#i mean my mom said she would talk over the cost with dad but like. we do not have that money rn.

[vanillabat99]

I just tried registering for a class for September, and it did not go well ._.

First of all, "Highschol Upgrading" and "Continuing Education" are VAGUE AS FUCK!!!! What do those even mean??? Which one am I??? Who knows!! There's no information anywhere on the website for which set of courses I should look at!!!!

And then!! Once I finally found my way to a schedule page, there was tiny print at the bottom that said that the daytime classes are for students 19 and under, which I am not!! So I had to click on the tiny little link next to it saying evening classes were for students 20+ (which is the ONLY thing i ever saw for students 20+ on the entire website 🙃) and look through the even smaller list of available classes!!

There's no mask mandate, nothing listed anywhere for learning accomodations, and you can't miss more than 2 days of class or else they kick you out. The courses are 480$ each. I have a year and a half of school to finish.

To add insult to injury, they don't offer any courses in French, which means I can't get my bilingual certificate, so I spent my entire education in another language just to have it thrown away at the end due to circumstances outside of my control :)))

I really don't know if it's worth it anymore. Especially since I've been out of school for a couple years already, so I don't even know which grade-level I should sign up for. I've already lost my insurance coverage, which was my only reason for trying to stay in school anyways. It's probably for the best that I can't afford the class. I'm still upset about it though ._.

[sunlightmurdock]

Operation Apollo | 1.1 | Jake Seresin AU

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist

Synopsis: After a threat is made against her life, the President’s grown up daughter gets her security tripled. Her long term detail is about to retire and needs replacing, only — she isn’t the easiest to work with. Ex-Navy and current Secret Service, Jake Seresin is devoted to being the best at everything he does. He isn’t going to let a bratty little girl cost him this job.

Warnings: age gap, power imbalance, enemies to lovers, danger and angst

…

“Uncle Jake, I think she’s scared!” Payton calls down from the treehouse, leaning out of the window to look down at the two of you. Jake turns his head to look at you and chuckles, nodding his head.

“I think so too.” He replies. You narrow your eyes at him.

It’s mid-afternoon and Jake picked his nieces up from school an hour ago. They’ll be here until their mother finishes work at seven. They’re obsessed with you, and your security find your lack of know-how with children funny.

Jake’s family home comes with land. The treehouse is a while from the house, overlooking a stream.

According to Jake, the girls play down here alone all the time. You aren’t even allowed the same freedoms now as an adult.

“Don’t be a pussy, it’s just a treehouse.” Manny taunts you, his voice low enough for you to hear without Payton and her sister overhearing from above. Jake laughs.

You frown at Jake, “You climb up there, then.”

“I wasn’t invited.” Jake shrugs. You turn your head to look expectantly at Manny. He gives another shug.

“Me either.”

“Yeah! No boys allowed!” Brooke shouts down, making Payton giggle wildly.

“Rules are rules.” Jake decides, pushing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He nods for you to go ahead towards the flimsy ladder up to the treehouse.

It looks sturdy enough, thick wood sitting in the branches of a sturdy oak tree. Jake reassures you that his dad built it a couple of years ago, when Brooke was small, and that it’s plenty safe. You aren’t so sure.

“I’ve seen you scale the fence in heels,” Manny scoffs, making Jake turn his head. Jake frowns. “This is literally child’s play for you. Go.”

“How often do you sneak out?” Jake frowns. You have two options: to stand down here, and to answer Jake’s question, or to get your butt up that ladder and into that treehouse.

You sigh softly as you grab the runs of the ladder.

Jake folds his arms over his chest as you climb up, pulling yourself into the tree house. He and Manny take a couple of paces back so that they can see you through the door.

“When did you see her scale the fence?” Jake asks.

“I’m not a snitch.” Manny answers him. Jake scrunches his face up. They’re Homeland Security - it’s essentially their jobs to be snitches. Still, Jake appreciates that about Manny.

You’re warming up to Jake’s nieces. It’s becoming easier and easier to talk to them now. Sitting in their treehouse and letting them show you magazines about ponies, you can’t help but feel sour about the situation.

It would have been so easy for someone to take five minutes to sit with you like this. It’s hard to hold onto the sour feeling when they’re giggling with you and asking which one is your favorite.

“Can I ask you something?” Manny asks, now that the girls are occupied. Jake nods at him. “How did you come from such a cute little family and turn out so grumpy?”

Jake chuckles, but he doesn’t find the comment funny.

“Just take my job seriously, I guess.” He shrugs.

“I mean, so do I,” Manny nods, folding his arms over his chest. “But your Mom would kill you if she heard the way you act back at the house. What’s with that?

Jake adjusts his hat, then shrugs, “Like you don’t act a little different around your family?”

“We all do,” Manny nods in agreement, his eyes focused on the treehouse, “I just think something’s up with you.”

“Like what?” Jake scoffs.

Manny shrugs. “You tell me.”

Jake shakes his head, slipping his phone out of his pocket as it vibrates with a text. Saved by the bell.

“Girls, Grandma said dinner’s ready!” He calls up. Brooke comes down first, then Payton. You last. Jake watches, eyes on the denim cut off shorts you’re wearing as you move down the ladder. Manny’s preoccupied with conversation with Brooke, he doesn’t catch Jake’s eyes lingering on your ass.

The three of you walk back up to the house together, Payton babbling about her math class as you walk. Jake makes them wipe their feet off, then points them towards the washroom to make sure their hands are clean before they’re allowed into the kitchen.

He continues through, kissing the top of his mom’s head, moving to wash his hands in the sink. You lean closer to him, washing your hands after him.

“Hey, when did you get here?” Jake smiles softly as he turns, finding his younger sister digging around in the fridge.

“Like ten minutes ago.” Lizzy explains, grabbing herself a can of sprite and cracking it open.

Jake’s already heading towards the baby carrier on the kitchen island and unclasping the straps. You watch as he lifts the baby into his arms and rocks her softly. She’s awake and calm, cooing gently.

“So, what’s her name?” Jake asks.

“Don’t even, me and Daniel have been arguing about it all morning - tomorrow’s our last day to register her.” Lizzy groans, crossing around the counter to take a seat and the dining table. Brooke and Payton come barrelling in to join her.

“I think Ellie would make a good name.” Manny declares, shooting Jake’s mother a soft smile. She laughs and pats his arm, moving around him to carry the girls’ plates over to the table first.

Jake’s eyes meet yours, he jerks his head for you to come over. You walk over to him cautiously, looking between him and the baby.

“Hold your arms out.” He tells you, brushing his fingertips niece’s dark hair softly. You frown at him and take a step back.

“No. Jake, no.” You shake your head quickly. You’ve held maybe two babies in your entire life, and they were much bigger than this one - they were toddlers, no where near as fragile as this. “What if I-“

“Please don’t drop my baby.” Lizzy groans tiredly.

“She’s not going to drop her,” Jake answers for you without looking back at his sister. “Arms. Just like I’m doing.”

You swallow nervously, copying Jake’s arm placement. Jake sets her into your arms delicately, brushing his fingertips along her tiny nose, then her soft cheek. It’s as he lifts his gaze to check you’re okay that you notice how close he is.

Your cheeks heat up, eyes falling back down to look at the baby just so that you don’t have to stare into those pretty green eyes.

“See? - It’s not so scary.” Jake chuckles.

“Uncle Jake - who was your favorite to hold as a baby? - Me or Brooke?” Payton interrupts, making Jake chuckle.

“Brooke, you hated me and you’d pee every time I held you.” Jake answers.

“Grandma said that one time I puked on your friend Dani.” Payton giggles. There’s a look on Jake’s face for a moment that you catch. He collects himself quickly. You glance back at Manny and know that he saw it too.

“Eat your dinner, now.” Eleanor says softly, tapping her granddaughter’s hand tenderly. Manny helps her bring the remaining plates over to the table without a word about what he just saw.

Lizzy stares uncomfortably down at her food. You look between the three of them. They’re good at hiding it, but you already saw that chain reaction. You think back to the picture in Lizzy’s room, of Jake and the girl, all three of them grinning happily at the camera.

Dani. You tilt your head slightly, wondering what she could have possibly done to cause such a reaction from people who clearly loved her once.

You decide to change the subject, knowing better than to bring it up in front of everyone. You’re smarter than to start asking questions like that. You know Jake wouldn’t take it well.

“She’s so perfect.” You say softly, pouting as you rock the baby in your arms.

“She still needs a name.” Jake points out.

“Pick something strong, and presidential.” Manny jokes, nudging you playfully as he passes by you once more. You chuckle, shooting him an amused look as the baby coos softly in your arms.

“She looks like a Teddy Roosevelt to me,” You joke, grinning as you gently stroke her chubby cheeks. “Little Teddy Roosevelt Ames?”

Jake chuckles fondly, his arms folded across his chest. He catches a glimpse of the look on his sister’s face, his smile immediately dropping. He frowns sternly, “Lizzy, no.”

Everyone turns, raising their eyebrows.

“I don’t know,” Lizzy muses. Your lips part, heart dropping as you start to fear that you’ve just cursed this perfect little girl to be named after the twenty-sixth president of the United States. “No, I mean - Theodore… baby Theo, that’s kind of cute, right?”

Jake sighs in relief.

He steps closer to you, leaning into your space to see the baby’s face. He smiles softly, nodding his head, “Yeah. She looks kind of like a Theo.”

“Mm, I have to call Daniel.” Lizzy declares, pushing herself up from the table. Eleanor opens her mouth to protest, then sighs in defeat as her youngest daughter disappears into the hallway.

Eleanor’s eyes then land on you and Jake. Him leaning into your side and smiling down at the baby in your arms. She has never been one to intervene in who her children choose to date, she has been supportive every step of the way.

Jake hasn’t introduced her to anyone new in a long time. She should feel happy for him. She would be, there’s nothing wrong with you - she would happily welcome you into the family, but there are several reasons that she thinks this is a bad idea.

“Will everyone come and eat, please?”

Jake takes the baby from you once more, shifting her into one arm as he moves to sit between Payton and Manny at the table. Payton watches in amazement at how her uncle has mastered dining with only one hand free.

It’s settled, you accidentally named Jake’s niece after a president. Daniel agreed on the name. Lizzy’s daughter will be registered in the morning as Theodore Ames.

The more Jake thinks about it, the more that the name grows on him.

He’s up later than you are that night, calling back to the house to check on how things are going. You lay awake, stirring in bed, trying not to fall asleep. You can still hear him talking down the hall.

It takes over an hour before the call finally ends and you hear him go to bed. Then, you have to wait a while before you can tiptoe down the hallway. Jake’s still up when you step into his room.

He’s on his phone, one arm tucked behind his head, already shifted over enough for you to join him without him having to move. You kneel onto the bed, draping yourself onto his chest. He sets his phone down as you kiss his pec softly.

“I’m starting to think this isn’t about you being scared.” Jake jokes.

Your lips quirk. You look up at him through your lashes, “Wow, with an intuition like that, they should put you in the secret service.”

Jake scoffs, pushing you off of his chest. You hit the mattress with a soft bounce, whining. Jake leans over you, kissing your lips once. You hum contentedly and push your hips against his.

His phone buzzes on the counter.

“One sec, I have to answer that email.” Jake mumbles, turning back and picking up his phone. You whine in complaint and rest your head on his toned stomach.

