#i have one in the works it'll probably tentatively maybe be up tomorrow

[lifeserieswarriors]

goose / skizzleman

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Wreckless - Art Museum

*Warning Adult Content*

Emmett Locke couldn't remember the last time he'd actually been excited about a date and spent most of the ride over to Finnegan Walker's apartment, trying to remember the few he had been on. Even better, it was Saturday afternoon so he had the rest of the day and all day tomorrow off from work. Topping off his great mood was the fact that the Walters Art Museum had a photography exhibit going on until the end of the month. He'd thrown on his leather jacket before leaving the house but shrugged out of it as he got out of his car. It was gorgeous out.

The sun was shining brightly but not in the 'get in your eyes' sort of way that it did during the winter, no, this was a warm spring sun. The grass was green, the planters and beds around the building's front door were planted and sprouting up daffodils, tulips and pansies and Emmett took a deep breath, almost sad to be spending the day indoors. If it hadn't been for the photography exhibit, he might have changed their plans. Finnegan opened the door with a smile, glad to see that Emmett was wearing a T-shirt.

"It's as gorgeous out as it looks? I can't wait."

He got bold, reaching out and lifting up Emmett's right sleeve so he could take a look at the ink that peeked out from below it.

"This is really cool."

"It's really warm out. You should change so that I can get a better look at some of yours."

Finnegan headed towards his bedroom, talking to Emmett as he went down the hallway.

"First t-shirt of the year, what a treat."

He popped back out just a minute later wearing a solid black v-neck and asking...

"Should I bring a jacket?"

"Yes. It'll probably cool off this evening."

Emmett tried not to stare too much but Finnegan's ink was much more colorful than his own and he tried to pick out separate pieces.

"You can stare at me later. Where are we going?"

Emmett smiled, amused that Finnegan was still asking. 

"It was a surprise when I called you about it on Tuesday and it's still a surprise. I have something to show you, well, lots of things to show you and then we're going to eat."

Emmett worried for a minute that maybe Finnegan had already been to the Walters Art Museum but that was the great thing about a museum, there was always something new to see. Besides, given how much of a workaholic Finnegan was, he probably hadn't made the time.

"You're no fun," Finnegan teased, locking the door behind him.

"You're driving?"

"Yes. Would you rather I drive your car?"

Emmett tried to tell himself that he really just wanted to drive Finnegan's car again but there was a small part of him that worried that Finnegan might not want to be seen in his, at least not until he got the bumper fixed.

"It doesn't matter to me. So, I don't even get a hint?"

"Give me your keys and fine, were going to Mount Vernon."

Emmett had some pride and an undying love for cars. The roadster won. He had no idea if Finnegan was familiar with the neighborhood names of Baltimore but even if he was, there was lots to see and do in Mount Vernon. Once again he was glad to be about the same size as Finnegan because he didn't have to do any adjustments except to tilt the seat back one more notch.

"Ready?"

"I'm going to give you a tentative 'yes' even though I still have no idea where we're going. Do you mean Mount Vernon, like George Washington's house? That's a drive, isn't it?"

Emmett smiled both at Finnegan's cuteness and the beautiful purr of the Mercedes.

"It is in Virginia and a bit too far for us today. Do you know where the original Washington Monument is?"

He relaxed a bit once he'd found Light street and enjoyed the quick drive. Finnegan was finally putting things together and realized that Emmett had taken his job of being a tour guide fairly seriously.

"I'm going to guess it's in Baltimore, more specifically in Mount Vernon, Baltimore?"

"You got it. On the way I'm going to drive you by the Hippo. Well, it was the Hippo but it closed down a few years ago. I say a few but damn, maybe five years ago? It was my first gay bar."

"Wait, WAIT," Finnegan exclaimed as he saw the road sign. 

"There? Are you telling me there was a gay bar on Eager Street? You have got to be kidding me. That's funny."

"I was very eager first time I went in, can't lie. It was iconic. Had a huge bar, pool tables although they took those out at the end, and then a big club and dance floor on the other side. It was here forever, from way before I was born. Now it's a fucking CVS. Shame. I saw my first drag show here too. That was fun. But anyway, welcome to the gayborhood."

Finnegan tried in vain to imagine a short-haired, young, newly out Emmett but was pulled out of his thoughts when they pulled into a parking lot.

"The Walter's Art Museum?" he asked, trying to hide his disappointment.

His dates always tried to find something that rich guys were supposed to enjoy. He'd been taken to a horse race once, to the Symphony, to innumerable plays and even more art museums. He hadn't enjoyed a single one. Well, the horses had been pretty.

"It's great, come on."

Finnegan had to give him credit, he was very good at feigning enthusiasm. He tried to mentally prepare himself for two hours of standing next to someone and staring at the same painting while saying absolutely nothing. He was always the first to move on because his dates never would, no, that would make them look uncultured. Hopefully it had a good café. Maybe he should get a headache. Hell, he probably would get a headache. As soon as they were inside, Emmett took Finnegan's hand.

