#so i was like is my spouse. watching bird videos without me (they were not)

[crowboy-bebop]

i had to lure a bird into our apartment so i could let him out of our window (he got trapped in the hallway where the screens dont open) and the high of being so close to a bird is going to carry me for the rest of the week

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

I apologize in advance, but the brainworms did a heckin screech and I felt the need to share the chaos.

Imagine, if you will, that our Creator let's it slip that they've interacted with other worlds before reaching Teyvat. (Played other video games) Imagine having to explain that in these other worlds, they may or may not have been interested in the denizens of those realms...sometimes in the romantic sense, which led to wedding bells and/or children.

Cue the uproar from the Genshin cast. The Creator, Blessed Maker of All...you have courted others? Have been married?? You have had children??? Their image of you being pure and untouchable, blown apart into tiny little pieces of confetti. 🎉

Though many loathe to admit it, they are curious...who are these people, what are they like? Is there a common factor in your selection of spouses? You would only pick the very best of a realm to choose as a potential partner, surely another being of creation...or perhaps a demigod?

It leads to the proverbial red string board getting made, the Archons trying to find out who is your most likely pick from their regions. It's all for your safety, your Benevolence! If you insist on having a partner, they must find the perfect match for you! You deserve only the best of the best, after all.

Bonus points if the Creator was a fan of games like the Harvest Moon/Rune Factory series. They're gonna need to make a list of all their partners, there are so many options to choose from. >>_>>

I'll admit I never played any of those games so I skimmed through the harvest moon wiki and chose one of the bachelors and chose some other game characters lol. Plus a game for all of you, guess the characters.

Though I do think that the reader having children before causes a bit of whiplash because it's totally unexpected, mostly because there were no records of you taking spouses or kids, even knowing you ‘have’ (play) other worlds is a surprise that causes a bit of a crisis. Either way here are some head cannons.

“I must admit, your grace is awfully attached to Qiqi” Zhongli hums as he blows on his white tea, a small cloud of steam leaving.

Qiqi doesn't pay him much mind, her head coddled under your chin like a little puppy, between her hands there is a small bird plushie “Well, I must admit she does kind of remind me of one of my little ones” Your hand softly pats her head, a few strands of hair moving as you do.

He stills as you spoke, eyes fixated on his cup “your… little ones?”

“Mhm?” Without looking up from the braid you were giving to the little girl you just nod “yep, she is quite soft spoken like Milenoe”

“... I wasn't aware your grace had sired children” there was never any mentions about holy spawns or spouses taken by you in any manuscript he got his hands on.

“Well, I never chose a couple from this world, so there wouldn't be any descendants” the comment slips airly from your lips as Qiqi slides off your lap towards baizhu who had finished checking the books from your bookshelf. “Do you want to see her? She started elementary school a few weeks ago” without waiting for an answer a screen appears displaying a tall man with black hair and horns standing regally behind you and a child with emerald eyes and horns.

“She looks rather shy”

You hum nodding “she is as shy as her father when he was her age. There aren't many children her age she can play with so she was pretty lonely her first 50 years”

“50 years?”

“her dad is a slow maturing species” so it should be 10 times the life expectancy than humans. Not that long for him but certainly longer than usual.

•°•°•

“It's a wonder to see how you manage to get Klee to change her mind about going fish blasting,” albedo scribbles some data half mindedly as he watches you hover next to Klee, who showed you a new drawings every few minutes “she is so stubborn even with Alice”

“Well I do have experience with headstrong children, Pardine is as focused on her goal as her father” one of your hands fall on her blonde hair, bright but still darker than Pardine’s almost champagne blonde and her red eyes polar opposite to her icy ones, a carbon copy to her dad. Even if your genetics rarely showed up on any of your kids it was uncanny how similar she looked to her dad and aunts “but I will admit she does annoy many guards asking to train her”

Albedo just laughs it off, listing the few loose characteristics of one of her spouses. Venti has been annoying him about his nation almost getting no information so he hopes a few spare tidbits and Klee’s rough drawing of a blond blue eyed man with a big shield works for whatever weird thing the archons have going on.

•°•°•

“Your Grace has married before?!” Ayaka gasps as you take a stroll around the nature surrounding her home. Her hand had swiftly unfolded her fan in front of her face.

“Mhm, I don't know why people get so surprised, after all it would be weirder if I spent so much time somewhere but took no lovers” you laugh at her slightly seeing her slightly flustered “it's almost a tradition at this point, to wed someone from each world. Want to see some family portraits?” She nods fervently looking at the tablet like thing that appeared on your hands, first a white haired cowboy like man is kneeling on the ground holding a baby by the armpits surrounded by three wolves ,seemingly playing with an older child, by the time the next imagine passes Ayaka is almost hanging by your shoulder, asking things about the siblings and begging to see more photos of your babies.

“And who did you take from teyvat?” Ayaka looks up sweetly at you, she has always held you in high regard and now that you are in Inazuma she can't help but get giddy thinking about how you decided to spend the stay in her state and most of your time with her.

Feigning surprise you tap your chin with your index finger “now that I think about it I didn't choose anyone yet... maybe it's about time”

“Then that means you could pick my brother!” She wraps her hand around your own, smiling as if she got the best idea ever “I could even call you older sibling!... If you wanted so of course”

“Big brother you remember how you told me you would find me a proper bachelor”

“If this is about wanting me to rush it won't work”

“It's not about it, I found you someone”

“Fine, as you please, need I remind you my standards are quite high”

“It's their grace!... Why are you choking on your tea!?”

•°•°•

“There isn't one damned coincidence…” Raiden slaps her head against the table with the rough drawings and some information about them “a king, a captain, a cowboy, a damned sorcerer…”

“Maybe there isn't supposed to be a coincidence” Nahida guesses “maybe they just look for someone who catches their eye”

“It doesn't help out as much as you think it does” the tsaritsa crosses her legs and leans against the back of the chair “if we are doing people with very clear characteristics maybe Ajax could fit nicely? Redheads aren't very common”

“Mhm, maybe but don't they have a liking for smart men? Then Alhaitham would be closer to their past couples”

“Well if we are going by that logic they should like the geo archon, as one of them has dragonic features” the tsaritsa side eyes Zhongli from the other side of the table.

Sighing deeply Furina, who came in place of Neuvillette, chimes in “It is their decision who they want to marry and even if they wanted to!”

"obviously you would be so calm, after all they are very close with your iudex. Don't get so cocky, I heard the commissioner Ayato is interested in the idea"

[mochiphantomhive]

21 Questions Tag Game

Thank you for tagging me @meiyanaalexia :)

Rules: answer 21 questions and tag 21 people

Nickname: I don't really have one, I've always gone by my name. But on Tumblr Mo or Mochi is fine :)

Zodiac: Taurus

Height: Around 160 cm

Jock, nerd, prep, goth: Out of these options, I'm definitely a nerd

Last thing I googled: Best localized otome games lol I'm not confident enough yet in my Japanese to buy one without the English translation

Favorite musicians: amazarashi, 5 Seconds of Summer, Aimer, The Gazette, Taylor Swift, Chopin, Conan Gray

Song stuck in my head: Back to Me by The Rose (it's so catchy my brain won't stop repeating it)

House or block flat: Probably a block flat. I think having a house sounds really nice, but I would feel more secure in a flat because I feel like there are less ways to break in lol

Followers: 51

Do you get asks: sometimes! I'm not very good at remembering to answer them, but I always appreciate them!

