#mailman!phil

[chicknonaraft]

"If anyone can crack this nut, it's Johan the Kindling Genius, I’m sure of it.”

FIRST | PREVIOUS | NEXT

[isaac031]

You THINK they talking about me?

Perhaps

Ongoing | Not Rated | 10,760

Getting Together | Fantasy? | Crow

Philza is a beautiful man loved by everyone in the region, but he wants to find someone who will truly love him. One day, he sets a chalenge: the one who can get the golden key from his pet crow and open the door to his house, he will marry.

Certain mailman has already befriended the crow.

——————-

Loving this so far!! Crowza is ready to find love :)

[isaac031]

I love your Crow and The Mailman work. I like how you describe the house so looks like the Wall on QSMP.14.73

I keep picturing Forever or someone trying to catch Cuervo and it just mimics Philza's laugh as it flys away, cackling into the distance.

Oh my good I didn't think of Cuervo lauthing like Phil. That's such a good idea.

But yeah everyone is going after the crow.

[quinnhayden]

hey! I just finished rereading not the standard unit and I was completely re-blown away by how amazing of an author you are, and what good storylines youve created for this series!!! i CANNOT wait to see what is coming for cannon or future aus you will write and i am SO EXCITED for more domestic trio in the future!!!! if you are taking requests right now, I would really really really love to see a modern pre-serum steve with any version of quinn and bucky!!! just like a cute little first meeting or domestic fluff blurb/ficlet if you ever have time to write something like that!!! anyways, your writing is so amazing and I just can’t get enough of domestic Bucky in the 21st-century and I am a slut for any aus that contain him. keep being awesome!!!!

first of all...YOU ARE SO SWEET THANK YOU SO MUCH 🥹 also thanks for reminding me that i actually do have an AU that's been sitting unfinished for like two years. but it's basically modern!stevebucky with cap!quinn. bucky is an undercover shield agent that's assigned to watch over quinn out of the ice (like sharon in civil war). steve is his freelance artist hubby that doesn't know bucky works for shield, either. they're neighbors in clint's apartment building. so here! have steve finding out that quinn is soulmate! also let me shove my love for dragon age in here

As soon as Quinn opens the door and sees that it’s Steve on the other side, she slams it back in his face. “What’d I do?” Steve asks loudly because he doesn’t know she could hear him even if he whispered. She waits one whole minute before she slowly opens it back up, eyes narrowed at him. He holds up a plate of cinnamon rolls like he’s offering them up to appease her anger. She holds her glare a little bit more before she snatches the plate, turns around, and stomps away. She leaves the door open so that Steve knows he’s allowed inside.

“You told me I could be with anyone.” Quinn picks up the white video game case with a massive dragon on the front, red with some splotches of blood, body transparent so a person can see a few characters inside. It’s branded with the title Dragon Age: Origins. “I’ve tried and tried, but all Morrigan wants to be is friends!” Steve bursts out in a fit of laughter so loud and giddy that he clutches at his chest. She puts the case back on her coffee table, huffs, and angrily bites at a cinnamon roll, not caring that the icing will make her fingers all sticky.

“Sorry,” he breathes out when he’s done being a little shit. “I forgot that Alistair and Morrigan are straight.” He uses air quotes on that last word. He must think that it’s bullshit, too. “Also, in my defense, I honestly didn’t think that you’d be interested in a romance with her.”

“Why in the blue hell would you think that?”

“You seem like the kind of person that likes them soft and sweet like Alistair or Leliana. Morrigan is…a little mean and prickly at the start and you have to really work to be her friend let alone romance her as a male warden,” he explains carefully. “I didn’t think she was your type.”

She rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Oh, yeah, a pretty lady that can be mean and put me in my place. Real turn off there. Do you know how she reacts when you give her the mirror? Steve, she’s adorable.” Quinn almost cried, this little fictional character was so cute and awkward. Quinn sighs in defeat before she admits, “Alistair was my second choice.”

“If you had a gaming computer, there are things called mods where you can alter the gameplay. So, you could romance Morrigan as a female warden.” She hadn’t noticed that, under his plate, he had a stack of mail in hand, too. “Clint was downstairs and told me to tell you politely to, and I quote, quit sitting around playing games all day and get your fucking mail. The mailman can’t fit much more in your box.”

“Oops.” She blushes and meekly takes the mail. The topmost letter is from the Social Security Administration. “Oh. I think this is my Social Security card.” Phil had mentioned she’d be getting some important documents soon. She’s finally an official living person again with a Social Security card, updated birth certificate, state ID—the works. He raises a brow as she rips the letter open. “I lost a lot of stuff in the move between here and Kentucky.” It’s technically the truth. Steve simply doesn’t know that there were seven decades between the moves.

