#myra dawn

[catella-ars]

Revisiting an old art! One of the first I did with Ivy and The Twins @carbonatedcacti

[jumpywhumpywriter]

Living Weapon Whumpee part 5

Warnings: touch starvation, forced living weapon/fighter, memory loss, conditioning, recovery

And he recognized the colors of their armor.

The newcomers wore enemy colors, and he instinctively wanted to rush out of the house and attack like he was trained to. Kill the threat while he had the element of surprise on his side.

"Wait... that's my father!" Myra gasped happily, and before Whumpee could stop her she was charging out the front door and rushing over to the man in the lead, who was dressed like a leader. The man was toeing one of the dead bodies scattered around, but he instantly whirled when Myra called to him, his whole face slack with shock as he dropped his rifle to pick her up in his arms.

"Myra! Are you hurt? I should have been here to stop this... Leader had created a diversion for my men to draw us away from this town. We played right into his hands..." The father's voice was thick with emotion as he hugged his daughter tight, checking her over for injury soon after, and Whumpee couldn't help feeling a small twinge of razor-sharp jealousy as he watched from the safety of the house, hidden from sight. He wished he had something like that, someone to run to when he was scared. But he would never get that luxury. After all, he was Weapon. That would never change. He didn't deserve to be loved or cared for.

"General Flint, should we sweep the area for more survivors?" One soldier asked gruffly. Ah, so Flint was the father's name. Whumpee tensed, hands subconsciously drifting to the two large fighting blades on his belt, his preferred weapon of choice. He was trained to fight to the death if it came to it, death before capture. No surrendering.

Flint frowned slightly in dawning realization and confusion as his grayish eyes flicked over Myra's appearance -- she was practically untouched, aside from a few small shapes here and there.

"...How did you survive?" He asked in disbelief. "This is Weapon's style of killing, and Weapon doesn't leave anyone alive. It's a miracle you're standing here right now. How on earth did you do it...?"

No. Don't talk. Please, please don't talk... Whumpee silently pleaded, knowing it was useless. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Myra turned around, glancing back at her house, the same house Whumpee was still hiding in.

"There was a nice man with a bunch of scars on his face who helped me," she said innocently. It felt like the final nail in the coffin for Whumpee.

Flint stood up straight, picking his rifle up as he went and immediately taking up a defensive position, his four fellow soldiers doing the same, tense and alert and afraid.

"That's Weapon, it had to be. Which means he's still somewhere in town, and Myra must have been the bait to lower our guards," Flint bit out angrily. "Where did you see this man last, Myra?!"

Myra flinched and took a half-step away from her father, eyes wide and confused. "Why--"

"Myra, please! We need to find and neutralize the war weapon before it kills anyone else!"

"That war weapon? From all those horror stories?" Myra gasped. "But... Whumpee can't be..." Her eyes flicked back over to the house again, and Flint picked up on it, signaling to his men with a hand in the air.

"Fan out! Shoot to kill!" He barked loudly, creeping toward the front door.

Whumpee stiffened, cover blown. They knew where he was now, surrounding the building. He'd have to fight his way out, like usual. But he had an insane amount of battle experience on his side, so he wasn’t worried. Five soldiers shouldn't be too hard to handle, even if they had rifles and he merely had two daggers in defense.

Whumpee pressed his back against the wall next to the open front door, clutching his blades close to his chest and steeling himself.

He listened to the sound of boots crunching on gravel, coming closer... closer... tracking the sound and pinpointing it precisely, counting every step.

A footfall on the wooden front step right outside the door was his cue that the enemy was close enough to attack. He burst out of cover and threw himself at the man with a fierce roar, tackling him down and knocking the rifle out of his hands -- he recognized him as Flint, the leader of the enemy forces. Whumpee's Leader would be so proud if Whumpee managed to kill him, cut off the head of the snake.

Flint was stronger than Whumpee would have expected from a normal human, and they wrestled hard on the ground, Flint's soldiers rushing over to assist with rifles raised.

Flint and Whumpee were a hissing, screeching ball of flailing limbs and vicious blows, movements almost too fast for the eye to track. But Whumpee ended up on top, a blade pressed to Flint's throat as he pinned the general down. One slash and the entire war would be over. Leader's army would win.

"NO! Whumpee, DON'T KILL HIM! Please!"

Whumpee's head snapped up at the cry and he locked eyes with Myra, whose face was pale with unbridled terror as she looked at her father, completely at Whumpee's mercy, milliseconds away from death.

And despite himself, despite all his training, Whumpee hesitated -- a fatal mistake. Lifted the dagger slightly off Flint's throat. Paused for a second too long.

"Sir! I don't have a clear shot!" A man barked urgently. "I might shoot you both if I discharge!"

"TAKE THE SHOT!" Flint roared beneath Whumpee. "DO IT NOW!!"

And the soldiers obeyed -- all five of them opening fire, and Whumpee's whole world whited out with pure pain.

Most rounds missed, but many still found their mark in his flesh, tearing through him in streaks of blazing agony all at once, close range bullets ripping him open in a dozen sprays of blood.

Whumpee let out a shrieking scream that choked off into a gurgle, one bullet going through the side of his neck, and collapsed, rolling off of Flint to hit the ground, the weapons falling from his hands.

"Ceasefire!" Flint barked the instant he was down.

Whumpee was on his side, world spinning in front of him as he watched a soldier help Flint to his feet -- the general limping, having caught a stray bullet in the leg. Watched helplessly as Flint snatched up his rifle and stormed over to him while he writhed and moaned in pain, kicking him like a dog in the ribs to roll him onto his back, before placing the rifle's muzzle right on his forehead.

Blood snaked from both corners of Whumpee's mouth, another gurgling groan leaving him. It hurt so much, even though he knew it wouldn't be fatal, not to him -- at least, not until Flint took the killshot. A normal human would be dead after the dozen bullets Whumpee had taken, but Whumpee was no normal human. He was Weapon, built to survive a ridiculous amount of injury. But it didn't mean he couldn't feel pain. Excruciating, intense pain as he felt the cold metal on his forehead, stared dizzily up into Flint's harsh eyes, blood bubbling between his lips with every rattling breath.

Whumpee twitched weakly on the ground, muscle spasm wracking his injured form. What was Flint waiting for? His finger was clearly on the trigger -- but he hadn't pulled it yet.

Then Whumpee's eyes slide over and spotted Myra, tugging at her father's arm as he stood over Whumpee, ready and willing to end him. He could barely hear what she was saying over the roar of blood in his ears.

"Don't kill him! Please!" Myra begged.

"It's a monster, Myra, and monsters need to be put down," Flint argued with a growl.

"But he isn't all bad!" Myra retorted. "He helped me! Spared my life! And maybe... maybe he could tell us something useful about who he works for!" She sounded like she was grasping at straws at this point, but Flint seemed to genuinely consider her words, nodding to himself.

"...We could figure out how Leader turned it into Weapon," Flint mused, thinking about it logically like the general he was. "Maybe learn some valuable secrets." He took the rifle away from Whumpee's head, his eyes dark and hateful. "Looks like you win the lottery, freak... I'm taking you alive."

No. Whumpee's blood ran cold as ice. No no no NO. He couldn't be caught alive to be tortured and experimented on. He was supposed to die before letting himself be taken alive. He'd failed the biggest rule Leader had given to him, and now the enemy would have him in their possession to discover all of Leader's secrets. But something told him it was the least of his worries right now.

A soldier entered his field of vision, crouching down and bringing something toward Whumpee's head. Whumpee jerked away from the object before crying out in pain as even that small movement sent sparks of fire shooting down his spine.

"Careful where your hands are, it might bite," someone warned.

Something made of metal and leather pressed tightly against Whumpee's face, startling him, as straps were buckled behind his head. He was being muzzled, like a rabid animal. He snarled, trying not to let the terror show on his face, but the sound was muffled by the new contraption that wouldn't let his jaw move open a single inch. He was getting weaker with every heartbeat, his own blood soaking through his clothes and painting the ground as cold metal closed around his wrists and ankles cruelly tight, binding them together.

This kind of fear was new to Whumpee, restrained and unable to break free. He'd had the fear beaten out of him by Leader so many times before that he never even flinched when faced with danger, but right now... Whumpee was outright terrified.

