#residency: la 13

[savage-rhi]

Duality

Chapter 13: The Walk

Summary: Sawyer Kiddo has walked a razor's edge as a hacktivist for several years, driven by the loss of her family in the Raccoon City incident. Haunted by past choices and fueled with desire for vigilante justice, Sawyer's work takes an unexpected turn when she ventures to Spain and crosses paths with Luis Serra—a man with blood on his hands long thought to be dead. Together they unravel a web of corruption and face an impending bioterror threat, fighting not only monsters but also the darker elements of their humanity. As they delve deeper into each other's pasts and the conspiracy at large, Sawyer begins to sense something unsettling about Luis—something that might be even more dangerous than their mutual enemies.

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Two Legs stood at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the attic door with an intensity that bordered on obsession. 

Almost two weeks had passed since Sawyer had woken up, and hardly a word was spoken between them. Not that Two Legs minded silence—usually, it suited him best, but this was different. He tried not to take it personally. Humans, he reasoned, needed substantial downtime when they're upset. He had seen it before in fragments of Luis's memories, people retreating into themselves to heal. That's why he'd moved downstairs to one of the smaller rooms, leaving the attic to Sawyer. Not that she ever asked for it. 

The most she'd said in days was a quiet "hello" or to ask where the bathroom was. Two Legs knew he should be grateful. Sawyer promised him time and space to adjust, and she'd kept her word, but he missed her voice more than he expected. How she bantered with him, and hell, even when she got angry. The thought of her pinning him to the wall back at the hotel in Toledo was something he thought of often with a stupid grin. It certainly made his skin tingle.

Only the faint shuffle of her feet above and an uncomfortable quiet remained. It reminded Two Legs that there had been a time, as brief as it was when she seemed alive. Spirited, as humans would call it. 

He hoped that was all this was—downtime.

Two Legs exhaled, dragging his gaze away from the attic, and headed toward the kitchen. His footsteps were as silent as the rest of the house, but his mind was loud with thoughts that came to him in the form of pictures and quick snaps of things he'd seen recently, mixed with remnants of Luis's memories he used as a guide around the residence. He noted that he still needed to clean the fireplace in the living room and make it presentable, along with the book room where he currently spent most of his time.

Cleanliness wasn't something the plaga ever thought his nature would be inclined to, but having a guest brought it out in him for better or worse. It reminded him of his primary duties in the Valdelobos hive, where he'd pick off weaker brethren and ensure the structure comb was secure to caves, bringing a smile to his lips at the connection. Whatever happiness he felt soon vanished as Two Legs furrowed his brows when he came to a stop.

Sawyer's plate sat on the counter untouched since last night. The meat and vegetables had dried to a sad, cold heap.

She hadn't eaten much of anything he had prepared for her, and while Two Legs knew he was not a five-star chef, Luis knew a thing or two about meal-making that he could pull from. Enough to where he was confident Sawyer shouldn't have been put off by what he left out for her, by human standards at any rate.

From what Two Legs observed over the last few weeks, it seemed that the only thing Sawyer nibbled at was the snacks from the grocery bag he bought for her upstairs. He knew she was coming down to the wire, as he hadn't heard the sound of a bag of chips or a granola bar being opened in the past couple of days.

Two Legs stared at the plate for a moment longer, trying to ignore the growing pit in his stomach. At first, it was practical to make her meals — feeding Sawyer to keep her strong, like preparing livestock for slaughter. He pressed his lips together, trying to push the thought aside, but it stuck. That logic didn't sit right anymore with him as he glared and pressed on.

He opened the fridge, reached for a bowl of grapes and cherries, and paused. His hand hovered over them before lowering again. The cool air from the refrigerator brushed his skin as he stood there, frowning.

She's getting thinner...

Even if Two Legs couldn't always see Sawyer, he knew. He could hear it in her movements, sensing how her steps seemed lighter. The concern was becoming insistent, the same discomfort he'd felt in Madrid, in Toledo. Hell, since they first met. Two Legs species wasn't built to care like this, but he could feel it creeping under his skin and growing.

He wanted to help her. No, more than that.

He wanted to comfort her. 

The realization made his jaw clench, his teeth grinding together. These feelings, these thoughts, they didn't belong to him. They shouldn't belong to him.

What the hell is wrong with me…? 

Without another word, Two Legs grabbed the bowl of grapes and cherries, shutting the fridge harder than he intended.

Maybe Sawyer would eat today, perhaps she wouldn't, but he'd keep trying—because something in him, some unknown thing he still didn't understand, wouldn't let him stop.

Several minutes later, Two Legs stood in front of the attic door. He released a deep breath and softly knocked, his fingers brushing the wood with more hesitation than purpose.

"Sawyer," Two Legs' voice was barely a whisper. He was unsure if he even wanted to wake her up.

When he entered, the room was dim, a quiet refuge untouched by the morning light that had started to peek through the cracks of the curtains.

Venturing closer, Two Legs saw Sawyer was still asleep, curled in on herself, limbs tangled in the sheets as if protecting her body. The sight made him stop momentarily, just staring at her. It was almost eight in the morning—late by most measures—but he was still unsure what "most" meant when it came to her, unclear if this was too early to be impeding.

Two Legs' brow furrowed, still trying to grasp how human circadian rhythms worked, especially hers. Luis had always been a night owl; naturally, so had he. The plaga were inclined to a nocturnal living. But since Sawyer arrived, Two Legs woke earlier than his instincts allowed. It wasn't just the constant low-level dread that she might figure out he wasn't human and needed to be on guard; something else stirred beneath the surface, a desire to understand her world and her ways. He hadn't been prepared for this—for any of it—living with another being, not just occupying space but learning them and absorbing their habits.

Two Legs didn't have much to go on; Luis's memories weren't beneficial—most of his life was solitary, save for the fleeting misadventures and connections he made during college and at work. None of them were like this, like her. 

Gracias por nada, amigo… (42)

The bowl of fruit in his hand felt oddly heavy.

Two Legs placed the bowl on the nightstand, replacing the old, untouched one with mold speckles growing on the orange slices. The bright colors looked out of place in the muted light of the room. His eyes shifted, noticing Sawyer's blanket had slipped; kicked down to the end of the bed in her sleep. Without thinking, Two Legs reached for it, intending to toss it back like a chore that needed to be checked off. But as he started to turn, something held him still, and he looked back at her, at her face. How it cradled against the pillow he normally nuzzled into. There was a peculiar urge in him, one that he didn't recognize but couldn't ignore.

Hesitantly, like a child testing a parent's boundary, Two Legs returned to the bed, carefully draping the blanket over Sawyer with awkward, mechanical precision. He had seen humans do this—covering each other up, tucking one another in as if the act was a way of caring. Once he completed that, his hand hovered above Sawyer's head, fingers trembling, and he was unsure what to do next.

Slowly, as though the action were alien to him, Two Legs patted Sawyer's head, imitating how he'd seen humans pet their animals and other beasts of burden.

Luis once wrote a college thesis on the symbiotic relationship between Amazonian tarantulas and frogs, exploring how such a delicate balance might someday emerge between parasitic organisms and humans, given the right conditions. The frogs found safety beneath the spider's formidable presence, sheltered in its burrow, while the frog repaid its silent debt by devouring ants and larvae that threatened the spider's young, a near-perfect exchange of power.

Two Legs realized that, under the circumstances, he was the spider, and Sawyer, the frog, nestled under the shadow of his legs. Maybe that was why he made the eight-hour journey to bring her half-dead body to this place. Perhaps he was so protective because he needed protection himself.

Maybe that was all she was, a pet.

The thought should have felt cold and transactional but blossomed into warmth and settled in Two Legs' chest like a quiet flame. Although the term 'pet' was tangible, it still felt incorrect. If anything, Luis would fit that category, and Sawyer wasn't Luis, nor anyone else he had ever known. She was some other thing. He couldn't name it, didn't understand why it lodged so deeply in him, but it mattered in a way that startled him.

Two Legs stepped back, his eyes lingering on Sawyer's face one last time before he scribbled a quick note on a sticky pad nearby and left it on the table for her to read later, letting her know he would be stepping outside to go for a walk and she was welcome to come along.

Slipping out the door with the same calmness he had entered, Two Legs noticed a faint lightness dropping in his body, unfamiliar but not unwelcome. Many questions remained unanswered, hovering at the edges of his thoughts, but they didn't seem to matter as much for now as he turned his attention elsewhere.

Two Legs wandered along a narrow path an hour later, the soles of his shoes pressing into the dirt with a stable, mindless rhythm. Occasionally, he'd glance to his right, eyes drifting below to the valley stretching toward the horizon, a town at the base cradled by mountains and sea, the ocean shimmering just far beyond. Trees were scattered here and there, providing pockets of shade as the sun's heat started to grow. The air was dense with the scent of salt, mingling with the rich, earthy fragrance of the trail beneath him. San Viento del Mar was a sight for the senses, even for a creature like himself. The area was tranquil in a way Valdelobos could never hold a torch to, but even such serenity couldn't still the disquiet that followed Two Legs throughout his little venture. Thoughts of Sawyer pulled at him, disrupting the routine distractions that usually accompanied him on these walks.

As Two Legs recalled the past week, a pain throbbed in a place where his heart should have been mute. He remembered how his every attempt at care was met with silence or suspicion, how Sawyer's eyes seemed haunted by something he couldn't quite understand nor witness himself, almost as if she disappeared into "the other place," but one of her own making. His thoughts circled around it, tighter and tighter, until they coiled into something that resembled fear—her fear and his—of each other.

Fear was such a strange sensation. His kind, the plaga, had no need for it. Not in the sense that humans did. In his world, the hive attempted to flourish in the absence of such emotion. Small doses were acceptable as it ensured survival, but beyond that, to have fear was to have attachment, and attachment was unnecessary when the main focus was to expand and defend the territory. Yet Two Legs could feel it, soft and insidious, whispering in his ear, reminding him that he couldn't control everything, much less control Sawyer's actions and behavior toward him despite good intentions. He couldn't control his fear when she was dying in his arms, nor could he prevent its emergence when he encountered the other plaga back in Toledo.

The fear brought Two Legs back to his earlier efforts that week, how he had forced himself into "the other place" for forty-eight hours straight, pushing his mind to the limit to retrieve memories tied to Alvarez and Luis, using the method of overdosing on sleep medication and setting an intention—a ridiculous pursuit, if ever there was one. Not for the risk of death—Two Legs was immune to the medication's dangerous properties—but for the fact that he had implemented a religious prayer Luis used when he felt cornered in his research when fear would keep him from leaping off the edge. Two Legs vaguely repeated some of the words in his mind, letting them flow in and out as he gently kicked at a few stones near his feet.

Permíteme discernir mis verdaderas necesidades que me están ocultas.

No te pido ni cruz ni consuelo; Te espero con paciencia...(1)

Prayer felt strangely similar to how plagas would call out for help through the hive mind when faced with danger—an overwhelming cry for strength against an enemy. Yet, despite his dedication to a higher authority, Two Legs had emerged from the stunt with more questions than answers, enough pictures to tell the story but not enough to solidify the narrative. And now, he didn't know how he would explain it all to Sawyer when they'd eventually cross that bridge. How could he tell her about the memory gaps and missing details without revealing the truth about himself, that he wasn't Luis?

Two Legs could already picture the look in Sawyer's eyes at discovering his true face—the way her hand might instinctively reach for something sharp, or worse, a gun. She'd seen what happened to Samuel, how he twisted into that monstrous form, an insect wrapped in human skin, and how, despite their shared bond, she eventually found the courage to destroy him. After everything she'd been through, Two Legs doubted she'd have a heart for a creature like him.

No human would.

It suddenly hit him—the small acts of care—it wasn't instinct that made him wake early, listening for her movements, his mind tangled in questions he couldn't answer. It was her. It had always been her. And the fear biting at Two Legs wasn't just about being discovered; it was the dread that Sawyer might genuinely see him and, in that moment, he would lose something he didn't even know he needed.

For the first time since he could remember, Two Legs cared about being seen in the truest sense—naked and judged. He cared how humans viewed him as a person.

He cared how Sawyer saw him.

A small gasp left Two Legs' mouth as he rounded the bend. A familiar musk with cucumber and yeast wafted through the air, cutting down the last of his scattered thoughts. He knew that smell all too well, and he knew who the owner was.

Luis's memories flashed through Two Legs' mind, unsought but vivid. He could see her behind his eyes as he closed them briefly—the older woman, always quick to smile, her warmth woven into every quirk of her aging frame. 

Ida…

In those distant years, when Luis was barely a teen, Ida had become a role model for him in the new world away from Valdelobos. She reminded him of his Abuela—the grandmother he never knew but always imagined through Abuelo's stories, the kind of woman who would slip homemade bread into his hands, gossiping bits of wisdom while weaving wild tales and offering unsolicited affection.

Two Legs didn't share Luis's sentimentality, at least not in the human sense. However, the old neighbor carved out a place in his borrowed heart with her nosy habits and meddling ways. He found something intriguing in the elderly—a subdued resilience that set them apart from their younger and more restless counterparts.

Seeing Ida come into view, Two Legs recalled how simple it would've been—practical, even—to erase her presence when he first reclaimed the Jacintos' household. He could have wiped the slate clean and staked his territory with no loose ends or prying eyes, but she never threatened him. No, there had been no fear in Ida's eyes the day they met, no tremor in her voice, just that neighborly zeal—friendly curiosity over why Luis had returned after nearly a decade of being gone. She'd offered him food before asking questions, even cracking jokes to coax a smile out of him.

It disturbed Two Legs how close she'd been to death without ever knowing it—how she could've been snuffed out, ignorant to the danger she was in. Oblivious to the hunter she was befriending, standing right in front of her. He couldn't comprehend how humans were so gullible. Yet, in the end, Two Legs had no appetite for her. She wasn't prey. She was just old Ida.

Two Legs didn't understand why it was different with her, how it was so easy to suppress the instinct to devour an old feeble creature, yet the ache refused to fade with Sawyer.

"Ah, Luis, estás en casa! Ha pasado demasiado tiempo. " Ida's voice called out, warm and teasing. She lifted her basket like a prize to behold with a grin. "He traído pan recién salido del horno. Pensé que podríamos compartirlo en el almuerzo de hoy si estabas en casa. Me alegro de haberte encontrado. Más tarde iré a la ciudad, así que si necesitas algo de la carnicería, dímelo. ¿Te trató bien tu viaje al capitolio?" (2)

Two Legs smiled, grateful for her presence—her predictability—and how it eased his hesitation. Perhaps that's why Luis had always held her in such high regard and admired women in general. Females carried an air of stability, a quality that always seemed to evade him.