"Okay, they have an amazing gallery, lots of pretty paintings to see but I don't like them. I would love to see the pottery collection but number one on my list is the photography exhibit. Do you really want to see the paintings?"

Thank God.

"We can absolutely skip them," he replied, maybe a little bit too quickly.

Pottery could be at least moderately interesting and how long could it take to look at a couple of photographs? At least there would be food afterwards. The architecture of the building itself was great. The pottery collection was diverse and enough of the pieces were gorgeous or interesting that Finnegan found himself enjoying it. Besides, Emmett's comments were cracking him up.

"It's not a penis," he found himself whispering.

"Oh please. The symbolism that all these placards talk about is obvious in this one. Those handles are absolutely dicks."

"I think it's just how they stuck it to the basin."

"Uh huh, sure," Emmett scoffed, moving on.

"Holy crap, those are handmade beads?"

Finnegan had to squint even with his glasses on but yes, the dress was made of what appeared to be at least a million tiny beads all woven together.

"I can't imagine how long it took to make all those beads and then they threaded them all. It's insane, honestly."

"It is but it's also still here which is kind of cool. It's one of the things I love about art," Emmett confessed.

"It's a way to become immortal, in a way. Want to grab a drink and then hit the photography exhibit?"

He was trying to be patient but knew the museum closed at five and wanted to have enough time to see everything.

"Sure, sounds good."

He didn't drink all that much but wondered if they had anything alcoholic around. A glass of wine would be nice. In fact, he briefly considered carrying a flask so that the next time he got taken on a date like this, he would be prepared. Unfortunately he had to settle for a diet Pepsi but hoped the caffeine would help keep him awake.

"I wonder what ISO they used here?" Emmett mused out loud after studying the same photograph from three different angles and distances.

There was no graininess and he wished the photographers were here so that he could ask. Finnegan blinked rapidly and looked over at the picture that Emmett was studying. It was certainly one of the more interesting pictures of the group but he wasn't sure what any of it was doing in an art museum. Emmett seemed to be enjoying it unless he was just putting on a very good act.

"I don't know anything about photography but I'm not sure that it's art."

He'd heard this before.

"You prefer more pure art forms?"

He didn't prefer any of it.

"I'm far from an art snob, trust me but It's just not in the same category."

The look on Emmett's face made him regret saying anything at all and he certainly didn't want to have a two hour long discussion about it but he really was a little bit curious about Emmett's thoughts on it.

"I guess that depends on what your definition of art is."

"No, I don't think it does. Using a camera to take a picture of something is just making a copy of it."

When Emmett gave him a look that he couldn't quite decipher, he went ahead.

"Okay, so there's a sound engineer and a composer playing the piano in the same room. The engineer records the song. There's only one musician in that room, right?"

His thoughts came out a bit of a jumbled mess but he hoped he got his point across.

"I'm not saying the engineer isn't skilled, that it doesn't take knowledge and practice and that his job isn't important, I'm just saying that it's different."

"I hear you."

Everyone had their own definition of art and even he sometimes wondered if the visual arts really belonged in the same category. Nevertheless he had decided that art made you feel and that there are lots of different ways of making that happen. A good book, a good song and a good picture were all art in his book.

"The pictures in your living room are better than this, well maybe not this one, this one is good but the rest of them."

That got Emmett's attention and he cocked his head to the side, looking at Finnegan.

"Do you really think so or are you just voicing your disdain of photography in general?"

He hadn't meant to come across so harshly, especially not since Emmett seemed to enjoy it.

"I wasn't trying to be mean and no... I like yours."

He assumed the set of three photographs on Emmett's walls had been done by a professional and he could see why they were popular. They drew him in almost immediately and once he figured out the pattern he liked them even more. The first had been what appeared to be a very normal photograph of a small group of trees just barely leafed out, the second zoomed in more to a single group of branches and the third showed the delicate veins of a single, young leaf.

Emmett was floored. Did Finnegan know he had shot those pictures himself? Had they ever talked about his photography? His camera was usually lying around his house but maybe it had been upstairs last weekend. Did he even want to Finnegan to know about it after his 'non-art' tirade? It didn't matter what he wanted because Emmett was not the kind of person to play games.

"I took those last spring."

It took a second for his words to sink in and when they did, Finnegan had to force himself to not squeeze his eyes closed and run away.

"You're a photographer, of course. Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

Emmett held his hand up.

"It's fine, you're allowed to have your own opinion. At least you sort of like mine."

And thank God he had. Finnegan couldn't imagine how embarrassed he would've been if he'd said something shady about those.

"I'm a really crappy date. Sorry."

He led Finnegan over to a bench and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry you haven't had any fun. This isn't exactly your speed, huh?"

