#naz: glitter

[gobs-o-dice]

Dice Set #203: Glacial Moonstone Silver (Green)

Okay, so, you might have been wondering (to the extent that anyone is paying that much attention to things here), back during Sets 197, 198, and 199, why there was no "Winter Solstice" set. And you might be wondering about the name.

Well, back when Die Hard Dice first released that line of dice, it was specifically as a counterpart to their existing Moonstone dice, such as Purple Moonstone (my Set #90) or Moonstone Dreamwalker (Set #133)

But in this case, the main one to look at is Set #130 - Glacial Moonstone, as I called it:

(I probably would have used "Blue" in that name somewhere, now, but at the time, it was the only one I planned on getting)

There's your wintery counterpart to complete the set of seasons.

But then, Christmas holiday deals come around, and I get today's set out of their holiday bundle, along with tomorrow's set. So, nice, more winter dice.

"But Gobs/Naz/Jeff," you might ask [Re-Ask. Remember, I said you asked about it in the framing device above too :p] - "Why do you have 'Green' in parentheses in the name you have for this set?"

Well... Let me tell you:

Sometime Later, I got a second set of Glacial Moonstone Silver as a bonus set when I ordered from Die Hard. I was content to just call that one "Second Glacial Moonstone Silver" (Set #257, to be precise about order, if not timing) and accept that inevitably, the two sets would become intertwined during a hoardscape shoot, and I would never know which was which, originally.

(Set 1 above, Set 2 below)

But...

During cleanup of some hoardscape/other photo session of some sort, I noticed something. It's a little tricky to capture with still images, though.

(Set 1 above, Set 2 below, again)

Can you see it?

Now - Both sets of dice are made from the same white acrylic that has a green tint to it under direct light, or might pick up some warmer orange hints from the light itself. That's not the green I refer to in the name. The second set got the addition "(Pink)" to its name

On DHD's site, they currently describe the Glacial Moonstone with Silver set as having a "light green and blue shimmer", which holds pretty true for the first one:

But for whatever reason, my second set has a definitely more pink shimmer to it:

It's much, much more obvious when the sets are in-motion - To the point that I'm pretty reasonably certain of which dice belong to which set.

I even had gone back and confirmed it by looking at their sets of photos, because they definitely were taken before the two sets ever could have intermingled. Like I say, it's much more obvious in motion, but you definitely can see the pink in the second set and the green-blue in the first one, though it's less obvious.

My guess? The batch of dice this set is from was either an experiment that they didn't pursue further, or perhaps a screw-up in the factory - Pink glitter being used instead of the regular blue-green glitter.

And since DHD is in the habit of including bonus sets with all their orders (well, was anyway - I don't know if they still do, haven't ordered from them in a long while), they used the pink-glitter Glacial Moonstones as the freebie for my order and presumably others from around that time.

So, yeah, that's storytime for tonight, I suppose.

[kairizine]

From the Kairi Zine team to you: thank you.

We're grateful for everyone's love for Kairi, we hope you enjoyed this project as much as we did hosting it 🌺

Here's to Kingdom Hearts IV and beyond! May your heart be your guiding key.

- The Destiny's Embrace Mod Team

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Found a link that's outdated? Check out our Carrd that might be more up-to-date or let us know so we can fix it right up 🌺

[phliospheratheart]

Things I’ve Never Done Before

Chapter 1; Masquerade

ocs name is pronounced Ay-naz, Integra x Oc, Maxwell is Married to Oc, 17+

Aynaj is preparing for a masquerade ball. As the hairstylist finishes up on Aynaj, she stands to admire herself in the large mirror; She’s beautiful. Hair curled and brushed to form synchronized waves. Makeup innocent and insatiable with pale pink eyeshadow, red lips and cat eyes. Her gown is purple and poofy, with glitter floral embellishments that shone under the light. Her sleeves were off the shoulder also showcasing her collarbone. The bust of her corset tight just enough to enhance her chest, but not enough to cause spillage. “I’m going to turn heads tonight”, Aynaj thought to herself. Abruptly she was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around her waist. “How lovely you look tonight”. Maxwell places his head onto her shoulder, inhaling her scent. “You should fix yourself up more often”. He then began moving his hand up and down her side; slow and agonizing, as if to seduce her. Aynaj scoffs internally at his backhanded complement. She removes his hands from her waist and walks over to her vanity to retrieve her mask. Maxwell’s smile drops at his wife’s disdain toward him. “I hope you don’t intend to embarrass me with this bothersome behavior. Be a sweetheart and leave the attitude at home”. Her eye twitches at Maxwell’s demand but keeps composure nonetheless. “Is the chauffeur nearly here”? She asked in annoyance. “Yes, we ought to make haste”. He holds his hand out for Aynaj to take.

Upon arrival the married couple exits the chauffeur hand in hand, though not in sync. Aynaj walks a short pace behind Maxwell as to appear uninterested in him. She moves the mask on a stick away from her face to take in the atmosphere of the ball. Everyone is dressed to the nines, on theme, and in all sorts of colors . There were masked aerial dancers half naked spinning from the ceiling; Where a chandelier that lit up the entire room hung and surrounding it, ethereal paintings. The music also raunchy in instrumental. Aynaj returns her attention to the ball attendees around her. She noticed a woman in an emerald green suit sauntering toward them. Finally stopping in front of the two the woman speaks. “Maxwell! It’s been too long”. The confidence from this woman swallows him whole. “Integra Hellsing. Indeed it has”, he replied smugly. “This must be the Vatican's competition”. Aynaj thought to herself. Integra turns her attention to Aynaj. “And who might you be miss?” Integra asks curiously. Maxwell opting to speak for Aynaj as usual begins to introduce her. “This is my wife…” He trails off to another topic that neither of the women were paying attention to, unbeknownst to him. They were having a silent conversation of their own. Integra took in Aynaj’s appearance with her eyes. To the sparkling floral patterns on the skirt of the dress. To the corset that hugged her comfortably, to her incredible, plump chest. The exposed collarbone and shoulders. Those kissable red lips. And finally those bewitching brown eyes that seemed to suck Integra in. She’ll need a long prayer once alone, from the deliverance of the temptation to do unholy things with Maxwell’s wife. Aynaj had been enamored as well. “She’s tall, about 6’2. Enchanting brown skin with long, blonde, and silky hair. And eyes as blue and hypnotic as they come. The suit is tailored to her figure; giving her a structured yet curvy silhouette. I wonder what’s underne—“. Maxwell clears his throat to get the attention of both women, pulling Aynaj out her thoughts once more. “Maxwell fetch me a glass of champagne”.