He types away at his phone, you toy with the hair that trails from his bellybutton to the waistband of his boxers, bored.

“You didn’t really think that she’d call her baby Teddy Roosevelt, did you?”

“Did I ever tell you that we had a cat named TDC when we were growing up?” Jake asks, finishing up with the email and setting his phone back down.

“TDC? - What does that mean?” You trail your fingertips along his bare stomach, brushing over the soft blond hair on his chest. You lift your gaze to look at him. He’s watching your hands move.

“That Damn Cat,” Jake explains, smiling slightly. You open your mouth, shaking your head, ready to doubt him. “No, really. That was his name. Lizzy was about four, found him out in the barn and kept leaving milk for him without telling anyone. Eventually he started coming back so often that he just kind of moved in.”

“She came up with that name?”

“Well, my dad was allergic to cats - and nobody told him that Lizzy brought a cat in the house, because he would’ve hated it, until it was too late - by the time he found out, Lizzy was obsessed with this ugly little cat.” Jake chuckles softly. You smile, feeling the rumble in his chest as he laughs.

“So, he was sneezing all the time - and he’d be walking around the house, mumbling about that damn cat,” Jake grumbles, then smiles again fondly at the memory. “Lizzy thought it was hilarious. The name stuck.”

“Growing up here sounds like it was fun.” You murmur.

Jake brushes your hair back off of your shoulders, nodding his head, “Yeah, we had fun.”

“Why’d you leave when you were eighteen, then?” You ask quietly.

“There isn’t much going on around here, thought I was destined for bigger things.” Jake explains calmly. His hand nudges under your t-shirt and trails along the length of your spine.

“Didn’t you miss home?”

“Lotta questions, am I being interrogated right now?” Jake asks. You shake your head softly.

“No, but… I don’t think I’d ever want to leave if I grew up here.” You explain, sighing contentedly as he rubs his fingers along your back. Jake sits with the information for a couple of seconds, then nods.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t like it here,” He tells you, glancing down to look at your face. “Just that I wanted independence. Like everyone.” He squeezes your hip gently at the last part, letting you know that it’s a subtle dig at you.

You turn on to your front and lift your chin, pressing your mouth softly to his.

Jake kisses you tenderly in return, brushing his fingers over your hair, smoothing it back off of your face. He leaves out the part about the lessons he learned after.

“Besides, if I had it my way,” He pulls you flush against him and turns you onto your back, nosing as your jaw, kissing soflty at your neck. “Then you wouldn’t ever leave here either, I’d keep you right here where I can keep an eye on you.”

You giggle softly, draping your arms around his shoulders as he presses one knee between yours.

…

@alanadetigy @thedroneranger @momc95 @basicchelsea @perpetuelledaydreaming @cherrycola27 @eviesaurusrex @xoxabs88xox @desert-fern @fuckyeahhangman @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @khaylin27 @cowboybarbie @the-mouse27 @someinsanefangirl @marchingicenotes7 @marantha @lgg5989 @herladyshipxx @chaoticweirdogeek @mak-32 @obiwankenobis-lap @diamond-3 @wolvesofthewinter

[miheartsedthings]

Part Seven

NSFW ModernBilly x FemReader (Minors DNI)

Summary: Nancy isn't impressed with how you're handling your relationship with Billy, leading to a confrontation neither of you saw coming.

Warnings: Fighting, Angst, Dubious consent, pregnancy risk.

At first, you didn't notice the faces Nancy was making as you told your story. You sat across from her at lunch, so caught up in the details, adding dramatic flourish to make the whole thing as fresh for her as it was for you. The fight with Billy which had felt relationship-ending. The smashed vases and Molly Kellerman. Then, the apology. You arrived at the little slip of envelope with heartfelt joy, which is when you finally noticed her. She was staring back at you with skeptical eyes, one of her brows cocked in judgment. You shrunk, finally understanding why people called her Princess Wheeler. 

“What?” You asked. She sighed. 

“Well, I mean, I know you like him but…are you really gonna forgive him just like that?”

You were a little taken aback. 

“I mean…I know we have a lot to work on. But he apologized and that's not easy for him.” 

She rolled her eyes. 

“Yeah, he apologized for one thing and then did like 50 additional things wrong.” 

“It's complicated, Nancy.” 

“Is it? I mean listen to the story you just told me. He was being violent and disrespectful at Amber's house, which probably cost her parents lots of money. Then he was almost inside another girl when you caught him-” 

“He wasn't gonna go through with it.” 

“Yeah, so he says. You put way too much faith in him when his actions are telling a whole different story.” 

You couldn't help feeling hurt by this. Defensive in the face of her accusations. 

“I already made it clear that his behavior has to change. He knows that. But no one gets by in life without making mistakes. Sometimes you have to be patient with people.” 

She scoffed, crossing her arms. 

“Is it patience, or is it being a doormat?” 

Anger flared up in you. 

“Take that back,” you said. “maybe I'm more forgiving than others but I'm not a doormat.” 

“I will not take it back! He's hurting my friend, how am I supposed to forgive that?” 

“Forget I said anything.” 

You gathered your stuff and stood to leave, making her stand, too. She rushed after you as you went out into the hall. 

“Y/N, you know I’m right. You’re being blinded by your feelings for him and it’s making you dumb!.”

You spun to face her, the two of you were alone in the hall now, your raising voices echoing down the empty corridor. 

“If you think I’m so dumb why are you friends with me?” You asked. 

“I didn’t say you’re dumb, I said he’s making you act dumb.” 

“It’s crazy how little faith you have in me. Don’t you think I could tell if someone was taking advantage of me?”

“Obviously you can’t,” she spit back, “Do you know how many girls like you my mom sees at the clinic? They mess up their lives over some pathetic asshole. I never thought you’d be like one of them, but maybe you are.” 

Her words stung you quiet and you fell back a step, searching her face. 

“Are you serious?” 

“Y/n-”

“As if your mom has room to talk.” 

Something flickered through her eyes. 

“Excuse you?” 

“I’ve seen your mom at the pool, Nanc. Eye-fucking a seventeen year old kid whenever she gets the chance. She’s like a cat in heat, it’s gross.” 

Her gaze went cold. 

“Shut up.” 

“Why? If she’s gonna look down at other women we might as well talk about her. Do you know what kind of shit she used to text Billy when he first moved here? Your dad would have a heartattack.” 

Her eyes were burning with anger. 

“As if he doesn’t toss himself around. As if he wouldn’t bang anything with legs if he wasn’t with you. Hell, he probably does it anyway.” 

Your hand flew before you can stop it, making contact with Nancy’s already reddened cheek. The two of you shared a moment of stunned silence before she lashed out at you. Suddenly, the two of you were exchanging blows. A crowd quickly gathers, jeering and hollering as you two wrestle each other to the ground, slapping and clawing and then punching each other. She got a fistful of your hair as you swung blindly, making contact though you couldn’t see where. 

“Hey! HEY!” 

Someone’s yanking you up but the two of you clawed and kicked, desperate to inflict as much pain as possible. Then, you were pulled away, all you saw of her was a rat’s nest of brown hair and blood before you were whisked off to the principal's office. All of it was over in less than a minute. 

You sat in the office with an ice pack on your fist. The side of your head was ringing with pain from where your former best friend had taken a fistful of your hair. You rolled over the fight with Nancy in your mind, amazed at the violence you'd shown each other. Two hours ago, you never could've imagined hitting her, yet you had. Then again, you never thought she'd be so judgemental. Sure, you can admit, she's not wrong to worry about Billy, but it isn't her place to force you into anything. You have your boundaries, and if the time ever came when he crossed the line, you would leave Billy. You know you would. Until then, she should understand. 

“Ms. L/n,”

You looked up to see the secretary waving you into the inner office where the principal's was. On the way in, you passed Nancy and her mom. Nancy held an ice pack to her cheek and avoided your eyes. Her mother, on the other hand, glared at you. You received a week of detention and of course, they called your mom. Leaving the office you saw Billy waiting for you in the hall. His eyes went wide when he sees you, already unable to contain his mishievious smile. 

“Tell me you’re not skipping class,” you said, dragging your feet to him. 

“Baby, what the fuck? You and Wheeler?” 

You sighed, a headache still thumping through your skull. 

“Don’t even ask.”

“Don’t need to,” he says. He turned your head to one side and then the other, examining you for damage. “She couldn’t touch you.” he added with a smirk. You couldn’t help being pleased by this, but groaned and fell into his arms. He pat your back. “C’mon, you’re alright.” 

You rubbed your eyes, mumbling into his chest. 

“God, my mom’s gonna be pissed.” 

“Come over to mine. Old man’s in Nevada on business.” 

You shook your sore head. 

“And piss her off more? What am I even gonna say when she asks me what happened?” 

“Tell er Wheeler’s a bitch,” you can’t help chuckling. 

“Stop,” you whined. 

He rubbed your shoulder as the bell rang. At the same time, your phone vibrated in your pocket. Your mom was there to pick you up. 

“Why? That’s what happened, right?” 

You looked up at him, finally, and noticed that behind all his joking and his lighthearted smirk was a hard stone of concern. 

“She’s worried, which, on Nancy, looks like being a bitch. And she said some really off the wall shit about me and about you, and when I told her the truth about her mom she didn’t take it well.” 

He scoffed, pulling your tired body into a hug. 

“Don’t say I never warned you.” 

“You warned me,” you admitted, “But fuck.”

. . .

“So you’re the bitch who fights her friends over a boy?”

You sat watching the trees roll by the window, regretting the grind of your mom’s voice against your ears, reviving the last of your headache. 

“No,” you said. You’re careful to keep your voice clear of any edge. 

“No? That’s what you did, isn’t it? She told you some hard truth about that raggedy boy and you got so mad-” 

“Why are you taking her side?” 

“I’m not taking her side, obviously you beat her ass, now it’s time to deal with you. You think it’s cute fighting over some boy? You think that’s gonna get you somewhere in life?”

What a dumb question. You conceal your eye-roll. 

“No.” 

“What did she say? I wanna know what’s worth getting in a fight and jeopardizing your future.” 

The car fell into an agitated silence as she waited for you to speak. You sat there leaning against the door, leg bouncing, eyes closed, praying for the thumping in your brain to stop. You saw Nancy’s face, flushed in indignation. Embarrassment crept up your throat when you remembered how excited you’d been to tell her about the little note. The tiny victory of Billy’s apology. It was a victory, but it isn’t exactly untrue that Billy’s behavior has to change. So why does it feel so shitty the way she says it? 

“Not gonna tell me? Then it must be about that boy.” 

Your head rung and you squeezed your eyes shut as hard as you could. When you arrived home, you made a direct line for the stairs, only to be called back by your dad who extended his hand. 

“Phone,” he said. You groaned and handed it over, watching him turn it off (Thankfully. Your life would truly be in danger if they discovered your text thread with Billy) and place it on a high shelf in the pantry. You spent your evening absorbed in homework before getting ready for bed early. By then your headache had faded, and all that’s left of the fight was the lingering hurt of lost friendship. No matter how you tried to lay there without thinking, your mind scrolled back to the fun you’d had at the party. The way she’d been there for you during the pregnancy scare and spent the whole day cheering you up. A painful feeling sank into your chest at the thought that you’d never talk to her again. 

