#she's a monday morning quarterback

[graveyardcuddles]

There's this post I saw on here about how if the player turns Shadowheart over to the Sharans, the rest of the party should all turn on you. I completely agree, and I think they should also mutiny against Tav/Durge if they tell Orin to just go ahead and kill the party member she takes hostage. Act 3 feels like the act where everyone in the group should care about each other the most and yet it's the act where they arguably feel most disconnected from one another. And this is all probably a symptom of the overall lack of reactions and responses to major events in Act 3 from the companions in general.

But another similar example that drives me insane is how, if you ascend Astarion and then immediately turn on him and side with the Gur, ALL of the companions will just be like "Nice work taking out the trash, team. Job well done. Another vampire lord vanquished, " without so much as a hint of emotion after you betray him, gang up on him and KILL HIM?? As if they hadn't spent weeks and possibly months traveling with Astarion, getting to know him, bonding with him, ect. As if they hadn't just all stood there and let him complete the ritual. But the moment Paladin Karen and the Gur show up, they just abandon all that over what? Some vague ideal of "evil is evil black and white no nuace" nonsense? (which is even more ridiculous if some of the other companions are evil like DJ Shadowheart or Minthara).

The only companion with a reasonable reaction is Halsin, who correctly points out you should have tried harder to stop the ascension rather than betray Astarion and kill him after it happened. I understand that not all of the companions have the best relationship with him. And I understand all of them very much disapprove of him ascending. So I don't expect the whole party to mutiny over this particular decision. But the fact that they ALL uniformly turn on him so quickly for these people they don't even know is disappointing. There should have realistically been some pushback/objections. Or at least some guilt and sadness and reflection over the fact that they all just had to kill their former traveling companion/friend that THEY allowed to become this threat they felt warranted putting down.

It feels like it should be an incredibly tragic and cathartic moment, and it just falls spectacularly flat. I tried to rationalize their reactions as just part of the shitty lack of responses the companions all generally have in Act 3. But at least with Shadowheart and the hostage situation with Orin the companions will still be ANGRY at you and express their disaproval. Whereas here it really comes off like they just don't give a shit about Astarion and never really did. It's depressing.

I feel like it unintentionally and very sadly lends validation to the idea that what Astarion says about no one else being like Tav/Durge. No one else will look out for him. No one else will have that same kindness for him. No one has a heart like them. I don't actually agree with this notion. I think based on the good epilogue for his spawn ending he's definitely capable of making friends and genuine human connections. But Tav/Durge HAS to come first. They have to be the example that shows him how.

Also why I can't stop repeatedly romancing him. Astarion needs Tav/Durge arguably more than any other companion. He has nothing and no one else.

[utilitycaster]

Look, I've long since stopped pretending that anything surrounding Otohan specifically makes sense but I am like. So just to be clear. Armand Treshi pawns his very important ring immediately upon entering Bassuras. Otohan Thull knows some weird shit happened to her up in that tower, kills half the party over it, and also somehow this ring haphazardly thrown at her remains on her person a week later.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dan Pfeiffer at The Message Box:

Poring through the aftermath of a brutal defeat, Democrats are now in their worst position in at least 20 years. Republicans have the White House and the Senate and an excellent chance to capture the House. Trump is only the second Republican since 1988 to win the popular vote, and he made huge gains across the country, building a multi-racial working-class coalition.

For many of you, I imagine this is painful to read. Trust me. It is even more painful to write. Most of my career has been spent within the machinery of the Democratic Party. I worked in the White House and Senate leadership. I worked for Democratic governors and other party organizations. It pains me to see the party in this state of disfavor only eight years after Barack Obama left the White House. The coalition that Obama built has crumbled. There are millions of reasons why we are in this position — COVID, inflation, an unpopular President, several political miscalculations, and a failure to adapt to a changed media environment. Ultimately, I am less interested in how we got into this mess than in how we get out of it.

The press continues to second-guess and Monday-morning quarterback various tactical decisions of the Harris campaign. I am also not particularly interested in that debate. Two things can be true at the same time. Kamala Harris ran a great campaign in a brutal political environment under an impossible timeline, and Democrats just got their ass kicked by a failed President and convicted criminal who could have been sentenced to jail if he lost the election. Where Democrats go from here is a conversation that will be an ongoing part of this newsletter in the months to come. There is no singular or simple answer, and many strawman arguments are being offered up on Twitter and cable. The solution is more complex than being more left or centrist or less woke. I don’t have the answers. Like the rest of you, I am still processing what happened on Tuesday. As part of my personal therapy, I wanted to do a bit of brain dump on the road ahead for Democrats as we confront another four years of Trump.

1. Recognize the Scale of the Problem

On one level, Trump’s win isn’t that big. His popular vote margin will end up being lower than Hillary Clinton’s when she lost the Presidency. This was far from a landslide. It looks nothing like Reagan’s victories in 1980 and 1984 or Obama’s win in 2008. But we shouldn’t sugarcoat the size and scope of Trump’s victory. Trump improved on his 2020 performance nearly everywhere in the country and with every type of voter. There was a six-point shift to the right in the country from 2020. Trump did 10 points better in Democratic strongholds like New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. He gained ground with men, women, Latinos, Black voters, and voters under 30. If the GOP can maintain that coalition post-Trump, Democrats will have no shot at the White House or the Senate for the foreseeable future. We are in a deep hole, and because of that, it is essential that we contemplate radical solutions about how we communicate, campaign, and govern. Every option should be on the table and every prior should be questioned. Yes, it was a brutal political environment, but this failure was a long time in the making.

2. Understand Why We Keep Losing on the Economy

Post-COVID inflation is the biggest factor in this election. It’s why incumbent parties all over the world have been getting slaughtered in election after election. It’s almost impossible to win an election when, according to the exit polls, 68% of voters rate the economy negatively, 75% say inflation caused them harm, and only 24% of voters say their financial situation is better off than four years ago. But if Democrats just blame inflation for voter distrust on the economy, we will be whistling past the graveyard. Democrats have lost economically-focused voters in every election since 2012. Even in the 2018 and 2022 midterms, which saw huge Democratic gains, we lost the voters who said the economy was their top issue by an average of 36 points!

President Biden passed a bunch of very consequential and popular policies. Yet, his ratings on the economy worsened over time. While I think we should revisit our policy agenda to look for new, bolder ideas that better speak to people’s concerns, this is largely not a policy problem. It’s a brand problem. When you do a blind taste test, our policies are more popular. This is why ballot initiatives like raising the minimum wage and allowing collective bargaining often pass in very Red states where Democrats have no chance of winning elected office. On economic issues, Democrats have a cultural problem; regardless of our policies, voters in the toughest economic situations simply don’t think Democrats care about them, and they haven’t since Barack Obama left office. Republicans have done an excellent job — with some inadvertent help from Democrats — branding our party as the party of elites even though the GOP standard bearer is a wannabe billionaire who offers tax cuts to other billionaires in exchange for campaign contributions. There is little question that we would benefit from more full-throated populism.