Aynaj never took her eyes off Integra. Maxwell narrows his eyes at her, but goes to fetch the champagne nonetheless. Integra takes Aynaj’s hand and brings it to her lips. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady”. She presses a kiss onto it, whilst making searing eye contact with Aynaj. “As am I”. Aynaj replies. Sir Hellsing’s actions made her feel something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. Before she can make an effort to continue the conversation, Maxwell had returned with her requested champagne. “Here’s your champagne dear.” Maxwell gave Aynaj the glass and turned to Integra. “It was nice talking with you, Integra Hellsing.” He brings his arm behind Aynaj, possessively pulling her in by the waist to him. “Likewise”. Integra said with a purr. She walked into the crowd of ball attendees. “Fancy me with a dance will you?” The two walked over to the dance floor amongst other possible couples and married folks. The dance began. In the midst of being spun, Aynaj saw Integra watching. When close to Maxwell, he whispered to her sweet nothings; “Your skin is of a king’s mattress”, “Your eyes glow like the stars in the sky”, “Your dancing is as graceful as ballerina”. Though it all fell on deaf ears. Aynaj was too busy stealing glances with the woman in the emerald green suit. The dance had soon ended. Maxwell kept her at his hip at all times during the ball. He conversed with his business partners, and they spoke of her as if she wasn’t there. He treated her as if she was a trophy, a possession. So badly Aynaj wanted to escape the present circumstance though Maxwell wouldn’t allow for it.

The ball was nearing its end. Maxwell decided it was time for the two to leave. Aynaj’s mind never left Sir Integra Hellsing. As they boarded the chauffeur, Aynaj reflected upon the night. Integra’s suit, her long hair, tanned skin, the way she kissed her hand, how soft her lips felt, the way Integra made Aynaj feel like they were in their own world despite Maxwell standing right next to her. She felt like there was an electric current flowing from her brain, to her heart, to her— “What am I thinking! I’m married and my husband is right in front of me,” Aynaj thought to herself. However this was a feeling no amount of denial could simmer.

[ireadyabooks]

Read with Pride Love Stories Perfect for Valentine’s Day! 💟🌈

Believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! It’s the perfect time of year to grab a romantic read and fantasize about your own Valentine. At I read YA, we believe everyone deserves to see themselves represented in all aspects of life so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite queer romances for you to add to your shelf during this season of love! We hope you fall in love with these sweet reads just as much as we have!

Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton & Aśka 

Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love?

Start reading Stars in Their Eyes now! 

Love Letters for Joy by Melissa See

Less than a year away from graduation, seventeen-year-old Joy is too busy overachieving to be worried about relationships. She’s determined to be Caldwell Prep’s first disabled valedictorian. And she only has one person to beat, her academic rival Nathaniel.

But it’s senior year and everyone seems to be obsessed with pairing up. One of her best friends may be developing feelings for her and the other uses Caldwell’s anonymous love-letter writer to snag the girl of her dreams. Joy starts to wonder if she has missed out on a quintessential high school experience. She is asexual, but that’s no reason she can’t experience first love, right?

She writes to Caldwell Cupid to help her sort out these new feelings and, over time, finds herself falling for the mysterious voice behind the letters. But falling in love might mean risking what she wants most, especially when the letter-writer turns out to be the last person she would ever expect.

Start reading Love Letter for Joy now! 

Heartstopper  Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork.

Nick and Charlie are in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house. He wants to take their relationship to the next level... but can he find the confidence he needs? And with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?

Start reading Heartstopper Volume 5 now!

What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan

Mehar hasn’t been back to India since she and her mother moved away when she was only four. But when her father announces his engagement to socialite Naz, Mehar reluctantly agrees to return for the wedding. While her father still doesn’t make the time for her, Mehar barely cares once she meets Sufiya, her grandmother’s assistant, and one of the most grounded, thoughtful, kind people she’s ever met! Meanwhile, Mehar’s dislike for Naz and her social media influencer daughter, Aleena, deepens. Mehar’s starting to think that putting a stop to this wedding might be the best thing for everyone involved.But what happens when telling her father the truth about Naz and Aleena means putting her relationship with Sufiya at risk . . .

Start reading What a Desi Girl Wants now!

Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot

Sixteen-year-old Charlie Frith has problems. His crush is dating someone else, his sisters have glitter-bombed his prosthesis (again), and he's a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in England, and all his friends are ghosts.

To make matters worse, it seems that famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York's haunted streets and alleys. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who -- or what -- is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind these disappearances.

But when one of Charlie's ghostly friends vanishes, he has no choice but to face the shadows -- and his growing feelings for Sam. The boys must be willing to risk it all to save York’s spirits, because this adversary will stop at nothing to complete their devastating plan. Afterlives are at stake, and Charlie is running out of time . . . 

Start reading Sixteen Souls now!

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver

Just days before spring break, Neil Kearney is set to fly across the country with his childhood friend (and current friend-with-benefits) Josh, to attend his brother's wedding—until Josh tells Neil that he's in love with him and Neil doesn't return the sentiment.

With Josh still attending the wedding, Neil needs to find a new date to bring along. And, almost against his will, roommate Wyatt is drafted.

At first, Wyatt (correctly) thinks Neil is acting like a jerk. But when they get to LA, Wyatt sees a little more of where it's coming from. Slowly, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another . . . and maybe, just maybe, fall in love for the first time . . .

Start reading The Feeling of Falling in Love now!

[tinacalder]

Nu Dehli Lounge Restaurant Is Once Again Named Best In NI At Prestigious Food Awards

For the third year in a row Nu Dehli Lounge in Belfast’s city centre has been crowned the winner at the Asian Restaurant & Takeway Awards 2024. The awards took place at London’s Royal Lancaster and speaking straight after the glittering ceremony Nu Dehli Lounge owner Naz Din said they were honoured to be recognised once again as the best in Northern Ireland. “We are absolutely chuffed to be…

[amaradrakos]

A real princess—fair and kind and gentle—might have recoiled from him at such a confession, but Amara's demonic side remained too prevalent. "What kind of terrible things?" Chances were he was going to confess to something mundane pertaining to his character, but she felt compelled to coax an answer from him regardless.

At the mention of the ball, Amara’s gaze shifted toward the castle, where its towers rose past the treetops. Just as she was about to answer Caleb, something knocked into her from behind, glitter spiraling into her field of vision, the wolf's name carried on a whisper.