"Me malcrías, Ida," he said with a chuckle, voice softer than he meant it to be. "Te acepto el viaje a la carnicería, pero me temo que el almuerzo tendrá que esperar. No es el mejor momento." (3)

Before Two Legs could explain further, Ida's sharp eyes looked past him. Her smile faltered, brow knitting in confusion. She squinted at something behind him in the distance, something—or someone—hovering just at the edge of sight.

"Ida?"

"Allí," She nodded toward the figure. (4)

Two Legs did a double take, and for a moment, his mind froze. His heart lurched into his throat, not expecting to see Sawyer outside. Hell, he hadn't expected her to even be out of bed, much less venture far away from the house to catch up to him, even with the note he left behind for her.

"Veo que recogiste un recuerdo de Madrid," Ida's curious voice snapped Two Legs out of his trance. She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over Sawyer with an almost maternal scrutiny as if assessing every piece of her. (5)

"Más bien ella me recogió." Two Legs murmured under his breath, more to himself than to Ida. (6)

"¿Quién, quién es ella?" (7)

"Es...una amiga," Two Legs said, though the word felt wrong—too small for what she was, too weak for what they'd gone through. "Una invitada. Su nombre es Sawyer." (8)

"¿De qué región es ella?" (9)

"Ella no es de aquí. Es americana. Una turista." (10)

"Turista?" Ida's brow arched skeptically, a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth as she looked at him. "De todas las mujeres guapas de Barcelona a Madrid, ¿Te trajiste a casa a una americana con el culo plano?" (11)

"¡Oye, sé amable!" Two Legs laughed, but his cheeks flushed, heat spreading under his skin. "No es tan plano." (12)

Ida chuckled, giving his arm a playful swat, but her laughter faded as her eyes narrowed on something that stole the humor from her face—the bandages peeking just beneath Sawyer's shirt. Even from a great distance, she could see them well. Her expression darkened with concern, and her voice briefly lost its warmth.

"¿Y para qué es eso?" (13)

"¿Para qué es qué?" Two Legs muttered with a swallow, though he already knew where this was going. (14)

"Las heridas en ella," Ida said more sharply now, her eyes locking onto his, hard as steel. " ¿Hiciste eso?" (15)

"¡Podrido, claro que no!" Two Legs stomach dropped, a wave of shame hitting him as if she'd slapped him across the face. He flinched, almost bracing himself for Ida to take a swing at him with her basket. "¿Qué clase de hombre crees que soy? ¡Nunca lastimaría a una dama!" (16)

"¡Bien!" Ida's stern gaze softened, her tone gentle but probing. "¿Pero cogiste al que lo hizo?" (17)

For a moment, the question lingered between them as Two Legs' gaze drifted back to Sawyer, who had seated herself on a weathered bench by a grove of trees, her eyes distant, as if searching for something she'd lost. Seeing her like that stirred a soft spot in himself as he wondered what was on her mind and what motivated her to come out this far.

"No," he said quietly, keeping his eyes on her. "Ella ha pasado por mucho." (18)

Ida nodded, the lines around her eyes softening with compassion as she glanced between Two Legs and Sawyer, raising her brows briefly as if something clicked.

"Ya veo," she murmured. "Tendremos que posponer mi visita entonces, ¿no?" (19)

"Eso sería lo mejor," Two Legs replied, turning his attention to Ida. "Al menos hasta que se sienta mejor." (20)

"Parece simpática," Ida mused, her gaze lingering on Sawyer. Her tone had a knowing, gentle interest, which didn't escape her concern. (21)

Two Legs felt the term catch in his throat for a beat. Like with 'pet,' 'nice' wasn't quite the right word he had in mind for Sawyer, but it was the easiest to grasp at the moment . He smiled again as his gaze settled on her, staring longer than before.

"Si, ella es." (22)

Only when Ida's loud chortle startled him did Two Legs realize he had been too preoccupied for his own good. He could feel the back of his neck heating up as Ida grinned at him.

"No dejes que te meta en sus asuntos, Luis. Siempre has tenido problemas con las chicas. Debe ser la maldición de ser guapo." (23)

"¡Eres tan territorial conmigo!" Two Legs threw his hands up in mock surrender, giving her a flirtatious grin. "¡No soy digno de ello!" (24)

Ida's laughter, hearty and warm, filled the air. "Chico, si tuviera treinta años menos, tu virtud estaría en peligro. Será mejor que tengas cuidado!" (25)

He clutched his chest in exaggerated horror, playing along. "¿Intentas provocarme un infarto?" (26)

"Nah. Sólo un pequeño empujón ," she winked. (27)

They shared another chuckle, a short reprieve from the suspense Two Legs hadn't realized he was carrying. But as the laughter faded, so did the distraction. Two Legs pivoted weirdly, his thoughts weaving around Sawyer again as he rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat, quickly glancing at Ida.

"Oye Ida, tengo una pregunta." (28)

She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Esto debería ser bueno ¿De qué se trata?" (29)

"Se trata de ella," he admitted, the worry seeping into his voice despite his best efforts to mask it. "Ella realmente no ha comido mucho desde que llegó aquí. Yo, eh...no sé qué hacer. ¿Alguna sugerencia?" (30)

"Ah, el viejo dilema de me importa pero no puedo admitirlo." Ida chuckled. (31)

"¿Qué?" His face scrunched. "No, sólo intento mantenerla con vida. Es supervivencia. Como alimentar a una mascota." (32)

Ida burst out laughing. "Una mascota, ¿eh? Bueno, cariño, estás en un gran problema si es una mascota. Parece que eres tú el que mueve la cola." (33)

Two Legs blinked. "Eso está... mal en muchos sentidos." (34)

"¿Pero lo es?" Ida chuckled, then let out a breath before answering fully. "Bueno, la solución es bastante fácil. Cuando mi hijo era pequeño, se negaba a comer nada nuevo desde que nos mudamos de Madrid a Figueres. Más quisquilloso que un gato con un plato de sopa. Al final, empecé a hacerle las recetas de su abuela. Algo familiar." (35)

Two Legs frowned, thinking back to the meals he'd prepared. "Entonces, ¿estás diciendo que debería cocinarle a Sawyer algo de... su abuela?" (36)

"No necesariamente," Ida said, stifling a laugh. "Tal vez solo consíguele algo que le recuerde a casa, como comida rápida. Engrásalo muy bien. ¿No es eso lo que comen los americanos?" (37)

"Hamburguesas y papas fritas, veinticuatro siete. Sí, suena bien." Two Legs snorted as a memory of one of Luis's colleagues from the States played through, and how the man could eat his entire weight in fries like it was no one's business. Two Legs cringed at the thought of Sawyer pulling a similar stunt, not that he'd stop her, but because he was not a creature that cared for too much salt in his diet, it made him very sick in the past, and he still had no clue if it was a limitation of his species or Luis's body. (38)

"No es exactamente gourmet, ¿eh?" Ida teased. "Pero podría ser lo que ella necesita. Nada demasiado exótico." (39)

"Bien. Sin tentáculos ni nada que se mueva," Two Legs mumbled then laughed. "Gracias, Ida." (40)

"De nada. Te veré luego mi muchacho. "Ida patted his arm and smiled big as she circled back on the trail to return to her residence. While walking away, she turned to give him one final mischievous look. "¡Buena suerte Romeo!" (41)

Two Legs frowned at that, unsure what she meant by 'Romeo,' but shrugged it off.

With the distraction of Ida out of the way, Two Legs let his eyes meander back to Sawyer. She was still on the bench, gazing out toward the valley, not seeming to pay him nor the world any heed. At first, he wondered how much of the conversation she had caught onto, his face heating up until he remembered that Sawyer had confessed to not knowing Spanish too well. Also, the longer he thought of it, Two Legs doubted her hearing was on par with his, that she could detect things at great distances. She'd have to be superhuman, and last he checked, she was anything but.

He contemplated leaving Sawyer alone to let her gather her thoughts and process what needed to be processed. Two Legs figured she'd like to enjoy the scenery by herself until he reminded himself of a few things: First, she needed to learn her way around the property. Second, if she wanted to be alone, Sawyer never would've ventured out this far, much less followed him or would've left the attic, and finally, he wanted to hear her speak again, to talk to him like before. His mind couldn't help but suddenly replay how Sawyer would say Luis's name, how satisfying it was to hear it rolling off her tongue despite him not being the owner himself.

Two Legs could feel his heart's tempo picking up the longer he dwelled on the sound of Sawyer's voice, and he recognized fear—not the fear from his earlier contemplations, but another variant that tied extremely close in tandem with his worry of being exposed, of being seen for what he was. He finally took a deep breath—though it didn't help—and forced himself to walk over to her. Every step was inelegant as if he were learning to walk again.

Two Legs had no idea what he was doing and didn't know how to fix things between himself and her, but one thing was clear: He was going to try.

"Uh, hey! Fancy seeing you out and about!" Two Legs grinned as he approached the trees near the bench, his voice coming out louder than planned. Still, he mentally high-fived himself for the effort as he watched Sawyer glance up, smirking while giving a lazy nod toward him.

"Was that your grandma you were talking to just now?"

"Ida?" Two Legs blinked and laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, no, we're not related! She's just a nice old widow who sometimes brings me food because, y'know, I'm quite irresistible. Even to the bingo crowd."

His eyes widened for a split second, shocked at what left his mouth before giving a lopsided grin, attempting to look smooth as his foot caught on a rock, sending him stumbling before he awkwardly plopped down beside Sawyer on the bench.

"You good?"

"Y-yeah, just a little tired, is all. A lot of walking, y'know?"

Two Legs shifted uncomfortably, leaving too much between them then overcorrected, sliding closer until his body brushed against Sawyer's. He faintly apologized under his breath, unsure why he was saying it in the first place.

"I didn't know old ladies were your type," Sawyer quipped, sneaking a glance to check if Luis was alright. She moved slightly, trying to mask the warmth creeping up her face.

"What can I say? I have range." Two Legs grinned, though his face reddened as he shot her a playful wink and hurried to give her more space. "She likes you, by the way."

"Oh really?" Sawyer's smirk deepened as she leaned back, thankful she didn't have to budge. "I couldn't tell if she wanted to come over and say hi or hit me with that basket."

"Eh, probably both, if I'm being honest." Two Legs chuckled. "Ida only tolerates me because I remind her of her first boyfriend…or was it the second? I'm like vintage hot, apparently."

"Are you serious?"

He chuckled nervously, once again unsure why he said what he said. "Okay, maybe I made up the last part."

"Vintage hot, huh?" Sawyer's grin widened, looking him over as if sizing him up compared to the remark.

"You know, in a classy way," Two Legs cleared his throat, flustering as he bragged further. "Like a nice antique chest."

Sawyer burst into a laughing fit, her whole body shaking, oblivious to Two Legs' wide-eyed horror as he fumbled to salvage his pride.

"Wait, no! I didn't mean chest—like a chest of drawers! I meant something better! Like, uh—like a...ah, forget it!"

"No, no, please! Don't let me stop you." Sawyer wiped a tear from her eye, still grinning mischievously as her laughter fell to something more manageable. "Y'know, being a chest isn't so bad. You can hold a lot of shit inside you. That's a good quality to have, being durable like that."

Two Legs groaned, slumping forward and burying his face in his hands, though a muffled laugh escaped from between his fingers. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

"Never," Sawyer grunted, shaking her head. "You're a mess." 

"Hey," he shot her a hopeful grin, leaning into the banter. "Messes can be endearing, right?"

"If you say so," Sawyer nodded, and a soft smile reached her eyes for the first time in what felt like ages.

Despite how embarrassed he was at himself, for a fleeting moment, Two Legs would have done it all over to hear her laugh like that again. He found his eyes trailing over her, easing up as he caught the light in Sawyer's gaze. Then, with a playful nudge of his chin, he gestured to the turf of crumpled paper poking out of her pants pocket.

"I see you found my note from earlier."

"Yeah," Sawyer nodded, fingers grazing the edge of her pocket where she'd tucked it away.

The sticky note—scrawled with elegant cursive, too fancy for someone like Luis but somehow fitting—had made her chuckle when she first found it, giving birth to a quip she intended to share later on. But now, sitting beside him and after what just happened, she felt a knot in her throat.

"You wanna keep walking?" Two Legs asked, fiddling with the hem of his shirt as he tried to compose himself.

"Actually," Sawyer paused, trying to find something to lighten the moment but to no avail. She decided now was as good of time as any to bring something important up, to not beat around the bush as Samuel would've put it once upon a time. "I came here to talk to you about the three boxes of tampons and pads in the bathroom."

Two Legs's face flushed redder than a stoplight, and he immediately looked away like he'd just been caught in a lie. It was an understatement to say this hit him out of left field, as he recalled when he purchased them and the snack stockpile he got for Sawyer, remembering the weird looks and snark some males gave him and how a couple of females complimented his kindness. He didn't realize the products' societal connotations until he descended the rabbit hole of Luis's memories. All he understood then was that females of the human species bled sometimes and used the devices to clean up.

His eyes darted back to hers, nervous and expectant. "Did I overstep getting those for you? I wasn't sure which ones to grab."

"No, no, you didn't cross a line," Sawyer said quickly, shaking her head. "It's just that you wasted your money. You might want to return them and get a refund if it's not too late."

"Wasted, what do you mean?" His brow knitted, confusion crossing his features like she'd just spoken an ancient tongue. "I might be uneducated in this area," he gestured awkwardly, "but I do know women—"

"I'm sterile."

Two Legs blinked, his expression freezing mid-thought as if something inside him short-circuited. "You're...what?"

"Sterile. I'm fixed," Sawyer shrugged, eyes downcast. "So I don't, y'know..."

"Bleed?"

"Yeeeahhh...well, unless I'm shot at," Sawyer murmured with a huff and shoved her hands into her pockets, rocking on her heels, trying to seem like it hadn't just cost her something to say it.

"Oh." Two Legs voice muffled as his gaze dropped to his lap, his fingers picking at a loose thread in his jeans. He still didn't quite understand what she meant by being fixed, but he smiled, looking at her. "Well, if you get shot again, they might be useful, so it's not a total loss. The first aid kit is gonna be packed, though."

"That's disgusting!" Sawyer fought to keep a straight face, but a snort of laughter escaped before she could stop it. "But hey, reduce, reuse, recycle, right?"

