#man do I want culvers

[nubs-mbee]

A doctor at the ER told me I should eat whatever sounds good to me, whatever I have a taste for, which is great advice except my appetite seems to only wake up after 10pm. I am not getting culvers at 11 no matter how badly my body wants it. That’s just not sustainable.

[maximumsass]

Green Eyes of Envy Pt. 7

Author’s Note: Hello my Schemmenti fanfic village! Here is part 7 to Green Eyes of Envy! A lot of this is based off my hometown and family dynamics. The hotel thing in the story is a dream of mine cause I did work at this really fancy resort and it has been a dream of mine to have a significant other surprise me with booking a room there, I’m having it happen to the reader and therefore speaking it into existence for myself! Haha! Again Mel’s just this soft puddle of mush when it comes to the reader and wants to take care of the reader as much as possible. I really love their dynamic and it makes my heart so happy writing it! Part 8 is already in the works! Hope y’all enjoy! Sending you all da hugs and positive vibes.

Warning: Very judgmental asshole mother and a very obnoxious amount of fluff!!

Synopsis: You fly to Michigan for thanksgiving break. The thing you don’t expect is to have a full out fight in the middle of a Culver’s with your extremely judgmental mother about you being with Mel. Will you act like everything’s fine and not tell the redhead? Will these lead to you guys breaking up? Or will Mel be your superwoman and swoop in and save the day? Mel definitely has a few surprises up her sleeve for you. Keep reading to find out what goes down in Michigan!

Word Count: 6k

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

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You get to the airport, your driver gets out and gets your bag for you and then you walk into the airport.

(Y/N): hey baby girl, made it to the airport safely and I’m texting ya like I was instructed to. Now focus on the kids and don’t worry about me. Xoxo

Mel: Glad you made it to the airport safely. Cause if ya didn’t I’d have to get one of my guys to have a word with the driver. Haha. I can focus on the kids and worry about you at the same time! I’m a very talented multitasker. You better still text me when you get through security, when you get on the plane, when you land and when you get home! I promise you aren’t gonna interrupt anything. I know you’re miss independent and that you’re fine but you texting me is to reassure me that you’re good. It’s comforting to me, and I know you love comforting me. You’re one of the most important things in my life now ya know, I gotta know that you’re okay. I miss you already. I love you so much princess.

(Y/N): I love you more my sweet girl. I miss you already too! Fine I’ll text you throughout the day cause I do love comforting you amore. One of the most important things huh? Damnn I must be doing something right! Haha. Have a great day at work gorgeous girl! I’ll text ya later. 😘

You get through security and the plane ride goes smoothly. You text Mel as she instructed, she sends you mushy texts full of how much she loves and misses you already and thank you for updating her. The redhead is truly shocked at how soft and sappy you’ve made her, if Mel before getting together with you would’ve seen the texts she was sending you, she would think who the hell stole my phone! She can’t help but chuckle to herself, it’s so funny how someone could walk into her life and change everything. But she’s so glad you changed everything for her.

You get off the plane and go to baggage claim to get your suitcase. Hands cover your eyes, you feel their arms.

“Becks!!!” You exclaim as you turn and see your sister and you pull her in for a hug.

“Hey big sis! I’ve missed you!!” Becks says as you two hug.

“I’ve missed you more hun!” You say as you pull back to look at her. “Look at you with your cute little outfit! Looking like a snack, breaking hearts and taking names!” You exclaim.

“You know how that’s the way the (Y/L/N)’s girls play!” Your sister exclaims.

“I don’t know girl, Melissa, man I think she’s the one.” You say and look at your sister to see her reaction.

“(Y/N)! Y’all have only been dating for three months!! Do you know how crazy that sounds?!”

She says in a shocked tone.

“Trust me I know. And everything inside me is like you’re being stupid, knock this shit off! But we’ve known each other and have been friends for two years prior to us getting together. Like if we didn’t have that going for us, I’d be like no we’re 100% just getting caught up in everything and I’d end things. But that’s not the situation here.” You explain as you grab your bag and start walking back to where Becks parked.

“Oh that’s right! I always forget that y’all have worked together this whole time. Okay so maybe slightly less crazy. Does she treat you right hun? Cause that’s the number one thing I care about and want for you.” She says looking at you with genuine care.

“Well you know what a stubborn little terror I can be about anyone helping and taking care of me. And she’s just so patient and talks me down where I feel safe enough to be like okay she’s doing this out of love and doesn’t think any less of me. And I don’t have to tell you how much that speaks volumes to her character but to the fact that she really does see me and understand me.” You say with a big smile as you think about how gentle the redhead has been with you in those difficult times.

“Dang (Y/N)! I never thought I’d hear you say that about someone! That’s a big fucking deal. No wonder you think she’s the one.” Becca says as you two get in the car.

“Yeah, she makes me pretty damn happy. I really do love her.” You say as you look at Becca again with a big smile.

“Well good sis! That makes me so happy to hear! I’m happy for you both.” Becca looks at you mirroring your big smile.

You get home, your parents and your brother Jake are so excited to see you. And you get settled and unpacked. You all go out for dinner at Culver’s because it’s one of the top things you miss about living in Michigan, especially the cheese curds!

“So (Y/N) how are things going with work?” Your dad asks.

“Good! I feel like I’ve settled in at Abbott and feel a lot more confident about teaching as well as coming up with class accommodations that fit well with the kiddos and IEP’s are a lot less daunting. And the teachers and staff I work with are all very passionate about creating a great educational experience for the students. Not to mention they’re all super nice.” You say.

“Some of them, a little too nice.” Your mom throws in.

“Look I know that y’all don’t agree with the relationship that I’m in currently. I can understand that me dating someone who is close to your and dad’s age could be uncomfortable for you.” You say.

“It’s not just uncomfortable, it’s downright inappropriate on that woman’s end.” Your mom says.

“Her name is Melissa. And you have to remember I’m a full grown ass woman, this isn’t some creepy ass thing where I’m 18 and she’s 50. It’s crazy to me how hard you’re judging not just her but her and I as a couple, when you don’t even know her and haven’t even listened when I try to tell you how well she treats me and makes me feel really loved and supported.” You say to your mom, forcing yourself not to cry.

“Okay let’s get some shakes!” Jake announces, so that the conversation will end.

You sit there not saying another word. You go home and you go straight to your room. You should’ve known your mom would be like this. You should’ve just canceled the trip, then you’d be with Mel feeling happy and loved instead of feeling judged and miserable.

As if she knew that you were thinking of her, your phone started to ring, the redhead was FaceTiming you. Okay you got to get it together and act like everything’s fine. You take a deep breath and accept the call.

“Oh my god I finally get to see your beautiful face! I’ve missed seeing it all day!” Mel exclaims.

You can’t help but chuckle. “I’ve missed seeing your face too gorgeous as well as seeing other things!” You say with a big smirk.

“Oh is that right?” Mel asks seductively. You nodd with a shy smile. “I knew you were only with me for my body!” She faux accuses you with a smirk.

“You caught me! Just wanted a nice trophy wife on my arm!” You tease.

“And now you’re not playing fair cause you know how it melts my heart when you call me your wife, even if it has trophy in front of it.” Mel says to you with a big smile.

“Mission accomplished then.” You say with a smile.

“You goof! How was your day princess?” Mel asked softly.

“How was work?” You ask trying to deflect.

“You know your deflection tactics don’t work on me miss! Talk to me baby. Please. Let me be there for you, and take care of my gorgeous girl, even if it’s virtually.” She says gently looking at you concerned.

“It’s my fucking mom. We’re having a pleasant dinner, my dad asked me how work was going. I answered and part of what I said, was the people are super nice. And my mom chimes in and says some of them, a little too nice. Which is like does she think that I’m stupid and won’t notice the indirect shots that she fired at you. Which I’m sorry I don’t care if it’s my mother or the pope himself, I will not let anyone talk badly about you in front of me, I’m shutting that shit down so fast! So I decide to be the bigger person and be like I understand why you feel uncomfortable about the situation, trying to empathize with them so that possibly I could get them to listen to me. And then she cuts me off and says you choosing to be with me is inappropriate because I guess in her head she thinks because you’re older, you should know better. I honestly don’t even know what she meant by that! And then I was like it’s literally so crazy that y’all are judging her when you don’t even know her and you won’t listen to me talk about you or us as a couple and how well you treat me and how supported and loved you make me feel. And now I’m in my room feeling so stupid for even coming and thinking my mom could even remotely be supportive or at least non-judgmental about us.” You say equally sounding upset and frustrated.

You watch Melissa close her eyes and take a deep breath, you know that she’s trying to not be upset about what you just said.

“And now I just upset you and you were so happy when you fucking called. Fuck, I literally just suck! You know what you don’t deserve this, like you deserve someone who’s mom isn’t a judgemental controlling freak. I’m already a lot as is it and then, add this to it and it’s just a dumpster fire. I should let you go find someone who is so much easier than me.” You say quietly and look up and blink trying to stop the tears from falling.

“Baby please look at me.” She says gently. You take a deep breath and then look into those gorgeous green eyes of hers. “Good girl. Now first things first, you (Y/N) (Y/L/N) are the love of my life, and if I deserve better then I don’t want it, because you give me all I could ever want and need and so much more. Do you believe me when I say that?” She asks concerned. You nod and then wipe your eyes. “I need to hear you say it angel.” She says softly.

“I believe you when you say that I’m the love of your life.” You say quietly.

“Good girl. Now I will not let things out of our control be the reason why we break up. It’s clear your mom has made up your mind about me and us. All we can do is act like we’ve been acting this whole time we’ve been together, by loving and supporting each other unconditionally. And we’re gonna hope that she will someday see how happy we make each other and to see that the only thing I want and work everyday to do is to love and take care of you like the queen you are. What do you think about that?” Mel asks looking at you.

“I know you’re right. And I know we gotta stay positive that she’ll come around. But I just feel like I’m being a burden to you.” You say quietly.

“Baby you never have been and never will be a burden to me. Everyone has hard shit, lord knows I have mine. You have to hear me when I say that you aren’t any less deserving of love because of that. And you’re ahead of the game compared to a lot of people because you have a woman who wants to love you for the rest of our lives together if you’ll let me.” She says as she looks at you with such love.

“This better not be you proposing to me.” You tease her and then laugh a little.

“Oh trust me there will be no question in your mind, when I propose to you, pretty girl.” She quips back with a smirk.

“I have no doubt amore mio.” You say with a big smile.

“There’s that gorgeous smile, I know and love. We are going to be just fine baby girl, I promise. Do you at least feel a little better amore?” She asks.

“Yeah I feel better now that I talked it out with you angel.” You say with a smile.

“Good! Now you’re not allowed to say the phrase “let you go” to me ever again. Cause you my love are stuck with me for the next 40+ years, so you better get used to it! And I need you to know that hearing that shit come out of your mouth was terrifying and hurtful to me. But I know that wasn’t your intention. (Y/N), I can’t picture my life without you, and if I get my way, I’ll get you for the rest of my life. You know how I do my death grips in the morning when our alarm goes off and I won’t let you go. You better believe I’m doing that metaphorically with our relationship.” She says with a smile.

“I’m sorry that I scared and hurt you baby, I was just so upset. I will never bring up ending our relationship again just because we’re going through something hard. Also you’re a dork!” You giggle. “But I will say I love when you death grip me in the mornings and I love that you’re metaphorically death gripping us together.” You say looking adoringly at her.

“I forgive you gorgeous girl. And you love that I’m a dork!” She quips at you.

“I really do!” You agree with her.

“So now we have to come up with a game plan tomorrow for you. Cause I will not have you be upset on thanksgiving! It’s just not happening! Is there somewhere away from your mom that you and your siblings could hangout at? Also you can have a few drinks throughout the day, that’ll definitely make your mom at least minimally tolerable. But you gotta have gatorades in between drinks, pretty girl. I’ll bug you about it tomorrow and remind you to do that. Aren’t the white ones your favorite?” She asks.

“We could hang out in the basement, she’s in the kitchen the whole day so it’s definitely a safe bet that she won’t come down there. I was planning on drinking. And the whole Gatorade comment cause you know I forget to hydrate when I’m drinking is very cute of you but also stop knowing me so well!” You tease her. “And look at you remembering my favorite flavor!” You exclaim.

