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elianamarie-blog · 2 years ago

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The Things You Give Pt. 29

Woooooooww. It's been WAY too long! I'm so sorry my loves. Thank you for still reading my content though! I can't tell youhow much it means to me. You all are amazing and make my day by your likes and comments! I lost a lot of inspiration towards the end of last year and it was hard to write when you don't have that or any of the creative juices flowing, but I fought it because of you guys, so thank you for keeping me writing! Anywho, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Much love!

February 28, 1979

Point Place, Wisconsin

Forman Residence

Eric Forman’s Basement

“You guys, listen to this ad,” Eric announced. “Do you like to draw? Well, I have been known to trace my hand and turn it into a turkey. If so, have your artistic ability evaluated by the cartoon academy of Fort Lauderdale.”

“Ooh, I think Picasso went there,” Kelso said.

“All I have to do is send in my drawing of Sanchez the turtle and a money order for $19.95. 20 bucks to get judged by a panel of cartoon experts? I'd pay twice that,” Eric said, grabbing a pad and pen.

“Okay, besides that, Donna…how’s the radio station going?” Jackie asked.

“It’s good,” she responded. “I get to host Tuesdays and Thursday’s from one to five A.M. Boss man is even thinking of letting me cohost with—get this—Jerry Thunder!”

“That’s awesome!” Kelso cried out excitedly. “You get to work with ‘The Sound!’” He lowered his voice, imitating the radio station announcement.

“Do you have any idea what this could mean for my career?” Donna continued.

"Oh, my God! You're going to be famous!" Jackie squealed.

“Exactly,” Eric responded. “Awe, my girl is going to be radio famous.”

“What about you, Steven?” Jackie asked, turning to him. “How’s work going?”

“Fine?” Hyde questioned, eyeing her. “Why are you so interested in other people’s lives?”

“Can’t I be interested in my friends’ lives?” she asked innocently.

“No,” he said flatly. “You’ve never have. What’s gotten into you?”

She sighed. “Well, Markus told me that I need to start taking an interest in other people’s lives other than my own, otherwise people won’t really love me like they say they do. And when I said that they do actually love me, he said they were lying to me. Is that true?”

Everyone went silent; not knowing how to respond.

Y/n clicked her tongue. “Um…well…”

“Who’s going to tell her?” Hyde asked. “Because I’m about to hurt her feelings."

“Oh, it’s true!” Jackie whined. “I thought I was being lovable. You know—like the nice princess from The Wizard of Oz.”

“Yeah,” Eric said slowly. “You’re not. You’re more like the wicked witch of the west.”

“Alright, as fun as this is, I need to get to work,” Hyde announced.

“Who’s running the store while you’re here?” Donna asked.

“Angie. She’s really wound tight on when we open,” he responded, rolling his eyes. “She’s always bitching about me not being there early and opening up on time and not closing early. It’s stupid.”

“Man, Angie is so pretty,” Kelso cooed.

“What have I said when talking about my sister?” Hyde asked gruffly.

“Don’t put her name or pretty or anything of the like in the same sentence,” he responded, not making eye contact.

“That’s right,” Hyde responded. “Anyway, Angie likes to jump my ass about everything. I didn’t close last night so now it’s apparently my fault that the store looked like a mess this morning.”

“Well, then who closed?” Y/n asked.

“Me. I closed six hours early and apparently that’s bad business. But in my defense, I had an important appointment to go to.”

“Oh, your baby appointments?” Kelso asked as he started throwing a ball into the air.

“No, I had an appointment at my darts tournament.”

“Steven,” Y/n lectured. “I know your sister is hard to work with but maybe you shouldn’t make her make your life more miserable.”

“Betrayal!” Steven cried out, pretending to be offended at his wife.

Y/n shook her head at him.

“I thought you guys didn’t get along?” Fez asked. “Why are you defending her?”

“Hey, right is right and wrong is wrong,” she replied. “And right now, Steven is wrong.”

“I think this calls for a divorce,” Eric said.

“Shut up, Eric,” Y/n said, propping her feet up on the table. “Steven, if you want her to get off your ass, maybe try pulling your weight around the store. It’s called running a business.”

“I’d hate to admit it, Hyde, but she’s right,” Donna said.

“What’s going on here?” Hyde asked. “I can’t believe you’re on her side!”

“Normally I wouldn’t be, but this time she’s right,” Y/n responded. “It’s like me doing all the cooking and cleaning around the house and taking care of the kids while you’re away at work, and then coming home just to go to bed.”

Steven blinked at her. “Okay, where’s the lesson in that?”

“Steven!” she screeched. “My point is you can’t just show up and not expect to do any work. Especially at your own store.”

Steven made a face and sighed. “Fine. But I’m going to complain the whole time.”

She shook her head at him. “That’s fine. As long as work gets done. And I expect the same at home too!”

“Sure. But just so you know you’re going to have pay me too.”

“I can’t. It’s illegal if I do,” she sassed.

He smirked at her. “I love you.”

She smiled. “Love you, too.”

“Alright, well, I’m going.”

“Oh, don’t forget, we have a class later tonight.”

“What class?”

“A class on how to take care of a baby,” she said. “Remember? I signed us up for it with my mom. The same class Kelso and Brooke took.”

He groaned. “Come on, Y/n, do I really have to go?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m not going to be the only one changing poopy diapers.”

“See, I was thinking I could be in charge of what goes into the babies and you’re in charge of what comes out.” The look on her face said otherwise. “Fine.”

She perked up immediately. “Thank you. It’s at 6. Be here by 5:30.”

He huffed. “Okay.” With that, he walked out the basement, leaving the rest behind.

“And I’m hungry,” Y/n said and brought her feet down. “Babies and I want a snack. Maybe a bowl of fruit. And then some ice cream.” As she struggled to get up, Donna reached out to her. “No, no I got it.” She pushed herself up, but fell back into the chair. She sucked in a breath and launched herself out of the chair, barley landing on her feet. “See,” she said, breathing hard. “I got it.” She wobbled upstairs.

“What did she mean by that?” Fez asked innocently.

“What do you mean?” Jackie asked.

“When she said it’s illegal if she pays him. I thought getting an allowance was normal?”

Everyone giggled.

“What? What’s so funny?”

“Think about it, Fez,” Jackie said. “Really think. Long and hard.”

Fez was quiet as everyone looked at him, waiting for him to get it. It didn’t take a long for a sly smile to break out on his face. He giggled. “I get it.”

“We should probably go too,” Kelso said and tapped Fez’s shoulder. “We have an apartment that we’re going to go look at.”

“You guys haven’t found an apartment yet?” Jackie asked. “Fez, where have you been sleeping this whole time?”

“With me,” Kelso responded. “But I think my parents are getting sick of us.”

“What—you guys giggle like a bunch of school girls all night?” Donna chuckled.

Fez’s eyes grew a fraction. “Have you guys been spying on us?!”

“It’s true?!” Eric said, laughing.

“You know what? We really need to get going,” Kelso said and grabbed the scruff of Fez’s jacket. “See ya!”

“I swear, they’re in love or something,” Donna chuckled.

“Eh,” Eric shrugged. “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

--Time Skip—

Y/n and Steven walked into the classroom that night. Plastic babies littered the room and a few other soon-to-be parents were all there and seated.

“Come on, Y/n, do we really have to do this?” Steven whined.

“I think it’s a good idea,” she said. “We’ve never been around babies before so we need to be prepared.”

Just as she said that, a large impregnated woman waddled by them and sat in a seat farthest away from them.

“Oh, my God,” Y/n said under her breath. “She has to be in her third trimester. That looks painful.”

“Either she’s having multiple kids or her baby is going to rip her apart.”

“Not helping, Steven.”

“Hey, you two,” Kitty cooed excitedly as she walked up to the couple. “Steven, you ready to talk about burps, boo-boo’s, and binkies?”

“Yeah, sure,” he responded flatly.

“Oh, come on don’t be such a sour puss,” Kitty said. “You should be glad to be here! Especially since I’m going to be the one to guide you into parenthood.” She gave them an excited, crinkled smile.

“I wouldn’t say I’m glad—” Steven started, but was cut off by Y/n.

“Shut up, Steven.”

He clamped his jaw shut as Kitty continued.

“Well, I am so glad that you’re here anyway,” she said. “It makes it better knowing that I’m guiding you to become better parents for my grandbabies!”

“Thanks, Mrs. Forman,” Steven said genuinely.

“You’re welcome, dear.” She turned to address the rest of the class. “Okay, everyone have a seat!” Kitty announced from the front. As everyone sat down, Kitty began. “Now, when your little bundle of joy is first born, they will spend almost 20 hours a day pooping and sleeping. Who else can tell me what else they’ll be doing?”

Y/n raised her hand eagerly. “Eating.”

“Great job, Y/n!” Kitty praised. “Now, what do babies eat?”

“Breast milk and formula!” a red-headed woman said eagerly.

“Yes, great job! Now, when your baby is born and it’s time to breastfeed, don’t be alarmed when the first couple of feedings may feel uncomfortable. Once the baby latches on properly to the nipple, it should feel less uncomfortable and more of a tugging on the breast.”

As Kitty continued her teaching, Steven leaned into Y/n’s ear and smirked. “So…nothing new for you then, right?”

“Shut up, Steven,” Y/n said, blushing.

He snickered and leaned away, eyes forward.

“And just so you know,” Y/n whispered, leaning into his side this time. “You just burned yourself.”

“What? How so?”

She chuckled breathlessly. “You basically said that all you do is tug…like a baby.”

His smirk dropped immediately. “I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did,” she chuckled. “You just got burned, sucka!”

The room went dead silent as Kitty stared at them.

“Is there something you two would like to share?” she asked the couple who looked at like deer caught in the headlights.

“No,” Steven said.

“No, ma’am,” Y/n said in unison.

Kitty gave a curt nod before returning to the board.

⧝⧝⧝

“Hey, this place is nice!” Kelso exclaimed as he and Fez walked through the empty apartment. “Big enough to bring the ladies over.” He smirked at his friend.

“And your daughter?” Fez reminded him.

“Oh, yeah, that too.”

The two young men walked around the two-bedroom apartment, admiring it. The living room was spacious with the bathroom and master bedroom immediately to the left of entering. Straight ahead was a decent sized kitchen with a half wall bar looking straight into it. There was a hall to the left of it that lead to the smaller bedroom and a sliding door.

“I think we should go fill out an application before someone else nabs it,” Fez said and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to go find the landlord before I—oof!” As he had turned around to leave, he had bumped straight into someone. “Oh, I’m sorry—oh, it’s you.”

The man stood there with a disgusted look on his face and folded arms across his chest. He was skinny with short thinning brown hair with a matching mustache. “Fez,” he said.

“Fenton,” Fez replied in the same tone and matched his stance.

“What are you doing in my apartment?”

Fez brought his eyebrows together. “What do you mean ‘your’ apartment?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Fenton smirked. “I’m the landlord of this joint. And before you fill out an application, the answer is no.”

“What? Why?” Fez asked, disappointed.

“You know why,” he responded and turned to Kelso. “But…I’d give it to you in a heartbeat.”

Kelso shifted uncomfortably in his place. “Uh…thanks man, but I don’t swing that way.”

“You don’t have to for me to give you this apartment. You’re way too pretty to pass that easily.”

A smug smile pressed into Kelso’s lips. “I know.”

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you this apartment right here, right now under one condition: You don’t make him your roommate.”

Kelso looked between the two men, stumbling for words. “I don’t—I can’t—”

“Are you serious? You can’t decide right now?” Fez asked, hurt.

“Well, I mean—I need a place, man. A place to raise my daughter.”

“But you can’t just leave me! You need a roommate to help pay the rent and I need a place a live!”

“I know, man, but I got to think of me and my daughter,” Kelso admitted sheepishly.

“I can’t believe this,” Fez said. “I thought you were my friend.”

“Fez, I am your friend!”

“No, you’re not, you son of a bitch!” He stomped out the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

“Fez!” Kelso called and started to run out the door, but Fenton caught him by the shoulder.

“Hey, the offer is still on the table, my friend.”

Kelso shook his head. “No. Not from you.” He walked out, to go find his friend.

⧝⧝⧝

“Oh, that’s great Kyra,” Kitty said, watching the redhead wrap a cloth diaper around a baby doll. “Snug so that it fits well and comfortable, but not too snug to cause rash and discomfort. And certainly not too loose! You can imagine what happens when it is!” Kitty laughed and moved onto to the next couple—Y/n and Hyde.

Y/n was struggling to wrap the diaper correctly around the plastic baby. The diaper wouldn’t stay pinned, or it wouldn’t fit right. She was beginning to get flustered and frustrated.

“I don’t think that’s how you do it,” Steven muttered.

“I know how it’s done, Steven!” Y/n snapped.

“Really? ‘Cause it doesn’t look like it.”

“Shut up,” she grumbled and finally pinned the diaper. “There!” She held up the baby in the air, showcasing it to her husband.

Kitty stepped up to their side with a look of concern. “Well, that’s very good, Y/n, but the needle of the pin isn’t supposed to go into the baby’ stomach.”

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes. “Oh, forget it!” She threw the baby down onto the table. “I’m going to be a terrible mother!”

“No, no, you’re not,” Steven said gently and picked up the baby. “I’m probably going to be a worse father—” Y/n shot him a glare. “I mean…a bad father while you…my darling…are you going to be the best gosh darn mother out there.”

She made a face at him, not believing him.

“L-look, it’s not that hard, see?” he stammered and unpinned the needle from the baby. With gentle hands, he undid the diaper and folded the bottom up, then left, and then right. He carefully pinned the diaper down and brought the baby up.

“Wow, great job, Steven!” Kitty cheered. “This looks amazing!”

“Where did you learn to do this?” Y/n asked, confused and marveled at the diaper.

“Well, when my mom would bring home one of my ‘uncles’, he sometimes would bring a kid and my mom, being the terrible person that she is, would make me in charge of watching these kids. Sometimes they were still in diapers. And if I didn’t want my house smelling like crap, then I had to learn how to change a diaper. So…viola.” He held the baby in the palm of his hand.

Y/n stared at it for a second with watery eyes before turning around and stomped out the room.

Steven sighed and set down the baby. “I better go after her. I’ll see you at home, Mrs. Forman.”

Y/n was about to exit the building when Steven called after her.

“Y/n, wait!”

“Please, leave me alone,” she said. “I don’t want to talk to anybody right now.”

“Look, come on,” he said, now at her side and grabbed her elbow. “You know you’re going to be the best mom you can be.”

“How can you know that? If I can’t put on a simple diaper, what makes you think I can do anything else?”

Steven chuckled at her.

“This isn’t funny, Steven!”

“No, no, it’s just that I find humorous that it’s you instead of me.”

“What?” she spat.

“I mean I thought it’d me feeling this way instead of you. I always thought you’d be the one to know what to do before me.”

“Well, I’m glad I could to be of service,” she deadpanned.

“Look, Doll,” he said and grabbed her hands. “You’re going to be great, I promise.”

“I’m not so sure,” she said solemnly and withdrew her hands. “I need to go, I’ll see you at home.”

“Where you going?”

“There’s someone I need to go talk to.” She pushed open the door to walk out.

“You can’t go!”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because we drove here together!”

“Oh, right.”

⧝⧝⧝

Y/n raised her fist and nervously knocked on the door in front of her. Padded footsteps could be heard from inside before the door swung open.

Brooke stood in front of her in a pink night gown, hair brushed and braided down her back. “Y/n…what are you doing here?”

“I’m so sorry to bother you this late, but…I was wondering if I can talk to you?”

“Uh…sure,” Brooke replied, a little surprised to see someone she barley spoke to standing on her doorstep. She opened the door wider, gesturing for Y/n to come in. She made her way to the kitchen. “Have a seat and make yourself at home. Would you like some tea?”

“Um…no thank you,” she replied and closed the door behind her. “I won’t be here long.”

“Okay,” Brooke said, grabbing a mug of hot tea and sat down next to Y/n. She smiled at the visibly bothered girl who sat down beside her and crossed her legs. “What’s up?”

Y/n sighed, struggling to find the right words. “When—when you were pregnant with Betsy…were you nervous?”

Brooke tilted her head in thought, jutting her lower lip out. “Well…sure. I mean, who isn’t when it’s their first child?” She chuckled, remembering the thought. “Especially when the father of your child is…well…Michael.”

Y/n couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I can imagine.” Her gaze dropped to her hands that laid in her lap. “Did you ever feel like you were going to be a bad mom? Because you had no idea what the hell you’d be doing?”

Brooke nodded. “Yeah…I did. Michael and I went to that baby class Mrs. Forman teaches and I could barley put the diaper on that stupid plastic baby.”

Y/n perked up. “Me too! How did you learn to do it?”

Brooke smiled gently at her. “It became second nature once I held Betsy in my arms.”

Y/n was silent for a minute. “But what if it doesn’t? What if—what if I do everything wrong and fail my babies?”

“You’re not going to,” Brooke soothed and tapped Y/n’s knee. “Once they are born, your motherly instincts will kick in. It’s expected.”

“Wasn’t for Steven’s mom.”

“Steven’s mom is a special case,” she responded, rolling her eyes. “You’re not going to be like her.”

“Well, I know that!” Y/n exclaimed, making Brooke laugh. “I just don’t want to be dunce that can’t figure out how to keep a baby happy.”

“You want to know the secret to a happy baby?” Brooke asked, leaning in.

Y/n perked up. “Yes!”

“There isn’t,” she deadpanned. “You’re never going to have a happy baby 100 percent of the time. They’re going to cry when they’re hungry, tired, have a full diaper, or just want to be held. Sometimes, they’re gonna cry just to cry.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah. At some point they’re going to get old enough to throw a fit. Betsy is old enough now to scream when she gets mad.”

“Really?” Y/n asked, most surprised than the last time she asked.

“Yeah,” Brooke sighed and rubbed her temples. “I love that little girl with all my heart, but sometimes I just want to give her a small taste of my mother’s bourbon in her milk so she can go to sleep.”

“Wait…do you?” she asked, taken aback and if she were being honest…a little amused.

“No,” Brooke chuckled and took a sip of her tea. “It’s tempting though when it’s three a.m. and she still isn’t asleep.”

Y/n chuckled. “I can imagine.” She looked down into her lap as a sudden pressure formed on her chest. “You know what? I think I’ll take that tea now.”

Brooke noticed her sudden change in demeanor, nodded quickly and rushed to the kitchen to grab her a cup of tea. When she rushed back in with a hot cup, she saw Y/n taking slow, steady breaths. Y/n accepted the cup graciously.

“I’m don’t think I’m ready to have kids,” she quivered, taking a sip from her tea.

Brooke looked at her awkwardly. “Erm…wouldn’t you rather be talking about this with your friends—"

Y/n didn’t even bother to hear what she was saying. “I’m going to make a terrible mother. I mean—I don’t know anything about babies! I read in the book Eric got me for Christmas that babies have six different cries. SIX! How am I supposed to know which ones which?”

“Okay, I guess we’re talking about it.”

“And then top of that, if I somehow manage to keep them alive, I have no idea what kind of parent I’m going to be.”

“Y/n, it’s going to be okay,” Brooke said nervously, trying to soothe her.

“No, it’s not,” Y/n practically sobbed. “I have no idea what I’m going to do!”

“I felt the same way,” she responded calmly.

“You did?”

“Oh, yeah. I had no idea what I was doing when Betsy was born. But eventually, it got easier.”

Y/n let out a small breath of relief. “Maybe I have a chance.”

“Of course you do. Every mom that is worried about being a good mom is a good mom.”

She moved the corner of her mouth upwards. “You think so?”

“I know so.” Brooke scooted a little closer to her. “Listen, becoming a new parent is stressful enough as it is. It doesn’t help when you’re eighteen and just starting your career at the library and you get knocked up at a Molly Hatchet concert.” She clicked her tongue, staring off angrily in the distance and shook her head. “Stupid Michael.”

Y/n’s gaze flicked to her and then anywhere else in the room, confused. “I assume we’re no longer talking about me.”

Brooke shook her head. “Sorry. Look, my point is, you’re going to make an amazing mom. I was scared too, but now I can’t imagine my life without my daughter. Regardless of how you feel, you’re going to make mistakes, but that’s not going to make your children love you any less.”

She smiled at Brooke. “Thanks, Brooke. That means a lot.”

“Anytime,” she hummed and leaned back. “So…what’s it like being married to one of the stooges?”

Y/n chuckled. “You got some time?”

⧝⧝⧝

“Push, Y/n, push!” Steven encouraged as he held his wife’s hand.

Y/n sat there with her legs hiked up on a table, a female nurse sitting between her legs.

“Steven, before we continue, I just wanted to say that you’re the best sex I’ve ever had,” Y/n said with a certain twinkle in her eyes.

Steven smirked. “I know. Now, come on just a couple more pushes!”

She hunched forward and barley pushed before a squealing baby could be heard.

“Congratulations it’s a boy!” the nurse exclaimed.

“Oh, my God,” the couple breathed together as they watched another nurse take the baby away.

“Okay, one more time,” the nurse said and had Y/n push once again. As easily as the first, another baby popped out, it’s cries echoing the room. “Congrats, it’s another boy!”

As the Hyde’s sat back to relax, satisfied smile on their faces, the doctor perked up.

“What?” Y/n asked. “What is it?”

The nurse’s eyes lifted to meet Steven’s and Y/n’s. “Another baby is coming out…”

“WHAT?!” the couple yelled in unison.

“That’s impossible,” Y/n panicked.

“No one told you were having triplets?” the nurse asked.

“NO!” the couple once again said in unison.

“Okay, this is almost unheard of!” she exclaimed almost excitedly. “Okay, Y/n I’m going to need you to push one more time.”

“N-no! I’m not ready to have another baby!” she cried out.

“It’s a little late for that now!” Kitty said from the corner of the room. “You should’ve used a condom!”

“Mom?” Y/n asked through her quickened breaths. “When did you get here?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been here the whole time!” she said. “Now, saddle up and push!”

All Y/n had to do was barley push for the baby to come out.

“It’s another boy!” The nurse held the baby in her hands before her eyes grew wide. “Another one is coming!”

“NO!” the couple screamed together.

“It’s a girl! Oh…another one!”

The couple screamed as the baby came out without Y/n needing to push.

As the baby girl came out, another one came out, and then another, and another…and another. They kept on coming until there was a total of 100 babies—crying, screaming, pooping, and drooling.

“Look, Steven,” Y/n gushed. “Look at our beautiful family.” As she spoke, her voice grew deeper and distorted.

Steven stared at her in disbelief at her sudden attitude change when not even a minute ago she was panicking.

“Wait—what?” he asked through bated breaths. “This isn’t—this isn’t real. This isn’t happening.”

“Oh, but it is,” she replied, her smile growing in a distorted and an unnatural way. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think she was possessed—or the joker. “Steven, there’s no way out of this. You did this to me and now you must face before your consequences.”

“I didn’t say I was going anywhere. I—you’re not Y/n. My Y/n knows that.”

“You’re right,” she replied, now standing up. Her body seemed lankier, her limbs longer now. Her eyes grew dark as her skin paled. “Y/n is not here anymore.”

“Steven…” a weak, fragile voice came from behind him. He spun around to see a mirror facing him. Instead of seeing his own reflection, he saw his wife standing there. She looked small and frail, but it was her. Her hair once beautiful hair was dull and lacked life. Her face looked gaunt and her eyes were sunken—exhausted. What once was life and happiness and love in her eyes now only showed sadness. “Steven, I want out.”

He ambled over to the mirror, scared and confused in what appeared in front of him. “What the hell is happening?”

“I need help,” she cried. “Please, I need help!”

“With what?! Just tell me what you need and I’ll do it!”

“You should know! You caused this!” Y/n screamed at him, tears rolling down her face.

“Caused what?!”

“This,” the other Y/n croaked in a deep voice and pointed a long finger at the mountain of screaming babies. “You failed your family.”

“No! I—I swear I didn’t—I don’t want to!”