Maybe you had been a bad friend to her. It wasn’t impossible to imagine. You did get selfish sometimes, and Billy took up a lot of your emotional energy. For all you knew, Nancy had been going through things herself and never felt she was able to tell you. Then, the thought flips on its side. How were you supposed to know she needed support if she never said it? You flipped over, unable to find comfort. It’s not your fault she held things in and got all full of resentment. So why do you feel like you failed? 

Maybe you were being stupid about Billy…maybe a little more pliant and patient than a person ought to be. You’ve only been together a handful of months and he’s made you cry so many times. There’s plenty of reason to break up. Except that the thought of it turns your stomach. 

You flipped onto your back with a sigh, staring at the darkened ceiling. Okay, so maybe you were accepting more than you should from him, but it was only to balance out all the contrary treatment he’d gotten thus far. You saw the stark lack of people in his life who loved and prioritized him. Rarely, if ever has he felt safe, and after spending years like that, especially formative years, one can’t be expected to be a perfect partner right off the bat. 

You had your boundaries with his behavior, you made your feelings known, and in the best way he could, he honored them. Plus, he was getting better all the time. You were certain he’d only keep developing the skills to be a better partner and if he didn’t…you flipped onto your stomach. 

If things never changed and your relationship remained in a cycle of secrecy and blame…then you’d handle it. Meaning, of course, you’d leave. The pain in your chest was re-doubled to imagine this. A lost friend, and then a lost love. And what would that make you? 

Your thoughts carried on in a similar, muddled fashion for the next hour until the strain in your body finally pulled you into a dreamless sleep. Two little taps woke you up. You laid there blinking in darkness trying to register your surroundings, then it happens again. Two tiny clicks against glass. Your eyes went to the window and after a moment you realized what you were seeing. A hand tapping the glass. 

You hopped up, rubbing your eyes and crossed the room quickly. When you let Billy in, he was careful to swing his legs into the room without a sound. You took his shoes and tucked them under your study table, where a towel was waiting for them. You'd come to think of it as his Welcome mat. He took you into a hug and, still groggy, you sagged against his body. He closed the window and half carried you to bed where he laid you down before shedding a couple layers. His jacket and jeans got tucked under the bed, and he crawled under the blanket with you in his boxer briefs and T-shirt. 

His warmth filled in the space behind you as his body came in flush with yours. He trailed a few kisses along your neck and ear, a little sigh expressing his contentment. You made your own small sound, wiggling back to press yourself into his body. 

“Couldn't sleep?”

Your voice was low, hardly rising above a whisper. Billy was holding you across the torso with one arm, while the other found your hands and laced his fingers in with yours. 

“You never told me the full story.” He said. His breath was soft against your ear, rising goosebumps along your neck. 

“Mmm. Nothing to tell.” 

There was a stretch of quiet. In it were little gestures, the slow swipe of his thumb across your knuckles, his teeth nibbling the lobe of your ear. You knew what he was asking. Of course, he'd want to know what had driven you to fight your best friend, but you couldn't say it. 

“Well, if it was nothing then you shouldn't have kicked her ass over it,” he said with a little chuckle. 

Something about that struck a nerve. 

“I told you she said something fucked up,” you said. He sensed the tension in your body and turned his face into your neck, as you spoke, breathing softly, his arm curling yours in so he was hugging all of you to his chest. “why do you even wanna know?” 

Now, he had you all collected in his arms, and you couldn't deny how good it felt. How happy you were that he'd shown up. You turned your head until your lips are close enough to touch. He returned the kiss with that private urgency which sometimes took him over. It seems he needed something just as much as you did. He props himself up on his elbow so he could look down at you, the lamppost light outside your window offering plenty of visibility. 

“I won't get mad.” 

You hadn't been prepared for those gentle words. They slipped right through your defenses and pierced you. He was looking at you so sincerely. And so, quietly, you explained the upsetting back and forth from that morning. All the while he watched with intent focus, and remarkable patience. Proving your point all along. You didn't know that he'd ever been so quiet and non-defensive while hearing someone's unkind opinions about him. As you explained, your eyes took breaks from his, falling to where your fingers idly twirled a loc of blond curls. 

When you finished, you found yourself exhausted, your chest aching again. Your eyes burning. 

“So that's it.” You finish, “she's not my friend anymore.” 

Your voice broke and he pulled you close, kissing your forehead. He said you were fine. You didn't need her, and you knew the intent was to uplift but you just felt smaller. You tried to swallow the first sob that came out, but he was so close he heard it and hugged you closer. Kissing your neck. 

“Baby,” he said, softly. He wanted to say more. He wanted to kiss your ear and say baby, my little baby. Really suffocate you with the full force of his affection. But still, even with you, he was terrified of being overwhelmed by these emotions. He wanted to love and care for you from a solid place where he could remain in control of himself. If he spoke too much tonight he knew he would cry. Which he couldn't allow. Not while it was your turn to cry and his turn to comfort. So he fell quiet, and rocked you a little in his arms. 

He kept you. Kissing your neck and holding you so close, and inside regret and anger needled you. You could used more words from him. Added reassurances. 

“She wouldn't listen to me,” you added this useless detail, hoping it triggered extra comforting and he did amp up the tender caressing of your back. He told you she was wrong not to listen. A real friend would listen. But it all served to make you sadder, and you started to cry harder than you could contain. Nancy was your only friend in this town. The only one with whom you could talk about anything without worrying she'd get angry. At least, you thought she was. The loss was monumental and you cried shuddering sobs into Billy's shoulder. 

The more you cried, the more desperately Billy wanted to calm you. Rubbing and kissing wasn't working, you were heartbroken over the loss of your friend. As much as he was battling to keep the thought at bay, he knew it was his fault. The way he was had hurt you yet again. Left you inconsolable. Something in him threatened to break apart if he couldn't fix it. A shiver invaded his body, a thin shudder under the skin of his hands as he held you, touching, rubbing, searching for the friction you needed. 

Shoulders and hips, he massaged down your back and kneaded your ass. All the while you cried. Shattering him. He wanted to say he was sorry for fucking up your friendship. An urgent desire to be forgiven coiled tight in his chest, a taut rubberband threatening to snap. He made a sound, then stifled it by kissing you. His cheeks wet with your tears, his mouth swallowing your mewling sobs. His tongue tasting your salt. His hand was under your chin and you felt it as an insistence to remember that he loved you. In actuality, he couldn't risk you turning away. 

You could’ve easily turned out of his kiss in disgust. Realizing that he was the problem all along. He wasn't worth the trouble. He kissed you harder, stealing your breath, and in a sudden flush of inspiration, sought to overwhelm you. If you couldn't think, you couldn't come to the truth. He rushed, not exactly gentle as his hands removed your thin t shirt and panties. His own nakedness coming so abruptly you were startled by the rush of his skin, his hardness pushed between your spreading thighs. All the while he kept you tangled in frenzied kissing. 

You broke away just enough to breathe and already he was pushing into you. 

“Billy.” your voice was soft and warbled and useless. He shoved his length into you, earning a strangled whimper from your chest. His hand curled around your neck in an effort to keep you quiet and still. Your hand found his chest while the other grabbed his wrist, and yet you knew there was no fighting it. There wasn’t air enough to breathe let alone speak, and truthfully, he felt good inside you. As always. 

His mouth was hot and full of need and his weight rolled onto you as he buried himself fully inside. You were filled to the brink, certain if he was any bigger you couldn't handle it. A chesty groan vibrated in you, in the relative silence of the room, the slight squeaking of bedsprings. He fucked you deeply but without much speed, his skin flush to yours, and suddenly you felt like he was trying to hide all of himself within you. His whole body burrowed to your center where he could remain. 

You realized then that he was feeling something he hadn't explained. His face was obscured, either in kissing you and thus too close to observe, or tucked sweetly into your neck. You pulled his hand from your throat and he rested it on your clavicle. You kissed his cheek a few times, and then his neck. You lifted your hips to meet the rutting of his. He was heavy, his hot skin forcing you to sweat, but you felt no desire to escape. 

You came with his hand clamped over your mouth, legs shuddering around him while he muttered curses into the clammy skin of your neck. Your insides were slick with cum, but your head was too cloudy to worry about that. That would be tomorrow's problem. For now, you let yourself be held, and fell asleep thinking of nothing. 

. . .

In the morning Billy was gone, your window cracked. You rushed to the bathroom full of anxieties. The risk of a UTI the most pressing. Luckily, emptying your bladder felt as it always did and you were free to move on to the next issue. Pregnancy. You’d need money for a pill and thought all through your morning routine about how to get it. Finally, you settled on telling your parents the school was fundraising for a children’s hospital. It’s a terrible thing to lie about, but you figured in a roundabout way it was alright. They’d think they were helping sick kids and really they were preventing unwanted grandchildren. These things were in a similar vein. 

“Nancy’s giving 60,” you said to them over a quick breakfast. 

“Oh? And that matters to you why? I thought you didn’t fuck with her.” Your mom said, giving you cool, scrutinizing eyes. You turned your back to retrieve orange juice. 

“We’re not funding any silly feuds between you and your friends,” your dad added. 

“There’s no feud,” you said, pouring yourself a glass. “I just don’t wanna be the only one giving less.” 

You knew that would get them. As much as they didn’t want you to realize it, your parents compared themselves to other people. They didn’t like the idea of you doing the same. They looked at each other for a long moment, and you saw their desire to discourage this behavior butting up against their need to be on par or superior to other families in town. They gave you 70.

To be continued ~

Thanks for reading ~

[randomfoggytiger]

"Mr. Mulder, I Know Something About You"

(Dedicated to @baronessblixen for her fascinating idea: Bill Scully giving Tom Colton and Ethan Minette binders bulging with dirt on one Fox Mulder. This took a slightly different path, though.)

*****

The first time Bill heard the name Fox Mulder was the day after his sister and her partner were sucked almost dry and hospitalized in Washington State for nearly two weeks. One fuzzy, panicked call from Tara and one fuzzier, harried call from his mom sketched in the slim details: Dana was on the mend, she’d been investigating a missing loggers’ case with her partner--

“What 'partner'? She’s in the field?” 

She had been, for months. He’d forgotten to ask at their father’s funeral, convinced that her height and lack of experience had kept her teaching at Quantico. 

“Dana's mentioned him once before, I think. You know how tight-lipped she is about her life.”  

“Mom, do I need to come home? Is she….”

“No, Bill-- but I’ll call you if she takes a turn for the worse.” 

So, Bill stayed on board; and Dana got better, and Tara celebrated over the phone, and Maggie remembered the name: Fox Mulder. 

*****

The second time Bill heard the name Fox Mulder were the days following his sister’s abduction. 

His mother talked of little else-- with Dana’s captor dead, any possible leads had died with him. There was nothing now but faith and hope.  

“But I believe Fox will call as soon as he finds her.” 

Fox. His sister, Tara had told him, still called him Mulder. Then again, Tara’s attention was currently wrapped up in calendars and planners and endless negatives. For that matter, his was, too; and what little time he had to think of family he thought of her, alone, counting the rising costs of their countless tries, alone, while he worked as often as he could to forget to cover those costs and forget his own loneliness. And his sister, somewhere, alone; and his mother back in Maryland, alone.

Dana and her former partner’s professional relationship wasn’t a top priority, or even a distant concern.  