"Knock him out before you bring him," Flint growled, and the last thing Whumpee was aware of was the sharp prick of a needle in his neck, before the darkness closed in and swept him away.

⏪️ Back Next ⏩️

Masterlist

@scoundrelwithboba @lumpofsand @isikedmyself878 @iamheretohurt @fleur-a-whump

@ay5ksal @otterfrost @sausages-things @i-don't-know-sal @togzy

@whump-till-ya-jump @cravesunconditionallove @whumpwritinglover222 @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

[acknowledge-reigns]

Baddie and The Beast | Jacob Fatu x Black!Fem OC | 18+!

Description: Jacob attempts to make things right with Myra

Chapter: 2/6

Face Claim: Flo Milli

Warnings: Mention of drinking, strong language, mention of one night stand.

This is the Jacob x Myra sequel to Swipe Right, Rivals With Benefits and Kiss It Better. As always my stories are NOT about real people and does not reflect their character. This is very much an 18+ BDSM based romance with some comedy thrown in there. If kink content isn't for you, specifically Primal Kink (google if need be) for this one, please scroll. You have been warned.

Word count: 1,206

My masterlist can be found here

Taglist: @lov3rla03 @adoreesun @Isabella-2025 @skyesthebomb @acute-crashout-jeyuso @raya-hunter01

Jacob was lifting weights in the gym, trying to distract himself from his failed attempt to ask Myra out the previous day. He had been thinking about her all night, wondering what he had done wrong.

As he was finishing his set, Zilla approached him. "Hey, we need to talk," Zilla said, a serious expression on his face.

Jacob set down the weights and wiped the sweat from his brow. "What's up, Uce?" he asked, sensing that Zilla had something important to say.

Zilla leaned against the weight rack, his arms crossed. "It's about Myra." he said, his voice low.

Jacob's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Myra's name. "What about her?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

Zilla shook his head, seeing right through Jacob's act. "You know damn well what I'm talking about," he said. "Last summer, you hooked up with her, and then you ghosted her."

Jacob furrowed his brow, confusion written all over his face. "I did what?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "Nah, I ain't meet her til you and LeLe moved into y'all new spot yesterday."

Zilla raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Jacob's response. "Man, Uce, you really don't remember hooking up with her last summer?" he asked incredulously.

Jacob shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face. "No, I swear I don't. Are you sure it was me?" he asked, trying to wrap his head around the situation.

Zilla sighed, "That's why she rejected you. She was still hurt from you ghosting her."

Jacob groaned, "Damn it, I can't believe I did that to her," he muttered. "I didn't even remember." He pauses and thinks for a moment, "Shit! She was the girl from the hotel bar."

Zilla nodded, "Yup, that's the one." He watched as realization dawned on Jacob's face.

"I'm such an idiot," Jacob muttered, burying his face in his hands. "How could I have forgotten something like that?"

"You guys kept drinking after you hooked up, you were fucking blitzed, uce." Zilla said.

Jacob groaned again, "Great, just great. No wonder she hates me."

Zilla patted him on the back, "Yeah, well, now you know. How you gonna fix it?" he asked inwardly chuckling at himself at the fact that just last year Roman, Jey and Jimmy were saying roughly the same thing to him in regards to his relationship with Kiley.

Jacob looked up at Zilla, determination in his eyes. "I don't know, but I'm gonna try," he said firmly. "I can't let her hate me. I have to make things right."

Jacob continued, "The next morning, I was in such a rush to check out of the hotel that I didn't even realize I left my phone behind, which had her number in it. After that I just..Forgot."

Zilla shook his head, "Damn, That's a messed up situation."

Jacob nodded, "I know, I know. I should have been more careful. But I swear, I didn't mean to ghost her."

"I'ma figure this shit out." Jacob said, a mix of hope and anxiety in his voice.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴

A few hours later, Kiley and Myra were in Kiley and Zilla's living room, planning the fundraiser for the free clinic they volunteered at. Myra was looking over the guest list, making sure everything was in order, when Kiley pulled out a stack of autographed photos.

Myra raised an eyebrow, "What's that?" she asked, looking at the photos in Kiley's hand.

Kiley grinned, "Autographs from Roman and Jey. I managed to get them to sign some for the fundraiser." She said, but pauses for a moment her brows furrowed in confusion. "What..?"

"I think this stack is for you.." Kiley said handing a few of the photos over to Myra who instantly realized they weren't autographed by Roman or Jey, they were autographed by Jacob with a little sticky note attached. 'I'm sorry i ghosted you. I'll make it up to you however I can. Much love, Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu.' Along with his phone number.

Myra's eyes widened as she read the note and saw the photos. Her heart started racing as she looked up at Kiley. "oh.."

Kiley couldn't help but chuckle at the look on Myra's face. "Looks like he wants to make amends," she said, gesturing to the autographs.

Myra was speechless, her mind racing as she stared at the autographs in her hand. She couldn't believe Jacob had actually done something like this.

Kiley could sense her friend's conflicted emotions. "What are you gonna do?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

Myra sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know," she admitted. "Part of me wants to just forget about him, but another part of me is intrigued by this."

She looked down at the autographs again, reading the note once more. "I don't know if I can forgive him that easily."

Kiley placed a comforting hand on Myra's shoulder. "I get it, you've been hurt before. But don't let that stop you from giving him a chance to explain himself."

She paused for a moment before adding, "And who knows, maybe he really is sorry."

Myra took a deep breath, contemplating Kiley's words. "I suppose I could at least.. hold onto the phone number."

Kiley nodded, "That's a start. Take some time to think about it, don't rush into anything. But just know, sometimes forgiveness is worth it."

Myra smiled weakly at Kiley. "Thanks, I'll think about it." She said, tucking the note into her bag.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴

The clinic was in desperate need of supplies and funds, and while a generous and substantial donation from Roman and Iris had went a long way towards helping them out, they still needed more.

The event was held in a large hall, decorated with banners and balloons. There were tables set up with food and drinks, as well as a silent auction where guests could bid on items donated by local businesses as well as the autographs provided by the bloodline.

Roman and Iris arrived at the fundraiser together, both dressed impeccably of course, along with Jey and Jax. Kiley hugged her sisters and thanked them.

Sometimes Myra envied all of her best friend's familial support. Myra had her mom of course but she had went off the deep end since her dad had passed and they had gone no contact in recent years.

Roman looked around the room, taking in the scene. "This place looks great," he said, impressed by the decorations and effort put into the event.

"I'm about to go hit up the snack table." Jey announced.

Myra was helping to oversee the event when her eyes drifted across the room and landed on Jacob. He was standing off to the side, sipping a drink and talking to someone. He looked good, as usual, in a black suit. Dayum he cleans up well..

Myra quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to be caught staring. She tried to focus on her tasks at hand, but her mind kept wandering back to Jacob. The memory of their night together flashed through her mind, and she felt a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

Y'know what? maybe she will call him after this.

Previous Chapter ●◉◎◈◎◉● Next Chapter

[persistentplums]

Despite my absolute hope against all hope about Dean getting really into botany completing his success in escaping the cyclical theme of the venture men career in unnatural science I do think he tries so so so so hard and fails. The show is about failure.

It dawned on me Dean attempt to feel more normal is to cling on to natural parts of basic identity ie who is his mom (he thought Myra) refusing super science, spiralling about being a clone etc when he isn’t. So what does that mean for Dean especially how it showed Dean with the rest of the Venture family and Hank outside?

I think ppl interpretation of Dean needing more support makes sense, he does, I also think Dean finally accepts he is not the same as everyone else he’s a Venture. I also like the interpretation that Hank is alone because he unlike Dean knows he will always get back up with or without people. It’s nice interpretations but regardless I do think Hank gets the shit end of this stick.

People aren’t an island, when Hank was found he was glad Dean came for him and asked if Doc was on his way. Dean lies because he knows it would suck for Hank to hear nobody was worried for him. Hank will always be okay but just because he will be okay doesn’t negate the need of support.

Ben gives Hank a watch telling him the meaning of chosen family. Thats Hank future, he will end up finding people he can call family I don’t think it’s all that cut and dry but I don’t want to say Hank is never in a position where its an overwhelming familiar place unless its about Brock which tbf they never got around to Hank and Doc having a better relationship.