“But you did!” The real Y/n screamed. “You left me! I was drowning and you did nothing but watch me! Now, I’m nothing but an empty shell of what I once was! How could you do this to me?! You promised me!”

“But I’m still here!”

“For now,” the ugly, creepy Y/n said. “You’re going to leave just like the man who raised you did.”

“This is all your fault!” his real wife screamed, eyes now wide and erratic. She pointed her finger at him, tears still streaming down her face. “Your fault! Look what you made of me! This is your fault!”

“No!” Steven cried out. He screwed his eyes shut, shaking his head. “This isn’t real! This can’t be.”

“But it is,” a familiar voice came from the mirror. Steven opened his eyes to not see his wife anymore, but to see the one person he thought he’d never see.

“Dad?” He asked, shakily.

“Hey, Steven,” Bud said, shoving his hands in his pockets casually. His shaggy brown hair still hung passed his ears and he wore a flannel shirt and jeans—the last outfit he saw him in before he left him.

Steven couldn’t respond. He ran his hands through his hair, but when he did he saw Bud mimic his movements. As he brought his hands back down to his side, Bud did the same. He waved at the mirror only to his horror to see his supposed father wave his hand. When Steven inched closer to it, Bud followed suit.

“I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Bud continued, a smirk painting his face. “Get a grip on reality, Steven. This is your future!”

“No, I am nothing like you!”

Bud clicked his tongue. “Then why did you do what you did?”

Steven shook his head. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Yeah, you keep thinking that. But you’ll eventually end up just like your dad.”

“No, I won’t!” Steven seethed. “You don’t know me.”

“But I do. You’re just like everybody else in this family—a lowlife. You’ve got nothing to bring to the table.”

Steven’s chest was heaving from anger. “Go to hell, Bud.”

“I’ll see you there.”

“What—?”

Before Steven could finish his sentence, the ground beneath him disappeared and swallowed him whole. He screamed as he fell through the never-ending darkness.

“No!” Steven screamed as he jerked awake. It took him a minute to take in his surroundings, gathering his bearings. When he realized it was just a dream, he was heaving and his heart was racing. He glanced over at the bedside clock and it read 4:40am. He looked to his left to see his wife sleeping peacefully beside him. Seeing her there and looking healthy and not possessed brought him a wave of peace and relief. His sudden jerking movements must have wakened her because she stirred awake.

“Babe?” she asked groggy. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“Yeah,” he breathed, his racing heart calming down. “Just a bad dream.”

She hummed, her eyes fluttering shut. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He stared down at her, taking her in, trying to forget the image of her from his dream. "No, I'm okay."

"Come here.” She opened her arms and he graciously fell into them. She rubbed his back and caressed his hair, making him feel safe. “It was just a nightmare. It’s over now. You’re safe.”

His grip around her tightened and her belly pressed into his stomach. “I know.”

“Good.”

As they began to fall back into their slumber, Steven felt something move across his stomach. At first, he thought Y/n had shifted her position. But it wasn’t until he felt a little poke to his stomach.

“What the—” Steven said, scrambling away from his wife. “Did you feel that?!”

The feeling jolted her awake as well. “Yeah, I did.” She felt more movement and another poke to her stomach. “Oh, my God…I think the babies are kicking!”

“Seriously?!” he asked, surprised. He pressed his hands to her stomach, waiting for another kick. When it came, his heart skipped a beat. “Oh, my God. There’s actually something in there.”

“Yeah,” she replied, holding her stomach in awe. “There is.”

Steven looked up to meet her loving gaze. She cupped his face before he kissed her belly. “Does it feel weird?”

“Yeah,” she chuckled. “But a good weird.”

Another kick to her stomach. “Man, these kids are kicking like crazy!”

“I know! This is incredible.”

“It really is,” he whispered.

Y/n tilted her head. “You okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah…just. Makes it real, you know?”

She placed her hands over his. “I do.”

He huffed through his nose and pressed his lips to her belly once more. “I promise to be the best dad I can be.”

Y/n’s heart and stomach filled with butterflies. “And I promise to be the best mom I can be.”

He looked at her once more before reaching up and placing a sweet kiss to her lips.

∞∞∞

“So, he’s not talking to you now?” Donna asked Kelso as he, Jackie, Eric, Y/n, Steven and Kitty sat in the kitchen waiting for brunch to finish cooking.

“No,” Kelso responded. “He packed up his stuff and left. I called his host parents and they haven’t heard anything from him. He hasn’t called me to make sure he’s okay. I don’t know, I’m worried about him guys.”

“Hey, Kelso, if things don’t work out with Angie, you and Fez should get together,” Y/n joked.

“Wait, why Angie?” Steven asked, glaring at his friend. “Kelso, what does she mean by that?”

“Nothing. It was a joke,” Kelso chuckled nervously and shot a glare to Y/n.

“Was it?” Steven pushed and turned to his wife. “Now, darling, were you joking? You wouldn’t lie to your husband, would you?”

Y/n gulped nervously. “N-no, of course not.”

“Then what did you mean by that?”

“Nothing,” she stuttered. “I was just…making a poor joke.”

Hyde squinted at her behind his glasses. “I don’t believe you.”

“Wow! Look at the time I really should be going!” She tried to get up quickly, but the new weight of her stomach slowed her down. She achingly stood and tried to stand, but Steven grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“Y/n,” he said sternly. “Tell me the truth. Or I’m going to stop doing the thing that you like.”

“I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that,” Kitty said, stirring the pan of the food.

Y/n stared into her husband’s eyes before cracking. “Kelso has been secretly dating your sister!”

“Y/n!” Kelso shouted. “What the hell?!”

“I’m sorry!” she cried out. “I can’t lie to him! He’s my husband. Besides, when he threatens to take certain things away, he means it.”

Steven smiled proudly. “Damn straight.”

“Look, man, I—” Kelso began, but was cut off by Hyde.

“Nah, you listen to me. I told you to stay away from Angie and you went behind my back and did it anyway. Now, you’re going to pay.”

“Wow, this sounds familiar,” Eric piped up, pretending to think. He looked at Hyde, smirking. “Oh, yeah.”

“Shut up, Forman!” Steven snapped and turned his attention back to Kelso. “Look, I’m not going to tell you again. You’re going to end it, and you’re going to end it now.”

“What? C’mon, man it’s not like we did it or anything!” Kelso defended. “Yet at least.” He stuck his tongue out and nudged Y/n.

“Yeah…I’m not going to do that,” she responded, resting her hand on her stomach.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want you knocking her up too,” Hyde said. “And if you do, I will put you six feet under.”

“Yeah, how terrible would that be?” Eric mocked, still smirking.

Hyde glared at his brother-in-law. “I said shut up.” He turned back to Kelso. “I mean it. You and her? Are done.”

“Alright, man, jeez,” Kelso said and leaned back in his chair.

“Alright,” Steven said, satisfied with the answer. “Now, Y/n…”

“Yes, dear?” she asked nervously.

“I’d like to know why you tried to cover Kelso’s ass.”

“I didn’t,” she said, her voice getting higher.

“Yes, you did.” He leaned back in his chair, slinging his arm down the back, and cocked his head to the side. “You want to tell me why?”

“Uh…” she stuttered, her mouth going dry. “Guys, the babies kicked last night!”

“What?!” Everyone shouted, her diversion successful.

Kitty ran over to her and placed her hand on her daughter’s belly. “Oh, my God! My grandbabies kicked!” After a few seconds of no movement, her eyebrows furrowed. “C’mon, babies. Kick for Grandma. Kick!”

“Mom, I don’t think that’s how th—” Eric began, but Kitty cut him off with her joyous screeching.

“One of them kicked!” she cried out. “I can’t believe it! One of them kicked! Red! Red, honey, get in here!”

“What?” he asked calmly, entering the kitchen.

“The babies kicked!” she replied excitedly.

“Oh, that’s great,” he said with a grin.

“Come feel it!”

Red cleared his throat and stayed near the door. “No, it’s okay. I believe you.”

“Red, come feel your grandchildren,” Kitty scolded.

“No, I really don’t want to.”

“Red Forman, come feel the life your daughter is bringing into this world right now!”

“But…it’s so awkward,” he whined and cautiously stepped over to Y/n. His hand hovered over her bulging belly.

“It’s okay, Dad, it’s not going to bite,” Y/n chuckled.

Red sighed grumpily before barley placing his fingertips on her stomach. He stood there for a few seconds before he felt movement. His eyes widened slightly before pressing more of his hand onto her belly. Another kick to his hand caused him to withdraw.

He cleared his throat. “Well, uh, there’s that.”

“Red, those are your grandchildren and that’s all you got to say?” Kitty asked.

“Well…there really are babies in there.”

“Yeah, and in three months they’ll be here,” Kitty mentioned, but when she did Hyde’s and Y/n’s faces dropped.

“Th-three months?” Hyde stuttered; his previous frustration complete dissipated.

“Well, yeah!” Kitty answered. She gave them an astonished look as they stared back in panic. “Did you guys think that they weren’t just going to come?”

“No, I-I just thought that w-we had more time,” Y/n said and looked to her husband in a panic.

“What do you mean by that?” Kitty asked, straightening up.

“We, uh, we don’t exactly—” Hyde started.

“Oh, my God!” Kitty yelled. “You guys don’t have anything for the babies?”

“Not exactly…” Y/n answered, looking down.

“Okay, then what do you have?” Kitty asked, standing straight and put her hands on her hips.

“We…have the onesies…that Eric gave us,Y/n said hesitantly.

“That’s all you have?!” Kitty screeched, causing Eric, Y/n, and Steven to cover their ears closest to her.

“Mom, please…dogs can hear you,” Eric said, walking away.

“Steven, what are we going to do?” Y/n asked, worryingly looking to her husband.

He sighed and rubbed his neck. “I don’t know. I can ask WB if he can give me an advance on my paycheck. I can’t imagine how much this stuff is going to cost.”

“No need,” Kitty said, excited. “This gives us a perfect opportunity to have a baby shower!”

“No!” Red shouted. “No. More. Parties!”

“Red, it won’t be for us,” Kitty argued. “It’ll be for them.” She placed both hands on her daughter’s belly.

“Don’t do this,” Red said. “Don’t use our unborn grandchildren as a way to get your way.”

“I’m not!” she responded and stood straight. “We can have this baby shower and get everything that we need! We won’t have to spend a dime!”

“We still have to spend money on the party!”

“Actually, we can cover that. Right, Steven?” Y/n asked.

“Uh…do I have to be there?” he asked.

“No,” Y/n answered, knowing the answer will satisfy her husband.

“Then yes we can!” he said, more upbeat.

“There you go!” Kitty said, facing her husband. “And I think this calls for the godmother to get everything ready.” She eyed Donna who was chewing on a piece of bacon.

“By myself?” she responded with wide eyes.

“Wait, what?!” Jackie screeched. “You made her godmother?!”

“Well, yeah,” Y/n answered honestly. “She’s my brother’s girlfriend and my best friend.”

“I’m your best friend!”

“I told you not to tell her,” Y/n said to Kitty who looked away awkwardly and busied herself with preparing more food. “Jackie, you are my best friend. But I can’t make you my maid of honor and the godmother of my children.”

“Well, why not?”

Y/n made a face at her. “Because I have other friends.”

“Yeah, but I’m the best one!”

"Y/n, let me handle this one,” Eric said and turned to the petite brunette. “Nobody cares. Alright, moving on.”

Jackie clicked her tongue and huffed, sitting down at the counter.

“Okay, back to the topic at hand,” Kitty said. “We need to decide when we can have the party.”

“Hey, are we just going to forget about my problem?” Kelso piped up.

“Oh, yeah,” Steven said. “Kelso, the best thing you can do is…to stop talking about it.” He grinned at his friend when he shot him a glare.

“Steven,” Y/n said firmly and turned back to Kelso. “Just give him a couple days. He’ll come back around.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he mumbled.

A beat passed when the sliding door opened and Fez walked in.

“Hello beautiful people,” he greeted cheerfully before his eyes landed on Kelso. “Oh, hello.”

“Hey, buddy. We need to figure this out,” Kelso said.

“There’s nothing to figure out,” Fez said bitterly. “You picked an apartment over me! From my arch nemesis out of all people!”

“Fez, he’s not your arch nemesis,” Eric pointed out. “He just gets on your nerves.”

“It doesn’t matter; he still chose the apartment over me!”

“So I can have a place to raise my daughter!” Kelso defended. “Fez, man, you’re my best friend, but I got to think about my kid.”

“Alright, I’ve had enough,” Red said. “I’m going down to the apartment with you and talking to that damn landlord.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Red. That means a lot,” Fez said sweetly.

“Don’t think I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart,” Red replied. “I don’t want you moving back into my house!”

“Also, a fair point,” Steven said in a taunting way and got up to put his plate in the sink.

“Be ready in five minutes,” Red said, grabbing his keys. “I don’t want to deal with this crap any longer.”

“Can we please get back to the topic at hand?” Kitty asked. “When should we have the shower?”

“How ‘bout next Saturday?” Donna suggested. “Gives us enough time to plan and not scatter like we did for the wedding.”

“We’re having a party?” Fez asked. “I want to go to a party.”

“Well, I think that’s a wonderful idea!” Kitty cheered, ignoring Fez. “Oh, I am so excited! I’ll start the guest list!”

“And I’ll start the food and decorations!” Donna said.

“Make sure you put cake on that list,” Y/n said. “I’m on a chocolate kick.”

“Oh, and finger sandwiches!” Kitty exclaimed. She gasped. “And tea!”

“Are we having a baby shower or a tea party?” Fez asked.

“Are you coming?” Y/n asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he responded. “I love planning parties!”

“Fez, it’s a baby shower,” Jackie said. “It’s not going to be a party.”

“Awe, party poopers,” he responded disappointed.

“Well, we could use you,” Donna said. “We could use your theme expertise.”

“What about me?!” Jackie said. “I have a good taste!”

“Fine, Jackie and Fez can work together,” Y/n said, exhausted already.

“Yay!” Jackie cheered, clapping her hands. “Oh, Fez we have so much to go over!”

“While this is going on, me and the boys will be at the bar,” Steven smirked and continued eating his food.

“Can you guys take Markus with you?” Jackie asked. “I’m trying to get him ‘in’ with the group.”

“Doesn’t he have any of his own friends?” Steven asked, annoyed.

“Duh, but I’d like him to get closer to you guys because I don’t like his friends,” she said candidly.

“Why not?” Y/n asked, grabbing for a strawberry.

“They’re just…eck,” she responded.

“What do you mean ‘eck’?” Eric asked.

“I mean…they’re weird!”

“Weirder than us?” Donna asked.

“Yeah, believe it or not!”

“Jackie, I don’t want to take my ex’s new boyfriend out on guy’s night,” Steven said. “It’s almost like returning to the scene of the crime.”

“No, it’s not!” she protested.

“I second what Hyde said,” Eric said, “It’s weird.”

“Ah, c’mon guys, please!” she begged. “I’d like for him to be here more often.”

“Then, he can just be here more often,” Donna said, pointing out the obvious.

“Alright, let’s go,” Red called out. “I want to get back to catch the Packer’s game.”

“But I want to talk about the party!” Fez whined.

“You want join in on some tooty frooty baby shower or do you want to get a house that has a roof and running water unlike the hut you came from?” Red threatened.

Fez’s eyes widened. “See ya.” He ran out the door to meet Red at the car.

--Time Skip—

“Are you Fenton?” Red asked as he walked into the empty apartment. In the middle of the room stood the familiar bald man with a mousy moustache. “I’m here to talk about the apartment.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” Fenton responded, flamboyantly and smiled. “It’s still available. And F.Y.I so am I.”

Red scrunched his face at him. “Look, I have a wife.”

“And I have a football, but I never use it.”

“Red!” Kelso called out, storming into the room. “I know you told us to wait in the car, but Fez keep playing his bongo music!”

“It’s called jazz, you philistine!” Fez yelled, trailing behind him.

“Oh, you’re with him,” Fenton responded, unpleased. “Deals off. I gotta get to yoga.”

“Hey, can’t we talk about this?” Red asked.

“No,” he said shortly.

“See, I told you he was going to be—” Fez started, but was cut off by Red.

“Just shut it, or I’ll shut it for you!”

Fenton looked at Red, impressed and if he was being honest, maybe a little turned on. “Well, you just don't take crap from anyone, do you, Mr. Man?”

Kelso sighed. “I knew this was gonna be a waste of time. Come on, Fez. We'll go figure out some other place to live with the baby.” He and Fez walked out in a huff leaving Red and Fenton.

“Baby? No one mentioned they had a baby. That... that's so progressive,” Fenton said.

Red cocked an eyebrow at him. “Progressive?”

“Well, how can I not give the apartment to two men raising a child together?”

Red smiled, understanding what Fenton was implying. “Oh. Yeah, progressive. Yeah, that's what they are. They're as progressive as hell. Why, they're likenewlyweds."

“Mhm,” Fenton hummed. “I wish I knew what that was like. Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”

Red nodded. “Right. So, we got a deal?”

“Alright, fine, but they mess up once and they’re out of here.”

Red wanted to open his mouth, but chose to keep it shut. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

--Later in the basement—

“Guys, I can’t believe I graduate in a few months,” Jackie mentioned while the gang hung out. “I’ll finally become a woman!”

“Jackie, you became a woman the night you lost it to Kelso,” Y/n responded, leaning back against the couch. Her big belly now starting to cause her back pain and ankle pain.

“Man, I can’t believe I graduated a year ago,” Eric said. “Man, time really flies when you take two naps a day. I didn’t really do anything.”

“I don’t really think you…I mean you did do…man, you really sat on your ass,” Donna said, giving on trying to comfort her boyfriend.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Eric said glumly. “I mean, I got a letter from the contest and they think I have no artistic talent. You know, I’m starting to think that the cartoon academy of Fort Lauderdale isn’t legitimate.”

“Yeah? What gave it away?” Y/n deadpanned.

“Yep, Forman, we’ve all passed you by,” Hyde said smugly. “I’m running a record store. All the while banging your sister—”

“‘Banging?’” Y/n glared at her husband. “Don’t you mean ‘married?’ I mean, I’m even carrying your kids for God’s sake!”

“You didn’t let me finish,” he said calmly and turned back to Eric. “I’m also hitched and about to have kids, Donna’s a deejay, Kelso’s a cop…even Fez has a job now. What’s it again, man? Shower girl? Makeup lady?”

“Shampoo boy!” Fez said loudly and shortly.

“Eh, I was close.”

“What did you being married to Y/n and her carrying your kids have anything to do with the conversation?” Eric asked.

Hyde shrugged. “Just another thing to rub in your face that I’m much further along than you.”

“Wait, so I’m the loser of the group now?” Eric asked, pointing to himself.

“I mean, you’re the one still living with your mommy,” Kelso said.

“Hey, I still live with my mommy,” Y/n said.

“Yeah, but you’re still married to someone who is successful,” Jackie said, leaning against the washing machine. Y/n furrowed her brows, not feeling any better. “Eric just stays home who’s mommy still cuts the crust off his sandwiches.”

Eric ignored Jackie and turned to Kelso. “Man, you’re still living with your mommy.”

“Not for long. Me and Fez are looking for an apartment and the only thing I’ll need my mom for is to do my cooking, laundry, and taking me to the dentist.”

“Well, Eric I feel kinda bad,” Jackie said. “You wouldn’t even be thinking of this kind of stuff if you hadn’t been caught in the brightness of my future.”

“You know what else is scary? If this year went by really fast, imagine where Eric will be in ten years,” Fez said.

Eric’s crappy future, ten years later…

The Vista Cruiser rolled into the Forman driveway in the late afternoon. Eric and Donna exited the car, dressed in Star Trek outfits, coming home from a convention. Eric wore the traditional fleet command uniform while Donna sported a black wig and red general commander dress.

“Thank you for coming to the Star Trek convention with me…Uhura.”

“You can call me Donna now,” she said displeased and walked into the house.

“That’s good, Fez,” Kelso said, coming back to present time. “But I think it’s going to be more like this…”

Eric’s crappy future, ten years from now…

The Vista Cruiser rolled into the Forman driveway in the late afternoon. Eric and Donna exited the car, dressed in Star Wars outfits, coming home from a convention. Eric dressed as Luke Skywalker and Donna dressed in the familiar gown and rolled side buns.

“Thank you for coming to the Star Wars convention…Leia,” Eric said proudly.

“You can call me Donna now,” she said and shuffled back into the house.

“No, you’re both wrong,” Hyde said, smirking. “It’ll be more like this…”

The Vista Cruiser once again rolled into the Forman driveway. The doors to the car opened, Eric jumping out and rounding the car.

“Thanks for coming to the convention with me…Leia,” he said.

Kitty got out of the car and walked over to Eric wearing Leia’s gown and her hair in the same style. She stared at him displeased. “You can call me Mom now.” She hurried inside, eager to get out of the itchy costume.

The gang laughed at Hyde’s theory, upsetting Eric.

“Whoa!” Eric screeched, jumping off the couch.

“They’re just joking around, Eric,” Donna said calmly. “It’s funny.”

“No, it’s not!” he defended, inching towards the stairs. “In fact,…it’s completely possible!” He bounded up the stairs, freaking out.

Y/n laughed and high-fived her husband. “Nice.”

A few moments later…

“All of my friends are on career paths. Even Kelso. Kelso! The kid who thinks N.A.T.O is Japanese for neato,” Eric ranted to his parents who sat in the kitchen. Red was reading the newspaper and Kitty was reading a magazine.

“You know it’s just not fair,” Red said, sarcasm heavy in his tone. “You sleep late, you watch TV all day…the job offers should be pouring in.”

“Why don’t you look into that chiropractic school I suggested?” Kitty asked. “They’re having an enrollment seminar. You know, being a chiropractor is a very prestigious job. Even if you move somewhere where there’s no real doctors.”

“Well, I guess chiropractor is as good as anything I've come up with. I have wasted an entire year doing absolutely nothing.”

“Hey, how bout a job stating the obvious?” Red asked, giving Eric a fake smile. “Because you’re really good at that!”

Later…

“So, you’re going to the school, huh?” Y/n asked as they once again gathered in the basement. This time, Markus had joined them who was sitting next to Jackie and Y/n on the couch, with his arm around her. “When do you start?”

“Well, they start Monday, so…probably then,” Eric responded sarcastically.

“Want me to come with you?” Donna asked.

“Wait, really?” Eric asked and turned to his girlfriend.

“Yeah. I think it’d be fun.”

“Awe, you’re such a good girlfriend,” Fez cooed before pretending to gag.

“What was that about?” Hyde asked, leaning back in his usual chair.

“All of you are in loving relationships and I’m over here more single than a freakin’ pringle,” he responded bitterly.

“Hey, I’m single too,” Kelso piped up from the lawn chair.

“Yeah, but knowing you, you’ll have a new girlfriend in, like, five minutes,” Fez replied and slumped on the couch. "I'm going to die alone."

"No, you're not,” Y/n comforted, rubbing his shoulder. “You’ll find someone.”

“Why are you lying?” Eric asked.

“Eric!”

“Yeah,” Jackie agreed with Eric. “He is one freaky, horny little dude.”

“Just ask the couch,” Hyde added in.

“I’m right here!” Fez whined. “Can’t even have the decency to wait until I walk out the room!”

“Jackie, what did we talk about comforting friends?” Markus asked, like he was talking to a toddler.

Jackie looked at the ground. “Don’t be mean.”

“And?”

Jackie rolled her eyes and sighed. “And if I can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

Markus nodded and looked up to everyone. “We’re working on talking nicely to others.”

“Wow,” Eric said amazed. “I like him. Can he stay?”

“Don’t listen to them, Fez,” Donna said. “They’re just being jerks.”

“Hey, I have an idea,” Y/n said. “Why don’t one of us set you up?”

“How?” Fez asked. “Do you know anybody?”

“Wait, wait…you’re not going to set up a party with all women are you?” Hyde said. “Because that was annoying.”

“No, no. Something better than that,” Y/n said. “Donna, are there any single ladies at the radio station?”

“The only lady we have there is the receptionist and she’s eighty-eight years old,” she responded.

