#online friends!!! i’m very happy and excited to be more social with my sweeties :)

[nataliedanovelist]

GF & MvsM - Wanna Talk About Dinos?

This crossover was inevitable. It just works too well. Maybe one day i’ll write a fic about how the folks at Gravity Falls handled the robot-apocalypse. Probably shrugged it off. “Eh. We’ve had worse.” Haha! What if Stan and Ford, cuz they were out sailing, had no clue what happened and when they came back they were like, “Wait, what?”

For now, please enjoy this fic of Aaron making a new friend...

(credit goes to @stephreynaart for her OC Jacob) ~~~~~~~~~~ “Hi, would you like to talk to me about dinosaurs?”

Aaron asked this question more times than he could keep track of, but that wasn’t going to stop him from asking it. It started as a dare from his big sister two years ago, but now it’s a fun hobby. When fifth grade isn’t overwhelming him, scaring him with mountains of homework and horror stories about how hard middle school is going to be, and when he’s run out of YouTube videos to catch up on, he is on the hunt for fellow giant-lizard-lovers like a hungry Ceratosaurus.

“No, okay bye.” But it did get a little tiring to always cross out names and phone-numbers on the phone book with red ink. Hey, a dinosaur of a way to find phone-numbers was appropriate. He read the next number, dialed it, and after a ring or two he asked, “How would you like to talk with me about dinosaurs? No, okay thank you.”

Aaron crossed out another name and sighed, taking a break since he reached the end of a line of numbers. Maybe he should just be grateful for Abbey and accept that no one else wants to talk about the Jurassic Period. Or the Cretaceous Period. Or the Triassic Period. But then a big, old, gray-tinted ad distracted him. He grinned, thinking it would at least be fun to give them a call, and he dialed the number.

Private home phone-numbers were fun, but businesses were also fun! Poor, bored workers would gladly talk to him rather than crabby Karens, and they got paid for it! So Aaron smiled as the phone rang, and he grinned when someone picked up.

“Thanks for calling the Mystery Shack, you’re talking to Mr. Mystery himself! How may I befuddle or bewilder you?”

“Hi! How would you like to talk with me about dinosaurs?”

“Oh, dude! I’d love to, but I’m scheduled for a tour of the Oddity Museum in three minutes.” The man said, and Aaron grinned continuously, because it sounded like Mr. Mystery really wanted to talk with him about dinosaurs. “But hey! Can you hold on for one minute, I think I know a guy!”

“Yeah, sure mister!” And Aaron was greeted by the sound of a catchy jingle about buying t-shirts and mugs and snowglobes. He smiled and wiggled his feet along to the music as he looked outside at the beautiful late-fall afternoon, entertained while he waited.

~~~~~~~~~~

Soos was on the hunt. He planned out the house in his head. Abuelita was taking a nap upstairs, Melody was organizing the upcoming tour, and Stan took Jacob out for ice cream, so he might be…

The owner of the Shack grinned when he stopped at the doorway and saw the man he was looking for, sitting in Stan’s chair, reading a book.

“Uncle Ford!”

The old sailor smiled up at the young man. “Yes, wh-...”

“Do you think you could answer the phone for me? I have a tour and I think this customer’s request is right up your alley.”

“Uh… sure, but w-...”

“Thanks, you’re the best!” And Soos was gone before he could address Ford’s confusion.

Ford was a bit lost, having little to no business with business, but he had learned at this point to trust Soos, so he picked up the phone beside him and was immediately greeted with a sweet, “How would you like to talk with me about dinosaurs?”

Ford grinned and closed his book. “I would love to! All three periods are equally as fascinating to study, but the Triassic contains some of my favorite dinosaurs!”

A young voice gasped on the other line. “Mine, too! Everyone thinks the Jurassic period is so great, and it’s pretty cool, but the Triassic gave us Plateosaurus and the Brachiosaurus!”

“That’s very true! You know, it’s very interesting, maybe depictions don’t include feathers at all, which is a bit frustrating, but perhaps after the news has spread they will incorporate more feathers on merchandise and textbooks.”

“YES! That’s what I wanna do when I grow up, help draw better-accurate dinosaurs!”

~~~~~~~~~~

The phone rang on Sunday. The Shack was closed today, so Stan lazily answered it and was greeted with, “Wanna talk about dinosaurs?”

“Sixer, phone for you!”

Ford ran into the living room, elbowed his twin out of the chair, and took the phone. “Hello again, Aaron! Now, where were we? Right, so Australopithecus. … No, I don’t think… Oh! No, homo habilis was erect, Australopithecus was never fully erect.”

“Maybe he was nervous.” Stan groaned, getting to his feet.