I think Hank is going to navigate being successful adventurer just like his dad tv persona and Jonas but never really feel like his family namely his dad supports him. So he needs to make his own support that sees him. Which will be part of Hank entire adventure. Dean is a part of that but I think Hank will have to navigate it deeply.

Dean is going to fail at natural sciences because he has more in common with Jonas than Doc. Maybe it was the scene with Dean trying to fix Helper from the robot eye form or the Gargantua 2 moment but I do think Dean will end up having to accept like the men before him he is not part of the cycle of nature. His family does everything in the unnatural super science which is their natural. I do still think he will use his skills for good.

I think Dean succeeds in where he desperately wanted to. Be a good parent to his kids not messing them up or dragging them around, and doesn’t create more harm with his science. It’s always going to be Dean big pill to swallow that he isn’t normal. That his life from his partners, kids, career, etc will never be this picturesque level of peace but I think he learns if I can’t beat them then I’ll make it work. A little more grouch and sass but people will be around him to remind him to be a bit better than his dad.

Hank follows Brock footsteps in choosing a family while Dean follows Doc but Dean heart will always believe in the goodness that is fostered by Brock beliefs and Hank will always be able to understand exactly the world he is in because of Doc.

So basically Dean will fail, and Hank will succeed in the aspirations of what Doc had in mind but it won’t really matter because it was never really about that.

[theonestopshop]

NOCSTUFFIC NPT PACK & NAMES STARTING WITH "M," "MU," "V" ━━ requested : @rwuffles

[PT: Nocstuff Npt Pack & Names Starting with “M,” “Mu,” “V.” Requested by: @\rwuffles. /End PT.]

NAMES

╰➤ Astra , Lyra , Nova , Ember , Sable , Selene , Orion , Vale , Ajambo , Amaris , Asra , Bellatrix , Ciara , Danica , Estelle , Jemisha , Koko , Layla , Lyra , Luna , Nisha , Nova

╰➤ Mira , Melody , Misha , Muna , Murren , Magnus , Vesper , Vira , Velia , Munir , Miko , Vada , Milo , Mica , Myra , Vida , Vali , Muna , Vero , Mavis

PRONOUNS

╰➤ ve/ver/vis , ze/hir/hirs , xe/xem/xyr , ey/em/eir , thae/thaer/thaem , plush/plushself/plushes , star/starself/stars , moon/moonself/moons , shadow/shadowself/shadows , cloud/cloudself/clouds , night/nightself/nights , dream/dreamself/dreams , hug/hugself/hugs , 🌙/🌙self/🌙s , 🐻/🐻self/🐻s , 🌟/🌟self/🌟s , 🧸/🧸self/🧸s , 🌌/🌌self/🌌s , 💫/💫self/💫s

TITLES

╰➤ Night’s Soft Wanderer , Keeper of Midnight Hugs , The Plush Guardian of the Dark , The Sleepless Mind , The One Who Bears the Night’s Comfort , The One Who Exists in the Quiet Hours , The Dreamer Who Fades With the Dawn , Night’s Silent Companion , [Pronoun] Who Walks With Plushies and Stars , The Midnight Wanderer , Keeper of the Quiet Night , Dream Walker with a Soft Heart

Tag List: @npt-archive , @id-pack-archive

[ask-half-blood-hill]

Meet the Apollo Campers!

Serenity Valentina-Smythe - She's the head counselor of Cabin Seven, and the pillar that holds the place together. She's the camp's best archer, and a talented poet. She's got a bit of a temper, but she's always the first to rush to someone's aid.

Sebastian Yang - Serenity's second-hand man, and the camp's archery director. He's skilled with a bow and arrow, and often works with the Hephaestus cabin to design new arrows. He turned the old supply closet in the cabin into a workshop, teaching his siblings how to craft specialized projectiles.

Dawn Mellakos - One of the best trackers in camp, she's usually enlisted for search and rescue missions by the camp emergency team. She's a skilled healer, despite having weak healing magic, but she makes up for it with her heightened sense of hearing and the ability to sense soundwaves with her body. She can also sense when someone lies to her.

Kieran Madejski - Kieran is one of the most skilled poets in camp, and is often seen writing various stories in poem format. He's talented with instruments as well, and has the unique ability to make his body glow when it's dark outside. He can also communicate clearly with ravens, often asking them to fetch small objects lost by campers.

Myra Mubarak - She's the camp's most talented healer. Having sworn off violence unless necessary for survival, she's a friend to everyone. She has strong healing magic, and is in charge of the newly created walk-in clinic, inside of the Apollo cabin. She's also a skilled singer, often singing hymns to aid with the healing process. It's rumored she can control medicine and chemicals themselves.

Alexander Setimika - One of the newer campers, with the unique ability to teleport where there is sunlight. He's a loud, rambunctious boy, who's friends with some of the Hermes campers. He's also skilled with any projectile handed to him, which spells chaos when he decides to play pranks. At the end of the day, he has a good heart and makes sure people don't get hurt by his tricks.

Caroline Whitehall - A younger girl with the ability to sing hymns for healing or harming. She's got a knack for helping Myra, by being able to diagnose people with diseases and other injuries just by being close to them. She's skilled with a bow, like most all of her siblings, and is pretty quick and light on her feet.

Cyrus Langeland - The youngest camper in the entire camp, and the most adorable according to almost everyone. He has a passion for fairytales, and loves frogs and the color blue. He can always be seen at Myra's side, though he hasn't yet awakened his powers. He helps her in the clinic, or watches the other campers during activities. He can usually be seen doodling in a notepad, or humming along to the music his siblings play.

[headmate-lootbox]

hey, could we get a minecraft syspack with programming themes? mobs only, with at least one enderman. thank you!

Name;; Cyfir / Cynder / Castillo / Cassius

Age/Modifier;; Chrono 20 / Permateen 13

Gender;; Agender / Demigirl / Greenlexic / Blocklexic / Boomlexic

Pronouns;; She / Hiss / TNT / Boom / Explode / Crater / Green / Block / Build

Orientation;; Aromantic / Apressplatonic / Caedsexual / Panalterous

CisIDs;; CisMob / Cisprogrammed / CisHC-DID / CisPTSD / CisRAMCOA / CisSA / CisCSA / CisBPD / CisARFID / CisIED

TransIDs;; Transwings / Transeyecolor(Blue) / Transtail / Transheartpupil / Permahigh

Paras;; 👀 / 🦈 / 🦿 / 🌹

Role;; Trauma Holder

Source;; Minecraft

Extra;; Programs list: Delta Program, Beta Program, Eta program, iota program, scapegoat program, & princess program.

Name;; Emily / Lily / Oriya

Age/Modifier;; Chrono 28 / Permakid 10

Gender;; Genderhoarder

Pronouns;; They / Purple / Click / Stim / Tap / Black / White / End / Void / Vwoop / Pearl / Portal

Orientation;; Aromantic / Asexual / Aplatonic / Analterous

CisIDs;; CisMob / Cisprogrammed / CisHC-DID / CisPTSD / CisRAMCOA / CisSA / CisCSA / CisAquaphobia / CisAutistic / CisAVPD / CisASPD

TransIDs;; Transfamous / NullAVPD / Transblind / Transstalker

Paras;; 🐾 / 😶 / 💤

Role;; Caretaker

Source;; Minecraft

Extra;; programs; Prince program, eta program, iota program, omega program, callback program, flood program.

Name;; Styro / Spyre / Spruce / Janus

Age/Modifier;; Ageless

Gender;; Agender

Pronouns;; Any

Orientation;; Aplatonic/ Asexual / Aromantic / Analterous

CisIDs;; CisMob / Cisprogrammed / CisHC-DID / CisPTSD / CisRAMCOA / CisSA / CisCSA / CisChronicFatigue / CisPoorCirculation / CisBPD

TransIDs;; Transanorexic / Transanxiety / TransADHD / Transautisic/ Caneian

Paras;; 🦈/🌛/💐/⚙️

Role;; Protector

Source;; Minecraft

Extra;; programs; Duality program, shutdown program, lantern program, last dawn program, zeta program

Name;; Millie / Myra / Alya / Anri

Age/Modifier;; Chrono Ageless / Permakid 8

Gender;; Agender juxera

Pronouns;; She / Any

Orientation;; Asexual / Aromantic / Aplatonic / Panalterous

CisIDs;; CisMob / Cisprogrammed / CisHC-DID / CisPTSD / CisRAMCOA / CisSA / CisCSA / Cishoarder / CisCollector / CisEDS / CisDyslexic

TransIDs;; Transautisic/ TransOCD / TransBPD / TransNV

Paras;; 💤/🌹/👀/🛍️

Role;; Collector

Source;; Minecraft

Extra;; programs; idol program, innocence program, princess program, zeta program, iota program, eta program, omega program

[llolianarchives]

Boggart: Internal

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Learning how to counter a boggart is taught within a Fifth-year's first semester. Yet when Genevieve is required to face it again for her exams, it seems that her fears have taken a new form.

