#i think she was about 23 when she got her license

[ikkan]

serious need of advice:

anyone who has/had driving anxiety have any tips of how to cope with this major anxiety? i’m 23 years old and still can’t drive. I mostly rely on family to drive me and honestly getting very tired of it (on top of hearing some complaints haha…) i hopefully want to learn how to drive sometime in the future. but i have terrible anxiety about it.

i don’t recall having any serious traumatic events happening in a car. i mean i’ve had the “almost moments”. most of the time i go with my mom, she’s pretty decent at driving most of the time, but has her own issues and sometimes panics while driving and will start yelling during these panics. which i believe being exposed to them, adds onto my anxiety, especially being frantically asked what to do by her when i have no driving experience, so i panic too, but try to hide it from her. also, my mom has had her own driving incidents throughout my life, so seeing her bruised up or how damaged the cars are….probably adds to it as well.

i do believe i have a control issue, which is rooted from anxiety because i can’t control other the drivers around me. on top of the idea of being responsible for a big piece of machinery which could end mine or someone else’s life. plus in jersey…it’s known that people here are horrible drivers…not only from experience, but people do talk about it quite a lot. so, that kinda brings my anxiety up higher.

i’m not saying i’m definitely jumping behind the wheel, especially not right now because i don’t want to pressure myself more and feel out of control. if anyone has any advice dealing with this, please let me know. it would mean a lot to me 🥺

[disneyprincemuke]

hot laps * fem!driver

the fact of the matter is that she's got the reputation of being a reckless driver on the road, but they didn't know the extent until they had to join her for a hot lap around the track

pairings: bother figures x fem!driver, 4lyfers x fem!driver, macky

notes: hi i got bored at work and this is what i did instead of my dissertation

(series masterlist) | (📂 the sophomore year)

-> max verstappen, #1

literally cannot stop screaming the entire time

he knew she was a reckless driver by some degree on the road

but not like this

she takes him on an extra lap and goes faster, almost clips the wall and almost loses the car

is kinda impressed that she recovered it somehow

stumbles out the car a sputtering mess at how hard she’d gone in the car

“remind me not to anger you”

-> logan sargeant, #2

unfortunately is used to his life being in grave danger at her hands

lowkey still has a heart attack even though he knew she’s been driving like this since he taught her how to drive a road car at 16

holds onto the handles for dear life

disappointed but not surprised

“i almost got murdered trying to do content with rocky”

-> lando norris, #4

is silent most of the time

wide eyed though

is kinda traumatised at how fast she was going

because she seems to be having a lot of fun

just walks away the minute she parks the car at the grid

"doesn't seem normal to be giggling and humming songs when you're driving at 200km/h"

-> alex albon, #23

a little impressed

not sure what logan’s deal is about her driving

her driving reminds him a lot of george’s recklessness behind a wheel

isn’t as bad as george so that’s a win to him

“she’s a close second to george on the list of people i wouldn’t let drive me around”

-> liam lawson, #30

cussing her entire bloodline the minute she accelerated

apologises for every time he’s angered and pissed her off

his eyes were closed half the time, only ever peeking through an eye every couple seconds

terrified for his life

“have you ever considered operating a rocketship instead of a race car”

-> mick schumacher, #47

kinda enjoys it actually

she’s driven his car on the road before

asks her for a second lap because he literally doesn’t have the time to go to an amusement park

she says no

says she'll do it if he pays her money and the rates are $5/km/h

“it’s like getting on a roller coaster except it’s not nearly as scary”

-> george russell, #63

screams half the time she’s driving

literally tries to be a backseat driver

could feel his stomach left behind at sharp turns and his lifespan decreasing

actually saw his life flash before his eyes

“i need to apologise to alex for my driving behaviour”

-> oscar piastri, #81

would rather be anywhere than in a moving car with her

tries everything in his power not to get in the car with her

is unfortunately dragged in by lando because “if i had to go through it, so do you”

“i’ve lived with her, i’ve BEEN through it”

doesn’t feel much during the lap

feels kinda nice actually

better driver than he remembers her to be

“perhaps my expectations were low, but you weren’t as bad as i remembered so good job”

— bonus

-> sebastian vettel, #5

doesn’t even blink

sits there and takes it

kind of wonders why he allowed himself to be the target of the socmed’s team

from a race car driver perspective: good, but as a human: it’s absolutely foul

jelly legs when he came out of the car

“whoever let you have a license should have a stern talking to”

-> matt cornett (boyfriend!)

is praying for his safety the minute she approached him with bright eyes and a hopeful smile that he’d join her for a hot lap

literally thinks she’s going to kill him

isn’t as bad as he thinks

still thinks the rate she went at was too fast for his personal preference

she shrugs and admits that she went slower than she did with everyone else she's taken

is offended and asks her to give him the same treatment

literally regrets it

“i literally thought i was going to die at your hands”

taglist: @wcnorris @treehouse-mouse @laura-naruto-fan1998 @mindless-rock @vellicora @ironmaiden1313 @angsthology @cherry-piee @christianpulisic10 @elliegrey2803 @33-81 @darleneslane @nikfigueiredo @happy-nico @namgification @localwhoore @notawc @sadg3 @kazuha-pista-badam @mellowarcadefun @megatrilss1885 @peqch-pie @woozarts @meadhbhcavanagh @2bormaybenot @a-disturbing-self-reflection @inejismywife @love4lando @louvrepool

[essentiallyleaf]

day 02. pegging. with. chuu.

2013 words.

tags.

kinktober ‘23, futa!idol x male reader, roommates with benefits, sub reader, softie dom chuu, making out, blowjobs (reader receiving and giving), masturbation, mutual masturbation, pegging, pet names, the writing kinda just gets worse as it progresses, it wasn’t supposed to be this long.

notes.

chuu has a dick. if you��re into that, great, if you’re not, i’m sorry, hopefully you’ll like some of the next ones(?). i guess that’s kind of the point of kinktober? anyway, love your parents. intensely, leaf.

She always had those unexpected reactions, her tone or expression often clashing with her words (you saw her smile the widest at “Fuck that bitch and her fancy new whatever, can I suck you off?”), but when she said you looked tense and she’d help you loosen up, you didn’t expect that.

Jiwoo was just your roommate, not exactly the “just your roommate” that asks to copy your homework and not to make noise after 10, more like the “just your roommate” that you have unprompted makeout sessions with during movie night, or right before going to class, or anytime she felt like it, really. It wasn’t uncommon that while making out she would casually offer you a blowjob, what was uncommon is that you’d decline.

One time you were feeling up her boobs and asked to repay the favor, and she asked you if you were sure, said that she’d understand if you never wanted to kiss her, or even talk to her again, then lowered her pants and underwear and showed you her 6.5-inch monster. You simply pecked her and got on your knees. It was your first time, but you did “great, baby boy”.

Since then the two of you started masturbating in front of each other, Jiwoo even using her black dildo on special occasions (you never knew whether to look at her veiny cock or her pretty puppy face, simultaneously focused and completely lost in pleasure) and jerking each other off slowly while kissing. Some of her cum accidentally hit your closed eyelid once, she said she was so sorry, you just picked it up with your finger and licked it off, satisfied. She smiled and cleaned your dick with her tongue.

One day Jiwoo came home looking distracted. She was worried about her driving test (“I’ll get my license when I need one”; she ended up needing one to get from afternoon classes to evening shifts at the coffee shop she worked at, the subway couldn’t get her there in time) and about finals getting closer, she said; you knew there was something else. You made her hot pot that night, then you watched Ratatouille together. She loves Ratatouille. You asked if she was tired, if there was something else she wanted to do. Twenty minutes later you were laying on the couch on top of her, naked.

“I’m putting it in, okay?”

She came three times that night. Before you both fell asleep while spooning on the couch, nothing but a blanket covering your bodies (it was well into May, so it wasn’t that cold), you whispered in her ear:

“I think you’ll do great on your date”

She turned her head. “H- How did you know?”

“I didn’t”

She opened her mouth like she was trying to say something, then probably realized there was no need to. You hugged her tighter.

The date went pretty well. It was a girl she met at the coffee shop, she was a pre-med student who drank lots of coffee and read a little too much Nietzsche for someone her age. Jiwoo said she was just “interested in the human mind”, which is certainly one way of looking at it. Things ended up not working out, but Jiwoo took it surprisingly well. As for you, you’re all for your roommate making her own choices and more than happy to just support her, but you can’t say you were particularly sad about it.

Maybe it’s for the same reason that tonight, you let her have it. You let her play with you, follow her lead, and then, who knows.

What matters is that right now, Jiwoo just jumps onto the couch and starts simply kissing your neck, ridding you of your shirt to access your collarbones, lightly squeezing your cock through your pants in the meantime. You feel up her boobs through her beige t-shirt before she quickly takes it off with your help along with your jeans and her gray waist-high pants, taking no more than twenty seconds. You’re used to her being a little impatient from time to time. She keeps making out with you as she gropes your butt with both hands, humping you increasingly stronger as both of you become erect.

She only stops to get rid of the remaining underwear on both of your bodies, smiling like she has something in mind.Then she extends her index finger in front of your face.

“Wait one second”

You’re not surprised when she comes back from her room with a bottle of lube in her hand. You are surprised when, in the same tone she reminds you to water the plants, gently, but delivering the feeling that it’s something she cares about, ‘cause “without them, it wouldn’t feel like home!”, she tells you:

“Get on all fours”

“Noona?” She’s two years older than you.

“I know it’s scary, okay? I was scared too, but I promise, I promise it’ll feel good. And if it hurts even a little, we stop immediately, I kiss you boo-boo and we watch The Incredibles while eating ice cream” You love The Incredibles, and you love ice cream, but the thought of Jiwoo’s girth splitting your anus open was still pretty fucking scary.

“How about if we skip the kissy boo-boo part?”