Ford shot him a look as thankfully the young boy on the other end didn’t catch that and happily shared some more fun-facts about homo habilis.

~~~~~~~~~~

While most college students were excited for Spring Break so they could get drunk or lose their virginity, Katie was excited because her family had planned a special secret roadtrip. She was careful to keep up with her family and talk to her parents and brother frequently, but Aaron had a hobby he wasn’t talking about that his parents found out and were thrilled about. Aaron had made another friend.

Rick and Katie did some research and the tourist attraction sounded right up their alley! In the middle of the woods, tons of weird stuff, and a fun roadtrip filled with diners and attractions. They decided to surprise Aaron, and they made up a lie that they would spend Spring Break in California with Katie so she could show her family around San Francisco, when in actuality they would be traveling up the state to the Redwood Highway and see the oddity place, and maybe even allow Aaron to meet his new pen-pal. Or, um, phone-pal.

So after bombarding Katie with hugs the Mitchells threw her luggage into the car and drove off. Aaron turned to Katie and excitingly asked, “So where are we going first? Can we go fix the Golden Gate bridge by painting it gold?”

Katie laughed and ruffled his hair. “Maybe later, right now I wanna show you guys this fun store right outside of town. Here, check out the videos I made for my classes!” And she pulled out some airpods and gave one to Aaron.

“Cool!”

Rick and Linda smirked at each other as they drove north. By the time they reached a little diner in Redding, CA, it was very clear to Aaron that they weren’t in San Francisco anymore. “Come on, just tell me where we’re going!” The boy begged as he fed Monchi a fry.

“The best kind of prizes are the surprises.” Linda quoted.

“Eric, Deborahbot5000, where are we going?”

“Sorry, Aaron, we cannot give that information.” Eric said, he and the other robot sitting politely in their seats, happy to be a part of the social interaction.

“Yes, Mother will bury us if we disobey.” Deborahbot said matter-of-factly.

“What?! No I won’t, sweeties.”

“Won’t you ground us?”

The family laughed and Aaron let the topic go; if he was honest, he loved a good surprise. The big family stopped in a motel just at the California-Oregon border, and the next morning after muffins and coffee and orange juice they were on the road again, passing dozens of trees that made Rick feel at home. Katie happily recorded the trip, trusted to be the documenter for another fun roadtrip, with hopefully not as much mortal peril.

Aaron watched as they left the highway for a simple road, and they passed a big sign. The boy gasped and caught what was happening. “No WAY! Really?!”

“You know, I hear this Mystery Shack even has a Sasquatch.” Rick commented while Linda pulled out a pamphlet from the glove box.

“It says here it’s full of odd things you’ll never see anywhere else, even a dinosaur footprint…”

“Wasn’t there a rumor of there being a Bottomless Pit?” Katie asked, pointing her camera at Aaron to get his reaction.

“Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!” Aaron cheered, hugging his Dad’s neck and kissing his Mom’s cheek.

“Hey, no worries, buddy.” Rick eased, fixing his shewed glasses. “We wanted to see this place, too!”

“Why don’t we eat a quick lunch and then we’ll take the backroad for the attraction? There’s a coupon in here for a diner made from a giant log!”

And so after being served by a pretty blonde teenager at Greasy’s, they drove through town to get to the backroad. Signs made them confident that they were going the correct way, as well as Eric and Deborahbot5000’s GPS. Then as they turned a corner, a big triangle-shaped building came into view. Aaron grinned at the giant sign with a missing letter. People were already leaving, arms full of souvenirs and one or two already wearing their new hats or t-shirts. Once Rick parked in the Free Parking Lot, Aaron spilled out of the car and ran for the shack, but he stopped.

Katie caught up to him and patted his back. “You cool, man?”

Aaron shrugged, holding his hands in front of him and his shoulders up to hide his face a bit. “I-I dunno… What if… What if he doesn’t like me?”

“Hey, I get it.” Katie admitted. “When I first met my friends I was really nervous. I had talked to them online for weeks and I was worried it wasn’t gonna be what it was all cracked up to be, but it was. Your system worked! You found another dino-lover! You earned this moment. Just take in a deep breath and be yourself, cuz you’re a pretty cool dude.”

Aaron smiled up at his big sister. “Thanks.”

Trusting Eric and Deborahbot5000 to watch Monchi and make sure he used the bathroom, the Mitchells went inside the shack. On the porch there was an ice cooler, a sign reading schedule times for tours of the Oddity Museum, a Help Wanted sign, and two rocking chairs with a game of checkers between them.

Inside the store a few customers filled up the gift shop, alongside t-shirts, snowglobes, a vending machine, a door beside ti that read Employees Only, a bookshelf full of comic on one side and old newspapers claiming alien sightings on the other, a fish tank holding a monkey-mermaid, and barrels full of spaceship keychains and dino claws. A new section called Camping Stuff caught Rick’s eye, selling backpacks, lanterns, flashlights, batteries, canteens, and compasses. Katie opened a comic called Lil’Stanley and laughed at the swears, taking a pic and sending it to her friends’ group chat. Linda looked into the barrel full of patches and grinned at all the fun designs, while Aaron stared happily at the mer-monkey.

The Employees Only door opened and closed and Rick watched as a man in a suit, fez, and eyepatch walked up to the lady at the register and kissed her cheek. The woman smiled lovingly and left while the guy who resembled a gopher checked a customer out. Rick waited until the buyer left to approach the register, leaning an arm on the counter.

“Welcome to the Mystery Shack, dude!”

“Thanks! So, this is gonna sound weird, but my son Aaron talks to a guy here about dinosaurs…”

“No way!” The owner interrupted excitedly. “Good to see you, dudes! I’m Mr. Mystery! Wow, you guys came a long way, huh?”

“Nah, only from California. My daughter is attending art school there.”

While the men chit-chatted and Linda joined them, Katie noticed a guy walking up to Aaron and looking at the mer-monkey. She smiled and tried to read the comic without being too nosy, but she kept her senses on her brother.

“Hm, quite fascinating, isn’t it?” The man in the blue hoodie said. “But I think my favorite is the fossilized footprint. Could be Nanuqsaurus hoglundi.”

“The Polar Bear Lizard?” Aaron clarified, touching his chin as he looked at the dino-print, his back to the man he was talking to. “Maybe, but they’re from Alaska. It’s possible plate tectonics did cause some fossils to be relocated here, but it could also be a Nanotyrannosaurus lancensis footprint.”

“The Dwarf Tyrant? Could very well be. Would you like to talk about dinosaurs after your tour?”

Aaron’s eyes widened as the voice was finally familiar to him. He turned and looked up to find an old man smiling up at him. He had fluffy gray hair with a white stripe running around his scalp, wrinkles by his eyes due to smiling, a cleft chin, glasses, and wore a blue hoodie with a maroon sweater underneath. His hands were behind his back and he smiled down at Aaron warmly, while the boy was jittery and overly-excited. He took in a sharp breath and had to fight every muscle to keep from leaping through the screen door. 

“H-H-Hi…” He peeped. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Y-Yeah, sure! I’d love to! I’m Aaron! Er, wait, you already knew that.” And he held out a hand to shake.

His phone-pal, Ford, chuckled and got on one knee to be eye-level. “Greeting, Aaron! It’s nice to formally meet you.”

Aaron shook his hand and noticed something. He had six fingers on his right hand. A quick glance told Aaron he also had six fingers on his left hand. Aaron grinned with sparkling eyes at his new friend, while the old sailor smiled warmly at the boy that reminds him of his niece and nephew when they were young.

[aion-rsa]

Ghosts Series 2: ‘They’re stuck in an existence they didn’t ask for… like all of us’

https://ift.tt/35QzhQ6

The Ghosts creators have worked together for over a decade. To-date, the six-person team (Mat Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond) have written and performed in long-running children’s sketch comedy Horrible Histories, three series of fantasy sitcom Yonderland, feature film Bill, and two series of the supernatural BBC comedy Ghosts, with a third on the way. 

Channelling Mrs Merton asking Debbie McGee what first attracted her to the millionaire Paul Daniels, I ask Baynton and Howick via Zoom what inspired the group to write Ghosts, a sitcom about a group of individuals who frequently drive each other nuts, trapped together for what may well be eternity? 