“Good then it’s settled youse guys will just hang out in the basement. I will never stop! Besides that’s what makes me such a good girlfriend. You really should think about giving me that promotion to fiancé!” She says with a big smirk.

“I will keep that in mind.” You say smirking back.

You get a text, your DoorDash order is on it’s way. You mouth drops open and you look at the redhead in shock.

“Mel…did you just DoorDash something for me? Hold up… did you just DoorDash that white Gatorade to me?!” You exclaim.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She says all coy

“Oh my god you so did! Babyyyy, you didn’t have to do that!! How is it possible you're over 500 miles away and you’re still taking care of me?” You ask as you tear up again. (Happy tears)

“Because I love you so incredibly much. And nothing will stop me from taking care of you amore. I got you, and I will always have you. If it’s something that I can control, it will be handled. I know you didn’t say it but you need to be reminded, you deserve to be treated with this level of care. And I will spend the rest of our lives together giving you the highest level of care princess.” She says softly and you can see the tears welling up in her eyes.

You look at her and think to yourself how lucky you are to be loved by Melissa. “I love you so much baby girl. And I hope I can give you everything that you give to me.” You say smiling at her.

You get a notification that the DoorDash driver is at your place and you go get the Gatorade from the driver and then put it in the fridge and then go back to your room.

“You already do angel, I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing woman who makes me feel so incredibly special.” Mel says. “I wish you were here, I’d take you in my arms and pull you in close and put your head on my chest, and we just lay there feeling each other’s love radiating from the other.” She says softly.

“Mmmm, that sounds amazing. You know that’s my favorite way to cuddle. I love listening to your heart beat and your breathing slow down until I know you’re asleep and then I fall asleep shortly after.” You say.

“I know you do baby. You want to stay on FaceTime while we sleep and then technically we can wake up together on thanksgiving morning.” She says with a big smile.

“I love that idea, it’ll help me miss you less.” You say yawning.

“Let’s go to bed my angel. Besides, unlike some people, I have to get up early to start cooking stuff!” She teases you.

“You know if I was there, I’d be waking up with you and helping you in whatever way I could with the food.” You say.

“I know amore. You are my favorite sous chef.” She says and winks at you.

“Well I’ll let us both go to bed. Sweet dreams gorgeous girl. I love you. And I’ll see you in the morning.” You say and then blow her a kiss.

“Sweet dreams princess. I love you more! I’ll see ya tomorrow!” She says and then blows you a kiss.

You wake up to the sounds of your mom working on her portion of the food today in the kitchen. You look at the alarm clock that reads 10 a.m. and then you hear “Good morning my sleeping beauty.” And you think you must be dreaming, so you look around the room confused. Then you hear Jessica Rabbit’s adorable giggle. “Turn over so I can see you pretty girl.” She instructs softly. You turn over and there your gorgeous woman is in her eagle’s sweatshirt and black leggings in her kitchen, looking at you with such love.

“Morning baby.” You say sleepily with a big smile.

“How’d you sleep amore mio?” She asks as she cuts some vegetables for some dish she’s making you assume.

“Not too bad actually. But I did get to fall asleep with you, so it makes sense I slept pretty good.” You report. “How’d you sleep my gorgeous girl? How long have you been up for?” You ask.

“I slept pretty good too. As you said, sleeping on FaceTime with you really was comforting to me. Now we know what to do if one of us takes a trip. I woke up at like 7:30 to get things started and as you know that’s sleeping in compared to a work day. When I woke up you were facing me and I don’t think I tell you this enough when we’re together but you look so freaking cute when you sleep! I may have took a picture or two for my secret stash.” She says with a smirk.

“You literally think everything I do is cute. Why am I not surprised you took pictures? And your “stalker” photo album you have of me can’t be called a secret stash when you look at it when I’m sitting right next to you on the couch.” You tease her.

“You love my gentle stalking tendencies! Just add it to the long list of my amazing attributes.” She jokes as she flips her hair.

You roll your eyes. “Oh my god I could hear that eye roll all the way in Philly!” She teases. “You my love need to get your cute ass out of bed and eat some breakfast.” She says looking at you smiling.

“Are you going to always make sure I eat every meal?” You tease her.

“Yes ma’am! I know you have a weird history with food, so I’m always gonna check on you and your eating. And it’s not because I don’t think you got it, cause I know you do. It’s just nice to have support around stuff that we don’t love doing that we have to do. It’s like you helping me with my cbd lotion for my arthritis every night. Does it make me feel like I’m your fucking grandma, yes! But does it also make me feel so cared for by you, yes!” She says smiling. “And besides I need my future wife to live a long healthy life with me!” She exclaims.

“Okay you sold me! You always make me melt when you call me that, ya know?” You say softly.

“I know baby, I feel the same way. I think we both feel that way because we know we’ve finally have found the right person. God it makes me emotional just talking about it.” Mel says and you can see she’s willing herself not to cry.

“Awwwww baby, it’s good tears though. It’s like relief and all the other emotions washing over us being like we don’t have to search anymore, we can just lie safely in each other’s arms and rest.” You say with a shy smile.

“You speak so beautifully sometimes and it always surprises me in the best way possible. I love you so much amore mio. You better be saving that shit for our vows.” She says and then laughs. “Now go eat your breakfast please if not for yourself do it for me.” The redhead says with her big puppy dog eyes.

“Okay I’ll do it just for you. I hope all your cooking endeavors are successful! I know they’ll all turn out delicious! And you better save me some leftovers, you know I’m obsessed with your cooking! I’ll talk to you later amore.” You say smiling big at her.

“I will definitely make sure to save you some leftovers! I’ll talk to you later my angel! I love you!” She says with a big smile.

“Love you more! Bye!” You say.

“Byeee!” She says and waves and then you end the call.

You, Becca, and Jake hangout in the basement and watch movies you all used to love when you were kids. You had a few drinks throughout the day and just like she said Mel made sure you drank Gatorade in between drinks. The meal with your parents was tolerable, the food was good and your mom kept the conversation light.

After the thanksgiving meal, your phone starts ringing. It’s Jessica Rabbit FaceTiming you.

“Hey pretty girl!” She says when you answer.

“Hey my love! What’s up?” You say with a big smile.

“Everyone wants to say hi to you!” She says with a big smile and then she flips her camera around and you hear a chorus of Happy thanksgiving (Y/N)! as she pans around the table showing most if not all of the Schemmenti’s.

“Happy thanksgiving everyone!” You exclaim.

She stops the camera on Nonna. “We miss you dearly (Y/N)! It’s definitely not the same without you here! But I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving with your family!” The Schemmenti matriarch says to you with a big smile.

“Awww Nonna thank you, you’re too sweet! I miss y’all too! I’ll definitely spend next Thanksgiving with you guys, my mouth is already watering thinking about the delicious food we’ll have next year!” You say with a big smile.

“I’m gonna hold you to coming next year (Y/N)! Now have a good rest of your time home! I know Melissa has been missing you, so you get back here safely so you can take care of our girl, okay?” Nonna says.

“Yes ma’am, I will do my best to get back safe and taking care of Melissa is the number one thing on my to-do list when I get back. I hope y’all have a great rest of your thanksgiving!” You say.

The camera turns back to Melissa and she’s wearing a big smile. “So as you can see everyone misses you but I definitely miss you the most! I just wanted to call and let everyone say hi and so you could see everyone! I’ll call you tonight. I love you so much amore mio.” She says. In the background you can hooting and hollering as well as whistling. “Youse guys better shut it, before I come over there and make you!” The redhead threatens her family. You can’t help but laugh.

“I’ll talk to you later, gorgeous. Love you more! Byeee!” You say as you wave to her.

“Bye beautiful!” She says as she waves back and then you end the call.

On Black Friday you, your sister and your mom have a pamper yourself day. You start out the morning getting massages, then you get facials, then you end with getting your nails done. You were glad that you were being kept busy, it helped you not miss Mel so much.

You were at the nail salon and you and your sister were just letting your toes dry. Your mom had run home because she got done early and wanted to get the house in better shape from the Thanksgiving festivities that went on yesterday.

“So do you feel different with Melissa than you have in your previous relationships?” Your sister asks you.

“Yeah it’s truly night and day, like there’s no comparison. I didn’t know that I could feel really truly loved and she makes me feel that way every day.” You say smiling.

The bell rings signaling a new customer coming in. You look over, that’s weird the woman who just walked in looked a hell of a lot like Jessica Rabbit.

“Becks, you see that woman who just came in. I swear to god it’s Melissa’s Michigan doppelgänger! Isn’t it weird that some people have that going on?!” You say to your sister looking amused.

You realize the woman is carrying a gorgeous bouquet of roses. Mmm she’s lucky, got those flowers probably from someone special you think to yourself. Before you know it the woman is walking in your direction. You look away and start messing with your phone. The woman sits right next to you.

“(Y/N) look she sat right next to you.” Your sister chuckles.

“I mean she is my girlfriend’s doppelgänger so it makes sense.” You quip back.

“I dare you to say something to her.” Your sister says with a mischievous smile.

“Are we 12 again? Fine I accept the dare to add some entertainment to your extremely dull life.” You tease.

You turn to the woman. She smiles at you. You smile back. “Hi, I just had to say that those flowers are gorgeous.” You say.

“Thank you. They’re for you.” The woman says looking at you so lovingly.

And then your jaw drops and you look back at your sister who smiles and nods and then you look back at the woman.

“Mel?” You say in disbelief.

“Hey pretty girl.” She says.

“Shut the fuck up! No fucking way! Shut up!” You exclaim and then you fly out of the salon chair and into the redhead’s arms and then immediately start sobbing. You just hug her for what seems like forever.

“Oh my god (Y/N). You’re acting like the woman just came home from war or something.” Becca teases.

You flip her off. You finally break the hug and sit back in the chair to let your toes dry completely.

“What are you doing here?” You ask as you squeeze her hand.

“Surprising my gorgeous girl. After you met my family, I reached out to Becca and your folks to ask if it was okay if I crashed your thanksgiving weekend together and surprise you. I think I can confidently say the mission was accomplished.” She says with a smirk.

“No shit, it was accomplished. I was floored! I literally was saying to Becca when you came in that it was the Michigan Doppelgänger of you.” You say chuckling.

“Do you really think Michigan would have a Philly 11?” Melissa teases you.

“Oh honey, there’s only one Philly 11 even in Philly.” You say smiling as you lean towards her and kiss her softly.

Mel turns her attention to your sister when you break away. “Hey I just want to thank you for helping me pull this off, I really appreciate it.” She says to Becca.

“Of course. You’re very welcome. I know I give her a lot of shit. But from what she’s told me about you, you make her really happy and feel safe, loved, and supported. And that’s all I could ever want for her in terms of a relationship. So thank you for taking such good care of her.” Becca says with a smile.

“She deserves all of it and so much more. I just feel lucky to call her mine.” She says and caresses your cheek.

The nail technician comes over and tells you your toes should be dry.

You put your boots on and walk arm in arm with Mel up to the cash register with Becca not far behind.

“Let me pay for your nails guys.” Mel says to you and Becca.

“You don’t have to do that babe.” You say pulling her closer to you.

Mel looks at you and you know that she is trying to make a good first impression on Becca.

“That’s very sweet of you hun. Thank you for treating us.” You say squeezing her arm.

“Yeah Melissa, seriously thank you.” Becca says smiling at Mel.

When everything was paid you walked out to the cars.

“I grabbed her bag just like you instructed.” Becca says to Mel and then proceeds to take your suitcase out of the trunk of her car. Mel grabs it so fast it makes your head spin, she always likes to help you with your bags but knows you're stubborn and if you get to it first, you’ll insist you got it. The woman knows you inside and out, and you love that she does.

“Why did you ask her to bring my bag?” You let go of her to face her, arms crossed.

“Hey weirdo she’s trying to romance you with another surprise! Stop being a butthead! You truly are a saint for putting up with all of this Melissa.” Becca says as she gestures to you.

Mel steps close to you and takes your face in her hands. You feel yourself relax completely and you put your hands in her back pockets and pull her closer to you.

“Do you remember when you told me about you working for that really nice hotel in the summers during college in your hometown?” She asks you.

“Mhmm.” You say looking at her curiously.

“Well during that conversation you said that one of your dreams was to stay at that hotel and see what it was like as a guest. So I booked us a room there for the weekend to make that dream come true.” She says with the biggest smile.

