#indian beanbag

[hag-lad]

My friend just told me that Jai Lava Kusa has “wizard of oz vibes” and I literally do not know what to say to that, lmfao

[bones4thecats]

Hello! Hello!

I hope you are doing well and have had a good month so far!

So I was thinking of the candy bucket prompt where we (oc) eat too much candy with Buddha and jataka. I thought it might be funny since Buddha is a professional candy eater

🦴🍎⛓️🌕🍫🍬🍭🎃

➸ Candy-Monsters; Buddha and Jataka

Characters: Buddha and Jataka A/N: I've had a tiring month, with some issues popping their ugly heads in here and there, but overall, it's been good for the past couple days. The requests will be coming out slower than anticipated, but writing takes some time, right? Anyways, enjoy @15krixa15. ➥ Summary: A long night of candy-hunting comes to a sickening end with your husband and good-friend.

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╚═════ Buddha and Jataka ═══════════════════════╝

🍭🌻 When you introduced the concept of Halloween to these two, you were shocked by how interested Jataka was. Of course, you knew Buddha would just look at you and immediately ask how much he could have

🍭🌻 It was entertaining helping the two pick out their outfits as well. You had to analyze the two of them for days to find out how they move around and how they act. With that information, you had three costumes made

🍭🌻 Buddha, was that night known as the Enlightened Rabbit, Jataka was the sweet Rose-Ringed Parakeet, and you were the beautiful Indian Peafowl. Quite the trio if I do say so myself

🍭🌻 You were out for a long while. Since Jataka and you were human spirits and Buddha was a deity, you guys could go quite some time without rest. Out of you three, Buddha, unsurprisingly, obtained the most candy

🍭🌻 He laughed as he ran inside of your home. Jataka just sighed and smiled as he followed beside you. His distant relative certainly didn't change after he passed away all those years ago

🍭🌻 Buddha had kept laughing as he sat down in one of the beanbag chairs you had in your main room, rummaging through his bucket for who knows what. Jataka waited for you to come in, like the amazing husband he was

🍭🌻 Gently unwrapping your belt that held the peacock feathers behind you, you laid the bucket of treats you gathered on the table beside the previous King's. You and Buddha knew that he wasn't going to eat as much as was brought, he didn't have a huge sweet tooth

🍭🌻 You laid the more delicate parts of your costume to the side and picked up the buckets to walk to the main room with Jataka to check in on Buddha. Both of your eyes widened to see him organizing the candies, not only by flavors, but by the brands. He may not seem like it, but he could be picky with the candy he eats

🍭🌻 Buddha narrowed his eyes as he picked up a group of the candy and unwrapped them all before plopping them all in his mouth, which shocked you. He could eat so much sugar at once without any kind of hazard. He really was a medical wonder sometimes

🍭🌻 Jataka chuckled and sat down with you, one of his arms wrapped around your waist as you reached in and began to eat some of the candies you had, occasionally handing Jataka some when you knew he'd like to have it

��🌻 It was only a half-hour later that Jataka was holding your hair away from your face while you leaned over the toilet. You had eaten nearly an entire container's worth of sweets, and they did not sit well in your stomach to say the least. It went from a tiny ache to puking-danger in the matter of a couple minutes

🍭🌻 Buddha was watching from the counter of the sink. In one had was your sweets, while the other was shoving them into his mouth as you emptied your stomach of every sugary-food that night

"I warned you about eating that much sugar, dear." Jataka said.

"Yeah." Buddha mumbled while chewing his food. "Besides, nobody can beat me in a candy-eating contest."

🍭🌻 You raised your head, glaring at the God with annoyance and a silent warning of if he said another word, you'd end him. Your husband smiled and gave you some words of comfort as you began to calm down from the headache-causing issue

"I still love you, Y/N."

"Love ya' too, Jataka." You smiled, making Jataka lay his head on yours.

[crystal-in-nagasaki]

crystal NOT in nagasaki, singapore: part five

Hello again! We've finally reached the final part of my time in Singapore. After this post, I'll talk next about the few days I spent in Thailand before returning to my home in Japan. Please look forward to it!

On my ninth day in Singapore, I was able to explore a bit of Singapore's Chinatown and Little India. As I mentioned previously, there are many different ethnic groups living in Singapore, including Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Muslim people. We saw some of Singapore's Middle Eastern and Muslim culture on Arab Street, and now we were able to explore more of the Chinese and Indian culture in Singapore.

In Chinatown we explored some souvenir shops, where I searched a bit desperately for novelty/authentic mahjong sets, but unfortunately wasn't able to find any. We also were able to see the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a temple for Chinese Buddhism. It was very grand and ornately decorated. I particularly loved looking at the beautiful tapestry behind the Buddha woven with gold thread. The temple was very similar to many temples I've seen in Japan, and it was interesting to look for the differences between Japanese and Chinese Buddhism.

After this, we spent some time walking around Little India. There were some very beautiful cultural murals painted on the buildings.

We also went shopping at a huge mall in Little India called Mustafa Centre. It had TONS of really cheap foods and souvenirs. I felt like I walked forever and there were still more and more aisles of various foods laid before me. It was heaven.

In the evening, we returned to my friend's home to rest and eat another homemade dinner with her family. Our trip in Singapore was coming to an end and it was incredibly fun but tiring, so it was nice to take a quiet rest for the night.

On my final day in Singapore, one friend and I broke off from the group to go to Bird Paradise, an entire zoo park near Singapore Zoo and Night Safari dedicated to the various bird species of the world. Each section was separated by continent or region, so we got to have a world tour of many kinds of exotic birds!

We started in Antarctica, where there was an indoor penguin tank.

Next we walked through the Australian section. I don't know much about the types of birds we saw, but here's some pictures I took.

I was also able to see a real kookaburra! They're much bigger than I thought, and very round.

Since the tropical temperature in Singapore is very hot and humid, there were small air-conditioned buildings separating each of the sections. These buildings usually had small educational exhibits and diagrams about the birds that you could look at while you rested in the cool air. In one of the buildings there were beanbags all across the floor and giant screens showing bird mating dance documentary footage. It was so funny and cool.

In another building, you could rest on benches shaped like birds' beaks, which we had a lot of fun with.

And these giant eggs:

Anyway, I don't remember what region they're from, but enjoy these other pictures of birds I saw.

At the far back of the park we reached the African section, which had flamingos and beautiful macaws. They were so colorful and much larger than I thought they would be! I tried to take a picture with one of them that was waddling around on the path to show their size, but it's still hard to really understand from the picture just how massive they were.

They also held an educational bird show at a large amphitheater in the park. We got to hear a parrot sing happy birthday and witness a beautiful great hornbill fly across the arena. For the show's finale, they released a bunch of the birds into the center of the amphitheater and it was so chaotic and fun.

After that, we finished up at Bird Paradise and went out in search of lunch. We decided to try Jollibee, a Filipino fast food restaurant specializing in fried chicken. I originally thought that this shop only existed in Singapore, but they actually have shops across Asia, with shops even in Canada, the US, Saudi Arabia, and Italy! My Filipino friend in Japan told me that Jollibee is one of the only fast food chains in the world that outperforms McDonald's in their native country.

Since I have a Filipino friend in Japan and my partner is American Filipino, I had been interested in trying it while I'm in Asia and it was really good! A distinct part of the meal that makes it so loved by Filipino people is that it comes with rice as a side, which is wrapped in paper to the left of the chicken. Thank you Philippines for making such a delicious fast food chain <3

At the end of the day, we met back up with all of our friends, new and old, and enjoyed some drinks at a bar. I was surprised to find that drinks in Singapore are pretty expensive, and public consumption of alcohol is banned after midnight! So the drinking culture in Singapore is fairly reserved. As someone who enjoys a few social drinks and an early bedtime, I was completely happy with this.

I ordered Singapore's signature drink, the Singapore sling, made from gin, cherry liqueur, Cointreau, Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine syrup, and Angostura bitters. If I remember correctly, it cost something like $17 which was kind of crazy, but it was really tasty. According to Wikipedia, it was created by a Chinese bartender at the Raffles Hotel around 1915. I didn't order my drink there, but the Raffles Hotel still stands today, and is still famous for their Singapore slings, which draws in many tourists each year. Apparently they sell 800-1200 Singapore slings every day, and the drink makes up about 70% of the bar's total revenue!

After a night of fun and delicious drinks, we headed to my friend's home on our last night in Singapore content and a little tipsy. The next morning we headed to the airport bright and early to catch our flights to Thailand, the next part of our adventure!

We've finally made it to the end of my time in Singapore, after five long parts. Thank you for sticking with me through all of my long posts. <3

I'm so so grateful to Chrystal's family for not only allowing me to stay in their home, but showing me around, feeding me delicious food, and overall taking very good care of me. It meant so much to me and made this one of the most memorable and fun trips of my entire life. I'm forever grateful to have been accepted into their family for this short time.