Steve’s in the middle of a sip of his coffee when she pulls out the Social Security card. “There. I’m official now,” she proudly declares and flashes him the card that has QUINN ESTHER HAYDEN printed across the front. She knows she’s supposed to keep it private, but she doubts Steve will try to steal her identity. “Well, I’m…back to being official,” she adds lamely, still going with her lie.

Quinn doesn’t expect Steve to suddenly choke on his drink and spit some of it out on the floor. She yelps and takes an automatic step back then rushes around the mess to pat him on the back. He jerks away from her reach, waving her off, and she leaves her arm hanging there, confused to hell and back. “I’m sorry!” Steve squeaks between coughs and clearing his throat. “I—it—wow! That went down the wrong way!”

“Do you need—”

“Nope! I am okay!” Quinn’s not so sure about that. His entire face is flushed and redder than a tomato. Also, he speaks in that loud way someone does when they’re nervous. “Just need my inhaler! I should—I have to work!” Then, he whirls around and barrels full steam ahead, but forgot he closed the door because he whacks right into it. Before she even has the chance to ask him if he’s okay because he’s clearly not, he leaves her apartment like a bat out of hell.

“Uh?” she says dumbly to the silence of her apartment.

[codgod]

OH RIGHT THE UPDATED QG STUFF

SO. *clap*

biggest updates:

wilbur and dan are both human. wilbur was aviva’s idea as a way to explain why tallulah is being raised by phil, i’ve decided he’s gonna be the mailman

maxo is, in fact, our rose quartz [tho that may not end up being his gem? unsure rn]

the eggs aren’t pebbles anymore! also aviva’s idea. they’re earth kindergarten gems that the other gems take in and look after, sorta like amethyst in the show. their “parents” are just whoever finds them first. wilbur found tallulah while he was on a mail run just wandering around or maybe chilling in a hole somewhere so that’s why he’s her parent, they got attached. i think this is maybe gonna be an era 3 thing where the alignments don’t matter as much just so that homeworld and earth gems can still coparent but it could also work in era 2, just have like a lapis and peridot situation where some homeworld gems move to earth and defect later on

again. aviva’s idea, aypierre is a same-gem fusion. i don’t super understand pierre’s lore but e does so i’m trusting em on this lol

BASICALLY talking to my friend about this helped a lot and some things make a lot more sense now. and i think all the eggs are gonna be different gems, just for fun. or at the very least they’re not all gonna be the same gem type

[deatherella]

Delilah Update

Everyone's just been hanging out and doing their own things. Don just has that "get me outta here" look on his face while Phil is chatting away to him.

You'll recall from the last update that Delilah was making wishes?

George, Delilah's father, loves to come see his grandkids.

Delilah took a cue from Atomica and persuaded the mailman to make some grilled cheese sandwiches. A different dish and aspiration points. BONUS!

Two of the kids aged up during that week. Kezia is a teen, now, and Pippi has become a toddler.

[deeeshka-14]

new fullbody Phil!!!! he's mailman, working for pizzahead!!! he brings letters around all the tower(no one gives him money but he believes that someone will) u can ask me about him if you want to<3 also you can reblog, like or comment!!!

[nysocboy]

Modern Family Episode 5.17: Gay stereotypes, jokes, accusations, Adam Devine, and a nude Dylan bonus

I watched the first five seasons of Modern Family (2009-2014), but stopped when we moved to streaming services.  Back then, I posted about rampant gay stereotyping and explicit homophobia, especially with Adam Devine (Andy the Nanny). I don't remember why, so to check, I reviewed Episode 5.17 (2014), the last before the two-part season finale.

Note: There are 12 members of the Modern Family, so pairs and trios split up for separate plots.  Although they are scattered through the episodes, I will cover them separately.

Set-Up: Family dinner at Patriarch Jay's house.  He suggests watching basketball next, adding with a sneer that his adult son Mitchell wouldn't be interested because he is gay.  Mitchell counters: "Unlike you, I don't need a reason to watch men in shorts."  The possibility that men might find basketball players attractive ruins the game for Jay.  Forget Andy -- Jay is the homophobic one!  

The A Plot:Mitchel and Cam, the gay couple, and teenagers Manny and Alex (a girl).   They are all going to an art museum to see a Kandinsky Exhibit.  Jay finds it inconceivable that a straight boy would be interested in art.

