#i can be optimistic a.m.

[ambers-archive]

About you

In which Spencer falls in love with your words before he falls in love with you as a person

It’s 2:30 a.m., and all Spencer can do is stare at the ceiling, his migraine making him feel restless.

He’s only ever told Emily about the migraines, who now is gone.

Of course, he thinks blue light makes it worse, but he can’t help himself.

He’s been re-reading your research paper.

You’re a medical student, just starting to dip your toes into the ocean of research.

When he found yours, he’d been deep on the web, scrolling through articles. It only had around fifty reads—probably because it still needed refining and had only been published two hours ago.

The paper centered on the dismissal of female patients in medicine.

He knows he is not the target audience for your research paper, yet he can relate to your words.

His migraines have often been waved off, reduced to psychosomatic symptoms, or trivialized as “nothing serious.”

“I just want to feel safe going to the doctor,” you’d written.

He knows it’s odd to be so fixated on an article—and by extension, on you.

Your full name, along with your email, was listed at the bottom. Public information; perfectly reasonable for him to reach out, yet he resists, settling instead for reading every word you’ve written, as though someone finally understands him.

His thoughts seem to echo from your words.

“Our health is seen as us overreacting. We could be bleeding abnormally, clearly in pain—pain that’s beyond anything comparable. Yet, it will be dismissed as period pains. Cramps. ‘Just tough it out.’ It’s no accident that the word hysteria originates from the Greek word for uterus.”

"Doctors and nurses—the very people you’re supposed to trust with your life"

.Spencer reads the passage over and over, wanting to etch it into his memory.

He loves the way you write—assertive yet curious, optimistic yet grounded in reality."

He finds himself frowning reaching the bottom of your paper.

There must be more, he thinks. Do you only write research papers?

Are you a reader, too?

Feeling like a bit of a creep, he types your name into a search engine. His smile widens when he finds your blog. The page features the same painting you used for your article profile—another piece of you for him to explore.

[yanmuffins]

asks 2.

context.

here are some more asks i'm replying to in a bulk about phineas and ferb reader!!

my favorite part in dc. vs vampires is when reader comes together with damian and damian to build a silly machine that un-vampifies people in like half a day so they can defeat the vampire king. it is canon.

@amethystjellyfish

perry really is reader's number #1 stan. they're his family, reader's had him since he was a small platypus baby!

he does his best to keep reader safe, which is why he doesn't like the batfam much. he keeps it professional on the rare occasions they go on missions together, but that's it. he hates how dismissive of reader they are in the beginning, and he hates them later on when they star showering them with attention because they found out about their inventions.

not tired, anon! i love seeing people enjoy my concepts and interact with them!! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

and i'm sure this has happened. more than once, actually. the power of coincidence is strong with reader. the life-saving laser beam comes from a situation involving reader's latest machine they built and tested with the help of jon.

unfortunately, one of his lasers richochets on the machine during testing, not only causing it to save batfamily's life, caught in a dangerous situation in a completely different location, but also destroys the machine so there's nothing to link it to reader.

ah, well. they'll just have to keep looking.

reader, seeing them run past her: oh! there's perry :)

i love how we have established tim is terrified of this platypus. nevermind the other pets in the manor, it's the platypus with its googly eyes that drives him insane. they don't get it, he got up to drink water at 3 a.m. and the thing was just there, looking at him. menacingly.

jason would though. meanwhile, perry is wishing he could just go back to metropolis. he didn't have to deal with reader's siblings in metropolis. he doesn't get enough hazard pay for this.

hm... good question!

i like to think that, much like with phineas and ferb, luck is on reader's side most of the time, so i don't see reader getting injured by their own inventions.

but, let's suppose they do: it's a nice sunday afternoon, the batfam has decided to gather around the living room and hang out, watch a movie, lots of popcorn and soda. they don't have to think about criminals or fighting, tim and damian are bickering, jason is around, peace reigns the manor.

until they hear an explosion. they run to the garage only to find reader on the floor, unconscious, bleeding, and an assortment of destroyed metal components to a machine they can't decipher. damian doesn't even feel good about reader finally being busted.

later, when reader is back home, awake and out of risk but with a bandage around their head and their leg in a cast, they're in for the biggest (and probably first) scolding of their entire lives. reader tries to play it off. it wasn't that big of a deal, they're fine, aren't they? and they're genuinely optimistic about it. but the entire family is talking over each other at first, until bruce signals for everyone to shut up and leave the room. he has a very serious talk with reader, and makes it very clear they're not to come near a toolbox ever again.

but he understands. it's partly his fault for not being attentive. he won't make that mistake again.

ofc reader is really upset. dick comes next, then stephanie, then cass, then duke, then barbara and they all try to convince reader in a much more amiable tone that hey, it's fine. who needs to do all that whacky stuff to have fun? just hang out with us. they can get another hobby, and this time they can make it a family thing! how's that sound? not fun? don't be like that... they're sure reader will come around.

tim is pretty much the only one who congratulates them for being awesome pulling all those stunts, one per day, it's impressive. but now it's time to step back a bit. who knows? try being careful and bruce will let you work with a welding tool again. one day. maybe.

damian and jason's reactions are more similar to bruce's. in other circumstances, damian is on reader's side and helps them sneak around to continue their shenanigans, but in the case of reader getting hurt he just wants them to not do that. any of that. ever again. and jason has to hold himself back not to snap and ask them what the hell were they thinking?! they could have died! he ends up just telling them to quit it. they're just a kid who shouldn't be messing around with that sort of stuff.

anon, i wouldn't go as far as say he'd use venom against them, but he's bit batfam before. as stated, he does not dig their vibe at all!

anon, that's a great idea! though i think p&f! reader is much too motivated by the creative process and experience that their inventions bring more than just willing them to come to life.

they have the power to create whatever they want, but what's the fun of it? what about hte process? the building? the friends they make along the way? the memories? i think reader would find the ring awesome at first, but the novelty would wear of in less than a week.

anon...

because i dig the idea of reader being friends with dipper and mabel. reader talks about their crazy inventions, and loves hearing about all the cryptids they came across during vacation.

reader invites the twins to the manor, they share their most recent summer memories. reader talks about that one time they built and drove a massive monster truck with their brother damian, but jason only comes into the room in time to hear about dipper and mable talk about the weirdmaggedon. he has several question marks around his head. aren't those kids a a little too old to be making shit up? or maybe... no, there's no way. or is there? no... he would have heard about this... but weirder things have happened. but what if...

@randomlyappearingartist

you are so right. to be honest, i don't even think the batfam would even know of his existence, since he's pretty much a very minor villain acting in metropolis. after perry joins the league, or in the rare occasion of dr. doof teaming up with another minor gotham villian like condiment man, is when they get to know he exists.

and since perry seems to have him under control, they don't even acknowledge the guy.

i love love love this sm!

they assume it's just flash mobs. it's got to be. flash mobs with really weird themes, like an entire musical number dedicated to the squirrels in damian's pants. that was strange. bruce patrolling in the middle of the night and this new crime lord just burst into a song with a band and hired back dancers, because it's apparently a new trend a minor villain in metropolis started.

and what about that one time dick took damian (and reader) to the library and some guy just started singing about how he doesn't have rhythm? and damian just started playing a trumpet? and reader started singing? i mean, it was a bop and he started dancing, but it was weird anyway.

but now i'm thinking of damian and reader singing the "summer" song together (he sings the "it's noticeably warmer" and that's it) though! wholesome.

@lazyandannoyng

not annoying at all! you're good ⸜(˙꒳​˙ )

i have this little idea in my head that reader doesn't take the wayne name when find out bruce is their dad and move to gotham, and bruce is pretty secretive about this new kid of his for purely privacy and safety reasons. so when reader does their networking, it's often not obvious they're a wayne. not sure if this will make it into the fic, but it really resonates with this concept!

it's also funny to think that a lot of people don't even know reader and the waynes are related. even if they do know reader is related to the batfam, nobody really talks about them by name (just "your sibling"), and all of those little details like never asking about where the gloves came from (because why would he) or the misunderstandings where one party means one thing and the other assumes it's another (dick has many siblings! too many!) just end up helping reader not get caught. and i just think that's neat.

[goodolddumbbanana]

"OH, YOU FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE MY PRESENCE 💀"

NAME: Sunfall.

Dimension: Nice Nexus.

Status: Slowly being left behind by his Moon

Personality: Anxious, Sarcastic, Optimistic, Sorta Smart

Will he be afraid to kick somebody's 🐬🐬🐬? NOPE, HE KNOCK EM OUT ✨

@ask-nice-nexus-aus-sun Mod: also do we reblog to RP or use asks?

we can RP if you want ☺️

Sun: (*He smiled awkwardly, his hands fidgeting with each other, Sun's voice gradually getting smaller and smaller.*) Hi... It is kinda awkward... Aw boy... I am not good at this.... Ahhh... May I ask who you are?

SunBOT: Oh!!! HELLO NEW FRIEND!!! IT IS NICE TO MEET YOU!! We are so sorry that we have not seen you totally, it's not like you are so small!!! haha---- Ack! Aw fu---!!! (Still get his ass handed by Dark Sun)

(*Sunny nudged Sundrop, who was about to fall asleep on his feet, to wake up*)

Sunny: Sundrop? Do you know this Sun?

(*Sundrop let out a startled squeal, then looked around frantically before realizing there was nothing about to hurt him.*)

(*He signs a very annoying sign.*)

Sundrop: Why every time you guys see anything weird happens, the first person you guys ask is me, and not this Emo Lord over there?