"No, not really. I hate when guys try to impress me because I'm not all that cultured and I'm definitely not a snob."

Impress him?

"I wasn't trying to, Finnegan. I wanted to come, obviously and I hoped you would enjoy it. It's a bit of Baltimore that I think everyone should see. Would letting you pick the place for dinner help make up for it?"

It didn't seem possible but now Finnegan felt even worse than he had a few minutes ago.

"You don't have anything to make up for."

If anyone did, Finnegan knew it was him. He had assumed a lot and in this case certainly had made an ass of himself. 

"You pick and I'll pay as long as it's not fancy. No silver, no towels draped over arms and absolutely no escargot."

"I think I can manage that.  Ready to go, Finnegan?" 

He could have spent another half hour here easily but it wasn't all about him and he knew it.

"Whenever you are."

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

when night falls | 20210607

apparently I have an unofficial zombie au living purely in drabbles lol

OT7 plus you worry about what to do next. Jungkook reveals what's on his mind. When night falls, the dead thrive and the living reflect.

warnings: language, violence (zombie blood, dead bodies, mentions of zombie eating flesh and humans turning), angst (at the undead situation), fluff / comfort, continuation of this and this

pairing(s): yoongi x reader

--

"If we carry the cans, it'll slow us down but, if we don't, we might run out of food. There might be a trolley or cart somewhere around here..."

"A shopping cart? Like homeless people?" Kim Seokjin sounded mildly offended.

You shrugged. "I mean, we are homeless. For the time being."

Silence.

Seven sullen faces looking down.

Outside, night had fallen.

Around them was blood, but no bodies. The others tried to clean the blood, but you told them it was better to leave it.

"Why?"

"Harder for them to smell the fresh meat."

"W... What?"

"Us."

You weren't sure if that's how these zombies worked but cleaning up the blood was fruitless anyway. It would only soil cloth and every resource was precious in times like this. You all had dragged the second-time dead outside, far away from the hanger door of the main warehouse, towards the next warehouse over. Best you could do with the time restraints before it was fully night. Hopefully, there would be no undead visitors before dawn. If there were, they would be attracted to the readily available dead meat.

Eat that first.

Zombies don't discriminate.

The thought made your stomach churn uncomfortably.

You coughed, trying to clear the deflated air. "We can try and search tomorrow. Then we'll move on the next day, try to find a new location. We can't be sitting ducks."

A small, tentative hand rose. "Shouldn't we stay in one spot? The police will come eventually, right?" Park Jimin asked.

You scratched your head. "It will most likely be military and they will probably shoot anything that moves. They're trying to contain the horde. They're not gonna wait to see if we're coherent."

"You don't know that," Kim Namjoon insisted. "They might."

"They're scared," you said softly. "Maybe you can trust the men in charge, but the soldiers? They're just like you and me. They don't understand what's going on. If we run into military patrolling and one of them freaks out and shoots one of you dead, I'll never forgive myself."

Namjoon sighed. Heavy, weighted.

"Yeah. You're right."

Jeon Jungkook, the youngest, frowned. "Then we have to avoid them. Can't trust them."

You didn't know these guys. Not really. But you weren't going to let them die in your watch either. Not because you were noble. Mostly because you had witnessed enough death of the undead already.

You really did not want to see the death of the living.

"Maybe the government has set up safe houses for survivors. We should look for one of those."

You were surprised that it was Jung Hoseok who said what you were thinking. He gave everyone a small, heart-shaped smile as they looked at him. He shrugged.

"I saw it in a movie."

"All of our knowledge is from fucking movies and video games," Min Yoongi muttered behind you, sighing. He rubbed his temple. "We're so fucking dead."

"No."

Kim Taehyung, who has been silent for most of the discussion, shook his head, dark brown waves of thick hair floating with his movement.

"Not yet, so we're not gonna act like it."

You nodded.

"Okay, first watch, two people. Everyone else sleeps. Then we switch after a couple hours."

-

"I can't sleep."

"Yes, you can. I can help."

Min Yoongi held up his fist.

The youngest scooted away from him and sat down next to you on your other side. He pulled up the black bandana over his nose and you heard him wince.

"It stinks."

"Stinks more out here than in the office."

The rest of the group were sleeping in the administrative office of the factory. Yoongi and you were sitting outside the hall of the offices, facing the open warehouse of abandoned assembly lines, watching the large, open hanger door. There was no electricity. Maybe you could try to manually close it, but then that would block a potential escape route.

And you all needed every escape route you could get.

Moonlight filtered though, lighting Yoongi's pale skin and Jeon Jungkook's bright brown eyes.

"You should try to rest, Jungkook," you whispered gently. "You might be the only coordinated person here," you added with a small chuckle.

Jungkook shook his head, long black fluffy hair drifting about. "You're here now, noona. You're pretty good."

"Pfft, I'm about as strong as a wet noodle."

"The zombies are like soggy noodles left too long in soup. You're more al dente."