Finally in the next part, I'll talk about the few days I spent in Thailand in the first few days of 2024. Stay tuned!

[thegreenvoyage]

7 Franklin NC Campgrounds (2023)

Are you looking for the perfect camping spot in Franklin, NC? Whatever your level of experience as an outdoorsman or camper, Franklin has something for everyone. Franklin, North Carolina, is the ideal destination for families and adventurers of all ages, making it one of the best camping locations in the United States. From secluded nature campgrounds to modern RV parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s easily accessible from major cities like Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Charlotte. In this article, we'll explore seven incredible campgrounds in Franklin, NC - all equipped with amenities and activities that will make your next camping trip unforgettable! We'll cover everything from tent camping to cabins and more, so whatever your needs are, you're sure to find something that works for you. Table of ContentsComparison Guides: What are Franklin NC Campgrounds? 1.    Rose Creek Campground 2.    Franklin RV Park & Campground 3.    Mi Mountain Campground 4.    Cartoogechaye Creek Campground 5.    Downtown RV Park & Campground 6.    Standing Indian Campground 7.    Winding Stair Campground 5 Campground Amenities That Make You Stay More Enjoyable Activities Sleeping on the ground Fireplace and BBQ Water Activities Cabins How to Find the best Campgrounds for camping? What to Look for in a Campground? Conclusion Comparison Guides: FactorsRose Creek CampgroundFranklin RV Park & CampgroundMi Mountain CampgroundCartoogechaye Creek CampgroundDowntown RV Park & CampgroundStanding Indian CampgroundWinding Stair CampgroundFeedback from travellersPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesPositive ExperiencesCost of living and touring$40 per Night$75 per Night$43+Tax per Night$85 per Night$42 per Night$40 per Night$100 per NightSceneries & BeachesAvailableAvailableSceneriesSceneriesSceneriesSceneriesSceneriesActivitiesSwimming PoolHorse shoesCorn hole (beanbag toss)Catch & release fishing pondGem mine next to campgroundOpen grassy field for gamesParkRestuarantsPlaygroundsHikingGem MinesWaterfallsKayaking/tubing/raftingHiking/biking Our MountainsGem Mining, Gem ShopsGolf, Horseback RidingWater Falls, Hiking TrailsGreat Smoky Mountain RailwayLake ChatugeNantanala LakeGreat Smoky Mountain National ParkWhitewater RaftingSmoky Mountain Center for the ArtsCharcoal GrillPicnic TableCommunity Fire PitMeeting/Game RoomBathhouseDay Use AreaHuntingHikingFishingCampingCamping & CabinsHikingFoodFood and Drinks AvailableDelicius FoodsFood and Drinks AvailableResturants AvailableFood and Drinks AvailableFood and Drinks AvailableFresh FoodsShoppingAvailable Some Best ShopsBrand ShopsBrand ShopsBrand ShopsBrand ShopsBrand ShopsBrand ShopsNightlifeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesTransportationBus, Bike and CarBus, Bike and CarBus, Bike, Cycle and CarBus, Bike and CarBus, Bike and CarBus, Bike and CarBus, Bike and CarAccomodationAvail on SiteAvail on SiteAvail on SiteAvail on SiteAvail on SiteAvail on SiteAvail on Site What are Franklin NC Campgrounds? A weekend at Franklin NC Campgrounds is perfect for hanging out with friends. They offer plenty of amenities, including a playground, a pool, and a fishing pond. These campgrounds are perfect for you if you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Top Best Franklin NC Campgrounds (2023) - Rose Creek Campground - Franklin RV Park & Campground - Mi Mountain Campground - Cartoogechaye Creek Campground - Downtown RV Park & Campground - Standing Indian Campground - Winding Stair Campground 1.    Rose Creek Campground The accommodations available at Rose Creek Campground are tent sites, RV sites, and cabin rentals. The campground is open year-round and is a great place for those looking for a peaceful, secluded camping experience. Electricity and water are available at the tent and RV sites, fire rings, and picnic areas. The cabin rentals have air conditioning and heat and kitchens and bathrooms. There are also a variety of great restaurants, gemstone mines, breweries, museums, theaters, and a fun factory just 5 miles away from the campground. A camper's stay in the town allows them to explore its many attractions easily. In addition, the campground offers amenities like laundry, showers, and firewood. The store also sells camping essentials like ice and firewood. In addition to hiking, fishing, and swimming in the nearby stream, the campground offers a variety of activities for campers. Playgrounds and game rooms are also available for children at the campground. The recreational activities offered by the campground are horseshoes, cornhole, and ladder golf. Travellers have generally had positive experiences here, praising the beautiful scenery, secluded location, and various outdoor activities available. The campground is also pet-friendly, making it the perfect destination for families with furry companions. Address: 140 Terrace Ridge Dr, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 252-286-2008 Website: https://www.rosecreekcamping.com/ Email: rosecreekcampandcabins@gmail.com 2.    Franklin RV Park & Campground A family-run campground in Franklin, North Carolina, Franklin RV Park & Campground provides many camping options, including RV sites, tent sites, and cabin rentals. There are several activities available for campers in the campground, such as hiking, fishing, and swimming in nearby streams. Besides horseshoes, cornhole, and ladder golf, the campground provides a variety of recreational activities. You can find restaurants, gem mines, breweries, museums, theaters, and fun factories. This is a great option for those looking for secluded camping and a peaceful experience. Many travelers have praised the cozy atmosphere and outdoor activities available here, praising the family-friendly atmosphere. Families with furry companions will love the pet-friendly campground, which is also perfect for families with dogs. Address: 230 Addington Bridge Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 828-349-6200 Website: https://www.franklinrvpark.com/ Email: info@FranklinRVPark.com 3.    Mi Mountain Campground Mi Mountain Campground offers rustic and quiet camping in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Mi Mountain Campground is a great place to relax and escape the crowds. Few people are around because the resort is in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Those traveling with an RV or camper can book large pull-through sites daily, weekly, or monthly. Various rates are available for tent camping and cabin rentals. Several waterfalls in Highlands, North Carolina, can be easily accessed from the campground, including Cullasaja Falls, which makes a great day trip. The campground is also close to several other attractions, like Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains. Mi Mountain Campground is a great choice if you want to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Address: 151 Mi Mountain Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 828-524-6155 Website: https://mimountaincampground.com/ Email: mimountaincamp@gmail.com 4.    Cartoogechaye Creek Campground Located north of Highway 64, Cartoogechaye Creek Campground provides visitors with a well-maintained camping experience. The campground offers 50 different sites on a 23-acre meadow and is owned and operated by Dan and Vivian, who are known for their welcoming attitude and efforts to keep the campground spotless. The campground is also pet-friendly, making it the perfect destination for families with furry companions. Campers can easily explore the town's many attractions during their stay. The campground is also a prime location for other activities like golfing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and more, making it a great option for those who want to explore the area while enjoying a peaceful and secluded camping experience. Address: 91 No Name Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 828-524-8553 Website: https://www.cartoogechayecreekcampgroundnc.com/ Email: vhatch0818@aol.com 5.    Downtown RV Park & Campground Downtown RV Park & Campground is a beautiful RV park located in the heart of Franklin, NC. The campground offers 10 spacious and wooded RV sites, each with full hook-ups, a picnic table, a grill, and access to sparkling clean bathhouses, a clubhouse, and a laundry facility. There are daily, weekly, and monthly RV camping rates available at the campground year-round. You can walk to the downtown area and enjoy all the restaurants, shops, and other attractions the city offers. The campground is also prime for other activities like hiking, fishing, and swimming in nearby streams. The campground is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and is considered a hidden gem in Franklin. Guests have described the campground as "just like home," and many have praised the campground's convenience, seclusion, and beauty. Seasonal rentals are also available at the campground, making it an ideal choice for travelers. In addition to the on-site amenities, the campground offers a variety of recreational activities like a campfire and a fibber's bench for storytelling and cookouts. Children can also play on the playground and in the games room at the campground. Address: 160 Heritage Hollow Dr, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 941-720-0067 Website: https://downtownrv.com/ 6.    Standing Indian Campground Standing Indian Campground is a popular campground located 20 minutes from downtown Franklin, North Carolina. RV sites, tent sites, and cabin rentals are available at the campground in the Nantahala National Forest. In addition to the campground itself, Nantahala National Forest offers several excellent hiking trails. This is a great option if you are looking for a peaceful, secluded, and peaceful place to camp. Address: Off Forest Development Rd 67, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 828-524-6441 Website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234228 7.    Winding Stair Campground This charming campground features a winding staircase that leads to the campground’s main section. It’s a great place to camp if you’re looking for something special. Franklin has a variety of attractions within easy reach of the campground. You can visit the Franklin Museum of Art or take a walk in the historic downtown district. Also within easy reach are a number of restaurants and attractions. In Franklin, NC, Winding Stair Campground is a great choice if you want a unique camping experience. Address: 7984 W Old Murphy Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, United States Phone: +1 828-369-9776 Website: https://windingstairfarm.com/camping/ 5 Campground Amenities That Make You Stay More Enjoyable Camping is an awesome thing that provides you with complete freedom. It is a great way to spend time with loved ones and enjoy nature in its natural state. And if you are looking for the best camping experience, you should check out the facilities and amenities of the campgrounds. Activities The campground is where you can enjoy various activities, including fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, etc. There are a lot of campsites which offer different services and facilities to the campers. But here I have given you some of the most amazing services and facilities you will love to enjoy while camping. Sleeping on the ground It is quite an interesting thing if you can sleep on the ground. You will feel the breeze of nature, and you will see stars above your head. The noise won't bother you either. If you are a nature lover, try to camp at a site that offers sleeping on the ground. Fireplace and BBQ If you are camping in a campsite with a fireplace and a barbecue, it will be a great opportunity to prepare the food the best way. You can even cook a meal and can even warm yourself up. Water Activities If you plan to spend a weekend camping with your friends and family, do some water activities like canoeing and kayaking. Cabins Getting a cabin might be a good idea if you are looking for one. Not only will you enjoy the peace and calmness, but you can also spend some time with your loved ones. I hope you liked this article about “5 Campground Amenities That Make Your Stay More Enjoyable”. If you plan to spend a weekend with your loved ones, you should try to book a cabin. How to Find the best Campgrounds for camping? Camping is an exciting outdoor activity that allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature while spending quality time with friends and family. Camping can seem daunting if you need to become more familiar with where to find the right campground. Choosing where to begin can be difficult with so many options available. Explore some tips on how to find the best campgrounds for camping, including what to look for in a campground, how to research campground options, and how to make a reservation. What to Look for in a Campground? When searching for a campground, there are several factors to consider to ensure that you find the right fit for your needs. Some of the most important things to look for in a campground: Location: Consider the proximity to the activities you want to do. Campgrounds near hiking trails, for example, are ideal for those planning to hike. Amenities: Pick a campground that provides RV hookups, showers, and laundry facilities to meet your needs. Activities: Consider the recreational activities offered by the campground, such as fishing, swimming, and hiking. Size: Consider the size of the campground. Some campers prefer a more secluded camping experience, while others prefer a more social atmosphere. Policies: Check the campground's pet policy, as well as any other policies that may affect your camping experience. Conclusion Franklin, North Carolina, is a great destination for campers looking for a variety of outdoor activities and a peaceful, secluded atmosphere. In many of the campgrounds in the area, you will be able to rent RV sites, tent sites, and cabins for your stay. Some top campgrounds near Franklin include Rose Creek Campground, Franklin RV Park & Campground, Mi Mountain Campground, Cartoogechaye Creek Campground, Downtown RV Park & Campground, Standing Indian Campground, and Winding Stair Campground. Each campground offers a unique experience and is conveniently located near various outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, swimming, and rafting. These campgrounds in Franklin, North Carolina, will undoubtedly provide a memorable experience, whether you are looking for a short weekend getaway or a longer vacation. Read the full article