For the second time today Melissa has made you cry. “You did not! I can’t believe this.” You say through your tears. “I don’t deserve this.” You say as you wipe your tears.

“Look at me.” She says as she gently takes your chin and guides it until you’re looking directly at her gorgeous emerald eyes. “You always put everyone else first before yourself. You always make it a priority to make me feel so cared for, loved and supported. You definitely deserve this. Let me put you first this weekend. Let me spoil my angel. I love you so fucking much (Y/N). And I hope you know that this isn’t a just this weekend thing, this is the rest of your life with me thing. So you better get used to it, pretty girl.” Melissa says and then kisses you softly.

“Damn it, y’all are better than watching the bachelor. Got me crying and everything!” Becca exclaims.

“I love you more amore mio.” You say softly.

You then turn to Becca. “We’ll see you for dinner with the parental units.” You say with a smile.

“Sounds good! Melissa I apologize for our parents in advance. They’re just very set in their ways and what they think our lives should look like. They can’t see through their own bullshit. If they don’t see how happy and in love you two are, disregard their opinion. I hope for both of your sake that they surprise us and they’re genuinely supportive of y’all.” Becca says.

“Yeah she knows about the whole Culver’s discussion that happened on Wednesday. I understand where they’re coming from to a certain degree, like yeah I’m dating someone who’s close in age to them and could technically be their friend when you put age into the equation. But she’s not! And the other issue that we’d both struggle with is if she had kids that were close to my age. But she doesn’t so that’s a nonissue. It’s just upsetting to me that they’re so closed minded if it doesn’t look exactly like their lives.” You say as you shake your head.

Melissa puts her arm around your shoulders and pulls you close to her. “It’s okay. It’ll all be okay.” She says softly as she kisses your head.

“Let’s all cross our fingers. Bye hun. I loved spending today with you as always.” Becca says and then gives you a hug. “Melissa it was really nice finally meeting you in person, again thanks for the nails.” She says as she hugs Mel. And then she gets into her car.

You go to grab your suitcase and feel Melissa playfully pull you back.

“You little shit! You’re gonna let me get your bag. Because you know how much I love you and how much I want to take care of you. So let me do that god damn it.” She says smirking at you.

“Fine.” You huff. She looks at you and pulls you closer to her.

“You know what will make you feel better? Kissing me.” She says in her flirty voice with a big smirk.

“You’re not wrong.” You say softly as you take her face in your hands and kiss her with a burning desire.

“Damn girl. Save it for the hotel.” She teases you and then smacks your ass.

She opens the trunk of the rental car and puts your suitcase next to hers. You patiently wait for her to get that all situated and then let her open your car door for you. You still can’t wrap your head around the princess treatment you get from her, but you knew it was all genuine and she loved taking care of you in those little ways.

“Thanks baby.” You say and she leans down to give you a quick kiss before carefully shutting your door and getting in on her side.

[jamisonwritestf2trash]

Random TF2 headcanons bc it has me in a chokehold.

These are set in 2023 bc I want to write these silly geese in present-day situations. (Still haven't gotten into the lore.)

————————————————————

None of these fuckers like the same fastfood restaurants, they always disagree.

Heavy likes Jimmy Jon's.

Medic likes Subway, he thinks it's the healthier option (don't tell him the bread can legally be considered cake)

Scout likes Wendy's. Sniper pretends to like McDonald's just to mess with him. He really doesn't like fast food at all.

Demo likes Culver's

Spy hates fast food and has never eaten at places like that. He's too good for that (this is a lie. He frequently goes to Starbucks).

Soldier loves KFC with a passion.

Engie likes Popeyes.

Pyro doesn't eat. They guzzle pen ink and glitter glue.

————————————————————

These old men can not use Gen Z slang to save their lives. However, Scout is horrendous with slang, He has called himself the rizzler. You will not go a day without him saying, "Take the L." This man is menace.

Medic used the word "Rizz" once and Scout almost threw up.

————————————————————

Engineer loves Legos! He has every adult set. He's done the vespa, he's done the bonsai tree, and any others you can think of. He also buys the small kids sets for Pyro. They do it together for fun.

————————————————————

Medic. Loves. To. Talk. Shit.

This man is loyal to no one. Show up to the lab with food and wine, and by the end of the night, you'll have dirt on anyone and everyone. Archimedes loves to listen in while he rants and raves.

————————————————————

Speaking of Medic, whoever headcannoned him as a guy who acts like a teenage girl was 100% correct. This man has a playlist for surgery that's all Kesha, MARINA, Gwen Stefani, and Britney Spears. This man has neon glitter pens and has a fuzzy pink diary (that's where he keeps everyone's secrets!). Man's says "teehee" and kicks his legs. He has a canopy bed and string lights in his room. (And I love him for it 🫶🏻)

——���—————————————————

All of them are mentally ill in someway.

Heavy, Demo, and Engie have anxiety, but manage it well enough for it not to be a problem. (Demo just happens to manage with alcohol 😮‍💨)

Scout has ADHD and depression.

Sniper and Soldier have Autism

Spy has depression, and also body dysmorphia.

Medic has autismn, insomnia, and BPD

Pyro has schizophrenia and autism

————————————————————

Sniper loves animals. Like, let's be for real animals are his hyperfixation. He has a special camera that can take pictures of animals from far away. He loves the fact that he can use his skills as a sniper to photograph animals.

————————————————————

Spy can't recognize his own face unless he has his mask. His face seems to distort in the mirror after a few minutes. His mask keeps his features in place so it doesn't get a blurry and muddled.

————————————————————

Demo knits! His mom taught him when he was younger. He has a blanket his mom started and he finished in his room.

————————————————————

Might make more who knows :)

Love this game and the fandom sm rn.

[racefortheironthrone]

On the subject of UBI, I always ask about the MCU UBI: Tony is a billionaire who lives a life of luxury, Bruce has a serious chronic illness that requires expensive medical care, and Trevor just wants to sit round all day drinking and doing drugs. I take the UBI guys more seriously if they can say what each man gets from a UBI.

That's a somewhat odd choice of characters to think about how a UBI would function in the MCU.

So yes, Tony Stark would get a UBI. Relative to his private income, his UBI check would be totally inconsequential - and given the level of taxation needed to support a UBI, it's pretty much guaranteed that Tony would be paying far more in taxes than he would be getting back in UBI payments.

This is not an accident or a mistake or a flaw in the system; this is how a healthy social policy should function. When Social Security was established in 1936, FDR made a big deal of the fact that even John D. Rockefeller would get a Social Security check - because it hammered home the point that everyone contributes, and everyone benefits. Reciprocal solidarity would short-circuit the divisive politics of distribution and redistribution and cement a permanent majority coalition in support of a universal welfare state.

Bruce Banner would also get a UBI check. Now, his financial situation is a little unclear - originally, Banner was a top research scientist at Culver University with U.S military contracts, so he would probably have been in the top 10% of incomes (affluent but not wealthy). After his transformation into the Hulk, however, Bruce was a wanted fugitive with no way of earning income.

After that, Bruce was an Avenger - and this is where things get odd. As established in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Avengers in the MCU don't get a salary: Tony gave them free housing and paid their Avengers-related expenses, but Sam Wilson notably relied on his veteran's pension and government contracts for his living (thus why his banker could justify turning him down for a small business loan rather than admitting to structural racial discrimination) and Steve Rogers even with his veteran's benefits, Social Security, and SHIELD salary couldn't afford a place in Brooklyn. This means that, while Bruce doesn't need to worry about money for his research and can save on rent, he does actually need the UBI for everything else.

This is very different from in the comics, where Avengers get quite decent salaries:

$4k a month in 1983 dollars works out to around $150k a year (on top of free housing at the Avengers Mansion), putting them solidly in the top 13% of U.S personal incomes.

As for Trevor Slattery, I feel like your description is unfairly characterizing a working actor. Slattery was not a major success in Hollywood - hence why he took Aldrich Killian up on his job offer and became part of a criminal conspiracy - and he does have some serious substance abuse issues, but what he does in his private life is his own business. Hell, even when he was abducted by the Ten Rings, he kept working as an actor. That being said, Trevor is going to have a hard time getting UBI, both because he's a wanted fugitive and convicted felon (which would end his eligibility in the U.S) and because he's now living in a rural village in another dimension.

[ajpikeisamenace]

Just Desserts | Chapter Three: Sleepover

Summary: 10 Years after Theresa Lisbon broke his heart, Marcus Pike has retired from the FBI moved to the small town of Culver Creek, West Virginia. He serves as the Sheriff of Culver County, and he's sweet on Emma Crocker, who runs the cafe in town...

Culver Creek is idyllic; nothing ever happens there... but during a blizzard, Marcus and Emma find themselves stuck together for the night... And in the morning, a grisly crime scene unfolds.... Part One | Part 2

Note: I know that in many places in the USA, the county sheriff is an elected position, but for the purposes of this story, it’s a job one can apply for, because “Sheriff” sounds more like a small town, and Culver Creek isn’t big enough to boast its own police department, so it makes sense to have a county sheriff. It’s also a fictional place I made up so I can do whatever I want. Nyah.

The story will switch back and forth between Emma and Marcus's POVs. POV switches will be notated.

TRIGGER WARNING: My usual trigger warnings apply (sex, alcohol use, foul language, etc) but this story is a little different. In addition to the usual fluffy Marcus Pike smut, it also explores some REALLY dark themes, such as murder, Domestic Violence, Racially motivated crimes, rape, abuse of minors, and more.

As this story talks about the exploitation of a marginalized group, I wanted to share resources for those who would like to get involved, help, or just be more informed: https://www.nativehope.org https://www.niwrc.org https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/mmiw https://rainn.org/ https://www.thehotline.org/ https://www.lacasa.org/ https://communitycare.sistaafya.com/ If I have misrepresented any minorities with what I've written, I apologize, and I am open to education on the matter.

Emma

I wasn’t expecting him to ask me out. I don’t think that he thinks of me as more than anything but a friend… So when he asks, it throws me for a loop and my brain needs a second to fully process the question. 

“I’d like that,” I say after a slight pause.

“You would?”

“Yes, I would.”

“Good.” He looks pleased. “Then I’ll make a reservation.” 

Never in the twenty or so years that I’ve been dating has a man taken me somewhere that took reservations. The nicest place Deacon ever took me was the Cheesecake Factory.

“A reservation?” I smile, wondering where he could even do that way out here.  We’d probably have to drive to Morgantown or something… But I don’t think I’ll mind.

“I like to make a fuss,” he says softly. He comes back to the couch and sits a little closer to me, though you could still fit another person between us. I suddenly feel a little shy.  I’ve had a crush on Marcus practically since Old Sheriff Roy brought him into the cafe for lunch when he was interviewing for the sheriff’s position.

Despite our almost daily interactions, I still don’t know much about him, and I feel myself blurt out:

“What did you do in the FBI?”

He looks surprised.

“I investigated art crimes.  I was the director of my division before I retired.”

“Wow,” I say. “That’s… I can’t even imagine how exciting that must have been.”

“Not as exciting as you might think.  It was mostly a lot of paperwork.  Art crime is mostly forgery, occasionally a stolen painting, but it's not like what you see on TV,” he says.  “I think I may have drawn my weapon a grand total of five times in almost twenty years.”

“How old are you?” I ask, wondering if my assessment of forty-five is close.

“Forty-four, forty-five in April,” he says. “How about you?”

“Thirty-four. Thirty-five later this month.”

“Well, happy early birthday,” he says with a grin, flashing his dimples at me again.

“Thanks. Why’d you retire from the FBI?”

He purses his lips slightly.

“You’re full of questions all of the sudden.”

“I’ve always been full of them… I just… Wasn’t sure if it’s okay to ask.”

“It’s okay to ask, but I have questions of my own.”

“It’s okay to ask,” I echo his words.  He smiles at me again.

“I retired… Well, there was a case… I didn’t have to take it, but I thought it would be an easy win… Undercover, trying to catch someone forging ownership documents of stolen art… Things went south, and I got shot.”

“You got shot?”

“Just a little bit,” he says, and he leans back on the couch, pulling his shirt up slightly.  I can see an ugly scar along his abdomen, and I try not to let my gaze linger at the light definition of his abs. “Anyway, I was relegated to desk duty, and I knew I was going to be bored, so I opted for an early retirement.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I say.

“It was a few years ago.  I’m fine now.  First couple of months were rough,” he says.  He sits back up, pulling his shirt back into place. “How long have you been on your own here?”