“I was.” Her palm flared with sudden heat, a controlled flame sparking instantly. She barely registered the spell as its strange tendrils tightened around her, something sharp and possessive coiling inside her chest. "What a shame you're not invited."

The thought of him anywhere near Naz felt abruptly, intolerably wrong. If he happened to disappear, she'd have her all to herself. He was the only one standing in the way of her happy ending.

"Me? Aye, I've done some terrible things in the past, but I am trying to make amends..." Caleb confessed. It was easy to do so to one as fair as the woman before him. He stopped in his tracks to leave a comfortable space between them to refrain from getting too close and startling her. Princesses tended to get jumpy around people like him and this lady certainly looked like one.

"You flatter me, my lady. I am certainly no prince. And I'm trying not to be a monster," he said with a small smile. "Would you like me to escort you to Nightspire Castle? I hear there is a ball happening there tonight. Surely you were invited?"

[daphnemontagu]

For: @naz-ulusoy

It seemed ridiculous that Daphne had never met Naz in person until recently. Judas had talked about her on every other visit over the years, not to mention Daphne had watched the entire trial, but somehow the pair had yet to properly meet and Daphne had wanted to change that before Judas was released. She wanted them to have a good support system for when they came back, even if she was verging on being entirely over-bearing in the process.

After having met Naz a few times for coffee over the passing weeks to break the ice, Daphne sent her a message to arrange meeting at a craft store. It was a small store, which boded well for keeping them both away from well-populated areas. Since the hack, Daphne had been trying to keep herself to herself while she waded through the mess it had created. Not that going to greet a prisoner convicted of murder was going to help her image any, but she didn’t care much for that. She had always considered Judas her brother and no amount of public scrutiny would stop her from celebrating his release.

“I think we need more glitter.” Daphne announced, looking down at the several different colours they already had in the basket. “What do you think?”

[armadastimz]

Lil Nas X

X . X . X

X . X . X

X . X . X

[burkymakar]

andre + being a girl dad for hc!

ummm u mean my dream???

Andre is such peak Dad Material™ and he would love your child no matter what, but when your daughter is born, he’s absolutely thrilled

As soon as she can stand, he puts her in skates, and teaches her how to play with mini-sticks

They have the same celly from the ground when she scores a goal

Your daughter will immediately love skating but she also loves tea parties

every time Andre comes back from a road trip, he spends several hours playing Tea Party with her, dressed in a tiara and makeup she puts on him

you take her to every game you can, and she always wears his jersey but insists on also wearing a tutu and it is a look

for family skate, all the other Avs Babies practically adopt her, i can imagine Linnea being very protective of your and Burky’s daughter

and omg the talks he and Landy and Naz would have as girl dads!!! so cute

coming back from late nights from work or friends to see him sleeping on the couch with your daughter on his chest, looking like cuddle bugs

lots of fun family costumes for Halloween

he often has sparkles in his curls because your daughter would insist on glitter everything if possible

teaching her swedish!!! having a bilingual (or multi-lingual if you also speak multiple languages) household no matter where you are

i just imagine him as being very caring

can i give this man a daughter already like damn??? 

[floydig]

tag game!!

rules: answer the following and tag some people you want to get to know better. If you don’t want to answer certain ones, that’s ok! :)

@royaldynazty thank you so much for the tag naz!!! I love doing these :) 💗

name: Floyd

gender: female

star signs: Aries

height: 5’5

wallpaper: my phone wallpaper? it’s a Pink Floyd album cover

house: I think I’d be ravenclaw or a squib

ever had a crush on a teacher: LMAO never romantically, but I’ve had some hot professors 🔥 😍

coolest halloween costume: A giant blue m&m !!!

fav 90’s tv show: cheating a little, my fav 90s movie is The Addams Family

last kiss: LOL like over a year ago (it was a breakup kiss 🥴 )

fav pair of shoes: my light blue tennis shoes

been to las vegas: nah. Lake Tahoe is cool though 😁😁

fav fruit: nectarines, strawberries

fav book: I’ll go with Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest :) (even though it’s more like love/hate but that’s ok)

stupidest thing i’ve ever done: Probaby not the stupidest, but one time i ate a wax candle because i thought it was candy (I misread the label, ok?)

all time fav shows: Leverage (insert fire Elmo), Grimm, sherlock, shameless,

last movie i saw in theaters: i genuinely don’t remember. Maybe one of those avengers ones.

tagging @crazybutgood @drarrystan22 @glittering-git @bisexualronaldweasley (no pressure, only if you want to 💗) and whoever else wants to :)

[venividavici]

⌠ DANNA PAOLA, 25, CIS FEMALE, SHE/HER ⌡ welcome back to gallagher academy, VIDA TORRES! according to their records, they’re a GRADUATE FOURTH year, specializing in SEDUCTION AND FLIRTATION + ADVANCED ENCRYPTION; and they DID go to a spy prep high school. when i see them walking around in the halls, i usually see a flash of (glittering accessories, perfect nails clacking on a keyboard, high-end perfume you can only smell once you’re just close enough). when it’s the cancer’s birthday on 06/23/95, they always request their TINGA MEXICANA from the school’s chefs. looks like they’re well on their way to graduation.

                                         𝕘𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝

ACCESS: GRANTED FILE NAME: TORRES, V.; 25; MEXICAN-AMERICAN

Vida Torres was raised by a legacy family. Sergio Torres and Nadia Bautista both came from legacy families as well-- Sergio’s mother and Nadia, as well as Nadia’s mother, both graduated form Gallagher Academy itself. Growing up alongside her twin brother, Hale, she only ever knew a deep love for her family. She was at a young age, and after a careful and respectable upbringing, told about their family secret: she was actually apart of a family of spies. More so, if she chose it, she could follow in their footsteps and become one too. Vida couldn’t say yes fast enough.

She had always been ambitious and quick-witted, a fact she could tell her parents were proud of. Bringing home the best grades and growing into stunning looks was Vida’s way of making sure they always loved her and were happy to call her their own. Maybe that was a bit unhealthy, but the love was there nonetheless, so what did it really matter?

After excelling in school, she was enrolled into a great preparatory school for spies for her high school career. Vida thrived there. She learned how to command a room with the bat of an eye, and wield a gun with the delicacy of a paintbrush. Even though her family’s legacy blood ran through her veins, it was obvious this is what she was born to do regardless.

