#lawn care in franklin

[wbatriani]

How to Have the Greenest Grass All Year Round

Achieving the Greenest Grass All Year Round with Lawnwise Inc - Your Premier Lawn Care Company in Franklin TN

A lush, green lawn is the epitome of a well-maintained home, adding beauty and curb appeal to any property. Maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn requires dedication, expertise, and the right tools. For residents in Franklin, Tennessee, Lawnwise Inc stands out as a trusted partner for achieving the greenest grass all year round.

Who is Lawnwise Inc?

Lawnwise Inc is a prominent lawn care company serving the Franklin, TN area, known for its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. With a team of experienced professionals and a passion for creating and maintaining healthy lawns, Lawnwise Inc offers a range of lawn care services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

Expertise and Personalized Service

One of the key factors that sets Lawnwise Inc apart is their expertise in lawn care and their dedication to providing personalized service to each customer. When you choose Lawnwise Inc, you can expect a comprehensive lawn analysis to assess the current state of your grass, soil, and landscape. Based on this evaluation, their experts will create a customized lawn care plan tailored to address your lawn's specific needs and provide the best results.

Seasonal Lawn Maintenance

Lawnwise Inc understands that different seasons pose varying challenges to maintaining a green and healthy lawn. With their seasonal lawn maintenance programs, they ensure that your grass receives the care it needs to thrive throughout the year.

Spring: In the spring, Lawnwise Inc focuses on revitalizing your lawn after the winter months. This may include core aeration, overseeding, and the application of balanced fertilizers to kickstart growth and promote a lush, green lawn.

Summer: Summer brings its own set of challenges, from heat stress to potential weed infestations. Lawnwise Inc implements strategies to keep your lawn hydrated, healthy, and weed-free during the hotter months, with proper watering schedules, targeted fertilization, and weed control treatments.

Fall: As the temperatures start to cool down, Lawnwise Inc prepares your lawn for the winter months ahead. Fall maintenance may include aerating and overseeding to strengthen the grass roots, as well as applying specialized fertilizers to promote winter hardiness and early growth in the following spring.

Winter: Even during the winter months, Lawnwise Inc provides essential care for your lawn to ensure that it remains healthy and ready to flourish once the warmer weather returns. Services may include winterization treatments, snow mold prevention, and monitoring the lawn's overall health.

Environmentally Friendly Practices

Lawnwise Inc is committed to sustainability and environmentally friendly lawn care practices. They prioritize the use of organic products, reduce water waste through efficient irrigation systems, and promote natural pest control methods to minimize the environmental impact of their services.

Customer Satisfaction and Results

At Lawnwise Inc, customer satisfaction is a top priority. They strive to exceed expectations by delivering exceptional results and maintaining open communication with their clients. By partnering with Lawnwise Inc, you can trust that your lawn will reach its full potential, showcasing a deep, green color and lush texture all year round.

Conclusion

In conclusion, achieving the greenest grass all year round with Lawnwise Inc in Franklin, TN is not just a possibility – it's a reality. With their expertise, personalized service, seasonal maintenance programs, environmentally friendly practices, and commitment to customer satisfaction, Lawnwise Inc is your trusted partner for creating and maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Contact Lawnwise Inc today to transform your lawn into a lush, green oasis that enhances the beauty and value of your home.

[jesira]

Best Time of The Year to Treat Your Lawn for Weeds and Apply Lawn Fertilizer

Properly caring for your lawn involves a variety of tasks, including fertilization and weed control. Ensuring that you fertilize and treat your lawn at the right time of year is crucial for maintaining its health and appearance. Timing these applications correctly can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of the products you use and the overall health of your lawn.

Fertilization Timing:

Fertilizing your lawn is essential for providing the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and development. The timing of your fertilizer applications can significantly impact how well your grass absorbs and utilizes these nutrients.

Spring Fertilization: One of the best times to fertilize your lawn is in the early spring, typically between late February and April, depending on your specific location. This timing allows the grass to recover from winter dormancy and encourages strong growth as it enters the growing season. Choose a balanced fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content to promote green and healthy grass.

Summer Fertilization: While spring is crucial for setting a good foundation, summer applications can also be beneficial, especially if your lawn is showing signs of stress due to heat or drought. However, be cautious not to fertilize during periods of extreme heat, as this can risk burning the grass. A slow-release fertilizer can be useful during the summer months to provide a steady supply of nutrients over time.

Fall Fertilization: Fall is another critical time to fertilize your lawn. Applying fertilizer in early fall, typically between September and November, helps strengthen the grass's roots and prepare it for the winter months. Look for a fertilizer with higher potassium content to promote root growth and winter hardiness.

Weed Control Timing:

Weeds are a common nuisance in lawns and can quickly take over if left unchecked. Timing your weed control applications correctly can help prevent weed infestations and keep your lawn looking healthy and vibrant.

Pre-Emergent Herbicides: Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to prevent weed seeds from germinating, making them an effective tool for controlling weeds before they become a problem. The best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides is in the spring, typically before soil temperatures reach a certain threshold that triggers weed seed germination. Timing is crucial with these products, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Post-Emergent Herbicides: If weeds have already emerged in your lawn, post-emergent herbicides can help control and eliminate them. These products are most effective when applied during the weed's active growth phase, which is usually in the spring or fall when temperatures are moderate, and weeds are actively growing. Be mindful of the specific types of weeds you are targeting, as different herbicides are designed to control specific weed species.

Integrated Approach: Incorporating both fertilization and weed control into a comprehensive lawn care program is vital for maintaining a healthy and weed-free lawn. By timing your applications correctly and using the right products, you can promote strong grass growth while minimizing weed infestations.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the best time of year to fertilize and treat your lawn for weeds depends on a variety of factors, including your specific location, grass type, and the types of weeds you are dealing with. By understanding the proper timing for these applications and following best practices for lawn care, you can ensure that your lawn remains healthy, lush, and free of weeds throughout the year. Remember to read product labels carefully, follow recommended application rates, and consider seeking professional advice for personalized lawn care recommendations. If you are looking for a Professional Lawn Care Service in Franklin TN, call Lawnwise Inc. and get started today!

[directactionforhope]

"Starting this month [June 2024], thousands of young people will begin doing climate-related work around the West as part of a new service-based federal jobs program, the American Climate Corps, or ACC. The jobs they do will vary, from wildland firefighters and “lawn busters” to urban farm fellows and traditional ecological knowledge stewards. Some will work on food security or energy conservation in cities, while others will tackle invasive species and stream restoration on public land. 

The Climate Corps was modeled on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, with the goal of eventually creating tens of thousands of jobs while simultaneously addressing the impacts of climate change. 

Applications were released on Earth Day, and Maggie Thomas, President Joe Biden’s special assistant on climate, told High Country News that the program’s website has already had hundreds of thousands of views. Since its launch, nearly 250 jobs across the West have been posted, accounting for more than half of all the listed ACC positions. 

“Obviously, the West is facing tremendous impacts of climate change,” Thomas said. “It’s changing faster than many other parts of the country. If you look at wildfire, if you look at extreme heat, there are so many impacts. I think that there’s a huge role for the American Climate Corps to be tackling those crises.”  

Most of the current positions are staffed through state or nonprofit entities, such as the Montana Conservation Corps or Great Basin Institute, many of which work in partnership with federal agencies that manage public lands across the West. In New Mexico, for example, members of Conservation Legacy’s Ecological Monitoring Crew will help the Bureau of Land Management collect soil and vegetation data. In Oregon, young people will join the U.S. Department of Agriculture, working in firefighting, fuel reduction and timber management in national forests. 

New jobs are being added regularly. Deadlines for summer positions have largely passed, but new postings for hundreds more positions are due later this year or on a rolling basis, such as the Working Lands Program, which is focused on “climate-smart agriculture.”  ...

On the ACC website, applicants can sort jobs by state, work environment and focus area, such as “Indigenous knowledge reclamation” or “food waste reduction.” Job descriptions include an hourly pay equivalent — some corps jobs pay weekly or term-based stipends instead of an hourly wage — and benefits. The site is fairly user-friendly, in part owing to suggestions made by the young people who participated in the ACC listening sessions earlier this year...

The sessions helped determine other priorities as well, Thomas said, including creating good-paying jobs that could lead to long-term careers, as well as alignment with the president’s Justice40 initiative, which mandates that at least 40% of federal climate funds must go to marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution. 

High Country News found that 30% of jobs listed across the West have explicit justice and equity language, from affordable housing in low-income communities to Indigenous knowledge and cultural reclamation for Native youth...

While the administration aims for all positions to pay at least $15 an hour, the lowest-paid position in the West is currently listed at $11 an hour. Benefits also vary widely, though most include an education benefit, and, in some cases, health care, child care and housing. 

All corps members will have access to pre-apprenticeship curriculum through the North America’s Building Trades Union. Matthew Mayers, director of the Green Workers Alliance, called this an important step for young people who want to pursue union jobs in renewable energy. Some members will also be eligible for the federal pathways program, which was recently expanded to increase opportunities for permanent positions in the federal government...

 “To think that there will be young people in every community across the country working on climate solutions and really being equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce of the future,” Thomas said, “to me, that is going to be an incredible thing to see.”"

-via High Country News, June 6, 2024

--

Note: You can browse Climate Corps job postings here, on the Climate Corps website. There are currently 314 jobs posted at time of writing!

Also, it says the goal is to pay at least $15 an hour for all jobs (not 100% meeting that goal rn), but lots of postings pay higher than that, including some over $20/hour!!

[wide-nose-and-wonderful]

SNOWFALL SEASON 5 Franklin. (Part 2)

Pairing: Franklin Saint x Quirky Black Fem Reader!

Warnings/Type: Slow Burn. Fluffy. A drip of Angst. Use of the n-word, and a tiny bit of soft SMUTTY behavior. 

Summary: You have a very wild imagination. But what happens when imagination bleeds into reality? Will you rise above it, or crumble and fall? (Part 1). 

Word count: 7,620k  / Comment and Like to show some love. It's oh so appreciated and encourages me to write more for ya'll! 

The house was a sight to behold! Coming from a small shared apartment, to you, it was a large mansion situated atop a hill in the most affluent neighborhood of the city! From the outside, a grand and imposing structure. Tall columns, a large balcony that overlooked the L.A skyline. But inside, it was a different story. A luxurious and opulent testament to wealth and power. There was a grand staircase that led up to the second floor, with chandeliers that hung from the ceiling and wall. Floors covered with rich carpeting. Walls adorned with expensive artwork, and the furniture of the highest quality. You could tell just by looking. In the living room, there was a large fountain that burbled with crystal clear water. The kitchen was stocked with the finest ingredients and appliances, while the bedrooms were filled with exotic silks and fine linens. 

Okaaaaay, so you were getting ahead of yourself, running around in your mind again. Such an exaggeration too, that's how you described Saints Palace in one of your many chapters of the Bonnie and Clyde type adventure romance you'd write up and tore down in the few hours it took you to get home. Franklin was just a ‘regular degular’ guy from finance class. However, when it came to your imagination and all the shit it thought up, that's where the facade of normalcy ended. Saint was indeed not what he seemed. 

Story Franklin acquired the living quarters from a high profile gangster he'd shot and killed, and he and Juicy decided to make it their home. Although not for long, the dynamic duo had made good use of christening every area in that bitch so whoever took it up after would keep just a little piece of the doomed lovers in their midst, before they took off to evade the FBI hot on their trail. 

Franklin's place was of course nice, just not Saint’s Palace. 

You walked inside and took off your shoes at the door before making your way toward the couch you saw in your view. You nodded, looking around impressed. Franklin's house was a sprawling estate tucked away in the hills on damn near the outskirts of town. Or how he'd put it, away from everything. It was an unassuming brick home with a large, manicured lawn. Inside the house, the walls were adorned with what looked like expensive art work. The floors were covered in thick carpets, and the furniture was luxurious and opulent, at least compared to your old worn down couch that you’d inherited from your mother. She only wanted to get rid of it so she could buy herself a new one. There it remained two years later. 

From the looks of it, Franklin had taken great care to ensure that his home was kept in pristine condition.You got the sudden urge to ask him just what the hell he did for a living. But you stopped yourself. This was strictly business. You were done with trying to gain insight on Franklin Saint. You put that chapter behind you. All that mattered now was doing a great project so that you and he passed the class. With an A, preferably. 

You watched him set the keys on the counter and move toward the kitchen area. “You want something to drink?”

You shrugged, poking out your bottom lip like you had to take that second to decide. “Sure. What you got?” 

He disappeared from view for a second and you could hear the fridge open from where you seated yourself on the floor by the glass coffee table.

"Water," he called back. "Tea, juice."

"I'll do the tea," you particularly shouted against the new sounds of popping. Pretty soon the entire area smelled like popcorn. Franklin came back out a couple minutes later with two glasses filled to the brim with ice and tea. He placed one glass in front of you and sat the other down at the opposite side of the coffee table. 

"Figured we'd have ourselves a snack too while we do this." 

He left again, and came back. You watched him place the large bowl in the middle of the table, then turn to head back toward the kitchen. You reached a hand and gathered up some popcorn. You loved popcorn and generously filled your mouth, letting its buttery goodness hit your taste buds. 

"So," you said, grabbing your glass. "Have any time to think about what you wanna do for the project?"

Franklin shrugged and took a seat on the floor next to you. "Naw. Not really to tell you the truth." 

Talk about being prepared. You didn't see his finance book anywhere, so you decided to pull out yours. You grabbed your backpack and lifted it out, along with your folder that was filled up with class notes. 

Franklin took notice as he drank from his cup. "Looks like someone came prepared." 

You grinned and shook your head. "Well we wanna ace this bad boy don't we?" 

"Hell yeah," he exclaimed. 

"Well then," you said with a chuckle. You opened the book and pulled out your class syllabus from the folder. "Okay so it says we need to choose from a scenario on page 382, and then pick a strategy we wanna focus on to help whatever business we are going for." 

You nodded and placed the paper in his direction. He looked over it, then down at the finance book in front of you. 

"You mind if I?" 

You shook your head and lifted the book to pass it to him, watching as he found his way to chapter 382. You watched his eyes trail over the words, halting your desire to reach for more popcorn to instead focus on those long eyelashes you adored. 