“My dad died about 7 years back, and my mother died when I was a kid,” I say.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

“Thanks,” I say sadly.

“Did you grow up in this house?”

“Yeah,” I say, and I point to the door frame going into the kitchen. A series of pencil marks detailing my growth over the years. He stands up and takes a look, bending down and tracing his fingers along the smudged door frame.

“It stops at 13,” Marcus says with a grin.

“Yeah, so did I,” I say softly. 

He chuckles again, and looks around the house again.

“You should probably ice your ankle,” he says after a beat.  “Sorry, I’m supposed to be certified in first aid, if you can believe it. Do you have an ice pack?”

“Frozen peas?” I say wryly.  “In the freezer.”  Marcus disappears into the kitchen and is back a few seconds later, wrapping a large bag of frozen peas in one of my dishtowels, and then gently placing it on my ankle.

“I see some swelling,” he says. “But it doesn’t look too bad, all things considered. We’ll keep it elevated, and you off it.  I don’t suppose you have an ace bandage laying around?”

I shake my head, and despite the ice pack on my ankle, I feel warmth radiating out through my body. 

“I…”  I pause, wondering if I should confess what I’m thinking.  He looks up at me, eyebrows slightly raised, and his big brown eyes full of so much kindness I could cry.  I clear my throat. “I’ve never had someone take care of me like this before,” I manage.

“What do you mean?”

“My mom and dad both worked when I was a kid, so if I was hurt or sick, I just…Took care of myself.  And after my mom passed, my dad was around even less…“ My voice trails off.  I’m sure he can imagine what kind of TLC Deacon offered. 

Marcus tilts his head to one side slightly, his expression unreadable.

“You deserve to be taken care of,” he says softly. “Cherished, even.”

“Do I?”  I say softly, letting my gaze drift down to his full lips, and then back up to meet his eyes.

“Yes,” he says in that deep, husky voice that sends a slight jolt through my body. He sits back down on the couch, right next to me this time and looks into my eyes for a long moment. “You’re very special, Emma, and anyone lucky enough to be with you should cherish you, and take care of you.”

“Take care of me how?”

“However you want to be taken care of.  But maybe… Bring you soup when you’re sick, take your truck in for an oil change, carry you around the house when you’ve got a busted ankle.” His eyes twinkle.

“Does that mean you want to be with me?” I ask, feeling my breath catch in my throat.

“I thought that was obvious,” he says.  “I’ve had to up my workouts every day to keep off all the weight from eating at the cafe so much. I just like being around you. I think you’re a hell of a good looking woman… And just a hell of a woman.”

I feel my cheeks heat slightly.

“Then why’d you wait so long?”  I say, letting out a breath.

“It’s a long story.”

“I don't have anywhere to be,” I say good naturedly.  He lets out a light huff of laughter.

“No, I suppose not,”  he looks at the time. “It’s getting late, you must be getting hungry.”

“Are you?”

“I’m always hungry,” he says good naturedly. I start to get up, but he shakes his head. “Emma, I meant it when I said you need to rest that ankle.  Let me take care of you. I can make us something to eat.”

“It’s fine, I can-”

“Emma, I’m serious… You could hurt it worse if you don't rest.  Don’t make me handcuff you to the couch.”

“I might like it,” I blurt out.  Marcus’s cheeks flush slightly, and I can’t help but smile. “Sorry, I just… I don’t keep much food in the house,” I admit, and I feel my own cheeks flush to match his. “I normally bring home leftovers from the cafe.  It’s not much fun cooking for one.”

“No, it’s not,” he agrees softly, looking at me with a tenderness that makes my heart pound in my chest.  He clears his throat. “I’m sure we can manage something, though.”

“I’ll at least come into the kitchen with you so you’re not flying blind.”  

I start to get up, but Marcus moves faster, scoping me up into his arms again.

“You’re going to throw your back out if you keep this up.”

“You’re not as heavy as you think you are,” he says, carefully maneuvering me into the kitchen.  He sets me down at the kitchen table gently and pulls the other chair over.  He carefully puts my leg on the seat. “I mean it, keep it elevated.”

“Yessir,” I say, giving him a mock salute. Mentally, I take stock of what’s in the fridge.  I have a pantry with dry goods, and some meat in the freezer, but not much in the way of vegetables, since they  tend to go bad before I can use them up. Marcus leans on my kitchen island, looking over at me.

“This is kind of surreal, me waiting on you for a change,” he says. “But I kinda like it. Though, I’m not anywhere near the cook you are.”

“I’m not that great.”

“Then how do you explain all those blue ribbons hanging up at the cafe?  “Best Pie in West Virginia”, I think one of them says,” he says, a teasing edge to his voice.

“Baking and cooking are two different things.”

“Emma, if you weren’t a good cook… Well, I’d still probably come to the cafe for breakfast, but you are a good cook.”

“Thanks,” I say softly.  I clear my throat again. “I think there’s still some leftover chili in the fridge,” I say.  “And I think I still have some bread from last week’s batch.”

“Coming right up,” Marcus says. He works quickly, though I tell him where to find the bowls and cutlery. He heats up the chili on the stove and then a few minutes later, sets a bowl in front of me before sliding across from me with his own.

“So, tell me the long story.”

“Hmm?”

“You said the reason you waited so long to ask me out was a long story.”

“Well, you know I’m divorced,” he says, taking a sip of water. I nod, taking a bite of chili.  It’s a good meal for this weather, and I’m glad I brought it home. “After I got divorced, I dated a few women, but nothing really stuck… Then right before I was offered the position that brought me to DC, I was seeing a woman that also worked for the bureau.  Time and space led me to the conclusion that she was just in the right place at the right time, and not actually the love of my life, but I wanted to settle down again with her… Obviously, It didn’t work out, and since then… I guess I was just afraid of making the same mistake again, and I needed to sort out my feelings.”  He takes a deep breath. “I had to decide if it was a crush, or the genuine article… and by the time I sorted it out, I’d gotten to know you just enough to think that maybe you wouldn’t be interested in a guy like me.”

I look at him in confusion.

“Why wouldn’t I be interested?”

“I didn’t know much about your ex husband, but I knew he used to play baseball, and I know how those guys are built.  And I know traveling must have been exciting.  What could you want with a scrawny, boring old homebody like me?”

“You’re hardly boring,” I say. “And just because Deacon was a baseball player, doesn’t mean that’s the only kind of guy I like.”  It’s on the tip of my tongue to say that I wish I’d met him first, but I can’t make myself say it. “I happen to like staying home, anyway.”

“Yeah? You don’t want some guy who takes you all over? Jet setting?”

“It was hardly jet setting.  Seedy motels, vending machine junk for dinner, a bunch of sweaty guys obsessed with the gym and practice. No… That isn’t the life for me.”

For a moment, we eat in silence, with the sound of the storm raging outside.  The lights flicker again, but the power stays on.  When I finish my chili, Marcus does the dishes and then helps me back to the living room. He pulls the blanket off the couch and tucks it around me before sitting next to me.

“It's kinda wild how different the weather is here than in DC.  It snows there, but not like this, not really.”

“Mountain life,” I say with a smile. There’s a slight pause before he speaks again.

“I uh… I have a tendency to move kind of fast,” Marcus says. “In relationships, I mean.  So if… If I start going a hundred miles an hour, tell me to pump the breaks.  Like, I know I probably shouldn’t even call it a relationship yet.  We haven’t even had the date. I just… I’m not a kid, and I know what I want.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I don’t think I have a problem with you calling it a relationship.  I like you, Marcus.”

“Good, because I like you, too.”

“Good,” I echo, feeling warmth spreading across my face.  Marcus’s smile widens, his eyes lighting up and his dimples on display again.  My mind is racing. 

He’s here, in my house. He’s staying the night. HE’S STAYING THE NIGHT!

“You don’t have anything to sleep in,” I blurt out, wishing like hell I could stop doing this, that I could be one of those cool girls that tosses her hair over her shoulder and smiles as she says something witty, not a verbally incontinent klutz.

“I don’t need anything,” he says, but then he blushes slightly. “I mean, I can sleep in my clothes. I do wish I had my toothbrush, though.”

“Well,” I say. “I bought a five pack of toothbrushes a while back, and so I have a brand new one you can use.  I still have some of my dad's things, too.”

“I won’t say no to the toothbrush, but I’m fine on the clothes, Emma,” he says, but I can’t imagine the standard issue sheriff’s uniform would be comfortable to sleep in. “I don’t want to  be any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble,” I say, and I start to get up, but Marcus gives me a warning look.

“Emma, if you don’t stay off that ankle-”

“I know, I know, handcuffs,” I say playfully. “Look, I feel bad that you’re stuck here because of me, and I just want you to be comfortable, okay?  This is an old house and the upstairs gets pretty cold at night.  Your uniform doesn’t look like it’s very comfortable or warm.”

“I’m not stuck here, Emma.” Marcus looks at me intently. “I wouldn't wish for you to sprain your ankle in a hundred years, but I’m very glad I get to spend the evening with you.”

I feel my cheeks redden further.

“You are?”

“Yes, silly girl, I told you: I like you.”

I smile, biting my bottom lip to keep from letting an unhinged giggle escape my mouth.

“Well, then humor me and accept the offering of something warmer and hopefully more comfortable to sleep in,” I say after a beat. 

“All right, all right,” he says softly, holding his hands up again, but his thousand megawatt smile eclipses everything else.

Outside, the storm rages on, and another gust of wind shakes the house.

“There’s going to be some felled trees after this, I’m sure,” I hear myself saying. “It’s going to take a few days for things to operate as normal.”

“Yeah,” Marcus says, his voice taking on that low, husky tone again.  A shiver runs down my spine.  “Are you cold?”  He asks, and in a flash, he’s on his feet, grabbing another blanket from the loveseat.

“I’m okay,” I say, smiling as he tucks the blanket around my legs. We stare into one another’s eyes for a long moment, and yet again, my mouth moves without input from my brain. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”

I need something to distract myself from Marcus… But as I watch him settle back onto the couch next to me, I realize that Marcus has been distracting me from what’s really bothering me:  May Anne.  I wish she would call me.  She has to know that no matter what she’s up to, what trouble she’s gotten into, I’ll help her.  Something must be terribly wrong, and there’s nothing I can do.

“Emma?” Marcus says, pulling me from my thoughts. “You okay?”

”Yeah…I’m just… I’m trying not to worry about May Anne. I’m trying to believe she’s just off with some boy.”

“I understand why you’re worried, but she’ll turn up tomorrow, sheepish as hell, just you wait.”

“I want to believe that,” I say honestly. “I do, but it’s just… It would be like… Like… “ The notion is so absurd I have trouble thinking of a comparison. “Like a nun suddenly turning tricks in Times Square.”

Marcus laughs, a belly laugh that makes him light up like a Christmas tree.  He reigns himself in and looks embarrassed. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make light of things, I’m sorry,” he repeats..

“No, I sort of meant for it to be funny… I kind of have a whole ‘If I Don’t Laugh I’ll Cry’ mindset.”

“Nothing wrong with crying.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but too much crying…” I say.

“I’m sorry,” Marcus says softly.

“Don’t be, it’s not your fault.”

“I know that; it's empathy.”

I feel myself go quiet again, unsure of what to say.

“What makes you cry?” he asks softly.

“What doesn’t make me cry?” I chuckle.  “Sad movies, happy movies, really good music... “ I deflect, but Marcus holds my gaze. He wants the truth. “My marriage falling apart and… becoming what it became… Not being able to share my achievements with my parents… Especially my mom.”

“That’s really rough,” he says. “I know I didn’t know your parents, but I think they would have been really proud of you.”  His voice takes on that deep husky tone again, the one that sends a shiver through my body.

“Divorced, alone, living in the same house she grew up in?”

“You had the courage to leave that marriage. You opened your cafe, and you’re doing well by any standard, but especially by Culver Creek Standard, and you have your farm, your family legacy.  I think those are all pretty special things.”

“Do you always know just what to say?”

“Not always,” he says, eyes twinkling. “I fumble the ball just like any other guy.”

“Thank you,” I say after a minute. 

“You’re welcome,” he whispers.  “Do you still want to watch a movie?  

I nod as I grab the remote from the side table.  I fumble with the buttons in the dimness of the living room, the sun has finally set, and the small lamp by the front door doesn’t offer much light. I  flip through the channels, looking for something to watch.