[works-of-fanfiction]

“He’s the Best.” - 90s!Graham Coxon x Reader

Summary: Graham struggles with his self-esteem within the band and the reader tries to cheer him up.

Requested by: Anon. I hope you like this <3

Warnings: Swearing (literally once).

Word Count: 3.3k - a bit of a longer oneshot from me! I didn’t mean for it to be this long.

A/N: I’ve been writing this and putting it off for days because I just don’t know if I like it, but I don’t want to restart it. Argh… I hope someone enjoys this cheese fest.

* Gif credits to the linked creator

_______________

No one in this life is born ‘better’ than anybody else. It’s not a competition or a game of comparison. Every single human on this planet has their own unique qualities that make them interesting and most importantly, worthy. However, humans sadly aren’t wired to see those qualities in themselves. They spend the majority of their lives obsessing over others; wondering if they’re as talented as the next man, or if they’ll ever look as good as whatshername. Sometimes, it gets to a point where even the deepest of friendships can become strained due to one or more parties comparing themselves to another’s achievements.

And seeing Graham go through exactly that, has been killing me. There was a time when everything Graham and Damon did together, was truly that - together. Every single melody, riff, lyric - it was theirs. Neither one did more work than the other, neither was more musically talented. They were both kids crammed inside a Portakabin with their very first instruments, strumming and plucking and making probably rather bothersome noise. They had no idea what was to become of their lunchtime jam sessions and after school practices. Both were just excited to have a friend that liked the same things as them, and enjoyed the noise the other was making.

But Graham has since become a shadow of who he once was around Damon - he’s become Damon’s shadow. Or so he thinks.

Being in a band with a boisterous frontman like Damon was bound to become hard work for the other members at one point or another, but I never thought it would affect Graham like this. It’s getting harder to communicate with him, and I know it’s not his fault but I’m running out of things to say to fill the silences. There’s only so many times I can ask if he wants a cup of tea, or tell him about the encounter I had at the bus stop earlier that day. I’m sick of hearing my own voice, so I can’t imagine how he must feel. The silence seems to be the only thing he wants; he doesn’t write anymore, he hardly plays guitar outside of work commitments, and he hasn’t picked up his sketchbook in weeks. He just seems to stare at the TV or sit on the sofa with his head buried in a book that’s stuck on the first chapter. I watched him the other day and in forty-five minutes, he turned the page once. I bet if I asked him about the story he wouldn’t be able to recall a single character’s name, never mind the plot.

Watching him struggle with his self-esteem is crushing, and I don’t want him to live another second feeling the way he does. I know it may take a while for him to find himself again, but if I can do anything to help move things along, it’s worth a try. I’d drop everything for Graham in a heartbeat.

“I dropped those music stands off today. Did you get them?” Dave asks, his voice a little crackly on the other end of the phone.

“I did, thank you!” I chime, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I assemble the very same stands.

“Oh, good. I was a little worried about leaving them outside. I thought somebody would take them… What do you need them for anyway?”

“That’s something for me to know and you to find out, Dave.” I laugh, tightening one last knob on the second stand and straightening it out. I stand back and admire my handy work, smiling at the prospect of what they are to become.

“Alright, alright. Well, I hope they come in handy! I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks again. See you next week!”

We both hang up and I grab the stands, climbing up the stairs and into the spare room, placing them in their desired places. Grabbing two pieces of sheet music, I slot them onto the stands neatly and adjust them until they’re perfect. With one last thing to check, I turn on the projector I borrowed from an old university friend and let the film play out on the blank wall opposite. I mess with the sound a little, making sure it’s loud enough before rewinding the footage to the beginning and turning it off until later.

Standing in the middle of the room, I turn around and admire everything on the walls. Everything from lyrics to old album art concepts, to still life paintings from Graham’s time at Goldsmith’s. Beside the music stands, there’s crates filled with records, decorated with lyrics scribbled onto scraps of paper, some in Graham’s handwriting and others in mine. I of course, couldn’t resist writing them out in various colours and covering them in star-shaped stickers. The finishing touch is a large beanbag against the wall for us to sit and watch the projector from. I fluff up the beanbag for the thousandth time before heading downstairs to wait for Graham to get back.

It takes around two hours for Graham to arrive home. As soon as I hear his taxi pull up outside, I jump up from the sofa and head into the kitchen to flick the kettle on. Nerves bubble through me as I anticipate his entry. It’s impossible to predict how Graham’s going to be feeling on any given day. He could come through the door and speak to me as normal, or he could disappear into his studio until he’s tired enough to head to bed. Through the rumbling of the kettle I listen out for the door, fingers impatiently tapping on the counter as my gaze fixates on a magpie outside, shakily balancing on the washing line. A second joins it and I smile, muscle memory taking over as I pour the boiled water into two cups, not taking my eyes off of the birds.

“Hi.” Graham’s voice peeps behind me. Putting the kettle down, I turn around with a warm smile on my face. Despite everything Graham has been going through, seeing him come through that door every day is still my favourite sight. Having him come home to me will simply never get old. I don’t know what I’ll do when he has to go out on tour again in a few months.

“Hey.” I breathe, the sides of my face already beginning to feel sore from the ridiculous grin stuck on it. He smiles back, the expression not quite reaching his eyes but I know he means well. He’s trying. “You go and sit down. I’ll bring these in.” I gesture to the brewing teas on the counter and he nods, hanging his bag on the nearest kitchen chair and leaving the room without another word. I finish the drinks as quickly as possible, grabbing the stack of takeaway menus from the junk drawer and bringing them with me, the pieces of paper clamped between my teeth as I concentrate on carrying the two steaming hot cups in my hands.

Setting the cups down on the coffee table, I toss the menus onto the sofa next to where Graham is very aggressively, trying to pull his Docs off. “Need a little help?” I ask, laughing as I kneel down and bat his hands out of the way. “It would help if you untied them.”

“It’s easier to leave them tied.”