Both laugh. “I’m sure we do drive each other nuts in many ways,” says Howick, “but the truth is, like the ghosts, what we always come back to in these episodes is that they love each other and don’t know what they would do without each other. I think that can be said for the group?” He looks to Baynton for confirmation and gets a happy nod. 

Considering the well-documented fallings-out and imploding egos of other comedy gangs – the Pythons not least among them – this level of harmony over such a long period feels remarkable. What’s their secret? “I think we keep each other honest,” says Baynton. “There are certainly heated debates.”

Heated’s too strong a word, says Howick. “We only really fight for our opinion, we never fight each other.” On the rare occasion that there isn’t unanimity about a particular topic, there might be a locking of horns and a democratic vote, but real arguments don’t happen. “There’s no animosity or jealousy with each other’s independent careers,” he explains. “We are our most important project. We have no desire to work each other up. We’re all genuinely fond of each other.”

That much is clear watching them interact. The online BBC press launch for series two was punctuated by the group making each other laugh. Silly voices. Running jokes. At one point, to the absolutely delight of his colleagues, Simon Farnaby’s crotch moved unavoidably front and centre as he stood up in front of his webcam to adjust a window blind. The rapport is real. 

Indeed, during UK lockdown, say Baynton and Howick, the group’s regular Zoom calls drafting Ghosts series three were a godsend. Aside from the boon of having regular work when so much of their industry was in uncertainty, being able to see friends for three hours on a Wednesday evening kept them sane. 

“It’s been a tonic in an otherwise relatively difficult and quite miserable time to have been able to jump on Zoom and make each other laugh with ideas for these characters that we love,” says Baynton. Entertainingly, when the group splits off into writing pairs, each does impressions of the absent characters while drafting dialogue. “It’s funny,” remarks Howick. ‘When we come together as a six, if we’re trying to pitch a positive idea, it’s usually done in a [segues into the regional accent of his upbeat character] Pat voice. Or if it’s a melodramatic idea or if it’s over-the-top, it might be a [Baynton’s Romantic poet character] Thomas voice.” 

Via video chat, it took a little longer for the group’s writing wheels to start turning. Ordinarily a new series would start with two weeks of the gang together in the same room. Stretching that to months of three-hour Zoom calls, fitted in amongst home schooling for the parents among them, was an adjustment. “The energy that you would bring to a room at 10 o’clock in the morning in an office wasn’t there,” says Howick. “You’d have to try and generate this feeling even though everyone was exhausted.”

Howick found himself seeking out frivolity to reach the right frame of mind. He played videogames. “If I sat and thought too hard about what was going on outside my door, it would make me really sad, and so in order to keep a vital part of me going, in order to meet with Mat and the others every Wednesday and keep that bright demeanour, it was good to do that.” The writing momentum started to return with the ease of lockdown, says Baynton. “The simple mental health-saving fact of being able to meet up with family in a garden helped a lot.” 

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Trying to write comedy against a such a serious backdrop of world events also felt uncomfortable, says Baynton. “You feel like it’s almost… immoral is too strong a word, but when there are nurses and doctors and teachers and crucially important people doing the work they do… It felt like an elephant in the room to be tap tap tapping away at a story about another day at Button House and what the ghosts are up to.”

It helped to know how warmly Ghosts series one had been received by its many fans. “What’s touching is when we do get messages from fans who say how much the show means to them. I know how important comedy has been to me in my life, so if we can be that to other people, it doesn’t feel completely frivolous.”

Ghosts, with its colourful selection box of characters (there’s a caveman, a headless Elizabethan, a 17th century witch, an excitable Regency woman-child, an Edwardian snob, a WWII captain, a 1980s scout leader and a 1990s Tory politician) may look frivolous, but series one had moments of real pathos. Baynton is proud of the fact that the series doesn’t shy away from the bleaker side of its ‘dead people’ premise. “If you really interrogate the truth of it – these are people who lived, people who died, people who loved or were thwarted or killed or suffered injustices or never got to love the person that they admired…”

The original idea was for a much bigger cast of ghosts, with everybody playing multiple parts, Horrible Histories-style. It quickly became clear that the story needed to home in on a small ensemble, giving the gang what Howick calls “its own silhouette”. Had they stuck with the original plan, “It would have been like The Muppet Show,” he says. “Every week would only have scratched the surface.” Too many ghost characters would have diminished the show’s emerging premise, says Baynton, which is about “being stuck forever in a tedious and endlessly repetitive existence.”

A bit like lockdown, we joke. Exactly, says Baynton. 

“We talk about this a lot. The way I see it is that their situation is just the same as a living person’s: they’re stuck, they’re in an existence they didn’t ask for, they don’t know why they’re there or what happens next. They know that there is a next ‘thing’ but whether they go to heaven, or hell, or something else, they don’t know. They’re just the same as people on earth.”

Howick agrees, “Their existence is very mortal in that respect.” 

Writing about the afterlife, a sense of existential metaphor is unavoidable, says Baynton. “There is something deeply relatable about it, which is where sitcom will always thrive. You can’t really fail to connect with a story about a person who doesn’t know what to do with their time or who feels stuck. Regardless of class or job or circumstance, that is all of us.”

If the ghost characters are all of us, they’re also peculiar to their time period. The collision and unexpected blending of different social contexts is where much of the series’ comedy comes from. Howick compares the composition of the group to Blackadder Goes Forth, which kept “ranks of characters from different classes stuck together in a hell hole, cheating death every single week.” 

The source of much of the comedy is thwarted status, says Baynton, “It’s the stuff of Alan Partridge and Hyacinth Bucket and Basil Fawlty… people who see themselves a certain way but who aren’t that way to the audience. Every single one of the ghosts is that to some extent. Anything that gave you status in life, you’re robbed of the second you die, so that’s already pretty funny in the sense of a captain who can’t lead, a wealthy woman who has no wealth, a politician who is not recognised as an authority, a poet who can’t pick up a pen, a Scoutmaster with no kids…”

“Not Scoutmaster!” interrupts Howick. “Adventure Club leader!” Before series one aired, they were instructed not to use the “Scouts” organisation name in scripts. “That was before they knew who Pat was going to be,” says Howick. Pat, for info, is a sweetie, and the Scouts should be proud to have him. He’s also a vibrant dancer, as series two, episode two shows. 

“There’s a lot of dancing this series” says Howick. “Without giving too much away, there’s dancing in the last episode. I think Thomas’ best dance is at the end.”

Fans can expect more playfulness with series two. Now that the characters are established and the tone has been taken to heart, the team could afford to experiment a little more. “With series two, because the audience hopefully are with us at this point, we can throw different curveballs,” says Baynton.

“In that way that The Simpsons or those long-running American things, you can suddenly do one in black and white, as if it’s a Hitchcock thing. We’ve definitely had fun. There’s an episode later in the second series which is a format of its own. We’re thinking about those things for series three, being free to be really playful with it.”

There’s a Christmas special episode to come, “the last one ever to be filmed!” joked Farnaby at the press launch. The timing on series two’s filming was especially jammy, with only one day lost to the UK TV and film industry shutdown in March. They made the decision not to use supporting artists in the last scenes filmed, set in a Medieval plague village. The irony of having to tell actors they couldn’t come and play plague victims because there was an actual plague wasn’t lost on them, says Baynton.