“Oh hey, Under Capricorn,” he says, placing a hand on my elbow. “If you haven’t seen it, it’s a classic.”

“I haven’t seen it.  Is that Ingrid Bergman?” I point to a woman on screen. 

“Yeah, and directed by Hitcock.”

“Like Psycho Hitchcock?”

“One in the same.”

“Then I’m game,” I say.  Marcus settles back on the couch, and a few minutes later, I feel his arm slide around my shoulder.  I don’t mind at all, in fact, I’ve fantasized about a scenario just like this once or twice… Of course, it leads to a heavy makeout session in those fantasies, but I would take it all the same. I slide back into distraction from the anxiety, the worry, the fear.

Marcus is warm; the heat radiating off of his body makes for a cozy evening.  The wind continues blowing outside, and if I were home by myself, I would probably feel anxious, but cuddled up next to Marcus, I can’t think of anything except how good he smells, how warm and comfortable he is, and how badly I want to kiss him.

I’m lost in thought when another powerful gust of wind slams against the house and makes me jump.

“You’re all right,” Marcus says soothingly. “I’m here.”  He hugs me closer to him and I look up at his face.  His big brown eyes meet mine and after a moment’s hesitation, he lifts his other arm, cupping my face in his hand.  He strokes my cheek with his thumb, gazing down at me.  “You’re all right,” he says again.

I don’t know what to say in response.  I go on staring into his eyes for a long moment.  Finally, he bends his head slightly, tilting toward me and places a gentle kiss on my lips. He starts to pull away, but I put my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. 

I feel weightless in his arms as he pushes me carefully back against the couch.  He gently climbs on top of me as my fantasies come to life.  We entwine around each other, kissing hungrily.  I don’t care if it makes me a floozy, a hussy, a strumpet… Maybe in the morning I’ll care that he thinks I’m easy, but right now, all I want is to pull his shirt over his head and bite his shoulders.

I restrain myself - barely- and try to remain content with the status quo. I missed the weight of a man on top of me - I’ve had precious little carnal knowledge in the last year or so, but even if I was getting laid well and often, I would still relish the feeling of Marcus’s lips against mine, the feeling of his body on top of me. My ankle is throbbing but I don’t care - Marcus Pike is kissing me.

Marcus

When I kiss Emma, I think it’s going to be a tender peck, a prelude to a deep conversation, but instead, she puts her arms around my neck and pulls me closer to her, and all those feelings both of us have been keeping buried these last few months bubble up to the surface.  Before I know what I’m doing, I’m pushing her back against the couch and climbing on top of her, careful not to jostle her ankle.  I kiss her for a very long time, until my higher brain function kicks in and I pull away from her, breathless.

“Sorry, I don’t want to stop but…” I pant. “I think we should.”

Emma raises an eyebrow at me.

“I just… I have a tendency to rush things and I mean it– I like you, and I want to do this right…”  I sit back against the couch as Emma shifts gingerly, the blankets I put over her tangled around her legs. The dim light of the TV illuminates her profile, washing her in blue gray light.  She gazes at me for a moment.

“How long have you been single?” she asks after a moment. My brows knit together in confusion, but I answer her.

“About a year, but that relationship wasn’t serious.”  I sigh, leaning forward and rubbing my face with my hands. “I’ve… avoided getting serious.”

“Because of your ex fiancee?”

“Yes,” I say. Emma doesn’t say anything, and I don’t want to say anything, because I’m terrified of saying the wrong thing. 

“And do you think you want to get serious with me?” she whispers after a moment.

“I do,” I say, and there’s another long silence that has me leaning my head back against the wall.  I close my eyes, wondering if that was somehow wrong to say.  Maybe Emma’s not looking for anything serious.  Maybe she just wanted to get over Deacon by getting under someone else.  I could relate to that.. I slept with a half dozen women to get over Theresa .Finally, I feel Emma’s warmth cuddling up against me, nestling into the crook of my arm, against my side. Almost instinctively I put my arm around her, pulling her closer to me.

“I do, too,” she says softly. We sit there for a long time, holding one another as the credits of the movie roll by.

“It’s getting late,” I say to her. “You must be tired.”

“I don’t think I can sleep,” she says, and I worry for a moment that the reason is somehow because of me. “I’m too worried about May Anne.  I know you think she’s just another teenage girl but this isn’t like her.  May Anne would never worry me or her parents like this.”

I feel guilty. 

Of course she’s worried about May Anne, Jackass.

“I’ll call the state police.  They might have someone out doing patrols.”

“In this weather?” Emma asks incredulously.

“Police and fire have to work through any kind of weather.”  I’m loath to get up and leave Emma’s warmth, and even a few steps away from her, the air seems to cool ten degrees. My coat hangs by the front door. I fish my phone out of the pocket and call the state police barracks near the county line.

  “Hey, it’s Sheriff Pike down in Culver Creek,” I say when the dispatcher answers.

“How can I help?” they ask professionally

“If whoever is out and about in this can keep an eye out, we’ve got a missing teenager.”

“Name?”

“May Anne Collins,”

“Age?”

“Age?” I whisper to Emma.

“She Seventeen.  Her birthday’s January 1st.”

“Description?”

“Five foot four, approximately a hundred thirty pounds, dark brown brown hair,brown eyes.” I rattle off the description.  I can picture the girl in my mind, bright eyes and a wide grin as she helps Emma in the kitchen.

“Ethnicity?”

I raise my eyebrows at Emma.

“Uh, her mom’s indigenous, her dad’s white.”

“Bi-racial, indigenous and caucasian,” I tell the dispatcher.

“How long has she been missing?”

“Since this morning, we’ve been looking for her out here, but we’re not equipped to keep up the search in the storm.”

I give a few other details, the description of the vehicle, and anything else I can think of that might help the dispatcher, who at this point is starting to sound rather annoyed.

“Just so you know, they’re not going to proactively search for her in this storm, they’re just going to keep an eye out..”

“Yeah, I know, but if you have contact with the folks out plowing the roads, ask them to keep a look out?”

“Yeah,” the dispatcher says, their tone softening. “Are you with the girl's family, Sheriff?”

“A close family friend.”

“Can you go somewhere private?”

This surprises me, but I give Emma an apologetic smile and head to the kitchen.

“Yeah,” I say quietly.

“Sheriff Pike of Culver Creek,” the dispatcher says. “You’re not from around here, are you?  I think I remember hearing you’re from somewhere out west.”

“Texas originally, but I was in DC for about 10 years before coming here,” I say. “Why do you ask?”

“West Virginia is home to a lot of history, most good but some real bad. Culver County, especially. Still true. Most things are good. Some things are real bad.  Native girls go missing all the time, and no one seems to care much about it.”

“What?”

“I mean, people go missing all over the state.  If it’s a white girl, people kick up a huge fuss, smaller fuss for a black girl, but a Native?  Never seems to gain the same kind of momentum.  You can report it, but,” their voice trails off, and I can practically hear the shrug over the phone. “Anyway, I just mean, you might want to prepare her people for the worst.”

I suppose I say thank you and hang up, but I don’t remember doing either.  I don’t remember a thing at all until I hear Emma in the doorway.

“What are you doing up on that ankle?” I say softly, making my way over to her to steady her.

“It’s fine, the swelling’s already going down, I don’t think I really sprained it.  I think it’s a bad twist.”

“I heard a snap,” I argue. “Come on, back to the couch.”

She doesn’t protest as I scoop her up again.  I’m glad I’ve been going to the gym - I have to if I want to stay in shape and eat at Emma’s cafe as often as I do. It’s much easier to carry her because I’ve been lifting weights.  Emma’s not exactly skinny, but she’s not so heavy I can’t lift her easily. She’s perfect, to be honest, but based on her comments earlier, I think she might be a little self conscious.  If I were huffing and puffing because I was out of shape, she might take it to heart.  I deposit her on the couch and sit with her.

How do I tell her?  Do I tell her? Fuck.

“What did they say?”

I look at her for a long moment, and cursing myself as I do it, I decide that honesty is the best policy. I’m not a convincing liar, and even if I were… How could I lie to her about something like this?

“Uh, well…” I begin gently. That’s all I have to say.

“They don’t think we’ll find her.”  It’s a statement, not a question.

“No, they don’t,” and I take her hand. “I don’t believe we won’t.  I’ll find her, Emma.  I’ll do everything I can to find her.”

“You promise?

“Yes.”

Emma’s face has cycled through a dozen emotions tonight, but now it’s blank, devoid of emotion at all. My heart aches seeing her like this.  I want to move closer to her, but all I can think is that now isn’t the right time.

She’s scared. She’s worried. She doesn’t need to feel like you’re trying to get in her pants.

But Emma surprises me - not for the first time and hopefully not for the last time- and curls up against me again.  I pull the blanket over both of us, and snuggle up with her. The warmth of her body, the delicate scent of Vanilla that lingers on her hair and skin, and feeling of coziness against the storm outside lulls me to a state of half awake, half asleep. I’m not sure if I’m dreaming or awake, but I feel Emma against me, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel whole.

[khulthuskaotika]

Tom o' Bedlam

From the hag and hungry goblin That into rags would rend ye, The spirit that stands by the naked man In the Book of Moons defend ye, That of your five sound senses You never be forsaken, Nor wander from your selves with Tom Abroad to beg your bacon, While I do sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

Of thirty bare years have I Twice twenty been enragèd, And of forty been three times fifteen In durance soundly cagèd On the lordly lofts of Bedlam, With stubble soft and dainty, Brave bracelets strong, sweet whips ding-dong, With wholesome hunger plenty, And now I sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

With a thought I took for Maudlin And a cruse of cockle pottage, With a thing thus tall, sky bless you all, I befell into this dotage. I slept not since the Conquest, Till then I never wakèd, Till the roguish boy of love where I lay Me found and stript me nakèd. And now I sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

When I short have shorn my sow's face And swigged my horny barrel, In an oaken inn I pound my skin As a suit of gilt apparel; The moon's my constant mistress, And the lowly owl my marrow; The flaming drake and the night crow make Me music to my sorrow. While I do sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

The palsy plagues my pulses When I prig your pigs or pullen, Your culvers take, or matchless make Your Chanticleer or Sullen. When I want provant with Humphrey I sup, and when benighted, I repose in Paul's with waking souls Yet never am affrighted. But I do sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

I know more than Apollo, For oft, when he lies sleeping I see the stars at bloody wars In the wounded welkin weeping; The moon embrace her shepherd, And the Queen of Love her warrior, While the first doth horn the star of morn, And the next the heavenly Farrier. While I do sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

The gypsies, Snap and Pedro, Are none of Tom's comradoes, The punk I scorn and the cutpurse sworn, And the roaring boy's bravadoes. The meek, the white, the gentle Me handle, touch, and spare not; But those that cross Tom Rynosseros Do what the panther dare not. Although I sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

With a host of furious fancies Whereof I am commander, With a burning spear and a horse of air, To the wilderness I wander. By a knight of ghosts and shadows I summoned am to tourney Ten leagues beyond the wide world's end: Methinks it is no journey. Yet will I sing, Any food, any feeding, Feeding, drink, or clothing; Come dame or maid, be not afraid, Poor Tom will injure nothing.

[cyberdragoninfinity]

could you tell me more about that arc v college au (that was yours, right?)

YESSS i have indeed sent the arc-v gang to college to get more knowledge. mostly. some of them, anyway </3 ive given some overview details on 'em before but lemme lightning round some more tidbits about the Arc-V side of Not-Lawrence, Kansas:

ok refresher: of the yuboys and bgirls only yuri (19), yugo (19), celina (20), and lulu (22) are the only ones Actually Enrolled in College. yuya and zuzu (16-17ish) are still in high school, yuto (22) graduated with a BFA in game design recently, and rin (20) works at Stardust Auto Body and Repair.

i have so many little college AU vignettes drifting around in my brain that I'd like to write/am mid-writing and I wont chat yalls ears off about all of 'em but man. MAN. thinking a lot about Yuri, Dennis, and Celina as a trio of characters dealing with finding out the conservative summer camp they got sent to was a front for a cult and just like. Having to work through that with each other whether they want to or not. (Yuri and Celina were childhood friends who had a MESSY falling out when they were like 10, Celina and Dennis are dormmates, and well Dennis and Yuri are Making My Brain Melt.) Sora is also somewhere in there Dealing With That Too but he's like 15 and his parents dont gaf about him so THATS ALSO NOT GREAT. AND HURTS BAD.

