#ill be thinking about it for the next 9-10 business days

[purrvaire]

i have not known a moment of peace since season 2 came out

[reasonsforhope]

"Millions of Australians just got official permission to ignore their bosses outside of working hours, thanks to a new law enshrining their "right to disconnect."

The law doesn't strictly prohibit employers from calling or messaging their workers after hours. But it does protect employees who "refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact outside their working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable," according to the Fair Work Commission, Australia's workplace relations tribunal.

That includes outreach from their employer, as well as other people "if the contact or attempted contact is work-related."

The law, which passed in February, took effect on Monday [August 26, 2024] for most workers and will apply to small businesses of fewer than 15 people starting in August 2025. It adds Australia to a growing list of countries aiming to protect workers' free time.

"It's really about trying to bring back some work-life balance and make sure that people aren't racking up hours of unpaid overtime for checking emails and responding to things at a time when they're not being paid," said Sen. Murray Watt, Australia's minister for employment and workplace relations.

The law doesn't give employees a complete pass, however...

"If it was an emergency situation, of course people would expect an employee to respond to something like that," Watt said. "But if it's a run-of-the-mill thing … then they should wait till the next work day, so that people can actually enjoy their private lives, enjoy time with their family and their friends, play sport or whatever they want to do after hours, without feeling like they're chained to the desk at a time when they're not actually being paid, because that's just not fair."

Protections aim to address erosion of work-life balance

The law's supporters hope it will help solidify the boundary between the personal and the professional, which has become increasingly blurry with the rise of remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2022 survey by the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, a public policy think tank, found that seven out of 10 Australians performed work outside of scheduled working hours, with many reporting experiencing physical tiredness, stress and anxiety as a result.

The following year, the institute reported that Australians clocked an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime in 2023. Valuing that labor at average wage rates, it estimated the average worker is losing the equivalent of nearly $7,500 U.S. dollars each year.

"This is particularly concerning when worker's share of national income remains at a historically low level, wage growth is not keeping up with inflation, and the cost of living is rising," it added.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions hailed the new law as a "cost-of-living win for working people," especially those in industries like teaching, community services and administrative work.

The right to disconnect, it said, will not only cut down on Australians' unpaid work hours but also address the "growing crisis of increasing mental health illness and injuries in modern workplaces."

"More money in your pocket, more time with your loved ones and more freedom to live your life — that's what the right to disconnect is all about," ACTU President Michele O’Neil said in a statement.

The 2022 Australia Institute survey... found broad support for a right to disconnect.

Only 9% of respondents said such a policy would not positively affect their lives. And the rest cited a slew of positive effects, from having more social and family time to improved mental health and job satisfaction. Thirty percent of respondents said it would enable them to be more productive during work hours.

Eurofound, the European Union agency for the improvement of living and working conditions, said in a 2023 study that workers at companies with a right to disconnect policy reported better work-life balance than those without — 92% versus 80%."

-via GoodGoodGood, August 26, 2024

[grace-williams-xo]

RAMBLING THOUGHTS AFTER FINISHING PART TWO. GONNA ADDRESS MY P1 THOUGHTS FIRST. SPOILER WARNING.

1 & 2: I think Debling could’ve worked in the second half, and I’m kinda sad Cressida didn’t get a happy ending. The Creloise fell of a CLIFF after ep 5 but I think it could still be saved

5: no cishet man has ever loved his wife more than Anthony Bridgerton I’m gonna be ill

6 & 12: kanthony’s absence was felt BAD in the finale, I think their reactions to LW were sorely needed. Also Jonny and Simone have both said they’ll be at every sibling’s wedding and stick around for years but they missed Francesca’s??? Also felt their absence too much then. They’re both booked and busy I think we’ll continue to only get a couple episodes a season from them

8: Francesca did get to thrive happy in pt 2 my baby I love her

9: I think they managed to disconnect the mondrich plot even further like 😭 once again, I don’t mind them their plot just feels very empty

10: Pen and Delacroix CONTINUE to be my fave duo I love them so freaking much and they can never get rid of it

13: Portia’s growth this season continued to be 10/10 I loved her and Penelope’s relationship it really showed what it’s like to be closely related to people you oppose and the process of needing to forgive and understand them for your own peace of mind

14: that was not how I was expecting Colin to find out about Whistledown

15: Marcus felt a little rushed in part two but I think I need to watch the whole season together to fully decide

17: this was indeed the longest 27 days of my life I got Covid day after it dropped lmfao

MY ~NEW~ THOUGHTS:

We finally got character development from Cressida and if they write her out I’ll be inconsolable (as will Jessica Madsen)

I hope they paid Golda Rosheuvel good for her feet exposure. Worth more than titties in this economy

I feel the need to tell everyone that £5000 in 1815 is in the realm of £500,000 today and we cannot brush over the fact Penelope has made herself the equivalent of a literal millionaire

Anthony has two moods ‘I’m obsessed with my wife’ ‘I want to win this game’ like it is comical how drastically different his facial expression is in the game of charades compared to pretty much every other scene

Anthony saying the marriage is perfect and not hard work and Kate being like BOY I will humble you,,,, doing the lord’s work I love her so much

At some points I felt like Francesca was fighting Anthony for ‘Violet’s least favourite child’ award lmao

John saying he’s off to look at the wainscotting was unfairly funny

Cressida in the red dress is even better than I imagined fuck even if she’s not gay then I am

Peneloise back together the universe is healing I love my babies all we need now is creloise lovers and peneloise friendship simultaneously I don’t like it being one or the other sue me

However much Brimsley is getting paid isn’t enough,,,, Hugh Sachs the man that you are

I adored Penelope’s wedding dress so much and as bitter as I am still about no kanthony wedding in s2, it felt kind of right somehow for Polin to be the first wedding we properly see in this show

Most of the costumes and makeup feel like they got worse,,,,, big ‘I hired a 14 year old’ energy. I don’t need historical accuracy but I would like a modicum of care and the costume/hair/makeup dept looking at a single historical reference from before 1850,,,, please

We all got the bi Benedict we’ve been asking for and I appreciate it, and recognise that he needed Tilley to explore that, but I still would’ve preferred if they first main queer experience was not a threesome

If they go straight into benophie in s4 (which idk, I’m so torn bc I feel like F, E and B all could work well next season) then I also feel like bi Benedict was just them throwing a bone for 5 mins but meant nothing

The CONTENTIOUS Michaela Stirling,,,,, I was undecided until I saw it but that was the definition of gay panic from Francesca and it worked so well I am so excited.

As your resident peerage expert, it is much easier for women to inherit titles in Scotland than England so I wonder (not that anyone on this show knows anything) if that was a reason they chose Francesca to be sapphic [general peerage info and female inheritance info if you care]

On the above, if they can canonically end racism with one marriage then they can end homophobia with one marriage as well

We all know Eloise was the easy and obvious choice to be the queer love story but part of me does kind of like them not taking the easy route, and them going something more unexpected, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want Creloise/Sapphic El like they had eight children let’s be honest

Finch’s sneeze and Phillips’s “now Varely! The bugs!” were unfairly funny

Everything Lady Danbury said to Penelope about suspecting her and what not felt very in character and you can fight with the wall idc

Did they tell us the name of Polin’s baby boy???

Hyacinth saying she thinks of Gregory as the family pet,,,,, girl you an icon walking amongst mere mortals

Predictions I got right:

Anthony didn’t kill Colin, but “are you gonna duel your own brother” lmao I was on the right track

I knew Polin would win the Featherington baby race and I love that for them (but why were Prudence and Phillipa pregnant most of the season, barely showing, Kate was showing almost immediately, and then in the epilogue the sisters all had baby’s similar-ish ages???? Give the writers room a calendar please)

I SAID FROM DAY DOT THAT THE FURNITURE THEY BROKE FROM SEX WAS A CHAISE I CANT FIND THE POST BUT I KNEW IT I FUCKING KNEW IT WHERE DO I COLLECT MY PRIZE SOME OF YOUR GUESSES WERE TRULY FUCKING COOKED

Okay that was too long if you made it this far I’ll make you cookie ily

[bogusbyron]

Notes from 24th august matinee. Sorry this is 2 weeks late ive been busy . Heres the cast to keep in mind when reading

Note: if you want examples of certain line deliveries let me know, ill send a snippet from the audio

1) as SOON as the lights came up i was RAKING the ensemble for harry lake  and there he was

2) jordan as tall and commanding in his presence as ever. Spoke "ticket" VERRRRRY fast. Strong "law" on Meaning of the law. Harsh "yes" , on Yes, 24601, and obviously on Javert when he tells Valjean his name. Also held onto the yellow slip which uhhhhh classic

3) Valjean harsh-growl on "lord" in "lord forgive them"

4) Harry lake was hangin out by the stairs in the parole scene. He was also the one to throw the bag at Valjean. Lmfao

5) understudy bishop again! As last time, quite stern rather than gentle like Adam Pearce

6) Valjean spitting "good" in Done a bit of good.

7) bishop harsh on "that is right", as well as Quite loud and harsh on "passion", then quiet on the next line

8) valjean sobbing when bishop hands him his bag back :-((

9) during valjean's soliloquy, slight pause for stolen time after "so far" in Fallen so far, growled "if theres another", entire "gave me a number and murdered valjean" was spoken. "Soul" in Touched my soul verrrry upset-like . Growled "hate" in Hate the world. He also wiped his face on "i'll be back". He was doing a lot of sniffling from this point in the song as well which i liked . Voice crack on "soul" on Touched my soul which i fw. Pause on Reaching like "Reach. Ing". Upset on "Reaching but I fall", and a VERY strong final note.

10) At the end of the day as per an absolute banger - tom hext is the MOST visible ensemble member during this number, its great . Harry was being elusive but I ended up spotting him with tom in the factory . On the topic of Tom, he apparently did the hugest bitchiest eye roll ever when fantine says "and i pay for the child, what's the matter with that?" Which is so funny

11) katie hall AS USUALLLL TEARING UP DA STAGE🗣🗣🗣 delectable performance , lovely little suspended pause on "Life...... worth living". More goosebumps than usual too ohmy god this song is so good live. Also some sobbing between "autumn came" and "still i dream" .... HOLY SCHMOLY what a voice

12) tom and harry were the 2nd and third dudes at the start of lovely ladies . Not important but it is to me . As usual harry gets his arse slapped after "take all year" as he stumbles offstage LMFAOOO

13) for some reason i thought the foreman and the pimp were played by the same guy , only realised they werent when they BOTH came onstage. For context they look identical . Long hair with a beard. How was i supposed to know

14) fantine stumbles a bit after belting "already dead" . Also lots of weeping again for the bambatabois sequence :-( (also like last time he was like a screaming toddler)

15) javert low on "monsieur" in Rest assured, Monsieur . Which i liked

16) HEARTBREAKING "no" as fantine reaches for javert and he steps away before "i have heard such protestations" UUGHHHH

17) YOUPIEE! Breaking: My Ship Touched Each Other. Valjean puts a hand on Javert's shoulder to hold him back from Fantine .

18) hm, gayest cart scene ive seen so far . First we got the classic extended bicep touch as they make eye contact ("a memory stirs"). Javert harsh delivery on "broke" in Broke his parole. Half spoken "Of course" in Of course he now denies it. Harsh on "he couldnt run forever". Back to the gay shit, he walks RIGHT up to valjean, then once theyre basically cock to cock he glances down at his tits, then back up in time to push his face into valjean's for "this time there is no mistake", making sure to spit that T in mistake. Im taking they were inches away from each other. Insane.

19) milan was kinda looking down for Who Am I and all i could think about were how good his brows looked from this angle . Only note i took for who am i , other than mentioning how javert took his cravat after he takes it off in the courtroom. You can hear on the audio i took me saying "he's gonna sniff that tonight"

20) katie hall as always unreal as mentioned but shes seriously so good during this scene, her notes are still so strong despite being also so convincingly frail, duuude. Insane. Her and milan are such a heartbreaking duo its FAB

21) confrontation SWEEP🗣 valjean's spoken "listen to me". Javert kinda snaps "you must" very suddenly which is hilarious . Additional note but jordan's figure works so well for the confrontation and javert in general, or at least the way i view him so is it any wonder im so fond of him . Dude's hench . Makes him all the more imposing in all of javert's layers and coats .. delectable. All that grunting and groaning during the fight though Also his mouth wipe after he gets strangled Helloooo get out. At this point i wrote "shit punch" cause valjean's last punch at the end of the scene kinda sucked .

22) i forgot the actress but little cosette is sooo sweet shes lovely bless. Castle on a cloud is underrated i love that song .

23) 6th time seeing the show, 2nd tjme seeing luke thenardier.😭😭😭😭😭😭 LMFAOOOO tom sweep anyway

24) i like that Tall Jean (aka Willy Wonka as jordan told me he's called) is clearly an important character cause they still have him even when Jordan isnr ensemble, same fit and everything just with a diff waistcoat. Like hey Fake Jean. If youre reading this and dont know who this is you're a fake fan.

25) i like luke's french accent on "best inkeeper in down" .. mix it up a bit.

26) the gentleman guest cackling like a madman when both thenardiers flash him at the start of the song LMFAOAO

27) tom plays the blind guy if you didnt know. Anyway harry like, crawls? Up the stairs at the back of the set and when he gets to the top hes faced with a woman lifting her skirt in front of him . He then proceeds to stand up and play bongos on her boobs.?? Then later Fake Jean passes him a drink so thats nice

28) thenardier shouting "window shut"

29) here i wrote "jordan should play all the roles" who cheered

30) UGGHHHH valjean taking cosette's hands when asking her name in the forest scene brugh

31) luke is great as thenardier but i prefer the way Tom does the "i will pay" gag , cause luke just sorta jolts awake but tom does a whole snort which works better cause it draws more attention WHATEVERRR.