“Oh, really?” I scoff, gesturing to his feet still stuck in the cherry red boots. The laces are a complete mess with three bulky knots in them. I sit down cross-legged on the carpet, carefully plucking and unravelling each knot whilst Graham buries his head in the takeaway menus. “How do you even - “ I struggle, pulling at the frayed shoelace whilst trying not to damage it further, “- get these things on?” With one last tug, the first lace loosens and I’m able to slide the boot off with ease. Graham’s face pops out from behind the menu, a side-smile plastered onto his lips and a cheeky glint in his eyes. I know he wants to laugh.

“Shall we get Indian tonight?” He changes the subject, flipping over the tatty piece of bright orange paper as he squints at the options. He always orders the same thing, yet still insists on reading the whole menu front to back. He does it for every restaurant.

“Indian sounds good.” I nod, pulling the second boot off and shoving them to the side. “I’ll call them now.” Jumping up to grab the phone, I type the number in from memory and hold it up to my ear.

“What’s the rush?” Graham mouths and I hush him when somebody answers. I order the usual along with some extras and give them our address, despite them not even really needing it anymore. The phone call is no longer than a minute and Graham sits staring at me, nose scrunched in confusion. “Are you going to tell me what’s going - “

“Follow me.” I blurt out, stretching my arm towards him and rising onto my tiptoes out of excitement. He stands slowly, shrugging off his jacket and leaving it on the sofa. “I was going to wait until we’d had our food, but I have to show you now.”

“Show me what?” He asks as I grab his wrist and drag him up the stairs. We squeeze up the narrow staircase, almost tripping each other over a couple times until we stop on the landing, feet overlapping one another’s on the small square of carpet.

“I know you haven’t really been yourself lately.” I start, my fingers slipping from Graham’s wrist to entwine with his. He looks down, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth. His eyes watch our hands as I lightly stroke the back of his thumb in an attempt to relax him. He has a habit of tensing up whenever I broach the subject. “So I wanted to remind you just how great you are.”

I watch his face intently, the corners of his mouth twitching and trying to smile. With my free hand, I open the door and flick the light on, pulling Graham into the room with me. His hand slips from my grasp and I back up to stand against the wall, watching as he takes in the room around him and everything in it.

He walks to the music stands first, fingers tracing the notes on the pages, flipping them over then back again. He walks towards the canvas on the back wall - a woodland painting he’d won a prize for back in college - running his hand over the textured patch of paint that forms the trees. I nervously bite the back of my thumb as he kneels down to sift through the records in the large black case below, flicking through every Blur album and single released to this day. My favourite lyrics are scattered on sheets of paper all over the ground, and he picks up the second verse from Coffee & TV. “You’ve always loved this one.” He says, turning to me and smiling.

“I happen to really like the guy who sings it.”

“He must be pretty good then.”

“Oh, he’s the best.” Resting my foot against the wall, I kick my body forward and stand straight, joining Graham beside the projector.

“What’s this for?” He asks, hands hovering near the buttons but not daring to touch anything. I take his hands in mine and give them a loving squeeze.

“Sit down and I’ll show you.” I chirp and he sinks down onto the beanbag. I mess with the projector until the sound starts to creep in, stretching over to switch off the light. Graham shuffles to the side to make some room for me on the beanbag and I flop down beside him, nestling into his side.

The image from the projector is surprisingly clear against the wall, although could’ve been improved had I borrowed a screen from somewhere. A variety of different clips play out in front of us, ranging from Graham performing onstage to snippets of his band members talking and praising their guitarist. I try my hardest to focus on the film in front of me, but I can’t help glancing over at Graham to see his reactions. His brows are furrowed, but not necessarily in a bad way - he’s focused, fully concentrating on everything he’s seeing and hearing.

I fidget with my hands, twiddling my thumbs and quietly cracking my knuckles. Graham notices this and grabs my left hand, squeezing it tightly and bringing it over to rest in his lap. Laying my head on his shoulder, I press a kiss onto his sleeve, rubbing my head against him and breathing in his familiar scent. He lays his head on top of mine, but never looks away from the video playing on the wall. Absentmindedly, his fingertips dance on the back of my hand, the drumming following the beat of Song 2 as it plays from the projector. I too can’t help bopping along to the beat, my foot tapping softly on the carpet.

The video closes with one final clip, a message I recorded for Graham. Too embarrassed to watch myself, my focus stays on him as I squeeze his hand a little tighter and snuggle up as close as possible. The picture begins to fade and the sound plays out until there’s no footage left, and the whirring of the projector becomes background noise in the room. Graham doesn’t say anything at first, but as I try to stand to turn the projector off, he pulls me back down onto the beanbag and rotates his body to face mine.

“Hey.” I whisper, my right hand supporting his cheek as he leans into me, his eyes closed and lips pressed into a line. Our bodies slot into one another’s on the beanbag, the very little space between us growing warmer by the second.

Graham releases a deep breath, his eyes slowly opening again with a small smile spreading across his face. It’s hard to see him properly in the dimly lit room, but I could never mistake those big brown eyes staring at me. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.” He says, his voice low as he leans in close to speak like we’re the only two people who matter inside a crowded room.

“I wanted to show you how incredible you are. You’ve been so hard on yourself and I just - “ As I speak, tears start to well up in my eyes and I look up to the ceiling to try and stop them from falling. I’d already told myself earlier that I wouldn’t cry, because I don’t want Graham to think he’s upset me. I press at my eyes lightly with my fingertips in an attempt to push the tears away. “I can’t stand seeing you this way because you don’t deserve to feel like this. If it wasn’t for you, Blur wouldn’t exist! Everything you’ve all achieved wouldn’t have happened.” My voice begins to shake and I feel Graham’s hand on my arm, rubbing it gently to try and calm me down.

“Y/N.” He starts, before reaching up to turn on the light. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust, before my gaze falls to the ground to avoid his. If I look at him properly, I know I’ll start bawling. “Look at me. Please.”

“I can’t. I can’t because I’ll cry, and then you’ll get upset and I don’t want to make you feel any worse than wha - “

“You won’t upset me. Y/N, I’m sorry I’ve - “

“No, Graham. Don’t apologise.” I grip onto his shirt tightly, my fingers tangling in the fabric. Graham bows his head and nudges it against mine, edging closer until he pushes my head up with his and our noses are almost touching. We both open our eyes, our faces too close that my vision is distorted and I’m seeing double. I pull back, sniffling once and dabbing at my eyes again, still not allowing any tears to actually emerge.

“I’m sorry,“ he starts and I sigh at his words, but he hushes me by holding his finger up to my face, “for putting you through this. I was so caught up in my own head that I didn’t realise how it was making you feel.”

“Graham, this isn’t about me.”

“But it affects you. Bloody hell, if I had to live with this miserable twat - “ he points to himself and I scoff, slapping the back of his hand playfully. “ - I’d have given up by now.”

“I would never give up on you.” My voice is barely above a whisper, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. Graham goes silent again, staring down at our joined hands and moving his thumbs around. I nudge his head with mine in the same way he did previously and he sniffles, his chest rising and immediately falling again. “Graham?” I bring my hand to his chin and push his face up to find his eyes watery, and cheeks significantly more red compared to a moment ago.

“God, look at me. What the hell are you still doing with me, ay? I’m a bleeding mess.” He sniffs, roughly wiping tears off of his cheeks with the backs of his hands.

“Because I wouldn’t want to be with anybody else.”

“Not even - “

“Ah! Stop right there. There’ll be no more of that.” I take his hands away from his face, holding onto them loosely. “Graham Coxon, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. And I’ll give you a free pass to slap me silly for being so cheesy.” I laugh, his grip on my hands tightening as he awkwardly slides closer on the beanbag, his body sinking into it at a strange angle and pulling me with him. “I love you.”

Within a second, Graham’s hands are on both sides of my face, pulling me in for a kiss; the kind of kiss that feels like the person is pouring their entire heart out to you. Like the kiss between the main characters of a movie, when they’ve just ran across a field or a busy road to collide with another at the centre. His lips messily press against mine and I can feel the stray tears running down his face as they dampen my cheeks. My hands rest on his legs, holding on firmly as his thumbs dig into my face a little. It doesn’t hurt, but he soon pulls away and swipes at my face softly as if to apologise for it. He uses his sleeve to dry my face and I do the same for him, small gasps of laughter exchanging between us.

“Thank you for doing this. If you can’t tell, I really love it.” He says sincerely with a genuine smile, the biggest smile I’ve seen from him in weeks. The expression is infectious and I can’t help mimicking him as I grin back like the Cheshire Cat. The faint sound of knocking from downstairs pulls us out of our romance film-esque daydream and we both clamber to our feet.

As we approach the stairs, Graham stops and spins me around, pulling me into him. I land against his chest with a huff, before adjusting my hair and looking up at him. “After we eat, can you show me the film again?” He asks, his hand meeting mine to help me fix the loose hairs falling in my eyes.