You narrowed your eyes at him. You could tell by Jungkook’s sparkling brown eyes and shaking shoulders that he was trying to contain his laugh.

"Yoongi, gimme your fist."

"Got you."

Jungkook put up his hands, calling for peace.

"I just wanted to talk a little. Then I'll sleep. Promise."

Both you and Yoongi cocked an eyebrow in disbelieving unison. Jungkook lowered his bandana to show off his pout. The little mole under his lip was barely visible. He pulled it back up when Yoongi sighed in defeat, settling back down.

"I wanted to ask... how you guys met."

"Tinder."

"Amanda."

"I stole his coffee order and he chased me for three blocks."

"I was her cat and then I turned into a man by voodoo witch magic and then we had sex while she contemplated whether or not she was a furry."

You jerked your head to Yoongi's weirdly specific joke and weren't quite sure if he was on crack cocaine or had a really imaginative mind. He stared back with a deadpan look.

Jungkook blinked at your obviously (right?) fake explanations.

"What?"

You coughed up the truth. "Kim Seokjin. He's friends with my friends and my friends set me up on a date and Seokjin pretended he needed Yoongi to help him with something, but dumped him at the restaurant and bounced. So, we ate dinner."

"Then we went back to her place and had sex."

You gawked at Yoongi.

He didn't blink.

"For something around three days. My phone died. Forgot to charge it. Didn't realize what was going on until the power flickered at her place and we turned on the TV and saw this mess."

Yoongi gestured to the blood around them.

Jungkook's eyes were huge like dinner plates.

He was still trying to process that you two had sex for three days. Maybe he thought it was continuous or something. It wasn't. You two took lots of naps, but Jungkook didn't know that. You almost added that caveat, but decided against it. Whatever. Let him think Yoongi was a sex god.

He kind of was.

You smirked slightly, but quickly composed yourself.

Jungkook seemed confused, impressed, and slightly jealous.

Yoongi continued, pretending not to notice Jungkook's expression. "Anyway, yeah, that's why I arrived late. I was busy doing important things."

"Person, rather."

Yoongi nodded sagely at your addition.

"Yup. Taehyung's map was also shit."

"Could have used more words and descriptions."

"We had to make it quickly," Jungkook piped up. "There were a bunch of zombies and hysterical people. Everyone was screaming. Namjoon-hyung and Hoseokie-hyung were trying to direct them to safety but..."

You saw a darkness fall over his face.

Sadness.

"I... watched them turn. In front of me."

Jungkook scooted closer to you even though you were a literal stranger and not his hyung. Like he needed a human presence, easily trusting you, because how could he not? Who else was there to trust?

Everyone else around you was dead or worse.

"I had to kill them," Jungkook whispered, his previous cheerful silvery tone trembling, muffled by the bandana. He placed his head against your shoulder. He was bigger, stronger, more muscular than you, but he seemed small now.

A little hollow.

"Minutes before they were living, breathing human beings..." he mumbled. "And then they weren't."

Fucking shit.

Yoongi sighed beside you, moving closer to you and Jungkook.

"Until then, I thought it was kind of like a game... like they weren't real people, you know?" His voice was becoming smaller and smaller. Guilt. Despair. "But they were. I saw them."

The youngest lowered his eyes by your neck and buried his face in the crook of your shoulder.

"I killed as many as I could until I couldn't take it anymore and begged the hyungs to leave."

You felt small drops of wetness on your skin.

"I'm not strong, hyung... noona... but you all say I am, so I keep trying..."

I can't sleep.

These were kinds of things he couldn't tell his closest friends, not directly. Friends relying on him to fight, to be their light, to be their youth to keep them going and remind them to fight for his tomorrow. But in you, the safety of a stranger, the safety was someone not quite yet aware of their reliance on his strength...

I can't sleep.

Yoongi wasn't there. He didn't know.

There was safety in that too, his close friend who didn't know. Yoongi hadn't started leaning on him yet. He had been relying on you. You and your crazy ideas and your video game references mid-fight to distract his head and your head from reality.

I can't sleep.

You placed a hand on his hair and felt Yoongi shift and put one of his hands on Jungkook's head too. You patted the soft black hair, rubbing soothing circles into his scalp. Yoongi spoke quietly, stroking the younger man's head.

"Hyung and noona are here now. We are strong together."

Yoongi and you let him lean against you.

Jungkook cried.

-

cont. 2021.06.08 — nuts

--

drabbles masterpost | masterpost

[arthurmango]

told u i'd write this >:)

i love it so much. i already love this kid. Arthur? Being a dad? Sign me the fuck up.

based off this post by @reddeaddenial ty for letting me write it!!

"Alright, kid," Arthur Morgan sighs, leading the 9-year-old with one hand and his horse with the other. He was muddy and tired, having saved this child from some of the locals after he had been caught stealing from the general store. Never did he anticipate beating a man over a loaf of bread.