32) thenardier puttinf his leg up on the table when hes trying to impress valjean?? 😭😭😭😭

33) dude how is this show gonna cope w/o Claire Machin when the cast changes shes seriously so good . When the thenardiers are stood together to the side after valjean sits down at the table she like keeps gesturing as if telling thenardier to speak properly which is so funny . (As a guy with a regional english accent this was #felt.). She also fixes his cravat and then he taps her nose which was fire. However luke did fuck up  and said "shared each bone" twice OOPS oh well. He makes up for it with his classic shoulder touch-clap-stamp instead of doing the christian cross

34) valjean as last time grabbing thenardier's lapels to intimidate him before he leaves LOL

35) Will as marius i noticed moves around a LOT . ADHD who

36) harry as one of the policemen  who accompany javert in The Robbery YAY❤

37) for javert's bit in the Robbery - harsh on "hunted", growled "jean valjean". YUM! Plus spitting "feet" at thenardier. Very strong for the whole thing in general which i love to see of course

38) STARS INFLECTION, unfortunately nothing too interesting to note - not a bad thing cause Jordan's voice is gorgeous it just makes for Boring note readingLOL. Anyway..... Harsh start ("there, out in the darkness"). Very toothy (snarling expression) which i love to see thankyou jordan. Smile on first "stars", little smile on "counted" on Scarce to be counted. Held out arms a bit on "darkness" in Filling the darkness, then soft on "and light" which was luurvely. Had his arms out from "place in the sky" to "and your aim". The 2nd crescendo was VERY strong.. just wow ... additionally , Jordan was pointin riiiight at us at the end and he was thrilled to hear this when we met him stage door LMFAOA

39) Looked like marius almost walked into a beam when he enters the stage after Stars.  He also does a little giggle when he leaves . That whole scene he did not stop moving , girl slow DOWN

40) fake Gérard - he has the halfmoon glasses but wore a red coat instead of the greyish-blue one

41) Marius is so hype to be in love its so good, like hes a boy who's read romances all his life and hes finally like , able to experience it himself. Its so good. Hes thrilled. Grantaire gives him a kiss on the cheek❤

42) When marius, on the stairs, opens his arms a bit when he sings "burst of light", grantaire does the same while watching him from the floor. So good

43) when the students all gather round to listen to enjolras, grantaire like, drags him away from the crowd LMFOAA at the start of do you hear the people sing

44) noticed harry picking up and spinning one of the women as he exits after dyhtps. Also at this point i wrote "too many fair-haired white boys in this damn musical"

45) Cosette did a little swoop up into a high note on "love" in Do people really fall in love so fast. I love phoebe's voice!

46) Marius VERY excited on "music OFANgels" which was funny. Soft, near whisper on following "in my life". He did a little spin on "that is new, that is free". Bro does not stop. Also he does a really nice accent i cant quite place properly but it works for his marius i think.

47) He LOBS the stone at the window as compared to the other two mariuses ive seen who just kinda ... toss it. Hes so awkward though. And here i wrote "he feels mature but in the coddled autistic boy way. I fw him" that about sums it up

48) amena soft on "dagger in me" which she usually doesnt do . Interesting !

49) also for some reason there was like too long a pause after heart full of love like nobody clapped. Lmfao?

50) claquesous being used as a step stool again by thenardier during the attack on rue plumet. Always hysterical

51) Didn't hold the final "somebody's here" which i dont think ive ever heard. Strange! But regardless. Will callan has quite a unique voice which i WAS fond of , i liked him a lot .

52) STILL NO JAVERT BAKER BOY FOR ONE DAY MORE👎 anyway he was harsh on "wet" in They will wet themselves with blood. So, yay!

ACT 2

53) baker boy. Cheered

54) milan's "bitch expression" as i referred to it returns when he reads Now that i knlw

55) there were so many minor backstage noises . Btw like urm someones in trouble lmfoaa

56) AMENA BLOWING ME AWAY AS USUALLLLL gooooosebumps . What a voice god shes awesome

57) loudhailer harsh on "you" and short on "this"  for You at the barricade listen to this

58) djavanjolras being taller than jordanvert will never not be funny. Hes the only one bruh

59) javert's smile just FALLING when gavroche shouts LIAR is so fucking funny

60) Will callan's voice was SOOOOOOO good for A Little Fall of Rain ohhmy god its like , gentle , smooth. Delectable. He hit that shit And the heartstrings, amen. Great combo of like, disbelief and almost defeat which was heartbreaking okhhhmy gah.

61) Grantaire stopping enjolras from going to Marius after eponine dies

62) grantaire sits down and talks to javert after javert is brought out to sit on the bench which i think is hilarious . Like they were just chatting

63) valjean's gun didnt go off when he shoots the sniper in the first attack😭😭😭😭

64) javert harsh on "upside-down" in The world is upside-down

65) BARRICADE SCEEEEEENE we were fed. Javert shoved to his knees. Pause "between once a thief. Forever a thief." Harsh, growl on "if you let me go beware, you'll still answer to javert". Lapel grab AS PERRRRRR but thistime javert was struggling a bit and kept jerking away to break free . He put his hand on his chest when valjean let go. He took a couple steps towards valjean before he says "go" which was CRAZY

66) the "pretty girls" line in Drink With Me was harry 😁😁

67) grantaire and gavroche's hug after grantaires verse is always fire

68) milan very soft on all the "him"s during bring him home. VERY strong on the crescendo though as usual .. wowzers

69) 2nd attack - grantaire kinda collapses onto a barrel instead of fighting, facing the audience the whole time. After gavroche's death when he takes his body hes sniffling the whole time WHATEVERRR RR BRUH

70) enjoltaire was fed too . Hug and forehead touch before the final attack .

71) HIGHLY inconvenient death pose for grantaire . Kinda sat on the barricade and his coat mustve caught as he slid down cause itbwas basically halfway off up his arms as he kinda hung from a plank or something LMFOAAOAO

72) javert looking genuinely quite distressed over gavroche's body which is crazy  mane fuck off jordan with your expressions

73) thenardier playing with the body's arm kinda shaking it after first verse of Dog Eat Dog. Harsh on "kill" in Where they kill for the bones in the street. Where tomarsier steps on marius' arse like a stool  during the song's climax luke steps over him instead

74) Javert heavy breathing when he sees Valjean in the sewers . Harsh on "talks of justice". More heavy breathing before the soliloquy. Also put his gun down and clenches his fist on "take him, valjean"

75) as with stars, inflection was typical so nothing to note. jordan's expressions were EVERYWHEEEERE during the soliloquy and i love it . Eyes bulge and eyebrows up on "flick of his knife", which was delightfully harsh. Almost worried on "vengence was his". Harsh on "debt" in debt of a thief, almost shout on "damned" in damned if i yield. Arms out on "i am the law". Harsh on "valjean" and "or" but sings "Javert". 2nd verse hes CLUTCHING that parapet  which was crazyyyy this man is going mental for SURE. Desperate "to hold dominion" and "it was his right". Growled "can this man". VERY strong "reprieved" by the way, holy shit. Desperate as usual on "and must i now begin to doubt". Points to the sky on "heaven" In is he from heaven or from hell. Yells "killed me" in This man has killed me. Shaky, almost sobbing breaths as he steps onto the bridge. Growls "jean valjean". Additional note, i noticed it looked as if he was muttering to himself a little towards the end before the lights fade to black . Which like , mane fuck of whagever bro

76) Very nice limp on Marius. Weird comment i just liked it. Thank god  post barricade marius limp

77) Quick start on "theres a grief". Small, humourless laugh after "talked of revolution". Held "tomorrow" in Tomorrow never came for a bit longer than usual. He hit that shit on the first crescendo though HOLY moly, what a voice . Harsh on "faces" and "shadows", VERY angry on "don't ask me", and remains harsh on "what your sacrifice was for".

78) He Does wipe his tears! (Cosette entrance). (Bonus note from mossy hi: marius tries to sit down, cosette attempts to help him but he refuses and struggles to continue instead) Also for thst whole scene he was kinda facing away from cosette with a very upset expression which made me ughhhhhh:-((((. Seemed better when he looked back at cosette though YAY

79) valjean kinda hunched as he walks off after the confession. Tiny inconsequential note but i liked it

80) i love watching the ensemble for this scene SO much its so good . Tom hext with his wild hair gelled back is great, obviously And apparently was staring at thenardier's arse for most of it . Generally just a fun watch the whole scene i highly recommend

81) marius pulls thenardier by the shoulder when he tells him to go away lmfao. Also there was a dude in the back clapping when he punched thenardier and is like "whaat?" when nobody else claps with him LMFAO

82) Luke does his usual coy wave @ the lord at the start of beggars at the feast

83) i really recommend looking at everyone dancing offstage at the end of beggars - harry did a little hip wiggle dance . A few do variations of a conga line dance . Djavan"s servant character usually kicks his legs up as he wheels the table offstage . SO much fun (additional nlte: djavan's character in that scene in my top 3 ensemble characters)

84) gentle yet gorgeous climb from milan for the Epilogue . Nods on "Bring. Me. Home" URGHHHHHHH....... AND he rests his face in cosette's hair and doesnt move until "i'll obey". Nods at cosette on "i will try" who nods back. MANE FJCK OFF

85) very cozy hug between valjean and the bishop . Faces in shoulders and everything . AS USUAL HARMONY ATTHE END INSAAAAANE they are, as i wrote on my notebook, nut-busting

[alezangona]

The Shadow of Khansar (Salaar Fic)

Part 9 - The Monster and His Master

Part 8 | Part 10

Notes: Definitely NSFW

The next few months pass by in a blur, albeit a productive one. Khansar’s funds are carefully allocated across various administrations with special emphasis placed on programs pertaining to education, public health, and infrastructure. The government’s focus on foreign policy allows them to settle contracts with various energy management companies across the world to provide solutions for the electrical and water shortages occurring in their external agricultural territories. The continuous expansion of global strategies provides opportunities for reallocation of employment through various industries including manufacturing and trade, though Khansar stays vigilant in maintaining a diplomatic image by hiding its more profitable ventures away from prying eyes. 

Change doesn’t come as fast as Varadha initially hopes, the truth being that mistakes occur more frequently than not and it is enough to give him pounding headaches that won’t subside. Moments of high stress are all it takes for him to retreat into himself, gaze faraway as he analyzes every possible solution over and over, a heaviness settling into the line of his shoulders.

During breakfast one morning, when Varadha is toying more with his food than eating it, Baba finally cracks. 

“The responsibility of this kingdom is not yours alone, Beta. There are entire organizations and administrations working alongside you to find solutions to the issues we are facing. Let them do their jobs, while you do yours. Not every burden is yours to bear.” Then he lets out a small smile. “Anyway, it’s important for you to learn the importance of a good stroll over a hasty run. What you’re doing now is establishing a strong foundation for Khansar’s growth and longevity. Take that for granted and you’ll give way for its fall.”

Varadha doesn’t finish his breakfast that morning and he doesn’t miraculously stop worrying either. Still, he begins to notice just how much people care. It isn’t just his face worn from sleepless nights and early mornings. It isn’t just his eyes that contain a spark of determination in the face of challenges. 

The reassurance is enough to let him sleep a bit more peacefully at night. It also helps that he feels less alone than he has in years. Particularly in moments of leisure that are spent in the presence of his loved ones. 

Morning garden strolls with Baba as he talks about his life and his Noor. 

When she’d leave for her business meetings, I wouldn’t know how to handle myself. So anxious and restless till she came home. Time used to stand still without her, but in her presence, every day would pass by faster than a strike of lightning, and just as beautiful too. I’ve had years with her… it still doesn’t feel like it was enough time. She’d be proud of you, if she was here to see you now.

Afternoon chaturanga sessions with Baachi as he curses out Varadha for winning every round. 

I still look over my shoulders sometimes, waiting for someone to fuck with us. We’ve endured years of humiliation and it feels like there’s more to withstand. I’m still not used to the way people look at us with respect when we leave the palace. I’m thankful for what we have Anna, and I’m scared to lose it too— Fuck! Again? What’s the point in playing with me when you keep winning anyway? 

Evening movie nights with Deva as they curl up on the couch, shedding their responsibilities and falling into domesticity. 

I don’t know how I did it, but I’ve managed to convince Amma to come back to Khansar. I think the only reason she’s even budging is because I’ve been begging her to come back with me and telling her it’ll be different under your rule. Even then, she’s hesitant about staying anywhere in the capital. I don’t know if I can convince her to stay in the palace, not without putting her ill at ease. After everything she’s done for me, I have to draw the line on her behalf at some point. I’m thinking of getting her a place at the outskirts of town. I’m going to hate not seeing you every night, though.

That doesn’t end up becoming a problem for too long. The first night that Deva stays away at his mother’s new house, Varadha tosses and turns for hours on end, restful sleep alluding him. His cranky mood the next morning has the entire palace walking on eggshells. That is, until Deva enters the council room later on in the day for one of their meetings. They stay on different ends of the room, but when their gazes meet, the exhaustion drains visibly from their bodies and the palace is able to breathe once more. 

“Come home with me tonight?” Deva asks once they leave the room, walking shoulder to shoulder. Varadha’s step falters for a second before he goes back to matching Deva’s stride. 

“What?” Varadha carefully observes their surroundings, staying alert until he’s sure there’s no one else around them. 

“For dinner, you idiot.” Deva’s lips quirk. “Not some clandestine meeting of lovers.”

“Can’t fault me for checking, Bangaram. I never can tell what’s going on in that filthy mind of yours.” Varadha shrugs, biting the inside of his cheek to hide his smile.

“Yes, because I’m dying for a chance to ravish you in my mother’s home.” Deva rolls his eyes, but takes a step closer to him anyway, bending down so his gravelly voice can whisper. “Though… why bother with the wait when I can fuck you in that closet instead?” 

~*~

The first dinner at Amma’s ends up being more awkward than Varadha thought possible. As inviting as she is, there’s a prying gleam in her eyes as she observes the two of them, trying to gauge what could’ve happened during the past few months for her son to willingly return to this godforsaken place. To move her here as well. He finds himself trying to impress her for some reason, telling her about all the changes he and his team are trying to bring about to the city. If he was being honest with himself, for a moment it felt like the words were being forcefully ejected from his mouth, anxiety refusing to let go of the trigger. However, when there is a lapse in conversation after dinner while they put away leftovers, Varadha catches a glimpse of Amma looking at him with a relieved expression. He doesn’t know what it means, but is able to breathe easier when she sends him off with a box of leftover chepala pulusu (fish curry) and tells him to come visit again soon.