“Is she single?” Fez asked seriously.

“She’s a widow…does that count?”

“Hm, no,” he shook his head and sat back. “I don’t want to be second choice.”

“That’s what’s stopping you?” Eric asked. “Not the fact that she’s seventy years older than you?”

“Yeah, and you won’t be able to have sex without thinking she’s going to break a hip,” Kelso said. “Or a heart attack.”

“Okay, gross,” Y/n said. “Anyone else that knows a single girl?”

“Well, I mean there’s Simpson from the police academy,” Kelso said.

“No, we all know how that turned out,” Y/n said and turned to her husband. “Do you know anyone at the store?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me?” Eric asked.

“Do you know anyone from staying at home all day?” his twin sassed. “Oh, yeah, you must’ve met someone at the Bum Factory.”

“Damn, did you have bitch flakes this morning?”

“Yeah, along with your sitting-on-your-ass-all-day scrambled eggs,” she snipped.

“Is this about what happened earlier?” Eric asked. “I already said I was sorry!”

“What else would it be?!”

“What happened earlier?” Hyde asked, scrunching his eyebrows together.

“Your idiot brother-in-law happened!”

“It wasn’t that bad!” Eric argued.

“If it wasn’t, then I wouldn’t be pissed!”

“You’re so dramatic!”

“Will you two shut up and just tell us what happened?” Hyde snapped. “I need to know if it’s funny so I can make fun of you or kick your ass. It depends.”

“It was just a slice of cake!” Eric said, turning his attention back to Y/n.

“The last slice!” she cried out.

“Just go buy a cake,” Jackie said calmly. “What’s so special about this one?”

“My mom made it! And no one else can make it as good as she can!” Y/n said.

“She probably puts kalua in it,” Jackie said. “She taught me how to make fudge once, and she said kalua was the secret recipe. That’s when I learned that she may have a bit of a drinking problem.”

“Shut up, Jackie. You’re not making it any better,” Y/n said angrily.

“Well, damn. Pregnancy has made you bitchier than before,” Jackie said and got up from the couch to grab a popsicle.

“I’m sure she’ll make it again,” Donna said. “If you ask her nicely, I bet she will.”

“No,” Y/n whined and leaned her head against the headrest of the couch. “I want it now.”

“God, you’re needy,” Eric said. “When are you going to stop?”

“When I get some damn chocolate!” she replied.

“Okay, would it be better if I ran to the store and got you something similar?” Hyde offered. “Anything to make you happy so you can stop whining?”

“I second that,” Eric said.

“No, Eric should go buy it for me,” she pouted. “He’s the one that ate my cake. And he should buy me Fatso Burger because I’m hungry. I’ll call it square then.”

“But I don’t have any money!” he whined.

“That sounds like a you problem,” Y/n said. “Want me to quit being needy? Get me food.”

“Well, why don’t you borrow money from Hyde?” Kelso asked, ignoring the fact that Hyde was moving his hand sharply against his throat, saying to stop. Talking. “Hyde has a lot of it!”

“What?” Y/n asked, looking at Kelso. “Steven and I don’t have a lot of money.”

“Of course, he does!” he continued, still ignoring Hyde as he was now waving his hands.

Y/n looked behind her and Steven stopped quickly, pretending he was just as confused.

“Steven, what’s he talking about?” she asked.

“I have no idea,” he replied. He glared at Kelso through his aviators and when his wife turned back around, he mouthed: Shut. Up.

“Yes, you do!” Kelso said. At this point he was amused and continued. “You’ve been telling me that you’ve been stashing money in your secret savings.”

“In your what?!” Y/n screeched.

“No, no, Kelso doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Hyde defended. “He’s talking nonsense from his concussion.”

Kelso scrunched his eyebrows together. “I don’t have a concu—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Hyde threw a soda can at his head. It flew across the room at an impressive speed and smacked Kelso right in the face. No one moved as it was a day-to-day occurrence. At this point, even Markus was desensitized.

“Ow, my eye!” Kelso yelled, dropping to the floor.

“Wow, that was incredibly fast,” Donna said.

“That’s gonna leave a mark,” Jackie commented, covering her mouth with her fist.

“Hyde, you jerk!” Kelso yelled, stumbling back up to his feet. “I’m going to have a black eye and picture day at the academy is tomorrow!”

“First off: Kelso, here,” Y/n said and grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer and tossed it across the room. It thumped against his chest before he caught it and pressed it against his face. “And now you,” she growled at her husband. “A secret savings?! Are you kidding me?!”

“It’s not so much of a secret savings as—” he started, now standing from his seat but was interrupted.

“How much is in it?” she asked, her eyes burning a hole in his head.

“Not much,” he replied. “And it doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t matter?!” she yelled, angrier than before. “You’re hiding money from me!”

“Actually, you said you have about two grand—” Kelso began but was cut off by Hyde.

“Do you want me to blacken the other eye?!” he barked at him.

“Two thousand dollars?!” Y/n screamed. “I can’t believe this! Do you have any idea what we can do with that money?”

“Yes, that’s why it’s in there!” Hyde yelled back.

“Now, does this happen every day?” Markus whispered to Jackie.

“No…no this is not,” she whispered back.

“What do you mean that’s why it’s in there?!” Y/n asked, bringing everyone’s attention back on them. “Why are you hiding it from me?!”

“Because of…reasons,” Hyde said.

“Reasons like what?! You don’t trust me?”

“No, I don’t!” he yelled back.

"The air in the room dropped. It was like it was sucked out, leaving everyone completely breathless. Y/n felt like she had been punched in the gut.

She was so hurt and angry that she couldn’t speak. She stared at him as the silence grew louder. He refused to break eye contact with her, but his body language—turned halfway away from her and his hands on his hips—said he regretted what he told her.

After what felt like an eternity, Y/n finally broke eye contact and stomped her way upstairs without saying another word. After a minute of still silence, Markus decided to speak up.

“So…what else do you guys do for fun?”

“And this is where we’ve talked about speaking in awkward moments,” Jackie said from the corner of her mouth.

Fez sat there, frowning. "Are we supposed to just forget about my problem?!”

Taglist: @not-shy-nanya @taysirene @maddieschampagneproblems @mdittyz123 @undead-sierra @random-thoughts-004 @lieswithoutfairytales @chloem4a1 @srhxpc @zhonglibxitch

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alexa-santi-author · 15 hours ago

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Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Cheated?

Let's take a look at some of Trump's foreign policy picks so far, shall we?

Christian Dominionist Mike Huckabee, who says that Palestinians "don't exist" as a people and who refuses to even say the word Palestine -- he calls Gaza and the West Bank "Judea and Samaria" -- is Trump's nominee for Ambassador to Israel.

Marco Rubio, Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, denounced the idea of a ceasefire in Gaza and said, "I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on."

Pete Hegesth, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, has a "Jerusalem Cross" tattoo that commemorates the Crusades of the Middle Ages and was considered a security risk for Biden's inauguration by the DC National Guard and pulled from guarding the event.

Trump picked real estate tycoon Steven Witkoff to be his Special Envoy to Israel.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4987131-trump-steve-witkoff-middle-east-envoy/

Oh, and he wants long-rumored Russian asset Tulsi Gabbard to be the National Director of Intelligence, who is the person who has access to every piece of domestic and foreign intelligence produced by every US government agency.

If you're an American voter who stayed home, voted third party, or even voted Trump because you were angry about "Holocaust Harris," congratulations. You got played by Trump and the Russians. They took your understandable grief and rage at what's happening in Gaza and they turned it into a weapon against the only candidate who repeatedly said she wanted a ceasefire, peace process, and two-state solution: Kamala Harris.

So the question now is: what are you going to do about it?

Are you going to ignore it? Get mad at me, the messenger, who told you the truth? Cling to your belief that the real problem was that Harris was a bad candidate, or that the Democrats didn't try hard enough to oppose Trump, or that there was no need to listen to what Trump was actually saying, out loud and in public, about Palestine and Israel because you couldn't imagine any way things could get worse?

Or are you going to recognize that you got fooled? Trump and Putin deliberately used your emotions against you to get Trump elected. They used Russian psy-ops online to amplify every slam against Harris and downplay everything Trump had to say about his plans for Palestine.

It sucks to get fooled. I got fooled by Nader in 2000, and it still makes me sick to my stomach to know that I fell for the same bullshit Both parties are the same, so why not let the Republicans win? propaganda they then used for the next 25 years, right up until this year, because not enough people realized it was propaganda. They thought they were just too smart, too savvy, too cynical to fall for party politics, and it enabled the Republicans to create the "Permanent Republican Majority" that Karl Rove dreamed of. The only difference is that Rove pictured the Bush family at the top of that majority, not Donald Trump's.

But keeping your head in the sand about what really happened isn't going to make you feel any better about what's about to happen next as Trump takes full control of all three branches of the US government and drives us straight into the ground.

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aniron48 · 2 years ago

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Love Letters - Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 of Love Letters, a 00q choose your own adventure! We are in the final stretch now--there will be one more poll tomorrow night, and then we'll wrap on Tuesday, 2/14 around 9:15ish EST.

If you're joining for the first time, you can catch up here: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

And if you've been voting with us all along, finally--finally--you've unlocked Eve Moneypenny! Well done, chaos muppets. Day 7 starts below the cut. 💜

He didn’t know what had brought Moneypenny to Bath, but it was imperative that he follow her and find out.

Bond waited in the shadow of a newsstand, pretending to look at magazines, until Moneypenny came out of the patisserie, carrying a small pink box wrapped in twine. After a moment, he began to follow, taking care to stay out of her line of sight. This close to the river, the February air had a wet chill to it that made Bond grateful for the scarf he’d brought with him from London. He wrapped it closer around his neck, taking care to arrange it so that it would further obscure his face from view if Moneypenny turned around.

He followed her south for awhile, and then west, toward the Pulteney Bridge. As Bond dodged patrons coming out of a coffee shop, Moneypenny suddenly turned down an alley behind one of the shops.

Bond picked up his pace, trying not to lose her. When he turned the corner, he found Moneypenny aiming a gun at him. Again.

“Once wasn’t enough, Moneypenny?”

“Jesus, Bond,” Moneypenny said, lowering her weapon. “You might want to consider redoing your surveillance training. I realized I had a tail three whole blocks ago. What are you doing here, anyway?”

“I might ask you the same thing.”

“I’m meeting someone.”

“Meeting whom, exactly? Did Mallory send you?”

“There you are, Eve,” said a voice from behind them. “Have you seen—“ Tanner stopped in his tracks. “Oh. Bond.”

“All right, what’s going on?”

Tanner opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Moneypenny grabbed him by the hand. “Fine. You’ve caught us. We’re having a bit of a lover’s holiday.”

Tanner looked from Moneypenny’s face to their joined hands and back again before saying, “Yes. A lover’s holiday.”

“I thought you were seeing that redhead in accounting. Brenna something.” Bond said.

“Yes, well, that’s why we’re sneaking around in Bath. Tanner hasn’t broken it off yet. Poor thing, she’s going to be devastated when she finds out.”

“Oh my god,” Tanner said faintly.

“But people bounce back. Brenda will bounce back, Tanner.”

“It’s Brenna.”

“Anyway, Bond, I don’t think you ever told us while you were here.” Moneypenny folded her arms.

Bond folded his arms back at her. “I’m here to buy Q a Valentine’s Day present. He’s been on about Bath since he watched Persuasion with you.”

“So you’re here to buy him—what, exactly?”

Bond reached for the first thing that came to mind. “A snow globe, if you must know. Of the city.”

“That’s surprisingly sweet. Let’s see it.”

“I haven’t bought it yet. I’m still looking.”

“Luckily for you, there’s a souvenir shop just around the corner,” Moneypenny said breezily. “Shall we go together?”

Twenty minutes later found Bond driving back to London with an extortionately-priced snow globe featuring a replica of the Bath Circus, and Tanner and Moneypenny crammed into the passenger seat of the DB8.

“We really could have taken the train back, Bond,” Tanner said.

“Really,” Moneypenny added, turning away to tap out a message on her mobile, accidentally elbowing Tanner in the stomach as she did so.

“Nonsense,” said Bond. “I insist. This will be much quicker. I know it’s a squeeze, but you lovebirds don’t mind a bit of a cuddle, do you?”

“Not at all,” Moneypenny said, smiling in a way that suggested she’d quite like to cut his brake lines.

“Unless there’s a reason you wanted to take the train, of course. If there is, just let me know, and I can drive you back to the station.”

“Well—“ Tanner began.

“No, no reason,” Moneypenny said. “I’m sure we’ll all enjoy the drive.”

“I know I will,” said Bond. He pulled up the music app on his phone, searched for the album entitled “Scotland: Bagpipe Classics,” and hit play.

Back in London, he dropped Tanner and Moneypenny in front of her building. Before they could walk away, however, Bond rolled down the driver’s side window.

“Moneypenny,” he called after her. “Why were you and Tanner really in Bath?”

She walked back to the car and bent down to look in the window. “You first. I want the truth, Bond. Were you really there for Q?”

“Yes, I was. I can promise you that.”

She studied him for a minute, before saying, “Then let’s just say we have a mutual interest.”

She turned and walked away, lifting a hand in farewell.

Two days later, Bond received a package in the mail. It was a small, narrow box wrapped in brown paper, addressed to Bond in Q’s unmistakeable handwriting, and bearing a postmark from Bath.

Inside the box was an elegant fountain pen, the same cloudy-grey color as the Aston Martin, with the initials ‘JHB’ engraved on it in a looping monogram.

It couldn’t be.

Bond examined the pen from every angle, taking care not to drop or shake it, even though surely Q wouldn’t have sent the pen through the Royal Mail if it contained explosives.

At least, Bond didn’t think.

He ran his fingers over the pen one more time, feeling for a catch or a hidden button, but aside from its beauty, the pen appeared to be unremarkable. Unless—yes. There it was.

There's no way I'd let you accidentally blow up Bond right before the end of this choose your own adventure, right? *OR WOULD I...???* 😁

#Love Letters #Love Letters Day 7 #00q #choose your own adventure #00q choose your own adventure

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nervousladytraveler · 2 years ago

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Okay, it's not Wednesday anymore. But @veryflowerobservation asked for this on a Wednesday so that's close enough. From an as yet undisclosed WIP.

-------

Demelza opened her eyes and saw the familiar ceiling beams running east to west overhead. Then she turned her head slightly and saw the less familiar striped sheets. She started to sit up but had to dig her way out of a pile of duvets and other blankets.

“Hey, you’re awake.” Ross leaned against the doorjamb, his strong arms folded across his chest. His voice was soft and his eyes had that attentive and shining look they sometimes took on. Usually when he was feeling deeply--regardless of the feeling.

“Ross!” She hadn’t realised how much she wanted to see him--needed it really. She wished he was closer. “I don’t remember coming to bed at all,” she said.

“You fell asleep by the fire last night. Barely finished your supper in fact.”

“You should have woken me,” she said.

“It didn’t seem right. You clearly were exhausted.”

“Tell me you didn't have to carry me.“ She attempted a smile, as she tried to piece together a memory of the previous night.

“Not quite.” He shook his head and laughed ever so gently. “But I did take the liberty to help you undress before I tucked you in.”

She felt the soft long sleeved t-shirt she was wearing and knew from its size and its smell that it belonged to him.

“I didn’t displace you, did I?” She gasped at the thought.

“No, I slept beside you. I assumed you wouldn’t mind.”

She turned her head to the indentation still visible on his pillow.

“Of course not,” she whispered but only managed to choke out the words. She suddenly felt overwrought, as though she might cry.

It was so much--too much. Ross’s gentle attentiveness, his dark eyes, his low voice, the smell he left on the bedclothes, the warmth that surged through her entire body. So familiar and also so new.

“I was going to make you some breakfast but wasn’t sure what you’d want. I’ve made some coffee but I can make you some tea. Anything you want. I’m just really happy to see you this morning--that you’re still here,” he added.

“Oh Ross…” She could control it no more--the tears came and wouldn’t stop. “Could you...will you not hold me?”

He made it across the room in two long strides. He was beside her and his arms wrapped around her tightly and then he laughed as he kissed her temple gently.

“You’re still knackered, aren’t you? You can stay in bed all day if you’d like,” he said. “Unless…you have other plans?”

“No, no, I don’t have to work again until Tuesday,” she said but then wondered if that’s what he meant. Was he poking around to see if she had other dates lined up? She thought she should tell him she had no intention of seeing others. But now didn't seem like the right time to talk about fidelity. That was a bigger discussion, years overdue. “I’m so sorry I ruined our Christmas Eve together,” she added.

“You ruined nothing. You came, when you had a hundred reasons not to, you took a chance--and for that I am forever grateful.”

“I had a hundred reasons to come as well,"she said and took his hand in hers. "Ross, I did sleep very well. Thank you.”

“Maybe you slept so well because...you knew you were somewhere safe and familiar.”

They both caught that he’d stopped himself short of saying home.

“I think you’re right,” she said and rested her head against his chest. “Ross? It seems so warm in here,” she said suddenly.

“Is it too warm?”

“No, I mean. It just seems warmer...than the last time I was here.”

“I had the furnace replaced a few years ago. The new one is far more efficient and actually heats the house instead of just consuming fuel,” he laughed. “I guess that means you don't want me to build a fire?”

“Maybe not now. But later for sure. Livin’ in town, I miss the smell of wood smoke.” She inhaled deeply then sighed contently.

“Demelza, you never told me what you want,” he said.

She looked shocked, her mouth gaped open in that silly but charming way it did when she was younger. She narrowed her eyes, then swallowed.

“What I want?” she stammered. “Can’t I just say for now that I don’t know, but that I am sure I want you?” Her shoulders hunched, her eyes were soft and wet--whether that was the remains of tears or sleepy residue wasn’t apparent to either of them.

For the second time that morning he matched her emotional fragility with laughter. Now he gave a deep chuckle that was so friendly and warm there was no way it could be mistaken for mockery. At the sound of his familiar and powerful laugh, her eyes grew wide to match her incredulous smile. Again he wrapped his arms around her and crushed her tightly to him.

“Oh, Demelza,” he laughed into her hair. “Oh, my love, I want you too.” He squeezed her again then let his lips graze her temple, his most intimate of gestures. “But what I meant was…” He looked into her eyes and smiled. “Do you want coffee or tea?”

Now she laughed too.

“Coffee please. But let me help you…”

“Uh uh uh, you stay right there. A little milk, right?”

“Yes, And Ross...thank you. For everythin’.”

#poldark #poldark fanfic #lucretiassister #ross poldark #demelza carne #poldark modern au #ask nervousladytraveler #wip excerpt

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n41r · 9 months ago

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Oh shoot, are you doing okay there? Hope you don't experience any stomachaches and doing well now, even though on bad prophecy yesterday-

I brought in good news if it can make your day a bit better, in fact an Oreca Battle machine was discovered! It's on Amazone AEON BSD at the third floor, specifically at Tangerang. There's only one machine there and last I visited this Tuesday, it's at New Chapter 1 where Robot Type Zero appears! The light seems to be doing well but it's on the left corner instead on the right, so it's better to bring a flashlight for the machine to scan the cards properly. Printer wise though, well... It needs to be checked daily to see if it works properly, from what I got on asking the arcade staff and I used the trick on seeing how many cards the machine can print out from your post (thank you for showing the trick-), and it turns out it can print about 500 cards. The pricing on weekdays for regulars are 15.900 and for VIP are 14.250

Funny enough, I got a card printed out in all yellow two weeks ago before this Tuesday- It's just one battle where there's one 2☆ Ares on both my team and the enemy team and both of them used Fervor!, so... probably the two of them are way too heated up in battle to the point of affecting the printer's ink not working XD

Also, also! The staff said that the updates at the arcade are slow so no New Chapter 2 for the time being, but the staff also told me that there could be some places where the updates are at New Chapter 1 or 2 up till New Chapter 4. Again, not sure if it's confirmed or not so just hearing it reached New Chapter 4 just makes me a bit glad on the updates is still happening even though really slow at times-

I am currently doing fine, even tho my stomach still grumbling a little bit-

BUT OH MY GOSH, WHAT A GREAT AND JOYOUS NEW YOU HAVE GIVEN ME!!!

AEON Mall BSD is actually one of the places I set my eyes on visiting if I ever come back to West Java, and I'm very surprised and happy to not only hear you've visited them, but also found an Oreca Battle machine there! Sounds like the machine is on pretty good condition, and 500 cards are pretty plenty!

Also, very interesting to hear that they are still at New Chapter 1 If fortune could befell us, maybe they are planning on releasing it slowly with Enki's limited time event on New Chapter 2??? The chances are slim, but we could hope, right???

Also, RIP to the respective Ares teammates on that battle, that must have been one fiery battle-

#Oreca Battle #Oreca related #THERE IS A MACHINE AT TANGERANG!!!#OH MY GOD-#IT'S A HUGE DISCOVERY!!!#doodles #and gosh this is the first I see New Ch. 2 starting screen-#I know the final boss is Robot Type-0 #but kinda surprised not seeing Fisca on the screen-#Fisca doko /slapped

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iantimony · 2 years ago

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tuesday!

listening: like everyone and their mother i listened to the new hozier songs this week. they're fine! i dont have any particularly strong feelings about them either way yet, i think i need to relisten to them a few times for it to really get processed, but they were good enough that i'll certainly listen again. i also went and relistened to wasteland, baby because of it and that album still slaps. also, this cherry wine cover:

is very good. i also relistened to the staves' album dead & born & grown because i realized i have windows facing west hehe. what else...my partner's citypop playlist was my music for driving home from the airport on sunday? i wont link that one i'm not sure if it's public or not. and then gym playlist this week was just one of the spotify-made mixes that kinda slams tbh, very early-00s to 10s metal/emo music lol

i've also gotten back into twilight mirage after a bajillion years. it's good! none of the characters really stick in my head besides tender sky and fourteen fifteen unfortunately but hopefully as i listen more they'll become more distinct entities in my head.

reading: i finished the birthday of the world while i was visiting my grandma for spring break!

"solitude": hmmm. this one was interesting. it left me with a lot of questions but i think that might have been the point. 6/10.

"old music and the slave woman": i think i might have benefited from more background, i was mostly able to piece together the factions but i definitely had to puzzle over it a bit. apparently there are a lot of links to stories in another collection, four ways to forgiveness, and i'm thinking that i might have wanted to read those first. 4/10.

"the birthday of the world": title story! felt very different from all the other stories in the book, probably because this one and the following novella are the only two set outside of the hainish universe. i liked it. no strong feelings in any particular direction, i don't think. 5/10.

"paradises lost": the novella! i LOVED this one. i dont know if i was somehow exposed to it as a kid, or i learned about generation ships as a story concept from somewhere else, but i often thought about writing a short story about what religion on a generation ship would look like and turns out what i was envisioning already exists. the concept of the cult of bliss felt very realistic and almost obvious in hindsight as something that was bound to happen. i know it's left open on purpose but i reallllly want to know what happened to the ship after it left. i really loved the themes of this one. 9/10.

watching: i watched an episode of the mystery show 'vera' with my grandma when i was visiting lol. it was cute! very kitschy, genre fodder! i liked it! i was very confused because the closing quip/shot seemed to be about the titular character...shoplifting a jacket or something???? like she asked her coworker if she looked any different and he was like ? and she was like ok great and the final shot is her sitting in her car seat and annoyedly ripping the tag off her jacket, so like, ???? not sure if that's a Thing that people know just from watching a lot of it but shrug.

making: iiiiii did not work on my knitting project at all LOL but i did make my neocities site! here she is! still very in progress but hey :D

misc: trip to visit grandma/s and family went fine! everyone is doing well. back to the grind this week.

oh so the gift from my SO: he likes metalworking and similar things so he made me this necklace!

it is, apparently, titanium with embedded sapphire ball bearings! the ball bearings glow in the dark after UV exposure and they're the prettiest shade of teal, it's also a very satisfying fidget texture-wise. he asked me a few months ago what my favorite constellation is and i went "......cassiopeia i guess?? why???" "oh no reason" this was the reason. it's very nice i love it so much

finally, ive started noting down my workout stuff on my dreamwidth page as well! i thought it could be cool to keep track of what weights i'm using over time, what exercises i like and don't like, etc. so that's on there tagged as gains. huzzah

#tuesdayposting #Spotify

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therealityhelix · 1 year ago

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By Talos, This Can't be Happening pt 34

Happy Tamriel Tuesday! The Fighter's Guild is experiencing problems! Who would have guessed?