Amount of sleep: It really depends. I frequently suffer from insomnia, so it can be anywhere from 2-11 hours.

What are you wearing: pajama pants and t-shirt

Dream job: manga or video game translator.

Dream trip: Italy! I've heard Italy is a beautiful place with fantastic food and I would love to go!!!

Instruments: I used to be able to play the cello, but I haven't touched it in years so I'm probably not very good at it anymore

Languages: English and Japanese. I studied a little bit of French before, but pretty much all I can remember is how to say my name, and "je ne parle pas français " lmao

10 favorite songs as of right now:

Man, this is so hardddddddd

1.0 by amazarashi

Last Kiss by BONNIE PINK

Minor Feelings by Rina Sawayama

ラブレター・フロム・何か by ecosystem

Carousel by 5 Seconds of Summer

Last Week on a Friday by Young Rising Sons

あなたをただ愛している by Do As Infinity

Back to Me by The Rose

Rose by Anna Tsuchiya

Chizuru by The Gazette

18. If you were an animal: A bird of some sorts, maybe a crow or a raven (I may be a nerd, but deep down my soul is goth lol)

19. Favorite food: Ooof, this is another tough question. Maybe garlic bread? Or peaches?

20. Random fact: In South Korea, if one person in a marriage cheats, the cheater cannot file for divorce. The other spouse that did not cheat is only able to file for divorce. (I just watched a true crime video where they talked about this)

21. My aesthetic: I really like cute, cozy vibes. Although nothing about the way I dress would tell anyone that

Tagging: I have no idea who to tag, so whoever sees this and wants to do it please do!

[lesbianspirirt]

Masterlist: D.R Ideas

hey! this is a masterlist (obvi) of D.R/I.R ideas for you<3 please let me know if you like it, what reality you're going to shift to, and what other shifting content you want to see from me

just a nsfw warning, there are some mature themes in a lot of the media listed, as well as some jokes, swears (i think idk tbh), all below the cut

ALSO: please remember that reality shifting brings you to real worlds, the people in those places are REAL they have feelings, thoughts, they aren't just characters there!

Once Upon a Time (it's a T.V series based on fairytales, but it's kinda dark, never watched it tho so idk much about it)

The Wolf Among Us (telltale video game, similar vibes to Once Upon a Time)

Stranger Things (never watched it, but it looks horrifying so yknow)

FNAF/Five Nights At Freddy's (might start working on one for myself, kinda want to be a paranormal investigator in that world)

Elden Rings (I know nothing about the game so if this suggestion is ass just ignore it lol)

Halo (looks like a cool world but again idk what its like so)

Squid Game (don't remember if this was in my other lists and too lazy to check)

Minecraft (maybe not blocky cuz like that's nightmare fuel)

Days Gone (video game)

World War Z (never seen anything from it but i think there's a story and characters with personalities)

Scooby-Doo

Detroit: Become Human (i think i already added this in the other lists but whatever)

Red Dead Redemption

Doki Doki Literature Club (maybe, like, a normal version without the sentient computer storyline)

Yandere Sim (maybe remove Yan-chan cuz obvious reasons 😨)

Life is Strange (idk, seems pretty chill but idk much about it either)

Heavy Rain

Watch Dogs (kinda boring unless you're a super-hacker but hey, i need to fill this list lmao)

Pokémon

The Walking Dead Game: Michonne (don't think a lot of ppl know about this one)

Beyond Two Souls (kinda scary ig but cuz of the paranormal shit going on in that world)

that's all the new stuff, everything below this is form my other 2 lists since this post is a masterlist lol

Disney (I personally want to shift to experience the story of Frozen and Tangled since it's hinted that they're connected also bc I'm Norwegian)

Modern! A.U of media from your current reality

TMNT (whatever version you prefer)

X-Men

Teen Titans (i can't remember if I added it to the last one lol)

Justice League

Villain (not an excuse to kill, torture, etc.)

Sims (there's lot's of lore, lot's of the pre-made characters have cool stories, some are hot too)

Domestic (live a domestic life style with anyone you want to, you could have a few children or live like a house-spouse)

Divergent (recently. the movies were added to Canadian Netflix, it's kind of like The Hunger Games and isn't too bad other than the horrible love interest it should've been Christina and Tris they would've been so cute)

High School! A.U of media from your current reality (for example: Arcane in a high school setting, can be set in whatever decade or world you want)

Decade! A.U of any media from your current reality (script out the bad things cuz good god if it's anything like this reality, you'll be leaving asap)

Time Traveler (y'know, time travel)

Totally Spies

The Princess Bride

Percy Jackson

The Wizard of Oz

Avatar (the blue one)

Pirates of the Caribbean

Criminal Minds

Bob's Burgers

Modern Family

Artemis Fowl

The Maze Runner

The Owl House

Z Nation

The Walking Dead Game

Deadpool (his sidekick, side-chick, im not judging)

The Outsiders

Ouran High School Host Club (be rich, incredibly desirable, both, neither, whatever)

Your own Spiderverse world

Avatar The Last Airbender

The Legend of Korra

The Last of Us

Everything Sucks!

Birds of Prey

Victorious

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun (make manga with an unlikely group of friends)

Royalty D.R

Victorian Vampire D.R (maybe like just make yourself need rare steak instead of humans or something)

Animal D.R (try out living as a cat with some sweet folks or live as an ant idk just make sure that you can still think DO NOT let yourself forget to keep your human consciousness)

No Nips D.R (can you tell that I’m running out of ideas?)

Decade D.R (you got a favourite decade? one that has music, fashion and movies that you love? yeah)

H2O: Just Add Water (stay away from the condensation tho)

Genshin Impact (powers and you could be a god ig)

D&D (basically a fantasy D.R)

Randomly Generated Rom-Com (you don’t know what kind of story you’ll get to live through plus it’s a rom-com, no sad shit here)

any Tremors movie (movies are scary af, not really recommended but its your choice)

Arcane

Miraculous Ladybug (make sure you script out the uh, odd things)

Ghost D.R (scare, harass, haunt, whatever you want!)

Rage Room D.R (have a D.R thats just a room full of shit to break)

Pillow D.R (lonely and tired? just shift into a world where you’re sleeping on a hot persons thighs/boobs)

Mario Universe

Zelda D.R (based on whatever game or the show from like the 80s)

[empressxmachina]

Dolled Up and Underdressed // 2

Promises, part II

Brooke shut the door behind herself, only to open it if any of the wandering Wainscots knocked a code. On the surface, the shed was nothing out of the ordinary. Hedge clippers. Garden hose. Charcoal, propane, and logs. Some spare parts and local wares. A hidden door behind some shelves and paneling. Going through said door, however, the comfy cabin stretched underground beyond its cozy, cup size into the beefed-up bunker it really was.

