#party supplies in Sydney

[memorableeventz]

Marquee Hire Sydney - How to Choose the Right Marquee for Your Event

A marquee tent is an excellent way to add a touch of elegance and class to any event. These marquees are available in a variety of sizes and are easily erected on grass or paved areas.

The team at Oliver Hire can help you choose the right marquee for your event marquee hire Sydney. We can also provide all the accessories and decor you need to make your event memorable.

Pop Up Marquees

Pop up marquees are an excellent way to promote your business and brand at any event. They are lightweight and easy to set up and take down. They are also available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are perfect for small businesses that want to participate in community events or local farmer’s markets. You can even get them printed with your business logo and other images.

There are several things to consider when selecting a marquee, including size, setup time, walls, and accessories. For example, the size of a marquee can be determined by the number of people it will accommodate or how large an area you want to cover. You should also decide whether you want to add walls to your marquee and if so, how many. You may also need to buy extra accessories, such as a feather flag or frame sign to complement your marquee.

Pagoda Marquees

The pagoda marquee is a popular choice when planning garden parties. They’re ideal for a cocktail party in your own back garden, or they can be linked together to create an entrance marquee for larger weddings and events. Their distinctive, high peaked roof design makes them a real eye-catcher. They can be left open or partly or fully walled, depending on the British weather!

They’re also ideal for a chilled out area at your event, or a catering marquee. The walls can be opened up on warm sunny days to make the most of the scenery and views, or closed in to provide a more sheltered space for your buffet.

Our Pagoda marquees are available all year round and can be hired with or without flooring, accessories and lighting. They can also be used as an add on to our larger frame marquees, creating a decorative entrance or reception space.

Frame Marquees

Marquees can be constructed in a range of shapes and sizes. Whether you need a single marquee for a wedding, or multiple smaller ones for various stations at a business event, they’re an ideal way to add visual interest and extra space to your venue. They’re also a great way to control the lighting in your venue, as clear walls and roofs let in plenty of natural light.

Unlike traditional pole marquees, frame marquees don’t have internal vertical poles, and can be erected on hard surfaces including sand or gravel. This versatility makes them perfect for gardens, town gardens, and roof terraces. They can even be erected over garden ponds, swimming pools and trees & shrubs, adding a visually exciting element to your event space. Roof and wall liners are available in a choice of colours to help you create a bespoke marquee.

Clear Marquees

One of the most popular choices for weddings is a clear marquee. They are made from a frame and include glass throughout the roof space. This allows you to embrace your picturesque location and let in the natural light. They are also a good choice for a night-time wedding or winter wedding.

They can be used to host a wedding ceremony, reception, or party supplies in Sydney. Some people choose to hold their entire wedding in a marquee including the meal and dance. Others choose to use marquees for specific events such as a birthday party or family reunion.

Marquees can be erected and dismantled very quickly. This makes them a great option if you don’t know how long you will need the structure. They are also much cheaper than a venue. Often you can hire them for less than the price of hiring a hotel for a day. In addition, you can have your event anywhere with a marquee.

[kidspartyideas]

CoComelon – For  Educational and fun Entertainment for Kids

To make any birthday party a delightful event, you’ll have to introduce something that would etch a perfect memory till the next birthday comes in. And in that regard, you can definitely give a thought to one of the characters called Cocomelon. It’s fulfilling and highly entertaining. So, if your kid is in the pre-school group, ensure that you make coco melon a part of this birthday.

[partyjaystore]

Affordable Party Supplies Online – Shop Decorations & More

Explore our extensive range of Party Supplies to make your next event a hit! We offer everything from vibrant balloons and eye-catching decorations to themed party essentials, perfect for birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. Our affordable products simplify party planning and ensure your celebration is memorable.

Shop online at https://www.partyjay.com.au/ or call (02) 9651 4609. Visit us at Unit 4/252 New Line Rd, Dural NSW 2158, Australia.

[stil-lindigo]

Recently, dual citizenship Palestinians managed to safely arrive back in Australia, and while it is a relief to have them out of the reaches of Israel’s bombs, it’s an undeniable tragedy that they have been unjustly ejected from their homes by an active genocide. While celebrating their arrival, remember that the Albanese government STILL won’t demand a ceasefire and obscures any attempt to uncover details about the military aid we’re currently sending Israel, all the while supplying the US and Israel with surveillance intelligence of Gaza sourced from a base in Alice Springs.

Penny Wong, our minister of foreign affairs, remains committed to doing absolutely nothing besides clutching her pearls and pleading for a “humanitarian pause”. We should all be calling her offices (not emailing) and inundating her with demands for a ceasefire.

You can use this template to call Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles today.

The Greens party (the only party to have enough of a spine to call for a ceasefire and to walk out of Parliament in disgust for our cooperation in Israel’s war crimes) has also put together a petition to stop Labour exports of weapons into Israel. You can sign it here.

If you live in Sydney - a boat carrying armaments meant for Israel is going to be docking there in a few days.

Join trade unionists to protest the boat and delay it for as long as possible.

Australians - I know as a population that a lot of us are checked out of politics. You can’t afford to do that now. 1% of all Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s assault on Palestine - 1 in 100 are dead, and half of those are children. Australia is complicit in genocide and it is up to you to never give our politicians a moment of peace until Palestine is freed.

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

The Change

Summary: When a strange illness spreads across the world, the reader's father takes her away from society in an attempt to keep her safe. Ten years later the reader runs into some trouble when forced to be on her own one night but it's nothing an overly friendly sheriff can't help with...

Pairing: Alpha!Beau Arlen x Omega!reader

Word Count: 6,000ish

Warnings: language, attempted assault, minor violence, medical emergency

A/N: This is my first time doing Alpha!Beau and did a little twist on ABO for it. Please enjoy!

__________

Ten Years Ago

“Y/N!” You poked your head into the living room, giving your dad a smile when he stood there, back to you.

“Dad, I already got enough graduation presents. I mean it was just college, I didn’t need-“

He stepped aside, revealing the breaking news story on the tv.

Mystery Illness Affecting New York City Residents

He looked over his shoulder, frowning at you. “You’re not moving to the city next weekend.”

You scoffed. “Dad. I start my first adult job ever in two weeks. In New York City. I have to go.”

“No. Whatever the hell this is, it's happening there and putting people in the hospital. If your new job has a problem with that then tell them to kiss my ass.”

“What is wrong with you?” You stormed closer, furrowing your brow. Something was off. He was swiping a hand over his mouth, his eyes filled with dread. You glanced back at the screen with a swallow. “Daddy, do you know what this illness is?”

“No,” he said quietly, glancing down at you with a longing glance. “Tonight we need to leave town and go to camp.”

“Hunting camp?” He nodded. “But that’s in the middle of no…”

His face looked so much older all of a sudden, years and years of worry etched into the deep laugh lines around his eyes. “Why do you want us away from everyone?”

“Because isolation is the only way to guarantee you don’t get sick.” Paranoia. You should have called him paranoid. Said he was worrying over nothing. Said he was acting crazy.

But you simply nodded and excused yourself back to your graduation party with your friends, knowing it’d likely be the last time you saw them for a while. Or ever again.

“Dad,” you said that night as you packed up the cars, your father more frazzled than the time he lost you in the grocery store for all of eight seconds. “Should we call Em?”

“He’s the one that called me.” He shut the trunk, inhaling the night air deeply. “London. New York. Sydney. It’s global and it’s flooding hospitals. Em said small towns are next. I wanted you to have one last normal day, kiddo.”

“What exactly did Emmet say? Does he know more than what they’re saying?” you whispered, clutching your cardigan tight. “I thought he was in Africa doing that volunteer doctor program.”

