#like holy cow this got chewed UP

[sixxtytoo]

@twunk-ouma thinkin about ur shirokawas.......

[lensman-arms-race]

Episode 77 part 3 and 4

(I was going to make a post with parts 3 and 4, but ran into the Tumblr image limit! I'll make another post about part 4.)

Previously: Episode 77 part 1, Episode 77 part 2

DFB has given us TV-simps some delicious food!! And I had five asks about this! Spoilers under the cut.

Pile of asks:

Anonymous:

Now that episode 77 is done what do you think is the 'plot twist'? I found 'hardware heads were human' from part 2 to be a lot more shocking than G-Man helping The Alliance.

@some-girl-i-guess-1

Did you see the new episode? What are your thoughts about it?

@gamie99

I love reading your episode reviews because you always have so much to say! And I'm sure you have SO many thoughts about this one, because HOLY COW.

Anonymous:

The latest part of the episode was pretty crazy what did you think about it? What do you think will occur in the full episode?

@love-draw-fanart

After watching 77 part 4, I started imagining Titan-TV fighting with his ghost if his body was destroyed 🤣🤣🤣🤣 very, veryyyyyy "you can't kill the death"

Part 3:

I'm a little disappointed that Cam Matriarch appears to have lost her tortoise mode + flechette cannon, because that was what made me love her in the first place! The flying cannon replacement is pretty cool... but it's sad how all the cute robots are becoming badass rather than cute.

Wonder what the 'there are 3 Polycephalies' crowd will have to say about this? Will they think there are 2 Cam Matriarchs?

The distant 'hee hee' at this point was funny as hell! I do love how Boom breaks up tension with funny parts like this.

Not only has Cam Matriarch inherited Plunk's weapons, but also his idiot ball, apparently. Mate, you can't defeat that bastard, he's like a fucking battleship.

See, TV Matriarch agrees with me... Wait... there's absolutely no need for TV Matriarch to put her hand on Cam Matriarch's boob - she's copping a feel!

Also, holy crap, how have I only just noticed Cam Matriarch's goth boots?

Polycephaly, my beloved! And what an entrance! I swoon!

My earlier point about robots becoming badass but losing some of their cute appeal still stands. The head upgrades make sense tactically but they're uncute. And my boy's lost his cuddly tendrils! Now he's got Ass-tro tech bolted on him.

Also he looks goofy with his tie tucked into his trousers instead of his waistcoat. Boo.

There was a visual glitch at this point in which Buzzsaw's helmet temporarily despawned, but Boom appears to have fixed it.

"Someone is dying... and it's not me." OUGGGHHH HOLY CRAP!! Titan TV, my beloved!!

Also he flares out his back-spikes at this point and it's so good, hnnnngh.

Fuckin' no-sells the Astro projectiles.

Interestingly, Titan TV now appears to have the ability to fire off little 'pellets' of energy from his core instead of just a huge-ass blast (note hyphen position; that's huge-ass blast, not huge ass-blast).

After swiping away the Astro projectiles, Titan TV proceeds to get one of his monitor extensions chewed off. Oops. He seems strangely unbothered by this! It almost looks as though he turns his head towards the Astro to let it happen.

Excellent Astro grump face:

"Look at me!" (Okay, but why didn't you do that before Matey Boy bit your screen off?)

Goddamn, I love what Boom does with Toilet expressions; they're hilarious!

Decapitation!

Unfortunately, some other fucker arrives and manages to both deplete the Titan's back-spikes and smash his main screen.

The Astro strider appears to break the Titan's screen by getting behind his head and then suddenly pushing his head forward. Did the Titan's screen break on his own core-spikes? Or just from the stress on his head-casing?

The Titan does appear to catch the Astro in his back-spikes (and then fling the Astro away), which presumably is how the Astro breaks some of the spikes off.

"Your Titan wouldn't want you to die meaninglessly. Leave, while you still can." TVs are rude fuckers but they do still care about their comrades! That's why I love them best.

This prick shows up. I get the feeling they were muttering 'If you want something done right, do it yourself'. This Astro fights more competently than the last two.

Fortunately, Titan TV is saved from total annihilation by the Cams firing a shot from their tank, which buys the Titan enough time to counter-attack... and say a very curious line.

"You can't kill the dead!"

Is this just trash-talking, or an actual lore drop?? "I'll show you what the other side looks like!"

Is this an implication that TVs come from dead humans (or believe that they do)? Maybe TVs believe that they're already dead, because the state of the world is so shitty that it must be already Hell?

Or maybe this is just like Pete Weber, who got so excited bowling that he ended up saying "Who do you think you are? I am! Dammit right!"

Either way, we're treated to one of the most brutal deaths in the series, in which Titan TV crushes the Astro's head in his bare hands.

Polycephaly comforts the dying Cam who managed to fire the distracting shot. "You did well, lil bro." My heart!

"We teleported everyone to base." Except POV Cam, because they smell.

Also where's your head-turrets? (I hope Boom puts them back in the full episode.)

Titan TV is wrecked but is still spoiling for a rumble. Part 3 ends with him calling out the arriving Astros as 'pathetic trash' and demanding to fight Juggernaut. (One detail I liked here is that we hear the rhythmic clanking sound of Titan TV's core claws, rotating but no longer smoothly. It's rather like the ominous ticking of a clock signalling impending doom.)

Wait... if he has no working TV screens, he's not Titan TV Man. He's just Titan Man. Ehehe.

It's a little surprising how 2-dimensional these fights are - as in the characters stay in one plane close to the ground, even though they can all fly. I suppose we'd have to wait even longer between episodes if Boom had to choreograph swooping aerial fights!

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Slip of the Tongue

Warning: Some smut, a little bit of drinking, some drug use, talk of sex

18+ Minors DNI

Summary: Steve has an accidental bisexual awakening in Starcourt Mall and a year later makes another discovery.

Steve was higher than he had ever been in his entire life. He wasn't sure what were in those drugs that the Russians had given him and Robin, but he really didn't care. Robin was giggling and watching the movie beside him. He wasn't sure what was going on. Was that mom trying to bang her own kid?

"I have to take a piss," Steve stood up.

"Gross," Robin giggled.

After Steve returned from the bathroom, he had a hard time finding his seat, but he managed it without help. He turned to face Robin but found himself looking at a pretty girl with long brown curly hair and big cow eyes. Her cheeks were stuffed with popcorn.

"You're not Robin," Steve said, trying to squint to see better through his swollen eye. The girl shook her head. "You're pretty, though. Wanna make out?"

The girl quickly chewed her popcorn and swallowed before nodding. Steve leaned forward and kissed her. It was the best kiss of his life. Her lips were soft, sticky with butter, and he could taste the popcorn on her tongue. They molded perfectly against his own lips. The girl slipped her hand into his hair, cupping the back of his head, and gently pulled on his hair. Steve moaned into her mouth. He slipped a hand underneath her shirt, resting his hand on her abdomen for a moment before trailing up to cup her breast. Huh. He froze. She was extremely flat chested, but she did have a nipple piercing, which he found very hot. He rubbed his thumb over it and began to play with it. The girl moaned and bit down on his lip. It was getting heated, and he could feel arousal stirring below. He moved his hand back down and slipped his hands into her pants. Oh. She wasn't flat chested. She was a he, and he had a dick that Steve was currently touching. It was the first dick that he had touched that wasn't his own, and he liked it. Holy shit. He liked it. He was about to gently massage it when he was grabbed by the back of his neck, and he had to let it go.

"Seriously, Steve! You're making out with some girl when we're supposed to be watching the movie!" Robin exclaimed. "You have to help me find the bathroom, I found it, but then I lost it again!"

"Call me!" Steve exclaimed. "I'm in the phonebook!"

Steve didn't find out who had been his bisexual awakening until a year later. Spring Break had occurred. They had defeated Vecna, and Eddie Munson had become one of his closest friends. Steve was also crushing on him pretty badly. It was embarrassing. They older teens were currently at Steve's hanging out. They had all ended up coming out to each other after a few drinks in. Robin had accidentally revealed she was a lesbian so Steve told them he was bisexual. Eddie revealed he was gay while Nancy revealed she was in like a triad with Jonathan and Arygle.

"So, Jonathan and Argyle really do everything together," Robin had giggled with Eddie. "What? I'm drunk. Like you guys aren't?"

"So, Stevie, who was your bisexual awakening or did you always know you like men?" Eddie asked, batting his eyelashes at him.

"Ooh! I know this story!" Robin exclaimed.

"We've told you about Starcourt. Well, after we got drugged, we ended up hiding in the theater, watching Back to the Future. I went to the bathroom and ended up sitting in the wrong seat next to who I thought was a girl. We ended up making out pretty heavily, and I found out she was definitely not a girl. Turns out, I really liked it. Was unable to find out who it was because Robin had pulled me away," Steve said, rolling his eyes.

Robin and Eddie were rolling on the floor laughing. Eddie managed to calm himself down before crawling over to Steve and leaning his elbows on his knees.

"So. . .did the guy have nipple piercings?" Eddie asked coyly.

"Yeah, actually. . .wait, how do you know?" Steve asked.

Eddie laughed and lifted up his shirt, flashing him. His one nipple was pierced.

"It was me, baby, all this time. . .that damn dark theater. I never knew who that man who looked like he had been mugged was, but he slipped his tongue into his mouth, and I completely forgot to ask for his name," Eddie giggled.

Steve grinned and pulled him into his lap.

"Hi, my name is Steve," he said smirking.

"Hi, Stevie, I'm Eddie," he giggled.

"It's very nice to meet you," Steve said and kissed him.

Eddie grinned against his lips, breaking the kiss.

"One of these days, we're both going to be sober when we do this," Eddie said.

"One day," Steve promised, kissing him and sticking his tongue into Eddie's mouth.

"Okay, I love you guys, happy for you, really, but. . .I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS!" Robin exclaimed.

"Speak for yourself, Buckley. Excellent form, dudes," Argyle said.

"I don't know, Eddie could do a little better," Jonathan said and Eddie flipped him off while continuing to kiss Steve.

"Steve definitely deserves a 9.2," Nancy giggled.

"Are we also going to commentate on how they fuck too? Because if so, shoot me," Robin groaned.

"I'll go make the scoreboards!" Argyle yelled and took off.

Steve laughed against Eddie's mouth, and soon, they were both laughing.

"We are NOT having sex in front of them," Steve said.

"Aww. . .why not? Able to fight an interdimensional wizard with his friends but unable to fuck in front of them. Got it. I love learning new things about you."

[thepenultimateword]

Star Bright

Rather than in bubble wrap or parchment paper, the package came in cuffs. Great thick ones that barely seemed sound against the burnished, blazing skin of the person in front of them.

“Excuse me,” the human said stopping the delivery driver as they started back down the walk. “What is this?”

The driver checked the address on their clipboard. “You bought a star, right?”

The Human had done that yes. They had done so more than once on Earth as donations for different astronomical causes. They got blurry pictures once, maybe a card with its name and basic info. “Yes, but I wasn't actually expecting anything?" When the driver look at them strangely, they added hurriedly, "It was supposed to be an envelope of dust or a hunk of rock or something. It wasn’t supposed to be…be… What even is this?"

"A star," the driver said dryly, and without another word swung into the driver's seat of his vehicle and revved away.

The human watched him go with rising panic clawing at the walls of their stomach. When they finally looked at the stranger, their Star, they were glaring.

"So, um, I'm [Human]."

The star looked them up and down from bedhead to worn slippers, curling their bronzed lip with a glare before sweeping into the house. As they passed, heat brushed the Human's bare arms.

They rushed after them. "Wait, wait. You can't stay here. I was allowed an immigration trial by the skin of my teeth. Which means approved housing. Which means here. Which means rules. I'm not allowed pets or roommates, and there's a very strict "no overnight guests" rule, which I'm pretty sure...are you even listening?"

The star peered around the one-bedroom apartment as if it were the most curious thing they'd ever seen. The cuffs kept them from separating their wrists, but their fingers remained free enough to pick up the Human's empty coffee mug, turning it over in their fingers, before moving on to the plate of half-eaten breakfast.

They bent in half and sniffed at the fake egg on fake toast. A synthetic earth diet for his unaccustomed--his coworkers would say delicate--stomach.

"Oh. Uh…hungry?"

The Star cocked their head, long hair glittering over their shoulder,

"You know," The Human pointed to their mouth and mimicked chewing. "Hungry? Food?”

The Star made a noise like grinding steel and nails on a chalkboard mixed together. If that steel and chalkboard were also strapped to a whining aerial firework on the verge of explosion.