Posters became historical maps. Instruction booklets for lawn tools became test plans. The wood was now metal and LEDs. Various files and other personals were stacked and stored across and around lines of tables and stations of varied roles, all of which they’d rather die for than reveal to any outsider. Crossing her arms, Brooke strutted down the center path and reunited with Garrett at its end.

There, at the hub of it all, wearing matching glowers, Brooke joined in with him keying in the final characters of a ridiculous sequence into a specialized console.

The last symbol was entered into its keyboard, its screen began to buffer, and then they waited.

And then they waited.

They waited, losing hope, looking for all the ‘last resorts’ in reaching distance. The piercers. The navigators. The bottles and boxes and all they contained.

Optimism quickly started to plummet, but they still waited all the while… until it wasn’t needed anymore.

They were here.

The monitor eventually stopped processing, indicating with a jingle that contact was made. The Wainscots’ breaths were held as hard as their hands, and only determination kept them inside at the appearance of their interlocutor.

The display’s girth being comparable to a mattress, longer than Garrett’s height and broader than his wingspan, left nothing to the imagination. Every hair, pore, and hue on the answerer’s face was present and accounted for. Relating their glamour and airbrushed features to the rustic naturalness Brooke and Garrett donned would’ve seemed nonsensical from the outside looking in. But it was that extravagant look, on top of the muffled atmospherics in the background, that proved their connection right.

Disregarding the effort to make greetings, the protective parents began the conversation.

“The caravan’s left,” Garrett gruffly announced.

Brooke followed suit with her own sighs. “She’s… on her way.”

“I have already been made aware of that,” the dame on screen, one of Them, addressed, somewhat preoccupied. Her side of the video conference appeared to be filmed from a handheld device. As products began to pile on her face from below the frame, one could guess it was combined with a makeup compact. Her dolling up eventually ended, and she continued with her full attention and appreciation. “But I appreciate you informing me, regardless… despite your disquiet.”

Brooke gave a slight bow of farewell before turning back toward the outside. The farther forward she went back up the shelter, the warmer it became, but she chilled again when she noticed no footsteps following her. A glance behind her shoulders found Garrett continuing to talk on the call, and his audience of one appeared to be listening intently.

They were struck silent. The incongruity between lifestyles and demeanors was incredible.

“I understand your unease,” Hailey’s soon-chaperone commiserated, tucking some hair behind an ear, shining more light on the gems that hung from it. “Really, I do. But I assure you. We are on the same side.”

The soft shock that the couple wore immediately evaporated off their faces. Such niceness from someone so well-off was more than unbelievable.

“If that were the case,” Brooke tested, a hand on her hip, “then you’d know why I can’t believe that.”

“The trophy wife aesthetic you’re painting on yourself sure isn’t helping your attempt at humility, either,” Garrett huffed in accordance.

Now, it was the duenna that was caught off-guard. To go after her customs was one thing, but to go after her appearance was low. Not only was the sentiment false, but it was also just rude. Rude in a way to set someone off beyond their usual limit.

As the subject of the jab, she didn’t take it lightly. “Because being a so-called ‘trophy’ is definitely worse than being—!”

Before she could complete a comeback, a new, disembodied speaker entered the call. The silhouette reflected in her eyes verified it was another person in the room, rather than just a voice. The words resonated with bass but not in an overbearing way. It held control without an iron fist as she spoke back to it. At least, that was all Hailey’s parents could guess from the sudden language barrier.

A series of syllables that sounded painful to reproduce yet melodious flew around them, and they knew they had a better chance of guessing how many freckles their bun in the oven had than whatever they were saying. The words they spoke were unknown, though body language was apparently universal. Over twenty years of binding with the same person built much experience in emotion expression for Brooke, and she would’ve bet all that she could safely give away on her confidence in Player Four’s identity.

“Is that your husband?” she inquired, garnering a presumptive look from her own spouse.

The question smacked the faraway set of speakers like a pile of bricks, muzzling them in an instant. The matron gazed deeply into the screen, focusing more so on Garrett to catch what Brooke mentioned about him that she must have missed. When Brooke repeated her query, this time in the past tense, clarity on the opposite end was reached. However, as the fourth soul in the fray remained unaddressed, the shed dwellers were still left in the dark.

After a pointed pause, they were brought into the loop, but that pointing left more to be desired,

“That’s… a word for my partner.”

Brooke and Garrett shared a look between themselves, counting all the definitions such wording could have for that relationship. The fiery reentrance of the fourth soul – the woman’s husband – in that brusque, foreign tongue shortened that list in some ways and lengthened it in others. What then bubbled into a presumed marital spat grew uncomfortable to watch, but such chips in their perfect personas were somewhat humbling.

One could’ve said they were relatable, but then the last resorts would’ve had to have been brought out.

“Ahem,” the interlocutor lady cleared her voice after some time, attempting to swerve the call back on its intended course. “Apologies. Yes, that is my husband.”

Neither Wainscot said anything immediately, but Garrett expected for the interjecting gentlemen to at least introduce himself. They had already met, but courtesy was always appreciated. Why else would the call still be happening?

Just as the fans of the shed automatically flicked on, the encompassing mood dropped with the lowering temperature, Garrett going first to spit ice. “It’s nice of him to show how much he cares about our daughter’s safety by being off-frame.”

The outlying wife, with a quick gasp, spread her lips to respond, but her voice wasn’t the one to reply. The sir, from afar, countered for himself, combating the diss with his own frozen singes. “It’s as nice as your assumptions of us: they who are about to host her in their home. We’ve given you no major reasons to distrust us, aside from the lax acquaintanceship.”

Not liking anything that could’ve been inferred from that, Brooke was next to debate. “I think you have a different definition of ‘major’ where you’re from. Like hell, we should trust you.”

“Well,” the doyenne carped, “whether or not you should, you are.” She then set a hand – the one not holding her communication device – atop her heart for emphasis. “Hailey’s safety is our top priority, too, and we genuinely thank you for opening your hearts and letting her come into our lives.”

“She is a grown woman,” Brooke tersely defined. “She can make her own decisions, and she wanted to do this, despite not knowing the full story. I would’ve given her more to go on about it, but… consider my censorship, at your request, my part of this trust trade.”

Her last statement came out more like a grumble, but it was heard. A surprise to be heard, for sure, but it was heard.

“That sounds like you actually didn’t try anything,” the distant don said in disbelief. “Huh.”

“A surprise, indeed,” his other half concurred, “and I promise your compromising will be in your favor. As discomforting as I’m sure this seems on your end, this is the best way for us to be transparent.”

“By taking away our choice and hiding your truth?” Garrett argued through gritted teeth.

“By showing her rather than telling,” the other man pressed with similar roughness. “It’s harder to deny reality when it’s right in front of you. ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ or so you humans say.”

“‘You humans!?’” the Wainscots scoffed, his tone turning them sour.

“Forgive him,” the glamorous gal apologized on her husband’s behalf. “Hailey may be an

honorable guest invited to our event, but tonight is one for him to be in the spotlight, and it’s getting to him.” An almost inaudible growl came out from outside the screen, perhaps insinuating another rift between the couple. Retreating footsteps soon followed. “That being said,” she resumed, now alone, “he and I hope that you all and we can, one day, meet at the gates of friendship.”