“He is. But something…happened. People started getting ill and then acting crazy. Biting each other in the neck. Like animals.” Slowly you blinked, your dad pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know how it sounds, believe me. But I know my son and it’s the truth. He told me to get you safe.”

“Is he safe?” He closed his eyes. “Is he safe?”

“Emmet’s….” Your throat tightened, your dad wincing. “He called from his sick bed. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen. He said he loves us and we need to go before the whole world goes mad.”

Your bottom lip wobbled as he opened his eyes, gently shushing you. “Em isn’t dead, right?”

“I don’t know. His phone is dead,” he croaked out, wiping away your tears that threatened to fall. “But if what he said is true, the world will be incredibly dangerous in just a few days. We need to get you away from here before that happens.”

You wearily nodded, hugging him hard. “Dad.”

“Yeah, pumpkin?”

“We’ll be okay.”

“Yes we will. I promise.”

Present Day

“Fuuuuuck,” you groaned, the wind knocked out of you as one, no two, men pinned you down on the hard pavement of the pharmacy parking lot. The supplies you’d bought for your dad in the middle of the night were scattered on the ground. Half your mind grappled with how you needed to get those back to dad at the cabin while the other realized the men were trying to remove your pants and hoodie.

You snarled and kicked, hitting something hard, probably a shin bone. 

A gunshot went off nearby and all three of you froze.

“On your bellies. Hands on your head or the next one goes through your spine.” The two men were rigid before rolling off of you on either side. You risked sitting up, backing away a few feet and turning on your bottom. 

It was dark but even so you could make out the handsome brown haired man aiming a gun at the men. He had a presence about him, a calmness to the situation you weren’t expecting. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone, his jacket riding up so you could spot the shiny gold badge on his hip.

This guy was a cop.

Good news and bad news.

“Mam, are you alright?” You blinked, realizing he was talking to you between speaking into the phone. You nodded, the man humming, mentioning something about backup.

Shit. You had to leave before you got wrapped up in this. You started to gather up your dropped items as the officer handcuffed one of the men. “Mind if I borrow that?”

You froze, staring at him. He nodded toward your hand and the new package of zip ties. You handed it to him carefully, the officer quickly placing one on the other man.

“Thank you, mam,” he said, handing the package back. You nodded, shoving the package in your bag and crawling over between two cars, reaching for the bottle of pills that had rolled underneath. “Are you sure you’re alright, miss?”

“Never better!” you squeaked out, grabbing the pills and tying off the bag tight. You popped to your feet, the officer rising to his own. “Uh, thanks.”

You started to leave when he took two big steps over, catching your arm. “Whoa, whoa. These guys can’t do anything to you. Backup will be here in two minutes tops. I know you want to get home but we need a statement and you should get that scuff cleaned up by a paramedic. Hell, I can do it for you back at the station.”

You blinked slowly, the man’s friendly smile turning concerned as you weighed your options. “Alright. I think you hit your head a little harder than we both realized when they knocked you down. Why don’t you take a seat-”

You kneed him in the groin, the officer crumping into a heap and releasing you. 

“Sorry!” You took off running to your car and peeled out of the other end of the parking lot before he could even get on his feet.

“Dad?” It was only twenty minutes later when you were entering the dark cabin, frowning that he wasn’t on the couch where you’d left him. “Dad!”

“In here for crying out loud!” You rushed over to the bathroom door, carefully nudging it open. Your heart seized when you saw him lying on the ground, his previously red inflamed leg now looking dark and swollen. “Did you get the-”

“Daddy, it’s broken. Why didn’t you say something?” He scoffed, forcing himself to sit upright against the tub. “Dad-”

“I’m not going to a damn hospital and becoming one of those…things.” He spit out the last word, venom laced behind it. You’d kept to yourselves the past ten years, dad only going to town in the dead of night to get food or supplies. Suffice to say, despite your best efforts, years of isolation hadn’t been great for his paranoia. Or your own.

He could never know that you were almost attacked. It’d destroy him after all he sacrificed for you. His home. His career. His life. Making sure you never got sick like Emmet had was his sole purpose.

“What if I drop you off at the hospital and…” both your heads whipped around when bright headlights shone through the windows. 

“Someone followed you. Get the shotgun and-” You slammed the door shut on him, ignoring his angry shouts. 

“Miss? It’s Sheriff Beau Arlen. We met just a short time ago. I’m doing a wellness check. Please answer the door.” You swallowed thickly, staring at the heavy wooden object. Shit, he’d followed you home. He was going to make you give a statement which meant being around other people long enough to get sick.

You glanced over your shoulder and sighed. Dad was no spring chicken anymore. Living in the woods and keeping up the land had kept him in good shape but he was getting older and there was no way he could survive a broken leg without help.

“Fuck it.” You stepped over to the door, frowning when you opened it. The man from before was standing there, a cautious smile on his face. “Hi. My dad fell earlier today. I think he broke his leg. He’s in the bathroom.”

“Okay. We can call an ambulance and-”

“He’s terrified of public places. Of catching the…sickness.” He raised his eyebrows, biting the inside of his cheek. “I know he needs a hospital but is there any way we can limit the number of people he’s around? Like a doctors office or something?”

He only cocked his head, eyeing you up and down. His nose twitched, inhaling sharply. You glared and subtly did a pit check. Okay, maybe you were a little sweaty but you’d nearly been attacked-

“How the hell…” Sheriff Arlen shook his head. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do to accommodate his…needs.”

“Thank you,” you said, starting to shut the door when he put a hand on it. You stared at one another, the sheriff’s nose twitching once more. “Please leave.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Visions of what the men from earlier had planned on doing flashed in your mind and you clenched your fists, ready to fight. “Oh, sweetheart I am so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” You grit out, widening your stance. He frowned, shaking his head.

“Your father might be able to be treated at a doctors office but you need a hospital.” You narrowed your eyes, the sheriff holding up his hands. “You call it the sickness? The rest of us call it the change. Now it seems to me that you lack some education on the topic-”

“I know exactly what those men tonight were going to do. I know exactly what the sickness, change, whatever you want to call it does to people and I’ll tell you right now, I’m not getting sick and becoming someone’s fuck toy.” He closed his eyes, muttering under his breath. Slowly, they opened to reveal green orbs, softly watching you.

“Sweetheart, your body changed ten years ago whether you believe me or not. Judging by the fact your only interaction with other people has been your Beta father-”

“He’s not Beta,” you growled.

“-Or very few works at convenience stores at night, you have never been around an Alpha long enough to be triggered into your first heat-”

“I am not one of those-”

“Omega.” Your brain went fuzzy when the word left his lips, hand gripping the back of the couch hard. “We need to get you to a hospital. Your first heat is incredibly painful without medicine. I know, I have a teenage daughter-”

“Stop talking!” you shouted, suddenly feeling flush in the face. You wiped off your brow before grabbing the nearest object, a pillow, and chucking it straight at his handsome face. “You did this to me! You made me sick coming here!”

“You became Omega ten years ago, the same night I changed, the same we all did,” he said, looking down his nose at you. “Now let me help you and your father before I have two patients on my hands instead of one.”

“Get out!” The room spun, a strong pair of hands catching you the last thing you remembered.

Your body felt considerably cooler when you woke although the sterile scent filling your nostrils made you want to gag. Great, you were in the hospital. You turned your head to the side, your oh so favorite sheriff giving you a waggle of his fingers from the other side of room as he read his phone.

“What are you doing here?” you grumbled, sitting upright with a strain. 

“I figured you don’t have an emergency contact besides your father on account the whole survivalist in the woods energy I’m getting.” You glared at him, the man leaning back in his chair, relaxing further. “Your father is alright but he’s in the ICU. I’ve been told he’ll need to go to a in-patient rehab facility to learn to walk on it.”