“We can watch it as many times as you like.”

[larryfanficwriter98]

Chapter Sixteen

"Mom I know you want us over this weekend, but it's so last minute and I'd have to talk to Harry about it." Louis said as he entered the house arms filled with grocery bags, his stepfather following close behind with more bags followed by the rest of his empty-handed family.

"Do you guys have plans or something? We can do it next weekend?"

"As far as I know we don't, but-" Louis trailed off hearing music coming from the studio, "Haz?!" Louis called out as he walked further into the house. Louis immediately recognized the song Harry gave him for Christmas playing in the studio. He set the bags down and headed to the stupid knocking gently before he opened it seeing Harry was asleep on the large beanbag with many journals strewn around the square coffee table across from the sofas. Louis stepped further into the room to lower the volume of the music playing then headed to Harry, but one of the pages in a journal caught his attention.

0928

You & I Strong Half A Heart If I Could Fly I Want to Write You a Song Change Your Ticket Drag Me Down History All of the Stars Perfect Dive A.M

Only one song title stuck out to Louis which was If I Could Fly. Louis set the journal down then looked over at Harry again.

"Haz." Louis said walking over to him running a hand through Harry's hair, "Haz." Harry hummed before he slowly opened his eyes blinking at Louis before he smile brightly.

"Sorry I guess I was more tired than I thought." Harry said as he rubbed his face as he shifted to a more comfortable position.

"It's okay. I did grocery shopping while I was on my way home. I thought we could do pizza or take out tonight."

"I was going to go grocery shopping you didn't need to."

"You won't let me pay any bills the least I can do is get groceries. You hungry? My family is here by the way."

"Yeah I'll um... I'll be out in a minute." Harry said looking around the room, "are they staying they night?"

"No, they were just in town and decided to join me grocery shopping and follow me here. They'll be leaving soon the girls have school tomorrow. I'll be out there." Louis kissed Harry's head then left the room, "Dan you don't have to put the groceries away I can-"

"I can do it too. Relax it's just groceries." Dan said making Louis roll his eyes playfully as he helped Dan. Harry came out of the studio a few minutes later stretching as he closed the door behind him.

"Hey ladies." Harry said

"Harry darling are you busy this weekend?" Jay asked

"Why?" Harry said

"Well I was thinking we all get together Saturday for a cookout at our house. I was hoping you and Louis would come down for the weekend. Come Friday stay until Sunday. I was also hoping you could invite your family."

"Oh. What did Louis say?" Harry asked looking at Louis

"I told her that since it was last minute, we would talk about it but I didn't make any promises or give any answers." Louis said

"Well then we shall talk and let you know tomorrow." Harry said looking at Jay who nodded satisfied

"We best get going girls, long drive back to Doncaster." After saying goodbye to his family Louis entered back into the kitchen to see Harry with a few menus on the island.

"What are we in the mood for?" Harry asked

"I'm in the mood to know about what you're working on in there." Louis said jumping on top of island

"I meant food wise." Harry said looking at him, "but if you must know it's a surprise."

"A surprise. A surprise for who? Me or the fans?"

"You mostly. Actually, I'm finished with it, but I haven't decided if I want to hear it all before the release date or not."

"I vote before."

"Maybe."

"How many are there?"

"About you? 10 out of 12, one is dedicated to my family and one is dedicated to the fans. I haven't gotten the order down yet, but the songs are finished, and the team likes it."

"One song then." Louis said, "wait. When's the release date?"

"It's a surprise, but not for another four months."

"A song biweekly leaving the last four a mystery. Please." Louis said wrapping his arms and legs around Harry, "come on Haz two songs a month."

"Maybe-"

"I'll give you a blowjob for every song if you sing them to me." Harry laughed shaking his head as he grabbed a menu and looked at the items listed

"Are we thinking Indian? Thai? Chinese?" Harry listed, Louis huffed jumping down and turning around to look at the menus on the island. Harry pressed up against his back and gently kissed his neck sweetly before he held up a few menus.

"How about pizza? I want something easy. I'm exhausted. Long day today."

"Of course. I'm sorry I haven't asked yet, but how was work? The rugrats being terrors today?" Harry asked rubbing his shoulders after handing Louis his phone and a few pizza places menus for him to choose from.

"Not so much that, but we had inspection today and since I'm the oldest employee I oversaw the tour and such. We passed so don't worry, but we got news on Annabelle." Harry stopped for a second before he resumed aware that Annabelle had suffered a seizure the day before after a minor fall that shouldn't have caused such a thing.

"Is she okay?"

"It's cancer. They had to shave her head, but good news is that it's a safe removal with a high chance of success. She's upset she lost her hair though, but her mom is looking at options."

"I'll donate it." Harry said immediately making Louis look back at him, "you and I both know she loves my curls. I'd cut it off for her and get a wig made."

"But...I love your curls too." Louis said looking at the long curly hair that fell past Harry's shoulders now

"It'll grow back and I'm not getting a buzzcut. Just short enough so she has a good 15-26 inches. Talk to her mother next time and just ask alright?"

"You'll leave enough for me to grab right?" Louis asked watching as Harry's eyes widen as he brushed, but he nodded

"Course." Harry said grabbing a random menu then his phone before he dialed the pizza place and ordered a large meat lovers.

****** Louis pulled into the driveway staring at Harry as he put a few duffle bags into the backseat of his range rover. He now has short hair about 2 inches off the scalp and despite already missing the long hair Louis could still see the hair curling. Parking the car in the garage for the weekend he got out and walked over to Harry.

"I miss the long hair, but you look amazing in short hair. Has your fans cried yet?"

"They don't know actually. I thought we'd take a picture together later or something. Also, I only need to get one more thing then we can get on the road."

"Alright." Louis said climbing into the passenger seat, Harry got into the drivers seat a few minutes later with two clear CD sleeves that he handed to Louis one had '0928' on it and the other had 'draft' on it.

"They want to push the special one forward, it's still in the debate area, but with me working on my next big album that'll I'll possibly tour with and it being mostly finished they want to start promoting it which means the surprise one has to be out. We are looking at a mid-2017 release. Either way I usually let my friends and family listen to my drafts. So, since Liam, Niall, and Zayn are going to be there I figured we can all listen together and the other one is for you. This one won't have any promo. It'll most likely be dropped in the middle in the night or afternoon randomly the day of release. So, before we set a release date, I wanted you to have the first finished copy then I was hoping I could ask Zayn to make a collage of photos for the album cover. Since it's a gift and not really an album I'll promote a lot." Harry explained seeing his confused face

"So, I can listen to them?" Louis asked as he looked at the song list in the finished album first

"You can. You can listen to them anytime you want. However not on the car radio. My phone has all of them on playlists you can listen to. They're not in order yet, it's still one of the things I have to do." Louis grabbed Harry's phone and a set of earphones, "Wait you're listening now?"

"Yes why?"

"Well I don't want to know if you hate it."

"Harry I couldn't hate anything you make. Look I can avoid some if you want me to. Just tell me what you don't want me to listen to and I won't."

"It's not that. It's just what if you make a face."

"Just focus on the road Harold." Louis said rolling his eyes as he out the earphones in his ears watching as Harry pulled into a gas station, "Get me tea?"

"Of course. Anything else?"

"A snack for the road that I promise to feed to you."

"You're a child." Harry said by his way of replying as he got out of the vehicle. Louis went to Harry's iTunes and went to the playlists clicking on the 0928 one first. He scrolled started from the first one which was Drag Me Down.

Louis was proud of himself as he watched his childhood home come into view, he had only cried twice. One time during Dive and another during the song he was listening to now which was All of the Stars which was the last one on the playlist.

"I hope those tears are good." Harry said as he pulled into the driveway watching at the front door swung open and Jay stood there waving and grinning at them.

"It's beautiful. You know it's beautiful. I don't know why you were so nervous." Louis said removing the earbuds to look at Harry who was blushing, "I love you."

"I love you too. Are you sure your mother won't let us stay in a hotel tonight?"

"Positive. Why?" Louis asked watching Harry blush more as he looked at Jay, "I had plans for when I let you listen to the songs for the first time ."

"What sort of plans?" Louis asked, "We can definitely have...plans...in my childhood bedroom you know." Louis said wiggling his eyebrows

"Not the plans I had planned." Harry said before he leaned over the middle console and pressed a soft kiss against Louis' lips, "For the record if you think I'm going to suck you off or let you suck me off five feet from your family you're insane and I will chop it off if you even try to get me hard."

"Noted." Louis said kissing Harry again then they turned and opened their car doors to get out. Harry grabbed their bags then followed Louis into the house greeting his mother at the door. Louis led the way to his old room and helped Harry put their stuff away before they joined his family downstairs

[lancetuckershairgel]

Summary: Chris Haven is a high school resource officer who comes across a troubled teen in need of more help than anyone could imagine.