It seemed like it took him an eternity to read over all the scanairo’s, but once he had, he passed the book back to you. 

“For me personally. I say we go with number 3. The one about property and real estate. Seems the most interesting outta all of um.” 

You looked down at all the words on the pages and nodded.You were not fix to read through all that! “Fine. I trust you. We’ll go with that scenario then.” You picked the syllables back up and poked your lips. “Hmm, so we have a few options on how we wanna approach this. What do you think?” You passed him the sheet again and let your back partially sink into the cushions of the couch behind you. 

Franklin took two fingers and ran them both over his chin. “Damn. This is kinda hard. See,” he began and closed some space between you both to get closer so you were both in eye view of the paper. “What I'm thinkin’ is that we go wit number 6. Creating a financial Plan for a startup.” 

You got a whiff of his cologne and just like that you were soaked. You let off a silent curse as the moisture spread over the line of your pantines. 

“But then also, number 9, Risk Assessment and Management seems hella important. And of course, 3 is important too. Exploring investment options. If the money’s gonna go somewhere, we gotta make sure we know both the risks as well as the rewards associated.” 

You shifted your legs. Which didn’t help in the matter. You were gonna have to make a trip to remedy the problem. Even so, Franklin actually seemed like he knew what the hell he was talking about. "Very great point. I mean if you're feeling ambitious. We could try and tackle all of them,” You proposed. “I’m sure Mr. Miller would appreciate the effort. Probably a guaranteed A for us.” 

"Yeah. Alright. Let's do it," he said.

Lucky for you he turned to grab his glass of tea. He couldn't have picked any other phrase then, let's do it. Shit. Another rush of wetness came. 

"Alright, alright. Imma go to the ladies room and we can get right to it." 

You didn't wait for a response, you shot up and sprang off before you heard Franklin call out behind you with a chuckle, "Other way!" You turned on your heels and caught a glimpse of him as you passed, seeing the bathroom come into view on your right. 

When you got in you shut the door closed and leaned looking down at your punani. "You drippy bitch, I hate you," you growled through gritted teeth in a whisper. The last thing you wanted was for Franklin to overhear you cussing out your pussy. He'd really think you 're crazy then. Just your luck. It was mad silent in that bitch. So silent you could hear a pin drop. "What the hell are you in heat? Stop with the water works already, damn." You reached over toward the toilet paper roll and took yourself a couple squares. "I'm not playing with you." 

When you came back as refreshed as you would get, your backpack had moved over and there was a pillow where you'd been sitting. Franklin had a pen in hand, and now his own finance book and a couple sheets of loose leaf. The page he currently wrote on was filled with words and numbers as you approached for a closer view. 

"Figured you might get a lil uncomfortable sittin' without one after a while." He said, then looked up at you. 

You smiled, looking down at him before you took your place to meet him at eye level. "Thank you." 

Franklin simply nodded his head and directed his attention back to his paper as he turned a page in the book. 

You squinted and lowered your gaze on Franklin before the surrounding area, and finally toward the sound system. "Hey, um. Sorry, but you think we can get some background music going? I never really could focus in silence." That, and if that bitch between your legs showed her ass again, you weren't sure you would be able to hold your composure. 

The next 45 minutes consisted of strategy. Once you and Franklin were in work mode, you barely spoke. Really the process was a straight line. He designated tasks, and knowing your part you sprang into action. With the sounds of Motown lightly playing in the background you found your head in your finance book, looking over every detail you thought you would need. Franklin keeping up that same energy focused on building the mapping structure of the plan you'd both agreed upon. Nothing could have pulled you from your stride. Well, nothing except the pizza delivery guy at the door. At some point in the hours that began to pile up you got hungry again and Franklin ordered a pizza for you to share. You'd both made some real progress by the time he filled your glasses with more iced tea and the popcorn had been devoured. Pretty soon the break you both agreed upon had turned into a longer non school work project related conversation then you'd expected. 

Laughter, belonging to the two of you filled the space as the conversation switched from movies to life choices. It was 1:15AM when Franklin asked his next question. 

"College bound huh? You said you like to bake. Why finance?" 

"You know to be honest I never really thought about it. Really, I just always figured that at the very least I should know the ends and outs of how to manage my earnings." You took the last bite of pizza before sitting down the remaining crust you couldn't finish.

You watched Franklin shift his position. He faced you, leaning slightly forward, like he wanted to hear what you would say next. Could it be that you caught his interest? 

You continued. "The degree doesn't mean that much. At Least I don't think so. Just a piece of paper that appeals to the masses," you grinned. "It’s the learned knowledge that you never lose tho'. Now that! That's what matters. My dream I guess has always been to follow in the Panthers footsteps." You chuckled thinking about the certain image your hero's held. "Like not guns, cause I'd probably hurt myself," you told Franklin to clarify, "But you know the stuff they were doing to help the community. Health care, Soup Kitchen." 

You had the opportunity to lock eyes with him for a minute. Deep brown hues that looked like they were ready to be explored. They were like precious jewels. The intensity in them, man oh man. Your nerves made you think of something off top real quick to break the contact. You had to keep yourself from falling. 

"I don’t know if you heard," you said rather playfully, "but I can throw down in the kitchen. So yeah, being able to provide a warm meal to a kid that’s hungry." You nodded at first but shrugged in satisfaction, "Or anyone really. That would put a smile on my face everyday." Then you sighed. "Ofcourse that would require a shit load of money. I’d have to literally rob a bank to make any of that happen in real life. So it’s not so much a business plan as it is a non profit type thing. And you know how white folk is bout’ they money." You scribbled something on the paper in front of you. "They give us just enough to get by, but not enough to see any actual change. I bet my dollars they don’t really want that anyway. To see us come up. Everyone knows what they did to the panthers. This fucking government." 

You were able to catch the tightness that found Franklin's jaw when you mentioned the government. Such an action made you curious to ask why, but you didn't, hoping instead that he would tell you all on his own without coaxing for information. The silence that came only stayed a moment, and then he spoke. 

"My dad was a Panther." 

Your lips parted, although you were unable to say anything to the fact. You never would have guessed. Not that it wasn't possible, you'd just never come across someone with that type of connection. Then again, Franklin Saint seemed full of surprises. 

"Wow," you finally breathed out. "To live in that time. Man. What I wouldn't give to pick his brain." 

You looked over toward Franklin and saw in your view a little smile emerged on him, and left. You realized that it was a coping mechanism for him. It claimed his deep brown features at the oddest times. You'd been observant of it on different occasions. Only this time some form of sadness attached itself to it. 

"He was murdered," Franklin said. There was a solumness in his tone. 

Your heart beat sped up. Shit! You didn't know. The last thing you wanted to do was bring up unpleasant memories. 

"I'm sorry," you said. The universal reply to anything tragic or uncomfortable when brought up in conversation. 

"Naw. Don't be. Alton had a hard time taking advice. Got himself caught up. In the end. His choice." 

Alton. His father's name. The way he said it ran a slight shiver down your spine. Caught up? What did caught up mean? Whatever the explanation, such actions had led to him being murdered. The atmosphere had changed. His energy, all of it. Like he'd been swallowed up in a place that you couldn't see. Was that statement laced in pain or anger? Probably both. This sounded a lot like your story, Saints Palace. Well not exactly, but the essence had been there. The government, or FBI, each faction was all part of the same club. Either way, you needed to shift things away from the talk of white politics, and Panthers, and all the things that came up for Franklin involving both topics that he did not directly say or speak in depth about.

"Anyway, I feel like I talked your ear off. Let's shift back some. How about you? Same question. Why a Finance degree?" 

Franklin stayed silent for a couple seconds. You caught it. His expression seemed hard and unmoved. Then the smile found him and left him just like before, bringing him back to the current moment where you were. “Well. it won't really be a degree. I’mma just go the certificate route. It’s the knowledge part kinda like you said.”

Damn, another dagger. You didn't let your face show the disappointment though. “So you won't be sticking around then huh? I assume this is the last class you need?” you asked. 

“Yeah," Franklin said to confirm. "Last one."

“Right." You would miss seeing him every Wednesday or running into him on campus, or the anticipation it brought. "What's your dream then? When it's all over.” you wanted to remain positive and stay in the moment with him as long as you could. 

 “I love to fly.”

That absolutely threw you off. “Fly?" You chuckled. "What do you mean, like airplane fly?” 

“Yeah,” he smiled. This one was genuine. It brought the same energy he'd entered into the house with. You were glad it was back. 

“Really? Wow," you nodded your head and let loose a soft chuckle that made your shoulders bounce. "Okay I never would have guessed that.”

Franklin titled his head. An air of curiosity hung over him. “Why?” 

“Oh, I don’t know, you just give off that businessman vibe. A man who keeps his feet planted on the ground type persona. So being up in the clouds." You had no idea where the hell you were going with this. At this point it was all just noise. You decided to quit while you were ahead. "But I ain't mad at ya. We need us some black pilots, most definitely.”  

…

By the time 2:49AM rolled around you both had finished off the rest of the pizza and put together a whole financial strategy. You met a roadblock when you both realized that further research would need to be done which would undoubtedly require a visit to the library. The two of you had already set up a time. And to your surprise, Franklin hadn't brought up any prior business arrangements that would hinder progress. In fact you noticed that throughout the night he'd started to loosen up. The conversation had shifted from school work to dare you say it, getting to know one another? Still, that impending truth lingered around in your mind. So you decided to ask, even if you might regret your decision later. You wanted to know. 

"I still can't get over your place. I bet your girlfriend loves the view." 

"I guess she would, if I had one." 

Bitch, were you hearing shit? Your stomach dropped. What he'd said, scared you a little. You weren't hearing things, were you? Had he just said what you hoped he would? He didn’t have a girlfriend! 

“Yeah. It's pretty tight Franklin.” You had to say something. Good thing it made him smile.

No girlfriend….

There was something about hearing it from the horse's mouth that made the butterflies return and dance in your stomach again. Made you consider rewriting the ending to Chapter 17, or hell erasing it all together and continuing the journey! You would apologize to Candy for doubting her detective skills. She had been right, and had she! Franklin was indeed on the market. You tried to hide the joy in your brown features. If you smiled he was gonna catch it. You channeled flash drive Whoopi for the second time that day and cleared your throat. “But I mean Well. You're a very capable young man, how come? How come you don’t?” Instead of Whoopi you ended up sounding like your seventy year old grandma. Old as shit. Flash drive Whoopi fail. But it was too late. It was already out there. 

Franklin seemed to think on it a minute before he threw a couple pieces of popcorn in his mouth that still managed to remain in the large bowl. “Just haven’t found the right woman for me. I’ve moved around. But, I ain't ever found that one.” 

You wanted to answer the rest for him. Finish the sentence. That ride or die. You thought back to Juicy and Saint. That was the kind of love you wanted. Devoted, True and Effortless. The kind of love that was for sure. A love you knew would be there through thick and thin. A love that would never leave you lonely. The two of them were like notes in a melody that flowed in intricate precision. Almost like they were made especially for each other. And that love was worth everything….

"Y/N," Franklin said, calling your name. 

You blinked coming back down to reality. "Um, yeah sorry my bad, what?" 

He smiled first and laughed after. "You do that a lot in class."

You froze up. 

"Where you be runnin' off?" He asked this while taking the last bit of drink of tea from his glass. "To your own little world?" There was a partial playfulness in his tone. 

You let out this laugh that said you were caught, nervous. Fuck! With a smack of your teeth you leaned forward and pushed his shoulder. "Boy. Don't even go there. My own little world. What? Nope. That doesn't even sound like me. Wrong girl." 

Lies lies lies. That nigga read you like a book. More importantly though, he'd noticed. You decided to turn the tables. 

"Better question is, how you figure that, if you weren't watching me Saint?" He was being playful, so fuck it, you decided to flirt a little. No harm no foul. After all, he was a free agent. 

Franklin lifted his chin. His eyes were heavily lidded, and the little smirk that pulled at his full lips automatically made you want to smile. You described it as the dreamy eye look. The look that made you weak in the knees. Good thing your ass was already on the floor. 

"Damn. Naw," he laughed again. "I'm just observant is all. I catch a lot of shit." 

Riggggggght, You thought. He was looking at you in class. But fine, you would let it slide, just as long as the focus was off you and your wild imagination. You got up for a minute and stretched. When turning, you noticed a picture. “Who’s that?” You asked pointing in the direction of a photo with a woman, and a kid looking around the age of 12. A striking resemblance to Franklin himself. 

"That's my mom. And the little nappy head boy wit her is me." 

"Aww. Nooooo. You were really cute." You turned the picture over in his direction before you smiled. "You still have the same face tho'." You turned the image back to your view. "Your mom is beautiful. She looks really happy here with you." You sat the picture frame back in its proper place and returned to your seat on the floor, legs crossed. 

"Oh, so you think I'm cute?" There came those dreamy hues again. Accompanied by his signature grin you'd memorized. 

You rolled your eyes playfully. "I said you were…" 

"Damn. That's cold. Whatever." 

You watched him stand to his feet. What you really wanted to say was, fuck cute, You sir are fine as fuck now, Franklin Saint. Sorry baby. Still gotta play a little hard to get. But, all in due time, you thought. Still very much flustered by him, you were also a lot more relaxed. The conversation throughout the project work had helped a great deal.

"Damn. I didn't know it was this late. I should probably take you home. We can pick up on the project when we meet up at the library." 

You glanced at all your work. Posters, notes, pages filled up with information littered his living room. Y'all sure did make a dent in things. Time well spent. 

You looked up at the clock. It was nearly 3 in the morning. "Deal," you said as you began to pack up. 

…

Neither of you said much once you both entered the car. It was a comfortable silence that was full of unspoken understanding, somehow. 

It had been a long night.The rain pelted against the money green Lincoln as you and Franklin drove down the streets of Los Angeles in the early hours of the morning. You glanced over at him, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nerves. He seemed to be enjoying the sound of the windshield wipers and the faint light of the street lamps as they passed by. 

The music was just the right volume. Some song you couldn't name off the top of your head played in the background. That melody eventually changed, and a new upbeat, soulful tune filled the car. You'd know it anywhere. It was one of your favorites by Kool and the Gang. 