“What?” You threw back the covers and got out of bed, freezing in place when you caught his cologne. Your eyes fluttered, jaw dropping slightly. “Jesus christ what is that smell? That’s…fuck is this what crack is like? What kind of drugs did they give me?”

He chuckled, glancing up with a smirk. “Let me guess. Vanilla with a hint of tobacco. Fresh cookies, a campfire, the cool mist of rain and something fluffy you can’t quite describe?”

“How did you…” You said, daring a step closer. You had a million questions in your mind about your dad but all your body seemed to want to do was get more of that smell.

“Because I know what my scent is.” You licked your lips involuntarily, breathing hard. “Down girl.”

You immediately backed up, shaking your head. “I-I’m sorry. That isn’t like me at all.”

“It’s your first heat and I’m the first Alpha you’ve properly scented on one. You have urges. Nothing to feel sorry for.” Your cheeks burned as you returned to bed, sitting on the edge with your legs hanging off. “In a few hours, your medicine will have fully kicked in and then you’ll be fine. I have a teenage daughter and so you’ll get monthly heats but as far as I understand, it’s extremely similar to your monthly visitor you were already used to.”

“I’ve been having periods for years and it doesn’t feel like this,” you said, his scent tickling under your nose, turning you on more and more by the second.

“The…randiness fades. You’ll be fine,” he said, glancing at you. “You really don’t know anything about the change or what it did to us, do you.”

“I know enough.” He frowned. “Why is my dad in the ICU?”

“His leg is shattered. The surgeon said he suspects he broke it a few days ago. He’s lucky to be alive and still have use of it.” You closed your eyes, gripping the mattress. “He didn’t tell you he was injured until recently, did he.”

“He said he fell today and it was sore. I was getting some bandages and a painkiller at the store tonight.” You groaned. “The fucker. He’s so scared…”

You opened your eyes when you heard footsteps, the sheriff kneeling down in front of you. Gently, he took both your hands, offering a kind smile. “Yes, the world was scary for a little while when we didn’t understand what happened but now we do. There is no reason you and your father have to hide away in the woods away from the rest of us.”

“You called yourself an Alpha.” He nodded. You noticed how small your hands were in his, could feel the surge of power he held within them. “Like how in animal packs, there’s an Alpha sometimes.”

“Let me explain this to you in the most basic of terms.” You swallowed, his fingers sliding up to wrap around your wrists loosely. “People that were bad before the change are bad now and people that were good before are good now. All that happened last night was you ran into a couple of bad guys. They were Alpha but so am I. We are not animals and neither are you.”

“But you could bite me and make me…” He smiled, a tiny eye roll in there. “Excuse me? What was that?”

“What you’re describing is a crime. Consent is still very much a thing, little lady. Believe me, I have no problem putting Alpha’s in their place if needed.”

You raised your head, the man tucking your hair behind your ear. “Are you sure you’re not just an anomaly?”

“Miss, I have a fifteen year old omega daughter. If I thought that world was truly that far gone, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight. Now, do you see her in this room?”

You rolled your eyes, the man standing with a chuckle. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“So you’re here out of the goodness of your heart?” you asked. He bit is bottom lip, looking shy all of a sudden.

“You’ve had a long night and I remember how frightening it felt the first night I changed. The world is no more dangerous than it was a decade ago. But it never hurts to have a friend when life gets hard.” 

“Thank you,” you said quietly, a painful cramp ripping across your abdomen. He caught your wince and helped you to lie back down.

“Get some sleep. I’ll check on your dad for you.”

“Thanks. Oh wait.” He pulled up your covers and hummed. “Why were you at the pharmacy in the middle of the night?”

He smirked, patting your thigh. “I’ll check in with you in the morning, darlin’.”

Later That Morning

“Get out!” You flinched and backed out of your dad’s hospital room, closing the door behind you. 

“He’s still angry, huh?” To your left appeared your sheriff, sporting a tan jacket and khakis, brown cowboy boots adorning his feet. You sniffled and nodded, the man giving you a reassuring squeeze of the shoulder. “Have you been discharged yet?”

“Yeah.” You sat down on a nearby bench, the sheriff joining you. You rubbed your palm with your thumb, skin peeling off eventually. He caught your wrist, gently moving it away. “He doesn’t want to go to a rehab center. He says he’s fine and I should take care of him until he’s on his feet. The part I hate is we both know it’s horseshit. He knows he needs help but won’t admit it.”

“Stay here a minute for me.” He entered your dad’s room, closing the door and remaining inside for a few minutes. The door opened with a creak, your sheriff waving you inside.

You frowned at your dad in bed, his arms crossed. 

“I’m sorry for acting like a child,” he grit out. Your eyebrows shot up, gaze shooting to the sheriff who was giving your dad a friendly smile. But there was an undercurrent of authority to it that made your heart skip.

“Thank you?” you said. He sighed, quiet for a moment.

“I will go to rehab. I’m not your responsibility.” He cleared his throat. “I heard you’ve…changed.”

“Yeah,” you said quietly. Your gaze shot down, your dad tsking you.

“Sheriff Arlen….informed me of some things about the world. I think while I’m recovering maybe you…could get a job. Get back out in the world, not be stuck with me.”

You bit your tongue. What the hell was up with him? Did he not want you around anymore now that you were one of those…omegas?

“Mr. Y/L/N, we’ll let you rest. I’ll be sure to get Y/N home.” Your sheriff put a hand on the small of your back that sent a pleasant chill down your spine. God, he smelled even more alluring than last night. 

Why did you kind of like it? How large his hand was, how comforting it felt. Maybe you were just touch starved after a decade of being alone.

“What is going on?” you asked when you were in the hallway. “Is he okay whatever your name is again?”

“Sheriff Beau Arlen. Call me Beau. Your dad and I had a small conversation. I explained a few things about the change and dynamic to him, told him I’d keep an eye out for you since he’s a tad paranoid. S’all good.”

You stopped, Beau leaving his hand on your back. He paused by your side, turning his head down. “I may have…sternly explained that you are the exact same as you were and that he can’t keep you locked away from the world. You’re a grown woman, you deserve to live your life.”

“And by sternly explained you mean scared the shit out of him.” Beau said nothing, only walked down the hall, urging you along. “Where are we going?”

“Home. I know you were discharged but you should still relax. I have some things to do but I’ll be by later on today.” 

“You don’t have to come back. I’ll figure everything out on my own-“ Beau held up a hand before stopping in front of you, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his jeans.

“Darlin’, I made your father a promise and I intend on keeping it.” He looked past you, licking his lips and making your nose twitch in response. “But first, we need to make a pit stop.”

You woke with a groan, jerking up in bed. A quick glance at the clock showed it was early afternoon. Ah, right. Beau dropped you off with some medicine and a book on the Change or so everybody referred to it. You’d taken a pill and fallen asleep a few hours ago, your body warm but otherwise feeling okay.

You clutched your blanket to your chest when something loud crashed beyond the bedroom door. 

“I can’t believe they let you carry a gun,” said a young voice. 

“Next time you get kidnapped, I’m letting them keep you,” he grumbled. 

“Funny, dad,” the voice deadpanned. “Wasn’t it Cassie who found me actually? Hm?”

“Eh, eh, eh. Stop with the sass, child and help me make this.”

“Why are you helping this random lady so much anyways?”

“Just…cause it’s nice.” Your stomach grumbled loudly and you decided to risk exiting to the main part of the cabin. The door squeaked like it always did, two pairs of eyes on you when you poked your head out. “Y/N. How are you doing, darlin’?”

“Fine. Why are you in my house?” you said, glancing at the teenage girl standing in the sad excuse for a kitchen off to the side.

“Did you break into her house?” she asked, Beau looking back at her with a glare. 

“Of course I didn’t.” He punched the bridge of his nose. “I told Y/N I would be back later.” 