Word count: 1,380

Warnings: language (warnings will be added as the story progresses)

Tag List: @southernbell91 @marvelgirl7 @book-dragon-13 @jobean12-blog @anxiousamandapanda @loricameback @randomfandompenguin @louisianaspell @spacemansam (if you wish to be added or removed in the tag list for this, let me know)

Chris sat in his patrol car parked outside the school building, looking at the front doors with discontent.  Another day of dealing with the fresh hell that awaited him within those walls. Chris liked kids, hell, he even liked his job most of the time but it was those few problem kids that made his job less than pleasant. 

"Just a few more weeks" he sighed, climbing out and walking inside 

Chris was greeted by the office staff and he made some small talk with a few of the teachers before he headed into his office and opened his computer to a slew of emails. Angry parents cussing him for daring to intervene with their child's behavior, concerned mothers going on about bullying, the usual. Not even five minutes into his work day the phone on his desk rang and he couldn't help but groan at the name that appeared on the screen.  

"Yeah?" Chris asked "What's she doing now?"

"Just get down here." 

Chris sighed and made his way down the locker lined hallway, heading in the direction he was needed. He asked already hear the screaming and saw that the principal and a few other teachers were  trying to defuse the situation but the crowd backed away when he neared, a look of relief on the principal's face when she saw him. He entered the classroom and assessed the situation, shaking his head. 

"You wanna get down from there and tell me what's going on?" Chris asked looking up at the teenage girl standing on her desk

"What's going on is a breech of the third amendment!" 

Chris resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he reached for her wrist, helping her down.

"You're housing a soldier?" he asked casually, leading her out of the classroom without incident 

"What? No. I meant the one about freedom of speech." 

"That's the First Amendment, Lucy"

"Whatever." 

 

"Sit."

Lucy sat down with a huff against the lockers, knees pulled to her chest, while Chris got the necessary details from her teacher. After a few minutes of speaking with Miss Alexander, the principal, he motioned for Lucy to join him. Reluctantly she got up and followed him back to his office. Chris sat down in the leather desk chair and leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. Instead of sitting, Lucy wandered around his office, picking up the rubix cube he had sat on a shelf. 

"What happened?" 

"Didn't Mr Furrow already tell you?" She asked, turning the sides of the colored cube 

"I want to hear your side."

Lucy sighed and turned to look at the officer. 

"Let's just cut to the chase and get to the punishment. I know you don't care about my side." 

"Lucy, you know that isn't true. I've always been fair with you. Sit down and tell me what happened." 

Lucy sat in her preferred chair. Not either of the ones across from his desk,  not the beanbag sat next to a bookshelf, but the white saucer chair covered with faux fur. 

"Do you know why I like sitting here, Chris?" 

"No, wh-"

"You never cared to ask." Lucy shrugged "I've always wanted one."

Chris leaned forward, resting his clasped hands on the desk. 

"Right." Lucy continued to turn the cube "Columbus Day is a load of horseshit and I told Mr Furrow that."

"Why is it...that?"

"Its so dumb how teachers aren't allowed to cuss. I bet every one of you swear like sailors when you're not at work."

"It's not appropriate"

"Its stupid. Anyway, Mr Furrow was preaching-"

"Teaching." Chris corrected her 

"Sure, let's go with that. Mr. Furrow was teaching about that asshole Christopher Columbus and how he discovered America. Then he explained why we celebrate Columbus Day, making this guy out to be a hero or something. So I told him he was wrong."

"Is he wrong?"

"Yeah. Columbus didn't discover America, he discovered some place in the Caribbean"

"What place?" 

Lucy narrowed her eyes. She knew Chris' game. He was testing her, making her talk. She hated him for it because she knew he was reading her. He looked at her as if he was trying to deduce everything that was going on in her head and figuring her out and the scary thing was, he usually could figure her out. She twisted the cube in her hand, looking away from him. 

"The West Indies. He thought he was in India, that's why we call Native Americans Indians. He was a racist prick who raped and murdered hundreds of people then took claim over a land that wasn't his"

"You're right."

"I know I am."

"But you can't tell your teachers that they're wrong."

"Why not? Because I'm a kid and they're the adult?"

"Exactly."

"How is that fair?"

"It isn't, but that's the rules."

"Fuck rules."

"Lucy." Chris warned, reaching for a notebook and handing it to her 

"What's this for?"

"I want you to write an apology letter to Mr Furrow."

"Oh for the love of-"

"Just do it and we can both go back to our day."

"Oh I'm sooo sorry to inconvenience you, Officer." 

She rolled her eyes and began writing. Chris answered the emails he had and rescheduled his mentoring sessions he was currently missing. Thirty minutes later Lucy placed the notebook on Chris' desk, along with the rubix cube. Without another word, she left Chris' office and he raised his eyebrows, picking up the brain teaser and pursing his lips.  

"Smart kid." He mused, turning the cube in his hand to see that she had figured the puzzle out, all six sides one solid color. He placed it back on his shelf without messing it up and went on about his day. 

Before working at the high school Chris worked at a juvenile detention center. As a former troubled teen, he felt drawn to these kids that just needed a guiding hand. He'd met  a lot of these kids over his years as a cop, but never anyone quite like Lucy. Lucy was opinionated, strong willed, and didn't take crap from anyone. When Chris had first shown up at the school, Lucy was aggressive and angry. He had worked with her, even though she fought him every step of the way, to see what worked for her. Eventually he found that bringing her to his office, a room he kept quiet and comfortable, lit only by a couple of dim lamps, would calm her down. He'd talk to her and ask her questions that made her open up and think. Shed never talk about her personal life outside of school, something he quickly learned not to ask her about if he wanted to keep her talking. He had once asked her why she seemed to wear the same thing every day ,a pair of torn and faded jeans and an oversized hoodie. It was t out of the ordinary for teens to be seen in the same hoodies, but even in the warmer months she'd wear the same thing. 

Lucy thought that everyone hated her. She had a chip on her shoulder, an attitude and scowl that made everyone distance themselves from her. She was never seen talking to anyone, always walking to class alone while other girls had friends by their sides. She never attended any after school functions, went on field trips, or did extra curricular activities. When Chris asked her why she just shrugged and told him that they were stupid. Lucy was smart, though. She studied hard, never missed an assignment, or a day of school. When Chris talked to her about her future and what she wanted to do she had told him that she wanted to go to college and get a good job, leaving her response at that. 

At the end of the day Chris called Lucy back to his office. After she had begrudgingly slumped down in one of the chairs in front of his desk he asked her about the rest of her day. 

"Sucked."

"Why?"

"Just did. Why do you care?" 

Chris sighed and scratched at the beard on his face. 

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just don't want to be here."

"Would you rather be at home?"

"Fuck no." 

"Why not?"

[joysmercer]

fireside and bonfire!!

fireside - if you had your dream wardrobe, what would it look like?

lots of combat boots and leather jackets and high-waisted skinny jeans. probably some nice shirts/sweaters as well 

bonfire - describe your dream house.

2 bedrooms, one for me and one for guests

my bedroom will have a walk-in closet because i have way too many clothes for someone who doesn't actually have a fashion sense care about what they wear (blame it on the indian grandparents tbh)

a walk-in pantry in a large kitchen just because

an even bigger sunroom

another room that’s basically a mini-gym (like an elliptical and yoga mat and maybe a stand for weights.)

maybe a pool in the backyard, but i think the house will already be really expensive without one so im not too sure about that asdjfk

the largest room will be a library/study space with a desk, many many many bookshelves, 1 wall that’s just a whiteboard, and beanbag chairs everywhere

the general color scheme will include maroon/reds/dark oranges, although i’ll probably get my sister to decorate for me since she’s much better at that kind of stuff.

autumnal asks

[jemej3m]

hmmmm... renison... kissing under the mistletoe..... having picknicks.... studying together..... first kisses...... casual handholding and love eyes while their friends (foxes) don't realise they're dating.... not actually secret relationship the foxes are just oblivious...... "oh, you have a gf?" asks Kevin, "Have had for the past year thanks for noticing," answers Allison,, "you never even introduced her!!!" "uhhhh ????" (Andrew knows, he's always known, because he's witnessed Renee's pining)

uh DUHHHH

*

The fact that Renee was goddamned pining over Allison was a travesty in the first place. Them actually getting together? Nightmarish. 

What Andrew didn’t anticipate, however, was how painful it would be to sit around and watch the walking disasters that were the Foxes fail to see what had to be the most obvious romantic shitfest that Andrew had ever witnessed. And Andrew was dating Neil.

Dating. It tasted strange on his tongue, but he found it more tolerable than boyfriend of, or the insufferably vague partner. 

He leaned back into beanbag, holding his beer between two hands. Neil glanced up to him from where he was sitting between his knees, with an eyebrow quirked to the meaning of yes or no? When Andrew nodded, he dropped his head onto one knee, and paid attention to the conversation around them. 