The counselor level commentary was uncalled for, but Brooke was curious enough to bite at the lure for elucidation. “Meaning we’re currently…?”

“Conversing via a bred parcel bird, and I assume the gifts of thanks ours brought you do suffice for now?”

A look of consideration rose from Brooke’s eyes toward Garrett’s above hers. As much bribery with hints of blackmail this ongoing charade was, all for Hailey to be a plus-one for some boy, they would be dumb to pass on free funding.

“I… suppose,” Garrett gave in, catching Brooke’s drift, “and we’re to expect more within the day?”

“All goes well at the gala and between our babies, and you’ll find more than that,” the matron promised fruitily. “We’re fortunate to be in a position to give our surplus toward better use and greater rapport with you.”

Brooke was ready to end the conversation at that. As much as she wanted to see Hailey arrive at the spot, proving her safety in transit, she knew she wouldn’t handle seeing it in real-time. Pregnancy already pulled so much energy out of her. Her now two oldest children being out of her hands was anxiety-inducing. Dillon’s present in confidentiality was terrible, and his future was never guaranteed to be sunshine and daisies. Hailey’s advent, meanwhile, despite its pledges of protection and pleasure, looked much grimmer in her mother’s eyes, but it was too far in progress to be reversed now.

And, so, she could only hope for the best, wishing her well, struggling to calm her own pulse.

A pinch of insecurity bubbled through Brooke as she wasn’t so deep in herself to not notice the other woman’s allure. But it only took the money – the actual appearance of metal coins about as wide as the dame’s glazed fingertips on screen – for such thoughts to vanish.

It was all for the bag, and what a priceless bag it was.

Coins like those had become such frequent additions to the Wainscot fortune in the recent months. Those handheld coins on display probably would, too, sooner or later. Much time was spent with them, but they, themselves, were never expended. It would’ve been impossible without raising a barrage of red flags.

The systems the Wainscots knew had their unique ways with customs and currencies, depending on who was making the transactions. Usually, the exchange rates were easy to come by, as frustrating as they were to do just to get a subpar product. However, the new acquaintances were at such an extreme echelon for so many reasons that there wasn’t a rate. There literally was no calculatable price to put on the offering, and they all knew it. Yet, they were the best trade – well, the least degrading barter conjectured – and Brooke and Garrett immediately found a use for them when the deal was accepted.

The conversation transformed into a heated debate about what had and should become of the gifts, with Garrett both pressing to get more of them and reluctantly thanking their givers simultaneously. The plating and gildings that decorated the bunker so far weren’t there a season ago. More test cases for the once-canceled experiments were added. The lumps and chips in their wedding rings were smoothed, refilled, and shined.

New plans for another graduation gift for Hailey had been made. A new mold to upgrade her namesake tools of the trade was forged not long ago, and the casting for it may have been getting made at that moment. Through a one-way peephole, Brooke saw her younglings still in the yard, following through with much of the drama popping off in the background.

Addy, despite her attitude being as bouncy as her and her mother’s hair, wasn’t a girl of many words. But she had many an interest, many of which only Hailey and Tuck seemed to get out of her. For once, Tuck had the upper hand over all his older siblings, able to give her insights that no one else dared to and that Hailey couldn’t yet do. He tucked his sister next to him as they gazed into a telescope together. The attachment on its lens looked MacGyvered as all hell, especially with it pointed at superficially nothing important. But he knew that wasn’t the case.

Tuck knew, and Addy would learn soon from his teachings. Brooke, not wanting him to do so but choosing not to stop him, lurched but knew. Having ignited a dispute, Garrett obviously knew. Dill even knew a bit but had more than enough distractions to render him to forget. Hailey would know more than any of them before the day was over.

Fitz, all the while, sat alone, enjoying his time as the most knowledgeable child while he could. Partially from his parents’ aggravation and partially from general interest and natural skill, he was the chosen soul to make Hailey’s enhancement into a reality. With the modulated voices of both Hailey’s date and his, from the Wainscot parents’ point-of-view, ever domineering dad coming in headphones over some ambient but obviously exotic music, Fitz followed their instructions on how to forge their presented metals to a T.

The scene was tranquil, but Brooke never soothed her nerves while viewing it. Her husband maintaining an argument with their associates didn’t help, but that wasn’t why. Even if relations were placid, there would always be a cloud of danger over them. The constant badgering from the feds they already had would just increase if this got out.

The Wainscots had enough supply to combat any quarry, cave, or army on the planet, and they were only going to get more to use and peruse. The youngest pair used some to look again at a dot in the sky cited nowhere on the internet from whence it came. The middle child had to stay focused to not near-fatally harm himself once again from the metals melting with the same, outlandish glow as that once-hidden dot.

All of it from another world and those who lived on it. All of it their makers’ and Their inconsequential slivers and shavings to be thrown away. All of them half as tall as their new recipients, having made dents and the occasional ravine in the ground when they were first nonchalantly and literally dropped off. All of them with profiles of people’s portraits and symbols etched on them as large as their own heads.

Monies poured from fingertips that looked like theirs but rivaled the firmament in magnitude. Brooke’s baby’s presence was traded for them – for Them – was being transacted to Them currently as she breathed.

Barely.

“Stars above,” she radiated to the heavens with one hand on her belly and the other on her heart, “see Rosebud through.”

[nyxrsh]

An Unexpected Apology

AO3 link

Words :  2132

After the entire incident involving Papa Garou, Chat wants to express apology for having caused such troubles to Marinette. Seeing his raw sincerity, Marinette thinks why not and decides to let him do his thing. Not having expected him to make such a ridiculous video she is struck quite speechless and questions her sanity.

But really, Adrien joining up with him as if to prank her is not really fair.

Marinette breathed in the Parisian air. It had been long since she had last come up on her balcony to seek the company of the stars and the occasional horns blaring down the streets.

Things had gone back to the way they were before the entire incident with Papa Garou. It had taken Marinette a good amount of time to ensure her father that the ways things turned out to be were the best in the long run. And also that she was absolutely fine with them.

And now, looking at the stars from her balcony, all she could think about how much a dork her partner was. His sincerity and devotion to his job. It was a shame she was head over heels for Adrien.

“Hey Princess!”

Ah, speak of the devil.

“Hey Chat Noir! Fancy seeing you here.”

“Are trying to reference what I said earlier here?” He asked grinning.

“Sharp teeth, sharp eyes and sharp ears? Why grandma! Your actions look a bit suspicious to me. Care to tell me why?”

Chat laughed out loud.

“Can I be your company for the night if you’d be so kind?”

“Sure, yeah,” she said, “I wasn’t planning to do anything. You’re more than welcome here!”

Chat did a double roll, show off, and stood beside her. They looked at the stars together much like they had done so a few weeks back when Glaciator had struck their city. At least he wasn’t perched like a fucking bird on her railings today. And much like that day, it was Chat who ended up breaking the silence.

“Marinette, I am so sorry for what happened the other day,” he began slowly, “I-I’d admit I’m not the best in anything that involves social interaction-“

Marinette looked up to him. It was not very often she saw vulnerability on his face. Yet it never failed to touch her heart seeing such raw emotions on his face.