(A/N: Genevieve Myra Moxie is an original character and MC stand-in of mine for the game and its storyline.)

A boggart is a non-being, deemed harmless by the textbooks. Harmless, it claims, as if psychological damage has the worth of that of a paper cut's. Bitter as she can be, in truth, Genevieve knows that her fears are not suited for her kind — for her classmates who dread spiders and acne and loud storms. She's almost tempted to give Professor Hecat a look if it weren't for the sheer confidence the woman has in her capabilities. (And who is she dissapoint? She, Hero of Hogwarts, Wielder of Ancient Magic.)

The staccatto of her heart is in her ears. The thought hurts: She's caused many, their own hearts, to stop beating. Would they crawl out that wardrobe, shrieking of their sorrows and her sins? Would it pour a stream of thick velvet, flooding the room and staining her hands red? It takes the form of your fears. The book had not been so specific. Make a mockery out of your nightmares and the boggart shall be defeated. She wants to spit venom and ask how does one make a mockery of the dead and the disappointed.

It is she who is next in line.

"Miss Moxie, if you could please come forward."

Judgement, a part of her whispers. This is judgement. Condemnation for your crimes. I had done it all for the sake of good. Look at how happy we were just moments ago. It is a demonstration of today's DADA curriculum. I'll succeed.

Professor Hecat meets her eyes.

The crowd eyes her like a spectacle, dispersing from the center as if to form a makeshift carpet. Since the events of the attempted Goblin Rebellion, most have begun to see her as a walking, talking theatre, moreso than they did when she first arrived as the 'Mysterious Fifth-Year'.

Genevieve steps forward, her wand held firm in her hand.

"You know the counter, dear girl. Think it amusing. Do not let it rule you," she urges. "I know you of all people, Miss Moxie, will persevere."

Hecat's hand on the knob hesitates, waiting for Genevieve's signal. Her classmates turn silent in raw anticipation.

She nods.

And the doors creak open.

"Is that—?!"

Something descends from the darkness — a shoe that matches her's in all its customized cobblerly. Another steps out and fear grabs her by the throat when it dawns upon the girl that the boggart is her.

Wrong.

A mirror image of her own but unlike her in so many ways.

Its facing this way, standing as a mannequin for whatever evil wracks within, limbs looking wrong, disjointed, longer somehow. Once dainty-skin painted purple and bruised, pale like a corpse, like the ones she's seen and killed. The same curved jaw, straight nose, llight hair, but this isn't her. It's not. It can't be.

With its chapped lips and sunken cheeks, its fingers flex around a familiar wand of intertwined wood–

Run.

and raises it to–

No. Fight it. It'll kill...

– her.

"Riddikulus!"

"The lesson ends here! Miss Onai, kindly guide Miss Moxie to the infirmary."

It should be that simple.

It should be, watching Hecat subdue the creature.

It's that simple: a play of one's wand and the boggart's visage contorts, a grotesque parody of fears both imagined and real. Hecat stands in between the girl and the wardrobe. With a final whimper, it dissolves into a haze. The room, previously thick with dread, shares an exhale.

Her legs are trembling, or is her body entirely? The world sways and Genevieve can't see anyone past the blur of her vision.

"Off now, everyone! Well done!"

She can't feel herself. Is she still alive?

"Vivi," calls a familiar, accented voice.

Natty places a hand on her shoulder, tugging Genevieve into a hug that's botj solid and warm and she yields. Her head falls against the crook of Natty's neck. She submits to being pampered, submits to letting the tremors of her body wash away.

It looked at her.

Eyes hollowed and dark, pupils slit like some semblance of composed insanity.

"It's alright now..."

A lighter voice, this time — Poppy's. Genevieve feels circles rubbed against her back as Poppy whispers words of encouragement. Sweet nothings. Empty promises of assurance.

Her friends know nothing of the truth. She ensured it. She's done well in keeping them at an arm's length. Only Sebastian had broken through her walls, tethered closely to her side, created a home in her heart, yet look now where he stands.

They cannot- should not see the blood on her hands, nor the scars strewn about her body like a heinous frankenstein. They cannot know of the crown placed upon her head and the thorns that dig in, of her duties and failures.

It reeks of copper and soil.

To what lengths are you willing to go?

It hurts that her friends don't feel real.

Are you a hero or a monster?

The repository calls her name.

Are you even Genevieve Moxie?

Her friends guide a husk to the infirmary, not without a string of kind words and gentle touches to her skin.

"It's alright."

But she knows, it's not.

[alders-simblr]

Rowanwood Estates

Rowanwood Estates - WillowCreek - Sage Estates

I'm calling this the 'lite' version because I'm going to go back and clutter it up and change it but it is by no mean 'light' on CC. This one is going to be a long list of links just as a warning and includes my own mod tweak packages for the two cars on it (further explained below).

As with ALL my builds, you're going to want to have bb.moveobjects ON before placing the lot and I DID use TOOL to place some of the more complicated tweaks.

As with all my builds, it is on my gallery under EA ID: alderwitch but you can also download the tray files on my patreon as well here.

Lot Size: 50 x 50

Furnished Price: 915,012 Unfurnished: 336,018

Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 7

Details and CC Shopping List below the cut.

Packs Used: HSY, Cottage Living, Snowy Escape, Eco Lifestyle, Island Living, Get Famous, Seasons, City Living, Get Together, Get To Work, Werewolves, Wedding Stories, Dream Home, Dine Out, Spa Day, Little Campers, Blooming Rooms, Courtyard Oasis, Bust the Dust, Nifty Knitting, Fitness, Backyard, Romantic Garden, Movie Hangout, Cool Kitchen