On the way, they criticize the rest of the family's lack of refinement.  Jay buys his books at the grocery store!  The best way to get Claire to fall asleep is to show her a movie with subtitles!  

Then they discover that the Kandinsky exhibit is closed!  Problem: Cameron doesn't know anything about art, so he read up on Kandinsky so he wouldn't be embarrassed.  But now they're discussing Matisse, and he 's lost.  After making a fool of himself, he goes to wait in the car.  Dude, art is for everybody. They have self-guided tours and texts to help you understand everything.

 Next Mitchell reveals that he doesn't know anything about art either.  He leaves in embarrassment. Two remain.  But Manny doesn't know anything about art, either!  Why did they want to go?

 I'll skip ahead to the D Plot:

The D Plot: Claire's husband Phil, her daughter Haley, the nanny Andy (Adam Devine)  He is trying to think of a romantic anniversary gift for his girlfriend, who is deployed out in the Coast Guard. Maybe banana bread?  Phil suggests making her a video instead, depicting all of the things he's willing to do for her.

First up:  pretending to be swimming underwater with sharks (no beefcake).  Whoops, Haley walks into the frame, ruining it!   She suggests a visit instead, but the girlfriend is doesn't get shore leave very often. 

Andy's face is shining, so Phil goes off to fetch some makeup.  He is careful to specify that it's his WIFE's makeup, so Andy won't think that he's gay.  What's with the homophobia? 

Haley's date is late.  Andy gets all conciliatory: "that's rude.  A real man would be more considerate of the most incredibly beautiful, wonderful woman on the face of the Earth."  You have a girlfriend, remember?

Next segment: Andy skiing in the snow.  Haley is not impressed.

Third segment: Andy with a rose, preparing to give a romantic speech, but he doesn't know where to look.  Phil: "Just look deeply into my eyes, and sweep me off my feet."  Running gag: Phil says innocent things that make it sound like he's gay.  Viewers are supposed to chortle over it: how humiliating to have people think you're one of those...  

Nope, Andy thinks it's too weird to pretend to be in love with a man.  Maybe Haley could help out?  And you know what happens next, right?

When the video is finished, Andy asks "How can I thank you?" Phil: "The next time you're with your girlfriend, think of me."  See what I mean?

About the video: "I'm giving this to the mailman, who will give it to the Coast Guard, and by this time tomorrow, someone will be giving it to my girlfriend."  Geez, this show is dirty. but at least that one isn't "accusing" Phil of being gay.

The full review, with the other plots and nude photos of Reid Ewing (Haley's other boyfriend), is on Righteous Gemstones Beefcake and Boyfriends

[thealmightyemprex]

Top 10 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie

Ah ,Arnold .As a kid with an action loving dad ,I grew up on a steady diet of his flicks .Some are legit great ,some are not ,but they are at least memorable

Also sorry Commando is not on here,cause I dont remember if I have seen all of it

10.Batman and Robin

Hey this is favorite list ,not best .I know this film has been trashed to High Heaven over 25 years .....But damn its got fun moments and one of them is the hilarious miscasting of Arnold as the films villain Mr Freeze .While I do maintain he is miscasted.....Arnold seems to be having fun .It is one of the only times I can think of where you get to see Arnold as a scene chewy villain ,and him hamming it up and making ice puns is kind of a joy to watch

9.Conan the Destroyer

So I wanna save my opponion on Conan the Barbarian for later ,I'll just say I like it a lot and that this films big flaw is it doesnt live up to that first film.....That said I love that this film does its own thing .THis film is basically a D&D campagn with a ragtag group of heroes : big tough barbarian ,a weasly thief ,a kooky wizard ,a badass warrior woman , a princess ,and a token evil teamate who is working for the big bad ,all on a quest where they fight wizards and monsters and so forth . Cast is fun with returning players Arnold and Mako being a ton of fun ,SArah Douglas is a great villain ,but the scene stealer is Grace Jones . Its not perfect but if your in the mood for a quest based fantasy film,this is a fun watch

8.Kindergarten Cop

....OK I might get some shit for not putting this higher ,so I just wanna say its a really good movie. It uses Arnold comedy gifts well ,big tough movie cop being a kindergarten teacher is a hilarious premise , and I like the darker aspects that offset the comedy ....So why dont I have it higher?Honestly its just not a film I seek out .EVery time I have watched it it was because it was on TV or someone else was watching it .I'm also not a comedy person in general and If I do its something either dark or absurd . Will say it is a great movie ,just not one I watch a bunch