The Human clapped their hands over their ears with a sharp wince. "Ok, ok! I'll, uh, make you something."

Before they could move, the Star awkwardly picked up their toast in both hands and took a large bite.

"Or I guess you can just have-- Holy cow! What is happening?"

No sooner had the Star swallowed did a gush of molten something rush from their mouth, burning holes in the dingy wood flooring.

The human's hands tangled anxiously in their hair. "Oh, no, no, my deposit--" The Star hurled the toast into the wall as if in betrayal. "No!"

The human marched across the room, snatching the bread crust from the ground and shaking it in the Star's direction. "Don't throw! We do not throw here!"

The Star only glared, never breaking eye contact s they wiped their mouth on their shoulder.

The humans gaze went to their cuffs. “Can those—” they began, taking a step forward, but the star immediately stepped back. “Wait. I just want check something. They inched with raised hands until they were close enough to touch the warm surface of the cuffs. They ran their fingers around the sides until they found a panel, working under the edge with their fingernail to uncover the button underneath. “There we are!”

The Human pushed the button and the cuffs immediately demagnetized. The Star pulled their hands apart, but then manacles still held around opposite wrists.

“That’s strange usually they unlatch too. Let me look a little—”

The Star pressed their palm to their chest, pushing them away lightly with a small head shake.

“No, don’t do it or no, I can’t do it?”

The star merely shook their head a second time folding the manacles under their arms.

"Well... alright. But I still can't keep you here. Apparently, you can't eat food, and I have no idea what you do eat. And...and.. is it normal to just be delivered a person? Because where I come from, that is ethically questionable.

The star was not listening. They were in the midst of testing Human's couch, bouncing up and down on it a couple times before curling up on their side. They watched Human out of the corner of their eye as if expecting them to stop them.

"I, er, suppose you can stay there for now. As long as you don't stay overnight I'm not breaking any rules by having a...friend...over at my place. Er...I'll ask around about this sort of situation...if I figure out what you eat I'll bring some home. ER...sound good?"

The stare flipped over on their other side so that their back faced Human.

Human sighed. "Alright. Sounds good."

Master Taglist:

@moss-tombstone @crazytwentythrees-deactivated @just-1-lonely-person @the-vagabond-nun @willow-trees-are-beautiful @cocoasprite @insanedreamer7905 @valiantlytransparentwhispers @whovian378 @watercolorfreckles @thebluepolarbear @yulanlavender @kitsunesakii i @deflated-bouncingball @lem-hhn @office-plant-in-a-trenchcoat @ghostfacepepper @pigeonwhumps @demonictumble @inkbirdie @vuvulia a @bouncyartist @lunatic-moss-studio @breilobrealdi @freefallingup13 @i-am-a-story-goblin

@ryunniez @rainy-knights-of-villany @distractedlydistracted @saspas-corner @echoednonny @perilous-dreamer @blood-enthusiast @randomfixation @alexkolax x @pksnowie @blessupblessup @wolfeyedwitch @thedeepvoidinmyheart @cornflower-cowboy @bestblob @a-chaotic-gremlin @espresso-depresso-system @prompt-fills-and-writing-spills @paleassprince @takingawildbreath @yindo @psychiclibrariesquotesthetoad @harpycartoons @pickleking8 @urmyhopeeee @goldenflame2516 @tobeornottobeateacher @tauntedoctopuses

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #301

Well, today was the day. I went to therapy and talked to a bunch of things, and then I went to physical therapy and got a new exercise that I think will help, and then I went to the orthodontist to get Invisalign braces put on.

I needed to get attachments put on my teeth, and rubber bands and everything, because, like I showed you before in a previous letter, it's pretty messed up in there.

...And boy howdy, if I was talking like Sean Connery before, when I got my first premolars pulled, I'm really talking like him now-

WAIT. You have no idea who is Sean Connery. One sec...

...He says "s" like "sh". And there's not anything wrong with that. The thing is, lots of people think that Sean Connery is very sexy (I don't really think of other humans in terms like that, so I don't quite understand, but it's okay that others do). I am not very sexy (and that is also okay!), so... I guess I find the juxtaposition a little amusing, haha.

...I'm not going to be singing for a while, I guess. Or at very least, not recording anything. Not like this. With all this stuff in my mouth, it feels like I can barely even talk properly.

So with these kinds of braces, I'm supposed to take them out whenever I eat, and then put them back in when I'm done eating. Before I put them back in, I have to brush, floss, and rinse my teeth, and also brush the braces.

The braces look like this:

...Yeah. It's pretty screwy in there.

They used some kind of goop that hardens in the presence of UV light in order to glue "attachments" to my teeth. These attachments give the braces something to grip onto, I guess, which helps to rotate the teeth and move them around. Some of the attachments are meant to serve as anchors for rubber bands. The rubber bands are supposed to help pull my upper canine teeth back into their proper places. And that's very good, because one of them is particularly confused; it seems to have gotten lost and wandered off way up towards the top of my gums like some kind of derpasaurus rex... I'll pull up an image that someone on Twitter called Derpasaurus Rex drew... I'll use the "link" function to stick it here...

...Boy howdy, this is gonna take some getting used to.

As far as discomfort goes, there's not much, at least for now. I'm not sure if I should expect the discomfort to get better or worse. Apparently, on the third day or so, my teeth will have moved enough for it to be a little easier to pop the braces in and out.

Every 10 days, I'm supposed to change out to a new set of braces. The bag I went home with has 35 sets of braces, and they're in numerical order. Each one designed to scooch my teeth around just a little more than the one that came before it. So this is at least 350 days worth of braces. I heard them say it'll be like 2 years before everything is in its proper place.

...It's nice to think that the inside of my face will be all fixed up by the time I get to see you again. It's nice to think that the smile I'll have in response to seeing you on the screen will finally be healthy.

(...Please just make sure you end up okay in the end, all right? I want to still have reasons to smile by the end of the third part of your story. Promise me, okay...?)

Most importantly, it will be nice to finally be able to chew things properly. It'll be nice to be able to move my jaw in a way that doesn't destroy the joints holding it together. Won't that be neat?

...I think I'm gonna get sushi. It's been a bit, and I want some. I've endured all this discomfort for the sake of my future, and I've decided that it's time to get a little treat.

...Want some...?

So I've discovered two things...

For one, the braces are A LOT harder to take out than they are to put in. Holy cow, that sucked!!

For another... the attachments are SHARP. The inside of my lips and cheeks are pretty scraped up now.

...This is DEFINITELY going to take some getting used to. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for my health. I'm doing this so that my bite can be fixed and so my jaw doesn't get weirder than it already is. It's important.

I am choosing this discomfort now for a better outcome later. It is the good thing to do, even if it sucks for now.

Well. I don't have a whole lot more to write about today, so I guess I'll end today's letter here. It's just as well in any case; a friend of mine from this space wants to watch a movie! I'm not sure which one it's gonna be, but I'm sure I'll have lots to tell you about it tomorrow!

I love you. I hope in the near future, you'll be able to sit down and watch a fun movie with someone you care about. Please stay safe out there so maybe you can do that someday.

I'll write again tomorrow.

Your friend, Lumine

[banannabethchase]

✨Fic Writing Review 2023✨

Tagged by the lovely @aidaronan

Gonna put all this under a cut as it is a doozy. Me? Rambling? It's just as likely as you'd think from the everything about me.

Words and Fics

497,498 words published on ao3 (Jesus fucking Christ - that doesn't even count my ficlets)

101 fics published on AO3

Enough tumblr ficlets that I don't have the spoons to go back and count them all

3 in-progress fics that may or may not be in the yeeted into purgatory sometime soon

3 new fics in permanent purgatory

1 new fic that I killed within 500 words

9 series created/added to

Top 3 by kudos

Hungry Heart - HangMox, AEW

[tie between] Intrigue - HangMoxMatt, AEW and A Convenient Cancellation - HangMox, AEW

I Can't Promise Forever (But I'm Working On It) - HangMox, AEW

(Realizing now that holy cow do my HangMox fics do better than I thought. Also all of those were published before I put my account on lockdown, I think, so that contributes as well.)

Fandom Events in 2023

Threecount Exchange! I mean, it kicked in this year. Everything gets published and finished next year, but still, it counts!

Upcoming Projects

Threecount Exchange fic (no you will not get details mwahaha)

The final installment of the House of Black Magic series, which is also my final square on my Bingo Board

Days 10-31 of the December Prompt Challenge I for some reason made for myself, which includes the finale of a series (I shan't disclose which)

At least 4 more installments in the Matt Experiments universe

The teacher's AU I've been putting off for about a year

Writing reflection

What a frickin' year. I haven't been in a fandom like this since Scorpion which, for those who know, ended poorly for both the whole fandom and me as a person. I was unable to watch the season 4 premiere due to my Dad's death, and then it got cancelled before I could catch up. Jumping back into a fandom head first, after how miserable my last one ended, was scary but incredible.

I beat NaNoWriMo 3 times in one year for the first time since 2016. I wrote two novella length fics and a novel length fic from December 2022 until now. I've made friends with incredible people, learned how to use tumblr in a way that keeps me safe, and learned that I've grown past the person I was when I let other people drive me out of a fandom for writing fic in a way I enjoyed and being autistic. I feel safe in this fandom, not for the lack of drama (lord knows there's plenty of it), but because I've created for myself a space where I know I can trust the people I follow.

I am excited to vault headfirst into 2024. I have no predictions. I have no expectations. I just have hope, and I think that's enough.

But I really do hope I can keep writing, even if it's at a different pace from 2023.

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please do eat glass, I’ve heard it’s good for your gums.

Tagging [please view the rules! I think they are great rules!!! Except the glass thing, don't chew glass. If you don't want to do this, please feel free to ignore completely]: @sarahcakes613, @booboo-eyedbambi, @scissormedaddyass, @rosabellebelieve, @anairbri. As always, if you see this and want to try it, I tagged you :) (And if you don't want to do this, pretend I didn't tag you.)

[wordsmithwhumpsandfluff]

Spirit gets arrested and Isaac bails her out

Lo and Behold, the friendship between Spirit and Isaac.

Isaac was in the middle of his textbook when his phone started to ring. Chewing on the eraser of his pencil, he looked at the screen. It was an unknown number.

He picked up the phone and held it up to his ear. “Hello?”

He was answered by a machine’s voice. “This is the Tucson Police Department, calling for inmate Spirit Mitchel.”

Isaac’s eyes flew open like saucers. “Holy shit,” he breathed.

The machine continued. “Press one to accept this call.”

Isaac didn’t hesitate. He pressed ‘1’ and the call changed lines. Suddenly, he heard Spirit’s monotone “Hello?”

“I’m gonna bring a camera,” Isaac said, smiling like a madman.

He could hear how annoyed Spirit was when she said, “Do that, and you’re dead.”

“The hell did you do?” Isaac said, getting up and grabbing his keys.

“Can you pick me up?” Spirit deadpanned.

“Already out the door,” Isaac said, hurrying out of his apartment. “Now answer my question.”

He heard angry silence for a second. Then, “Got in a fight. A big one. In public.”

Holy cow, this is too good, Isaac thought. “I’m on my way.” It was taking everything he had not to laugh.

“Don’t sound so damn happy about it,” Spirit grumbled. Then she hung up.

— — —

Isaac was true to his word, and he did have a camera.

He was grinning like crazy, telling every cop he saw to smile for the camera. They all did. Cool guys, they were.

It was a 200 dollar fine that he paid. He’d hold those 200 dollars over Spirit’s head for a long time (#TrueFriends).

Finally, Spirit came out, and Isaac took a picture before he even realized what she looked like. His smile instantly fell, replaced by a look of shock.

Her face was bruised badly. There was a cut on her forehead and her lip was split. She looked pissed. Especially when she saw Isaac’s camera.

The officer bringing her out didn’t look at all older than them. He also looked slightly familiar. He had dried blood above his lip. He must’ve had a bloody nose. Isaac had a feeling that it was Spirit’s fault.

Another officer brought a yellow package—full of Spirit’s stuff—and handed it to her. She didn’t thank the officer and she glared at the other officer that brought her out before he let go of her arm.

Spirit walked up to Isaac, glared at him, and started walking away.

“Hey,” Isaac said. “No ‘thank you’?”

“Shut it, Isaac,” Spirit deadpanned, walking out of the police station. Isaac stopped just by the door and held up his camera. “Say cheese,” he said to all of the officers. They all did, and he laughed while taking the picture. Then yelped when a strong hand grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back. “Asshole,” Spirit grumbled.

They got into Isaac’s car and Spirit glared out the window, arms crossed. “Just take me to my dorm,” she said. “And. . . yeah, thanks.”