Celebration! 

You could remember where you were when it played for the first time. Some family function you hadn’t much interest in until all of your cousins and uncles hit the dance floor. The first thing you remembered doing was bobbing your head to the beat, then came the snap of the fingers and finally you stood to your feet and showed off your moves. Eventually it turned into a circle and you and one of your favorite little cousins began to battle. You weren’t tryna battle Franklin, but that familiar urge was rising up. You wanted to dance. 

You started moving your shoulders side to side and front to back in a steady motion as you were getting into it, singing along with the gang. You closed your eyes for a second.

“Celebrate good times, come on!”  

Franklin caught your gaze and smiled, and you felt your heart skip a beat although your shimming stayed in rhythm without fail. You took a deep breath and then said, “Let’s pull over and turn up the radio. I want to get out and dance.” Bold, you knew. But fuck it. Why not?

He raised an eyebrow in surprise, "What. Pull over and dance? It's raining right now," he said to point out the obvious. But his smile widened. Either due to your contained dancing or the outlandish suggestion. Nonetheless…

"Yeah. No shit Franklin." You said to retort the pushback. "That's the beauty of it. When are you ever gonna be right here at this place and time. Huh? That's right, never again will you get this moment. So why not seize it, live in it." You laughed. Sounding just like one of those old black and white films you loved. "Besides, you need to loosen up a lil' anyway Franklin Saint. You're so uptight." 

It must have triggered a reaction because the next thing you knew, he pulled off the road and parked the car on the side, then switched up the radio so that even through the falling rain it would be heard through the night.

You clapped your hands. “That’s what the fuck i’m talkin’ about.” You faced your side of the car with the music booming in around you. 

You stepped out into the rain, feeling the cool droplets on your skin. You closed your eyes and began to sway to the music, letting your body move in time to the beat, this time giving your feet the opportunity to travel.

If you didn’t know it, the universe seemed to be on your side again. Everything was perfect! The radio was playing your favorite song and you were with the one person you wanted to be with the most. You felt like you were in a dream. But it wasn't a dream. The moment was real. More real than anything. And it wasn't written in one of your stories this time. 

Franklin dipped his head to look at you.

You're askin' to catch a cold. You kno that right?" He called at you from inside the car after rolling down the passenger window. He looked at you skeptically, but you could tell he was intrigued by the idea. Thinking about it. He was after all the only missing element to all this.

"Come on Frankie!" You called back for that extra push of encouragement. "It's just rain. It ain't gon' hurt you. Live a little!" 

You half expected him to decline. By all accounts it all seemed silly, but when Franklin actually stepped out of the car you saw yet another side of him that you would indeed come to love. He took risks. Maybe he even had a little bit of imagination to him.

He met you where you were, a few feet from the car. “Satisfied?” 

You looked up at him and let the grin you were trying to suppress form into a smile with teeth. “Hell no. Not until I see you dance. Come on, let me see what you got.” 

“You know I. I don’t really be dancin’ like that.” 

“If you suck just say that. Nobody out here but us tho’ I won’t tell nobody. It’ll be our little secret Saint,” you yelled beyond the rain and music.

“You talk a lot of shit you know that,” he yelled back.

You shrugged and began to dance again. “Yeah but I back it tho’, so…” You reached out for his jacket. It was too late to turn back now. Pulling him you watched him start to move his shoulders and follow you. “Okay, there we go..” Then outta no where the nigga busted out in the running man. The running man! You burst into laughter, he looked so serious at first before he started to laugh. You copied the dance, and unexpectedly it had become a battle, but then not a battle, just fun, so much in fact that neither of you knew what the hell you were doing anymore. It was all just dancing. Goofy and free.

At some point he put his arms around your waist and began to dance with you, his movements echoing yours as you moved together in perfect harmony. The rain continued to pour, but you barely noticed. You were there with Franklin Saint, and nothing else in the world mattered. You were out there with each other dancing and laughing. Just being in the moment.

Finally, the rain began to slow and the Celebration song ended. Thank God they decided to play the longer version. You looked into his eyes. This time you didn't pull away from his intensity, and neither did he. Was it really happening? Would you really be able to say you actually lived such a moment you only ever wrote about or maybe saw in some TV Show or movie. A kiss. A kiss in the rain. The announcer's voice came on next. You ignored it, your heart pounding as Franklin leaned his head downward, just past your lips…and to your ear. "I gotta get you home Y/N." You shut your eyes tight trying to hold onto the dream. But you couldn't. Damn you Franklin, Damn you, you thought. You opened your eyes and found his beautiful brown face amidst the raindrops. "Okay," you nodded. No amount of Whoopi Goldberg channeling could cure your disappointment. The only thing keeping you afloat now was that you still had the rest of the drive home to look forward to. Better to be optimistic than pessimistic. 

You ran past him toward the car and opened the door, getting in the passenger seat. He followed suit and cranked the engine to start once he got in, right at the same time Lionel Richies 'Stuck On You’ began to play through the speakers. 

When he pulled off you closed your eyes to edge the location into your memory. Then you decided to hum the words before joining in with Lionel to sing. 

Franklin turned on the heat and grinned. When an instrumental break happened in the song he chuckled and threw a glance your way before focusing on the road. 

“This song always sounded country as fuck to me.” 

You laughed, but when Lionel came back you added your voice to his again. 

‘Stuck on you. Been a fool too long, guess it’s time for me to come on home. Guess i’m on way.’ 

To your surprise, the next part of the song, Franklin joined in. He was doing this silly country accent, but now it was the three of you singing. Lionel ofcourse better than the both of you, but it had been the perfect way to end the night driving down the empty street. 

Two more songs played before you reached your block and Franklin stopped in front of your apartment building. You leaned down to gather up your belongings and removed your headband. It would do nothing at this point, but undoing it allowed your afro to swallow your face. You lifted it only to look at Franklin, then at his seats. “My bad about the water and well, you kno.”

He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. “Yeah, fucked all my shit up.” He settled in his seat. “I had fun tho.” 

“Me too. You may be surprised to know that was actually super random. The rain thing. Thanks for being my first experience, Franklin Saint.” You smiled and opened your door. You got out and shut the passenger door only to walk around the front of the car to his side. He rolled down the window. You leaned in a little. “It’s pretty late, so drive home safe, okay?” 

He nodded. You went to turn and he’d reached his hand out and grabbed a part of your hoodie to stop you. You turned to face him and there was a pause for a second until he reached for your actual hand. 

“Hey, listen. Don't give up on your dream, alright. Make it happen. Whatever way you gotta do it.”

There was such an encouragement in how he said it that made you take him seriously. When he let go of your hand, you nodded and took a step back from the car. The same rain that had brought you both together now separated you. 

A small smile ran across his lips. “Imma watch you walk in. Make sure you good. Go get warm.” 

“Alright,” you said with another nod.

You took one last look and turned with a quick sprint toward the stairs. Pretty soon the building's structure would shield you from his sight. Although eager to be inside you waited behind the fixture until you peeked back at his car. You saw the glow of the red lights. By the time Franklin drove off, you were drenched. Your clothes clung to your body and you peered out at the dark road he traveled, lit up by the streetlamps.

…

Walking up the stairs, feeling the warmth of the radiator, you opened the door and stepped into your shared apartment at exactly 3:56 AM. You noticed both Candy and Troy’s shoes in the corner and stopped to listen for a moment, finding no such sounds of love making to stale your entrance. You were glad for that as you discarded your shoes and put them beside Candy’s. They'd finished and probably tired themselves to sleep. 

You walked over to the coffee table when you saw your pager sitting there. You grabbed it to check for any numbers. Apparently your dumbass forgot to take it in the panic of rushing to get down to Franklin. Candy’s number appeared a few times. She probably wondered where you were. You’d be asleep by the time she was up, but she’d know you were home safe and sound once she saw the shoes. 

You knew you had to get out of the wet clothes before you really did catch a cold as your knight and shining armor suggested. Quickly you entered your room and tossed your backpack, shut the door and stripped. The cold fabric stuck to your skin and you peeled each article of clothing away, piece by piece, shivering some as your skin was exposed more and more to the air. 

You put on warm cozy pajamas, which actually were really just sweats and an oversized T-shirt. 

With a sense of relief to be dry you curled up under the blankets of your bed and caught onto the absolute silence in the entire apartment. The only sounds were your actual breathing at the slight noise coming from the rain outside. Such silence unequivocally allowed your mind to wonder. You were so damn tired, yet your thoughts were racing back to the events that had just taken place between you and Franklin. You swore if you had any more energy, you would have pulled out the Notebook and erased the ending you’d made, just to write everything the way it happened. No. The way it should have happened. He should have kissed you. You would have kissed back. Then, he should have kept kissing you, and pushed you back and back leading you all the way back to the car. Then you wanted Franklin to be bold. Sit you on top of the hood of his car and fuck you. Fuck you like he didn’t want to ever been in line of losing you under any circumstances! 

You shifted your position in your bed to face the ceiling. 

He was feeling you wasn’t he?

The conversation had been there between breaks and throughout the duration of the entire project work time. But, he’d hesitated like something was holding him back. It wasn’t another woman. He’d said himself he wasn’t seeing anybody. 

He had to be feeling you. The chemistry was undeniable at this point!  

If he wasn’t, why would he get out and dance with you in the rain. And the way he’d had his hands over your hips wasn’t just a coincidence, was it? Maybe he just wanted to take things slow? Possibly. Were you too aggressive? Pushy? No, you’d played it cool. Whoopi would be fucking proud. You couldn’t help it that Franklin was a hard one to read. 

But man, was he fine.

Light had begun to bring about a new day and the rain had stopped altogether. You weren't sure what time it was. Eventually you heard movement. Troy's big ass walking around. You'd forgotten all about sleep. It was no use. You couldn't get the guy from finance class outta your mind. You were so sprung off this man it was insanity. 

Part of you wished you had a picture of him on stand by, just so you could see his handsome face anytime your little heart desired. Franklin's smile made you wet. His voice made you wet. His eyes, his hands, his lips. Everything about him. You couldn't help it. Just the thought of him made your walls clench in a hungry unexplained desire. This wasn't the first time either. Class was probably the worst. You'd sit there staring while imagining all sorts of things happening between you two. It was only when you were back in the safety of your room, could you really express that built up sexual frustration pinned up from the day. That might have been why all the stories you wrote about Franklin in particular were so detailed. Details written about how his hands touched you. And his tongue, it became the star of the show in most instances. That dick though. The grand finale. 

There'd be a special straight jacket waiting for you at the crazy house if anyone ever read any of it. You'd single handedly created a whole new life for this man that he'd never know about. 

Damn, were you smart though. 

It presented itself as a regular notebook. Clippings of Whoopi Golberg glued all on the front page. One of her clippings was of her pointing a finger as if prompting the onlooker to take a peek inside. But since the notebook would never be touched by human hands, besides yours, it became for you one of the best inside jokes. It was so inconspicuous that no one would ever suspect what was hiding in between all its pages, even if by some chance eyes beside your own came across it. 

Speaking of which, you closed your eyes hoping that the image of him would stay as you licked your lips and slipped a hand down your stomach and beyond the band of your sweatpants. You thought about his hands. How good it would feel to have them touching you. He had long fingers too. Your ear perked up. You heard the door close and you knew Candy was gone. Good. The last thing you wanted was to be caught in the act and have to stop yourself right at the peak of climax. 

You rose from the bed and approached your door to quietly turn the lock. After shimmying out of your sweats, you settled yourself down in bed. 

The first thing about Franklin that hit your senses was the way he smelled. The cologne he wore that night had you weak. Shit did the man smell good. You licked at your lips as you reached down between your legs, the thought of Franklin being with you in this moment already bringing your juices to flow. You teased yourself, pressing your soft fingertips firmly down on your swollen nub as you messaged yourself in tight round, slow circles. A soft shuddering sigh escaped you as your head snapped back against the pillow. You imagined his lips over your skin starting at your neck, and you grabbed the end of your shirt to pull it up and expose your breasts to the surrounding air. Your nipples immediately went hard and you drew up your free hand to cup your left breast. Your toes curled against the sheet as you imagined Franklin's face sitting nicely between your legs. His warm tongue lapping up your juices and his eyes hard on you as he did it. You hissed. His name escaped you along with a swear. "Franklin, fuck…yes." you slipped a finger, moving it in and out coating it as you did so. "I want you inside me. I want you inside me so fucking bad…" You moaned this time and bit your bottom lip. It was like you could actually feel his tongue  curling through your slippery pussy lips. You needed more stimulation. Only one thing could do it for you. 

Your notebook. 

You let go of your titty and turned to lay on your stomach. You reached over to your dresser and your hand dived in, searching through panties and socks. You lifted a brow. Your hand was still moving around, but the familiar texture of the front page wasn't there. You removed your hand from between your legs and sat up. You moved closer so that you had eyes on the area. Again you searched, but nothing. "The hell? Where is it?" You stopped for a minute to think. 

You let off a sigh. You'd left it in the living room. 

"Damnit." With a huff you got off the bed and grabbed your swaet pants, rushing to put them on before you unlocked the door and stepped out. Your eyes searched and landed on your purse. A sigh of relief, you walked over to it shaking your head with a small smile. 

You dug in expecting to find the notebook waiting for you, but you didn't. Just nicknack shit that you kept in your purse. A couple pens, lip gloss, your wallet and different candies you would eat during class. A small makeup bag, …and where the fuck was your notebook? You dropped the purse on the couch, some of the nicknacks spilled onto the floor after it fell. You kicked your mind. 

Think, come on, think. 

You looked over to the dining table. Your thoughts flooding back to Candy's steak dinner. Okay, it seemed to be coming back to you in fragments. Troy had come that night, they left and then there was Al. He'd been playing in the background. That's right you were in your feelings, ending everything, making it so that Chapter 17 was the last Chapter. Then the call. Franklin called. 

'Be there in fifteen'. 

You'd been worried that you wouldn't have enough time. You rushed. You'd been in a hurry to pack up and be down to wait for him to arrive. In this panicked state of urgency you battled briefly between bitch get cute and fuck that nigga, I come as I am, which had ultimately cost you a good five minutes. 