(*Sunny said nothing, just silently pointed at the scene of Dark Sun is strangling SunBOT with passion.*)

Sundrop: Understandable.

(*He shrugs, then takes a good look at Sunfall*)

It is totally not proving anything, mind you. But this guy from... Hmn... Let see... Ah... He is from the dimensions when Nexus didn't suck?

(*Sun just immediately chokes, poor guy

His cough sounded like a boiling kettle.*)

Sundrop: Which is weird... Because 99% of Nexus if they didn't die, or gone crazy and also die in this process then they just become furry. And I haven't seen any furry Nexus since the Dark Age.

Cringe Sun: If you want to see a furry so bad, I can be a furry for you. In bed. Wink. Wink. 😏😏

Sundrop: You didn't not f🐬🐬🐬 say wink wink. Wait!! (* He shakes in fear*) Why can't I swear anymore? F🐬CK! Sh🐬t!!! MOTHER F🐬🐬🐬!!! YOU!!!!

(*turning back and pointing at Sunfall*)

What did you do to my ability to swear!!!

SunBOT (*lying on the ground, struggling with Dark Sun's feet pressing down on his back.*) I know what he did!!! HE IS THE WITCH!!!! AND HE IS CRUSING YOU!!!!

Sun:

Sunny:

Sundrop:

Dark Sun:

SunBOT: I am gonna stop talking right now.

Cringe Sun: Oh, look✨✨✨ drama at 6 a.m💅💅💅 lucky me (*sips more of his vodka*)

*Servant whispers with goose Sun from afar* If I know we will have this much sh🐬t just right on the morning, I would stay home.

Goose Sun: *Honk in approved*

[pubbamoon]

The Natal Chart of Taylor Swift

Good afternoon (or maybe evening) to everyone! In my next post I'm going to analyze the Taylor Swift's tropical natal chart. I think that everyone knows who that woman is, I don't even have to explain that. I chose to analyze her natal chart, because she's one of the most successful singers currently and her ongoing tour is probably the biggest tour ever. First, I'm gonna put her details as an intro. Her full birth name is Taylor Alison Swift. She was born on December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Her birth time is 5:17 a.m. Now, we can get into her natal chart.

Taylor Swift has a Sagittarius Sun, Cancer Moon and a Scorpio Rising. This tells me that she's is tune with her emotions, optimistic, intense, passionate and energetic. Her chart ruler, Mars, is located in its own sign of Scorpio, in the 1st house, tightly conjuncting her Ascendant. Her Mars/chart ruler is in domicile and is in very strong position and it's placed in the 1st house, which means that she has a strong personality and she naturally attracts other people by just being herself, which is truly a blessing. She is basically supported by showing her true personality.

Mars and Pluto are both placed in her 1st house, which makes her powerful, ambitious, success-oriented and even calculative. She's always been hated and scrutinized by a lot of people, because both Mars and Pluto are malefic planets. People either love her or hate her. She has always seemed to people as someone who's a control freak, which can be a manifestation of this placement. Mars represents men and Pluto represents obsessions and this indicates men being obsessive with her, extremely loving her or extremely hating her. Or maybe she's the one who hates men. Who knows.

Her domiciled Mars/chart ruler also rules her 6th house, which means that she's very hard-working individual who takes care of her health. She has a lot of people who openly hate her, 'cause the 6th house is associated with the open enemies.

The thing that always gets my attention whenever I read her chart is her stellium in the 3rd house in Capricorn sign, being formed by Mercury, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. A stellium is a pattern in astrology and it occurs when there's three or more planets in one sign and house. It represents what we might focus the most in our life path. This stellium gave me a clarity about her focusing on writing. She really takes writing very seriously and is articulative. The conjunction between her Mercury and Neptune makes Taylor creative with words, she communicates in creative and in intuitive way. Her communication might be indirect, she has never talked badly about anyone. A lot of singers have aspect between Mercury and Neptune, including Taylor. She's also very grounded, ambitious and career-oriented person, which relates to the Capricorn sign.

She also has a conjunction between her Moon and Jupiter, but this time in Cancer, 9th house. The Moon is its own sign in Cancer, while Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, which is a truly lucky placement for her. Whenever I see the conjunction between the Moon and Jupiter, it mostly means that this person was born into the rich family. Same with Taylor, she grew up wealthy, 'cause the Moon represents childhood, while Jupiter represents aristocracy. The conjunction in the 9th house makes Taylor intelligent, smart and a learned individual. She was a great student at school with the straight A's. This conjunction also tells me that she is lovely, nice, bubbly and can be liked by everyone.

In the context of her career, she has 10th house in Leo and Midheaven in Virgo in the 11th house. Her Leo 10th house tells me that she can work in creative field and in entertainment industry. The South Node is placed in Leo in the 10th house, which means that she might take the type of career which is tied to her spiritual calling. The South Node represents the past and she is often dressed like she came from the older times (50s/60s/70s/80s). She basically released her album called 1989 which was inspired by the music from the late 1980s. Her 10th house ruler, the Sun, is placed in Sagittarius in the 2nd house of money, throat and singing. She's always had a financially stable career as a singer. The math is mathing here.

With her Virgo Midheaven, she might be seen as grounded, workaholic, stable, clean and even calculative to the other people. Her Midheaven being placed in the 11th house means that she's supposed to work in organization or with other people. The 11th house is associated with social media, fans, internet, masses of people, finances etc. and she has always had a connection with her fans. She also uses the internet/social media to build her career and to connect more with the fans from the beginning of her career. She was even the most followed person on Instagram back in 2016, I guess.

Her ruler of the Midheaven, Mercury, is placed in Capricorn in the 3rd house and it's part of the stellium I mentioned before. The 3rd house relates to the writing, communication and self-expression and she's built her career as a songwriter. She has a lot of good aspects with Midheaven and with its ruler. Her Midheaven forms a trine aspect with her Mercury (MC ruler), Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and a sextile aspect with Jupiter. She really has a flourishing career and she is mostly liked by others. Her Midheaven ruler conjuncting Uranus means that she might have a career that no one saw before. Neptune conjuncting her MC ruler indicates her career as a musician. Neptune represents illusions and idols, so she's been idolized by a lot of people. Saturn also conjuncts her MC ruler, which indicates a stable and long-lasting career with consistency in her success and work.

She has a lot of oppositions in her natal chart, especially in Cancer-Capricorn axis. She is someone who needs to balance her emotions with stability. Her natal chart has a see-saw shape, which means that she is a balanced person in general. It's hard to categorize her.

Now I want to look at some of the asteroids. We all know that she always uses the word karma. The asteroid called Karma (3811) conjuncts her Midheaven ruler (Mercury) in the 3rd house and she wrote a song called 'Karma' and it was a huge hit last year. The asteroid Fama (408) represents fame and it's located in the exact position as her Mercury, in the 3rd house, forming a trine aspect with Midheaven. She's basically famous for writing songs and for a successful career she has.

The asteroid Aphrodite (1388) is associated with the beauty and is placed in her 10th house, which means that she's always been described as beautiful. Her Aphrodite forms a square aspect with her Ascendant, which can also indicate beauty, but she often receives negative reactions by others because of her presence.

The asteroid Talent (33154) is placed in Libra in the 12th house in her natal chart. This tells me that she is naturally artistic and creative and has a talent in negotiating. Talent trines her Moon, which means that she knows how to express her emotions easily. This asteroid also squares both of her Venus and Ascendant, meaning that she might have to work on her artistic talents or that people always question her talents and musical abilities.

When it comes to the relationships and sexuality, I can tell that she has a lot of placements that can indicate being gay or bisexual. No wonder why Gaylor theory is (or was) so viral on the internet. She has Venus in Aquarius, which can indicate being open to the relationships and being attracted to something that is out of the norms. Her Venus is also placed in the 4th house, which is a very private house, so even if she's open in the relationships, there could be a lot of hidden things about her love life and sexuality. Her 7th house ruler is Aquarius Venus, which duplicates everything I wrote.

She has a 5th house and the 8th house in mutable signs, which can also be a sign of someone's homosexuality or bisexuality, 'cause the mutable signs are so adaptable and open. Her 5th house ruler, Jupiter, opposites her Uranus, Mercury, Neptune and Saturn. Her 8th house ruler, Mercury, conjuncts her Uranus and Neptune. These placements can show that she might be a sexually fluid or even restricted. Both 5th and 8th houses are associated with sex and how we express our sexuality.

Part of Fortune of hers is placed in Taurus in the 7th house. This doesn't mean her being gay/bi, but it indicates her being lucky when she is in stable mode and when she's surrounded by people. She'll always be successful if she's a people's person and uses her artistic abilities. Lucky her!

This was the natal chart of Taylor Swift. I hope you enjoyed it. Comment what do you think about that if you want to. I didn't want to call her out, I just wanted to analyze her natal chart. Thanks for understanding.

Best regards,

Paky McGee

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Y is for -- Yes Man

Yay! Golly, who doesn't love Yes Man? He's just such a sarcastic little sweetheart and I'm not immune to his adorable, securitron charms. So, here's this!

I hope you all enjoy!

And with this, that's it!!

Thank you all so much for being a part of my lil 2k celebration! It was so amazing seeing everyone's reactions to these prompts, and literally SUCH a treat to write for some of these more "unfamiliar" characters! Love you all, and thank you so much for celebrating with me!