Isaac didn’t even turn the car on. He looked at Spirit, both amused and worried. He noticed she was limping a little while walking. “Hey, Spirit,” he said, “as funny as this all is, you look like shit. You okay?”

Spirit glared at him. Isaac couldn’t help but think that the blood on her face was as red as the red-dyed streaks in her hair.

“I’m fine,” she spat. “Just take me home.”

Isaac sighed and turned on the car, pulling out of the police station.

They were silent for a few minutes before Isaac had to ask, “Did you hit that one cop? The young one with the bloody nose?”

Spirit said nothing. But she did nod, stiffly.

Isaac chuckled. “Why?”

“He was the guy trying to break up the fight. He tried to pull me and the other guy apart, and I accidentally got his face with my elbow.”

“He looked familiar.”

“He goes to our college. Criminal Justice major.”

“And, you got into a fight why?”

Spirit glared deeper. “What’s with all the questions, detective?”

“Just asking,” Isaac said. After a few minutes of silence, Isaac sighed and asked, “Okay, can I just ask one more question?”

Spirit said nothing, and Isaac took it as a yes. Well, more like a whatever.

“Why’d you call me?” Isaac said. “Not Birdie or Jordan or literally any of the others.”

Spirit shrugged. “Birdie lost her phone last week, Jordan and Eliana are out of town, Amberlynn’s practicing in the theater all day for her next show, Keiko’s been exhausted with night classes, and Oliver is terrified of blood. You were my last option.”

Isaac sighed. “Man, I love being a last resort,” he muttered.

Finally, the car came to a stop at the parking lot of Spirit’s dorm building. “Thanks,” she said, quickly getting out of the car. But as soon as her foot touched the ground, she maid a pained sound in her throat.

It was quiet, but Isaac heard it. “Hey, Spirit, you okay?”

“Fine,” she spat through clenched teeth. She shut the car door and started to walk—limp—away. Isaac instantly turned off his car and got out, rushing to Spirit.

“I think you forgot what the definition of ‘fine’ is,” he said, reaching for her shoulder.

She slapped his hand away. “I’m fine,” she said definitely. “I tweaked my ankle in the fight, but I’m fine.”

Isaac didn’t believe her. Especially not when she almost stumbled and let out a pained yelp.

“Okay, enough,” Isaac said, grabbing Spirit’s wrist and pulling her back towards his car.

“Hey,” she yelled, trying to shove his hand off and failing. Isaac then noticed the torn skin on her knuckles which were usually just really bruised from her boxing training. Her hands were also trembling slightly.

Isaac opened the passenger side door and shoved her in. “Sit and stay,” he said sternly.

Spirit glared at him. “I really hate you sometimes, y’know that?”

“Love you, too,” he said, shutting the door.

He stood beside the car and quickly called Keiko’s phone. It rung a few times before he was answered with a sleepy “Hello?”

Shit, Isaac thought. Tired with night classes.

He wanted to just tell Keiko nevermind, but he had no damn clue what to do.

“Hey, Kei,” Isaac said. “So, I have a slight issue.”

Her heard movement through the phone. Then a yawn. Then a sleepy, “What’s up?”

“So, do you have medical supplies at your place?”

“Do I— Wait, what?” His voice instantly went from tired to both concerned and confused. “What’s wrong?”

“Well,” Isaac said. “It’s a long story, but it starts with when Spirit called me to pick her up from the police station.”

— — —

When Isaac pulled up to Keiko’s building, Spirit groaned.

“Are you kidding me?” she exclaimed. “I didn’t want to bother Kei; he’s exhausted.”

“Yeah, well, he knows now. And if I bring you back to your dorm now, he’ll just hunt you down anyway to take care of you.”

Spirit rolled her eyes. “Lo and behold, the mother of all mothering mother hens.”

Isaac parked the car and they both got out. Spirit started towards the door on her own, and Isaac hurried to her. “Wait,” he said. “Let me help you.”

“I don’t need help. I can walk on my own.” Spirit shot him a death stare and slapped his hand away. Isaac didn’t try to reach for her again. This girl was the most annoying, stubborn, infuriating person he’d ever known. . . And how they’d managed to stay friends for years was a mystery that neither of them could solve.

When they got up to Keiko’s floor, Keiko was waiting by the elevator, scrolling on his phone. His eyes widened when he took in Spirit’s face. “Holy—”

“Can we just get this over with,” Spirit snapped, limping towards Keiko’s apartment.

“Hey,” Keiko exclaimed, mother-hen-mode on. “Let me he—”

“I. Can. Walk,” Spirit said with a glare.

Isaac put a hand on Keiko’s shoulder. “Already tried, man,” he said. Then he dropped his voice to a whisper. “Prideful little b—”

“Isaac, I can hear you,” Spirit said at Keiko’s door. “And if you don’t want me to beat your white ass till you’re black and blue, I suggest you shut up.”

Isaac shut up. Keiko smiled. They all went into Keiko’s apartment and Keiko told Spirit to sit on the couch.

Spirit sat down, and Isaac stood against the wall with his arms in his pockets.

Keiko grabbed a first-aid kit—which was more like a first-aid duffel bag— and set it on the coffee table, along with a small pillow. “Which ankle hurts?” he asked.

Spirit was still scowling, but she muttered, “Right.”

Keiko gently lifted her right leg and set her foot on the cushion. He pulled off her combat boot and sock and started prodding her ankle. “Does this hurt?”

Spirit’s face was tight, jaw clenched. She nodded. “A bit.”

Keiko nodded, continuing to prod. “Well, it’s not broken. Just sprained.”

“That’s what I told Isaac,” Spirit muttered, shooting the blonde a glare.

Keiko reached into the first-aid kit and pulled out an ankle brace. “I got this when I was sixteen and I worked as a lifeguard. Never really thought I’d use this stuff again.” He put the brace onto Spirits ankle. Then, he reached back into the kit and pulled out bandages in disinfectants before getting to work on cleaning Spirit’s torn knuckles and the cut on her forehead.

“I’ll get you some ice,” Keiko said when he was done.

Spirit pressed her lips into a thin line before sighing and saying, “Thanks.”

Keiko smiled. “Of course,” he said. “Anything else hurt?”

Spirit shook her head.

“Good,” Keiko said. Then his smile fell instantly, replaced by lividness. “Now tell me how the hell you got yourself arrested!”

Isaac grinned. “Oooh, mother’s angry,” he singsonged.

Spirit glared at him, and so did Keiko. “Shut up,” they said in sync.

[wanderlust2am]

March 31, 2024

Easter.

I woke up this morning and laid in bed; as my mother was downstairs blasting her music on the speaker as she cleaned. I laid in bed for a bit, just scrolling on my phone. When I finally got out of bed, I went downstairs to help my mom prep for Easter dinner in which I wrapped the hot dogs in bacon and then sat down and waited for my dad to grill. It was a fairly simple day, but I like to think it was a good day. We watched Young Sheldon together and then I switched to a movie in which I took a nap on my mom’s lap. It was much needed because I woke up in the middle of the night with severe back pain and couldn’t go back to sleep after rolling over back and forth. I woke up to use the restroom and take medication and fell asleep shortly after.

When I took a nap, I dreamt about being on a cruise ship by myself and I met an older couple. I have been looking at cruise trips today and imagined myself flying over to Florida or taking one here in California in the next two months. I messaged an old friend named Eric last night and it just seems like there is no connection and I really dont want to force anything anymore.

Im at a stage where I am desperate for friends while I am also trying to become comfortable in my own space. Lord, I just need you. I need you more than ever now. I feel so lost and undesirable for everything.

I feel bad for myself while I also sympathize. I look forward to when I learn my lessons and I feel better about everything that I have done. While also, I feel so lost and alone. I feel like such a horrible person. I feel like I am not a good person and have never been a good person. I feel like that shows in my friendships and my relationships. And i feel so burdened by it.

Lord, I am so deeply hurt. And i feel like you are the only one who can understand the pain that I feel everyday. You are the only one who can watch me and know that the things that come out of my mouth are sugarcoating the pain that is being felt inside. And it hurts, everything hurts God. I feel like a chewed piece of gum that no longer has flavor and was tossed out of a running vehicle.

Lord, I am so hurt. And I know you know I am hurt, but holy cow it hurts all around. I dont think I have ever been this hurt, this broken.

Where do I begin? The man that I thought loved me more than I loved him, showed me who he was by the way he left and the way he never looked back for me. It hurts Lord. I keep putting him on a pedestal, but I just do not understand how he can just never look back and reach out to me again. Then I think about what I would do if he reached out to me and I dont think there would be anything to say. I think everything was said by the way he left and the way he stood on the things he said to me.

I think about the day after we broke up and i was spamming him and he told me that he did not miss me and my absence was no different than my presence. It hurts.

[businesstiramisu]

Just finished watching Whisper of the Heart (finally) and I have a lot of disparate thoughts

overall summary: it was really good! Not my favorite Ghibli by a long shot but definitely one of their stronger movies, characterization-wise

I most enjoyed the touches of, well, homeliness. How messy Shizuku’s room is, Shizuku’s mom chewing out her dad for lighting a cigarette in the middle of a family argument, at least a dozen more small moments like that. Really made the the characters and world feel profoundly mundane, richly illustrated despite the more limited animation/art style

Well, mostly more limited... there were two “art shots” that really made me go “Wow!” 1) The transition from the Baron’s fantasy world to Shizuku running down the street (a very Paprika sort of transition -- yes I know this predates Paprika by like a decade) and 2) the sun lighting up the clouds at dawn at the end

Back to the special mundane-ness of it, it was really cool and unusual to have the protagonist decide to eschew the traditional path of education, and her parents come around to supporting her?! Like, yeah she does decide to go to high school in the end, but before that her parents came around to accepting her choice not to go to high school. Especially with how negative the parents were at the start of the film (I was kinda worried this was gonna be another horrible family like Only Yesterday) it was a neat way to develop them, and I liked seeing it.

Holy cow do certain scenes this feel like a prototype of (Ghibi) Howl’s Moving Castle... like, I haven’t checked manga this is based on so possibly they originate there, but the someone (*ahem* probably Miyazaki) really had a bug in the brain about a handful of fantasy images (the lovers walk/flight, the feathered tunnel) and then after doing this movie they were like “but what if we got to do those scenes again with a bigger budget and make them Extra”

also thinking of rewatching The Cat Returns b/c I think it took the Baron’s story in a very different direction?? It has none of the HMC overlaps (which makes sense b/c Miyazaki was less involved). Buuuuuuut I *despised* The Cat Returns on my first watch so leery of giving it another chance

[babbysquid]

Not A Whiskey Drinker Pt. 2

Author’s Note: Oh my goodness thank you all for the positive feedback on NAWD! I’m really enjoying writing this and living out my own fantasy. The DRAMA begins in the part after this so prepare yourself for that!

Warnings: mild cursing

------------

Sunday had passed by quickly and it was now Monday at 8am. Your interview was at 9. You studied your reflection in the mirror. You were wearing the outfit that Parker had helped you pick out but had the shirt buttoned all the way up. Grabbing your bag you and throwing on your shoes you looked at yourself one more time. Chewing the inside of your cheek you took a deep breath.

“Fuck it.” you whispered to and you unbuttoned the top two buttons of your shirt, just as Parker had done previously.

You stood outside a tall office building and looked up. It looked modern and new, but not imposing. Swallowing hard you pushed your shoulders back, raised your head up, and strutted through the front door. Fake it til you make it as they say.

“Hi I’m Y/N Y/L/N.” you said to the receptionist at the front desk. “I have an interview with Mr. Daniels.”

“Ah yes Mr. Daniels has been expecting you. Give me one second and I’ll take you to his office.” said the receptionist.

“Ah it’s okay Sara, I got it.” said a voice from behind you.

Turning around you saw a gorgeous woman. She wore a white button down and black slacks. Her short haircut was modern and cute. It suited her face really well. Thick glasses sat on the edge of her nose. She gave you a kind smile. Looking at her outfit and her appearance in general you suddenly felt self conscious. Maybe you should’ve stuck with the fully buttoned up shirt.

“I’m Ginger.” she said, extending her hand.

You took her hand in yours as you introduced yourself and the two of you walked to the elevators.

“So you have an interview with Jack?”

You nodded.

She laughed a little and it almost seemed like she was taking pity on you.

“He’s a good guy, but he’s definitely a character. He means well though.”

You smiled back. New York City was definitely filled with interesting and strange people. Your mind quickly thought back to the cowboy you met on Friday.

The elevator dinged and stirred you from your thoughts. Ginger guided you to a pair of mahogany doors.