It wasn’t what she said, it was her big sister smile, the smile of someone who cares, the smile of someone who, if need be, would protect you from your greatest stan, turned evil after you rejected him, who now wants to pretend-destroy your city and then pretend-save it to look like a hero, or from, a washed restaurant owner, that wants to kill your rat friend, who indirectly cooks rejuvenating dishes, secretly controlling your movements by pulling your hair, I guess?

Anyway, you get on all fours and she softly pats your butt and lower back before squirting some lube on her hands and spreading it thoroughly on her shaft. Then she puts her index and middle fingers on your asshole and starts gently massaging around it.

“Hey, it might be a little cold, okay?”

It is a little cold. But the first phalanx of the first finger feels unexpectedly okay. She slowly goes in deeper and deeper, observing your facial expressions, because seeing you three quarters from the back is enough for her, and listening for any signs of discomfort. She only hears soft mewls, so she places the second finger on your rim and waits. You gradually get used to the feeling and relax more and more, until Jiwoo can push the second digit in, this time even slower than the first. You struggle a little more with this one.

“Shhh, you’re doing so good for me, baby boy” she whispers while kissing your nape. Her reassuring words help you relax a little more, until she can get most of her slender finger in.

“I’m gonna start moving. You just tell me if it hurts, yeah?” Then she begins rotating her fingers inside you, covering your insides with lube. Now that you’ve adjusted to the temperature, it feels surprisingly quite nice. As soon as she deems you appropriately lubed up, she slowly takes her fingers out as you groan. When she’s done, you feel strangely hollow.

“Good boy, my good boy, you did so well” she showers you with compliments while repeatedly kissing you on the cheek. You half-smile back.

“Wanna stop?” You just shake your head.

She takes position behind you on the couch and aligns her rod with you, placing her tip on your asshole. She starts lightly pushing in as you moan out loud, her girth much wider than her fingers. You look back at her and nod to go in, and so she does. You growl as she gradually makes her way into your hole, one of her hands now on your shoulder, the other on your hip.

As you look over your shoulder, asking yourself when she’s finally going to bottom out, she smiles, almost surprised herself.

“A- I’m in”

You take a couple minutes to get adjusted, two minutes filled with “You did a great job, honey”’s and kisses on your shoulders, neck, and lips.

Then she slowly pulls back out, until only her tip is in you. You feel that strange hollowness again.

“Just go in, what are you waiting for?” You look behind, questioningly. 

“Haha~ I knew you would like this” (Touché.)

You can’t say the same, but when she begins thrusting back and forth at a glacial pace, making sure to hit every corner of your hole, any thought of suppressing your moans and “Yes, noona”’s to try to keep a semblance of pride has gone completely out of the window and you’re now in the palm of Jiwoo’s hand. So as she accelerates her rhythm, she simply goes:

“There, there” and moves her right hand to your still erect cock to jerk you off. The built up stimulation from her fingers, to her dick, to now her hand caressing your length makes you explode after only a couple strokes, and many long stripes of white messily paint the couch. Your orgasm lasts what feels like an eternity and you keep growling out loud for more than a few seconds as Jiwoo wraps her hands around you, trying her best to support your limp body.

“You okay?” You still need to take a few deep breaths before you’re able to answer.

“Fuck, that was intense” you’re talking into a pillow, no strength left to even turn to face her.

“You wanna feel something more intense?”

“What? I just came, I’m spent, I have nothing left in me!”

“I’ll do all the work, I won’t even touch your dick! Plus, I still haven’t cum…” She pouts slightly. Fuck, this girl knows you.

“‘Kay, what do I do?”

“Just lay with your back on the couch and your legs open. Get comfortable, I need you to relax~” she says almost melodically, caressing from the top of your head, to your temples, down to your cheeks.

When she sees your eyes close in relaxation, she aligns herself with your hole for a second time and pushes in, this time much more easily. She bottoms out in just a few seconds and in this position, it feels she’s reaching much deeper into you. She notices when you tightly grip a pillow in each hand and groan below her, still not able to express your pleasure through proper words, so she wrings them out of you.

“You like, huh?”

“Yeah. Yeah, noona. Please keep going”

“At your service, baby boy”

She immediately gets into a faster rhythm this time, knowing she won’t last long either. As she pistons in and out of your hole, you feel your guts being rearranged, spikes of pleasure reinvigorating you with energy. Energy that needs to flow out one way or another, and it does through your hands gripping Jiwoo’s asscheeks, guiding, no, throwing her pelvis into you and back out, and through your abs flexing to help your mouth reach up to the lips of the girl above you.

The two of you are now symmetrically slamming your respective hips into each other’s and moaning in each other’s mouths, only partially silencing the sounds of pure, raw sex leaving your apartment. And symmetrically the two of you reach your peaks.

You start spurting the last few drops of cum you have in your body just as she pulls out and jerks herself onto you, two sources of white nectar coming together on your abs, chest, even chin and neck as you and Jiwoo are still French kissing, and keep doing so for a good minute after coming down from your highs, her body now resting on yours.

You wrap one hand around her back and caress her hair with the other while kissing the side of her head.

“Haha~ I take it you liked it”

“Some parts of my body definitely loosened up”

The joke isn’t funny, but she chuckles anyway.

“Thank you, noona”

-

footnotes.

hope you liked it! i wasn’t super happy about some parts, but that’s okay(?). i’m kinda worried i’ll write the same characters over and over again, just changing the names. hopefully it’s just that two different idols in a row gave me the same vibes. we’ll see. may you have a blessed day, dear reader. mmwah. kindly, leaf.

[matttgirlies]

Matt & Me🎀

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

a story heavily based on Priscilla Presley’s Book “Elvis & Me” based in the 1950’s - 1970’s.

fem! reader x singer! matt

disclaimer!! - in no way am i saying matt would ever support or do these kind of things, for the sake of the book certain unethical things do happen at times.

warnings - semi smut (not really)

y/nn = your nickname for any confusion🩷

Chapter 18

My attitude toward the usual wedding formalities was naive and unsophisticated. If it had not been for my good friend Amber Doe, I can’t imagine what I would have done. Amber was great that way. She was raised in Missouri, where her mother was somewhat involved with political events and ventures. Amber knew all the social graces along with proper etiquette.

Before the wedding there had never been an occasion for formalities—the same people came around for years and were always included when there was a special party such as New Year’s at a local club or fireworks wars in back of Graceland.

She reminded me to order my own personalized stationery for later thank-yous and a guest book for later memories. She registered our name with the city’s finest silver and crystal dealers for the convenience of family and friends buying wedding presents.

I had never attended a wedding as large as ours—nothing even close. I was nervous. The bounty from the wedding showers took me by surprise. Graceland had always seemed to have everything anyone could want. We were content with what was there, plus little things I’d bought over the years, such as simple dishes and plain glasses (in case of breakage).

“What’s wrong with those?” I wondered. I was raised to be practical and it was showing. Amber introduced me to dining luxury, the top names in silver, crystal, china—Baccarat, Lenox, Steuben.

The wedding ceremony itself took place on May 1, 1967. Colonel William handled the arrangements. His plan was for Matt and me to drive from L.A. to our rented house in Palm Springs the day before the wedding, so that any inquisitive reporters who got wind of the event would think it was going to take place there.

In fact, we planned to rise before dawn on our wedding day and fly from Palm Springs to Las Vegas, where we were scheduled to arrive at the city clerk’s office at 7 a.m. to get our marriage license. From there, the plan was to rush over to the Aladdin Hotel, dress, have a small ceremony in the private suite of the hotel’s owner, and then—we hoped—slip out of town before anyone noticed.

Time was of the essence. We knew that once we applied for a marriage license, the news would flash around the world. It actually was only a few hours after we got our license that Rona Barrett’s office began calling to ask if rumors about the marriage were true.

Matt and I followed the Colonel’s plan, but as we raced through the day we both thought that if we had it to do over again, we would have given ourselves more time. We were particularly upset at the way our friends and relatives ended up being shuffled around. The Colonel even told some of the boys that the room was too small to hold most of them and their wives, and that there wasn’t time to change to a bigger room. Unfortunately, by the time Matt found out, it was too late for him to do anything about it.

Now I sometimes look back at all the commotion of that week and wonder how things could have gotten so out of hand. I wish I’d had the strength then to say, “Wait a minute, this is our wedding, fans or no fans, press or no press. Let us invite whomever we want, and have it wherever we want!”

It seemed that as soon as the ceremony began, it was over. Our vows were taken. We were now husband and wife. I remember flashbulbs popping, my father’s congratulations, my mother’s tears of happiness.

I would have given anything for one moment alone with my husband. But we were immediately rushed out for a photo session, then a nationwide press conference, and finally a reception, with more photographers.

Mrs. Matt Sturniolo. It had a different ring, a nicer sound than previous labels such as “constant companion,” “teen heartthrob,” “live-in Lolita,” “lover.” For the first time, I felt accepted by my peers and the majority of the public. There were exceptions, of coursethose who had that little hope that they might be the one to finally catch Matt. I didn’t understand that at the time. I was in love and just hoped they would be happy for us.

When I read in the newspapers that I was the best-kept secret in Hollywood, I felt very proud; it was good to be acknowledged. The years of doubt and insecurity of where and if I belonged were over.

I was both exhausted and relieved when we finally returned to Palm Springs aboard Frank Sinatra’s Learjet, the Christina. There were more photographers and reporters waiting for us as we stepped off the plane, and others were parked outside our home.

I was surprised that Matt was holding up so well, considering how nervous he’d been about this ultimate commitment. Yet he was charming with the press and dealt easily with endlessly clicking cameras and flashbulbs, all of which he could usually tolerate only for short periods of time. On top of everything else, we hadn’t slept for nearly forty-eight hours.

In his own way, Matt was determined that our wedding day would be special for us. He joked with Nate Doe, asking, “Is this the way it’s done?”

