#or drive to trader joes and get a snack then go sit in the park

[cc-cuttlefishculler]

i cant wait to get my license so i can drive places myself and listen to music and stuff

[anotherwrldispossible]

Make it make sense. How, a relationship consists of so many tiny moments. So many dinner nights. Breakfast. Lunch. Weekends. Tv shows. Movies. Late night snacks. Popcorn. Peanut butter on toast. Walking to go get ice cream. Going to trader joes. Walking to go eat pasta. Holding hands on the sidewalk. Holding hands in bed. Driving to my sister's. Driving to San Diego. Meeting my mother, meeting my family. Meeting my nephew. Telling me you're really starting to love him. Driving to Oakland. Introducing you to my friends. Going to San Francisco. Eating dumplings. Playing UNO in the park. Introducing you to my ex lover's little sister who I'm still extremely close with. Helping me, help her, clean out her mother's trailer. Listening to me talk about how much I miss her mother.

Conversations about death. Tears about dead friends. Crying at my kitchen table. Telling me. I can talk about it. With you. Telling you I'm pregnant. Thinking about if I should keep it. Conversations about what our life could turn into, on the grass. College. I still have one year left. Parenting. Conversation about abortion. Sitting in waiting rooms. Holding my hand during the procedure. Crying in the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet. Rubbing my thighs. Putting my leggings back on. Foot by foot, leg by leg. Driving me home after the appointment. Always staying until I fell asleep.

Coming to my house after work late. Falling asleep before you got there. Getting up to unlock the door. Half awake. Still kissing me. Pulling the covers back. Listening to you get ready for bed. Anticipating you holding me. Feeling the bed sink. Waking up at 5:30. Getting ready for work. Whispering to you, that I'm leaving. Reaching out for me. Tired. Don't go. Kissing you, half asleep. Giggling. I gotta go. Unconscious. You hold on to me.

Mornings on Saturday. Stressed out from school. Stomach cramps. Your palm on my lower belly. Your warmth soothing the pain. Stretching together. Hiking together. Dancing together. In my bedroom. In my living room. Sliding our feet on the hardwood floor. Laughing uncontrollably. Helping me with my laundry. Folding my underwear. Fixing my bed, in the morning. Bringing me water. You, snoring. Shoving another pillow under your head. Handing me your glasses. Turning off the tv. Watching you leave on monday morning. Looking for you out my window. Being happy.

Being together for 6 months. Being together for nine. Disagreements. Arguing for the third time. Getting angry. Wanting to be right. Telling you what I need. Reassuring me. Reassuring me. Reassuring me. Feeling doubtful. Feeling frustrated. Wondering, if this is right. Wondering, if you feel the same. More conversations. Long walks. Are we compatible? More dinners. Less laughing. Apprehension. Apathy. Distance. Between the both of us. Space. I want space. Being selfish. Why are you touching me? Why don't you cuddle with me, anymore? Why are you all the way over there? You don't even talk to me when you're here. Do you want me? Do we want this?

I still remember the first time, I realized I loved you.

Still remember the first time we said it.

How does a breakup consists of so many tiny moments? Make it make sense.

[barnesandco]

Icy Haloes

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: brief mention of pneumonia and death in the first paragraph, excessive use of commas.

A/N: I’ve been suffering the worst writer’s block, but I think I’m starting to shake it off with this work, so finger’s crossed we get an update on one of my WIPs soon! Big thanks to @nacho-bucky and @captain-kelli for the extremely helpful advice that allowed me to produce a half-decent piece of writing after who-knows-how-long. It’s also hotter than Hell right now, and it was soothing to escape into a NYC winter while writing this, if you’re wondering where the inspiration came from.

Bucky hates the cold. He detests the way it bites into his bones, abhors the reminders of the graves he used to help dig every time another person in the neighborhood died of pneumonia, loathes remembering how the rattle in Steve’s lungs made him worry that his would be the next. But you, unlike Steve and possibly Sam and Nat, don’t know that. The new cook hired when a spike in missions made it increasingly more difficult for the Avengers to prepare their own meals, you have been here for all of three weeks when you appear in the living room requesting assistance with grocery shopping. 

Sam and Nat got back from a mission just yesterday and are still nursing their wounds splayed across multiple bean bags, Tony has Steve tied to the sofa by the latter’s promise to watch Star Wars, and while Wanda and Vision are available, Bucky stands at attention when you enter before you have even completed your sentence. Steve snickers, and Bucky would cuff him if he wasn’t two couches over and preoccupied with stifling a rising blush. As it is, he sends a discreet glare his best friend’s way, and volunteers to brave New York’s snow-clad streets with you instead, only because he’s a gentleman and definitely not to see the resounding smile in thanks that sends his heart racing.

“Let me go grab a jacket first,” he says, passing by you where you stand wearing a hand-knitted scarf under your jacket and a worn hat on your head, none of it able to suppress the scent of gingerbread on your person. 

“I’ll wait by the car,” you call from behind him, and he grins to himself when he hears Tony say not the Audi! as the elevator doors close. 

Five minutes later, you’re both in the garage, trying to determine which car to take if Tony’s precious Audi is unavailable, and since you’re going to be driving, he sees no reason to suggest otherwise when you head for the Tesla. Although Bucky is slowly catching up with the times, between frequent trips to the local library, the ever-so-helpful internet under F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s guidance, and the miracle of history documentaries, driving a car is one thing he still has not learnt. 

However, you were born and raised in Arlington, Texas, a city with a negligible public transport system, and therefore know how to drive. How you’ll fare on frosty streets remains to be seen. Now, he realizes neither of you really thought this trip through much beyond the date and time of the event, but you’re an experienced driver, and he has faith that you’ll adapt just fine. Besides, it’s not like it’s your first time out. 

The silence in the car is calm, warm, the gentle hum of the radiator only audible to Bucky beneath the still quieter murmur of the electric engine, and you nod your head to an invisible tune as the car speeds down country roads, towards the cluster of skyscrapers in the distance, made cloudy by winter haze. 

He’s so focused on the city ahead that he nearly jumps out of his skin when you speak for the first time since you got in the car. “Is there anywhere you’d like to go besides the supermarket?” You ask, and he sees that you think you’ve bothered him, that you’ve dragged him out against his will, and he doesn’t want to let you believe that.

“I’m happy to go wherever you like,” is his answer, with a smile that he hopes is more placating than nervous, because who knows what it’s like to be the newest part of a well-oiled machine that you think doesn’t need you. While you aren’t with them in the field, you live with them and have, in this short time, endeared yourself to each Avenger in a unique way. Recalling watching Peter do his homework a couple of months back, he thinks of nuclei and electrons, and how you seem to be an example of the first particle. Not only because he is attracted to you, but also because of how you pull people into your circle. Bucky hopes he can be granted the same joy.

“Okay,” you say softly, as if only to yourself, but he catches it and nods reassuringly. “You know, when Sam came with me last week, he actually said that you’re a lot more fun while grocery shopping.”

Bucky’s eyes widen. “I’m more fun to be with while shopping than at home, or I’m more fun to go shopping with than Sam?” He asks, turning in his seat.

“The second one.”

“Did he say why?”

A thoughtful hum, and you bite the inside of your cheek while formulating an appropriate answer. “Something about your old-fashioned sensibilities being offended by the prices nowadays--”

“I am not old-fashioned--”

“-- and he warned me to keep you away from the snack aisle because you, and I quote, lose it at the sight of all those Doritos flavors,” you finish with a teasing smile, directed at the road. With no response to that, he resigns himself to sink back into his seat while crossing his arms and grumbling his displeasure, only to perk up with the sound of your laugh, just as you swing into the parking lot of Trader Joe’s.

One successful grocery round later, and Bucky’s closing the lid on a trunk full of grocery bags, one of which consists only of Doritos. He’s going to open the door for you when you stop him and gesture to the cafe across the street with a sheepish look on your face.

“Hot chocolate?” ¨

“Sure,” he answers, and you lock the door. The place is almost empty, what with it being a couple of hours before lunch on a workday, and you order to hot chocolates to go, explaining that you’re just a few minutes away from Central Park and you wanted to go for a brief walk, if that was okay with him, of course.

The hot chocolates arrive, both with every imaginable topping on them, and Bucky hurries to pull out his wallet despite your protests. “Let’s go,” he says, handing you your cup and praying that he can balance his without spilling over, and holding the door for you as you exit. 

New York’s boisterous bustle is dulled by the quiet of winter, the pulsing life of the city hushed as snow starts falling, this November precipitation hopefully a good omen for a white Christmas. This part of town seems to fall silent, and he relishes the peace, the rustle of your jackets as shoulders brush when a rare stranger passes by. 