Thomas gets a gun in series two, they tease, and we’ll find out how he met his end. “The burning question for fans of the show is how the characters died, and you will find out some in each series,” says Baynton. “There are some we’re holding onto for as long as we possibly can, but rest assured, they’re coming!” 

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Ghosts series 2 starts on BBC One at 8.30pm, with all six episodes available to stream afterwards on BBC iPlayer. 

The post Ghosts Series 2: ‘They’re stuck in an existence they didn’t ask for… like all of us’ appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2RKeoxw

[laristocratebohemienne]

30 day self-care challenge I’m starting today

I’m starting a self-made 30 day self-care challenge. I will update you on my Snapchat about my journey: @aristocratebabe (well, everyday except day 4, see bellow).

Day 1 - get glamed up and take a hot selfie

Make yourself feel glowed up. Put the nicest outfit on, do your makeup, do your hair and take that selfie. Or find someone to take your photos, even better.

Day 2 - get 8 hours of sleep and wake up by 9 am

As a person who got used to waking up at noon, I feel like I’m done with this. I love nighttime, but I feel so guilty when I wake up late. So join me in this challenge and wake up by 9 am if your sleep schedule is crushed like mine or 1 hour earlier if you already wake up at 9 am. Just make sure to get 9 hours of sleep.

Day 3 - go for a hike/swim/run/speed walk with friend/s

Do some fitness activity outdoors, but make sure to so it with a friend or two. Why? If you’re an overthinker and you want to start taking care of yourself, socializing will help you so much. And also, taking a good workout will help you get the dopamine boost and you’ll get one step closer to your healthier self.

Day 4 - don’t go on social media for a full day

Social media isn’t the root of all evil, but it can be the root of envy and comparison. Today do not check your social media at all. Remember, it’s just one day, you’ll be back at it tomorrow. Tell your friends and family to text you on Whatsapp or other messaging app or simply call you, because you won’t be available on it this particular day. Extra challenge: at the end of a day, journal how you feel without Facebook, insta or tiktok. Is there a difference in your day? What did you do instead of checking SM?

Day 5 - Meditate & visualize

Do this challenge right after your previous challenge. Why? Social media might make you think that you want some things that you actually don’t want. When you visualize your life, you should visualize what YOU want, not what a random person in your hometown wants. This is YOUR life. Live it for yourself. And meditate before you visualize to ground yourself better.

Day 6 - Reach out to someone new in your field

Go to Linkedin or somewhere where professionals you want to be like reside, and reach out to them. Whether is it an e-mail or a Linkedin message. Do this. Tell them you’d like to be in their position once and if they could give you any advice. Try this with someone who seems active online.

Day 7 - Invite someone for coffee with whom you’d really like to meet

Maybe you already know this person, maybe not. But today you will invite someone you’d be wanting to become friends with or simply engage in conversation with. If you already have someone in mind, keep them and do it.

Day 8 - Make dinner for friends or family

Today you will connect better with your friends or family by making a special dinner. Or if you really don’t know how to cook, take them out and put the bill on yourself.

Day 9 - Make a gratitude list

Something easier than a few previous days, but today make a gratitude list. Write down everything you’re grateful for. It can be the birds in the sky or having a home to live in. Or it can be something more, anything you want, write it down!

Day 10 - Ask someone who seems “out of your league” on a date

I’m pretty sure everybody has that someone with whom they’d like to go on a date with. But maybe they are too scared that they are “out of your league”. First of all, if you’re a woman who takes care of herself (and by this day, you really are), no man is out of your league! Same goes for men and everyone else. If you’re taking care of yourself, loving yourself and getting your vibes up, no one is out of your league. Text them!

Day 11 - Read a book with topic that is unfamiliar to you

Knowledge is power. And it really is. Read any book (non-fiction) which is centered around a theme which is quiet unfamiliar to you. For this, I will go for a finance book. Because I definitely need to work on my money management!

Day 12 - Eat super clean

You need a detox. I’m pretty sure. On this day, you have to cut out all processed foods, added salt, sugar or saturated fats. You’re going on a detox. If you’re a smoker, you can’t smoke today. Just one day. I’m a smoker, too, so I completely understand the difficult this challenge might present, but that is what challenges are for.

Day 13 - Share this challenge with a friend or someone you know

Nobody likes to feel alone. You don’t have to keep this challenge a secret, you’re already on day 13. Tell someone you’re doing it and ask them to join you. Tell them how much your life has changed since doing this challenge.

Day 14 - No complaints

“But how am I gonna do this? I’m complaining all the time.” - stop it, sweetie. I know you’re complaining a lot and where did all these complaints lead you to? You were miserable, let’s see what’s gonna happen after this “no complaints” day ends.

Day 15 - Apply for a job position you dream of

I desire to be a model for example. But I have never felt eligible to apply for a modeling job before. I’m sure there’s a job position which you have been dreaming of for a while, but you didn’t even dare to apply. Today, you have to.

Day 16 - Do something creative

Pretend you’re an artist, musician, singer, photographer or other arts professional. Make a music video, take great photos, paint a full picture, write a short story. Today you will explore your artistic abilities.

Day 17 - Visit a place in your town where you usually don’t go

Choose a different coffee shop, place or a restaurant which you usually don’t visit in your area. Explore new places.

Day 18 - Do a brain dump

Write every idea, thought, memory, regret etc. that is on your mind. Get clarity and get inspired.

Day 19 - Track everything you did today

Track every activity you do this day and at which time. This can feel obsessive, but is extremly effective for your time management.

Day 20 - Write down your bucket list

The craziest, most exciting and thrilling things you will achieve in your life will be written here. Write about places you want to go to, activities you want to experience, romantic pleasures, financial goals... this is an extended brain dump.

Day 21 - Flirt with a stranger you find attractive

If this isn’t on your bucket list, i don’t know what is. Maybe you’re dating that person from day 10, if so, flirt with them and make them feel like they’re living in a movie. Dress up nicely, move like a siren, and talk seductively. Find your flirting style this way. Do something similar with an attractive stranger in your grocery store.

Day 22 - Plan your day so the majority of it you spend outside

Try not to stay so much inside your home today. If you’re working or going to school/University, after those, don’t go home. Go to a park, sit by the beach or anywhere to be outside. Invite a collegue with you. Or grab coffee with them. Just try to be outside more than inside today.

Day 23 - Do something out of your comfort zone at work/school/University today

During a lecture, answer to professor’s question or ask him something in front of everyone. At work, think of something you want to do so badly, but didn’t have the guts to make it. Today you have.

Day 24 - Join a class where you can learn a new and valuable skill

Whether it’s a dancing, yoga, improv, digital marketing, language or any other class where you can learn a new skill. Do it. And I know it’s corona happening now, but try to do it where you can be connected with other attendees. If it’s done on Zoom, make sure it’s a public class and nothing private. You want to be around people. This could also mean joining a gym.

Day 25 - Get a tattoo or a piercing you’ve been wanting to have for a long time

It’s important to get out of your comfort zone and make things happen in this self-care challenge. If you’ve been wanting to get a tattoo, but you delayed it because you didn’t know which one, brainstorm today and make an appointment. Same thing for piercing. If you don’t want this, dress the way you have always wanted to dress today. Treat yourself with style of your choice.

Day 26 - Do not use any technology