CC Used: CM Designs: Isla Pt 2, Jasper, Oakley, Rugs, Thermostat Oni: Traditional Japanese Room, Artist's World Room, Custom Food Pink Baddie: Baby Food, Magical Rug, Play Kitchen Sooky: Abstract Frames, Moroccan Rugs, Hydrangea Jug, Kids Rugs, Pretty Blue Rugs ClutterCat: Shiba Inu Rug Aira: Vanilla Rice Cooker Amoebae: Half Strip Tile, Statement Walls, Hallway Stone ATS4: Bagclutter AWingledLLama: Diaper Pail House of Harlix: Bafroom, Baysic, Harluxe, Jardane Brazen Lotus: ABP Closet, Greenhouse, Chronicles of Dressup, Reupholstered Sofa, Phoenix Fence Black Charly Pancakes: Lighthouse Collection, All CC Merged? Felixandre: Chateau, August 2019, Berlin Pt 3, Colonial Pt 2, Florence Set Pt 1, pt 3, Georgian, Grove Pt 4, Paris pt 1, Pt 3, Shop the Look Season 1 Walls That Make Sense: Dynasty, Fundamentals, Lights, Opulence Harrie: Country, Octave, Livin Rum, Tiny Twavellers Icemunmun: AirFryer, Canning Preserves, Finger Sandwiches, Floral tea, Burger Essentials, Mill, Soup, Soda Joliebean: Padtow LBB: Grannie's Cookbook, Recipe Tin, Recipe Stand LilacCreative: Body Butter, Candle LeafMotif: Magnolia Bathroom, Sunbeam Study, Starlight Crystals Ivy LittleDica: Chic Bathroom, Rise N Grind Cafe, Sleek Slumber, Modern Kitchen, Roman Holiday MadameRia: Back to Basics, Luxe, CoL Wallpaper Addon, Lucky Man Marvell: Lux, Janina, KC, Tiny Footsteps, UPcycle MyCupofCC: Maple Manor Books, Curtain, Macrame Shelf Max20: MasterBedroom Pack, Pouf Soft, Washing and Drying Machines Myshousun: Nora Living, Serene Bathroom, Zephyr Office, Dawn Living, Garden Stories, Freja, Gale Peacemaker: Atwood, Grasscloth, Bayside, Caine, Coulor Me Rugs, Drapery Delights, Elme Jute, Elsie, Futura, Gorgeous Georgian, Glass Tile, Hamptons Hideaway, Hamptons Retreat, Hinterlands, Hudsoon, Kingston, Kitayama, Lennox, MCE, Mina, Myra, Nox, Oasis, Quintin, Serenity, Vara, Marcissus Folly PieriSim: David Apartment, Domaine Du Clos, MCM, Oak House, Teeny Weeny, The Office, Tidying Up, Winter Garden Redhead Sims: Nintendo Switch RVSN: Advant 2020 Holiday Decor, Bidet, Binge Inking, CakeABreak, Cupcake Machine, Don't Be Alarmed Alarm Clock, Flood Saucer Light, Hoarders, Void Critter Gaming, Kids Toybin, Knit Happens, Major Inspo, MOtivational Speaker, Personal Brewer, Cod Fish Tank, One Nightstand Short, Peg to Differ, Procraftination, Shop Chef, Shut the Front Door, Smeglish Dishwasher, Sport Retail Therapy, Throw Shade, ToolTime, Watts Not to Love, SP Built Ins, You know the Drill, Ruggable SimCredible: DishDrainer, Naturalis Pantry SimKoos: Boba Storage, Home Clutter, Infant Bottles, Office Tour, Stroller Deluxe Sixam: Cozy Family Room, Gothic W Lighting, Home Basics, Home Improvement, Luxbath, Mixer, Private Surface, RetroVibes, Small Spaces, Spring Six, Stylish Wood, Teen Room Softerhaze: Bramblefinch Powder Walls Syboulette: Oceane, Advent 2022 Wood Parquet, Attic, Bayhouse, Boho Wedding, Brigette, Bougainvillers, Candy, Clarisse, Coraline, Crossfit, Delphine, Designer Meeting Table, Diane, Dino, Dreamy, Faveo, Fitness, Helios, Karaoke, Laundry, Louane, Millenial, Mozaik, Nothingtowear, Pascaline, Petite Chef, Ratatoulle, Sabine, Serenity, Unicorn Birthday Taurus Design: Cassandra Bathroom, Eliza Bedroom and Closet, Elsa, Jade, Katrina Tuds: 2nd Wave, Cave, Crib, Cross, Emma, NCTR, SHKR, Wave WhoisSage: Shag Rug, Handful of Mats, Simply Striking

Functionality

These mods are not technically in the build but are needed to have mods (syboulette's crossfit and aira's rice cooker specifically) functional.

ZulfAndHakrabr: Let's Get Fits Modpack Ricky: Useable RiceCooker

Vehicles

Technically, the two vehicles used for this build use the the Breeze Motors 2018 Mercedes E-Class Wagon and the 2020 Maserati Quattroporte as their base. I won't link to the download page as its a perma-paywaller and I fundamentally disagree with how Breeze Motors is handling their patreon personally. I will leave it to you to decide if you want their CC and how you acquire it if you choose to do so.

For my personal game, I have edited and stripped down my copies of these two cars and modified them so that they work with Simnation Travel. I have a pinned patreon post that is not paywall locked here explaining that more in depth and include the required files HERE.

If you go that route, and would like to download the cars, you can find them here:

Maserati Quattroporte

Mercedes E-Class

I should note that in addition to lacking the door open /close options of the original as those were stripped down, the textures were redone with simlish for a more maxis match look in game.

Mods for this Build

These are not technically required for the build to function but this build was built using overrides for both Sim Realist's SNB Bills mod as well as Simnation Travel vehicles. You shouldn't get any weird errors if you load the build in without those mods but if there's an exception caught by MCC related to that, it's probably just reconciling that the override the lot was built with is not in place in your game. It should only be a one time alert the first time the game loads in if it happens and should not cause any issue other than MCC making a noise at you about it noticing weirdness.

(The SNB provides the High Speed Internet trait to the lot and I think it will just set that trait to empty if its loaded without but I haven't personally confirmed it, hence the note here. ) Additional Note

I'm pushing this to live today just to make sure it hits my tumblr the same time as I pushed the build to my gallery but I will be going back to add links into the list. There are just a LOT to track down and it might take me a day or two to finish that part.

[postambientlux]

BEST AMBIENT OF 2024

BEST AMBIENT ALBUMS of 2024 curated by @holsgr

50 : Phexioenesystems - Tone Colour Garden Salmon Universe

49 : 0N4B - Somewhere, left behind 3XL

48 : Daigo Hanada & Yoko Komatsu - Where Clouds Are Born Moderna Records

47 : Ezra Feinberg - Soft Power Tonal Union

46 : Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn - Quiet in a World Full of Noise Merge Records

45 : Hans Hjelm - Into The Night Self-release

44 : Olli Ahvenlahti - Mirror Mirror We Jazz Records

43 : Sachi Kobayashi - Lamentations Phantom Limb

42 : Sarah Neufeld, Richard Reed Parry & Rebecca Foon - First Sounds Envision Records / One Little Independent

41 : nonkeen - All good? LEITER

40 : PJS - Flora Dronarivm

39 : Félicia Atkinson - Space As An Instrument Shelter Press

38 : Anthéne - Cloudburst Home Normal

37 : Bremer/McCoy - Kosmos Luaka Bop Inc

36 : Princ€ss - Princ€ss wherethetimegoes

35 : G.S. Schray - Whispered Something Good Last Resort

34 : Jasmine Myra - Rising Gondwana Records

33 : YAI - Sky Time AKP Recordings

32 : ann annie - The Wind Nettwerk Music Group Inc.

31 : Seaworthy & Matt Rösner - Deep Valley 12k

30 : Marysia Osu - harp, beats & dreams Brownswood Recordings

29 : Fennesz - Mosaic P-VINE, Inc.

28 : Mary Lattimore & Walt McClements - Rain On The Road Thrill Jockey Records

27 : Glåsbird - A Sonic Expedition Whitelabrecs

26 : Iglooghost - Tidal Memory Exo LUCKYME®

25 : Ross Christopher & City Of Dawn - Spatio Temporal Amoveo Creative

24 : Arushi Jain - Delight Leaving Records

23 : Oliver Patrice Weder - The Shoe Factory Moderna Records

22 : Laura Masotto - The Spirit of Things 7K!

21 : Grand River & Abul Mogard - In uno spazio immenso light-years

20 : William Basinski - September 23rd Temporary Residence Ltd.

19 : Pub - Process The Wise ampoule records

18 : Altus - Ultraviolet Altus Music

17 : Seabuckthorn - This Warm, This Late quiet details

16 : Catherine Christer Hennix - Further Selections from The Electric Harpsichord Blank Forms Editions

15 : Antonina Nowacka - Sylphine Soporifera Mondoj

14 : Lori Goldston & Stefan Christoff - A Radical Horizon Beacon Sound

13 : Sam Wilkes - iiyo iiyo iiyo Self-release

12 : Slow Dancing Society - Do We Become Sky? Past Inside the Present

11 : Svaneborg Kardyb - Superkilen Gondwana Records

10 : Fergus McCreadie - Stream Edition Records

9 : Fabiano do Nascimento & Sam Gendel - The Room Real World Records

8 : Robert Rich & Luca Formentini - Cloud Ornament Self-release

7 : Ludwig Wandinger - Is Peace Wild? light-years

6 : Aidan Baker & Stefan Christoff - Januar Time Released Sound

5 : Hatti Vatti - Zeit R&S Records

4 : Larum - The Music of Hildegard von Bingen | Live at Public Records Puremagnetik

3 : Florian T M Zeisig - Planet Inc STROOM.tv

2 : Alva Noto - Xerrox, Vol.5 NOTON

1 : Lorenzo Montanà - VION n5MD

• BEST EP's 10 : Logic Moon & Henrik Meierkord - Ewiger Wald Dronarivm 9 : Roman Nagel - Home Bigo & Twigetti 8 : Snorri Hallgrímsson - Longer shadows, softer stones Deutsche Grammophon GmbH 7 : Oliver Patrice Weder - Grand Piano Works - Vol. II Moderna Records 6 : Wil Bolton - Quiet Sunlight Dronarivm 5 : Thaddeus - Orbiting Dreams Shimmering Moods Records 4 : PHI-PSONICS - Morning Sun / Arrival Gondwana Records 3 : Jeroen Dirrix - Feel Moderna Records 2 : Max Ananyev - Wings & Winds Self-release 1 : Arborra - Arborra 7K!