7.Last Action Hero

Now this is a movie with a great premise that I wish it did more with ,a kid being sucked into a action movie .It sets up some idea that I wish it went all the way with .That said there are hilarious moment s (ARNOLD AS HAMLET ),a weirdly great cast (Anthony Quinn is in this thats amazing ) ,Arnolds great ,and I actually love the main villain played by Charles Dance ,who is set up as a henchmen before hijacking the main villain role

6.Jingle All The Way

OK let me explain -THis is a nostalgic Christmas movie for me ,and this is my fave Arnold comedy....Kind of BECAUSE it is so weird . You have ARNOLD ,this musclebound action man ,playing a put upon every man ,whose trying to get a toy for his kid and dealing with rageaholic reindeer ,battling a warehouse of con men Santas led by Jim Belushi ,while a lustful Phil Hartman is trying to seduce his wife and it climaxes with him becoming a superhero fighting a psychotic Mailman played by Sinbad .....This film is fucking INSANE .......I LOVE IT .I love the skeevy performance of the late great Phil Hartman and its such a weird mix of ingredients ,I dont know if its GOOD ,but I resally love this insane movie

5.Terminator

I do think this film has aged a bit,i ......But its still really good ,in fact I think that makes it unique. The film has a dingy handmade quality , like you can tell this is an unpolished not high budget film and that makes is so cool .It is also VERY 80's ..Linda Hammilton and Michael Biehn are great but the scene stealer is Arnold as the villain .ONE.OF .THe COOLEST .BAD GUYS .EVER .Arnold is weirdly perfect as a unstoppable killer robot ,and he is aided by the effects work of Stan Winston (I will bring him up a few times )

4,Total Recall

Now we get to the great movies in my oppinion . This film is both really interesting with its sci fi concept and questioning of what is real and what is a simulation .....But its also a fun action romp with one liners and Arnold kicking but galore .Also cant go wrong with Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox as your villains

3.Predator

OK these top 3 are so good I could make them a tie ,but I do have a preference.It starts off as a military action movie with big burly tough guys like Arnold,Bill Duke,Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura doing macho tough guy things.....And then you realize this is a HORROR film ,and that these big tough action heroes are being hunted as prey by a very terrifying monster . I wish more movies did genre switches like this .It s also a rare Arnold isnt the focus,the real star is monster .I swear it people,The Predator is one of the most intimidating and terrifying villains in Sci Fi and I will give all credit to not only the effects work of Stan Winston but the amazing performance of the late Keven Peter Hall ,who makes possibly the best opponent Arnold has ever faced

2.Terminator 2 Judgement Day

So if I was going by best this might be number one cause.....I cant deny it,this is an action masterpiece .It does what a sequel should and it BUILDS on the first while also being its own film .I think it might be Arn9olds best performance ,the effects both practical and CG are groundbreaking ,the action is heartpounding ,Lind Hamilton is AMAZING and while the Predator is the best villain Arnold has faced ,the T100 is number 2 for me ,theis terrifying shapshifter is just relentless

1.Conan the Barbarian

That said this is my fave . If its sequel is a D&D campagn ......This is an epic poem .The action is grand ,the set design is grand , the MUSIC is one of the best film scores ever ,and the supporting cast includes legends like James Earl Jones,Mako and Max Von Sydow ,and it does all this while telling a timeless tale of revenge .I think ,while he has better performances down the line,this is the best use of Arnold and being one of my favorite fantasy films, I had to give it the top spot

What are your fave Arnold movies

@ariel-seagull-wings @goodanswerfoxmonster @angelixgutz @amalthea9 @the-blue-fairie @princesssarisa @filmcityworld1 @themousefromfantasyland

[chicknonaraft]

“Ahoy-hoy, post call from Aveila.” croaked the mailman.

FIRST | PREVIOUS | NEXT

[qsmpficsarchive]

CHAPTER UPDATE!!!!

The Crow and The Mailman by Isaac_031

Ongoing | G | 14,601

Getting Together | Fantasy | Crow

Philza is a beautiful man loved by everyone in the region, but he wants to find someone who will truly love him. One day, he sets a chalenge: the one who can get the golden key from his pet crow and open the door to his house, he will marry.

Certain mailman has already befriended the crow.