**** 

The third time Bill heard the name Fox Mulder was after promising his eldest sister that Tara would try her fertility herbs. His wife was curled up on one side, quiet, and Melissa stuck her toes in his other side, slyly smiling.

“Now that that’s out of the way,” she concluded, setting aside the herb pouch and pinning him with her eyes, “why haven’t you given Dana a call? She hasn’t said it, but she’s been expecting one.” 

“Don’t start, Missy.” He’d have disengaged, too, but Tara’s head was pressing into his shoulder, a sure sign she was falling asleep. And sleep was precious these days, what with the hormone shots and regular appointments and never-ending stress. He’d promised to shoulder her stresses for nine more weeks; and whether this was a test or not, Bill Scully had and would never back down from his word. 

Melissa, opportunistic woman that she was, had banked on it, waiting for her sister-in-law’s “dozing” tea to kick in before launching the subject. “Billy, you know you want to talk to her. What’s the problem? I mean, she almost… we almost lost her. Why can’t you let whatever you’re holding onto--” 

“Miss--” he stopped, his voice startling them temporarily.

“You owe it to her, Bill. You two haven’t talked in months; and you both say it’s because of your work but really it’s because of your pride. You’re both so like Dad; but at least Dad was blind to what it did to us."

“And what about Dana? She's back on her feet and running right back to her autopsies and late nights. You can’t point a finger at me without three pointing right back at her. At least I try to be there for my family.” 

“You weren’t there when she was gone.” 

He swallowed, stung and angry. “And who was, Melissa? You?”

Her toes gripped his hip, guilty. “Fox.” 

*****

The fourth time Bill heard Fox Mulder’s name was during his sister’s not-so-secret battle with cancer. His mother called often to vent and cry, unable to share her worries and pain with her only living daughter and unwilling to burden Tara with more stress.  

Fox had become a footnote of late, so consumed was he and Dana in their work. 

“Mom, how can you let Dana run herself down like that? She should be resting or looking into treatments-- anything rather than chasing after rag magazine cases half across the country!” 

“Bill, you know perfectly well not everyone can run to sea to escape their problems. Not even you.” 

*****

The fifth time Bill heard Fox Mulder’s name was after he’d met the man, watched him fill Dana’s head with insane theories about chips and government conspiracies, and backed off, awed, when Dana’s cancer miraculously went into remission. 

He was roaming the halls, searching for coffee to wash down the remainder of his rage at Fox Mulder’s red eyes and dazed expression when he noticed another government type walk stiffly towards the nurse’s desk, brusquely flash a badge, straighten his stiff spine and stiffer tie, and promptly demand to see “Fox Mulder.” 

“I know where he is,” Bill cut in, saving the nurse the hassle but still getting a glare for his trouble. “Bill Scully. How can I help you?”

“Yes-- I was sent to bring him back for questioning; and we’re expected in,” he looked significantly at his watch, “forty minutes. If you would take me to him--”

“Take Mulder where?” Bill snapped around to see Walter Skinner, A.D., striding over, eyebrows drawn and face grim.  

“Yes, Sir. Agent Mulder is being called in for--”

“The committee’s been disbanded until further notice, Agent Colton; and until I have those further orders, my agents are not to be bothered or contacted while they are in this hospital. Is that understood?” 

Bill watched the other man’s jaw lock, grind, and shift as it worked its stubborn way around, “Understood, Sir.” Then Agent Colton turned tail and fled, heels thudding down the tile on their thunderous path to the elevator. 

A.D. Skinner wasn’t done yet. “My apologies, Mr. Scully. That agent was out of line; and I'll see to it that your family isn't bothered again.” 

It was best to nod and let the A.D. think he was frustrated with the intrusion.

Mulder could have been mid-conversation or on his way out by now. Instead, he would still be on that bench long after the family had left for the night. 

He seemed the type. 

*****

The sixth time Bill heard Fox Mulder’s name was over another phone call, mere months before the birth of his child. 

“Bill Scully? You might not remember me, but my name’s Ethan, Ethan Minette, and Dana and I used to date back when, well rather, right after she was recruited by the FBI. She ever mention me? Yes? No? Anyway, not important. Calling about information you might possibly have on, lemme check… Fox? Mulder, yep, Fox Mulder. Dana’s partner? There was a case she was involved in recently, really gruesome, real Frankenstein abomination stuff; and Colton, Tom Colton? You know him? Dana’s friend? Anyway, we keep in touch, we’re related somewhat, you know? And he named you as a hot tip and I was wondering if you…. Yeah, yeah, I can wait.” 

He and Tara fought afterward: Tara, as big as a house, was ready to cave the roof in.

“Dana’s coming for the holidays, Bill! And you two will spend the week in stony silence avoiding each other and, and Maggie and I will have to try to keep the peace instead of celebrating our first Christmas as a growing family, and-- and how could you do that, Bill? After all Fox Mulder did for our family?” 

Bill was lacking even to his ears; and, after cooler heads prevailed, he dialed Ethan back up and insisted his name be kept out of the article. Ethan talked doubly fast, banging a pen up and down every other word for emphasis as he cajoled and steamed about losing necessary credibility; but, inevitably, gave in. 

“I’ll only do this because you’re Dana’s brother and she was a real sweetheart. But if I need to call you in future…?” 

“I don’t have any more information.”

Dana skipped most of Christmas, anyway. 

*****

The seventh time Bill heard Fox Mulder’s name was when he flew in for Emily Sim’s hearing. 

“I need him as a witness if I’m to have any chance getting custody of Emily,” Dana had stated carefully, meticulously avoiding eye contact as much as possible. Bill still caught her bewilderment and fear… and joy. 

“When’ll he get here?” 

“Tonight, tomorrow… he didn’t say when, just that he’d be here.” He caught her smile, too. 

“Dana…” Her head snapped up, and he paused. “We’ll be there.” 

“Bill, you don’t have to--”

“We’ll be there, Dana.” 

And they were. 

And so was Fox Mulder. 

Bill left with Tara, tired and emotional, and Maggie, displaced and confused, after exchanging silent, cursory greetings with his sister’s partner. While he slowly walked away, both women in tow, he heard a curt “Dana Scully and Fox Mulder” echo behind him. 

And, in spite of everything, he sent up a prayer for both.

*****

Thanks for reading~

Enjoy!

Tagging @today-in-fic

[tenshi-agerasia]

ensemble stars characters as things i experienced on a cruise to mexico

i'm waiting for a flight that i'm ten hours early for so here's some rare 鬼畜 text content . incorrect quotes and imagined scenarios, long post under the cut

starting off with some incorrect quotes

rei: can you walk?

eichi: i think so, i'm much more energetic nowadays-

rei: no you're not. shiratori-kun, get him a wheelchair, we're skipping all the lines at the airport‎‎

‎-

eichi, getting physically patted down by tsa in a small dark room because his wheelchair couldn't go through the full-body scanner and it was too much physical effort to stand up: this is all sakuma-kun's fault

-

aira: tenshouin-senpai! you almost left your louis vuitton designer scarf at the security checkpoint! what if someone had stolen it?!

eichi: thank you, shiratori-kun! but it's fake

-

akatsuki in the elevator with a group of strangers

stranger, in a thick southern accent: so what're y'all up to t'night?

silence

souma stares straight ahead. he thinks the stranger isn't talking to them.

stranger, feeling slightly awkward: so, y'all stayin' in your room?

kuro: um... yeah

-

afterwards

keito: how did he know that our room doesn't have a window

kuro: ???

keito: ??? he said something about our stateroom not having a window like his

kuro: you mean when he asked if we were staying in our room?

-

hokuto: how much money have you spent at the arcade

makoto: uhhhh... i don't know, i'm not good at math

mao: how much did each of the figurine blind bags cost you

makoto: four plays is $4.50 and i get an average of 87 tickets at the piano game. the gachapon is 750 tickets each, and 750 / 87 = around 8.62 plays, and 8.62 x 4.50 / 4 = $9.6975

-

wataru: iiiiiit's..... showtiiiiiime....

yuta: can we leave

hinata: the waiters are dancing now, we can't just leave

one minute later

yuta: can we leave

hinata: i'd love to see you try to leave in this situation

three minutes later

yuta: can we leave

hinata: QUICK THEY STOPPED MAKE A RUN FOR IT

-

jun: i don't like my new haircut

jin, shaking his head knowingly: yeah you shouldn't have cut it on a cruise

jun: i lied. i love my new haircut it means the world to me

-

jun, still struggling to come to terms with his new haircut: now i kind of look like the scaramouche guy from genshin

hiyori: i was thinking more like edna from the incredibles

some people that i encountered!

kaoru as the guy that (successfully) invited one of the waitresses to dance

yuzuru as the sweet lady who asked me how to swipe her room card for the arcade because her son (tori) wanted to play a game

ritsu as my mom who spent most of the time sleeping

rinne as the tour guide that would add "rawr" to the end of his jokes

tsumugi as the poor woman who got stuck in a hammock and had to ask me for help

yuta as my brother who i forced to go on a rusty cable sliding thing you could only hold on to by hand, only for it to get stuck before it reached the middle

hinata as me who dragged the rope attached to the handle and tried to run (on sand) to pull yuta/my brother on the cable slide, only for him to fall (on sand)

rei as the people who watched and laughed

yuzuru as me playing the discord golf game with my friends on vc, only to get screwed over by the lag from cruise wifi

anzu as my friends who were still at home and took this chance to win by miles

makoto as my brother and i when we made one of the arcade machines run out of tickets to dispense three times

makoto as my brother who dominated the entire leaderboard of a piano game with his high scores

tomoya as my mom who was upset that she didn't get to see any flamingos up close

mao as the guest services guy who kept getting interrupted by phone calls that lasted less than 50 seconds

tsumugi as the worker who asked me "do you speak mandarin or chinese?"

adonis as my dad who would only eat meat because "it's more worth it that way"

hiyori as the hair stylist that gave me the scaramouche/edna haircut and kept calling me "madame" and insisted that i trust his vision (he was a lovely guy, i just wanted it more short :()

anzu as my aunts that were constantly trying to video call my mom on wechat, only for the call to disconnect because cruise wifi sucks

mayoi as the dinner waiter that jumpscared my mom on the lunch buffet line

midori as the buffet worker who kept sorting the lettuce leaves by size and color

rinne as the guy at the casino who told a worker he wanted to "have a gambling addiction responsibly"

tori and tsukasa as the little girls who tried to convince their mom to let them eat only cake for lunch

kaoru as the white guy who tried to engage in a conversation with me in the elevator but only made the situation more awkward

souma as the guy who got into an argument with someone (kaoru) over whether the fish he ate was bass or salmon (it was salmon with some bass)

shinobu as the boy who ran up and down the stairs yelling that he was looking for ducks (?)

wataru as the russian lady in charge of the dining room who would loudly whisper "iiiiiit's...... showtiiiiiiime" into a microphone every evening

tomoya as the waiter with a tired, dead inside expression who still had to dance for the russian lady's "showtime"

adonis as the guy that woke up at six in the morning to run laps around the deck for some unknown reason

wataru as the guy who posed for a picture like he was pinching the setting sun

hokuto as the guy taking the picture, but from an angle that made wataru look like he was pinching nothing and standing there stupidly

promo time ~ preorders for the niki's cookbook fanzine are open until march 12! i made some recipes for it, go check it out :)

[ladyfromaspookyforest]

Jancy vs M11

Stranger Things 4 and the Long Distance Relationship

Trying to learn the art of brevity. Bullet points, lez go. Jancy Mildew

Jonathan has a photo of him and Nancy on his dresser. El has a shrine to Mike. Note that Jonathan's photo is of both of them and El's photos are mostly just of Mike.