He carried me across the threshold of our house singing “The Hawaiian Wedding Song.” He stopped and gave me a long, loving kiss, then proceeded to carry me up the stairs to our bedroom, the whole crowd teasing and applauding.

It was still daylight and the sun shone brightly through our bedroom windows as Matt carefully placed me in the middle of our king-size bed.

I don’t think he really knew what to do with me. After all, Matt had protected me and saved me for so long. He was now understandably hesitant about fulfilling all his promises about how very good this moment was going to be.

I have to laugh at how nervous we both were. One would have thought that it was the first time we had ever been together under intimate circumstances.

Gently, his lips touched mine. Then he looked deeply into my eyes. “My wife,” he said softly, as he drew me close. “I love you, y/nn,” he murmured, covering my body with his.

The intensity of emotion I was experiencing was electrifying. The desire and lust that had built up in me throughout the years exploded in a frenzy of passion.

Could he have known how it would be for me? Had he planned this all along? I’ll never know. But I do know that as I went from child to woman, the long, romantic, yet frustrating adventure that Matt and I had shared all seemed worthwhile. As old-fashioned as it might sound, we were now one. It was special. He made it special, like he did with anything he took pride in.

Within a few days we were in Boston, where Angela Sturniolo held a small wedding shower for me. At the end of May we threw a big reception at Graceland for all our friends and relatives—and some fans. Matt and I wore our wedding clothes, greeted everyone, sipped champagne, and shared cake just as if the party were taking place after the wedding ceremony. It was much more comfortable and relaxed than Las Vegas.

Laughing and somewhat high from the champagne, we could really have a good time. There were no photographers or strangers watching our every move.

It was fun seeing James get loose.

“Dad, you want some more champagne?” Matt asked, his eyes twinkling.

“Don’t mind if I do, Son. That’s pretty good stuff.”

“Yeah. Well, don’t drink too much. I don’t want my dad gettin’ in trouble. I see that blonde you’ve been eyein’.”

James stole a glance at the girl and, with the same twinkle replied, “She ain’t too bad, is she? Think I’ll go see if she needs anything.”

Matt turned to me and said, “I like seein’ Dad happy. He hasn’t had too much of it lately, poor ol’ guy.” He watched James make his way through the crowd.

The reception at Graceland was our way of trying to make everyone happy—those who hadn’t known about the wedding ceremony, those who knew but couldn’t attend, and those who knew but weren’t invited. It was a way of including everyone, of making up to anyone whose feelings might have been hurt during the rushed hours in Vegas.

One person who had been very upset was Red West. He had not been invited to the wedding ceremony in the suite, only to the reception afterward. I believe the reason Red was so hurt was because Matt did not demand that he be present, did not take a stand over Colonel William’s decision that only the immediate family and best man attend. I also believe that Red wanted to be best man. After all, he’d known Matt the longest, since their days at Humes High. When Red found out he could not watch the ceremony, he refused to come at all.

Matt was aware of Red’s decision but was determined not to let anything mar the wedding. I understood that but was never able to figure out how Marty Lacker made it to the ceremony. In a last-minute decision Matt had included him as best man along with Nate Doe.

It took a long time for Red to come around again without showing his displeasure. This bothered Matt and he discussed it with many of us, justifying himself and blaming Colonel for putting him in an awkward position.

“You didn’t make the decision—I did,” Colonel reportedly stated. “No matter who you picked, there was gonna be someone left mad. You got too many as it is. You oughta listen to me and let go of some of ’em, then these things won’t come up.”

There’s an old Southern belief that holds that a woman goes into a marriage thinking she can change her man, while a man wants his woman to stay the same as when he married her. I didn’t want to change Matt, but I did have the romantic delusion that once we were married, I could change our life-style.

For the first few days after the wedding, I thought my dream had come true. We divided our time between Graceland and the ranch, where Matt and I had taken up residence in a large, three-bedroom trailer.

It was typical of Matt to choose the trailer over the quaint little house. He had never lived in a trailer before and it intrigued him. The place was completely furnished, including a washer, a dryer, and a modern kitchen. It turned out to be very romantic.

I loved playing house. I personally washed all his clothes, along with the towels and sheets, and took pride in ironing his shirts and rolling up his socks the way my mother had taught me. Here was an opportunity to take care of him myself. No maids or housekeepers to pamper us. No large rooms to embrace the regular entourage.

I got up early, put on a pot of coffee, and started his breakfast with a pound of bacon and three eggs, proudly presented it to him the moment he woke up.

“You see, if we were ever stranded somewhere alone, you know I can take care of you.”

It must have been difficult for him to eat the instant he opened his eyes—but he wasn’t going to disappoint his new bride.

Although the rest of the group traveled with us, they respected our privacy as newlyweds and, for the most part, left us alone.

I understood Matt’s need for the camaraderie the entourage provided, and I didn’t want to take him away from the people he loved, especially now that we were married. He had always criticized wives who tried to change the status quo. He told me about one wife, saying, “She doesn’t like him to be around the boys so much. She’s going to cause problems in the group.” The last thing I wanted was for Matt to think I’d be the kind of wife who’d come between her man and his friends.

I decided one evening to show off my cooking skills for everyone by making one of Matt’s favorite dishes, lasagna. I invited the regulars, bragging to one and all about how well I prepared this Italian specialty. Despite my outward confidence, I must have made ten longdistance calls to my mother in New Jersey, checking and rechecking on quantities and measurements. It was important for me to prove myself a success. Nate Doe, our only Italian and a “gourmet chef,” kidded me all week about how he bet that my lasagna wouldn’t be as good as his. All that ribbing only made me more nervous. I kept thinking, What do I know about pasta? I’m not even Italian.

Finally, the night of the dinner came. Everyone was seated at the table, watching me expectantly. I tried to appear cool and confident as I brought out the fancily prepared platter and started cutting individual squares for my guests. I did notice that when I started slicing the lasagna, it felt a little tough, but thinking I was holding a dull knife, I continued dishing it out.

I sat down, smiled anxiously, and said, “Please start.” We all took a bite and—crunch. There was a look of shock on everyone’s face. I looked at my plate and was mortified when I realized I had forgotten to boil the pasta.

Matt began laughing, but when he saw I was about to cry he turned to his plate and began eating, uncooked noodles and all. Taking their lead from him, everyone followed suit.

Nate Doe still laughs about it, frequently saying, “y/nn? How about some lasagna?”

Excerpt from: "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Scribd. This material may be protected by copyright.

a/n - married!! 🎀

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for allowing a friendship to die without communicating?

This happened a few years ago so I'll use the ages from back then. I (23F) applied to get my driver's license. I met many people there but there was this one girl who looked like she was my age or a couple of years younger and we clicked well immediately. We exchanged mobile numbers and we bonded mostly over driving since that's how we met.

After we both finally managed to get our licenses, we were finally able to meet and hangout at a restaurant. The topic of driving died out and we started to talk about our personal lives and it occurred to me that i haven't asked her about her exact age. I always assumed she was younger because her family is too overprotective although I thought it was weird that she had a full time job when people her age should be still at college.

BUT, her answer was a real shock, she said she was 35!! I gasped because I couldn't tell at all and she casually asked me about my age, I said 23 and she went quiet real fast. She awkwardly admitted that she assumed I was around her age because I sounded too mature. We both tried to act normal but it was still awkward for us both and we went home after eating immediately.

I waited for her to message me like she always did but she didn't for a week. I wanted to message her to tell her it's okay and I didn't mind, specially because I couldn't make any single friend for years prior to this, but I couldn't bring myself to send a message, and we never talked again.

I felt it's my responsibility as the younger person to inform her that I'm okay with it, because i got the vibe that she thinks I'm uncomfortable with it. Aita?

What are these acronyms?

[flavorcrash]

Hi! Sorry if this has already been asked, feel free to ignore it if so <3.

But I don't know if you would mind making a summary or a file of your OC?

THIS LITTLE ONE IS SO CUTE

I need to know more about him, his name, age, why he wears that adorable whale pendant (I think) his pronouns aaaaaa always come up in my beginning but I don't know anything about this little one!

Thank you very much <3

Oh that's my character Fletcher ! !

His full name is Fletcher Baines. He's 23 years old in the MDHM universe and he's originally an OC i made for my story Cross My Heart! I just love him a lot so i just shoved him into the MDHM universe for self indulgence. His pronouns are he/him, he's FTM Trans, and homosexual. He's 5'10" and that whale pendant is a locket that has photos of people he cares about the most (Stu and Ursula) the necklace is a gift from his mom and he's had it since he was 7 years old. He's very autistic about whales and sea life in general. He would have LOVED to become a marine biologist but instead followed his mom's footsteps and became a mortician in Scotland (where he's from)

In the MDHM au i have him in, he was born in Scotland and his parents moved to the U.S. when he was little. He grew up in the same neighborhood with Stu and Ursula and was entirely the troublemaker amongst the three of them. Come the middle of Senior year, Ursula is taken to Canada for treatment as her tuberculosis has only gotten worse over time. Meanwhile Fletcher's family moves back to Scotland as his dad got a better job. He decided to stay there for college and moved to this (fictional) town called Glasfar. After her got his license he was working as a mortician for a while until he befriended the town's groundskeeper for the cemetery.... And then for 6 months Ursula and Stu lost contact with him... 6 months then turned into 2 years and even his parents didn't have contact with him.

He shows up in Doomsbury after those 2 years looking the worst he ever has in his life and runs into Ursula- or rather a lacrosse ball hits him in the head and she drags him to his house where her younger brother yells at him then hugs him. Ever since then he's been living in Doomsbury for 2 years, working on getting a Computer Science degree for a better job.

His interests include Slasher Movies (another hyperfixation of his), Coding, Visual Novels, Horror in general, Anatomy, Marine Life, Dogs, and Cooking!