Andrew pondered over the stages of Renee and Allison’s relationship. It was a slow, gentle thing, that began with some misplaced affection and misinterpreted emotions. Seth’s death made it messy, but it also blinded Allison from her worth. Not that Andrew thought she was anything more than a catty bitch. And Neil’s close friend. And now, Renee’s girlfriend.

Andrew remembered watching Renee, who’s gaze would automatically flit to Allison after Seth’s murder. What had once been concern, soon turned to confusion, as she continued to clench her hands in the material covering her knees: A long skirt, exy shorts, loose trousers. 

She fought harder, dirtier, whenever they sparred. Andrew was never one to instigate conversation, but when she overthrew a punch and almost buckled her elbow, he grabbed her shoulder. She looked at him sheepishly, understanding the thin wrinkles of anger between his brows. 

“Sorry.” She muttered, fiddling at the stupid fucking cross around her neck. “I know I’ve been acting strange. I just need to - work past this.”

He didn’t ask what. He didn’t really care, so long as she worked it out. 

So it continued. Confusion quickly transformed into denial, but not about sexuality. Andrew understood her reluctance to encroach onto vulnerability: Renee didn’t want to scorn Seth by going after Allison merely months after his death. Renee also didn’t want to use Allison’s vulnerability to satisfy herself. 

Then the whirlwind of an Exy season happened, and, if Andrew was honest with himself, his attention was entirely consumed by his auburn haired death-magnet. He was pretty sure that Renee had quelled whatever infatuations she’d formed for Allison. What he hadn’t expected was to see the exact same thing unfold from the other side, like a goddamned mirror. 

Allison wasn’t someone you could describe as twitchy, but she certainly grew uneasy around Renee. She compensated this with dialling up the bitchiness, often scathingly dismissing Renee before spinning on her heel and leaving the room. Andrew hated it, hated how Renee’s bottom lip would quiver ever-so-slightly, because Renee thought Allison found out about how she felt (or had felt) and was disgusted with her. Renee still loved Allison as a friend. 

And yet, Andrew could relate to Allison, as much as he didn’t want to. The easiest out was to express vehement hatred, and drive that person away. 

It was the summer after what Andrew would now call The Year, or in other words, Neil’s hellish version of a freshman year. All the Foxes, old, new and newer, were settling into the dorms. Everyone steered clear of Andrew and Neil, the terrifying unit that they were. It was just how Andrew wanted it. 

Then Renee came hurtling into their flat. Kevin and Neil were out on a run: Andrew was sat by the window, letting smoke trail lazily into the air. She had her fingertips over her mouth, eyes widened just a fraction with shock. 

He paused, waiting for her to speak. 

“I kissed her.” She mumbled. 

He waved her off. “If you’re hiding in here, I’ll only give you half an hour.”

She relaxed immediately, crossing the room to perch herself on the desk beside him and offering him a gentle smile. “Thank you.” 

They talked for more than half an hour: Kevin and Neil returned, they both showered, Kevin went off to Wymack’s for dinner and Neil eventually joined in with the conversation. Andrew put a hand in his hair and challenged Renee with an eyebrow. See what forwardness can get you? 

She took the hint, and with a shy smile, slid off the desk and left his dorm. 

From that moment onwards, Andrew was keenly aware of both Renee and Allison. The next day they were hedgy around each other. That night, they went out, dressed antithetically to the other: Allison wore a skin-tight white dress, hugging from the shoulders to the knees, bright red lipstick and red heels making her look like a straight-man’s dream. Renee, in a soft, grey sundress, wore a pair of tights and a cardigan, with little clips in her hair. 

Neil snorted when he saw them leave. “Fucking finally.” 

Andrew was almost surprised, giving him an appraising look. “How long have you known? You’re not exactly apt at noticing these things.”

Neil crossed his arms petulantly. “I’m perfectly apt.”

Andrew arched a single brow. “Need I remind you that I had to tell you, word for word, that I’d give you a blowjob, before you realised?”

He flushed. “Fine. Allison’s been mooning over Renee to me since after the championships game.” 

Things were noticeably fluid from that moment on. Renee and Allison were a thing: they linked arms and shared jumpers and pecked each other on the cheek. Except, that was rather typical behaviour of the Fox girls, so no one noticed. 

Literally no one. Not even Dan, who’d walked in on them sleeping in the same bed, and Allison had complained about their broken heater. She’d taken it without a thought and hopped into the bed with them. Likewise, Nicky, the self-acclaimed “Gaydar-Master”, had teased Allison about a hickey, only to ask who the lucky guy was. Honestly. Andrew’s cousin was an embarrassment. 

The movie had been turned down in favour of conversation: None of the freshmen were there, but neither was Aaron or Nicky, who’d left to get food for the rest of them. Neil slowly turned his head and pressed a small kiss on the inside of Andrew’s knee. 

Andrew watched Allison send him a vicious smirk, entwining her fingers with Renee’s and bringing the back of her hand to Allison’s mouth. It left a pink lipstick print. 

Neil looked up at Andrew with another silent question, who rolled his eyes and leaned forward to Neil’s ear. 

“You have to make everything a competition, don’t you.” He muttered. Neil grinned softly. 

“Is that a no?”

He settled his beer on the ground. “Keep it respectable, Josten.” The glint in his sky-blue eyes was menacing. 

Gently, Neil drew Andrew’s knees over his shoulders and interlocked his arms around them, brushing careful fingers on the exposed skin of his ankle. Allison draped her legs over Renee’s lap. 

Neil pulled Andrew’s hand down so that his chin was resting on Neil’s head. Ridiculous. Idiot. “119.” Andrew muttered. 

Allison leaned in to whisper in Renee’s ear, brushing her hair behind her ear. 

Neil craned his head up, and Andrew rolled his eyes before indulging him in a quick kiss - barely a moment long. Neil looked back to Allison with victory in his eyes. 

She scoffed and flicked her hair over her shoulder, cupping Renee’s jaw and engaging Renee’s attention entirely. It was dark in the room, but not dark enough for the two girls to make out unnoticed. 

“What the fuck?” Kevin said around a mouthful of MSG-free pretzels. Matt and Dan looked at him, then looked at them, where they sat sheepishly with kiss-swollen lips. 

“Since when?” Dan yelped, throwing popcorn everywhere. 

Renee affected confusion, looking to Allison. “Almost - ?”

“Three months ago.” Allison finished, clucking her tongue. “Seriously, guys? Are you that obtuse?”

The door opened, Nicky and Aaron loaded with Indian food. Seeing everyone in various states of shock, Nicky grinned.  “What did I miss?”

Upon noticing Allison’s lipstick smudges and their flushed cheeks, he almost dropped the green curry in favour of screeching. 

Andrew put his head in his hands. He hated them all. 

[sanders-soulbound-au]

Character Bios

Patton Flores ☀️

He/xe (nonbinary) • 17

Latino - tan

Pansexual

Uses pronoun bracelets for those he is out to (he/him is blue and xe/xem is yellow)

Enjoys cooking, gardening, cartoons, his friends, cuddling plushies, seeing adorable pets, beanbags, telling puns and jokes, physical affection, Disney princes (they’re all so handsome and wonderful), sleepovers with Virgil, using emojis as much as he wants, his parents

Doesn’t enjoy most green vegetables, bugs or arachnids, feeling like he’s not smart when communicating in English, self-deprecation, being sad, fire, sleeping without a light

Virgil’s best friend since childhood

Logan Banerjee ☀️

He/him (trans) • 16

Indian - brown

Bisexual

Enjoys reading, learning about history, wordplay (specifically word association games), debates, trying out science experiments, biology, being right, board games, space, crossword books, classical music, art, photography, rain, cats

Doesn’t enjoy not being out to his parents, being judged because of heritage, internet trends, NOT being right, video games, the idea of time travel, wild animals, puns or pick-up lines, stereotypes

Has no plans to medically transition. Owns a binder (as Virgil helped him to get one)

In a QPR with Virgil

Virgil Cox 🌙

He/him • 16

African American - black

Demiromantic gay

Enjoys browsing through tumblr, sleepovers with Patton, sleeping in general, binging Netflix, speaking in sarcasm, confusing Logan with memes, Halloween, his last name, playing chess, fairy lights, spiders, cats, the paranormal, Patton’s puns

Doesn’t enjoy pop or country music, loud noises, heights, getting sweaty palms, power blackouts, school, pressure of most kinds, outer space, having photos taken of him, being ridiculed

Patton’s best friend since childhood (you do anything to hurt Patton and you will be catching Virgil’s hands)

In a QPR with Logan

Roman 🌟

They/them (agender) • 16

Italian - fair skin

Gay ace

Enjoys theatre, musicals, Disney, upbeat or pop music, daydreaming, fantasy books, being alikened to a Disney prince, being/having the four a’s: agender, ace, adhd and awesome, romance and the cliches associated with it, festivity, iced drinks, being out and about, star-gazing, adventure

Doesn’t enjoy rap (except for Hamilton), rock&roll or country music, being around their father, boredom, know-it-alls, rough-textured things (such as rugs), being misgendered, forgetting things

[hag-lad]

Another amazing weekend, cuz I’m just on a roll having the best time of my life lately! Friday night, I went on a long ass walk with my brother and we were just cackling laughing for 7 miles and the weather was perfect and I was so happy the whole time. Saturday my brother and I went to the SONIC SYMPHONY and had thee most amazing time, it was literally a perfect show in every way. CRUSH 40 WAS THERE and I got to scream along to songs I’ve loved since I was a child, with thousands of other people who all had the same childhood as me. Truly a radiant experience. Then it was post-show pizza time, and then I came home and wrote fanfic in my new beanbag, and it was bliss. Today I went to a very cute/ tiny/ beautiful Indian heritage festival and ate the most incredible biryani and watched bellydancers and a sari fashion show. Finished the night watching Chirutha and cackling with my wife about the dialogue and Charan’s inability to close his legs.