“Well. This is where I leave you. Good luck Y/N.”

“Thank you.”

Taking a deep breath you knocked on the door and waited. A second later you heard some footsteps and you mentally prepared yourself for whoever was inside. The door swung open and your jaw dropped. You couldn’t help it.

Before you stood the same cowboy that had prevented your fall. Quickly you snapped your jaw shut. He was just as handsome as you remember, if not more handsome. He was still wearing his black stetson. Instead of the long camel coat he wore when he was in the park he was wearing a blazer with matching slacks. The blazer had a classic cowboy look but was still somehow modern. You flicked your eyes down to confirm your guess, he was wearing cowboy boots. He was wearing a pair of simple wire glasses and they looked good on him.

“Well isn’t this a coincidence?” said the man, “Come in, please.”

He stepped aside allowing you to enter the office.

For as modern as the building appeared, Mr. Daniels’ office felt lived in and warm. It was covered in mahogany and leather. An old globe sat on a shelf and other bits and bobs decorated the office, including what appeared to be a cow skull. You didn’t realize you were staring until Mr. Daniels’ honeyed voice made you blink.

“It’s real if that’s what you’re thinking.” he said.

You turned and realized he was much closer than you thought, practically close enough to touch you. You swallowed hard. He smelled good.

“Well let’s get started, shall we?” he said, stepping back and motioning to a chair that sat in front of his desk.

Wordlessly you moved to the chair and sat down. The whole act of confidence you had suddenly vanished. Mr. Daniels was slightly intimidating and holy hell was he attractive.

“Now Y/N — you don’t mind if I call you that?” Mr. Daniels asked.

“Y/N is fine yes.” you said, slightly unsure about the familiarity. Your previous job you were never addressed by your first name, it was always Ms. Y/L/N.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, swiveling in his chair to grab a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from behind him.

You smiled, appreciating the offer but politely declined.

“I’m actually not a whiskey drinker.” you said. Mr. Daniels laughed loudly as if he knew something you didn’t.

“I know it’s odd that I’m here interviewing for a whiskey company Mr. Daniels—

“Please, call me Jack.” he interrupted.

“…Jack,” you said slowly “but I promise I’ll be dedicated even if it’s not my drink of choice.”

Jack smiled and poured himself a glass of the amber liquid. Leaning back in his chair he studied you. Feeling his gaze on you, you gave him a small smile, trying to convince him that you really would work hard.

“Well Y/N,” he said after a second, “you got the job!”

Your brows furrowed. There was absolutely no way he was serious. He only asked if you wanted a drink, the company’s drink no less, and you said no. No interview questions, no asking for documents or recommendations. Nothing.

“I know you might be surprised but here at Statesmen we like to do things a little differently. And don’t worry about not liking whiskey. Who knows though, you may warm up to it.” he said, giving you a wink.

“This certainly was the easiest interview I’ve ever done.” you whispered under your breath. But according to the booming laugh that came out of the man sitting in front of you, your whisper wasn’t quiet enough.

“I assure you Y/N that you’ve already gone through an extensive interview process. The company has contacted past employers of yours and done copious amount of research and background checks into your resume. It may have been easy on your end, but not on ours.”

‘Certainly the weirdest interview I’ve ever done too.’ you thought.

“Well!” said Jack, clasping his hands together and standing up from his chair. “You start tomorrow. Let me give you a quick tour so you can settle in easy tomorrow.” In a flash he was around the desk and holding his hand out to you, a million dollar smile on his face.

Letting out a short breath you pushed away your anxiety and trepidation. If this was gonna be your new job you may as well start acting like your normal self. You grabbed his hand with assurance and stood up from your seat.

Neither one of you moved.

Standing there your eyes were glued to the sight of your hand being dwarfed by his. Slowly your eyes moved up to meet Jack’s. They were the most gorgeous shade of brown. Dark but still with a warmth and spark that drew you in. The glasses he wore framed them perfectly. Subconsciously you lightly bit your bottom lip. You blinked and the trance was broken. Slowly you removed your hand from his, but your palm was still tingling from the skin to skin contact.

“Thank you by the way.” you said breaking the silence.

Jack gave you that smile again and it felt like your internal organs had been turned to soup.

“Don’t worry about it darlin’. I’m quick on my feet and happened to see a beautiful young woman in need so I helped.”

You almost choked at the words he spoke.

“Let me show you to your space.” said Jack, his hand moving to lightly sit on the middle of your back.

In any other professional circumstance if someone did this to you you’d immediately call HR. In this instance however Jack’s gesture felt comforting and gentlemanly, not creepy and an intrusion of personal space. To summarize, you enjoyed his touch.

The two of you strode out the doors and walked a short distance down the hall to a door. Leading you inside Jack explained how this would be your personal office. You had never had a private space just for yourself in your workplace. You laughed softly.

“Something funny?” said Jack, looking down at you, hand still on your back.

“Never had my own space before. This place is almost bigger than my apartment.” You looked up at him with shining eyes. Jack swallowed thickly. Your big eyes were something else and certainly affecting him.

“Hah. Well I just hope you don’t move in here! Gotta have a separation between work and play.” said Jack, winking at you.

You could feel your face heating up at the comment as Jack led you out of the room and your heart was beating faster than it should’ve. Unbeknownst to you, so was Jack’s. He wasn’t expecting his new PA to be the gorgeous girl from the park. Admittedly he had thought about you a couple times since, beating himself up for not inviting you to coffee or something.

Outside of your new office stood Ginger.

“Ah sweet Ginger!” said Jack, removing his hand from your back. You silently mourned the loss of contact.

“This is my new peach of an assistant Y/N.”

“I know Jack.” said Ginger, rolling her eyes. “How do you think she found your office?”

“Always one step ahead Miss Ginger.” said Jack, flashing his smile again.

“Come with me Y/N and we’ll get you put in the system.”

“Pleasure meeting you darlin’ and I cannot wait til tomorrow.” said Jack, winking one last time before turning on his heel and sauntering back into his office.

“Is he always like that?”

“He’s always been a ladies man. You may be his assistant but make sure he knows who’s in charge. Keep him on a short leash.”

------------

“So how was it?” Parker asked, taking a bite out of her pizza. She had come over to eat dinner with you and get all the juicy details about the job interview.

“Weird. I mean I got the job, but it was still weird.”

“First off yay! Secondly, what do you mean weird?”

“Well the building was way more high tech than I expected but the thing that was the weirdest was the interview itself. The only thing he asked me was if I wanted a glass of whiskey.”

“To which you said no.”

“Yeah…” you trailed off.

“I know that look Y/N. What’s on your mind?”

“Jack Daniels is the cowboy from the park.”

Thankfully Parker had swallowed her bite of pizza before hearing this, otherwise there’d be a chewed up wad of cheese on your floor.

“WHAT?”

“He was acting kind of flirty too.”

“So you did unbutton the shirt!” Parker said, a look of pride on her face.

“Parker that’s not the point. Afterwards when I was talking to the head of networking and media she explained that Jack is like this with every woman. The hat I need to show him who’s in charge, even if he is my boss.”

“That’s hot.” said Parker taking another bite.

“Shut up he’s my boss.” you said, pushing her shoulder. “I get what she’s saying though. I’ve dealt with guys like that before. Admittedly they were in their 20s and went to the same college as me and weren’t actually adults who I worked with.”

“How old does this guy look anyways?” Clearly Parker had a different agenda than you.

“Parker…” you gave her a glare.

“Okay okay message received.” she put up her hands in mock defense.

You looked down at your pizza slice and picked at the bit of cheese that had slid off of it.

“So how’re you gonna fend him off while still creating a good relationship?”

“Guess I gotta use that stubbornness you were talking about earlier.” you said giving her a small grin.

taglist: @absurdthirst @space-daddy-owns-me @agentwhiskeypussyindulgence

[trashytummiez]

Sticky Buns for a Surfer Bro

@squidbiscuit did it again.  She made an amazing pic of Brawly stuffed and burpy that was so unbelievably cute, I needed to write a fic based off of it!  <3

“Dude!  Me’n Marlon, brah, we caught some righteous waves today!  You should’a seen it!” Brawly said with excitement to the only other individual in his apartment.

Only it wasn’t an individual at all.  It was his Makuhita, doing what few Pokemon were even capable of doing...baking!

Brawly sniffed the air and lit up excitedly.  “Yooooo!  Sticky buns?  Makuey, dude, that’s rad bodacious of you, brah!”  The blue haired young surfer exclaimed merrily.  The short and stocky yellow Pokemon mewed out its name and hobbled over to its trainer carrying a large tray of steamy buns.  Brawly leaned over and took a whiff then smacked his chops.  “You’re too good to me, my dude!”  He said happily, ruffling its head in appreciation.  Makuhita smiled back at him when he took the tray and set it down on the dining table.  Then it hobbled back to the kitchen.  “Makin’ more?”  Brawly asked in a genuinely surprised fashion.

Just then, Brawly’s stomach growled loudly.  He blinked with surprise and rubbed his leaned midsection softly then shrugged.

“Eh, shreddin’ sick waves does kinda work up an appetite, I guess.”

And boy did Brawly’s appetite show.  He very eagerly shoved one of the buns in his mouth and took an immense bite out of it, like a solid quarter went down in one chomp.  Like his Pokemon, Brawly squinted with a bright smile on his face as his cheeks bulged out humorously from how much bun he was chewing at once.  

After he gulped that first bite, he licked his lips and grinned with excitement.  “Yoooooooo!  Talk about a mondo wave of flavor, dude!  My tastebuds are swirlin’!”

Brawly very eagerly shoved more buns right into his mouth.  He was happy as a clam munching away on those sticky, warm buns that all seemed to just melt in his mouth.  The surfer managed to down a considerable amount of buns in a very short period of time.  That tray full of buns he was working his way through was completely gone before he even knew it.

He wiped his mouth with a contented grin then frowned when he realized the buns were finished.  “Aww, dude, I forgot to leave some for you,” he said and scratched his head with genuine guilt on his face.  “That’s my bad, brah...”

But the Pokemon called out its name in a dismissive fashion.

“You sure, brah?  This stuff was tubular!  Ya oughta be able to have some for yourself!”

But again, Makuhita didn’t mind.  Instead, it returned with another tray of sticky buns and a big ol’ smile on its face.

Brawly smiled and gently tapped it on the shoulder.  “You’re too good to me, my dude.”

Makuhita smiled and merrily hobbled back to the kitchen.  Brawly got to work downing more and more sticky buns.  He really couldn’t get enough of these things.  Their texture, the flavor, the warm feeling of each mouthful he bit into sliding down his gullet and filling his stomach with more warmth.  It was a tidal wave of deliciousness and like any surfer, Brawly had to ride that wave to the fullest.

And fullest really was the appropriate term here.

Brawly’s usually lean washboard of a stomach was getting pretty bloated from all those buns he was downing in so short an amount of time.  His skin-tight surf shirt stretched out around the middle and started to rise up and expose more of his surfer tanned flesh.  But he couldn’t help himself, the buns were just irresistibly good.  And like the first tray of buns, Brawly had consumed every last one.

After finishing his last bun, Brawly burped loudly then leaned back in his chair satisfied.  “Ahhh, righteous...” he said, patting his belly with a satisfied sigh.

But then Makuhita approved the table with another tray of buns.

Brawly looked at his Pokemon with surprise.  “Uh...y-you want me to eat more?”

Makuhita called out its name and nodded eagerly.

Brawly frowned then looked down at his stomach.  His shirt was already riding a few inches up from how bloated it had become.  He’d already eaten well past what he normally would have and it was definitely feeling nice and full by that point.

But then he looked at his Pokemon smiling back at him.  Surfer bro or not, Brawly was a nice guy with a big heart that made him a bit of a pushover.  So, he managed to smile back and took the tray.  “Well, um, can’t let this stuff go to waste, right?”

Makuhita smiled and cried out happily, but to Brawly’s eternal dread, it headed back to the kitchen.

“Uh, y-you don’t have to make anymore, brah!  S-Seriously, this is plenty!”

It wasn’t plenty.  It was too much.  But because Brawly didn’t want to leave his pal hanging, he took another bun and started biting into it.  The buns still tasted great and went down nice and smooth.  But the thing was that his stomach was already at capacity and the more he ate, the heavier Brawly’s belly became.  And there was a very fine difference between feeling stuffed and feeling heavy; the latter was never fun.

It wasn’t made any better the more buns Brawly continued eating.  His stomach grumbled loudly in protest which made Brawly cringe and stroke his rounder belly in an effort to calm it down.  His shirt was riding up a little more with each bun he ate which only made the gurgling in his gut grow louder and more unpleasant.  