Also don't let his pretty looks fool you, he can be a major douchebag at times even if he is a pretty loyal friend. To a fault... He has a lot of growing up to do even now. Shockingly. He's more pathetic than Stu.

Edit: Oh i also have a playlist about him for those interested.

[bebepac]

Tornado Taylor 🌪

I am participating in @choicesflashfics  prompt  # 22  “I am at my wits end with you.”  which will be in bold

I am also participating in @choicesmonthlychallenge prompt:  Can I at least tell my side of the story, which will also be in bold.  

The Book:  TRR (no royals)  Series: Chapter 6:  School Dayz  (link posted if you need to catchup)  Pairings:  Liam x Riley Word Count: 1575 Warning and Ratings:  NONE!   Mood Music Monday Song Imspiration: The Call: Regina Spektor Summary:  Riley gets roped into shenanigans with her sister.

Original Post: 03/04/23 at 9:15PM  EST.

“TELL ME THE TRUTH RIGHT NOW RILEY ANTONIA BROOKS!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!!!”  My father’s voice boomed in anger.

 This was probably the most angry I had seen him in a long time.

‘I didn’t do it! I promise!”  

“I am at my wits’ end with you!”  

Taylor remained silent.

“Taylor!!!!”  I screamed at her. My sister had her look.  Her ‘She’s pleading the 5th look  where she stops answering questions.’  She wouldn’t leave me to hang out to dry like this in something I had no part of…. Would she? Her own sister  - - her identical twin at that.

“Taylor please….”  

“Dad, she said no. She didn't do anything wrong.”

“I don’t believe either of you right now.  We’re leaving.”  

“Dad, no, I already took the written test. I took it!”  Taylor insisted.  

Dad grabbed me by one arm and then Taylor by the other taking us up to the examiner.  

“Are you able to verify which one of these girls  took the written driver’s test?”

The examiner looked from Taylor to myself, and back again,  The both of us were dressed identically, We looked the exact same down to my sneakers.

“No…I can't tell the difference between the two of them.”  

“Didn’t think so, so we won’t be completing this driving test today.”  

You may be asking yourself how I got myself into this predicament.  I have two words for you.  Tornado Taylor.  

I love my sister, I really truly do.  She’s smart and not just another ditsy popular girl.  

If she put as much focus into hair-brained schemes as she put into school, she’d be on the dean’s list right now, like I am, instead of barely on  A / B honor Roll. School came pretty easy to Taylor and if she actually studied…. Like I have to study, she could be running circles around me.

But I’m getting sidetracked. Here’s how Tornado Taylor sucked me up into her vortex.

Three Hours Ago:

I woke up that morning without incident.  Since it was a teacher’s work day and we didn’t have school, my body is used to its routine of  getting up early. I decided to make myself a bowl of cereal  while the house was still quiet.  Afterwards I showered and dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans.  

She peeked her head into my room.  

I lounged on my bed streaming the new series that had just debuted on the APP called The Vampires Live On.  I had to share my login with Taylor but at least we watched different things.  It was very rare that the two of us watched the same shows or had to restart a series.  

“Ri, Breakfast.”  

“I already ate.”  

“Oh. You’re already up and dressed?”   Taylor was still in pajamas.  

“Yeah, I’m laying low today.”

“After breakfast Dad’s taking me to the DMV to get my license.”  

“Good Luck!”  

“I don’t need luck, I have a plan.”

I should have taken it as a warning... but I didn’t.   

Two Hours Ago

Hungry from my binge watching I came into the kitchen for a snack finding Jaiden sitting on the couch about to turn on the TV.

He looked at me in an odd way.  

“Hey?”  

“What are you planning on watching?”

“Don’t know yet. What are you watching currently?”

“The Vampires Live On.”  

“Yeah  I heard that’s supposed to be good. You like it?”

“Yeah. You should check it out.  I’m on episode 2 it’s really good.”  

“Noted.”  

“Taylor and Dad are still at the DMV?”  

“Yep, Taylor had one job.  To make her appointment for her driving test and exam and she didn’t. Now they’re waiting to be seen. Of course she blamed the app and not herself.”  

“God… Dad is probably livid.  You know he just hates sitting somewhere waiting.”

“Yep.”

“I’ll be sure not to be around when they get back, he’s going to be grumpy.”  

“Yep.  I’m taking Bebe to the lake.”  

“Have fun.”  

“We will.”

One Hour Ago

I had dozed off binge watching the show and woke up when my phone buzzed.

Taylor: Riley help!

Riley: What’s wrong?

Taylor: Can you come to the DMV right now?

Riley:  Why?

Taylor:  I need you.

Riley:  Why?

Taylor:  I need a tampon. I’m in the bathroom. I’m embarrassed to come out.

Dad, even though he could be grumpy at times,  when it came to “womanly concerns”  as he called them, he had no problem going to buy what we needed and even coming back with our favorite chocolate candy in tow with him without us asking.  He knew I liked kit kats, Taylor, peanut butter cups, and mom likes a bag of bite size snickers. Dad tried to be sensitive to those things.  He had taught Jaiden to be sensitive too, and Jaiden was just like dad in that aspect.

When I didn’t respond Taylor texted again.  

Taylor:  Dad is mad at me because I didn’t make an appointment on the DMV app, and I don’t want to have to send him out to get something else, or he’ll go nuclear. Can you help me please?

Riley: I'll be there in a little bit.

I put on my shoes and  headed down the stairs.

Jaiden perked up when I walked in the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Taylor needs me."

"She's fine with Dad."

"It's a girl emergency.”  

“Oh. You should change though.”  

“No time. I won’t be gone long.”

Jaiden sighed.  Now I think my brother knew exactly what I was walking right into.  Tornado Taylor.

I ran out the door.  It didn’t take me long to get to the DMV,  I went immediately to the bathrooms.  

“Taye?”  

“Last stall.”  

“Well open the door.”  

I was surprised to see Taylor dressed identically to me.

“What are you doing?”

“I banked on the chance you wouldn’t change your clothes.  So funny story.. I need your help for something else.”

“I don’t like where this is going Taye…”  

“So I totally didn’t study for the written test, can you take it for me?”  

“What?   No!!!!”  

“I will totally ace the driving part.”

“Taylor no! This has to be illegal or something. NO! Or the very least identity theft.”

“Theft is a strong word, especially if I’m letting you borrow my identity.”

“That is not how it works Taylor!! Did you even need the tampons? Stupid me of course you didn’t!!!”

There was a knock on the door.  

“Taylor, they called your number, time to take your test.”  

“Okay Dad, I’ll be right out.”  

“Riley come on!!!”  

“No.”  I said in a forced whisper.

“Riley please!?!?!?!”

“NO!!!”

“Then you’re stuck in here until we can sneak you out.”  Taylor commented in a matter of fact way.     I couldn’t believe I got myself roped into Taylor’s shenanigans yet again.  

About thirty minutes later Taylor returned.  

“Dad went to the vending machine to get us drinks.  Let’s get you out before he sees you or your car.”  

I had almost made it to the door out of the DMV when I heard my father’s voice.

“What’s going on here?”

I turned around to face my father.

“Hey Dad.”  

“Riley, what are you doing here?”  

He took a moment to look at the two of us, his face turning bright red.

“Taylor Jeanine Brooks you have three seconds to tell me what’s going on.”  

Taylor smiled her megawatt smile, “So Dad, funny story….”  

“Nope, nevermind, that’s probably going to be a lie. Riley, tell me the truth.”

“Dad…..”

“TELL ME THE TRUTH RIGHT NOW RILEY ANTONIA BROOKS!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!!!”  My father’s voice boomed in anger. This was probably the most angry I had seen him in a long time.

Annnd… we’re back to where you guys came in.  Tornado Taylor got me again.   I could expect nothing less than World War  Brooks when we all got back home.  I was able to drive myself back home, and you know what?  I didn’t feel the least bit sorry for Taylor having to ride all the way home with our father who was as angry as a disturbed hornet’s nest.  

The moment we got home  Jaiden came into the living room when he heard all the commotion.  

“Riley, give me your car keys. You’re grounded.”

“But Dad…. I didn’t do anything.  Can I at least tell my side of the story?”  

“She had no clue what she was walking into Dad. Look at Riley’s phone.”  Jaiden spoke up for me.  

At that moment, I could have completely saved myself  and given my father the phone, but something was stirring in my stomach.  

“Riley, give me your phone.”  

“No.”  

Shocked, Taylor glared at me.  Even though Tornado Taylor was a mess at times, read all the time, I still loved her to the moon and back again.

“I am trustworthy, and if I say I didn’t take the test for her, you should believe me Dad.  Despite the overwhelming data that says we did something shady.  You should believe ME….I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me.  So, if not giving you my phone right now means I’m grounded too,  I guess I will be grounded too.”  

I dropped my car keys on the table and walked upstairs towards my room.  

In the distance I heard the equivalent of my sister falling on the sword for me.  

“Dad, please don’t ground Riley.  She did nothing wrong, this is all my fault.”

From that moment on, the relationship between us changed.  My sister never again saw me as someone she could manipulate to get what she wanted, but let’s be honest, she should have never been looking at me that way in the first place.

[cash-legacy]

⚲ Lakeview Library, Copperdale | 9:32 AM

There is a great deal of information one can access with the combination of an unmonitored personal laptop and a library card. Today, Aphrodite was making use of the latter.

She knew the body wasn't Valentine's, she was certain of it. But it had to be someone's body. And a recent someone.

So she hiked out to the library on foot. No car - and no license, either. She was working on it. Totally working on it. Just had more important priorities, like solving her brother's not-murder.

One thing you can find at libraries that's a bit harder to access at home - newspaper archives. Thousands of them. Aphrodite scrubbed through as many local papers as she could, as well as papers from other areas around the National Park, searching for reports of missing people.

The room was chilly, in the library's basement. The air was musty, and the shelves of archived books behind her gave off that pleasant old-paper smell. Aphrodite could have happily spent hours here, but today, she didn't need to.