Soon, the city falls away to the expanse of what used to be green but is now just a domesticated snowy tundra -- Central Park. A lone runner sprints across a pathway a hundred yards away, and you sit down on a bench.

“I love New York,” you say with a smile, and Bucky can see the enchantment of this city falling over you as you close your eyes. Less than a month, most of it spent outside the city lines, and you’re falling for the place he knows as home, and it makes him fall in love with it all over again. To see a familiar place through fresh and wondrous eyes is like getting to read a favorite book for the first time -- a privelege few are afforded, but he is fortunate to be amongst them. The way your eyes flit across the sky following a flock of pigeons, the way you inhale the scent of hot chocolate like no place else in the world can produce, and then how your gaze falls to the untouched, sacred blanket of snow in front of you. The ensuing gasp is one he cannot decipher, and so he asks.

“What is it?”

“I just realized I’ve never made snow angels,” you answer, trembling with childish epiphany, and he looks at you like you’ve grown another head. It’s been almost a century since he made his last one, too, at the age of 12, before he had to resist in order to avoid bringing Steve down with him lest the skinny rascal die from the cold.

“Do you,” he begins hesitantly, “do you want to, right now?” The expression on your face is one of barely controlled want and bashfulness at the desire. 

“Yeah,” you say after a full minute’s consideration. That’s how Bucky finds himself, despite his issues with the cold, on the ground in a field of snow like a starfish against the ground and waving his arms and legs wildly. Your giggles float to him on a cloud of air, breathless, shaking, and he stops after a while to lay there next to you, the silver bond of a new friendship glowing in the gray daylight. 

He’s the first to rise, carefully so as to not disturb the pattern, and he pulls you up after, watches the smile split your face into the fullest crescent moon, warming his insides more than the hot chocolate did. The cold is starting to soak through his clothes, but the pins and needles prickling at his skin soon start to sear with that white heat that comes after touching snow, and he’s warm all over. When you turn to look at him with a thank you on the tip of your tongue, his cheeks pink and eyes icy blue, he smiles back. Thinks he could learn to love the cold, if it comes with companionship like this.

[perfecttimeseleven]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/599XTxnDzzcJibnEaEjPdb?si=e9ce5c51fbdb474e

PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN EP. 7 TRANSCRIPT

ACT TWO SCENE ONE Lights rise on a table and two chairs in an otherwise empty-seeming room. THIEF #1 and THIEF #2 are seated at the table, examining a laptop. They’re both young; even younger than REMINGTON, JAY, and DAISY (think 13 or 14.) They’re unassuming — cute little kids, even — dressed in all black. THIEF #2 (bored) When you said “surprise job for our two-month anniversary”, I thought we’d like, I don’t know, kiss with tongue. THIEF #1 Yeah, but this is just as good. THIEF #2 Do you care about kissing with tongue at all? THIEF #1 Babe, of course I do. I just think -- THIEF #2 It’s just heist after heist all the time. The only thing you don’t seem to care about stealing is my heart. THIEF #1 Babe, it’s what we do. THIEF #2 Besides, it’s a crap job. Robbing a supermarket? A supermarket? That’s the most boring junk I’ve ever heard. THIEF #1 Don’t you trust me? THIEF 2 You’re a bank robber. THIEF 1 You’re a bank robber. THIEF 2 Okay, that’s fair. I just…will this be worth it at all? I know you have trouble grasping the fact that we’re now fricking loaded. We’re not little please-sir orphans snatching heads of lettuce from farmer’s markets anymore. We’ve stepped up our game. What’s so special about this supermarket? THIEF #1 Trust me. This will be an easy, fun night out. What’s not special about it? THIEF #2 Why are we wasting our time? We could be preparing for the Minecraft job. Or kissing with tongue. And…and, and, and…you’re not even taking the proper precautions. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to get caught robbing a stupid supermarket, of all things. Like imagine it! You get cornered in the...I don’t know, produce aisle or something stupid like that and the headlines are all “two kids got caught stealing from the Shoprite off the highway” — who wants that? (THIEF #1 stands up. 11. Super Supermarket Heist.) THIEF #1 (pointing at the laptop screen) LOOK. ALL RIGHT, WE’VE GOT OUR TARGET HERE. THIS LOCAL SUPERMARKET. YOU KNOW YOUR JOB, YOUR INSTRUCTION — THIEF #2 (standing up) I THINK WE NEED SOME MORE DISCUSSION. THIEF #1 IT’S A QUAINT UNPOPULATED SPOT WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND THAT’S NOT A LOT! THIEF #2 WHERE’S THE FUN? WHY NOT GO BIGGER AND PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS THIEF #1 AND PULL THE TRIGGER? THIEF #2 Fine. I guess you have a point. I’ll do it. But you better watch a sweet, romantic movie with me later. THIEF #1 Is it — THIEF #2 Cats 2019. I know you hate it. THIEF #1 Fine. THIEF #1 YEAH, WE’RE GONNA MAKE YOU STOP AND SHOP NOW PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR YOU’RE DEAD OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE SAID GRAB THE CASH, THEN DASH OUT THE BACK AROUND THE TRASH THIEF #2 WILL THAT WORK? THIEF #1 (exasperated) JESUS CHRIST! THIEF #1/THIEF #2 A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST! WE’RE GONNA MAKE YOU STOP AND SHOP NOW PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR YOU’RE DEAD OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE SAID! SIT TIGHT OR WE’LL FIGHT OH, THIS AIN’T THE NIGHT TO BE STUCK UNSUPERVISED IN A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST! THIEF #2 YOU KEEP ON SAYING THIS’LL BE A CAKEWALK. ALL OF THIS “NOTHING MUCH AT STAKE” TALK! HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT? WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR ANY THREAT THIEF #1 I’VE GOT INSIDER INFO FROM MY SOURCE. I TRUST HER. SECURITY TONIGHT WILL BE LACKLUSTER. RIGHT NOW, WE WILL JUST SIT TIGHT. AT EIGHT O’CLOCK, WE’LL SHOP RITE! THIEF #1/THIEF #2 WE’RE GONNA MAKE YOU STOP AND SHOP THIEF #1 AND NOT A SINGLE COP WILL SEE, TRUST ME, THIEF #1/THIEF #2 IT’LL BE EASY! GRAB THE CASH, THEN DASH IN AND OUT IN A FLASH! CATCH THEM BY SURPRISE! A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST. WE’RE GONNA MAKE YOU STOP AND SHOP NOW PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR YOU’RE DEAD OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE SAID! SIT TIGHT OR WE’LL FIGHT OH, THIS AIN’T THE NIGHT TO BE STUCK UNSUPERVISED IN A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST! THIEF #2 I just…this is so out of nowhere. We usually plan these together. THIEF #1 I wanted to surprise you. You’ve been so stressed. I didn’t want to add the stress of planning a fun anniversary outing on top of that. THIEF #1 I KNOW

THINGS HAVE BEEN ROUGH — THIEF #2 YOU’RE NOT AN OPEN BOOK. THIEF #1 BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE CAN’T GIVE UP HOPE AND — THIEF #2 LOOK. WE’VE GONE DOWNHILL. ADMIT IT. IT SURE SHOWS! BANKS WERE OUR TRADE, NOT TRADER JOE’S! THIEF #1 SURE, WE’VE DONE MUCH COOLER JOBS WITHOUT MUCH  CONSEQUENCE BUT A SMALL VICTORY WILL BOOST OUR CONFIDENCE! THIEF #2 DOING IT TOGETHER IS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME ART MUSEUM OR BANK OR MALL OR…I GUESS GROCERY THIEF #1 Yeah? THIEF #2 Yeah! THIEF #1/THIEF #2 SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPER SUPERMARKET, SUPERMARKET HEIST! YEAH, YOU’LL STOP AND SHOP NOW PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR YOU’RE DEAD OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE SAID! SIT TIGHT OR WE’LL FIGHT OH, THIS AIN’T THE NIGHT TO BE STUCK UNSUPERVISED IN A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST! WE’RE GONNA MAKE YOU STOP AND SHOP NOW PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR YOU’RE DEAD OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE SAID! SIT TIGHT OR WE’LL FIGHT OH, THIS AIN’T THE NIGHT TO BE STUCK UNSUPERVISED IN A SUPERMARKET WE’RE ARMED AND DISGUISED IT’S A SUPERMARKET GROSSLY OVERPRICED IT’S A SUPER SUPERMARKET HEIST! (THIEF #1 and THIEF #2 exit.)