3. Close the Communications Chasm

Democrats are losing the information war. Trump and the Republicans are relentlessly communicating their narrative to a wide swath of the electorate, while Democrats are mostly still playing by an old set of rules. The Right is dominating the information space. In the battleground states where Democrats could spend more than a billion dollars communicating to voters on TV and digital platforms, Trump gained three points over his 2020 performance. In the rest of the country, which saw no paid Democratic messaging, Trump gained six points. This means that Democrats got absolutely battered in earned and social media. An average American who just turned on their TV or unlocked their phone or tablet was getting much more pro-Trump and anti-Democratic messaging. This situation is not unique to the Harris campaign. It’s been a problem for Democrats for more than a decade. Democrats cannot reach the wide swath of voters who don’t actively consume political news. According to polling from Data for Progress, here’s the statistics showing how people voted based on the amount they paid attention to political news:

a great deal: Harris +8

a lot: Harris +5

a moderate amount: Trump +1

a little: Trump +8 -

none at all: Trump +15

If you read the New York Times or watch CNN, Democrats know how to reach you. The problem is that we already have those voters. It's very clear that most of Democratic communications is a circular conversation with the people who already agree with us on everything. The rest of the electorate can’t hear us. They are getting no countervailing information to counter the Right Wing caricature of Democrats. Because of Fox News and other Right Wing outlets, Republicans have long had an asymmetric media advantage. However, in recent years, Right Wing messaging has come to dominate non-political online spaces centered on topics like comedy, gaming, gambling, and wellness.

Most Democrats continued running the same communications playbook for the entire Trump era despite massive changes in the media ecosystem. We haven’t incubated our progressive political media enough nor have we been willing to go into the non-political spaces where the most critical segment of voters are getting their info.

Dan Pfeiffer has yet another home run column on how the Democrats can roar back from their shock 2024 losses.

[richincolor]

Happy Black History Month!

This Black History Month I'd like to celebrate the genre that makes us jump at every unknown noise, brings us nightmares, and has us up late turning the page in anticipation of what will happen next - Black Thriller & Horror! There has been a lovely uptick in the publishing of Black Thrillers and Horror in the past few years where Black protagonists are solving complex mysteries, fighting against all forms of supernatural beings, and sometimes a combination of both. I've had so much fun reading all of these novels and am greatly looking forward to what 2024 has to bring. 

When creating a list of Black Thriller/Horror writers I must begin with the queen, Tiffany D. Jackson. Her first book "Monday's Not Coming" was a perfectly written thriller with a plot twist that hit with a gut punch that I'm still recovering from. Since then she's been on a streak with hit after hit after hit. Her latest, The Weight of Blood, is a book you cannot miss.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

When Springville residents—at least the ones still alive—are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation … Maddy did it. An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington. After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life. But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't know is that Maddy still has another secret … one that will cost them all their lives. 

2023 also gave us two amazing debut thrillers and I, for one, cannot wait to see what these two authors cook up next. 

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

You must work twice as hard to get half as much. Adina Walker has known this the entire time she’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy—a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England. It’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything. And it does. One fight, one moment of lost control, leaves Adina blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college and any other. Her only chance to regain the future she’s sacrificed everything for is the Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater’s founding family in which twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door. But when she arrives at the Finish, Adina quickly gets the feeling that something isn’t quite right with both the Remingtons and her competition, and soon it becomes clear that this larger-than-life prize can only come at an even greater cost. Because the Finish’s stakes aren’t just make or break… they’re life and death. Adina knows the deck is stacked against her—it always has been—so maybe the only way to survive their vicious games is for her to change the rules.

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea

Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood. The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom. But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first. From debut author Jamison Shea comes I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me, a slow-burn horror that lifts a veil on the institutions that profit on exclusion and the toll of giving everything to a world that will never love you back.

And to round out this list, we also gotta point out the fellas who are also killing it with the Thriller/Horror genre. 

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students―J.B., Ramón, and Trey―emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive . . . and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Welcome to the funnest spot around . . . Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that. As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call. Whether they like it or not. Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?

The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson

Regent Academy has a long and storied history in Winslow, Vermont, as does the forest that surrounds it. The school is known for molding teens into leaders, but its history is far more nefarious. Seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones wants nothing to do with Regent's king-making; he’s just trying to survive. But then a student is murdered and, for some reason, by the next day no one remembers him having ever existed, except for Douglas and the groundskeeper's son, Everett Everley. In his determination to uncover the truth, Douglas awakens a horror hidden within the forest, unearthing secrets that have been buried for centuries. A vengeful creature wants blood as payment for a debt more than 300 years in the making—or it will swallow all of Winslow in darkness. And for the first time in his life, Douglas might have a chance to grasp the one thing he’s always felt was power. But if he’s not careful, he will find out that power has a tendency to corrupt absolutely everything.

If you are a fan of murder mysteries, supernatural thrillers, or just like to get scared, get thee to a bookstore (or library) and support your Black Thriller/Horror writer.

[randomfox12245]

What is your idea for Belle? I didn't understand It in the last post

Basically would wanna take this idea that the comic established, that Belle is technically a badnik having been built by Eggman, and actually fucking do something with it. As opposed to the Nothing that the comic did with it.

Such an interesting idea. That actually doesn't make any sense within the context of the comics own internal logic lol. Like, Mister Tinker is the one who built Belle. Out of wood. What POSSIBLE internal mechanism could Belle conceivably have that would make her susceptible WHATSOEVER to a universal badnik summoning signal sent out by Eggman? This is, like, borderline a plot hole in the comic As Written.

But by my idea, it follows from how I'd personally rewrite Mister Tinker. I always liked the idea of Tinker trying to sincerely help and make useful things, but he either fails and makes things worse on accident, builds dangerous or harmful things out of instinct, or if he succeeds and makes something that people enjoy he realizes it gives him zero satisfaction or happiness whatsoever. He just feels hollow. Doing nice things and helping others not only doesn't come naturally to him, once he's able to actually successfully do it it doesn't even feel good. He realizes that he only felt compelled to try and do it because it's what he's "supposed" to do, and not because it's what he actually WANTED to do.

Tinker's story would have been a lot more interesting if Sonic was like "this is a disaster waiting to happen =| " and was NEVER cool with leaving him in the village. And it was the goat dude who was trying to convince him "no dude, this proves he can change =D "and Sonic is like "if he got turned INTO this then he can turn back FROM this. I know Eggman. This WILL go bad." and it gets passed off like he's getting a lesson in learning how to trust and the power of redemption

only for Eggman to eventually come back, he betrays windmill village, and Sonic has a grim little "i told you so" moment. That would have been more in character, AND it would have been edgy grimdark bullshit which the comic is in love with -.- And Eggman maybe could have used that against Sonic later. Gaslight him by beinglike "well hey, maybe if YOU believed in Mr Tinker and trusted him, maybe I never would have come back >=P " monday morning quarterbacking I know.