I feel like sylvio's dad donated a bench to the performing arts highschool yuya & co go to and sylvio does nottttt shut up about it DUDE IT'S A BENCH. DO YOUR AP ENGLISH HOMEWORK

yuya gets his first job at a Culver's and ended up getting fired because he Wasnt Very Good At It and oh the fallout was catastrophic. oh you know that boy was having a meltdown in the walk-in.

Zarc's 33 year old grownass man ass keeps harassing his baby cousins and it's like. GET A JOBBBBBBB

Shay works at a shooting range 🔫🐦

there is so much going on with all of these characters' family situations i completely made up in my brain. dennis doesnt even know he has a 40-something year old lesbian older sister living in Washington D.C. with her wife and her Boston Terriers

[edenslittlecow]

Eden x Culver(My PC) Added things after knowing more about Eden

CW a lot of non con, and some physical abuse

Eden and Culver are two very traumatised people, licking each others’ wounds, healing them but also hurting each other because of flaws of their personalities and their trauma.

Culver started out “falling in love” with Eden very quickly as a trauma response. He was kidnapped and forced upon after all. So he just blamed himself that he tempted Eden, this lonely man in the woods. He should endure the pain this man forced onto him because he seduced him, even though in reality he hadn’t done anything. Culver just convinced himself he should just make the best of the situation. He should just nuzzle up to his kidnapper and r*pist so Eden would be nicer to him. He should just fell in love with this man because there is no way he could leave anyway. That was his thought at the time. Satisfying Eden was always very painful for him but he endured it. He also would like to take care of Eden to please him. Though this time it was mainly stemmed out of him escaping from his thoughts instead of actual love. He just convinced himself he did this out of love. Just like how he rationalised and convinced he was okay with this treatment. He did like taking care of others after all. But since Eden was not someone easy to read Culver just thought he was such a failure to appease him.

Eventually their relationship will change for the better. Eden enjoy the boy’s company. Culver would realise Eden actually liked him in some way and Culver was not a failure he thought he was. Through each tender interactions Culver would slowly falling in love with Eden, genuinely this time. He enjoyed feeling Eden’s gaze on him when he was doing household chores naked. He thought Eden getting flustered because of romantic but sexual scenes in the books were amusing. He adore the fact this man had done so much things to him but he never held hands before. And Culver chose to hold his hands. It felt wonderful and sweet. He appreciated how Eden would protect him if the hunter was nearby.

Eden wanted sex of course. But I feel he also wanted to be loved and wanted. He was starved of human interactions as much as he hate people. He could always force Culver. It would satiate him at that moment but he will always be hungry for more. Things what he truly craved, what really could calm and sooth him needed to be given to him willingly. It felt exceptionally good when Culver wanted him, even worshiping his body with such adoration.

Culver would always be aware of Eden’s boundaries when he was with Eden. He always made eden feel safe, calm and loved. Culver was not just a hole he indulge himself with or the maid that did his chores. Culver was special. Culver was so gentle and patient with him. Even after all the bad things Eden did to him. But again they are both flawed, affected by their past trauma deeply. Eden would hurt Culver all the time, intentionally or not.

They also really feed into the flaws of each other’s personality. Eden already had the notion that PC need to be taken care of because they are not able to protect themselves. And they had to stay at the cabin. Culver very much fed into this, not even intentionally. He was very small and he never fight back. Even he was forced he would just take it because of his trauma. I like to think, just as much as Eden could be rubbing off on culver, and making culver more confident and more in touch with his sexuality, Culver in a way could influence Eden to be more abusive.

I felt he would be even more insecure because he deep down thought he didn’t deserve it. It felt good to be loved and he wanted more when Culver was away but he also felt he didn’t deserve it after what he had done, no matter how much he rationalise it. So he would hold onto Culver even tighter which would only hurt Culver. Again, this is just something he could talk to Culver about. But the hunter is stubborn and they are just so terrible together. Eden will never talk about it with Culver. He probably didn’t even want to think about what he was feeling most of the time. So he usually just lashed out instead. And Culver would often just forgive him like usual, no matter how bad Culver felt. Eden already thought PC had so much trauma and probably that was the reason they would not accept what he did for them. He thought what he did was always for PC's own interest and it was always beneficial to them. I like him being so delusional. I felt it would just going to be worse if Culver never pushed back, because either he was too traumatised or too scared. Culver kind of tend to land himself into situation that was very bad for him because he was very naive about his way of helping people.

I do like their dynamics. They are kind of right about the other person. but also not really. They are only partly correct. Even with them being together for so long, they could still discover new things about the other person. They are kind of blind to certain things because of their issues or they perceived it but failed to do anything to make it better. They had no idea how much they were loved by each other. So in a weird way it felt like. they are their downfall and their salvation.

I always thought it was funny that I made Culver for Eden. But they are just so terrible together. They are both so delulu. They have the potential to be very cute but very dumpster-fire-bad at the same time. And the terrifying thing is it can really go either way very easily. There is no way of knowing what path they will end up on but since the day Eden brought Culver into his life, they would be bound together forever. Eden would not let Culver go even in death.

[fox-daddy]

One meme per Mc ship;

Kyle x Asra, Kyle x Nadia, and Kyle x Muriel took way too fing long.

MLI;

Kyle x Asra;

Kyle: Wow, they really hate us.

Asra: Yes, perhaps they’re homophobic.

Kyle: But we’re not gay, Asra.

Asra:...

Kyle:...

Asra: We’re not?

Kyle x Nadia;

Kyle: I learned a valuable lesson from this.

Nadia: I’m guessing they are all horrible distortions on the lesson you actually should’ve taken away…

Kyle: DEATH ISN’T REAL AND I AM BASICALLY A GOD!

Hunter x Portia;

Portia: Would you rather fight a bunch of kindergartens-

Hunter: I'd fight kindergartens

Portia:...that wasn't even the whole question

Hunter: those kids are getting slapped

Hunter x Julian;

Julian: can I get a sip of your water

Hunter: it's not water

Julian: vodka I like your style

Hunter: it's vinegar

Julian:...what?

Hunter: it's vinegar

Hunter x Muriel;

Hunter: Muriel, ask me what kind of tree I have

Muriel: no.

Hunter: Muri, just ask me what kind of tree I have

Muriel: no

Hunter: just ask me, what kind of tree-

Muriel: what kind of tree?

Hunter; it's a Chris pine ,*zooms in on a picture of Chris Pine tapped to the pine tree*

Bluebell x Lucio;

Bluebell with flowers: hey babe, happy one year

Lucio/Bluebell share cute smiles*

Lucio: I'm fifty-seven

SLI;

Kyle x Portia;

Portia: Get to del taco they have a new thing called, fre sha- *starts dying of laughter*

Kyle/Portia: fre sha vacado!

Kyle x Muriel;

"I want to be a yoyo man," he cried. "Make me a yoyo man." But The Yo-Yo Master Did Not Answer, He Just Kept On Yo-ing" 

Kyle x Lucio; (when they met for the second time)

Lucio: How does it feel to be worst detective ever

Kyle: Shut up, your mother buys you megablocks instead of legos

Lucio: You shut your mouth

Hunter x Asra;

This is Hunter. Hunter loves their personal space. This is Asra. Asra also loves Hunter's personal space.

Hunter x Lucio;

Hunter: baby changing station. *covers the letter C* Baby hanging station

Lucio: confused clapping*

Bluebell x Asra;

Bluebell: do you have any shaving cream?

Asra: no, I don't like the taste

Bluebell:...you eat shaving cream?

Asra: No? Why would I eat it if I don't like the taste

Bluebell x Nadia;

Nadia:name a yellow fruit

Bluebell panicking: orange

Bluebell x Portia;

It's a kitten in a box *video of Pepi charging into boxes* it's a kitten in a box

Bluebell x Julian;

Road works ahead, uh, yeah, I sure hope it does. (Both of them in general)

Bluebell x Muriel;

Bluebell: Culver's is closed for Easter because lemon ice is back?

Muriel:...I thought his name was Jesus

Bluebell: yeah, same

[anewnewcrest]

BABY BOY'S BIRTHDAY: Granite Falls Getaway

From Madison Culver's Simtube

Hello and welcome back to another exciting video from the Culver Crew! Today we're celebrating Connor Jr.'s birthday - and we're celebrating in style, with a birthday getaway to Granite Falls! Rustic typically isn't my thing, but Connor begged for an adventure, and I'd do anything for my babies, and even more for the boy who finally made me a mama after our long struggle with infertility!

Connor Jr. is so much like his daddy! He's already a strong young man who shows great leadership for the family, and Celia defers to him due to their natural gender roles! He loves playing with daddy, and he's already such a perfect little gentleman who loves bowties and being proper! Not that he doesn't get into plenty of little boy mischief in the meantime, but he likes to look stylish when he does - just like his dad!

He says that I'm the best mama in the world, and Connor the best daddy, and that he wants to be just like him when he grows up! Isn't that precious?

We celebrated Connor's birthday in our rustic little lodge in Granite Falls, and then my two boys were off to do exciting boy things while Celia and I stayed closer to home, preparing the birthday barbecue for the evening! We all had so much great fun, and little Connor discovered a new passion of his - playing soccer with his daddy! I love seeing them bond so well now that Connor Jr is a big boy who can do things with daddy, and my mama heart soars when I look at them!

(Madison wanted Mt. Komorebi, but that's not in the budget right now)

[the-kr8tor]

Finished reading the new chapter !!!! I loved it so much!!! When I was reading it I wrote notes of what I wanted to say so I can make my thoughts make more sense rather than just being a keyboard smash and a few incoherent sentences lmao

- As soon was u said long dark hair for the seamstress u was like omg is that yuri and I was right!

- Yuri and hobie friends in another life aaaaah

- Yuri still flirting w r

- Im reading it in public trying not to smile and giggle at the screen

- He has no ass lmao Yuri pointed that out 🤣🤣

- R wrote a song for him hehehe aaahhhg she’s so in love and can’t get him off her mind

- He said he’s a burden noooo no he’s not (need to give him a hug and tell him it’s ok so badly)

- When she stops him from killing cutter (i typed this wrong when i was reading it and now I can’t think of what his name actually is as I’m sending u this ask) it’s like in those memes where they like hey look at me this isn’t u 🤣🤣

- Everyone thinks their married lmao

- Blue jeans is such a cute name for a horse

- SHES WEARING HIS HAT!!!! yk what that means now….. 😏

- Her name is cherry hehehe TTN reference 🍒❤️

- He apologises for yelling at her he’s the ideal man *dreamy sigh * 😍😍😍

- NO she doesn’t want to leave him 😭

Copied and pasted these thoughts straight from the notes app with minimal editing

Akfjskakdjjskan (couldn’t be a thought by me on a one of ur fics without a key smash)

Loved ur writing as usual ❤️❤️❤️❤️

🕊️anon

DOVEY!!! YEESSS MORE THOUGHTS I FEED ON THOUGHTS!!!

⚠️ OPIN CHAPTER 4 SPOILERS ⚠️

Yeeess Yuri is back! And has reincarnated into ttn R's bestie! (Bc she's a tailor hehehe)

In every other universe there's a yuri that flirts with R

GAHHHHH THAT'S ADORABLE! I can imagine you reading it in a subway! (Idk why probably bc I also do that hahahaha)

Yuri: No ass 🫵 she lowkey exposed him in front of r HAHHAHAHHA

Making a song for someone is the peak of romance 🥰

OMFG "THIS ISN'T YOU" AHSBIAJnsjsjjsjsnb HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD NOW I'M CRINGING JUST THINKING ABT IT HAHAHHAHAHAHHA R LET HIM KILL CULVER INSTEAD DON'T BE A PICK ME GIRL

They're not beating the married allegations

It is!! It's a reference to the movie Nope!

Hehehhehe if you know u know 😉😉😉

Yep! It's a ttn reference! Special thanks to roze for the idea

I know right 😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰

AHHHHH I LOVED READING YOUR THOUGHTS THANK YOU SO MUCH 😘❤️❤️❤️

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s01ep13 “Clara's Folks” Review and Commentary

Previous episodes linked HERE

In this episode: Clara and the boys are at risk of being wiped from existence because Marty doesn't know how to say no to a nine-year-old.