The weekly dinners end up becoming a reprieve for Varadha when he starts to realize just how much he feels like a kid again under Amma’s roof. Gone are his responsibilities of being Karta when he steps into the threshold. She acts with him as she always had, feeding him exorbitant amounts of food, reprimanding him for not sleeping enough, and even going to the extent of massaging his scalp when he confesses to her of the pounding headache he’s suffered with for days. 

His eyes close at the feeling of her fingers running through his scalp, the smell of medicinal oil oddly pleasant and soothing as she works the tension out from his muscles. Amma continues to talk to him, voice low and pleasant as she urges him to take better care of himself and something breaks inside him. A ball lodges in his throat and he can feel wetness forming behind closed lids. When they flicker open, Deva is standing in front of him, a glass of water in hand. Concern immediately clouds his features and he shifts his body forward, only to stop when Varadha discreetly shakes his head, a wobbly smile forming on his lips. 

“Stay here with us tonight,” Amma commands, unaware of the plight he’s facing. “The second you go back to that palace you’ll spend the night overworking yourself and I refuse to let you run yourself into the ground. Deva, go set up the guest room and don’t let him leave till tomorrow morning.”

Later that night, once Amma is asleep, Deva sneaks into Varadha’s room, crawling into bed and holding him tight. 

“Are you okay?” Deva sighs against his ears when Varadha doesn’t answer immediately. “Amma ki chadastham ekuvara, anthe (Amma is just stubborn, that’s all). I’m sorry if what she said hurt you at all.” 

“No, she didn’t do anything wrong.” Varadha gulps, pressing back into Deva. “Amma gurthukuochindi, ra (I remembered my mom).” 

Deva doesn’t reply, choosing to press a kiss into Varadha’s hair, wrapping his entire body around his lost king and trapping him within the confines of his limbs. Varadha sleeps more peacefully that night than he ever has during the past few months.

The next morning as Amma sends them out of the house, she stops Varadha in his place, a hand wrapped around his arm. 

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you two since you were children. Karta and Salaar aside, when it comes down to it, you’re just two kids who’ve been forced to grow up too soon. Don’t let those titles define you for the rest of your life, nana. Don’t make the same mistakes as…” The way her gaze digs into his is enough to make him understand, so he nods back, a promise in his own right. 

She lets him go.

~*~

The peace doesn’t last long, it hardly ever does in a world like theirs. 

They start hearing of various raids across India that begin to interfere with their black market trade. Before they can consider taking action, casinos, brokerages, and banks partnered with Khansar are stormed in an effort to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities. Trucks containing various goods such as weapons and drugs are stopped en route, all the material seized and confiscated by the government. A frenzy erupts in the capital as calls are made to various seeds and contacts planted in India, demanding answers for the sudden crack down. The answer, it turns out, is rather simple.

The government of India aims to fight back against crime… to fight back against Khansar. 

It’s not an answer that sits well with anyone. Definitely not Varadha as everyone in his court looks to him for answers. Tensions rise every day in Kotagada as the Doralu debate with their Karta about the best course of action to take to preserve their economy. In the end, there is nothing but disdain as the court adjourns, no real solution to be found. 

For the time being, the best course of action is to be more discreet and careful than usual. They run checks on their supply chain to prevent security breaches. Only certain businesses are given access to trade after a thorough inspection process. Different routes are established, intricate and ever changing, with smaller shipments being sent out at a time. Overall, it’s not a perfect system, but it’s enough to get them by.

~*~

Deva’s eyes stay firmly planted on the ground and he hopes that Baba will finally break the silence. He doesn’t. He holds his cap in his hands, leaning back against the chair as if his age has finally caught up to him. Bilal doesn’t seem to be of much help either as he paces back and forth, carefully avoiding Rhinda who scowls at the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. 

The creak of a door opening snaps them to attention. Varadha steps out, face void of any emotion as he jutts his chin. 

“You can go see him now, if you’d like.” Baba doesn’t wait for him to finish the sentence before he disappears through the door. 

“I didn’t even know he could move that fast.” Rhinda tries to joke, but no one laughs. He doesn’t look too amused either as he falls back into his chair. 

Varadha makes his way to the large window, fists clenched at his sides. Within seconds, Deva is next to him.

“The name of Khansar was enough to stop them not too long ago. Now they’ve attacked us at the heart of it.” Varadha’s hand clasps ironclad around Deva’s tattoo. “I want them dead. Each and every person who dared to lay a hand on him.”

“As you command, Karta.” 

“The thought of Khansar alone should terrify them. Touch what belongs to us–”

“You pave the path to your own destruction.”

The Karta’s fist drops back down to his side and his weapon is released. 

~*~

Death for anyone who stops the seal. 

That is what Deva declares. No one in court bothers to argue. Not when it was a law that would benefit their own economy. Even if they did object, they wouldn’t challenge the monster who just committed a massacre to please his master. 

Rakshasudu.

That is what they begin to call him. Not to his face or the Karta’s. Not in scorn either, but in awe of the sheer power that he exudes. The new name becomes a declaration of acceptance. 

A violent man for a violent city. 

~*~

“A symbol. All that it brands, belongs to you.” 

The simple phrase from Deva’s lips ignites a raging fire within him. Varadha’s eyes darken in the confines of the room, gaze honing in on the devil’s mark stamped against Deva’s bare chest. 

“Come here.” Varadha commands. He watches as Deva saunters towards him, the glow from the lantern casting shadows onto his rugged physique. His fingers ghost against the seal, drinking in the intricate artwork that decorates tanned skin. The eyes of the devil leer into him, ferocious teeth barred in contempt. It was nothing more than a small circle of ink, able to fade away with the swipe of a finger. Yet, it possessed the ability to shake an entire nation to its core. 

So much power in such a small symbol. 

And the man who imbued it with that power stands before him, beautiful and pliant, his face sculpted to express unbounded devotion. 

Varadha’s hand darts out, fingers wrapping around the underside of Deva’s jaw as he tugs him closer. Deva breathes sharply, surprised by the action, but doesn’t move. He waits patiently, unblinking as Varadha leisurely devours the length of him. In a sudden flash, Varadha turns him around so that Deva’s back is pinned to his front. Deva catches a glimpse of the image in the mirror planted across from him, a pathetic whimper leaving him at the sight.

Varadha’s eyes penetrate through the reflective surface, dark, calculating, and aroused. His fingers dig into Deva’s pulse point as his other hand travels down the expanse of his torso, nails scraping against sensitive skin, eliciting a feeling so strong that Deva’s eyes flutter shut and he arches back into Varadha, desperate for a taste. The furthest he can get is the brush of his lips against the side of Varadha’s jaw before he draws back with a tut.

“Salaar,” The warmth of his breath fans against Deva’s ears, the smoky tone exhilarating him further. “My Salaar. So beautiful when you give yourself to me like this.” His hand slips further down, stopping at the bulge between Deva’s thighs. His fingers dance against the sensitive flesh, featherlight touches that have Deva working to hold back keens of frustration. That is, until Varadha palms him through the fabric of his jeans, the firm touch causing Deva to release a low moan. 

“Va–” The name catches in his throat when Varadha’s grip tightens around his neck significantly. Varadha’s lips begin to explore the curve of Deva’s nape, sharp bites that prick into his skin, only to be soothed by the gentle slip of his tongue. Varadha hums softly into him, slotting his hips against the curve of Deva’s ass and pressing into him just enough to let his arousal be felt. Slowly, the hand that is wrapped around Deva’s throat begins to descend. Within no time, Varadha works Deva out of his jeans, hands circling against the heavy length of him.

“Open your eyes and watch what I do to you.” He growls, teeth catching onto Deva’s ear. Deva’s eyes flicker open at the order and he digs his teeth into his lips at the debauched image of him in Varadha’s arms. Hair askew, pupils blown, skin marked by claiming bruises. He lowers his gaze to where Varadha’s hands are pumping him unceremoniously, his thumb circling against his slit, collecting precum and spreading it across the throbbing surface. It doesn’t take long for Varadha’s hands to become coated with the evidence of Deva’s arousal and the sight itself makes Deva tremble with need. “You look beautiful like this. Pliant in my hands, flushed beyond belief, desperate for release.” 

Deva hisses as Varadha tugs against his balls, the mixture of pain and pleasure overwhelming him enough to close his eyes for a chance of reprieve. 

“Open your eyes, Salaar. I won’t tell you again. Take your eyes off the image of what I’m doing to you and I won’t let you come for me tonight.” The warning incites panic and Deva’s lids snap open, catching the merciless grin on Varadha’s face. “Good boy.” 

The motions of his hands speed up around Deva’s cock with varying pressure and Deva is forced to watch himself break, tremors spreading across his overstimulated body. His chest heaves with panting breaths, muscles clenching in an effort to hold back his inevitable release. As he watches from tear-filled eyes, Varadha’s reflection reshapes itself in the mirror, a smug curl of his lips as it dawns on him what Deva is doing. 

“Such a good boy, holding yourself back for my sake. I didn’t even have to ask, did I? You’re just that desperate to please me.” The throaty chuckle causes Deva to flush deeper and dig his fingers into the soft material of Varadha’s clothes. 

“Please.” Deva groans, on edge. A tear rolls down the corner of his eye and satisfaction paints itself across Varadha’s features.

“Come for me, my beautiful Salaar.” A gasp leaves Deva’s lips, his cock twitching as the sticky residue splatters against the skin of his stomach. His eyes close and he leans back against Varadha, spent as his orgasm flows through his system. He can feel Varadha’s arms wrapping around his waist, lips brushing against his ears as he whispers sweet nothings while pleasure settles into his bones. 

By the time Deva is able to ground himself enough to open his eyes, he catches sight of Varadha’s gaze drilling into the seal stamped against his chest. A shudder of pleasure rocks through him when Varadha pushes him onto the bed, his hand curling around the dark mark, a wildness in the depth of his kohl rimmed eyes that has Deva hardening once more. 

“Mine.” Varadha places a searing kiss against his lips, stealing his soul from within the confines of its cage. Deva gives back just as much as he gets, wanting nothing more than to have Varadha understand that his entire life belongs to him and only him. By the time Varadha pulls away, stripping out of his shirt, Deva’s kiss-slick lips whisper back words of reassurance.

“Yours, always yours.”

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Idea #91: Modern Girl in Thedas, but make it DA2

In honor of DA:V coming out next month I've been replaying DA:I. This is something of a trial because, having just finished a Hogwarts Legacy replay, it's easy to tell that this game is 10 years old - that, and I loved how focused and intimate DA2 feels. Yes, it has world-spanning implications, but it's really all about this guy trying to do his best by his friends and his family. I love it, and DA:I never inspired the same kind of feels.

All of which is a long way of saying: I got to thinking about that most famous of tropes, Modern Girl in Thedas, and I thought about how would I handle it?

Or: What if the MGiT were to appear in Kirkwall shortly before the Fifth Blight?

Just imagine it:

Rather than a true self-insert, I see this more as modern woman meets Thedas, with a middle-aged fan of the Dragon Age series waking up in the body of an unnamed background character in a Hightown estate sometime in early 9:30 following a severe illness. The keyword here is fan - the SI has played the games, read the fic, and glanced at the wiki, but couldn't write out a clear timeline or recall most codex entries.

The SI eventually learns that she's woken up in the body of Sofia Vidal, the 15-year-old daughter of the richest merchant in Kirkwall. Their family has a virtual monopoly on cloth trade on the northern cost of the Waking Sea and has distant ties to Orlesian Nobility as well as the Amells. Their Hightown estate abuts the future Hawke Estate, and if the term robber baron existed in Thedas it would probably apply to here them.

Now, going from the body of a middle-aged engineer from the modern world into the body of a teenager in a Medieval fantasy world is difficult... but luckily no one seems to notice, because it seems doubtful that anyone has ever noticed Sofia Vidal in her life, her family included. She was mousy and shy and easily startled and apparently an endless disappointment to the family for being more fond of books than hunting or fighting.

Because, as Sofia soon discovers, the Vidal family has aspirations. They can read the writing on the wall with regards to the current Viscount and are willing to go to any end to have their family be named the viscountcy.

To which end: Sofia is the youngest of seven children. Three died in the cradle or soon after. Her oldest brother - Gaspare, her senior by nearly twenty years - spends most of his time in Orlais with his titled wife, running the family business interests there. Their other two living siblings are mages, with Amalia sent to the Kirkwall Circle while her twin Agnese went to the Circle at Dairsmuid. It had been their father's hope that, should they not be able to secure the viscountcy themselves, one of his children could marry into the line... but Sofia is so unlikely to catch anyone's eye that her father despairs of her ever marrying at all.

All of which brings us back to the events of DA2.

Sofia may not know much, but she knows that the Blight is coming. She also knows that the conditions in Darktown are horrendous and only about to get worse as refugees flood the cities, so she buys a book on healing, collects some herbs, and sets up shop on the opposite side of Darktown from where Anders had his clinic. It's better than sitting around the estate all day and makes her feel like her transmigration has a purpose.

The events of canon proceed apace...

...which is something of a surprise, because for a long while it's quite easy for Sofia to forget that she's in a video game world at all. That is, until Anders appears at her door looking to swap healing recipes, trade potions, and - eventually - share a drink at the end of the day.

It's through Anders that she meets Garrett Hawke - a cheerfully sarcastic force mage of breathtaking power. He's the sort of powerful it would be easy to fear if he wasn't so affable and in control of his gifts. The idea that he could probably take over Kirkwall through sheer power of his magic and personality alone never seems to occur to him - which is good, because he could probably be DA's answer to Alexander the Great if he cared to try.

Sofia doesn't join the Kirkwall crew, however. She does her healing, gleefully watches their antics from the sidelines, and occasionally joins them for a drink at the Hanged Man.

Though she is the first to welcome the Hawkes to Hightown at the end of Act I, becoming quite close with Leandra. (For many years Leandra will harbor the hope that Sofia and her son will marry and give her many grandchildren to dote over, but neither are inclined that way. Especially after it's revealed they're third cousins.)

Sofia turns 19 in 9:34, the year Hawke becomes Champion.