ACT TWO

SCENE TWO

The lights rise on REMINGTON and HP. REMINGTON is sitting next to a Dumpster in the back alley behind a restaurant. HP is squatting beside her, picking at a piece of crumpled paper and tossing its remnants into a small trash can that he hugs with one arm. REMINGTON is wearing floral shorts and a tattered, half-tucked in Domino’s employee shirt. HP is still in his original outfit, although he’s ditched the rainbow scarf and his jacket. Those can be seen laying on the other side of the Dumpster, next to the wall in a pile of other fabrics that seem to comprise a makeshift bed. The two kids have a half-empty and surprisingly fresh-looking Domino’s pizza box in front of them. REMINGTON is snacking on one of the last pieces. REMINGTON Okay. I’ve been doin’ some big brain thinking. Superhero names. HP (turning his head sharply from the paper) Hm? REMINGTON Let’s do a little word association, okay? Test the power, the wow-factor that these names hold. Ready? HP Mmkay. I like to word associate. REMINGTON What comes to mind when you hear the word...Flambé? (HP pauses, looking up contemplatively, before turning his head back to REMINGTON.) HP Shrimp? REMINGTON Nooo, like…I don’t know. (takes a bite of the pizza) Doesn’t it sound fancy? Like ain’t it French or something? (receives no reaction from HP) Okay. Okay. How about...the Remedy? HP (squints a little in confusion) What? Like medicines? Medicines and pills and little maggots in bowls? REMINGTON Like, my name is Remington, but there’s not much you can do with Remy or Remington that isn’t Ratatouille — (sees HP’s blank face, gives up) I’ll think of more names. (takes another bite of her pizza) Mm. Domino’s could beat up Papa John in a fight. (HP finishes tearing up the piece of paper and jumps to his feet.) HP Your break is almost over. You need to get back to work. REMINGTON No. The voices hurt. I’m lazy! HP One fire by the end of the day. That is our rule. REMINGTON (reluctantly dropping his half-finished slice in the pizza box) One spark. HP No, one fire. You’ve passed the spark level. (HP offers REMINGTON his hands, which REMINGTON takes. HP effortlessly pulls REMINGTON to her feet.) HP C’mon! It’s easy! (REMINGTON reluctantly unclasps her bracelet and tosses it aside. 12. Perfect Times Eleven.) HP NOW DEEP DOWN, THERE’S A FIRE GROWING STRONG JUST LET THEM HELP YOU SET IT FREE, REMINGTON LONG! IMMERSE YOURSELF IN VOICES, AIM THEIR ENERGY AT ONE SPOT! CAN YOU FEEL YOUR INSIDES SORTA GETTING HOT? REMINGTON Yeah, but it doesn’t feel healthy... HP ONCE YOUR BRAIN WIDENS, GIVE IN TO PRIMAL DRIVES, YOU’LL GAIN ENERGY FROM ALL YOUR PAST LIVES NOT JUST THE ONES YOU HEAR SINGING! REMINGTON What do you mean? HP WHETHER ANIMAL OR HUMAN, THEY WILL BE BRINGING YOU ENERGY! AND THAT’S THE KEY! IT SWELLS UP IN YOUR BRAIN! LET IT PLUMMET DOWN LIKE RAIN ONTO YOUR GOAL HP/REMINGTON THIS ENERGY IN YOU AND ME, ALL OF IT COMES FROM THE MOMENT WE BECOME ONE WITH THE SOUL AND OUR SOULS HAVE BEEN PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN REMINGTON WHICH MAKES US NOW GODS AMONG MEN HP WE COULD BURN AWAY ALL LIFE AND CREATE THE WORLD AGAIN REMINGTON THAT’S A LITTLE EXTREME, BUT SURE, I SUPPOSE. AT LEAST ONCE I'M TRAINED, WE CAN LEAVE THIS TENT BEHIND A DOMINO’S! HP/REMINGTON PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN, A UNIVERSAL LOTTERY WIN! NATURALLY MORE DISPOSED TO FREE THE ENERGY WITHIN! TIME AND SPACE WILL JUMBLE AND CRUMBLE AT MY HAND I’M A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX WITH REALITY AT MY COMMAND! HP STARTING LITTLE FIRES IS THE EASIEST TO MASTER! AFTERWARDS, YOU’LL LEARN TELEKINESIS FASTER TO SET A FIRE, GIVE YOUR SOUL’S ENERGY A TOSS! SCOOP UP A BIT OF THAT TIME AND SPACEY SAUCE THROW IT OUT OF YOURSELF AND JUST LET IT ALL GO THE HUGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY WILL SET SHIT AGLOW AND AFTER YOU CAN GET FUN LITTLE FIRES TO START, MASTERING THE REST OF IT’S THE EASIER PART HP/REMINGTON ‘CAUSE ENERGY IS THE KEY! IT SWELLS UP IN YOUR BRAIN! LET IT PLUMMET DOWN LIKE RAIN ONTO YOUR GOAL THIS ENERGY IN YOU AND ME, ALL OF IT COMES FROM THE MOMENT WE

BECOME ONE WITH THE SOUL AND OUR SOULS HAVE BEEN PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN, THE LUCK OF THE DRAW REMINGTON IS BEING A REALLY GREAT TEACHER ONE OF YOUR POWERS? ‘CAUSE I AM IN AWE. HP WELL, TEACHING YOU’S AS FUN AS MAKING ANIMALS COMBUST! REMINGTON THANK YOU…THAT’S A COMPLIMENT, I TRUST? HP/REMINGTON PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN, A UNIVERSAL LOTTERY WIN! NATURALLY MORE DISPOSED TO FREE THE ENERGY WITHIN! TIME AND SPACE WILL JUMBLE AND CRUMBLE AT MY HAND I’M A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX WITH REALITY AT MY COMMAND! HP Now, concentrate! Feel it build up inside you until every cell of your body feels like it’s screaming! REMINGTON Ahhhh! This shit hurts! HP And let it go! (REMINGTON propels her hands forward in one strenuous motion. There’s a whooshing noise and the inside of the trash can is now impressively aflame.) HP That’s it! REMINGTON That was my best one so far! HP/REMINGTON WE’RE PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN! A ONCE-IN-A-BLUE-MOON CHANCE, WE'RE EXISTENT AND ALIVE AGAINST ALL CIRCUMSTANCE! HP IT’S GREAT TO BE BETTER THAN HUMAN! REMINGTON EH. IT’S OKAY. IT’S GREAT TO LIVE WITH YOU IN THIS ABANDONED ALLEYWAY! HP/REMINGTON PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN, A UNIVERSAL LOTTERY WIN! NATURALLY MORE DISPOSED TO FREE THE ENERGY WITHIN! TIME AND SPACE WILL JUMBLE AND CRUMBLE AT MY HAND I’M A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX WITH REALITY AT MY COMMAND! (REMINGTON, perhaps spurred by the vigor of the musical number, is ready to go apeshit with the fire. She concentrates on the pizza box.) REMINGTON’S VOICES AHH! (She manages to set the pizza box on fire.) HP Yes! Nice! REMINGTON’S VOICES AHH! (REMINGTON manages to start a fire from somewhere inside the Domino’s — we can see a faint flicker through the window.) HP You’re doing so good! REMINGTON’S VOICES AHH! (REMINGTON sets all of the nearby Dumpster’s contents on fire. Spectacular!) HP Fantastic! (REMINGTON victoriously embraces HP, who attempts to spin her around. REMINGTON then takes HP’s hand. They skip around a little/dance giddily amid the blaze.) HP/REMINGTON PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN, A UNIVERSAL LOTTERY WIN! NATURALLY MORE DISPOSED TO FREE THE ENERGY WITHIN! TIME AND SPACE WILL JUMBLE AND CRUMBLE AT MY HAND I’M A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX WITH THE WORLD AT MY COMMAND! (pausing in a triumphant pose center stage) PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN PERFECT TIMES ELEVEN! (REMINGTON and HP freeze in their triumphant pose. Somewhere behind them, a burning piece of cardboard unceremoniously falls out of the Dumpster. Blackout.)

[artificialqueens]

Undone, Chapter 29 (Bitney) - Stephanie/Veronica

A/N: Well, we’re almost at the end! This is the penultimate chapter, and I promise to post the last one soon! Here’s a link to the previous chapters. Thank you so much to @opalescent-cheetah and @artificialpuddle for beta-reading.

Chapter Summary: Courtney whisks Bianca away for a weekend of rest and relaxation. When they return to LA, they’re met with an unwelcome surprise.  

TW: Emotional abuse, PTSD, stalking, serious car accident

***

Bianca is eerily quiet during their drive up the coast. Courtney wants to ask her questions, but she doesn’t dare. Instead, she keeps her eyes on the road, occasionally reaching over to place a hand on Bianca’s, just as a small gesture to remind her that she’s not alone.