The girl looked at you with a raised eyebrow. “I apologize for him. He gets a little too into helping people sometimes.”

“Why don’t you go on the porch and do your math homework?” She stared at him for a moment, shaking her head with a smirk. “Emily…”

“I said nothing. But your scent did,” she sang song before slipping outside. Beau rubbed the back of his neck, a strong whiff of a nice scent, his scent, hitting you. 

“Ignore her,” he said, still rubbing his neck nervously. You hummed, taking a seat at the two person table by the wall. “I hope you don’t mind we’re here. I figured you’d be hungry and Emily’s also an omega so she offered to talk to you if you’d like. She presented last year so she’s familiar with the growing pains.”

“You mean second puberty?” He chuckled, putting a casserole dish that didn’t belong to you in the tiny camping oven.

“It might not seem like it but we got off easy. You and I we just got a little something extra to figure out over a couple of months. She’s got to go through the whole deal.” You hummed, Beau wiping his hands off on a towel by the water pump and spinning around with a smile that made you relax. “So. How’s the pain?”

“Alright. Honestly it feels like a normal period, I’m just a bit warmer than usual.” You frowned, Beau’s face matching it. “You can skip the biology lesson since they gave me a run down at the hospital.”

“Will do. You get used to people’s scents pretty quick. It’s like personal deodorant and yes, you still need to use deodorant,” he teased, the air becoming thick. “Sorry. I’m intruding, aren’t I?”

“Well…if you were going to hurt me, you had your chance last night.” 

“Those men…” He glanced down, stepping forward to grab hold of the back of the opposite chair and lean over top. Green eyes met yours, worry etched in them. “Did they explain the change to you at all, like what happened ten years ago, or just the body stuff?”

“No. I only remember people were getting sick and then my dad got us out of the city after my brother called. I’d just graduated college. I was meant to start my first adult job in NYC. So I don’t know what happened, only that my dad said the world was too dangerous for me.”

Beau pulled the chair and sat, biting his bottom lip. “It’s believed a highly contagious virus spread rapidly across the globe. A pandemic. This wasn’t an ordinary virus though. It didn’t cause illness, only…activated something existing within human DNA. What you remember from TV is when people got infected with the virus. I was living in Texas at the time. Me, Em, her mom, we all were floored. My ex was very warm but her fever never spiked high. Myself, I was exhausted. I could barely move for three days. Emily thankfully slept through most of it. She was only a little girl so it didn’t hit her as badly. When I woke up the fourth day, my ex was doing better and I felt much stronger.”

“And you had that thing on your dick?” He chuckled. “How the hell does that even work without absolutely destroying the person on the receiving end.”

“Because you changed too. Yours are just not as easy to see. You know child birth complications has gone down significantly the past decade. Women report far less pain too. We just…evolved as a species a little fast if you want to think of it that way. Most of us. There are a few people that were lacking in the genome sequence to be affected but by and large, we all became Alpha, Beta or Omega.”

You crossed your arms, tilting your chin up. “My brother is a doctor in Africa, one of the first places that got sick. He told us people were like animals. Biting each other in the damn neck and then I never heard from him again. Anything to say about that?”

He looked up, scrunching up his face. “Well you don’t seem to have a phone around here but I will track down your brother for you. Um, we may have also…gotten physical proof that we have souls and biting an omega in their bonding gland connects them to the alpha that bit them on a metaphysical level but it only takes if it’s consensual on both sides and fun fact the bond will break if one person doesn’t love the other one anymore, like a divorce, not that I would…know what a broken bond feels like,” he rambled out, clearing his throat. You blinked slowly, Beau’s face stuck in that awkward position. “I overshared, didn’t I.”

“Just…a lot to take in,” you said, rubbing your own neck and feeling a tight, hard lump. “Is that my-”

“Yes. It’s where our scents come from and I uh, I got to head back to work,” he said, quickly standing. He adjusted his pants and you noticed the bulge, giving him a glare. “No! No, it’s not…Emily!”

“What?” she groaned, giving you friendly smile when she came inside.

“I need to check in at the station. Please explain…things to Y/N. Heats, scents, true mates, that sort of thing. I’ll be back soon.” He left quickly, Emily raising her eyebrows.

“He’s kind of weird,” you said, Emily laughing before giving you a smirk. “What?”

“Now I get why he’s being so extra. You’re his true mate.” You put a hand on your head, holding up a finger. “Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything.”

Three hours later, you were more confused than ever. Emily was only a teenager but she was a smart girl and had explained the change, what being an omega meant and all of it. You were stuck on one little tidbit though. She could smell that her dad, your sheriff, was connected to you. Like soulmates connected.

What. The. Fuck.

You were still trying to process that information when his red truck pulled up, Beau waving awkwardly to where you and Emily sat on the front porch.

“Emily, pack up your stuff. We should let Y/N-”

“No, no, Alpha boy. This is how it works,” you said, freezing him in his place. His shift shifted wildly, strong and heated, musky with need. “I know why you smell so good. Were you planning on telling me you were not in fact just being nice last night but you were physically incapable of leaving my side at the hospital. On account of the whole fated mates thing.”

Beau’s gaze shot to Emily, his eyes turning stern. “Oh no big boy. You don’t get to be mad at her.”

He put his hands on his hips, sighing to himself. “Would you like to have dinner with us?”

You felt like you had whiplash. Wasn’t he just about to argue something like you were too new to this world? Or no, we’re not mates, I was only helping. Or that it was only affection? Or that he couldn’t know?

“Would you like to have dinner with us?” he repeated.

“Wow,” said Emily besides you. “Her face is literally the what the fuck emoji right now.”

“Emily,” gritted out Beau. You held up a hand, Emily taking it and walking you down the two front steps. 

“Have you ever been to Donno’s diner? Oh my god, they have the best food. Come on, let’s-”

“I’m sorry, I’m not…” you gestured to yourself. You were in sweatpants that were a decade old, a plain t-shirt and your hair was a frazzled sweaty mess. Beau gently took your hand from Emily, his touch telling your body to calm down, that everything was okay.

“If you’d like we can eat in private but you do not need to hide from the world anymore. You are gorgeous just as you are,” he said, voice soft. Emily tilted her head, looking him up and down.

“He totally means that too. I can smell it.” Beau growled, Emily returning a cheeky grin. “Do you want me to leave so you two can bone?”

“In the car ladies, in the car,” he said, grabbing your shoulders and walking you towards the driver side as Emily got inside. “I apologize for the sassy child.”

“Don’t. I like the sassy child,” you grinned, Beau’s face lighting up.

“Really?” You hummed, Beau turning bashful. “She’s a good kid.”

“Seems that way.” You put your hands in your pockets, inhaling deeply. “Today’s been…”

“I understand.” You glanced back at the cabin, frowning. “You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to.”

“I’ve always hated this place.” His large hand interlaced with yours, squeezing the digits. “I don’t want to be alone tonight but I’m not ready for…this yet. I will be but I need to…live a little first. If that makes sense.”

Beau only smirked, a glint in his eyes. “I have an idea.”

Three Weeks Later

“Morning,” said Beau, knocking on the door to the air streamer, aka your new living arrangements for the time being. Beau and Emily had a home built last year after her abduction, something to give her some more stability. With that meant moving his air streamer onto part of the property and having it sit empty for the past six months.

Which meant it was perfect for you to be close to them, you were in town for your new job and you could easily drive to visit your dad at his rehab center. Beau had even offered to let him stay in the house when he got released but thankfully your brother was in contact again and he was going to take dad with him to Seattle where he’d been the past few years.

“Howdy sheriff,” you said as you opened the door, leaning against the door jam. He offered a cup of coffee and your heart fluttered. God, he was so cute how he did that every morning.

“Emily insists on you joining us for breakfast at Donno’s and I couldn’t tell the poor girl no so we’ll be ready to go in fifteen.” He looked up through his lashes, a smidge of cockiness in it. 