“-so I guess I never really considered what rejecting someone by saying ‘I’d date myself if I could’ could do.”

Marinette let out a snort. Leave it to Chat to be still worried about something like this.

“I don’t fault you for that Chat, I understand humour is your way of trying to be comfortable with your surroundings”

“It wasn’t even that! It took me hypothetically asking my best friend stuff for him to say how fucked up anyone saying that would be!”

“I-“, Marinette chuckled, “-would have absolutely paid to see that.”

“Hey!”

It took quite before Marinette could bring herself to be quiet again.

“Still,” Chat said, “I feel really bad for having put you through that situation.”

“I think we just established that it was okay.” She said pouting slightly.

Chat grinned. “But that would mean you’d miss out what I have in mind to make it up to you!”

“You don’t really have to do that Chat.”

“But I want to! I’ve thought this over way too much and yeah I want to do this, but only if you’d want me to. So,” he said putting his best impression of baby doll eyes, “what do you say Princess?”

“Hmmm,” she pretended thinking about his offer, mostly because it was funny seeing him start getting restless. She laughed and said, “Alright fine. But not anything over the top. Right Chat?”

“I wouldn’t give any promises Marinette! You’ve have to wait and see!” saying which he took out his baton and leapt away.

Marinette turned around smiling and went inside her room. She saw Tikki sitting on her head probably trying best to eavesdrop.

“What was that about?” Tikki asked.

“Oh it’s just Chat being Chat. Like, what’s the worst he can do, right?”

“Is this really how to plan to spend the weekend kid? You could have been stuffing on so much Camembert! But no!”

“Shut up Plagg, this is a genius idea! I’ve waited so long to do this with a genuine reason to show someone!”

“Yeah, because people wouldn’t immediately pelt you with stones if they saw you doing this on a normal day, right?

“Plagg,” Adrien pretended whining, “Why do you have to bum me out so much?”

“Someone has to put some sense into that dead head of yours.”

“Oh hush, now help me out with this camera.”

“Tikki?”

“Hmm?” She hummed while watching ‘A Bug’s Life’ on Marinette’s phone.

“Do you fancy the ladybug character or something? I swear it’s like the tenth time you are watching it again.”

“Firstly! His name is Francis, fucking respect him! And secondly, No!”

“I guess I’ll take your word for it.”

Marinette turned back to her latest project which would be a gift for Adrien’s fiftieth birthday! Hopefully she would be married to him by then, because it really wasn’t something she could give to someone without having their spouse accuse her of initiating an affair.

Hope could eventually pave the way for happiness.

Or that’s what Marinette has to chant at least ten times at night to herself so she could go to sleep without crying hoping to someday be acquainted with three lovely children and a hamster.

Suddenly a tapping noise came from her skydoor. Passing it off as just hail she turned towards the window to cherish the hailstorm without developing a pain in her neck. Before, however, she could take a step towards her window the sound of glass breaking reached her ear. As she whipped her head out of pure reflex, she saw a gloved hand, making the okay sign, retreat.

It at times paid to be so clumsy, because her parents weren’t currently rushing to see what the matter was. Well aware about their daughter’s rather graceful approach towards anything, they were probably on the way to break out the cash labelled as ‘fueling more disasters’.

Asking Tikki to hide and reminding her to take her earphones with her, she stomped with anger towards her balcony. Being careful not to accidentally cut herself with the broken glass, she slammed the door of the skydoor open.

“Why you little piece of-”

“Marinette!” Chat Noir beamed jumping up and down with excitement. “You wouldn’t believe what happened! It’s like a dream come true for me!”

Anger instantly dissipating just seeing his enthusiasm, Marinette said, “Slow your roll Chat! What’s up?”

“Remember when I said I wouldn’t hesitate to marry myself if I could?”

“Yeah and I am hoping you didn’t discover time travel to bring your past self to the present to get married.”

“Oh.” Chat slowed for a minute mumbling something which very much sounded like ‘shouldn’t have spent that juice to peep on Ladybug’.

Coming back to their conversation he said, “No but this is something even more awesome! While sure I can’t find people with the same level of awesomeness as me,” he winked and pointed his thumbs towards himself, “but you’d be pleased to know that I found someone very close to that! And damn Marinette, he’s such a good find.”

Marinette was highly doubtful of Chat’s claims. But Adrien’s fiftieth birthday was so far away and a good story, regardless of its authenticity, sounded pretty good to her. So she decided to humour him and asked him to go on.

“Right here-” he brought a pen drive out of his pocket, “is the recording of my marriage to someone who is definitely worthy of this piece of evidence that god exists.”

“I’m…” Marinette was at a loss for words. “Did someone really agree to do that?!”

“Now Marinette, being one of the superheroes of this city kind of shoots up my top bachelor ratings. The guy was practically begging me to not turn my proposal down by saying this was a prank!”

“No way.”

“Yes way!”

“And that’s the video?”

“I brought it just for you!”

Marinette wordlessly took the pen drive and made her way into her room motioning him to follow her as well. Chat Noir was absolutely at cloud nine which honestly made her feel apprehensive about looking at the video. As they reached her computer she started waving her arms in a certain manner to tell Tikki that she should absolutely see whatever the heck was happening. And like most times, she forgot that it probably seemed pretty weird to someone other than the two of them.

“Why are you dancing like a monkey? Is it like a ritual that you do to turn your computer on or something?”

Marinette pretended clearing her throat and sat down, “Let’s go with that.”

Chat sat on the other chair and rolled it a bit, looking around the room and commented, “I totally forgot you had all those pictures of him. It'd probably stress you out then”

“Oh right. That’s, yeah, a thing. And no Chat, nothing could ever.” She deflected not wanting to admit her crush to him. “So shall we?” she said clicking to play the video.

“This is going to be so fun!!” he said while bouncing on his seat.

‘A complete dork’ Marinette thought as she turned toward the screen.

A hand obstructed the leans. “Is this thing on?” a strangely familiar voice asked. As the hand was removed Chat Noir was visible on the screen in front of a rock climbing wall.

“Yeah babe, doing a fantastic job there!” He said to someone off-screen.

He looked towards the camera now, waving and said, “Well hi there! It’s a really special day for me today and it’s a wonder I haven’t cried yet.”

Dork.

“Today, this video, shows you how much I’ve developed as an individual. Since the beginning of my strange career, I have been very much in love with my beautiful partner. And fully realizing that she values our identities very much and doesn’t want to have any sort of romantic relationship with me, with a heavy heart I’ve decided to let her go. While she’ll always be in my heart-“

“Hey!”

“-as a well respected co-worker. Geez let me finish! So yeah I am moving forward. And here, today, is my marriage to my match! Honey would you-?”

“Sure sweetheart.”

And entering the screen was Adrien Agreste in his best suit with his hair slicked back looking good enough to eat.

What?! (But damn did he look good)

“Here ladies and gentlemen,” Chat said with so much love in his eyes, “my fiancé!” While we’re both aware we are still not legally eligible to marry legally we’ve decided to exchange rings today-“

“Hence promising our love for one another.” Adrien completed looking towards Chat with such a soft expression.

What the fuck?

“Honey can you get the rings I kept by the door for us?”