They arrive at the beautiful house just as the sun is setting. Bianca goes straight to the bedroom to lie down while Courtney discreetly cancels their dinner reservations and brews a few cups of herbal tea. She brings them into the bedroom on a tray, setting it on the night table. She wants to lie down, take Bianca into her arms, but she’s not sure if that’s the right thing to do at the moment. Instead, she stands a bit awkwardly, checking out the views from the bedroom window, watching the ocean waves in the distance.

Bianca sits up, wordlessly reaching for her, pulling her onto the bed. It takes her a minute to get comfortable, pushing aside the covers and curling up against Courtney’s body. Finally, as Courtney’s hand drifts lovingly through her hair, she seems to relax, a deep sigh leaving her.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles into Courtney’s shoulder.

“Sorry for what?” Courtney asks, pressing her cheek to the top of Bianca’s head.

"For..." Bianca pauses, biting her lip, shame etched into the crease between her brows. "I’m sure this isn’t how you pictured a weekend away together.”

“The whole point of the weekend is to give you a chance to relax. I don’t have any expectations.”

“Really?” Bianca asks skeptically.

“Yes.”

“Then why do you have a Trader Joe’s bag full of sex toys?”

Shit. Courtney winces a little, saying, “You saw that?”

“Yeah, I thought it would be snacks,” Bianca admits with a dry laugh.

“I’m sorry. I just thought maybe...we should have options.” Courtney feels a bit guilty. She tried to plan for anything Bianca might be in the mood for, not realizing that it would seem insensitive.  

“I do like...options.”

“Yeah, I know you do,” Courtney giggles with a relieved sigh. She breathes in, inhaling the sweet scent of Bianca’s hair, arms tight around her. “So, you were looking for snacks. Does that mean you’re hungry? Wanna order some food?”

“No. I just want you.” Bianca buries her face into Courtney’s neck, shifting against her.

Courtney holds her closer. These moments, when she can enjoy the quiet closeness, these are the times when she feels the luckiest. It’s been a rough road for them to get to this place, but Courtney wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

A gasp from Bianca causes her to open her eyes.

“What is it? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just...I think...I think I felt her move for the first time…” Bianca’s blue eyes are wide with wonder, hands on her abdomen.

“Omigod, really? Can I feel?” Courtney squeals.

“Yeah...I guess I could be wrong. It didn’t feel like much.” Bianca’s brow furrows, lifting her top so that Courtney can place warm hands on her little bump.

“What did it feel like?”

“Kind of...fluttery? I don’t know…I’m probably being a dumbass.”

Courtney’s thumbs stroke Bianca’s belly, and she leans in.

“Hi, Naomi Watts Del Rio,” Courtney coos, making Bianca laugh. “Are you awake? Wanna come say hi?”

She waits for a few moments, looking up at Bianca questioningly.

“Are you feeling anything?”

“No,” Bianca sighs, a bit disappointed. “I probably just imagined it. Maybe it was just my stomach growling or—”

She stops, brow furrowed.

“—Did you feel that?”

“No?”

“Are you sure? Because it was definitely something…” Bianca’s hands join Courtney’s. “Talk to her some more.”

Courtney nods, moving her face even closer to Bianca’s belly.

“Listen, Naomi, you should really know—”

“Right there!”

“I felt it!” Courtney exclaims. “Omigod, that’s so cool.”

“Yeah. It’s really cool,” Bianca says, feeling a bit like it’s the understatement of the year. “Keep talking…”

“I want you to know how excited we are to meet you, Naomi... I’ve even learned how to use a drill to build your bed.”

“You probably should have known that already,” Bianca says.

“Shh, we’re talking,” Courtney teases, continuing. “Now, we understand that your brain is not quite developed, and honestly probably won’t be fully cooked until you’re about 25 years old, so I want you to know that if you have any questions, about anything, feel free to ask.”

A light chuckle escapes from Bianca’s mouth. 25 years. Good lord.

“We’ll do our best to provide answers. Although, we really can’t promise that we know everything. There’s a lot we’re still learning, too.”

“Tell me about it,” Bianca mutters, more to herself than to Courtney. It isn’t until Courtney’s eyes lift to meet hers, the happy expression immediately melting into one of concern, that Bianca realizes she’s crying again. “Shit, sorry.”

She wipes her face aggressively with the back of her sleeve, sniffling.

“What’s going on, B?”

“I just...sometimes I forget. That this is forever. That I’m never really getting away from him.”

Courtney takes both of her hands, presses soft kisses against the back of her wrists.

“I feel so guilty, like...I should just be happy, all the time. And usually I am, but…” Bianca’s breath hitches. “Why can’t I be more grateful?”

“You’re scared,” Courtney tells her. She wishes more than anything that she could make it better. “There’s a lot of things we don’t know yet. I think anyone would be scared.”

Bianca nods.

“And I’m sure most mothers have things they’re scared about. Maybe all mothers. So try to give yourself a break,” Courtney says. She reaches up to brush some hair from Bianca’s face. “We’re gonna figure it out.”

Bianca sighs deeply.

“I think I actually am pretty hungry. Let’s order dinner.”

“Okay.” Courtney squeezes her hands one more time before reaching for her phone.  

***

Things feel brighter when Bianca wakes up on Saturday—enough that Courtney convinces her to go into town that afternoon, check out the sights, do some window shopping. They’re wandering around a park when it slips out that she’s been so terrified to tell anyone about the pregnancy before Jared knew that she hasn’t even told her mom yet.

“What?!” Courtney exclaims, scandalized, then confesses, “Even my mum knows. And Shea, but that was an accident when I got drunk. And Sasha, because...well, Shea told her. But they knew not to say anything!”

“Not good at keeping secrets, are you?” Bianca asks, shaking her head.

“Well, I mean, I’m...no, I guess not. I’m sorry. I was excited.” Courtney bites her lip. “Oops?”

It’s hard to be mad at that, so Bianca just shrugs, strolling over to a shady bench and sitting down.

“Do you think we should call my mom?”

“Yes!”

It’s exactly, exactly what Bianca needs. To hear the thrilled excitement in her mother’s voice, how enthusiastically she lists all of the things that she has to send them, asks question after question about her health, if she’s getting enough sleep, have they thought about names, does she need anything? It’s a reminder that no matter what happens with Jared, her baby will be surrounded by love, not just from them, but from a huge extended family. That this isn’t all on her and Courtney’s shoulders. That even though she feels alone sometimes, she’s very much not.

After chatting and crying and laughing with her mother for nearly 45 minutes, Bianca finally hangs up, exhausted and full of love.

“Who’s next?!” Courtney asks, clapping her hands. “Vanessa? Latrice? Kim? Adore?”  

Bianca shakes her head.

“Well, Vanessa already kind of knows. I guess me staying sober at a wedding was too big of a clue.”

“It’s a little suspicious,” Courtney laughs.

“But...can we make the rest of the calls tomorrow? Right now I just wanna...enjoy the sun.”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

***

They spend the rest of the day downtown, strolling around an art museum, doing some shopping. Bianca even finds herself excited about going back to the house and getting dolled up for the fancy Italian restaurant Courtney booked for them.

She’s glad that they came, and not just because the dress-up night includes Courtney in red lipstick and a smokey eye, looking sinfully sexy as she sits across from her in the candlelight. Also because it feels normal, this date night. It feels like what their lives should be, all the time. The two of them laughing and chatting. Courtney’s sorry attempt to eat her food left-handed because she doesn’t want to unlace her fingers from Bianca’s. And of course, the food is unbelievable. So good that Courtney picks up her dessert plate and starts to lick it.

“What are you doing?!” Bianca hisses.

“It’s good,” Courtney defends herself.  

“Yes, I know that, but we’re not animals.”

“Licking a plate is a sign of respect for the chef,” Courtney says, eyes glittering with laughter.

“Where?!” demands Bianca.

“In my house,” Courtney says.

“Okay...then maybe you should only lick plates in your own house. Where people can’t see you. Because this is...very embarrassing.”

Courtney puts down her plate and sighs in mock seriousness, saying, “Bianca...if you can’t support my platelicking lifestyle, then we have a real problem.”

“I’ll order you another dessert.”

“You’re really missing the point,” Courtney giggles. “And since when do you have a problem with me licking things?”

“Fine. Be weird. Lick away,” Bianca says. She takes a sip of her tea and does nothing to stop Courtney from leaning over the table and licking her cheek, instead just laughing joyfully and shaking her head.

***

On Sunday, Bianca’s eyes flutter open to the sound of Courtney’s quiet footsteps. She sits up, realizing that Courtney’s already been out for a run, and is now heading towards the bathroom with her sneakers in her hand.

“Hey,” Bianca says, voice still hoarse with sleep, and Courtney looks up at her guiltily.