Next event updates will be coming... very soon 👀 So stay tuned for that! ❤️😊

And here is the 2k event masterlist, for your browsing pleasure!

--

Pair: Yes Man & Reader

Dialogue: “Promise me you’ll still be here when I wake up.”

Word: Yours

Rating: SFW

Category: Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 1.7k

You paced back and forth around the hotel room, the only sound the scuffling of your slippered feet and the scrawl of your pen over the legal pad in your hands. 

“Is it enough, though? Did we even cover the–” Your eyes narrowed as you looked over your scribbled notes, trying (and failing) to blink the sleep from them as you attempted to decipher the chicken scratch upon the page. “The Boomers? What’re we doing about them when we take power, I mean, I haven’t even met with them yet, what if I get–” 

“Yep, we sure did talk about them, Six! Remember? In the first meeting we had today! The one at 4 in the morning that you insisted on! You remember now?” 

“The one… oh yeah, I do now.” You chuckled, flipping through the papers on your pad to the notes you’d taken-- what was it now, ten hours ago? 

My handwriting was much easier to read this morning, that’s for sure…

“‘Send a securitron with a note…' oh yeah, that was a decent idea.” 

“Sure was!” Yes Man agreed with that same dopey, optimistic smile permanently etched upon his face. 

After so long a day, the smile became much harder to believe. 

“Definitely get your best ideas after having slept a full night, don’tcha boss?” 

“Maybe…” You bit your bottom lip at that, catching his meaning through the words easily. 

Time for bed, boss. 

He’d never give you a command outright, you knew he couldn’t. It’s not what… what Benny designed Yes Man for, after all. Still though, suggestions he gave rather often. And this suggestion, most often of all. 

How many days has it been since I let myself sleep? And here? Probably never…

Well, not since that first night, anyway.

“Six? Still thinking of some wonderful ideas, or do you want me to go and get your pajamas for you?” 

“Still thinking right now, Yes Man.” 

Though, you allowed yourself the small reprieve of sitting on the edge of the bed. The mattress gave generously as you sat upon it, the plushness of it overwhelming you after so many nights spent down in Freeside at the Wrangler. 

“Might head out pretty soon, here.” You told the bot, with the knowledge that he could easily guess where you meant to go. “You can stay here tonight though, if you want to. I’ll be back early enough, I’m sure.” 

“Sure boss, sounds like a swell idea!” Yes Man paused, but you could tell he wanted to say more, you didn’t quite know how you knew that, but something about his tone, or maybe even his expression–

I really am starting to lose it, huh? 

Yes Man’s expression doesn’t change.

Guess this is what happens when you get 3 hours of sleep a–

“Yes. I think it makes total and utter sense for you to walk to the Atomic Wrangler through the strip and Freeside– which is known to be quite dangerous– at two in the morning without me by your side to help you! And then to come back here in the morning, likely as early as four a.m. to chat with me some more! I’m so glad we’re going to have someone as dedicated, dependable and quick-witted as you leading all of New Vegas real soon! You seem completely equipped for the stresses that’ll bring!” 

You pursed your lips as he spoke, your tired gaze resting on the dull, pulsing glow of his screen lighting up with each word, casting a green-tinged gleam over the carpeted floor of the Tops' hotel suite. 

“I don’t know what to do, Yes Man.” You admitted with a small voice, and heard the turn of his wheel as he scooted closer to you to better hear your words. “I… I can’t stay here, can’t sleep in this room, after Benny…” 

With a sigh, you laid back on the bed, your body aching and pleading for a rest, even as your mind cast the sensation of a thousand ants crawling over your skin at the feel of the familiar sheets. The smell of the room, the décor, even the sounds; the dull conversations and jazz music that were all blaring far down stairs, the squeaky whine of the elevator moving along its vertical track, footsteps pattering through the halls… Anytime there was quiet, any time you weren’t moving, thinking, that Yes Man wasn’t talking, you were sucked back into your memories of this place. Your first time here, with him. 

That wretched man who tried to kill you. The asshole, who talked his way into your heart through the span of one night, who made you feel… singular. Like you could conquer the world, and run the whole thing, with him at your side. 

Just give him the chip… Just stay the night… 

Do what he said, and he would give you the world, and his heart, all at once. 

You kicked yourself every night at the thought that you ever believed him. 

But what could you say now? At the time, you were scared, you were alone and angry, and then… Then you were in love. Quickly, yes, but still, you were.

And for what?

You raked your nails down your face painfully, and a deep groan escaped you as you were caged by your own memories in this wretched room. 

“Well, Benny… Well, that guy’s gone!" Yes Man piped up, "It’s just you and me now, Six! You don’t have to worry at all–”

“I know he’s gone, Yes Man! That’s the fucking problem!” You sat up suddenly as you shouted at him, and the bot backed away from where he’d started to approach you. “He and I were supposed to do this together! Not just me and– and– fucking you.”

You were on your feet now, and Yes Man was caged in against the opposite wall as you stalked towards him, with nostrils flared and teeth in a snarl, you continued.

“You were the enemy. You told him how to follow me, knew the best place for him to fucking shoot me and leave me buried in the dirt, you were meant to plot with him from the start, and now? Now... why? Why the hell do you care what happens to me? Why are you planning all this without him? Benny was the one who made you, programmed you, what… What the hell are you doing with me, when… When you’re his.”  

There was no malice in the end, it had all escaped you in the first bouts of shouting. Now, all that was left was a somber sort of curiosity. Honest, but dejected all at once. 

Even now, I’m still holding onto a part of Benny…

“Because, Six, well… I’m not his anymore. I’m yours! I like planning this hostile takeover with you, and I like the meetings and the way you ask my opinion!” 

You looked up from where your gaze had rested on the dull, red carpet, your eyes now meeting Yes Man’s optimistic screen, and lighting up with the glow of it.   

“Benny may have asked for me to be made, and programmed the way I am, but then… Well, he left both of us, didn’t he?”   

Was that… a bit of anger and, even, a touch of sadness in his upbeat voice?

Maybe I am just losing it…     

“He was my boss, but now you are! And even more than that, you’re my friend!” 

You blinked at him, feeling your throat swell up with emotion at the word he used. 

Friend. 

“Y-you really mean that, Yes Man?”

“Sure do, pal! We’re closer than two buildings snugly adjacent to one another! And I mean it!” 

A laugh couldn’t help but pry itself from you, and you nearly fell over from the force of it. Until you felt one gentle, metal hand brace on your shoulder. 

“Don’t know why you found that so funny, friend, but I sure am glad you did! I like to see your smile! And I’m not just saying that to be nice! I know it can be hard to tell when I mean something because of the way Benny programmed my voice, but I really do mean everything that I said! And what I said right now!” 

“Okay, okay!” You were still falling over, holding your stomach as you laughed until your eyes watered. “Thank you, Yes Man, I believe you, I do.” 

Somehow, you were back on the bed, sitting with Yes Man’s hand still on your shoulder as you fought to catch your breath. 

“A-alright…” You spoke, once you’d calmed down. “I… might be able to sleep here tonight. Maybe.” 

You bit your lip again, knowing damn well you were one bite shy of making it bleed with all the nerves coursing through you. 

“Just… Can you promise me something?” 

“Sure can, once you tell me what it is!” 

“Can you just… promise me you’ll still be here when I wake up? I know it seems silly, but–”

“Yes, Six. I promise I’ll still be here when you wake up!” 

A smile touched your lips at his words, and even with that feeling of foolishness at the forefront of your mind, you felt… reassured; like the sustained, comforting pressure of his hand on your shoulder. 

“Thanks… Friend.” 

“Sure thing, Six! And, I want you to know, I’m not just promising that because I have to agree with everything you say! I would promise it either way!” 

You laid back, finally feeling the fatigue in your body and mind take hold of you and force your eyelids to close and your muscles to relax into the mattress below. Still though, even in your exhaustion, you found it in you to broaden your grin at Yes Man’s words.

“Glad to hear it.” You told him, “And… goodnight, Yes Man.” 

“Goodnight, Six!” His voice was quieter, as he wheeled himself back into his corner of the room and dimmed the lights down, “I’ll see you in the morning!” 

It was almost a whisper, but still, the comforting words rang through you as you finally felt sleep take you into it’s comforting arms and lull you into a pleasant dreamland.

[bowieandqueen11]

Dating Frenchie Would Include...

Request: Hi, May I please request some headcanons of what dating Frenchie (Our Flag Means Death) would include, please? Thank you so much!! 🖤

Of course my darling, here you go!!

Warning: a little strong language! Also I wrote this at 3 a.m. so it may be unintelligible 🏳️‍🌈

(I do not own OFMD or any of its characters, all rights go to creators. Gif credit goes to @crucifiix.)

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°

Lmao love a bit of fanfiction about Frenchie big fan

You are 100% the only other crew member, or the only other anybody in fact, that Frenchie allows into his room. Far too many times have you been caught sitting side saddled over Frenchie’s lap by Wee John Feeney, stroking the bottom of his beard and giggling as the two of you bump foreheads and continue talking shit about the newly crowned ‘Dizzy Izzy’ (during a rough patch in the storm that had raged earlier that night, he had accidentally tumbled after a large pitch into Lucius’ lap, and by golly was he not letting anyone forget about it.) Wee John just sighs, walking straight back out and letting the door slam shut; the last thing you can hear as you try to stifle your laugh against the side of Frenchie’s neck is him calling you ‘the weirdest eejits’ he’s ever met. Neither of you are really paying attention though: your lips managed to accidentally rub against the tip of Frenchie’s collar bone, one of his more ticklish points, and the man was too busy apologising and trying to give you a hand up after accidentally flinging you to the floor.