——————

Some sweet bonding time with Phil and missa <3 hopefully missa can take the hint soon

[the-cookies-of-darkness]

*on the other side's Phil! Ultra's local mailman! who after the first couple incidents! does know Enchantberus well enough- to not DIE of a heart attack when she answers the door!- Ultra's STILL covering the guy's legal bills from that lawsuit from the one from when Jackxy was a toddler AND the guy before Phil- *

"Hello, Phil." Enchantberus says through through the door

[glassseagull]

dan and phil have me understanding how my dog feels when she waits for the mailman to come for an hour

[dylan-the-gay]

I hate being a multishiper and see one of my ships having a sad ending <:(((

(I ship q!forever with q!Max, q!bbh and q!phil)

@gender-mailman

Well i am faithful to my ship so I don't suffer(i suffer)(it is more dead then everything possibly)(its philever)

[antiadvil]

so like i get the impulse not to speculate but about two seconds after they sat down for my preshow phil said "the mailman puts his hand through your slit" while staring at dan to see his reaction so i really don't think it's very speculative to say that they want to fuck each other

can I just say I don’t think Dan and phil have ever had sex and I’m being so serious when I say this. I’ve said this before to other people and was asked if I’m trolling but seriously think about it. People talk and theorize about that part of their lives but they’ve never really said anything that could lead me to thinking that they have (or do??) and I think it’s crazy that it’s so widely accepted as fact. If they have before (in the far past) I certaintly don’t think they’d do it now. I get the vday vid proof but honestly even then who’s to say that was referencing sex?? I don’t think they’d do that (or even kiss.. different conversation for a different day) so close to the first time they met. If they did I doubt it was before the vday video

do you not think they’re together at all after dan confirmed they are a normal gay couple in the wad interview and everything he said in big? because otherwise what is your mental process here. two men who we definitively know experience sexual and romantic attraction, choosing to be together forever, but not touching each other? do you think pj and sophie have never kissed or had sex either because they don’t reference it on camera? do you go outside and interact with couples who you do not know intimately and if they don’t reference sex with each other or kiss in front of you do you think they don’t do those things at all? what are you expecting them to do to signal to you personally that they have sex?

[jupiterisonline]

You’ve Got Mail!

Summary; Photographer!Dan has been living in Scotland for three years now. He’s worked hard to be able to sell his work as a living and gain a stable income, yet his comfortable lifestyle seems to be missing something. The small town of Buckie never seems to feel like home and he can’t seem to figure out what he needs to overcome to feel at ease. Until one day where Dan watches as mailman!Phil slips and falls across the street from him. In a simple act of kindness, Dan might have changed his life in ways he couldn’t even begin to imagine. But will it be for the better or for the worse?

Genre; fluff, just complete fluff

Chapter; 1/?

A/N; I’m finally writing again! I know it’s a miracle. I’m planning on making this chaptered if you guys like it so make sure to drop me an ask and tell me if you want more. (Also my desktop crashed when I was writing out the summary and everything so I had to start it a l l over again it was hell) Here is a playlist you can listen to while you read that has all the songs mentioned in the fic. And this is Dan’s house if you wanted a visual (his bedroom is the 5th image). Thank you to @purehtml for helping me with my grammar, writing structure and overall just being a great friend and beta reading it. Also, thank you to @libraerie for her encouraging words during the writing process. -J

Warning; Light swearing

Word count; 3,522

Clicking my camera’s flash down with my finger I hold it up to my right eye, putting one knee on the pavement far faster than I needed to. ‘That’s gonna leave a nice bruise’ I thought, mentally scolding myself as I felt the sharp sting starting to turn to a dull throb. There are a bird and a stray dog just across the street from me and they seem to be having a standoff. There is no way I’m missing that opportunity; the bird lungs at the sturdy looking mutt, flapping its wings and puffing its chest. The dog snaps at the bird and gets the tip of its wing in between its teeth. I quickly set my camera to burst and press down on the capture button much harder than I need to. The bird screeches and pulls it’s wing out of the dog’s mouth, most likely ripping it as it did so, and flies away. The dog’s prize seems to be a tipped over container of fries laying on the ground by a bin and the dog scurries to eat it up. When it’s finished the dog makes a sharp turn and runs off the sidewalk, checking behind itself before disappearing into the perfectly pruned park bushes. I stand back up and walk to a nearby bench to inspect my knee and look over my photos. A small pang of guilt goes through my chest as I realized I didn’t even think of trying to help the poor dog. ‘Probably would have run away from its meal if I tried that.’ I thought. I set my backpack down beside me and put my camera away before starting to roll up my jeans. The faded denim proved to be much harder to roll then I first thought, the roses embroidered on the side made it difficult to fold over itself. But as my knee finally gets past the sea of denim I can already see it was turning a darker red than I’d like. Sighing in annoyance I push my jeans back down and brush them flat to my leg before retying my shoelaces. My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I reach around to look at it. ‘Just twitt-’ I look up to see the time on my phone, ‘-wait isn’t my train leaving right now?’ I jump to my feet and grab my bag, quickly looking both ways before dashing across the road.