Anyway, following up from that idea, Tinker would have created Belle but would have subconsciously designed her as a Badnik. EXPLICITLY STATING that Tinker built Belle the same way Eggman builds Badniks, with the same programming and same materials and same external radio frequency receivers that synchronizes her to what the comic describes as the "Eggnet." (No, this is NOT explicitly stated in the comic, it legitimately doesn't make any fucking sense why Tinker would have made her as a "badnik" even if she was made from badnik parts internally). She would mostly be exactly the same in terms of her little Pinocchio backstory

but once Tinker goes back to being Eggman, she would still be receptive to his direct commands and the command signals sent out en mass across the Eggnet to all active Badniks. So a combination of sudden exile from the only community she ever knew and the robot equivalent of schizophrenia where she's hearing Eggmans voice in her head telling her to do Badnik stuff would have driven her to hiding away inside of one of Eggmans bases and going a little loony for a while due to the isolation.

So when Sonic and Tails meet her it would make MARGINALLY more sense why he reacted to her this way if she was initially hostile. She would be recognizable AS a badnik and initially be acting like one.

Once Sonic decks her hard in the fucking face, it knocks the internal radio antenna keying her into the eggnet loose which allows Belle's "the daughter of mister Tinker" personality to come to the surface. And Sonic would recognize that she's not only no longer hostile but is an innocent, and offer to bring her along out of this dingy ass Eggman base so they can help her find her dad or whatever her stupid deal was at first.

Tails opens her up and repairs her from any damage Sonic caused during their initial meeting, reconnecting her radio receptors and putting her back online in the Eggnet. Which Eggman would take notice of and investigate, discovering Belle's existence and her connection to his network as a Badnik. Providing him a Manchurian agent in Sonic's friend group! So he would be able to implant suggestions in her subconscious or in opportune moments send her direct commands to commit sabotage or subterfuge which she would be powerless to act against. At first she would just Lose Time during these periods of Eggman control, of Eggman puppetting her, and she'd be just as ignorant of her actions during that time as anyone else.

But over time Eggman would become more bold or more careless in taking control of her directly, and she would start becoming aware of it happening. Becoming a passenger in her own body, watching through her own eyes as she's forced to move and act out what Eggman wants her to do, unable to stop herself. And once the control is relinquished she would be too scared of being exiled again or even being destroyed outright by Sonic's friend group to admit to anybody what she now knows is happening to her.

Basically just completely ripping off the Boomer story from Battlestar Galactica lol

I'm also a complete hack because the whole Eggman double agent thing is also my rewrite fix for Lanolin x3

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Season 3 Rewatch Drabbles: 3x9 Save Henry

Summary:  A series of 100-500 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 3 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 843

Other Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note: It had been my plan to keep at least 3a thoroughly CS focused in these drabbles, with the POV changing from episode to episode between Killian and Emma (this episode was meant to be a Killian episode), but after watching this episode, the big sister/aunt/godmother in me, who has been around and helped care for babies all my life, absolutely had to step in and have someone give first-time mom Regina a little advice about how to handle a crying newborn. (disclaimer: I’m not a mother, so I’m well aware I can’t possibly know the full extent of what it means to be a parent, and I’m not in any way trying to lecture or Monday morning quarterback anyone about parenting, but I am affectionately known as “the baby whisperer” among my family, so I’ve got to be doing something right, right?)

Regina was at her wits end.  Everyone said parenting a newborn was hard.  Everyone said the lack of sleep would be difficult.

No one told her it would be like this.  She was so tired she felt like she was perpetually walking around in a fog.  She did everything she could for Henry–fed him, changed him, held him, rocked him, even tried singing lullabies to him, but nothing worked.  Nothing stopped the relentless crying.

Finally, desperately clawing for something, anything, that could help her, she’d brought her baby to Dr. Whale, sure that there had to be a physical reason for it all.

But he told her Henry was perfectly healthy (before scaring her to death by mentioning the possibility of genetic issues that she had no (legal) way of determining.)

Clutching at that last straw, she’d decided to call Sidney and have him dig into Henry’s sealed adoption records, and to get a moment of peace to do so, she’d handed her baby off to Mary Margaret.

The last thing she’d expected when she turned back around was to find her baby quiet and peacefully cooing up at the school teacher.

Regina’s heart dropped even lower.  What if it wasn’t a physical or genetic problem? What if it was…

”How did you do that?” she asked, walking over to her erstwhile nemesis.

”Do what?” Mary Margaret asked absently as she smiled and cooed down at Henry.

“Make him stop crying.” 

Mary Margaret shrugged.  “I didn’t do anything. He’s so sweet.”

Now was not the time to analyze the ins and outs of why this miracle had occurred.  Now was simply the time to enjoy it.  Regina took Henry from Mary Margaret.

And he immediately started wailing again.

 “Oh no!  No, no, NO!”

Mary Margaret fluttered her hands looking distressed. “I’m so sorry!  Did I do something?”

A cold, stinging sensation settled deep inside Regina.  It wasn’t anything Snow White did.  It was her.  All her. ”No.  No, you didn’t.  It’s me.”

“Well, that’s just nonsense,” came the no-nonsense voice of Granny Lucas as she breezed onto the scene.  “Here, hand him over.  I’ll show you a thing of two.”

While Regina’s first inclination was to stand to her full height and tell the woman she was fully capable of caring for her own son, she realized she really had nothing more to lose.  She deflated and passed Henry over to Granny.

The older woman took him, smiled down at him, and then placed him up against her chest, her hand gently but firmly holding his head to her with her other hand under his little bottom.  She began to bounce and sway, making little shushing noises.

Henry’s wails faded, and then came to a stop.

“But…how?” Regina asked.

“You don’t raise a daughter and then a granddaughter without picking up a few tricks along the way,” Granny said.  “First off, you’ve gotta relax.  You’re wound as tight as Leroy when I run out of bacon.  Babies…they can feel your tension, so you feel yourself tensing up?  Take a couple deep breaths.  Let ‘em out.  Set him in his crib where he’s safe and step away for a few seconds if you need to.  I’m telling you, it’s the key.  You relax; he’ll relax.”

“So…just breathe?  That’s your solution?” Regina asked, with a sardonic raise of the brow.

“Of course not.  That’s just step one,” Granny said.  “Next, look at how I’m holding him.  Ruby refers to it as the ‘Granny choke hold.’  Don’t look at me like that; I’m not choking your baby!  I’m just holding him tight.  Babies like to feel secure, and they like to nestle on your chest where they can hear your heart.”