After graduation, she and her family decided it would be best to take a few years off and develop her skills privately before applying for Gallagher Academy. Though Vida agreed to it, because it was what her parents told her to do, she couldn’t deny it killed her inside a bit. Gallagher was the golden standard, the place she had been working all her life to get into to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The fact that she couldn’t yet enroll only sparked the growing fear that she wasn’t yet good enough. So, in the next years, she spent every waking moment working on her skills and training to become the best she could be.

Perhaps her family had made the right call after all. By the time she turned 21, ready to apply for Gallagher, Vida was as sharp as a snake, and just as deadly, earning her the nickname ‘the Viper’. She was in her element now, finally walking the halls of the prestigious school she had always dreamed of going to among peers she cared for and respected. Vida was living the dream.

That was, until Gallagher decided to allow boys in. It’s not like she hates men, she just believes the school endured so much and established so much in its years, all while being unapologetically female. It was something she was so proud to be a part of-- plus the girls were so used to their regular dynamics, why throw boys into the mix? It doesn’t help that some boys are just so... ugh. You can catch Vida being very vocal about her distaste for their presence here.

The only boy she could never truly fault for anything, and is actually so excited to have at school, is of course her darling brother, Hale. The two practically raised each other, and Vida knew that no matter what they argued over or got themselves into, she loved her brother unconditionally.

In any case, Vida is determined to finish her final year in the best standing possible, ready to take on the world with her family name and her own fire.

TL;DR - THE FACTS

Vida is a legacy student of the Torres (and Bautista) family, and is twin sister to Hale

she’s super ambitious and (mostly) sure of herself, which can either be admirable or a bit of a pain

she’s extroverted, but can be known to be a bit much from time to time

went to a spy prep school, and then took three years of extra training before going to Gallagher at age 21

loves the school, including the female camaraderie, and is very annoyed that boys are now accepted

will do anything for her brother-- if you cross him, you cross her

SENIOR YEAR, BABEY; Vida is trying to graduate as the best possible version of herself

CONNECTIONS

Emmett Blackthorne

Jude Park

Aylin Kaleli, Noah Ward, Naz Farhi, Briar Escarra

Amelia Taylor

Claire Walsh

Grayson Berkshire

this has again been strud, i’m slowly coming out of my shell, pls message me here on tumblr or on discord so we can plot uwu!!

[you-get-to-exhale-now-cyrus]

Cyrus’ Dictionary

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10

Summary: Cyrus has always been good with words; there’s a reason English is his favorite subject. But with TJ, he seems to be at a loss for words. When they get paired up for a summer assignment, Cyrus slowly starts to build a new dictionary. One that involves TJ and everything they do together. Along the way, maybe he’ll find the words to tell him how he feels.

Chapter 10: Naz

Word Count: 3292

Read on AO3

Buffy paced around her room, waiting for the ringing on the phone to stop.

“Hello?” came Cyrus’ voice from the other end.

“We have a problem,” she muttered, plopping down on her bed.

“Oh? Is everything okay?” Cyrus asked, his brows furrowing together.

“Marty told me he loves me,”

Cyrus nearly choked on his own spit. “He did?”

Buffy nodded, even though Cyrus couldn’t see her. “And it was totally out of the blue, like we were literally playing Mario Kart,” she explained, “and I was just so shocked and taken aback. So I just left,”

“Yikes,” Cyrus mumbled, much to the displease of Buffy.

“Not helping. What do I do?” she asked, playing with a lock of her hair.

“Well, do you love him?”

Buffy paused, and Cyrus almost thought that she’d hung up. “I-I don’t know. I’m not sure,”

“Tell him that,” he offered her, “feelings can be really hard and silence can be worse than the truth,”

“You’re probably right,” she said, “so, you and TJ?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.

Cyrus froze, inhaling sharply. “What are you talking about?”

“Your text seemed off,” she stated.

“Nah, things are good, I’m good, we’re good,” he rambled, his face scrunching up as he spoke.

“Oo, you gonna hang out with him again?” she cooed, and even though Cyrus couldn’t see her, he knew she was smirking.

“Yeah, we’re going to the fair in town,” he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “Not sure how that’s gonna go with his mom,”

“What do you mean?”

“Long story. I’ll talk to you later?” Cyrus offered.

“Talk to me after your date,” Buffy chuckled, grinning widely.

“I love you and I hate you,” he said, hanging up and putting his phone in his pocket.

“Stay still, I’m gonna screw it up!” Walker insisted, pouting.

“But it tickles,” Jonah countered, looking up at him with a big grin. He put his hands under his legs, trying to keep himself from squirming and ruining Walker’s face paint job.

“Bi the way, you look great with this,” Walker joked, to which Jonah replied with finger-guns.

“And you look pan-tastic. . .that was awful, I’m sorry,” he shook his head, peering in the mirror to admire Walker’s work, “it’s so pretty! I love it,”

Walker beamed, taking Jonah’s hand and rushing down the stairs. “Mom, we’re ready to go!”

Walker’s mom hurried into the room. “Well don’t you boys look lovely,” she remarked, ushering them out the door, “you know if anything happens to call me, right?”

“Right, we will,” Walker promised, giving her a quick peck on the cheek, “love you!”

The couple walked down the street, hand in hand, until they saw the big arch of rainbow balloons. Flags in every size and color danced in the wind, people threw confetti everywhere, and the whole environment looked a little hectic, but loving nonetheless.

“You ever been to pride before?” Walker asked, squeezing through the crowd to try and get a better view for the parade.

Jonah shook his head. “Never, what’s it like?”

“It’s like someone threw up the world’s biggest rainbow, then doused it in glitter,” he joked, “it’s really great,”

The parade was up and running by the time they got there. There was a bi float, to which Jonah screamed at the top of his lungs about. Someone on the float tossed him a little pin that said ‘I like my men how I like my women’. Sure, they were getting jostled and bumped around, but Jonah wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world. Confetti filled the air, as did whoops of applause, when a proposal took place on one of the floats, and everyone collectively lost their minds.

“This is so great!” Walker cheered, turning towards Jonah, who had a small, telling smile on his face, “what?”

“. . .I love you,” he said softly, thinking the words would get lost in the cacophony of the parade.

Walker grinned, tears brimming from his eyes. “I love you too, you know. I was . . .gonna tell you, but I was afraid you were gonna freak out,”

Jonah cupped Walker’s face, bringing their noses together. “You absolute dork,” he mumbled, pecking his lips. People around them joined in with a chorus of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’, a few clapping the boys on the back and telling them they were adorable together. Everything was going so well.