About halfway through the buns, he huffed exhaustedly and slumped back in his chair feeling absolutely stuffed.  His belly was feeling way too full and way too heavy, getting so bloated that his shirt even rode up above his belly button.  

“Ungh, feelin’ wiped out, brah...” Brawly whined to himself, rubbing his belly with both hands while it churned and grumbled away.

His stomach hitched, like a sudden, mild cramp emerged.  Brawly looked like he was going to be sick for a moment there.  But instead, Brawly burped so loudly that it could be heard from outside of his place.

BUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!

With that massive burp came a sudden relief that wafted over Brawly and left him sighing heavily.

“Ohhhhhh yeah, I needed that, brah, holy cow...” Brawly moaned and clutched at his tight bloated stomach with delighted relief.  Doing so made him belch loudly again, which only brought him more relief.  

“Whew!  Dude, that was...” Brawley started to say but stopped.  

He felt another one coming then thumped his chest a few times with his fist until one more huge burp erupted from his mouth.

BOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRP!!!!!!!

That one left Brawly moaning with absolute relief.

“Haaah, dude, that almost sounded like one’uh Marlon’s, brah...” Brawly bragged and smacked his belly heartily with satisfaction.  It was like he got his second wind right there, getting that pressure out.  

So he went right back to downing more buns.  With the extra room he’d just made, it was a lot easier to down the remaining buns.  He still felt full when he ate, but he now knew he could fit the rest of Makuhita’s baking into his packed belly.  

But second winds don’t last forever and it wasn’t long before fullness kicked in again.  Brawly’s stomach was feeling heavier and heavier, while his shirt rode up a little more due to how stuffed his stomach was by the end.  It was a struggle but Brawly managed to eat what was left on his tray.

By the time he finally finished, Brawly let out a lengthy burp and pushed himself up to his feet.

“Ungh, brah, I’m stuffed...” Brawly groaned wrapping his hands around his tight, bloated belly.  One hand went to his mouth in time for him to muffle a big burp, judging by the rumble it made in his closed mouth and the way his cheeks puffed.  He groaned miserably after that and blew the gas off from the corner of his mouth and fanned the air around his nose.  “Ugh, that don’t smell nearly as good coming up as it does going down...Ourrrrhp...ungh...”

He walked away from the table while his belly churned loudly.  It felt so unbelievably heavy that Brawly could pass out right then and there.  

But right when he was in the middle of walking away, something tapped into his backside.  Brawly turned around and immediately looked down with mortal dread in his eyes.  

Makuhita was directly behind him, smiling up at him with yet another tray in its hands.

Brawly smiled nervously and backed away waving his hand at his stocky Pokemon.  All that nervous jittering upset his rounded stomach however and made him belch mid-protest.

“URRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!  Whoa!” Brawly said, holding a fist up to his mouth as he smiled nervously and burped again behind his hand.  “BURRRP!!!  Ngh, th-that’s enough for today, my dude!  Really, I’m beyond the waves here!”

But then he saw his little Pokemon’s smile turn sad, and as one could predict, poor bloated Brawly’s heart twisted.

Not as badly as his belly was about to...

By the time poor Brawly had been coerced into finishing that last tray of buns, he was a complete mess.  The poor young surfer was sprawled on his couch sporting a belly so big that he almost looked pregnant.  His shirt had completely ridden up beneath his chest, leaving its tanned spheric form exposed and his pants undone and tucked down to his huge gut breathing room.

He laid there on the couch, nursing his beachball of a belly and burping again and again, until a huge burp rolled out of him for ten straight seconds.  If Brawly weren’t in utter agony, he’d almost be impressed since that had to be a new record for him.  Unfortunately, he was too busy trying his best not to puke from being so stuffed.

Brawly moaned in absolute misery which turned into a rumbling burp halfway through, but one that gave him no relief.

“Urrrrrrrrgh...so...urrrrp...full...UuuuuurrrrooooorrrrAAP!” Brawly groaned between overstuffed burps.

His belly was so noisy that it was almost as loud as some of the burps he was letting out relentlessly.

Makuhita hobbled over to its trainer and frowned sadly at him, looking at how massive his belly was from all the buns and how utterly sick with fullness Brawly himself looked.  It called out its name sadly, as if it was apologizing to Brawly, but the overstuffed trainer managed a very weak smile and ruffled its head.

“...Ungh, h-heh, you just...” he paused to burp into his fist, then again.  “Ungh, just wanted to do somethin’ nice for me, my dude...all good...”

But Makuhita still looked sad seeing how miserable Brawly looked, especially compared to his usually exuberant self.  It saw him cringe when his belly burbled heartily and then it got an idea.  

With a bit of effort, it hopped onto the couch and placed its mitten-like paws against Brawly’s big, drum-tight stomach.  And then it started to rub away.  Brawly suddenly groaned again, but for a different reason.  He seemed to relax and have a slight smile on his face as he groaned which encouraged Makuhita to keep gently rubbing Brawly’s belly for him.

It was kind of amazing how someone who was so normally lean could even get this bloated, especially from sticky buns.  Brawly really did pack away a whole lot, Makuhita realized which made it feel even more guilty.  Part of it worried it was because Brawly didn’t want the Pokemon to feel bad, but when it saw how happily Brawly ate that first tray, it couldn’t help but bake more and more.  After all Brawly was its best friend and it wanted to show the young surfer how much it cared for him.

But that didn’t matter.  The belly rubs seemed to be working so the stocky Pokemon continued running its paws up and down and all around that round achingly full stomach.  There was very little give apart from Brawly’s lower stomach, but the mere sensation of Makuhita’s paws roaming his belly seemed to help him feel better, if at least a little bit.

Brawly’s belly quivered under Makuhita’s paws but it seemed as the quivering was almost a pleased sort, judging by the way Brawly moaned to himself.

“Ohhhhh, Makuey...you’re the best, bra-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!” Brawley’s sentence was cut short when the end of his sentence turned into a big and guttural burp.  He covered his mouth and smiled sheepishly at his Pokemon.  “H-Heh, my bad...”

Makuhita just giggled and kept on rubbing that turbulent tummy.

[choptop-sawyer]

IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A ALTERNATE ENDING TO TCM 2 WHERE AFTER STRETCH DOES THE CHAINSAW DANCE, IT GOES TO SOME ROCKS AT THE BOTTOM AND YOU SEE CHOP'S HAND ON THE ROCK, LIFTING HIMSELF UP THEN IT ENDS RIGHT THERE, WITH SOME MUSIC! HOLY FUCK! if that happened do you think that it would've made a difference or no?

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOPE but also I do like how sudden the second one ended too, it's not as effective like a gut punch as the first one, but it's a nice homage, especially since the role is reversed.

It would have been definitely nice to see confirmation that our dear Chop was alive, I mean c'mon all he got was a tiny bit chewed on with the chainsaw, Bubba was still fighting through worse. We never see Chop again either, which is sad.

Maybe it would have made a difference in later movies. One thing I think that wouldn't have been changed is having Leatherface magically alive again. He's the icon of the series, in the minds of many. The moneymaker. Their cash cow. Nevermind the fact that he is not good as a killer without that original screwed up family adding that layer of fear -_- Bubba would have returned.

But!!! If they had added Chop Top beginning to scramble out of the rubble, there would have been a big possibility we would have seen him again! Unless they pulled like, a The Boy and set stuff up that never was really addressed in the movie after (shitty but it does happen).

Maybe the new movie would have been Bubba and Chop, the only Sawyers left, trying to desperately stick together while Chop just unravels and Bubba panics because his only familiar figure and de facto authority is losing it? Chop wants to hunt Stretch down, Bubba really doesn't want to but he goes along with it, and Stretch is like Laurie Strode in the 2018 Halloween where she's just constantly on the lookout for the killers that almost got her. What happens when Chop finally gets so agitated and muddled that he can't be Bubba's authority?

Or it could have been Bill Moseley's idea of what TCM 3 should have been... lol.

[kitkat1003]

Tower Tales

3: Well, they’re not sad all the time, are they?

I posted this on AO3!  Diversify ur platforms kids.  Read the first two chaps Here, it’s kind of integral for ur understanding

@asilcorner sent me some ideas for this fic.  Give them love!  They have a great webcomic @ghostboyscomic that I love, and their art is so friggin cute.  ANYWAY TO THE FIC

(also the Dot section lowkey has a song and im v nervous about so pls b gentle I’m fragile)

They’ve started drawing up plans.  

For the Tower.  Why not put it together better, why not make the space a home now that it has to be?  Yakko refuses to let his siblings live in squalor, not when they have the ability to make it better.

Yakko is surprisingly adept at architecture, though Wakko can’t make heads nor tails of it.

“It’s just art with a little math,” Yakko shrugs off Wakko’s incredulous look with a smile, and Wakko frowns.

“I hate math,” He’s never had to do it in a classroom setting, but at this point he’s certain.  He lets Yakko continue to try and figure that mess out, idly chewing on his mallet as he glances up at the tall expanse of the tower.  

Yakko’s been thinking about expanding the kitchen and bathroom.  Dot says she wants a space for herself, but there doesn’t seem to be room for it between everything else.  Yakko tells her this kindly, though they can tell he’s not at all pleased with having to do so, and while she isn’t mad at him, she is upset at the situation.

“A proper lady is supposed to have a place to beautify herself,” She almost whines, but beneath the simple complaint is something closer to hurt, like this is another reminder that they’re trapped and they don’t have the luxury of comfortable space.

The frown lasts on her face longer than Wakko is comfortable with.  She’s his baby sister, she’s not going to be upset on his watch, unless it’s funny and not from a place of real hurt.  He glances up at the tall, tall ceiling.

Hmm....

Wakko grabs the lightbulb that appears above his head and tosses it into his mouth, crunching on it.  

“Careful, if it isn’t funny you’ll cut your tongue on the glass,” Yakko calls over his shoulder.  Wakko shrugs, and starts rifling through his gag bag.  It looks like he’s got plenty of material, and while Yakko keeps writing up plans Wakko gets to work.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It’s a couple of hours later that Dot looks up from her book and she sees an entire second floor being built-scratch that, being finished.  By Wakko.  Alone.

“Holy Cow!” She can’t help herself from exclaiming, and Yakko jumps out of the intense scene of concentration he was in and looks where Dot’s pointing.

His jaw hits the floor.

The first floor, now.

“Hi guys!” Wakko waves from the entrance to the second floor, nailing down the last spiraling stair to it.  “I got bored so I figured we could use a second floor!”

He skips down the steps and despite his rather hard stomping on them they stand firm.  The craftsmanship is impeccable; Yakko and Dot meet in the middle of the first floor and glance at each other in shock.

“What have you guys been up to?” Wakko asks, completely innocent, as if he hadn’t just made an entire second floor on his own in the span of a few hours.

“How did you do that?” Dot asks, incredulous.  Wakko looks confused, for a moment, and so she gestures wildly to the second floor.  He shrugs.

“Just thought we had a lot of ceiling space, so we could use another floor.  I think we have enough room for a third, but I thought I should take a break,” Wakko looks up at the new ceiling proudly.

“What measurements did you use?” Yakko asks, and Wakko stares at him blankly.

“Uhhhh...I kind of just started making stuff.  I’m not good with numbers,” he responds.

“But how did you even get the materials for this?” Dot rebukes, and Wakko pulls out a burlap sack.

“It’s all in my gag bag, see?” He reaches in and pulls out a long wooden board, showing it off before shoving it back into the bag.  “Easy peasy.  And look, Dot, now we have room for your girly stuff!”

“I protest to the fact that looking good must be described as girly, but regardless-I’m so excited!” She rushes forward and wraps Wakko in a tight hug, spinning him around.  When he’s set down he stumbles a bit, dizzy.

“Glad you...like it,” he mumbles, accent a little stronger, before shaking his head and coming back to himself.  “Do you guys wanna see the upstairs?”

Yakko, who has been previously speechless, jumps into action.

“Heck yeah I do!  C’mon!” He lets Wakko lead them up to the second floor, and they marvel at the open space.  Dot keeps pointing at places where she wants her stuff to be, and Wakko rolls his eyes, but it seems her joy brightens his day more than he though it would.  She was the reason he started building this, after all.  Yakko is already dreaming up new plans, thinking of how to best utilize the space they now have.  The kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom can stay downstairs, but they can make the living room smaller and put extra entertainment space up here.

“But, uh, yeah, that’s all,” Wakko has the audacity to look sheepish, and Yakko won’t stand for it.