"Bingo," Aphrodite said softly. "Hello, Not-Valentine."

Maurice Winn, disappeared from a camping trip with his friends the night Valentine "died." Similar height, similar hair, and strikingly similar features. This was her corpse. Had to be.

Aphrodite copied down his parents' address - or, parent's. Single mother, it seemed like. Edith Winn. They were out in the cove. Too far for Aphrodite to walk, and the bus route was awful. So, out came her phone.

Aphrodite: oi Aphrodite: feel like skipping class? Aphrodite: need a ride Aphrodite: will pay for gas Kareem: bet Kareem: wya Aphrodite: library Kareem: b there in 20

Kareem wasn't her friend, exactly. Aphrodite didn't have friends, and neither did he. He was too cool for them, and Aphrodite wasn't cool enough. But she was in the rare position of being a rich, unemployed High School dropout, which gave her a fair amount of disposable time and income. Both of which Kareem appreciated. He drove her, she paid, everyone was happy.

Today, however, the car Kareem drove up in was not his battered Gen 1 Oldsmobile, but something slick and fancy.

"Nice whip, dude!" Aphrodite called out from the library balcony, where she'd been waiting for him to arrive. It had taken him 23 minutes. Not 20. Betrayal on all sides. "Who'd you steal it from? My dad?"

"Go to hell. It's my brother's. Fairuz has a doctor's appointment right now, Inas took my car."

"How the fuck does a librarian afford a car like that?"

"You don't wanna know."

Aphrodite laughed, hopped over the balcony's edge, and made her way over to the snazzy vehicle.

"Where to this time?" Kareem asked, pushing the passenger side door open for her.

"LaSuli Point. In the Cove."

"What, we're not going to get ice cream?"

"We'll get ice cream afterwards. I've got shit to do."

"Since fucking when? You're sixteen and you have no job."

"I found a lead, Kareem."

"This again."

"I'm serious!" Aphrodite said, clambering out of the car. It was an uninspiring little house - barely more than a shack. Nice views, though. "It's a real lead. You'll see. He looks more like Valentine's corpse than Valentine does."

"What, whoever lives here?"

"You'll see!"

Aphrodite trotted up to the front door, and gave it a perfunctory knock, silently rehearsing her speech: Hello Ms. Winn, I know this sounds crazy but I think I know what happened to you son. Or maybe, Hello Ms. Winn, I'm here about your son. Do you know if-

"The door is unlocked," A woman called from within. "Come inside."

"Who the hell leaves their front door unlocked?" Aphrodite whispered to Kareem, before nudging her way inside. "Fucking weird."

"I'm staying outside. Have fun getting murdered."

"I'm in the back bedroom," The woman called out again. Her voice was strained.

Aphrodite tiptoed inside, and peered around. It was a tiny room, and clearly in the process of being packed up - boxes sat around, and the walls were starkly bare.

"Are you Ms. Winn?" Aphrodite asked.

"I am." The woman sat on the edge of the bed. Presumably, Maurice Winn's. "Who are you?"

"Uh-" All Aphrodite's nice, prepared speeches crumbled to pieces. "I'm Aphrodite. My brother was murdered? Except, he's not dead. And I think your son was the one who was murdered? It was the same day, and they look really similar - but I saw the body, and it looked like your kid, and I thought..." She trailed off, and cleared her throat. Nice going, Cash. Real slick. Need to work on that Charisma when you get home.

"I read some of the articles about your family," Edith said. She stood slowly, and straightened the covers on the bed. "I'm sorry for your loss. What can I do for you, Aphrodite?"

"Well-" Aphrodite paused. What could she do for her? She hadn't really thought this far ahead, frankly.

"I was wondering if you could tell me about the trip he was on? Where he was staying? The poster I found just said Granite Falls. Do you know where he was camping? Do you have any photos of him? So I can, uh... compare." Compare to what? The corpse that was buried in the Newcrest cemetery? Aphrodite was a lot of things, but she wasn't a grave robber.

"Of course." Edith led her back out of Maurice's room, and into the cramped little living area.

She pointed Aphrodite to a picture that sat atop a dresser. Maurice, transparently. He did indeed look remarkably similar to Valentine. His hair was different, darker. But he had the same sharp jaw and hooked nose. They could have been siblings.

"He and his boys were going up to the lake, in mid July. To celebrate... 'halfway through summer,' I think. Something like that."

"The lake." Aphrodite nodded. "How long were they there? Do you know anything about their itinerary?"

"Just that weekend. They were camping near the lake, the night he disappeared. Or they were supposed to be."

"Did he show any signs of distress, before he left?" Aphrodite had watched enough cop shows that she knew how this part went. Inevitably, she was going to discover that this was a red herring, and the real answer was elsewhere. Best to cover her bases. "Any conflict with his friends? Struggles at home?"

"No." The woman's face stilled, and then she frowned. "I'm sorry for your loss, young lady, but I'd appreciate it if you went on your way. I've answered all sorts of questions like this for the police already."

"I'm not police. I'm just trying to find out what happened to my brother."

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Edith glanced at Kareem, who stood waiting out the door. "Go home. Let me mourn my son in peace." And Aphrodite was swiftly bustled out the door.

[winterpinetrees]

Questions and answers (the gap years part 23)

July 3rd

Shiprock, NM

Locked out of the loop, Sierra questions an elf for information that is at least partially true. It’s a test of endurance. She’s not great at social cues but it’s clear that somebody is lying.

……………………

When they finally meet that strange blond soldier, Sierra is going to have a few words. Not only is her left arm stiff like she’s spent the past week hauling car engines instead of sitting in The Audacity, it seems increasingly likely that she’s being spied on. They’d been careful before the ambush. They’d used no cell phones, taken special routes to avoid license plate recorders, and had two elves with illusions to cover them. And yet they were ambushed at a campsite so deep in the woods that NASA built an observatory there. There’s a persistent ache behind her eyes, and as if that wasn’t enough, the elf decided to stop them from breaking the spell by airdropping a memory she doesn’t want to dwell on. Sierra’s never been stabbed before! It sucks!

So Sierra is now lying on a woven carpet, staring intently at the place where the floor meets the earthen walls. Her headphones are digging into the side of her neck. Litayo’s foxdog rests his head on her chest and she doesn’t bother to pet him. The elderly noble elf sits on a chair and glances down like she’s nothing more than a stain on the fabric.

“So if Sierra is being tracked, what do we do with that?” Brian asks. Despite spending nearly all of their time on the road, Brian is less suntanned than he usually is by early July. “And don’t say to leave her behind. That isn’t an option”.

“Well, the spell can’t work like a GPS tracker. It’s more likely that Kebero can see through her eyes,” Marin suggests. He suddenly decided to share that the soldier declared their name at the end of their encounter. Amedi Kebero of the new apex’s High Council. No one recognizes the name. Apparently he didn’t think it was relevant? They’ll add that to Clay’s list of suspicious things. They’re running on seriously limited data, and they know Marin and Zerada aren’t above brainwashing.

“Like Harry Potter,” she adds. There were moments over the past week where her vision went red, and the headaches. Could those have been signs?

“I don’t know who that is-“

“You know Captain Kirk but not Harry Potter?”

He glares. “I’m more worried about the…” Marin gestures to the deep red lines that start on the left side of her neck. “The marks. They haven’t gotten worse, but I’m suspicious”.

“So what is the plan?” Brian asks again.

“I guess we just keep you out of the planning and hope Kebero isn’t good at geoguesser,” Clay says too lightly. “But they know where we are. We’ve got to go, now”.

Everyone groans, even too-composed Zerada.

“We’ve already stayed here for a night, and we got Marin a proper cast. It wouldn’t have been smart to stay anyway!”

Clay, Brian, and Marin sheepishly apologize and walk off into another room to plan their next moves. Zerada goes with them, holding Brian’s hand, but she’s not sorry about it. Sierra sits there on the floor with the fox and someone else’s pain as they go. Social interactions are always like this. You miss one thing, and then the momentum is broken and you are out of the loop for good. Well, time to do her own research. Hopefully she comes out of it with a net increase in stuff she knows and without getting brainwashed.

Litayo was zapped by the psychic attack at the same time that she was. He seems far less flustered by it, probably because he’s clearly been through traumas of his own. The elf is old, which according to Marin’s explanation of elven aging means that he could be over five hundred. He wears the vambrace of the nobility his right wrist (left handed?) and has an assortment of scars. She moves to sit across from him. She’s a head shorter than the elf, but sitting in a chair makes her feel less like a child.

“So. Litayo Califex? Is that another noble genus?” She asks. Her hands are shaking, so she puts them in her pockets.

“Yes. Symbolized by the pronghorn antelope,” he replies calmly.

“Is that less powerful than Adust? Why doesn’t she have your last name?”

“It is, but elves usually inherit power along the female line”.

Neat. All of humanity will end up as second-class citizens if the elves take over, but girl power or whatever. She laughs at her own internal joke and feels stupid. “What about Marin?”

“His mother was the apex. Or if you are asking about his status as the heir, the matriarchy is more of a suggestion”. He lowers his voice. “And his Highness was never meant to inherit”.

“He’s not?” Marin seems to follow behind Zerada, but he always talks like he was the Sondaica heir.

“He was never officially disinherited, but some of his cousins were better candidates. I don’t think the old apex wanted him to lead either. And her bloodline is… questionable. She was fit, but more by environment than genetics, yes?”

She does not say yes back. Sierra’s the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants on her mama’s side and colonists who got rich off apartheid through her dad. She was born too early, and probably could have landed herself an autism diagnosis if those parents were less casual about how weird she is. This isn’t rhetoric from a brave new elven world, it’s just old eugenics with a sci-fi aesthetic. In short, all this talk makes her want to punch someone.

She wants the story though, so she takes a page from Clay’s book and plays along. “So what was wrong with her?”