Until a certain middle-aged woman was walking down the street and was able to pick out her son from the crowd.

“Jonah!” a shrill voice stood out from all the others, “Jonah what are you doing here?”

His blood ran cold. He felt like he was going to faint or cry or throw up or all three. Luckily, Walker was there holding his hand, and telling him things were going to be okay. People around Jonah and Walker stared at the woman.

“C’mon, let’s go,” she said, holding out her hand.

Jonah opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. By this point, more and more people had gathered around him, whispers and murmurs tearing through the crowd.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Beck,” Walker piped up, ever the brave one, “he’s gonna stay with me. I really care about him and,” he looked at Jonah, smiling softly, “I know he really cares about me,”

“But. . .you’re both boys?” she hesitated, all of a sudden feeling quite uncomfortable in her situation.

“Good catch, lady,” someone from the crowd called out, earning a few ‘woos’ and applause.

“So?” Jonah said, trying to stand his ground, “Mom, I love him. Isn’t that all that matters?”

Jonah’s mom looked at Walker, conflicted, as if trying to ask him for answers, but his face read ‘don’t look at me’.

“Wouldn’t you rather have a happy son who loves a boy rather than a sad one who pretends to love a girl?” said someone else, offering some advice.

She took a few steps forward, parting through the crowd to get to her son. “Jonah,” she started, putting her hands on his shoulder, “I love you no matter what, you know that right?”

And at that, Jonah collapsed into her arms and started to cry. Happy tears, sad tears, all the tears. Cheers and applause ensued, but all Jonah could think about was how happy he was to finally have this weight lifted off of his chest.

When his mom pulled away, she looked at Walker. “So, you’re the artist?”

Walker ducked his head, trying to hide the ever-growing blush on his cheeks. “How do you know?”

“Jonah has a drawing you did in his room,” she supplied, to which Jonah groaned of embarrassment, “and that’s my cue to leave. I’ll catch you boys later,” she said, walking off.

“You have a drawing I did in your room?” Walker asked, a soft smile gracing his face.

Jonah nodded. “The one you did of me in the park that day. It’s always been my favorite,”

Walker grinned, slinging an arm around him. He opened his mouth to say something, but then what seemed like a pound of glitter rained down on them.

“Happy pride, you’re never getting the glitter out of your hair,” Walker chuckled.

“Worth it,” Jonah assured him, grinning like an idiot.

“Yes!” TJ pumped his fist in the air, after he’d sunk the last basket.

“Surprise, surprise, ladies and gents, TJ Kippen can shoot basketballs,” Cyrus teased, poking his shoulder.

TJ ignored him, pointing to the plush dinosaur behind the man. “For you,”

Cyrus looked from the stuffed animal to TJ. “Really?”

TJ nodded. “Of course. You love dinosaurs, so it only makes sense that I’d give it to you,”

“It’s also a stuffed animal and I’m 16 years old,”

“I can easily take that away from you. I will turn this prize around,” he threatened with mock authority, crossing his arms.

Cyrus sighed, tucking the dino under his arm. “Thanks,” he muttered, kicking the ground.

TJ frowned, trying to meet his gaze. “Do you not like it? I can pick something else,”

Cyrus shook his head. “No, it’s not that. I just. . .I wish I could win you something, but my lack of hand-eye coordination impedes that desire,”

TJ rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, most of these games are probably math driven,” he insisted, peering at the booths, “darts?”

“Sure, we’ll just end up in the ER when I inevitably forget which direction to throw it in,” Cyrus mused, following TJ.

“I’ll help you,” he offered, handing the lady behind the booth a few tickets, and getting a few darts in return, “take the first shot. I’ll hold your beloved dinosaur,”

Cyrus picked up one of the darts with extreme caution. He shut one eye, trying to gauge where he should throw it. After a few intense moments of concentration, he threw it, and it hit the board and landed on the ground.

“Help?” TJ offered, setting the plush animal aside and coming up beside him, holding the dart in both their hands, “so, just pinch it like this,” he said, moving Cyrus’ fingers in the right position, electricity zipping through him with each touch.

Cyrus felt like he almost couldn’t breathe, and he didn’t even know why. Was there something in the air? Was it some weird summer curse? Either way, the next thing he knew was that the dart had left his hands and the balloon popped.

“Hey, you did it!” TJ cheered, ruffling his hair gently, “told you,”

Cyrus pointed to a small, plush basketball, thanking the lady. “For you,”

TJ beamed, picking it up like it was his own child. “I love it, thank you,”

Cyrus shrugged, grabbing his dinosaur as they walked. “Doesn’t begin to compare to this, but I’m glad you like it,”

“Cyrus?” a voice called, followed by a slew of excited squeals.

“Amber, hey!” he greeted, “ and Andi. What are you guys doing?”

“We’re going to recreate Love, Simon,” Andi said, pointing to the ferris wheel.

“Ah,” TJ nodded sagely, “round and round the lesbians go, where they stop, nobody knows,”

Cyrus chuckled, holding out his dino. “Look what TJ won for me!”

Amber raised her brows, giving her brother a knowing look. “Wow, that’s really special. He must have really known you’d like that,”

“Well look at what Cyrus got me,” TJ said through gritted teeth, “it’s a basketball because he knows I love it,”

Andi looked between the two Kippens, trying to figure out what was going on. “Should we head towards the ferris wheel? Recreate that iconic scene,” she said, taking Amber’s hand and running to the line.

“I want that,” Cyrus sighed, hugging the dino to his chest sweetly.

“To go on the ferris wheel?” TJ nearly squeaks out, “yeah, let’s do it,” he says with the least amount of confidence possible.

Cyrus grabs TJ’s hand, tugging him along and catching up to Amber and Andi. The girls and Cyrus talked about the movie for a little while, Cyrus gushing about the lighting and the cinematography, while Amber just kept repeating the word ‘gay’ over and over.

When they got towards the front of the line, Cyrus handed the man tickets for him and TJ, and they both took their seats, their respective prizes on the outside of the seats. The man started the ride, and the boys weren’t even three feet on the ground when TJ squeezed his eyes shut.

“Would this be a bad time to tell you I’m afraid of heights?” he muttered, feeling something gentle rest on his hand that was gripping the bar for dear life.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Cyrus assured him, “open your eyes. You don’t have to look down, just look at me,”

TJ slowly fluttered his eyes open, the first thing he saw being Cyrus’ hand on his. His gaze trailed up to his face, meeting his eyes; gosh, he could drown in those.

“Hey,” Cyrus whispered, scooting a little closer to TJ.