@cardwrecks @captainbaddecisions

?~?~?~?~?

The Fighter's Guild was not much friendlier in Skingrad, but at least it wasn't his fault this time. A scant handful of people stood clustered together, one-an elf woman-shaking a folded paper at the others.

“It says he defaulted! Defaulted! Who defaults on a contract this easy? Why would he go around telling people he's defaulted? Doesn't he understand how that makes us look?”

“Complaining about money again, I'll bet.” A tall, russet Argonian growled. “As if we don't all take home the same pay for the same work. If he actually did anything, perhaps he would not be so beset by money problems.”

“Guest.” An olive complected man murmured. The Argonian's head snapped up to look at him.

“Heyyy...” Swag gave a little four fingered wave. “Am I interrupting something? Because I can leave.”

“No, no!” the Argonian called. “It's not that important. Come in!”

“Not that-!” the elf woman began indignantly. The Argonian cut her off.

“So, are you looking to join the Guild?” the Argonian asked quickly. “Or perhaps a recruit on the road? We have bed space, if that's what you need. I am Ah-Malz. This is Fadus, and Parwen.”

“Edward. I joined up in Chorrol.” No need to bring up the circumstances.

“Oh, under Vilena herself? They're friendly in Chorrol.”

“Sure.”

“Anyway, you come to get some carnage under your belt? Round here, we hunt goblins. They're everywhere in Colovia. Most of our jobs involve them in some way or another.”

More goblins. He didn't really like that. Yeah, they were trouble. They raided farms, set up ambushes on the roads, tried to tunnel into cities. They killed people. But he couldn't help but think of the cave he and Sky had whirled through like a tornado, The goblin mage on the road dropping like a sack of potatoes with Helix's arrow between its shoulders. She hadn't hesitated.

They were so easy to kill, and he didn't like that. If it was easy, it could get to become a habit. They weren't human, sure, but neither was the Argonian. Or the elf. Or the orc brothers back in Chorrol. It didn't make it okay. When they were enemies, you had to fight back, but that still didn't actually make it okay. Just a bad time for everybody.

“Eh, well, I've had some experience with goblins, yeah. Only signed up like a week or so ago, though, so I'm still getting my feet under me.”

“Oh, you'll run into more if you stay in the area.” Ah-Malz assured. “Me and Parwen have a tally going-”

“Malz, we don't have time for this!” Parwen scolded. “We've got to do something about Maglir!”

“And what do you propose, Wennie?” Ah-Malz asked. “We break down the door of the inn and drag him out by the ears?”

“Maybe.” Fadus said quietly.

“You know he'd just run if he saw any of us.” Parwen grumped. “He knows he's in trouble. He'll bolt the instant he sees us in the window.”

Three sets of musing eyes settled on him, and Swag saw the future.

“Yeah, okay. I'll go get him. Not gonna recognize me, huh? Where is he and what does he look like?”

The West Weald Inn was a crowded place, deceptively large on the inside, like the rest of the towns buildings. It was cozy, warm, and full of people, and one of them was Helix. He spotted her curled bob and goblin skull staff at the bar, the woman behind it pointing towards a door on the far wall.

“Hey baby, come here often?” he teased sliding up next to her.

“Nah, hot stuff, I'm new in town. Maybe you can show me around.” she teased back. “But first, looks like I found that alchemist they mentioned back at Fort Virtue.”

“Hey great! I got sent to shake down an awol fighter. It think it's that shortstack over there.”

His eyes had landed on a short, broad figure in dented iron armor, sitting by himself next to a window he kept glaring suspiciously out.

“Oh, that sounds like a pain. Have fun!”

“Can I get you something?” the woman behind the bar asked, as he watched Helix slip into the cellar.

“Hmm. Got anything non-alcoholic? Aw, c'mon.” he said at her condescending stare. “I made a promise, all right?”

Swag approached Maglir's table with a large mug of mulled grape juice-a specialty of the town. It turned out the barkeep wasn't mad that he dared to repudiate drunkenness in her establishment, it was that she thought he was an idiot for not knowing. Skingrad was famous for its grapes and tomatoes specifically; everybody had juice.

And now, so did he.

“Hey man, this spot taken?” he asked, and the elf glared up at him.

To Maglir, Swag probably wouldn't look like anything more than just another traveler passing through. He was all long thin lines, an exclamation point of a man, and he was aware of it. Even his armor was the lightest possible, and not yet broken in. With his distinctive hairstyle and handsome face, the rings in his ears and question mark pendant, he probably looked like more of a poseur than anything.

The elf grunted and glanced back out the window.

Swag set down his drink and took a seat.

“I only ask 'cause it seems like you're looking for someone.” he said.

“No one you're likely to know. What do you want, anyway?”

“A place to sit next to the window. My girl's wanting to talk to the alchemist here, so I might be waiting for a while.”

“Huh. Sounds like my wife when she gets into the fabric shop.”

“Ah. Looking for some time away?” Swag asked, nodding knowingly. Maglir shook his head.

“No, that's not it. She's lovely, really. Better than I deserve.”

“I know that feeling.”

“It's just that things are rough recently, and the assassination has made things many times worse.”

“Oh?” Swag raised one eyebrow. “Rough? Like, you havin' trouble getting work?”

Maglir scoffed.

“Work? Oh, yes, I can get work. What I can't get is pay! Look at this!”

The elf tossed a folded note across the table at him. He plucked it up and read over the contents.

“...A journal? Just that? A journal left in a cave? Who leaves a journal in a cave?”

“I don't know! Some fool mage, a hermit, a philosopher. Somebody did. I even went out there to get it, like a good little boot, and you know what I found?”

“Bats?”

“Monsters! Gobs of em! Barely even saw them, but almost lost my head! They sent me out there alone, into a cave full of monsters. It's like they want their recruits to die!”

“Who's they?” Swag asked. “Just so I can watch my back, you know?”

“Fighter's guild. I swear, you adventurers don't know much about organization, do you?”

“Nah, we fly by the seat of our pants. So what I'm getting', and correct me if I'm wrong, but your Fighter's Guild sent you out by yourself to get a lost book. Simple soundin' job on the face of it, but when you got there, it was way worse than you thought it'd be, so you came back and...gave up?”

Maglir grimaced.

“Doesn't sound good when you put it that way. More like I refuse to leave my children without a father because of some fool's errand. It used to be they'd send out two or even three of us for a job that dangerous! And the pay was better too. Now they spread us thin and throw us scraps. Hasn't been the same since the Donton boy died.”

Donton? Vilena's son? The boy had been alive when they'd left Chorrol, had something happened in the meantime?

“So basically, it's a strike.”

“So basically, I'm not going to die for a soggy book and a scant handful of coin. No, someone else can do this. You can do this, I don't care.”

Swag tucked the note into his belt. He wasn't sure he wanted to go into a monster infested cave in search of a soggy book either. But he could return the contract to the Guild at least.

Maglir complained for a while longer before finishing his drink and eventually leaving, but he left Swag with some interesting tidbits.

The Fighter's guild was on a downturn. They'd been losing recruits, taking bad contracts, losing good contracts. A rival organization was rising to challenge them. Vilena Donton had two sons, but not anymore, and after the loss of the eldest, had been shirking her duties, making everything worse. The individual Guildhalls had been left isolated, and some simply didn't have the leadership to hold together.

Looked like he'd come at a bad time.

Helix slid into Maglir's vacated seat and stole a pull of Swag's drink.

“Hello beautiful. Where have you been all my life?”

“In the cellar.” she said. “Sindarion's definitely got the info I wanted, but he's stingy with it. The plant is called Nirnroot, and prefers waterside real estate. He knows a way to use it, but he won't tell me. If I find more, I'll need to bring it to him to get anything out of it.”

“So all the both of us got outta this was headaches. Oh well. It's not like we were gonna spend a whole lot of time here.”

He encouraged her to finish his juice, then they headed back out into the busy streets. The elf at the Fighter's Guild nearly tore out her hair when Swag returned the contract to them, but he just shrugged and pointed out that he had a prior obligation he had to see to before he even thought about picking anything else up.

Besides, Swag figured a group that was so gung-ho to count goblin heads could take on a cave of monsters without too much trouble. Unless, of course, they really had been setting Maglir up.

His razor was ready, and they managed to get their rations topped up, so they stopped by the Mages Guildhall for a quick lunch, and headed for the western gate.

This side of the city boasted the tomato fields, which stretched out far into the low hills, trellises of long vines laden with colorful fruits. Helix told him about the different kinds as they walked, about determinate and indeterminate varieties, and about which tomatoes were best for which culinary applications. There were far more types than he would have guessed, but Helix liked tomatoes and grew many different sorts in her garden home, so he'd seen quite a few.

He reached over the fence and plucked a deep red one.

“D'ya think you could grow this kind? In your house?” he asked.

“Unfortunately no. When we leave, we probably won't be able to take anything with us.” she said. “At least, that's how it worked last time.”

“Ah well.” Swag sliced the fruit in half and handed her a piece. “Snack for the road then.”

The road curled around the city, away from their destination, and so they stepped into the wilds at a picturesque little pond where Helix discovered another Nirnroot chiming softly between the roots of a lonely tree. The countryside here was mostly open meadows and rolling hills dotted with sparse little copses of straight, thin trees. It was very pretty; bees hummed above the flowers, and occasionally a deer or rabbit scampered off over the hilltops. This landscape felt less hostile to him than the thick forests surrounding Chorrol, but maybe that was just because he could see further. It was still just as wild and unfamiliar, but the sky was visible, and there were no deep shadows or mist for the unknown to hide in.

Which was how he was able to see the wolf coming.

It was huge and grungy, with an odd look in its eyes. At least, Swag thought it was odd; he'd never seen a wolf face to face before.

Helix loosed an arrow: it flew wide, and the wolf didn't even pause, rushing towards them too quickly for Helix to nock another arrow. Swag swung his cane. The wolf caught it in its massive jaws, wrenching it out of his hands like a dog with a stick. Yanked off his feet, he crashed to his knees, face to wild animal face.

Swag bashed it with his fist.

His gauntlets flashed with dazzling light, a miniature crack of thunder, and the wolf staggered. Flesh sagged under the fur, fell away from the creature's head.

“The actual fuck?”

“It's a zombie!” Helix cried. Shouldering her bow, she flicked her hand out flinging a lighting bolt that blasted the undead beast apart.

“Ahg, that's fucking gross!” Swag hopped to his feet, shaking zombie bits off his armor. “It's not in my hair is it? Tell me it's not in my hair.”

Helix said nothing.

“Noooo, get it off!”

He leaned down, allowing her to pluck something from his head and toss it away.

“I need a million showers, and I need them right now.”

“We could go back to that little pond.” she suggested. Swag whined, and she took his hand, leading him back.

She rested on a rock while he washed, watching the horizon.

“See anything?”

“No. But I don't like that that thing was out there. It's not normal to just find undead wandering the wilds. Especially not animals. People's skeletons and ghosts can maybe rise spontaneously from cursed gravesites or haunted battlefields, but a zombie animal has to be made. Who made it? Why was it out there?”

“Are we sure we want to find out?”

“We might not be able to avoid it.”

“Then fuck it. So...why did my hand explode when I punched that thing?”

“Lemmie see your glove.”

Swag peeled off one of Rasheda's gauntlets and handed it over. She turned it over in her hands, closely examining the joints and stitches, making thoughtful sounds.

“Well?”

“Damn good workmanship. I didn't even notice until now. She's enchanted them with shock magic. She must've really liked you.”

Swag took the glove back.

“Yeah, we got along.”

“I heard. There were a few people who really wanted me to know. Didn't seem to believe me when I said I didn't care.”

Swag scowled.

“Not our problem if they don't understand us.”

“Nah, that's a them problem.”

She took his hand and they walked through the meadow, the honey scent of sun-warmed clover just barely covering an underlying whiff of rot.

?~?~?~?~?

#by talos this can't be happening #swag!riddler #Helix #elder scrolls

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constant-mason24 · 2 years ago

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Video Killed the Radio Star (Chapter Ten)

Riddler x f!Reader

Prev chapt | first chapt | Next chapt

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to speak with you on the show, Ms. Guthrie.” (Y/n) flashed a grin that was mostly fake. She sat in her usual desk chair, with her guest sitting in a more plush wingchair. It had been brought in just for her, as this was the first guest interview the station had hosted in a while.

“The pleasure is all mine, I’m honored to be invited to come and speak about the reparations from that attack.” The woman dramatically placed a hand on her cheek, as if cameras were rolling to broadcast her reaction.

Now, (Y/n) had long since gotten over her childish dislike of the color pink. Still, she couldn’t lie: Gloria Guthrie wore an absolutely disgusting amount of the color. When she walked in and started speaking to Ryan, Amelia had even leaned over and whispered something about Dolores Umbridge not being invited to the party. Now (Y/n) couldn’t get the joke out of her head, desperately fighting off a Freudian slip so as not to offend her.

“Yes, so to summarize for you, our dear listeners,” she spoke to the audience. “You likely remember the chemical attack launched on Gotham City’s west end last November. Our special guest today, miss Gloria Guthrie, has been assisting the labs conducting research on the plant toxins Poison Ivy used. Her generous financial donations have helped further study to create an antidote for the criminal’s various harmful substances.”

“Oh, it was such a terrifying attack!” Guthrie spoke as if she were a high school theater student reading lines in an audition. “I remember the roads being blocked off by those giant, twisted, thorned vines!”

“It was a vicious attack on the city streets. Of course, for us Gothamites, that’s just another Tuesday.” (Y/n) joked.

“That’s exactly why I wanted to donate to the research.” Guthrie’s overdramatic acting did not cease. “I hope that those hard-working scientists can create an antidote strong and plentiful enough to null any future attacks from Poison Ivy!”

“I sincerely hope for that as well. One less villain causing mayhem through the city would be a miracle for Gotham.” She nods. “Which leads me to my next point. You’ve donated to the cause against plant-based chemical warfare, but I have yet to see you aid in any other financial crusades against Gotham’s villains.”

“What?” Guthrie raises a brow in offense. “I offer money up for the good of the city and all you can ask is why I haven’t done so sooner? Forgive me, that sounds quite ungrateful!”

“You misunderstand!” (Y/n) began backpedaling, worried this interview would come to a forceful close before her grand finale. “I just want to ask you why you chose this particular cause. You could have chosen to offer your money in aid against any other criminal in Gotham, and I don’t think I’m alone when I say there are far greater threats here than Poison ivy. She is certainly strong and strong-willed, but wouldn’t you rather help to take down someone like the Joker instead?”

“Well, I have a more… personal reason to want an antidote for the plant toxins.” The woman in pink leaned back in her chair, looking more solemn than before. “It’s not the easiest topic for me to discuss, but my nephew was hit in the attack.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” (Y/n) frowned.

“He was comatose for nearly a month, and once he was awake, he couldn’t walk or speak. That toxin has given him a lot of trouble, both mentally and physically. He’s been staying with me since the incident, and his nightmares are just awful. I can’t tell you how many times a night I wake up to his screaming.”

(Y/n) feels her heart breaking for this woman, despite her obnoxious nature. She seemed so genuinely upset by her nephew’s ailment. Taking a deep breath, she looks down at the page of keynotes in her hands. The bottom edge of the paper was folded upwards, covering the elegant green writing of the final bullet point.

“I’m genuinely so sorry to hear that. From what I’ve heard of the attack, the results have been deadly for many victims. I hope that he can recover soon.”

“So do I. That’s why I want to help S.T.A.R. labs in their search for answers. Poison Ivy may have been locked up for that assault on our city, but her victims are still suffering.”

Nodding, (Y/n) fidgets her finger over the folded edge of the paper, contemplating whether to peel it back or wait a little longer.

“I’m sorry if this seems a little rude,” Guthrie speaks again, drawing (Y/n)’s attention up to her with raised brows. “But I’m not feeling all too well. I’m glad to have shed some light on the situation and why I’m here, but I’d like to go home if that’s okay.”

“Of course, Miss Guthrie,” she nods. “I’m sorry to have upset you. If I could just close on one last question before you go?”

This was it. Now or never. (Y/n) may have royally screwed up her chance to fulfill the Riddler’s quest by upsetting this woman accidentally. If she didn’t agree to this last question, (Y/n) was through.

“I guess one last question is fair.” Gloria nodded. “What would that be?”

(Y/n) took another breath, moving to flip down the folded edge of the paper. As her eyes quickly glanced over the sentence, she held back a gasp. Not exactly subtle, but she supposed that was the point.

“Alone from my parliament, talons withdrawn. Strengthened by dusk but feeble by dawn.” She reads from the page, only looking up when she finished reciting the note. Gloria Guthrie was staring back at her, eyes narrow and angry. This must have hit its intended target then.

“That isn’t exactly a question.” She says, her tone of voice failing to convey the anger on her face.

“You’re right. My apologies. I forgot to ask the ‘Who am I?’ part.” A lie, there was no ‘Who am I?’ written on the page. (Y/n) had put some thought into getting to this point: the part of the show where she could poise the riddle to the woman as instructed. She had put no thought into how to back herself out of that corner afterward.

“I don’t understand why you’re asking me a riddle, Miss (L/n), but the answer is an Owl. Now I’ll be saying my goodbyes.”

Amelia stepped in, to switch the station over to a song, walking Gloria Guthrie- who kept glaring at (Y/n) the entire time- out of the station. That must have been why the Riddler asked her to do this. Not only had she made it clear the Riddler was seeking Guthrie's attention, but now she was irreversibly tied to the Riddler in the Court of Owl’s eyes. Whatever the Riddler got into with them, she was sure to be dragged into it too.

What the fuck had she done?

#riddler x reader #edward nygma x reader #court of owls OC

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lfthinkerwrites · 27 days ago

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Okay, for the wheel I got Enigma and Oswald Cobblepot

(Another bit with Ellen and one of her Rogue 'uncles'. Too bad no one spun her and Digger, that would be a shitshow and a half)

The maître d' stared down at Ellen from behind his podium like she was the dirt beneath his shoes. "Young lady," he said snootily. "I'm afraid that minors are not allowed in the Iceberg Lounge without an adult present."

"I'm not a minor," she said, and the man's nose wrinkled even further when he heard her West Side affect. "I'm eighteen. Mr. Cobblepot's expecting me."

"Oh, really?" the maître d' asked. "Alright, I'll play along: what is your name?"

"Ellen Dixon." She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one from the interior of the restaurant could hear her before she leaned in closer. "Enigma."

As expected, the maître d''s face paled. "I'm sorry, did you say 'Enigma'?"

Ellen smirked. "I did. Sorry I'm not in costume right now, but Dad said I should try to dress as formally as possible." The teal dress suit Dad had gotten her for prom all those years ago may not have been what he had in mind, but considering his own fashion choices he hadn't said anything when she left the house. "So," Ellen continued. "Mr. Cobblepot?"

"Of course," the maître d' said. "Please, miss, follow me." Ellen could have fun toying with this pompous prick some more, but she did have a meeting to get to. She followed him into the interior of the Iceberg Lounge.

It looked like the renovations were going well. The large crystal chandelier had been replaced, filling the restaurant with a soft glow. There wasn't as big of a crowd, but then again, it was a Tuesday night, and the Bowery hadn't fully recovered from the events of the past two years. There were still enough glittering members of high society here to make her feel out of place. Maybe her father felt at ease hobnobbing with the rich fucks, but Ellen was born in the lower West Side, and she wasn't ashamed of that. These were not her people. Not the people she'd been born into. Not the people she'd chosen to protect.

Doesn't matter, she could hear Black Bat scold. You protect everyone. Well, you try explaining class dynamics to someone who once literally lived with wolves.

Cobblepot was sitting at what she guessed was his usual table, directly under the chandelier. He greeted her with an indulgent smile. "Thank you, Marco. You may leave us."

"Actually, Marco," Ellen piped up. "Would you get me a glass of water?" She watched the man's face turn red and smiled.

"Of course," the maître d' said with a strained smile. "Would you care for anything else, miss?"

"I'll let you know," Ellen said. She waved him off. "Thank you." Not as rude as Dad would have been, but not as polite as Gramma would have liked her to be. It would do.

Cobblepot clucked his tongue. "Oh dear. I take it that Marco gave you some trouble at the door?"

"It's fine, Mr. Cobblepot. He just thought I was a minor." It was her height. The one area where Mom's genetics had triumphed over Dad's. What she wouldn't give for an extra three or four inches sometimes.

"Please, Ellen," Cobblepot said, settling in his plush seat. "Call me Oswald. We're practically family after all."

Oh, were they now? In what sense of the term? "Alright," Ellen said, playing along. "Well, Oswald, Dad said that you wanted to see me."

"I did," Cobblepot said. He lit up his long cigarette and took a puff, careful not to blow smoke in her face. "Your father has informed me that you've decided to join the 'family business' as it were. Follow in his illustrious footsteps."

"Not quite," Ellen said. "I'm not going to start committing riddle crimes any time soon."

"That's fair enough," he admitted. "But still, you are joining the costumed life, and your father has finally accepted it." He shook his head. "Looking back, it seems that this was inevitable, wasn't it? Well then: I asked to meet with you because I'd like to offer you my assistance at this new stage in your life."

Ellen wanted to raise an eyebrow, but she didn't. Instead, she acted the part of a grateful young ingenue. "Thank you very much, Oswald." Just like experience had taught her. Get Cobblepot's guard down. Then once he turned his back on her, she'd get the chance to stick the knife in. If she needed to at least.

"No need to thank me at all," Cobblepot said. He looked pleased with himself, clearly enjoying being the last big fish in a pond that was getting smaller by the day. "Your father and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but he is one of my dearest friends. I'm happy to assist his daughter any way that I can." He took another drag of his cigarette, then fixed her with a probing look. "I do have one question for you though: what exactly do you intend to be?"

Ellen blinked. "Do you mean what kind of vigilante I want to be?"

"Precisely. I know full well you don't intend to be a Rogue. Your father has also informed me that you won't be joining the various Bats either."

"No," Ellen said with a harsh tone. "I won't take orders from him. Never."

Cobblepot took another long drag. "I see," he said. "Have you chosen your..former mentor's path then?"

"No," she said, swallowing the dull pain in her heart. "I'm not him. I'm not my father. I'm not a bat. I'm Enigma. I guess I don't really know what that means yet."

"Well, there's time to figure that out. In the meantime, I believe that we can come to an arrangement with each other."

And here it was. Ellen sat back and folded her arms across her chest. "You mean you want me to ignore your men trying their luck in the Narrows?" Cobblepot stopped smoking and stared at her. "The Narrows is being folded back into the West Side. My neighborhood. Maybe I don’t live there anymore but it’ll always be my neighborhood. I don’t want any more gangs fucking up my neighborhood, you understand me? Maybe Dad’s let you do whatever you want in the past, but I’m not Dad. And if you don’t want to support me anymore because of that, then fine. I don’t need it.”

Cobblepot stared at her through beady eyes. “You certainly are impertinent, child.” Then he surprised Ellen by laughing. “Very good! I admit that my men have been in the Narrows, but hardly for the reason you think. I’ve been having them flush out the remains of Sionis’ men. That was the last part of the bargain I made with Batman. In return, he’s allowed me to rebuild my position in the Bowery.”

Well. Now Ellen felt a bit sheepish. She folded her hands. “Ok. What do you want then?”

“You don’t believe I’m offering you help purely out of the goodness of my heart?”

“Hell fuck no.”

Cobblepot raised an eyebrow. “Language, my dear. You would be right again, of course. I was being honest with you when I said that I consider your father one of my dearest friends, but as you pointed out, you are not your father. You need to be negotiated with as a separate entity.”