“Wakko, this is beyond words,” He kneels down to his level.  “This is a great help.  Now, I think I should make something for us to eat, cause building this had got to have burnt up some calories, but do you think you might want to teach me how to build something later?” He smiles, and Wakko’s eyes go wide.  Teaching his big brother something for a change?  It’s a dream come true.

“Would I!” He tackles Yakko in a hug, and when Yakko catches him, just for a moment, he forgets the situation they’re in, and focuses on Dot’s giggles and the excited pattering of her feet on the new wooden floor, and on Wakko’s prideful expression and smile.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yakko has never had an issue with food before.  He’s learned to make it, because Wakko needs it and Yakko would never not be able to do something for his family’s needs, that’s ridiculous.

But right now he’s certainly regretting ever ingesting anything, because they’d had a sundae party to celebrate the third floor being made-a celebration type picked by Wakko, who had headed the third floor expansion-and now he can’t sleep, because he feels like he’s going to vomit.

His stomach feels like he just ate a bomb, and not for fun like Wakko sometimes does.  He curls in on himself, trying not to make a fuss, but he opens his eyes and both Wakko and Dot are leaning over either side of him, mirrored looks of concern on their faces.

“Yakko, you look terrible,” Dot deadpans, but he can hear the slight tremor in her voice.  She still occasionally hovers over Wakko, though has relaxed as he’s gone from eating like a normal person to his more “typical” unusually voracious appetite.

“It’s just some...,” he winces.  “Some stomach pain.  It’s nothing,” He smiles, even though he feels awfully sweaty and nauseous.

“I thought my problem was just stomach pain too,” Wakko rebukes, and, well, Yakko can’t really argue there.

“But we’ve been eating with you, Wakko, it can’t be that.  And it couldn’t be bad ice cream, or we’d be sick too,” Dot puts a finger to her chin and thinks, but can’t come up with anything.

“Don’t humans have that thing where they can’t drink milk?” Wakko suggests, and, well, doesn’t that make too much sense.

“Thanks for the plot mover, Wakko,” Yakko groans from his place on the bed.

“I’ll go get you some water.  Maybe if we flush it out with other stuff, it’ll go away quicker,” Dot hops off of the bed and off to the kitchen.  Yakko’s stomach groans in displeasure, and Yakko curls up tighter.

“Guess this means no more milk, huh?  Oh well,” Wakko shrugs, and Yakko half glares at him.

“I’m not banning milk from the house just cause I can’t have it,” He says, a growl in his voice.  Wakko shrugs again.

“Who said you were banning it?  I just don’t think we need it anymore,” He smiles, almost Cheshire.  “Don’t have the craving for it anymore, right, Dot?”

“Right!”

Yakko almost jumps when he feels the bed dip down with Dot’s weight, surprised by her return, but he shifts to face her and takes the glass of water offered with a smile.

“Thanks, sis,” he takes a few sips, and while it doesn’t change much, he gives her a thumbs up anyway, so she’ll feel like she helped.

“Wakko, you need calcium in your diet,” he goes back to arguing, and Wakko leans back on his hands.

“Pretty sure toons don’t have certain diet they need.”

“Pretty sure toons don’t need to eat at all, but,” Yakko raises a brow and lets the sentence hang.

“Touche,” Wakko admits.  “And hey, we’re broken body buddies!” He raises his hands up and grins, and Yakko tries for a smile, too, chuckling to himself.

“But I’m pretty sure we can get calcium in other foods.  Just saying,” Wakko finishes, and Yakko gets it, but he isn’t going to deprive his siblings of pizza and ice cream just because his body can’t handle it. 

But it’s an argument for another day, because Yakko’s stomach makes another very unpleasant noise, and he slowly sits up and starts crawling his way to the end of the bed.

“Where are you going?” Dot asks.

“The bathroom,” Yakko says, and his voice sounds weak even to his ears.  “Don’t wait up.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

An hour and a half later, Yakko stumbles out of the bathroom, drained, and he slumps in on himself as he shuffles back to bed, only to stop when he sees the bed itself.

In the middle, where he typically rests, is a fort of sorts.  Rather, it’s a perfectly shaped resting spot for him, lined with the softest pillows and with a blanket his favorite color, all as comfy as can be.

“Take a rest, brother,” Wakko gestures to the bed nirvana, though Yakko can’t help but notice him wince when he looks at Yakko.  Makes sense.

“Yeah, we set it all up nice for you!  See how it feels!” Dot adds, and Yakko smiles and makes his way to the bed, worming into the spot made to perfectly fit him.

He sinks into the softness and sighs.  At the very least, while his stomach is a mess, he doesn’t have to worry about any other part of him being uncomfortable.

“Thanks guys,” He mutters, spent.  He’s never going to even try and eat something with milk in it ever again, if this is the result.

“No prob,” Wakko waves off his thanks.

“You take care of us all the time.  Turnabout’s fair play,” Dot quips, and Yakko chuckles, sighing and closing his eyes.

He’s asleep faster than expected, but he stays awake long enough to feel Wakko and Dot cuddle up on either side of him, like usual.

Despite his intestinal discomfort, he smiles.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dot stares in the mirror.

Her new vanity is rather spectacular, and she’s been living on cloud nine since Yakko and Wakko finished it.  They’d nearly gotten into an argument while making it-evidently, Yakko couldn’t understand how Wakko could see all the pieces and put them together without numbers or instructions, and Wakko couldn’t understand how Yakko couldn’t understand how the pieces fit together when looking at them as a whole.

Boys.  She shakes her head and sighs, looking back at herself in the mirror.

She can see her brothers behind her.  They match, of course, they’re the Warner Brothers.  

The Warner Sister is alone.  

She’s not unaware of why she was made.  A token female character, eye candy, take your pick.  She’s both.  Made to fill in the tiny gap Hollywood makes for female representation while continuing the legacy that women are supposed to look and act pretty, and that’s it.

It makes her blood boil.  And yet, isn’t she falling into it?  She wants to be pretty, she likes being cute, but is that just because she’s supposed to?

She’s not even just cute, anyway!  She can nearly go toe to toe with Yakko when it comes to word play, and Wakko barely has her beat when it comes to strength.  So what if she’s cute?  She was drawn that way!

So why does it still feel so weird?

Her brow furrows.  It’s not like she can even prove to anyone that she’s better, anyway, because Yakko and Wakko likely wouldn’t care or know, and they’re stuck in this tower for forever.

“My name is Dot Warner,” She starts, a soft tune, “And I always get the final word.”

She misses musical numbers.  She misses having fun outside of this place.  She misses messing with people.  Yakko and Wakko seem so similar-their names rhyme, for Pete’s sake-and she feels out of place here.  But they were out of place together out there.

“I though your name was Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the third,” Yakko interjects, leaning a hand on her vanity.  “Surprised you forgot, sis,” It’s all gentle ribbing, but now is not the time.

“Oh, put a sock in it, Yakko,” She responds.

“Which one?” Wakko comes up on her other side, holding out two similarly disgusting socks for her to pick from.  She pushes him away.

“Leave me alone!” It comes out louder and harsher than she wants it to, and as a result Wakko looks bewildered, and Yakko lifts his hand from the vanity to move it to his hip.  “Go be-be gross boys somewhere else,” She tries to cover up the actual frustration with a weak excuse, but Yakko just crosses his arms and raises a brow, and Wakko walks back over, sans socks.

“What’s the matter, Sis?  Something’s bothering you,” She sighs at the question.

“You guys match better than me,” She grumbles.  “I’m the cute one, and that’s it?  You two get to be witty and strong and creative and funny and I’m just...,” She growls out the final word.  “Cute.”

She sees Yakko and Wakko share a look over her head, and rolls her eyes.

“You seriously think that’s all you are?” Yakko sounds...confused.  Bewildered.  Like her worry is so unfounded it’s surprising she even is worrying at all.

“You’re way cooler than that,” Wakko agrees.  “You’re smarter than me.”

“And you’re better at the physical jokes than me,” Yakko adds.

“I know,” She says, almost cheeky, but her mood refuses to lighten.  “But-I don’t know.  Iit’s not just that-I-I guess I miss doing stuff outside. Like songs.”

There’s a beat, and when she looks up, Yakko has a smile on his face that is nothing short of sly.

“Songs, you say?” He rubs in chin in thought.  “Wakko?”

“On it,” She watches as he pulls out instrument after instrument from his gag bag, until they practically have an orchestra.  Wakko also pulls out a conductor’s wand.

“Shall we, m’lady?” Yakko holds out his hand, and when she takes it, he pulls her to the middle of the room.  A spotlight lands on them, and the music starts.

“Her name is Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the third,” He begins with a wink, “and no matter the situation or confrontation, she always gets the final word,” Yakko’s tenor is sugary sweet as he dances her around the room, and he passes her off to Wakko, who leaves the self playing instruments to their own devices.

“If you think you can beat her, just wait till ya meet her, cause you’ll realize that thought is absurd,” Wakko’s voice has a grovel from the accent, and he makes silly faces as they waltz, to make her giggle.

“Sure she’s cute,” Yakko starts.

“Quite the beaut,”

“But she’s got the strength of a brute!” They harmonize, and she pulls out her mallet.  She watches as they cringe away in fake terror, and she does a fake swing before tossing the mallet away.  “So watch out, because if you make yourself a target she’ll shoot!”

She watches them laugh at the end of the line, and they do fit each other, don’t they?  But they’re going out of their way to do this for her, and so what does it matter?  Being different and being special are the same, depending on how you phrase it, and they don’t mind her being different at all.

The music keeps going, the piano leading into verse two.

“Don’t make her mad, don’t make her sad, if you want to keep your limbs intact,” Yakko twirls her, and she imagines being at a fancy Ball or Gala, surrounded by admirers. 

“She’s got all modes of attraction, and kneejerk reactions, it’s all just simple fact,” Wakko takes her for a spin himself, his movements more wild and less controlled than Yakko’s more straightforward dancing, but she loves it anyway, and is almost remiss when he passes her back to Yakko.

“She always tries her best,” Yakko dips her, low enough that her ears nearly touch the floor, and her tail presses close to her back.

“To be better from the rest,” Wakko continues.

“Because we all want to reach for the stars!” Yakko throws her up and she poses mid air before he catches her with his shoulders, letting her sit there.  She can’t help but laugh at the whole thing.

“She’s Dot Warner,” Every time they go into unison, it’s perfect harmony, and she loves it.  Them.

“Our giggling sister,”

“Does she know how much we’d miss her?”

The music pauses, and they look to her patiently, to join the song, and for a moment she hesitates.  Because she’s never had such a ballad before.  What if her voice doesn’t sound right?  What if she messes it up?

But Yakko and Wakko are smiling at her, as if they know she’ll do it right, and you know what.  Screw it.

“I’m Dot Warner!” She shouts, and the belting note rings as she jumps up. “I’m no one’s former!” The music swells, and she stands on Yakko’s shoulders, triumphant.  “I’m sweet and I’m tough!”

“Always more than good enough!” Wakko and Yakko crow as back up.

“And I’m better than why I was drawn!” It’s like a warrior cry, like she’s daring the world to tell her different.

“She’s charming,” Yakko.

“And alarming,” Wakko.

“In every role I’m starring, no longer just the token girl!” She hops down from Yakko’s shoulder, taking center stage.  This is what she is.  The breaking of her own role, just as loud and proud and wild as her siblings, with a touch of cuteness that she loves.  Because hey, what’s wrong with being cute?

“With wit and sass,” Yakko and Wakko start to finish.

“I’m the highest of class,” She interjects, giggling.

“She’s the best of our two worlds!” They all come together, Dot in the middle, the boys kicking out their outside legs and gesturing outwards with one arm as the music plays them out, and when the music number is over all Dot can do is drag her brothers together into a hug.

“Thank you,” because she needed this.  A sense of normalcy, the constant reminder that she’s more.  She knows why she was drawn, but who cares?  She’s better than that.

She’s Dot Warner,  Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the third, and she’s got her brothers behind her.  

And when she has them, nothing can stop her.

[jobean12-blog]

Top Shelf: Chapter 10- Recipe for Love

Pairing: Bucky x reader (Bookshop/Bartender AU)

Word Count: 2,064

Summary: You and Bucky decide to host dinner for your friends and afterwards you get the best idea ever...