It's also the year Sofia is introduced to Sebastian Vael, being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to attend the prince, who is bleeding out in the foyer of Hawke's home following the events of Repentance. It's not the first time this has happened - Sofia's bedroom is infinitely closer than Ander's clinic - but it is perhaps the most embarrassing.

Embarrassing, because she prefers not to be introduced to royalty in her nightclothes. Sofia has standards - not many, mind, but she has them.

Luckily for her, Sebastian is far too out of it to recall what she was wearing. But he can't help but develop a crush on the kind healer who so diligently tended his wounds - one who also ministers to the poor and downtrodden, though she could easily choose to live a life of luxury.

What follows falls somewhere between the canon friend and rival romances. We get a Sebastian who wants to regain Starkhaven because Sofia deserves no less than a Prince but who has the calm and pro-mage sympathies of the friendship route.

But that of course takes time, because Sofia's not convinced at first that Sebastian's crush has nothing to do with seeing her in her nightclothes. (Nor, for that matter, does she particularly care for the idea of a chaste marriage or an aggressively anti-mage spouse. She'd not been a particular fan of Sebastian in the game, but hadn't hated him either.)

Canon proceeds apace. Hawke becomes Champion, Kirkwall is left without a viscount, and Sofia's father tries to marry her off to however looks most likely to succeed Dumar this week.

As the chaos mounts, the soft, slow romance between Sofia and Sebastian is a breath of fresh air. On Sebastian's part, it grows from a seed of fondness - and, yes, lust - to genuine affection as he gets to know Sofia. For her part, by the time Sofia realizes she cares for Sebastian she's already in deep. Its friendship turned to love, which is the best and strongest.

They wed in a small ceremony in 9:36, only telling Sofia's father after the fact. As Sebastian has to leave the Chantry to do so, they're forced to camp out at Hawke's estate for several weeks before finding a small place of their own. This is awkward - mostly because the Vidal estate right next door and Sofia's father is a pompous ass on the best of days.

As the calendar turns to 9:37, matters reach their tipping point. Anders blows up the Kirkwall Chantry and Hawke is forced to kill him in hopes of restoring order. This fails and events of the endgame play out with Hawke siding with the mages.

Hawke goes on the run, helping mages across the Free Marches get to safety.

Sebastian makes good on his promise of taking back Starkhaven for Sofia, making her a princess in truth. The city becomes a sanctuary district for many of the mages in northern Thedas, much as Redcliffe was for the mages in the south. This doesn't prevent the events of DA:I, but halves the numbers of conscripts available for Alexius to conscript later. They send forces to help Kirkwall rebuild... but the city is still lawless and in turmoil when the Conclave occurs in 9:40.

Per Sofia's urging, Sebastian helps the Inquisition in its early days... though she does make it clear that she thinks the Inquisition's only aim should be to close the Breach.

But for the most part Sebastian and Sofia end up living fairly happily in Starkhaven. They have a larger family than Sofia ever imagined herself wanting - 5 kids, but magical epidurals are a wonderful thing. It's not a utopia, but it's the best that can be expected given the politics of the time. Their eldest succeeds their father as Prince of Starkhaven while their next oldest, not to be outdone, eventually gets themselves named Viscount of Kirkwall - just as the Vidal family had always dreamed.

Bonuses include:

Sofia becoming deeply, deeply over-invested in the relationship between Hawke and Fenris. So much so that for a while Sebastian thinks she's interested in one or the other or both and resolves to let her pursue her happiness without any interference from him, only to have it knocked into his head by a third-party that Sofia doesn't want be with them, she wants them to be with each other. This should be played for maximum humor and confusion.

An exceptionally complicated relationship with the Chantry. Sebastian is very much a committed Andrastian, whereas Sofia was agnostic at best in the modern world. Are demons and magic and the Breech proof that the Maker exists? Should she follow the rituals of the religion for Sebastian's sake or be honest about her beliefs? Can she open her mind enough to give Andrastianism an honest try? &c.

Sofia coming to view Leandra as second mother. Though she tries her best to prevent the events of All That Remains, she's not a fighter. All she's able to do is injure Quentin and alert Hawke to the problem sooner; Leandra still dies, but it's before Quentin is able to reanimate his perfect bride.

An engineer being forced to come to terms with magic. It makes the transition to a world at Middle Ages level of scientific advancement easier than it otherwise would be (magically running water!) but still makes Sofia's basic knowledge of germ theory a great leap forward in her Darktown clinic; and

Sofia gaining a reputation for being a great storyteller by blatantly stealing stories from the modern world to entertain children at her clinic. Varric eventually "borrows" some of these ideas and ends up writing the DA version of Harry Potter set in a fictional Circle in the years leading up to the mage rebellion.

And that is surprisingly more than I had. To be frank, the Sebastian romance snuck up on me because it's not one I usually go for, but the muse wants what it wants. As always, feel free to adopt this bun - just link back if you do anything with it.

More DA Ideas | More SI Ideas | More Terrible Fic Ideas

[rorywritesjunk]

I can’t tell where the journey will end But I know where to start

Prequel to my Kid Buggy fic, set about 11-ish years before that story.

Buggy meets you by chance when he needs his buttons sewn back onto his jacket. He’s young, up and coming, and he thinks everyone should cower before him wherever he goes, but all you do is smile at him.

Rating: PG-13ish just for some swearing. Warning: Buggy’s in his early 20s. I also gave him some anxiety and stuff because while he’s in love he doesn’t believe someone could love him back. He just has a lot of uncertainty with romance. Mawwiage happens. Alcohol is mentioned. Everyone’s having a good time. A/N: The epilogue! Enjoy. I am not done with these two in the sense I'll do more one-shots and the likes for them as well as AUs with Buggy's older sister and The Wives. Thank you to everyone who's been reading this! Enjoy!

Title comes from “Wake Me Up” by Avicii.

TAGLIST: @lostfirefly @ane5e @kingofthemfingpirates @the-angriest-angel @tiredemomama @valen-yamyam16 @i-reblog-fics-i-like @plethora-of-fickleness @uhnanix

Chapter 1 + Chapter 2 + Chapter 3 + Chapter 4 + Chapter 5 + Chapter 6 + Chapter 7 + Chapter 8 + Chapter 9 + Chapter 10 + Chapter 11 + Chapter 12 + Chapter 13 + Chapter 14 + Chapter 15 + Chapter 16 + Chapter 17 + Chapter 18 + Epilogue

Epilogue

The marriage was far from perfect.

Your first actual fight showed Buggy you were capable of not speaking to him for an entire week. It was regarding one of Mohji’s animals, a bear that fell ill and passed away. You had been upset for both the loss of the animal and Mohji; the boy loved that bear so much. All Buggy suggested was that you not… cry so much over it. That was it, suck it up and move on. It was just a bear.

He was on his knees begging for your forgiveness by the end of the week.

Then there was the time you accidentally cut up his favorite shirt. He had left it for days on the scrap fabric pile you collected in the bedroom and asked him many times if he was sure that shirt needed to be there. He had insisted it was, but a week after you cut it up into scraps to patch some of the crew’s clothes, Buggy asked about it. You both needed to work on more than verbal communication.

And a few years into the marriage, Buggy was feeling less like you were going to leave him for every person who talked to you that he was pretty relaxed - a little too relaxed because for your birthday he took you to a pub, got a little drunk, and made a comment about how hot the barmaid was. You weren’t mad, more amused by it, but when you reminded him the next day when he sobered up what he said, he was mortified.

You were leaving him for sure for that, he was certain of it.

On his birthday you disappeared for a day on an island you begged to be dropped off at. Buggy caved, wanting to do anything for you in hopes you would forget how he acted like an ass on your birthday again. Maybe you just needed a break from him, even if it was on his birthday. 

You came back after meeting up with Kuro and oh, oh the divorce was inevitable now. You had told him a few days after your birthday when he had a meltdown over how he acted and he begged for you to tell him if there was any man or pirate alive that you would have been with other than him and… that fucking cat pirate was the one you chose. Oh, he was handsome and he dressed so sharply, and you felt you had bragging rights over how well he dressed because he was your first true customer that you had repeated business with.

It was a dagger to Buggy’s heart, over and over and over again. 

“What’s got you so upset?” You asked when he stopped responding, slumped on the floor with an almost empty bottle of rum beside him. You moved the bottle and knelt beside him, touching his shoulder. “You feel okay, honey?”

“Are you leaving me for Kuro?” He whimpered, refusing to look at you because he just knew the answer. You’d be happier with a better dressed pirate than with Buggy. It was startling when you chuckled and kissed him on the cheek.

“No, no. I’m not leaving you for cat-boy.” You told him as you tried to coax him to look at you. “I was getting your birthday present, Buggy, to show you how much I love you.”

He sniffled, lifting his head to see you taking your shirt off. A look of confusion crossed his face as you turned yourself to show him your arm, revealing a tattoo of his jolly roger. 

“This isn’t your only present, y’know, I’m gonna make you a feast.” You said as he sat up quickly, trying to get a closer look, but the alcohol was hitting him and he slumped against you, looking up with large, watery eyes as you stroked his cheek gently. “I love you, Buggy, and I’m never leaving you.”

That… that helped. He felt better after that, though still had doubts.

~

The conversation about kids was… not what he anticipated. He thought you’d want kids right away, he saw how you were around children, how your eyes lit up at the family gatherings each year when you got to see all the kids(he loved the look of horror each year on your aunt’s face when the two of you showed up, she didn’t expect the marriage to last). He watched you pick up your cousin’s baby - he was two years younger than you and his wife just had their first kid. Your eyes lit up and Buggy watched your face soften with a smile he hadn’t seen before. 

He waited until you two were alone to ask. To his surprise you snorted at his question and gave him a kiss. “Not just no, but hell no.” 

“Wait, what?”

“Buggy, I like what we have now. Maybe someday we can have cute little kids but not right now.” You told him as you patted his cheeks gently. “And I don’t think we’re ready at all. Kids can be a discussion in a few years, okay?”

“Oh thank God.” Buggy sighed as he slumped against you, wrapping his arms around you and tightening them around you. “I can’t deal with that right now.”

You laughed softly and kissed him again, wrapping your arms around his neck as you leaned against him. “Neither can I, honey.” You smiled and looked up at him, pulling him down and bumping your forehead against his gently before kissing the tip of his nose. “I love you, Buggy. Thank you for talking to me about this.”

He blushed but didn’t look away as he hugged you. “Love you too, babe.”

~

It was a yearly thing for him to drink and reminisce about the good ol’ days as an apprentice on Roger’s crew. It was always the anniversary of his former captain’s execution. The first time you witnessed it he didn’t explain it to you, just grabbed bottles and bottles of alcohol to drink with the crew while you waited for an explanation on why this was happening. It wasn’t until you wrangled him to bed after he was strutting around the ship, saying he was still a great swimmer even though he was a Devil Fruit power. Before he could jump over the ship to demonstrate this, you grabbed him by the back of the pants and dragged him to the bedroom for him to sober up and explain. 

Buggy slumped on the bed, not bothering to take his shoes off so you helped him. He giggled, face lighting up as you helped get him comfortable for the night.

“I got the best wifey.” 

“And I have the best hubby.” You chuckled as you glanced up at him. “Can you tell me now what the drinking is for?”

“I drink to my captain!” Buggy told you excitedly, pumping his fist up to the air. “H-He was executed on this day eight years ago! I drink in his honor and to hi-his memory!”

“Oh.” 

You didn’t question him further, just made sure he was comfortable that night. The years going forward, you made sure he was safe, had a reasonable amount of alcohol, and put him to bed. He never talked about it the next day, either because he didn’t want to or didn’t remember, you weren’t sure but you figured if he wanted to talk he would. 

~

You were eleven years into this marriage. It… it was fine. It wasn’t too exciting, nor was it incredibly boring. It was just fine for you. Buggy let you take on certain roles on the ship, mostly just making sure everyone looked their best in their clothes so long as he was the best dressed. He trusted you weren’t leaving him any longer, which made it easier for you to slip out of bed in the morning to start breakfast for the two of you.

It was just right.

This morning was no different. He had his fill of alcohol the night before at the local pub with some of the crew, leaving you on the ship for a peaceful night. Buggy managed to stumble his drunken self back to the ship without falling into the water. He was sleeping off the alcohol, head under the covers as he laid curled up next to you. You woke up with him in your arms, but you managed to slip away from him. You were going to wait to start breakfast, wanting to run out to the shops first to pick up some goods before the crowds started.

Buggy stirred, peeking out from under the blankets with a grumpy expression as you got dressed. He lifted his head up just a bit before letting it fall back on the pillows. “What’re you doing?”

“Getting dressed.” You told him, keeping your voice soft as you pulled your shirt on. “I’m going to get some things. Any special requests?”

Buggy nodded, mumbling something under the blankets. You walked over and pulled them back just enough for him to mutter it to you, asking for some apples and peanut butter. He finished the last jar a week ago and had been wanting it. You rolled your eyes and kissed him on the forehead. You needed to buy two and hide them from him, apparently the last jar wasn’t hidden well enough.

“I’ll grab that for you. Anything else?”

“D’you hafta go?” He whined softly. “I want cuddles.”

“I’ll be back, honey.” You assured him as you made sure the blankets were keeping him covered. “I’ll have breakfast ready for you when you wake up, okay?”

“Promise?” 

“Promise I’ll have breakfast-”

“Promise you’ll be back?” He lifted his head again, pouting up at you. 

“Oh, of course I’ll be back.” You chuckled softly as you kissed his forehead. “I’ll be gone for a few hours, honey, but I’ll be back.” 

He frowned sleepily but nodded, settling back down under the blankets. You gave his shoulder a squeeze and tucked the blankets around him once more before you grabbed your wallet and headed out. It shouldn’t take too long to collect what you needed, but you were excited to be at this village. You hadn’t been there in over twenty years and you wondered if there had been any changes to it.

And you enjoyed walking around as you collected your goods, putting them in your bags and basket as you chatted with the vendors about what they were selling, how the weather had been lately, just little things that weren’t related to piracy. You loved your life but having a conversation that wasn’t about what Richie had eaten the night before to upset his stomach was nice. 