“Hey. Sorry for waking you.” She places her sneakers on the floor, smiling softly when Bianca reaches out her arms, beckoning her over.

“Come.”

“I’m all gross, don’t you want me to shower first?” Courtney asks, walking over to the bed.

“No.” Bianca takes her hand and pulls her in close, whispering, “I like you sweaty.”

Courtney slides her arms around Bianca’s shoulders.

“Is that so?”

“Uh huh.” Bianca’s fingers are already up under her shorts, slipping in through the side of her panties. She lowers her head to lick the salty sweat from her neck.

It’s strange. When Jared would return from the gym, she always recoiled if he touched her before getting into the shower. She told herself that it was because it was gross and dirty and anyone would feel that way. But now, as she buries her nose into Courtney’s damp hair, inhaling her scent like it’s a drug, she has to admit that there’s an astronomical difference.

Bianca’s thumb grazes Courtney’s clit, making her whimper pitifully. She’s sticky and wet and absolute perfection. Her other hand is teasing, nails lightly scratching her back, raking along her spine.

“We need to cut your nails again,” Courtney says.

“Oh yeah?” Bianca moves her hand lower, nails moving in gentle circles over her ass before digging into the tender flesh.

“Oh god,” Courtney breathes. “Maybe not.”

Bianca bites softly on her earlobe before ordering in a low voice, “Take off your top.”

Courtney obeys instantly, pulling it off and flinging it aside. She’s fully gone; eyes dilated, dripping wet. Bianca pulls her slick fingers away and holds them out like an offering.

“Taste.”

Courtney’s mouth falls open and Bianca pushes her fingers gently inside. She sucks on them ardently, so utterly shameless that Bianca thinks she might come just from watching. Her heart races as she withdraws her fingers, pulling Courtney into a passionate kiss, licking into her mouth. She can taste her, that salty sweetness that makes Bianca dizzy with lust.

She works her fingers back in between Courtney’s thighs, ghosting over her clit—once, twice, three times—watching her gasp and plead for more, arching into her hand. Her head is lolling back, and Bianca nibbles along her jaw.

“Look at me.”

Courtney’s head turns toward her slowly, hips now rutting faster against Bianca’s fingers.

“Please, B…”

“Please what?”

“Fuck me. Please fuck me, I need-” Courtney inhales sharply as two fingers push inside her hot, wet pussy. She moans brokenly.

“I love the beautiful sounds you make,” Bianca tells her, curling her fingers, thumb still dancing over her clit.

“I love...I love…”

“What do you love, angel?”

Courtney’s moaning is getting higher and louder as Bianca strokes her from the inside.

“Tell me.”

But Courtney’s now too lost in her own ecstasy for words. Instead, it’s just unintelligible moans as she arches up, fisting the sheets, face tilted towards Bianca. She’s rapidly unraveling, spasms rocking her body, over and over.

Bianca’s mouth hovers over hers, swallowing up her gorgeous moans.

“Had enough, baby?”

Courtney shakes her head, and Bianca smiles, sucking gently on her bottom lip, thumb pressing against her swollen clit. She keeps going until Courtney can’t take it anymore, tears collected in her eyes, sweat beading on her brow.

“B...oh, god.”

Bianca eases her fingers out slowly and sucks them into her mouth as Courtney collapses against her chest, panting. She presses a kiss against her sweaty temple, rocking her.

“Fuck…” Courtney exhales. “I was...not expecting that.”

“No?” Bianca flutters her lashes innocently, dimples deep.

Courtney smiles up at her, shaking her head.

“You’re full of surprises. I never would have expected for you to be so into the...the mess of it all.”

She offers a lopsided grin and says, “But your mess is beautiful. Delicious. So-”

She’s cut off as Courtney’s lips press against hers again, hot tongue slipping into her mouth. She can feel things shifting, feel her spine begin to tingle as Courtney pushes her onto her back, slips a hand under her top to pinch her nipple. She arches up with a gasp.

“Hey,” she pants against Courtney’s mouth, “What do you say we just...stay in bed all day? How does that sound?”  

“Sold!” Courtney replies, pulling a sheet over them.

All things considered, it’s a pretty good day. They do in fact stay in bed for hours, fucking lazily and dozing on and off, bodies tangled together, finally getting around to ordering some food around 3, and then wandering downstairs to enjoy the swimming pool and lounge in the warm sun until it begins to set. Bianca manages a few more phone calls about the baby. Vanessa has broken the news to her other sisters already (unsurprising), but Latrice is shocked and thrilled, squealing into her ear with joy. No one brings up the Jared factor, and Bianca is grateful for that.

Once the autumn air turns chilly, she and Courtney head back inside, climbing under the covers to experiment with that Trader Joe’s bag of toys, until Bianca’s voice is hoarse and raspy from moaning, body so spent that she can barely move.

As a bonus, it keeps Bianca’s mind occupied and her hands busy during the day, and allows her a few hours of sound, restful sleep.

***

Bianca is on pins and needles on Monday, waiting for Asia’s message about the restraining order. She finally gets the call a little after eleven, telling her that everything’s been taken care of and that it’s safe to come back.

“Make sure to tell me if he contacts you in any way, because we can use that to make the restraining order permanent,” she explains.

They get on the road right away; Courtney knows that Bianca is anxious to see the dogs, and to get a bunch of errands done before they have to go back to work on Tuesday. They manage to only stop once for gas in Van Nuys.

Bianca’s just coming out from the restroom when her phone starts to ring. She sees the caller ID and feels the chill all throughout her body. It’s a new number, but she knows who it is anyway. And then she sees the rest of the notifications: over 10 new text messages, from the same number.

When the voicemail message pops up, she presses her phone on the hood of the car, face down, closing her eyes.

“I don’t want to listen. I don’t want to look.”

“You don’t have to,” says Courtney. “You can just forward everything to Asia.”

“How?” Bianca says, voice breaking. She’s starting to feel so small and useless again.

“Come here, baby.” Courtney takes the phone gently and shows her how to forward the message.

Bianca feels like a moron. It’s ridiculously simple. If she wasn’t shaking so hard, she would have figured it out herself. Courtney also goes to her text messages, takes a couple of screenshots, and includes them as well. She doesn’t make Bianca read them, but the look on her face tells Bianca all she needs to know.

“He’s mad, isn’t he? About the restraining order. The baby, I-”

“Yeah. He’s mad.” Courtney doesn’t hand her phone back, instead placing it into the cup holder, where Bianca doesn’t have to see it, but it begins to buzz again almost immediately.

Bianca whimpers pitifully at the sound, that helpless feeling returning, and Courtney takes a deep breath.

“Okay, listen. He’s clearly not following the restraining order. What do you say we stop home to grab a few things, and then find a hotel to stay in for the week? I’m sure Sasha won’t mind keeping the dogs for a few more days.”

It’s a practical plan. Bianca is grateful that at least one of them still has their wits about them. She nods, agreeing.

“Okay.” Courtney leans across the center console and brushes a light kiss against Bianca’s cheek.

They get back on the road, thankful that at least they’re gonna be home well before rush hour. But when they finally turn onto their street, Bianca lets out a gasp.

“Are you okay?” asks Courtney, concern creasing her brow.

“Don’t park!” Bianca says, dialing the phone anxiously. “Keep driving!”

Courtney gets a sick feeling, confirmed when a shiny charcoal-colored SUV pulls out. She doesn’t even have to look closely at the face in the rearview mirror to know who it is.

“Are you calling the cops?” Courtney asks.

“No, I thought I should call Asia,” Bianca says, phone to her ear. “Oh shit.”

“Maybe...maybe you should call 911 instead?” Courtney suggests. She’s trying valiantly to stay calm, even with Jared right on her tail. Her mind races, thinking for a safe place to pull over. Maybe if she just drives for a bit, he’ll give up.

“Hi, is she in? This is Bianca, and we--Jared is following us. We’re in the car, he was waiting in front of our house, I...Okay...Yeah, it’s on...Yeah, I will.”

Bianca hangs up, her breathing shallow.

“What did she say?”

“I talked to her office. They said…” Bianca takes a sharp breath, trying to calm herself, as Courtney turns from Ocean Ave onto the PCH. 

Maybe the long stretch of highway will discourage him. After all, as much as he clearly wants to confront Bianca, he has to know that a high-speed chase isn’t going to help him at all. Courtney prays that he’s at least partially being fueled by self-preservation instead of blind rage--at this point, it seems like their best hope for getting away.

“They said to call 911, and that they’re tracking our location with this app they installed on my phone, so if-” Bianca lets out a sob.