• HONORABLE MENTIONS Nicolas Jaar - Archivos de Radio Piedras Rafael Toral - Spectral Evolution Horacio Vaggione - Schall / Rechant Laura Misch - Sample The Earth Oliver Coates - Throb, shiver, arrow of time Nils Frahm - Paris Nala Sinephro - Endlessness Adaa - …img… Lau Andersson - The Weeping Siege MatC - Utoscapes Olivia Belli - Intermundia Alaskan Tapes - Something Ephemeral Mike Nigro - Leaving/Returning Michael Scott Dawson - The Tinnitus Chorus Bill Laurance & The Untold Orchestra - Bloom Bill Laurance & Michael League - Keeping Company Vegyn - The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions Shay Hazan - Wusul وصول Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes - The Doober Blake Lee - No Sound In Space T.R. Jordan - Dwell Time II Perila - Intrinsic Rhythm Tristan Arp - a pool, a portal Lynn Avery & Cole Pulice - Phantasy & Reality Matthew Ottignon - Volant Holy Tongue & Shackleton - The Tumbling Psychic Joy of Now

• BEST REISSUES Fennesz - Venice 20 Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II [Expanded Edition]

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Blue Jeans [Chapter Four] Cloudburst [Ace Merrill]

Warning(s): waitressing, OC, Pop is a cheapskate, Castle Rock lore, fluff, wooing, Ace being Ace.

Tuesday morning, Elise got an unexpected call from Nan Roberts. She was in her bedroom, listening to WKIT 100.3 on the radio, a rock station out of Bangor when a knock on the door interrupted her mid-sentence of The Wanderer. Elise almost didn't hear it.

On the second knock, she turned down the volume and hurried to open the door, giving her grandmother an apologetic look. She was still wearing a straw sun hat, having been outside since dawn in the garden; the roses had been planted, but the peonies and tulips had yet to be.

“I'm sorry. Was the music too loud?”

Nana Francine snorted.

“Not at all, hon. But would it hurt you kids to listen to a little gospel or country?” 

The teen was a lot like her father. He loved rock; it drove Nana mad when he was younger, always blaring his tunes as loud as the radio would go.

Elise chuckled. Country and gospel were not quite her bag. She tucked a lace of blonde hair behind her ear and raised a curious brow. Nana got the hint. 

“You have a call in the kitchen. Nan Roberts.”

It was yesterday when Elise put in her application for the luncheonette. She was more surprised that Myra had done as she had asked. It was hard to believe that Ace’s former lover had vouched for her, but perhaps she had. Elise knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

“Good news I hope,” she mentioned enthusiastically. “I'll be down in just a minute.”

Nana left her to her own devices and returned downstairs for a drink. She had been thirsting for one before she heard the brring - brring of the kitchen telephone.

In the meantime, Elise turned her radio off and sprinted down the stairs. Her bare feet slapped loudly on the hardwood floor as she made her way into the kitchen, taking a moment to clear her throat and the nervousness she felt, then rested the baby blue receiver against her ear. 

“Mrs. Roberts. Sorry for making you wait.”

“It's no problem, hon. Elise, right? I saw your application on my desk.” 

Elise hummed in agreement. 

“Yes, ma’am. I saw the help wanted sign on the door and was quick to put one in. Is the position still open?”

“Sure is,” Nan replied. The line grew quiet for a moment. There was a faint sound of shuffling like the moving of papers, and then Nan hummed. “It says here you have some dining experience, four months worth.”

Waitressing was not new to Elise, it was not her first rodeo so to speak. She worked briefly in a diner in Derry before the move. It was not her first choice of job, but at the time Elise wanted nothing more than to get out of the house. She started in January, then four months later, her parents uprooted her and moved to Castle Rock. 

“Yes, ma’am. I worked part-time cleaning the Aladdin Theater before that, but was mostly paid under the table.” 

Had Mrs. Cole known, she would have been ticked off. She was the ticket booth operator, an ill-tempered woman with unusually large specs. In addition to being paid under the table, Elise could also watch any movie she wanted, free of charge. It was an alright job, but she preferred working with people; the reason she chose to work in a diner. 

She hoped that Nan would find her affable personality a benefit. And she did. 

“Can you come on down and shadow for the remainder of the shift? Fair warning, we’re in the middle of a lunch rush.” Nan warned. 

Elise didn't mind. She was ecstatic. 

“I'll get dressed and be there soon.”

Nan chuckled. The call ended shortly, and Elise sprinted back upstairs, nearly running into her momma, who had been hiding in her room from Nana. 

“Where are you going in such a rush?” Madeline asked. 

“To the diner in town. I think I might have gotten a job!” She had to shout the last bit, having run into her room to change. 

A light gray button-down and jeans was what she chose to wear. Elise knew that there was a uniform involved, but she had yet to receive one so the outfit she had on would do. It was unpleasantly hot out and the light color would be beneficial. 

To top off her look, she put her hair up in a messy bun and tied a floral polyester hair scarf around it. Then she left her room. 

Madeline met her at the door as she slid on a pair of white Skips. 

“I'll drive you into town - anything to get out of this damn house.”

Elise raised a suspicious brow. 

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Get in the car.” Madeline spoke, sharp as a whip. She didn't like to be looked at in such a way, as though she was being judged, by a teenager no less. 

Elise pressed her lips thin and sauntered out the front door. Madeline could, at last, breathe easy but only for a moment as Nana gave her the same judgemental stare as she passed by the garden. 

About damn time you got out of the house, she imagined her saying. Straighten your act.

She got into the Buick, started it, and then pulled out of the driveway. 

The drive to Main Street was tense and quiet. Elise stared out the window with no interest in mind. She was blank, bouncing her foot to no rhythm. It felt like an eternity, wading through molasses before the Buick pulled into the lot at noon with a shriek. 

The silence between them was unnerving. It reminded Elise of the drive from Derry. Thank goodness the radio was on; her knight in shining armor. She spoke only when she was asked a question. 

Are you hungry? Do you need to use the bathroom?

It was gnarly. And that was putting it nicely. How else was she meant to feel? Especially since it was her mother who nearly tore her family apart. 

That was neither here nor now. Elise had a job to think about. 

“Thanks,” she uttered. She didn't wait for a response - she didn't assume she would get one - and stepped out of the car. 

As she stepped onto the sidewalk, her mother pulled out of the lot and drove toward the mom-and-pop store. Elise lost sight of her as she turned right. She took an uneasy breath, then walked inside. 

Immediately the chatter of the diner turned her to stone. There were so many patrons for a Tuesday. Even the stools near the counter were taken. Elise did not know anyone, not even the waitress running around like a banshee between the counter and the booths. 

Nan was not kidding.  

“Elise. That you?” Nan Roberts asked. Speak of the devil. She stood near the Employees Only entrance near the counter, an early middle-aged woman with her hair pulled back in a polka dot scarf. Once Elise nodded, she grinned. “Thank God. Come on back here.”

Elise sauntered behind the counter and followed Nan through the kitchen which was heavy with the smell of grease and dish soap, to an office no bigger than the walk-in freezer. She tossed the blonde a navy-colored apron and a paper menu that would be easily folded. 

“You're gonna shadow Liza until the shift is over. Learn all you can, then I'll talk to you before I send you home,” she explained. 

Elise understood. Though to be honest, she figured the reason Nan asked her to come down was less about shadowing and more about taking the load off her and Liza. It was fine. She shook her head in understanding. 

Leading her back out into the dining area, Nan left her to attend to the patrons at the counter. Liza was refilling a mug with coffee, so Elise approached her and tapped her shoulder. 

Liza turned and looked at her, then with a big smile she handed Elise the steaming mug. The blonde took it with a raised brow. 

“Um…hi.”

“I'm Liza,” she retorted. She was young in the face, with green eyes and brunette hair that stuck to her forehead from perspiration. “Elise right? Nan told me about you. Nice to meet you.”