Ellen smirked. “I’m listening, Ozzie.”

#spin the wheel prompts #the ‘uncle’ Ellen gets along best with lol

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harriswalz4usabybr · 3 months ago

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Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - Kamala Harris

Tonight Vice President Harris is hosting a Down Ballot Strategy dinner with those who are running for Governors offices, US Congressional offices, or US Senatorial offices. She is hosting this event at the Conrad Washington, DC hotel. This event is bringing together an extensive invite list (see below). While we understand that not all candidates have interest in working with the Harris-Walz campaign to ride down-ballot coattails, we wanted to bring together those races we saw as critical to make sure we were using resources how we should and how down ballot candidates need us to. The dinner will be semi-formal and have some responses being made by candidates, including Vice President Harris, as well as some of our campaign surrogates—all of whom will be attending as well, but are not necessarily on the list below. Please note a full-text of the remarks made by VP Harris will be made available at the conclusion of the event. The event is being held from 19:00 - 22:30 ET.

We have decided to showcase a few campaign videos as well during the dinner, which will be shared out later.

Attendee List

Gubernatorial Candidates

Jennifer McCormick (Indiana) Crystal Quade (Missouri) Ryan Busse (Montana) Jon Kiper and Cinde Warmington (New Hampshire)✝ Josh Stein (North Carolina) Merrill Piepkorn (North Dakota)* Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico) Brian King (Utah) Esther Charlestin (Vermont) Steve Williams (West Virginia)

US House Congressional Candidates

Shomari Figures (AL-2) Amish Shah (AZ-1) Kirsten Engel (AZ-6) Adam Gray (CA-13) Rudy Salas (CA-22) George Whitesides (CA-27) Will Rollins (CA-41) Adam Frisch (CO-3) Yadira Caraveo (CO-8) Jared Golden (ME-2) Curtis Hertel (MI-7) Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-8) Donald Davis (NC-1) Gabriel Vasquez (NM-2) Mondaire Jones (NY-17) Josh Riley (NY-19) John Mannion (NY-22) Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) Emilia Sykes (OH-13) Janelle Bynum (OR-5)* Susan Wild (PA-7) Matt Cartwright (PA-8) Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (WA-3)

US Senatorial Candidates

Ruben Gallego (Arizona) Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Florida) Valerie McCray (Indiana) Elissa Slotkin (Michigan) Jon Tester (Montana) Jacky Rosen (Nevada) Sherrod Brown (Ohio) Bob Casey Jr. (Pennsylvania) Colin Allred (Texas) Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin) Glenn Elliott (West Virginia)

US Congressional Delegates

Louise Kuaea (American Samoa)* Kim Teehee (Cherokee Nation) Ginger Cruz (Guam)* Edwin Propst (Northern Mariana Islands)* William Villafañe Ramos (Puerto Rico) Stacey Plaskett (Virgin Islands)

✝There are two candidates from this state as the primary has still yet to occur. *This candidate does not have a campaign Twitter account, their website is shared.

Again the attendance of these candidates or delegates does not equate to an endorsement of our campaign. We understand some swing districts have democrats who are more moderate than the Harris-Walz campaign, which means we may not necessarily be the best to coordinate, but we fully support all candidates on this list and want Americans to vote democrat (note Puerto Rico candidates are Republican, but the Harris-Walz administration is dedicated to Puerto Rican statehood, and these candidates reflect that commitment) we also encourage that you donate, organize, and volunteer for these candidates. We are not going back, we are moving forward as one party!

~BR~

#kamala harris #tim walz #harris walz 2024 campaigning #policy #2024 presidential election #legislation #united states #hq #politics #democracy #democratic party #down ballot races #gubernatorial candidates #senate #us house of representatives

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fuzzyfancreatorbiscuit · 3 months ago

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(WARNING) this short contains topic of abuse both mentally and fiscally, viewer discretion is advised .

Rain part 1

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

I could smell the rain coming in long before the first clap of thunder. And my newly broken ankle also told me bad weather. I never liked calling a thunder storm bad weather, well as long as I was at home and not having to deal with people who take things for granted thinking that they never would be or end up causing a accident. And no that is not how I broke my ankle, I found a hole or the hole found me I don't know which. Really not one of my finer moments, but I was lucky enough to have cell service where I was and called my boyfriend for help. But like always he told me I got myself in that mess I can get myself out. Trying to get up I realized right away that it was broken not sprained. I guess my scream caught the attention of very tall skeleton monster that was out for a jog. He was the one who took me to the emergence room and so kindly waited with me and is now going to fetch the car to drive me home.

I had called my boyfriend from the drive over to the hospital to let him know I had a broken my ankle and he said to let him know when I was coming home so he could unlock the door for me. That was the last straw, I know we have been together since we were in middle school and I thought that this was how guys were and that good guys were only in books, funny it took a monsters kindness to realize that I was fooling myself.

When the pretty red convertible pulled up I started to stand to get in, but the guy whose name I forgot rushed over with a very loud boisterous voice telling me to wait right there that I shouldn't be trying to walk with all those meds they gave me to stop the pain. Before I could respond he picks me up for the second time today and I couldn't help the mad blush that spread across my cheeks as he carried me to the car and sat me down then took my crutches from the nurse whom looked at me saying goodbye with a winked that made my blush even worse.

I don't remember how we got on the highway I was so deep in thought or sleep took over again but the�� handsome monster asked me something I didn't quite get so I had to ask him to repeat.

Where am I taking you miss I don't know where you live? OH I'm sorry 1298 west creek dr. I watched as he elegantly put it into the gps. Get a hold of yourself girl you just decided to break up with your long term boyfriend you shouldn't be looking at this man that way. It doesn't help he has a voice that could melt you with one fraise. You mentally slap yourself, change the subject change the subject. Before I could think of anything to say he asks me if I was alright and if he needs to turn around to take me bake to the hospital. Grate I must look death warmed over for him to make that assumption. No I'm fine I just feel guilty that you have done so much for me and I don't remember your name. OH THAT IS VERY UNDERSTANDABLE CONSIDERING YOU HAVE HAD A GREAT SHOCK AND BROKEN BONES. BEING A SKELETON MONSTER I FEEL YOUR PAIN A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN OTHERS WOULD AND HOW COULD I LEAVE A DAMSEL IN PERIL AND NOT HELP. NOT THE GREAT PAPYUS!

His little rant made me laugh and it looked like there was a slight orange glow to his bones or was the meds taking full effect.

I woke up just as we were pulling to my drive way and I see my friend jessies car. That was odd she never uses that car much she always has her husband drive her around. Kurt must have told her I had broken my ankle and came over not realizing that was still at the hospital. Papyrus tried to carry me again but I stopped him cause I needed to learn how to walk with the crutches cause I can't rely on him since he wasn't going to be here to take care of me. I thanked him for everything he has done and not be a stranger if he sees me public. He wanted to walk me up to the door but I have a bad feeling the more stand there and I don't want him to see me get mad. Before he left he gave his number and told me if I needed any further assistants not to hesitate to call him. I watched as his tail lights drive away.

I didn't bother to knock I used my key and pulled out my phone to record so they couldn't say it was my pain med induced state that I was seeing things. Cause as soon as I walked in I could here his Dum sexy music that gets him in the right mood and the unmistakable sounds of two people getting it on.

I had two minutes of them going at it before they notice I was standing there. Jessie got dressed really fast and Kurt took a little more time like what he did wasn't wrong. The bastard even took a minute to make the bed like nothing had happened jessie ran out taking off like a bat out of hell from my drive way. He then looked at me with crossed arms and had the balls to say you were supposed to call me when you left the hospital. I said sorry must have slipped my mind, now get out of my house. Excuse me did you just tell me to leave my house woman? No I said to get out of my house, I paid for it and its under my name and I just caught you having sex with one of my friends in our bed I might add. I don't know what you are talking about woman but I think those meds they gave you are stronger than you think. Oh how I knew he would try to pull this crap again. When I told him not only did I have proof of what I saw when I got home but I sent it to my dad and if I go missing to send the cops after your sorry ass, now I've already sent for my brother to help and he should be here any minute now so get out. I will pack your shit and you can come get it in couple of days but you are leaving now.

I didn't even see him move it happened so fast for the next thing I knew my was head hitting the door frame and the ringing in my ears followed by several kicks to my stomach. I blacked out when he stomped on my broken ankle. When I came to my mom was sitting next to my bed, wait not my bed I'm back in the hospital? Hey she's awake, how are you feeling sweetie? What happened? Your brother found Kurt beating the hell out of you and he had to get him off you so he hit him with your baseball bat. Your father is bailing him out now so they'll be here soon. How long have I been here? Not long sweetie just a few hours, but they are keeping you over night for observation. Your really lucky he didn't mess your ankle up any more than it was. The doctors were talking surgery. Mom my ex boyfriend just beat the shit out of me and I'm back the hospital for the second time today I wouldn’t call that lucky. I know sweetie, I was surprised all this happened at once I really thought he was the one for you. You know he took your father out last week and asked for you hand in marriage? Mom he was sleeping with Jessie and just tried to kill me. I know it just seams so weird that he would do that. I looked at her like she had grown two heads. I know she wants grand children but would she put me in danger just to have them. I couldn't look at her any more so I turned my head to the window and watched the rain start to fall. I'm determined to make my life better and I'm not letting anyone change my mind

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jodilin65 · 30 years ago

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1994 Tom’s finishing up dinner. He made us pork chops and tater tots.

Had a great talk with Dad today.

That’s about all that’s happening.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994 Oh, this is just lovely. Next door, there’s a car in their driveway as well as a van on their front lawn. There’s a ball game going on now that includes other kids who don’t live there. They’re all dressed up, so hopefully they’re going somewhere. Maybe Lenore had her 5th kid or it’s cuz Easter’s coming, but I’m sure it’ll be a zoo till it gets really hot.

Why me? There are tons of elderly couples on this street, so why couldn’t they live next to me what with these houses so close? Why did God have to put Mormons next to me? What’s he trying to tell me? It’ll be years before we move, so how many kids will be there then? 10?

Well, for now I have the radio really loud, cuz if they aren’t going, it’ll be crazy there all day. Also, if they’re going to have company for a while, they’ll keep their dog outside 24/7.

I’m going to go out back and see if I hear anything out there.

Later…

I think I’ve finally figured out why I haven’t gotten any letters from Bob. He probably never had it written down and with him and can’t remember it. I called Kim today who said he made remarks about possibly sending it to the wrong place. While she was on the line, I called and got the PO Box number. Tomorrow I’ll mail out a letter to him. I enclosed an address label which I stuck on the letter as well as the envelope and also my phone number. Hope to hell he gets it and I get a reply.

Kim says there’s still some snow and they’re due for more. Ha, ha!!! Tammy says it’s 40° there and they’re firing up the woodstove. Ha, ha!!! Today it’s 85° and I’ve had the EC on all day.

Luckily, they shut up next door as quickly as they started. I have a good feeling that the hotter it gets, the less I’ll hear of them. They really are quiet 98% of the time. It’s just the old memories of the NHA that the ruckus triggers. If I began with the NHA all the way on up to this place and did a chart of the noise percentage, it’d look like this: NHA - 100% noisy, Vista Ventana - 80% noisy, Crystal Creek - 60% noisy, here - 15% noisy. If it weren’t for this fan, though, I’d be woken up 7 out of 10 times. This fan’s great, although it’d be hopeless in the NHA. Even hopeless in the Vista Ventana cuz the whole building shakes. The kids shook the building in the NHA and in the Vista Ventana, the butch rocked the place. Andy’s thunderous footsteps too.

Kim says she’ll be sending a letter soon. Cool, Book of Letters #7 needs it. Of course, I love getting letters, anyway.

Tom will be home very soon and soon, I’ll be hitting the sack.

Gotta go set the VCR.

Later…

OK, I set it for Unsolved Mysteries, Law & Order, and Now. It looks like for once Law & Order could be a new one. Unsolved is a repeat as usual, but they sometimes have updates on old cases. Now will always be new.

I left Tom a note asking him to please tape a movie for me on my old shitty VCR in his bedroom. The nice thing about it is, though, that if you record something on it, it’ll play fine on the living room VCR. If you play it back on the other one, it looks and sounds like it’s under water.

God, it’s warm in here. I’ve had the EC blaring up high all day and it reads 82° in the living room. It’s cooler in my room, though. That’s where there’s a lower, longer awning outside one of my windows where the sun faces west.

Damn. I forgot to call the Civic Plaza for more information about seeing the Judds, or whichever one’s going to be there. Tomorrow I will, as this won’t be happening till April 9th and 10th. It’s not a Phil Donoghue talk show, I guess, but a women’s expo.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1994 Not much happened yesterday. I fell asleep at 5 PM, therefore, I couldn’t see the look on Tom’s face when he walked into his room. I straightened it all up.

I forgot to mention that I tried to call Jessie in W. Springfield. Both numbers I tried were wrong. I called information and there’s no Jessie or JS in the whole Springfield area. She either moved or has a phone in someone else’s name now.

I tried to call Cassandra, my old therapist in Deerfield. I got her machine and I left a message as well as my number.

Tom and I went out for almost two hours. I got my meds and 3 journals for $20.75. Now I have a total of 65!

Tom and I are out back now. Boy, is it hot!

No mail from Bob. Maybe he doesn’t have my address written down with him in jail and he can’t remember it correctly.

Andy told me that Michael Jackson joke yesterday and it was pretty funny. What do Michael Jackson and J.C. Penny have in common?

They both have little boy’s pants half off.

Another one goes: What do you call a lesbian dinosaur?

A Lickolotopus.

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1994 Yesterday was lots of fun and I broke another “bed record.” For the first time yesterday, Tom and I were able to have full-scale penetration. It felt really nice, even though I could never cum by that alone with no stimulation. It really makes me feel more of a woman and less different, although, we’d both be fine if I never could’ve done it. Oral sex is my favorite and it always will be.

He’ll be getting up any time now and Andy’s off today. We may get together.

That’s all that’s been going on. Tom and I also have great talks and enjoy spending time together. It’s so amazing how this just keeps on getting better and better.

I have to call for my meds refill and that’s about the only thing I absolutely need to do today.

I basically give up, as far as getting any mail from Bob. I guess he’s a closed chapter in my life. For now, it feels that way.

Later…

Tom’s up now and he’s making us Hamburger Helper now. He’s quickly going to run to the store to pick me up cigarettes.

Doesn’t feel like it’s going to be cool out today. Earlier when I went to put the garbage out back it wasn’t too bad. Maybe I can get some color today. Then again, I’ll probably wait till I can swim. It’s too boring sunning and just sitting out there without being able to swim.

I have to go check the Hamburger Helper now, so I’ll write more later.

Later…

The Hamburger Helper was so good. Tom’s in the shower now and I’ll probably do some typing.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1994 For the first time in my life, I’m letting someone read a whole entire journal. Yup, I’m letting Tom read the story in #61 (lesbian romance). He’ll die laughing, I’m sure.

Andy tried telling me I oughta publish some of my writing. Maybe do a short story for Echo magazine which is a gay magazine. Nope. Don’t think so. See, when I sit back and read whatever I wrote, I like it and understand it. However, I’m afraid others will just laugh. They haven’t yet, but I guess I’m just paranoid.

I went to bed at 3:30 PM and while I slept, Tom read it. Well, I guess he did. He said he was going to, but I can’t ask him now cuz he’s asleep.

If they’ve played their music across the street, I never heard anything. It’s been quiet since they played outdoors in the garage behind their house last Sun. That was probably a birthday party.

Evie and David sent an Easter card to “Jody” and Tom. How sweet, although no one ever spells my name right. Either way it’s spelled, I hate the fucking name, so who cares?

Andy left a message to call him cuz he has a great Michael Jackson joke. When I did try to call it was too late.

Got a postcard from my dad today which I copied into #57. Still nothing from Bob or Kim.

The weather was pretty shitty yesterday with rain. It was damp and yucky, but it cleared off. By Monday it’ll be back to the 80s.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1994 So, what’s been going on here in Arizona? Oh, not much. In April I may meet Naomi Judd. She’s to be at the Civic Plaza with Phil Donoghue and some other actress whose name I can’t remember. It’ll probably be a long line, but I guess you get to talk to her briefly and get a picture taken with her and an autograph. I may check it out if she’s not here while I’m in Disneyland.

Still no mail from Bob or anyone else.

I spoke to Tammy who tried calling last night. It figures I’d miss her call. They’re expecting 2” of snow. Ha, Ha!

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1994 I just left a message on Andy’s machine. He called me last night at 1 AM, but I had the ringer off figuring no one was going to call so late. When the hell are they going to stop fucking up his schedule and put him on 2nd shift?

Anyway, I’m going to go now to watch more of the shows I taped, so bye for now.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1994 I’m still up and Tom’s in the shower now getting ready for work.

I just finished helping him with the bills. He writes out the checks, then copies the check number and the check amount onto a piece of paper. I put the bill and check in their envelopes, then stamp it, and stick his address label on it.

What else is going on right now? Oh, not much. Just bumming around till I fall asleep. I’m going to soon have coffee and have a cigarette. Just what I need, huh? When it comes to trying to quit smoking, I never fail to fail. I quit trying to quit. Whatever will be will be and I’ll be a smoker forever, regardless of wanting to or not.

Later…

Got up at 5:00 today. When Tom came home I surprised him with a spaghetti dinner. He loved it. I even surprised myself. For someone who can’t cook, it sure came out yummy. See, I am sort of old-fashioned and there is a little tradition in me, as modern as I am.

I still haven’t gotten any letters from Bob. If I don’t in a month, then I give up. To hell with ever hoping my parents will ever write me, either. It seems they only write once a year.

I taped my shows, but Unsolved Mysteries wasn’t on due to some special, and Law & Order was a repeat.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1994 I typed a letter to my parents, and still no letter from Bob. Kim got hers, so is there that one in a million chance that someone’s working there that doesn’t like me and has intercepted his mail to me? I doubt it. I mean, Bob would write to me, and he even told Kim he sent a second letter to me right after they had their visit. Maybe he wrote it right after their last bi-weekly mail run. Tom says that’s how it is in the military. Someone will get mail only every other week, but when they do, they get 4 or 5 letters. I hope this is the case.

I typed Kim a letter and played some card games. What do I want to do now? I have no idea. I would like to write more, but I’ve run out of things to write about. Guess I’ll have to think of another writing project for times like this, huh?

Later…

Had enough TV for a while, so I think I’ll go listen to music. After, I’ll try conking out. Before I do, though, let me just say that I’m so proud of myself. I made the best chicken wings ever. This time I not only put margarine on it but also garlic salt. It made the meat part cook better and more tender. Also, the skin was nice and crispy.

Well, till later or tomorrow!

Later…

I think it’ll be a while before I conk out.

Been meaning to mention the weirdest, yet pretty cool thing. I swear I hear birds chirping during the middle of the night. It’s the strangest thing. I’ll have to ask Tom about it, as I wonder what kinds of birds could be doing this and why. They certainly don’t do this in Massachusetts or Connecticut, unless there’s sunlight.

I just upped and threw on the EC to bring fresh air in. I love how it brings in the smell of the orange blossoms. They don’t really smell of orange, though, otherwise I’d hate it, cuz I hate both the smell and the taste of orange. Now it’s great in here after only a few seconds. It freshens the air quicker and better than opening up the place on a very windy day. It also filters out pollen. I’ve been tight lately and this really helps cuz if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I was outside in the fresh air right now.

I just heard Tom cough. I wonder if he’s up. He’ll probably stay in bed till 6:00 or 7:00 anyway.

It’s getting chilly in here so I’ll shut off the EC soon. My breathing’s much better now.

So, am I going to get a letter from Bob today, or what? I sure hope so.

I hope Fran decides to try calling me back when I’m awake and not busy. Maybe I’ll hear about Bob’s picture. He’s getting a very nice picture of a Mexican girl. When Andy was here, he brought the picture to send to him. Someone left it behind at Denny’s. Just to keep track, here are my “notes” on her. I wouldn’t want to get her confused with Sabrina. Andy named her Connie Wells. She’s 28, lives alone across the street from me, is a secretary at a lawyer’s office, has no kids, is from Texas, has 3 sisters and 2 brothers, and moved here when she was 18. If I mentioned anything else in my letter about her to Fran, then I forgot. I just said that I told Connie all about him and she liked what she heard. With my luck, he’ll say he wants to write to her and really mean it this time. As stupid as he is, he’ll never buy it if I give a million reasons why she needs to get her mail here. I could try saying, if it comes up, that she just got involved with someone very very jealous of her even having a long-distance pen pal, but I doubt it’ll work. Maybe I oughta bring it up before he does in my next letter to him. This way it’ll sound less of a cover-up excuse if he asks for an address.

Damn, in 7 hours I’ve written 14 pages! I’ve been in my writing mood, so I remembered the little stuff to write about for now.

The lettuce is growing, but the carrots are taking their sweet time.

Later…

Tom and I went to Petsmart earlier. I got more pellets and the same plastic ball I had when I had the two mice. So far, he doesn’t like it like the mice did. He just sits there. I guess it’s a little too small for him.

I also got two journals.

When Tom went to the grocery store while I was asleep, he got some sticks of different colored clay. I’ll have to come up with some clever idea for them.

I also got a birthday card for Dad.

Fran left a message and I called him back. He wants to move out here. What else is new? I told him about Connie and he never did mention Bob’s picture.

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1994 I awoke at 4:00 once again. Late last night, till 7:00 this morning, I sort of felt lousy. Due to the rain, which I’m not as used to anymore since that’s a rare occasion here, I felt shitty. I was very very tight.

Last night, though, I went to print out address labels for my parents and Kim, but the printer fouled up on me. Therefore, I handwrote 12 envelopes with 12 different labels they haven’t seen yet. I do believe I mentioned this, come to think and remember it.

Fran called today before I woke up. Tom answered his call, then he left a message. I tried calling him twice but he was busy, so he’s going to have to call me. Also, if he gets me, he does. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.

At about 5:00 this afternoon Tom and I went to JB’s for dinner. It was good.

Just as we were leaving, they were playing, or so I thought, across the street. Very loud. It was still going on at 7:30 when we got in, so I called. His mother answered and the weird thing was that where she was was quiet. I guess the house behind her was playing in their garage, as there was a party. That was cool, and she sounded nice. When I hung up I put my music on and turned it off at 8:45 and it was quiet. That was easy enough to deal with.

So afterward, I watched TV, typed letters, played my computer card game, and ate more. I tried to do some scanning, but I couldn’t get it to work to save my life.

I hope I get Bob’s letter today. Kim called yesterday and she had just gotten a letter from him. We both never got that first one he wrote us both a few weeks ago. Guess we never will get it. Kim said he wrote and sent me a letter the same day he sent hers.

Later…

Between April 17th and 22nd, we’ll be going to Disneyland for 1-2 nights. However, somewhere in July or August, we’ve decided that Vegas would be a great place to be married.

It’s weird, yet fine with me, that I don’t look as white as these pages. Why? Who knows. I haven’t exactly been out in the sun these days.

I also forgot to mention something else for about a week now. According to the DES book, yes we possess higher chances of fertility and miscarriages, but they also made it sound like it’s very far from impossible. Still don’t know if I’ll want to try in ‘96, but we’ll see, as it’s still quite a while from now. Also, Tom and I are less convinced that my ear has anything to do with the DES and surer that I do ovulate. The book, along with the doctor, mentioned thinner, runnier discharges mid-cycle. Well, I most certainly have that.

I’ve got a few things I want to mend and hem on my new sewing machine. Let’s see, what do I want to do? A pair of panties, my white shorts, and I know there’s more. Oh yes, the pockets of my cut-off jeans.

Later…

Fell asleep at 5:30 this morning. Got up at noon, then fell back asleep an hour later till 5:00.

When Tom got home he tried to scan my journals and even he’s having trouble with it, so something’s wrong.

I may have mentioned a while back that they’re eliminating Tom’s job at AMEX, so he put in for another job at another department. If he gets it, he’ll work 8-hour shifts for 5 days a week.