All Courtney wants is to stop the fucking car and hug her, promise that everything will be okay. But she doesn’t have that luxury right now, so she settles for a hand on Bianca’s thigh when they pull up to the next light. An excruciatingly long one. Jared is honking his horn at them, trying to intimidate her into pulling over, getting out.

Turn green, turn green, turn green.

Bianca dials 911, glancing back anxiously at him before forcing herself to face forward.

“Fuck...I’m on hold.”

“Okay...it’s okay.” Being on hold right now is infuriating, but Courtney knows that she has to stay calm. The light finally changes. “Don’t worry, they’ll answer.”

She grips the wheel with both hands, trying to glance back at Jared at little as possible, telling herself lies to keep calm. She’s just driving. Just driving straight ahead. It’s a road trip. No big deal.

The whole thing is a nightmare that won’t let up--Jared is right on her tail, his steely eyes boring into her soul every time she so much as glances back. Bianca is growing more and more hysterical as she waits for the operator to answer, begging Courtney to drive faster, but really begging her to keep them safe, something that Courtney isn’t capable of at the moment. The crushing failure of things spiraling out of control makes Courtney feel trapped and terrified, like they’ve already lost.

She tries to keep her own emotions in check, but finds herself wavering between panic and dissociation. The only thing keeping her from a full-blown meltdown are the hypnotic lines in the road, the weak promise of something less terrible if she just keeps going.

She barely even registers when Bianca finally gets on the line with the 911 operator, her words nearly incomprehensible as she tries to frantically explain their situation. Where they are, why they haven’t pulled over yet.

Anyone thinking straight would have pulled over.

Anyone with half a brain would have seen it coming.

Bianca’s voice is hoarse and shrill at the same time, reaching a fever pitch as she screams for Courtney to go faster. And then Courtney makes the fatal mistake of checking the mirror. For one hideous second, her eyes lock with Jared’s.

He smiles.

And then she hits a blind curve too fast, has to cut the wheel hard to the right to avoid an oncoming truck, then hard to the left so they don’t crash right into the cliffside.

That’s when she loses control, the car skidding over the wrong side of the road, right for the guardrail.

There are a few moments of slow motion before they crash through the guardrail, and all Courtney can see is the deep, dark blue of the Pacific Ocean.

And she thinks to herself, ‘What a shame. What a shame to die like this.’

And then everything goes black.

[fromitalytosmith-blog]

Northampton Survival Guide

Hi All, 

Moving to college is overwhelming and for some of you, moving to a new city might be as well. Northampton is one of the smallest cities I have ever lived in but has by far the best charm. I thought I would share with you some of the tips I’ve learned from exploring Smith’s backyard this last year. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: In this post I will often be mentioning PVTA buses. These buses are free for 5 College Students if they present their OneCard (which you will receive at orientation on the first day) to the bus driver. Click here for the link to bus schedules. 

1. Nearest mall

Hampshire Mall - 367 Russel St. Hadley

Whether you’re first moving into Smith and need more hangers or you want to go see a movie or buy storage bins at the end of your first year, you’re going to want to head to the Hampshire Mall. The mall has a bunch of stores like Target, Trader Joe’s and Bed Bath and Beyond which will most definitely give you what you need. Click here for the Mall’s directory! To get there from Smith you can take the PVTA Bus B43 which will take you there in 30 minutes top. It might sound like a lot of time to be sitting on the bus, but I promise you, after you’ve done the ride as many times as I have, it really doesn’t feel like that long! If you want to get there quicker, Zipcar, Uber, Lyft and a friend’s car are always another option!

2. Nearest CVS

90 Main St. Northampton

CVS has been a vital part of my Northampton life, I go there at least once every three weeks to pick up my meds, grab snacks and things like toothpaste/shampoo etc if I’m running out. From Duckett House CVS is a 10 minute walk MAX and if you are just too tired to make that walk, the PVTA B43 bus has a stop one block up from CVS so you can cut your walk time in half. 

3. Help! My phone broke! Where do I go? 

AT&T - 140 Main St. Northampton

Verizon - 180 Main St. Northampton 

Apple Store - 50 Holyoke St. Holyoke

First of all, DON’T PANIC. Like every city, Northampton has all the resources to help you fix your phone. If it’s a technical difficulty like your service provider isn’t working right, Northampton has two providers who have stores downtown - Verizon and AT&T. So, if you’re lucky enough to have one of them as your provider you can stop by their store which is only a couple minutes away from Smith. If the problem is an Apple related problem, the town of Holyoke (where Mount Holyoke College is located) has an Apple store which you can use to fix the problem. Getting there is a little more of a hike, it takes at least an hour by bus (R43) but Zipcar, Uber and Lyft are available if you don’t want to take the bus. Or, you could ask a friend to drive you there if you know someone with a car! 

4. Nearest train / bus station

Northampton Train Station - 170 Pleasant St. Northampton 

Peter Pan Bus Terminal - 1 Roundhouse Plaza, Northampton

If you plan to go to a big city for the weekend, like Boston or NYC, chances are you will be leaving out of one of these two places. Northampton has a train that takes you directly into NYC Penn Station in about 4h30min. Depending on when you’re planning to take this adventure, it could cost you $40-80 round trip. The cost is why most Smithies choose Peter Pan Bus Lines as their preferred mode of transport. The bus will take you to NYC Port Authority in 4h and to Boston (South Station, Copley Sq, Park Sq or State House) in an average of 2h30min. Peter Pan Bus prices are pretty unpredictable, depending on if you’re traveling at a peak time (like October Break) the cost could be between $40-60 round trip. I have gotten tickets for Peter Pan for $40 round trip though, so I would say: plan ahead to make sure you get the best price. 

5. Best coffee shops

Woodstar Cafe - 60 Masonic St. Northampton 

Haymarket Cafe - 185 Main St. Northampton

Shelburne Falls Coffee Rosters - 273 Main St. Northampton 

If there’s one thing that you won’t miss while being in Northampton is coffee shops. You can find plenty of Smithies at any one of these three coffee shops which are an average of a 5/10 minute walk from the center of campus. Each of these three cafe’s have such different vibes and so it’s up to you to find your favorite one. My personal favorite is Woodstar because it’s filled with natural light and yummy desserts to snack on while studying. Remember, there are so many coffee shops in Northampton that these three are not the only options! I just picked the three I know that most people tend to go to. 

I hope that helps,

-- Giulia ‘22 

[flynnerider]

Day in The Life AND Special Announcement!

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”- Steve Jobs

Hi everyone!

Sorry it’s been so long since my last update! It really is true what they say- no news is good news! I still LOVE my job, and that’s what I’m here to talk about today! A lot of people ask me what exactly I do, and when I was looking into the DCP I had the same kinds of questions, so I’m here to walk you through a day in the life of a Slide Operator at Blizzard Beach!

First, hours. I usually work five or six days in a row, then have two days off- rarely the same days each week. Blizzard Beach is open from 10AM-5PM every day, so when I work I always get off at 5:30 PM. There’s four possible Slide Op shift start times: 8AM, 9AM, 9:45AM, and 11AM. 8’s and 9’s are assigned “morning jobs” like filling water coolers, cleaning sand areas, and occasionally slide testing to help get the park ready for guests. 11’s are “breakers” (more on this later), and 9:45 is a “normal” start where you clock in, go to our morning meeting, or “breakout”, and head to your first stand. I started at 9:45 this morning!

Every morning I get up, get dressed in my swimsuit, Disney Parks polo, and blue shorts:

Then I eat breakfast and pack my backpack. Here’s what’s in my bag:

From left to right: My lunch (today, Trader Joe’s pepperoni pizza mac and cheese; usually, salad or a sandwich) and a snack (tortilla chips today), my wallet, my hip pack and water bottle (we don’t say “fanny pack” at Disney; my hip pack always has sunscreen, a towel and rubber gloves, and a tiny rubber ducky to bestow upon a kid who needs it), my sunscreen AND backup sunscreen (I’m loyal to the Trader Joe’s brand but I just ran out yesterday), my whistle, my nametag, a padlock for my locker, my keys, and my hat. As you can see, I have a lot of little accessories that I need for my role! Not pictured: my watch, which I wear out the door, and my sunglasses, which I keep in my car.

At Disney, starting at 9:45 doesn’t mean clocking in at 9:45; you have to be in the park, in uniform, ready to work at EXACTLY 9:45. I leave my apartment 40 minutes before my shift start time each day. It takes me about 20 minutes to drive to Blizzard. Once I’m there I can clock in 15 minutes before my shift and pick up my assignment 10 minutes before my shift.