“Hey,” TJ said back, heart pounding, his breath coming in quick breaths, not because of the ferris wheel. He’d forgotten that he was so high above the ground. “I’m kinda weak, aren’t I,” he chuckled, shaking his head.

Cyrus frowned. “You know I’d love you no matter what,” he said, biting his tongue, “I mean, you know like, I-I love all my friends, like how friends love each other,” he stammered, exhaling.

“Oh. Yeah. Me too,” TJ replied, suddenly remembering he was on the ride, and clenching the bar a little tighter.

When they reached the bottom, TJ grabbed his basketball and flew off the seat. Cyrus took his dino, and walked off calmly, laughing as he caught up to TJ; the kind of laugh that made you dizzy with excitement. While TJ took a moment to catch his breath, Cyrus pulled out his phone and googled:

being loved no matter what

He opened his notes, and jotted down the word quickly so he wouldn’t forget.

naz: the pride that comes with knowing that you are loved no matter what you do

Amber and Andi stumbled off the ferris wheel, both laughing and smiling like two idiots.

“You two okay?” TJ asked, having regained his sense of safety.

“We’re good, just gay,” Amber supplied, squeezing Andi’s hand, “and also kind of tired and ready to go home,”

TJ nodded, turning to Cyrus. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” Cyrus agreed, walking in the opposite direction with Andi, as Amber and TJ headed home.

“So how was your date?” Amber cooed, batting her lashes at her brother.

TJ pushed her, making her stumble a little. “It wasn’t a date,”

Amber stopped dead in her tracks, grabbing TJ by the wrist. “It was literally Love, Simon, you dumbass gay disaster,”

TJ rolled his eyes, tugging his arm away from her. “So, how was your date?”

Amber shrugged, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. “It was a sort-of date. We both like each other but are trying to keep this under wraps, you know?”

TJ nodded. “Yeah, I know. . .mom stuff,”

“Speaking of which, what did you tell her about this ordeal?” Amber asked, the two of them rounding the corner and walking down the street.

“I said we were going to the fair, just you and me,” he supplied.

“We need a selfie to prove it,” Amber decided, “my phone’s dead,”

“Fine, fine, I guess we can use mine,” he mumbled, unlocking it and clicking through. He accidentally selected photos instead of camera, and the picture of him and Cyrus in the Christmas shop popping up. Just his luck.

Amber’s jaw dropped, making incoherent noises as TJ tried to close the image, but Amber was holding onto his phone like death. “Oh my gosh, you guys are literally so cute,” she finally said, nearly fangirling over the picture.

“I mean I already know that Cyrus is adorable so,” TJ shrugged, giving into the fact that Amber was never going to let this go.

“No, like, you guys are legitimate couple goals,”

“Not a couple,”

“Yet,” Amber replied, not missing a beat.

“So,” Andi started, plucking a fry from the basket, “you and TJ?”

Cyrus groaned, bringing his forehead down onto the table. “Why does everyone phrase it like that, like we’re dating! We’re not!”

Andi was taken aback, chewing on her fries in confusion. “I just meant that you guys were having a fun time here, but dating, okay, let’s go there,”

“Let’s not,” Cyrus pleaded, picking his head up.

“Too late,” Andi chuckled.

Cyrus pouted, crossing his arms. “I don’t wanna talk about ‘us’,” he groaned, using air quotes.

“I’m, like ninety-nine percent sure he likes you, Cy,” Andi insisted, drumming her fingers on the table, “have you seen the way he looks at you?”

“. . .yeah, right, whatever,” Cyrus mumbled, taking another fry from the basket.

“I’m serious,”

“Hush,”

“But do you like him?”

And there it was; the loaded question that was there lurking in the shadows, but now it was on full display. He really didn’t want to answer, because heck, he didn’t even know how to answer it. So he stayed silent.

“Aha! So you do like him!” Andi clapped her hands together.

“I never said that! TJ’s my best friend,” Cyrus defended, taking the last fry in defiance.

“Cyrus, be honest. You don’t think that there could be something more there?” she asked, searching his face for some sort of answer.

“. . .no,” Cyrus said meekly, almost like he was disappointed, but not quite. His voice didn’t wobble, and he said it with as much confidence as he could.

Andi shrugged, tossing the empty basket into the trash can. “Whatever you say,” she chirped, getting up from her seat, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cy,”

He gave her a wave as a good-bye, and turned his attention back to the ferris wheel, watching people go around and around. Couples, kids, parents with their little ones, all smiling and laughing. He sighed, silently hoping that one day he’d get to do that with someone special.

6/25

Today Cyrus and I went to the fair, and it was so much fun! I played a basketball game and won him a dinosaur, and he played a dart game and gave me the stuffed basketball he won. Well, in truth I helped him a little bit, but his face when I said ‘you did it!’ was priceless. We ran into Amber and Andi, and we all went on the ferris wheel. Admittedly, I’m afraid of heights, but Cyrus was there with me, telling me that things were okay, and to just look at him, which helped. I was worried he’d think I’m weak, but he said he’d love me no matter what. You know, like friends do.

TJ sighed, shutting his journal and setting it on his nightstand. That little moment had meant everything to him, and even if he wanted it to go further or mean something more, deep down, he knew it didn’t. It was just a thing friends said to each other, like when Amber would text Cyrus and end the conversation with ‘love you!’.

[Underdog <3: so for tmrw, there’s free painting classes where the art gallery was that day! do you wanna come?]

TJ smiled, butterflies erupting in his stomach no matter how hard he tried to quell them.

[Me: totally! when is it?]

[Underdog <3: around noon, sound good?]

[Me: i’m there]

TJ turned off the lamp on his nightstand, shutting his eyes and trying to go to sleep. But even though it was late, and he was relatively tired, he couldn’t stop thinking. Thinking of Cyrus. Thinking about what they ‘were’. Friends, he supposed. Best friends.

6/25

TJ and I went to the fair today and it was so much fun! He won me this giant dinosaur stuffed animal and I love it! It’s sitting in my chair in my room right now. I tried to win him a stuffed basketball with a game of darts, but he helped me so much that he basically won it. We saw Amber and Andi there, and then all four of us went on the ferris wheel and it was so much fun! It was kinda dark when we were at the top, but I could still see TJ’s green eyes. They’re pretty nice.

And there it was again; Cyrus focusing on TJ’s eyes. “It’s a normal thing,” he told himself, flipping to the back and jotting down the notes he’d written in his phone. Naz. What a lovely word to describe him and TJ. They would love each other no matter what. Love, like friends do, of course. Because that’s what they were.