Jonathan is not being honest with Nancy about college. El is not being honest with Mike about high school. Both of these come in the form of letters: one withheld and one sent. One is a secret, one is a lie.

Jonathan: "No, because if I told her the truth, then she'd just throw her dreams out the window to come out here and be with me." Mike: "But what if after all this is over, she doesn't need me anymore?" Jonathan is worried Nancy will sacrifice her own happiness for him because she loves him. Mike is worried El is going to leave him behind. Opposite ends of the spectrum.

Jonathan: "Before you know it, we're just like my mom and dad. We're divorced, my kids hate me--" Mike: "Maybe I should have said something and if I'd said that thing, then maybe she'd want me there with her." Jonathan is stating that the consequence of conforming to what one party in the relationship thinks the other wants is a one-way ticket to the Joyce and Lonnie Show. Mike is talking about doing exactly that so he won't be alone.

Jonathan: openly discusses his specific lie to Nancy with Argyle. Mike: dances around what he didn't say to El while talking to Will.

Jonathan and Argyle discussing relationship problems: stoner comedy and farting. Mike and Will discussing relationship problems: [Tender, emotional music]

Jonathan: "[She's] incredibly ambitious and she's never done a single thing halfway in her life...That's why I love her." Nancy: "He's caring and compassionate. He's so protective over the people that he loves and he'll never back down from what's right...no matter the pressure, no matter the personal cost. That's why I love him." Mike: "I love you for exactly who you are. You're my superhero."

Jonathan: "Nancy, I'm sorry I wasn't here...Are we okay?" Will: "Does she talk to you at all?" Mike: "Not much. I mean, a little bit." Despite the fact that Jonathan's secret has still not been revealed, he makes sure he and Nancy are okay. Despite having supposedly given El what she wanted, Mike and El aren't really speaking.

Nancy: "Your application letter. Did it ever come?" Jonathan: "No, um, not yet." Jonathan's secret is still looming over them as they head into season 5, a conflict that will require later resolution. Mike's inability to tell El he loves her has been resolved. Will's lie to Mike about the painting, on the other hand, is still looming and waiting to come out (ha) in season 5. Dishonesty is a theme for both Jancy and Melvin, but one of them has been "resolved." Note that Jonathan's secret has evolved into a lie.

While I am biased, I'm trying not to lean TOO hard on my Byler brain here because that's not really the point of the post. It's about the parallels between Jancy and Mildred. So let's say Mike's telling the truth. His whole monologue was honest. The conflict between the two has STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED. What is the reason for this? Even if we choose to interpret Mike not telling Eleven he loves her as his secret like Jonathan not telling Nancy about college is his, Jonathan is keeping this secret to protect Nancy while Mike is keeping his to protect himself. This still reveals the unhealthy mentality of Miller Light's relationship. Additionally, Mike's "secret" has come out, so there should be no conflict. Jonathan's hasn't yet, so conflict logically remains.

And if we choose to look at the speech as dishonest, this is Mike's act of shaping himself to his partner's desires. AKA his act of conformity that Jonathan spoke about earlier leading to them ending up just like his parents. Jonathan expressed that resentment would grow and we can already see that El is not satisfied with the outcome of this "confession."

Lastly, for the sake of fairness, I can't tell if there's a photo of Jonathan on here.

And there's no evidence of El in Mike's room. Mike and Nancy are the two characters in the love triangles and neither has immediately apparent evidence of their SO in their room.

EDIT: It has been brought to my attention that Nancy has a poster that used to be Jonathan's, but what I find a lot more interesting is the suggestion that the photos Nancy has on her walls and not on the corkboard are Jonathan's. That actually makes a lot of sense as we know he is a photographer and they look similar to some of the photos he has in his room. Additionally, I went back to season 1 to look at Nancy's bedroom prior to Jonathan and there are no photos like this present.

And while I had every intention of keeping this as focused on Mlvn/Jancy as I could and not Byler/Jancy, I simply cannot ignore the fact that Nancy and Mike have both posted Jonathan and Will's art on their walls. While the camera never focuses on these details like it does the photos of Jonathan and Nancy at the Byers house or the Mike Box in El's room, like Will's drawings on Mike's walls, the photos are background details that show how much the Wheelers' respective Byers has integrated into their lives. Moving on.

El spends the season getting to know herself. Nancy spends it getting to reknow Steve. This could hint at Mike and El breaking up for El to be on her own and Nancy and Jonathan breaking up to get Stancy back together.

However, I think there are two major indicators that this is not what will happen.

The scene when Nancy and Jonathan talked about why they love each other, providing genuine reasons.

A large part of S4 focused on the Mike/El relationship and concluded with a "resolution" of the supposed problem. A large part of S4 focused on the Nancy/Steve relationship, involving Steve laying out his desires for the future. In both situations, all cards are on the table (unless, you know, gay). There isn't a lot left to drive the dynamic in the following season (in a positive direction), while Jonathan's letter and Will's painting are still lies waiting to instigate conflict and subsequent resolution.

So once again, for the sake of fairness, Jonathan's lie blowing up in his face after their seemingly happy reunion could parallel El's lie blowing up in her face after Milkvan's seemingly happy reunion. However, timing really is key and Will's lie is still in play. It's really impossible to parallel Jancy and Marvin without also paralleling Byler. (I keep trying)

Anyway, that's that. Two lying long distance relationships on the verge of potential collapse. FTR I have no stakes in Jancy versus Stancy, I just THINK it will be Jancy. I am clearly biased towards Byler. That being said, even if Byler does not happen, Moldeven appears to be heading in the direction of break-up while Jancy seems recoverable, based primarily on the extent of the lies, the intent (once again, I have to tie Byler back in because Will and Jonathan both lied in an attempt to make Mike and Nancy happy while Mike and El lied to one another to protect themselves), and the timing.

LOL remember I said I was going to try to be brief this time?

[echowithpain]

Okay... That was... an episode. Damn, I forgot how much stuff they could put in these 😅

Okay um, well first, minus one point for inserting Tonsillitis in the Christopher birthday scene. Wtf, why was he there? It was so jarring. Also why make it seem like it was gonna be Christopher at home instead of over a video call? And then you make Eddie watch as his mom talks about how happy Christopher is without him and how she and his dad are thinking about getting a pool because Christopher loves the water so much, AND THEN KEEP THE CALL GOING BUT DONT BOTHER TO BRING THE CAMERA AS PEOPLE START TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY???? WTF GUYS??? WHY DID YOU MAKE HIM SIT THOUGH THAT??? They couldn't even have his mom "accidentally" hang up as she was rushing over? They had to make him SIT and WATCH as his son celebrated his birthday without him... Guys... Why...

Actually -2 points for temu and for the scene being unnecessarily cruel to Eddie

Um... I'm trying to remember cause I legit forgot how full these episodes can be lol.

OH!!! ATHENA PLOT!!!

Okay, I was confused about why she said yes to helping the guy who killed her fiance but as I was going through my notifs, an anon told me "She didn’t say yes, the feds forced her to since that was the only way he’d agree to testify". Which I remember hearing and then promptly forgot because I just kept thinking "what if she said no anyway?" I kept thinking that because they never really gave her a "do this or else" thing. There was no... threat? Like I get the guy said he wouldn't testify if Athena didn't help him, but what if she said "Well I guess he won't be testifying then. Not my problem, this has fuck all to do with me and I want no part in it" Then what? Am I the only one thinking like this? They never showed Athena having her arm twisted or her hands tied (figuratively). I'm genuinely curious about what would've happened if she said no. I get they want the dude to testify but if she really said "No, I'm too emotionally involved with this case, I can't help you"... then what? I'm just saying a line or two about her being on desk duty, or she'd be suspended for a while if she refused wouldn't have hurt.

-1 point

HOLY FUCK I JUST GOT AN AWESOME IDEA!!! THE EPISODE IS CALLED BUZZKILL RIGHT? WHAT IF ITS CALLED THAT BECAUSE YES THE BEES,

BUT WHAT IF IT'S ALSO BECAUSE THE BUZZSAW KILLED CAPTAIN DICKWEED??? 😃😃😃😃😃

Dude holy fuck, if that's the case I'm gonna laugh so hard and give this episode a point back 😂😂😂

OMG speaking of bees, MINUS ONE POINT FOR HOW STUPID THE KID WAS!!!!!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!!

You're on the phone with 911 and they're telling you not to swat at the bees because it'll make them angry and you could get stung, AND AS THEY'RE SAYING THIS YOU CONTINUE TO SWAT AT THEM???? BRUH????

A L S O !!!

If you're allergic to bees, YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THIS???? The kid said she either got stung before or she's used her epi before, which would mean she would've had to have gotten stung or else she wouldn't have needed it. IF YOUVE BEEN STUNG BEFORE YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO SO THE BEES DONT GET ANGRY AT YOU AND STING YOU CAUSE YOU'RE LITERALLY ALLERGIC???? If you're allergic to something, you usually research it to make sure you avoid the thing you're allergic to at all costs! Everyone knows, or should know, if a bee is flying near you, just leave it alone or try to stay still. It may land on you and crawl around a bit, but you shouldn't freak out cause that could upset it and make it sting you.

Bee fact!: Bees don't sting people for no reason. Mainly because when they sting, it kills them! When they leave behind their stingers it literally rips out their heart so it can keep pumping the bee venom into whatever they stung, and it releases chemicals that not only make you swell up, but alerts other bees that you are a threat that needs to be dealt with. Bees don't sting all willy-nilly like that, you're thinking of asshole wasps or hornets.

The fact that so far the bees were passive to the mom and the kid but the kid was freaking the fuck out and not listening and ended up slapping herself in the face to squish the bee instead of just closing her eyes and scrunching up tight is such bullshit. AND DONT TELL ME SHE WASNT THINKING CLEARLY BECAUSE OF ADRENALINE OR WHATEVER!!!! You're gonna tell me she wasn't thinking clearly enough to literally just close her eyes and hold still, but she could concentrate at a high enough level to inject her mom with the rest of her epi pen? Yeah, okay. Sure. I definitely believe you. This is my believing face 😑

-2 points cause writing all that down actually pissed me off with how absurd it was

At least the mom one was believable (lol bee-lievable) cause she's thinking "oh good, my daughter is fine now, she's breathing again, I can finally relax- what the heck is this thing crawling on my neck- oh crap that's right, we're in a car full of bees". They could've made it so someone outside bumped into the car and they rocked inside the car and the kid accidentally rocks onto a bee, squishing it a little. Not enough to kill it but enough to make it upset and sting her. That would've been better cause the bump or whatever could've been from Captain Dickweed's poor leadership.

... anything else???

Mmm... That's all I can think of for right now, I'd have to rewatch the episode to remember anything else. If I do think of something I'll post it later, but those are my thoughts!