As soon as my feet hit the cobble of the underground streets, I knew I was doomed to miss that train. God knows why I kept running, the stop was scheduled for 5 and it was currently 5:02. I was only halfway there as I stopped and huffed at the base of the stairwell. ‘Should have just gotten the bus’ I thought, but of course, I had to be stubborn and go all this way.

“Damn it-” I put my hands on my thighs and tried to catch my breath “-nope forget it bus it is, you win lungs.” There’s a small trickle of people walking by me as I stretch my back and slowly ascend back up the cobbled steps. Stepping back onto the open streets of the city I can smell rain in the air. ‘Of course,’ I mentally sneer as I pick up my pace. I can feel my legs burning with every step and the air starts to feel thicker as thunder rolls in the distance. ‘My legs are going to be burning tomorrow’ I thought, slipping by a group of giggling teenagers. I manage to contain a snort as one of them trips over their own legs and crashes into a light post. Becoming bored of my surroundings I pull my phone out of my pocket and plug in my headphones. I click on Wild Horses before turning a corner and continue to the stop. After 5 minutes of walking, I can finally see it in the distance, I slowed down my pace and finally let my legs have a rest. Luckily this stop seems to have a cover over it, meaning if it does start to rain at least I won’t be sopping wet. Just as I reach the stop rain gently starts to fall on my arms. I rush to step inside and lean on the glass, surprisingly there doesn’t seem to be anyone else nearby or inside the bus stop. The only people around were those kids and they already ran back down the sidewalk and into a Starbucks to escape the rain. Looking down I see a snail crawling on the outside of the glass, I quickly grab my camera from my bag to take a picture of it before walking outside of the cover.

“Aren’t you photogenic,” I say, taking the snail, and moving it to a nearby tree. ‘At least I got some nice picture out of all this’ I thought, I put a black and white filter over the photo and slip my camera back into my bag. ‘Right, it’s 5:11 so I’ll only be here for about 20 minutes’ I thought whilst looking around the small shelter that doesn’t seem to have benches. I decided to take up residence in the corner, sliding my backpack onto the ground and unzipping the front pocket. My last two-way ticket for Buckie is squished at the bottom of the pocket. I sit crisscross next to my bag with my head leaning against the wall after shuffling my Spotify for the fifth time. Jet Pack Blues starts to play a little too loud as the windows begin to cloud from the rain beating down at full force.

“And then a 4-hour ride home-” I sigh, closing my eyes, and rolling my shoulders “-that I’ll hopefully be sleeping through.” Watching the rain patter against the window was calming until a clap of lightning hit a nearby building and scared me half to death. The Greyhound bus rolls to the curb at 5:30 sharp and I rush up the steps to try and keep my hair at least a little dry. I hand over my ticket and turn to look at the bus, trying to find a seat. I settle into a seat in the back to my right that has no one in the aisle, that way I can lay down. It isn’t packed, but there is a good amount of people dispersed around the bus, most of them asleep or on their phone. I skip a couple of songs before seeing Warm Foothills load up on the screen. I set my bag down in my lap and cross my arms over my chest, I can’t read most of the signs out the window since the rain is making the glass blurry. I pull out my camera once again to record as the bus starts to speed up. A leaf lands on the window and startles me, but I change my focus and manage to get a shot of it before it gets ripped off and thrown back into the wind. I put my camera back into my bag and lay my head on the window as I watch the old buildings and lush greens whiz by. I let the deep hum of the bus and the tapping of rain lull me to sleep as I hear Warm Foothills fade out and Bloom take its place.

My eyes opened to the sound of a loud hiss coming from the bus, signaling a stop. I put a hand on where my head was resting and feel the indent on my skin, trying to soothe the dull throb. I pull out my headphones to hear the announcement and realize Coffees for Closers was blasting in my ears. A ding sounds into the bus and a digital screen flashes the words DUFFTOWN STOP.