Your eyes struggled to find your backpack. As you looked your mind replayed you shoving fiance books and papers into it. Just anything. Hell everything! When you spotted it in your room beside the door you hurried and grabbed it like a wild animal unzipping and pouring out your books and papers onto the floor. You dropped to your knees and pushed everything aside, but still no notebook in sight. 

You'd never really experienced an anxiety attack, but if you had, you were sure that it was something like what you were feeling currently. 

Heavy breathing, tightness in the chest, head spinning out of fucking control. 

This could not be happening! 

Your mind clicked. The pillow, he'd moved the backpack, Candy kept telling you to get a new one. Shit would fall out that bitch on the regular. Most of the time without your knowledge. You were always short of a folder or leaving a book or something! 

In a split second you knew exactly where the notebook was, and who had it! Franklin motherfucking Saint had it. 

………………To be continued?

Taglist: @mysticalblackhottie @muvasuperior @planetblaque @megamindsecretlair @notapradagurl7

Writer’s Note: Well damn, how Y/N fuck up so bad? See, that's a lesson for you. Take your time ladies. A lot of shit can go wrong when you are in a rush. Ya’ll wanna know what happens? Should I write more to this one? I’m telling you, this next part…..Yeah. Mr. Saint Mr. Saint. That’s all I'mma say….

[ur-battdoll911]

ratings then and now

i was (and still am) a huge fan of HxH, and so, i found my ratings for them from a year or two ago, so i'll compair it then and now, the ttheme is: HxH characetrs and how we feel about them/simp for them

THEN:

Gon: im no simp, but hes cute, i love him, hes my child :)

Killua: Gay. no.

Kurapika: i used to like him, but now, no.

Leorio: LOL NO-

Hisoka: .... pedophile, but like- nice Hisoka.... my ballz (wtf was this rating

Illumi: hes cute, would probably protect me, simp a little

Kalluto: YESS KALLUTO IS MINE

Alluka: MY BABY 😭❤💕

Chrollo: i would sacraficce the world to even breath the same air as him, no 🧢

Noubunga: IS THIS A JOKE- 😭✋👁👄👁

Feiton: he so tiny~

Machi: why not

Pakunouda: I HELLA SIMP FOR HER LIKE- AH ❤❤❤❤

Shizuku: goth gf, why not, she cute

Phinks: .....no...

Shalnark: he nice, but no

Uvogin: exCUSE me. wtf?

Franklin: 🤐📸no, he nice though

Pitou: yeah.

Pouff: YESSSS THIS OVERLY DRAMATIC BOI

Komugi: I live forr Komugi, i die for Komugi, i sacrafice my whole life for Komugi

Mereuum: no :D

Ging: AYO-

Vs. NOW:

Gon: he is my actual child, but i got him off the lawn :/

Killua: gay as shit, get away from me and go back to Jujitsu Kaisen bitch

Kurapika: hell no, you fooled me and my motther to thinking you was a GIRL

Leorio: no.

Hisoka: bruh, he is a damn pedo, hell to the no

IIlumi: blud is mid, horrible brother but i would totally 1v1 him

Kalluto: yes, transgender support! kill transphobes!

Alluka: oh my god yes i would die for her shes so baby, so queen hholy shit i have made myself a painting of her yippeeeeeee

Chrollo: still hot asf but he left like our dads >:/

Noubunga: um, excuse me what the acttual FUCK

Feiton: short ass mf, tall as my mom at 5'1, im taller then him, crush him like a bug

Machi: i hate her :)

Pakunouda: i want to marry this bitch holy shit shes hot still

Shizuku: eh, reeally dumb, i need someone smarter and they dont have Amnestia

Phinks: no eyebrows, angerr issues, roach, get the fuck outa my face

Shalnark: no, hes sweet, but not someone i really care about

Uvogin: i'd rather him be my brother, y'know?

Franklin: lol, no, wtf did you think i'd pick?

Pitou: yuh, smash i like her

Pouf: he wouuld be a band kid

Komugi: *adopts*

Mereum: haha, fuck no :D

Ging: HELL NO HE LEFT TO GET THE MILK QUEOWGOYFWAO

[grandma-susan]

🗡️

The Emporium's alarms were screaming. Someone had made an attempt to both rob and to lay claim to Cannibal Town. Rosie was away on business. Once she arrived on scene, she saw it wasn't just one but a group of 5 men who had banded together for a territorial take over. The Townsfolks were in arms trying their best to fend off the intruders but there was a demon with an eye like a lantern that blipped on regular intervals far in back surveying and directing his crew to attack. A Scorpion like demon striking any cannibal within range in the neck. A cat like demon who's palms were electrified and a mannequin demon was enjoying his time dismantling himself and using his limbs as blunt force trauma, and another one that could harden a portion of their body into stone to block any attacks. "Susan! There are people still inside they have hostages!" cried out one of the townfolk as the other gnashed their teeth and ran head first into the skirmish. "Dr Sage!" She hollered and a bearded man looked up, "What is it, Lady Susan?" "You and your junkies take care of the scorpion. Ampster! Take the construction crew to the block head and zappy hands over there. Where is Lacy and the girls?!" "Here!" gasped a group of girls who had been fried and singed by the electrical cat. "You lot take care of the dummy, if he wants to throw his limbs around then you girls know exactly what to do. The rest of you....We take out the Submariner over at the door." The men cackled and whooped. "LETS GO OLD TIMERS! THIS TOWN IS OURS NOW! Oh! such scary faces! You cannibals are nothing without your Overlord. All you do are sing and dance and eat people! A BUNCH OF LAZY ASSES IF YOU ASK US! AHAHA uh?" Susan stepped forward a loud jangling of erupted at her hip. "What's with the grandma here?! Get lost! Granny. We're busy!" They sneered and chided. Susan's cold hard glare must have struck a nerve because most of them seemed to flinch, the moment she struck her cane down and a rapid trail of embers began encircling the Emporium's front lawn, to contain what was about to happen. There was a loud bone chilling scream in the distance and the chatelaine by her hip, began spewing a thick ashy smog, obscuring the Submariner's view and his crew and at that cue the rest of the Townsfolk lunged at their respective targets and rushing their unwelcomed guests. Susan ran forward, weaving in and out of the bodies. It seemed like the Submariner wasn't bothered by the fog but no matter how loudly they barked instructions their comrades didn't have the reaction time with their vision obscured. The cannibals were now at an advantage. Their heightened predator senses and guided them through the smoke and most of them had at some point resided during a time of thick air pollution and this was nothing. Susan heard loud THWACK, as one of the townsfolk took down the scout. She pushed through the door and saw a group of youngsters cowering in the corner and shelves and displays smashed and a red heap next to the coffee tables with a sticky puddle of red blood. "Franklin?!" She called and rushed over towards her, and paused for a moment when she saw the stab wound. "How the hell did you get yourself stabbed!?!?" She heckled as she reached up to a nearby shelf and grabbed a scarf and jammed it into the puncture wound and started to apply pressure.

[anylandscapingblog]

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[eduardoscarpet]

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[phlistopher]

Grass Ass

I wrote a humor column in college for the Hofstra Chronicle under the pseudonym Silence Doless, a nod to Benjamin Franklin I didn't come up with.

I was very proud of this work at the time. It's all very Hofstra specific, and the mid 2000s. Against my better judgement, I've decided to republish the series here.

This is the third column, originally published September 23rd, 2007. Commentary at the end.

Hello and welcome to this week’s column, the topic of which is grass. No, I don’t mean marijuana, but regular garden-variety grass (I still don’t mean marijuana). It’s the stuff we sit on, run on, and swim on (I’m looking at you land shark). It gives your dad something to care about besides football. It’s the perfect place to spread blankets for a picnic with the whole family, or spread legs for a picnic preferably without the whole family (this preference varies depending upon which side of the mason Dixon line you’re on). It provides vast open spaces of soft lush greenery, which we are told to keep off of by little yellow signs. It gives us a place to ponder the meaning of golf: top Freudian psychologists agree that it is the result of pent-up masochistic sexual tension, which manifests itself in extreme phallic aggression towards the testicles. It is pure unadulterated life rooted to the soil, selflessly preventing erosion. If humanity made first contact with life from another planet, doubtless our first question would be,

“Do you have grass where you come from?”

After a bit of somatic confusion about marijuana they would doubtlessly reply,

“Yes we do, and we love it!”

You could say that grass binds the galaxy together.

Why all the fuss over grass? Why bother talking about it if it will always be with us, right? Wrong. A worldwide crisis in grass in happening even as I write these words, a crisis so large that it can no longer be ignored. I am of course referring to the fact that much of the world’s grass is turning brown.

“Oh silly Stupid Guy,” you may say. “Grass always turns brown.”

Wrong again. Usually in Hempstead at this time of year the grass has been so frostbitten that it couldn’t even think about turning brown. Or perhaps I’m thinking of Siberia at any time of year. Regardless, big changes are happening to grass, which means they are happening to you too. The root reason (pun definitely intended) of these changes is global warming, the hit movie phenomena that has both viewers and critics raving (mad). True Fact: Roger Ebert now gives thumbs ups from the cockpit of a hypersonic rocket ship. He has it pointed at what he hopes is a distant grassy planet, but it’s probably just his wife.

Global warming is a serious issue as it is literally toasting our grass. If global warming continues at its current rate, we could well lose grass entirely, the universe’s most precious commodity. If our grass dies, what will hold our world together? Not only will countless millions of acres of land wash into the sea, but also your dad, stripped of his front lawn (no grass) and his football (no grass) may just have break down and start caring about your mom.

Now I’m not an investigative journalist or an environmental scientist, but I can only assume that Hofstra is directly responsible for global warming. I don’t see any solar panels on our acres of roof space, and certainly no grass planting program, just another Unispan that no one uses. From this shocking evidence alone I believe a prosecutor could easily convict Hofstra’s administration of heat crimes.

So what can you as a concerned citizen and student do in the face of such a disaster? Well for starters you could sprinkle grass seeds in President Rabinowitz’s underwear and stop paying tuition, and then go from there. Let us band together as one campus, one nation, one people, and save our grass. If we don’t do it, who will? Aliens? Yeah right, I hear they have a huge land shark problem.

I remember my roommates really loving this one, so I put it up as a good one in my memory, but man is this all over the place. Social commentary from a nineteen year old? Check. Cringy sex jokes? Check. Really long sentences? My God check. And who couldn’t get excited for the thirty year old at the time Land Shark reference? Indelible.

[jdgo51]

The Unshakable Community Called Church

Today's inspiration comes from:

Building a Resilient Life

by Rebekah Lyons

"'What is church? How do we define it when our definitions change over time and can depend on a number of variables such as the passing of time and the experience of crises? When do we lose track of what it means and how? How do we bring meaning back to the word?

I wasn’t sure how to define church in early 2020, and if truth be told, before the lockdowns began, I didn’t even know I would have to revisit the concept of church.

The women had a front-row seat as the men in our circles experienced real life together — studying, praying, and serving each other. Together they were recreating the church of the first Christians. I wanted in, and other wives did as well. So we began our own weekly Bible study. Each Tuesday, we gathered as women — same structure, same vision. We entered inspired and hopeful. Eager and vulnerable, we tended to each other’s needs with a simple group text thread.

As we worked together in community, I was reminded of something the ancient apologist Blaise Pascal once wrote about a great wager that everyone must make. He urged his readers to bet on God in this wager, for “if you win you win everything” — truth, happiness, and the good — and “if you lose you lose nothing. Do not hesitate then; wager that he does exist.” Investing in community is the same kind of wager. If we win, we win a full and flourishing life, and if we lose, we’ve made a lot of friends to help us endure the hardship.

We began waking up together — waking to passion and purpose, to conviction, to what it means to be the church. Our awakening propelled us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world around us. We were being revived one by one, and once we’re revived personally, we begin to be revived corporately.

Our community began hosting town hall meetings with local business owners, curating conversations with city leaders, laying groundwork for community gardens, planning schooling alternatives, and organizing medical support for frontline workers. Just as in the book of Acts, numbers were being added to the men’s Bible study and community initiatives by the day. The women were activated too, and we looked for ways to serve one another, starting a group text thread to facilitate needs.

Who needs prayer? Who needs a meal or a care basket because of a loss? Who needs a ride? Anyone requiring a doctor recommendation? Who needs a wedding venue because their previously chosen venue closed its doors? It wasn’t just the text thread. We rolled up our sleeves and got about our work of being the church. We hosted “church” on our front lawn because we couldn’t forsake our “meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25). Family blankets took the place of pews. One family led worship from their blanket, with my friend Christy leading the chorus and her husband, Nathan, accompanying with his guitar. Another family read Scripture and led a discussion. Since each family brought their own Communion elements, other families led in the time of Communion and prayer.

By early summer, the First Front Lawnist Church of Franklin was on a roll. Not only were we hosting worship gatherings, but on one beautiful May Saturday, we hosted a wedding for Molly and Peter, one of the men in this multigenerational community. Because every venue was shut down, we created our own.

The families and several guests gathered — seated in a dozen or so wooden chairs under a canopy of trees, with wind chimes as our backdrop. A path meandered down the slope to a short hop over the stream for the bride’s entrance. It was a full Lyons family affair, with Pierce playing guitar, Joy serving as flower girl, and Gabe and I reading the Scriptures. It was glorious.

Real-life church services brought a breath of fresh air, particularly for our kiddos. The extended isolation was hitting them hard, especially those with differing abilities who were nonverbal. During the many months of not meeting together, events were canceled, including our annual Best Buddies prom. Live events were substituted with online events, which weren’t necessarily helpful for everyone, including Cade, our son with Down syndrome.

A couple families had seen how much our in-person community lawn gatherings had helped Cade, and they decided to put on the best prom ever for Cade and many friends in our community. It was a highlight of their spring.

In our first five years in Franklin, we thought we had been “doing community.” We attended church regularly and would often have people in our home for dinner or impromptu parties. In 2020, we learned a different way of being a true Christian community. It was the kind of community that depended on one another, not just as some sought-after Christian ideal, but as a genuine mechanism for flourishing.