Motioning for Elise to follow, Liza instructed her to give the coffee to a lone man named Rudy near the door. He gave her a polite smile as she sat the mug down on the table with a click, asking if he needed anything else. He answered her with a no, and she returned to Liza’s side. 

“You've done this before. Groovy.” 

Elise nodded. “Sure have.” 

Her answer made Liza smile. 

“That sure makes teaching you a lot easier.” 

Elise certainly hoped so. 

For the next two hours, she followed Liza around, listening intently as the voluble brunette explained the routine to her. It was similar to her previous job, in which she took orders and then brought them back to the table; the only difference was the menu. Liza gave her tips to help her remember it and introduced her to the kitchen staff, Jeffrey and Bobbie Alden. She was even allowed to wait two tables on her own at the end of the shift and keep the $30 tip. 

As Liza finished up with a customer, Elise went back to the office. She was met with a look of pride from Nan. 

“You did good out there, hon. I'd be dumb as a box of rocks not to hire you.”

Elise was ecstatic. 

“Thank you so much.” 

Nan grinned. “You and Liza seemed to get along well enough. I'd like you to come in during the mornings.”

Mornings were no problem. Elise preferred them. Early to rise, early to get her work done. The afternoon then would be hers to do whatever she wanted. 

“That's perfect.”

Nan was pleased to hear. 

“Good deal. I'll be seeing you in the morning.”

Elise said her goodbyes and turned to leave but Nan quickly called out to her. 

“You mind doing me a solid before you leave? Have you ever met Pop Merrill?”

Pop Merrill. 

“Pop owns the emporium,” Nana had mentioned with a bite. “He, like most of the Merrill family, is a menace to society. I'd advise you not to get roped in with them. I don't like to talk badly about people but if you see a Merrill coming, it would be best if you turned cheek and ran.”

Elise frowned. 

“I've heard of him.”

“He makes to-go orders regularly around lunchtime but the man is a bit indolent, God help him. The richest person in the Rock. I normally take his order to the emporium, but the afternoon shift manager, Tammy, is gonna be a bit late.” 

Elise could see what she was trying to say. As much as she didn't want to, she nodded.

“I can take the order for you.”

Nan grinned and rested her hand on Elise’s shoulder.

“I'd appreciate it, hon. Don't let Pop try to heckle you into buying nothing. Whatever tip he gives, you can keep.”

The silver lining at least. 

Elise sauntered out of the office and to Jeffery at the grill. He was older than Bobbie by thirteen months, a teen with a businessman haircut hidden beneath a black hair net. 

“Pop’s order?” He asked with a raised brow. 

Elise shook her head. Nan did say he was a regular. 

With the order done, Jeffery put the greasy burger with everything on it into a Dart foam container with a side of fries and coleslaw, then passed it on to Elise to bag it up. She left the diner at 10 past 2 and sauntered up the sidewalk in the direction her mother went. The Emporium Galorium was a square flat-top building with a repair shop attached to it. Almost ancient in appearance, like it had been around for a long time. Its English bond brickwork needed repair, and was cracked in some areas. 

Elise walked in, ignoring the chime of the bell above the door, and took a curious look around. She had never been inside a junk store before, but she had to admit, whoever coined the term was not kidding. Her father’s garage in Derry had nothing on this. There were more house phones, portable TVs, and clocks - so many clocks - than she could count. Did they even work? 

At the front counter, the glass was transparent. Elise saw an assortment of polished jewelry resting on velvet displays. She was in awe at the various colors and designs. A kaleidoscope lay before her. 

“Those don't suit a girl like you,” Pop Merrill claimed. His sudden appearance behind Elise made her jerk in fear. 

She raised a brow, but all Pop did was hum. His blue eyes gauged her a moment before he walked behind the counter.

“What I mean to say is, you're a little too young to be thinkin’ about marriage,” Pop furthered.

He wasn't wrong.

“I was just looking,” Elise admitted. “Never hurts.”

“Then you're in the right shop,” he stated with a grin. 

Elise was a little confused. She expected Pop to be…well older. He was a man in his mid-forties with dirty blond hair streaked in gray. A pair of reading glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, but he didn't seem to need them much to see. Why did everyone who knew him call him Pop?

Elise remembered the take-out container and lifted the bag. 

“Nan sent me.”

“I can tell from your apron…and the whole room smells like grease now,” Pop retorted. 

How nice. Elise gave an awkward laugh. She watched him with uninterest as he took out the receipt, sliding his glasses up his nose as he read it. 

“You new here? You have to be.”

Elise raised a brow. 

“What I mean to say is, I know everyone in this town and I've never seen you around before,” he explained.

“I recently moved in with my grandmother, Francine on Willow Street.” 

Pop was next to raise a brow, peeking at her a moment with sparking blue eyes. 

“Nana? She have plans to come offa that property?”

“I…don't know, Mr. Merrill,” Elise answered. 

What interest did Pop have in Nana’s house? It was a charming piece of property, but she didn't think it had any value in the market. Her grandparents had lived in that 2 story A-frame for a long time.

Pop took a faded brown wallet from his back pocket and opened it. He handed her a crumpled dollar. 

“Keep the change.”

Elise tightened her jaw. Five cents. Was he serious? 

“Thank you, Mr. Merrill.” Her tone was sharp no matter how hard she tried to mask it. 

“Call me Pop. And if Nana is lookin’ to sell, you tell her I'm interested.” Pop grinned, a notion that reminded Elise of a crooked salesman, hankering to own her soul.

She forced a smile and hurried out of the Emporium Galorium. Never did she want to talk to Pop Merrill again. Indolent was an understatement. He was also a cheapskate. Elise felt bad for anyone doing business with him. 

Returning his money to Nan, and his generous tip to the tip jar near the register, Elise opted to go home. As she crossed the street, in front of the diner, a familiar Ford Classic came speeding down Main from the nearest street. Elise tried to act inconspicuous but her eyes locked with Aces’. He pulled to the curb in front of her, as though she was a person he was looking for. 

“Afternoon, darling. What brings you out?” Ace asked with a grin. His blue eyes sparkled as he looked at her, eyes that reminded her of greedy old Pop Merrill.

Elise slid her hair behind her ear and averted her eyes to a crack in the sidewalk. 

“Heading home actually. I got a call from Nan and have been shadowing since noon.” 

Ace hummed. So Myra came through. He was impressed. 

“Need a ride?”

“I smell like grease - or at least Pop claims.” Elise declined. She didn't want to mess up his seats regardless. 

A storm brewed in his eyes. 

“You and me both, darling. I just got off work.”

He was a mechanic, Elise recalled him saying. But that didn't change her mind. 

“I don't mind walking. I really don't want to stain–”

“Elise.” His stern voice took her off guard. She felt like she was being reprimanded for making excuses. His brow smoothed. “I don't mind, darling. If you want a ride, I'm offering.” 

Elise hummed, a tiny bit unsure. But in the end, she agreed.

“Thank you, Ace.”

The sparkle in his eyes reappeared and he waited for her to get in, but instead of heading toward Willow Street, he turned onto Pleasant Road. Elise raised a curious brow, but Ace merely grinned. 

“You wanna see the lake? In Derry, you had a quarry, right?”

He wasn't wrong.

“You remembered that?” She chuckled. 

“Yeah, I did.” Ace was humored.

Dense, towering cumulonimbus clouds hung above them. Elise watched them roll by as the car drove down the blacktop. She was at peace. Her curious eyes turned to Ace when he shouted over the vocals of Skeeter Davis on the radio; he lived nearby, a mile or so before the train tracks. 

As he talked, she listened until Castle Lake came into view. Ace then pulled the Ford through a forest of pines and parked where Elise could see the water. She waited until the whir of the engine died down before she hurried with excitement to the front of the car. It reminded her of the quarry in Derry, of her favorite memories. 

Ace stood by her side.

“It's cool, yeah.” 

Elise chuckled and shook her head. Yeah, it was. 

“Thank you.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, listening to the sounds of nature; the chirp of the birds, and the whistle of the wind. Until Ace leaned into the car and turned up the radio. Stand By Me by Ben E. King began to play.

He offered his hand to Elise, raising a brow. A brief moment passed then she realized what he was doing. Like in a romance movie, he was asking her to dance. 

