held; but, we can start by sending a message that most of us do NOT accept this pretender in chief or his gang of cowardly enablers. It’s time for Pelosi et al to RESIST like the future of our nation depends on it!" FED UP, PA

“The administration is endangering our national security and having a chilling effect on any future whistle-blower who sees wrongdoing,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a letter on Sunday. And apparently by their overwhelming silence, members of the GOP are just fine with "endangering our national security and having a chilling effect on any future whistle-blower who sees wrongdoing." Although Trump is their leader, these folks continue to support him by remaining mute. They are equally guilty and complicit in the actions he is allowed to do without consequences. There's so much blame to go around, it's mind boggling."

MARGE KELLER, MIDWEST

" What brought Nixon down was the grievous, unpardonable sin of using the instruments of state—legal and extra-legal—against the other party. Trump probably colluded with Russia to get elected. But he wasn’t yet President, wasn’t yet cloaked in the flag, and hadn’t been able to use the full weight of the nation state to carry out shenanigans and blackmail. This could be a game changer." Michael ROBIN'S, SOUTH DAKOTA

"The Rubicon has indeed been crossed. Speaker Pelosi in her letter’s ultimatum to Trump demands without equivocation that he turn over the whistleblower complaint to Congress instanter or face the immediate prospect of impeachment. She is right to do so. The time has come that it is no longer relevant to the integrity of our form of government whether Trump’s abettors in the Senate choose to share in his ignominy. An analogous question to pose might be whether the FBI and the Justice Department should have declined in the 60’s to go after racial terrorism in anticipation of what kind of verdicts white southern juries might return. There are some things so odious that whatever the immediate outcome may be does not relieve one’s duty to show who we are and what we stand for (and for what we will not). Trump and Barr’s unlawful concealment of the whistleblower complaint from full disclosure to Congress indicates consciousness of guilt." XANADU, FLORIDA

"Please impeach this odious criminal. Netanyahu is out. Boris Johnson is in serious trouble. Trump is on the ropes. Note to Congress: Do your Constitutional duty and began steps toward impeachment. There is no time like the present." SCOTTOPOTTUMAS

"Whether on not the public is paying attention has no bearing on impeachment. The president broke the law, repeatedly. Full stop. We are either a country of laws or a country of lies. It’s way past time for the Democrats to get up and stand for something. They look like a pack of spineless cowards."

SHAWN STEPPER, CA

"When the House of Representatives finally moves to initiate impeachment proceedings, there will be no guarantee of success. However, there will be evidence that surfaces on a daily basis that will both surprise and shock and may move the registration points of citizenry and senators alike. This will escalate what is an already erratic news cycle into one of unseen and perhaps unintended consequences. Not to impeach because you don't have the votes in the Senate is like not getting up in the morning because you are not absolutely certain what will happen that day. Let the adventure begin. Our democracy may well depend on it."

BURHAM HOLMES, VT

"I am afraid that Nancy Pelosi has become very much like Trump in two important respects. One, is that she has repeatedly shown that she is more concerned about the 2020 election and maintaining power than fulfilling her constitutional duty to remove Trump from office for many high crimes and misdemeanors. Secondly, she has threatened (huffed and puffed) far more times than she has acted-well, she hasn't yet-period. I realize that it is an uphill fight to get the Senate to convict. I will, however, point out that, although a different time and era, many thought the same thing applied with Richard Nixon. It is amazing how public pressure can build, as it is now, when the facts and details about wrong-doing in the Oval Office begin to emerge. Republicans are already running scared about 2020. Witness the increasing number of those choosing not to seek re-election. Putting themselves in the position of voting to keep Trump in office in the light of his many transgressions, including the latest, which one could confidently argue amounts to treason (putting personal interests above his oath of office), may be a "bridge too far" for some Republican Senators." SAVKS, ATLANTA

Every time DJT does something incredibly foolish and stupid, I tell myself, "Well, I guess we've hit rock-bottom". And, then he does something even more foolish and stupid. Wake up America! We elected a buffoon. And, it's time to end this colossal mistake. PHILO, ALBANY NY