An automated voice then plays, reading out “Next stop, Buckie. Next stop, Buckie. We hope you’ve enjoyed your trip-” I put my headphones back in and tap on the song Hook before looking at the time on my phone, ‘8:31 pm’. Didn’t know I could sleep for that long on a bus without being jolted awake. ‘A new record,’ I thought, chuckling to myself. While the bus is stopped I take the opportunity to stand up and bend my already sore legs. I stretch my arms over my head and my hand hits the top of the bus as I yawn. As I sit back down I swing my legs over the two seats to my right and my ankles fall off the end of the row, oh the joys of being 6’4. I let my back rest against the chilled window and watch the people walk by the bus. A girl with red hair and a daisy behind her ear bumps into my feet while putting her bag in the overhead compartment. She didn’t seem to notice, but seeing her put her bag away made me realize that my own bag was now on the floor. Copying her actions, I stood and put my bag into the compartment. I pushed my camera back into its protective pocket before zipping it shut. The bus starts up again and I stumble back into my seat, resuming my last position, and zoning out on the window across from me. It’s stopped raining but the edges of the window still have raindrops clinging to the sides of them. Since Dufftown is so close to Buckie I didn’t bother trying to fall back asleep, instead, I pulled out my phone and started to edit my pictures from the museum. It was the only reason I ever went into Edinburgh anymore, other than going to that one underground cafe. With its fairy lights and vine-covered windows, it was like my little treat for leaving town. Before the bus stopped outside town I got a solid folder of pictures cropped and edited, even posted a couple to Tumblr. I put my phone in my back pocket and lifted my bag from the overhead latch and onto my shoulder. I held onto the seat in front of me while the bus came to a halt, the digital screen now read BUCKIE STOP. I smiled at the driver as I passed them and slowly walked down the steps and jump onto the pavement. The puddle on the ground under the steps bursts and, surprisingly, makes little sound.

My walk home wasn’t too eventful, the same it always is. I’ve walked home from this stop so many times I remember the one night I had a dream about doing it. I smile to myself as I pass by “Off the Wheaten Path”, it’s a small gluten-free bakery run by a mom and son. A metal sign with a Wheaten Terrier growling at its reflection in a puddle hangs high above the sidewalk. I’d eaten an egg and cheese sandwich before I left today but that was it. I couldn’t resist the enticing smell of chocolate radiating from the shop as turned around and stepped inside. The shop was empty except for one guy who was sat by the door, he looked up at me through his book and gave me a quick smile when the bell rang on the door. I sit down at one of the tables and put my bag beside me, unzipping it. I grab my wallet and leave the bag hanging on my chair as I wander up to the counter. The cafe itself looked old with its handmade wooden tables and sturdy whitewashed chairs. There were tons of potted plants laying around the shop, some hanging from the ceiling and others balanced on uneven shelves. A woman with bright green eyes peaks around the entrance of the kitchen and smiles at me.

“Hello love, you’re just in time! We’ll be closing in about 35 minutes” she says with a thick Scottish accent. She walks up to the counter and grabs a notepad with a pen clipped to it as I scan the chalkboard menu.

“What can I get for you?” she says, as soon as I see the words “Pistachio Muffin” written on the board I’m sold on it.

“A pistachio muffin and croissant ham sandwich,” I pull out my card as she scribbles my order down and pins the paper on a corkboard behind her; her handwritten name tag reads ‘Skye’.

“Sure thing, my son Kenny’ll bring it out to you,” she turns the card reader to me and I swipe my card, flip it around in my hands until the screen says, “Transaction Complete”. I head back to my seat and pull up Tumblr to queue some posts. A couple of minutes later Kenny taps me on the shoulder and I jumped out of my skin. My phone drops into my lap as I look up at him, but this happens to be a common occurrence. I’m naturally a jumpy person but it always ends with a good laugh. In his hand is my plate with a pistachio muffin and croissant sandwich.

“Sorry sir didn’t mean to rattle ya,” he says, sliding the plate in front of me. He seems rather shy and I take that as a hint to keep the conversation brief.

“No worries, I tend to be a jumping bean.” My fingers itched to grab my camera and take a picture of the way he’s smiling at the ground. His glassy hazel eyes watching his own shoes as he smiles. Of course, it would be extremely rude of me to pull my camera on him; although I know it’s the only thing holding me back from doing so. His short and curly yellow hair was covered in flour and dough, and his slightly hooked nose had a smudge of brown powder on it. ‘Probably some spice or something’ I thought to myself, giving him a patient smile. He pulled a small bell out of this apron and set it next to my plate.

“If ya need anything just ring that bell.” I watched as he walked away, putting my phone on the table. When I lift the bell a small piece of paper falls out with a number scratched out onto in a hurry. ‘Names Kenny if you ever want to chat’ I chuckle to myself as I pocket the small folded paper. ‘Have to put it in my phone when I get home.’ I thought.