Friends.

Tag List: @shortstackofpeaches || @seanna313 || @geekingbeautytx || @heavenlybyers || @ginnychrises|| @wlwandimack || @giocondasstuff || @lemonboytyrus || @adorejrizzle || @swingsetboys || @ifellintotyrushell || @idk-dude-17 || @rbf-lesbian || @marianara-sauce || @kaptainjinxz || @alex-poster-pizz || @quietmarvel || @blueberry-my-hero-macadamia || @broadwayitbitch || @tjsmuffin || @tjthekippen || @idpleasesir || @hi-hello-hey-there || @bingewatchingenthusiast|| @booklove-2 || @illbeyourreasonwhy || @birdiesandflowers || @whistlepunk || @phinallyjackie || @thedampjofangirl || @tyrus4eva || @tj-is-a-lemony-boy || @tj-goodman-bittersweet-boy || @dis-app-oin-tme-nt || @nessarinthegay || @breadisticks || @typewriter-riz || @gobletofash || @bluemuffinboy || @sofuuh || @cheesystars || @tjmuffin || @multifandom-bxitch || @allylovessadie || @hithatsmyname || @tyrusinarush || @tyrus-lookback ||

[jeinu]

A commission for Naz’s Rifts character, Leon, shown with his Glitter Boy armor!

[alisamaefawn394]

It’s that time of the year where I buy loads more phone cases again even though I don’t need themmmm🤪🤪 none of them are really indicative of who I am anymore I guess? And I also now shall only use flip cover ones because I’m so used to it by now.

I have:

A purple & green & black Advanced Potion Making phone case whic is a flip cover and my current case and I’ve had it on for months

Another Harry Potter case but it’s clear plastic with cartoon characters on the back and glitter floating around

A flimsy and scratched clear plastic one with my name etched upon it in white

A yellow case with flowers on it (slightly more protective)

And an ackley bridge case that says “#justsaying” with a b&w picture of Naz and Missy which I got for my birthday last year because I LOVE ackley bridge

Idk I just feel like I need more. I’d love to use the ackley bridge one again but since it’s so famous now I’d just be made out like a sheep.

[sun-avenue]

shot.tales.//0.1.

                                                  2019. NAZ. 

“Seven years after everything that happened between us, the only thing I still expected from you was closure. Not an apology, not even a drunk text message at 2AM saying how much I was missed; just an ending. Unfortunately, for both of us, there wasn’t even a proper beginning to start with – so I think asking for a proper ending would be asking for too much. Didn’t make me want it any less, though.

 If stares could kill, you would be dead by now. I glued my eyes on the back of your head, completely unaware of the real world around me. Your dark locks were up in meticulously arranged in a bun, tied up together with a fancy hair clip, allowing your bare shoulders to make a rare appearance in a dress that fitted you too well. Strong shoulders, the ones that you used to hate as a consequence of years of swimming. Shoulders I used to love to cry on. Do you still not like them? Would I still feel safe with my head against them? I haven’t wondered about all that for awhile now, but seeing you in front of me, so close, yet so far, brought it all back - like a cold wave on a late-night walk on the beach.

 People around us were still making small talk. Cheers were beginning to sound way too loud for a classy event like that. But I wasn’t hearing a thing. After all this time, that girl three tables away still had the power to invade my memories and make me remember everything I had been trying to forget. It also made me regret all my decisions in the past years. That was the type of vulnerability I didn’t want to deal with – not here, not right now. It wasn’t enough to make me look away. God, it wasn’t even enough to make me feel sorry about myself and just get out of there before you could actually see me. I wondered what would take for me to actually give up and just forget.

You still look the same. Of course I would notice that, even though the back of your head was all that I could see from that far. I knew that head - and all the rest of the body that sustained it - all too well. Honestly, I think I will never be able to forget one single detail, doesn’t matter how much I try. I also notice the way your bright yellow dress hugs your curves just right, like a modern live-action version of Belle before dancing with the Beast. I wished I could tell you that the shining color of your dress matches your personality. I still can’t see your face, but I bet all my money that your big  brown-greenish eyes are sparkling with glitter, and your full, drawn-by-hand lips are painted in a pastel shade of pink. Maybe you were too predictable. But maybe I just knew everything about you that was possible to be known.”

 People started to clap again and I was forced back to the real world - a world that didn’t look real at all. Two seconds ago it was just me and her all over again, but now old men were dressed in Armani suits and rich ladies walking around with giant diamonds around their necks like it wasn’t no big deal. The few I had on my own wrist sparkling brighter than the limelight on the stage in front of me made sure to let me know that maybe it really wasn’t. 

I looked up for the firme time in what felt like forever. 

“Are you even trying to be lowkey?” the blonde woman right beside me asked.

I happened to call the said blonde as best friend, but her name was Bela. Also known was my personal assistant, which was a win-win situation for me & me again, cause I had the chance to pay my best friend to approve my whole life before I even had the chance and that was fine for both of us. Tabloids loved to make us look like a good-looking young couple - couple as in lovers and completely not platonic -, which got worse with the open letter I put out there for the whole world to read about my sexuality. It wasn’t anyone’s business, but God, if felt good to scream it to everyone. Disclaimer: no, we weren’t together and never have been. As Bela makes sure to mention every once in awhile, “you’re cute and everything, but we’re not even each others’ type”.  Nevertheless, Bela was a leo (and also an astrology slut, her words, not mine), meaning she absolutely loved the spotlight and paparazzis screaming her name in red carpets. Bonus points if they were able to capture her good angle, which was the left side of her roundish pretty face. 

“I am not. But thanks for asking.” I replied in a low voice, careful not to bring attention to us. We were, after all, seated in a table filled with a lot of famous, important people. And I trusted none of them.

“Aw, babe.” Bela linked our hands and gave me a sweet smile. She was way more comfortable with displays of affection than I was, but I kept my fingers enlaced in hers either way. After years spinning around in our own little dance, we knew how to work around each other. As the blonde liked to say, “we knew how to tango”. “It’s a charity dinner. Stop pining over your ex-girlfriend and start suffering for poor, starving children. You know, just for a change.”

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Yes, I was definitely pinning. No, I was not about to confess that. “I do feel for the starving children, that’s why I’ve donated a good amount of money and helped organizing the event. And she’s not my ex-girlfriend.”