"Exactly!" Two Legs grin spread wide, relief shining in his eyes, proud of himself for pulling her out of the spiral. "I'm sure they'd help nosebleeds too!"

"God, you're so gross," Sawyer shook her head. Glancing at Luis with a half smile as her laughter died, she said, "Thanks, though, for thinking about me."

"It's nothing," Two Leg's expression eased as he looked at her and shrugged, attempting to play it off. "I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

"You didn't have to."

"I know, but I wanted to take care of you."

Sawyer's heart twisted slightly at his sincerity, mainly since they hadn't spoken much in a long time. She knew that was her fault, and although she didn't regret taking time to herself, she could tell her silence affected Luis, even if he didn't say it aloud.

"Hey," Two Legs murmured, his voice gentler than usual. "Do you want some breakfast? I'm getting hungry."

"Nah," Sawyer murmured as she shook her head, glancing over him. "but I'd like the company. If that's okay?"

"Yeah!" Two Legs practically jumped at her response, his answer too quick. "I mean—yeah, of course! Company! I can do that. Company's my middle name."

He cringed at himself the second the words left his mouth, wondering why he stumbled like that.

"Sure, Luis," Sawyer raised an eyebrow. A slight smirk tugged at her lips as she chuckled. "We should roll out before your stomach starts speaking for you further."

"Too late for that..." Two Legs chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. He got up alongside Sawyer from the bench, gesturing for her to take the lead before walking beside her at the right. It was several minutes before he spoke up again, noticing his earlier observations about Sawyer losing weight were correct now that he was close enough to get a gander.

"Hey, if you change your mind about food, I've got bread. And, y'know, things that go on bread."

"Wow," Sawyer remarked sarcastically, turning her head to look at him with a smile and raised brow. "Things that go on bread. You really know how to sell it."

"Stick with me, and you'll be eating like royalty in no time," Two Legs grinned. "I mean, bread and toppings? That's high-class. Especially if we're talking about pizza."

"I said it before, I'll say it again: I'm stunned you don't live in a van."

"Personally? I'd go for a cave if I had the option."

"Speaking to your inner caveman?"

"No, I just like the dark."

"I think they call that depression, Luis."

They both laughed. It wasn't the kind of laugh that brightened a room, but it was enough.

Two Legs realized then that this moment was enough. He didn't need to fix anything or overthink his fears. Alvarez, "the other place," the monsters, his weird ramblings—none mattered now except being here, sharing this moment. And judging by the change in Sawyer's demeanor, maybe that was all she needed, too.

Notes:

Spanish to English Translation (FYI, I'm not well versed in Spanish but I tried my best) 1. Allow me to discern my true needs that are hidden from me. I do not ask you for a cross or consolation; I wait for you with patience. 2. Ah, Luis, you're home! It's been too long! I've brought fresh bread, just out of the oven. Thought we could share it over lunch today if you were home. I'm glad I caught you! I'm heading into town later, so if you need anything from the butcher, just let me know. Did your trip to the capitol treat you well? 3. You spoil me, Ida. I'll take you up on that trip to the butcher, but I'm afraid lunch will have to wait. It's not the best time. 4. Over there 5. I see you picked up a souvenir from Madrid. 6. More like she picked me up. 7. Who, who is she? 8. She's...a friend. A guest. Her name's Sawyer. 9. What region is she from? 10. She's not from here. She's American. A tourist. 11. Tourist? Of all the beautiful women from Barcelona to Madrid, you brought home an American with a flat butt? 12. Hey be nice! It's not that flat. 13. And what's that for? 14. What's what for? 15. The wounds on her. Did you do that? 16. Rotten! Of course not! What kind of a man do you think I am? I'd never hurt a lady! 17. Good! But did you get the one who did it? 18. No. She's been through a lot. 19. I see. We'll have to raincheck my visit then, won't we? 20. That'd be best. At least until she's feeling better. 21. She seems nice. 22. Yeah, she is. 23. Don't let her get you tangled up in her business, Luis. You've always had a way of finding trouble with girls. Must be the curse of being handsome. 24. You’re so territorial over me! I’m not worthy of it! 25. Boy, if I were thirty years younger, your virtue would be in danger. You best be careful! 26. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? 27. Nah, just a little jumpstart. 28. Hey Ida, I have a question 29. This should be good. What is it about? 30. It's about her. She hasn't really eaten much since she got here. I, uh...I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? 31. Ah, the ol' 'I care but I can't admit it' dilemma. 32. What? No, I'm just trying to keep her alive. It's survival. Like—feeding a pet. 33. A pet, huh? Well, sweetheart, you're in big trouble if she's a pet. Sounds like you're the one wagging your tail. 34. That’s…wrong in so many ways. 35. Is it though? Well, the solution is easy enough. When my son was a boy, he refused to eat anything new after we moved from Madrid to Figueres. Picky as a cat with a bowl of soup. Finally, I started making him his abuela's recipes—comfort food, you know? Something familiar. 36. So, you're saying I should cook Sawyer something from...her abuela? 37. Not necessarily. Maybe just get her something that reminds her of home, like fast food. Grease it up really well. Isn't that what Americans eat? 38. Burgers and fries, twenty-four seven. Yeah, sounds about right. 39. "Not exactly gourmet, huh? But it might be what she needs. Nothing too exotic. 40. Right. No tentacles or anything wiggling. Thanks, Ida. 41. You're welcome! I'll see you around, my boy. Good luck Romeo! 42. Thanks for nothing, friend

[purpleyoonn]

The Line Between Love and War 12

C H A P T E R 1 2: PTD D1 AND OVERSTIMULATION

“It is said that the night sky is made up of tiny wishes that humans were never able to fulfill. That the stars only became bright by the fulfillment of those wishes. In your eyes, the stars that shine never seemed real, your childhood wishes dark and dim as you grow. But now, now you understand the twinkle in their eyes as they look down at you.”

Summary: Your experiences told you that soulmates were something you would never have the pleasure of having; something not given to you because of who you are, despite the soulmark that resides on your inner left wrist. During your solo trip to Los Angeles, you find out that you are more than capable, that your soulmates had been waiting for you for a long time, and would not be letting you go anytime soon.

Genre: soulmate au, bts au, idol bts, polyamory relationship, eventual smut

Paring: Idol!BTS x autistic!mc

Status: Ongoing (randomly updated)

Warnings: mental illness, talk of disability, lots of angst, miscommunication, feelings of depression, feelings of isolation, polyamory bts, stalking, dangerous behavior, eventual smut, 

Chapter Warnings: the concert, overstimulation, shut downs, not much, lots of feelings,

Taglist: @azazel-nyx​​​  @yuzon3​​​ @hannahdinse8​​​ @quirkybtsarmy​​​ @mageprincess7​​​  @fluffy-canada-pancakes​​​ @suckerforv​​​ @chaoticthingpizza​​​ @drissteele​​​ @carolinexkpop​​​ @avadakadabra93​​​ @lachimolala22019​​​  @justaweird0​​​ @singukieee​​​  @welcometomyworld13​​​ @toughbook​​​ @kimana122​​​ @kpopmultistantrashsstuff​​​ @0funsite0​​ @joyless-living​​ @sinceritythatcouldntbedelivered​ @elliott-calls​​ @psychosupernatural​​

Masterlist // Chapter 11 // Chapter 13

————————————————–

Previously on The Line Between Love and War:

“Alright then. We well let Sejin and Seungho know. For now, I would appreciate if I could have some pre-concert kisses from my littlest mate.” Namjoon reached his arms out, pouting his lip a little knowing it would cause you to laugh at him. 

You struggle to get yourself out of Hobi and Taehyung’s embrace, who noticeably tightened their grip once Namjoon opened his arms. 

“Heyyyy, not nice!” You whine, finally pulling yourself away and falling into Namjoon’s arms. 

“But we want pre-concert kisses too!” Taehyung whined back, making you laugh again, hiding your face in Namjoon’s neck.

You could already hear Army beginning to enter the arena, voices and screams echoing as the pre-concert videos started to play on the big screens. Taehyung was sitting with you, having finished getting ready first. He was in the middle of making sure you were okay being in the security gates in front of everyone else. He knew how loud noises made you feel. 

“Don’t worry Tae! I’ve got the headphones that Yoongi gave me.” You smiled wide at him, hoping that would reassure your stressed-looking mate. It didn’t reassure him at all though. He opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off by Seungho.

“Come on, Y/n. We need to get you to your seat before the boys start.” Seungho gives Taehyung an apologetic glance and nod before he starts to lead you out of the room. But before you can leave, you turn around and quickly give each of the boys a hug, not wanting to kiss them in case it ruins the make up the make-up artists spent so long on. 

“Good luck! I’m so excited!” You tell the last part to Seungho as you hold your hands up to your chest, your fists shaking in excitement. 

You went from traveling about a week early to experience Los Angeles by yourself because you couldn’t get any tickets to now having seven soulmates and being able to attend not just one, but all four of the PTD La concerts. Your entire life literally changed at the blink of any eye, or well, more like running into a wall. 

“This is your first concert, correct?” Seungho asked you, not remembering if you’ve attended anything before. 

“Yes!” You exclaimed back, your fists still shaking as you make it to the stairs that will get you to the ground floor and into the security gates in front of the stage. There was a good maybe ten feet between the security gates for the floor seats and the stage where the boys would be performing.

Hobi explained it to you that you would have a seat in the section right in front of the edge of the stage, and that it wouldn’t be close to the floor seats where Army is seated. 

They were worried to say the least. While they loved Army, and trusted them with you, they also knew there were some “fans” who were not happy that they found their last soulmate, and that it wasn’t any of them. They wanted you to be safe, which was why they wanted you up with their family in the box. Obviously, due to your fear of heights, they had to figure something else out, wanting you to experience their concert like an Army. 

Seungho escorts you to the seat set aside but you don’t sit down, to excited and pumped up. You stood watching the stage, taking everything in. It seemed way different than it did earlier before sound check. The entire atmosphere was different. You could feel the energy and excitement of every single Army coming in and finding their seats. Some even running down to the 100’s section. 

What caught your eye though was the people who had soundcheck coming back down to the floor section, all running towards you. You startled, Seungho moving directly in front of you once he caught the movement of the crowd. You held onto his arm before letting go just as quickly, not knowing if he was comfortable with your touch. 

Despite your aversion to touch, you felt safe with him; you just didn’t know if he also had an aversion to touch and you didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. 

However, a single, subtle nod from him let you know your actions were okay, holding onto his arm again as you try to peak over or around his broad shoulders to see the group of Armies still running your way. You didn’t know if it was because you were directly in front of the stage or what, but seeing a group of men and women running towards you scared the crap out of you.

Now you understand how celebrities feel when fans spot them out and about, without security with them. 

“Stay behind me please, Y/n.” Seungho told you, feeling you trying to peek around him. He had a feeling they were rushing for you, trying to get close to the barrier in front of you. He had been watching your social media, following the discussions and posts about you. You were well liked by a lot of people, and also not so liked by some. He didn’t know which it was coming for you tonight, and he didn’t like it. 

You could hear your name being called; pictures being taken of you. It was weird and seemed a bit unreal, just like earlier when you did the Instagram live. You could feel some other members of the boys’ security team moving to help Seungho.

“Seungho, I think they are just excited. I don’t think they’ll hurt me. I have you to help protect me. Plus, there is about five feet between my seat and the barrier.” You were not going to lie, you were freaking out. But you didn’t want Seungho or the boys to have to worry about you the entire time, and if Seungho continued to try and hide you from Army, you knew that would happen. 

He looked back at you, and seeing how serious you were, only moved a couple inches to the left, still in front of you but not necessarily hiding you. Taking a deep breath, and trying to hide your nervous stimming, you looked at Army. 

“Hi guys! Please enjoy the concert! The boys have worked super hard and are so excited to see you guys again.” You spoke loudly, not wanting to yell in Seungho’s ears as he still stood close. 

“Y/n! What song are you excited for?”

“Y/n! Have you completed the bond yet?”

“Who is your bias?”

You ignored the second question, and the others like it that were being yelled your way, instead, you tried to answer some of the questions, but didn’t want to make the night about yourself. This night was about the boys, not you. 

“Please guys, the concert is about to start!” You decided to move back to your seat and not stand in front of the barrier anymore. 

You were now actively stimming, your body trying to help you feel more comfortable with the attention and new experiences. Your fists were clenched in front of you, shaking fast back and forth. It was a stim you’ve been doing since you were a kid, something you did when you got really excited or happy. You tried not to, despite how much you needed to, because you always felt embarrassed when doing that particular stim. You had been made fun of before for doing it, so instead you rocked your body forwards and backwards slowly. 

It took a couple more minutes before you could hear the intro starting, music slowly becoming louder until the boys came on stage from below. It also took the same amount of time for you to become completely overwhelmed and overstimulated. Despite your headphones, the music was loud and seemed to be louder than the screams behind you. The lights were flashing and the movement of the boys on stage had you practically shutting down. The stares you could feel on your back didn’t help, either.

You tried hard not to though, even though you know you needed it. Your boys needed this more. This was the first concert for them since the pandemic started and the went into the army. You knew they were happy being back on stage after so long and didn’t want to ruin anything for them. You wanted them to see you happy and not having any issues. You didn’t want them to worry. 

You could feel the sting from your nails digging into your palm as you clenched your hands. Your voice gone as you tried to show some kind of emotion resembling happiness or awe on your face. You didn’t need Seungho trying to bring you back into the dressing room and alerting everyone that something was wrong. 

So, you spent the rest of the concert rocking back and forth and mouthing along to all the songs the boys sang. Your nails were practically stuck in your palm and you were stuck in your head. You could tell the cord connecting your mouth and brain wasn’t connected anymore and didn’t know when it would again.

You just wanted Jungkook to hold you and rub your back again but figured you probably wouldn’t get that tonight. They would probably be too pumped up with adrenal after the concert to do anything other than want to celebrate with army like normal. 

You could probably get away with cuddling up to Yoongi’s sweatshirt again as you laid in your shared bed. You didn’t want to bother them when they shared this excitement and happiness with army after so long. The last thing you wanted was to be a burden. 

-*-*-

Despite being completely overstimulated, you thought the concert was amazing. You don’t think you would go to one again, but you could see why so many people always praised your soulmates’ concerts and performance skills. 

You waited in the dressing room as the last notes of the last song play out throughout the stadium speakers. Seungho had thought it a safety issue to exit with the rest of army to try and make it backstage. So, he had taken you back during the second to last song. 