When was the last time she even danced? Prom at Derry High - wasn't it? With Timothy Davis, an athlete. Her heart raced. No matter how she looked at it, Ace was wooing her. But was she on the make? Elise took his hand. 

Ace led her back a few centimeters, then brought her close, sliding his arms around her and resting them against her upper back. Elise felt faint; her face was warm, and her hands were a bit clammy. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and then leaned her head against his arm.

Ace smelled like an automobile, like grease and motor oil with a faint hint of cigarette smoke. The scent suited him. It was a testament to who Ace was, an obvious red flag. He was bad for Elise. 

And yet, his warmth and attention were intoxicating. Elise relaxed into him. 

A wet sensation suddenly landed on her hand, then another on the back of her neck. Elise shivered. Was it about to rain? Like a faucet, the sky opened up. 

“Well shit,” she heard Ace cuss. 

Elise squeaked as the cool rain sank into her clothes. She stepped back from Ace and did her best to cover her head as he hustled to put back on the hood. A few curses later, Elise joined him in the car. The hair that had fallen from her bun was stuck to her neck and face. She felt like a drowned rat. 

“Bummer,” Ace uttered. His white shirt was stuck to his sturdy frame. 

Elise laughed at his disheveled appearance, she couldn't help it. Her outburst earned her an amused look from the blond. 

“You wanna walk home?”

Elise snorted. She daringly leaned over the emergency break and leaned on his shoulder. Ace grinned and brought her beneath his arm.

“I'll behave,” Elise uttered.

An intense air of satisfaction overcame him. 

“Attagirl.” 

[catella-ars]

Dressy twins! Showing off some of their fashion sense outside of their more casual clothes, and also showing off that while they're about the same overall size, George is definitely more slim/twinky and Myra is muscular.

[burlveneer-music]

My WVUD playlist, 1/15/2024

Sameer Gupta - Martin Luther King and Bilashkani Todi Carsten Meinert Kvartet - Requiem For Martin Luther King Wadada Leo Smith - Martin Luther King, Jr.: Memphis, the Prophecy Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Sway - Shades and Shapes Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet - Insertion One Mary Halvorson - The Gate Brandon Seabrook's Epic Proportions - Brutalovechamp Ches Smith - Disco Inferred John Zorn - Soothsayer John Zorn - Form, Object, And Desire Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Breaking Dawn Tomonao Hara Group - A Story Of Wind And Clouds

[justbusterkeaton]

Keaton’s description of the act’s waning years in conversation with his first biographer, Rudi Blesh, is dry and understated in tone but frankly appalling in content. He mentions, for example, the increasingly transactional nature of his and his father’s onstage displays of violence, “those lickings onstage for things that had happened before. No more private spankings.” Not that Buster couldn’t give back as well as he got: “Finally I’d get sore and we’d start trading.”

Joe, in Buster’s words, began to transform into a different man, “mad most of the time, and could look at you as if he don’t know you.” The cause was not difficult to guess: “When I smelled whiskey across the stage, I got braced.” The routine with the whirling basketball seems to have developed in part out of Buster’s instinct for self-protection during this period: “That’s when I had to fasten a rubber rope onto that old basketball of mine and keep swinging it around like a hammer thrower to keep him off me.”

A conversation Buster recalls having with his mother around this time reveals Myra at her most philosophical. “ ‘Joe’s not punishing you,’ ” she tells her son, to which he responds—in a flash of vulnerability rare in the annals of Keaton interviews—“It feels like it.” But Myra insists, again in Buster’s retelling: “ ‘No, he’s not mad at you or anyone else. It’s old Father Time he’d like to get his hands on. Man or woman,’ she said, ‘some can take getting old, some can’t”

“You have to say, poor son of a bitch, fighting something he’d never catch up with! But sweet Jesus, our act! What a beautiful thing it had been. That beautiful timing we had—beautiful to see, beautiful to do. The sound of the laughs, solid, right where you knew they would be… but look at what happened, standing up and bopping each other like a cheap film. It couldn’t last that way”

On why Buster broke up the family act and went out on his own

Excerpt from Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century by Dana Stevens

[ask-half-blood-hill]

Meet the Demigods: Ren Takayama

Testing, testing! Sephora Chambers here, LIVE from Cabin Two in Camp Half-Blood, ready to interview all the lively and rowdy faces of Half-Blood Hill! Welcome to Meet the Demigods! Today, we have a treat! I’d like to introduce my best friend, Ren Takayama! There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get on with the broadcast!

Q1: How would you describe how you look?

“Different from my half-siblings here. Most of the have light hair, or light eyes. I’ve got a sort of golden-brown eye color, and my hair is black. Serenity did offer to put some blonde streaks in it though… I’m about five foot seven, and I’ve always been a bit on the lean side.”

Q2: Who is your godly parent?

“I was claimed by Apollo! I think it was a little obvious, now that I noticed all those nuances in my life. Yellow this, music that, yadda yadda yadda. He’s the god of a lot of things, actually. Medicine, the sun, music, archery, poetry, stuff like that. You name it, there’s a 30% chance he’s the god of it. He’s probably also the god of overachievers… No offense, dad. You know you’d live up to that title.”

Q3: What’s your talent?

“Like all of my siblings, I have a talent with medicine and archery. My actual power that makes me stand out… Geez, I guess that’ll have to wait. I’m not sure if I want to expose myself just yet, Seph. I guess it’s also cool that I can tell the time of day, no matter where I am. Isn’t that neat? What do you mean that’s lame?! You’re full of-”

Q4: What are your hobbies?

“I really like music, but I guess that’s just a given, since I’m a kid of Apollo. I also have a passion for painting and acting, which my mom got me into. I also really have a good hand with gardening, too, but for some reason all my flowers end up turning yellow…”

Q5: Who’s your favorite cabin mate?

“Oh geez, this isn’t a fair question. Cyrus is a little cutie, he even offered to let me snuggle one of his frog plushies the other night. Serenity is cool, but a little too cool. Kieran is strange, and a little too in the clouds sometimes, and Alexander is a force of pure chaos. Dawn is sweet, but you can’t get away with anything when she’s around- she can detect liars. Sebastian is cool, but he’s always cooped up in the workshop… Caroline? She’s a doll, but she’s very shy. I guess that leaves Myra. I admire how hard she works, and since she swore off violence, it’s mostly just her running the clinic almost all day, every day.”

Q6: If you could live in any other cabin, which cabin would you choose?

“Man, have you ever been in the Hypnos cabin? It’s the most comfortable place ever. It would be paradise just to go to a sleepover there, let alone live there! The Hebe cabin is also pretty nice, so that’d likely be my choice. It’s got this sort of… nostalgic feeling to it. Maybe it’s just the aura of youthfulness.”

Q7: How would you describe yourself, personally?

“I guess I’m a bit of a scatterbrain. I mean, most demigods think at a million miles a minute, but I genuinely feel like I will explode in the sunlight. I love my family, I love my friends, but I’ve been noted to be reckless at times. I zone into things, and it’s like a trance to me. Um… I guess I’m average in terms of intelligence, but sometimes I can think of quick solutions to issues. Maybe I’m more like a problem solver, than a long-term thinker, or strategist…”

Q8: Do you have a crush on anyone here in camp?

“What? Seph, you can’t just ask that! What do you mean ‘Yes I can?’ Fine! Fine, yes, I do, but like heck would I tell you!”

Well, thank you all for tuning in to the first ever ‘Meet the Demigods!’ Join me next time, when we take on the spooky, haunted face of the Hades Cabin, Jasper Graves! Until next time, stay safe and praise the gods!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Early dawn at the mouth of the Apalachicola River with the “Myra - Gail” 08/10/2023 :: [Palmer Philyaw]

* * * *

“My vessel is launched on the boundless main and my sails are spread to the wind ! In the whole of the world there is nothing that stays unchanged. All is in flux. Any shape that is formed is constantly shifting. Time itself flows steadily by in perpetual motion. 

Think of a river: no river can ever arrest its current, nor can the fleeting hour. But as water is forced downstream by the water behind it and presses no less on the water ahead, so time is in constant flight and pursuit, continually new. The present turns into the past and the future replaces the present; every moment that passes is new and eternally changing.” ― Ovid, Metamorphoses

[alive on all channels]