We depended on one another for even our most basic needs — food, fellowship, and even the occasional financial need. We came to realize that resilient lives are not formed in isolation; resilient lives are forged in community.

In the same way that God has inherent interpersonal relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so Jesus prays that we will be image bearers of God in the way we participate in our own community.

The Church Is a Communal People Created by a Communal God

In what became known as His “farewell discourse,” Jesus prayed for a unified community, a collective church that was bigger than any one individual:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one — I am in them and You in Me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. — John 17:20-23

In the same way that God has inherent interpersonal relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so Jesus prays that we will be image bearers of God in the way we participate in our own community. In the book of Acts, we see the first vision of Jesus’ prayer come to fruition when the Holy Spirit is poured out on the people of God and the church comes into existence.

Jesus recognized that the church is made up of individuals who believe in Him, but He did not simply pray for “them alone.” He prayed for them together — in community. He prayed for our relationship with one another, that we would experience the kind of relationship He has with God the Father — a relationship of complete unity. That prayer for unity came to life in the earliest gatherings of the church. It came to life in our own gatherings too.

What did we find?

In a unified community, we found a more holistic version of resilience. We became an unshakable community that helped meet one another’s needs. This began to spread to our broader community among friends in other cities.

We are far more resilient as a whole community than as self-sufficient individuals. The difference is staggering. When the Holy Spirit unites His people, the church, through consistent commitment to the Scriptures, prayer, and one another, a holistic resilience emerges that becomes unshakable both in the individual and in the group. It’s an irrepressible force that creates a more resilient world.

We Were Made to Need One Another

We live in an individualistic society, one that teaches us that self-sufficiency is resilience. We were not made to resist adversity alone; we were made to have our needs met in community, which is why resilience isn’t cultivated in a vacuum.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the role of community in building resilience: “Community health resilience measures the ability of people, businesses, governments, nonprofit groups, and faith-based organizations to work together to create systems that can withstand, adapt to, and recover from a public health emergency.”

True community reminds you who you really are. A community of like-minded people calls forth the character and integrity they believe you embody. They hold you accountable so that your inside matches your outside, your private life matches your public life. It reminds you that you’re stronger than you think, you’re braver than you think, you’re more loved than you think.

Christ-centered community reminded me of who I really was and called forth character and integrity in me and others. Christ-centered community encouraged each of us to use our gifts for the good of the group and to press into our purpose and calling. As a result, we became an Acts 2 community, the by-product of seeking the Word together, which cultivated a unity pointing to the kingdom where every need is expressed and people respond to meet it. It was that community that made us a truly resilient people."

Adapted with permission from Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning by Rebekah Lyons, copyright Rebekah Lyons.

[timbervalleyfarmbarnrental]

Shrub Trimming Greencastle Pennsylvania

Shrub Trimming Greencastle Pennsylvania Landscape Video

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So contact Karen and Tom Grosh of Grosh's Lawn Service today at https://www.groshslawnservice.com/ to schedule your shrub trimming and shrub pruning here in the Greencastle Pennsylvania area, Franklin County Pennsylvania and the tri-state area.

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Contact Karen and Tom now at https://www.groshslawnservice.com/contact-us/

[wutbju]

Joseph J. Tallyn, 86, passed away at Hospice Family Care on Thursday morning, December 22, 2022. He was better known as Joe by all of his friends. Joe was born in Benson, Illinois on October 25, 1936 and grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Benson High School at the age of 16 and continued his education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina majoring in Religious Education. After graduation, he had several jobs in the ministry that took him to Topeka, Kansas, Peoria, Illinois and Rockford, Illinois before moving to Huntsville in 1967, where Joe started a program called Campus Life Youth for Christ in the schools around the area.

Joe worked for Youth for Christ until 1981 when he went to work for the Alabama Department of Youth Services, working with troubled youth across north Alabama. After two years, this program was discontinued and he went to work for Prudential Life Insurance. In 1988, he went to work for the Madison County Sheriff Department's Pre-trial Work Release program from which he officially returned in 2015. He touched many lives over the years working in this field as well as the Campus Life program.

Joe was a hard worker, running a lawn care business along with his son, Bruce, in his spare time, up to a few months before his death. The last eight years before his death he endured heart problems, kidney problems and diabetes, but was able to keep everything under control until a few weeks before his death. After moving to Huntsville, Joe became an avid Alabama fan. He also loved the Chicago Cubs baseball team and was excited when they finally won the World Series.

Joe was also a music director at Oak Park Baptist and Meadow Drive Baptist churches. He really loved the old hymns and missed them being sung in the church music of today.

Joe is survived by his wife of almost 42 years, Lynda; his sons, Steve (Cheryl) of Franklin, Tennessee, Bruce of Huntsville and Scott Glover (Rhonda) of Dalton; grandchildren, Sam and Emma Tallyn of Tennessee and Zachary and Kara Harris and Kayla Spence (Corey) of Dalton; sister, Donna Peterson (Ron) of Fairburn, Ohio; brother-in-law, Jerry Williams (Jo Nell) of Northport, Alabama; one niece and two nephews.

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 28th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at Jackson Way Baptist Church followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jackson Way Baptist Church, 1001 Andrew Jackson Way NE, Huntsville 35801.

[pickleballs-racquetguys]

Get Franklin X-40 Outdoor Pickleball

Pickleball is a really fun game. It can be played by any age and is generally easy to learn, so even young kids can play, too. It’s a lot of fun at the beach or on a large lawn, but it can be played indoors as well if you have enough room.

The equipment is inexpensive and readily available; you might even already have some of the necessary items (rackets, balls) in your home! If not, they are easy to find and purchase locally or online. Once you’re set up with the proper equipment, it’s easy to make up rules for your own game depending on how many people are playing. Pickleball is a great way to get some physical activity in a fun and laid back manner.

About Franklin X 40 Outdoor Pickleball

The Franklin Outdoor Pickleball game is played with a paddle and a special plastic ball. The paddles are unlike the ones used for tennis. They are made of wood or composite material and they have much bigger holes in them than regular paddles, so they are easy to grip and store in a bag or backpack without damaging them. They tend to break very easily if you are not careful, but that doesn’t matter as long as you have a replacement for it.

The X-40 Outdoor Pickleball game comes in two different versions. One is the standard version, which doesn’t have a net and is the one we use here. The other kind is the one with a net that’s perfect for people who don’t have a proper place to set up a net. It also allows you to play competitively and is good for tournaments. The game comes in different sizes as well. The smaller ones are usually needed by kids, but it all depends on what area you are playing in and how many people will be playing.

Features of Franklin X 40 Outdoor Pickleball

The Franklin X-40 Outdoor Pickleball game is easy to set up. You just need a flat piece of land, the game and two players (four can play if you have enough equipment). It’s really fun for people of all ages and for families as well. The paddles are really durable and the ball is soft so you don’t need to worry about getting hurt unless you are handling it in a rough manner.

The biggest pro of this game is that it’s good exercise. You will be running and walking to and from the court, but you can have a lot of fun while you’re at it! It’s also very portable and easy to store. The Franklin X-40 Outdoor Pickleball game is simple, easy and makes for a great activity in the great outdoors.

Conclusion

The Franklin X-40 Outdoor Pickleball game is a great way to get some outdoor exercise and have fun at the same time. It’s portable and easy to store, so you can bring it just about anywhere.

[staticscreenwriting]

California Summer - B.H. Smut [one]

Synopsis: Kings Cove California is Billy Hargrove’s hometown. It’s also a popular summer vacation destination for rich couples and their spoiled kids. (Y/N) is one of those rich girls. Proper, sweet, innocent. Only that all bores her to death and Billy is just the adventure she’s been looking for. It’s all fun and games. A summer fling. Not strings attached. Right? 

Inspired by the songs “dreaming of you” and “Kiss it off me” by Cigarettes After Sex.

 A/N: This is smut, babes. Filthy. I will sit in the shame cube after I post it. Please if that is not fore you, don’t read it. Also do not interact if you’re under 18, that’s just not cool. Kay, thanks ♥

Might fuck around and make this a series.

[additional note: I am German. Sometimes I get the tense wrong or make mistakes. I am useless when it comes to punctuation. Go easy on me, please.]

There’s something about California summers, Billy thinks, thank makes them special. They’re hot and sticky and messy but they’re also exciting and exhilarating. The world seems to be dusted in a perpetual golden glow and days seem endless and full of possibility.

Maybe that sentiment is what brings all the tourists to the little coastal town of Kings Cove, California. A town caught between the undeniable charm of an old sleepy coastal town and the ever-expanding demand for tourist-friendly beach houses in gated communities where rich people can relish in the charm the town brings and then piss off once their vacation days are over.

Billy was born here, raised here until he was 17 and shipped off to forge his path in shitville Indiana. He was miserable then, but a shadow of himself. Angry and sad and overwhelmed by emotions he never learned to properly deal with. Singers and artists always seem to find something poetic about being young and angry and lost. Truth is: there’s nothing poetic about it, nothing romantic or desirable. It’s hard and it kills you slowly. Starting with your heart and then taking over every part of you, slowly but surely.

Soon as he turned 18 and was handed his High School diploma, Billy packed all his belongings into the Camaro and was off. The drive back to California, back home, it felt cleansing. Like a rebirth. A return to life at his own terms.

He got out. He survived. This, Billy is sure, he would always pride himself with no matter how trivial it may seem to anyone else. He got out. Not completely whole. Severely bruised. He got out with a heart so scared he’s sceptical it will ever fully heal. But he got out.

Though coming home didn’t come without its hardships and obstacles. There was nothing waiting for him here but a bunch of questions and an uncertain future. Finding a job, a place to stay, a point from which to start — it was hard. It still is hard. But he’s trying his best.

Kings Cove has a handful of restaurants, some convenience stores, a gym, a few bars, a drive-in, a normal cinema and a bowling alley. It’s really nothing spectacular and yet it seems there’s more and more tourist making it their temporary home in the months between May and September. It started about 5 years ago, that the town started changing with the increase in tourism. They bulldozed the playground Billy always played at, the one closest to the beach and built a bunch of fancy-ass houses and condos and a fucking Starbucks. It pains him to see it. To watch the town he loves so much, the one that holds so much charm, turn into a sandbox for rich people to shape and turn and make it something it isn’t. Something empty and lifeless.

The good thing about those tourists though, is that they are really really rich. Absolutely filthy rich. The kind of rich where they don’t know what to do with their money so you can charge them insane prices for ordinary things.

And that’s what the locals have started doing. A scoop of ice cream used to be 30ct, now it’s a dollar. You gotta bend with the world. You gotta adapt. Surviving means changing even if it sucks ass.

When he first arrived back, Billy had no idea how to navigate this place with all its changes. He felt so god damn out of place in his own home. That’s until he reconnected with Johnny, an old friend from middle school. A kid who grew up in a home filled with anger and sadness just as Billy did. Someone who understood. Someone who understands.

Johnny had it all figured out, adapted and changed. Got Billy a job at the maintenance business he works at. Fixing rain gutters and mowing lawns and cleaning driftwood off the sections of private beach belonging to the beach houses. It’s not the greatest job in the world but it’s alright and it pays good money and sometimes Billy even gets to hang out at the houses when the rich people are out taking surf lessons or doing a wine tasting a town over or try their luck on a god damn banana boat.

Kings Cove is small and the locals know each other. They’re a community tightly bonded through their shared disdain for the change their beloved town went through and the knowledge that though they can’t change anything, they can at least make the vacationers pay big money for everything.

It’s his second summer now and most of the families whose houses he tends to he’s already familiar with. You don’t forget the people who tip you 50 bucks each time. On Mondays, Billy cares for the Millers’ backyard. On Wednesday he makes sure the Callaghans’ pool is clean and still stinks of way too much chlorine. On Thursdays, it’s the Franklins’ estate that needs tending to. And weekends? Those are off.

Weekends mean he gets to enjoy the California summer himself. He goes out to the beach just after sunrise, to catch a few waves or just hang out in the ocean and let it wash away the stress resting on his shoulders from a whole week of hard work. Later, much later, when the sun is about to set, the real fun begins. There’s a bonfire almost every week. No one is ever quite sure who starts it and no official invitations are ever spoken though everyone knows and sure enough, every Saturday a crowd of young people gather by the driftwood pile and hang out and drink and dance as the bonfire crackles on.

It’s not just locals either. There’s always a few stray tourists there. Billy isn’t really all that interested in getting to know them. This is just a blip on their radar. A temporary adventure. But to him this place is home and he’s so fucking tired of these rich kids coming around and acting like they own the place. He’s the first to admit though, that the girls are quite hot and he doesn’t mind a little fling here and there without the fear of having them want anything permanent, knowing their time together comes with an expiry date. They can be quite fun and they’re so willing to let themselves fall into an intimate adventure with a local.

There’s no chase, no effort from him. The only annoying thing is they usually don’t grasp the idea of a summer fling and get clingy to the point where it becomes frustrating.

It’s a bonfire like any other, when his eyes drift across the beach, filled with people mingling all clutching a bottle or a cup. Nothing feels different or spectacular or special. But maybe that’s the thing about special moments — we don’t realise they’re special until we look at them in retrospect. And then they mean everything.

His eyes meet hers across the way. There are no fireworks. His heart beats at a normal rate. Whatever the movies and the songs try to sell you, that’s not how it really happens. Your world won’t shift and there will be no hummingbirds going wild in your stomach. It’s just a glance, a flicker. A moment that seems to hold no significance at all.

Billy can tell she’s not from here. Her outfit says it all. She’s wearing a long flowy skirt and a white tank top and some denim jacket over it that looks like it probably belongs to some boy with a trust fund and a name like Kyle or Charles. In her hair, there’s a clip with a fake flower on it. She looks expensive and fancy and like a piece of work that he’s not willing to put any effort in. He bets the guy beside her, the one that keeps playing with her hair. The one in the polo shirt. That’s probably her boy. His dad owns a boat for sure and probably fucks his secretary.