"You get yourself in there and stay warm, alright? Make sure to wait for your Mama." The child is quiet. He gently removes his hand from Arthur's cautious grip and stands on the porch of the Valentine Sherriff's Office. His wavy blonde hair partly shielding his sad blue eyes.

Great. Now Arthur felt like an asshole. More than usual this time.

"You'll be alright, I promise." Arthur ensures as he climbs atop his saddle, adjusting his weight for comfort. "See you later, kid."

His ride back to the camp is quiet. He takes in the scenery; the birds chirping, the deer prancing about, the god-rays through the pinetrees. He was mentally locking this image in his mind for later, to draw when he was bored, or when he couldn't sleep, or both.

As he approached the camp, he spotted Bill, taking his shift for guard duty.

"Who's there?" Bill shouts.

"It's Arthur, dumbass."

"Welcome ba-....who's that you got behind you?"

Arthur freezes and doesn't dare turn. His first instinct is to reach for his sawed-off shotgun. He exchanged a glance with Bill, who was just as suprised...until-

"This your home, Mister? You live out in the woods?"

Goddammit.

"Kid-?! Didn't I-"

"Yeah, Mister, but it got real lonely and I didn't wanna wait!"

Arthur narrowed his eyes, then rolled them promptly as he slid off his saddle. He gave his horse a pat on it's rear in thanks, then turned his attention to the boy in front of him who fiddled with the sleeves of his shirt. He glances back at Bill who watches with a grin, enjoying every minute of this dilemma.

"Follow me." Arthur takes his horse's reins again, leading it to pasture with the others. Upon turning around, the boy had remained where he stood.

"C'mere, kid!"

The kid didn't respond.

Arthur put his hands on his hips, then sighs once again. He walks over, picking up the child with one arm. The kid is horizontal through his arm, holding him against his hip. "Abigail!"

"What is it-" Abigail pauses, looking at Arthur. "My," she smiles as the boy is put to his feet, huddling close to Arthur's legs shyly. Abigail bends to his level with a gentle smile, "what's your name, darlin'?"

His puppy-dog eyes look up to Arthur as if to ask permission to speak, then to Abigail. "James," he whispers.

"James?" Abigail reiterates. "That's a nice name. I'm Abigail, and this here is Jack," she gestures to her son, and he waves. "Where did you come from? Don't you have parents?"

James shakes his head, inching closer to Arthur.

Abigail stands, giving Arthur a look. She begins to speak, until Hosea greets the two.

"Well, what do we have here?" The huckster chuckles, kneeling to the boy. "Where'd you find him, Arthur?"

"He found me, more or less," Arthur grumbles. "He was caught takin' bread from the stands in the general store in Valentine. Some feller tried to give him a hard time, so I defended him and I thought I dropped him off at the Sheriff's Office. I guess he followed me here. Didn't even notice."

"Quiet thing he is, isn't he?" Hosea gives James a warm smile. "Have you eaten, son?"

"No sir," James replies meekly, "I haven't."

"Arthur, would you show him to Mr. Pearson for a nice supper? Mrs. Grimshaw-"

"I'm already working on it!" Susan replies hastily, adding an extra blanket to Arthur's tent.

"Hosea, I don't-"

"You can't just take him back, Arthur." Hosea replies quietly, "he followed you here, almost like a lost puppy, and like a puppy, he's gonna be your responsibility, lest the ladies get to him first. He's a handsome young man."

Arthur mumbles under his breath, knowing Hosea was right. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he left James alone. In a few ways, James reminded him of his own son, Issac. Maybe, he felt, maybe this could make things right. Maybe this could fill that aching, emptiness and loneliness he's felt for so long. The only downside is that he has another thing to worry about, another, innocent child to shield from the horrors of his life. It's almost, in a way, cruel to keep him around. He deserves better. He doesn't need this life, but what was Arthur to do? Parent the boy, he guesses. Not that he's much of a father in the first place.

Over the next few minutes, the gang meets and greets the new kid. He sits at the card table, eating sheepishly as everyone takes their turns asking him questions, not that he had many answers.

"Give the boy some space!" Dutch commands, tapping the ashes off of his cigar. "Arthur, may I speak with you for a moment? Just a moment."

"Sure," Arthur complies, "I'll be right back, okay?"

He follows Dutch to his tent, where Dutch promptly turns to him, taking a drag off his cigar. "You didn't kidnap nobody's son, didya?"

Arthur squints. "Wh-no! What kinda question is that, Dutch?"

Dutch chuckles, patting Arthur's shoulder, then wiping his hand on Arthur's jacket once he realized that his hand had touched mud, "just makin' sure." He begins to lead Arthur, walking with him. "You couldn't find his folks nowhere?"

"The boy was stealin' bread, Dutch. I think it's safe to say that he has no folks," Arthur replies, thumbing his belt.