After a lot of coaxing, a lot of fake pouting, and a lot of pecking forehead kisses to try and convince him round to the idea, he does eventually get used to the idea of you sleeping over as well! I feel like Frenchie is definitely a ‘leg over you like a mossy log that’s been stuck in a marshy bog for hundreds of years and hasn’t moved an inch in that entire time’ kind of sleeper. Like, the man is so tall that on your single shared bed you’re lying properly on it as the bottom layer, and then Frenchie is playing a game of Tetris with his limbs over you during the night. Usually it ends up with his head dipped down and tucked up all neat and cosy against the side of your cheek, his snores resonating loudly enough through the walls of the ship that they could have invented the foghorn right there and then, and his left leg splayed completely over your midriff.

If you get too uncomfortable and give him a shove he will eventually roll over and curl up like an armadillo so you can spoon him though. That is, if one of you hasn’t managed to shove the other out of the bed first - it’s a common occurrence for Wee John to wake Frenchie up from where he’s half lying under the bed, but even though he’s got aching shoulders from spending half the night rolling about the wood he’s still all smiles and doe eyes at you when he sees you’re awake too. Like a Jack in the box, he pops up over the side of the bed with a smile bright enough to make even the crystal dawn of the sea pale by comparison, and presses a kiss against the tip of your nose before skipping off. He’s so sweet your honour I actually cannot with this man.

Sometimes he likes to talk before the two of you fall asleep. Before he’s splayed out like a starfish, the two of you lie in the cot side by side and just fiddle with each other’s fingers on the pillow. Noses close enough to rub against each other if you dared to move a hare and legs pulled up in a half-sit so they can rest familiarly against each other, Frenchie relishes and relaxes in the knowledge that there’s someone on this ship that will know his story. That there’s someone left in the world that’s even willing to hear it, to care about him, and not just what he can do for them. There’s a poignant wistfulness to the air, to his words, so much so that from time to time he can’t even meet your eye. He still always flashes you that shy, optimistic smile from time to time, but you can see the past in the wrinkles of his face every time he uncomfortably starts to recoil when you press your palm to his cheek.

Not going to lie, he may not be a visual artist to rival the mastery of Lucius, but you can bet your sandy ass that Frenchie has pinned up the walls some doodles he’s drawn of you in his spare time, with parchment that he tore out and ‘borrowed’ from Stede’s diary. When Stede collected the crew on the deck a few days later and had a ‘team meeting’ about why stealing was wrong, Frenchie gave a very convincing shrug and ‘it wasn’t me’ frown when Stede asked who had taken the paper. I mean, he was always bound to find out, and when he did stumble into Frenchie and Wee John’s room the next afternoon to borrow his lute (he was planning to write a song for Blackbeard to convince him he was more of a catch than Calico Jack don’t even ask), he only smiled fondly and shut the door when he spotted what his diary had been used for. (And secretly hoped that Ed wouldn’t find his own doodles of him in said diary lmao.)

Oooh, can you imagine how lovely it would be to stumble through Stede’s secret tunnel and to go sit out by unicorn figurehead with Frenchie?? Just the two of you, feet swinging together through the planks, the swirling pockets of silver dancing over the warm tides and the comforting buzz of Frenchie’s voice as he sings for you. With your head resting on his shoulder, you’re too busy falling into a blissful oblivion to even notice that Frenchie’s stopped picking at the strings of his lute, and has instead set it down at his side. He’s found that a much better use of his time would be staring at you, so obviously, so fondly, so sweetly: as if dewdrops hung from his lips, ready for the northern dawn that only your splendour could bring.

Getting to tie that cute little cravat around his neck before the five of you jump ship to go to that fancy dinner party. Every time you try to loop the end of it back through he chases your fingers (to try and kiss them or bite them, you’re not entirely sure), but it does make the two of you burst out into another fit of giggles.

Although he has quite a sweet disposition, Frenchie is 100% ready to throw hands for you. The whole time he’s trying to crank up Oluwande’s ‘pyramid scheme’, he has one eye on the valuables being handed over and one trained solely on you. If any of the esteemed and highly respectable guests become a little too eager, coltish, agitated, Frenchie is straight on it. Before you can even knock their wig off, he’s grabbed your wrist and pulled you either behind his back or dragged you out to the hull with the sternest expression you’ve ever seen on his face. Either way, he’ll always put himself in the firing line of harm’s way first, if it means protecting you.

The two of you spend about 70% of your time singing together on deck. Frenchie’s jamming along with his lute, and you’re animatedly singing and dancing around him, often roping in Lucius to come do full body jigs or a ridiculing minuet Frenchie’s intensifying sea shanties. Since the three of you were supposed to be finishing Izzy’s order to mop the deck, he’s sitting cross legged on the helm behind your spinning bodies, with enough steam coming out of his crimson ears to drown the sky in thunderclouds.

During crew meetings he’ll just straight up wander in late and just... come up behind you and plop his chin down on top of your head. He won’t listen to a word of what’s going on either: too busy chatting with you, or with Jim, or fiddling with the rings on your fingers, or just trying to figure out if the stain on the ceiling looks more like an orange or a fish. To be honest he didn’t even realise it was a meeting until Stede asked him if he was paying attention - he just saw you and immediately came to seek out your heat (and also your hugs).

His love language is doing and making things with his hands, so instead of doing actual work to help out on the Revenge, he tries to craft for you. He sits by the mast, cross legged, and with his tongue sticking from the corner of his mouth in the uttermost form of concentration. He’s trying to remember how his ma taught him to thread a needle, so desperate to fix up your shirt properly after Spanish Jackie nearly tore the sleeve to shreds during your first meeting at the Republic of Pirates. Of course, you’ll eventually have to free him from where he’s managed to sew his shirt to his jacket (very well, might I add). He smiles all the while, leaning down to gently kiss your knuckles every time they bump up high enough with a new thread of the string to be within his reaching distance.

He likes to steal Wee John’s old hammock - he’s a big fan of having snuggled up naps on deck while Ed and Stede have stopped off at some new island and are busy off smooching on their foliage walks. 

Or, he likes to venture out sometimes too and see someplace new with the love of his life! Usually it’s just some slightly different variation of a beach, but this just allows him ample opportunity to perform his favourite activity: scooping up wet sand and hurling at you in a mock sand-ball fight. The two of you fly across the streaking honey-gold boughs of the winding branches of the strip, Frenchie rolling his trousers up and finally catching up to you between the torn crags and cliff edges. He jumps, flying full sail through the air until he’s knocked both of you to the ground. He tries to be all romantic and pretend he hasn’t just knocked the ever loving wind out of you. He leans over you, crawling his knees up between your thighs and slowly dipping down to kiss you, before getting bashed up the face by a huge tide and falling ass over teakettle backwards in sweet revenge lmao.

[yourforeverokay]

The Meaning Behind the Song (Elvis Presley x Reader) pt. 2

word count: 2,3k

summary: What happens when it's Y/N's first day in town and she goes to the local diner, only to meet the person that had filled her thoughts all day and night?

a/n: Hey my loves <3 Thank you so much for appreciating the first part of this series. I hope you enjoy this one just as much. I hope to post more often but my life is keeping me busy with work and graduation but I'll promise to start posting more regularly! Also I use the pronouns she/her in this series for the main character, but that doesn't limit the reader to anything, you can imagine the person to be whoever you want them to be! Thank you <3

You drove another hour or two before you found yourself in front of your new apartment. You parked your car in front of the poor and almost broken-down apartment building but the state of it didn't bother you at all. You had lived your whole life in poverty-stricken conditions and you wanted to change that. Your parents had always dreamed of you finding yourself a wealthy man, so that your family could finally pay off all the debts that had burdened everyone, especially your father, who worked everyday for almost 10 hours. He just wanted his only child to live a happy and fulfilled life, but he wasn't capable of miracles, despite his full schedules of work and chronical stress. You wanted the best for your family too, but marrying a wealthy man wasn't for you. You were always optimistic about life, so you figured that you could make your own money, and doing it by fulfilling your dreams. Everybody called you crazy but you knew what you were capable of and that is why you were currently stepping out of your car with your bags, ready to meet your new home.

The area that you were living in was filled with government housing, just like your house was one too. Instead of feeling embarrassed, you felt blessed to be given this opportunity to have your own apartment at such a young age. You went inside the building and walked up to the 4th floor, which was the highest one, and found your door. You took your keys, opened the door and took everything in. The apartment was fully furnished, and you loved it. You could see that the people didn't want to make the house boring and dull, because the apartment was filled with different colors. Red, green and black were the ones that really popped up in your eyes, and they were also used the most. You set your bags on the floor and started exploring the house and it's secrets. Soon after, you found your favorite spot in the apartment. It was the thick window sill, in your bedroom, that had two pillows that you could sit on while looking out of the window. The view wasn't to die for, but it was your view, and you romanticized it because that was the only way you could live your life. By seeing beauty in everything, even when there was none.