“How much has Marin told you about the Sondaica twins?”

“Nothing?”

He laughs. “High nobility are usually too fragile for the twins and the mother to survive, so such a circumstance is avoided. It was unheard of when Marin’s grandmother had twin girls. Apex Emer and Cai”.

She says something affirmative to get him to keep going.

“Genus Mercuralis was in power back then, as they are now. The leader of the Lazarins was Adversary Tyern Sondaica, Marin’s great-uncle,” he pauses and smiles to himself. “He was a great man”.

“Was he killed in the coup?”

“Long before. He reached old age and left for the void rather than abdicate to a mundane life”. That’s got to be a euphemism for suicide, right? Marin has mentioned void magic as a way to travel though… “The descendants of Tyern and his siblings are those in line for the throne. However, Marin is the only eligible descendant of his branch”.

“So someone’s been disowned?”

“He has no siblings, and his mother’s twin is in self-imposed exile and, as far as I know, childless,” he holds out his hands with his palms up. Litayo’s eyes glow and an image hovers above each one. They aren’t tinted or holographic. It looks like the elf is holding photos, except that they don’t cast shadows. Both figures have similar faces and black hair, but little else in common. They appear mixed-race, whatever that means in the elven world, and one twin looks more European than the other.

“When they were born, it was thought that Cai was the runt of the litter,” he lifts his right hand. Cai is the paler twin, but her skin is still darker than Sierra’s. Her hair is loose and long in the image, somewhere between wavy and curly. She looks younger, thinner, and there is a look in her dark eyes that makes Sierra think Cai was a quiet child.

“In truth, Emer was the one who had lost. She was born with too little magic, and Cai with exceptional gifts,” Emer looks like a warrior. She smiles in the image and wears an outfit that leaves her muscular arms uncovered. Her hair is in thin braids that make Sierra think she must have had about the same hair texture as her son. Emer’s eyes, however, are a striking green.

“So Emer grew more quickly even though they were the same age,” she reasons out loud.

Litayo seems relieved that he doesn’t have to explain everything. “They ceased to look like twins within a decade. Cai was forever the younger sibling, refusing responsibility. They could have been an apex as powerful as Lazarus -do you even know who he was? But they had little interest in the throne-“

“Wait, ‘they’ meaning Cai? Are we switching pronouns?”

“Yes. The English language is so inconvenient to use,” he mutters. “Cai had little interest in anything related to the physical world. Meanwhile, Emer was fierce and proved herself more worthy of the throne than anyone else. It was unknown if her lack of magic was heritable though, so she had only one child, a prince betrothed to the most gifted daughter of Genus Adust”.

“So he’s a spare”. Brian is the third son of his family. He’s a spare too. Maybe Zerada is into that. In contrast, Sierra is the favorite child, despite her dad having two older kids from a previous marriage. It’s surprisingly smooth in the family, but yet another reason why she never, ever googles her own name. (Well, she never googles anything else either. Sierra is a firefox loyalist and her adblock is always on).

Just then, the curtain to the other room sweeps open, and that spare prince looks out to see his future in-law holding an illusion of his dead mother and disgraced aunt. His arm is in a futuristic cast, but it will still take a couple of weeks to heal. None of their allies in the village knew how to heal him using magic.

Sierra speaks louder to address Marin as well as the older elf. “What did Cai do?”

He hesitates. “She and my mother had a falling out seventy years ago, and a physical fight as well. It’s one of the first things I can remember, and I haven’t seen Cai since,” he replies. Zerada’s expression is unreadable, like when she screws up wiring and a device completely bricks, when there isn’t even an error message or electric shock to warn something’s wrong. Litayo reacts though, and Clay’s eyes narrow at his reaction. She’s not good at reading people, but her friend has enough emotional literacy to share.

“Who’s Cai?” Brian asks. Sierra summarizes the conversation. Cai is the too-powerful, exiled, twin of Marin’s mother.

“Damn. We should try and find her next”.

Clay turns toward Marin. “Well, why’d they fight?”

“It might have been over politics? My mother loved the human world, but she was still the apex, and had to protect her people first. I’ve heard that Cai loved human science more than anything else. I don’t know much else about her”.

“Seventy years ago was the Manhattan Project, so the timing works out if they fought over bombs,” Sierra replies. “Was she at Excalibur?”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

She thinks back over the stories she’s read in the depths of online forums or heard from old physicists. There was an emerald green figure with a spear at Project Excalibur (Emer, or another Sondaica), but there’s legends of another mysterious man too. Someone androgynous, racially ambiguous, and somewhat incorporeal appearing like a warning spirit at dangerous sites. It was seen checking wires at CERN, watching computers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and shielding scientists on the night Excalibur was destroyed. People have begun calling it “The Professor”, to be respectful. (It’s tradition to give him a mention when you write a paper).

Could it be Cai? Her only concern is that The Professor is always described with pale eyes. The metaphors about them are the creation of traumatized astronomers. The figure who saved them (or drank their coffee at two AM) had eyes like a nebula, or the Milky Way above a remote observatory. Witnesses say the Professor isn’t all there anymore, as if the electric charges that make matter sometimes forget about it’s hands. Maybe his eyes glow with magic? Multiple colors of magic combine to white if they are used at once. What if Cai is so strong that everything cancels out? She’ll ask later.

Sierra jokes with the boys about their classified next stop and they wander back to the car. She waits in the doorway for a moment and stares back at Litayo. Councillor Kebero must have seen him through the spell. He might be doomed.

“Okay. Last question. What was up with that psychic attack? Are elves stabbed… often?”

He smiles, but it might not be genuine. “How can the fittest be determined if life is no longer a struggle for survival?”

Shut up, elf. She steps over the threshold and into the sunlight. “I thought elves rarely went to war”.

“That wasn’t war. I’d be more specific, but you might tell the heirs, and they can’t know details until they earn vambraces of their own”.

Sierra has to convince herself she isn’t injured as she walks back to the car. In the fading memory, she isn’t able to see much. Her vision blurs and the sky above her is black and red with ash. There is a stab wound in her back, a slash across her chest, and half of a dagger in her ankle. She steps into the backseat and remembers staggering away from a body in the dry grass. Three bodies. Sierra doesn’t recognize them, but she feels the weight. The Audacity is electric and silent. There is nothing to drown out the memory. It must have been another ambush. Sierra can empathize. Maybe that’s why she can’t put it out of her mind.

………………

Cai uses any pronouns with no preference, but elves default to feminine pronouns and terms. In my notes I more often use he. Do whatever. Be free. Cai won’t be too relevant for a while.

I don’t have an answer for whether or not Sierra is actually autistic. Like most of the cast, she’s a so-called gifted kid. She doesn’t have a diagnosis and she isn’t pursuing one.

Sierra’s dad is a better and more decent version of Elon Musk. Yes Elon Musk’s family got rich off of apartheid.

Next time, the humans talk history and fireworks on what could be the last Independence Day as they know it.

@lokiwaffles

[destinyc1020]

I think Z was exaggerating about the 18 thing (Tom was already 19 when he was cast and Jon Watts was hired at the same time as him. There was no way that a HOCO script was written, casting calls happened, all early rounds of auditions took place and then the chemistry read (which is the final audition) to have all occurred in 2 months before Z turned 19. The process of Tom auditioning for Spidey started when he was 18, so Z might be engaging in some poetic license for their love story. Anyway, her casting was announced on March 7, 2016, and Trevor was seen in a video at her house watching the release of the Lemonade video at the end of April. So they most likely broke up some time in May. It was definitely before May 23, because she posted in that day about being very sad

Thanks Anon.

Hmm....you could be right?? But Idk... I usually DON'T argue with what people say out of their own mouths lol...especially when Tom is sitting right there and could have refuted her story if he wanted to. I know Tom was cast in Captain America and got the role of Spiderman before he even did HOCO. We all know Marvel plans things way in advance, so the HOCO film was already in motion (thought of) probably before Captain America Civil War even hit theaters. They wouldn't have added Spider-Man in if he wasn't going to get a Solo film...and we all know that the whole Avengers End Game/Thanos plot was already set in motion years prior.... So idk?? Do we really know when they met? It's just a thought....

Maybe Z's memory is bad lol... But I feel like if she had been telling a lie, then Tom would have corrected her on that? 🤷🏾‍♀️

Like I said, I usually don't argue w/what people say out of their own mouths lol.... But hey....maybe you're right and they're wrong lol. 😅

[achilleslyre]

i don't know who jobie is tell me abt jobie!

jobie is my oc :D !!!!

she’s a side character in my primary oc universe! although shes not a main character she is super important to the plot once she’s introduced anddddd she’s my favourite oc of mine hehheeee i love her sosooo much ♡

jobie gushing is under the cut… it got kinda long but i tried to keep it short LOLOL if anybody is interested in hearing more about her plspls feel free to ask anything.. looks at you with giant eyes

just as a little bit of context i’ll explain relevant info about my story. the story is about my MC paulinho and the deuteragonist, paulino’s twin brother, carlito. they attend a university (acronym is RUSOE) together in nunavut, canada which is funded and founded by dr richard ubel. he owns a university and high school which he seeks out and enrolls highly advanced students. jobie attended the high school but was not accepted into the university, so she is a character that ends up being introduced a bit later in the story during non school attending activities lol. however, since jobie did attend the high school she does know all the characters that attend the university and she’s still very close with some of them, namely her girlfriend, charlie, and elio, her best friend.

jobie’s 23 and lives with her mother, grandmother and her other best friend barry’s family in a small community in nunavut, a good distance from the university but over all not too far. she doesn’t currently attend any school, but she did go to college in her hometown and got her degree in nursing sciences and works as a nurse full time! she is a fisherman and hunter and incredibly community focused and very busy bodied, she’s always on the run and has something planned or going on.

jobie is such a generous and sweet soul, and very strong willed and persistent. although she struggles with her own problems she’s generally a really positive person and really loves to try to bring joy to others so it’s very rare that you wouldn’t catch her without a smile (and she’s got the most beautiful smile in the world T.T). she’s well respected by her community and friends. she’s loves to crochet, knit, bead and wrote and read poetry. she’s also into anime (sailor moon, inuyasha and revolutionary girl utena i think would be some of her faves!) (she also loves sasuke) (important) (one of us) and she watches anime with elio when she has time (she mostly calls him with discord for that after high school, but he does sometimes visit her when he has the chance to!). she likes to do family game nights with her household, she’s a huge board game enjoyer.

she’s also a /terrible/ driver and was in a very bad accident in high school which left her with a limp and occasional cane use, she also lost her license so she strictly does not drive lol. she’s also missing half her left ring finger, which was lost because of her best friend barry (her housemate) during a freak fishing accident. she still loves barry. she still loves fishing.