“Oh, we’re just going in fifteen, huh?” He shrugged, a strong whiff of his scent curling under your nose. Beau licked his lips as you absently scratched your neck. “I’m still in my pajamas.”

“You mean my pajamas,” he said, reaching out, tugging on the end of the oversized shirt that you’d taken from his room last night. Your stomach jumped as his knuckles grazed your bare skin, Beau stepping up into the airstream, making you walk back. A large hand rested gently on your hip, thumb stroking the skin lightly under the fabric of his shirt. “I had fun last night.”

“Me too.” You placed your hands on his chest, grinning up at him. “From what I’ve gathered, true mates bond immediately most of the time so I really appreciate you being patient-”

“Whoa,” he said, taking your arms in his hands, running them up to your shoulders. “Let’s get something clear, darlin’. You will never thank me for respecting your wishes and doing the right thing. You’re owed those things and sweetheart, I will wait as long as you need me to.” 

“I never met anyone like you before.” 

“Good,” he chuckled, leaning down and letting you press your lips to his. “Take as much time as you need to get ready.”

“I just need a few,” you said, reluctantly letting him pull away. “Hey Beau?”

“Hm?”

“Do you think I lost ten years of my life? Because I let my dad convince me the world wasn’t safe?” He pursed his lips, leaning back against the small counter.

“There certainly was a spike in violent crimes those first six months. There was a lot of fear. We went into a lockdown, loosened restrictions as the science caught up. Emily was homeschooled that first year and I barely let my ex leave the house. But we figured out that the evil bastards that’d do those sorts of things were always the type of people to do those things. It’s like how-”

“You’d love to bite my bond gland and so would I deep down but you’re not jumping my bones to do it because that’s not the kind of guy you are,” you interjected. He smiled softly. “It’s hard to feel like I didn’t lose time, you know?”

“I understand that perspective. But…I didn’t move here until just last year and there was a lot going on with that camping disaster and Emily and my ex and I wasn’t ready for you either until recently. This is how and when we were meant to find each other. We’re soulmates, we didn’t lose any time at all.” He reached out a hand and cupped your cheek. You nuzzled it, placing your hand over top. “I thought you had to get ready.”

“I do,” you said, closing your eyes. “My heat’s coming up soon. I like you being here.”

“Stay in the house with me when it starts. It’ll help.” He kissed your forehead, a strong sense of calm washing over you. “Don’t take too long, omega.”

“I’ll be right there, Alpha. Promise.”

________________

A/N: Read The Change from Beau's perspective here!

[digenerate-trash]

Yans finding out pc has a promiscuous reputation? Like…they’re straight up the town bicycle lmao

Robin

Devastated. He has no idea why you would do this. Why would you betray him like this? Youre cheating on him? You two had something special and he's desperately trying to grapple with this realization. It's worse if he has to find out on his own. The poor little idiot probably goes to Bailey for advice… and Bailey is less than kind with his ideas on how to keep you contained. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Whitney

He is happy to share you. Happy to show you off as well but youre doing this on your own? With no coaxing? Thats … fine. He guesses and tries not to let it bother him. Would prefer people ask him before using you. It's the chain of command after all. He's gonna try not to let it get to him but it bothers him like nails on a chalkboard as the days go on he gets rougher and rougher with you hoping that it sets in that you might be the town's whore. But he owns you. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Eden

Cage time. :) No more leaving for you. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Kylar

The dude is ruined! Has he not been good enough for you? Has he not provided enough? He can! He can have sex with you so much! Just let him! He can do it! He keeps trying to take up all your time. Tries to fuck you every chance he gets. If youre resistant he's just going to drug you and drag you home. He can be a good husband! You just have to give him a chance 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Avery

Youre ruining his reputation. It's not fun when he goes to parties and people give you knowing glances and say suggestive things to you. He's gotta keep you on a tighter leash. Perhaps literally… he could pay Bailey directly to keep you in his direct care for a bit… maybe some training is to keep you loyal

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Black Wolf

I can't imagine he cares to be honest. As long as you’re back to hunt and take care of the pack. It's a different story if youre carrying human pups. But hell just get rid of them and breed you properly. He's still the pack leader after all. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Great Hawk

Kinda upset. Can't have your spouse cheating on you that's just rude. But he's just going to isolate you and keep you home. Youre grounded (so to speak) he does everything for you. Hunts gather supplies to keep you fed and happy and no matter how much you ask to leave you can't. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Alex

Pretty upset. But he is just going to keep making your relationship clear. Some guilt-tripping. Needs you to know that he's the only one for you. He wants to set in the idea that you betrayed him and you owe him. Slow to forgive you but doesn't let you leave. Doesnt break up the relationship. Keeps you close

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Sydney

Pure Sydney is heartbroken. Yall haven't even had sex and yet half the town has had a chance at you? People at school? People he knows?? Sydney is so broken up he might become even more entrenched in his church bullshit. Asking Jordan for help. Needing validation that it's not his fault you cheated. He comes crawling back eventually but he's not happy and he demands that you go through the purity ritual and join the church. 

Corrupt Sydney sees it more as a power play thing?? Sure you can be as promiscuous as you like but if you want Sydney you have to grovel on your knees about how he's the only one for you. You have needs and Sydney gets that but if youre gonna be a whore about it at least apologize with your mouth when you come back to him. 

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Bailey

Doesn't care if you have to uck your way out of a situation or two. This town is fucked up and he gets that but if youre just doing this for fun Bailey is insulted. Gonna beat your ass for thinking you can get away with ‘cheating’ on him (he has not established what relationship you have its confusing to both of you) he gets two extra padlocks for your door. Raises your rent. Does not want to talk about how betrayed he feels

•···········································•✦•···········································•

Harper

He's the reason youre fucking the whole town. He wants to hear every gross detail you have. He's not upset at all when you complain that youre still horny. Therapy sessions get a little more involved after that. You may be even due for a trip to the asylum if you tease the poor doctor enough

[sflow-er]

Tag game

Thank you so much for the tag @silvagrey 💜

No pressure tagging @bluedalahorse @scatteredpiecesofme @willedeservesbetter @palehottubchild and anyone else who feels like making their own poll! This is such a fun way of giving people a peek into our lives haha.

Thanks again for the tag, I really enjoyed making this!

[supereffectivemoonblast]

Vampire the Masquerade - The Southern Blood Rush

The Prelude

The Southern Blood Rush is set in Australia 2024 in the reality of the World of Darkness. The first vampires to reach Australia did so at the same time as White Settlers, so in immortal terms, the race for conquest and domination has only recently begun. A power vacuum has opened up on the east coast of Australia, and several groups work in the shadows to rule the modern Australian urban centres. Just as the mortals poured into this land for a Gold Rush, seeking riches, Vampire's are infiltrating Australia's cities for a modern Blood Rush.

This particular Canon focuses on two parties or "coteries" of Vampires; a trio in Sydney, and a trio in nearby Wollongong. These campaign notes focus on my group, the Wollongong party, hence the "Coteries of the Illawarra" subtitle.

2 years before this story began, The Camarilla (the dominant governing body of Vampires) withdrew from the Wollongong area due to pressure from the Sabbat (a vampire collective that wish to overthrow humanity). Since a bunch of powerful figures left the area, those left are warily awaiting the first grab for power.

Chapter 1. A Warlock walks into a Bar

The Tremere are a secretive but powerful group of vampire mages, and although the majority are loyal to the Camarilla, three have chosen to stay behind in Wollongong. Adrian sends his childes (those he turned) out into the greater Illawarra to find allies for the upcoming backlash he expects from the Camarilla. I play Graham Watson, an Englishman who was turned at 77, and remains incognito as a lecturer at the University of Wollongong.