You still haven’t spoken a word, and Seungho could tell something was wrong. Your facial expression was vacant and it seemed as though your eyes were glazed over as you stared down at the small table in front of you. He was worried. 

You almost didn’t notice the arrival of your soulmates, mind gone to the stimulation you felt. 

“Hey baby! Did you have fun?” Jin came up and sat next to you on the loveseat, securing the spot next to you before anyone else. It was a couple of hours until his birthday and he was feeling the excitement of having his birthday with his finally complete soulbond group. 

But once he saw you, zoned out and not even registering their entrance, he had a feeling of what was going on. He was reminded of the closet incidence, your wide eyes glazed and unable to track what was going on. He moved in front of you, kneeling down so he could catch your eye. 

“Baby?” Jin tried, but you were gone. He now had the attention of the others, and Taehyung and Yoongi made it over first. 

“What should we do? Should we hold her like last time?” Taehyung asked, remembering how Jungkook held you in his arms and how the physical contact helped bring you back. 

“Here, let me try something.” Namjoon took control, switching places with Jin who now sat back next to you. Their movement didn’t phase you, your eyes still glazed over. 

Namjoon moved slowly, just in case you came back to, and moved so his palm was cupping your cheek. At his touch, your eyes became focused again and he could see how truly tired you were. 

“Hi baby girl. Are you okay?” He knew you weren’t but he still needed to know if something was physically wrong, and you seemed to know his intention as you shook your head no. At this response, they all knew you were nonverbal; Jimin, Jungkook and Taehyung all watching from the back as their hyungs take over the situation. 

“How about we go back to the hotel, and have a relaxing night, hmm?” Namjoon asks but stops as you shake your head, grabbing tightly to his forearm. His face scrunched up in concern, wondering what was going on through your head. 

You swallow your spit, trying your hardest to push words through your lips, only for them to keep getting caught in the back of your throat. Finally, you manage to push through one word, hoping they understand what you mean. 

“Celebrate.” You word is raspy, as if you had a bad cold recently. 

They had just gotten back from the military only months ago, managed to plan two weekends worth of content and concerts for Army, and as only a fan could know, they usually celebrated the concert afterwards with a live. You didn’t want that taken away from Army, and you didn’t want the boys to break a tradition just because you got overstimulated. It didn’t seem fair in any way. 

You would be fine; you always were before. Yeah, it might take time, but you would be fine. 

Army needed the boys more than you right now. 

“What do you mean baby?” Jimin asked from behind Hobi, eyes narrowed in confusion as he watches your expression. 

You knew you couldn’t push out another word, so you grabbed Namjoon’s palm from your cheek and held it flat in front of you, using your pointer finger you traced the word Army on his palm, hoping he would get it. You even trace it in Hangul when he didn’t get it in English. 

“You want us to celebrate with Army?” Namjoon finally realizes what you were trying to say, nodding his head as it clicks. 

You nod your head in response but stop once you see the look on your soulmates faces. You could tell they didn’t understand why you were asking them that. Why you wanted them to celebrate with army even when you weren’t doing good. 

So, you pull out the big guns, something Jimin taught you when Jin kept telling you no more ice cream. Jimin said it would bring out an immediate ‘yes’ from the hyungs every time, so you tried it.

You pulled out the puppy dog eyes and the lip pout. 

An immediate round of groans sounded throughout the room, every single one of your soulmates looked away from you, trying not to be drawn in by your expression. 

To seal the deal, you brought your hands together, folded in a way that everyone usually added with pleading words, but you couldn’t speak right now, so you held your clenched hands up close to your face. 

Eventually, Jin was the one who folded. 

“Alright baby! But we have some conditions.” He raised an eyebrow at you as you turned to face him. 

“We’ll do the live as long as you are there with us, so we can see you and make sure you’re okay. You’re going to drink some water, and let one of us hold you until the live, because that helped you a lot last time.” You knew they were talking about the last time you got too overstimulated, so you agreed. 

Maybe selfishly, though, you agreed to the terms. You kind of just wanted to be cocooned in like a little safety nest as you watched the boys do their live, maybe covered in one of their shirts or sweaters again. They always made you feel safe and comfortable and were slowly becoming a part of your collection of safe clothing. 

“Okay, boys, lets grab our things so we can get back to the hotel. Namjoon, why don’t you grab out little soulmate and go get into the car, we’ll grab your things.” Jin clapped his hands together after moving the night along, wanting to get back to the hotel. 

It didn’t take but a couple seconds for Namjoon to pick you up, his hands moving under your thighs and holding you to him so you were chest to chest. 

“Come here baby. Let’s go.” You looked around for your backpack, only to see Seungho handing it off to Jungkook who had deemed your backpack his responsibility. You can’t fight him for carrying you this time, exhaustion finally hitting you as you tuck your head into the curve of your soulmate’s neck. 

It was a good thing too, as you didn’t realize some fans had figured out where the boys’ vans were and had been waiting outside for you all to leave, phones at the ready to take pictures and videos. This also meant that it would take longer to get back to the hotel, as some fans loved trying to follow the boys to figure out where you all were staying. 

One of Namjoon’s hands moved from your holding your thigh to covering your face, protecting you in what he considers a vulnerable moment. He walked faster, Sejin moving with him so he could open the door for you both before having a word with one of the drivers. 

Even as you get into the car, and Namjoon’s sits down, he still holds you on his lap, crossing his arms behind your back so you were practically glued to his chest. He moved his left hand lower, almost touching your butt as he moves his hand under your shirt, making contact with your back and begins rubbing his hand up and down your back. He knew this helped you last time and it was one of the only things he had to go on right now as far as helping you out of your shut down. 

You both wait patiently for your other soulmates, time passing slowly as you turn your head and watch fans take pictures of the van. You knew they couldn’t get pictures of you through the tinted windows, but you still felt a little vulnerable. You were unable to protect yourself in anyway, nonverbal and in the middle of a shutdown, and it was a little daunting. 

You turned your head back into Namjoon’s neck, your head resting against his chest as you watch the boys all begin to make their way quickly to the vans. Jungkook, Hobi, and Yoongi made their way into your van, while the others went into the first one. 

“Okay, so Sejin is going to separate our vans, each going a separate way to make it back to the hotel so we aren’t followed. We also have three deco vans waiting to draw confusion.” Yoongi’s voice was raspy and slow from the concert and his own emotions. 

He, along with the others were feeling a lot of emotions from finally being able to perform at a concert for Army, but also watching you shut down from the very same concert. It was a lot. 

“How is she?” Jungkook asks quietly. 

Out of all your soulmates, Jungkook seems to have taken on most of the responsibility for your care and well-being on himself. He finally has a soulmate younger than him, that can rely on him and that he can provide for. So, for him, he has put the responsibility on his own shoulders, something his soulmates have already talked to him about. 

“I’m okay.” 

You were. You had just been relishing in Namjoon’s touch and had felt the connection build again between your brain and mouth. You still weren’t used to being taken care of, to mean something to other people, and you knew it would take a while but you loved the way they worried about you, the way they cared for you. 

It was the same way you cared for them. 

-*-*-

It had taken you over an hour to make it back to the hotel. There had been several vehicles trying to follow you, the final car getting lost at a traffic light about fifteen minutes ago. To be safe, the driver kept driving around. 

Your van had been the last to make it back to the hotel, and when you go to the room, a small bundle of blankets and pillows, along with some of the boys’ sweaters had been made into a little nest for you by the far wall close to the kitchen. You were in perfect view of the boys as the couches and chairs had been rearranged so they could all be in view of the camera. 

When Namjoon let you down, a bundle of clothes had been shoved into your hand as Jimin led you to your shared room with Yoongi and Jin to change. Jimin walked into the bathroom while you changed into a pair of your comfy leggings and one of Taehyung’s shirts. 

After doing your skincare for you, wanting you to feel nice and clean while you waited for them to be finished, Jimin helped you back into the living room and into your small nest, bundling Jin and Jungkook’s sweater around you while you watched the boys set up snacks and drinks on the coffee table. 

“Okay, now, don’t move.” Jimin pointed his finger at you, his face scrunching playfully as he tries to make you smile. And it works, a small giggle making its way out of your mouth catching the attention of your soulmates. 

“Here,” he pulls your phone out of his back pocket, pulling up the live on it before handing it to you. “Keep an eye out for questions you think we should answer, okay baby?” He asks you, wanting you to still be involved in their tradition with Army. While he would rather you be seated with them on the couch, he knows it’s not what you need right now. 

 “I will, Minnie.” You nod and smile tiredly at his request. He smiles back, kissing you softly before pulling back entirely, Jungkook taking his place with a bottle of water for you. He stays quiet, kissing your forehead before moving to sit with Hobi and Joon on the couch. 

You watch them as the live starts, hundreds of questions showing up on the screen as thousands of viewers turn into millions. At first a lot of the questions are about you, why Namjoon was seen carrying you out of the venue and some were even asking why you stayed seated the entire concert. 

The boys said a simple response to questions about you. They agreed that they wanted to stop the rumors of any health issues or problems while they could, especially after Namjoon was seen carrying you out. 

“Y/n is doing okay and is resting here with us after a long and overstimulating day. She had a lot of new experiences and is in the middle of processing them.” Namjoon spoke in his leader voice, glancing at you for a few seconds as he speaks. 

The questions and comments continue, but this time mainly about the boys and the concerts and their upcoming plans. You even commented a few things, trying to remember what it felt like to be Army, commenting “I love you” and hoping they would see it. 

You did that the entire time, finding cute little comments and even yelling out “Yoongi Marry Me” every time you saw it which did not amuse your cute soulmate who only looked your way while the others laughed every time. You also drank your entire bottled water, knowing that was one of the promises you made to Jin. 

And in the end, once the live was finished, he was the first to go to you, picking you up out of your little nest and into his arms. You were feeling a lot better, no longer overstimulated due to your soulmates care. 

“How are you feeling, baby?” You could hear the concern in his voice. 

“I’m doing a lot better! You all always seem to know what to do.” You hug him tightly, kissing his jaw in a show of thanks. 

“Well, I bought tickets for an amusement park for tonight for us. Do you think you might be up for it?” Jin couldn’t even finish his question before you were squealing in his ear, jumping from his hold and rushing to your shared room. 

“I guess that is a yes.” He told Yoongi and Taehyung who were staring at Jin, seeing the entire thing before walking off to the room. 

Jimin and Jungkook were already in the room, helping you pick out a matching outfit with Jin, who was going in a pair of his overalls and a white shirt. He wanted you all to match, but you and Jimin were the only ones who currently had a pair of overalls to wear. 

You were excited, jumping in your seat as you waited for everyone else to get ready to go. You loved the rides and playing the games but you think your favorite was the food. You never really went to the fair often, which was as close to an amusement park as you had gotten, your mother thinking going to a big field full of people of all walks of life below her standing. 

But you loved it and couldn’t wait to experience it with your soulmates. 

[saywhat-politics]

By The Associated Press

Published: Dec. 27, 2024 at 1:13 PM MST|Updated: 6 hours ago

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico is developing a cellphone app that will allow migrants to warn relatives and local consulates if they think they are about to be detained by the U.S. immigration department, a senior official said Friday.

The move is in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to carry out mass deportations after he takes office on Jan. 20.

The app has been rolled out for small-scale testing and “appears to be working very well,” said Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico’s secretary of foreign affairs.

He said the app would allow users to press a tab that would send an alert notification to previously chosen relatives and the nearest Mexican consulate. De la Fuente described it as a sort of panic button.

“In case you find yourself in a situation where detention is imminent, you push the alert button, and that sends a signal to the nearest consulate,” he said.

U.S. authorities are obliged to give notice to home-country consulates when a foreign citizen is detained. Mexico says it has beefed up consular staff and legal aid to help migrants in the legal process related to deportation.

De la Fuente expects the app to be rolled out in January. He didn’t say whether the app has a de-activation tab that would allow someone to rescind an alert if they weren’t really detained.

The government says it has also set up a call center staffed 24 hours a day to answer migrants’ questions.

The Mexican government estimates there are 11.5 million migrants with some form of legal residency in the United States, and 4.8 million without legal residency or proper documents.

[jmdbjk]

They take up a lot of space in my head sometimes...

I didn't want to dwell on this in the documentary posts but I know you guys will indulge me as I ramble a little bit.

I want to elaborate on some thoughts I had while watching the second half of Episode 7 when Jungkook went over to Jimin's.

I watched it several times. I made sure to watch it once with a very critical and skeptical eye to keep myself from straying too far...nothing serious but possibly delulu...

This part of the documentary inside Jimin's apartment was filmed on March 13, 2022 following the last PTD Seoul concert.

This was BEFORE PTD Las Vegas where Jimin has told us he talked to the members about his troubles and that's when he embarked on writing the songs that would end up on his album FACE which was released A YEAR after this interview.

It seems Jimin answers his phone in the car after the concert. Tells whoever to get ready and come over and asks what kind of chicken to order. The documentary camera person is already in the car with Jimin... who is he speaking to on the phone? When we eventually see Jungkook coming over later on in this episode, it's natural to assume he was speaking to Jungkook on the phone, who was probably in another car on his way home to his own apartment after the concert, or perhaps already home since his apartment is much closer to Jamsil Olympic Stadium where PTD Seoul was held.

Inside Jimin's residence, he talks about what he does there, basically not a whole lot: eats, sleeps, drinks, has friends over, plays on the computer, and from what we've seen since, he's not much of a decorator.

He wonders if he's revealed too much. I think this was a legitimate question for him, since idols typically do not divulge this sort of thing to the fans. It's plausible to me that Jimin has to unlearn all these preconceived ideas he's had about being an idol in order to forge ahead.

Delivery fried chicken arrives and he runs to get it and runs back to the dining table. Literally runs. The door chimes as it closes. I do love watching him eat. He surely loves his food. A man after my heart.

He talks about how it naturally came about that they needed to have their own spaces. They were maturing young men, they needed their own places even though they'd lived together for so many years. He said their place in Gangnam was so small they put up temporary walls. I believe he was speaking about the house that is now a cafe, Hyuga? He says it was scary living on his own, it was so quiet.

When Jungkook arrives, the door chime sound we hear was different from what it sounded like when Jimin went to the door to get the delivery chicken.

From this footage, we can't know if Jungkook punched in the code and let himself in. Maybe he did, but this footage does not show that. Unless someone is familiar with how that particular door chime sounds when it is unlocked, when it is locked, when it opens and when it closes, we can't know what that chime meant.