“Breathe and hold securely.  Got it,” Regina said, “anything else?”

“Last step,” Granny said, “I like to affectionately call the ‘baby jig’.  Just kind of bounce and sway.  It’s soothing.  Gets tiring after a while, but then usually once you get ‘em calmed down you can generally move to a rocking chair.  You wanna try it?”

Did she?  Well, she quite literally had nothing left to lose.  Regina nodded.

“Good,” Granny said with a nod, “now take that deep breath.  That’s it.  Now let it out.  Feeling relaxed?”

Regina nodded.  Granny nodded again and handed Henry over.  He began to fuss, annoyed at being moved from his comfortable position, but remembering the steps Granny gave her, Regina carefully maneuvered him up onto her chest.

And then a miracle happened.  

Henry not only stopped crying; he actually burrowed into her, sighing contentedly.  A warm rush of maternal love washed over her, and she knew she would do anything for this little boy.

Parenting may be the hardest thing she’d ever done, but they would be okay.  They were a family.

Note: I learned how to hold babies from watching my own grandmother who liked to walk around holding babies exactly as Granny does here.  We always used to jokingly call it the “grandma choke hold”, but never fear.  Like Granny said, there is no choking involved.

NEXT CHAPTER->

[foggyparadisecandy]

Since you asked, therapy is going well. Oh please don't bother to read this - it's so ... non-horny and awful.

Yes - I am very intelligent and observant. And yes - I shouldn't diminish the fact that I saw and stepped over my ex's trauma.

I am valid in saying I saw these things - it's not some monday morning quarterbacking where I can look over the past perfectly. I HAVE THE LOGS - I CAN SEE WHAT SHE WROTE AND WHAT I WROTE. I SAW IT AND WALKED PAST THEM!!!!! I'm not imagining shit.

But ... I'm not a trained trauma specialist. I had NO idea how to address it. I was uncomfortable. My responses show that clearly ... I felt awkward and nervous and scared for her.

I had already told her (I was her daddy - I told her and she did stuff) to see a therapist. She *had* tried two separate therapists because I prompted her. I wasn't trying to fix her stuff without a specialist.

She just had the misfortune of getting two really awful therapists. Just ... awful. We ran out of runway to find a third when she hit her trauma point.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have said "find a trauma specialist" and "reach out to dozens of them so you get in sooner - don't wait MONTHS to see someone."

Ugh. I can own that I saw what I saw. But I can also let go of the guilt. And ... yeah ... working on it. Working on it.

And yeah ... she should have spoke up more. She should have asked for help. Yeah ... she was not used to a supporting and caring person. I scared her with my love sometimes. She was uncomfortable with it. I get that. I do I do I do.

But fuck. She is so capable. She had choices on how to respond.

It's done, it's done, it's done. No point in spiraling again.

She's gone, she's gone, she's gone.

Anyhoooooo therapy is going well. lol

This might sound foolish to some of you but I asked the therapist to explain boundaries to me. I am smart. I read a lot. I've read up on them because so many kind people have said during this dark period "Foggy, you need better boundaries."

I literally have no idea how to navigate or set up a boundary. It's why I forgive so easily. I mean ... yeah ... techically if you shit on me the same way multiple times, I *will* cut you out of my life. Forgive you, yes, but also cut you out.

She asked me "and have you ever actually cut someone out of your life that way?" lol ... rude question. Dear reader, I'm sure you can guess my answer.

She then asked, "why is it you find it so hard to put up boundaries to protect yourself? Are you afraid of hurting them?"

No. That's not it. "It's because if I do that, i won't be there when they need me."

Just like my fucking mom needed me when I was a kid. To keep her insanity in check. To keep from burning our house down (figuratively ... and ... literally threatened to do).

So yeah ... no fucking wonder I have no boundaries.

I wasn't taught anything better.

What a shit show to find out your life is just full of stupid shit because of shit that happened when you were a little kid.

Oh well. Whatever, I guess.

The good news is "Foggy, it's ok. You see it now. Now we can build off your knowledge and set up reasonable boundaries for your future self. You can do this."

Ok Doc. I forgive you for being so real and pointing out my weaknesses.

Fuck that girl for abandoning me though. I love her. I forgive her. I hope she's ok but ... fuck her for slicing my heart and soul into pieces.

I didn't deserve any of that shit. BARE MINIMUM FUCKING LET ME KNOW YOU ARE DOING OK SO I CAN HAVE SOME PEACE OF MIND. God. I took great care of her.

She doesn't owe me anything ... I guess that's so. And what a shitty world we live in where we don't owe anything to people who care deeply about us.

[dear-meatball]

Dear Meatball,

Like others posting here, I wish nothing but the best of outcomes for you in this situation. Regardless if said situation is partially due to your own actions...*AHEM* ReadBeforeYouSignANYTHING *coff-coff*

With that out of the way...

You REALLY need to surround yourself with people that aren't afraid to tell you "No! That's a bone-headed choice Meatball!" because they truly want nothing from you besides seeing you happy and successful. From the looks of things, your circle has many people going along with all of your plans without a consideration of your wellbeing, just to keep going on trips/getting access to the VIP lifestyle - utter BULLSHIT. I know that it's easy for me to say in my place of Monday Morning Quarterbacking, buy it's the truth. We can all see the toll being used by people you've trusted has done to you physically. Stress hides from no one, especially the harder you try hiding it.

I'd be happily to offer my friendship services - I've got a few friends of several years and decades that will confirm that I do listen sympathetically, but will readily call out their BS, regardless of how bad they hate me for it. (One stopped speaking with me for a year, and didn't contact me until after she left her ex.) Going on 30 years, 29 years, 20 years, and 7 years later, I'm still friends with all of them. My only condition of friendship, is that you are willing to listen when you can, and call out my bullshit in return. (That would be how an actual loyal friendship works, BTW.)