Graham is sent to find connections with The Dianas, a large and powerful group lurking in Wollongong's CBD. He seeks information at the Black Cockatoo, a bar in the city centre that is rumoured to be a vampire hotspot. There, he meets the bar keeper and owner of the secret under-bar "The Blinded Eye," Tess Barbour, an operative of the Ministry of Set. Tess watches Graham carefully as he chats with three of the Dianas about a possible favour and finds out he is a Tremere.

Graham is sent to Wollongong Hospital on an escort mission, and Tess accompanies him, hoping to make her own connection with the Tremere. There, she and Graham meet with Claira Windward, a vampire doctor who delivers bloodbags to the Dianas. Claira has multiple human partners who she uses for blood and transport, and has one of them deliver the trio back to the CBD.

In the depths of Wollongong Mall, the three vampires meet the Dianas. After a higher rank member learns that Graham is a Tremere looking for allies, he is asked to dispose of a human who they captured. After learning the man assaulted a defenceless woman, Graham demonstrates his magical prowess, transforming the man's blood into water, killing him in minutes. Highly impressed, the Dianas send Graham away, promising to connect with his sire.

Left to right: Graham Watson, Tess Barbour, Claira Windward

* * *

Tess later has a meeting with her superiors, discussing possible uprisings from the Sabbat or the Anarchs (another loose collective of Vampires opposed to the Camarilla). Tess tells her clan about Graham and how connections with the Tremere could help their odds.

Graham returns to his clan's hideout at UOW and informs Adrian that connections have been made with a few groups, but the secret of Tremere presence may have been let loose by this play.

Claira wakes the next day to find that not only have a pair of her boyfriends become sick by a strange illness, but that a similar illness has shown up in tens of patients at the Hospital. Due to the symptoms, she suspects that a Vampire with infected blood may be spreading an illness intentionally, with the purpose of weakening the blood supply for other vampires in the city.

More to come next time.

[fluentmoviequoter]

— “shush, i don’t want to hear it. you deserve all of this and more, so don’t you dare try and convince yourself or me otherwise.”

This is mandatory for Victor bc obviously he doesn't think he deserves a celebration but he DOSE and his family will make sure he knows it.

HE DOES! He deserves the world!! I had every intention of making this a (platonic) reader insert, but it didn't happen lol. This ended up being a blurb rather than a longer fic, but I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: FLUFF

Word Count: 0.8k words

Sydney isn't sure where Victor is. But she woke up and saw he was gone, so she decided to seize her opportunity.

Sydney runs back to her room, pulling a small bag of supplies out from under her bed. Once the supplies are laid out on the small dining table, Sydney begins preparing. Victor's birthday is this week, and he needs a party. After everything he's done for Sydney, throwing a small celebration is the least she can do.

Dol staggers tiredly into the living room, collapsing by Sydney's feet as he falls asleep again. Sydney pats his head as she steps over him, carrying a small box of cake mix into the kitchen. Once the batter is mixed and put in the oven, Sydney begins walking around the room, locating the perfect spots for the decorations she's been hiding for months.

Sydney drags a chair to the opening of the hallway, climbing onto it to hang a banner that says 'Happy Birthday' in red and black letters. Dol barks as Sydney tilts slightly, and Mitch runs down the hall at the sound.

"What are you doing?" he asks, rubbing his eyes as he looks up at Sydney, blocking the doorway.

"Decorating," she grunts, placing the last thumbtack in the banner.

"For what?"

"Victor's birthday."

"He said he didn't want us to do anything," Mitch points out as Sydney climbs off the chair. "Finding out when his birthday is seemed like enough hassle."

Mitch carries the chair to the table on his way to the kitchen. He sees the oven is on and turns the interior light on before looking up at Sydney.

"You made him a cake." Mitch sighs, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. "What do you want me to do?"

Sydney jumps up and down in place. "Can you help me hang some of the other decorations? You're tall enough."

"Tell me what goes where."

While Mitch puts the decorations exactly where Sydney wants them, she removes the finished cake from the oven and works on the cake decorations while it cools. Mitch is kind enough to not ask where she got everything, focusing on her directions for streamer placement.

"Where is Vic, anyway?" she asks, setting a fondant replica of Dol to the side.

Mitch shrugs. "Looking for something, I guess. New markers, a book? Who knows?"

"Is he going to be mad about all of this?"

"He might act mad," Mitch answers. "But I don't think he'll actually mind. He doesn't think he deserves much."

"Then let's show him how wrong he is."

✯✯✯✯✯

Sydney has just put the last decoration on the cake when a key is inserted into the lock on the front door.

"Mitch!" she calls, smiling at him when he returns with Dol on his heels.

Victor opens the door and steps inside, stopping when he sees the large birthday banner and matching streamers.

"Happy Birthday!" Sydney cheers.

"What is all of this this?" he asks, closing the door and setting his disposable bookstore bag down.

"It's a birthday celebration for you," Sydney answers. "I made the cake and Mitch helped me decorate. I know it's a few days early, but you weren't here, so I though we'd surprise you."

"I told you not to do anything," Victor argues. "I don't-"

"Shush," Sydney demands, "I don't want to hear it. You deserve all of this and more, so don't you dare try and convince yourself or me otherwise."

Victor nods, looking at the cake. "Thank you. It's, uh, it's been a long time since I actually celebrated."

"Now I wish I'd made a bigger cake," Sydney mumbles.

"The cake is perfect, Sydney. Everything is perfect. Thank you both," Victor says quietly. "Just don't do it again."

Sydney laughs, intent on celebrating Victor any chance she gets because he deserves it. Not only because he saved her life and promised to keep her safe but because he's been through so much and had so many people tell him he's worthless. Victor Vale is home to Sydney, the safest place in the world, and she needs to do this for him because of who he is, not what he's done.

"I wasn't sure about the colors, and they don't sell black on black birthday decorations," Sydney says. "I thought red and black would work."

"It looks great." Victor looks at the cake and narrows his eyes as he asks, "Is that us?"

"It is! You, me, Mitch, and of course, Dol. They're - we're - edible, but it seems a little weird to eat them," Sydney rambles.

"I really don't deserve all this, Sydney," Victor tries again.

"Don't argue with her, man," Mitch interjects. "You don't want to know how many times those streamers had to be moved."

"If you'd listened the first time," Sydney grumbles, causing Victor to smile while she isn't looking.

"Thank you for all of this. Maybe birthdays aren't so bad," Victor says.

Dol barks as Mitch cuts a piece of cake, and though there aren't presents or a fancy birthday dinner, it's the best birthday celebration Victor has ever had. Maybe, Sydney thinks, by next year, he'll be more willing to tell her his favorite cake flavor.

[cyber-corp]

mr gecko do they have popup halloween stores in australia?

specifically a store that comes mid-september to occupy an empty retail space for the duration of the Holiday Season and sells spooky decor and costumes?

Hmm...not in the parts I'm from, no. There have been temporary mattress shops and like five billion discount shops, but never any Halloween-themed temporary ones.

However there's a parties store in Newcastle (suburb about 2 hours from Sydney) called Shindigs, which basically supplies everything you would need for Halloween, except this shop has lasted twenty fucking years doing just that, and nothing more.

Its business model never ceases to amaze me.

[visualnovelzombie]

Furry Visual Novel Book Club: Echo Week 3 SPOILER DISCUSSIONS

Hi everyone, here is the SPOILER discussion post for “Echo - Monday/Tuesday”

Links: Previous - Next - Original - Spoiler Free Version

Feel free to respond in reblogs/replies/or asks :D

Monday starts with the group at Yeeyah River in Echo. Chase goes to film while everyone unpacks. When he returns, he stumbles onto the group arguing with each other. Chase decides to go for a swim rather than engage, commenting on how not swimming makes him feel anxious. We’re treated to a CG of Chase underwater, and the track, “DeadlyBeauty” begins to play.