You continued settling in and hours flew by. By 10 p.m. you had already unpacked everything and set them in their places, learned how to use the radio that was located in the living room and learned how to use the oven and the stove in the kitchen. Everything was falling in place but as you sat on the window sill and drank the chamomile tea you had just poured for yourself, you couldn't help but think about the boy you met earlier. He was filling your mind with excitement but also with fear. 'What if he will not call?' You thought to yourself as you looked at the night sky. You drank your tea as you kept thinking about his beautiful deep eyes that made you blush. His voice with that southern accent, dark slicked back hair, his way of speaking...everything about him. You decided it was time to go to bed because the day had been long, exhausting but everything you wanted it to be and more.

-

You started your day early, at 8:00 a.m. to be exact. You still had some paintings to hang on your walls so you placed them in their places and after that, you heard your stomach growl. You were in desperate need of food so you got dressed, now in more basic clothes, and left the apartment. You had to walk to the city center to get to the grocery store. It was small but it had everything you needed in there. As you were walking between the isles, you got an idea of visiting the local diner tonight as a celebration of your new life. That is why you only brought home eggs, bread, milk, honey and some tomatoes from the store.

You cooked breakfast and took out your notebook. It was time to come up with something you could hopefully present to Mr. Phillips tomorrow morning when you would visit the recording studio for the first time. You always started with the lyrics and the theme and you were feeling to write a bit bluer song that you would normally write.

The other woman

You looked at the paper and suddenly remembered your last relationship which ended in a bad, bad way. The boy, who was your first love, cheated on you. He tried to lie and explain to save himself or the relationship between you and him, as he said. You were then a sad, sad girl writing songs about things you knew about but never before had you written about this heartbreak. You had been the other woman in the relationship, and you knew it. You were ashamed and lonely..waiting for love to find you again.

Has time to manicure her nails

The girl was beautiful, yes, but she didn't need to put so much effort every day to please the boy, like you did. Everyday he would see a flaw in you that needed to be fixed. That's why you always kept yourself pretty, even your nails were perfectly shaped and colored. Still it was never going to be enough. He wanted to marry the girl, his parents knew about her and they were going to have a family together. You knew you didn't have a chance but still you waited until you came to your senses and left the broken relationship you both shared.

You continued with the lyrics, trying to match a guitar to the melody you had in mind for it. It took you the whole day to write the song but you were satisfied with it. Now if only Mr. Phillips would approve it, everything would be perfect. Your notebook full of lyrics and tiny doodles of flowers, your fingers aching a bit from all the playing, you looked at the time. It was 6:30 p.m. which meant it was time for dinner. You went to your wardrobe and took out a pretty blue dress with white dots on it and put heels on that you stole from your mother. You took your purse and left the building once again.

-

You arrived to the new-ish looking diner which was booked and busy with people chatting loudly in their own groups. You walked in and heard the bell above ring upon your arrival. You walked over to the counter and waited for the waitress to appear. "Hey sweetie, what can I get ya?" The waitress had to almost yell because the lively music was playing too loud next to you and the people were laughing, having fun loudly. "Hi, could I possibly get the vanilla milkshake and the hamburger with the fries?" You decided on the safest choice since you didn't know what the house special was. "Coming right up!" The waitress yelled and disappeared to the kitchen. The diner was amazing. The people, the energy, the music, everything. Everything felt perfect in that moment. You were happy to see so many people enjoying themselves with friends and family. You wished you had somebody too but it wasn't time for melancholy feelings. You swung your legs and looked at the menu in front of you when you felt a tap on your shoulder. You looked behind you and noticed the boy from before. "Elvis!" You turned around completely to face him. You two hugged each other tight and you felt a weird feeling in your body, it felt safe? It was so comfortable already between you two which made the butterflies go crazy in your stomach. "Hi honey, what on earth are you doing here? Shouldn't princesses be eating in their castles?" Elvis smirked at you while throwing the sly comment as you both shared a small laugh. "No but seriously, what are you doing here honey?" He asked once again, excitement shining in his eyes. "Well...It's a long story but in short, I live here now. I just moved in from California." You smiled at him while gazing in his eyes. "WHAT? That's amazing, I live here close by too!" He smiled brightly. His attention was switched to his friends when they yelled his name and tried to wave at him, signaling him to return to their booth. He just nodded and yelled "I'll be there in a minute!"

Your meal arrived and you took a fry in your mouth as Elvis started to talk about his friends and why he was there. He asked you to join but to be honest, you were too shy. You were usually a bit more quieter with new people but with Elvis, you didn't need to be. The first gaze you shared felt like you had known each other forever. "I don't want to bother you." You said while pushing a piece of your hair behind your ear. "Honey, you? You could never bother me. Even now I'm blessed I can even talk to you." You giggled but a thought took over your mind. "Why didn't you call me then?" You asked him curiously, but obviously not wanting to pressure him. "I- I- um" He stuttered which you took as a sign. "It's okay, I get it." You gave the boy a small smile and took a bite of your burger. "No, no, no you don't!" He took you by your shoulders which shocked you a bit as your eyes widened. "I wanted to, I really did but I just didn't want you to find out this soon." "Find out what?" Silence took over the conversation.

"I'm not the person you might think I am. I'm a poor guy and if I would've called you would've found out that I live in the government housing by the phone number. I know girls like yourself, don't usually go for guys like me which is why I was waiting till I could've called you from my friend's house. It would have been in a lot nicer area and the number would ha-" He continued to explain before you stopped him. "Elvis, I don't care that you have no money." He looked shocked at your comment, his eyes had confusion in them though. "Elvis, I'm poor too, and I also live in a government housing, it's okay. Never would I have declined you just because of your financial situation. Never. You're a nice guy and besides all, you saved me yesterday." You said to him as you took his hand in yours. You put a fry in your mouth and popped one into his too. His friends yelled at him once again trying to get his attention but his eyes were stuck in yours. "I wanna get to know you Y/N, I wanna know your story and I definitely wanna hear what you're gonna do in here in Memphis." He said with a smile, you returned it. "Well that's going to be a long story Mr. Presley." You laughed and finished the fries that you had left. "Oh baby, I have all the time in the world. Let me walk you to your home and you can tell me all about it." He took your hand as you hopped off the stool. "What about your friends?" You asked. "They'll understand, after all I'm with a girl like you." He winked his eye at you while waving a goodbye to his friends.

-

You left the diner after paying your meal (which he insisted on paying) and walked slowly in the dark night. The night was chilly and you were walking close to each other, hands slightly touching one another. You told him about your childhood which was filled with memories with your parents and your dog that you owned. You told him all the big ups and downs, all the tears and smiles that you had ever experienced. You also talked about the money problems in your family and how hard you father worked. Elvis related to it all and it felt like you too shared a childhood even though you were far away from each other then. Elvis told you about his mother and his childhood which in a big part was music. Another thing you two had in common was the love for music. You two talked about everything and everyone but one thing that was left unsaid was the fact that you two shared a record label. He didn't tell you about his popular single That's allright mama. The reason was because you two had so much to talk about and the walk to your home wasn't very long. You only told him that you were here in Memphis to chase your dreams which he responded to with "I know you can do anything you believe in Y/N."

The two of you were standing in front of the door of your apartment building, in complete silence. You and Elvis just kept an intense eye contact, neither of you wanting to be the one who breaks it. Your hands were behind your back and Elvis was slightly leaning against the wall next to the door. He pushed a strand of your hair behind your ear, the palm of his hand slightly caressing your cheek. You were inches away from his face as you broke the silence with a simple: "I'll see you around Elvis."

"I'll see you too Y/N." Both of you resisting to share your first kiss right there and then. You backed away in your house, shyly, as you realized how close you actually were to him. "Bye, Elvis." You gave his cheek a tiny peck and closed the door quickly before realizing what you had done. You leaned your back against the door, heart racing and your face red. What you didn't know was that Elvis was leaning on the same door too, his back pressed against it. He was blushing, shaking his head with a dumb smile on his face. He sighed.

"I need to make her mine."

[leviiackrman]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, TRAGIC LOVE ARCHETYPES + PICREW;

I was tagged by @simonxriley to use this cute picrew for some anime kids, and was also tagged by Meg, @corvosattano @chuckhansen + @unholymilf to use these uquizes (WAYDH? + TLA) thank you sm beloveds! I was bored so I merged them all again haha🤍

Tagging: @risingsh0t @bbrocklesnar @queennymeria @roofgeese @florbelles @arklay @captmactavish @shellibisshe @nokstella @thedeadthree @jackiesarch @heroofpenamstan @dameayliins @carlosoliveiraa @fenharel @alexxmason @tekehu @malefiicarum @shadowglens @mrdekarios @faerune @perpetuagf + @garaviel

DROWNING (FOR THE SAKE OF IT);

You are restless ambition and caffeinated nights. You are dancing-in-the-rain and record-player-breaking-down and god-I-knew-this-would-happen. The world made you the cynic and you cursed the world. You stomped in the mud and now you shout at the sky, but fear it not because you are so much stronger. You must persevere, and survive this night. The next and the next. By and by. You are so much stronger than you think you are. You have a purpose to find within yourself, and it doesn't come from the work you're doing now.

03. CUPID'S BROTHER;

You have been love adjacent all your life. The faint spill of another story that softly grazed your shoulders when stood too close. Whether by design or not, you have yet to build a clear image of what love means to you. The interlocked weaving of a picture locket bound to strand of hair when hugged to tight, the sunpatch that meets your soles in glaring sun dried fields when running with a friend. You are not far from love, but moving between line of collision and avoidance at all times. A faint glimmer on sea lake surface of what could be. There is time to find what you want, find whether it's enough as is. Love is in you, breathing in another day. Continue as you are, realizing the love that is slowly blossoming in your life as it sharpens and clears in brushstrokes.