[jxncywarrior]

Stranger Things characters and ships as Taylor Swift albums

Part Nine: evermore

*Disclaimer: I’m tagging all the ships and characters featured. I’m gonna try not to be biased. MOST of these are strictly based on canon. No hate to ANY ships or shippers.*

willow: Steddie (Eddie’s POV)

“They count me out time and time again. Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind. But I come back stronger than a 90's trend”

champagne problems: Stancy (Nancy’s POV)

“Love slipped beyond your reaches and I couldn't give a reason”

gold rush: Byler (Will’s POV)

“I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush”

‘tis the damn season: Ronance (Nancy’s POV)

“You could call me babe for the weekend. 'Tis the damn season, write this down. I'm stayin' at my parents' house and the road not taken looks real good now”

tolerate it: Will to Lonnie

“Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow. I know my love should be celebrated. But you tolerate it”

no body, no crime: Stancy (Steve’s POV)

“Good thing my daddy made me get a boating license when I was fifteen. And I've cleaned enough houses to know how to cover up a scene. Good thing Este's sister's gonna swear she was with me ("She was with me dude"). Good thing his mistress took out a big life insurance policy”

happiness: Byler (Will’s POV)

“When did all our lessons start to look like weapons pointed at my deepest hurt? Ihope she'll be a beautiful fool. Who takes my spot next to you”

dorothea: Byler (Mike’s POV)

“The stars in your eyes shined brighter in Tupelo. And if you're ever tired of being known for who you know. You know, you'll always know me”

coney island: Byler (Mike’s POV)

“The fast times, the bright lights, the merry-go. Sorry for not making you my centerfold”

ivy: Byler (Will’s POV)

“I wish to know the fatal flaw that makes you long to be magnificently cursed. He's in the room. Your opal eyes are all I wish to see”

cowboy like me: Stancy (Steve’s POV)

“And the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up. And the old men that I've swindled really did believe I was the one. And the ladies lunching have their stories about when you passed through town. But that was all before I locked it down”

long story short: Elmax (El’s POV)

“'Cause I fell from the pedestal. Right down the rabbit hole. Long story short, it was a bad time. Pushed from the precipice. Clung to the nearest lips”

marjorie: Jonathan to Will

“What died didn't stay dead. What died didn't stay dead. You're alive, you're alive in my head”

closure: Stancy (Steve’s POV)

“It wasn't right. The way it all went down. Looks like you know that now”

evermore: Jancy (Jonathan’s POV)

“I thought of you (all the things that will be lost now). In the cracks of light (can we just get a pause?). I dreamed of you (to be certain we'll be tall again). (If you think of all the costs). It was real enough (whether weather be the frost). To get me through (or the violence of the dog days). (Out on waves being tossed). But I swear (is there a line that we could just go cross?). You were there”

right where you left me: Byler (Will’s POV)

“Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen? Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it. She's still 23 inside her fantasy. How it was supposed to be. Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion? Break-ups happen every day, you don't have to lose it”

it’s time to go: El to Brenner

“15 years, 15 million tears. Begging 'til my knees bled. I gave it my all, he gave me nothing at all. Then wondered why I left. Now he sits on his throne in his palace of bones. Praying to his greed. He's got my past frozen behind glass. But I've got me”

Links to other parts of this series: Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, reputation, Lover, folklore

[jonmyblaze]

Castlevania Hellsing crossover

Julius (Morris-)Belmont joins the HELLSING Organization. Pt2

(Pt 1 how the hell did he get into this establishment?)

Her sidearm was nearby, a trusty pistol she could aford the carry license. If this boy was any trouble, She would see to it he would be dead.

“Excuse me, Miss, do you happen to know if a woman with the named Hellsing was here?” The cowboy asked politely

(she's about to have a bit of fun)

"indeed I do" Integra kept her face hidden by her glasses and long hair"

"Can you please, if you have the ability send a message to her that I wish to speak with her in person"

"Why you're in luck dear sir, I do have the ability to contact sir Integra"

Julius's face brightened with a smile "Excellent-"

" But before I do. But Might I inquire as to why you wish to speak with her, you know so that I know that your intentions are pure of heart. "She spoke in a tone of mystery and Riddle. Mostly to help scare away the American.

"I assure you my intentions are quite Pure, " the cowboy said and had he not been wearing such a strange outfit, Integra would have kicked him out on the spot securitywood side with her easily

"Oh is that the case , then please regale me as to what your intentions are with the Lady of Iron? "

"It's a lot harder to explain ma'am"

"I think we have time"

-------+

Julius didn't want to reveal that he knew of the supernatural ongoings, and so he had no choice but to regale her that he was a son of a friend to lady Hellsing family (not a lie but multiple generations removed)

Integra didn't believe him. His tails were too fictitious in her eyes.

Clearly this could still be a trap for a woman like her. But she was always one for a challenge. If she was truly in any danger, well it wasn't often to her pet vampire got a taste of American meat.

-------

Julius was getting antsy and his eyes started to wander until he saw a rather interesting sha

"My oh My that's a Mighty large gun you have there, revolver by any chance?"

Julius inquired At the peculiar shape in Madam's pant.

"bollocks he knows' Integra thought to herself self-conscious about the pistol that she held, In a form of defensive misdirection she's decided to play a little trick on him using societal standards

"Awfully presumptuous of you to assume that it's a gun" implying the "bulge" in her pocket was something more organic, knowing the transphobia of the day probably could have made it so that he'll steer far away from her as possible.

"Please" Julius Belmont dismissed remembering his ex ( they broke up when he decided he would backpack across Britain. No hard feelings) this ain't my first rodeo ma'am.(he tipped his hat) I think I would know the difference between the a rooster and a ole fashioned heater"

"What!? You don't think my "glock" is sufficient? That I would dare to compensate with something as silly as a mundane firearm? Or are you just scared for your manhood being upstaged.

_________

The 23-year-old Integra well not that verse with actual human men of her age range (Julius is literally only four years younger) she knew well the troops she had that masculinity and "manhood" size was a touchy subject

Really all she wanted to do was make it so that he would back off and she wouldn't have to use her British open carry license.

Julius knows the British gun laws were rather different than American but hiding your gun in your pants without a holster kind of felt heretical.

_______

Ma'am I wouldn't dare call it a glock by the shape alone. If I did papaw would kill me"

"Oh? Is that a fact?!"

"I bet you couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door with such a dinky gun"he was referred to the Glock,

"Dinky I'll have you know I'm strapped to the nines. "Integra hissed

She also had another pistol in her coat, but could have equally been implying that she was using aa different strap

"Now look who's compensating"

This was going on too long she had to bluff him out

"How about a little bet"

"Ah'ite ', game' Julius replied but his accent was slipping in more and more as he talked

if I'm right that it's not a revolver and not a gun I'll send you packing and report you for harassment, I know enough people in high places to ensure that you aren't able to ever set foot on this island again"

"Fair And if I'm right?"Julius was a betting man but he also knew his guns

darling had a concealed carry license but rather kepted it on the down low.

"I will humor your request for Ms hellsing's favor"

"Deal"

It took what about like hours for them to make the first move, Integra held her strongest poker face, Julius matched her every move, each ofthem staring it to each other's eyes, mutually bluffing. The tension was so thick you could cut it like butter.

however to the outside world it was at least 10 minutes before Integra dropped the act grabbing Julius' shirt by the collar, she brought out her golden housing labeled revolver and aimed it directly at his head from the base of his jaw.

Integra smirked

" Well it seem you win"

Nobody else could see the pistol,except for Julius, who was smiling. He won this round.

'Aw I'm almost disappointed."

Integra hid a giggle

"Please you wouldn't be able to handle this caliper I hold" she held her voice in a false posh accent

"I'll have you know I handled plenty of High caliber weapons firearms in my field of work"

Is that so she cocked her eyebrow,

And what sort of field do you work in?

Integra could see through his bullshit. She was 19 sure, but she was pretty sure the American military wouldn't allow a 19-year-old service men to be on British soil so far away from a base and in the expensive part of the city.

"oh I hunt in a more specialized field which is why I am so insistent upon meeting sir Hellsing"

"Well it seems you came to the right place because you're looking at her. "

It took Julius a second to process what she had just said. "You're looking at her," as in the person that he had been flirting with was Sir Integra fairbrook Wingate Hellsing. HEAD OF THE HELSING ORGANIZATION

He started to flush heavily, becoming redder than a tomato

"Wait... you're sir Integra Hellsing?, Leader of the Helsing organization

"In the flesh" she confirmed, and had Julius not known that she worked with people who hunt vampires in the night, he may not have spotted that pun

"But I didn't think" Julius was a bit embarrassed

What? didn't expect a 23-year-old woman to be the head of a secret multi-million dollar organization sponsored by the crown itself

"No... I ...Shit" Julius was very embarrassed he had to make this situation better somehow

" hold on give me a second"

The cowboy hands scramble towards one of his pockets, as if he was searching for something very important, then it occurred to her, integra still didn't really know his name.