Your last stop was for peanut butter which you found in a little shop near the docks. It was a cute little place, selling all kinds of tasty ingredients and foods, but you only bought the peanut butter, knowing you could easily go broke buying all the fancy ingredients in the shop. Maybe if Buggy ever became incredibly rich and had lots of treasure you could think of something like that.

You bid farewell to the shopkeep as you stepped out of the shop, not watching where you were going. Something bumped into you, startling you, and when you turned to apologize, your voice caught in your throat. As far as you were aware, you were very sober so what was this you were seeing in front of you?

“Hey, watch it!” The kid in front of you snapped, glaring daggers up at you. His blue hair and bright red nose was very familiar to you.

Oh, oh no, what was going on?

[aja154ever]

Bungo Stray Dogs Anime Stellar Radio Interview - 09/26/2023

Sharing some points from the Anime Stellar Radio Interview with Kadokawa Producer Kurakane Chiaki.

"Asagiri supervises everything."

Kurakane shares that sensei always comes to the anime script meetings and has never missed any, despite his busy schedule.

How Kadokawa met BSD

Kurakane's first encounter with BSD was when she saw it on the cover of Young Ace. The person next to her in the office brought the magazine and she just happened to see it. She was amazed and drawn to Harukawa's character design- its beauty and originality captivated her.

About the Character Design

In BSD, the "silhoutte" of a character is very important and distinctive- even if the drawing is just all black you can tell who the character is. When they selected the main illustrator for the anime, they had animators from Bones submit their pieces anonymously. The one whose silhoutte resembled Harukawa's the most turned out to be Nobuhiro Arai (current Character Designer and Chief Animation Director).

On Atsushi as a Character

The appeal of Atsushi as a character can be seen right from the first scene. Despite thinking that he would have to steal in order to live, upon seeing someone "drowning" in the river, he still chose to save them. He could not go against his good-natured heart and character.

Dazai's Treatment to Atsushi and Akutagawa

Regarding the difference in the treatment of Dazai to Atsushi and Akutagawa, Kurakane thinks that Dazai acts like that because he believes that that is the most effective and appropriate way for each of them. Well we don't really know what Dazai is thinking, and we may not agree with his ways especially with Akutagawa, but in the end it does make Akutagawa hold on to his life (despite having an illness) and strive to become stronger. Dazai may be seeing a bigger picture than all of us and probably in his own way, acting with the words of his late friend in mind.

BSD in Real Life

One of the most memorable characters for Kurakane is Shibusawa Tatsuhiko because they got to meet and even eat together with the real literary master's wife. She also mentions that in BSD collabs with literary museums, they also sometimes meet the relatives of other literary masters.

BSD: A Ten-year Project

The anime started around 7.5 years ago, but for them in the anime production team it actually started 9 years ago. Back then, Kurakane was asked by the company's higher-ups to create something that could continue on for 10 years.

With the main anime series, movies, stage plays, games, Wan! anime, collabs, etc. here and there, Kurakane felt like she's been running for 24h for 365 days, so in all honesty, now that the 5th season is finished, she just wants to sleep well and… play with her cat at home.

Kurakane is also one of the people behind the official Twitter account. She recalls that sometimes when she tweets something late at night (while not checking the time), some fans would leave comments worrying about the staff working too much.

Lily

Kurakane shares that of all the songs in BSD, "Lily" holds a special place in her heart because she remembers Kubodera Akira- Mori's first stage actor who died in suspected suicide- saying that he likes the song a lot.

About 「未了」 (Unfinished)

In "A Perfect Murder and Murderer", the last word on the manuscript of Yokomizo- a writer- which was wet with Mushitaro's tear, is 「了」, which means "finished". To give the BSD anime a more literary feel and tone, they chose to have the 「了」.

In a similar note, while the previous BSD stage plays always ended with 「閉幕」 ("end of play" or literally "closing of curtain"), the last play: Cannibalism used the word 「了」 instead, signifying that the BSD Stage Play, as a whole piece, is "finished".

What BSD Is

Kurakane shares that BSD screenwriter Enokido Yoji once said that if a story of how one becomes successful is what a Shonen manga is, then depicting the journey of a defeated person searching for their place in this world is what Literature is.

Those words really stuck with Kurakane like a guiding principle, and so no matter what media form they create BSD in, they strive to remain faithful to its root.

BSD is relatable, as it properly shows those troubles that anyone of us may be experiencing in our lives. This theme of "struggling"- which in itself is "living"- is what they strive to keep at the heart of BSD.

Future Plans

For now Kurakane can't really say anything about the future of the anime, but as they take a rest she hopes they come up with something good for BSD, in whatever form that may be. The only clear plans that they have right now are the Gakuen game, the expo, and some collabs with museums.

BSD Media Timeline

Asagiri-sensei, Harukawa-sensei, and all the staff of BSD have done so much for us for the past decade. We really should appreciate their hard work more! Please support the official accounts and releases as much as possible!

I’m no longer active on tumblr nowadays, so you may follow me on twitter instead @harukaja15

My translations on tumblr are compiled under the tag #bsd translation and #my works

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (10/1/2024) Episode: Can't Catch A Break

The households' troubles didn’t end with Luigi’s visit to the hospital.

The feeling in his hand took it’s time returning, just like his slow recovery from Bloaty Head. As much as he hated it, he followed his doctors' orders to stay away from the keyboard. To stay relevant, he made more public streams with Yoshi and again took on the role of mentor and strategist at work.

Noemi encouraged him to setup an appointment with the surgeon, but he told her he wanted to “give it a little more time”. In truth he was terrified of a botched operation that would ruin his hand for good, but he kept that to himself, hopeful the problem would eventually fix itself like before.

Luigi’s partially numb appendage made everything harder, but didn’t keep him from resuming primary care for Skye the same way his illness had.

Noemi had hoped to buckle down and put in some serious work on Project Daisy now that her husband was back in business. Instead, she ended up with Bloaty Head herself, leaving her in no condition to do the sort of advanced programming work Luigi’s life simulation game required.

Rainy Day had arranged for a big promotional event for the game at Geekcon on Winterfest Eve. Luigi had planned to unveil more details and a release date, but their health issues had put the project behind. Talking it over with Noemi they agreed that they could demo beta gameplay for convention goers but were no longer confident they could actually release the game to consumers before the New Year.

With a heavy heart Luigi scheduled a meeting with Patricia to let her know they needed to push back the launch date. She wasn’t happy, but she'd been expecting this. “I know about your medical issues and appreciate the heads up. Please prep a final release schedule to announce at the Con.”

Luigi promised that they’d keep her informed and would manage the Geekcon event carefully, thanking her for her understanding as he left.

Luigi’s great meeting had him feeling on top of the world, until he got home and found Noemi clearly distraught, surrounded by partially open mail.

He came over to see what the issue was, and she handed him a paper. “This is insane, but it seems they’re serious.”

He scanned the document and the number at the bottom jumped out at him: “$43 THOUSAND Simoleans in back taxes…!? That’s gotta be a mistake.”

It was not a mistake. When he finally got through to someone at the treasurer's office, he learned that the property had a sizeable assessment on it from some tax shenanigans the previous owners had pulled. As current owners of the property, it now fell to Luigi and Noemi to bring it up to date.

He tried to argue that this hadn’t been clear on the paperwork they signed at closing, but the clerk said that this was not something that could be changed without a court order. He stomped around his bedroom for a bit before calming down and coming to find Noemi.

She’d stayed online researching while he’d been changing his mood (and outfit). It looked like the issue was expensive to challenge, and their best outcome would require surrendering the property. They both agreed that they would rather figure out how to pay the bill instead.

While Skye danced nearby, blissfully unaware of the trouble, Noemi and Luigi brainstormed ways to come up with the necessary simoleons.

It demolished their healthy bank balance and forced them to sell Noemi’s new computer, Luigi’s virtual gaming mat, and a few other household items, but they managed to scrape together enough to pay the bill with a bit leftover.

That night Luigi had a terrifying nightmare about losing everything, waking up early drenched in sweat and unable to get back to sleep.

Noemi woke up alone and found her husband fretting on the living room couch. As she sat down next to him, he said “I know I just told Patricia we were going to push back the launch date of the game, but we really need those royalties. I think we have to stick to the original release date.”

“Neither of us are in any condition to do that kind of programming work right now!” Noemi protested, but she could tell he had made up his mind.

“Bloaty Head usually doesn’t last long, and my hand is improving every day” he countered. “I’m sure we’ll be in good shape after the holiday.”

Noemi frowned “If you tell the public we’re launching before the New Year and it doesn’t happen…”

“If I tell the public we’re launching before the New Year” he promised her “then we’ll launch before the New Year.” No matter what it takes… he finished silently, kissing her softly and snuggling her close as he resolved to turn his earnest intentions into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I think this happened because I didn't realize the Free Real Estate cheat was affecting build mode all the time, automatically. I thought my renovations to the house were suspiciously cheap! Not sure why it showed up in the 2nd round of bills vs the 1st however.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[missproducergirl]

Summer’s Covenant Date [CN Translation]

word count: 3,103

requested by: @sj224

notes: This translation was done with Google Translate. 9 time out of 10 it spews none sense so I had to take my best guess on a lot. Take everything with a grain of salt!! Special thanks to the best person in the world, @hopelesstotstan for proofreading!

[Part 1]

MC: Uh… So sleepy…

I opened my eyes with difficulty and used the person next to me to straighten up with one hand.

Even when I was on vacation with Victor, the long flight still made me unconsciously fall into a deep sleep.

Victor: Finally got enough sleep?

MC: Hehe, it’s so comfortable to sleep next to you… now what time is it?

I rubbed my eyes and looked at the laptop on Victor’s lap, wanting to glance at the time.

There seemed to be a file full of pictures and text on the screen. But before I could see it clearly, Victor closed the computer and reached out to open the window shutters.

Victor: See for yourself.

MC: What… Wow!

A bright golden streak of sunlight at the end of the cloud breaks into sight, and the quiet sunrise is extremely beautiful.

I woke up completely, picked up my phone to take pictures, and glanced at Victor.

MC: Speaking of which, why did you suddenly take me out on vacation?

MC: Could it be my reward for doing well recently?

Victor: Wasn’t someone talking about the end of summer?

Victor: Just this time, I’ll give you a chance to do it all over again.

I blinked and recalled the “encounter” when I said this sentence before—

While going out on location to film under the hot sun, three colleagues suffered from heatstroke one after another. Two colleagues fell ill at the same time, and a machine fell out of order.

Almost all of the late summer was devoted to work, and it was not until the breath of autumn turned the leaves gold that this busy time finally came to an end.

The leisurely activities and travel plans originally written in the summer plan were all wasted.

One day when I came home disheartened, I saw Victor packing a suitcase that I hadn’t packed for a while and suddenly felt wronged.

I couldn’t help shouting “I don’t like summer anymore”, and just stood there crying…

Now thinking of Victor’s surprised gaze at that time, I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.

MC: All those angry words… how do you remember…

Victor: After all, some people kept whining until winter, and it’s hard not to remember.

Victor: What’s more, with such a clear and feasible demand, there is no reason not to make it come true.

As if sensing my embarrassment, Victor raised his hand and rubbed my hair. I couldn’t help raising my smiling face, pretending to hold his hand solemnly.

MC: CEO Victor!

MC: Don’t worry, I will try my best to cover all the unhappiness from before!

[Part 2]

Sunglasses, skirts, fresh fragrance—

I took one last look in the mirror and patted my cheek with satisfaction.

Enjoying summer, of course, starts with dressing up beautifully. It would be even better if you can also fascinate the calm Mr. Li!

I adjusted my expression, opened the door of my room, and prepared to make my debut.

MC: Victor, I—

Victor: Ready?

The voice that sounded at the same time made me stunned for a moment, and before I had the time to feel sorry for my failed appearance, my attention was attracted by the person next to the sofa.

Victor seemed to have been waiting for a while, the computer at hand was still on, and he closed the screen when he saw me come out.

He rarely wore a fancy resort-style shirt, perhaps because he was used to his usual minimalist style. The colorful patterns looked particularly bright on him.

Although it has been a long time, I still recognized at a glance that it was the shirt I bought him.

I still remember his slightly helpless expression when he first received it, but I didn’t expect that I would really see the day he puts it on!

I hopped to his side, pulled his arm, and looked at him left and right.

MC: This shirt suits you very well!

Victor: I can’t think of another person with this peculiar taste.

MC: Isn’t that because there are people who can pull off these kinds of “outlandish clothes”~

MC: I haven’t seen you wearing it, I thought you didn’t like it.

Victor: I just didn’t find a chance to wear it.

I met his calm gaze and couldn’t help raising my eyebrows at him.

MC: I understand! What Mr. Li means is that we should go to the beach a few more times in the future!

MC: You can rest assured that I am here to ensure that your floral shirts can maximize their value.

Victor: Idiot. Is that the point?

Victor: Let’s have enough sun this time before talking about the future, so as not to leave any regrets.

MC: Mr. Li is right. It shouldn’t be too late, let’s go out now!

I took his arm and was about to go out, but Victor hesitated for a moment, turned around, and took a big backpack.

I watched him put the computer in, and then he took the items from my hand.

Victor: Put your things in here first. Some people will definitely lose them after running around.

MC: Some people don’t forget to complain about others even if they are kind enough to help…

I muttered while helping him organize his backpack, and took a second look at the computer that was inseparable from him.

MC: Victor, do you still have unfinished work?

Victor: Still a little bit. It will be taken care of soon.

It has been a long time since we got off the plane. Judging from his usual efficiency, this must be a lot of work.

Could it be that he decided to accompany me on vacation temporarily before work can be scheduled?

A trace of guilt rose from the bottom of my heart. I hugged him lightly and glanced at the clock beside me.

MC: Don’t worry. Work is important.

MC: It’s still early. How about I go around by myself first, and you can finish your work at ease and then meet up? How does that sound?

Victor hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Victor: Okay. Don’t go too far, and keep in touch.

MC: No problem!

[Part 3]

I thought Victor would stay in the room to deal with work, but I didn’t expect him to come to the beach with me.