"He reminds me a lot of you when you were a boy," Dutch smiles, "he was quiet like you were, too. That is until I broke you outta your shell. I think it'll be good for you take after Hosea and I and teach the boy what he needs to know to survive."

Arthur shrugs. "I was plannin' on it. I'm just worried that....I don't know....maybe I'm not cut out for this."

"Sure ya are!" Dutch turns to Arthur, halting their walk. "It'll be good for you to have somethin' to do other than draw in that journal all day."

Arthur shakes his head, and Dutch winks, putting his cigar back between his lips.

Arthur meets back with the boy, where Charles had taken his spot. Beside Charles was Javier and Sean.

"You sure this lad ain't yours, Arthur?" Sean laughs. "Looks a helluva lot like ya!"

Arthur doesn't bother, and sits down across from Charles beside James. He seemed a little more open. He assumed it was from Charles' calming demeanor....or Sean's hyperactive one.

"He's a smart kid, Arthur. Very headstrong." Charles adds in. "He says he wants to be a hunter when he grows up. You and I should take him hunting sometime to start him off."

"You ever hunted before, James?" Arthur asks, not sure how to level his voice to keep from starling the child.

"Once, with my Pa." James moves his spoon throughout his stew absentmindedly. "Pa left when Mama got sick, and one day she went to sleep and wouldn't wake up. After she went to heaven, I've been alone, kinda."

Arthur, Sean, Javier and Charles exchange glances, feeling a variation of that pain.

"Well, you've got all the Aunts and Uncles you could ever want!" Javier grins, "you've got food, a place to sleep, and all the protection you'll ever need."

"And maybe tomorrow mornin' I could take you to Saint Denis and get ya somethin' real nice to wear, to getcha outta those old clothes."

James finally begins to smile. It adds so much to his fair complexion. "Is it pretty, Saint Denis? Just like on the postcards?"

"Just like on the postcards! Maybe even prettier." Arthur smiles, too. A rare smile hardly shown to the world. It was genuine.

"You've got a real hardworkin' Pa now, lad!" Sean smirks as Arthur eyes him. "This man is as stubborn as a bull, but make no mistake, he'll getcha anything ye ask for as long as ya can get passed that rough outer layer a'his."

"I think he's really nice," James looks down to his food, then back up to Arthur. "Scary at first, but he saved me! So that makes him my Guardian Angel, just like Mama used to say."

Arthur felt a sort of relief. This responsibility was immense, but he couldn't help himself. He was already starting to get attached to the child.

"Why don't you go with Uncle Charles and meet everyone else, huh? I should probably get cleaned up. I'm still covered in mud." Arthur remains in his seat as James follows his new Uncles, sightseeing throughout the camp. Maybe this is his second chance to actually be a father. Sure, he was afraid. He was afraid for what was to come. He was afraid that he might not be the father he hopes he is. He sure as hell won't turn out like John, that's for sure.

[pbandjesse]

I'm really tired. Everyone was very surprised I came to work today was how badly injured I am. Honestly I probably could have stayed home but it's not like I didn't have a good time at work. It was a really good day. I am tired.

I slept good last night. I woke up once but I wasn't as freaked out and sleeping with the eye mask on definitely helps. I got up with my alarm at 7:30 and got dressed and felt very cute. I love my outfit today. It was only like 75 degrees out so I actually could wear sleeves and that was nice. It also helped protect my arm a little bit. The one. My elbow is pretty raw. And it hurts to bend and pick up stuff but we survived.

I had waffles for breakfast and then I headed to work. Kenneth set up tables and I unfold a chair since I couldn't pick anything up really. Honestly doing the chairs kind of hurt my arm but I was okay. The Cannery was fun but we had a big stressful moment because the person who was supposed to be doing the printmaking was an hour late. So nothing was set up and we didn't realize until right as the kids were getting there and I really shouldn't have moving to process so I had to do my best but then I got upset because I was in pain and I yelled down and somebody had to come up and do it because I was just so frustrated.

The Cannery went good. The kids were really sweet. And I stumble on my words a few times during The Company Store but mostly it was very good.

I got a half hour break. I eat my rice and chilled. And then I gave my door. There was a little bit of a problem because we ran into the neighborhood tour but it all worked out. Again I had some trouble talking because are being distracted and being in pain but at the end of the parent on my tour said that she liked it a lot and then I did a really great job and she just kept telling me how nice it was. I love giving Forest there. Just good because I have two in a row tomorrow.