Perhaps they are waiting to see if he actually does shoot someone on 5th Ave. before they decide to impeach. DR. TLS, AUSTIN TX

It’s important that we define the real problem here. Whether or not Trump promised an explicit quid pro quo regarding financial aid to Ukraine is not the point and may not be provable. We don’t need to prove a criminal act such as bribery. What we have here is proof that Trump is using the position and powers of the presidency to pressure a foreign government to intervene in our electoral process by investigating an opposing candidate. This is clear abuse of the office and the public trust. Speaker Pelosi, enforce the subpoenas with the inherent power of the Congress, force the facts to come out and then, impeach. It’s time." MICHELE, SEATTLE WA

"I think Trump genuinely doesn't understand the gravity of what this phone call evidence means. He is still trying to convince us that any president would do what he did, that it's perfectly acceptable to tell a foreign government to investigate a political opponent in return for payment of foreign aid to that country. Trump is so mired in corruption that I really don't think he understands what the big deal is. And, unfortunately many of his followers don't either. Many Americans still believe that "all politicians do this stuff," and don't want to accept how far off from even the normal quid pro quo in politics this is. Trump's corruption has so skewed what we view as acceptable behavior by presidents that many Americans are not in the least concerned. Trump doesn't seem to sense how far he's gone, and neither do his fans." MS. PEA, SEATTLE

"I think the existence of a tape changed some people's minds. The Zelensky transcript will undoubtedly become public in an impeachment inquiry. You'll have evidence straight from the horse's mouth. If Senate Republicans decline to convict, Democrats can hold it against them in 2020. The optics aren't going to look good for Republicans. Add to this the Inspector General's determination of urgent and serious misconduct. Michael Atkinson was a Trump appointee confirmed by a Republican Senate. Mitch McConnell's discomfiture will increase accordingly. That's before considering the legal process concerning an urgent complaint. You might not get to 60 votes but this matter is clear in a way that Mueller's obstruction claim was not. If the Zelensky transcript really is innocuous, the White House will fold by Thursday. If Trump digs-in, it doesn't matter what the whistleblower complaint ultimately reveals, Democrats will be absolved for beginning impeachment proceedings. Withholding the complaint is obstruction, plain and simple. Win-win. “Let the Senate Republicans stew.”" ANDY, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

If Trump is allowed to continue on like this, there won’t be any point in an election in 2020. He’s subverting democracy right before our eyes. We don’t need the senate to vote to convict. We need the evidence to come out so we know what it is. And congress has the power to get the evidence. They MUST do so. WORTHINGTON, HOUSTON

"How pathetic that Republicans continue to sit around and twiddle their thumbs while trump rips up our democracy and laughs in our faces about it. If Republicans can't work up the backbone to speak up for the U.S. and the Rule of Law, then democracy is already lost." DEJIKINS, ROCHESTER

" As someone who has been skeptical but mildly supportive of impeachment, for the sake of holding the administration accountable to the rule of law, this for me is a turning point. Even the mildest of observers will have no doubt trump is capable of doing what he is being accused of, but to have evidence of a phone call is extraordinary. If/when that comes to light he will say that the Democrats altered his voice and that it’s a fake tape. And 35% of Americans will actually believe him. This is not the same news cycle as when Nixon was impeached and having dualing realities between Fox News and everyone else is going to make this much harder. Darker times still ahead..." DANIEL, STOWE VT

"The media and the Democrats are being played. We’ve known for some time that Gulliani went to the Ukraine to employ them for dirt on Biden. Trump knows he can get away with this behavior, and why not? He’s publicly done it before and no one in this craven congress has held him accountable. He requested Russia’s aid for dirt in on Hillary on live television during a national debate! So I don’t buy this “whistleblower” story one bit. I think his team has leaked this story exactly when they meant to, in a way that would dominate the news as loudly and for as long as they could: by packaging it as a scandal. And the NYT, the Democrats, and everyone else are eating it up by are playing right into their hands. None of this will stick and they know it, but they get to revel in the story while the Democrats wring their hands and complain about how unprecedented it all is. Once again, the Dems are playing politics but the GOP is at war." MIKE F, WESTCHESTER