Adrien pecked his cheek and went to grab the rings.

Marinette slammed the pause button and looked towards Chat with anger oozing out her eyes, regretting not having killed him at first sight.

“You’re going to miss the main thing Marinette!” He beamed at her, loving her reaction to it, and resumed the video.

“I have probably cried buckets today,” Chat said, “for I had always dreamed about finding my true love. Today I’ve had what life was so cruel to not give me these few years-“

“Aw sweetheart,” Adrien cooed wrapping an arm around Chat, “I thought we agreed we’d let the video thing slid smoothly. Here!” he gave him the rings, “why don’t you go first, ‘kay?”

Chat looked like someone had gift wrapped him the stars. He nodded plucking a ring from Adrien’s outstretched hand and slowly slide the ring into his finger. After an exchange of a longing glance, Adrien did the same and the both of them started jumping with excitement.

“Can we-?”

“Sure honey, just let me end this real quick.” He turned towards the camera and said, “So here we have it folks, the union of the dashing Chat Noir and the handsome, beautiful Adrien Agreste. Please do not feel compelled to give us any gifts! We’re more than fine with your best wishes! Till next time!” He saluted.

The video ended. And so did Marinette's hospitality towards Chat Noir.

Marinette silently turned towards Chat. He seemed to be waiting for her reaction wearing the biggest smile on his face.

She promptly screamed at his face.

Chat fled not wanting be in the presence of her parents a second time while being the reason of the distress.

As the rushing of her parents downstairs and Chat’s attempt at a smooth flee registered in her brain, all Marinette could think of was skinning Chat Noir alive the next time she saw him. And definitely taking a holiday.

She didn’t ever think there’d come a day when she wanted to punch Adrien straight in the face. Yet here she was. At least he’d have totally deserved it.  

[shintaroux]

IF WALLS COULD TALK

I

Nijimura Shuuzou was aware that all things, good or bad, ought to have a beginning.

His potentially bright future began when he got accepted into college on a scholarship.

His independence began when he moved into his own apartment.

His semester began with a few successfully completed first assignments.

His sleepless nights began when he got a new neighbour who happened to enjoy sex; and he did so loudly, every two days and without sparing a thought for the fact that their apartments were adjacent.

II

At the first crack of dawn, Nijimura’s eyes flew open. He sighed exasperatedly and turned to his side so he could cover his ears with his pillow. That did nothing to drown the moaning and groaning from his neighbour’s apartment. The scene from yesterday evening was replaying at the same volume and intensity; Nijimura often wondered where his neighbour found the strength.

He got up and made his bed. His apartment was small, as it befitted a college student, but it served him well for the time he spent inside. His kitchen and living room were joined and his bathroom was separated from them by a thin wall. The bathroom was in the narrow hallway which led to the front doors.

And his neighbour’s moans echoed throughout his walls.

I never even met the guy, Nijimura thought bitterly as he cracked eggs and prepared to whisk them. He was in the mood for pancakes when he heard rain pounding on the windows.

Ten minutes later, the noise has died down; he heard the door to his neighbour’s apartment slam shut but Nijimura paid no attention to it. He has already made five pancakes and they were all perfectly shaped, not a single one was chipped on the side like his mother’s were.

While he was making the seventh pancake, his nostrils were suffused by the smell of something burning. It was a faint, distant smell but where there’s smoke, there’s usually a fire. He switched his stove off and rushed out of his apartment. There, before Nijimura’s eyes, was his neighbour wrapped in nothing but a towel, his lean chest wet and his hair damp, as he stared back into his own apartment from which thin wisps of smoke emerged.

“Is something on fire?” Nijimura asked, distracted by the hilarity of it all. He couldn’t find it in him to laugh, however.

“I left my breakfast on the stove while I took a shower. A bad call, it seems.” The neighbour turned to Nijimura, eying him up and down just like Nijimura did a few moments ago.

“You think?” Nijimura curled his lip in disbelief; disbelief at how he was less worried about smoke and more worried about how low his neighbour’s towel was hanging around his hips.

“Don’t worry, everything is fine. Except for my badly burned eggs,” his neighbour explained and flashed a humorless smile of pearly white teeth. He looked almost angel-like, with his black hair and messy fringe clumsily hiding his eye. Except angels didn’t usually go for setting things to fire.

Nijimura didn’t allow himself to think twice before he proposed: “You can eat with me if you want.”

“I’d love that, thank you,” his neighbour replied fast as if he had been waiting for the offer. He wore a small smile on his thin, pink lips. The soft features of his porcelain face belonged on a doll, not a lean young man who can’t even make simple eggs without burning them. “Let me just put some clothes on and open the windows.”

Unbeknown to Nijimura, this was yet another beginning.

III

“I can hear you, you know.”

“Hm?”

“When you’re having sex. You’re really loud.”

“And here I was trying hard to be as quiet as possible.”

“If those are your best efforts, I don’t even want to know how loud you are when you aren’t trying to be quiet.”

A brief smile graced Himuro Tatsuya’s lips but he made no further comments on the matter. They have exchanged nothing but names and college majors but the familiarity that unraveled between them put Nijimura at ease; he felt as if he might challenge the elusive raven-haired boy to a video-game duel after the meal.

Himuro finished his breakfast first and placed his plate in the sink and when he sat back down, he put his elbows on the table and rested his head on his clasped fingers. He stared at Nijimura until he began fidgeting in his seat.

“How about a deal, Nijimura…?” Himuro suggested with his eyebrow lifted in challenge. Nijimura should’ve known that beauty is the finest mask; there’s always something sinister lurking underneath.

“I’m listening,” Nijimura replied, his mouth full of a half-chewed pancake.

“If you make breakfast for me every morning, I’ll stop having loud sex.”

Nijimura didn’t even swallow his food before he answered: “Deal.”

IV

Nijimura fell asleep with a smile on his face as he imagined peaceful nights and quiet mornings but what came to him instead was a knocking on his front doors at the very same crack of dawn he had been awoken at before.

Nijimura groaned and stretched, his bones creaking like an old wooden floorboard. He trudged to his doors and opened them to find Himuro standing in a plain black t-shirt and tracksuit with a plastic bag full of groceries.

He was too dazzling for his eyes still unadjusted to light so Nijimura blinked a couple of times. Perhaps he was dreaming.  

“I was thinking of waffles this morning,” Himuro explained and raised the bag to Nijimura’s eyes. It roused Nijimura awake. Himuro’s voice sounded as if he had taken it for a jog this morning while Nijimura could barely scratch his out of his throat.

“It’s six in the morning,” Nijimura mustered.

“Isn’t this when you usually wake up?”

“No, this is when you usually wake me up.”

Himuro put his best efforts into holding back a grin but he completely failed, and looked comically pained while doing so. Nijimura rolled his eyes and ruffled the bird-nest that was his hair. He took ingredients from Himuro’s hand and grumbled: “Fine.”

Himuro’s presence dyed Nijimura’s apartment in strange colours; he sat at the tiny, round kitchen table, his long limbs sprawled and his head comfortably resting on his palms as he observed Nijimura working his way around the kitchen. Nijimura, albeit busy over the stove, felt Himuro’s eyes staring holes into his back and he remembered all those times he had heard him moan. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t feel uncomfortable around Himuro; instead, there was curious electricity at the tips of his fingers.