Anyway, our trip to Disneyland may have to be pushed ahead or back a little, but we are going.

Tomorrow at 10:00 he has an appointment with the mortgage company about that $65,000 loan.

I’m recording the Oscar Awards now, but for the most part, it’ll be boring.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 1994 Earlier Tom and I were talking about possible dates to be married. I said that in a way I wish it were now 1995, then we could go for April 9th, the day we met. So, eventually, he came up with an idea. He asked me, “When was the first time we went in the middle?”

I thought at first he meant when he got in there, finally. Well, he meant orally, as sex is sex, and sex comes in all ways and forms of variety. I looked back and he “got it in there” on January 12th, but the oral part was either July 28th, 29th or 30th. I think it was the 30th.

What type of wedding we’ll have and where is still a mystery. We both agree on one thing, though. Neither of us wants a huge wedding. Andy said he’s definitely going to be there, which is great. He went on and on about how great Tom and I are together and jokingly asked to be the bridesmaid and dress up as either Stevie or Madonna.

I finally got my last order of address labels and I really like them a lot. I already filled out the order form for labels for Tammy and Bill for their anniversary, even though that’s not until May 25th. I’m ordering them cat labels. I should’ve gotten those, rather than the gold-trimmed ones for myself. Anyway, I went ahead and ordered a set of these cat labels for myself. In August for my parent’s anniversary, I’ll order them a set of who knows what style and design.

My dad’s birthday is only about 15 days away. What shall I send him? Just a card as usual? How old is he going to be? I think he’ll be 63.

Tom’s mom gave me a bag of magazines. He was at his parent’s house while I was asleep. They really were of no use to me, but it was nice of her. There were two animal posters that I put up on the bulletin board. Also, two subscription forms I used for Nervous and Scott. There was a poster of a tarantula and that’ll go to Nervous.

The neatest thing she gave Tom to give to me were pastel chalk-like things. I did a fairly decent picture of a table with a bowl of fruit and a vase of flowers. Behind the table is a chair. Behind the table and chair is a big huge window with curtains. Outside the window, I drew mountains and the sky.

Later…

I just tried to print out address labels for Kim and my parents, but I fucked up somehow. So, I addressed them by hand which I also don’t mind doing. I used all different colors. There are about 12 address labels that Kim and my parents haven’t seen yet, so I gave them each one. Their next 12 letters will have different address labels.

I watched part of a movie I taped last night. So far, so good. Now I think I’ll listen to music for a while.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1994 Boy, was I tired. I slept nearly 11 hours and didn’t get up until 4 PM today.

Last night was fun. Andy came over and did his laundry at 7:30. Tom didn’t get in till 9:00 and I was worried. He worked overtime. We were all laughing and joking and telling old and funny stories.

Still no letter from Bob. This makes me feel like someone’s intercepting his mail.

Tom’s working on the back room right now, and I’m kind of bored.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1994 I just called Gina who remembered my voice and name after a couple of months. I asked if she could play One for One. I don’t know who does it, but I know Linda did it in the early 70s. I love the guitar in this guy’s version.

So anyway, here’s the news about Bob. Kim called me to tell me she saw Bob. He’s been transferred yet a third time. From Franklin County to Walpole, and now to MCI Concord in the Boston area. Who knows what MCI stands for? Must be Massachusetts Corrections Institute or something.

As she saw, and to no surprise, Bob looks terrible. Who wouldn’t in jail? He does have an appeal going through, but if it works, it’ll take quite some time. Hey, what else is new? But he said that even his lawyer swore up and down that he’d get off. He can’t get calls, but he can make them as long as they’re collect. He can also write and get letters. If I write to him, they don’t read the letter, but they do open the envelope, naturally, to be sure nothing’s in the envelope that’s not supposed to be. Kim said she sent us both letters a couple of weeks ago, but it’s going to take time. They only pick up mail from there every other week. Hopefully, I’ll get his letter within a few days, but he’ll get my letters faster than I’ll get his. Kim said that he’ll still get the letter I just sent to Walpole. Also, in his letter, there’ll be more information as well as his booking number.

If there’s any news that’s good that eases our fears, it’s that his one cellmate’s his age. Also, there’s been no abuse from the guards or any other inmate. True to what Tom said, he’s bored with tons of free time.

Is Gina going to fucking play my request, or what? She’s done this before and so far she’s played 3 other requests and they didn’t seem to come before mine. Fuck her then, if she doesn’t play it. I’ll request it from another DJ if I have to.

I’m going to go watch TV now and soon hit the sack.

Later…

Well, Gina did play my request, but I sure did not expect to hear me singing first. No wonder she asked me to sing a little of it. I thought it a little strange that she wouldn’t know the song, therefore, I had to sing some of it.

Tom got home a little while ago. Now he’s eating.

They’re playing now across the street and I can very barely hear it! I’m leaving him a thank you note tomorrow.

Later…

I just finished typing up the last letter of the day. Got a few letters going out. To my parents, Kim, Fran and Andy’s nasty customer.

Tom and I talked more about getting married. We’re still not sure of a month, date, or where. We discussed the pros and cons of getting married here, as well as in Vegas.

I’m surer that I want to marry Tom more than he’s sure I’m sure. I think he’s just jumping the gun, though, worrying about too many what-ifs, even though that’s perfectly understandable. I went through all my what-ifs too. Like, what if we get divorced like almost everyone else does? But, life’s about taking chances. His basic concern is that he’s positive about two things that he swears will happen and how I’ll feel about them and deal with them. He swears I’ll fall in love with a woman and it’ll be mutual. He’s not so much afraid I’ll leave him, but will it make me wish I weren’t married to him? I said I’d tell them it’s too late and that I’m taken. He says these words may be hard to stick by, but this can happen to him as well as anyone else. If this happens I’ll deal with it as best I can. Yes, I know I swore I’d never have a relationship or move here, but no woman’s going to love me. Not one I’d love back. As gay as I always have been and always will be, this isn’t meant to be. If it were in my cards to be with a woman, then I would’ve been. The relationship was, after all, meant to be, but not with a woman. Otherwise, Tom would be a woman. Anyway, it’s human nature to be attracted to multiple people, although Tom’s 100% sure I’m going to fall in love. Tom said this happened to him with his first wife and he had to go through the “Hey, I’m already committed” stage. I guess it was the type of love where he didn’t want to leave his wife, nor did he want to sleep with this other woman. I guess it’s just Murphy’s Law.

The other thing he swears will happen is that I’ll no longer get SS checks eventually and will make the same, if not more than he does, and that’s all wonderful with him, but what he fears is me wanting to venture back out on my own with the dough.

I’d only leave him if he turned out to be a no-good jerk. However, if I made not a penny or a million bucks, what’s that got to do with us? That won’t change my love for him. I want to share any victories I have or money I make with him. Not alone. I just want us to do our best, take one day at a time and hope it is forever.

Now, what the hell was that? I just heard some knocking sound, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from. Oh well, I’m going to go and watch TV.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1994 Wow! Have I been having a fan-fucking-tastic day or what?! I may be interrupted by a call from Andy, but for now, I’ll get as far as I can. First of all, when I got up today at 11:00, I finished something I began last night. On 20 pieces of computer paper, I’ve done different abstract designs with the watercolor paints. Yup, it’s getting easier and I’m getting used to it little by little. I did do a cactus and a palm tree, but I mainly did designs like rainbows and similar stuff like that. Where did I put it when I finished? In the boarded-up window in the living room. Before the garage was built, you could look out at the window to W. Weldon. It looks so good there along with my collector’s plates.

Andy was going to come over here and do his laundry, but instead, he fell asleep with a headache, so maybe Friday. They’re remodeling the laundry room where he lives.

Tom sprayed out the room that’s part of the garage where the dryer is and gave me a spare key.

Got yet another set of address labels today and two more to go. They all should be here by Saturday.

The city came, free of charge, to paint the block wall that someone painted on. I haven’t seen it yet, though.

I have yet to get to the great news and the funny news, but I will soon.

Later…

Well, Andy’s been on the phone now for a while, so I’ll just wait till I hear from him. He wants me to read him the weird letter he wanted me to type to a very snotty customer.

I called and talked to Dad today. He sounded great and Ma was out playing bingo.

I also called Tammy who was really pissed and is having more problems with Lisa’s ex-friend Stacey. I guess Stacey beat up Lisa at school or tried to. Lisa’s afraid and has to be escorted to classes. Bill called telling the principal that he’d better guarantee her safety…or else! Tammy said she wishes she could get her hands on this 11-year-old and that she wished I could call her. I did and said what she told me to say - that Stacey better keep her hands to herself or else she won’t have any hands or mouth. I told Tammy, too, that if trouble persists, she can give me their address and I’ll send catalogs and whatever to them in NPN envelopes. I can also send them weird letters and when they see the Phoenix postmark, they’ll be thoroughly confused trying to figure out who hates them all the way from Phoenix.

It hit 87º here and that wonderful news is still yet to come!

Later…

Andy’s got company, I just remembered, so I read him the letter on his VM.

Tom should be home soon, but first I think he’s stopping off for some groceries.

OK, here’s my good news. Just as I was finishing up painting, I had the doors open, when there was a big boom for the second time. Luckily it wasn’t nearly as loud this time around. Then, fire trucks and cruisers went heading down towards that same alley from Claredon St. People came out to see what was up. Same with the heavy metalling teen across the street and 3 of his buddies. He asked if I knew anything, then we got to talking. Once we hit the music subject, I told him my honest feelings about it. He then said they practice every Thursday and gave me his number, saying that if it ever got too loud to call.

Great! And he did sound sincere enough, although I will still just wait and see.

I also had a nice chat with Lenore next door. Yup, they’re Mormons. She’s going to drop kid #5 anytime now, and they home-teach their kids. That explains why they’re always home. These people must have bucks to support so many kids, and how they all fit into a 3-bedroom house, beats me. She says she hates the heat here and plans to spend the whole summer in Idaho where she’s from. Dean will fly to her every so often. I asked her if she ever heard my music and she said no and asked if I could hear their piano. Nope, but even if I did, that wouldn’t bother me.

How do they fit a piano in such a small house?

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1994 Oh no, here I go again thinking of a kid. Where are these goddamn urges coming from? Especially when I know damn good and well it’d be the worst thing for me. For several reasons. Oh well, all I can do is fight it and ignore it. A baby isn’t in my cards. Not even if I weren’t sterile.

I didn’t get up today till 11:15, so I’ll probably be up till 3:00 or 4:00 just vegging.

Later…

There was a catfight outside a little while ago, but in the meantime, Tom and I had the best talk ever about us getting married and having a kid. Now I feel like I can easily deal with daily thoughts to have one, even though they’re not daily. They’re about 5-10 days out of the month. We’re going to discuss a date tomorrow, but we’re both so sure. I never thought I could want it to be forever and have that person want that, too. I never think about or worry if it’ll end in a year, or 5 or 10. All I know is one day at a time and how I feel right now. We’re also both trying to keep an open mind to any possibilities such as having a kid or whatever. We won’t say I won’t and we won’t say I will have a kid, but 1996 is the year we’ll think about it seriously. We’re not against those who have kids before, during or after marriage, but whether I do or don’t, 1996 is a good year to decide, although I still have mixed emotions about it and probably always will. Plus, there’s still a 90-something percent chance that I may be sterile.

Well, it’s off to bed now.

Later…

Got up at 11:00 today, then Tom and I went to the library. We didn’t look for the article, cuz the more we thought about it, the more we figure they won’t have it. Greenfield’s not a huge enough paper.

We did get a DES book. I only scanned through it quickly, but it looks like DES-related cancers aren’t as bad as I thought. However, sterility is most certain. If not, a miscarriage is. In a way, even though I’m sure a kid’s not in my cards, this is a bummer, cuz it’s taking away my options and freedom of choice for 1996.

After the library, he got a haircut which looks very nice. I went into Ross’s clothing store while he was getting his hair cut. For a total of $23, I got a melon-colored denim vest and a short sleeve sundress. At the hair salon, I got a bottle of that detangler.

From there Tom and I went to a buffet. The food would’ve been good if it weren’t cold. After eating we came home.

Later…

Tom called the mortgage company and he set up an appointment for Tuesday.

Right now he’s watching a video of Wendy’s vacation back in New Jersey and New York.

I took Piggy out back for a while and we sat in the swing. Now I think I’ll go sit out back for a while.

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1994 I was just talking with Andy and we were discussing ways to keep out of trouble, yet still have some fun.

We just left Ellie a message whom we’ll want to see some night. Also, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Rosemarie was still there and I’d like to leave a note on her car. I wonder if Mark and Robert are still there, but this I highly doubt. I’m sure Scott moved a long time ago, too. People who make so many enemies so fast tend to move a lot.

I just had an idea. A good one, too. It’s been about the summer of ‘92 since I’ve copied conversations from tapes in here in script form. I can take Tom’s microcassette recorder, record some stuff, then put it in here. This thing can also rewind and fast forward while the play button is down. The old little portable cassette player I used to use for this is in the computer room and it’d be a pain to bring it in here.

Later…

Before I do some script form convos, and before Tom comes home, let me update the day’s events. Actually, it begins shortly after I last wrote.

I must’ve had massive gas, cuz my stomach was throbbing. It was pretty weird and a bit scary too. It all began when I sat down to watch TV. First I could feel it, then I looked down and my lower right side of my stomach was literally throbbing and pulsing. I was very nauseous too, and at one point almost certain I was going to puke, but luckily I didn’t have to. Is it something I ate? My meds? PMS? Tension cuz of the assholes across the street? Plus, I know it isn’t going to let up for another two months. Once these people start, they don’t stop. Next Thursday - Sunday afternoon they’ll be up to the usual shit.

Am I going to drop to my knees again and beg God to stop it? Nah, he isn’t done letting me listen to other people’s noise. Every weekend, I’ll just have to feel like and be reminded of apartment living. It’s almost like something up there’s taunting me with it. The more I want peace and quiet the more noise it throws at me. Not a peep, though, from next door. There’s no way they could’ve been home last weekend. No way at all.

Kim called with Bob’s address. Guess it is Cedar Junction prison in Walpole, bordering Boston. She’s going to try to see him at the end of the week. Tomorrow I’ll be sending off a letter and she’ll be doing the same. I sure hope he gets it.

Andy had a weird encounter with a customer at work, but I’ll write about it after I have a cigarette.

Later…

OK, so about Andy’s customer. He overheard a man and a woman talking. The woman said, “So, how was your visit with Jodi?”

The man said, “This is the second time and this time we talked a lot more. She really opened up and seemed so much happier.”

Andy said he had no gray hair. Also, we only saw each other once, but it sure was weird. He said he almost asked the man if his name was Larry.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1994 Last night I fell asleep at 1:30 and awoke with upper stomach pains at 5:00. I’ve never really had upper stomach pains before and Tom said it could’ve been heartburn. I don’t know, but at least I’m better now. I fell back asleep at around 7:00 and got up just after 11:00.

Yesterday I began to be aware of my period on its way, so I’ll be dealing with that really soon.

Later Tom and I will be going grocery shopping. I’m not really looking forward to that, and today it’ll be mobbed.

It’s nice out today, but very breezy. I like that, though.

Even though I have an Abba CD on now, it’s quiet outside. I don’t think they’re home next door.

Last night I made Tom a tape of Sting and Meat Loaf with the new tapes. One of them, anyway.

Later…

I’ve got some very good news. Andy’s going to be starting 2nd shift real soon! He’s going to be calling back real soon. He’s packing now, as he’s going to Vegas for two days, the lucky fem.

Earlier Tom went grocery shopping and he got some watercolors. They’re a far cry different than a pencil or a marker, but I’m practicing. I touched up a so-so Gloria drawing and made it pretty nice. Nicer than I’d expected. I also typed letters to my parents and Kim.

That’s all for now.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1994 Well, I’m still up, despite the fact that I don’t think I will be for too much longer. I turned down the idea of typing letters. I’ve got lots to tell everyone, too.

Come to think of it, I’ve gotten no calls from Fran or messages left by him.

Deep down, for curiosity’s sake, I wonder what is really going on in Nervous’s life. Is he still with Crystal? If so, how’s it going? I wonder who else he knows and what else he’s doing. That is, aside from working at the leather shop. I’ll never really ever know, now will I?

More so, I wonder how Bob’s coping with being in prison. Thank God he didn’t get in trouble while I was there. I sure needed him when Kim wasn’t around.

Tuesday we’re going to the library to look for Bob’s article in the Greenfield newspaper and perhaps pick up a book on DES.

Later…

I got up a couple of hours ago and I watched last Wednesday night’s show I forgot I had to finish.

It’s beautiful out now and so far it’s been very shockingly quiet. I don’t even know if they’re home next door.

Tom’s working now on the back room and I’m bored.

Later…

Tom and I finally planted our carrots and lettuce. In the back of this book, I wrote up a chart. This way we have the dates of when we plant things and what’s in each row.

It looks as if it might storm out there.

Next door’s been quiet, and if they’re doing their shit across the street, I don’t know about it. I have the radio on in my room and the living room, which also has speakers in the back room.

Oh, how could I forget! I’m 99 pounds and I don’t think I’ve been there for a few months.

Also, when I woke up I thought I was pre-cramping, but it was really gas. My tits don’t hurt, my stomach doesn’t hurt, and lastly, I’m not too bloated. I wish it could be like this every month.

Later…

Tom’s now watching the end of a movie I already saw on HBO. When he’s done, we’re going to fool around.

Yuck! I think I now feel some pre-cramps.

It rained a little out, so the garden oughta love that.

Later…

Tom and I just did a lot of work on the back room and it looks so much better.

I just cranked the music up as I’m sure that any time now they’re going to blast off. I’m not in the mood to be reminded of apartment living.

Got a message from Tammy. Going to go copy it in now.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1994 I know it’s been a few days since I last wrote. Well, I’m sorry to have to say this but this journal’s going to be ending on a sour note. I do have some good news, and the bad news is nothing compared to my bad days back East, but it’s still bad enough. I have a few major subjects, then some little stuff to write. I’ll save the better stuff for last.

Did I, or did I not say my luck would run out with the assholes across the street? Well, it did. They played last night for nearly an hour and a half. I had been in a great mood too, and my mood was totally shot to hell. Tom says it’s too soon to worry, but I know it’s the same old cycle. They’ll do this 1-3 times a week now for months. Like 5-6 months before they back off for another 2 months if they ever do again. I refuse to deal with it all over again. I must think and act fast. Andy’s got to know someone who can do something. I can’t and I won’t deal with this shit all over again. Now the tension’s on once again. Only several months of peace can cure that, but I won’t get that peace unless I take serious action.

Now, I have one more, not-too-cool piece of news. Well, as for the cigarettes, well, we’re together till death do us part. I’ll just have to go young, but there’s no way I can ever get off them. Tom still says I will quit, and he’s been right about everything, so far, but I don’t see it.

Speaking of seeing things - I’m pretty good at picking winning horses. I’ll have to continue trying to develop it.

Cigarette break now.

Later…

OK, now on with the better news, among news in general. The kitchen’s more than half done. We tore down the paneling and Tom’s now repainting it off-white. Boy, does it look a lot better! Brighter and so much more cheerful.

I miscounted the days till my next period, thinking I was due on the 13th. I’m due on the 16th, but the great news is that I still feel no signs of it. I’m bloated, but my boobs aren’t sore and I have no pre-cramping.

Tom introduced me to another super neat thing on the computer. This thing that’ll either repeat back what you type or that’ll have a conversation with you. I taped one of our talks on a microcassette recorder of Tom’s. The bummer of it is, is that it doesn’t say what I type. Only its response.

Tom got out some of his musical instruments as he was rearranging the back room. A trombone, a trumpet, and a flute. I played a little trumpet for the first time in my life. You kind of have to spit into it to sound off the notes. It was hard, but I managed to sound off a few notes. The flute was easier and miraculously I was able to remember where certain notes are after so many years for one who didn’t play for long. Also, now that I have good pitch, I could tell what the notes were that I randomly keyed and played.

Last night, Tom and I sang some songs of Linda’s. He played the chords on the keyboard while I sang.

He also got a programming language thing that will save so much time on the business so we don’t have to stall in another 3 months.

Later…

There’s not much more to do with the kitchen and soon we’re going to work on the back room. Tom’s making himself something to eat, then we’re going to work on it.

Later…

Tom’s now hosing off a low/wide table that was here when he moved in. He’s going to put some of his books and equipment on it till we build wall shelves in the cubby hole at the far end of the back room. I’m going to be using a taller bookshelf that’s also of solid wood. The little wooden bookcase will replace the plastic ones my CDs and CD player are now on. I hate the plastic ones cuz they sag.

I called Kim last night and asked her if she’d found any information on Bob and where he is. Sure enough, just as I told Kim, Minnie never sent Kim the article about Bob in the Greenfield paper. Kim says she has the weekend off and will then try to find stuff out. Tom says it’s a matter of public record, which is true. Kim can find out at the courthouse where he is. Also, we may be able to see the article from our library here. That’d be nice. I’ll let Kim know of all this the next time I write her, but she probably will figure it out on her own.

Well, now I’m going to go see what Tom’s up to and if I’m needed.

Later…

Tom and I sure got lots and lots of work done in the back room. We’re on break now. He’s watching basketball and I’m lying on my bed.

We ordered dinner from My Mother’s. He got a pizza and I ordered a prime rib dinner, but it will probably be a while before it gets here.

Right now I want to change my sheets before it gets much later.

Later…

Boy, that was yummy! Plus, they screwed up in our favor. His pizza and my prime rib totaled about $19, but they charged us only $11. I’m so full now and I’m trying to burp it up as best I can. Perfect timing, though, cuz at 9 PM I need to take my meds.

After I finish this journal and begin the next one, I’ll probably listen to music.

Later…

OK, well, here I am on the last page! I just went back and put the color changer through all the pages I did today. Counting this page I’ve done 16 pages. Now it’s time for the one with all the cool stamps from all over the world. Journal #60! I really thought it’d be the year 2000 and something when I’d hit journal #60. Especially when I first began in 1987. I hate #50 just 4 months ago.

Later…

Tom’s going to bed in a few minutes and I am too, in a little while.

Tomorrow it’ll be another 80º day and Sunday it’ll be somewhere in the neighborhood of 85º.

Earlier I saw Marlee Matlin in Hear No Evil. I missed the first half-hour, but what I did see was good. It was also the first time I saw her topless.

Just when I thought my hair might quit growing for a while, it’s even longer. Just about touching the crack of my ass.

No concerts from across the street, thank God, but I still won’t hold my breath. Tomorrow and Sunday will be next door’s turn, although I’m not shocked I didn’t hear more of them last weekend.

I’ve got lots of new pens that won’t be drying up anytime soon, so I’m going to do each day a different color.

I asked Tom when he thought Bob would be able to write letters. He said maybe in a couple of weeks. I sure hope so.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1994 Cool! I’m only 5 days away from my period and feel no signs of it. No pre-cramping, no sore tits, but I am a little bloated. Aren’t I always? Actually, though, I’m not as bloated as I normally am only 5 days away.

I wish it were almost time for me to go to the ACS class. I’m really looking forward to it and I want it to work sooo badly.

I think I’ll go watch the 2½-hour shows I taped.

Later…

I’m watching Geraldo now and next is Charlie’s Angels.

Tom’s leaving soon to go get paint for the kitchen. He’s also getting a sander.

Everyone has their hang-ups. I just hate to watch TV with someone else. I like to watch TV alone. That’s when I want my space like when I listen to music. But Tom won’t let me watch TV alone. He could be in the computer room, then only intend to come into the kitchen, but instead, he stops and watches whatever I have on. If I want to keep him in the living room forever, all I’d have to do is keep the TV on. Well, I did want him to see how I could do all of program 2 on one of my workout videos. So, I put it in the VCR and did it knowing he’d sit right there through the entire thing.

He said he hates talk shows. Well, he loves them now, cuz that’s what he’s watching.

Later…

Tom came back an hour ago with all kinds of things to do the kitchen with. He even got new kitchen faucets.