5/10 for the first episode of season 8. Not good, but not bad either... Perfectly mid (unless I remember something else that changes my mind lol)

I forgot how fun this was! See y'all next week 😘✨

[his-tamine]

life update :3 (a little vent-y)

sooo, been over 200 days since the house caught fire and we had to move. obviously, a lot of stuff's been happening. can't go into deep details for fear of someone I don't want to find this, finding this, but I'll say this much: FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've very rarely mentioned family on here (for obvious reasons - this account is NOT made for that lol) but here goes. tw for pretty heavy topics: mentions of abuse, father issues, health issues, transphobia & financial issues. I turned 18 Feb 21st, literally just almost 2 months before the damn house caught fire. Meanwhile, my brother's still a minor. MEANING, I narrowly escaped the custody battle my mom & dad are in. But unfortunately, he's still stuck in the middle of it. :( My pops was not really the nicest person to me when I was a kid -

whooping my ass whenever I did anything wrong, no matter how minor the offense was.

Telling me that he loved God more than he loved me, because "You're God's gift to me. God is the one who gave you to me in the first place," when I was four.

Telling me that if I didn't start being ok with receiving physical affection from family - which he knew made me uncomfortable - I was "going to grow up to be a S3R1AL K1LL3R" (yes he said that.)

Telling me that "God doesn't make mistakes," and that he "made me into a beautiful young woman for a reason" after I came out to him personally at 14 - big mistake 0/10 stars, would never do again. You get the idea. And those are the tame examples I could think of. So, I finally cut him off. As soon as my mom, brother, & I were in our new place, I blocked his number and haven't talked to him since. I was sick of him not respecting my boundaries, and repeatedly demonstrating that he thought of me as nothing more than a possession. Tired of him making me feel crazy all the time too. But now he's fucking with my mom & brother. Intentionally not paying child support till the last minute possible - & then making it in as small of payments at a time as he possibly can (yes he can afford it btw.) Trying to force my brother to go over to his place, even when my brother does NOT want to - which has begun giving my brother psychological issues & issues with school, mirroring the ones I used to struggle with bc of that bastard. My mom is juggling all sorts of things, & I really at least wanna try to help financially by getting a job, but I can't yet because: she says that I'm only 18, & shouldn't have to get a job to help out (I disagree.) I don't have an ID bc she wants me to wait on my legal name change - which costs a pretty decent chunk of change - reason is bc she "wants me to have as easy an early adulthood life as possible" (love her.) AND, I haven't actually graduated - No, I dipped in 11th bc school was hell (not exaggerating,) & instead just decided to pursue a GED, that I haven't been able to work towards bc of the shit show that is life in midwestern america. So I've been very depressed, exhausted, & hopeless. The least I can do is clean up our house while she's at work, & get this - some days I don't even have the physical energy to do THAT! I do not know what the hell is wrong with my body currently, but it absolutely sucks. & I'm really tired of just taking up space all the time. She's dealing with health issues too, & I'm always worried ab her. Idk what the hell to do, but something's gotta give. Everybody needs a fucking break. I keep trying to shoo away all the dark thoughts, push myself as often as possible, & keep my fingers crossed, but jfc... Sorry just needed to yell into the void for a sec. I'll live, I'm sure - I've survived worse. Sometimes things just suck. But I like to think that someday they won't. :,)

[magnumdays]

Magnum PI - S05E11 - Hit and Run review

We're back. I guess. It feels strange knowing these are the last ten episodes it seems likely we're getting but judging from just this first one it's going to keep on being one heck of a ride at least for that :P

(Full honestly, something is wrong with my internet so I watched this with like 1 million little lags and annoying loading bits so... may have affected my viewer enjoyment. Also gotta go to bed because I gotta work tomorrow so this is a little short and 5% spell checked...)

Miggy

Wham-bam, thank you, ma'am. It would have been more shocking if we hadn't gotten the "I'm late in the promo" but still, it was fun to explore this for an episode. They didn't touch back on what Juliet said about not being sure if she wanted a baby or not, but from how the discussion went today she seemed to have changed her tune. Would have been good to have addressed. I thought the would with Magnum being incredibly award when she told him. (This was low-key a favorite part of mine because not knowing what to say Magnum is pretty rare.)

Loved that they're keeping the Miggy banter and Thomas Magnum logic going strong even with big life-changing-ish news looming on the horizon.

"Yeah but if you are pregnant you will be more pregnant tomorrow."

"Just like how you said you weren't scared of spiders?"

I think this was a big set-up for how the series is going to end. Which I think is going to be very Mentalist and we kind of needed to have them talk about and want a baby, even if not right now. (Seriously, if the show doesn't end with a Miggy wedding and baby on board I'm going to be annoyed.)

So yeah, I'm glad they had the baby talk and that it leads to Confessions! (have I been watching too much K-drama? Maybe. Yes.)

And is it weird that I cried there with them being all "I love you" at the end? Like I thought, kind of that I'd gone through my mourning process for this both with thinking season 4 was the end and during the past few months knowing season 5b is the last. But apparently, I was wrong. I still have tears left.

Watching this episode just kind of made me realize how much I love this show (all over again) and that I'm going to miss it and my babies sooo much.

TC being sad = sadness

It's was kind of hard to watch our favorite guy going through tough stuff. I feel like the *protect TC at all cost* society will sue someone :P no but I was really thankful things seem to be going in the right direction for him both with emotionally dealing and getting some feeling back!

Rick + Piper...

So Rick's got a new GF? I feel like she gotta have some connection to something bigger. Like she's for sure a spy or something right? Wasn't her being all "that dump never" just too great of a start? I mean Rick is cute and all, but just introducing her as a love interest would be a little frivolous? Though they have done that before with Ethan and Lia.

Anyway, Piper is cute and I can't wait to see what happens with it.

The Case!

I really liked this case, even if it the excitement was somewhat lost because my internet kept lagging. It's pretty classic "hitman decides to save victim" only with a Magnum and Higgins twist. It could have gone a lot of different ways and in a way it felt a little too quick for it to end. (I think this might be another K-drama symptom where most things just keep going throughout the season.) I was hoping/thinking when I heard "boarding school, sick mom" that we'd get a Juliet/kid bonding moment.

I would have liked Mr. Hitman to not have died so unceremoniously. I mean this poor kid, her mom is dead, her dad is dead, her brother just tried to kill her with 2 hitmen and now the guy who saved her (even if he was a hitman to start) dies? I mean come on! Couldn't he have gotten caught and she'd be like "I'll come visit you in jail" or something?

The Jin + Book

Are we going to get more flashbacks of Jin imagining the White Knight with superpowers? Because that was so weirdly hilarious. I was like? What? What? WHAT? Then I totally cracked up.

But yeah, hope we have something more with the TR Bell + White Knight. That kiss back from early season 4 is still one of my faves of theirs (even if it wasn't actually 'them'.)

Next week seems fun! Like, repo a fish? What a strange world, but it sure going to be amusing.

[alex-guerin]

I need to rant for a minute...

I live in a very small town, 1400 people. We live in town, on a double lot. We have lived here for 3 full years now. We moved here after living 30+ years in the middle of nowhere cornfield countryside. Our dogs had trouble adjusting to town life and not being able to bark as much as they used to, but they're better about it now and really don't bark outside much unless they spot a critter or the neighbor's dogs come outside.

Our neighbors. Who moved in a full year after us. Who knew upon viewing the house that we had big dogs that barked. Who upon signing and getting the keys for the place met our dogs and we're like, "Oh, we know dogs bark. We have two big dogs, ourselves, it's not an issue." Who two months after moving in, decided our dogs were an issue and the wife declared war upon me, my mom, and our dogs. Neighbors who now bitch and moan whenever our dogs go outside to go potty, while their dogs are out, and all the dogs just wanna chase each other and play, but can't because these neighbors scream at their dogs to get in the house and leave our dogs alone. These people throw loud af pool parties all summer long. Have bonfires that are probably by all rights too big to be having in town. They have loud af parties year round. Are constantly yelling and cussing up a storm. Including their 10 year old son, who likes to taunt our dogs and glares at us whenever he sees us.

We have worked very hard to keep the dogs from barking much. We don't have loud parties. We don't blast music or yell constantly or scream cusses every other sentence. Occasionally, my mom and I will decide to have a nice little fire to burn up some dead branches we cut from shrubs or other yard trimmings. Never any trash (unless you count the newspaper used to start the fire). We have our very rare fires on a Saturday night, when there's almost no breeze.

Tonight, for the first time in probably a year, my mom and I decided to have a fire to burn up the weeds and trimmings and keep our firepit from getting over run with weeds. Neighbors were not home when we lit the fire. There was basically no breeze, so the smoke was going straight up. With the exception of the occasional wisp that would float off towards the neighbor's house.

All of the sudden, the neighbors fly up on their side-by-side and I hear the wife going, "Well it HAD BEEN a great day! [Some indistinguishable drunken babbling]...burn their TRASH!!" I was getting ready to go pick up our pizza and I heard something from their house, glanced over just in time to see a window get slammed shut and blinds pulled down. Followed by another window slam shut. Apparently as I was leaving, the wife stood on their front porch and screamed, "Way to go, KAREN! You fucking bitch!" My mom (Karen) was on our side porch, confused as hell, and even called back, "NOW what do you think I did?" The wife stormed out onto the back deck and was yelling at my mom about us having a fire and the smoke going in their house, she started slamming shit around and slammed the door. My mom said she could hear the wife screaming inside their house from where she stood on our side porch.

To make things even better, my dad has apparently been talking to the neighbor husband. And telling him that my bro (who is staying with us and is the head mechanic at the little auto shop in town) is "no-good, lazy, useless, piece of shit"...and neighbor husband has run his mouth enough that it's starting to cost the shop business. I don't know how much, but my bro told us tonight that yeah, neighbor husband was supposed to bring wife's van in for something (tune up? Oil change? I dunno), but that neighbor husband told my bro's boss, "Oh, but you got that useless [Surname] kid working for you." Bro's boss was understandably confused and asked what he was talking about, "You mean Chief?" "Yeah! That useless fucker." "I don't know what you're talking about. He comes in every day, he does his job, he does it right, he's fast, he knows what he's doing--" "Eh, well, all I know is that he's a no-good, lazy, useless, piece of shit." And then did a no-call-no-show on his appointment, wouldn't answer the phone when they tried calling him. And a couple other people have mentioned that they heard from neighbor husband to stay away cuz his mechanic isn't any good. I don't know as though the neighbors have ever even really met my bro. For that matter, they've never even really met me or my mom, except to scream at us from across the fences because of our dogs, or fall decorations, or we decided to have a little fire and enjoy the gorgeous night.

We try to keep to ourselves. We just want to be left alone with our dogs. We live by the saying, "you leave us alone, we'll leave you alone." A few months after they moved in, I was trying to bring our dogs in cuz I saw them come home and our dogs started barking, so I was trying to be polite and bring them in. When neighbor's wife started screaming at me about our fall decorations, cussing at me, and sent my anxiety through the roof and put me into an anxiety attack and I stood shaking and crying in the kitchen because of it. After that, my mom decided to write up basically a statement to give to not only the town cops, but the county cops also, about neighbor wife and how she acts towards us etc. Just in case she ever decides to do something towards us.

But it's just like, damn woman! Leave us alone! We don't say anything about your loud ass parties that go until 3am. We don't say anything about your dogs barking at us when we get home and they're out, in fact most times we'll smile and call "Hi Teddy! Hi Toby!" When we see them. We'll give polite smiles and waves to them and their kid when we see them as we're leaving. We don't bitch and moan and cuss up aloud storm when they're having their pool parties and bonfires.