“Well, she’s your ex-something.” Bela said, putting my red bangs behind my left ear. It wasn’t even part of the job - she just liked taking care of me like I was a doll. It felt a little patronizing sometimes but it was nice being taken care of by someone, so I just probably give her a raise instead.

I did not give her an answer; both of us knew she was right.

Only five seconds had passed when she tried again.

“Ok, now I’m serious. Are you alright? It’s been awhile. Since the last time, I mean.” I looked into her eyes, face-to-face with the friend that had my back so many times, and I could tell the loving but worrying look in her eyes was pretty genuine. Bela was a loud, ego-maniac, crazy latina woman – but her number one priority in this life was to make those she loved happy. Luckily, I was one of a few.

I breathed in deep enough to smell the chicken salad in my plate right in front of me.

“It’s fine. I mean, Hollywood is a small place. We just happened to choose the same event just this once. It’s a mistake that only happens once in a lifetime. She’s probably here because she didn’t know I was coming. It’s fine.” I rambled, as if the faster I talked higher the possibility of believing my own words. “She’s only here to help starving kids.”

Bela, as usual, was having none of it.

“Yeah. Maybe she is.” With one last meaningful stare, Bela backed off and grabbed her glass of champagne, having a sip. It was irritating how I just knew she was trying to replicate one of those obnoxious memes that she’d learned while stalking fan accounts on Twitter (“it’s a whole world, Naz, you should check it out!”). It was annoying because she had a fair point - and I knew that without having to ask. Not only I was the one who helped organizing the event, I was also its ambassador. Everyone knew I would be here. Every single guest in the room deliberately chose to be here with her.

I was just about to return to my meal with a awesome plan of ignoring a almost anxiety attack with food when I noticed someone three tables away was staring at me, too. 

For the fraction of a second that our eyes met, I was sure I was having a heart attack. Thank fuck I was an actress. A very-good-in-hiding-her-feelings one. So just like all those times before, I pretended to see nothing, notice nothing and feel nothing. Suddenly the salad chicken in my plate looked delicious.

                                                 2012. PIPA.

“No, wait – sorry. No. Stop.”

The pianist abruptly paused mid-song, leaving the chords to fade on their own. Two girls from the backing vocal group shared a meaningful, annoyed look; but just like the last three interruptions before this one, they chose to say nothing. 

I sighed. That morning was already longer than I expected it to be. My eyes burned, my back was sore from countless hours sitting in that ridiculous chair and, as the fat cherry on top of the cake, my head buzzed in pain just like a grenade about to explode. 

David looked at me, his green eyes darker in frustration. He said nothing, but I could hear him screaming “what now?” telepathically to me. I had lots of experience working with egocentric directors: they demanded 32 hours of your day out of the 24 God gave you, they yelled at your face in front of the actors and, as I recalled so well, they would even compare your work to the pizza from the day before now rotting in the trash can. David was a difficult human being to understand - always annoyed, always expecting perfection from things that simply were not supposed to be perfect -, but he wasn't like that at all. He wasn’t one of them. However, right at that moment, when I deliberately interrupted the performance one more time, David looked at me like he was dying to throw me and my stuff in the dumpster outside across the street. 

“It wasn’t right. I’m sorry, it just wasn’t.” I finally said. I could feel a defeated aura  expressed all over my body. 

David looked at me for a second but said nothing. With a wave of his hand, the stage manager understood that it was best for everyone to just take five. Mike, the bald guy responsible to keep everyone in sight (or, at this case, out of sight), worked fast to disappear with the backing vocal singers and the musicians. They all probably went outside to gossip about my instability, just like they had done since 8AM this morning. I pretended not to care. 

David was left alone with me for the first time since we arrived. “What is going on? Will you please let me finish my very much needed rehearsal before I turn 80?”

I crossed my arms against my body. 

“Oh, please. It’s hardly a rehearsal. We don’t even have proper actores yet.”

“We would have them by now if you did your damn job!”

Something about the way he raised his voice made my headache worse in mere seconds, but I could not be bothered to care. I was used to working for people who loved to yell at me for no reason.

I gave him a burning look in return, which he didn’t seem to care. My voice remained low as I finally confessed: “The song is terrible.”

He raised his eyebrows, confusion all over his face. “It’s your song.”

I rolled my eyes, suddenly remembering how uncomfortable that chair was. Rising up, I turned my back to him. It was humiliating telling your own boss that your job was absolutely crap.

“I know it’s my song. That’s how I know it’s shit.”

David sighed. Not in annoyance - it was something else. I turned to look at him. He seemed… worried. Understanding, even. 

“Pipa. I wouldn’t have contacted you for this job if I didn’t think you were capable of delivering what I want. Trust me, I am very picky. However, I picked you.” He paused for a moment to get closer. “The song is fine. Sure, it can be better, but you have time to get it right. So. Swallow this shitty imposter syndrome and let’s do this, together.” He focused in the last words while grabbing me by the shoulders, shaking me ever so slightly. 

His words calmed me down a little, but I remained skeptical. 

“Well, if it’s not the song it’s definitely the singers. Nevertheless, it isn’t working the way it is right now. We need the real deal.” 

He let me go but stayed close to me.

“Casting takes time - you know how producers work. It’s Broadway, for Christ's sakes. They are still deliberating if they want a nobody or a Hollywood star. Why don’t you just get out of your head and trust me to choose someone… espectacular... to sing your lyrics? Huh?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. He pouted. There was something funny about seeing a grown man pouting at you. Especially if he held a facade to everyone, pretending to be the biggest jerk of a boss ever, with no feelings whatsoever. It was interesting, to say the least, to realized he wasn’t like that at all. At least not with me. 

I laughed for the first time that morning, pushing my glasses up to my hair. 

“Alright.” As the crew entered the room again, ready to try the song just one more time, hoping and praying I would be satisfied this time, I came close to David’s ear to confide at him: “But if Vicky fuck up that note again I’m gonna kill her and then myself and then come back for you.”

David kept his eyes at me while going to the director’s chair to be seated again. He smiled silently when the pianist played the first note one more time and Vicky opened her mouth to sing the words I wrote. 

[ukulelewrites]

💌😊

💌 tell you what comes to mind when I hear your name

hmm,,,,,sNAZzy,,,,,jkjkjk naz, I think of flower crowns, pretty cursive handwriting, smol bean, cozy blankets, cups of coffee, & glitter!

😊 some songs that make me happy

Nu’est’s Pretty, Pristin’s We Like, Seventeen’s Mansae, Charli XCX’s Boys, Sing Street’s Up, & Bruno Mars’ Straight Up & Down