And just like that, here we are at the last episode of season 1.

Doc begins his broadcast by carrying in a box and explaining that Clara has been urging him to do some serious cleaning and get rid of all the junk he's gathered over the years. One particular item catches his eye, and he pulls it out to show us, explaining that it was his entry into the 1932 Hilly Valley Junior Science Fair (which would have put him at 10 years old according to his birth year in the animated series).

Doc: "A videotape recorder with full 14-day programming capability. It worked perfectly! Too bad there weren't any TV sets around."

So, yeah. That's something Doc did, evidently.

The next thing he finds is one of my favorite parts of these live-action segments. Doc retrieves a videotape from the box and tells us that he was tight on money a few years back and had to resort to selling some of his inventions on the home shopping network. He pops the tape into the VCR, and we get to see a clip of one of his infomercials featuring the new and improved mind-reading helmet he's perfected. It's wonderfully silly.

Now I want to know about these financial issues Doc was having? What's the story there? Did he not have any ethical qualms about selling a functioning mind-reading device to the general public? How is such powerful technology being sold for only TWENTY DOLLARS?

The Back to the Future universe it truly a strange place.

Doc also shows us a net, which he says belonged to Clara's father, Daniel. Doc speaks very highly of the man and says the two met back in 1850, five years prior to Clara's birth. This little story then brings us into the cartoon to hear the full story.

While Doc is doing some work on a giant robot, Jules and Verne enter, having just arrived home from school. Jules tells his father he "discovered two new elements in chemistry class," to which Doc replies, "Everyone's entitled to a slow day now and then." Verne, however, had a horrible day and is majorly bummed out about something.

Meanwhile, Marty—who is also at the Brown residence—is playing his guitar that always makes me annoyed to look at because it has these two pathetic little strings on the body and then zero strings going up the neck.

It just. It makes no sense. How is he playing this thing? It makes appearances in multiple episodes, and it never has strings on it. Is this supposed to be some kind of ultra-futuristic guitar that Doc bought him? If so, couldn't they have at least mentioned that in passing so that my mind could be at peace? (It's like they weren't even considering me in this decision at all. Rude.) Is it that terribly difficult to draw a few strings on a cartoon guitar?

Verne storms into the room and tells Marty why his day was so bad. Turns out a classmate, Roland Culver, was bragging about his grandfather's accomplishments, which upset Verne since he never had a chance to know his grandparents or any of the cool things they might have done in life. Marty points out that Verne does know some stories about Clara's parents and directs him to a frame on the wall. It contains a piece of buckboard from Martha and Daniel's wagon, on which their wedding announcement was burned into the wood.

Verne goes on to recite some of the story he's heard a hundred times, informing us that Martha and Daniel met on the Oregon Trail and married that same day.

Wanting to get solid proof of his grandparents' love story, Verne announces that he's going to travel back in time to meet them. I'm glad to say that Marty, who is typically a major enabler of the boys' shenanigans, does warn Verne about the dangers of going back in time and meeting relatives. Verne doesn't see the big deal.

"Don't get your shorts in a wad," he tells Marty. "I'm just gonna take a stinkin' picture." Verne is such a little smart-mouth, and I love the dynamic he has with Marty.

Unfortunately, even the plethora of bad things Marty experienced as a result of messing with the past isn't enough to motivate him to put a stop to Verne's plan. He ends up tagging along with them to 1850.

One neat detail in this episode is that we actually get some of the BTTF part III music in the 1850 scenes. In the one pictured above, we hear a few seconds of the music that plays as Marty walks through the town after leaving Seamus' house. And a few seconds later, as the boys are all running from a buffalo stampede, we hear the music that plays when Doc and Marty are attempting to get the horses to pull the DeLorean up to 88mph. It's very cool.

Marty, Jules, and Verne are saved from the stampede by none other than Clara's mother, Martha, who falls in love with Marty the moment she sees him. Marty is not thrilled by this development.

I mean, I don't know, McFly. Maybe you should simply stop being so ruggedly handsome and irresistible to every woman you come across. Have you considered that?

A whole line of wagons show up then, with Clara's father being the last one to arrive. He causes a collision because he's too busy reading a book to pay attention to where he's going, and we're obviously supposed to get the impression that he's a nerd.

"That's Grandpa? I hope Roland Culver never hears about this," Verne comments, ashamed of his bowtie-wearing, bookworm of a grandfather.

Poor Daniel Clayton.

The group plus Marty and the boys continue along the trail, and Jules laments that he now has to repair the damage done to the DeLorean during the stampede, along with figuring out how to undo the damage to their family tree. The future isn't looking too good for Clara's side of the family. Martha has tied Marty up and is insisting that they get married.

She literally tells him that she won't set him free until he agrees to walk down the aisle with her. And you know what? Clara is a lovely person, but her mother? Not liking her so far.

Marty manages to escape and ends up in Daniel's wagon, where Daniel confesses that he's got a crush on Martha, who doesn't even know he exists. Marty tells Daniel he's going to help him win Martha's affection.

Also, Daniel is a bug enthusiast. His wagon is just filled with jars of bugs. I like him a lot.

As part of his plan to make Daniel more appealing to Martha, Marty helps to give him a makeover of sorts—exchanging his formal clothing for cowboy attire.

Daniel: "Will this really make the lovely Miss O'Brien notice me?"

Verne: "Yeah, and she'll say, 'Who's the stinkin' geek?'"

VERNE. Verne, you are not helping.

That evening at dinner, Marty urges Daniel to go and talk to Martha, but he's interrupted by none other than "Wild Bill" Tannen, who also has eyes for Martha. He ends up kidnapping her after she witnesses him stealing from their gold.

We then take a scene jump to the present day, where something alarming is happening to Clara. She's beginning to become transparent. Which is, um, not a good sign.

She's oblivious to her current state and very upset that someone has "sanded" the wedding announcement off of the buckboard. Doc assures her that he'll take care of things and instructs her not to look in any mirrors.

After taking the time train to 1850, Doc sets out with Marty, Daniel, and Jules to find Martha (and Verne, who has gone to rescue her on his own). They have trouble trying to track them down, but it's okay because Martha and Verne manage to escape on their own after Wild Bill blinds himself with the flash from Verne's camera. They don't get too much time to relax, though, seeing as a giant bear finds them a moment later.

From over on a nearby cliff, Jules spots his brother and grandmother, who appear seconds away from becoming bear-chow. After taking some time to survey the land, Doc spots a nearby geyser and recognizes that the area they're in will eventually become Yellowstone National Park. Doc yells down for Verne to lay some buffalo hide over the opening of the geyser and sit on it with Martha. When the geyser soon erupts, they're lifted up into the air and out of harm's way. Doc and Daniel then use the covering for a wagon to construct a paraglider and swoop in to catch Marth and Verne once the geyser stops.

This heroic rescue wins Martha over, and she falls in love with Daniel, setting the timeline right. During their ceremony, Daniel (the bug enthusiast, remember?) catches a butterfly, which he says is a new species. He names it after Martha.

We return to the present day, where Verne is showing the picture of the butterfly to his class as part of his show-and-tell. Roland Culver tells Verne that he has a cool grandfather. End of cartoon.

Back in the garage, we find Doc in a state we don't often see him in: angry.

Except, surprise. The big goofball was just pretending. In fact, he was doing "geyser talk," which brings us into a little lesson on how geysers work, along with an experiment to create one using boiling water and a funnel.

After the experiment portion with Bill Nye, we go back to Doc, who is wearing glasses. I'm not sure why. But he looks nice in them. They compliment his face well.

Anyway, that's the end of the episode.

This was a fun one, and I really liked getting to see Clara's parents. You can see where she got the various aspects of her personality from. Strong-headed and tough like her mother, yet sensitive and intelligent like her father. Revisiting season 1 has been nice, and I'm excited to begin season 2, which I've never seen before.

Join me next week for the first episode of season 2, in which Marty lies to Jennifer, then sneaks off with Verne to 1697 so that Verne can get an earring in the Caribbean. ??? Really, Marty??

(I use the Futurepedia summaries to write the "join me next week" parts, btw. Very intrigued by. Whatever is going on in the next episode.)

[mysticalibra1994]

South Park: SU

Since there are people who grew up with South Park and people who grew up with Steven Universe, I've figured "Why not combine the two?"

Now, in this universe, the Creators of South Park are in the positions of the Diamonds. Brian Graden is practically the "most important piece" of South Park. How? Simple. It all started in 1995, Graden hired Matt Stone and Trey Parker to create a video Christmas card thanks to their animated short "The Spirit of Christmas". Now, I'm not calling the creators "evil" because they're supposed to represent the Diamonds.

With that set in mind (pun intended), I hope you all enjoy...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Setting: interior; Culver, Los Angeles, CA. Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Cartman, Butters, and Dovahkiin are at the entrance of the front gate. Kyle notices how nervous Dovahkiin appears to be.]

Kyle: Are you sure you wanna go through this? Dovahkiin: I'm sure, Kyle. Besides, there has to be a reason why my Powers only work on Facebook and Instagram. I just... want to know. Kyle: Okay, dude. Remember, it's never too late to back out if you're not feeling well. Cartman: Kahl, what about you? Kyle: What about me, fatass? Cartman: Well, you seem a bit flushed. Maybe it's a side effect of having sand in your va- Kyle: CARTMAN, SHUT THE [bleep] UP!!

[Almost as if on cue, the gate opens. The South Park preteens hesitate to enter, but they eventually do. As they walked inside the building, they were a little bit weirded out that there were multiple drawings of them on the walls.]

Stan: The hell? Dovahkiin: Are these more Yaoi fanarts? Kyle: Well, some of them are, but they look professionally drawn. Kenny: What the [bleep] is this place?

[Suddenly, a couple of voices from one room.]

Mr. Parker: Holy shit, dude. Mr. Stone: I know, right? It's as if Walt Disney heard Mickey's voice for the first time. Stan: Who the hell are you guys?! Mr. Parker: Duh, we're you're creators! Mr. Stone: And your voice actors. Kyle: So, you're both God? Cartman: Oh-ho-ho, Kahl. You're going straight to hell for being Jewish! Mr. Stone: Nah, he's safe. Mr. Parker: Besides, Cartman. The seat we saved for you would be too big for him. Cartman: AYE! Mr. Stone and Mr. Parker: *laughs* Mr. Parker: Now, which one of you guys asked about "Yaoi fanarts"? Dovahkiin: *slowly raises his hand* Uh... I did, sir. Mr. Parker: Oh my god... There he is, our pride and joy wrapped in a shy and thoughtful package! Dovahkiin Jarvis-Affini! Dovahkiin: Y-you knew my parents? Mr. Stone: Actually, that's a funny story. You see- Mr. Parker: We actually have a "Chris" and "Kelly" who works with us! They tried really hard to have kids, but they couldn't. So, we made it up for them by making a South Park version of them and you! Dovahkiin: *astonished* Wow... So, I really am that important? Mr. Parker: Of course, kiddo! So, what brings you hear? Kyle: Wait, didn't you text us this location? Mr. Stone: We used to do that for our True Fans, but we stopped when middle schoolers became our fans.

[When Kyle shows the Creators the text, their eyes widen in shock...]

Mr. Parker: That is not our text. Dovahkiin: Who's is it? Mr. Stone: There's only one person that texts that perfectly. Butters: Who? Mr. Parker: Exec. Graden. [Beat.] Stan: Who? Mr. Stone: He's our Media Executor. He's one of the two reasons why we have paychecks. Dovahkiin: What's the other reason? Mr. Parker: Our fans. No, our true fans. You see, the reason why we created you guys was because you reminded us of our childhood. Example? Kenny, you reminded us of our childhood friend who always wore an orange hoodie due to being poor and would mostly skip school. Mr. Stone: *laughs* Yeah, whenever the teachers would ask about his whereabouts, we would go "Kenny died"! *laughs some more*

[As the group laughs about it, an average-looking man makes his way to them, sporting what looks like the Joker from Batman smiles normally.]