Now, it's time for you to pull your big boy britches up, channel some of that Masshole Attitude from your soul, and raise some fucking Hell by standing up for yourself and everything you've worked for, because you're the only one that can. I'm not suggesting going full Whitey Bulger on 'em, but I'm not gonna say anything if you do. 😉 Maybe fill yourself with the some of thay stone cold attitude you gave Steve Rogers in the beginning of Infinity War - spear catching optional. 💙

💙

[starset21]

Sincerely, Yours

Standard disclaimer: I only own my original characters, I've done some research but there will likely be Navy/military inaccuracies, and I do not consent to the posting, translating, or publishing of my work to any 3rd party site, the only place it may be found is on tumblr and Wattpad under @.itswildflower Warnings: N/A Summary: Time for some good old dogfight football Looking for previous chapters? Sincerely, Yours Masterlist  

Chapter 5:

Monday morning Ria woke to the sound of her phone buzzing on the table. She didn’t even look at it. The phone buzzed a few more times and she groaned before rolling over and grabbing her phone from the nightstand. Morning Tempest, meeting on the beach outside of the Hard Deck at 1 for training. Wear clothes you can move in. Ria blinked a few times before processing that it was a message from Maverick. She looked at the clock, seeing she had 5 hours until she needed to be anywhere, and didn’t reply. She threw her phone to the end of the bed and laid back down with a groan. She laid there for half an hour before she actually got up, put some music on, and made herself some tea. She got ready, ate some lunch and soon enough Elliot was knocking at her door. “I’m driving,” he said swinging his car keys around as soon as she opened her door. Ria hung her truck keys back up before making sure she had her house keys in her small bag and then locked the door behind her. “Nadia called last night, Vi’s getting so big,” he told her climbing into the car he affectionately named Bumblebee. Yes, his yellow Camaro is modeled and named after the transformer, complete with the Autobot insignia badges on the outside and in the interior. “I bet,” Ria replied, sliding her sunglasses on. His wife and 4-year-old daughter were waiting for him at home back in Colorado. “Why do you think Maverick is having us meet on the beach?” Elliot asks her. “Who knows?” she shrugged, staring out the side window as they pulled out of her driveway. 

The aviators all stood in a semi-circle around Maverick and Hondo, both men holding footballs. “What are we doing here Maverick?” Payback asks. “A little bit of a team building exercise. Dogfight football,” Maverick said tossing the ball he was holding up in the air. “Two balls, offense, and defense simultaneously,” Maverick explained as he caught it. The teams were determined. Both quarterbacks snap at the same time. Both teams scramble. In an instant, it is chaos. Maverick is a quarterback on one team, Bradley on the other. Bradley manages to make a pass. Maverick is sacked. In fact, the opposition seems to care more about sacking the teacher than they do about scoring. Yet, in the midst of the hard hits, it’s clear to see something they haven’t seen before, the camaraderie between all of them. Hondo made an epic attempt at a touchdown despite half the class clinging to him. Jake looks down at a prone Maverick, relishing a kill. Bradley walks past, stops, and grudgingly helps him up. It is the first remotely friendly moment they’ve shared since the start of the detachment. Maverick, a little sore, tenderly heads off the field, waving Bob in as his replacement as he sits in one of two low lawn chairs, watching the chaos, mildly amused. He helps himself to a beer from a cooler as he watches the team. He chuckles as he watched Ria manage to trip Bradley and steal the ball before running for the goal. Ria, Callie, and Natasha cheered and came together for a high-five when she scored. Jake helped Bradley off the ground. Another truce of sorts. The aviators have split into two huddles once again, strategizing, and working together. They break for the next play. Both balls snap and the entire class clashes. Anarchy. Mav feels almost at peace. 

A shadow falls over Maverick causing him to look up. “Sir.” Cyclone is standing just beside Maverick, sunglasses hiding his eyes. He stares at the game, perplexed. “What is this?” he asked. “Dog fight football. Offense and defense at the same time,” Mav told him. “And who’s winning?” Cyclone asked watching as Javy and Jake jumped and chest-bumped after scoring. “Oh, I think they stopped keeping score a long time ago,” Maverick chuckled. “This detachment has training to do, Captain. Every available minute counts,” Cyclone said simply. “Yes, sir,” Maverick replied. “So why are we out here playing games?” Cyclone asked. “You said to create a team, sir. There’s your team,” Maverick said, gesturing toward the aviators. Cyclone looks again. Bob had caught the ball thrown by Bradley and the entire group ran to him, chanting his name as Bradley hoisted him up on his shoulders. “The mission has been moved up one week. The last phase of training starts tomorrow.” Maverick looks back at the class as Cyclone walks away, Bradley’s team is rallying around him.

He gets up and begins walking up the beach behind the pilots, keeping the news to himself, they’d find out tomorrow anyway. “You’re good with them.” He turns and sees Penny standing by the back door of the Hard Deck, having just walked out after retrieving a water bottle. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re taking to this job. Maybe even enjoying it,” she told him. “I’ve always liked football,” Mav told her with a lopsided grin. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. If you’re not careful you could find yourself getting used to this,” Penny told him. Mav considers this and nods, a little uncomfortable with the thought. “You okay?” Penny asks him. “I’m okay, it’s just... Time, you know? There’s never enough,” he told her watching as Jake threw Ria over his shoulder, causing her to demand to be put down. Jake laughed while dropping her into the cold California waters where Ria cursed and splashed him repeatedly. They were soon joined by the rest of them. “That’s for sure,” Penny replied empathetically, following his gaze to the scene. 

The sun was almost down when Ria and the rest of the aviators decided to settle down and start a bonfire. Penny had left with Maverick, leaving the bar open and in the capable hands of Mike, the older gentleman who bartended whenever Penny was out, and Tessa, who picked up serving and bartending as a side job. Elliot and Ria had taken the task of getting the alcohol while the others set up chairs and got the fire started. “You doing ok with everything?” he asks her while they wait for Mike to come back from getting their order from the back fridge for them. “Yeah, you?” she asked. “Yeah, I am, I know you’ve got my back,” he tells her. Ria smiled and squeezed his hand, “Just as I know you have mine.” Mike came back and set the 2 cases of beer and case of hard lemonade and one of regular lemonade on the counter. “Here ya go, all good to go, Penny said you paid ahead,” he told them and they nodded. Ria left a $20 tip before they each took two of the cases and headed back out to the beach. The fire was going really good when they walked up, the aviators spread out in chairs and on logs, laughing and talking. Someone had gone and got snacks and a table so there was a variety of chips and other snacks on it. Ria and Elliot placed the alcohol and lemonade on the end of the table before each grabbing a drink of choice and joining the others. Bradley saw her sit down and moved from where he was talking with Nat and Bob to sit down beside her. “I’m sorry.” Ria raised a brow but didn’t turn to him, keeping her gaze on the flickering flames. “I’m sorry for what I said the other day to Hangman. I shouldn’t have brought Rhett up like that,” he told her and she finally looked at him. “You’re right. You shouldn’t have brought it up in retaliation, this is the second time in a week. You had no right,” she told him. “Whatever stupid rivalry you have with Jake needs to end before one of you gets seriously hurt. I care about you Bradley but I also care about him.” A moment of tense silence passed between them. “I apologized to Seresin, we’re working on it,” he told her. “Good. You’re forgiven.” 

[incorrectnwsl]

You know what’s funny? The two players who contributed to the two latest goals in official FIFA history didn’t play together because one got subbed for the other.

Yeah I know Alex was tired but every uswnt fan has had this irrational belief in her since her very first year in this stupid team. That she can score us a goal and win the game. And also why would you not let Pinoe play with her emotional support baby horse? And vice versa.

I feel like Alex would have been inspired by spite (after her missed pk against Vietnam). But we can Monday Morning Quarterback all day, but it won't change what happened.