Why are THEY allowed to have dogs that bark, and loud parties year round, and massive bonfires and shit, but we have to keep our dogs quite at all times and not put up any decorations in the yard that the wind might turn to face their yard and can't have a little fire of our own on a nice night?

[seeminglyseph]

I feel like I’ve been my sister’s keeper, my father’s keeper and my mother’s keeper for most of my life

And at the same time been told over and over again that I’m basically incompetent and incapable of keeping myself and that my base personality is repulsive and will just drive people away from me if I’m too much myself around them. That it’s too much to hope for someone to be there for me, so I have to be prepared to keep myself in every situation, and my inability to be prepared for any and all situations is proof I am not capable of independent living, of my immaturity.

My resistance to taking orders without question is immaturity. My difficulties regulating my emotions in times of great stress is signs of immaturity. My facing different kinds of stresses are signs of immaturity. My having emotional needs are a sign of immaturity. My disabilities are a sign of immaturity.

I should surrender my freedoms as a result of imperfect independence. If I need help due to disability, I must agree to surrender control of my care process because of the effort it costs to help me. My mom would argue claims that it was my body and I could eat or exercise or drink or whatever as I saw fit with claims at first that “well I have to look at it” and then “but I have to take you to the doctors and help you with all this medical stuff”

Now that I have some distance from The Year of Vom I understand some of it definitely came from the overwhelming anxiety and trauma surrounding a) the extremely abusive relationships I was in, and b) the extremely controlling relationship with food I had reaching another breaking point as my mom also hit a point where she had her own insecurities I just. Wasn’t able to tackle because like. There’s only so much you can be responsible for healing when you are actively being harmed.

Like, anecdote from the period; I know my mom is feeling insecure about her own cooking, however I am focal point right now and in this moment she has made me sit at the table and eat her meal. Family meals are important no matter how uncomfortable they make you, no doctor has found a source of your illness. All you need is good food. I’ve eaten a few bites of the plate she prepared, but not very much. I just can’t manage it and I’m starting to feel ill, but I’m still sitting for the conversation. She walks by and nudges me, chiding “honestly, can’t you even just take one more bite?”

I do so as instructed but in front of their eyes my body rejects it, and the whole dinner comes back up. My mom says something like “if it was going to make you sick you could have said something.” I mumble that it just happened. My dad, alive still at the time, confirms that he watched it come over me spontaneously.

I’ve come to realize a bit that part of it was about control. My mind was so desperate for control that the stress response was to vomit. Though I suspect also I had migraines that I’m still working to get fully addressed, it might be tied to the POTS that many people suspect I have but I think I’ve not gone to doctors who take me seriously enough. I know that sounds like… something someone with hypochondria might say, but I feel… something else. I think if I could get the right support and right medical team I might have better answers.

I don’t know what I really need to do right now… but. I mean… idk. I was talking with my therapist yesterday, and some friends online. And I think… I’ve been gaslit pretty hard into believing I don’t have needs, only wants. And as such, I’m extremely selfish? If that makes sense? And as such, like, I like. Even have trouble touching base with my emotions because they express a need. And that’s like. Scary, and shameful. I guess. And I’ve adapted to try and logic my way out of it and undermine it. I’m therapy saying like “I guess I’m frustrated by it.” When it’s apparently clear that it’s a much deeper and more serious issue than frustration.

For all my talk about how important and meaningful anger is, I’m still deeply out of touch with my own. But I still think it’s so… necessary. For all it can consume and destroy people, it can keep other people alive.

Idk what the point of this is besides… maybe unpacking yesterday’s therapy and today’s tension? I feel sick and sore today, though part of that’s also the weather.

[royalwilmon]

Get to Know Me Tag :)

thank you so so much for tagging me @skibasyndrome <3333333

do you make your bed?

almost never. like, when i wash my sheets, and then never again. cant be bothered!!!

what's your favourite number?

i dont really have one but ive been saying 36 for yearssss. from the glee days. iykyk

what is your job?

im a software tester!!

if you could go back to school, would you?

you couldn't pay me to

can you parallel park?

i mean. technically. i avoid it at all costs and if there is someone behind me witnessing me parallel park i will Fully Panic. but i can do it. mostly.

a job you had that would surprise people?

i worked at dunkin' donuts for three years. which isn't surprising, i live in new england. what does surprise people is when i talk about how much i genuinely loved that job and miss it Every Day

do you think aliens are real?

i guess i definitely think there are other life forms out there. hard to say what they'd be like, though

can you drive a manual car?

nah, i've never tried. don't have much of a reason to!

what's your guilty pleasure?

lmaooooo gut instinct is to say jimmy buffett. my spotify wrapped this year is going to be WILD

tattoos?

not yet! once i find an artist i trust, I'm going to get the comet chandelier

favorite color?

blue! i describe the shade as the darkest shade of blue the sky gets

favorite type of music?

my taste of music is absolutely all over the place, this is nearly an impossible question for me to answer. i have a lot of specific pockets of interest. i love anything that came out of laurel canyon -- really, a lot of 70s music i picked up from my dad. obviously i fuck with showtunes big time. and then lately i have a handful of artists im obsessed with that float somewhere in the indie/pop/jazz/folk world. like, so vague, i just cant say any sorta word that would sum it up. oh, also, omar?? seriously, i'm all over the place

do you like puzzles?

yeah! my sister loves them more than i do so i mostly only do them when I'm hanging out with her

any phobias?

birds!!!!!!!!!!!! i hate them!!!!!!!! im so afraid!!!!!!!!!!! so so so scared!!!!!

favorite childhood sport?

i played softball and basketball as a kid, but like. ehhhhhhhh.

do you talk to yourself?

oh, always. look, i work from home most of the time, and my roommates have very different schedules from mine so im home alone a LOT. i like to keep myself company. i am alwayssss chattering to myself. 100% of the time, just nonsense babble

what movies do you adore?

ohhhhh tricky question. i'll pretend im doing one of those letterboxd interviews and I'll give you my top four. fried green tomatoes (1991), camelot (1967), dirty dancing (1987), and everything everywhere all at once (2022)

coffee or tea?

coffee! like i said, i worked at dunks for three years. I'm one of those maniacs that drinks black coffee. i wish i liked tea, i really do, i just. dont

first thing you wanted to be growing up?

HAHA i don't know if it was the first but the story my mom always tells is how i wanted to be a cake decorator at Walmart. specifically walmart. she would encourage me to aim higher, like. 'why don't you be a cake decorator at the white house or something', but no. walmart. i was probably, like. five.

Onward tagging: idk!!!!!!!! im always late to these!!!!!! @goldenwilmon if you haven't done it yet??

[loorain]

Sims 4 Fontenot Legacy - Childhood Begins

The morning after the birthday party, the house is still in disarray. Scarlett wakes up first to start dealing with the mess, followed by the other adults and eventually the kids. The girls have another big day ahead of them, as it is their school orientation day. They're excited to meet other students and find out what elementary school is all about.

While the girls head off to school and Sigrid assists with the day's clean-up process, Robin borrows Sabrina's computer to finish up something he's been wanting to do for a long time.

As the family's youngest residents gain more independence but more costs, Robin decides it's finally time to get a more traditional job to support his family. After a few emails, he's able to secure a job at Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe! It's an entry-level job, but he's confident he has the skill set to work his way up the corporate ladder quickly.

It's not the only big thing happening today. Oh no, the family is having one more big event to celebrate the start of a new chapter in their lives.

The girls return from school with the neighbors' kid, courtesy of Audrey and her ever-friendly personality. However, there's also some additional guests at the house, unbeknownst to them.

Sigrid: Well look who it is! You have a good orientation day? See you've already invited a friend over.

Audrey: Mom, what's this? Why is there a carrier here?

Sigrid can't help but chuckle at the complete ignoring of her comment.

Sigrid: Oh, this old thing? Well, your dad and I thought it might be nice to invite someone over ourselves.

Audrey: What... do you mean-

Alma: A PUPPY!!!!!

Without another word, Alma is rushing to the puppy at the speed of light.

Alma: Hey there, little guy! I'm Alma! You and I are gonna be best friends!

Audrey: A puppy?! Really mom?!

Sigrid: Well your father and I thought it'd be nice for you to have a buddy to play with. You know, someone other than your sister when you two get on each other's nerves.

Audrey: This is the best day ever!

Sigrid: Now remember, caring for a puppy is a lot of responsibility. I need you both to help take care of things, okay?

Alma: We will! We'll go on walks, play with him, train him, everything! Promise!

Audrey: Yeah, what she said!

Sigrid: Okay, okay. Well, don't waste any more time talking to me. Go talk with your sister and decide on a name for him!

Robin has been quietly watching all of this unfold. As the girls greet and play with the puppy, he walks over to his wife.

Robin: Think we did good?

Sigrid: Pft, I think we just earned ourselves "Parents of the Century".

Robin: Ooh, I like the sound of that. Think they'll erect a statue of us in honor of this moment?

Sigrid: If they do, I hope they take some creative license and sculpt a few pounds off my waist.

Robin: Think they'd pump up my muscles a little bit? Oh, maybe a majestic beard would be nice too.

Sigrid: You going full Viking on me now?

Robin: Hey, I'd look good in a tunic! Hand me a sword and shield!

Alma interrupts the banter between the two and comes rushing over to her dad, giving him the biggest hug ever.

Alma: Thank you, thank you! You're the best!

Robin: Aww, you're very welcome, baby.

Sigrid: So have you two thought of a name for him yet?

Alma: I think so!

In the chaos of the new arrival, Audrey's buddy Jalisa gets pushed to the wayside. But, of course, Audrey never abandons her friends.

Audrey: Jalisa! We just got a new puppy! Alma and I decided to name him Ziggy!

Jalisa: So cool! I wish my parents let us get a puppy. Mom's allergic to their saliva, though. Says it gives her the "heebie-geebies".

Audrey: Well you can come over and play with Ziggy as much as you want!

Jalisa: So cool!

Audrey and her pal celebrate the day by spending some time in the treehouse! (Alma was there too, actually, but decided to play by herself in the enclosure. Typical Alma 😆)

All in all, the twins first full day of childhood was a success! A great orientation day, new friendships, and a belated birthday present so wonderful it'll leave a lasting impression on the entire family!

And of course, let's formally introduce the newest addition to the legacy house: Ziggy Lay!

[janeykath318]

Shieldshock: Make It Better

Darcy stood in front of the imposing doors to the Avengers facility, trying to calm her nerves and put her thoughts into words. She just hoped she could keep it together and he would understand.

“Hey, Steve, if you’re in there and watching, It’s me, Darcy. We need to talk.”

Nothing happened. She sighed and tried again.

“Okay, I know you probably hate me and after everything, that’s totally understandable, but I really, really, need some friendly faces right now. My mom and Jane got Snapped and I had a huge fight with Tony. I found out what happened.”

Her voice was starting to tremble. “I’ll appeal to Natasha as well. Remember we’re bros, Nat.”

She flashed a wobbly wave and smile at the security camera.

“I brought baked goods.”