We see Jungkook after he's already inside the apartment. He was followed by a camera person. I am certain the camera-person does not have Jimin's apartment's door code. Make of that what you will...perhaps Jungkook came alone and they re-enacted him entering once he got there because it'd be weird if he was just there all of a sudden... we can't know.

Incidentally (fun fact) this is the same jacket Jungkook wore in the video of receiving the President's Award during his university graduation earlier that month (Mar. 2, 2022)... yes, Jeon Jungkook is a university graduate too. He wore a jacket with "QUIT YOUR JOB" across the back of it, to accept a graduation award.... 💀

Anyway back to my delulu...

Jimin and Jungkook are chatting at the table while eating and drinking and get on the topic of their sleeping habits when Jungkook says normally he would take a bath, drink a couple beers and go to sleep and even adds now he goes to sleep earlier. Such a grown up.

Jimin says he falls asleep at 1 a.m. so he must be getting old but it doesn't matter if he falls asleep at 1 a.m. or 6-7 a.m., he sleeps until 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Jungkook says he decided not to live like that anymore... this the man who in early 2023 was staying up all night to do live broadcasts with us from his living room and waking up his neighbors belting out Unholy, etc... such a grown up.

And then Jungkook says 'oops, I sounded like Yoongi just then, never mind, live how what you want' and whoever that is off-camera wheezing... HAHAHAHAHAHA. Anyway. That whole exchange was... what is it with them? They ride the edge of smart-assy sarcasm and inside jokery with each other constantly. And this time at the expense of Yoongi! HAHAHAHA.

Jimin and Tae sometimes act similarly with each other but it is more role play and nothing like the long-running inside joke Jimin and Jungkook do all the time.

The vibe between them was identical to the one when they were sitting at the dining table that first night of In The Soop 2.

As episode 7 goes on, they show Jimin and Jungkook again, Jungkook is chopping mushrooms and Jimin says "You are doing so well on your own" and "Be careful" and the translation says Jungkook said "okay" but it sounds more to me like a "ayyy stop nagging" sound he made.

Jimin runs behind Jungkook again. Why does Jimin run so much? He's like a nervous, excited little mouse.

They're terrible Youtubers:

The ship wars and solo wars and stupid-things-you-could-ask-during-a-live wars over whether or not Jimin ever ate Jungkook's ramen... FINALLY, after posting all those recipes last year and Jimin saying he wants Jungkook to cook that for him, we see JUNGKOOK HAS COOKED RAMEN FOR JIMIN! Cooked it for him way before any of these wars began too... what a waste of energy.

No, Jimin didn't go over to Jungkook's to eat it, Jungkook came to Jimin and cooked it for him.

Ok, but this is the part that made me need to pause and rewind and write this long-ass post:

Jimin tells us that a friend of his helped him realize he needed to explore the possibility he was depressed.

He recounts the story as they were at Jimin's apartment drinking and they had a small argument. The next morning Jimin wakes up, has totally forgotten the argument and goes over to the friend's to help begin moving. They apologized to each other and the friend came over again that night and the friend said "I think you are severely depressed. You act like you aren't, but you've been acting strange. If you're having a hard time, tell me." Jimin said he didn't think he was having a hard time and the friend told Jimin to take some time to think about it. Jimin says a lot changed after that.

This moment when Jimin is retelling this story, "yet you act like you aren't, but you've been acting strange. If you're having a hard time, tell me." Jimin reaches over and actually touches Jungkook. Look at the way they are looking at each other?

The way Jungkook sat there, looking straight at Jimin while Jimin recounted that conversation/day/moment, chewing on his bottom lip as is his habit, Jungkook nodding during certain points that Jimin was retelling... very very brief moments where body language reveals a lot.

Maybe the "friend" Jimin was supposed to help move, the one who told Jimin he seemed severely depressed... was Jungkook?

You can call me delulu if you want. I see what I see and I hear what I hear.

They have not shown this type of closeness amongst the other members in this entire documentary. And here is Jungkook sitting in Jimin's home, while Jimin tells us this very intimate detail about himself.

If Jungkook was the one... it's plausible, the one who came over to drink, just like they were doing this evening... the one who was moving and Jimin was going to help him. The one who he can look in the eyes and recount this story and his friend can look him straight back in the eye and nod in agreement.

Why retell this story with Jungkook sitting next to him? There were other moments when we know Jungkook is there, he could have been off camera while Jimin told the staff about this intimate moment with his friend. No. He said it while they sat next to each other looking at each other.

It's possible. If not, it seems possible that Jungkook has already heard this story.

Jimin shares more than we've ever heard from him: that he falls into a labyrinth the moment he starts to ponder about what happiness is. He says of course their work and many other things require attention to detail but it's ok if there is vagueness (or imperfection) too. If you get too caught up in the meaning of things (in the importance of things), you feel like you have to risk it all to accomplish them and its ok to let some of it go, enjoy the simplicity of things and not get emotional over everything ... this sounds like Jimin has matured and has tried to push away perfectionism.

He believes he is in a very healthy place mentally right now (at the time of that interview, March 13, 2022) but can't say the same about his body, but he wants to stay healthy as he grows older together with the fans. And Jungkook is still there, but off camera.

This interview was almost two years ago. And now their first solo career endeavors have been accomplished and these two are doing their military obligation together. They've come a long way. We will see them again next year. It won't be as long as it feels.

Anyway, going back to my delulu cave now. Carry on.

[whatonearthisgoingon]

Part 1. of Aaro's Hear Me Out List!!!

Some of my moots (@/werewolfadmirere) were concerned about a Hear Me Out I did recently, and did not expect that level of freak from me. Well moot, I am a freak, and you're gonna see how bad it is! We are strictly doing the non-human characters for the first two parts of this list; if I feel like it, I'll keep going from there!

This is not ranked, this is just as I think of them. No real order.

Sadly only 30 pictures are allowed per post, so I'm going to reblog and continue this list for a while, and will link all the other parts on each part. Each part will have 15 characters, as I'm giving each character 2 pics.

I was also informed I must tag the moots. You will be tagged underneath all this.

TW: Sex talk, obviously, it's a hear me out cake.

Part 1. Part 2.

(Please remember viewers, I am a teenager, meaning other teenagers on the list isn't creepy af.)

#1. Venom from Marvel

Alright, if you follow me, this is probably not a surprise to you at all. I mean, I literally run a side blog of this idiot.

But man, what can those tendrils and tongue do? (Hint from fanfiction: a lot!!)

#2. Sarah Kerrigan, Queen of Blades from StarCraft 2

The original hear me out that started this. Queen of Blades Kerrigan was an awakening when I played her as a kid. Her story is also just sick af. But yeah; mama that could kill me. Would let her infest my terran ass and turn me into a weird little alien creature. Just hopefully prettier than Alexei.

#3. Sadako Yamamura/Samara Morgan

I don't know; her coming out of the well and then the TV was cool as shit to 11 year old me. Would let her kill me if she felt like it. She's a vibe I'm down for.

#4. Xenomorph from Alien (1979/1986)

Diva. They cool, and I'm down to hit. Would I die? Yeah. Would it be painful. Incredibly. But still; damn.

#5. Genya Shinazugawa, specifically in his demon form.

My traumatized baby turns into a traumatized and angry king (even more than normal, lmao). And he just looks adorable and I love him so much. Would be down to hit so hard.

#6. Koro-sensei from Assassination Classroom

Is it the personality? Is it the setting? I don't know. It's probably once again the tentacles- Anyway he's a vibe and I love it; would so hit.

#7. La Muerte from Book of Life

Queen of the Land of the Remembered! Not only was this movie a vibe, she was a vibe! Is she a skeleton? Yeah; but I would take her out and let her hit. She can take my life early and I'd go to the Land of the Dead with her!

#8. Sammy Lawrence from Bendy and the Ink Machine

I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the murder axe; I do love a good killer. But yeah, during that video game phase, he got on the list.

#9. G.I Robot

No, cause why is he such a sweetheart. I don't care what he's done- I love him. There are of course a few different ones, but I love him and I'm so down. I mainly saw him when he was working with Bride; speaking of-

#10. The Bride from DC.

The Queen always slays, and she's fine as hell. Love her. Would let her sleep with me, or shoot my brains out. Whatever works.

#11. Death from Puss in Boots

That boy slayed, and he's such a presence, y'know? Like, the Death Whistle scene in the movie!? God damn; take me down to hell hun.

#12. Maleficent both movies.

Evil fairy with a tragic backstory? Sign me up. Evil fairy who's just evil fairy? Even better. Just, she's, like, always looking good I swear. Slay (me)

#13. Rosie from Hazbin Hotel

Cannibal Demon Queen; would let her have a bite. She's a vibe, and I love her, and we would bitch about Susan together.

#14. Lady Alcina Dimitrescu from Resident Evil.

I'm pretty sure she was every gay girls awakening, right? At least one of them. Yeah, she can step on me, drink my blood, kill me, fuck me, whatever. I am down. Yes, this includes the final form, but I couldn't get any good pics with good resolution; just look it up

#15. Proxima Midnight from Marvel.

Love her. She's a queen. Would let her stab me with that staff- She was beautiful in Infinity War, and the comics. Again, love her.

@acelovesremuslupin @adanmwere @alizardsusername @astrawantssleep @bikisser23 @birdiefromafar @blitzstoneshouldbecanon @bluebasie @cool-lesbian-is-here @cuculoooo @destroy-the-binary @getsuuna @gigiyuu @gimmiecandy @harrietthespywastaken @hey-look-at-the-stars @ineffablelyqueerwolfstarshipper @lllaced @lookitsabooknook @love-hate-love00 @luna---lovegood @mentallyillwacko @mikeywaysbass @mochamoony @moonchild311 @moonsrunes @moonyscribe @mrecury42 @mxlovey32 @my-castles-crumbling @not-a-gay-fangodess @olympushaze @permetutotheworld @reaperlight @reggblkk @serpentine-starlight @siriuslyobsessed394 @siriuslysirius101 @sk1llz-heeler @starman-01 @studying-n-running @symbiotic-slime @tired-writer-in-progress @tistheraven @theduchessr @the-stars-in-between @thepicklekingog @unnecessaryheadache @urpants @welcometoh0rr0rwood @werewolfadmirer @whos-fin-anyway @xxlady-lunaxx @yes-ofc-i-bite

[harpersessentials]

my next generation will spend a lot of time in komorebi - a world which, despite its amazing landscape, tends to bore me to death - so, to change that, i decided to look for a few fanmade lots to brighten things up a bit. this was the result, a list of favourite lots for mt. komorebi that i now share with you.

1 - 241 Wakabamori 20x15

Wakabamori Hostel (Rental/Residential) by @rebouks

241 Wakabamori (Residential) by @mysimsloveaffair

241 Wakabamori (Residential) by @pixelco

Wakabamori 241 (Residential) by @pilcrow00b6

Traditional Japanese Home (Residential) by @simkatbuilds

2 - 242 Wakabamori 30x20

The Maeda Residence (Residential) by @ladychaos

Akiya (Haunted House) by @whyeverr

Newlyweds Japanese Home (Residential) by @ludicsim

242 Hasegawa (Residential) by @cerubean

3 - 243 Wakabamori 20x15

Japanese Cottage (Residential) by cross-design

Wakabamori's Cat Café (Café) by @incandescentsims

Natsukashii (Rental/Residential) by @grimsae

4 - Hazakura Lounge 30x20

Hādowāku Dojo (Gym) by @thepixelarchitect

Karaoke Bar Hazakura (Karaoke Bar) by @mikkimur-sims

Mt Komorebi Home (Residential) by @lilaicks

5 - 251 Wakabamori 50x50

Japanese Countryside House by @plantsimgirl

The Uchida Residence (Residential) by @ladychaos

Ryokan “Yukimatsu” (Rental) by @alerionjkeee

6 - 641 Haniamigawa 20x15

The Laurel House (Residential) by @moonlightowl-es

Maid Cafe and Some Manga (Restaurant) by @alerionjkeee

641 Haniamigawa (Residential) by @thepixelarchitect

7 - Hanamigawa Koen 30x20

Sushi Restaurant (Restaurant) by @mikkimur-sims

'umamichi’ & machiya (Restaurant) by @caelhinn

Senbamachi Street Food (Community Space) by @alerionjkeee

8 - Izakaya Ippai 30x20

Japanese Tavern (Bar) by @secretscones

honeyasume sento (Onsen Bathhouse) by @beetlemp3

Kawara no Yu (Onsen Bathhouse) by @whyeverr

Refuge de l’Aube (Residential) by @simsontherope

Old Townhouse (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

9 - 561 Shinrinyoku 20x15

Red Dragon (Night Club) by @mikkimur-sims

561 Shinrinyoku (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

561 Shinrinyoku (Residential) by @kazroze

561 Shinrinyoku (Residential) by @scarletts4

564 Shinrinyoku Apartments (Residential) by @alerionjkeee

10 - 531 Shinrinyoku 30x20

Downtown Senbamachi (Bar) by @ladychaos

leblanc bar, laundromat, café  (Bar) by @lizardtrait

Senbamachiya Market (Retail) by @whyeverr

531 Shinrinyoku (Residential) by @mikkimur-sims

11 - 5-1-1 Kiyomatsu 30x20

Winterland Shopping Street (Retail) by @mikkimur-sims

Snow Equipment Shop (Retail) by @thepixelarchitect

511 Kiyomatsu (Rental) by @mikkimur-sims

12 - 5-1-2 Kiyomatsu 30x20

512 Kiyomatsu (Rental) by @mikkimur-sims

Komorebi Motel & Bar (Bar) by @scarletts4

13 - Sutefani Onsen Bathhouse 30x20

La Source Émeraude (Onsen Bathouse) by @simsontherope

Nordic Spa (Spa) by @darthmol

14 - Kiyomatsu Point 50x50

The Sactuary of Komorebi (Park) by @alerionjkeee

Tinamatsu Snow Café (Café) by @simgurl

Kiyomatsu Lodge (Rental) by @darthmol

Onsen Bathhouse Sakura (Onsen Bathhouse) by @mikkimur-sims

15 - Top Mt Komorebi 20x20

Mt. Komorebi Peak (Special Lot) by @simgurl

Mt. Komorebi Castle (Special Lot) by @ariafaeyt

[st4rg1rl-16]

━━ ✶✶˖° 𝗪𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗣𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 | 𝗡𝟰𝗦.

𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴(𝘀) ━ 2019 to 2023!f1 grid x driver!female oc

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 ━ english is not my first language, I know I already said it but just in case hshshsh also I know there are some things that may not be accurate but let’s pretend they are for the sake of the fic 😙👌🏻

𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 ━ @namgification @burberryfilms

ARABELLA TORRES GONZÁLEZ

Spanish racing driver

Arabella Torres González (born May 26 2000) is a spanish racing driver. In 2016 and 2018 she won the Formula Two championship. In 2019 she acquired a place in Formula One with Scuderia Ferrari, in 2021 she signed an eight-year contract with Mercedes.

Name                  Arabella Torres González

Nickname(s)     La diabla, Bella Donna, Speedy

Born          26 may 2000 (age 21) Leganés, Madrid, Spain

Nationality 🇪🇸 Spanish

Relatives Oliver Torres (brother)

Teams                 Ferrari, Mercedes

Active years      2019 —

Car number 9

Wins              18

Podiums              41

Career Points    859

Pole positions 13

Fastest laps      8

First entry 2019 Australia Grand Prix

First win 2019 Spanish Grand Prix

Last win 2021 Turkish Grand Prix

2021 position        2nd (393)

Website arabellatorres.com

She is known for being the only woman to be an official Formula One driver since Giovanna Amati in 1992 and the second female driver with points since Lella Lombardi in 1976, thus creating history in the world of motorsport. At the 2019 Spanish Grand Prix she took her first victory, becoming the first woman in history to win a grand prix.

After a competition against Valtteri Bottas with whom she remained tied in terms of points during the last three races of the 2019 season, she won the title of sub champion in the drivers' world championship giving Ferrari the second place in the constructors' world championship.

In 2020 she suffered a horrible accident that made her unable to finish the Tuscan Grand Prix, after that race her results during the last eight races went down.

In the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix she returned to the podium (and in the championship) in second position after a close competition against Max Verstappen due to losing control of her car causing both of them to almost collide, but she managed to regain control and finish the race without no harm.

Her younger brother, Oliver Torres, is a Moto GP driver for Yamaha Motor Racing.

𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 ↓

Arabella was born in Leganés, a Madrid’s municipality, on 26 may 2000, as the eldest of two siblings: she and her little brother, Oliver Torres. Since she was a little girl she grew up with Formula 1 at home, as her father was a big fan and never missed a race although she was not too interested in the motor world of until one of her uncles gifted her brother a mini kart for christmas that she ended up using it, which sparked her curiosity about cars.

Her interest in cars began to grow, she began to watch Formula 1 with her father and her uncle, she noticed car brands and models and was passionate about car movies. She has mentioned several times that the Fast And Furious saga is one of her favorites.

From December 2018 to December 2020 she resided in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In 2021 she bought an apartment in London, England with her partner, the spanish football player Hector Bellerin. She currently lives between Monte Carlo and London.

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 ↓

Torres began her racing career in karting at the young age of 9, competing in different categories. She won the Spanish Championship in the novice category in 2009, won the cadet category in 2010 and two more consecutive times. In 2013, in the KF3 European Championship she had a horrible accident when she reached second place, thus being the only race that she has not finished, a tire on her car burst causing her to fly several meters until she crashed into a fence in front of the stands. She had several spinal injuries and had to undergo surgery several times so she had to retire for a year, losing the opportunity to be signed by the Red Bull Junior Team.

At the age of 14, a year after her accident she returned to the world of motorsport in Formula 3 with Prema PowerTeam, finishing in sixth position in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, in 2015 she finished on the podium in second position.

In 2016 she signed with the Ferrari Driver Academy and entered Formula 2 where she won first place in the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

Two years later, in 2019, she was announced as a driver for Scuderia Ferrari for Formula 1 alongside Charles Leclerc. During her contract with Ferrari she raced 38 races of which she won 9 and came second in the 2019 drivers' championship.

On December 13 2020, during the race in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari announced that Torres would not be part of the team for the following season and a week later it was announced that she would be replaced by Carlos Sainz Jr. On March 2 2022 during the presentation of their new car Mercedes announced, after almost three months of confusion about Arabella's future in Formula 1, that the driver had signed a contract with them for a duration of eight years, that is, until 2029.

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 ↓

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦 ↓

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 ↓

𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 ↓

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 ↓

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦 ↓

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 ↓

𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦 ↓

[ofmdrecaps]

01/05-08/2025 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; OFMD Recaps on Mastodon; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Samba Schutte; Wee John Wednesdays/Kristian Nairn; Rachel House; Dominic Burgess; Kristen Johnston; Hugo Pierre Martin; Aotearoa Treaty Principles Bill Submissions; Articles; AdoptOurCrew: Call To Action; LettersToSeaForSeason3; Fan Spotlight: Jax/North FL OFMD Cosplay/ Fandom Meet Up; Love Notes/Resources;

== OFMD Recaps on Mastodon! ==

Some awesome news! The absolute sweetest person alive, Lowrah (https://gaypirates.club/@lowrah) has been kind (and brave) enough to join my team and create an OFMD Recaps for Mastodon! She has offered to help crosspost the recaps over to Mastodon (blorbo.social) and manage that which I appreciate so much because I am completely inept at that site! She's also the one helping me with all the alt text (that I am behind at updating tumblr with sorry!) so please send her some massive love if you see her around because she is helping me out so much right now! One thing to note -- Since she's on the other side of the world for me, the recaps cross-posted there will be a bit delayed, so please bare with us :) Thank you so much Laura for all your help! You can check it out here!

Source: OFMD Recaps Mastodon

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= David Jenkins =

David's giving us some interesting updates on the eve of the first cancellation of S2.

Source: David Jenkins bsky

= Rhys Darby =

Rhys was in Auckland recording the first Cryptid Factor show of 2025! For all of you Cryptid Factor fans out there, he's also finally gotten to come in contact with the Sir Ed YETI Expedition backpack!

Source: The Cryptid Factor's IG

= Taika Waititi =

The Golden Globes celebrations were this past weekend and Taika was everywhere!

Source: Loop Mag

Source: Instagram

Source: VasJMorgan's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

"14 years in LA today✨ Arrived on Ethiopian Christmas with one suitcase and 5 guiding steps I had come up with in my hut while staying in a remote Kenyan village, for my future self who would eventually make it to Hollywood. Hope you’re proud Past Samba🫶"

Source: Samba's Instagram

= Kristian Nairn and Nathan Foad =

Some great news! Wee John Wednesday is back on Wednesday the 15th! This news also has some clown potential, so please clown responsibly everyone!

Source: Adopt Our Crew Bsky

Kristian is also going to be attending MegaConLive in Dublin on January 18-19, 2025! Get your tickets at megaconlive.com!

Source: MegaConlive Instagram

= Rachel House =

Rachel House was out with friends looking badass!

Source: Maria Lewis IG

= Dominic Burgess =

Dominic is back from the UK and posted some great "Beef" pics from Skeleton Crew. He fits the Star Wars Vibe so well!

Source: Dominic's bsky

Dominic and several of our other cast members live in California so a lot of folks are being affected by the fires. I'll try to post what I can about safety/news but for now, looks like Dominic and family are prepared.

Source: Dominic's Bsky

= Kristen Johnston =

Our "The Widow Evelyn" is now on Bluesky too! Special thanks to @jilliansauers for catching her!

Source: Kristen Johnston's bsky

= Hugo Pierre Martin =

Our friend and crewmate Hugo Pierre Martin is on Bluesky now! HPM's Bluesky

Source: HPM's Bluesky

= Aotearoa Treaty Principles Bill Submissions =

Now, I generally try to keep "politics" out of the recaps because this is meant to be a positive space for the fans-- but I do know that A LOT of our cast and crew are affected by this bill personally so I do want to throw this in there. It looks like you don't actually have to be a resident of Aotearoa to submit your feelings on the bill. Here is helpful linktree with things you can say and how to submit that I tracked down via a post Rachel House reposted.

Source: NZGreenParty

== Articles ==

Thank you @adoptourcrew! You are article maniacs! So many in so little time! Thank you for always sharing!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

== Call To Action From AOC ==

January 9, 2024 marks the first cancellation of S2 of our beloved Show. Our fan-crew, @adoptourcrew has asked that you help support our show by: 1. Taking Action 2. Sharing your love 3. Showing your pride. In short-- sign a petition, share something about the show, tell the world how it affected you! If you can get the #OurFlagMeansDeath, #SaveOFMD and #AdoptOurCrew in there, that's great too! Show all the new and seasoned fans how much you love the show!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

== Letters To Sea For Season 3 ==

The Letters to Sea for Season 3 campaign that was being spearheaded by the darling Molly, aka aproperpirate, is finally coming to fruition! Tomorrow is the day the letters should be arriving! Molly had a special message to share re the letting writing campaign!

Source: AProperPirate's Bluesky

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Jax/North FL OFMD Cosplay/ Fandom Meet Up =

Florida crew! One of the Truly Docked members @ladymekaella is hosting a little get together in Jacksonville on Jan 19! Wanna join in? Follow them on facebook! Deets below!

1/19/2025 11am - 2pm, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

Source: Truly Docked Instagram

== Love Notes / Resources ==

Hey Lovelies, I know 01/09/25 is going to be a very mixed feeling kind of day for everyone. It's the anniversary of the first time S2 was cancelled. It's going to bring up a lot of sad feelings, and you should absolutely sit with those feelings and embrace them. It was a rough time for all of us. There's no shame in feeling that grief again. I know I didn't show it much, but I cried so many times. Seriously, like SO MANY TIMES. My parents asked me if someone whacked me in the face with a shovel (which, thanks folks, I feel so pretty) but it was true-- I was devastated. It was a slow burn for me too because I wanted so very much to keep up hope. Seeing you all really push for the show helped keep me going-- and helped me learn more about how to cope with that kind of grief (and it was grief for so many of us because the show meant so very much-- and changed some of us at our core). No matter how tomorrow makes you feel though, I do want to remind you what came of it. This beautiful community rallied together and did some absolutely AMAZING things this past year (I wish I hadn't been sick this past two weeks cause I wanted to get you some stats). From billboards, to faxing, and calling in to Max, and Netflix, and Amazon, and Apple TV, to raising a SHIT TON of money for SO MANY charities-- to making beautiful works of art and fiction-- to making our cast and crew (not just the actors) feel loved and impactful-- this cancellation brought SO MANY OF US TOGETHER. People stepped out of their comfort zones-- talked to people they didn't know, reached out to streaming platforms and learned to use their voices in ways they'd never done before. We all built our own little communities within the fandom, bit by bit-- and those little communities have spread so much love, and kindness, and made life worth living for so many of us. It's been almost a year for my recaps too-- those officially started on Jan 13th, once again, because of the cancellation, and because of the camaraderie of the crew and all the support we all gave each other. Jan 9 is probably a tough day for most of us, but it's also the catalyst for so many wonderful things, and I'm so very grateful for it in a way. I've gotten to know so many of you, gotten to experience your joy, and participate in your struggles, and vice versa. I've met so many people from all over the world I'd never have once dreamt I could meet-- and I know SO MANY of you have too. This fandom is one of a kind-- and this special show and it's cancellation brought us together. I am still in full clown mode at all times, and I believe S3 is an inevitability, it's just a matter of when-- but no matter when it happens, I'm grateful we got this past year together, and all that came with it. So thank you lovelies. Thank you for being a huge part of my life, and turning it in a much better direction I could ever have thought possible given where I was. Lean on each other tomorrow, okay? We got through this past year together, and we'll get through whatever happens going forward, as a crew. Take care of yourself lovelies, drink some water, and get some sleep. Love you <3

= Resources =

Outside of the fandom in my day job, I work for a company that works with 211's and non profits, and so resources are really important to me. I have a lot I'm aware of, but if anyone has more they'd like to share around, please let me know! I'm happy to spread the word to help people get support they need right now!

For those of you in California or who know some folks who are-- please be sure to download the Watch Duty App, it keeps track and notifies you of nearby fires in real time.

In addition here's some additional info on go bags if you are in the evacuation areas:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brown Issues (@brownissues)

Source: Brown Issues Instagram

Also looks like Airbnb will be pairing up with LA 211 to offer shelter for those evacuated from the Palisades fire. You can visit www.211la.org for more information.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Drew Droege (@drew_droege)

Source: Drew Doege's Instagram

As I hear more resources I'll try to share more in the recaps/on socials. I hope you all are staying safe out there!

[ourpickwickclub]

I posted here earlier about attending the show in Las Vegas last night. A few extra tidbits..

Somebody had a flat Stanley and gave it to Blake. He took it and said that it looked like something a six-year-old did but probably traced it 😆

In the front row, some guy handed him some money. I couldn’t tell what it was, but Blake took it, shrugged, and put it in his back pocket.😆

He said there was a lot of pressure to add something special to the Las Vegas residency. He was thinking about a trapeze act. 😆 but he ended up just adding some glitter to the pockets of his shirt, which is a big deal for him.😆

He talked about seeing Gwen‘s residency 13 times and said, “that’s my wife!” 🥰

Here is the setlist from last night! It was a really really good show and the crowd was really pumped up!

PMAD, INTD,Sangria, NL,IAAT,SBCIYD, GWAG,NBY,HA,HB,SB, Home, OR,Austin, Texas, AMELIT, PMSMM,GC, BRH,Hillbilly Bone, GGMY.

Thank you so much for all these great details!

— M

[vintagelasvegas]

Sands Hotel & Casino '52-'96

Sands, December 1952

Kit Carson Club ('46-'50) Kit Carson Motel ('46-'64) La Lue nightclub ('50-'51)

'46: Kit Carson Club opened by H. Bynum, D. Anderson, G. Frisbee on US Hwy 91 outside of Las Vegas, adjacent to Kit Carson Motel. The club will later become LaRue nightclub, then the Garden Room of the Sands Hotel.

'50: Kit Carson Club reopened as LaRue nightclub by Billy Wilkerson, Nola Hahn, 12/23/50.

'51: LaRue closed by summer. Mack Kufferman buys LaRue and hires architect Wayne McAllister to build around the existing club. Kuffman and partners apply for gaming license. The project is called Sands by 12/51.

Sands ('52-'96)

'52: Kufferman gaming license denied in Apr., sells to Jake Freedman (RG 4/9/52, RG 6/13/52). Partners running the Sands are B. Barron, E. Levinson (casino manager), S. Wyman, J. Entratter (showroom & restaurants). Hidden partners are believed to include J. Stacher, M. Lansky. Sands road sign designed by McAllister, built by YESCO.