Your assignment is the rotation you are on for the day. There are six Slide Op “rotations”; each one has three “stands”, or positions. You rotate through these 3 positions in order throughout the day. When we open at 10, the 9:45 starts on the first stand, the 9 starts on the second, and the 8 starts on the third. When the breaker comes in at 11, they go to stand one and “bump” the 9:45 to stand two, the 9:45 bumps the 9 to stand three, and the 8 takes their first break. Then, when the 8 comes back from break, they go to stand one and bump the rotation through and the 9 gets their break, so on and so forth. Make sense?

Today, I was on Tike’s- my favorite rotation! The Tike’s rotation is Summit Plummet/Slush Gusher bottom, Tike Solo Top, and Tike Tube top, so at 10 after morning breakout I went to Summit/Slush bottom to start my day.

My job is to sit there between the slides, welcome riders when they reach the bottom, make sure they exit the catch areas, and push the green “dispatch” buttons to let the Slide Ops up top know it’s safe to send down the next person. It’s fairly easy- watching two slides at once takes a little getting used to, but I got the hang of it pretty quick and I don’t mind Summit Bottom at all!

Now to the place that gives Tike’s its name- Tike’s Peak! Tike’s Peak is our play area for little ones 48 inches and under and their families. There’s a very shallow wading pool with fountains, a play structure with some teeny tiny slides for our smallest skiers, a racing slide for guests of all heights, and two slides for folks 48 inches and under only. 

When the breaker comes to Summit bottom and bumps me off I go to Tike Solo, the first of the two slides.

Tike Solo is so easy it’s criminal- I sit in a chair, check heights (no big kids or parents allowed!), make sure kids go down on their backs or bottoms, and watch to see that they’re clear of the slide before I let the next kid go. It’s a really relaxing stand and you get to have so many cute interactions with kids.

When the next bump comes through, I go to Tike Tube. This one is also 48 inches and under only. I stand in the pool at the top of the slide (about two and a half feet deep). Kids bring their tube up and hand it to me, and I help them get seated the right way- legs out in front, handles facing in. The tube may be a circle, but contrary to popular belief, it does matter which way they sit! Then, when the lifeguard at the bottom gives me the all clear signal, I guide the kid’s tube into the slide and watch them go! Good, clean, cute fun. My lovely friend Aimee was kind enough to take a picture of me on Tike Tube today- here I am in all my fully-uniformed Slide Op glory!

(My whistle is backwards because otherwise when I bend over to help kids into tubes it hits them in the face, but I promise it’s there!)

Then I took my first break, a glorious half hour, at about 12:45, and did it all over again! I took my second break, a fifteen, around four. I ended my day out on Summit bottom. After we close at 5, we do “closing jobs”: my closing job today was cleaning the bottom of Summit Plummet with magic erasers. Living the dream. Then we have our evening breakout and I go home!

In the evenings, I’ll either go home and relax in front of the TV or go out with my friends or roommates! We obviously love going to the parks (I go two to four times a week at least), but we also love going to dinner (the staff at our regular Pei Wei recognize us; one time they gave us free donuts!) and shopping at Trader Joe’s. Tonight I went into Downtown Orlando with my roommates Misty and Georgia!

We went to the library and got frozen yogurt!

Speaking of fun and parks, I have a big announcement! Blizzard Beach closes for refurbishment every winter, and this year, when we close on October 27th, all of the Blizzard CP’s will get sent to new roles and locations! We’ve all been very anxious to find out where we’re headed, and the wait is finally over!

Yours truly (and a couple amazing coworkers) are moving to Main Street to bring a little extra magic to the holiday season! Main Street Daily Ops is an umbrella term that covers a number of locations; Cast Members are responsible for Parade Audience Control (PAC) for the fireworks and parades throughout the day, running the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, checking FastPasses at Town Square Theatre for guests meeting Tinker Bell and Mickey, and operating the Magic Kingdom Railroad! Because we’re arriving so late in the season, we’re expecting to just be PAC, but my friends and I are SO excited to be in the most magical place on earth during the most magical time of the year! I start in Magic Kingdom in late October- come see me in my new digs!

Thanks for your continued support, everyone! I appreciate all of your encouragement and interest in my life. Coming soon (for real this time): my Disney do’s and do nots! This is something I’m very excited to share- should be coming about two or three weeks from today!

See ya real soon,

FR

[havekiddoswilltravel]

Georgia Road Trip Continues… Next Stop: Natural Bridge Park 

As much as I enjoy traveling as a family, sometimes solo road trips without my husband allows us to slow down and explore off the beaten path locations at a leisurely pace. This was the case on this particular road trip from Central CT to Augusta, GA. My husband stayed home working, thus the kids and I were in no rush. I took two days to drive down to Georgia and three days on our return trip, as a result of adding a stop to visit the Biltmore Estate. Be on the lookout for a future blog post about that visit. 

Be Prepared

Solo travel with four kiddos requires planning. Gone are the days when my husband and I would hope in the car with a full tank of gas and see where we ended up. Prior to going on road trips with kids, I have to hit the supermarket, create print at home entertainment options and put together my survival bag of tricks. Due in part to our adventures family life style, my kids have sophisticated taste in food and therefore fast food is out of the question. Whenever we travel, I pack two bags of our favorite dry snacks from Trader Joe’s and two small coolers of water, fruit, veggies and snacks. We are big foodies and I dislike wasting money on mediocre food, but rather prefer to snack on packed food until we get to a restaurant that will blow our taste buds away. 

The Name of the Game: Survival

As you can see from these pictures, I am prepared to entertain young children in the car for about four hours at a time. I pack travel dry erase games, a bag of tricks (window clings are a great option) and my car has an entertainment upgrade which allows them to watch educational DVDs while I listen to XM radio. My mami mobile is a travel family’s dream car. We are a limited technology family when at home, yet when on the road with kiddos the name of the game is survival. My kids have been known to watch the entire Carmen San Diego series during a long road trip. My kids inherited my inner ear and thus suffer from motion sickness. As a result, I limit electronics that require them to look down and rather use my SUV DVD player as it allows them to keep their eyes up while the car is in motion. If we are on a particularly long road trip, I will dose them with cheweable children’s Dramamine. One of many perks of being married to a doctor is that he helps me figure out weight based dosing for children as young as toddlers. We’ve learned our lessons after taking the fast speed ferry to Martha’s Vineyard without Dramamine and my poor husband ended up taking care of me and three kids while we lost our cookies. Therefore, we are “Have Kiddos will Travel” and medications are our friend.

A Random Stop Turned into an Educational Adventure

My youngest does not do well with middle of the day long stretches sitting in his car seat. Often times, I break up long drives by stopping at interesting locations an then driving during nap times and in the evening. I was not in the mood to hear wining so I stopped twice in one day (usually unheard of for me to do this) and followed signs to the Natural Bridge Park. I’ve never been happier that kid 4 wasn’t cooperating. This park had rangers willing to share the history of the park and geological information with the kids. It had several easy hiking trails that led to amazing views and resulted in exhausted children who then napped for three hours while I drove and jammed to music. Not hearing “are we there yet? “I have to go potty” or “I want to see more trucks” was worth the small price of admission. 

[easytravelpw-blog]

Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/what-i-spent-three-day-road-trip-through-the-southwestern-us/magazine/

What I Spent: Three-Day Road Trip Through the Southwestern US

01 of 04

Upfront Costs

4kodiak/Getty Images

The upfront costs of vacations are predictable. It’s the little things—airport snacks, cocktails before dinner, tipping a tour guide—that can throw even the most well-planned vacation budget off track. In new series, we look at the spending patterns of real travelers in popular destinations, so you can estimate what you’ll actually spend. 

In this installment, two friends fly into Vegas and drive for three days from Nevada to Utah to Arizona.

Upfront costs:

Flights: $463.60 (Newark, NJ to Las Vegas, NV)

Accomodations: $156 (per person)

Rental Car: $102 (per person)

Antelope Canyon Tours: $78(per person) for the most popular tour time.

Continue to 2 of 4 below.

02 of 04

Monday

Michele D’Amico supersky77/Getty Images

11:00 a.m. The drive from Las Vegas to Utah is filled with gorgeous scenery. Driving out of the most over-the-top city in the U.S. and immediately being surrounded by miles of desert is a bit surreal. How can a bright, showy city exist smack in the middle of all this? This, mainly being the stunning purple mountains in the distance, getting ever closer as we drive past cactus after desert brush. Of course, as we approach the mountains, we realize they aren’t actually purple, but a red-brown color.