ATONING (FOR SOMEONE ELSE);

You are sweet, sweet sorrow. Parting ways at an intersection, an angel's footsteps walking side by side with your own, the shadows of the past looming, looming. You are apologetic-moon-light and loiter-at-the-back-of-the-classroom and stilted-silence and rich-with-life. You are stepping-on-eggshells your way through life, be less careful. Be less careful. You make mistakes, you made mistakes, and you will make mistakes, but imagine growing from them without the wish to go back. Stop restricting yourself. Take a breath of the clean air. Stop breathing in your own secondhand smoke.

01. MAUDLIN MAGDALENE;

An embrace with the shivering figure of a ghost. You cut your hair at 3 a.m. to change it all but it is no use. Love is a war to endure to you. You comfort and hold, kiss pressed to temple and cheek while feeling the numbness filling your nights to brim. What used to feel honorable has now become chore of breathing to sustain another. What else is love, but your disembodied lap to lay another's head into? Your fingers turn blue in the announcing dawn, the cold figure of what you used to know of yourself remains asleep next to them. Another version of you has crept out of your old body, has ripped and eaten itself out of a cast that was fused into the position of nurturing comfort. Remove yourself from your lovers before they become part of you, conjoined with your arms to anothers wailing head you have no life apart of maudlin magdalene. You have given endlessly, but this isn't all there is to you. Acknowledge the good that has been done and let yourself be free. You deserve to feel held as well, you are more than what you can give of yourself before breaking down.

SHINING (FOR THE WORLD);

You are sunshine. You are too bright for this world and you know too much for your experiences. You are not naive, but you are not a cynic. You are not an optimist, but you don't see the point in pessimism. You are bright bells of energy and great pealing laughter and coffee-shop-dates and meet-in-person-lunches and you draw people to you like a magnet with the way you shine. You are bright and drained, drained, drained. You are restless nights, heavy days, broken moons. You deserve a rest. You deserve to release. You cannot carry the weight of the world alone. Share the tasks, be the light, and create the connections.

04. SUB ROSA;

Love is a game of here and there to you. Whether catching glimpse of another's neckline or grazing a knuckle between knocking shoulders of passing by. You have learned to adore in secrecy, the rawness of an outright confession to be spoken a foreign terror. There is ease in pursuing the unavailable, to remain within the space of possibility and nestle the fuzzy words another could say to make or break your day. Instability spun itself into mysterium and while the certainty of love in aging isn't to be forced upon anyone, there is a miniscule part of you testing the limits of ambiguity. Hold down the feeling and settle in the leather seat of a car, kiss the corner of a mouth and say how you feel. Your affection in its vulnerability is to be seen, lift the veil and do not fret when an honest word turns into all you have secretly yearned for. You are meant to be noticed and openly loved.

DROWNING (FOR THE SAKE OF IT);

You are restless ambition and caffeinated nights. You are dancing-in-the-rain and record-player-breaking-down and god-I-knew-this-would-happen. The world made you the cynic and you cursed the world. You stomped in the mud and now you shout at the sky, but fear it not because you are so much stronger. You must persevere, and survive this night. The next and the next. By and by. You are so much stronger than you think you are. You have a purpose to find within yourself, and it doesn't come from the work you're doing now.

06. CANíBALES; DEVOURER;

Love's a knife to skin to you, a vein to woven muscle, blood puddle before you. You listened to all the promises of a stranger's relief and feel the drain of a shower head running it all down again. You committed another murder; kissed and bruised skin with a clench to a quivering wrist and went home in the defeaning quiet of a taxi. There's mold covered rage within you. If to take a heart home with you, you'd bite your way through muscle and ribcage first. Pleasure comes, but there will be no devouring past it. There is fear in settling down and being seen. There is a glass screen between these bodies and you. Relax your tight jaw and feel the real canine fear beneath that scabbed up cavity. The sacrifice of opening up is needed if to be loved as you deeply wish inside. Desire doesn't discriminate between hands or spoken word. Why should you?

[paisholotus]

Chapter 1

January 4th, 1996. New York City

Lana's Pov

My alarm started blaring as I sighed and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow. I'm not a morning person; I don't understand how folks can get up ready to go with smiles on their faces. Don't get me wrong, I'm an optimistic person, but I can't handle mornings.

 

I hit my alarm and sat up on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall. I need to sit on my bed for at least five minutes to collect my thoughts and make sure this shit is real. I finally get up and stretch, making my back snap. I swear, my body shouldn't sound like I've worked all my damn life at the ripe age of 15.

 

I normally have to get up about 7 a.m. for school, which starts at 9. I attend a private school in the Bronx and live in Brooklyn Brownstone. It normally takes about 30 minutes, although it can take longer on bad days.

 

But today, I wasn't going to school because it was my best friend's birthday. My best friend Jack Dawson turned 16 today, so I decided to surprise him and spend the day with him. He lives in Manhattan and attends a Catholic school, which I hate for him. Not because it's a Catholic school, but because it's simply a bad school. The school is packed with perverse teachers and asshole kids.

 

We've been best friends since I was four and Jack was five. He has a sister named Summer, who I am also best friends with. Despite the fact that they don't have as much as I do, I still treat them the same. We tell each other everything, particularly what happens within their home.

 

Their father is really abusive to them; I mean, the guy is a fucking dick to his wife and children. Mama Marry is like a second mother to me; she is very sweet and caring. She and my mother are also best friends. But Harry, that's that fucker's name, hates my family. He despises me every time I visit. So I try to come over when he is not around. 

 

Harry supposedly lost his job and is now completely out of control. I mean, he was always a little mean but never disrespectful to me or my family; now he beats Jack and Summer, and occasionally Mary when she intervenes, which happens all the time.

 

When I'm there, he'll curse at me and tell me, "to take my ass home." He's called me fat before, and my father and him had a fist fight about it. So now he'll just yell, "Go home," since he doesn't want dat ass whooped again.

 

Mary is a registered nurse at the hospital. She practically makes all the money, plus has to come home and cook for her kids and a ain't shit ass husband who would hit her if dinner ain't on time. 

 

The many times I'll sit on the phone with Jack and Summer listening to them cry or yell, shit anything they feel like, all because of their sorry ass dad. Harry has even told them that he hates them, and that shit breaks my heart. Because, what parent says that to their kids? I honestly think Mary is scared to put him out because, even though she's making the money, his name is on everything. So he has the right to that apartment, so if they choose to leave Mary wouldn't have anywhere to go. 

 

I stepped out of the shower and changed into my clothes, thinking about what I should do with my hair. I want to get braids soon because I'm tired of doing my hair every fucking morning. Every time I remove this bonnet, the back of my head looks like a flat ass pancake. Having thick, curly hair is both a blessing and a curse.

 

I chose to go half up, half down, slicking my edges and adding a few curly strands beside my head to frame my face. I know my family is already downstairs. Not gon hold you; I'm always the one who takes the longest to leave the house. But, hey, that's not my fault. Because who finna leave the house, looking like nobody cares about me? Shiid, try someone else. 

 

I have two older siblings and a baby sister. My older brother Trey, then my older sister Ciara, and finally my baby sister Stella. They were all eating at the table, and I went around it, kissing Stella's head while looking at the food they had saved me.

 

"Dang, big back community, y'all gave me the crumbs." I said, fixing my plate and laughing. "Then, give me your plate, since yo little ass wanna complain." My mother said, playfully, attempting to take my plate.

 

"Right, because who are you calling big?" My father asked, causing everyone to stop. "You big nigga that's who." Ciara said, making us bust out laughing. He poked his finger at her, trying not to laugh, and said, "Aye, watch your damn mouth!"

 

"Lana, are you going to see your little boyfriend?" Trey asked, making me glare at him. "Sir, how many times do I have to tell you that he is not my man? Okay? We are just friends, best friends." He stuck his hands up, backing off, and went back to eat his food. 

 

"Lay, how long are you going to deny your feelings for that boy? It's not like he'll reject you. You know that boy likes you; y'all have been up each other's noses since y'all were kids." My mama said, putting her plate in the sink.

 

"Ma, I'm not trying to ruin the relationship we already have. I mean, what if he doesn't see me like that, and I tell him I have feelings, and then it'll become weird? Jack trusts me as a friend, and I'd rather value that than mess up something great." I said quietly, looking down at my plate. 

 

She nodded her head and crossed her arms, smiling at me. "I respect that. But you honestly never know until you try. And I have a very strong feeling that he feels the same." She said, kissing my head. "Ight, y'all, I gotta go to work, behave at school, and love you all." She says, kissing my dad and blowing us kisses. 

 

As my dad finished his food and set his plate in the sink, "Okay, Lay, I'm going to head out too. I have to take Ella to daycare, I would take you to Jack's, but I don't want to be late." He picked up Stella and got her ready so they could go.

 

My father is a doctor who works at the downtown hospital. My mother runs Flavor Magazine, her own magazine publishing company, as an editor and publisher. My aunt runs the other one in Chicago. "It's okay, he's not that far anyway." I stepped away from the kitchen table and placed my dish in the sink. Ciara and Trey have already left, so, I'm going to leave the house now. I grabbed Jack's presents off the sofa, walking out the house.