I left there at 12:30 and just missed the bus as I was coming up the hill. A sweet old man was sitting on the bench and he told me he was mostly blind and asked if I could tell him when the 80 bus came. And I said of course and we talked about how nice the weather was and then his bus came. And thankfully mine came just a couple minutes after. I was texting chelsi that would be late and she told me I shouldn't even come because she was worried about me. But honestly I wanted to go see the school nurse. I don't know when you need to go to the doctor. I feel like no one ever taught me that and I just feel like I'm bothering people or it's a waste of time. When I was a kid we never went to the doctor unless we were dying. My dad didn't go until after he was done having shingles. I don't have good references for this. So I got to school and I went to the school nurse and she told me that it looks bad but it's going to keep spreading. But the blood vessels are going to spread out and then lighten. She said if it gets really bad in the next couple days like it swells up or I get a hard knot somewhere else on my leg that I should be concerned and then go to the doctor. But she said that it doesn't look that bad All Things Considered. She said it looks bad. And everyone else agreed. Because all day and that's all I had to hear. I told the story what happened like 75 times today. But I was good.

I picked up the kids and I got lots of hugs which is really what I wanted today. I was talking to Marcus and joking about that. Everyone kept saying that they would have stayed home if they were made but for real what was I going to do. Lay here and be sad. I'd rather be at work and be safe. We spend the kids will come and give me hugs and that's always nice.

We made mosaics today. Every day this week, which is just tomorrow and Wednesday, will introduce a different project that the kids have requested. So it was nice to be able to kind of come together and have options and tomorrow add more options to the board of what they can make and it's just going to be good.

We had a nice time at recess and dinner was fine. There was some conflict with one of the staff members because she thought we were taking up too many tables and kept trying to tell her this is where we always sit and she disagreed with us and I just didn't even get into it with her I'd let Chelsea handle it. I just couldn't deal with that today.

But art was really fun and I was very proud of the kids. And it was a fairly quick day. At the end of the day I ended up staying behind because one of my students parents was just really concerned. She was really worried about how they're communication is with her daughter and she doesn't know what to do. Apparently they live in a neighborhood where the girl can sleep through anything until there's gunshots. And then she freaks out and can't sleep. I don't blame her. But she doesn't feel like they can talk to each other. So I suggested they do a mommy and me Journal where they can talk to each other through that. Where it's a judgement free zone and they can get things out. Maybe it'll help. I felt really bad and I wish there was something I could have done more for them. I really like the girl. But I understand where mother is coming from and it's really hard. For everybody.

When I got outside I had to run for the bus. But he didn't make me pay for it so that was cool. And then I got back to my bike and went up to James's place.

He made me a pizza bagel. And we hung out until all of the D&D people got there. First time in almost three months! It's been too long since I've seen all of them. But it was nice to be around other people for a bit. I got to try fancy Japanese Kit Kats because one of them had just gotten back from Japan. It was really fun.

As their game got started though I headed out. Said goodbye to everyone. Tentatively told Jordan that we may still be able to go to his birthday. But I'm not sure if we're going back to Philly for Father's Day and now so who knows what's going on there. And then I came back home.

Where I became crazy angry because again the new people next door locked the back gate. So I couldn't get into my Ally. So I couldn't get into my apartment. I had to go all the way around the block to the front drag my bike in through the door where it does not fit. And go back into my apartment. I went outside and I kicked the fuck out of that gate. I broke that lock right off which is what I told them I was going to do. I gave them a warning that if they locked me out of my apartment again I would remove the lock and I was serious. If they do it again I will remove the door. I cannot wait to not live in this apartment anymore because those people next door have ruined it for me. Besides any issue I had in this apartment as soon as they moved and they have made everything around here miserable. They put trash in the alleyway they let their dog shit everywhere and they lock me out of the place I live. They do not own that public shared space. And it is ridiculous that I have to continue to ask not to be locked out. I told them to put on a type of gate where you can open it from both sides they didn't listen. I had my dad fix the gate so that it would stay closed when that broke I fixed it. And then when it broke again their maintenance people fixed it and out of the second one that broke her most immediately. The spring is still whole and that should be good enough. If it is not you guys can then put on a different piece I am not fixing it again. It is so crazy to me that they think that they can lock that gate when I live here. They know they're not the only ones that can get through that gate and it is insanity. I will not put up with it anymore.

But after I did that I calm down. They will not lock me out again so there's that. So I felt better. I brought Sweet Pea inside and I went and took a shower. My new dress came that I got on eBay it fits me great and I feel super cute in it. And basically the rest of my day has been great. I'm very sleepy. I'm going to go have a snack and then I'm going to brush my teeth and go to bed. I have double doors tomorrow and then teaching at the school. I think it's going to be an excellent day. James has his second interview and I'm very excited for him. I hate that it's on the phone for him because that sounds horrible but I hope that it goes well. He's such a good boy and he deserves to get this job. And I hope you all have a great night tonight. Sleep well everyone. Be safe out there.

[pbandjesse]

Im real tired. I somehow lost the last hour. Just laying here. I am going to try to go to bed very soon.

I did not sleep well last night. I just couldn't turn my brain off. I think I fell asleep around 2. So getting up at 8 when my alarm went off was not going to happen.