“So,” Himuro broke the silence, his voice melted like chocolate Nijimura was preparing for waffles. “I was wondering if we could extend our little deal to evenings as well.”

“No,” Nijimura refused right away.

“No?”

“No.”

Himuro was silent for a while so Nijimura assumed he was done with his senseless request.

“Even if I bring the limited edition of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?” Himuro asked as innocently as he could but his intentions were clear as day; Nijimura glanced at him over his shoulder, knowing that he was about to step into a bear trap.

“You have the limited edition of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?”

Himuro smirked. “Is that a yes?”

“Maybe.”

“I knew you were that kind of guy.” Himuro said. He sounded amused. Nijimura was quite entertained himself if he were to judge by a shameless grin he couldn’t wash off his face. He thought he heard a soft ‘click’ between them.

“Is that so… How did you know?”

“Takes one to know one.”

V

“Who do you think the killer is?”

“The spouse. It’s always the spouse.”

“You aren’t even trying, Tatsuya.”

Nijimura has had years of experience with late night crime shows but he has never had anyone to watch them with and somewhere between playing fighting video games and watching comedy-crime 90’s movies, he and Himuro switched to a first-name basis.

“How about this: if I end up being right, you’ll let me sleep over at your place.”

“No way. I don’t have an extra futon.”

Himuro grinned, a spark of slyness flashing across his lidded eyes. “You were so confident it wasn’t the spouse so what’s the matter now, Shuu? Afraid that I’m right?”

“You wish,” Nijimura clicked his tongue. “It’s on.”

Fifteen minutes later and Nijimura still didn’t have an extra futon. What he did have is a sleepy Himuro who was apparently grumpy when he was tired. Himuro took his shirt off and didn’t wait for Nijimura’s approval before he wiggled his way underneath Nijimura’s covers. The closeness of his body made the bed that much warmer - and cramped.

“Really now?” Nijimura asked and tried to sound annoyed when in fact he liked how Himuro’s hair tickled the back of his neck.

“Yes. Afraid I’m going to jump you?”

“Are you going to?”

“I don’t know. Do you want me to?”

Nijimura shrugged, vaguely aware of the gooseflesh migrating down his spine. “Didn’t know you wanted to.”

“I want to. But I’m tired and I’m still recovering from the spouse’s betrayal.”

“You knew it was the spouse,” Nijimura teased for which Himuro lightly punched him in the lower back.

“It hurts to be right sometimes. You should be comforting me, not messing with my heart, broken by betrayal.”

“You so full of shit, Tatsuya.”

Himuro let out a bout of badly-suppressed laughter. “And you let me in your bed.”

“I didn’t let you, you let yourself,” Nijimura said, drowsy. The light conversation was lulling him into sleep.

Nijimura wondered if it was Himuro’s plan all along to wear him out, and then come as close as he was allowed to, because he had begun warily wrapping his hands around Nijimura’s waist to snuggle closer. Nijimura never had the intention of pushing him away but he noted how it made him feel.

“You know, Shuu, you let me let myself come closer to you.”

Nijimura pretended that he had already fallen asleep.

VI

After a month of intense hanging-out and an increased number of sleepovers, Nijimura had come to terms with the fact that, for once in his life, there was someone whom he wanted to keep by his side. But being with Himuro was like walking on a tight rope and he wasn’t well-versed in balancing on thin air. But there was their flirty banter, the shared knowledge of movies, a taste for a good video game brawl and compatibility of their bodies and how they occupied the entirety of space on the couch or bed – and all those made Nijimura want to join a damn circus.

He waited for two more weeks. Two weeks of Himuro prancing around his apartment with his silver tongue and his slender body and his smooth voice and with their late night conversation still at the back of his mind and Nijimura was ready to jump out the window with unwashed dishes in his hand.

“Tatsuya. I can’t do this anymore,” Nijimura turned to Himuro, a sponge in his left hand and a half-washed plate in the other.

“What is it?” Himuro asked, concerned.

“I have impure thoughts of you.”

“W-what…?”

Nijimura’s mind was running off on its own. “Yes. I want to bend you over a table and fuck the shit out of you and then watch Snatch. With you.”

Himuro all but burst into fits of laughter, his beautiful mouth stretching so wide his cheeks ought to have hurt after a while. But he kept at it until Nijimura felt stupid for saying anything in the first place.

He turned around swiftly and shoved the half-cleaned dish back into the dirty water. “Fine. Nevermind. Glad you find it funny.” He grasped around the water to check if he had broken the plate – lucky for him, he hadn’t.

While he was fuming in his shame, two slender hands wrapped themselves around his waist. Nijimura winced at the contact as if it burned him instead of offered him some comfort.

“I was laughing because you are adorable. You know, for a big, perpetually-annoyed guy who just happens to cook meals I adore so dearly.”

“You’re so full of shit, Tatsuya,” Nijimura repeated what he ought to have said before. He turned around and Himuro softly collided into him. “You’ve had this planned from the start.”

“Maybe.” Himuro smiled and pressed a feather-light kiss to Nijimura’s jaw. Nijimura thought he looked and talked like a soft kitten, but he had seen his claws and wouldn’t be fooled. “Maybe I’ve seen you yelling at the kids down at the park. Maybe I thought you were funny. Maybe I learned you lived next to me. Maybe I wanted to mess with you a little. Maybe I was just waiting for an opportunity. Maybe I accidentally fell for you instead.”

Nijimura wanted to cover his face to hide the embarrassment that must’ve painted his face crimson; his whole body was flush against Himuro’s and soaking in every word he said. He might’ve sensed it from the start but like Himuro had said: he let him. And he’d let him do it all over again.  

“Go finish your dinner,” Nijimura said.

Himuro wouldn’t detach himself from Nijimura’s waist. “And then?” He teased, his breath warm across Nijimura’s lips.

“And then I’ll bend you over a table.”

“And then…?”

“We’ll watch Snatch.”

Himuro let go of Nijimura’s waist. “Sounds like a plan.”

[macarthurmc]

Parenting Teens, Part 3

Create an Environment of Openness

So this is my little boy —doctor in training —equipped with mom's purse and dad's stethoscope. Just before sixth grade I overheard heard him and his friends talking about something that seemed a little bit sexual. After confirming with my wife we decided Max and I were going to have "the talk."He and I sat down at the dinner table, and I taught him the birds and the bees. After the discussion, we watched a prescreened  age-appropriate video from YouTube. He asked me a few questions. Afterward, I said this, “Max, I do this for a living. You can ask me anything.  I talk about this stuff all day. Anything you want to know, just come and ask me, but Max, I don't want you to share this with your friends. They need to learn from their parents. The things we learned tonight stays between us..”  Max looked me dead in the eye with the most serious face a 10-year-old can make. He said, “Dad, you don't have to worry because I NEVER want to talk about this again.”

Engagement

How do we create an environment of openness?—through engagement. Discussing sex and healthy relationships is not a one-time thing. This is not sitting down and reading a book or watching a YouTube video. This is an ongoing conversation and an ongoing dialogue.