He’s about to make us bacon and eggs, then we’re going to go plant the lettuce and carrot seeds.

I wish it were time for me to go to my class now.

Still no mail from Kim today. I don’t know what’s taking her so long to send the article and find more info. I’ll send her a letter soon.

I got another collector’s plate under the name of Ann W. Had to be from Andy or Fran. It’s black Labradors and it’s nice. Now I have a total of 6.

Later…

Well, in 2 hours and 15 minutes, we’ll be leaving for the class. I hope for the best.

In the meantime, we dug up patches of dirt, shook the dirt out, and took the grass out of the area where we’ll be planting seeds.

I really miss Andy. I hope to hell he gets a night job somewhere soon. Second shift would be perfect for him and I know he’d want that much more than third.

He’s now on the phone talking to his friend Eileen. Me? I’m just bored as hell till I leave. Think I’ll go make myself some coffee now.

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1994 I meant to write yesterday, and yes, I do have lots to update on. Today’s surely different from those hot days we’ve been having. It’s raining and thundering. I like the change, though, whereas back east, that’s all it ever does and you pray for a day without rain, let alone cold and snow.

This weekend was fairly quiet. No music and no steady hour-after-hour ball bouncing, although I did hear it a little. When I went to put my mail out, I saw their ball laying in their driveway. Part of me wanted to take it and ditch it somewhere, but I didn’t want to be seen. Plus, I’m sure they’d just turn around and get a new ball. Still, it’d be nice if some kid came by and took it.

I hope it rains this weekend and then I’ll have had enough of it for a while. I do look forward to the monsoon season, though. It’s awesome. Also, as it gets hotter and hotter, fewer people will be out.

Tom’s working now, but tomorrow he’s on vacation till next Monday. We expect to be very busy, but I’ll tell you what we do as we do whatever we do. Last Saturday we finally began to take down that ugly old paneling. Soon we’ll paint the whole kitchen an off-white.

I can’t remember all the things we did Saturday, but things have been OK. All except for the fact that my camera’s broken. I was so bummed out, too, as I took some really cool pictures.

Yesterday I skated for nearly 3 hours and I loved it. I skated around the pool and on the patio. It was so much fun and I felt very relaxed and confident. I really am an OK skater. I certainly wouldn’t dare do a triple axle with no coach, but I can spin and jump enough to have fun with it. Tom and I want to get rollerblades so we can go on the streets. This way I can do more and I can go fast. The two pairs of skates I have aren’t good for the streets. One little pebble can send me flying all the way to the Grand Canyon.

Well, Tom and I talked about my little consultation tomorrow and I canceled it. I hate going to the doctor and if I ever have surgery again, it’ll be to hear out of two ears or if it’s something necessary to save my life. Tom really thinks it would depress me and he’s probably right cuz then we’d never know for sure what’s in store for the future, even though we think we already have a pretty good idea. I never thought I could or would have a great relationship and be able to handle it, so who knows? I even mentioned it to my mom and even she said it was a big deal and gave me the impression that I should forget about it.

I feel like I’m forgetting something, but if I remember it, I’ll write it in.

No mail from Kim today, so I wonder what the delay is.

I hosed down the pig’s cage yesterday. It sure was nice just to take it a few feet outside the back door, rather than 4 flights up and down or in the bathtub.

The sun’s out now.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1994 For the third night in a row, I got up at 1:00. The next couple of days I’d better sleep later. Tuesday I have a very long and very busy day. Tom will probably be up by 8:00 and then we’ll begin working on the kitchen. It’ll be a major task, but hopefully fun.

Well, I must first go and get myself a bite to eat as I am hungry.

Later…

I definitely have to cut down on being in the sun for a while. Yesterday I noticed small traces of the beginnings of sun poisoning on my stomach. How am I ever going to get a serious tan without getting sun poisoning? If I were to spend another day or two outside I’d definitely have it over my whole body, and it itches like hell.

Since I ran out of my shampoo I’ve been using Tom’s Head & Shoulders, and yuck! It reeks like shit. When he lays with me in bed, he leaves that stench behind on my pillow. Masculinity stinks, as much as I love this guy. He’s the only guy I’ve ever met, though, that doesn’t have BO. Thank God for that much.

I’ll have to ask him if he heard the heavy metallers playing last night since I was asleep. I’ve got the radio all set to go today as I’m sure they’ll be out front playing ball all fucking day today.

Today, we’re going to take down that old-fashioned, ugly, disgusting wall paneling. Tom’s going to fix part of the ceiling, too, and soon enough we’ll repaint the kitchen. The counter, sink and cabinets will be redone one of these days, too.

Later…

I’m bored now. I wish I were just waking up. There’s nothing I can really do till Tom gets up. I also have to really push myself to stay up as long as I can. The birds just woke up. I hear them chirping away now.

Andy left a message laughing over the same thing I was laughing about on his machine. It’s sooo gorgeous here, while they have 3’ of snow back east!

Well, I’m off to go brush my teeth now and put on a little makeup.

Wonderful. Here goes that beast next door.

Later…

It must’ve been someone else’s dog I heard, cuz after I last wrote, I didn’t hear anything.

Tom got up around 7:00 and we went grocery shopping. There, I got 3 pens. Pink, purple and blue.

After we got home, we started pulling off the paneling. While he went to get my meds, I yanked the nails out of the wall behind the pieces we already got out. He’s doing the ceiling repair now. I’ve got the fan on exhaust blowing out dust and crap like that as well as a Fleetwood Mac CD, so when the kids next door go out to do their thing, it should muffle it.

I hope I get mail today.

It’s going to be another hot one out there and I’m not going to hang out much today. If the pool was warmer, that’d be different, but without going out and opening the doors, I got my fresh air. The bedroom and bathroom don’t get much fresh air, so I can’t wait till the EC is set up. This way I can air it out daily for a little while, at least, till the EC is on all the time.

Later…

Tom’s taking a break and eating hot dogs I just made for him. Soon, he’s going to a friend’s house to fix their computer.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1994 Got a letter from Alex yesterday. He’s back in Deadfield at the same address. Then, why’d he move to Illinois? Must’ve taken a long vacation there. Maybe today I’ll get another letter from Kim. Maybe this time it’ll have more information. Like an address and that article. Alex typed the letter he sent this time around, which was great. I had asked him to type if he could and if he had a typewriter cuz his handwriting is incredibly sloppy. Most deaf people type well cuz they’ve plenty of practice due to using the TTY system so much.

Later…

I really hate that when I’m very much in the mood to write but have nothing to say. I need a fun everyday project to keep me busy. I’m getting bored with just the stuff I already do. I’m just not in the mood to type letters right now. Besides, I’m going to wait till my new order of envelopes arrives. They’ll get here in a day or two. I’m not in the mood to veg in front of the TV now. Plus, nothing’s on. I don’t feel like editing, but I am hungry. I’ll go zap another piece of pizza.

Later I’ll work out and hang out outside as it’ll be 83º.

Later…

Today’s just as gorgeous as I said it’d be. I got even more color. The only thing not too peaceful was the dog next door. At least it didn’t keep going and going, though. The kids next door are out front. Why do they always go to the front? I’ve only heard them out back once or twice. This is good for when I’m out back, but when I’m in the house I’m at the front of the house most of the time.

I just checked and they’re gone now, thankfully. I think they got company. Some blue truck is now parked in front. This weekend, I’m sure I’ll have to listen to them play ball. The guy (Dean) just left in their red van. I just thank God the dog doesn’t go on and on like when they first got here. That our place isn’t attached to theirs. That the music people across the street have shut up and that the dog across the street is gone. I pray to God constantly not to let my luck run out. This is my time now for peace and quiet after so many years of being so affected by other people’s noise. I live in a house now. It’s my right just as well as anyone else’s right.

I just checked again. Those kids apparently were only out a second.

The scars from the NHA, Vista Ventana and Crystal Creek will be with me for years to come, if not always. At least it’s getting better. The longer I see this place fairly quiet most of the time, the more my tensions and memories will fade.

No one’s ever going to wake me up again. And if they do, I’ll be sure to give them a wake-up call in the middle of the night. I can promise this for sure.

I hope the mailman brings me a letter from Kim today. That is because my parents won’t write until next year, Fran and Bob never will, and Alex will write again in May or June.

Boy, do I ever need something to eat now. I think I’ll heat up the last piece of pizza. Tom got a few things from the store early this morning before work.

We’ve got huge plans for tomorrow, but I’ll get into that later.

Later…

I’m going to do a little bit of writing, so as to keep myself awake a little longer.

About an hour ago - boy did I have a big scare. I was watching TV when all of a sudden – boom! I asked myself…was that a gun? A firecracker? It even popped the mailbox open. I called 911, then eventually I looked out front. I saw nothing and the dispatcher said a transformer could’ve blown.

After we hung up, people outside were talking about it and two guys driving by in a car asked me if I knew anything. Then a female cop that looked like a lesbian came to the door. She was a better-looking version of Linda the cab driver back in Springfield. She wasn’t the ugliest, but no one I’d ever sleep with. She was nice, though. She at first asked if I knew any drug dealers around cuz maybe a drug lab blew up, but it turns out that someone blew up the dumpster in the alley behind the houses across the street. Boy, if we lived over there, or they blew up ours in our alley while I was out back there, I’d most certainly be deaf.

No mail for today.

Tomorrow we’re going to start working on the kitchen, but I’ll put off writing about that one till tomorrow.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1994 I got up at 1 AM and Andy left a message saying he wants his messages taped. He got the same message I got. US West says that this Sunday from midnight - 9 AM, the VM will be shut down so we can’t get our messages and no one can leave us messages, either. I wonder what the hell they are doing this time? They better not fuck up the system, though, or bump off the stutter dial tone that tells us we have messages.

Now, I’m going to go and continue watching my shows. I’m so fucking hungry too, but there’s hardly any food.

Later…

Well, I managed to scrounge up a hamburger and I had a bowl of cereal. Later I’ll make pork chops.

I taped Andy’s messages, called in my refills and scheduled an appointment for a consultation on a hysterectomy.

Boy, do I feel mixed emotions. When I hung up I felt a sense of depression and fear, but I know I’m doing the right thing. The thought of being held up in the hospital is scary, though, and I don’t want to burden Tom. I hope those scary stories of depression aren’t true, but everyone’s different. It won’t hurt to at least get information. I think it’ll be a worthy investment for the years to come. I can’t keep dealing with PMS and periods. Well, I could, but I sure don’t want to. Also, I can be able to go from 100% sure I can’t and won’t have kids to 200% sure. I hope it’ll curb my sexual appetite, too.

Later…

I almost chickened out several times and called to cancel my appointment, so I’m just trying not to think about it for now.

I am absolutely looking forward to checking out those quit-smoking sessions next week. I can’t wait.

I’m also looking forward to hanging in the sun out back in about an hour. It’s boring, though.

Tom warned me that I should stop blasting my music, but that’s the only way I really enjoy it and can get into it. Turning it down seems as impossible as my growing another foot taller. He says my hearing sucks. Nah, I don’t think so. It’s just so-so, but yes, it does suck when there’s background noise, like in a restaurant.

Oh! I’ve been meaning to write this in but I keep forgetting. God answered another prayer for me. For a couple of months now, the dog across the street has been gone. Yeah! I love it! It’s so much quieter and more peaceful when I’m in the living room with no TV or music on and especially when I’ve got the door open. The dog next door is so much quieter, the kids aren’t out very often, gone is the dog across the street and gone is the heavy metal band! Thank you, God! You did hear my prayers, after all. Now, please help me quit smoking for good.

I’m out back by the side of the pool now and yes, it’s going to be a warm one. It already feels warm and it’s still early. Where’s the cloudiness they predicted, though? I like it when it’s cloudy so the sun doesn’t kill my eyes.

Later…

Well, I did get some color and this is the warmest day so far this year that I remember of. If I stayed out much longer I’d definitely fry. Tom’s right. I have to do it little by little.

Damn! I just noticed my $300 check here that Tom forgot. He was to cash it at lunch.

So, anyway, I have the door open and the fans on to circulate the air. It’s sooooooooo beautiful. And Tammy’s freezing with 3’ of snow. Ha, ha, ha!!

What other little tidbits of news can I tell? Let’s see… I showered and did my hair. I need more shampoo. My legs are a little hairy, but I don’t feel like solving that problem now.

I watched parts of some talk shows and Charlie’s Angels.

The sink’s clogged up once again.

I hope the mailman isn’t too long in coming and that I get a letter from Kim with more information. Getting one from Bob is just wishful thinking and dreaming, I suppose.

Just took an Ibuprofen for a slight headache. Luckily that stuff is cheap and doesn’t cause any side effects to have to deal with.

I worked out a little and I should do more.

I’m 10 days away from my next period, so now is when I’m going to start to bloat out.

I haven’t done any wall art lately, but I will sooner or later. All the things I do have their phases. I have to think of new ideas and add more variety to the flowers. Being just your average artist, though, that’s not always such an easy thing.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994 Tom’s in the shower now and soon he’ll be gone for work.

Yesterday was a beautiful day and I laid out and got some color.

When I got up at 10:00 last night I watched the Grammy Awards I taped. Gloria won for her album Mi Tierra and she looked good. Her hair’s growing back, but when I saw her on Larry King she looked great. I loved how she had her hair straighter and it made her look younger, too.

When I woke up my stomach was fine, thankfully. It sure is weird though, how I get that for a few days every now and then.

I typed up 5 letters, too. To my parents, Tammy and the girls.

Almost an hour ago, Tom and I went to Circle K. We got something to eat and drink and I got cigarettes.

Speaking of cigarettes, well, it’s hard to keep a positive outlook when you’ve tried several methods of quitting and they all failed. However, I’m going to call the American Cancer Society and see what they say.

I’m also going to call my doctor’s office to see if there’s any way I can get a hysterectomy. I want to at least get information. I know it’s not elective surgery, as Tom said, but I’ve seen several news documents on women who had it done when they never needed it. Doctors will do anything to make a buck. I know this firsthand. I know some women have claimed to have horrible side effects, and Tom’s sister does too, but every woman’s different. I just don’t think it’s fair for me to have periods when I’ll never have a kid, even if I weren’t sterile.

It’s going to be another gorgeous day, so, I can’t wait to go out.

Later…

I have excellent news. First of all, it looks like I can probably get a hysterectomy done and paid for. I called my doctor’s office and they said I could either go there or to my GYN (guess that would be Dr. Kolnick) for a consultation. I guess the state would cover it cuz it’s considered sterilization. I’ll talk to Tom and perhaps we can check it out. Maybe after April, cuz this is when he thinks we can go to Disneyland.

Now here’s the best news of the day. I called the American Cancer Society and every other month they have 4 quit-smoking classes free of charge! They begin at 6:30 and run for 1-1½ hours. The next 4 classes are on the 8th, 10th, 15th and 17th and I’m really looking forward to giving it a shot.

Hey, it’s noon Eastern time now, so I want to go try calling that girl Minnie. Hope she and everyone else is thrilled at the fact that they’re in for yet another killer snowstorm! Hee hee!

Later…

It sure is beautiful out and I did lay out some, but it’s just so boring. Especially with not being able to swim. The only thing I miss about apartments is that their pools and Jacuzzis are heated year-round. I did get a little more color, so I won’t bitch about that.

I tried calling Minnie, but there was no answer. I’ll go try again.

Just got another letter from Kim. There was no article in it and this letter also sounds as if she had yet to find out about Bob.

I finally got in touch with Minnie, but she didn’t tell me anything I don’t already know. She couldn’t give me his address.

Later…

I just watched this talk show all about teenage girls in gangs. How sad, sick and disgusting.

I set the VCR to record A Current Affair, Unsolved Mysteries, Law & Order and Now. I really paid close attention as I was programming it, so if it doesn’t come out, I won’t be to blame.

Andy’s off tomorrow, so we’ll probably gab on the phone with one another at some point.

I’m pretty bushed now, so I’m going to hit the sack.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994 Tom’s address labels did come yesterday and he really likes them.

I got up at 8 PM and he’d been home for an hour. He made us Hamburger Helper. Then he watched Star Trek and I took a bath. Then he licked my pussy and we did laundry. At 11 PM he went to bed.

I idiotically taped the wrong fucking channel. I went to record a movie on channel 12 but got fucking Murphy Brown and some other bullshit on channel 10 instead.

I took some graph paper Tom gave me and made two envelopes. One to Kim and one to Fran. I colored in the squares. I typed Kim a letter and tomorrow I’ll probably get a letter from her.

I updated my checkbook. This month I’ll be getting $446 with SSI and SS combined. I got Tom’s $300 check ready. Also, I wrote a check for $10.79 for my monthly sewing machine payment, $34 for 100 stamped envelopes, and $22.80 for 3 new styles of labels. They’re very hard to describe, so when I do get them, I’ll stick them in here. Or the next book, more likely. Cuz they won’t arrive till the middle of this month and by then I very well oughta be in journal #60!

Now I need some coffee.

Later…

I just spent the last hour or so making up 5 more envelopes with really cool patterns. I did one for my parents, Tammy, Lisa, Becky and Sarah.

My stomach’s driving me absolutely nuts now.

Anyway, Tom got up at 8:00 and then he did the bills. He wrote out the checks and I stuck them in their envelopes, stuck the stamps on and his address labels.

He made us some bacon and he had French toast.

Well, I’ve figured out in my mind the 4 different fonts I’ll use for Tammy and the girls. I’ll use Bodacious for Tammy, Harquil for Lisa, postscript for Becky, and Rounders for Sarah.

0 notes

helenaheissner · 11 months ago

Text

Magical Girl Exorcist Squad (Issue #11: Dragons on the Winds of Morning)

Thursday night inched ever-closer to Friday morning as the girls soared through the sky. The wind wrapped around Debbi’s lithe form, the thin layer of magic over her skin staving off incoming bugs and birds and dulling the chill of the night air. The shoreline was a few miles to the east, while below them, Boston sprawled north and south and west, city lights reaching up into the sky and blotting out the stars above. The darkness was cut through by a crescent moon, as if the heavens themselves were winking at the girls while they scoured the town in search of a lead. They’d patrolled Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and found exactly nothing. Granted, they weren’t entirely sure what they were looking for, but subtlety wasn’t exactly something they were used to from their enemies.

Heather flew directly to the right of her, green mini-dress fluttering around the pinnacle of her toned thighs. Debbi shook her head- she could be horny later, right now they were working. Living with Heather the past few days had certainly put some things into perspective- namely that Debbi was definitely crushing on her best friend, and that Heather quite sincerely was not aware of that fact. If anything, conversations they’d had indicated Heather assumed Debbi was straighter than a one hundred and eighty degree angle. Debbi understood how her friend had gotten that impression- there were literally posters of shirtless male rappers all over her dorm room wall along with commissioned fanart of Atom Smasher lifting comically oversized weights while shirtless and gigantic- not to mention the fact that she’d literally never dated a girl before and thus didn’t have the same back-catalog of ex-girlfriend stories Heather did. But it still sucked. Maybe there was a way to indicate it- casually mentioning finding a girl she found attractive just to put the idea that she was bisexual out there for Heather to take as she wanted.

“Penny for your thoughts?” came the voice to the right of her, the wind warping it and stretching out syllables and punctuations, lengthening the tone.

Debbi scanned the skies for a girl to comment on the hotness of. Nicole was ahead of them, her long, tan legs wrapped awkwardly around her broomstick as she matched pace with Cass at the head of the pack. They were easily the two fastest fliers, and had been having unspoken races most of the week. Nicole wasn’t really Debbi’s type when it came to the fairer sex, but she was the only girl in eyeshot who wasn’t Debbi’s sister. “Nicole has gotten wicked hot,” Debbi intoned, raising an eyebrow and nodding appreciatively.

Silence, but for the drilling of the wind as they flew through it.

“Really, no comments whatso- oh my God, Amy!” Debbi said, finally tilting her head to notice her big sister had taken Heather’s place next to her. And that her sister’s jaw was dropped and her face was red and her eyes were bulging wide. “Um… You didn’t hear that?” Debbi said.

“No, no I definitely did,” Amy said, still stunned. “I, uh, didn’t know you felt that way about her.”

“I don’t!” Debbi said hurriedly.

“Oh thank God,” Amy put a hand on her chest, breathing in a sharp sigh of relief. “Oh thank fucking God.”

Debbi cocked her head to the side. “Um… What?”

“What?!” Amy said.

“You seem very happy to hear that,” Debbi said, squinting. No. No, it couldn’t be. There was no way. It would make no sense. It would be terrible for both of them. And besides, Amy was straight…

… Which is exactly what Heather thinks about me, and that’s not exactly true.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Amy said.

“Well too late, we already are,” Debbi said, slowing her broomstick. Amy matched her speed, and they gradually drifted to the caboose of their flock. Heather flew in the middle; ahead of her was Nicole and Cass, careening the skies like pink and red comets.

“Fine,” Amy said, “But you have to go first. Fair is fair.”

“Ugh. I hate you.”

“No you don’t,” Amy rolled her eyes.

“No, I don’t,” Debbi admitted. “But you can’t tell anyone this.”

“I won’t,” Amy said.

“I mean it, Amanda,” Debbi said, hoping the full-name usage would indicate the necessity of that promise.

“I understand, Deborah,” Amy said, rolling her eyes again. God, does she always have to… No, no that’s not important right now. What’s important is telling the truth.

“I have feelings for Heather,” Debbi said, the words escaping her lips and taking flight alongside her.

“Yeah, I know,” Amy said.

“You’re not even going to bat an eyelash?” Debbi said.

“I mean I’ve asked you point blank before if that was the case, and you said ‘no’, so I let it slide. But to be perfectly frank, I didn’t entirely believe you.”

“Are you going to rub it in now?” Debbi glowered.

“No,” Amy said. “But I will point out that back in high school, you spent a lot of practice time leering at the other cheerleaders.”

“Oh God you noticed that?!” Debbi said, a lump forming in her throat.

“Yeah, sis, I did. Especially that time Alanna Matthews helped you practice your tumbling-”

“Please, STAHP!” Debbi groaned.

“Fair enough. Lemme guess what’s happening here, then: you were putting out feelers, trying to let Heather know you might be into her by first cluing her into the fact that you secretly go both ways?”

“I mean, it’s clearly not a secret,” Debbi grimaced.

“It is to her. Now, I’m going to put forth a hypothesis, though: if you start telling Heather how breathtakingly sexy Nicole is, Heather is just going to think you’re into Nicole. And knowing what a horndog she is, her reaction would probably be something like, ‘hey, I don’t blame ya’, I’d like to put those buns on the grill.’”

“That… That makes sense,” Debbi said, head drooped as she fixated on the city passing by below her broom, strands of natural hair tumbling out of her pointy hat and whipping about in front of her eyes. “Thanks, sis.”

“No problem, sis,” Amy beamed.

“I find your word choice regarding Nicole interesting, however,” Debbi said, her face morphing into a shit-eating grin. “Breathtakingly sexy’, huh?”

Amy groaned louder than the wind tunnel around them. “I don’t suppose you’ll accept that I don’t remember saying that?”

“No, no I won’t.”

“Oh, come on-”

“Don’t you ‘oh come on’ me. I told you about my weird quasi-closeted sapphic problems, you have to tell me about yours.”

“Ugghhhhhhhh-”

“Amy, seriously. I’m not asking you to do anything but answer me honestly, the same as I did for you: how do you feel about her?”

Amy was silent a moment before finally saying, “Nicole and I are just friends and roommates-”

“As are Heather and I,” Debbi said.

“You didn’t let me finish. Nicole and I are friends by some miracle, even though I was a complete bitch to her at first. That’s all. Besides, I have a boyfriend.”

“That’s besides the point,” Debbi said.

“How? How is that besides the point? I’m taken, and Nicole and I are-”

“Because first of all, Aidan is a jackass. And an idiot. And he’s at least as transphobic presently as you were two weeks ago, if not more-”

“And?”

“And you’re my sister so I’m generally inclined to say you deserve better than that. And second of all, that’s not what I’m asking. How do you feel about Nicole?”