On day 4, you didn’t use social media, today you won’t be using your phone, laptop, tablet, play station, TV or any other tech device. Be analog and vintage. Let’s see how it goes. Note: announce this to your friends, family, partner.

Day 27 - Plan a country you will absolutely visit in the near future

If corona is stopping you at this, do this the next year. Plan a vacation for a foreign country that you absolutely will visit in the near future. You don’t have to have the whole itinerary planned, but set the date.

Day 28 - Learn an easy dance

Imagine when you go to the next party and show your friends those new moves! Learn some simple dance today, take an hour out of your day and broaden your experience.

Day 29 - Make a vision board

In the past 28 days, you have challenged yourself enough to get the idea of where your life should go. You stepped out of your comfort zone and took care of yourself. Maybe some of these habits remained with you. So today make a vision board. Vision boards are awesome because they help you focus on what lifestyle suits you and your goals. And the more you see it, the more your subconcious will think you already have it, and that is the key to manifesting goals.

Day 30 - Challenge your beliefs

For the last day of this challenge, take initiative and do something yourself. When you wake up today, ask yourself: “if I could do anything today, what would I do?” Find the closest possible solution to that problem and do something different today. Something which is very specific for you situation.

And there they are! My 30-day challenge is done. It’s a mix of self-care, productivity, and social challenges. All essentials for one’s growth and happiness.

Check my Snapchat: @aristocratebabe where I will update my progress!

[faimalogirl]

Testing the waters... or floating in it

Dating apps... not really my thing but with the past year being life altering in addition to a pandemic, i thought, why not? lol Seriously, that’s what my answer was to many people.

I have never been a fan of online dating, or swiping right OR left on people, or blind dates but many of my friends and some family members are concerned about my love life... or lack of. But because life has thrown me curve ball after curve ball, I decided that I am going to give it a shot.

I want to be clear, I am perfectly content with being single, and feel that when it happens it happens. But for some reason other people are not, as if them being in relationships makes me feel incomplete. Couldn’t be any more true. I feel like that person in the movie, who is loving their life or at least liking it, and everyone including the dying grandma keeps trying to match her with anyone of the opposite sex, and because it’s been a while they sometimes offer to hook her up with someone of the same sex. And not that I’m offended by it but I am completely strictly dickly lol. 

I have my reservations about dating apps because honestly, it’s weird. It’s scary. It’s risky due to Corona virus... and did I mention I have cancer? No? Well I do. 

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer last October, and after completing my round with radiation, I am now getting ready to have a FULL HYSTERECTOMY to remove the remaining tumor. For some reason in my mind, I feel like part of my womanhood is being taken away, so while I still have it, I figured i’d “test the water.” 

Now, I know I don’t have to tell people that I have cancer but there are other things that worry me about dating. To put it kindly, people are freaking weirdos.

I have been on a few dates with different guys, and let me tell you how different things have gotten since my 20s. So for all my respectable and intelligent women/men out there wanting to try dating here are a few suggestions:

1. Doesn’t need to be said but apparently for me it does... MEET SOMEONE IN PUBLIC lol 

My first date with BOY1, he offered to take me on the lake, just him and I on his little motorboat. Now as romantic and “Notebook” worthy as this sounds, I was excited. I was ready. We’ve been texting back and forth for a little over a week. But the days following up to our date got me thinking... What if I don’t like him? What if he’s crazy? And I’ll be stuck on a boat with JUST HIM, in the middle of the lake, until it’s over. So please, meet in public and not in the middle of the lake.

2. Anyone who asks you to send “sexy pics” is just asking for a quick hit it and quit it. NOT that I did it. But I was alarmed by how many d*ck pics were sent to me without request, or want (If you are into that, more power to you but that’s not something I want to see) LOL 

I was texting back and forth with BOY2 who thought I’d be impressed by his “romance” through the phone. Kept asking me to send him photos every day. I didn’t mind, sending him a photo here and there of me going out, playing with my dog, or just random. I think I literally sent him three. But once the “sexy pics” requests got to be more, I told him I needed to at least know him and go on a couple of dates before any of that happened. And guess what, we went on a date, and for the most part it was fine. Then, when the insinuation that we were going to “hook up” back at his place didn’t happen for him, he became needy and kept asking “what went wrong?” or “are you mad at me?” or “why am I leading him on?” I told him I’m not that girl and he said okay. So, I ghosted him after he asked for another sexy pic, I sent him a gif of a hippo lol and left it at that.

3. Be okay with saying no. Whether it be to a date, a picture, an exchange of phone numbers or social media, it’s not your job to make someone happy when you are not comfortable. 

I didn’t realize it until it happened, but when BOY3 suggested that I come lay with him after one “hello” I quickly let him know I wasn’t that easy lol. He got defensive and was just like “I just think your beautiful and I just say what I want.” Of course he used a few colorful words to get his point across. And I told him he can take his words elsewhere. Although I feel like a prune lol I also feel like woman are made to feel like we need to coddle boys who don’t know how to talk to women with respect. I mean, could you at least say “Hey how are you?”  Now some people told me that’s just how people talk to each other, and I said, “well I guess I’ll be single forever.” And I don’t mind. I am not going to lower my standards, or compromise my comfort for someones lack of respect. If that’s how you want to talk, then find someone willing to put up with it. It ain’t this girl.

4. Never, and I mean NEVER stress about how you look for your profile picture. Don’t put too much stock into your filtered photos. Honestly, I put full body photos up, even though a lot of my friends said they would never do that. I put some pictures that had sc filters with the ears, or regular photos up. I put a little bit of me up.

I am a very confident woman who understands her flaws. With all my plus size happiness and glamour, I knew I was just having fun. Plus if he don’t like you sweetie, you don’t need to worry about him. Because you’ll never meet him lol. Now, with that said, sure I have my moments where I feel crappy. But I just feel if you aren’t happy with who you are, you won’t be secure in a relationship. And since I was just “testing the waters” I didn’t really care of which photos were there to be judged. Or so I thought...

BOY4 was kind and sweet. He was also a very handsome man who apparently loved big girls (his words not mine) he made me feel very comfortable. He’s 6′6, and we all know your girl is a sucker for a tall man. He was also fit in a sense that you could tell he worked out but not so much that he was ripped. I had my reservations about meeting him, because I thought I was being cat-fished lol until we exchanged numbers and sent snaps to each other before actually going on a date. We have gone on a few lunch and dinner dates here and there, still talk to each other, but I am slowly pulling away because of the last advice.

5. Know what you want and respect what others want. And always be honest about your intentions...

After talking back and forth with BOY4 and sharing things. You quickly get to know someone. Although I would never force myself or my views on someone, I expect the same respect. BOY4 started to share a little about what he wants for his future. You know, the whole finding someone to marry, travel with, and have kids...

I can’t have kids. Remember the whole living with cancer and getting ready to have a hysterectomy? For those of you who don’t know what that means, it just means, as a woman, my surgeon will be taking away my baby making machine. Now, I’ve accepted my future and I know that that’s not the only way to have a child. But I also know that these types of conversations are hard for some people to grasp. I would love to one day meet someone, get married, carry a child, but that’s just not the hand that was dealt to me. That’s also not something that I can hide from someone and trick them into understanding after they’ve developed feelings for me. So I was honest with everything... at least surface base. But we’ll see what happens from here on out...