'52: Dec. 12, Sands opens with 200 rooms in five buildings arranged in Y-shaped layout. The guest wings are named after race tracks: Arlington Park, Belmont Park, Haileah, Rockingham Park, Santa Anita. Three other wings of equal size were added circa ’53-54 (two were named Churchill Downs, Hollywood Park), another by ’58, and larger wing by ’60. The total room count in ’60 was 465.

'53: Frank Sinatra plays his first engagement at the Sands and becomes 2% owner in Oct; Carl Cohen joins the Sands as shareholder and casino manager in Oct.

'54: Sign modification: Second reader board added below the main board, Feb or earlier. Antonio Morelli joins the Sands as musical director for the Copa in Jul.

'55: Sands partners assume control of the Dunes in Sep. They sell the Dunes in four months later.

'58: Jake Freedman dies 1/19/58; Jack Entratter becomes Sands president.

'59: Sign modification: Attraction board attached to the sign, Feb or earlier. Baccarat begins at the Sands. Sands acquires the former Orinda Motel, property to the south, used for expansion of the Sands parking lot.

'60: Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop (the "Rat Pack") are first billed together in the Copa in Jan-Feb. during the filming of Ocean's 11. Senator John F. Kennedy visits during the Democratic primary campaign.

'63: Opening of Aqueduct hotel wing (83 rm) in Apr. Julius Gabrielle, architect (RJ 4/28/63). Sinatra surrenders ownership 10/7/63.

'64: Sands acquires the former Kit Carson Motel; Belmont and Arlington buildings (base of the Y) moved southward to accommodate construction of a hotel tower. Sign modification: The frame around the main marquee painted tan.

'65: Second sign in Aug; tower completed late in the year and officially opened Jan. ’66. Martin Stern Jr, architect.

'67: Howard Hughes buys the Sands, 7/23/67. Sinatra leaves his Sands residency after confrontation with Cohen, 9/11/67.

'69: Dean Martin leaves Sands to join Riviera.

'71: Entratter dies, 3/8/71.

'73: Cohen leaves the Sands, Jan. '73.

'80: Inns of America buys the Sands from Hughes heirs Summa Corp in Oct.

'81: Oct., Sands third sign and new porte-cochere.

'82: Jan. 15, Completion of remodeling effort including new Copa room.

'83: Summa Corp re-assumes control of the Sands, 4/5/83.

'88: Kirk Kerkorian buys the Sands in Jan. Kerkorian sells to Interface Group led by Sheldon Addison in Apr.

'90: Sands Expo and Convention Center opens.

'94: Remodeling of the casino.

'96: Sands closes 6/30/96. Tower demolished 11/26/96.

Photos of the Sands

Sources include David G. Schwartz. At the Sands: The Casino That Shaped Classic Las Vegas, Brought the Rat Pack Together, and Went Out With a Bang. December 1952 photo courtesy of Slidetreasurehunt.

Construction of the sign, 1952. The pylon sign pedestal was 56’ high, 21’ wide, with the S at 34’ tall. Design by Wayne McAllister, fabricated and installed by Young Electric Sign Co. Photo: YESCO Corporate Records (MS-00403), UNLV Special Collections & Archives.

Opens Dec 15. Danny Thomas, Connie Rusell, Lou Wills Jr, Ray Sinatra Orchestra. Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, 0007-0345.

Aerial view of Kit Carson Motel and the Sands, '62

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in May 2025

01/05 As Patron of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust, visited a virtual reality Antarctic Experience at Gilbert White’s House and Gardens in Selborne. 🇦🇶

As Patron of the Royal College of Midwives, attended the Annual Conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. 🤰🍼

02/05 Attended HMS Raleigh’s Phase One Training Passing Out Parade at Trevol Road in Torpoint. 🫡

05/05 With Sir Tim Alongside other members of the royal family, attended a Military Parade from the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the Eightieth Anniversary of VE-Day a VJ-Day. ✈️⚓️🪖

With Sir Tim Witnessed a fly-past by aircraft of the Royal Air Force, led by Air Commodore Christopher Layden, to mark the Eightieth Anniversary of VE-Day a VJ-Day. 🛩️

With Sir Tim Held a Reception at Buckingham Palace for veterans of the Second World War, at which other Members of the Royal Family were present. ☕️🍰

06/05 As Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, visited St Ives Station and afterwards attended a reception at Tregenna Castle in St Ives. 🔭

Visited South Crofty Tin Mine in Pool, Cornwall. ⛏️

Visited Cockwells Modern and Classic Boatbuilding Limited at South West Shipyard, Ponsharden, Falmouth, Cornwall. 🛶🏗️

Gave an Afternoon Party in the garden of Buckingham Palace. ☕️🧁

07/05 As Patron of Force Atlantic 2024, visited the Transatlantic Rowing Team at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. 🚣‍♀️

As Patron of the United Kingdom Sailing Academy, attended a Founders’ Club Luncheon at Fortnum and Mason in London. ⛵️🥪

As President of RedR UK, attended a Reception at Arup in London. 🥂

08/05 With Sir Tim Attended a Service of Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey to mark the Eightieth Anniversary of VE Day. ⛪️🌹

Afterwards laid flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial outside the Great West Door. 💐

09/05 Accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne visited Guernsey for the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Bailiwick and attended the following;

Attended a Parade at the North Esplanade in St Peter Port. 🇬🇬

Attended a Service at the Town Church in St Peter Port. ⛪️

Visited the Occupation to Liberation photography exhibition at George Crossan Gallery, Market Street, St Peter Port. 🖼️

Visited the St Peter Port parish celebrations and opened the Visitors’ Centre at Market Square, St Peter Port. 🎉

Visited St Pierre du Bois parish celebrations at Route des Sablons, St Pierre du Bois. 🎊

Visited Festung Guernsey at Batterie Mirus, Rue de l’Arquet, St Saviour. 🪖

Attended a Dinner at Les Cotils, l’Hyvreuse, St Peter Port. 🍽️

10/05 Accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne visited Sark for the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the island and attended the following;

Met Little Sark residents at Duval Farm. 🤝👩‍🌾

Walked the East Coast Path a received a briefing on Operation Basalt an Operation Hardtack from the Royal British Legion. 🚶

Visited la Société Sercquaise, Mill Lane. 📜

Visited the Sark celebrations at the Avenue. 🇨🇶🍾

Visited the World War II exhibition at Old Isla Hall, Rue de la Seigneurie. 🖼️

Visited the Sark Observatory, Chasse-Marais. 🔭

12/05 Alongside The King, presented new Union Standards to the Household Cavalry at Windsor Castle. 🚩

Attended a Reception for veterans, Service personnel a Regimental families in the Home Park. 🥂

As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, attended the South Buckinghamshire Group’s Sixtieth Anniversary Celebration. 🐎🎂

As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited Luxury Lockstitch UK Limited in Maidenhead. 🧵👕

13/05 As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, visited Forde Abbey Carriage Driving Group. 🐎

As President of the Royal Yachting Association, visited East Dorset Sailing Club to mark its 150th Anniversary. ⛵️

As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, later visited East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice Bureau at the Mobile Advice Bus. 📚🚌⚖️

14/05 As Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, visited 4th Battalion at Bourlon Barracks in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🪖

As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended a Meeting. 💼

Unofficial Sir Tim, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, attended the Directors Annual Dinner and presented awards. 🍽️🧬🏆

15/05 Visited the Cathedral Youth Club in Londonderry. ⛪️

Attended a Reception at the Ebrington Hotel to commemorate the Eightieth Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. 🥂🍾

Visited the Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre at the Altnagelvin Hospital Campus in Londonderry. 🧬

16/05 As President of the Devon County Show, visited the Show at Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, near Exeter. 🐑🐄🐖🐓🧑‍🌾

28/05 Visited MS QUEEN ANNE at Liverpool Cruise Terminal to mark Cunard’s 185th Anniversary. 🚢🥂

As Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, visited Royal Liverpool University Hospital. ❤️‍🩹

As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, visited Crosby Riding for the Disabled Group in Little Crosby, Liverpool, to mark its 50th Anniversary. 🐎🎂

29/05 Unofficial Departed from Heathrow Airport, London, for Barbados and was received upon arrival at Grantley Adams International Airport by the British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (His Excellency Mr Simon Mustard). 🇬🇧✈️🇧🇧

Called upon The President of Barbados. 👨‍⚖️🇧🇧

As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended a Board Dinner at Champers Restaurant in Bridgetown, Christ Church. 🌍🍽️

30/05 As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended the Closing Plenary of the Caribbean-Canada Leaders Dialogue 2025 at Hilton Resort Barbados in Saint Michael, Barbados. 💼

Attended The King’s Birthday Party Reception given by the British High Commissioner to Barbados (Mr Simon Mustard) at the Residence in Bridgetown. 🥂

31/05 As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended the Closing Plenary of the Caribbean-Canada Leaders Dialogue 2025 at Hilton Resort Barbados. 💼

As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended the Closing Plenary Reception and Dinner at Hilton Resort Barbados. 🍾

Total official engagements for Anne in May: 50

2025 total: 199

Total official engagements accompanied/represented by Tim in May: 17

2025 total: 34

[posttexasstressdisorder]

News|Politics

'Under assault': Calif. Democrat unloads on Trump in crowded town hall

By Anabel Sosa, Senior California politics reporterMay 6, 2025

FILE: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks at a canvass launch for George Whitesides, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Palmdale, Calif.Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

One of the top Democrats in Congress surprised a crowd in the Coachella Valley over the weekend.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, said he was “in the neighborhood” when he decided to stop by a town hall to listen to voters’ questions about impending threats under President Donald Trump’s administration. It was the fourth town hall Rep. Raul Ruiz, a former emergency room physician and Democrat who represents cities including El Centro, Indio and Hemet, has hosted in the past month.

“These are very challenging times. This administration is completely and totally out of control,” said Jeffries, who has been in his leadership role since 2023. “… The economy is under assault, Social Security is under assault, health care is under assault. The American way of life is under assault.”

The main topic for Jeffries, who has been a bulwark for Democrats, was the upcoming federal spending plan. 

“We’re committed to doing everything we can at this moment to stop Republicans from trying to jam this reckless extreme budget down the throats of the American people, which includes the largest proposed cut to Medicaid in American history,” Jeffries said at the event in Rancho Mirage. “It will hurt children and families and seniors and women and older Americans and everyday Americans with disabilities. Hospitals will close, nursing homes could shut down, and in fact people could die.”

Jeffries appeared alongside Ruiz and Ruiz’s town hall co-host Rep. Nanette Barragán, a Democrat who represents Napa Valley. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico was also in the room. The meeting was attended by a few hundred people, according to the LA Times.

One audience member, who noted how effective Trump’s campaigning was “two years in advance” of the 2024 presidential election, asked Jeffries whether the Democratic caucus is going to similarly “move up” its messaging efforts ahead of 2026 so “we could get somebody in a leadership position that can speak reason to nonsense.”

“What we believe is we are in a ‘more is more’ environment,” Jeffries said. “... It’s town hall meetings, it’s days of actions, it’s site visits.”

Democrats could regain a majority in the House next year in the midterm elections but lack control over the legislative agenda and leadership positions until then. With those constraints, as Jeffries explained, Democrats are relying heavily on rallying public opinion by hosting events and doing voter outreach during the newly popularized town halls — a sometimes effective public outreach method that they have used to their advantage ever since Republicans in March stopped attending their own.

These public gatherings have stirred up mixed emotions from distressed voters.

In March, Democrats were met with fury during a series of town halls they hosted across California in an effort to quell the fears of voters distraught over the mass firings by the Department of Government Efficiency. 

Rep. Ro Khanna hosted a town hall in the Inland Empire and was lambasted by residents pressing him as to why the party wasn’t doing more to stop the cuts. At another public meeting, freshman Democrat Rep. David Min of Orange County was probed about why Democrats were doing nothing, according to the Orange County Register, and the same happened with Rep. Gil Cisneros down in Los Angeles, who insisted to voters he was on their side. 

Earlier in March, Republican members of Congress were met with the same temper. In Yucca Valley, Rep. Jay Obernolte was called a “Nazi” during his own town hall, according to the Los Angeles Times. Not long after, Lake Tahoe residents were enraged when Rep. Kevin Kiley never responded to their calls. It was later reported that the Republican caucus was advised to stop holding in-person meetings.

But Democrats have kept it up.

Over the weekend, Jeffries called out Trump’s determination to gut public services, including Medicaid and Social Security benefits, which have gained massive public attention.

House Republicans passed a budget resolution on Feb. 25 by a narrow vote that is a blueprint for Trump’s ongoing policy agenda. Trump’s budget proposal is part of a larger plan to reduce federal spending; he’s already slashed funding for the National Park Service, which would lose $1.2 billion in funding under his proposal, and for the Department of Education, which suffered a $1 billion cut in mental health grants.

Two Republican representatives from California signed a letter last month urging House leadership to reconsider defunding Medicaid. They said they support “targeted reforms” to improve and modernize the program, but could not get behind reducing “coverage for vulnerable populations.” 

The letter also warned that Medicaid cuts could lead to the closure of hospitals, whose revenue is largely dependent on the program.

Jeffries echoed similar concerns at the weekend town hall, reassuring the crowd that benefits will be untouched, without offering much explanation about how. He called the retirement program “an earned benefit.” 

[voxina]

Harry Styles is not planning a residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere, and according to a spokesperson for the venue, he never was. 

In a statement shared exclusively with Billboard Thursday morning (March 13) following a week of rumors purporting that the pop star was in talks to play 35 dates at The Sphere, the representative said, “To set the record straight, there has never been plans for Harry Styles to perform at Sphere.” 

The news is sure to come as a disappointment to countless fans who’d spent the past several days dreaming of seeing Styles in Sin City. Reports that he was planning shows at the Sphere first emerged around March 6, though nothing was ever confirmed. Even so, the internet had been ablaze with people posting about their excitement for the rumored run. Many had also hoped that the purported residency was a sign the One Direction alum was finally planning to make a musical comeback three years after the release of his 2022 Billboard 200-topping LP, Harry’s House. 