I sort of half slept until 10. A little before 10. I got up and took a shower. I tried to not feel miserable. I had really wanted to work in my studio but I just couldn't shake it off.

I had a small breakfast. And I packed a lunch. I mostly just hung out on the couch. And then I decided I would just go to work. I left the house at 11. And got the bus pretty quickly. I was at the school by 11:30.

I spent my time there making some posters with our daily schedule and with some jobs. I made a whole new system which ended up working out really well and the kids seem to very much respond to. I did some cleaning and organizing. I'm mad at a few of the kids pieces that had accidentally gotten left behind. It was a nice morning.

Fitsum came around 1 and I got a little annoyed because he had made a lesson plan and just didn't send it to me for whatever reason. So even though I wrote one I wasn't going to argue. I'll just save it for later. But then Tiffany talk to him and we are going to possibly be switching teachers. I'm going to stay with 4th grade and fitsum might be moving too 5th. While Liz will stay with 5th and Mister Dee will come to 4th grade with me. That could go either way. I like Dee. I'm just hoping that it'll be a positive change for everyone. We'll see what happens.

But today would be the same. I went and collected the kids and then we went over our new rules and we made a class agreement and it was really good. They were really responding to us and being very respectful today. It felt pretty awesome.

We went out to recess and was cold out but I have some nice conversations with the kids. Couple of them confided in me about how they knew I would listen to them. And it was really nice.

Dinner was fine. They had french fries and they let me get some french fries too. So that was exciting. The kids cleaned up the tables and then we headed to the classroom to do art.

We decided that on our schedule 3:45 to 4 would be quiet instruction time. And only gets stuck to that basically. There was a little complaining and grumbling. About when we would start actually making art. But I think being consistent with the schedule is going to help them with some of the behavior issues that we tend to come across.

And having the 45 minutes of solid art time really seemed to work for them. They never really seemed to get bored in it. And even the ones that finished a little too fast I was able to redirect them a bit. We just drew and it was really good.

Cleanup could have gone smoother. My new system for who's in charge of cleaning up what got a little Askew. I think it's just going to be repetition of explaining what the cleaning groups me in. But in general it went really well and I'm very happy with how today went.

I took the kids to pick up. And there was a couple issues because one of my students had a watch it went missing. And the mom was saying that the kids were thieves and all the stuff and I promised I would shake them down tomorrow. And then 20 minutes later she comes back because they were halfway home and my students covered the watch was in his pocket. Which is what I said. That it was probably in his backpack or something. But whatever. And then we spent the next hour and change hanging their work for the show next week.

Honestly it all looks great. Me and fitsum we're basically done hanging all of our stuff at around a quarter to seven. So after some fussing with the tape and putting sculptures in the case in the hallway we headed home.

I got in the door right at 7. I that sweet pea and I have a sandwich. And then I messed around with my 1998 Furbys. I put batteries in Pascal, the baby oh, and he has the sweetest voice. He's calls me Mama and giggles and sings. His ears move which I was excited about. And I was hoping that he would communicate with Pongo but she was having issues turning on. So I had to do some vinegar wipe Downs of her battery pack to get her to turn on and then because she doesn't talk they didn't really communicate. But that's okay.Lil John will not turn on. I think I have to take the skin off and manually restart the motor. Because she's in a down position and not sleeping position? At least that's what my research has shown. I still don't feel completely comfortable doing that but we'll see what happens. I might try that on Saturday when I have the day off.

I played with those for a while and then watch the video. At 8 I went down to the basement to work on some art finally. I traced all of the watercolor flowers I have made and cut them all out. And I'm very pleased with how they look. Talking to Jess I think a tentative plan is that we're going to do one wreath a month. So this will be a much smaller scale project. But I want to be able to spend more time on the research and the sketching and all of the parts that go behind this project. So this one will be for the month of January even though it's mostly done at this point. I want to get some more research done for one's going forward and not rush. And if I can make more than one a month that's fine. But Jess is also doing it actual Hands-On part and she works differently than me. So I don't want to rush her either. Or make her feel like it's homework. It's supposed to be a fun thing.

I went and checked the mail and the Magnetic eyelashes I had purchased came. They are very silly. I cut them in half because I felt like they were too long. And it's definitely a look. Maybe for like a special event or something but I can't imagine actually wearing them for more than an hour or so. It's a very bizarre product.

I've been laying in bed for a while now though. Trying to get this post done trying not to be distracted by sweet pea. I really just want to get some sleep.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to wake up and work on some art again. Maybe clean something. Teaching all afternoon. Finishing hanging up our art. And then I'm supposed to have dinner with James. I have Friday and Saturday off. We were going to go to DC to go to the National Gallery on Friday but the government is still shut down. So I probably am not going to see that Rachel Whitehead show. But that's okay. I think we're going to try to do something else on Friday and then we might go ice skating. I hope it's just a nice day what's my favorite guy. Sleep well everyone. Stay warm.