We are stocked up on road trip essentials (peanut butter cups, popcorn, cheese doodles, and granola bars, à la Trader Joe’s), the music is blaring, the sun is shining, and our spirits are high (fueled by a mix of caffeine, peanut butter cups, and the view). Cost: $13

1:15 p.m. When we reach Zion National Park, we are completely surrounded by those red-brown mountains, which are even higher and more awe-inspiring as we get closer. First things first: check into the hotel. We’re staying at Cable Mountain Lodge, and our suite is much bigger than my small Manhattan apartment. We stock up on waters, and hit the trail! Cost: $1.55

2:00 p.m. On our way into the park, we see a very enticing sign for salmon tacos next to the Zion Brewery (mental note saved for later). Admission into the park for the day is $15 each, which includes the access to all the hiking trails. We don’t have time for such luxuries, but instead we have our sights set on one of the most strenuous (and perhaps one of the scariest) trails: Angel’s Landing. Cost: $15

As we set off on the trail, I’m a little disappointed. The trail itself is a paved path. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, so I can’t believe that a hiking trail is paved. Yes, the hike is steep, and yes, many parts of the trail wind around a cliff side with a sheer drop-off, but the path itself is steady, so no real need for worry. That is, until we reach the top. Oh, so this is what everyone was talking about. The end of the path greets us with a narrow ridge and a chain to hold onto so you don’t fall over the edge. I take a few steps and decide I’m not cut out for this kind of hiking today. I let my friend tackle the rest of the climb, and I sit down with the rest of those who decided not to do it.

5:45 p.m. Now at the base of the park (the climb down was quick–a bit of a jog at some points as the downhill slope and our excitement to eat those salmon tacos overcame us), we are ravenous. Charging straight into the brewery, we order 11 flights (that’s their full menu of beer, so might as well sample everything!), two orders of salmon tacos, and chili cheese fries (because we earned it). We figured that ordering all 11 flights was a normal occurrence, but with the surprised look we got from our server and others, we quickly realize we are maybe a little overzealous. Oh, well! We finish up and then order a growler to-go of our favorite beer that we tried—a delicious sour beer with fruity notes. Cost: $58.35

7:15 p.m. We proceed to the hot tub with our growler, considering it physical therapy for our soon-to-be-sore muscles. We relax with the sunset and chat with a few other visiting families before we call it a night–but not without first stopping by the brewery to buy a second growler to bring home with us. Cost: $15

Continue to 3 of 4 below.

03 of 04

Tuesday

Florence Dugué / EyeEm/Getty Images

8:30 a.m. Next up: we’re heading out of Zion and on our way to Page, Arizona. But first, breakfast. We stop at a cute little diner where my friend orders a giant savory crepe covered in hollandaise sauce and I get a bacon, tomato, and scrambled egg grilled cheese (I definitely helped myself to some of that crepe, though). Cost: $15.48

9:15 a.m. We had no idea what was in store for us, but we’re now winding through narrow, cliffside roads. We make our way up, up, and up, all the while, gorgeous textured mountains are taking over our entire view. It’s simultaneously beautiful and terrifying—one side of the road is a sheer drop-off, and as we get higher, the drop-off gets deeper. The mountain fairytale ends with a mile-long drive through a dark tunnel, straight into the belly of a mountain.

We get to the main road again (and pick up our jaws off the car floor), and stop for gas. Cost: $20.78

11:00 a.m. We arrived in Page about an hour and a half before our appointment with Antelope Canyon Tours, so we are hitting up a local bar. Finding wifi and a place to charge our phones was really our main criteria, but a couple of late morning beers doesn’t hurt. Cost: $11.50

12:30 p.m. Our scheduled tour for Antelope Canyon is at 12:30, which was the recommended tour, as the light is optimal during this time of day in the Upper Canyon. We take a bumpy, somewhat thrilling ride on an off-road path into the desert to arrive at the entrance to the canyon. The path is tight, and some parts require being squished up against the canyon wall as other tour groups make their way by in the opposite direction. Our guide seems to have the most uncanny ability to locate the best photos. “Here, give me your phone,” and after bending into an awkward position against the canyon wall to capture the perfect shot, the results were truly unbelievable. The guides have also named many parts of the canyon, as if the wind and waters had magically formed presidential faces overtime; we can see Obama, Bush, Trump, and Lincoln–the resemblance is actually pretty spot-on for some of these.

3:00 p.m. While on our way out of Page, we spot Big Texas BBQ and, stomachs rumbling, we’re sold. I ordered the sampler–ribs, pulled chicken, and smoked sausages. A side of baked beans and coleslaw and ice cream for dessert really rounded out the meal. Cost: $25.52

4:30 p.m. Barely five minutes out of Page, we’re immediately driving by Horseshoe Bend, and we decide to stop for a spontaneous exploration. We climb up and over a massive sandy hill, and we can spot the indistinguishable landmark. The colors are so vibrant this time of day, and the water bending around the rock is perfectly still. The breathtaking and slightly unexpected view makes Horseshoe Bend one of our favorite stops so far.

We’re back in the car, and on our way to Flagstaff, Arizona, and the landscape around us is slowly changing again. The flat-top mountains are gone, being replaced by trees (how long has it been since we’ve seen those?) and one gorgeous blue, snowy peak getting closer in the distance. The mountain is located near Flagstaff and a popular skiing destination.

6:30 p.m. Reaching Flagstaff, we come upon a quaint and cool little town. It’s an eclectic mix of old Southern-style architecture, artful graffiti, and neon signs—a hipster-millennial playground. Our hotel—Monte Vista—is apparently infamous for being haunted. Since the 1920s, quite a few people have died there, and ghosts are apparently rampant throughout the hotel.

7:30 p.m. After checking into our room, which is the very same room that actor Anthony Hopkins had stayed in, we head downstairs to one of the bars located off the hotel lobby. In the first bar, which has a fancy but hip cocktail menu, we try the Magic Eight Ball, which is a fruity gin concoction that tasted pretty good. Then, we head off to another bar, which is more of a dive bar–with karaoke to boot. Exhausted, we leave the bar and look out for the known elevator ghost on our way up to our room (no luck). Cost: $16

Continue to 4 of 4 below.

04 of 04

Wednesday

Dean Fikar/Getty Images

8:30 a.m. Recommended by our bartender from the night before, we head to MartAnne’s Burrito Palace. The colorful, quirky Mexican spot is previously a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant (explained to us by a friendly local and our waitress, who once owned the place, but had now stepped aside for her daughter). The previous location became so popular and the line to get in so long, that they had no choice but to upgrade to a much bigger space. I order the Fiesta Potatoes with a fried egg on top, and it does not disappoint. Cost: $22.14

On our way to the car, we decide to stop for a coffee at a not-so-subtle shop called Whyld Ass, and I order the Mexican Specialty Latte. Unfortunately, it tastes like hot, steamy taco seasoning, not the caffeinated version of Mexican hot cocoa that I was hoping for. Cost: $6.02

10:00 a.m. The drive to the Grand Canyon is a bit of a longer one (about three hours), and we decide to veer off the main highways for the Arizona backroads. The sun is out in full force, and the landscape, yet again, is amazing. Bright green brush and strange-but-pretty cacti occupy the desert while red and purple mountains stand tall in the distance. The closer we get, the more I’m wondering where the Grand Canyon could possibly fit into all of this.

2:15 p.m. A quick stop for gas, and a bit of fumbling for directions later, we make it to the National Park. Since the zipline closes at 4:00 p.m., we try to hurry along to the canyon. We buy our tickets and board the shuttle. Cost: $93.31 (zipline tickets + canyon admission)

The zipline is brand new (opened January 2018), and the view, as anyone can imagine, is breathtaking. The actual thrills only lasted two lines and 20 minutes tops, which was a bit of a disappointment. We’re in our RV on our way back to the shuttle stop, but our driver decides to pull over at the edge of the cliff to show us Quartermaster Canyon. Closed off to the public, and once the scene of a historic expedition, it is hard not to feel a bit unworthy standing on such sacred ground and taking in the unbelievable view.

3:15 p.m. There are two more shuttle stops and two different spots to view the Grand Canyon. The second stop on the line is slightly disappointing. After being wowed by Zion, Antelope, Horseshoe Bend, and Quartermaster, the canyon we are staring at now felt a little less grand. The third shuttle stop, however, immediately stops those complaints. It turns out the Grand Canyon is most definitely worth the hype. We’re on a massive rock with miles and miles of canyon stretched out before us on three sides. On one side, there is an old abandoned guano mine that makes this scene that much cooler.

4:30 p.m. The drive back to Vegas is peaceful, both of us exhausted and satisfied from our journey. We stop for gas one more time and return our rental car before venturing back into Sin City. Cost: $5.01

Totals:

Food & Drinks: $184.56

Activities: $186.31

Accommodations: $156

Transportation: $591.39

#travel #airlinetickets #airtickets #cheapairfare #planetickets #travelinsurance #travelquotes #travelblogger #traveller #travelling #travelocity #travelodge #vacation