God, I love being medicated! Really helps me say yes to the things that bring me joy and makes me more Present at those things. I’ve realized recently that I’m not the introvert I thought I was in my 20’s. That was just trauma & mental illness lmao. I was a very extroverted, excitable, annoying ass child, and it feels so goddam amazing to reconnect with that now in my 30’s. Like literally no, I’m not the brooding, quiet, tortured artist anymore! I’m a noisy, tacky goofball, and I love my life!

[relucant]

MY NIGHT:

- around 6:30 pm, wifi sucks in the dorm and after sunset is very cold on the rooftop, so go down to basement to be a sloth

- make friends with guy from india now living in dubai (who is also apparently my roommate)

accidentally wake up guy from australia sleeping on the beanbags (who is also my roommate) we’re all friends now

guy from india leaves for a date, me and aussie guy (still don’t know his name) decide to go for dinner, it’s good, super cheap, i think like just under $7 each

aussie guy texting indian guy who is apparently getting majorly scammed, manages to get is 1700 lari bill ($500?) down to 250 lari we’re like wtf

i paid for slightly more of dinner so aussie guy buys me a beer in the hostel and it’s downhill from here

[insert very very drunk but friendly american peace corps volunteers who are ALSO our roommates]

[insert “okay anyone want a shot?” “i have a bottle of wine upstairs”]

[fuzzy]

me aussie indian decide to go out for a beer and in fact it is only a beer but like 2am by now

“hey i know this other cool bar that’s open all night”

it’s now like 4am, ridiculously hot georgian-armenian flight attendant sits down and reels off various flight info based on nothing but where each of us were flying out of

i’m drunk and heart-eyes with no filter and am like dude you’re so pretty

she smiles and grabs my hand

dude makes mildly icky comments she’s like no like... i’m a lesbian

i’m like equal parts heart eyes and tongue tied (also drunk, approaching five am) blurt out COOL IM BISEXUAL (casually scooting my chair closer and we’re still holding hands)

i’ll never see her again but she kissed me goodbye and i’ll always have that because oh my gOD she was so hot

good night

[fate-grandorder-imagines]

How would karna and arjuna react when their s/o is reading Mahabharata to know them better?

Karna & Arjuna + master that reads the Mahabharata

A/n: I’m so sorry that this ended up so short I just really didn’t know what to say :/

Requested by: anonymous

Arjuna would feel slightly insulted that his Master doesn’t know much about him since it’s canon that the Fate master possesses like zero knowledge about the greatest heroes 

please don’t judge him okay he takes great pride in being one of the greatest heroes in Indian mythology and it dazzles him that his contractor doesn’t know about him

but once he sees you being genuinely intrigued by his stories and heroic deeds he calms down a little and compliments you for trying to educate yourself even though he can’t help but squirm under the storm of nagging questions you throw at him

Karna meanwhile wouldn’t react that much and be rather fascinated himself, wanting to know how the stories depict him and being slightly amused when you bombard him with questions

it ends up with both of you slumping down on beanbags, together with a grumpy and hesitant Arjuna, and discussing the accuracy

- Mod Silver

[sourabha]

Thank you, Cervantes

What a journey reading this magnificent work of literature has been. Originating in a Mediterranean land and thus haunting an Indian girl just as it has all its readers. This piece of art has evoked tears of joy, rib-hurting laughter (I have literally rolled off my beanbag a couple of times, I kid you not), tears of tenderness, unspeakable melancholia, and most of all,such love for the written…

[designdekko]

Tips and tricks to host the perfect garden brunch

With summer around the corner, brunches are coming back. Whether you prefer a boozy brunch or a relaxed Sunday hangout, having your own space in your home to host your friends surely comes in handy. With the simple addition of delightful beanbags, pillow covers, rugs, side tables and more at a pocket-friendly investment, you will never want to brunch out again. 

Whether you have a smaller patio or a larger garden, read on for more tips and tricks as we discuss how to throw the perfect garden brunch soiree that will definitely be a crowd favourite. 

Also Read | Chicago Architecture Biennial Announces Contributors for Fourth Edition: The Available City

Going bottom to top, we’ll start with some rugs. The Heron’s Palace Flat Woven Rug is available in 3 sizes and can match any exterior it’s placed in. The hand-woven flatweave makes for a sophisticated addition to your decor. The design features an artistic representation of Mughal-style windows in a splash of orange and blue along with the Heron. Made with a Satin Blend and Latex Blend at the back, this rug is suitable for astroturfs, grass or just plain marble/wood. 

Next, let’s look at seating. Placed around a bar counter, a high table or just around the area, the Legend of the Cranes High Stool will be the perfect addition. Utility marries design in this unit, made of iron and ply whose upholstery depicts cranes flying against a beautiful scarlet background. The seating comes with a powder coat finish. Add 3 or 4 of these stools around your garden to complete the look. 

Also Read: Festive Home Decor: 10 accessories you should add to your home

If you want something comfortable and casual yet super stylish, India Circus’ wide range of bean bags is definitely for you. Try the Conifered Lotus Symmetry Design, or look through the website to find your favourite style. 

If neither of these options is for you, there’s no need to fret. The Monarch on Chevron Pouffe features colourful butterflies in various shapes and sizes, hues of blue, red and lavender that come together on the monochromatic design on this pouffe. Bring out the chic ottoman for your party as extra seating and to break the monotony of pastels in your space. 

Add some small tables around the space to allow guests to put down their drinks or plates. Our Birdland Nesting Table will be a welcome addition. Made from teakwood, the compact set of three tables is a unique space-saving solution for modern Indian homes. With a playful design portraying a picturesque melange of birds, flowers and butterflies wandering in nature, it reflects India Circus’ art in the truest sense. 

Also Read: Festive Home Decor: 10 accessories you should add to your home

Now, onto some light. The India Circus’ Argent White Floor Lamp Base will liven up any environment with its white beam. The mango wood base will be a hit with people who appreciate the wooden decor. 

Every soiree, big or small, food is always a must. And the way you serve can make or break a vibe. Start with finger foods served in our Chevron Perching Peacock Platter, and don’t be surprised if the beautiful motif hogs all the attention among your friends when the appetizers come out. The design has 3 stunning peacocks perched on a lotus surrounded by a chevron pattern. The colour combination of indigo and coral is eye-pleasing and raises your design aesthetic a few notches up. Made of porcelain, it is a versatile platter that can hold both glasses as well as starters. 

Also Read | Interior stylist Bhawana Bhatnagar on smart lockers at residential spaces

Finally, onto the table. A table runner is always a good idea. With glamorous overlays and ecstatic opulence, Krsnaa Mehta recaptures Mughal aesthetics with exemplary rendition. Add an element of drama to your table with the Chevron Palms Table Runner, featuring a chevron background with visually pleasing palm tree motifs on blended taffeta silk. Next, complete the look by incorporating some white or beige table mats and keep the mess to a minimum with a final touch of the Chevron Palms Copper Coaster. Matching the table runner, these coasters will steal the limelight at your next party. 

To keep your table organized, incorporate a cutlery holder. The India Circus March of the Blossoms Cutlery Holder has a depiction of bird and floral elements. Earn brownie points with your floral enthusiast friends and add a sense of relaxation with the rich overlays and beautiful hues depicted. 

Also Read | 5 Innovative ways to incorporate Japanese architectural elements in the Indian home decor

Now that we’ve covered the basics, why don’t we add in some fun stuff? We have a wide array of art pieces that you can incorporate into your patio or garden to add some style. The Hoofed Giraffa Animal Figurine stands tall and beautiful as a part of your home decor. In gorgeous emerald green, it is sure to go with most designs. The Magnolia Textured Wooden Mask on Stand will help you flaunt your unique and classy choice in art by adorning your home with this collectable. The workmanship is done by artisans in Rajasthan, this piece will definitely be a stand out at your next soiree. 

Also Read | Interior stylist Bhawana Bhatnagar on smart lockers at residential spaces

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