[dream2bu]

Sagittarius ♐️ know how to enjoy life and just be in the moment. Nothing else is really as important as the moment they are in. Sagittarians can often be too much for some people (especially when they fall in love), then they will do everything for the person and many times they can feel too much for the people around them.

Sagittarius are self aware and secure in themselves, they don't mind if people are talking about them if they do something wrong. They actually don't like to stick the rules. They like to be free in the things they do and they're pretty much optimistic and careless about things that other people say to them or about them. For example, if you have I don't know your own shop and you have working hours from 9 a.m to 5p.m. But you won't care if you are late 5 minutes or 2 hours.

[bohemian-rhapsody-in-blue]

Bebop Crew July Challenge, Day 1: Midnight

Thanks to the @bebopcrew community for the prompt list! I’ll be writing fics based on their July 30-Day Challenge all this month (if I can!); I’ll also be posting them to AO3 here!

Fittingly, I wrote most of this around/past midnight—my sleep schedule is so messed up these days that I’m most productive between the hours of 11 PM and 4 AM, so that’s probably when I’ll be getting most of these stories posted. So if you see me posting, for instance, my fic for Day 1 on what’s technically July 2, well…that’s what I have to say for myself.

This fic was also (minorly) influenced by @graysongraysoff’s first fic for Beboptober 2020, “3, 2, 1…Let’s Jam!”

Also, enjoy this rejected first line: “There are many benefits to being a marine biologist bounty hunter….”

As the clock ticked past midnight, Spike and Jet sat on neighboring barstools, keeping a sharp lookout for the bounty head who was rumored to pass through this bar tonight—or from a message from Faye indicating that the bounty head had visited the bar where she was stationed, instead. There had been no sign of the guy for a while, and the only messages from Faye just consisted of her complaints of boredom. (The bar was on a relatively remote asteroid, after all.) The anticipation and the silence—other than the occasional attempt at conversation from Jet or the crack of peanut shells (no drinks for them tonight, or at least minimal drinks; they needed to focus)—gave Spike a lot of time to think about the reasons he’d become a bounty hunter in the first place. The reasons he’d chosen this offbeat, freelance profession to fill this part of his life—such as it was.

Sure, the paychecks were irregular, often scanty, and—more often than the crew would like—nonexistent. And he wasn’t one to pretend that the money didn’t matter, that he was purely in the bounty-hunting business for the love of the job or whatever. And sure, one could go on and on about catching bad guys, keeping them off the streets, bringing justice to the world—and Spike supposed those were advantages too, though he preferred to leave the philosophizing to Jet. And they definitely weren’t the reason he’d picked up the work. Anyway, on nights like these—when he and Jet and Faye were in their element, and he was sure a fat stack of Woolongs was on their way—Spike preferred to focus on the more practical benefits of the job.

Spike knew he’d chafe in some corporate 9-to-5 job, or in retail or customer service, or in any position with set hours and fake smiles and a supervisor breathing down his neck. He’d struggle and squirm as if wearing an ill-fitting jacket. And he couldn’t imagine having to say things like “actionable items” or “let’s circle back” with a straight face. He often griped and complained about the woes of bounty hunting, but he was feeling unusually optimistic tonight, and he had to admit, the freedom that this job afforded him suited him perfectly.

Take the work hours, for instance. Twelve A.M. and he was wide awake, raring for a catch; in twelve hours he’d probably be passed out on the Bebop’s couch. And the job was so unpredictable that in another twelve hours, he might still be asleep. This was the kind of schedule that suited him; he wouldn’t have it any other way.

And to be honest, midnight wasn’t a bad time to be up and working. The sky outside the bar was pitch-black, but the streets hummed with life. As Spike looked around, he saw flickering neon signs, sporadic streetlights, headlights of cars and spacecrafts, and the occasional tiny flame of a lighter filling the darkness. And while he and Jet were quiet, the bar was replete with lively conversation, raucous laughter, and the sounds of games of pool, foosball, and darts, often accompanied by wild cheering. These were technically Spike’s work hours. This bar was sort of his office. The gun resting securely at his side served as his office supplies. What boring corporate job would let him say that?

For another thing, he didn’t have to deal with any stupid dress codes; he never had to memorize the meanings of words like “business casual” or wear the same polo shirt with the same embroidered logo of the same megacorporation as everyone else. He did business dressed up in a suit and tie because he wanted to, and, in his opinion, it looked stylish as hell. (As bonuses, it also allowed him a lot of freedom of movement and was very comfortable, as was evident from the few times Ed had stolen and wrapped herself in it, gleefully flapping the ends of the sleeves.)

Perhaps the best aspect of the job, though, was that every day of it was different. It brought the Bebop crew in contact with such a wide variety of criminals and other strange characters—from senile old chessmasters, to vindictive bombers using teddy bears as their weapons, to homicidal genetically-engineered clowns—that no two people they encountered were ever the same. And if Spike decided a bounty head was too boring, or too much of a small fry, he didn’t have a boss forcing him to take it. (More often, he had an empty bank account and a disapproving look from Jet forcing him to take it—but that was neither here nor there.) Also, the work took Spike and his crewmates pretty much everywhere in the Solar System. He was constantly on the move, never staying in any one place for long. It suited his restless spirit perfectly—and made sure that nothing, or no one, from his past would be able to catch up to him.

“Spike.” Jet’s voice startled him out of his thoughts. “That’s the guy.”

Spike glanced over to where Jet was gesturing, and sure enough, the muscular, grizzled man entering the bar, with a suspiciously gun-shaped bulge under his trenchcoat, matched the description in the criminal records and the picture on Big Shot exactly.

With a grin, Spike rested his hand on his own gun. “Let’s get him.”

Sometimes, when he was in a more brooding mood than tonight, he’d reflect on how his life never felt real. How it felt more like a constant dream he could never wake up from. The ephemeral, meandering nature of bounty-hunting, with its strange and amorphous structure, felt dreamlike sometimes, too. And for someone on the outskirts of society, seeking autonomy—well, he guessed that applied to his whole group of crewmates, in one way or another—it was perfect. As much as he liked to complain about the job, it fit him better than he’d like to admit.

And here he was now, in the dead of night in a random bar on an even more random asteroid, easily dodging the bounty head’s blows and landing his own—without making too much of a scene that attracted the rest of the bar. The fight was over quickly enough that the man didn’t even need to pull out his gun. Just the way Spike liked it. As he threw the final punch that rendered the man unconscious and Jet tied him up, he was completely comfortable. Relaxed. In his element.

There were worse ways to spend a dream.

[nihilnovisubsole]

[taps mic] is everybody here? everyone still manning their tumblr blogs after the twitter roller coaster of the past couple of months? cool

so! 2022, huh? it's not new year's eve without one of my soppy, navelgazing year-in-review posts. if you're reading this, you survived. as an acquaintance of mine put it, "i hope 2023 is the year it all pays off for you."

if i seem unusually optimistic about it, it's because this year, against the odds, things started looking up. i had no idea when i stepped out last december 31st and listened to the neighbors' firecrackers what i was in for. i didn't know that when obsidian emailed me on a january afternoon about "a quick follow-up meeting," it would be their offer call. i didn't know what kind people i'd meet there, or the lengths they'd go to to make me feel like a respected peer instead of a gatecrashing fan. i knew least of all how it would affect my state of mind: that i'd finally feel a sense of accomplishment and dignity. i look ahead and i see a viable future for myself. i've been paid to write for years, but now i can support myself with it. i think about the weight that takes off my mother. i remember staying up until 4 A.M., wondering how i'd do the only thing i ever wanted to do. it was a big, dark ocean then. it's still an ocean now, but i've got a boat, a crew, and a lantern. it's hard to overstate what that does to you.

the downside is, there are only 24 hours in a day, and your time feels very different when you're on the clock for eight of them. i knew it'd be a change, and it's gone more smoothly than i thought it would, but i just can't churn unpaid stuff out the way i did years ago. projects that would've taken a long time in college have become interminable now. you wouldn't believe how much half-finished art i have sitting around. it's not lost on me that this is just ordinary adulthood, and even i had to get around to it at some point. laugh all you want! seriously, i probably deserve it, and it's hard enough to find things to laugh about in this decade.

part of me misses that pillowy freelance lifestyle of cramming my paid work into the mornings, then doing fun projects all day. then i remember i was numbing the ache of not having a career that i now have, and the superficial sense of leisure came with a heavy price. it wasn't worth three cents a word and almost no creative input. it wasn't worth being on medi-cal and having my mother keep me afloat. it certainly wasn't worth watching my friends work themselves half to death because they weren't privileged enough to have that support network. i think we all agree that we should have a better world, that artists should be able to just make art, that contractors aren't paid enough. [except for relic, they were very generous, i loved them.] in the meantime, we have to make it through with what we have, and figure out how to look after each other as best we're able to.

i think, when people gain a measure of success in life, they want to fantasize that they did it all by themselves. that's ridiculous. i wouldn't be writing any of this without the people who hyped up my wild fanfic ideas or bought dangerous crowns. i'd never have written anniversary without the other longsummer nights authors building a vivid world for hercule and aida to live in. i'll never forget the colleagues and the industry doors they helped me through, and, you know, i'm not much now, but i hope i can pass that on. even if you only have a little power, you have to use it for good, right? otherwise, that's how you get a chandelier dropped on you.

seriously, though, read anniversary. i want to talk about it more. it's short, i swear!