Also, just to let you know, I’ve deleted the dating apps. It’s not for me. I know many people who’ve married people they’ve met on dating apps/sites but I just don’t think it’s something for me. Also, if I have another friend who keeps setting me up on blind dates, I am going to have to think of getting new friends lol

[winterheart17]

Hey! I love your writing and I think you give the best advice ever! You are so sweet! Anyway, I am hoping for a little bit of advice myself as I am moving across the country in a week to start university for the very first time! I'm terrified to say the least. Any suggestions on how to transition (or ease the transition)?

Hello sweetie,

Aww, you’re muchtoo sweet – I do try my best to offer as helpful advice as I think possible andI’m beyond happy that others are able to find some measure of comfort in them.I think, sometimes, people just want a friendly ear and shoulder to cry on.Okay, so I’ve personally never movedaway from home before (not even for studies), but I have been away from home for an extended period of time. So, I’mjust going to list down a few things that I hope will help:

1.   Movingaway for the first time ever can be terrifying – you’re so used to being inyour comfort zone and it’s completely normal to feel as if the rug has beenpulled out from under your feet! So, before anything else, I just want to makesure you know that you don’t have to quash these feelings no matter what peoplesay and how much they talk up how exciting uni life will be. 

2.   Thatbeing said – it really is quite exciting! This is your first step intoindependence and you’re going to be finding your footing in life on your own. This is honestly, the timefor you to go forth and explore what it is you love, hate, like, tolerate(safely, of course). So, as frightening as it may be, try your best to embracethis change and next chapter of your life. The first step is always thehardest, it gets better – I promise.

3.   Don’tbe afraid to make new friends! I think the most intimidating part for me everytime I changed environment was not having a familiar face I could sort of latchonto (don’t I sound charming?), but remember that almost everyone else there isstarting afresh as well and are probably looking to form new friendships. Unilife gets a whole lot less scarier once you know you have someone there who canshare your jokes and relate to your problems on some level. But I also knowthat you’re probably going to be texting your best friend plenty as well andthat’s okay – old friends are gold and having that constant connection withhim/her is going to provide stability in your life during these uncertaintimes. So, make sure no matter how busy you get, don’t let your old friendshipsdie down.

4.   Makeyour room as comfortable and clean as possible. There’s something particularlytherapeutic about decorating and making a space as cosy and “mine” as possible.Imagine being able to go back to this warm and inviting space after tough days –you’re bound to feel a lot better than returning to cold bare walls and rubbishstrewn about. I’m not too sure about your style but go get some nice scentedcandles (if those are your thing), a nice bed spread, some plants, etc. But Ido know this, the second you move in, give your place a thorough springcleaning rub down!

5.   Bringmementos from home. Whether it’s the pillow you grew up with or a favouritestuffed toy – these are the little things that will pay off big on shitty days(and oh yes, they will come, but it won’t be anything you can’t handle).

6.   Try toestablish a routine. When you’re feeling uncertain or a little lost, that’s thething that will keep you grounded. I don’t mean following the same scheduleevery single day from the moment you open your eyes till you shut them! It canbe something as simple as waking up 20 minutes earlier than you usually would soyou can sip on your cup of coffee while you watch an episode of your favouriteshow online or pick up where you left off reading.

7.   That’salso another important tip – making time to watch your favourite shows onlinecan be one hell of a way to destress and also let you chill a little. I sort oflike making sure I get my work done as quickly as possible just so I cansqueeze in about 20-30 minutes of TV time at the end of every day. It gives me something to look forward to and a sense of control in life – because nomatter what happens, I’m always going to have that small little pleasurablewindow of time to end my day with.

8.   Stockup on food. There’s nothing more miserable than when you’re feeling homesick,tired, and hungry. This doesn’t mean I’m asking you to skip lunch or dinner,but you know how some days can get and you’d honestly just return to your roominstead of hot footing it out in search of food. So, make sure you always havea generous stash of biscuits, some savoury foods, and chocolates (if those are your thing) in your room. But again,please try your best not to skip important meals – piping hot dishes and a warmtummy will give you all the fuzzies in the world. So, if you plan on cooking,do your grocery shopping and never forget to pick up eggs and milk (again, ifthese are your staples).  

9.   Do youwork out? If yes, try to sign up for your uni’s gym or heck, just lace up yourshoes and go for a run, or even a walk. I know this is such a cliché thing tosay but exercise can perk your mood up – if anything, science does say it givesa boost of endorphins ;) Plus, if you’ve had a stressful day – you’re going tofeel a lot better just by sweating itout.

10.Callyour parents often. It’s easy to let life sort of take its own busy course –but take the time out of your day to just give them a quick ring even if it’sjust to say hi. Hearing their voices frequently will again, ground you in a foreignplace. Also, they will more than appreciate it.

11.Tryjoining social clubs! All these extracurricular activities are an awesome wayto meet new people, expand your interests, or uncover hidden talents you maynot even have known. If something piques your interest – this is the time to gofor it and experiment.

12.Studyhard. This is really crucial. I find that often people are so carried away byeverything else happening outside of studies that their grades are neglected.It can be really difficult to climb back up after a bad dip and it’s only goingto cause you unnecessary stress and pressure. So, attend lectures and beconsistent in your studies – that way, you won’t feel like drowning when examsroll about.

Whew, okay, thatappears to be about it. I was going to include a point about love but decidedagainst it simply because not everyone is going to fall in love during theiruni days. I’m not sure if you’re seeing anyone, but if you aren’t, just rememberthat being lonely is not a valid reason to enter a relationship with someone(especially with a person who doesn’t treat you right). 

The best thing you cando in university is to go in with an open heart and take whatever opportunitiescome your way (again, I know, a cliché). Do your best to enjoy your subjectsbecause nothing kills you inside quicker than having to drag yourself to classand through an exam on a subject you absolutely abhor. Remember to keep yourchin up through tough times because they reallywill not last and in time, your self-confidence will blossom after eachexperience. Alrighty then, I hope I didn’t ramble on too much and that theabove helps in some small way! Best of luck and I know you’ll ace it

[theawkwardconfusedturtle96]

BREAKING NEWS

http://archiveofourown.org/works/9499595/chapters/23121486I FINALLY updated my Kent Parson fic! Next chapter is up. Hope y’all like it! :D 

June 27, 2009 Las Vegas, Nevada. Less than twenty-four hours after his world began to shatter into pieces, Kent found himself all alone on a Friday morning in a large, bare, clinically sterile apartment right in the heart of Las Vegas, pressing his hands against the large bay windows as people bustled continuously along the Strip.