The door swung open and there stood her ex-boyfriend, Steve Rogers, wearing a plaid shirt that begged for mercy and a very wary expression on his face. It had been almost five years since she’d seen him and she was struck by how many more lines creased his face and the tired look in his blue eyes, which looked sad the more they looked at her.

A twinge of pain and remorse pierced her heart as she knew she’d been responsible for some of that sadness. Her eyes welled up.

“Steve….” she whispered.

“Come inside, Darcy,” he gently directed her. “Let’s get away from prying eyes.”

She was led to a cozy lounge area, and greeted warmly by Natasha.

“Darcy, I am very sorry to hear about Dr. Foster and your mother. How are you?”

She smiled wanly back. “I managed to hold it together long enough to finish my astrophysics degree, but the rest of my life is in shambles. I was so sorry to hear about…..well, you know who.”

She thought the mention of Bucky would be a very sore subject for both Steve and Nat.

Nat’s face showed an echo of the pain etched on Steve’s, though she covered it quickly.

“Your sympathy is appreciated, Darcy, But I will catch up with you later. You two need to talk.”

She shot a glance at Steve, plucked the bag of muffins from Darcy’s hand, and disappeared.

Steve shuffled his feet, staring at the floor for a long moment before sighing.

“We’d better sit down.”

Having sat down on opposite couches with a coffee table in between, Darcy found herself aching for the days when they’d cuddle together and she’d usually wind up in his lap, kissing like there was no tomorrow. The silence started to get very awkward before she found her courage to speak.

“First of all, I’m so sorry Steve. I said really mean things to you that were completely unfair. Tony admitted he greatly embellished the truth in hopes I’d dump you. He wanted to punish you after the whole fiasco with Bucky, make you hurt more, I guess.”

“Well, he certainly succeeded,” Steve said hollowly. “I keep reliving that fight in my head over and over. I should have told him sooner.”

“I’m sorry I believed him over you. I should have known better. You better believe me I told him off for that. I don’t think I’ve been so angry in a long time. He cost me the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She couldn’t keep the tears back any more, and they started running down her face in streams.

In a moment, Steve was sitting beside her and had pulled her against him, rubbing her back in the calming way he used to.

“I’m so tired of soldiering on, pretending everything’s okay when it’s not,” she whispered. “It feels like I’ve lost everyone.”

“I know,” Steve agreed, sounding as ragged as she felt. “But there’s a few of us left here and you’re welcome to hole up with us like in the old tower days. Some days, it’s just the comfortable companionship of being miserable together, no judgment.”

She wiped her eyes and looked up at him.

“I’ll take that over being around my bio dad. I can’t look him in the face after what he did.”

“Hurt people hurt people,” Steve reminded her.

“Yeah, but you were in an impossible situation to begin with. He hasn’t dealt with his Howard issues at all, and refuses to acknowledge that Bucky was a victim in all of this as well. I straight up told him I was going back to you and not to call me unless he was ready to make things right.”

“I bet you used a lot more colorful language, though,” Steve said, a tiny smile appearing.

She shrugged. “You know me too well, Steve-o.”

Darcy turned to face him.

“Can you forgive me, Steve? I know it’s been a long time and all and I will totally not blame you if you don’t, but…….I love you, and I’m sorry.”

Steve’s eyes filled up with tears and he took her face in his big hands, looking at her with that same love she’d seen many times before.

“The day I don’t forgive you is the day I die, Dr. Darcy Lewis,” he whispered huskily. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

The kiss he gave her decisively backed up his words.

[lea-heartscxiv]

Miya Valentine's Day

Miya was the third winner in this poll and here is the date he had on Valentine's Day this year on our sims gameplay.

You can see an extra cute kitties photos in our Blogger. (From me and @van-yangyin)

Blogger: English | Español

Read their date below the cut line ↓

The day before Valentine's Day, during the afternoon-evening. Miya met Koyomi, Takashi and Chisa at an ice cream shop to invite them to go to an animal shelter the next day.

Miya: Let's meet after after-school, is that okay?

Takashi: Of course and then around 8 pm, we could go to the skatepark.

Miya: Ok. «Will Reki and Langa be there when we go, or will they still be working on Dope Sketch?» - thinking.

Koyomi: Then I hope my brother won't be there, because if not, he won't stop showing us how cool his friend is at skateboarding. 😂

The next day during the afternoon-evening Miya stopped by his house to pick up his two cats Slime and Kirby and take them with him to the animal shelter.

Miya: We're here, do you think they will be here soon?

Chisa: We're here!

Miya: Did you guys bring any spare clothes?

Koyomi: Sure!

Takashi: It's about time, Hero. 😂

Miya: Let's go inside Slimes! 😂

Inside Miya introduced his friends to Emma, the owner of the shelter. She told them they could ask her as many questions as they wanted.

Koyomi: Are the doors always locked?

Emma: You mean the doors all over the compound?

Koyomi: Yes.

Emma: These doors are specifically built with an electronic mechanism that detects animal presence, including humans. So they only open when they detect whose presence it is and that there is no one in the other place, so they can open automatically without danger.

Takashi: That must have cost a lot of money, right?

Emma: Better not ask about it. 😅

Miya: But animals can go freely without danger, so that's worth everything!

Koyomi: And also the main entrance gate?

Emma: Of course. The only door that remains closed for them is the door to my living quarters. Except for Angola, the cat I adopted.

Chisa: Can we adopt?

Takashi: But Chisa, where we live we can't have pets.

Chisa: Right... 😭

Emma: Don't be sad, you can help in many other ways here.

Emma explains how many other ways they can help even if they can't adopt where they live.

A while passes and Taka tries to make an approach towards a cat, which doesn't seem very happy. Meanwhile, Chisa plays with another one successfully. Koyomi on the other hand tries to get to know a kitten.

Later, Taka talks to Emma and asks her how she came up with the idea of building a shelter instead of a veterinary clinic, since she doesn't make much money from it.

Emma: Since I was little have always seen a lot of abandoned animals and couldn't do anything to help them since I lived like you, in a apartment that didn't accept pets. So I promised that as soon as I could, would make a shelter for them and help them. And yes, as you said, I didn't make money but can see the goodness in people and also the dark side of them.

Meanwhile, Miya and Koyomi are having a talk outside the shelter. 

Koyomi: Jeez... I can't have pets even though our house is huge... I would like to have one... But mom always says that we already have enough with Chihiro and Nanaka as little ones with lots of energy and Reki with his skateboard going fast back and forth...

Miya: Well, think that there are people like Emma and us, that whenever we can try to help animals we meet even if some of you cannot adopt them. I had a hard time keeping Slime and Kirby, mom and dad didn't want me to adopt them.

Koyomi: I know... And there are 7 of us at home... Mom says that at the end she would take care of the little one while we were away and that it would give her work three times harder....

Miya: Is it okay if we tell the rest of Slimes to leave?

Koyomi keeps thinking and says to herself that Miya is right as long as there are people like Emma and them, there will always be a balance.

They said goodbye to Emma and the furry ones and headed to the Skatepark.

Once there Takashi, Chisa and Koyomi sat down.

Miya: Didn't you bring your skateboard, Taka?

Takashi: No, this humble Slime today comes to watch the Hero. But don't get used to it because the Slime also has things to teach you.

Miya gave them a little exhibition of his tricks. And when he was done, climbed up to where his friends were standing and shouted:

Miya: Hero Miya and his 3 Slimes! 🤣

Koyomi: We should go now, shouldn't we?

Miya: Yes, that's right, it's already a little late, we should go back to our homes, we have school tomorrow.

Takashi: You're right, we have to go shower, eat and sleep.

Chisa: Yes and it's almost 9pm, my mom might get mad because it's so late!

Miya: See you tomorrow then, Takashi, Chisa. See you another time, Koyomi.

Once at home, Miya's mobile vibrates, he looks at it and reads the notification that has arrived (Read here if you want to know what Miya is reading).

Miya: «This Saturday in "S".... Great! If Langa participates I'll go against him, and this time I'll do my best to reach his level! I'll be the one to give him the chocolate this Saturday.» - thinking.

~The End?~

Maybe you want to read too:

JoeCherry Valentine's Day | Renga Valentine's Day | TadaAi Valentine's Day | Shadoka Valentine's Day

[smol-grey-tea]

Hi! Sorry if this is a bit weird but I recently finished Nameless and have been trying to find more content of it because I love it so much, and came across your Tumblr. I've been reading your posts on the game and I especially like your one post talking about Yuri because you put into words what I couldn't. Thank you! I also really love that you're transcribing Nameless into a book! I was wondering if you want some help with that because I cannot get over this game and am planning to go through it all over again

Hi (●’◡’●)ﾉ!!!! This isn't weird at all, it is very very appreciated!!! 😁😁😁😁 I'm always glad to see anyone who loves Nameless, new or old :3 if you want more content of it, I do recommend the dlcs!! ^^ I'm very glad you love my own Nameless content!!! 😊😊 it means a lot to me :)

Yes, Yuri is such a fascinating character!! I have more to write about him and others, there really should be more Nameless essay content imo!! I am doing the Lord's work here!! 😂

Transcribing it has been such a passion for me recently, I like that it gives me a sense of purpose, so I'm very glad people like the idea of it!!! But some of it is difficult yes, and I would appreciate some help 🤔ᴴᴹ

I've already completed Eri, Lance and Yeonho's books, but before I can do anything else with them, they'll all need to be proofread. I've attempted to proofread Eri's before but rereading shit that I've already written, especially for the purpose of looking for mistakes, is actually so. Fucking. Boring. My mom's tried to but she never has the time either, so she can't..

I'm rly not sure how to get someone to proofread it but I think it'd cost a lot of money?? 😦😬 ouch.. So if there's any way you could help with that, that'd be very much appreciated!

After they're proofread ik I want them to have pretty covers :) my dad told me to make the covers myself but, (￣ヘ￣）ᵁᴹᴹ no 😂😂 I think I want them properly done, but preferably by someone who's already a fan of Nameless. I have a couple different people in mind for commissioning the covers but if you'd like to make them, please don't be shy!! We can definitely talk more in depth about stuff in dms if you'd like!! :) ^^

After they've all been proofread and such, I can I think get them self published on Amazon? It should be for sale both digital and physical but I would highly prefer for people to buy it physically since that's the whole point I'm making it

The more time passes, the more anti-digital I am.. It's about media preservation. Streaming services can pull your favourite shows or movies at the drop of a hat, just because they don't bring in enough profit, not to mention the strikes lately. If buying isn't really owning, then piracy isn't stealing. I'm growing to appreciate physical media so so so much more.

I love Nameless so so much, it is my biggest passion in life, that's no exaggeration. It's highly unlikely, but if it was ever unavailable to play, for whatever reason, I don't know what I would do.. I don't care if Cheritz throws copyright issues my way, I am determined to commit this game to a physical copy. To actually touch the pages and display them in my room and keep them forever.

So that's why I'm doing it. I do still of course plan on releasing it digitally, and will always keep the 1st chapters of each book public, but releasing it as physical copies is the reason why I'm doing it in the first place, so I'd really love if people would enjoy them physically :)

In the meantime! On the subject of Nameless merch, I do recommend (￣ヘ￣）ᵁᴹᴹ @/nocturnal-lullabies because they've made their own Nameless merch before as well! I'm not sure if their old stuff is still available but they've said recently that they wanna start doin merch again, so keep an eye out for any new posts of theirs! :)