Author’s Note: Thank you all so very much for sticking with me and continuing to read! This has really been such an escape for me and I can never thank you enough for reading and being so kind and supportive. Thank you all for reading and much love always ❤❤❤

Warnings: sweet fluff, soft smut, fluffersmut, fun with friends :) 

Previous Chapters 

Chapter 1: Enchantment

Chapter 2: Cookie Crumble

Chapter 3: Sweet Anticipation

Chapter 4: Read Between the Limes

Chapter 5: Secrets on the Shelf

Chapter 6: Love Between the Covers 

Chapter 7: Love Lines & Soul Finds

Chapter 8: Drunk in Love

Chapter 9: Pour in onto the Page

The rest of the night goes on in a blur of soft touches, heated kisses and whispered, “I love yous.” Now that the words are out it’s as if neither of you have anything else to say. The uber ride back to Manhattan is as sugary sweet as the cotton candy you’re licking off your fingers. “Oh my god, Bucky! I forgot how good this stuff is!” you exclaim as you pull off another chunk of the spun sugar. “I know!” Bucky replies, kissing some melting pink sugar off your lips.

You giggle, trying to refrain from poking him with your sticky fingers. “Sweetheart, if you get that sticky crap stuck in my hair, we’re gonna have a problem.” Your fingers reach toward him as you hold back laughter. Bucky quickly grabs your wrist and brings your hand to his mouth, slowly sucking the sugar off the tip of each finger. “I wish we were home already,” you breathe out.

When you finally fall through the door of your apartment, you’re surprised you’re still dressed, Bucky’s hands groping you from the moment you got out of the uber. He walks you backward until you bump the small island in your kitchen, his arms lifting you up and sitting you on the countertop. Your hands card through his hair as he kneels between your legs, pushing up the skirt of your dress.

His eyes watch you as he trails kisses up your thigh, his soft hair slipping through your fingers as you try to find a hold on something. With the languid movements of his tongue he takes you apart, your body completely sated as he stands to unzip his jeans. You waste no time, helping him get them to the floor.

He enters you slowly and you feel every inch, his forehead pressed to yours while you relish in the feeling of each other. The lights from the city cast a soft glow on your skin as Bucky’s hands and mouth explore every inch with a newfound reverence.  It isn’t long before you come undone, his name a quiet plea falling from your lips.  

The next morning you find the other side of the bed empty, but the smell of freshly brewed coffee permeates the air. With a satisfied hum you throw off the covers, covering your nakedness with Bucky’s shirt. “Do you always walk around shirtless?” you ask as you enter the kitchen, Bucky’s back to you as he stands over the coffee pot.

“Are you complaining,” he croons, throwing you a look over his shoulder. “Not at all,” you say, walking over and wrapping your arms around his waist. “That smells so good! I’m so glad someone is finally using the coffee pot. I usually just get it from the café down the street.” He turns and hands you a steaming cup, asking, “you mean the little spot on West 22nd and 9th Ave?” You nod as you take your first sip, moaning at the taste.

“It’s going out of business!” You nearly spit out the delicious coffee, “WHAT?” Bucky frowns, holding you against his chest, “yeah, the new Starbucks that opened nearby is killing them.” Now it’s your turn to frown, the realization you may have to start brewing your own coffee or paying way too much for one making you angry. You take another sip, eyeing Bucky over the mug, “that’s awful. I really liked that place!”

Kissing the top of your head he says assuredly, “you have me and since you seem to approve of my coffee making skills, I think you’ll manage.” With a contented smile you reach behind him for your cookie tin, picking it up and noticing it feels way too light. “Bucky. Did you eat the last of the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies?”

Hanging his head, he doesn’t answer but it’s all the confirmation you need. “I can’t believe you didn’t even leave me one!” He tries to look sheepish but fails terribly as he checks for crumbs along his mouth. “Well, they were amazing! And I was hungry this morning!” he says in defense. “You’re lucky I love you, you know that” you say. He takes your unfinished coffee from your hands and places in on the counter. “Actually, I’m the lucky one and I love you too,” he says, before stopping any further conversation with his lips on yours.

You spend Sunday afternoon at the bookshop with Bucky, organizing some shelves and just enjoying each other’s company. As per her usual Sunday visit, Grandma Betty strolls in shortly after lunch, her smile bright at the sight of you both. “Look at you two. You’re practically glowing today! I knew a night out would be good for my boy. Was it as fun as you remembered?”

Bucky sends a heart stopping smile your way before launching into a full recap of your night and how perfect it was. Grandma leaves with a smile that matches yours and a promise of some of your now famous peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

After the visit you can tell that Bucky’s mood has dampened slightly, his teeth working over his bottom lip and his forehead creased in thought. “Hey baby, you think Steve, Peggy, Nat and Sam would want to come over for dinner next weekend? Maybe we can do it early before you guys have to be at the bar?” His spirits seem to lift at the idea, and he sends out a text to see if everyone is available.

Once your plans are made and you all settle on a time you ask him, “what do I make for dessert?” He laughs, raising his brow before he speaks. You cut him off, “I’m not making you any more of those cookies. In fact, I’m going to make a whole batch, give them all to your grandma and you can’t have any!” He pretends to pout which makes you laugh, his antics hard to resist. “I’ll bake something new! A surprise!” you exclaim, winking his way.

You spend almost every weeknight at Bucky’s apartment, except for Wednesday night because Nat insists she needs some girl time. “So. Does it feel different now that you guys said I love you?” she asks, sitting on the couch with her legs stretched out over yours while sipping her wine. “It just feels right. I can’t really explain it. It all seems so cliché when I really think about it, but I’ve also not felt surer about anything before.”

Nat tilts her head in understanding, her hand reaching over to squeeze yours. “I get it. I’m so happy for you.” With another sip of your wine you reply, “thanks, I love you. Now stop stalling and tell me about your weekend with Sam!” She giggles and you squeal when you see a light blush creep over her cheeks. “OH MY GOD! WELL??” She kicks you with her foot, scowling before she says, “it’s the wine! I swear!” You laugh, knowing full well she’s full of shit. “Yea right. You can’t fool me. SPILL IT!”

Saturday morning rolls around and you and Bucky leave his apartment together, you’re heading out for baking supplies and Bucky heading to the bookshop to open and prepare for his early departure. “If you need me to pick anything up on my way back just let me know, doll. I can easily make a stop.” You pepper his cheek with kisses, saying thank you in between before planting a good one on his lips. “I love you,” he murmurs, watching you walk down the street until you’re out of his sight.

You decide on making a coconut cream pie for dessert, checking beforehand that everyone is a fan of the fruit. It’s the first time you’re making it and you’re both excited and nervous. Once you have everything you need you head back to Bucky’s and start preparing, making sure to send him plenty of silly texts as you bake. Thankfully the two of you had made a sauce and breaded chicken cutlets the night before so all that had to be done other than the pie was frying up the cutlets and cooking the pasta.

Bucky arrives home right on time. “Wow. It smells amazing in here baby.” He gives you a tight hug, picking you up off your feet and kissing you soundly before running off to take a quick shower. Once he’s clean and ready you finish up the cooking and put the pie in the oven. Bucky sets the table and you prepare some small appetizers.

Steve and Peggy arrive first, and Peggy joins you in the kitchen for some gossiping and wine. You look over her shoulder to see Bucky and Steve on the couch plowing through the snacks. “Hey boys! Can you please try to save some for Nat and Sam??” They both look up guiltily, trying to hide their mouthfuls of food. “Sorry,” they mumble simultaneously.

Luckily, Sam and Nat show up only moments later and Sam can snag a few bites. Dinner goes off without a hitch and everyone sits with their glass of wine while they wait for dessert. “Nat has been going on and on about y/n’s baking all week! I can’t wait to eat this pie!” Sam shouts. “I know, Bucky said her cookies are better than my mom’s!” Steve chimes in, raising his eyebrows.

Everyone looks at Steve in shock, their mouths hanging open. “What the heck guys?” you say as you walk to the table holding the pie. “What happened?” Steve quickly speaks up, “nothing y/n! We were just talking about how good your baking is. That looks amazing!” You throw them a knowing smirk and put the pie on the table, serving a slice to everyone.

Sam shovels in a giant bite, moaning around the fork. “Holy cow, this is incredible y/n!” Steve follows suit, closing his eyes and mumbling something about heaven while he chews. Bucky looks up and gives you a wide smile, his eyes twinkling as he mouths “I love you.”

Before you can answer him Sam snorts, pulling your attention away as you watch him point and laugh. “Jeez, you two are sweeter than this pie.” You scowl at him and try to hold back your laughter but fail miserably when Nat chimes in and says, “that’s the best you could do. Really?” Everyone starts laughing and Bucky pulls you into his lap, feeding you a piece of the pie. “Wow. It really did come good,” you say, only loud enough for him to hear.

While everyone continues to eat Bucky makes some coffee, the smell drifting through the small apartment and perking everyone up. The rest of the evening goes by fast and before you know it, Bucky and Sam must leave for the bar. Bucky tries to help you clean up, but you shoo him out, looking forward to a little alone time with Peggy and Nat. “It’s fine Buck, don’t worry! We can definitely handle this!”

It doesn’t take the three of you long to clean up, afterwards getting comfy on the couch with a glass of wine. You hang out for another couple of hours before the yawning starts, the wine and good food catching up to all of you. “Thank you so much for coming, this was so fun!” They enthusiastically agree, telling you for the hundredth time how delicious the pie was.

An hour later you’re in the bath, relaxing under the bubbles and teasing Bucky by sending him sexy pictures. ‘Doll, this is so unfair…I know what’s under those bubbles and I want some.’ You giggle, placing your phone safely on the towel next to the tub. Grabbing the plate of pie you brought into the bath you take a bite, savoring every flavor as it swirls over your tongue. You mentally give yourself props, loving how much everyone praised your baking abilities.

Finishing the last bite, your eyes suddenly go wide, and you blurt out, “that’s it!!!” You drop the empty dish to the floor and grab your phone, trying to text Bucky as quickly as possible. “Shit, shit, shit!” you curse at your slippery fingers, wiping them off on the towel. ‘BUCKY! I KNOW HOW TO SAVE THE BOOKSHOP!’ The text goes through and you smile to yourself, excitement coursing through you while you wait for his reply.

@aesthetical-bucky @auro-ora @azurika-writes @bucky-on-my-mind @buckys-broody-muffin @bugsbucky @book-dragon-13 @devynsdiary @eurynome827 @hailmary-yramliah @godofplumsandthunder @hawksmagnolia @hiddles-rose @imgaril-lindru @ikaris-whore @itsunclebucky @jhangelface0523 @jewelofwinter @jewels2876 @loricameback @littledarlinhavefaithinme @littleredstarfish @mushyjellybeans @marvelgirl7​ @marvelandotherfandomimagines @metal-armed-cuddly-dork @nano--raptor @randomfandompenguin @sallycanwait68 @softpeachbarnes @scarletsoldierrr @the-wayward-robot @when-the-hell-is-bucky @throwmyheartawayagain @flyawaybay @amandatar-06 @nd1998sc @captainchrisstan @vherriepie @fire-flv @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @irishflutiegirl @rinthehufflepuff @moonybarnes @nordlysinthewoods​ @inflxmes 

[lowkeyjustvibing]

Guess who decided to write more fanfic?

So I took those angsty IBVS headcanons, procrastinated for forever, and have finally figured out how I shall write this.

Also I decided to get some hurt/comfort up in here ‘cuz our favorite school king doesn’t deserve pure distilled pain without getting hugs.

IBVS by onebizarrekai

It was odd to say the least. Edward was known to be arrogant and boisterous, enough so that he drew the attention of anyone and everyone. So it was certainly confusing when the normally loud and proud school king slowly became much more quiet and secluded. No one knew what had caused it but after just a week Edward was an entirely different person. He was jumpy and hardly interacted with anyone outside of his inner circle. Easy to say, this caught the attention of many of the students.

“Hey, you know what’s up with Ed?” Chris asked, “I mean, he hasn’t shown up to any of the meetings and I rarely see him outside of class.”

“I dunno’,” Isaac said, not looking up from his sketchbook, “but yeah, it is a little weird that Mr. High and mighty is all secluded now.”

“I’m just worried.” Chris mumbled and Isaac gave him an odd look, “Hey! Don’t you dare. I just don’t want him to be hurt or something and we haven’t done anything to help him. I know you two don’t have the best relationship but you have to at least be a little concerned.”

After a moment of silence, Isaac sighed and set aside his sketchbook, “Alright, you caught me. Yes I’m a little curious about what’s up with the big guy, but what do you want to do about it? You can’t expect to just ask him what’s wrong and get him to pour out his heart or something. It was already difficult to get him to talk about like, anything aside from supernatural stuff before so I can’t imagine how sheltered about personal stuff he’d be now.”

“Well I’m getting the truth out of him one way or another.” Chris responded, standing up and grabbing his jacket.