After the painfully long four rounds of drafting for the night, Kent had finally been allowed half an hour to say a tearful goodbye to his mother, stepdad, little sister and entire Italian extended family on both sides, and a broey but no less meaningful one to his New York neighbours and teammates before he was ferried away in a tinted, private car to the Montreal-Dorval International Airport and put on a late-night, red-eye flight to McCarran Airport. He was glad of the lack of gushing and the anonymity he got, as despite the fact that he knew that he would have to leave everyone he loved behind for this, he slowly began to realise the distance and lack of contact he would have with his small, loving circle. The images of his mom giving him the tightest hug he’d ever received from her, as tears flowed down both of their faces and wetting both his jersey and her best blazer, and her whispering into his ear in a broken voice ‘Just do your best and be happy, sweetie. That’s all you need to do to make us proud. You’ll always be the best to us no matter what’, before giving him a big kiss, and his stepdad trying but failing to control his tears, and saying ‘Knock ‘em dead, son’ before giving him a huge, manly hug, and his little sister not being able to say anything, but jumping on him and giving him numerous very wet and sloppy kisses, replayed in his mind the whole ride to the airport and the whole flight, interspersed with Bob’s radio silence and the memory of Jack lying, cold and unresponsive on the tiled, generic bathroom.

It was no wonder, then, that he cried silently the entire car ride and the majority of the flight, flicking through the photos and videos on his phone before falling into a fitful sleep.

Gently shaken awake by a sympathetic air hostess, Kent walked off the plane at a truly ridiculous time in the morning and into his new city in a strange, catatonic haze, which was only broken after he stepped out of the airport and was overcome with a searing wave of heat. Looks like we’re not in Kansas, anymore, Dorothy, he said wryly to himself, as he stepped into the taxi pre-hired for him and sped off to the apartment that management had procured for him, as he yawned and stared, wide-eyed at the landscape around him intermittently.

The taxi driver was very nice, and once Kent had reached his apartment block, he was given a pat on the shoulder and a business card pressed into his hand ‘in case you ever need anything, kid. This is a rough place for people as young as you’. Then they sped off, and Kent stared up at the seemingly never-ending high-rise block, wondering which level was level thirty and where his flat was.

After much swearing and walking up and down the corridor because the numbering in this ridiculous place was fucked up, Kent FINALLY found the door to his flat, and with a fair amount of trepidation, opened the door.

It was…..well, exactly what he expected and much better at the same time. Walking through, he noticed that it was a lot larger than he had anticipated. All the appliances were modern and the entire place just gave off the aura of being sleek and modern. The only thing was that it seems very….sterile. Granted, that was probably due to the fact that the place was completely bare, apart from his luggage and his hockey gear, and the larger than average single bed in the master bedroom, but still. It seemed empty, and devoid of any possibility of warmth and comfort. But, it was his, and in the end, that’s all that mattered.

Tired, cold, hungry and utterly spent emotionally from the events of the past day, Kent flopped onto the ledge of his giant living room window, so far one of his favourite parts of the place, and leaned against the glass, watching the . Briefly, he thought about what Zimms would have thought about this place, and about the city. After all, it was him who was supposed to be here, not little Kent, who has supposedly ‘ridden his coattails’ to success. He imagined that he wouldn’t have liked it very much. Or, at least, not more than Kent himself liked it at the moment.

On a sudden impulse, he checked his battered flip phone, which he was informed would soon be replaced with a brand new iPhone, a new invention by Apple. Despite his ten more messages and five more missed calls, there was nothing from Bob or Jack. Only a few texts from his family. Sighing, he quickly sent out a mass message to his family and friends that he was safe in his apartment which was greeted by smileys from his parents and requests for pictures from his friends and sister. He clicked one, and although the quality was, to be honest, utter trash, it received the most excited of reactions from everyone.

Smiling softly despite himself, Kent flopped into his bed and decided to take an untimely nap. He thought he deserved this one joy, at least.

He was awoken about five hours later by his phone blaring Britney at him. Expecting the best, he checked the call log excitedly, but it wasn’t Jack, or even Bob. He deflated, visibly. However, there were at least three or four missed calls from a variety of unknown numbers, followed by texts from these numbers all variations on the same theme of ‘Welcome to the Aces, rookie!’. Kent smiled again, unexpectedly, for the second time that day. This must be his new teammates, getting his number from the manager. Kent had no sooner replied to all of them then he was greeted with a loud knock on his door. Slowly opening it, he was immediately bowled over by at least five large, burly men all towering over Kent’s five-foot-ten frame.

Once he had recovered himself and gotten up off the floor, he was immediately enveloped in a huge group hug by these men before being installed in a circle on the floor, and his hands filled with boxes and boxes of food, toiletries and groceries, which he then methodically placed on his shiny new kitchen counter in a semi-orderly pile.

‘Hey, little Kenny, don’t you have any furniture yet?’, asked the tallest, which he’d previously been told was the captain of the Aces. Andy Dubrovnik, an American-born Russian, and the son of a famous KHL player, was only about thirty, one of the NHL’s youngest captains, and had been so since he was twenty-three. He was fast becoming one of the league’s rising stars, despite his age, and was probably one of the nicest hockey players in the league. But obviously, Kent didn’t know about THAT. Well at least, not yet, although he knew all his other stats.

Although he shuddered just a little bit at the nickname, Kent recovered and answered ‘No, cap. I only got here this morning, you see, and the flat was empty, and I’ve been asleep most of the day….so, yeah’. ‘You poor thing’, said Andy sympathetically. ‘All alone here in this empty flat after what you’ve been through’. Kenny started ‘How do you know about..’ but Andy cut him off, saying ‘Pretty much the whole hockey world knows about that by now. It’s all over the news, social media, everywhere. And of course we know, we were watching the draft online to see who’d we get. That’s why we came here as soon as we were told you got here. I remember how I felt when I first went to Montreal. It was horrible, and it wasn’t even too far away from my family. Anything you need, we’ll help you with. We’re a team, and we’re here for you’.

Kent was so touched by this that he unconsciously started crying again, sniffling suspicious before giving up and just wiping his eyes with his jersey. Luckily, another teammate had wisely brought a packet of tissues in his bag, and quickly got it out, giving it to Kent with a smile and a pat on the head. Kent gave him a weak smile back, before quietly saying, in a shaky voice ‘Thankyou all so much for this. I’m so glad all of you are here. I never expected any of this…I’m just…so grateful’. Andy gave him another quick squeeze, before booming ‘Alright, so now let’s have a proper introduction! Come, on, boys, speak up’, while everyone gave themselves a formal introduction to Kent, along with nicknames. The one who’d given him the tissues was Jeff ‘Swoops’ Troy, who turned out to be only a year older than him, another forward and unreasonably adorable to boot, and the others apart from Andy, who went by Dubs and was again, a forward, were Mischa ‘Kuzzy’ Kuznetsova, a defenseman, Leo ‘Lion’ Durand, the goalie and Oscar ‘Taylor’ Swift, another defenseman. After fairly demolishing much of the food (and soft drinks) that had been brought to Kent’s place, Kent now had a pretty fair working knowledge of the entire Aces roster, including coaching and management staff, and was feeling much less like a kicked puppy and much more like a teenager having a house party. They joked and laughed and gossiped, and at one point, someone put their phone into a docking system and they had a mini-karaoke and dance session, and Kent began to feel more and more like he’d been here forever.

After four hours, it had begun to get dark, and the lights on the Strip began to wink awake. It was a truly beautiful thing, and Kent, fascinated, sat on the floor admiring it for a long, long while before he was tugged along by his teammates on an impromptu Ikea trip since ‘you can’t live like this forever, man, you need to get some shit’. So, after an hour long trip, car filled to the brim and loud music playing the entire time with the windows down, an enjoyable classic Ikea lunch and a three hour shopping trip filled with the ridiculous shenanigans one could expect of five young and fun men, although Dubs tried many times to control their antics, Kent found himself in a cuddle pile on the floor back at home, with a truly ridiculous amount of furniture and cutlery all piled up in a corner of the living room, paid for with Kent’s first ever paycheck, ready to be assembled and placed in their proper places.