Spoiler Comment: Chase doesn't go swimming for the rest of Visual novel over the course of six+ days which definitely results in him being a LOT more worse off than just the events unfolding.

Chase comments about being at peace underwater and how he enjoyed feeling special, being the only one who was able to ferry his friends around in and under the water along with comments about being ‘average’. The group comments on them enjoying swimming with Chase when they were younger before Flynn angrily cuts them off. The track “Argument” begins to play as Flynn goes on a tirade.

During the rant, Flynn attacks each other’s character's personal insecurities. Carl’s lack of direction, Jenna’s abandonment, Leo’s obsession with Chase, Chase for being the MC of a Visual Novel that is pretending to be Romance Novel...

Just as he starts with TJ, we’re treated to another CG, this time of the argument.

Flynn badgers TJ, asking him ‘What happened?’. Flynn reveals something happened to Sydney in narrative, and the event has made things hard for him. (HI biggest insecurity) The gila stops just short of coming to blows with Leo, then storms off away from the group.

Spoiler Note: Even so completely early on, Chase only begins to act when the topic of Sydney is brought up, but decides to drop it and let Leo handle things with violence. Only once Flynn tries to bring it up again does Chase speak up trying to stop it but is forcibly cut off by Flynn.

It’s here we get our route split. After having our friend's dirty laundry aired out in front of us, we get immediately boxed into spending more time with one of them. For this playthrough the group voted for Carl as a whole, but who did you choose the first time, and why?

>Sit With Carl:

Chase, being tired from the argument, decides to sit and talk with Carl. After a short weed break, the two begin to chat as “Neutral” begins to play. Carl defends Flynn and Chase comments how the two seem close, before moving onto how the ram is doing. The conversation of Carl’s… colorful sexuality comes up, along with an ass picture of Flynn, but Carl moves to showing Chase a picture of a car he wrecked, limiting the ram's mobility around town (and trapping him in Echo!).

The two talk about their enjoyable single semester at University together and when Chase mentions doing research on the town, Carl mentions how his family has a plethora of historical documents saved. Carl mentions that an ancestor of his founded the town and the two make plans for Chase to research at the ram’s house the following day.

The scene cuts and another nightmare sequence plays. Chase crashes into a Lake and is unable to escape from his seatbelt, while Carl leaves him to drown...

Spoiler Note: The foreshadowing from Carl's bad end starts almost immediately. Chase left unable to move or assist the horrible situation they're in as Carl gloats away, happy with his actions.

Chase begins the day by recapping that Leo instructed him to distract Carl for the day while the rest of group go to buy supplies and presents for a month-early surprise-party for Carl. Chase drives to Carl’s house where it’s revealed that Carl’s family is extremely wealthy. The track, “Old Winds” begins to play. Chase rings the doorbell but after waiting for a bit, decides to follow the sound of Flynn and Carl’s voices to the backyard.

t after waiting for a bit, decides to follow the sound of Flynn and Carl’s voices to the backyard. After stumbling onto the conversation, “Come Over” starts to play. Carl and Flynn are teasing each other back and forth about the nature of the visit as well as the relationship between the two, while Chase is left unable to tell if anything is a joke or not.

Spoiler Note: I have no idea when "Benefits" was written but it's pretty cool to see that their fling/romance was planned out so early in development. It's also the perfect amount of teasing for 'Oh is my buddy gay?' more a game masquerading as a Romance Novel still.

Flynn leaves and Carl and Chase reminisce on their childhood memories together and the treehouse Carl’s dad had built for the two. We’re treated to a wondrous CG that really spells out the meaning behind,  “Chase Hunter” pretty blatantly.

Carl falls from the tree and Chase makes the best of the situation.

The two go inside while “Neutral” begins to play, eventually making their way to the basement while Chase gushes about the size and extravagance of the mansion.

Oh the foreshadowing ...

The two begin digging through bins of Carl’s family's storage, and Chase comments about how much he used to hangout with Carl and how it suddenly stopped when Chase started dating Leo.

Spoiler Note: "HI IT'S ME BOY, THE MAGICIAN ARCHETYPE COMING AT YOU LIVE FROM INSIDE YOUR BRAIN"... Also this always breaks me up a bit and is also why Carl/Chase/Leo Is the best polyship of the Novel ~

The two find the storage bins with the relevant documents and move them to a more convenient place. As Chase puts his down, a spider appears on the lid and scares Chase away. He begs Carl to get rid of the spider, and the ram complies while teasing Chase by offering details on the spider.

Spoiler Comment: Chase is still deflecting...

Also these next three lines hit me like a truck on a reread. The absolute foreshadowing and complete dissection of the narrative with the Wolf-Spiders and babies is hard to even comment about because it's so fully encompassing. Cycles of trauma perpetuating, the red-woof, the spiders in general. Like that's it, that's the thesis of the game. Wolf's will trick you into being gay AND trauma is a vicious cycle that will worsen and deepen its roots into generation after generation unless you face it head-on and work through it.

The two begin to dig through the documents and heirlooms as “Mitt” begins to play. The two discover a photo of James Hendricks, the founder of the town with, and another man, John Begay. Carl leaves and begins to argue with his mother on the phone while Chase finishes his research. When he goes to find Carl, the ram is getting stoned in his room.

Spoiler Note: Chase tries to immediately deflect from the presence of Sydney while Carl is worried about his dad being really rude and somewhat awful. Chase drops his concern right after...

The two play a video game from their time dorming together as “Come Over” boots back up. The two agree to a sleepover at Carl’s insistence. 

The scene cuts to the boys lying down in bed together as “Intimate” begins to play.

Spoiler Aside: Why the fuck does Chase always lay head-to-toe with people. Is it an anti-gay thing? Can't be gay if we 69? Is it an otter thing? Did Howly just do this at sleepovers IRL and assumed it's 1000% normal? It's very confusing even with the veneer of them not sexually/romantically compatible at the moment. Am I the weird one???

The scene cuts to the boys lying down in bed together as “Intimate” begins to play. Chase comments on how Carl didn’t like to fall asleep last and how he would wake others up. Carl laments on his lack of an eventful life but Chase is unable to reach his friend. Carl says he ‘can’t’ do things, no matter how hard he tries...

We’re met with a choice

You Have a Problem: 

Chase suggests Carl sees a therapist and Carl responds that he already does, it just doesn't help. Carl asks Chase about his mental health.

Spoiler Aside: There’s an unused flag here that made me almost lose my shit because I thought I lied to everyone, but after checking all the files it’s never brought up again in the code.

It’s Fine:

Chase dismisses the issue and Carl only responds by asking Chase about his mental health.

Spoiler Notation: Telling Carl he has a problem gets him to open up more, and was apparently planned to be a flag for something. He wants/needs someone to get him out of his rut, and I think hearing it from the boy he likes and not his mom is the 'correct' thing for him to hear.

Re-convergence: Chase says he hopes his problems are solved before planning to return during the week for more research. The two make plans to hang out later in the week, right before Carl drops an ulterior motive for Chase spending the night.

The scene cuts and Chase is awoken by scraping sounds. He wakes Carl up and the two both hear the noise. Carl is extremely startled by a voice Chase doesn’t hear as “Creep” begins to play. The boys make their way downstairs and arm themselves with a knife and broom, Carl commenting how he’s heard the noise for a month now.

The two make their way to the source of the noise, the crawlspace, and discover the light is off while whatever is making the noise is doing so in complete darkness. After turning on the lights the two discover the crawlspace empty.

Aside: Otter wobbles.........

Carl comments on the bins being moved and Chase is unable to remember if he moved the bins himself or not...