[pipelinelaserraygun]

Interstellar Ezekiel CHARIOT:

Arthur Batman 🕎✝️🛐 told Heavenly High Command a while ago, "If I'm to be sent places as a representative of the Eternal Kingdom UPON Christ's Second Coming, on 👑💍 OFFICIAL assignment, then I want an exact replica, upgraded 1966 Batmobile, to ride during the restoration."

Everyone will know I'm part of ✝️🆔⬅️ HIS Bridal Party.

⬆️ What CAN'T you ask, for?

Cincinnati QB 🏈 Joe Burrow purchased a replica 1966 🦇 Batmobile for $3 MILLION, it was disclosed on December, 2024. In the SAME month, Disney unveiled a 🤯 mind blowing technological advancement, showcased during recent NFL telecasts IN real time: a broadcast that featured ⏰ EXACT cartoon playbook replications, where starters for both teams were replaced by the Simpsons‼️

Who wins contests? Victory in Christ, ALONE, 🏈: It's the Birthday Boy's comeback ✝️.

There's a difference between retaining a child-LIKE sense of SPIRITUAL wonder 🙏🏽, and behaving in a child-ISH bratty 👺 manner.

⬆️ Type and example: She's a modern-day Esther, the sole Heiress of the KC 🏈 Chiefs.

⬆️ Where will beauty take the Modern-day Esther?

Note: Right behind San Diego IN terms of cultural impact, the Brazilian Comic-Con is an annual POP 💥 juggernaut.

Otherworldly Savior/Messiah ✝️🦸🏽‍♂️ Jesus Christ: God uses major Entertainment vehicles to reach a WIDER audience. It's been going on for years...

Weed out evil "Super men" who are 👹 INAUTHENTIC.

🎵🎶🚀 "I'm just beginning to see. Now I'm on my way..."

Batman's Family is headed to the hottest ticket onscreen: Only 🌎 7 cinemas worldwide have the 70mm IMAX 🎬🍿 cameras to show this movie, where (again) God has 👁️👁️ embedded a message for the 🐏🐑 sheeple MASSES.

DISCLOSURE behind veils is materializing in 2025, almost as if the Book of Revelation shall be made MANIFEST, a "BIG reveal" stocking stuffer.

Fake news WON'T 🤐 stop it.

[dollycas]

Sunday Salon / Sunday Post – A Week in the Life of Dollycas – Weekly Rewind – New Arrivals

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! Wednesday was Daughter #1's birthday. She had to work a long shift but did have a nice dinner with her fiancé. We are all busy planning for their wedding next month. Thursday, Miss Charlotte was named Student of the Month. She had a rough few days with the transition to a full day of school but is doing great now. Her teacher is proud of her and so are we. Friday and Saturday were full of grandsons playing sports. Due to not recovering as quickly as I had hoped from my fall last week, I wasn't able to attend. I tweaked my knee good and my face looks like I went a few rounds in a boxing ring. Our outside camera caught the action, and I hit the step hard with my face and the sound made me cringe. So Friday night Kaden had a game about 90 minutes away. Mr. Dollycas and Remi traveled to the game. I watch the game on television. It was nice to have a soft chair and a bathroom nearby, LOL, but when I saw Kaden after the game walking to his Papa to get the after-game hugs, it broke my heart that I wasn't there. They won 42 - 7. The refs made some questionable calls. Kaden was held by his jersey one time so badly, it was so clear, I saw it on the TV and those cameras are not that close to the action.  He played great as did all the boys but one of their key players was injured. We will have to wait to see if he will be able to play next week. It will be one of their tougher games this season and I will be in the stands. Saturday morning Remington had a home game about 30 minutes from here. Again Mr. Dollycas went to the game and I stayed home. His games aren't televised :( but I got the highlights from Mr. Dollycas when he came home. They won 30 - 0. Remi played both offense and defense and hurried the quarterback on a throw that was then intercepted leading to another score. While he was gone I had a huge surprise when Kaden walked in the door to give me my hugs. He came up here to watch Thomas play in his end-of-year soccer tournament. They won their 1st game, lost their 2nd, and won their 3rd game after a shootout. Thomas scored several goals including 1 in the shootout. They took 3rd place in the tournament. Each player received a trophy and ice cream at Culver's. I am beyond proud of this little boy and his team. They improved so much throughout the season. Maybe having Mom and Dad coach this year was the key. Plus he was thrilled that Kaden was there to watch. How was your week?   Weekly Rewind - September 23 - 18, 2024 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #39 – 2024 Tuesday - Furever After (Magical Cats) by Sofie Kelly #Review @BerkleyPub Wednesday - Cozy Wednesday featuring Bell, Book and Corpses (A Nick and Nora Mystery) by T. C. LoTempio #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour – @RoccoBlogger Thursday - Lyin’ Eyes: The Country Club Murders by Julie Mulhern #Review @JulieMulhern Plus - Gone Crazy (Rory Naysmith Mysteries) by Terry Korth Fischer #Spotlight/ #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @TerryIsWriting And - Cozy Con South – Kensington Cozies @KensingtonBooks @mcintyresbooks Friday - #FlashbackFriday – Reading Between the Crimes (A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery) by Kate Young #Review / #Giveaway @crookedlanebooks @KAYoungBooks Saturday - Special Guest – Denise Jaden – Author of Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries #AuthorInterview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour – @denise.jaden Plus - Special Guest – Denise Jaden – Author of Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries #AuthorInterview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour – @denise.jaden HAPPY READING EVERYONE! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

[utilitycaster]

OK the two non-FCG major thoughts I had about this episode are:

How is Liliana going to fit into all this? Like, sure, I'll buy that Imogen's pleas have had a real impact - especially the second one, honestly. The first, impassioned and earnest as it might be, can't compare to seeing the daughter you keep saying you're protecting (and I do think Liliana thinks she's protecting her) near-dead at the hands of your fellow general. On the other hand, what - is she coming with them to Ria'Doin? Is the Vessel of Predathos (TM) going to just waltz on in? And what happens when it comes out that yes, they were in Kreviris on Volition business, and they will continue to be involved with the people who tried to kill her? I'm interested in all of this because it feels very precarious and volatile but man is it delicate.

It does feel significant how close they got to a TPK even after very quickly taking away the backpack. I've been treading carefully here and will continue to do so; as someone who had many criticisms of the Bassuras Otohan fight and of the character (and still does) I don't actually take issue with her build or power level here. It's more a weird sense of like...I've never seen it get so close in past campaigns and certainly not at this high a level; the only vaguely comparable thing is Keyleth failing multiple death saves while in the Nine Hells and that was because she happened to be their only way out. I don't think this fight was by any means structured to be unwinnable or even necessarily require a death, and I don't have any interest in Monday morning quarterbacking it in detail, but it did feel like a much more...blasé attitude towards it than I'm used to seeing. And obviously I don't think anyone was uncaring either! It was pretty clear from the response to FCG's sacrifice that everyone is deeply invested! I think two really interesting hooks just got set up up. I just...really hope Matt's on 4SD soon because this all feels, again, precarious.