[sofeeyuhwang]

Tuesday October 17th: Daily Blog

Today marks the first official blog of my personal Tumblr page! I am excited to share my visions, daily routines, process towards reaching my goals, and most importantly, a personal reflection of how my day went and where I can improve!

Sleep: 2.5 hours

I will continue to work on this as this quarter proceeds. Monday night was a very heavy workload night where I had to catch up on school work, organize my google calendar with new information provided to me from my extracurricular activity, and prepare for the rest of the week. I hope to do better as this week goes on.

Food: I ate 2 protein bars throughout the day (1 around 9 a.m. and 1 around 1:30pm). For dinner, I ate on Sawtelle street with a mentor from my extracurricular activity.

Daily Reflection:

Since Monday night was a relatively stressful night for me, I woke up slightly disorganized and sleep deprived. But no worries! I am extremely hopeful and optimistic of my days following the rest of the week. I plan to utilize resources such as google calendar to help me maximize my daily schedule. This will also help me stay organized and not forget any crucial and upcoming events.

That is all for today, first weekday of Week 3 at UCLA.

[pollyna]

AO3 First Lines Tag Game

Tagged by: @oftincturedwords (thank you for the tag! it looks like fun 👀)

Rules: Share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written fewer than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

Did you see the drummer's hair? (wip, top gun, halo/phoenix)

Three a.m. in the morning, and even though the mission was over two months ago, insomnia clings to her body like a second skin she can shed away. It doesn't even matter how many times she calls Bradley in the middle of the night to make sure he's alive and she doesn't lose her best friend once and for all.

2. The adventures of Mr. Iceman and Baby Goose (wip, top gun, gen)

Mav says is good because they're going to bond, Carole nods and smiles and Bradley says Mr. Iceman moma always takes me to the candy shop on Sunday and Ice knows the kid is totally bullshitting him but then Carole asks if they can take some strawberries one and how Ice can say no, at that point?

3. You got MIA before our first (second) date (wip, top gun, warlock/cyclone)

Sicily sounds and looks like a dream after months of forced cohabitation in some bumfuck port in the northern part of Russia, with people who wanted them there even less than they did. Despite its name, Archangel doesn't have anything of the holiness the name promised if one doesn't consider the white of the snow that never seems to end, and when it does, it paves the way for the ice and wind. And even if it's just twenty-four hours before their new assignment somewhere in the world, everyone is hoping for a place with lenient weather. Something in the air makes Warlock carefully optimistic.

4. The good parts (complete, top gun, pre-relationship)

Ice knows there is something important because Slider's head is against his shoulder, but the man is watching the flowers on the table and not the match he had spent all day talking about. And when Ice says he spent all day talking about the match, he means Slider even doodled the teams' logos on his notes, but he has the nagging sensation something did happen between class and when he was on a date with Mav.

5. My kind of love (complete, top gun, halo/phoenix)

Callie doesn't really care about Valentine's day, she never has and probably never will. (When she was in primary school, Valentine's Day was when her favourite teacher baked chocolate cupcakes for the entire class and created silly and funny math exercises that always gave heart-shaped results.)

6. Say it first (complete, top gun, iceman/maverick)

Maverick is observant—maybe not all the time and about everything and everyone around him, but when he wants, he can notice things that most people miss. And Iceman Kazansky? He ends up on his radar for so many different reasons, and Mav can't stop noticing stuff about him, from his favourite type of gum to that little nagging fact that Slider's always asking Ice if it's okay to touch him.

7. Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had. (complete, top gun, iceman&slider)

It's a random morning when Ice writes down I miss flying and doesn't add anything else. Slider doesn't even know if he was supposed to see it or not, but he would take him up himself if Tom wasn't so tired these days. He can barely walk and has to use the wheelchair for most things, and it breaks Ron knowing his best friend is missing the only thing nobody can give him.

8. Halfway home. (complete, ncis, di nozzo/mcgee & di nozzo/david)

Sleep deprivation tastes like coffee with too much sugar on Timothy's lips, looks like three-day stubble and sounds like someone who shallowed an entire fucking encyclopaedia that's getting spewed up all together. It's hell.  

9. Lay be me. (complete, top gun, iceman/maverick)

It has been a day, or maybe a week or an entire year, and Ice can feel the tiredness setting in his bones, the way it makes space in every fragment of his being because he's simply done. Tired, over-stressed, over-caffeinated and sleep-deprived but he knows it's going to be worth it all in the long run, even if every day is a fight against people and his own capacity of not snapping and punching some fucking Senator in the face. 

10. Rise up (complete, top gun, callie halo shen)

The first punch feels liberatory and she feels even better when Bang doesn't stay down. The second punch is another hit because the man thinks he's a big deal but she can't remember him passing a single self-defence class.

No pressure tag: @redhead-writes, @the-ace-with-spades, @semperhuggs, @bearsinpotatosacks, @destinedtobeloved, @icemankazansky, @derpinathebrave, @ettaberrytea, @xihe1874,, @struggling-with-space

[denimbex1986]

Former Disney India head and producer of Sony LIV hit “Rocket Boys,” Siddharth Roy Kapur has hailed the reinvigorated Indian box office and robust streaming space. Nevertheless, he sees challenges ahead...

The Indian box office caught fire in the June-July period with hits including the Hindi-language “Satyaprem Ki Katha,” Marathi-language “Baipan Bhaari Deva,” Punjabi-language “Carry On Jatta 3,” Telugu-language “Bro” and “Baby” and Tamil-language “Maaveeran” keeping the turnstiles ticking over.

Hollywood enjoys a 10% market share in India and, after the success of “Fast X” in May, the twin releases of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July saw audiences surging into cinemas. Multihyphenate Karan Johar’s star-studded “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” hit cinemas in the wake of the “Barbenheimer” juggernaut and is on its way to becoming a major hit...

“‘Rocky Aur Rani’ is wonderful for the industry, it’s a mainstream commercial Karan Johar film that’s going from strength-to-strength day-after-day in its collections. ‘Oppenheimer’ is another very interesting result because for a three-hour drama — a Christopher Nolan very layered and complex film, not a dubbed version — it’s mainly the English business that’s really driving the film, not really any known stars in the Indian market, like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, and a narrative and a subject itself that can be pretty dry. For that to be working as spectacularly as it is at the Indian box office gives a lot of hope for genres like drama, which a lot of people had written off and said, ‘This has become a streaming genre.’ That actually gives a lot of hope that if you do drama in a way which is cinematic and compelling, people will still come,” Roy Kapur says.

Roy Kapur says that while “Barbie” and “Rocky Aur Rani” are “cinematic experiences and spectacles,” films like “Zara Hatke Zara Bachke” and “Satyaprem Ki Katha” have worked in the smaller cities and metros respectively. “And then you’ve got an ‘Oppenheimer,’ which breaks all the rules and is non-sequel, non-IP, that holy grail of pure cinema,” he says.

India is the only major market where “Oppenheimer” has outgrossed “Barbie” 3:1, with 3:30 a.m. screenings being sold out. “We should take a lot of pride in that — ‘Oppenheimer’ has reversed the ‘Barbenheimer’ trend of ‘Barbie’ being on top,” Roy Kapur says. “All the signs are very positive and I am very optimistic about the next few months as well.”...'

[altaroracleguidance]

Hii~May I request a free reading?☺️

Where is my connection with MŽ going? What is the future of it?

Thank you for your reading,

AM♥︎

Hi A.M! I'm Alexandra and I'll be completing your reading today 🦋

Queen of Cups – This card represents a woman who is extremely compassionate, kind, and loving. She gives everyone second chances, and tries to be optimistic. This represents how you have been feeling and acting within your connection with MZ. It seems like unfortunately, MZ has not been able to meet your needs, nor provide you with what you were hoping for. They may be unable to reciprocate your feelings and enthusiasm, leaving you feeling rejected and lead on. Or, if you did enter into a relationship together, MZ’s behaviours towards you may be more toxic than you’d expected. Yet, you give them so many chances, and try to stay hopeful and optimistic, hoping that things will work out eventually.

10 of Wands Reversed – In the reversed position, this card encourages you to let MZ go. It seems that sadly that cannot provide you with the healthy romantic relationship you are hoping for, and continue to leave you feeling dissatisfied. Once you leave them, and cut ties, it will feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders. You won’t have to deal with the anxiety and stress from this connection anymore, and you can continue with your life, with your head held high. You deserve better than MZ, so don’t settle for less. You may have already left MZ since you requested your reading, in which case remember that you made the right decision, and I am proud of you for putting yourself first.

Strength Reversed – This card confirms that a healthy romantic relationship with MZ is unfortunately not possible. If you continued to pursue them and remain optimistic, sadly you would be let down over and over again. I don’t believe they are fully capable of meeting your romantic and emotional needs, and life with this person would be very stressful and disappointing. So, put your wellbeing first, put your self-worth first, and move on. There are other, much better partners waiting for you in the world. Don’t waste your energy on a person who isn’t worth it. ❤️

I hope this reading was insightful for you lovely! As an energy exchange, I would really appreciate it if you could leave feedback in the comments of this post, or in the comments of my pinned post. You won't be able to get another reading until you do! Since this is a side blog, we won't be able to respond to your comment, but we will definitely see it!

If you haven't already, don't forget to follow this blog, and reblog the pinned post to help me reach more people! 💕

If you're interested in a more indepth paid reading at any time, I accept donations of any amount. Please submit an 'ask' if you are interested in this, and we will direct you in the next steps 🔮

Thank you so much for your support ❤️

- Alexandra