When I left the bakery, it was a little after 9, so I was expecting to see my Amazon packages on my door. But when I turned the corner down my street, I saw the mail truck on the right side of the road. I crossed the street so I wouldn’t have to confront him and continued home. It still frustrated me that my house had to be the one all the way at the end of the block. I know full well I don’t get enough exercise so I deal with it, realizing it’s good for me. As turn past the pillars at the entrance of my house, Rosy comes up and rubs on my leg, meowing at me. I smile at the small white and orange kitten and kneel down to pet her. I could hear the bell around her neck and small silver name tag softly tapping against each other. She’s been here ever since I moved and seemed to always be around my house. Either in my backyard, at my door, or sleeping on my windowsill at any and all hours of the day. When I asked my neighbor, he told me that she belonged to someone on my street that didn’t seem to care for her anymore. Ever since I’ve just adopted her as my own as she’s such a sweet cat. Being someone who leans to the antisocial side I can also appreciate the company. I’ve thought about putting a cat door in many times but I just haven’t gotten around to ordering one. I’ve gotten into the habit of just letting her in when I open the door or, her more common entrance, jumping in through my back window. I always keep it open for her during the day but I shut it at night, most mornings I wake up to her sleeping on the window in front of my bed. As I go to open my door I hear the mail truck pull up to the house across from me. I turn around so I could put my backpack on the ground and dig my keys up. When I look up, however, I see 3 packages on the ground and a man slowly picking himself up. For a moment, I thought of just getting into my house and forgetting it ever happened. But my sympathetic side pipes up and I think back to all the times I wish someone would have given me a hand. I knew I’d never forgive myself if I turned a blind eye. I left my keys and my bag at the door, swiftly stepping over Rosy and awkwardly jogging over to him.

“Hey, are you alright?” I hold out my hand to help him up and he seems shocked to see me standing there, but grins at me nonetheless.

“Um, I think so? Might have a couple bruises but I’m fine otherwise. Just tripped when I was stepping over that ledge.” He nodded his head to the small curb that protruded from the natural grass. I have tripped over those damn curbs many times so I could sympathize. I remember the time I was in my yard trying to get a shot of the sun shining on the water. I tripped on that damn ledge and fell just like he did, the fall cost me my favorite lens. He takes my hand and stands up from the ground, brushing off the dirt from his uniform pants. His once white and pressed shirt is now covered in dirt. He turns and picks up two of the three boxes and starts walking back up to the house.

“This might sound strange but, where did you come from? I didn’t see anyone around when I left my van.” I ran to collect the other package, following him to the door.

“Oh, I live across the street and saw you on the ground and, well, I didn’t want to leave you there.” I set the box down next to where he left the others on the porch. He smiles at me as we walk back to his van.

“Well thank you, do you have anything I was supposed to bring you?” he reaches into the passenger seat and pulls out a scanner.

“Just a couple of things, some soap, shampoo and-”

“And a cat collar?” his words caught me off guard but I managed to laugh it off.

“Yeah, yep, that would be me.” Rosie’s collar seemed tight on her lately so I decided to order her a proper one. It’s made of leather and, if my measurements were right, it should fit her perfectly. ‘Need to get some bowls too so I won’t have so many dirty dishes.’

“And your name is Daniel Howell, right?” He says while entering something into the scanner. He turns to pull open the sliding door on the side of the van as I cringe at my own name.

“Yeah but it sounds really posh when you say it like that. You can just say, Dan.” I put my hands in my back pockets and rock on my feet.

“And your name?” I ask. The door slams shut and two small packages are handed to me.

“Phil, Phil Lester. I just got this job a couple days ago and it seems that even in such a small town there’s a lot to deliver.” I grabbed my packages and take a step back from him as he heads around to the driver side of his truck.

“Well, it was nice to meet you, Phil. See you next Wednesday?” He jumps back into his van and rolls down the passenger window. And I swear the smile he gave me was bright enough to blind you if you stared at it too long. His head tips ever so slightly and for a moment, his tongue starts to poke out of the side of his mouth as he smiles.

“Yeah, see you next Wednesday, Dan.” The van came to a roaring and rattling start, sounding as if it’s run these streets a thousand times. I watched as he made a U-turn and drove away after I crossed the street. Rosy meowed and let herself in as soon as I got the door unlocked. I set my bag down and let my keys fall onto the glass table by the door with a loud clang. I click the Bluetooth button on my phone and it instantly connects to the speakers scattered around my house. First Day of My Life starts to play as I lean the back of my head against the door. As the lyrics bounce around the hall I take a deep breath and smile, to no one but myself; I finally felt like this little town was becoming home.