And even though he pulls his eyes away, he can feel his thoughts drift back towards her. As if some magnetic force tries to keep his mind there, with her. On the way she smiles, or how the wind blows through her hair and makes them looks messy and disorderly and — hot. On how he wants to be the one making a mess of her. He wonders what she feels like, tastes like, sounds like. Even Billy can’t deny he wants her. She’s just his type though something tells him she’s different from his other flings. There’s something deeper in her eyes. A secret he wants to unravel. It’s hidden there and it’s screaming out to him and only him.

As he turns back towards her, he sees her looks straight back at him. With those eyes full of secrets and that smirk on her lips.

Maybe his heart does beat a little faster then. Though he’ll never admit it.

That night he goes to bed and dreams of her and the beach and California.

California summers come with heat but they also come with thunderous storms. Mighty and unforgiving and rough.

Billy makes his way down the roads of Kings Cove, windshield wipers just about dealing with the heavy rainfall as it drums down onto his car window.

“ It’s the wrath of all women scorned and mistreated “ his mother used to say when he was younger and a storm washed over them. He always thought that was silly. Women aren’t thunderstorms, they’re April showers. They’re sunshine on your skin. They’re dewdrops on the lawn.

It’s so dull and gloomy he almost doesn’t see her. Only the peach coloured baseball cap makes her stand out against the grey. She’s slowly walking along the side of the road, unbothered by the downpour. Casual and relaxed as if she’s not getting soaked right this moment. There’s a Slurpee in her hand, blue raspberry.

He wants to drive past and no let himself be bothered with it. This, she, it’s not a mess he needs to get involved in. This can only end in a disaster. Rich boys don’t like you picking up their girlfriends. Rich boys also don’t like you lusting after their girlfriends. And rich boys who see you as a threat can get your ass fired real fucking quick.

And yet he pulls up to the curb and rolls down the window. “ Do you need a ride? “.

She smiles at him, the same way she did that night at the beach in the glow of the bonfire. Her lips are cherry red and for a second he wonders what they taste like. It’s like a primal desire, to taste her. To have her. God, he’s such a guy.

“ Need? No. I’d like one though.”

It’s the first time he hears her voice. It sounds so proper, so innocent. And yet there’s an edge to it. She’s all riddles and mysteries and things he wants to unpack and unravel. Something tells him all the red and the ribbons are only the outermost layer of who she really is. And wouldn’t he like to see more of her?!

“ Get in then,” he instructs with the nudge of his head. A gust of wind follows her as she opens the door and slides into the car. She smells of sunscreen and salt and artificial raspberry flavour. She smells like summer.

“ I’m Billy. “

“ I know. “

That catches him off guard. Sure he knows the locals and some of the kids whose parents he works for but that’s about it. He’s not nearly as prolific as he used to be in Hawkins. He’s a bit more mellow now if he can say so himself.

“ And you are?”

“ (Y/N). (Y/N) (Y/L/N). You tend to our beach house on Tuesdays. I saw you clean our pool the other day”.

That’s news to him. The fact that the (Y/L/N)s have a daughter. He thought it was only her parents alone in that big house in some attempt to rekindle the fire of their marriage. Last year it was only them two, he could swear.

“ Is that so? I could’ve sworn it was just your parents in that house. “

“ Was just them last year, I was in New York City last summer. This time they decided to bring me. Let me enjoy the California sun. “

“ So you enjoying it? “

“ Verdict is still out but I quite like the view yeah. “

The teasing edge in her voice does not get lost on him. If Billy Hargrove is good at one thing, it’s realising when a girl is flirting with him.

“ You watching me then? What does your little boyfriend think about that, huh?”

“ Boyfriend? “ she sounds almost offended at those words, spits it with a certain malice that takes Billy by surprise. “ You mean Dawson? “

Dawson. Of course, that’s his name. Fucking Dawson. Dawson with the swoopy hair and the polo shirt. Dawson with the trust fund. Dawson with the DUI and the state attorney dad. Dawson with the scholarship.

“ Dunno his name.”

“ He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a friend that’s a boy that thinks if he waves around his money I’ll spread my legs for him. As if I don’t have my own money. It’s so unsexy it makes my pussy dry as the Serengeti.”

Billy has to stop himself from pushing the brakes too hard. It’s not something he has expected her to say. Not this outright at least. Something about her brashness and her honesty is truly charming though. It’s endearing for sure.

“ Wearing his jacket though, poor guy thinks he’ll score soon enough.”

“ Eh. Maybe I’ll let him. I’m getting a bit bored. If nothing better comes along— “ she says it casually and shrugs her shoulders but Billy swears there’s an open end to that sentence. Almost like an invitation.

“ Hope pretty boy does it for you then. So — where to? “

She faces him, peach baseball cap on her head and cherry smile on her lips. “ See, the thing is that my parents aren’t home right now and I don’t have a key so … “

“ So...? “

“ Just wanna hang somewhere until they get home tonight. Maybe somewhere dry? “

Everything in him screams at him not to do it. Not to get tangled up in this. He knows, god he knows, this is a bad idea and yet he says it anyway.

“ Do you wanna chill at my place? “

She bites her lips then takes another sip from her Slurpee. “ Yeah, sounds good to me.”

God Billy, you are such a dumbass.

Billy’s apartment is small but he feels more at home here than he ever did in any house he shared with his father.

There’s an open kitchen/living room area, a bathroom and his bedroom. It’s not much but it’s his and that makes all the difference.

“ Well uh — this is my place. “

He almost expects to see some kind of disdain on her face, disappointment too maybe. She’s used to big fancy houses with white shutters and stucco ceilings. Though when he turns to look at her there’s none of it. Just curiosity. No judgment. Not even a tiny spark. Not even at all.

“ It’s nice. Do you uh — I’m soaked. Do you have a shirt or something you could give me?”

It’s now, that he lets his eyes travel down her body, and notices her shirt clinging to her body. She’s not wearing a bra and it’s painfully obvious and he swears he dies in that moment. There’s only so much a guy’s heart can take.

“ Uh. I — mmh.”

As if his body works on autopilot, Billy hurries towards his bedroom and rummages through his closet until he finds a shirt that’s even baggy on him and will surely work for her. God, seeing her in his clothes is gonna give him another little heart attack.

“ Here you g — “ she’s naked. Not completely but her shirt and jeans are gone and all she’s in is a pair of red underwear and no bra and some socks and that damn peach baseball hat.

“ Huh? you never seen a pair of tits before? “

“ No, I have. “

“ Good. “

“ Yeah. Here “

She smirks as Billy hands her the shirt, doesn’t break eye contact. Not even once and she slips if over her head and almost drowns in the fabric. It reaches down to mid-thigh and she looks glorious. Wet hair clinging to her skin, shirt covering everything but just barely. Bily is usually suave and charming and smooth. Why not now? Why not with her? What is it about this girl that she plays his games better than he does it himself.

“ You want something to eat? “

What the fuck, Billy. There’s a half-naked girl in your kitchen and you’re asking her if she wants food? What is going on?!

“ Sure, what’ve you got? “

“ Lemme see — “ Billy says and turns towards the kitchen cabinets and (Y/N) slides up and sits down on the island. Her ass must be flush on the counter and Billy has to stop himself from following that thought any further because that would result in a serious hard-on right now.

“ So I got some Nachos aaand — “ he says and squats down to open a lower cabinet, “ I think there’s guacamole somewh— “

A soft thump interrupts him and, as he realises what’s caused the sound, his heart drops straight down into his pants and his whole body goes hot. Like his entire system is going haywire.

His hand reaches out to take the flimsy red fabric into his hand. Her underwear. This has crossed flirting long ago. This is an obvious invitation and if this was any other girl or any other situation he’d already be balls deep inside her so why not now?

As Billy turns to look at her, the teasing smirk is back, her eyebrow is raised in a way that tells him she’s challenging his next move, and the secrets are back sparkling in her eyes.

“ Oops “ she says though he can tell she’s all but sorry.

“ What are you doing? You have a boyfriend. “

“ Uuuugh ”  (Y/N) moans in annoyance, “ I told you, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a boy who doesn’t get it. I have a lot of boys in a lot of cities who all do not get it. They think because they’re rich and their parents have influence, everyone has to do as they wish. They’re not used to not getting what they want and I like to see ‘em get pissy once they realise they can’t have me. Billy those guys — they are so boring. So dull and if I have to listen to one more lecture about politics or their scholarship or how their daddy helped finance the university’s library I am going to off myself. “

“ So what role do I play in this game? You’re just a rich girl who’s bored with her suitors then, huh? What am I ? “

“ Exciting. You are different. You are you, no ifs or buts. You are your own person not a clone of your wealthy father and his even wealthier father. You are exciting and so. fucking. hot. “

Billy doesn’t notice it happening but suddenly he’s so close he can feel her breath on his skin. She’ so close. So close. All he has to do is reach out and grab her. Touch her. Kiss her. Taste her.

“ Fuck me.”

“ You sure? “ he murmurs, voice low and deep and soothing. “That’s all this is gonna be. Sex and fun and nothing serious. “

“ Just fun. No strings. I’ll leave at the end of the summer anyway. Until then we can — explore. “

“ Explore? “

“ Mmh. There’s so much we can do.“

“ Sounds good to me. “

Billy doesn’t give her time to reply before his lips descend on hers. She doesn’t taste like cherries or chapstick or sugar. She tastes cold and like fake raspberry slushy. Billy thinks it’s his favourite flavour now.

His hands wander up and down her sides and hers get tangled in his curls, combing through his hair and tugging slightly. She’s breathing deep, quick breaths as his lips make their way across her neck and down towards her boobs. He bunches the shirt up and pulls it over her head leaving her naked on his kitchen counter. She’s absolutely fucking breathtaking and his jeans are getting awfully tight around the front.

“ You’re so hot “ he murmurs against her skin as he buries his head in the crook of her neck. Her skin is flushed and there’s a cute red tint to her cheeks. Maybe he was wrong about it on all accounts. Maybe she’s not as innocent as he has first thought.

Her fingers slip down his body and straight into the front of his jeans, grabbing his dick and squeezing his hard on softly. Yeah, she’s definitely not as innocent as he had first thought.

It’s a clash of teeth and a tongues and a lot of saliva. This is messy and raw and rough and he feels like he’s died and gone straight to heaven. With every second, his lips wander a little further down her hot skin, placing kisses one every inch he can reach until he’s kneeling in front of her. Her eyes lock on his as she spreads her legs further letting him see just what he’s been lusting after since the first moment he’s laid eyes on her. He feels like a man starving being presented with an all you can eat buffet.

Their eyes lock as his lips kiss the spot where her abdomen meet her thighs. It’s not where she wants him but it’s enough to make her go fuzzy in the head.

“ I’ll make you forget about all those rich fuckboys, baby.”

And he does. God, he does. As soon as he licks at her clit she can’t recall a single name of any other boy she’s ever met. He devours her like he was born to do nothing but eat a girl out. There’s kisses followed by kitten licks followed by more kisses. It’s driving her crazy, the way he flicks his tongue.

(Y/N) lifts her leg to rest on his shoulder as her hand reaches down burying herself in his hair. The way she tugs, the slight pangs of pain, it’s delicious. Billy can’t get enough of it. He adds a finger, then two, slowly in and out, the faster, then even faster. He knows she’s close by the way she throws her head back, bites her lips. Her lipstick is everywhere, her hair clings to her skin now from sweat instead of rain. She’s a mess and he’s so proud of getting her to this point. He further spreads her lips, lapping up the wetness, sucking at her clit, making her come undone right there on his kitchen counter.

The moans that fall off of her lips are almost pornographic, he wonders if her parents know the kind of activities she gets up to when they’re away. He bets they don’t. She’s a princess at home. Nice and proper. A princess who spends her free time getting fucked by their poolboy.

Billy pulls away at the last minute which (Y/N) really doesn’t enjoy. She pouts at him, gives him a sound of pure dismay. “ Why did you stop? “ she questions, voice breathy, almost incoherent.

“ Cause I wanna feel you cum when I fuck you. “

He’s not usually this bold and brash. Girls like lovely words. They like soft voices and hushed whispers and for boys to say nice things during sex. Not her. She wants the dirt and the mess and the honesty.

(Y/N)’s hand finds its way back to his crotch, pulling down the zipper of his jeans and freeing his solid boner.

“ No boxers? “ there’s a glimmer of mischief playing in her eyes.

“ You complaining? “

“ Fuck no. I’d suck you off but I want you inside me — like right now. “

Billy only nods, before fumbling a condom from his wallet and pulling it down his cock. He shares her sentiment. All he wants to be right now, is inside her.

Rough hands grab her hips and turn her around before pushing her down. Her boobs as flush against the counter, ass on full display. She’s a sight for sore eyes. A masterpiece.

Billy can’t keep his hands off her ass. He has to grab a handful, squeeze it, caress it. There’s boob guys and butt guys and then there are guys like Billy who know that both those features are mutually phenomenal and to limit yourself by choosing one or the other is a move only a fool would make and he ain’t no fool.

Billy lines himself up at her slit. He can’t wait to feel her around him, wet and warm and throbbing and —

“ What are you waiting for? “ she grunts, impatience clear in her voice and she tries to wiggle her ass closer to him.

“ Patience, baby.” Billy instructs as he grabs onto her hips and pulls her even closer. Her skin is so soft, so perfect. There’s a primal desire in leaving his marks of passion there so he leans over and places little love bites on her shoulder. They’ll be easy for her to cover up with a shirt but he’ll know they are there and that’s all that matters to him.

Slowly, painfully slowly, he trails his erection up and down her entrance, coating it in her arousal. He’s really not looking forward to clean this mess later on but right now it’s damn worth it by the way she’s trembling and wiggling underneath him, desperate for some stimulation.

“ Patience is not a word I know, sorry “ she’s so god damn desperate it almost makes him cum before he even gets a fuck in.

“ Yeah me neither. “

With those words he sinks into her and it feels heavenly. Engulfed by her warmth, her wetness, her passion. Quite frankly, he’s convinced, there’s no better place to be in the entire world, than buried in the pussy of a pretty girl.

Billy moves his hips slowly, deliberately, set a rhythm and a pace. He watches his cock disappear inside of her then slide back out in a delicious cadency as he dings his fingers into her hips, surely leaving bruises.

The moans tumbling from her lips are almost pornographic though he can tell they’re real and honest. There’s no reason for her to fake anything. He’s pretty sure she’d set him straight if he was doing something wrong.