[ryca]

I do NOT want to hear any of that victim-blaming monday-morning-quarterbacking "how the campaign should have been run" horseshit.

It was the job of every American to pick a decent candidate (which she was) and not vote for a racist rapist fascist. No one should have needed to be told that, let alone courted.

We’re going to hear a lot of stupid bullshit over the next few days/months/years about how Harris/the Democrats failed to win over men, or young people, or uneducated voters, or those worried about the economy, or whatever….but the truth is this: this country hates women and minorities; its citizens understand fuck all about the economy; and the people are incredibly susceptible to outright lies, scams and fascist values

[petermorwood]

One hundred and ten years ago today, at 11:40 PM (ship’s time), an iceberg began inscribing RMS Titanic’s indelible entry in maritime history.

Two hours and forty minutes later, at 02:20 AM (ship’s time) she and +1500 people slid beneath the surface of the North Atlantic and into legend.

Titanic is perhaps the most famous, most recognisable ship in the world, generating an entire industry of non-fiction books, fiction books, cookbooks, documentaries, feature films including Nazi propaganda, miniseries, model kits, conspiracy theories, Monday-morning quarterbacking, 20-20 hindsight, YouTube channels including several episodes of Tasting History starting here...

There’s even a scented candle.

Wow. Stylish. How long before a candle of two towers with wicks in them won’t be tasteless...?

Here’s a post about a particularly daft conspiracy theory, and then about the ship’s musicians and about what they played (or didn’t) as the ship went down...

Here’s a post about another conspiracy theory with IMO the potential to be an interesting TV drama.

Here’s a post about the lookout who spotted the iceberg.

*****

On a happier note, there’s @mylordshesacactus‘s splendidly written story of Captain Arthur Rostron and RMS Carpathia.

I’ve reblogged this post with extra bits and pictures three times now - (1) (2) (3) - and I read the original story each time, because it’s worth reading.

On a night that did so many things wrong, Captain Rostron, his crew, his passengers and his ship did so many things right that if Carpathia had been faster and closer * Titanic might have been no more than a financial disaster in a marine insurer’s ledger, with no fatalities at all.

* Rescue by transfer to other ships was the accepted practice of the day, and a reason why “lifeboats for all” were considered unnecessary. The lifeboats were just a shuttle service.

A complete rescue of Titanic’s ~2,228 passengers & crew by Carpathia, already carrying ~1000 passengers & crew (her full passenger capacity was 2,550) would have meant a very crowded ship until others became available for further transfer.

That would still have been a definite improvement on the real-life alternatives: either in a lifeboat or in −2°C / 28 °F water with a life expectancy of between two and thirty minutes.

The problem - as happened when (under)filling Titanic’s boats - would have been in getting people to make that transfer across dark and freezing open ocean from a warm, well-lit ship many were convinced was “unsinkable”. They’d only have changed their minds when it became an obvious life-or-death choice, and by then it would already be too late to save them all.

Though I bet Captain Rostron would have tried...

*****

It’s only fitting to include how Carpathia ended her career, and @mylordshesacactus​ wrote what I described as a eulogy. 

Here it is.

[petri808]

Could you write a fluffly highschool au Twiyor ficlet. Maybe with them flirting or one of them confessing🙏🙏

Twiyor high school AU

“Touchdown Forger!” The announcer screams into the microphone. “That gives Ostania High 32-30 for the win!!”

The crowd erupts into hoots and hollers, chanting Loid Forger’s name. This is a big win for the quarterback, because it secures the school’s spot in the championship match against their rivals. The team leaves the field, high-fiving, and ready to celebrate— but Loid only has one thing on his mind.

He strides straight to the cheer squad, and bear hugs an unsuspecting Yor Briar from behind.

“Whaaaa!” She screams a giggle. “Loid?!”

He turns her around and lifts her by the waist, causing her to brace herself by wrapping her arms around his neck. “We did it!”

“You were amazing out there!” Yor’s smile beams.

Once Loid puts Yor down, other cheerleaders gather around to congratulate him too, including Camilla, the cheer captain.

“Loid, good job out there!” Camilla cozies up and runs her fingers along his bicep. “You know, there’s a party at James’s house to celebrate— Wanna join me?”

“I think I’ll pass Camilla. I planned to help Yor study for her upcoming test.”

“But why,” Camilla whines. “You still have the rest of the weekend for that.”

“If you rather go to the party Loid, it’s okay,” Yor insists.

But Loid just grabs Yor’s hand. “Nope, you’re more important than a party,” he smiles. “Come on,” he pulls her away from the group. “Let’s get out of here.”

Loid can only snicker to himself for frustrating Camilla. The woman purposely flirts with him, especially if Yor is present. It’s obvious how much the blonde despises Yor and who could blame her. Camilla is popular, but a snob, while Yor is a sweet, natural beauty both inside and out.

There’s just one problem— the senior quarterback has been trying and failing to flirt with the raven beauty since his sophomore and her freshman year. The first day he saw her, it was an instant attraction, and the more he learned, the harder he fell in love. Yor is the whole package- beautiful, genuine, sweet, athletic… a bit ditzy, but it’s rather endearing to him.

Monday morning, when Yor returns to school, three of the cheerleaders Camille, Millie, and Sharon corner her at her locker. Camille is the obvious ringleader who blocks Yor from leaving.

“So…” Camille pushes, “you and Loid studied this weekend, huh? Pfft right, study,” she uses air quotation marks, “study what, his body?”

“Huh?” Yor’s genuinely confused. “We weren’t studying biology.”

“His body! You airhead!” Camille snaps. “He’s your boyfriend ain’t he?” She crosses her arms sneering, “I bet you guys are having sex.”

“What!” Yor wipes at the air as her face turns crimson. “Loid’s just my best friend! We-we’re not doing that.”

“I just don’t understand what he sees in you!” Camille sighs condescendingly with her cheek resting in her palm. “Poor guy’s been trying to hook up with you for 3 years and you’re still oblivious. I almost feel bad for him.”

“Really, guys, Loid is just my best friend.” Yor presses. The bell rings, signaling it’s time to go to their next class. “I gotta go.” She shuts her locker door and slips away.

English class goes smoothly, and now it’s time for lunch. Millie, who has the same class with Yor stops her on the way to the door to apologize. “Don’t let Camille get to you, Yor, she just has a crush on Loid.”

Yor giggles, “really? He doesn’t seem very interested in her.”

“Duh, that’s why she irritated.”

“Oh, right,” Yor remarks with a laugh at herself for not realizing it.