It was about ten minutes into this before Lion suddenly announced ‘MOVIE AND TAKEOUT TIME, GUYS!’, and the whole company bustled into ordering food, unpacking some of the cutlery and arguing fiercely over the best hockey movies of all time, while firing up their Netflix queues (how they brought their laptops here, Kent would never know), and within half an hour Kent found himself in a companionable swarm in front of Lion’s MacBook watching The Mighty Ducks, eating a slice of cheese pizza and laughing for what seemed like ages. It filled him with something he never thought he’d have again: hope. Something further compounded when Swoops, suddenly dropping his plate, proclaimed ‘Oh shit, Parson doesn’t have a nickname yet!’, and with the movie hurriedly paused, a loud and vehement discussion ensued, from which Kent was excluded apart from trialling suggestions.

Finally, after fifteen minutes of this, Dubs finally broke free and announced ‘Kent, on behalf of the Las Vegas Aces, we have formally decided that you’ll be henceforth called Parse! Apart from when you’re in trouble’, he said, winking.

Kent, well now Parse, smiled widely and nodded to give his assent, and the whole group erupted into cheers, before previously hidden alcohol was passed around to celebrate this.

Taking a half flute of champagne, Kent toasted, along with his group, to his new life, and as he sipped it, he tilted his head back and released a breath he didn’t realise he was holding.

Maybe things were going to work out for him here after all.

ao3 link:

http://archiveofourown.org/works/9499595/chapters/23121486

[sugaranspikes]

because I’m getting excited about bronycon (august, baby!!), have a brony au with our favorite boys!

(and please, no hating on mlp or bronies, this is just for fun)(also, warning: super long!!)

the boys all got into mlp at various times.  it was kind of like dominos - once one started watching it out of curiosity by it’s popularity, another one would catch them in the act.  chirps would inevitably ensue, but days later the theme song would be heard, barely at a possible decibel for the human ear, from the same guy’s room.  and on it went, until a lecture from a very loud, drunk shitty about society’s expectations on men and saying “fuck you” to the system forced them to ponder on their shame for watching a show for little girls.  they came to the conclusion - who the fuck cares?  they were allowed to enjoy whatever they wanted as long as it didn’t hurt anybody, and it was a good show.  this allowed them to get more comfortable with the idea and finally watch the show together in the living room on saturday mornings.

eventually when they become big enough fans, they realize bronycon is happening in baltimore, maryland - a mere 6 hours from samwell! (boston, really).  and of course, if they’re going to be going, they need to create cosplays!!

obviously, bitty is the quintessential pinkie pie.  with his zest for life, baking, and parties galore, he embodies her persona.   in his pink short shorts, pink button down over a cutie mark t-shirt, and ridiculously patterned knee socks, he zips around the convention like a butterfly, charming everyone he meets.  he also brings pies to share with the convention-goers that don’t want to pay $10 for a piece of pizza.  he likes to go the social media forums such as Equestria Daily as well as the YouTubers, to learn how to make himself an even bigger online presence.  

jack never really got into MLP like everyone else did, but he definitely appreciates the messages.  he watches episodes as background noise to his studying or hockey-play creating, and thinks about the kids he taught in pee-wee hockey and how much they’d like this show.  he’s not entirely sure the names of all the ponies (the pink one is definitely Pinkie Pie, right? And the rainbow one is Rainbow Fast? or something) but the boys beg him to join them and he acquiesces.  they dub him applejack, the down to earth pony who doesn’t take crap from anyone and is as strong as a bull.  he is a great foil to everyone else’s crazy antics, and he’s happy to take as many photos as possible of all the great costumes and crowds.  (and the boys forgive him when he looks at his fake tail tucked into his jeans and asks “who am I again?” mostly because in a cowboy hat and boots he is knocking everyone dead). oh, and freckles, ya’ll.  

lardo, to no one’s surprise, immediately claims rainbow dash.  they all argue for a bit because EVERYONE wants to be rainbow dash, but with a lift of her eyebrow the decision is finalized.  she goes all the way and dyes her hair all the colors of the rainbow, claiming she had wanted to do it for awhile.  she rocks a letterman jacket with rainbow’s cutie mark as well as sneakers and some cute gym shorts.  she goes to the art panels as well as those that teach artists how to break into cartooning and such.  it’s not her usual type of art, but it’s always good stuff to know.  

ransom becomes the show’s star herself, twilight sparkle.  with his anxiety about school and need to be the best in all things education, he is the best to capture twilight’s adorkable nature.  plus, with his connections to everyone on campus and his innumerable facebook friends, he the best candidate for the princess of friendship.  in his purple sweater vest and fake wings he scours the marketplace for rare merchandise.  he is definitely the collector of the group, collecting mostly adult merchandise that should not be played with, such as the funko figurines. seriously, holster once tried to touch them.  he will not make that mistake again.

holster, for his part, makes a great rarity.  he claims to be the “fashionista” of the group, for his part in constantly trying to throw out ransom’s salmon shorts.  everyone loudly disagrees, many stating he has the fashion sense of a white jock, but he holds his head high, dammit!  it also helps that he plays piano, as rarity plays a key-tar in equestria girls.  the group is horribly split between those who think of eqg as canon and those who don’t.  he wears a white suit vest and pants with a purple shirt underneath, and goes to all the forums with the horse-famous as the key speakers because he idolizes them.

shitty, for his part, makes an extremely loud fluttershy.  while not even in the vicinity of the same personality group, he extols fluttershy’s virtues as one of the characters with the most personality development in the show, and will tell anyone who will listen that he is an advocate for the shy and those who feel like doormats.  in a yellow crop top with her cutie mark and a pink skirt, he draws crowds with his soapbox speeches and wild flowing hair.  he likes to go to forums with the show’s creators and directors to ask questions about feminism, the matriarchy, and bronyhood.  and for the love of god do NOT let him out on the streets, because he will confront any scoffing bystander with the question “does this threaten your fragile masculinity?!”

the frogs don’t actually go to bronycon, but the boys coerce them into dressing up as the cutie mark crusaders for a photoshoot before the con.  dex is the long suffering apple bloom, arguably the leader of the group and the one most down to earth.  chowder gets to be the sweet and excitable sweetie belle, while nursey is the talented but disabled scootaloo.  the pictures start out nice, but quickly devolve into pictures of the three of them squabbling and falling over each other in an attempt to tug at each other’s pigtails. so, it actually turned out perfect.

imagine everyone’s surprise when they are walking through the con and come across tango and whisky as derpy and starlight glimmer, respectively. tango gets excited, asking “when did you get here? are you having fun? when did you make your costumes? do you like my costume? I’m derpy!  well technically i’m muffins but I don’t like that they changed the name because it was completely unnecessary-”

whiskey just looks mortified and mutters a gruff “hello.”  the boys sense his discomfort and comment on his outfit, ripped jeans and a t-shirt with starlight’s logo on it.  it's interesting that he’s dressed as one of the most controversial characters on the show, though no one points that out.

and finally, when a few years have passed and jack and kent have become friendly again, kent insists on joining them for the next convention as sunset shimmer.  “it’s ironic and fitting! plus she’s a fucking badass!”  since he and jack are both famous in the NHL now their pictures are taken constantly, kent is not afraid to flirt with the camera.  it’s a controversial topic in the sports world because of the oddity, but he takes it in stride and it goes a long way for help people come to terms with bronies.

after all, what are they but people who are fans of a show with cute ponies, a great message and engaging characters?