I was collecting shells by the sea, and he continued to work in a hammock not far from the shore.

[Flashback]

MC: Are you going to work here?

Victor: What is the problem?

MC: It doesn’t suit your style to work in such a noisy place.

MC: Could it be…

I paused on purpose, leaned closer to him, and blinked.

MC: Am I so good-looking today that someone can’t take their eyes off me?

Faced with my teasing, Victor just smiled lightly without averting his gaze.

Victor: I’m just afraid that some dummy will get lost and I will have to find someone else.

[Flashback ends]

Recalling the conversation just now, I puffed up my mouth somewhat unconvinced.

There is just a coastline here, where can I get lost?

I turned my head, and I could see the slightly fancy shirt under the tree from a distance.

The person leaning on the hammock didn’t seem to notice me, so I took the opportunity to make a face, only to meet Victor’s gaze in the next second.

MC: !

Victor: ?

Even from a distance, being stared at by him like this made me a little guilty, and I hurriedly gestured to him and mouthed a sentence.

MC: “Concentrate!”

I don’t know if he understood it, but I saw him faintly smile and then turned his eyes back to the computer.

I breathed a sigh of relief and was about to continue my walk when suddenly a group of boys who looked like middle school students ran past me.

They wore uniform jerseys with the words “Youth Training” printed on the back. The leading boy proficiently took the soccer ball under his feet and called out to his friends behind him.

Boy: Come on! There’s no one here!

They ran towards a nearby net, appearing to be playing beach soccer.

Seeing that this place is going to become more lively, working in this environment will be difficult for even Victor, right?

MC: I’ll ask him if he wants to change places.

I put away the shells I picked up along the way, and quietly approached Victor, bypassing the children playing soccer.

However, when I saw the familiar figure clearly, I soon realized that my worry was unnecessary.

Victor was half leaning in the hammock, wearing earphones, as if he was talking to someone.

Not knowing if he encountered a difficult problem, he scratched his hair unconsciously, revealing a trace of entanglement in his serious expression.

Victor: Is there anything else I need to do that day?

Victor: …Okay, let’s adjust it like this.

A low voice faintly floated into my ears. The sea breeze was blowing gently, and the sun fell on him through the shade of the trees, but it didn’t disturb him at all.

Although it was inappropriate, my eyes were still firmly attracted by the person in front of me.

His fluffy hair brushed against his fingers, and the light shirt hugged his waist tightly with the sea breeze.

I unconsciously slowed down, wanting to peek a little longer.

I’ve seen him at work a lot, but it doesn’t seem to be common to see him on vacation.

With the noise around, he leaned on a soft and comfortable hammock, and still stared at the computer so intently…

I couldn’t help but speculate about what kind of work and what kind of clients would be able to disturb Mr. Li who was on vacation.

??: Hey—watch out!

Before I could think about it, there was a call from behind, and I suddenly felt something lightly hit my ankle.

I looked down and there was a soccer ball at my feet. I looked over to the school boys and they were waving at me to kick the ball back.

MC: It’s a little far away…

I was a little embarrassed looking at the shoes on my feet. I subconsciously looked at Victor, and my brain suddenly had an idea.

I don’t know if he still plays soccer now. If the ball is passed to him, how will he react?

I cleared my throat, trying to get his attention.

MC: Victor!

Seeing him looking up, I lightly kicked the ball to him and pointed to the children not far away.

MC: They accidentally kicked the ball away, can you help pass it back?

Victor: I can.

Victor didn’t seem to notice my thoughts. He put down the computer and turned over, naturally aiming in the direction of the goal.

Then he took a step back, raised his leg, and kicked hard—

The ball drew a perfect arc in the air and flew towards the goal.

Seeing this, the boys started running. One of them ran to the goal, jumped high, and kicked the ball. It went straight into the goal!

Boy: Nice shot!

MC: Wow! Goal!!

The schoolboys cheered and hugged each other, and I also cheered and rushed toward Victor.

Victor: Be careful!

MC: That’s amazing! As expected of Older Brother Vic who kicked down my sandcastle!

Victor: …Are you praising someone?

MC: Hey, have you been playing soccer since then? Why haven’t I seen it?

Victor: I don’t…

MC: Oops I should have filmed it! Can you kick it again later?

Victor: …

I wanted to say something more, but Victor swept me off my feet and put me in the hammock.

Victor: Why are you so excited?

MC: I didn’t expect to see you play soccer. I feel very pleasantly surprised.

Victor: Even if it is a surprise, it is too easy for you to be satisfied.

MC: Because it’s all about you. Wearing the clothes I chose and doing things I’ve never seen before is a surprise to me.

MC: How about it? Isn’t this very touching?

I cupped Victor’s cheek and pinched it, but he didn’t hide, just left a chuckle in my palm.

Victor: Is there anything more I can want?

MC: Hmm… not for now.

Victor: Okay, then I will answer you one by one.

Victor: I started playing less soccer after breaking your sandcastle, less after working.

Victor: So that kick just now was pure luck, there is no second time.

MC: But…

Before I could finish speaking, Victor leaned over and turned off the computer. He then flipped through the shells in my hands with his fingers.

Victor: Our reservation for the water sports that you wanted to play is soon. Let’s go there together.

MC: Are you done with your work?

Victor: Yes, it’s taken care of.

Victor: Let’s go. Show me what treasures you picked up along the way.

[Part 4]

The short vacation passed quickly, and it was already our last night in a blink of an eye.

After dinner, Victor and I walked along the beach. Today’s weather is exceptionally nice, the night sky is clear, and the broken stars reflect in the sparkling sea.

A perfect vacation in every sense, even the ending. Looking at the scenery in front of me, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Victor: What’s wrong?

MC: I was thinking, this summer is really coming to an end, and there is no chance for me to regret it.

Victor: It seems that it is nosy to make up for your regrets.

MC: Not at all!

MC: It’s rare that Mr. Li is so proactive in cooperating with my sense of ritual, but I’m not moved yet.

I shook his arm fawningly. Victor chuckled lightly and held my hand.

Victor: Tell me, what kind of ceremony did you originally envision?

MC: Actually, it is almost the same as now. Enjoying the warm sunshine and cold drinks, and stepping into the water with your favorite people.

MC: After a leisurely day, it would be even better if you can watch the fireworks at the beach.

Victor: Fireworks?

Victor showed a thoughtful expression, and I waved my hands hastily.

MC: I just said it casually, just to make a deep impression.

Victor: However, it is indeed a good arrangement.

The person next to me seemed to smile a little, and I was about to ask more when I caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar scene out of the corner of my eye.

It was an area enclosed by a small fence and the small gate was ajar, which looked a bit strange on the flat beach.

MC: What is this? I haven’t seen it before while walking around.

Victor: Go and have a look.

I followed Victor and approached. I looked at Victor from outside the fence, but I stretched out my hand and pushed the door open.

There is nothing special in the enclosed area, except for a few rows of black shadows with small red lights on the ground.

MC: This is…

I felt that these black shadows look familiar, but the sky is too dark, and I can’t see clearly.

Just as I was about to get closer to confirm, the “black shadow” suddenly took off.

A slight hum lingered in my ears, and I instantly recognized it as a drone.

MC: Why are there drones here?

I looked around subconsciously but saw no one nearby. I vaguely had some guesses in my heart. I turned my head and glanced at Victor.

MC: Could it be…

Victor: Look up first.

He didn’t return my gaze, just squeezed my hand. I tried my best to suppress my curiosity and looked up at the sky with him.

The drones slowly arranged a pattern in the air, and I took a closer look. It was a small Shiba Inu.

MC: Hahaha, this looks like the doll I gave you.

Victor: Not too stupid.

MC: The next pattern… is pudding!

MC: Wait, aren’t these patterns all my favorite things?

Victor: You can guess.

MC: Then I guess the next one is Mr. Li’s red wine!

I opened my eyes expectantly and looked at the sky, only to be greeted by a camel.

Victor: Unfortunately, alcohol was not approved.

MC: Watching the drone show without getting drunk…

I muttered softly, subconsciously wrapping my arms around Victor.

The patterns in the sky are all related to me without exception. Kittens, bowknot hairpins, lipstick…

The memories of spending the summer together are brought back again and again, and those bright days spread a happy background in my memory, making the corners of my mouth uncontrollably curl up.

Looking at those colorful patterns, I gently tickled his palm.

MC: When was this prepared? The pattern is quite cute, not like Mr. Li’s style.

Victor: If it is not cute enough, I am worried that dummies will not appreciate it, so I adjusted it many times.

MC: I won’t… huh?

I was about to refute when I realized something.

MC: You have been staring at the computer busy with work before, so you are not talking about this, are you?

Victor smiled and squeezed my hand.

Victor: Let’s watch it first.

After all the patterns were spelled out, the drone flickered like a star for a moment, then moved slowly again.

I carefully watched and read out word by word—

MC: [In English] “See you next year”...

MC: Is this a message from summer?

Victor: It can be understood in this way.

Victor: Unpleasant things will always pass, and the life you look forward to will come again.

Victor: So there is nothing to regret. Instead of struggling for so long, you should just tell me what you want.

MC: But even if I didn’t say anything, you have it all considered.

MC: There are even plenty of surprises!

I pointed to the sky and tugged on his shirt again.

MC: Maybe you have a better understanding of me than I do.

Victor: Fool. Willing to bid farewell to summer this time?

I nodded vigorously, then shook my head again.

MC: It is true that I can let it go willingly now, but I will still look forward to the next summer!

The hovering drones landed back on the ground and parked neatly beside us.

Victor looked down at me, his deep voice overwhelmed the waves and reached the bottom of my heart.

Victor: That’s good. After all next time when summer comes…

Victor: I don’t want to be the only one looking forward to it.

You can find the call that comes after the date here.

[eldritchsurveys]

1217.

by joybucket

1. What is the hardest part of your life right now, and what is the easiest? >> The hardest part is a tossup. The more practical concern is being consistently financially insecure but in that weird working-class way as opposed to just being straight-up destitute like I'm used to being. It's weird to me because when a person in your household works between 35 and 40 hours a week for what seems like a decent wage, you'd think you'd be able to live off that. At least when I was destitute, I just... didn't have money. It's a very straightforward state of existence, even if it sucks major ass. And frankly, I still don't have money, I am still destitute, I'm just married now so their income is also my income in that strange way that legally-sanctioned relationships work. I don't know. Money is just such a fucking weird concept to me, no matter how you slice it. The point is, they -- we, whatever -- technically do not make enough money for us to support our current expenses on, but we have no choice but to limp along for now and hope nothing goes any wronger.

The other hardest part is my mental and emotional health and how relational trauma affects that every single day of my life. I know I need support, I know social isolation is killing me, but there's nothing to be done for it. It's entirely inaccessible to me. I am at a loss for how to get my needs met, so they just... fester inside me. My self-development has progressed but it is now arrested. What other people have broken in me requires the intervention of other people to be healed. That's just the way it is.

The easiest parts of my life are.... hmm. Well, again, I'm not destitute. I'm housed. Insecurely, but housed. That's still way more than I'd had for my entire adult life before now. *reads the next question* Oh, and my body is relatively healthy. That's nothing to scoff at.

2. If you are struggling with chronic illness right now, what are five of your worst symptoms? .

3. What is your favorite social media platform at the moment? >> Tumblr. Although the "social" aspect is a little lacking in my corner of the site, for some reason. I must be the only person who thinks I'm fun to talk to. :p 4. Do you have trouble forgiving people who hurt you? >> I don't have trouble with it. I have zero interest in forgiving people for hurting me. What for? What I want to do is find a way to live with the wounds they caused, to treat them like injuries that will always flare up when the [emotional] weather is inclement, to care for myself during those flare-ups, to not let anyone else reopen those wounds but to also figure out how to find and let in the people who would respect and honour the existence of those wounds. That's a lot to do, I don't have time or energy for some nebulous "forgiveness" business.

5. What do you do when you really want a certain person to care about you, but they just don't? >> Accepting that most people simply cannot love me the way I most want to be loved -- and that is not a fault of theirs or mine -- is a struggle, but I'm working on it. I'm getting a lot of practice in that area, after all. Also, I'm pretty sure I can't love most people in the way they most want to be loved, either. Or at all, lmao. Kind of handicapped in that department, frankly, but hope springs eternal or some shit.

6. Are you living your life to the fullest right now? >> I am living my life. Period. I'm not making some kind of fucking contest out of it, I'm just trying to suffer a little less.

7. What was the last thing you did that you regret? >> Uh... hm. I don't remember. 8. What is the best part of your life right now? >> This feels similar enough to the first question that I don't have a different answer.

9.....and what is the worst ? >> ^

10. What is something that is hard for most people but is easy for you? >> I know a lot of people struggle with, like, asserting themselves or going against the grain, that sort of thing, and that's never really been a challenge for me. I'm just kind of hardheaded that way, I'm gonna do what I want to do and there's no other option.

11. What is something that is easy for most people but is hard for you? >> Like, everything else, lmao. You name it, I've probably struggled with it.

12. What is your favorite color, and do you own a lot of things in that color? >> Yellow. I don't.

13. If you have a chronic illness, what are three things you used to enjoy doing that your illness prevents you from doing now? .

14. How has your heart been lately? >> I don't know, I always think it's struggling but that might just be anxiety. I've never had heart problems before, but the possibility of developing them increases with every passing birthday, so...

15. List three things you have survived. >> Chronic homelessness, years of familial abuse, the Person of Interest finale but BARELY. Man, that shit hurted.

16. What song would you say describes your life at the moment? >> I wouldn't say any song describes my life at the moment. 17....and why is that? >> Because life is a complex and multifaceted thing and any given song is essentially focused on one element of experience, not many. If I was going to describe my life with music, I'd have to make a playlist.

18. Do you spend more time on Facebook or Instagram? >> I don't spend any time on Instagram, at all, but I do check Facebook every morning. It usually takes me, like, 20 seconds. Ain't shit on there.