“ more. “ she gasps, breath hitching as she pushes back against him, taking him even deeper. This girl is a dream if he’s ever seen one.

Billy speeds up his movements, slamming into her at a faster pace, pounding her against the counter. The air is hot and both of them are so sweaty and the room smells of sex and salty ocean air. God, he loves California summers and pretty girls.

There’s a fire lit in his lower abdomen as she whimpers and arches her back off of the counter. Billy lifts one hand off of her hips and grabs onto her front, caressing her soft tits and pulling her upright so her back is flush against his chest. The sheen of sweat covering them makes it hard to figure out where one of them ends and the other begins. Right then, they are one. Her peach colored baseball cap falls off of her head and onto the floor, where the rest of their clothes lie discarded.

His hand desperately moves across her chest, squeezing and teasing and trailing fingers around her nipples, hard from arousal.

“ Oh fuck yes. “

The confirmation that he’s doing something right, that he’s making her feel good, makes Billy’s ego grow 3 sizes. He’s such a sucker for validation.

He snaps his hips faster, harder, tries to go deeper. His hand grabs onto her thigh and lifts it up so her knee is resting on the counter letting him fuck her at a whole new angle.

At the way she cries out in ecstasy he knows he’S doing something extremely right. “God, right there. “ she almost sobs. Billy’s sure she’s biting her lip so hard it must be close to drawing blood.

Billy buries his head in her messy hair, softly traces kisses and love bites up and down her neck, tugs on her earlobe with his teeth. “ Yeah? Your pussy is a dream, baby. A fucking dream.” he grunts, voice laced with lust.

“ I’m gonna cum, Billy. “

He can tell, by the way she trembles, clenches around him. By the way her breathing hitches. And he’s right there with her.

There’s a fire pulsing through him, shockwaves rippling. It bubbles in his abdomen then boils over. With every snap of his hips the movements get more arrhythmic, messy, uncoordinated, desperate

A bunch of expletives fall from her lips but Billy can hardly make them out as his own orgasm washes over him. It feels like time slows and every sound disappeared into a white static. Nothing matters then but to chase that high and catch it and get some sweet release.

Billy feels her cum around him, squeezing him tightly in the process. The way she moans his name, as if it’s both a secret and a confession to himself and the world, that’s what does it for him.

Grabbing her hips with both hands, he holds her in place, before pounding into her with a few last uncoordinated hard thrusts. And then his vision goes black for a moment and his brain stops functioning as he cums into the condom.

For a moment there’s no sound but them trying to catch their breath as they slump down against the counter, spent from the activities. Sweaty, filthy, messy. But oh so satisfied and content.

Billy pulls out of her and for a second he misses her warm and tight around him. Like he was meant to stay there forever. Fuck, he’s such a guy.

Another heartbeat passes and (Y/N) lets out a melodic but breathless giggle. “ I could go for some Nachos and Guac right now. “

This girl is really something else.

They devour the snacks while lazing on his couch. Naked as they came to this earth, unbothered. Maybe this is what makes him go so absolutely feral about her, the fact that she’s so uncomplicated. Yeah she comes with all kinds of warning signs and bad news for him but being with her like this it’s so easy. Like they’ve been some kinds of friends for a long time.

Their bodies are always touching in one way or another. As if they can’t get enough. Billy’s sitting on the couch, feet resting on the coffee table while her legs are places on his lap, cigarette dangling from her fingers. The air is sticky and humid and even the late afternoon breeze doesn’t bring any cooling-off.

As his eyes fall onto the clock on the wall, Billy lets out a frustrated grunt. “ Fuck.”

“ What’s the matter?”

“ I’m supposed to meet my friend Johnny at the gym in about 10 minutes. Totally forgot about it. “

“ Do you have to go? “

“ I really should. “

“ You’ve had quite the workout today though. “

Billy scoffs a laugh at her words before plucking the cigarette from her fingers and taking a drag. He lets the smoke sit in his chest for a moment, hoping to capture even a bit of the warmth he felt when buried balls deep inside her cunt.

It doesn’t work.

“ He’s waiting for me. “

“ Aw, that’s too bad. “ she says grabs the cigarette back and, after one last drag, then stubs it out in the ashtray resting on the coffee table. “ I was just about to ask for a round two. Guess I’ll have to do it by myself then. That’s fine. “

Her fingers trail down her body, teasing her nipples before descending towards her slit. She slowly circles her clit. Billy is honesty sure she’ll be the death of him. This girl is so sweet yet so dirty and he’s not sure he’s ever met someone like her.

“ You gonna sit there and finger yourself on my couch ? “

“ You gonna sit there and watch and not join in? Come on Billy, I can give you quite the workout. No gym necessary. Do I have to beg? “

Yes. God he wants to hear her beg but that makes him feel a bit — uneasy. He doesn’t want her to think he doesn’t want this just as much as she does. Maybe they can leave the begging for another day.

“ You’re insatiable, huh? “ he asks as he settles himself on top of her, lips colliding with hers ina fiery kiss.

(Y/N) just nods, a satisfied moan slipping from her lips as his fingers nudge her hand away and replace them softly trailing up and down her slit, slipping inside every once in a while.

“ What can I say? It’s a bad habit I just can’t seem to quit.”

Maybe this is a really bad idea. Maybe he’s getting himself into more trouble than he needs right now. But the way she feels and sounds and taste make it worth it.

As the sun sets upon the horizon and the summer storm has long passed on to another coastal town, Billy thinks that it’s so worth it if only he can feel like this for the rest of the summer.

There’s really nothing quite like a California summer and a pretty girl with a dirty mind.

[intoanothermind]

The Glue - Part Two

T H E   G L U E

Word Count: 1.9k words

Synopsis: Glue or Variable? This is the big question about Frankie’s existence. Assigned to the same role as Newt in WCKD’s Lethal Experiments, Frankie suddenly realizes that she will become just a variable to activate brain reactions in her former Group A friends. Without memories and being the only girl among several boys, she has the feeling of already knowing some of them. The new question that matters to WCKD is: will Frankie play her role as a variable correctly?

- Newt x OC (Frankie)

Masterlist

<Part 1 | Part 3>

(This will be a miniseries of Newt from Maze Runner. It will consist of 7 parts and a spin-off. I won’t do a reader insert as usual, but you will soon understand why.)

—

P A R T   T W O

The girl, at the age of three, was shaking in her small body. She looked around scared; to the white room where she was, to the technology around her, to the other children on her right and left - as scared as she was - and to the people in lab coats. Not only had she been snatched from her mother's arms, she was still required to act as a guinea pig for a bunch of scientists who were working hard to find a cure for The Flare - even if she didn't know what that meant yet.

One woman stood out from the group of scientists stepping forward. She was tall and blond, her tired expression making clear the hard work she'd been doing.

“From now on, your life will no longer be the same.” She said, her voice cold and steady, spreading through the room. “You will have new names and new goals, all aimed at the search for healing.”

Meanwhile, a man in a lab coat passed by the children, whispering something to them and then jotting it down on a clipboard. When he reached the girl, her heart was racing.

“Your name will be Rosalind Franklin, in reference to the biophysics crucial to DNA knowledge.” He wrote something down on the drawing board shortly afterwards and moved on while the little girl was still paralyzed with terror.

When everyone was nominated, the blonde woman spoke again.

“Now everything will change. But always remember: WICKED is good.”

The girl instinctively held the boy's hand to her right. When she realized it she felt embarrassed and thought about letting go, but the boy wouldn't allow it. She looked at him - his blond hair falling over his forehead and his brown eyes staring at her - and remembered the name that had been whispered to him and she had been able to hear: Isaac Newton.

~ * ~

“Hey, Frypan!” Newt shouted as he approached what, by appearance and smell, I assumed was their kitchen.

It was small, but seemed to have what it needed to make a good meal. A large stove, a microwave, a dishwasher, two tables. It looked old and worn, but clean. A rather plump boy with a leather apron appeared smiling.

“Hey, Newt!” greeted the boy. “Minho!”

“Is there anything there for the Newbie?” Newt asked, nodding at me.

I blushed and bit my lower lip.

“Ah, yes, the troublemaker Shebean!” Exclaimed Frypan and, despite the roughness of the words, I noticed a sympathetic smile on his lips.

“I'm not a troublemaker.” I muttered, frowning.

“Oh sure, because you don't even have your hand on the machete as if you would rip off the arm of whoever dared to touch you!” Minho commented sarcastically, with an arched eyebrow.

I looked down and realized he was right. I jerked my hand away from the handle as if it had shocked me. The boys laughed.

“Well, I only cook for this bunch of klunks, but I must have something here for you, Shebean.” Said Frypan, walking away.

“What is klunk?” I asked, confused, to Newt and Minho.

Minho scowled. "Believe me, you don't want to know, Shebean!"

I rolled my eyes as Newt laughed at me.

“Here, Newbie!” Exclaimed Frypan, approaching again, a plate in his hands and a smile on his face.

“Don't call me that, I have a name.” I muttered, taking the plate he was offering.

Minho and Frypan arched an eyebrow, as if daring me to say my name.

“Frankie.” I said, and they frowned. “My name: Frankie.”

They grinned, all of them, and Newt put a hand on my shoulder, which sent electric currents all over my body.

"Welcome to the Glade, Frankie."

~ * ~

"Why didn't you say it hurt before?" Newt asked once more, frowning and the worried glint in his brown eyes.

I bit my lip when the med-jack who took care of my arm pulled the bandage tightly on my forearm.

“Because it didn't matter.” I said, looking away from his intense gaze. The med-jack has finished his work and smiles slightly in thanks. "Thanks ... Jeff, right?" I ventured, and earned a smile in confirmation.

“That's right, Shebean.” He said, and I held back not to roll my eyes, but Newt didn't hold back the laugh. "It won't infect or anything, so you don't have to worry."

I smiled again, rising from my chair in the middle of the Homestead. “Thanks again, Jeff.”

“You're welcome, Shebean!”

"Will you never stop calling me that?" I muttered as I left Homestead with Newt by my side.

The Homestead was nothing but wood. The door was a crazy and even creative replacement for a dark, sun-beaten wooden slate. Crooked stairs, twisted stairs and railings in all directions, and the walls were covered with dark paper, but already worn at some points. Nothing at the Homestead seemed inviting - it seemed haunted, if you want to know the truth - but I had to admit that, despite everything, those boys did a good job.

"Maybe next month, when a new unlucky slinthead arrives in the box." Newt said, pointing to the elevator I came from. Or where he would be if the Box hadn't come down again. "Or not ... You'll always be the first Shebean in here, Frankie."

For some reason, I smiled.

“I like it when you call me Frankie.” I blurted out, and my cheeks flushed immediately.

"But I'd rather call you Greenie." He said, smiling mischievously.

I widened my eyes, gaping.

“The audacity!” I exclaimed jokingly and punched him weakly in the arm.

Newt laughed, hugging me by the shoulders. I smiled wistfully, feeling the familiarity, the confidence, and the security he conveyed to me hitting me full in the chest.

“Why do I feel like I know you?” He asked, stopping suddenly and stepping in front of me.

I had the impression that my eyes looked bigger than they really were. I was surprised and scared. I had thought that the feeling of familiarity had come only from me. But no! Newt was there, right in front of me, saying that he also felt he knew me.

I opened my mouth at least twice before giving him any concrete answer.

"What if I said I feel the same way?" I said, smirking, his head slightly bowed in shame.

Then I felt Newt's fingers under my chin, lifting my face so that I could look him in the eye. Brown eyes so deep and intense I felt unable to look away. His eyes held mine like a magnet, and when I realized he was slowly approaching. I could have ran away, but one thing I noticed when his nose brushed mine was that I didn't want to run away. I realized that from the moment I laid eyes on Newt still in the Box, running would never become an option for me. I smiled to feel our breaths merging and our lips had the first contact, even if only one brush. I felt Newt's hands migrating to my waist and tightened my shirt over his shoulders.

I surpassed the inch that separated us the moment a loud crash rumbled through the Glade, followed by the harsh, slurred sound. I walked away from Newt quickly, confused and scared, until I located the source of the noise. I noticed that the walls closed, really closed. We were close to one of the openings, which seemed to be about twenty feet wide. On the left side, deep holes several inches in diameter, the space would be almost six meters long and carved into the stone, starting at the ground and continuing upward. On the right side, 30 centimeters wide bars protruded from the edge of the wall, also several centimeters in diameter, on the same pattern as the holes on the other side.

And at that moment they would play their part.

The huge wall of stone slid across the earth, scattering sparks and dust as they beat stone to stone. The right wall reached the end of its path, its bars finding their mark and entering unhindered, the echo of an explosion echoing in the clearing as the four openings were closed at night.

“Newt.” I muttered, tugging at his shirt sleeve. He still didn't look at me, keeping his gaze fixed on the opening that had just closed, but took his other hand in mine, squeezing it lightly. “What was that?” I asked, afraid I would get an answer or not.

"It was the doors closing, like every night." said Newt, lowering his head slightly before turning to me with a reassuring smile that even then , I did not feel to be real. "We'd better get you a hammock." Must be tired and is too klunk to assimilate.

Even if I didn't feel tiredness overwhelming me, I knew that sooner or later Newt would be right. So I just agreed to just go. We soon found a short, plump little boy who seemed to be the youngest of them all. He looked playful, and that pleased me almost immediately, as was Newt. Perhaps the most annoying, but certainly the most intelligent. The curls fell over his face, and every time he tried to push it away, I insisted he looked cute.

“Hey, Chuck!” Exclaimed Newt, smiling at the smaller one. "Can you get a sleeping bag for Frankie?" Chuck just listened and already went looking for one .

I smiled again when I heard my name on Newt's lips.

“Here it is, Newt.” Replied the boy, panting, Chuck. “Hello, Newbie.”

“Hello, Chuck.” I said, smiling friendly. I knew I would have to get used to them by calling me negative names. And I was starting to not care about that.

“Where do you want to sleep?” Asked Newt.

“You can keep me company, it's not like me to have many friends here.” Suggested Chuck sadly.