When they enter the hallway, Loid is there waiting to walk with Yor to the cafeteria. “Millie,” he greets the woman with hinted disdain.

“Loid.” Millie greets him back in the same tone. “I’ll see you at practice Yor,” she waves a goodbye.

Loid puts his arm around Yor’s shoulder as they start walking to the cafeteria. But he notices something’s amiss because she’s quieter than usual and looking down.

“Did those girls bother you again?” He asks her.

Yor hesitates as her cheeks heat up. “Um,” her voice is barely a whisper. “Camille asked me if I was studying your body, but I said we weren’t studying biology. Then she accused me of having sex with you.”

Loid immediately moves them to the side so no one can hear them. “She did what?!”

“Millie said she’s just being mean because she likes you and is frustrated because you like me, but I don’t understand what’s the big deal, of course friends like each other, that’s why we’re friends.” Yor looks up at Loid. “Right?”

Her eyes are so full of innocence, that Loid just couldn’t risk showing her his annoyance with those girls. “That’s right,” he smiles and kisses her forehead. “Just ignore her, she’s jealous because she doesn’t have friends like we are.” That brings back Yor’s smile. “Come on, let’s get lunch.”

But internally, Loid is groaning again. Those damn busy-bodies causing trouble, confusing her, and keep ruining his plans. He’s trying so hard to ease Yor into realizing how he feels, and they go and knock him back another step. Yor was a sensitive soul and he did not want to scare her off.

After school that day, both the cheer squad and football team are out on the field for practice. It’s the second to last practice before the championship game but— Ugh! Of course, those damn cheerleaders just won’t let up! Camille just can’t leave things alone and if he wasn’t stuck in football practice, Loid would march over and yank Yor out of hers immediately. They’ve got the poor girl surrounded and pack mentality has filtered in. Even the ones that are easygoing are pushing Yor around now. He can hear parts of their conversation and it’s driving him crazy! Someone saw him kiss her forehead at lunch, so it sparks a new round of grilling.

“Friend don’t do that. Lovers do.” Sharon explains.

“But Loid’s always doing sweet things like that cause it makes me happy.”

“The dinners, movies, those are dates Yor.” Millie adds.

“Are they? Friends eat meals or watch movies together.”

“How about the flowers and gifts he gives you?? I saw him give you a red rose three weeks ago!” Camille snaps.

“Because I like roses.”

“It was a RED rose! Red’s for love, Yor.” Sharon explains vehemently.

“He said it matches my eyes.”

“Yor!” Camille gestures wildly. “He’s throwing out all the signs! The boy is in love with you!”

“I know. Because friends love each other don’t they? That’s what he told me.”

A collective groan permeates from the group.

“Romantic love, not platonic love you airhead!” Camille points her finger in Yor’s face. “Don’t you know the difference?!”

“Not really.”

Another collective groan.

Sharon places a hand on Yor’s shoulder, and with a condescending tone, “you really are as dense as a rock.”

The instant Loid sees Yor put her face in her hands from sobbing, that was it. Yor is more important to him than football. So, he ditches practice without an explanation to the coach and stomps over. “You all make me sick!” He snatches Yor out from the circle and hugs her to his chest. “Does it feel good making someone cry?!”

Camille tries to interject. “Ugh! We’re just trying to make her see the truth!”

“No,” he narrows his eyes and deepens his tone, “you’re just being a bitch.”

All the girls gasp in shock, but he doesn’t care if he’s upset them. They deserve it for treating anyone like this. Keeping Yor’s face against his chest, he cradles her head as he walks them away from the situation. He then takes her to his car and they leave school, going to a nearby park for some privacy. Loid finds a bench to sit down where she curls up in his lap.

Yor rests her head on his shoulder near the nape of his neck with her hand on his chest. Tears are still trickling, but have slowed considerably since they’d left the school. “Why are they being so mean to me? Why do they keep trying to confuse me?” She sniffles. “And lie to me?”

Loid leans his head against hers with an arm around her body. “Some people are just cruel like that, but,” he takes a deep breath, “I think it’s time I tell you something.”

She looks up, “what?”

Caressing Yor’s cheek and smoothing away the tear trails, his eyes soften. “They’re not lying to you Yor.”

Yor sits up. “Are you trying to trick me too?!”

His brow raises. “Do you really believe I would?”

“No…” she looks away.

So Loid tilts her face back to him. “Do you remember when we first met, how I called you beautiful and you punched my arm and told me it’s not nice to tease?”

“Yes…”

“And what did I do?”

“Um… said you weren’t teasing and that I’m beautiful and kept calling me that.”

“Did you believe that I wasn’t teasing, that I was telling the truth?”

“Yes, because if not, I wouldn’t have become friends with you. Friends can compliment each other.”

He chuckles lightly, “That is true.” She got him on that one. “Yor, after that day I realized how special you were and to win your heart, first meant being your friend.”

“To trick me?”

“No!” Loid chuckles and caresses her cheek again. “To get you to like me too.”

“Oh! Of course, I came to like you Loid.” Yor’s cheeks heat up. “You’ve become very special to me too.”

“I didn’t want to rush you, so I let you direct how our relationship would develop. I didn’t think you were ready for me to move us to the next level yet, but those girls getting in the way have forced me to have this conversation.”

Yor tilts her head in confusion. “Next level?”

Loid leans in, eyes half lidded, sliding his hand from Yor’s cheek to her chin, where he lets his thumb sweep over her lips. “From like, to love.”

Yor gasps lightly from the feeling of his thumb stimulating her lips. Her heart starts to beat faster and body temperature rises while her mind grows woozy. His touch feels electric against her skin. “Love?” She breathes out as her hand reaches up to cup Loid’s cheek. “This is what love feels like?”

He turns his face inward and kisses her palm. “This is what my love for you feels like.” His eyes glance at her lips, “may I?”

Yor silently nods and closes her eyes in anticipation. And when she feels the warmth of his lips gently pressing against hers, time slows to a stop as she savors this new experience. She sighs, whole body relaxing against him as she adds pressure in a sign of acceptance. Loid weaves his hand over to cradle her crown, tangling his fingers in her hair for support, and wraps his arm around her body in a hug.

“Do you believe me now?” Loid gently questions between kisses. “I love you as more than a friend.” Kiss. “I wanna marry you Yor Briar.” Kiss. “Raise a family with you.” Kiss. “Just share a life together.” Kiss.

“Like now? But we haven’t even graduated high school.”

Loid chuckles a sigh. There’s his Yor back. “After you graduate, beautiful.” He kisses her forehead.

“Oh,” Yor giggles at herself.

“Well?” Loid reminds of his question. “Do you believe me?”

Yor’s smile brightens, “yes.”

“And now the bigger question,” Loid takes hold of her hands. “Do you love me too?”

Her eyes crinkle as she squeezes his hands. “Yes… yes, I do.”