19. If you could say anything to anyone right now, what would it be? .

20. When was the last time you had someone pray with you? .

21. What is something that has recently made you laugh out loud? >> I can't think of anything right now.

22. List five of your favorite female singers. >> Floor Jansen (After Forever), Mlny Parsons (Royal Thunder), Skin (Skunk Anansie), Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), I... don't think I have a fifth. There are plenty of other female singers I listen to and enjoy, but their vocals don't hit me the same way the aforementioned do. 23. What flavor was the last popsicle you ate? >> Red. I don't know what the actual flavour is supposed to be, cherry or something I guess.

24. When was the last time you got ice cream from an ice cream truck? >> I have never done this.

25. Do you celebrate the 4th of July, and if so, how did you celebrate it this year? >> Oh, you mean Sensory Overload Hell Weekend? Absolutely fucking not. Also, you think I care about celebrating this shit ass country? I have to live here, that's bad enough, you can't make me pretend to like it too. 26. Who was the last of your friends to have a baby? .

27. What are five of your favorite baby girl names your friends have used? .

28. What are five of your favorite baby boy names your friends have used? >> I'm bemused by the implication that I have enough friends with children to have ten different answers for these questions.

29. Have you ever been pregnant? >> Briefly. Very briefly.

30. Do you currently care about someone who cares nothing for you? >> I don't think this is even possible for me to experience. Thank god. I have enough problems in this department.

31. What color was the last pair of flip-flops you wore? .

32. Are you happy at the moment? Why or why not? >> I mean, sure. Why not.

33. Are you happy with your life overall at the present time? Why or why not? >> Eh.

34. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? >> Well, there'd be way more money. Also, maybe some social connections.

35.....and what is one thing about your life you hope will never change? >> I hope the Configuration never stops existing -- or, rather, I hope that my/our connection to it is never severed.

[wozadogtor]

STORY TIME

So, context, i work in boarding kennels, we look after peoples dogs when theyre on holiday/renovating/etc and such. Couple weeks ago i get this call from a very, very European accented woman who wants to board ten (10!) dogs in our kennels and needs it urgently, however this is a holiday period and i genuinely just cant do that. You know? Talk about it with my boss and theyre like. No. However this lady doesnt let up, shes calling us all god damn week until eventually my boss caves and tells me theyre figuring out a quote that will hopefully scare them off because, ten dogs, thats not gonna be cheap.

I tell them in that call ill call back at 12pm to give them a quote.

TEN MINUTES LATER, I get another call, this time from the local council who are trying to confirm im picking the dogs up at 12pm. And im like, fuck, fuck, this is a council job now, we aren't really in a position to be saying no to the council, need to like, suck up to them bigly if we want some upcoming things approved. You know how it is. Minor thing, the council lady insisted i confirm I wont sell the dogs (red flag) which is weird, but sure. So i quickly call my boss and inform them, we agree "fuck it 100/day 10 per dog" which is about break even for us, i call them back with that quote, arrange to pick the dogs up at 12pm. Now, i was just gonna go down in my car, since she had said they're puppies and I'm thinking, "alright her dogs had a litter and she doesn't know what to do about it, should be easy enough". But the evil spider that lives in my brain tips me off that you need help and backup and explicitly you need to bring a woman because you are so big+scary. So, i call my sister whos more than happy to do this for a 20. She brings her bf, and we go get the dogs.

The address they give us is a public beach. Red flag number 4 or something at this point. But we get there and these dogs are in fact puppies. 4 month old puppies. They're all fairly well grown kelpies (sheepdog). I am THANKING my lucky stars i brought backup, because these dogs are just, running around the place unrestrained on the beach. It takes us a good ten to fifteen minutes to wrangle the little bastards into the car and my help is playing wackamole in the back of my station wagon to keep them from jumping into the front and doing puppy things to my gearbox. The owners are living out a van and just, letting the dogs loose i guess. It's a short drive, easy enough, but we get her to sign the forms and that's that. We have the 9 puppies and their mom now. I told them their cutoff is the 28th of october and they agree. NONE of these dogs are vaccinated btw so we have to do isolation protocols on them.

NEXT DAY, she turns up. Wants to walk her dogs. Off leash, on the road. We pretty bluntly tell her no, and she's like. "but you said i could visit" and it's like. Yeah, i did say you could visit, not fucking kill them on a main road. So, while our backs are turned because as i said, holiday period being busy, there was another client there. She just, walks into the kennels, lets them out. Fucking, chaos. I can't have these UNVACCINATED dogs running around getting close and personal with the other clients dogs, so we shuffle her and the dogs into a little side alley we have and tell her to stay put. She can't really get anywhere from there anyway. We deal with our other clients, come back, and since its feeding time we thought we'd get the puppies back into their pens via food bribe. She wants to do it, and insists on feeding other dogs/doing the dishes. And its like. Lady, do you jump over the counter and make your own sandwich at the cafe. What the fuck ARE you DOING. We sort this out, an understanding of sorts, that she can't just do-that. So she turns up the next day and does it again.

At this point, I'm exasperated. I don't WANT to call the cops because fuck that and + also they'd deport her. So i work out that she can come during closing hours and walk her dogs, on the property, in the carpark/driveway, and i'll close the gate to the property so there's no danger. I also point out the dogs cannot go into the nearby grassy paddocks because it is a) lambing season, there's lambs, puppy dogs stupid and will hurt them or get hurt by the angry mother sheep. b) snake season, its been unseasonably warm and they're out there. Not likely, but if you find one you're down at least one dog. And c) Private property, fuck off. So, she turns up twenty minutes before we close and demands to do it there and then. I make her wait, so i go close the gate up front and let her have her dogs to play, give them a few toys/balls etc. Come back from locking the front gate and they're in the paddock. Fuck my entire life. Thankfully I had forseen this and moved the sheep prior (lol) but snakes are still a concern. It's, fine. It's fine. Nothing happens. But now i have to like, legitimately ban her from the premesis. She whines, but understands that she's fucked up.

Anyway, next few days go smooth. She doesn't come by again. Dogs behave quite well when shes not around even. It's going well. A couple of the skinnier dogs even start gaining weight (red flag). I get another call from the council. This one is more uh, serious. It's just the ranger, not the cops, dog cop if you will, so I know this guy and am fine working with him. But apparently the people who own this dog are in some deep DEEP shit. The lady i've been talking to isn't the owner, but a friend of theirs. And apparently, the actual owner has been caught in Melbourne and is in the process of being deported for visa fraud charges. She has been bouncing between two different council areas for the better part of the year by now with alllll the dogs in tow for the latter part of it, to avoid getting caught. But she was so delinquent* in one of these council areas that she got her ass BANISHED from it, and suddenly she dumped the dogs on her friend and fled. And has just been caught. The council is very interested in where they're taking the dogs when she picks them up. We give them the date and time they're picking them up. They'll be there to offer a hand moving them to the property and gently tell them that if they don't surrender them there will be legal concequences. You know, trying not the fuck these people over with a 10k+ fine.

*breaking rental leases by subletting to 5-6 people (plus 10 dogs) in studio apartments zoned for 1-2 people. 10 or so times. Some of them informal charity agreements where she told them they were facing homlessness (more on this later) and needed somewhere to stay and please help etc etc.

Day of pickup comes, we've been doing some private digging ourselves. They've been going around on facebook community groups begging for a place to stay with their ten dogs. Surprising i know. Someones agreed to do it on their suburban lot, which, super illegal to have that many dogs on a property like that. Rangers are aware. So they get here, and aren't going straight to the property, they're going to the vet first. To get microchipped, not vaccinated. The rangers ask the obvious question, why no vax. Quote; "they're healthy dogs they don't need it". Rangers raise an eyebrow at this but go along with it assuming the vet will just vaccinate them anyway given how obvious it is they're being surrendered. They come into our office to pay the bill, happily do so, very thankful we took them in, etc. Pay on one of those platinum cards they only give incredibly rich people. Hello. What the fuck. Why do you have one of THOSE. Turns out, French nationals who have very rich parents and basically have no concept of repsonsibility or concequences. They want to keep the dogs because they think they can sell them to a farm for big bucks. They can't, these are untrained and they have no papers, basically any sheep station will laugh at them if they try.

So, after this, it's officially not our problem. But my boss is nosy and wants to be kept in the loop. We find out from the rangers that the vet visit didn't exactly go as planned. As the vet, believing their story about being nearly homeless and needing help soso bad, tells them quote; "If the council could sieze the dogs they already would have, you're safe". You. Fucking. Moron. So armed with this knowledge they go back to this suburban residential property, the rangers tail them an hour or two later and report them for having ten dogs on a property. Which, duh! Like, you can't do that. We can, but we live on a 4 acre lot. This is a tiny little surfies shack in a residential neighborhood. The owner of the property who very generously helped them out with their situation was the one that copped the 10k fine. The French nationals surrendered the dogs and have since vanished. The dogs have been vaccinated, desexed, etc. And as of writing half have been rehomed. Very in demand, kelpie puppies.

The end. The moral of the story is never work in this industry.

[letsrilakkusu-blog]

An ode to Given

A few days ago the internet collectively freaked out - myself included - when it was announced that the next chapter of Given would be the final chapter, ending its 10-year run. I'm honestly still in shock and while I'm trying to stay optimistic that maybe the big announcement that's coming with the final chapter will involve some kind of sequel, a second season of the anime seems more likely. It's difficult coming to terms with the fact that I may have to say goodbye to a series that I love so much, and with an ending that I most likely will not find satisfying. Regardless, Given has taken up a huge space in my heart for the past two years and I just wanted to write about how I found it, my experience with it, and what it means to me.

I've enjoyed manga and anime ever since I was in middle school, but toward the end of college I got too busy to keep up. Fast forward to years later in 2020, I was stuck at home during the pandemic and decided to dive back in. After rewatching a BL anime that I really liked in high school, Given came up as a suggested series. A quick Google search told me that it was a great romance story between boys in a band, cool.

The first episode starts with Mafuyu's melancholy monologue about the dream he keeps on having and I see right off the bat that I've signed up for a bit more than a cute love story with music. Then the opening song Kizuato hits and I'm totally captivated. It's probably one of my favorite opening sequences and truly captures the feel of the series with its hard-hitting instrumentals, Cenmilli's emotional vocals, and the moody art.

The series pace is on the slower side but there was enough drama and intrigue to keep pulling me in, and it's full of comedic gold. And then... episode 9, A Winter Story. It shook me to my core, everything about it was absolutely amazing. Ue's talk with Mafuyu before the show where he admits that even he doesn't know what he is doing or how to express himself, all he knows is that he loves Mafuyu's sound. The song itself, interspersed with flashbacks of Mafuyu and Yuki's relationship and Mafuyu's monologue (his "I'm lonely" is truly devastating, major props to Yano Shogo). THE KISS. A genuine surprise, so quick and so gentle from inexperienced Ue. I had to watch the episode twice because it left me in complete awe and I needed to experience it again. Then episodes 10-11 were the perfect wind-down with a lot of cute and legendary moments, aka Ue experiencing increasing levels of gay panic. The series became an instant favorite and I rewatched it immediately. I can't find the words to properly express what it did to me but it just made me feel so many things, things I don't think I've felt for a long time. I couldn't shake it.

After that, I was still hungry for more Given so I read the manga, which is a totally different and wonderful experience. The art is beautiful, and the way Kizu-sensei portrays emotions through the characters' facial expressions is unparalleled. Soon after that, the movie came to Crunchyroll, and I've been keeping up with the series in every form since. I read the chapters as they come out bi-monthly. I watched the drama adaptation (not great but not the worst I've seen). I watched the OVA many times (my favorite, all the precious RitsuMafu moments I was missing from the movie). I splurged on a second-hand DVD set of the stage play (really well done). I even watched the anime dub (tolerable), and I hate dubs. Rereading and rewatching the series are routine. Safe to say, it's consumed me for two years and the flame has not died down one bit.

Lots of fans joke about referring to Given as our comfort series when it actually hits on a lot of heavy topics and has eviscerated our emotions on more than one occasion. But it truly is my comfort place. Just as I had finished watching the anime for the first time, I lost a very close friend to illness. This friend was a fellow anime/manga enthusiast and was probably the one who introduced me to the world of BL. Although she didn't watch Given, I like to think that it could have been something we would have enjoyed together if we had the time. And although the circumstances are different, I could relate to Mafuyu prematurely losing an important person in his life. Because the story is equal parts pain and healing, Given kind of provided me with a space where I could dump all of the emotions I was experiencing, whether they were happy or sad. It taught me about loss, grief, and above all, the way music and love can heal the wounds that these things have left behind.

I also have to speak separately about the music of Given, it's just so well done, with so much care and attention to detail. You can tell that Cenmilli worked closely with Kizu-sensei or really dived into the source material when working on the music. Every song created for the series relates very clearly to an event or element of the story. I could write praises upon praises for all of them, but some of my favorites include:

Fuyu no Hanashi, for obvious reasons. Yano Shogo's raw vocals are haunting and the guitar riffs are insanely cool. The way the lyrics change from Mafuyu being stuck and unable to say goodbye in the first chorus, to finally moving forward despite that in the last chorus, show that he's getting the closure he needed.

Kizuato - The lyrics perfectly express the series' tagline "can't say goodbye, I'm still drifting with your echoes." And the pre-chorus is so, so good.

Hetakuso - A simple but insanely sweet song that is definitely Mafuyu's response to Ue's admission that he is bad at expressing himself. I squealed when I saw the lyrics mention "covered by the heat of summer" and "not being afraid of the next winter" in reference to the two of them.

Bokura dake no Shudaika - As I read the lyrics, I can't tell if the song is referencing Akihiko and Ugetsu's relationship or Akihiko and Haruki's (maybe it's both), but I actually like that ambiguity. I also love how it beautifully incorporates the violin as a salute to Aki and Ugetsu.

Uragawa no Sonzai - I know Mafuyu is singing the song but I like to think of it from Ue's perspective. He is aware that there is a side to Mafuyu that he doesn't know, his past, a time when he cried, a person he cried over. But he embraces this "existence on the other side" as a precious part of the person he loves and vows that he will fill up for what the other is lacking, and vice versa. I'm crying.