-----------------------------------

That ends Monday and Tuesday for our reading! Thank you to everyone who participated! I love feedback and discussion but just people enjoying the journey and reading these as letsplay is fun too ~

Our Reading for next week is: Wednesday

Stop at the following screen:

Thank you everyone again, and remember this is SPOILER discussion.

Link to SPOILER FREE DISCUSSION HERE

[kidspartyideas]

Why Is Finding Dory The Best Birthday Party Theme Ever? 

You often get perplexed thinking about the theme for your kid’s next birthday. Many ideas strike, but you must arrange something that fits your kid's choice. You suddenly thought of organising a birthday party based on finding dory.  It's going to be a fun-filled and magical experience altogether. So, let’s include the lovely, enjoyable character this year in your birthday theme. But the question is, why do you think it’s the right fit?

Add Engaging and vibrant decor to the birthday party 

The striking yellow and blue combination is undoubtedly mind-blowing. So, to keep the dory’s theme intact, you can arrange the birthday venue with popping colours like greens and blues. Besides, decorations such as bubbles, seaweed, and coral should be added. It’ll help you transform any ordinary place with adventurous touches of the sea. You can also add more details like fish, shells, and starfish. Just get the chance to explore the world of Nemo and Dory. 

Make the party enjoyable by adding lovely characters 

Finding Dory has many characters, like Destiny, Marlin, Nemo, and Dory.  These characters are eye-appealing to people irrespective of their ages. Though it’s a kid’s birthday party, adults will enjoy it thoroughly. You can put up some of the character posters and cutouts. You can add a themed birthday party cake as well. Overall, that’s going to be a rocking party. 

Including some creative and fun activities to list 

Choosing Finding Dory as a birthday theme lets you explore many possibilities in terms of games. You can set up a treasure hunt based on items found in the sea, like sea shells and corals. You can even add some toy fish if required. 

Final talk 

So create a nostalgia of moments in this kid’s birthday party, and let all enjoy themselves at their best. Themed birthday parties are always eye-catching. So you can explore some of the other themed characters like Dora, Lion Guard, Baby Shark, Sofia the 1st, and Littlest Pet Shop.  Learn More:

Why is the Peppa pig's birthday theme the ultimate eye-catcher?

How will you arrange a birthday party on Henry’s hugglemonster theme

[aceoffangirls]

If any Sydney Swifties need any eras things last minute this was near Town Hall and called Sydney Party Decorations.

They got friendship bracelets, posters (including the eras one for $4), jewels, hats, outfits and even Taylor themed party supplies.

[ncisfranchise-source]

NCIS: Sydney with Part 2 of its freshman finale opened with a big win — the mysterious “Ana Niemus” was in custody! — only to quickly reverse the team’s fortunes with the news that JD’s son Jack had been kidnapped from his ninth birthday party by a creepy clown.

Said clown got in touch with JD to demand a swap: Jack for the blonde, Irish (?) spy currently cuffed up in NCIS’ interrogation room. Thing is, assorted “acronym agencies” representing U.S. interests were on their way to claim “Ana” for themselves. First up, Mackey met with the slithery Colonel Rankin to see if he could tap the brakes on those coming to scoop up Ana — and Rankin agreed, being a father himself and all (to some oddly young kids?).

Nonetheless, the “acronym agencies” eventually landed on NCIS’ doorstep, only to discover that Ana had escaped! — with, we’d learn, help from JD, who’d deftly supplied her with the means to pick the lock on her handcuffs, and then met her out back with a van.

JD in turn rendezvoused with the Killer Clown at a remote location, with Ana in tow. When Jack’s kidnapper revealed that he’d be welching on their deal, and instead planned to shoot JD dead in front of the (blindfolded) kid, Ana slipped free of her cuffs, grabbed JD’s gun from her hoodie pocket, and put the clown down.

Ana then trained the pistol on JD, making clear her intention to elude NCIS’ grip yet again. But before she sped off in the van, she handed JD the clown’s phone and nudged him to “phone a friend” — and possibly be surprised by who picks up.

As JD tapped on the lone contact listed on the kidnapper’s phone, we cut to the NCIS HQ, where Blue and Mackey heard a nearby Colonel Rankin’s phone vibrating.

What are we to make of Rankin’s phone ringing? Why would the DoD bigwig have been in contact with the man who took Jack and wanted Ana?

“What’s incredible about this [reveal] is it is endless as to where they could take it,” Todd Lasance, who plays AFP Sergeant JD Dempsey, remarked to TVLine. “That is the way to finish a [season].”

https://tvline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ncis-sydney-finale-explained-rankin-kidnap-jd-son.jpg

TVLine then posited that perhaps Colonel Rankin set in motion the kidnapping as a means to set free detained spy Ana, whose national/political allegiances and affiliations have been a bit murky thus far.

“That’s good,” Lasance nodded. “The thing is, you don’t know if Rankin was a pawn to a degree. Was there pressure from Ana’s side of the organization to potentially make these calls, but then it was out of his hands? Maybe the terrorist organization was handling all of those decisions? I don’t know — I’m just as excited as you to see where it goes.”

[charlesandmartine]

Saturday 21st January 2023

Happy Chinese New Year's Eve

We enjoyed the sunshine in the garden after Martine's swim and my run down to the Quay and back. The plan was to go into the City to help the crowds celebrate the coming of the year of the Rabbit and the departure of the year of the Tiger. Really odd thing having a Lunar New Year. 2022 began on 1 February so you have to be on the ball with your party hats to know when it's going to be next. Also it would appear that in Vietnam it is the year of the cat. Despite this apparent confusion, we made use of the 8.4 dollar cap day and took the ferry to Circular Quay and then another onward to Darling Harbour. From there we walked to Chinatown to join our fellow revellers. We were not alone to welcome the rabbit or cat or whatever, in fact so much not alone that we couldn't see over the heads to where traditional lions/ dragons were performing. We did see a lot of off-duty dragons casually strolling around with their red and gold trousers looking as impressive as perhaps between performance pantomime horses with the equivalent trouser legs.

The festivities would be nothing without the food, and without doubt there was plenty of choice here from the street food outlets. We chose to push our way through a food hall and ordered fried rice and chicken/ seafood. Which was delicious and very welcome.

Making our way back through the lantern bedecked busy streets we followed the crowd to Darling Harbour again where the fireworks were to be held at 9pm. As the time approached for the man with the match to arrive, we were treated to an unusual display of what appeared to be two figures on the wrong end of a fire hydrant. They jiggled mid air supported by two immense jets of water (for some reason). Anyway, quite impressive despite the extremely loud accompanying music. On the dot the fireworks began and I began to realise how discerning we have become of public displays. Suddenly we are experts at pyrotechnics and critical of the degree of complexity of the routines. I would say they were okay but nothing much to write home about, despite now actually writing home about it that is. Unkindly perhaps I thought they were the ones left over from the Sydney Harbour New Year celebration. The final one fizzled out and we turned for home in time to suddenly notice we were not alone by far. The crowds had swelled by many thousands and all had the same intent to make their own way home, but in different directions. It really was quite alarming but we managed to get to through Darling Square and into quieter streets, jump on a train to Wynyard and then the 173x bus home. Glad we went, wasn't as good as we thought it might have been and disappointed that once again we had overlooked buying a fresh supply of Tim Tams!

[mariacallous]

I suddenly have a new need (if only to see how ridiculous it is).

What’s the formula for a superb dinner party? Choosing your guests and your food with care and savoir faire. Who can guide you in achieving this delicate balance? Astrologist Sydney Omarr can tell you who will give you the pleasantest companionship by consulting the stars. Radio/TV Food Consultant Mike Roy can supply menus and recipes that will make the evening a culinary success…All the recipes are here, written simply and clearly so that even an amateur cook can cope with them. And there are interesting serving suggestion, too, lots of them flambe!