Fishing out a envelope he proceeded to hand it to her.

Integra notice the peculiar seal that kept the envelope from opening, it was wax with a interesting emblem. Along the corner, there was address to "Sir Integra Hellsing" and her address for the organization / her manner

She almost didn't want to w rip open such a interesting seal

"I must say Mr...." it occurred to her, integra still didn't really know that cowboy's full name

"Oh how rude of me my name is Julius Simon Juste Quincy Belmont, although I normally just shorten it to Julius Belmont. "

Figures she always gets the long-winded names, whatever happened to John or Jack or Lucy or whatever now now now it must be sir pectoral pennwood or shakopaneous Finn. Integra pondered why she received such bullshit luck as she opened up the letter she found an interesting series of documents.

It was application letter! To be in Hellsing organization!? What the fuck? There was letters of rec too

She almost laughed.

"And what made you come all the way to here here to ask," He could have easily went through the online application.

" To be perfectly honest sir I didn't know where to look. All I know is I know what happens at your organization And I'm happy to be of service sir"

He stood up and gave a salute

Oh and what made you so interested in my little organization, as opposed to your coveted American military.

Sir "his eyes were a bit darker" I wish to fight the creatures of the night, it is what my family have done for years, and I need the experience

What did you say your name was.

Julius Belmont

Belmont

Belmont, I've heard of that name before?" She asked herself. She could have sworn she heard it before

She could have sworn she heard it before, as if some ancient familiar name that cried out to be remembered. But she for the life of her, she couldn't remember.... Drawing a blank. It was quite odd .

Apologies Mr Belmont but I cannot seem to recall your family name and as such I would like to know what you mean by your family hunting creatures of the night"she could not allow

Julius was a bit stunned, he was expecting at least the great-grandchild of Abraham Van Helsing and the Harkers to at least know about the Belmont clan

Sir My family deals in vampire hunting, just as yours dealt with Dracula himself,

"I wish to join in your organizations crusade to protect your country so that I may have enough experience for my own. " He stated

Integra was still not convinced Julius had to come up with something,

"Well, perhaps I think you might know of my mother's maiden Morris? Seeing as you're at the descendant of Van Helsing?”

"Morris....morris…morris" She said out loud, as if trying to draw in a memory,

"MORRIS , wait as in QUINCY MORRIS? The Texan cowboy?"

the guy who stabbed alucard with a bowie knife, shot him with a revolver and a Winchester rifle as a bat and aided great grandpa Jonathan in hacking his bloody head off with his kuriki blade, and was instrumental in holding Alucard down with a blessed whip so that her other grandfather Abraham Van Helsing could bind the vampire to her family's blood.

Then she remembered a little detail that he mentioned earlier about him being the descendant of a family friend. He may have been talking about Quincy.

Now it all lines up, at least all of his what you thought was lies seem to make more sense with this little detail.

"Why didn't you say that" she breathed a sigh of relief

Integra thought ‘Oh this'll be fun to tease Alucard with.’ especially after That shit Storm he got her into with the PopExcept there was one little detail that she didn't quite get which made her a bit skeptical

"Mr Belmont I must ask there is one little detail that I am missing and have been missing for quite a few years and seeing as you are the only one I have as a connection

Answer me this? How did Quincy Morris have a child"

----------

More in part 3

So how are you guys liking this so far?

Follow up from part 1

[honeycomblibrary]

Hey all! Welcome to my humble corner of tumblr. I’ve been absent for a while, but I’m looking to find a penpal again!

🍀about me🍀

-my name is Dani

-I’m 23 (about to be 24!)

-I use she/her pronouns

-I’m from southwestern America

-I’m currently getting my master’s in library sciences, with the hopes of being either a middle school librarian or working in a university! I’m also working to get my teaching license.

-my favorite books include: the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, anything by Ashley Herring Blake, Percy Jackson, and the Nevermoor series. However, I will read ANYTHING. I just love books.

-my favorite movies include anything studio Ghibli, Little Women, and any early 2000’s rom com.

-as for music, I’m strictly a Taylor swift, Hozier, and Noah Kahan girlie. (I listen to other people like boy genius and Ricky Montgomery BUT I have a brand)

-other than that, I enjoy crocheting, scrapbooking, traveling, watching documentaries with my partner, doing puzzles, baking/cooking, and playing cozy video games. My life is crazy busy, but I really enjoy the slow moments I try to find! My parents and friends have called me granny since I was young. I’ve always been like this :D

-I’ve had a few penpals, but kind of drifted off when I was graduating college and my life got a bit crazy. Things are slowing down for me so I want to start back up. I love sending small tokens with letters. Maybe a sticker or two, a pressed flower, a recipe, tea, things like that!

🍀looking for🍀

-someone within the same range as me! Preferably 21+

-similar interests, but we don’t have to be exactly the same!

-for now, I think I’d like to stick to penpals within the USA, but if we think we’d be a good match, I’m open to international!

-I’m open to sharing socials or keeping some mystery behind the letters and getting to know each other through our writing only!

[sednonamoris]

hey.. i saw that post.. about.. thunderstruck.. and that chapter.. literally left me as a pile of dust on my bed.. do you wanna.. talk about it.. because i will listen..

ohohohhehehee…….. spoilers for ch. 23 of ghost story

starting off strong with the storm/water imagery ⛈️ admittedly ch. 1 starts with a storm bc i had a Vision for a very vibes-based chapter that then ofc spiraled into the ghost story you know and love today. then water and specifically storms became the connecting thread for most of the significant moments in the development of john and ghost’s relationship so OF COURSE i went ham. not only the storm raging when they finally admit their feelings (and fuck lol) but also the town names as they get closer and closer to that resolution. it’s a clean slate, a baptism, a rebirth. a reckoning. something magnetic and powerful and chaotic but also completely natural is exactly what the bond between them is, and the added detail of john being terrified of drowning makes it extra juicy delicious

thennn we have to talk about my close personal friend lottie reed!! 💘 i don’t describe her in too much detail but it was important to me that she shared some physical similarities with john. wiry and slim, dark hair, light eyes. it adds a layer of Insanity to his irrationally jealous response to literally everything she does. i had a blast peppering in vague details about ghost’s past with her, but to lay it all out: they met in tumbleweed when ghost was making their name as the ghost rider of new austin and had a very sweet teenage summer romance. lottie was sheltered by her parents and loved the element of danger ghost brought to her life, and ghost was charmed by how clever and genuine lottie was. when lottie’s parents set up her engagement with melvin reed it was partly bc they’d been working on it for a while and partly bc they wanted to keep her away from ghost. lottie tried to convince ghost to run away with her before the wedding, but her dad got there first and offered a sum of cash that ghost took to cut contact and leave lottie and melvin alone. (when ghost fled new austin with the money, they very quickly found themself in the predicament we see in chapter 1.) what i like about their relationship is that however you read ghost’s gender, there’s an element of forbidden romance there. ghost doesn’t get back in touch with lottie until ch. 23, which gave lottie plenty of time to come to terms with what happened and find joy of her own after melvin’s death. he wasn’t cruel, but they weren’t close. ghost is lucky she’s so kind, though, because they’ve been a pretty shit friend/ex lol

last thing i prommy but the devotion and the deliberate choosing between these two makes me craaaazy 😵‍💫 they love each other!! so much!! aaaaahhhh!! when john asks that rhetorical question - it was always gonna be you and me, wasn’t it? - it comes after being so jealous and then taking that jealousy out in every toxic way he can think of when he and ghost go through those towns and sell the horses but it feels so inevitable bc it is. he isn’t asking ghost he’s being almost self-deprecating, bc everything he’s ever done was always just buying time against feelings held for so long but only fully realized recently. god. anyways,,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for following this story and being so kind and giving me license to ramble abt my fav things there’s like a million more but i promise i’ll shut up now 💞💞💞💞

[unreadpoppy]

Odd numbers for end of the year asks :)

Thank you for the ask! Also, I'm tagging @inaconstantstateofchange because they also sent me some of the questions here, so i'm killing two birds with one stone

Song of the year?

I'm gonna say Cirice by Ghost, because this song is so freaking good.

Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

Even though I began listening to Ghost at the end of last year, I'm putting them here because it was the only like artist/group that I discovered and kept listening to.

TV show of the year?

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, because it was the only one memorable enough for me.

Favorite actor of the year?

If I could, I'd say everyone who worked on BG3, but if I have to pick one, it's Andrew Wincott.

Best month for you this year?

January, when I got my driver's license and still had hope that this would be my year.

Something you want to do again next year?

My internship.

How was your birthday this year?

Very mixed feelings. My birthday is very important for me, but the week leading up to it, I was so miserable because of family matters + people being mean, and also like I threw a party that was fun but made me so dissapointed in many people I had considered friends.

What’s a bad habit you picked up this year?

I didn't pick it up this year but it came back with a vengence which was nail biting. Last year I actively tried to not bite my nails, and I did well for many periods of time, but this year, just nope.

Post a picture from the end of the year

I'll post the most recent picture I have on my phone which is this:

What’re you excited about for next year?

Graduating college.

What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

Dad build me another shelf where I was able to put my stuffed animals and dolls on.

If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

Girl, this is not gonna be your year, and it's gonna get down right horrible once july arrives. Also, many of your "friends" will show that they don't really care, so prepare yourself and remember to always keep your actual friends close.

Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

To be honest, I think the only characters I really created this year were Elize and Nyx, and since Elize got 23 chapters of a fanfic to be described (and also she was a shameless self insert) I'm gonna talk about Nyx. She was created for a dnd campaign that originally was not going to happen but then the DM turned around and brought it back and it will happen next year. She's a circle of the stars tiefling, she's got darkish blue skin with many white freckles, she's was taken from her home as a child and trying to find her parents, she dropped out of college, and she loves bears, she's a healer, and I'm excited to play her.