Now that the series is coming to an end, I don't know what I'll do with myself. If it's truly ending for good, I do have my complaints, but I'll save that for another time. No matter what though, Given is solidified as one of my top anime/manga series of all time, and I'm sure I'll keep revisiting it over the years even after it's finished. It's given me so much - joy (RitsuMafu soft moments are my serotonin), sorrow (Strawberry Swing, anyone?), laughs (too many to count), and some of my favorite music - and for that, I'm incredibly thankful.

[thingyperson]

Chocolate ice cream

---

Kaminari Denki x GN!reader

Can be read as platonic or romantic.

I got inspired from a song in my native language before writing this. I'll link it at the end.

---

It had been about 2 weeks since you finished your 1st year of high school.

You weren't making much of your time off. Just laying around or going to the gym on some days when you felt energetic.

The break was supposed to be, well, a break.

But who would've expected it to be this boring.

You were currently laying on the floor near your door, where you had woken up. You wanted to check the time but your phone was somewhere in your pile of stuff. Probably somewhere on your bed. You were too busy daydreaming about having fun with your friends.

Seemed like you were the only one of the group that hadn't planned their break beforehand since everyone was busy traveling and spending quality time with their family.

You would spend time with your family but your parents had work and all your relatives (the ones that were around your age) were also relaxing or having fun elsewhere.

A muffled sound of a message disturbed your thoughts.

Truth being told you didn't feel like getting up, but after the first message came another and another.

You got up slowly and went to find your phone. Your bed looked like it wasn't being used for sleeping, rather some kind of trash pile. You didn't feel like cleaning your room so you resorted to putting everything that got in your way on your bed.

You dug a bit in the mess and soon found your phone. It was under your blanket.

You diverted your eyes onto the screen of your phone. It showed 10:37 and 9 notifications from Kaminari.

You used to hang out a lot during summer breaks since you lived pretty close and went to the same kidnergarden, school etc.

You clicked on the messages to see why he was spamming your phone during summer break.

*Kaminari ★

⇢hey ⇢hey ⇢[nickname] ⇢are u busy rn?

⇢are u busy today?

⇢im rly bored

⇢like

⇢really really bored

⇢if youre free do u wanna hang out or smt?

...and a bunch of stickers.

You obviously you weren't busy.

im free right now ⇠ where are you thinking of? ⇠

⇢we could hang out at the mall or cafe

lets go to the mall ⇠ ill see u there in 20 ⇠ ill go to entrance b ⇠

You cleaned yourself up and put on some decent looking clothes

You checked the mirror to double check if you looked okay and you were on your way.

The mall was almost right next to your house so you were on time.

There weren't a lot of people in the mall since it had opened at 10:30.

You quickly looked around and saw Kaminari waving you over next to a clothing store. You went over to him.

"Where should we go first?"

"How about we get some chocolate ice cream?"

You both went to the grocery store and bought chocolate ice cream cones. They weren't the best quality but that's why you chose that brand.

You both paid for the ice cream at the self check-out and went outside to eat your ice creams.

And in our hands we had chocolate ice cream.

[whentherewerebicycles]

snuggly little girl is finally allowed back into the bed after several weeks of being banished due to houseguests :) she is very warm and sleepy and happy about it.

it’s an overcast morning and I woke up feeling bleh but I’m trying to acknowledge the feeling and not get stuck in it. I am working from home today and my tasks are a little ill-defined so I do need to make sure I get up, get dressed, and sit at a desk at some point to ensure I actually focus. here’s what I’d like to do:

7:30-8:30 coffee, lounge, work from bed

8:30 get up and get dressed

8:30-11:30 work session

11:30-12:30 shower/get ready

1-2 ND mtg

2-4 windshield appt—second work session. call Cigna while waiting, finish other work tasks, schedule-send emails to four faculty for next week, make a plan for next week

4-5ish wrap up work if needed

walk the dogs… it’s time to get back into it. I have a hockey podcast to listen to and can start with an easy 40-45 min loop

eat leftovers for dinner & make cold brew to steep overnight

finish ninth house (I’m powering through but letting myself skim the boring parts)

bed by 10 (I’m slowly trying to reset my sleep/wake times to 9:15pm/5:30 or 6am)

okay. I also am open to doing some work over the weekend if 1) it’s fun, and 2) it consoles me (as it often does lol). but here are the things I want to prioritize in today’s work sessions:

review makerspace brainstorming notes and distill conversation into a core list of ideas

organize list by priorities (immediate, academic year, future/aspirational)

figure out some way of annotating priority list. I want to identify the big steps each one would take to research/create/implement, note who on the team we could delegate specific pieces of the work to, and identify the other people or units on campus we’d want to partner with. this will be so fun.

JG asked if I could give an overview of my big priorities for my program next year so he could better understand how this initiative fits into those priorities. I think that’s a great ask and a great opportunity for me to sit down and synthesize what I’ve learned in my first month in the role. one big amorphous thing I’m tasked with is increasing the number of faculty who are incorporating research into their courses, and I was thinking the other day that instead of trying to do this across all majors in a scattershot way, I could use this makerspace access initiative as a focusing lens for that work this year. and then since that project is naturally STEM + business-leaning, maybe I can look for a manageably sized humanities initiative to take on next year too, so there’s a good balance within my portfolio of projects. anyway I think I’m at the point where I have talked to enough people and said yes or tentatively yes to enough things that I am ready to sit down and start drawing up a summer + academic year plan. also I’m not quite there yet but I might almost be ready to start mapping out the calendar so I can do some initial thinking in that direction today if I feel like it. oh and I want to make a note for myself to look for specific areas where I can consult or bring in the person in our office who was handling aspects of my job for a long time before I started… I feel like I can bulldoze a bit when I’m enthusiastic about an idea or project and I don’t want her to feel like I’m undoing all the work she put into building programming etc. so I want to really consciously build in checkpoints where I’m asking for her feedback or drawing on her expertise in a substantive/meaningful way so she doesn’t feel like I swept in and changed everything to fit my own vision.

meet with ND to gather info about student employee development redesign (then spend time updating my earlier notes)

I don’t think I’ll get much deeper into the student worker redesign project today but it might be a thing I block off time for this weekend or next week.

schedule four emails to faculty/staff (should include YP, DH, MK, and maybe BW?)

I think that’s good!! wow and just working on a work plan for today has already put me in a much better & more hopeful mood. time to get started!

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 6 January 1833

8

11 ¼

fine morning hard frost F39 ½° at 8 just before lighting my fire – breakfast at 9 5 in an hour with my father and Marian soon came – at my desk at 10 10 - wrote 2 ½ pages to Dr Belcombe – really know not what to write or should have written sooner - ‘I never exactly understood before what nervousness meant and God grant that I may know no more of it in any case which concerns me much! nothing could be more judicious than your letter to Mr Sunderland’ – he a great friend of Dr Paley’s – paid not give me a vote of thanks for taking Miss W- to Dr Belcombe  ‘All I can say is, she really seems to prefer you as a medical man to all who have ever attended her, and that if I had time for nursing, I think our united efforts might be of service - but I am a young practitioner and my courage us much abated - it is dreary to combat sickness without disease, and misery without reason – medicals come [9.S.] from Mr Sunderland; but all I hear is that you and he are agreed as to the course to be pursued - I am to count the letters you have written, for the purpose of taking care that your pen shall not have laboured in vain. It is some satisfaction to me that you will ,at least be remembered, as among the cleverest and most agreeable of medicinae doctores and, should you be applied to when I am gone, I am sure you will do the best that such a case admits, in which the manner will do more than medicine, is the maxima veritas et praevalebit [the greatest truth will prevail]’ – would try to make time for another day on in, if I thought, it would do any good but my hopes not sanguine – will however, on my own account, see them all again if I am before my leaving England – but fear being kept here ‘till the utmost limit of my time, the end of this month or very beginning of the next – anxious to be off. ‘May this new year be felix ter et amplius [happy three times more]! Very faithfully yours. A.L.’  - then wrote letter about 2/3 of a p. rather small and close to Mr. Lister (Swansea) – saying I remitted him bill at 21 days for £35.3 deducting [?] £1.12.0 for insurance – sorry had come to no agreement about the water level gained – 6ft. valued at £6 a year of which ½ belonged to him – had sent 2 law-letters and had 2 valuations and expense already between 3 and 4 pounds, but this should come out of the annual rent to be paid – or if I could get nothing would charge him nothing – vid. Business letter book vol. 2 – downstairs at 11 50 – from 12 in ¾ hour read the prayers and sermon 26 Mr Knight – at my desk at 1 ¼ - Letter from M- (Lawton) 3 pages and ends 3 lines of crossing widely written - ‘I hope and think you will find him (Thomas Beech) a valuable servant - he can read, write and cast accounts’ - then in the few lines dated yesterday adds ‘Thomas Beech agrees to all your proposals’ – i.e. £20 a year including washing and to be engaged from the 30th inst. and clean the carriage unless I hereafter order otherwise, but at any rate to clean it abroad and do all I desire him - Had I mentioned Martha Booth sooner would have taken her as under housemaid - should the one engaged not suit, will think of Martha - would not do for kitchen maid who must be a pretty good cook - ‘she has all the servants’ hall meals to prepare, both white and brown bread to make, and will have to

SH:7/ML/E/15/0176

come as cook here whenever we happen to be over’ ‘the account you give me of your health and spirits delights me much I feel now as if come what may you will be happy and comfortable, it often made me unhappy to think your sole dependence should be on a prop which seemed hardly trustworthy you will see if Charles does not long outlive me, yet I am not ill, nor I do wish not to live, but somehow I feel, and have always felt, as if there was a period that with my constitution would be trying, it may or may not be so, this much of anticipation arises more form what may be, than any indisposition at present, for I am in pretty tolerable health tho’ not a little harassed’  expecting poor old Molly Ownes’ death the old woman (her great favourite) at the Liverpool Lodge - ‘her views of this life as connected with the future are clearer than those of anything I ever met with’ - and M-  has had much consolation from her - Miss Lawton going to marry an army surgeon a widower a Mr Hyne comes from Devonshire saying he makes £500 or £600 a year by his profession - but having no private fortune and 2 children the youngest 10th months old - Mr L- is indignant and refuses his consent - her brother, William L- equally angry - M- says little - wrote 3 pages and ends and under the seal (till 4 10) in answer - ‘I was beginning, my dearest Mary, to be rather impatient for your letter - it is come and has given me much comfort and pleasure - I am satisfied with what you say of yourself - tho’ I hope and trust your anticipation is groundless, yet it is well to set our house in order betimes, and you go about it so calmly, and so happily, that I have no motive for gainsaying - I am glad to have had it - my power to speak so comfortably of myself - you know the bitterness that providence has been pleased to mingle in my draught of life, but I have really learnt to consider it as making the beverage more wholesome, and to take with thankfulness - In fact, Mary, tho’ my conversion is of less long standing than it ought to be, surely it will be lasting as sincere, and, I trust, you will have no occasion to think of me again but with cheerfulness and satisfaction - We cannot tell the n° of our days, but, should we both live longer than you expect, I still hope to congratulate you on a brighter evening than noonday clouds have promised - I grieve over the loss you will have in poor Molly Owen’...... suppose she (M-) will be off to Leamington on the 14th beg to hear from her again 1st if only to give me Thomas’s address - wonder how Eugenie will suit me - have taken one of John’s daughter (will be 14 in a day or two) to bring up as Lady’s maid - shall tell M- my plan and advise with her at Leamington - thanks about Martha Booth - an under housemaid place must be ‘the utmost height she is fit to aspire to’ - sorry for Miss Lawton’s match ‘you say nothing about little Mariana - I have often wished it was possible to trace in her the smallest resemblance to you - what do you hear from York?’ - dare not attempt to fix a day for being off - expense here still going on to the amount of a couple of hundreds more - she must console me - shall have must to say at Leamington - not to forget to take all my letters ‘let us have the burning we have talked of ever since May - I am convinced you are right - we had better get it over before my going abroad again - I know nothing about my return - my aunt and father are both wonderfully well, and may live several years - a life of exertion suits me best - and, unless particularly called home, why should I hurry back? the new year is cold, but may you find it a happier than many of the years that are gone! I like to hear from you if it be but a line or two, so, busy or not, let me see your handwriting - God bless you Mary! there is to all a prop that cannot fail, and you and I may lean upon the same tho’ not together - I am well and happy and very especially and entirely yours AL’.

Added ½ dozen lines of crossing to M- to mention how nearly the farm house I have lately spent about £300 upon was burnt down yesterday week - from a [combers] stove being heated in an upstairs room - fire broke out about 4pm and out at 6 the watering pond being full of water and only one end of the house damaged.

wrote the last 27 lines in 25 minutes till 4 35 - then wrote 3 pages and ends pretty small and close to IN- should have written before but waited to tell her about my plans and about the man servant I was in treaty for and who, as I only heard this morning, agrees to my proposals and is engaged from the 30th of this month - hope IN- will not go to Croft before quite the end - if Mrs N- quite satisfied to have given up the Bath scheme, I am delighted as I have not quite given up the hope of having a peep at them but bare not say or think much about it for fear of disappointment - always one potheration or another to keep me here and put me to expense - mentioned Park-farm house being nearly burnt down yesterday week - will write to Mrs. N- when I know more of my plans - only know at present that I shall take Leamington en route, and see M- some of them will be there on the 14th and she hopes to be settled there on a week afterwards - If I can get off from here by the very end of this month or beginning of next shall be satisfied - should like best to go first, as I always intended, to Italy but uncertain yet whether I shall not be obliged to remain within reach for sometime to come - not on account of my aunt or father - they wonderfully well - will write to aunt Maria when I can tell her I am en route - joke and advise IN- not to mind the vulgarity of Esther’s mother in law - we do not marry a whole family at one fell swoop - in these times the high and low are oddity jostled together - the great fallen and the little ones grown big.....  dinner at 6 25 – at 7 10 sent off by John my letters to M- ‘Lawton hall, Lawton, Cheshire’ and to IN- ‘Langton hall, Malton’ – and to ‘Dr. Belcombe minster yard York’ and to ‘John Lister Esquire Swansea Glamorganshire’ wrote the last 15  lines till 7 25 – then standing by the fire, and looking a little into Horace, and asleep on the sofa till  9 10 – so cold in the drawing room cannot sit to do anything   I must give it up and come to my room