[Full article here]

[comtessezouboff]

Paintings from Buckingham Palace: part II

A retexture by La Comtesse Zouboff — Original Mesh by @thejim07

Spread among 13 occupied and historic royal residences in the United Kingdom, the collection is owned by King Charles III and overseen by the Royal Collection Trust. The British monarch owns some of the collection in right of the Crown and some as a private individual. It is made up of over one million objects, including 7,000 paintings, over 150,000 works on paper, this including 30,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 450,000 photographs, as well as around 700,000 works of art, including tapestries, furniture, ceramics, textiles, carriages, weapons, armour, jewellery, clocks, musical instruments, tableware, plants, manuscripts, books, and sculptures.

Some of the buildings which house the collection, such as Hampton Court Palace, are open to the public and not lived in by the Royal Family, whilst others, such as Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace and the most remarkable of them, Buckingham Palace are both residences and open to the public.

About 3,000 objects are on loan to museums throughout the world, and many others are lent on a temporary basis to exhibitions.

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

The second part includes paintings displayed in the Ball Supper Room, the Ballroom, the Ballroom Annexe, the Bow Room, the East Gallery, the Grand Entrance and Marble Hall, the Minister's Landing & Staircase, the Vestibule, the Chinese Dining Room and the Balcony Room.

This set contains 57 paintings and tapestries with the original frame swatches, fully recolourable. They are:

Ball Supper Room (BSR):

Portrait of King George III of the United Kingdom (Benjamin West)

Ballroom (BR):

The Story of Jason: The Battle of the Soldiers born of The Serpent's Teeth (the Gobelins)

The Story of Jason: Medea Departs for Athens after Setting Fire to Corinth (the Gobelins)

Ballroom Annexe (BAX):

The Apotheosis of Prince Octavius (Benjamin West)

Bow Room (BWR):

Portrait of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (William Corden the Younger)

Portrait of Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Alexander Melville)

Portrait or George, Duke of Cambridge (William Corden the Younger)

Portrait of Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, Princess of Prussia, later Queen of Prussia and German Empress (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Prince Leopold, Later Duke of Albany (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Ernest, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langeburg (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa (Eliseo Sala)

Portrait of Marie Alexandrina of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen Consort of Hanover (Carl Ferdinand Sohn)

Portrait of Leopold, Duke of Brabant, Later Leopold II, King of the Belgians (Nicaise de Keyser)

Portrait of Marie Henriette, Archduchess of Austria and Duchess of Brabant, Later Queen of the Belgians (Nicaise de Keyser)

East Gallery (EG):

Portrait of Leopold I, King of the Belgians (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Victoria, Queen of England in Coronation Robes (Sir George Hayter)

Portrait of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, King of the French (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Consort Queen of England with her Children at Windsor Castle (Benjamin West)

Portrait of Prince Adolphus, later Duke of Cambridge, With Princess Mary and Princess Sophia at Kew (Benjamin West)

The Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, 28 June, 1838. (Sir George Hayter)

The Christening of Edward, Prince of Wales 25 January, 1842 (Sir George Hayter)

The Marriage of Queen Victoria, 10 February, 1840 (Sir George Hayter)

Portrait of the Royal Family in 1846 (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as King Edward III and Queen Philippa of Hainault at the Ball Costumé of 12 May, 1842 (Sir Edwin Landseer)

Grand Entrance and Marble Hall (GEMH):

Portrait of Edward, Duke of Kent (John Hoppner)

Portrait of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (George Dawe)

Portrait of Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, Dowager Duchess of Kent (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Albert, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Victoria, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom in State Robes (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Louise d'Orléans, Consort Queen of the Belgians, with her Son Leopold, Duke of Brabant (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Feodora of Leiningen, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langeburg, with her Daughter, Princess Adelheid (Sir George Hayter)

Portrait of George, Prince of Wales, Later King George IV (Mather Byles Brown)

Portrait of Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Duchess of Nemours (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Augustus, Duke of Sussex (Domenico Pellegrini)

Portrait of Leopold I, King of the Belgians (William Corden the Younger)

Minister's Landing and Staircase (MLS):

Portrait of George, Prince of Wales in Garther Robes (John Hoppner)

The Loves of the Gods: The Rape of Europa (the Gobelins)

The Loves of the Gods: The Rape of Proserpine (The Gobelins)

Vestibule (VL):

Portrait of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the Prince Consort (Unknown Artist from the German School)

Portrait of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Later Grand Duchess of Hesse (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, Later Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Princess Louise of the United Kingdom, Later Duchess of Argyll (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, Later Empress Frederick of Germany (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Portrait of Victoria Mary of Teck, Duchess of York (Edward Hughes)

Chinese Dining Room or Pavilion Breakfast Room(CDR):

Set of Four Painted Chinoiserie Wall panels I (Robert Jones)

Set of Four Painted Chinoiserie Wall panels II (Robert Jones)

Set of Four Painted Chinoiserie Wall panels III (Robert Jones)

Set of Four Painted Chinoiserie Wall panels IV (Robert Jones)

Balcony Room or Centre Room (BR):

Chinoiserie Painted Panel I (Robert Jones)

Chinoiserie Painted Panel II (Robert Jones)

Chinoiserie Painted Panel III (Robert Jones)

Chinoiserie Painted Panel IV (Robert Jones)

EXTRAS! (E):

I decided to add the rest of the tapestries from the story of Jason (wich hangs in the Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle) and (with Jim's permission) added the original mesh for paintings number 2,3,4 & 5 from the Vestibule (seen here and here) wich was never published. These items are:

The Story of Jason: Jason Pledges his Faith to Medea (the Gobelins)

The Story of Jason: Jason Marries Glauce, Daughter of Creon, King of Thebes (the Gobelins)

The Story of Jason: The Capture of the Golden Fleece (the Gobelins)

The Story of Jason: The Poisoning of Glauce and Creon by Medea's Magic Robe (the Gobelins)

Sea Melodies (Herbert James Draper) (made by TheJim07)

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Found under decor > paintings for:

500§ (BWR: 1,2,3,4,5,6, & 8 |VL: 1)

570§ (VL: 2,3,4 & 5 |E: 5)

1850§ (GEMH: 1 & 3)

2090§ (GEMH: 2,6,7, 9 & 11)

3560§ (GEMH: 4,5 & 10 |BSR: 1 |EG: 1,2,3,4 & 5 |MLS: 1 |BAX: 1)

3900§ (CDR: 1,2,3 & 4 |BR: 1,2,3 & 4 |EG: 10 |VL: 6 |GEMH: 8)

4470§ (MLS: 2 |E: 1)

6520§ (BR 1 & 2| MLS: 3 |EG: 6,7,8 & 9 |BR: 1 & 2 |E: 2,3 & 4)

Retextured from:

"Saint Mary Magdalene" (BWR: 1,2,3,4,5,6, & 8 |VL: 1) found here.

"Sea Melodies" (VL: 2,3,4 & 5 |E: 5)

"The virgin of the Rosary" (GEMH: 1 & 3) found here.

"Length Portrait of Mrs.D" (GEMH: 4,5 & 10 |BSR: 1 |EG: 1,2,3,4 & 5 |MLS: 1 |BAX: 1) found here

"Portrait of Maria Theresa of Austria and her Son, le Grand Dauphin" (CDR: 1,2,3 & 4 |BR: 1,2,3 & 4 |EG: 10 |VL: 6 |GEMH: 8) found here

"Sacrifice to Jupiter" (MLS: 2 |E: 1) found here

"Vulcan's Forge" (BR 1 & 2| MLS: 3 |EG: 6,7,8 & 9 |BR: 1 & 2 |E: 2,3 & 4) found here

(you can just search for "Buckingham Palace" using the catalog search mod to find the entire set much easier!)

Disclaimer!

Some paintings in the previews look blurry but in the game they're very high definition, it's just because I had to add multiple preview pictures in one picture to be able to upload them all! Also sizes shown in previews are not accurate to the objects' actual sizes in most cases.

Drive

(Sims3pack | Package)

(Useful tags below)

@joojconverts @ts3history @ts3historicalccfinds @deniisu-sims @katsujiiccfinds @gifappels-stuff

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[thedonatobiografia789]

biografiá de thedonato

Donato Muñoz, conocido en el mundo digital como TheDonato, es un destacado youtuber y creador de contenido venezolano nacido el 11 de abril de 2000 en San Fernando de Apure, Venezuela. Es reconocido principalmente por sus gameplays de Free Fire, aunque también ha jugado títulos como Clash Royale, Fortnite y Minecraft .​Pinterest+3TheDonato+3LaLetraDe+3Famous Birthdays+3LaLetraDe+3TheDonato+3

🎮 Inicios en YouTube

Desde los 13 años, Donato comenzó a subir videos a YouTube junto a su hermano mayor, inicialmente jugando Call of Duty. Con el tiempo, se inclinó por juegos móviles como Clash Royale y, más tarde, por Free Fire, un título que lo catapultó a la fama. Su primer video de Free Fire alcanzó más de 500,000 visitas en solo un día, y rápidamente se convirtió en uno de los youtubers más destacados del juego .​TheDonato+1TheDonato+1LaLetraDe

🌍 Trayectoria Internacional

En 2017, debido a la situación en Venezuela, se mudó a Perú, aunque regresó a Venezuela por problemas de papeleo. En 2018, se estableció en Argentina, donde consolidó su éxito en YouTube. Actualmente, reside en Monterrey, México, desde donde continúa creando contenido y expandiendo su influencia .​TheDonato+1TheDonato+1TheDonato

🏆 Reconocimientos y Proyectos

En 2020, ganó el premio a "Gamer Favorito" en los Kids' Choice Awards México.

Firmó un contrato de exclusividad con YouTube para transmisiones en vivo de Free Fire y otros títulos .

Fue seleccionado como uno de los presidentes de la King’s League América, la liga de fútbol creada por Gerard Piqué .

Fundó Los Chamos F.C., un equipo de fútbol que representa a Venezuela en la competición de fútbol/cartas Kings League Santander .​TheDonato+8LaLetraDe+8Famous Birthdays+8TheDonato+1Dossier Interactivo+1Dossier Interactivo+1TheDonato+1

🐶 Vida Personal

Donato es conocido por su cercanía con su comunidad y su estilo de vida relajado. Tiene un perro llamado Brown, quien ha sido protagonista de algunos de sus videos. En cuanto a su vida amorosa, ha estado en una relación con la también youtuber Karín Guerra .​TheDonato+3LaLetraDe+3Historia Biografía+3Dossier Interactivo+4Historia Biografía+4Wikitubia+4

📈 Éxito en YouTube

A lo largo de su carrera, TheDonato ha acumulado más de 42 millones de suscriptores en su canal principal y más de 5 millones en su cuenta de Instagram, donde comparte fotos posando en ropa de moda e instantáneas con sus amigos y familia .​Famous Birthdays

🎤 Proyectos Musicales

Además de su carrera en los videojuegos, Donato ha incursionado en la música. En 2023, grabó tres canciones de prueba en Ciudad de México, explorando géneros como reguetón, dancehall y fronteo. Aunque aún no ha lanzado oficialmente su música, ha expresado su interés en compartirla con su audiencia en el futuro .

[beardedmrbean]

Bad Dragon is suing SinSaint over copyright infringement of their dildo designs. What I want to know is, can you copyright the shape of a dog's dick? Because if you can, you shouldn't be able to.

I did knot need to hear about this one.

one more pun

TSG is gonna be one of the more reputable sources for this one

MARCH 25--A manufacturer of “fantasy-themed sex toys” has accused an upstart Brooklyn, New York firm of knocking off its distinctive designs, according to a federal lawsuit alleging that the defendant has infringed on copyrights for dildos such as “Spritz the Seadragon” and “Tyson the Water Buffalo.”

In a March 20 complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona, Bad Dragon Enterprises contended that its “sculptural” products have been illegally copied by SinSaint, which is headquartered in a Coney Island warehouse and advertises that all its “Ethically Manufactured” toys are “made in Brooklyn, USA.”

Bad Dragon, which noted that it has had “significant commercial success” in the adult toy field, alleged that SinSaint has been selling the duplicative dildos through its website and other trade channels, including the recent AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas (where the new firm’s exhibitor booth was next to that of the all-nude Palomino strip club).

The lawsuit identifies 13 separate dildos that Bad Dragon claims have been copied (and renamed) by SinSaint, which was incorporated in New York last year. The colorful silicone toys feature scales, tentacles, suction cups, and other design elements meant to mimic the genitalia of dragons, sea creatures, and other fantastical characters.

Some of the Bad Dragon products that SinSaint is accused of swiping are “Kelvin the Ice Dragon,” “Stan the T. Rex,” and “Vergil the Drippy Dragon.” SinSaint has not been accused of pirating other Bad Dragon offerings like “Jason the Demogorgon” or “Cuttlefish of Cthulhu.”

According to the lawsuit, SinSaint’s counsel last month stated that the company had begun removing “some of the allegedly infringing listings for product redesign.” This response, Bad Dragon contended, was “unacceptable,” adding that it “continues to be harmed by Defendant’s ongoing, unlawful conduct.”

The Bad Dragon complaint seeks an order enjoining SinSaint from continuing any further alleged

copyright infringement and seeks “disgorgement of all of Defendant’s profits” related to the artificial penises. The company may also seek statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each of the dildos in question.

For more than a decade, Bad Dragon has sought trademark and copyright protection for various product lines. While often successful, the firm’s application to trademark its “Cum Tube” was abandoned after a government attorney rejected the ejaculating dildo because the “applied-for mark consists of or includes immoral or scandalous matter.” The application included a very NSFW image, which can be found on the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

According to an August 2023 trademark application, SinSaint’s owner is Oleg Semenenko, 50, a resident of Brooklyn’s gated Seagate community. Semenenko lives less than a mile from SinSaint’s warehouse, which shares an address with GlobMarble, an industrial molds business for which Semenenko is listed as “manager” in a separate trademark application filed this month.

In a brief interview today, Semenenko was asked how a dildo firm grew out of his original business. “We work with rubber,” he replied. Semenenko dismissed Bad Dragon’s claim that its products were unique and original: “How can octopus hand can be your idea?” (4 pages) ____________________________________________

Hope the judge that did the recent trump case gets this one, even though I know that's basically impossible, just the thought of making him listen to hours of testimony about how these rubber fantasy dildos are protected by copyright or trademark law, or something like that is funny to me.

It's not a revenge thing wanting it, just a keep him humble thing. I know you think you're hot shit now, so here listen to these arguments for a bit.

Totally different note, I'm wondering how long until the discourse starts up, or if it has already started up, where using horse dildos is either bestiality or a gateway to bestiality because what with the way people treat cartoons of fictional people I can't imagine it's far off or not already here.

Look to japan for the tentacle ones.........