I looked around, seeing that most of the boys chose to sleep on a lawn near the gardens. I bit my front lip, going over my options. Until a few boys nearby waved perversely, and I had no idea how I could handle it until overnight. I chose to decline Chuck's offer.

“Far away, please.” I asked in a whisper, and Newt seemed to realize what I was thinking, and it was only a matter of time before the other boys messed with me. Boys were weird. "But I promise I'll sleep with you some other day." I assured Chuck just before we left.

Newt walked with me to the edge of the woods there, and I took shelter in the by a tree. I hoped that nothing unusual like a rain would happen.

“Don't worry, Frankie.” Newt said, smiling slightly and with his hand on my shoulder. "I wish you were going to the Homestead, but it's only for the Keepers and there's not enough room for everyone. But I'll try to talk to Alby and see if the opportunity arises for you to go there.”

I smiled in thanks, and he was about to turn to the Homestead when I held his wrist. Newt looks at me intrigued, and I took a deep breath.

“Thank you, Newt.” I whispered, truly grateful.

Newt smiled, that smile that melted me and made me want to smile along. He approached me and placed a kiss on my cheek, incredibly close to my mouth.

“You're welcome, Frankie.”

[sebeth]

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Breakout

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

 Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Episodes 1 &2: Breakout.

 Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is one of my favorite hero cartoons. It ranks up there with Young Justice, Justice League Unlimited, and Batman: Brave and the Bold.  I love all these series for the same reason: the creators realize the DC and Marvel Universe have thousands of characters and all should be featured!

We open with Iron Man interrupting a weapons exchange between A.I.M. and Lucia Von Bardas.

Lucia Von Bardas is a rather obscure character. She is the Prime Minister of Latveria and appeared in the “Secret War” mini-series by Brian Michael Bendis and Gabrielle Del’Otto.

Is the weapons deal taking place in Latveria? If so, Tony legally can’t do anything about it.

Tony’s “Unfortunately some of it has my name on it” comment indicates he’s started his “Armor Wars” campaign against villains stealing his tech.  It would also explain why Tony’s invading Latveria to reclaim/neutralize his tech. If you haven’t read the classic “Armor Wars” storyline from the 1980s, you should give it a shot. Great storyline where Tony goes to extremes to take back his technology.

I love how unimpressed Lucia is with Tony’s posturing – she’s all “whatever”! Let’s be real, Lucia’s boss is Doctor Doom – she’s heard actual scary threats and seen said threats executed. Tony just doesn’t measure up in the intimidation factor,

We switch to the “Cube” where Doctor Samson patrols the corridors of a prison.  We get glimpses of the Wrecker, Zzzax, and the Absorbing Man.

Doctor Samson interviews an imprisoned Bruce Banner and notes that there hasn’t been a “Hulk incident” in 36 hours.

Samson informs us the Cube is the “most advanced gamma radiation research facility” on the planet. Banner warns the Cube is a “gamma bomb” waiting to happen.

Why are the Wrecker, the Absorbing Man and Zzzax contained in the Cube if its purpose is gamma radiation research? The first two villains are the result of Asgardian magic and Zzzax was created by a terrorist act that didn’t involve gamma radiation.

Balder teleports to Thor in New York City.  Odin has entered the Odinsleep and would like Thor to supervise Asgard while he’s comatose. Thor reacts with as much enthusiasm as teenager told to mow the front lawn.

Thor ditches Balder to first save and then flirt with Jane Foster who is a paramedic in this universe.

Iron Man lands at the Vault and deposits the A.I.M. henchmen with SHIELD agent Jimmy Woo.

The Vault was located in Colorado in the comic book verse and based on the mountains I assume its still located in Colorado in the cartoon verse.

Jimmy Woo is most famous for being a member of the Agents of Atlas team.

Jimmy asks Tony to look over the Vault’s security because there was an “incident last week”. Tony tells Jimmy to schedule an appointment with Pepper because “I’m sure whatever it is can wait”. Not so much, Tony, not so much.

Hank Pym is the creator, and apparently the therapist, of the “Big House”. A shrunken prison located in the SHIELD Helicarrier. Ultron robots act as security guards.

Mad Thinker taunts Pym that “something is about to happen” but refuses to divulge details.

SHIELD agent Maria Hill asks the Wasp if she and Pym have considered Fury’s offer to become agents of SHIELD. Janet is for the idea but Hank is against it. The duo walks past Black Widow in the hall. Janet asks who the Widow is but is told “she’s classified”.

Power fluctuations occur throughout the multiple prisons and the Helicarrier. We see Hawkeye imprisoned in a cell in the Vault.

The Vault is the first prison to lose complete power. Inmates released from the cells include the Blizzard and a monocle man that I’m assuming is Baron Von Strucker.

The Cube goes down next. Zzzax, the Leader, the Wrecker, and Absorbing Man are freed.

The Big House is the third to go down, causing it to expand to its regular size and decimate the Helicarrier. The Big House now has numerous releases: Mad Thinker, Mandrill, MODOK, Griffin, Constrictor, Red Ghost & the Super Apes, Whirlwind, and the Grey Gargoyle.

The Cube’s Power Loss causes a release of Gamma radiation which envelopes Doctor Samson.

SHIELD agent Clay Quartermain informs Nick Fury that the Vault and the Cube’s systems have gone offline and no one is responding in the Big House: “Something has gone seriously wrong!”

The Helicarrier suffers the worst of it because SHIELD has to deal with escaping prisoners while in the process of crashing.

Pepper contacts Tony to inform him of the Helicarrier explosion while Jarvis tells him the Vault’s systems have gone offline. Tony heads to the Vault since he’s closer to it.

Thor and Jane are having drinks. Jane tells Thor to be a grown-up and handle his Asgardian responsibilities – Earth will be fine. Cue Helicarrier explosion. Thor heads off to investigate.

Banner is trapped under rubble. Doctor Samson stumbles toward him – with green hair. Samson attempts to lift the rubble and transforms into a super-human physique.

I do prefer this origin for Doctor Samson instead of the comic book verse where an alleged highly intelligent man decides to randomly inject himself with gamma radiation.

Vector of the U-Foes opens the weapons storage area of the Vault, allowing a female Whiplash and Chemistro.

Hawkeye knocks out Chemistro.

Hank is not having a good time as he’s in the midst of a huge multiple super-villain brawl. Cobra is the latest villain to arrive at the party. The Ultron robots attempt to stop Red Ghost but are stopped by the Super Apes. Fortunately for Hank, Jan arrives in time to save the day.

Hawkeye aims at Whiplash only for Iron Man to storm in through the ceiling. Tony recognizes Whiplash but refers to Clint as “arrow guy”.

Hawkeye is clearly in the early part of his career – the misunderstood good guy who was imprisoned – but he clearly never fought Iron Man as Tony doesn’t recognize him.

Clint attempts to say “Wait, I’m a good guy” but is interrupted by a repulsor blast. If Clint’s identifying himself as a “good guy” why was he imprisoned? A misunderstanding – like in the comics – Natasha’s a SHIELD agent but did another woman play Clint for a fool? Or is Clint undercover for SHIELD?

Tony battles Whiplash and Blizzard, two of his regular rogues’ gallery, and Vector, who is normally a Hulk enemy. Crimson Dynamo decides now is the perfect time to join the Iron Man beatdown party.

Tony orders an evacuation of the Vault – all SHIELD agents are to leave immediately.

Nick Fury isn’t concerned with the chaos and escapees on the Helicarrier – his only priority is the Raft – the “fourth prison”.

As seen in the comic book verse, the cartoon verse, and Captain America: Civil War, the Raft is a prison off the coast of New York City. The cells are on the ocean floor.

The mass breakout of the Raft caused the creation of Bendis’s New Avengers and was clearly one of the inspirations of these episodes.

We view the Raft and it too is losing power. Baron Zemo and the Purple Man have been released along with a furry clawed creature that we only receive a glimpse of so I can’t identify. Marvel has a lot of clawed, furry creatures.

We also see an unconscious man regaining consciousness. This will be Graviton, an extremely powerful but ultimately boring villain. In the New Avengers arc, Count Nefaria was the big bad released from the Raft.

Zzzax electrocutes Banner which triggers the transformation into the Hulk.

The Leader is in the control room and observes the mass shutdowns of the superhuman prisons. He orders the Absorbing Man and the Abomination to deal with the Hulk.

Hawkeye aids Iron Man in his battle against his rogues’ gallery. Iron Man initiates a self-destruct sequence of the Vault. An effective if brutal way to deal with the villains.

Hulk, the Absorbing Man, and the Abomination battle across the Cube. Hulk grabs Sampson and leaps from the Cube. The Leader prevents Absorbing Man and the Abomination from pursuing the Hulk as “we have work to do”.

The location of the Cube isn’t established but based on the scenery I would say it’s in New Mexico – the traditional stomping grounds of the Hulk.

Fury leaves Maria as the acting director of SHIELD while he takes a team to the Raft. Graviton is fully awake and launches the Raft into the sky.

The second episode begins with a flashback from ten years ago. Nick Fury hires Franklin Hall, a gravity researcher/physicist to continue Abraham Erskine’s work on the Super Soldier project.

I’m not a scientist but isn’t a physicist the wrong type of specialist to continue Erskine’s work?

Hall’s work causes an explosion that bombards him with energy. Hall regains consciousness and realizes he can control gravity. Fury responds by gassing him into unconsciousness and keeping him comatose for the next decade.

Hall was never going to be a nice man but I don’t think you should keep an individual comatose for a decade before he’s even broken a law.

The newly awoken Hall asks Zemo how long he’s been at the Raft and Zemo replies “longer than me and I have been here for six years.”

Hall is rightfully pissed and yanks the Raft into the air.

Graviton tortures Fury but is interrupted by a newly arrived Thor. Wasp rescues Fury while Thor and Graviton battle. The distraction causes Graviton to release the Raft and it falls into the ocean.  It’s been a bad day for the prisoners of the Raft and the Vault.

Iron Man requests a new suit of armor from his Chicago armory. Tony’s stuck chilling in a cornfield (Iowa, Kansas?) until it arrives.

Fury declares an “Omega-level emergency” which means that “every SHIELD agent, every Hulkbuster unit, and the entire United States armed forces” is under his direct control.

Hank & Jan demand information from Fury. Hank notes no one has heard from Hall “ever since he joined SHIELD”.

The Hulk drops Samson off at the Vital Diner, ordering chicken soup and requesting the waitress take care of Samson.

Bruce urges the Hulk to head to New York and aid Thor. Hulk agrees if he is allowed to remain the Hulk and not be “Banner”.

Janet throws herself into the fight and Hank follows after quizzing Fury for info.

Wasp gives Graviton hell. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ Janet is my favorite Janet. Sassy, headstrong, big heart, great costume. Also, my favorite Hank Pym.  Smart, conflicted, reluctant hero and has never hit Jan.

Iron Man arrives and joins the fight.

Graviton tears New York City apart, and sends Iron Man into space.

Iron Man returns from space and unleashes the repulsor blast/uni-beam to end all blasts.

Hulk arrives in time to debate Graviton’s claim that he “is the strongest one there is”.

Thor’s comment after the Hulk’s arrival: “I didn’t realize there were ogres on Midgard”.

The united team battle and defeat Graviton.

SHIELD attempts to arrest the Hulk but is stopped by the rest of the Avengers.

Fury notes 74 super-villains have escaped the various prisons. If we assume all the villains shown, minus Graviton, have escaped that would be a total of 23. If you include the Super-Apes (who are more of mindless minions than actual villains) and assume the rest of the U-Foes and the Wrecking Crew were imprisoned with their leaders, it leaves us with a count of 32.  I’m not counting the AIM henchmen Tony dropped off at the Vault because I don’t think they were imprisoned long enough to be processed in the system.  We have 42 unseen villains that escaped but only 40 if you count Hawkeye and the Hulk among the escapees.

Fury asks the assembled heroes to become SHIELD agents but Hank refuses on behalf of the entire group. Hank rightfully points out Fury’s actions caused the entire Graviton situation.

Iron Man agrees the heroes should become a team but not under SHIELD’s supervision.

SHIELD discovers Graviton regained consciousness after all the prisons failed leading to the final question: “If he wasn’t responsible, who was?”

Great debut episode. I loved the fact that even though Captain America was in the opening credits, we didn’t see him at all in the opening two-parter. Very true to the comics as Cap wasn’t a founder member in the series and didn’t appear until issue #4.

I also enjoyed the various prisons and their different purposes.

The Vault was primarily but not exclusively for tech-based villains (Crimson Dynamo, Chemistro, Whiplash, Blizzard, AIM, etc).

The Cube is Gamma-radiation/other mysterious energy-based villains (Leader, Abomination, Zzzax, Absorbing Man, Wrecker, etc).

The Raft is “Oh Shit” level villains either due to powers (Graviton, Purple Man) or influence (Baron Zemo).

The Big House is the least-clearly defined in purpose but mostly contained enemies of Captain America and the Fantastic Four.

Characters appearing and/or mentioned:

1.       Iron Man (Tony Stark)

2.       Lucia Von Bardas

3.       Doctor Doom

4.       A.I.M.

5.       Jarvis (A.I)

6.       Pepper Potts

7.       Wrecker

8.       Zzzax

9.       Absorbing Man

10.   Doctor Samson

11.   Hulk (Bruce Banner)

12.   S.H.I.E.L.D.

13.   General “Thunderbolt” Ross

14.   Leader

15.   Abomination

16.   Thor

17.   Balder the Brave

18.   Odin

19.   Jane Foster

20.   Jimmy Woo

21.   Ant-Man (Hank Pym)

22.   Ultron

23.   Mad Thinker

24.   Maria Hill

25.   Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

26.   Nick Fury

27.   Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)

28.   Hawkeye (Clint Barton)

29.   Blizzard

30.   Baron Von Strucker

31.   Mandrill

32.   MODOK

33.   Griffin

34.   Red Ghost & the Super Apes

35.   Whirlwind

36.   Grey Gargoyle

37.   Constrictor

38.   Clay Quartermain

39.   Vector

40.   U-Foes

41.   Whiplash

42.   Chemistro

43.   Cobra

44.   Crimson Dynamo

45.   Baron Zemo

46.   Purple Man

47.   Graviton