Exec. Graden: What is going on, Parker? Stone? Mr. Stone: N-nothing, sir. Exec. Graden: Nothing "what"? Mr. Stone: Uh, sorry! Nothing, "sir". Exec. Graden: That's better. *notices Dovahkiin* Who let this background character into this building? Dovahkiin: "Background character"...? Kyle: Uh, you did? You sent us the coordinates! Exec. Graden: Oh, right. The social medias... Dovahkiin: Um, excuse me. What did you mean when you called me a "background character"? Mr. Parker: Kid, no! Exec. Graden: I mean, you weren't supposed to have a life like the rest of the main and supporting cast. You were supposed to blend into the background. Dovahkiin: *taken aback* B-but, my parents... They- Exec. Graden: Background characters, too. *looks at the Creators* I suppose this was your doing, correct? Dovahkiin: *to Mr. Parker* You knew about this? Mr. Parker: *feels guilt* We didn't know... Mr. Stone: *looks away in shame* ...how to tell you.

[This type of news broke Dovahkiin. He thought that he was almost like the chosen one (but without the "getting nailed" part). Cartman noticed Dovahkiin's broken state and did something that nobody would've guessed...]

Cartman: Okay, that's enough. Dovah has been through a lot, give him a break. Exec. Graden: Eric Theodore Cartman being respectful? Oh no, we can't have that. *snaps his fingers, Cartman falls limp* Kyle: *stunned* Eric...? Exec. Graden: Kyle Broflovski being concerned for Archie Bunker Jr.? Oh no, we can't have that. *snaps his fingers, Kyle falls limp* Butters: Leave them alone! Exec. Graden: Leopold Stoch being supportive of his bullies? Oh no, we can't have that. *snaps his fingers, Butters falls limp* Stan: *looks at Dovahkiin, who's still broken* Come on, Dovah! Do something! Exec. Graden: Stanley Marsh forgetting that he's a main character? Oh no, we can't have that. *snaps his fingers, Stan falls limp* Now, we- Wait... Where's the running gag in the orange hoodie? Mr. Stone: By the time you got here, Kenny got bored, took a bottle of my dad's glaucoma medicine, got [bleep]ed up, placed his tongue in an electric pencil sharpener, bled out, and died. Mr. Parker: Holy shit, you saw that? Mr. Stone: Didn't need to. Mr. Stough texted a photo with a description of it. *shows it to them* Dovahkiin: *snaps out of it, looks around, then at them* Why...? Why are you guys doing this to us? Exec. Graden: Why? To get back to the drawing board, of course. During the first season of South Park, it was just a TV show about kids being neglected by their parents until something bad happened. Now, every episode has gone so political, that one would think that it airs on the same channel as FOX News! *sighs as he collects himself* But now, that'll all change. Parker, Stone, bring the background character to me.

[They hesitate, but...]

Dovahkiin: *looks up at them* Mr. Parker: Sorry, kid. Mr. Stone: But, he's the reason why our kids have stuff and food.

[After snapping his fingers ambidextrously, he aims both of his index fingers at Dovahkiin, and pulls him apart via "the Force". Instead of forcing his existence to disappear, something else happens... Instagram!Dovahkiin, Facebook!Dovahkiin, and husk!Dovahkiin floats for a bit. Then, husk!Dovahkiin falls limp; barely alive. Instagram!Dovahkiin and Facebook!Dovahkiin both look at each other in wondered awe and at husk!Dovahkiin with a perplexed expression then shares the same worrisome expression with the Creators.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that's only the first part of "South Park Meets the Creators".

I'm aware that it does contain OOC with Cartman and Kyle, but this does happen when the South Park kids are now preteens; despite them being fictional, people can change as they get older.

[caixinliang]

Practice 1

assignment 6, concept art - concept and storyboards

. Blog post 01

This assignment requires us to create a storyboard with 6-10 panels. We need to use these panels to effectively tell a story, and I believe the choice of the story is crucial.

I plan to illustrate the storyboard for the science fiction flash fiction story "Knock."

"Knock" is a science fiction short story by American writer Fredric Brown. It begins with a piece of Flash fiction based on the following passage by Thomas Bailey Aldrich:

"Imagine all human beings swept off the face of the earth, excepting one man. Imagine this man in some vast city, New York or London. Imagine him on the third or fourth day of his solitude sitting in a house and hearing a ring at the door-bell!"

Fredric Brown condensed this text into "a sweet little action story that is only two sentences long". "Knock" then goes on to elaborate on those two sentences and build a more complete plot around them.

The first two lines are a complete story by themselves:

“The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door ...“

It was published in the December 1948 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories.There have been three different radio adaptations (Dimension X, X Minus One and Sci Fi Channel's Seeing Ear Theatre). The story was reprinted in The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1949.

Knock (short story) - Wikipedia

I believe that every storyboard creator should have the awareness that, when crafting a storyboard, the most crucial aspects are not the intricacy of individual frames but rather:

1. The coherence of the story

2. The readability of the story

3. The completeness of visual information

Novel media differs fundamentally from visual media such as movies, television, comics, etc., in that visual media possess the immediacy and concreteness of visual presentation.

For example, in a movie depicting a bar scene, the audience can even see the brand of each bottle. When a large amount of visual information rapidly enters the audience's brain, artists need to assist in filtering and guide the audience's emotions and feelings. Guidance methods include lighting, camera focus, composition, and so on.

I read a book called "framed ink", which is a tutorial book that teaches Visual Storytellers how to draw and tell stories.

Mateu-Mestre, M. (2010) Framed ink: drawing and composition for visual storytellers. Culver City: Design Studio Press.

Author Marcos Mateu Mestre in "framed ink":

Let's not forget that when we are talking about visual storytelling, the image is the vehicle and not the end in itself.

We cannot afford to get the audience stuck on a particular frame just because the drawing or the scene looks great without a specific purpose for it within the story.

Obviously we aim to produce the best quality art, but we should prioritize the following:

• What are we trying to say in our narration as a whole?

• What mood do we want our audience to be in throughout the story and at any given time within a specific sequence or shot?

What is the function of this moment within the story?

• How are we going to take our audience there?

• What in our drawing is contributing to the general statement?

• What can we leave out without changing what we are trying to say?

I think these points are the most important for Visual Storytellers.

Reference:

Mateu-Mestre, M. (2010) Framed ink: drawing and composition for visual storytellers. Culver City: Design Studio Press.

that is all for now~

[thanksforthedinosaur]

november 2023

tomcbumpz - close your eyes

pinkpantheress - capable of love

sonic girl - bff ∞

almondmilkhunni - miss u - glimji remix

helena gao - god's favorite

higgo - think twice

holliday howe - 1 2 3 4 (i just want my stuff back)

namasenda - maserati

ko aka koala - chef's kiss

livia o - stepping off

silvie - panic - acoustic

frex - postcards

claire rosinkranz - polarized

tiger darrow - impulse tattoo

l devine - slippin away

nessa barrett - club heaven

bel - cold brew

lølø - faceplant

sody - trust

tate mcrae - greedy

dayyani - johnny

ari abdul - bite marks

taela - beetlejuice (dead to me)

carr - usual medication

lolahol - spelling

olivia lunny - fix this

paramore - c’est comme ça (re: wet leg)

sweet pill - starchild

mansions - it’s a joke

anita velveeta - milk

del paxton - yes depression

hawthorne heights - the storm

blink-182 - fell in love

the dollyrots - 5+5

teenage joans - yoke

venus & the flytraps - good to be bored

hana eid - pitbull

wednesday - hot rotten grass smell

pinkshift - to me

deary - sleepsong

laveda - surprise

yumi zouma - kpr

squirrel flower - intheskatepark

mrch - wild

mother tongues - love in a vicious way

kali horse - long fever

joiner - folded smile

sufjan stevens - my red little fox

mali velasquez - decider

sarah jarosz - columbus & 89th

caroline culver - long island dr

margot liotta - planet song

sophie may - somewhere far

mabel ye - the litany

laura veirs - creatures of a day

meadowlark - goodbye

shunkan - october

boygenius - voyager

helena deland - the animals

al menne - kill me

fenne lily - dawncolored horse

becca mancari - i had a dream

agnes hartwich - sad/drunk (demo)

daisy the great - glitter 2

reveal party - my boy, pt.2

madison cunningham - subtitles

juliet ivy - boytoy

chelsea cutler - if not yours

marika hackman - no caffeine

charlie houston - cranberry

cafuné - shadowboxing

cole bleu - heartbreakers

somoh - man

radiator hospital - sweetness of yr vision

babehoven - chariot

the seshen - waiting for dawn

alayna - buckle in baby - remix

dorian electra - idolize

blu detiger - cut me down (feat. mallrat)

tkay maidza - out of luck

hannah diamond - no fx

troye sivan - in my room

holly humberstone - paint my bedroom black

cassie marin - processing

sarah kang - pluto

weslee - love you i do

jamila woods - practice

offset - worth it (feat. don toliver)

(g)i-dle - flip it

earl sweatshirt - 27 braids

self jupiter - big dipper

reverie - intergalactic

doja cat - paint the town red

[themculibrary]

Clint/Darcy Masterlist

come on sweet catastrophe (ao3) - twistedingenue T, 10k

Summary: Darcy Lewis is whisked away from her dorm at Culver in the middle of the night, and really, the secret agent shit is already getting old.

Don’t Tease A Hawk (ao3) - WordsmithDee E, 6k

Summary: Darcy is bored but Clint is busy with paperwork. She learns there are repercussions for teasing the Hawk.

Emotion in Motion (ao3) - Smittywing (Smitty) E, 6k

Summary: For the prompt, Darcy’s a virgin. It’s not a big deal or anything. She just hadn’t met anyone worthy of being a first time. This guy Clint, well, he takes anything as a challenge.

Gift of Asylum (ao3) - carleton97, sister_wolf E, 47k

Summary: The story of how Darcy Lewis accidentally helps found the Avengers while having an epic, failboaty romance with that dude she nailed in a bar two years ago. Tasers, jackbooted thugs, Tony Stark, and life-altering job offers are par for the course when you help discover an alien/god dude with amazing pecs.

Having A Bit Of A Day, Here (ao3) - kellifer_fic N/R, 7k

Summary: Where Darcy gets a super power, kind of, sorta. Geez, she's just having a bit of a weird week, alright?

if you wanna fill your bottle up with lightning (ao3) - twistedingenue T, 14k

Summary: In the wake of poor life choices involving redheads and red cars, Clint’s responsible decision making skills take another header after learning that Dr Foster and Darcy have missed their last few check-ins and winds up driving out to New Mexico with Kate.

i may have a bit of a bias (ao3) - kellifer_fic T, 4k

Summary: Having an Iron Man and Captain America plush duo on your desk that you can place into compromising positions is a totally valid way to amuse yourself.

I’m Game (ao3) - DresupiF E, 13k

Summary: Darcy needs a date for her family Thanksgiving dinner to settle a bet, and Clint’s personal ad was the one she answered.

in deep with you darling (ao3) - t_fic (topaz), topaz, topaz119 (topaz) M, 48k

Summary: Darcy could have, under normal circumstances, resisted the aesthetics (however awesome they are, and holy crap are they awesome), but there’s an itch under her skin—apparently, nearly dying by giant, fire-breathing robots from space in the middle of Nowhere, New Mexico will start you questioning your life choices. Who knew?

Say it aloud (break the night into the day) (ao3) - twistedingenue E, 9k

Summary: Darcy Lewis has a very specific skill set, it mostly has to do with looking and acting like a college student. Clint does not approve of her missions shenanigans.

the best of life is but intoxication (ao3) - kellifer_fic G, 4k

Summary: Where Steve and Darcy are platonic BFFs and Tony and Clint just aren't buying it.

The Perfect Weather (ao3) - Fraulein G, 10k

Summary: Clint's paranoid. Darcy’s bravery is put to the test. Jane has a rude awakening in regards to her research. Also, Clint learns he should never underestimate a girl with a taser who’s willing to use it.

The Space Between Feathers (ao3) - thegirlgrey T, 60k

Summary: All Darcy wanted was 6 college credits and her iPod back.

(That's what she wanted, but not what she got.)

This is Not a Gothic Romance (and Clint is Not Heathcliff) (ao3) - shinykari (meinterrupted) E, 4k

Summary: Clint Barton is an idiot. This isn’t news to Darcy. What is new is waking up in his bed and hearing him talking to another woman in the other room.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E (ao3) - WordsmithDee T, 2k

Summary: Darcy Lewis and Clint Barton have an interesting first meeting that comes back to haunt Darcy.

Two Truths and a Lie (ao3) - hawksonfire G, 3k

Summary: Darcy Lewis does not lie. Clint Barton doesn’t think she can always tell when someone is lying. So they make a bet.