“... I don’t like girls,” Amy said, breaking off eye contact and staring directly ahead. At Nicole and her shapely legs, no less.

“Again, not what I’m asking,” Debbi said.

“Nicole is a girl,” Amy said firmly. “And I have accepted that SHE is a GIRL. I was wrong and you all were right and trans people are valid. But that means I can’t like her like that, because I don’t like girls.”

Debbi thought to herself, Should I mention that I saw her checking out the other cheerleaders during practice a few times too?

And then an explosion shook the sky over the harbor.

“Oh thank God,” Amy said.

Debbi shot her a dirty look.

Amy winced. “Sorry.”

“Let’s just get to work- we can talk about this more later.”

“Okay.”

Off they flew into battle at the shoreline of Boston Harbor, where a dragon awaited them. An actual, honest to God, motherfucking dragon. Its scales were white as moonlight, its eyes angry crimson pools of solid light, its fangs razor-sharp and multi-rowed, its neck that of a brachiosaur. It was the size of a two-story house, with a wingspan that cast shadows across the harbor and a tail that broke against the waves and sunk boats. It was quadrupedal, with long black claws punctuating the end of each digit. It opened its mouth and roared, releasing a jet of fire into the air that scattered their party of five before fading away into the sky and leaving behind a thick layer of smoke.

Debbi and her sister caught up to the others as they hovered in the air a hundred feet above the dragon.

“We need a plan,” Nicole said. “We can’t just charge into this one like we normally do.”

“Agreed,” Heather said. “So what’s the plan?”

Nicole. “Uh…”

“Nicole, did you say we need a plan without actually having a plan?” Heather said.

“... Yes,” Nicole said sheepishly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong- that’s a gosh darned dragon down there. I don’t know if an exorcism punch will work on that thing. Have you guys dealt with dragons before?”

“It’s a new one as far as I’m concerned,” Cass said. “Though my visions did give some indication of these things existing. Guess we finally found a lead.”

“Anything salient in your visions that can help us deal with this thing?” Heather asked.

“No, just that there are apparently supposed to be Dragonslayers who deal with these things.”

“Well I don’t see any Dragonslayers around here- looks like we’ll have to pinch-hit.”

“So it seems,” Cass said. “But I’m not great at coming up with plans either.”

Debbi sighed. Time to go back to a mental place she wasn’t very fond of, a corner of her mind where the walls were covered in spikes. “We need to keep this thing away from the city. That’s the important part here. I don’t see any gills, so it’s probably an air-breather. Best way to play this is by tripping it up and drowning it. Cass, get underneath the thing and get it as far off the ground as possible. Nicole, cover Cass- this will probably be a serious strain on her, so she’s gonna need healing as she goes. Heather, stand at the ready- I’m gonna give you a signal, and when I do, aim full-throttle for the dragon’s chest and punch it as hard as you possibly can.”

The others all looked at Debbi incredulously. Amy, however, gave a smile that revealed a hint of pride. “What about me?” her big sister asked.

“Remember the homecoming game my sophomore year?” Debbi grinned.

Amy’s eyes lit up like an expanse of stars. “Hell yes.”

“How’s your front hurdler?” Debbi asked.

“Little rusty, but I think I can manage.”

“Then let’s do this- GO TEAM!”

“Right!” the other three said, still stunned but ready for action nonetheless.

They all flew into their respective positions and got to work.

***

Winona sat under a fuzzy brown blanket atop her loveseat, clad in her light blue floral pajamas, sipping a piping cup of hard hot cocoa and reading her Squirrel Girl trade paperback, flanked on both sides by her black-furred hellhounds the size of motorcycles. Her living room was carpeted crimson, with white wallpaper and a flat screen television on the wall and an old wooden coffee table in the center. To her left was the bathroom, out of which Aidan wandered clad in only a towel. His hair was wet, and he was scrolling his phone with his free hand. “Whatcha lookin’ at, handsome?” Winona asked.

“News headline,” the cambion said. “At Boston Harbor- here there be dragons.”

Winona put down her comic and her drink, but made sure not to stir her sleeping hellhounds. “Wait, for serious? Literal dragons?”

“A dragon, singular,” Aidan said. “Those haven’t shown up on earth in a long time, yeah?”

“Not since before the Flood,” Winona said. “We’ll have to capitalize on this.”

“How?” Aidan asked, sitting next to her on the couch.

“There’s plenty of shipwrecks around these parts, still underwater, yeah?”

Aidan’s eyebrows shot up with recognition. He gave her a peck on the lips- what a sweet boy. “Baby, I love the way you think.”

“Mmmm, I do too. Let’s set one of our reserves loose, see if we can wreak some unchecked havoc. I’m thinking Lester.”

“Ooh, good choice. Lester’s great at unchecked havoc.”

“Amen to that,” Winona said, her eyes humming with blue light. “Plenty of dead bodies, plenty of Soul Energy to harvest. If we’re really lucky, one of the girls will bite it and we’ll be able to speed things along.”

“I hope it’s Amy,” Aidan said. “God, that bitch is annoying. I don’t know how much longer I can maintain this ‘clueless idiot boyfriend’ routine when she just whines and puts her foot in her mouth every waking minute. I mean seriously, I’m gonna die of terminal cringe if I have to keep this up for more than another week or two.”

“I know, I know,” Winona said, giving her lover a comforting pat on the shoulder. “As I’ve said before though, the plan will work better if Cass and Amy are alive. At least for the time being. The others, though… They’re expendable.”

“Fair enough. Just please tell me I won’t have to keep this act up too much longer.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, baby,” Winona said, kissing her way up Aidan’s neck. “That stupid slut will get what’s coming to her real soon.”

***

When Cass and Nicole were beneath the belly of the beast, and Heather was lined up like a missile preparing to launch, Debbi and Amy flew in close.

The beast was a raging inferno of scales and fire, starlight shimmering off of it. It snapped its jaws at them, and Debbi responded by unleashing the full force of her powers.

When she’d first become a Magical Girl, Debbi had thought to herself, I can shoot beams of light? Seriously? Just regular light? Not even hard light- I can’t even be Green Lantern, I have to be freaking Sun Boy from Legion of Superheroes?! However, two years worth of experience had taught her that weaponized high beams had more applicability than she’d initially thought.

Purple light surged through her chest, and turned golden in her hands. Spotlights ruptured from both her hands, beams of blinding radiance launched directly into the dragon’s face. It hissed, roared, snarled, swung about with his claws. When the light faded, its eyes were fogged over, thoroughly fried.

“Nice!” Amy said.

“I know!” Debbi smirked. “Now cover its face in shadows- I don’t know if that thing has any sort of healing factor, but it seems like something that does. We need to keep this dragon blind if we want to maintain advantage.”

“Okay! See, this is why you should’ve been cheer captain-”

“Amy, focus!” Debbi snapped. They were NOT have that conversation again, especially not now of all times.

“Right!”

Amy had never commented on how she felt about her own shadow-weaving powers. On some level it was fitting that they’d come in a set with Debbi’s, but for a whole year there, there’d been no way for her to know that. However, that didn’t diminish the fact that her big sister was very, very good at working with what she had.

A cabinet of shadows closed shut around the dragon’s head, locking it into a bubble of darkness. It was an impenetrable cocoon of pure midnight, through which absolutely nothing was visible. Amy grinned maniacally, and a familiar rush of adrenaline pumped through Debbi as well. They flew ever closer to the convulsing beast, and readied themselves for a bumpy landing.

***

Nicole floated behind Cass as they approached the massive silver tree trunk that was the dragon’s leg. A dragon. She couldn’t believe it- an honest to goodness dragon! This was insane! This was incredible! This was-

The dragon kicked, and Cass and Nicole dodged, but the house behind them was not so lucky. It was smashed to pieces, and the cries of injured civilians littered the night air.

Bad. This is very, very bad. People are getting hurt and you need to take this seriously, young lady! Nicole chastised herself.

She and Cass plunged deeper into the shadow underneath the dragon. It blotted out the sky, a rough and jagged dome over a coastal block. Cass placed herself directly in the center, and she held up her hands. “You ready?” she asked.

“Probably not,” Nicole admitted as shame and anxiety speared her chest. “Are you?”

“Nope,” Cass said. She exhaled.

She screamed. And screamed and screamed and screamed, and the dragon did not budge an inch from the ground.

That was when Nicole heard a crack, heard Cass’ screams mutate from ones of defiance to howls of agony. Her elbows buckled and her arms fell to her sides.

Nicole flew up next to her. “Your arms?”

“My arms,” Cass gritted her teeth.

“Then hold still.”

Cass screamed further as Nicole channeled healing light into her arms, bones knitting back together. Cass raised her hands as soon as she was able to, pushing against the dragon while Nicole continued to heal her. That was when the dragon rose a half inch from the ground.

Nicole said, “What the-”

“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!” Cass said, a manic edge to her voice.

Nicole obliged, funneling further and further pink light into her friend. “Happy to help!”

The dragon rose, and rose, and rose, and Cass started to laugh. Her arms cracked and splintered the harder she pushed, but Nicole healed her, and healed her, and healed her. Nicole borrowed energy from deep within her, and gave it all to Cass. The younger Magical Girl’s telekinetic power grew exponentially with each passing second, healing and telekinesis together removing the dragon from the ground.

***

Debbi and Amy had both gotten into the habit of keeping switchblades with them when they were out patrolling. Debbi figured it never hurt to plan ahead. Right now, that was paying dividends.

She took the left wing, Amy the right. Both plunged their knives into soft, scaly tissue. It was difficult- the razor sharp blade only pricked the top layer, but Debbi stabbed, and stabbed, and stabbed, until black blood poured out of the rampaging monster. The wings swung about, forcing the girls into evasive maneuvers midair, but every time, Debbi got in close once more and stabbed, and stabbed, and stabbed. Amy followed her lead, dodging and swerving to avoid getting slammed by a massive sheet of white scales.

The dragon bled, and bled, and bled.

Finally, when its wings were clipped and its flailing body raised from the ground, Debbi reached up a hand to the sky and shot a bolt of light that exploded like a flare across the darkened sky.

Heather launched across the night and slammed her fist into the dragon’s chest. Amy’s shadow cabinet dissolved around the dragon’s head, and the damage to its eyes had evidently healed as it turned its head and stared directly at Debbi and Amy.

Debbi pointed her finger forward, and Amy followed her lead. They flew at the dragon’s head as it was pushed towards them. A swipe from a mangled wing knocked both their brooms out from under them, but a front hurdler jump carried them through the air past the skull. Both of them dug their knives through the dragon’s neck as they fell, and then the empty air below them was all that remained as the dragon barreled back towards the harbor.

Debbi did flips through the air as she fell, and fell, and fell. She could wait for her broomstick to re-materialized, but that would take the fun out of this. The wind around her face and hair, the joy of the near-perpetual motion- she’d missed this. God, she had missed this. She fell until Heather caught her in her strong arms, and when Debbi looked up at her friend bridal-carrying her to the ground, the depth of her feelings for her finally registered.

***

As the dragon slammed back into the ocean, bruised and bloody, Amy fell through the air without her broomstick. Heather caught Debbi. Cass was too small and too tired to do the same for Amy, so Nicole rose to the task. Amy’s hourglass body landed in Nicole’s toned arms, fitting snugly and comfortably as Amy wrapped her own arms around Nicole’s neck. The girl looked up at Nicole with an awe-struck, wide-eyed expression, breathing heavily and not blinking even once.

A pang of raw emotion, hot and cold simultaneously, pleasurable and painful in equal measure, ripped through Nicole’s soul. Her heart was melting and breaking at the same time. Holding this girl, saving her, touching her- she wanted it, and yet she hated it, and she hated herself for wanting it. It was as if a love poem were stuck in her throat like so many shards of broken glass.

“Thank you,” was all Amy said as Nicole lowered them to the ground.

Nicole gulped, and said, “Can you stand?”

She nodded, still smiling, stars still in her eyes. God, she had such a pretty smile. And such an ugly soul, Nicole thought.

Nicole set Amy down on her feet, ears twitching as cries of anguish sang through the night. She found the sources amongst the shattered houses and buildings on land and brutalized boats on the shore. “We’ve gotta help them,” Nicole said. She started flying over to the nearest source of pained cries, but as she did, the surface of the water ruptured as the dragon exploded back out into the night air. And this time, it had company.

A wooden ship, its deck half-shrapnel and its sails tattered, surging with black fire out of the maw-like hole in its mast, rose from the depths below. It radiated demonic essence, a pure and unquenchable hunger for death and destruction.

“Thought that was too easy,” Cass said behind her, rubbing her arms as she hobbled over to Nicole. Nicole’s healing had somehow supercharged Cass telekinesis, but the freshman was clearly exhausted- she had slumped shoulders, arms practically hanging limp, and the bags beneath her eyes had somehow doubled in size in the past twenty minutes.

The dragon was still bleeding from the neck and wings, but its fangs and claws worked just fine as it tore into the ship. The dragon roared as it dug into the ship-monster’s wooden body, and cried with pain as the black hellfire burned its limbs. The dragon fired back with its own flames, and a black and red beam struggle ensued on the shore.

“Okay,” Debbi said. “New plan.”

“Oh?” Heather said. “What’s that? Is now the part where we charge?”

“Tempting, really tempting,” Debbi said, eyes wide with panic. “But no. Cass, how are you holding up?”

“Barely,” Cass said. “I only moved that monster when Nicole’s healing sent my powers into overdrive.”

“Is that a thing?” Heather said, looking at Nicole.

“Apparently,” Nicole said, not able to look away from the kaiju struggle playing out before her eyes.

“Well that’s good to hear, because we’re gonna need that to make this work,” Debbi said. Nicole saw the gears turning behind her friend’s eyes- she was good at this kind of lateral thinking. It made it all the more jarring when she’d previously preferred the Leeroy Jenkins maneuver as a strategy, but hey, people contained multitudes.

The five of them all flew out into the water, the temperature rising around them rapidly as fingers of steam reached out of the trembling surface.

Cass went left, Nicole flanking her. Nicole’s lungs were starting to hurt, her arms starting to throb as she grabbed Cass’ wrist and channeled healing light into her, but she kept going. However much this wore her out, there were people in danger on the shore, people who she needed to get back to so she could heal them. And Cass needed her right now- nothing else mattered. Not her exhaustion, not her confusion, nothing.

Water swelled up around the dragon, Cass and Nicole’s combined might erecting hydro-walls as another beam of blinding light shot towards the beast and blinded it once more. Cass’ chest heaved and Nicole’s head throbbed as the water entrapped the dragon and began dragging it beneath the surface. Once it was totally submerged, Cass lowered her hands and screamed as she forced the dragon as far beneath the water as possible.

Amy and Heather flew towards the demon-ship as it voyaged to the shore. They got in close, dodging jets of hellfire all around them. Nicole turned around to join the chase, but stopped when Cass fell off her broom. Nicole flew down to grab the younger girl, but Debbi beat her there. “Go help Amy and Heather!” Debbi said. “I’ll take care of Cass for right now!”

“Okay,” Nicole said. This was bad- this was very, very bad. With Cass out of commission, they were down their heaviest hitter. Nicole gritted her teeth- no time for fear, no time for apprehension. She had to get through this; she had to help her friends to survive this, and she had to help the civilians on the shore pinned beneath wreckage and bloodied by the dragon. It didn’t matter how Nicole felt, and it didn’t matter if her skull was pounding and her lungs were sore. What mattered was everyone else who would be hurt or killed if Nicole couldn’t rise to the occasion. She wouldn’t let that happen.

She soared through the sky as the demon-ship made landfall, gliding over the surface and ramming directly through buildings. Civilians screamed as hellfire bloomed all around them. Nicole caught up to the other girls, and they began circling the demon ship, looking for an entrance. Nicole flew for its bow, but a ribbon of hellfire nearly burned her, Amy pulling her out of the way at the last minute. Hellfire streamed out from the boat like black wind, searing all that it touched.

“We need a distraction,” Nicole said.

“How do we distract a boat?” Amy asked.

Nicole smirked. “By raiding it.”

“Um, what?”

“Heather, come in after me- I’m gonna try something.”

“Is it insane?” Heather asked.

“Yes, but after the flying shark monster, I think this will work!”

“You think it will work?!” Amy balked.

Nicole summoned as much healing light as she could and engulfed herself in it. It coated every inch of her as she launched herself at the boat. The hellfire stung her as her powers replenished her, until she boarded the boat and slammed into it. The boat shook, masts flying at her, sails wrapping around her legs and squeezing, but she summoned white light and healing light in equal measure until it poured from every inch of her form. She burned, her skin melting and healing in equal time. Heather fell from the sky and joined her, burying her glowing white fist in the ship’s deck as the holy light burned at the demon. Amy joined them after that, then Debbi, until finally, a white light draped the entirety of the vessel and the demon fled in a flurry of black smoke.

The boat fell to pieces, and when it was done, only wood chips remained.

Nicole was on her knees, her body throbbing with pain as if she’d just run a marathon atop hot coals during a hurricane. Burns and lacerations covered her body, but they faded as bolts of pink light shot out of her until finally she felt like herself again. “Is everyone okay?” she asked. “Anyone need healing?”

Debbi and Heather said no, and Amy sat there silently. Nicole went over to the barely-conscious Cass, but the younger girl shook her head. “I’m fine. Just need rest.”

“Okay,” Nicole said quietly. “Then if you’ll excuse me.”

Nicole walked over to the nearest civilian, an elderly woman whose skin had nearly all burned off, and said, “Ma’am, may I touch you?”

The old woman nodded, and Nicole healed her.

Then she walked over to the next person, a little boy clutching his bloody eye, and she healed him.

Then a middle-aged man who’s leg had been crushed under a fallen building.

Then a teenage girl whose stomach had been sliced open by a sheet of glass.

Then an old man who’d crawled to the shore half-drowned.

Then another, and another, and another. Nicole healed them all, even as the pain in her own body tripled with each person she helped.

Amy joined her, setting up a station for the injured to come up to them. She tended to the minor injuries, while those with more major ones were sent to Nicole and given the Pink Healing Light treatment. By the end of it, it wasn’t Thursday night anymore. It wasn’t even Friday morning, but early Friday afternoon.

Finally, it was over, and Nicole sat there on the ground groping for breath. Amy beamed at her, not saying a word, but not taking her eyes off of her either. Nicole maintained eye contact for a second before the love poem made of shrapnel got caught in her throat once more. She shook her head, and then found a lightness running through the interior of her cranium as the ground rushed up to meet her.

***

Debbi sat in a church pew, staring up at the crucifix, when Father Gonzalez sat down next to her.

“How are Cassandra and Nicole?” the priest asked.

“Cass is sleeping it off back in her dorm,” Debbi said. “Amy got Nicole home so she could do the same. How’s the situation in the basement?”

“We’re managing,” Gonzalez said. “The Bishop still hasn’t broken free yet.”

“You really think he can pull that off?” Debbi said.

“He’s the most stubborn and pious individual I’ve ever met,” Gonzalez said.

“Has it ever happened before?”

“I’ve seen it happen once,” Gonzalez said. “In San Jose, ten years ago.”

“Okay, fair enough. That wasn’t really what I wanted to talk to you about anyway.”

“Then what did you want to talk about, Deborah?” Gonzalez said.

“Cass’ vision mentioned dragons,” Debbi said, “And doesn’t the Book of Revelations specifically mention a dragon and a beast from the sea?”

“Yes, but the dragon is red, and has seven heads, each with a crown,” Gonzalez said.

“Fair point,” Debbi said. “Still, I’m getting a bit concerned about the scope of what we’re dealing with. So far, we’ve just been fighting random demons when they infest objects or possess people. And we’ve assumed that the Devil has been sending them to… I dunno, sow chaos, I guess. But Cass’ vision said the throne of Hell was empty. And while interpreting these things literally seems like a slippery slope… That dragon and that ghost ship attacked each other. The dragon showed up first, and there were no demons in it. I gotta wonder if the demon ship was part of a power play, and if someone or something is trying to take over Hell for itself.”

“It’s certainly possible,” Gonzalez said, stroking his goatee. “That raises the question, though: if the throne of hell is vacant, where did Satan go?”

“I don’t know,” Debbi said. “But I’m determined to find out.”

“Good,” Gonzalez said. “I always thought you had the most qualifications of the team, Deborah. Glad you’re living up to it by showing initiative.”

She furrowed her brow. “Qualifications for what?”

“Leadership,” Gonzalez said.

“No,” Debbi replied. “That’s not me. Trust me, it’s just not.”

Gonzalez smiled knowingly, which was infuriating yet also flattering. “If you say so, Mija. Now go get some rest- you had a busy day.”

And with that, he got up and went back into the basement. Debbi sat there a moment, collecting her thoughts. The last time she’d tried to be a leader of anything had gone badly, but then again, that had been in a completely different context with vastly lower stakes. But the very thought of it still made her stomach turn and her fists ball up. Tomorrow, she thought, think about this tomorrow. Today you need to rest. You slayed a dragon- that’s enough for one day.

She got up and left. Heather stood waiting for her outside, clad in a heavy tan overcoat buttoned all the way up, and Debbi’s heart began tumbling. Heather catching her as she’d fallen had been… Eye-opening, to say the least.

“Hey,” Heather said.

“Hi,” Debbi replied.

“Walk you home?”

“I mean you’re living there too right now, so why not?” Debbi said with a smile she strongly suspected was of the dopey variety.

“I was wondering something else,” Heather said.

Debbi gulped. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“Could I hold your hand?”

Debbi short-circuited, stopping in place as the proverbial hamster wheel inside her mind spun off its axle.

“It’s fine if not,” Heather said. “It’s just when I caught you earlier, the way you looked at me, it… It made me wonder if you maybe wanted to be more than just friends?”

Debbi gulped again, and then nodded furiously.

The anxiety on Heather’s face melted away like ice on a hot summer’s day. She reached out her hand and gripped Debbi’s, their fingers interlocking as they walked home together for a night of recovery.

***

“How much Soul Energy did we manage to capture?” Aidan asked Winona as he laid naked on her bedroom floor.

Winona, clad in only a flowery yellow kimono, traipsed across the floor holding a goat’s skull with the words ‘for Azazel’ carved onto the forehead. Black light flowed from the eyes and nostrils. “Not as much as I’d hoped, but a decent amount. Nicole and Amy wound up putting a lot of broken things back together today after the fight ended- I didn’t really expect that, to be honest.”

“She keeps getting in the way,” Aidan grunted as she ran a hand through his bountiful garden of chest hair.

“Which one?” Winona smirked.

“Both,” Aidan sneered. “As we’ve established, Amy is a pain in the ass on a good day. And I know we were waiting for a fifth one to show up, but Nicole’s healing powers are gonna make our work a lot harder.”

“You’re right,” Winona said, pacing up and down, up and down, never stopping, running her fingers over the scapegoat’s skull. The sensation brought peace to her boisterous mind. “It does. Fewer deaths mean less Soul Energy to harvest, and if she can heal her teammates, then draining them for their power becomes harder as well. She poses a unique challenge, that one.”

“So how do you wanna play this?” Aidan asked.

“Well, we’ve got enough to heal Veronica and spring her from the clink,” Winona said, drumming her fingers on the skull. “And I hate to keep her and Archie apart for much longer- God, those two are just SO CUTE together I can’t bear to let them be separate- but this will deplete our reserve and set us back a month at least. The only way to deal with it would be to work faster.”

Aidan sat up. “In what regard?”

Winona smiled as she sat on her boyfriend’s lap. “I’ll answer your question with another question: what’s Archie and Veronica’s favorite thing to do for a date?”

Aidan smirked. “Killing spree?”

“Oooh baby, you are so sexy when you’re smart,” Winona said, kissing him. She removed her lips from his and put a finger on his mouth. “But I’m gonna need you to put your clothes back on. We’ve got work to do- I’ll get Archie and we’ll heal Veronica and get her out of jail so they can start their end of things ASAP. You, however, are gonna pay Amy a little visit.”

Aidan said, “Time to mix business with pleasure?”

She put her forehead against his, and the goat’s skull rested between them, cupped in both their hands. “Hell. Yes.”

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