“You should try asking Barry if he knows anything, he and Quinton are pretty close.”

Chris just nodded before waving goodbye and leaving to go find Barry.

-------

“I don’t know what’s wrong either.” Barry said sadly, “He doesn’t even come over anymore.”

Chris groaned in frustration, falling onto his back and frightening a nearby cat, “Great, so NO ONE knows.”

They both just sat there for a minute, neither of them wanting to break the silence.

“It’s just so frustrating!” Chris groaned, digging his palms into his eye sockets, “I mean, it’s not like the answer is just going to just waltz through the door!”

Suddenly, there was a loud bang coming from the kitchen and they both jumped. They glanced at each other and then tensed upon hearing the back door fly open and shut.

“Hello?” Barry called.

There was no response and Chris stood up, a fuzzy outline of a blade hovering next to his hand. Barry followed him as they slowly walked into the kitchen to see what was happening. 

“Hey!” Chris called, “Who’s there?”

There was a quiet sniffle and then a weak voice responded, “S-sorry for j-just walking in...”

Barry blinked a few times before stepping forward, “Ed?”

Sure enough, the once proud school king was hidden in the corner hugging his knees to his chest. He was shaking and breathing unevenly and looked like a mess.

“Holy cow Ed,” Barry muttered, walking over quickly, “what happened?”

When he tried to reach out to comfort his obviously distressed friend, Edward flinched back, “D-don’t t-touch me p-please...”

Chris stepped forward, “Are you OK?”

Edward shook his head, barely stifling a sob.

“Is there anything we can do?” Barry asked.

“W-water.” Edward croaked, wiping his face with his sleeve.

It was then that Chris noticed that the other was wearing thick gloves and extra layers.

“Are you cold?” He asked, “I can get you a blanket.”

Edward shook his head slightly and Barry returned with a glass of water.

“Here.” He said, carefully handing it to Edward without touching him.

After confirming that he wasn’t hurt or anything, Chris and Barry walked back to the living room to give him some space.

“Did you see how much stuff he was wearing?” Chris asked, “He looks like he’s planning to go to Antarctica or something.”

Barry thought for a moment, “He said he didn’t want to be touched, maybe that’s part of it?”

Chris nodded, “But it’s weird, he was never this paranoid about being touched. Heck, he used to drag Isaac into closets. What changed?”

“That’s something he’s going to have to tell us.”

-------

After Edward finally calmed down enough to talk, Chris and Barry began rapid firing questions at him.

“Are you OK?”

“What happened?”

“Why were you so freaked out?”

“Did someone hurt you?”

“H-hey!” Edward stuttered, “I appreciate the concern but just... One at a time or something.”

Barry was the first to speak, “What happened?”

This seemed to catch the other off guard, “Well, umm... I just- Umm...”

“Here,” Chris interrupted, “let’s break it down a little, did someone do this to you?”

After a bit of hesitation, Edward nodded.

“Who?” The other two asked simultaneously.

“N-” Edward flinched, “E-emo kid...”

“Nevin?!” Chris asked incredulously and Edward flinched again.

Barry only grew more concerned, “What did he do?”

“H-he’d catch me a-after school and beat m-me up...” Edward mumbled, seeming to shrink into himself, “I-it sorta’ became an e-everyday thing. I’d get out of class and h-he’d drag me off somewhere and...”

“Holy...” Chris muttered, “Edward I- Oh my gosh... I’m so sorry man.”

At this, Edward broke and started crying. It took every ounce of self control in both of them not to rush forward and comfort their friend.

Barry rested a hand on Chris’s shoulder, “I’ll take care of him, could you go talk to Nevin?”

Chris nodded, his worry instantly forgotten as he was filled with anger and determination, “Of course. Take care of him while I’m gone.”

And with that, he was off again, this time with a burning sense of purpose.

--------

Chris knocked on the door to the Jovel’s house (To be fair, pounding would be a better word). After a few moments, none other than Nevin opened the door. He looked bored and vaguely annoyed, like Chris had just inconvenienced him.

“‘Sup Chris?” He asked nonchalantly.

At the completely unfazed tone, Chris couldn’t help the slight flicker of a knife appearing at his side.

“Well,” He said through gritted teeth, “I was wondering if I could talk to you about something.”

Nevin gave him a suspicious look, probably noticing his tone, before moving aside, “Then come on in.”

“I’d rather not.” Chris muttered.

“Oh?” Nevin responded, “But I insist.”

Chris finally snapped. He grabbed Nevin and after yanking him out onto the porch, pinned him against the outside wall. Before the other could even speak, there was a bright red blade inches from his throat. 

After recovering, Nevin finally spoke, “Oh, this was unexpected.”

“How DARE you.” Chris hissed, the knife edging just a hair closer.

Nevin gave him a confused look, “How dare I what?”

“You know what!” Chris spat, “Here, I’ll help you out. Two words, Edward. Quinton.”

Nevin looked at him for a moment before he burst out laughing. It took all of Chris’s willpower not to give Nevin a taste of his own medicine and beat him up.

“Oh I forgot about that!” He wheezed, “That was fun! Can’t believe you’re actually worried about that guy.”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done to him?” 

“Oh please, inform me.” Nevin drawled, once again looking bored and inconvenienced.

Chris felt his eye twitch and he dropped Nevin, “OK, how about I give you a demonstration then?”

As the other stood up, Chris noticed that his eye had turned to the unnatural cyan color indicating that his powers were activated. Then, to his surprise, a thick black liquid seemed to materialize on his shorter opponent.

“You want a fight?” Nevin said, grinning wildly, “You got one.”

-------

Meanwhile, Edward was sitting with Barry on his couch watching a movie. It took a while, but Barry eventually managed to convince his friend that he wasn’t going to be hurt. Not long after that, Edward was practically on top of him, furiously denying that the action meant anything. About halfway through the movie, the front door slammed open and Edward screeched before falling off the couch.

“Chris?” Barry called and received an affirmative grunt in response. 

After hearing him struggle for a bit and mutter something about octopi, Chris finally walked into the living room.

Barry jumped up at the sight of him, “Holy-! I’ll go get my kit, stay right there!”

Chris groaned before flopping face first onto the couch. He was covered in cuts, bruises, and odd patches of black slime.

Edward looked worried, “Are you OK?”

“Peachy.” Chris responded, turning to look at him, “How ‘bout you?”

“Better than you I suppose.”

Barry got back with some medical supplies and started fussing over Chris. While he was getting cleaned up, Chris explained how he got into a fight with Nevin and “Taught that crazy goop lord a lesson”. Barry didn’t even question that statement, just telling Chris to go take a shower before he made even more of a mess.

“Want to finish the movie?” Edward asked after hearing the upstairs bathroom door close.

“Sure.” Barry responded, “Just let me clean off the couch first.”

-------

By the time Chris finally finished showering, realized he didn’t have spare clothes, and was supplied some sweats and a T-Shirt by Barry, it was already dark.

Chris swore quietly, “My dad’s gonna’ kill me when I get back. I should probably go before he gets even more mad.”

“Oh heck with your dad!” Edward shouted from the kitchen, “He’s gonna’ be pissed whether you go back now or a week from now! How ‘bout we all just hang out here for the night?” 

Barry shrugged, “Sounds good to me.”

Chris was dumbfounded, “B-but I need to-”

“Ah shut up ya’ nerd.” Edward said, sauntering out of the kitchen, “You already had quite the day so there’s no point in going home just to get chewed out by your dad.”

“Besides,” Barry interjected, “I don’t think he’d miss that you’re wearing someone else’s clothes.” Chris flushed slightly at that statement, “I’ll toss your clothes in the washer and you can go back tomorrow looking like nothing happened.”

“OK...” Chris mumbled, still embarrassed.

After Barry left to put Chris’s clothes in the laundry, Edward jumped onto the couch, bouncing once and then burying his face in a pillow. Chris just grabbed the blanket and sat down on the other side of the couch, wrapping himself in it. Then, to his surprise, Edward grabbed a corner of the blanket and yanked on it, pulling Chris (Who had a death grip on said blanket) onto him.

“‘M cold.” Edward muttered, yanking on the blanket a few more times.

Chris was conflicted and incredibly flustered. On one hand, he wanted that blanket and on the other, he wanted to apologize for nearly falling on top of his new friend. Edward didn’t seem to mind though. In fact, he seemed quite content. It took a few moments of mental struggle for Chris to decide that being warm under the blanket was worth more than apologizing profusely. Barry finally got back, stifling a laugh at the sight of an unconscious Edward practically cuddling a very flustered Chris.

“Help!” Chris whispered.

Barry just grinned and sat next to them, “Sorry buddy, I’ve learned from experience that there’s no escaping Ed when he’s in a cuddly mood.”

With that, Barry grabbed a corner of the blanket and pulled some onto his legs before leaning up against the arm of the couch. Chris sputtered a bit before succumbing to his fate and deciding to just get some sleep, almost instantly passing out.

---------

Anyways, I’m too lazy to write it out but Chris totally wakes up to Edward and Barry acting like an old married couple and giving each other kisses while they’re cooking. But yeah, I decided to write some good ol’ Edward angst and accidentally turned it into a poly ship, so sue me. 

[nancypullen]

58

Holy cow, how did I get here?  I’m happy to be here, but I may have slept through part of the trip.  Fifty-eight feels a lot like fifty-seven with lighter baggage.  Isn’t that the very best part of aging, the release of things and feelings that don’t serve you?  The things that chew you up inside become less important with each decade. When you figure out that time can be spent being happy instead it’s a very satisfying and liberating process.  I love this season of my life.  Know what else I love? The people in my life!  My tribe is the best.  Calls, messages, cards, so many surprises...and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better - Matt flew in!  Mickey kept making noise about needing to run an errand at 5pm on Friday.  It seemed odd that he kept reminding me of his 5 o’clock task, so of course I started rolling it around in my brain.  I’d already picked up a cake.  I thought perhaps he was getting me a big pumpkin, but that doesn’t seem like a scheduled event.  Maybe he had to wait for someone to get off work so he could pick something up, which made me worry that he was bringing home another cat.  Yikes! Side note: we have another time share cat.  He’s no Willie, but he’s got potential.  He belongs next door but they don’t allow him inside at all (and that’s sad).  We let the wrong cat in one night, now our nights look like this.

Anyway, I convinced myself that he wasn’t out picking up a cat and then I realized that airlines have schedules.  So I called the one person I know who might drop everything and hop on a plane. Matt: Hello? Me:  Where are you??? Matt: Uhhhhh....why? Me:  Are you in Nashville??? Matt:  (P.A. announcement in background)  Um, nooo? Me: OHMYGAWD, YOU ARE!! (lots of whooping and hollering)

Matt:  Crap.  I’m waiting on the curb for Dad to pick me up. Both of us:  hahahahahahahahahahaha! Suffice it to say that my already delightful birthday week was made a thousand times better having Matt home to share it.  We spent a few days laughing and enjoying his visit and I had to take him to the airport on Thursday.  That’s the part I hate. Another source of joy was a package I received just from the grandgirl.  There was a precious tea towel covered in pressings she did of fall leaves and her handprint. Oh, my heart!

She also painted a picture for me.

That long body and all of that business at the top.  You know I was praying it was a tree.  Nope, she had them title it for her.

This is the same three year old who sleeps with a giant stuffed snake that she named Filthy.  I have to get up there and intercept this behavior.  My heart can’t take a lifetime of snake paintings and big blue eyes asking,”Grancy, can we go to the reptile house?”  I shudder just thinking about it.  Still, you know darn well that the cobra picture is hanging in a place of honor.  I’m pretending it’s a tulip. As usual, my family spoiled me rotten and the midwestern Lutheran that lives in my DNA feels unworthy of the fuss.  The rest of me is so humbled and grateful for the wonderful people in my life that make me feel special.

That’s it, my birthday has come and gone and now we’re in OCTOBER!  Yes, yes yes!!  I’ve been bustling around putting out pumpkins and witches and starting my celebration.  I’m pretending that the weather is cooler because I believe that if I build fall, it will come.  Add to those happy activities storytime with the grandgirl (and oh, she is grand!) and a trip to my doctor to get a cortisone shot in the ol’ stanky ankle in preparation for our trip in a couple of weeks.  September always ends in a flurry of fun and it spills right over into October.  Pinch me! Okay, I’m finished with the gushing.  Can’t help it, I’m a happy camper. Meet me back here tomorrow and I’ll share a yummy recipe and a cute Halloween craft.  What more could you want?  Gee, maybe interesting content and better pictures? Don’t answer that. Sending out lots of love.  Stay safe, stay groovy.  XOXO, Nancy