We want our children to want to talk to us. I love it when my children talk to me. We want to build that type of communication style in our families. Little things work. Try and sit together at mealtime and talk. Turn the TV off. No Phones or devices. Sit, eat, talk and be present in the moment. Build this culture in your family. My wife and I started using note cards with handwritten thought-provoking questions that we pull out at restaurants. The kids rolled their eyes at first, but now they look forward to it. Some of the questions are fun and silly and others are more philosophical. One family member pulls out a card and then we go around the circle each answering. It is a conversation starter and brings the family together.

Give them your full attention

When your kids ask you a question give them your full attention. Put the phone down. Look them in the eye. Square your body to them. These are subtle clues that communicate to your child that you are fully engaged. This teaches your child that they are your priority. They matter. Their words are important.  Now, what if your kid asks “Daddy, where do babies come from?” You need to be prepared. If you giggle, smile, cough or make an excuse to go to the bathroom, you have inadvertently communicated a lot to your child about sexual discussions. You've taught them that it's embarrassing and may even be dangerous and scary. This is the opposite of what we want. Creating an environment of openness can be hard, but it is important.  Whenever your child asks a question then you must be open and ready to talk.

Prepare for the test

Think of the Birds and the Bees talk, as a test that you have to study for. The cool thing is you already know all the test questions. Make a list of things kids may ask. So as a practice run here's your first question: “ Where do babies come from?” Answer that question out loud right now. Don't just think it because your brain won't process it….I will wait…… I suspect you are now just staring at the screen and frozen unable to go to the next sentence. ….. If you try and answer this question out loud without practicing what you'll find is there stammering, there's stuttering, the answer is a confusing mix of medical language and childhood slang. Your initial answer it likely super awkward. You cannot get this right on the first try. You must  practice.  When you get home tonight, ask your spouse this question. “Why do people have sex? “ See if they can answer it. My guess is the answer will be weird and awkward. It's not going to sound right. To all the dads reading this… what are you going to say when your daughter asks: “Why do girls get a period?” “What does it mean when you have a period?” “What do I do when I have a period?” You want to be able to talk about these questions. You don't want talking to you to be scary. You don't want it to be shameful. If you are embarrassed then your child will sense it. You want to be open. The only way to do that is to practice. And I promise,  one day they will ask. Teenagers may ask much harder and sometimes philosophical questions. You and your partner should practice these and make sure you are on the same page. Here are a few questions to get you started: “What is puberty?” “When is it OK to have sex?” “Why should I wait until marriage?” “How do you know when you are in love?”

Show vulnerability to create openness

No one knows all the answers. That is ok. We often feel like we are supposed to be the all-knowing parent. If your child asks a question and you do not know the answer do not fake it.  Just say, “ I don't know. Let's find out together, let's Google it. “ When you show vulnerability, you breed trust. It is powerful when you say to your child “I don't know.” It's not a moment of weakness. Instead, you have taught your child that their questions are important and challenging. They will respect you and trust you more because you said, “I don't know, let's go find out together.”

-Dr. Jeff Livingston

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Further Reading: [caption id="attachment_11319" align="alignleft" width="230"]

The link from this book cover is tied to Amazon. Proceeds generated are donated to the Irving ISD Teen Parenting program, a drop out prevention program for students who are pregnant or parenting.[/caption]

[non-binary-royalty]

1-170. :~}

youre lucky i love you

1: How tall or short do you wish you were?

i’m alright with my height, i’m average

2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not)

a french bulldog

3: Do you have a favorite clothing style?

i usually wear a video game/pop punk band/power rangers shirt with jeans and sneakers. if i need a haircut i’ll wear a beanie or snapback

4: What was your favorite video game growing up?

sonic on sega genesis

5: What three things/people do you think of most each day:

i think about you, me, and my dog tbh

6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

caution: anxious piece of shit

7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]?

u done goofed

8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic]

melancholic gee what a surprise

9: Are you ticklish?

yes very

10: Are you allergic to anything?

basically everything outside

11: What’s your sexuality?

pan i guess

12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa?

coffee, then tea, and then cocoa

13: Are you a cat or dog person?

both

14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson?

vampire

15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber?

i don’t have a favorite youtuber per se but i really like braille skateboarding, green beetle, and db knives

16: How tall are you?

5′6

17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

probably alexander

18: How much do you weigh? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!]

around 210, which i’m working on changing

19: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits?

yes

20: Do you like space or the ocean more?

neither

21: Are you religious?

no

22: Pet peeves?

my biggest pet peeve is when people touch my stuff and don’t put it back properly and when someone finishes the rest of something without asking anyone else if they want any

23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]?

nocturnal

24: Favorite constellation?

tbh i don’t have one

25: Favorite star?

also don’t have one

26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls?

fuck no

27: Any phobias or fears?

basically everything

28: Do you think global warming is real?

yes

29: Do you believe in reincarnation?

i honestly don’t know

30: Favorite movie?

chicago

31: Do you get scared easily?

very

32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime?

7

33: Blog rate? [You’ll rate the blog of the one who’s asking.]

0/10 ;)

34: What is a color that calms you?

black or grey

35: Where would you like to travel and/or live?

i’d like to live in a scottish moor or something similar

36: Where were you born?

worcester massachusetts 

37: What is your eye color?

very dark brown

38: Introvert or extrovert?

introvert

39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs?

i don’t know tbh

40: Hugs or kisses?

both

41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now?

you

42: Who is someone you love deeply?

i don’t really know how to answer this 

43: Any piercings you want?

i wanna get a cartilage piercing and i want my nips pierced

44: Do you like tattoos and piercings?

yes very much

45: Do you smoke or have you eiver done so?

yep

46: Talk about your crush, if you have one!

nope

47: What is a sound you really hate?

chewing

48: A sound you really love?

campfires

49: Can you do a backflip?

fuck no

50: Can you do the splits?

also fuck no

51: Favorite actor and/or actress?

i don’t really have one

52: Favorite movie?

already answered 

53: How are you feeling right now?

tired and kinda sad

54: What color would you like your hair to be right now?

i like it the way it is

55: When did you feel happiest?

i don’t know. i felt really good while i was in love but idk honestly

56: Something that calms you down?

watching videos on youtube

57: Have any mental disorders? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!]

yeah like three

58: What does your URL mean?

it used to be a longstanding joke but i had to modify it to accommodate my gender 

59: What three words describe you the most?

anxious, tired, sad

60: Do you believe in evolution?

yes

61: What makes you unfollow a blog?

shitty opinions

62: What makes you follow a blog?

if they post stuff i like

63: Favorite kind of person:

someone who’s nice and accepts me for me and laughs at my shitty jokes

64: Favorite animal(s):

dogs, cats, bears, bats, basically every animal tbh

65: Name three of your favorite blogs.

yours, and i really don’t have any others tbh

66: Favorite emoticon:

the crossed swords

67: Favorite meme:

anything with a dog or cat

68: What is your MBTI personality type?

infj-t

69: What is your star sign?

aries

70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog?

fuck no

71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most?

my neck deep shirt with either black or grey jeans

72: Post a selfie or two?

hell no

73: Do you have platform shoes?

nope

74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself?

i’m not interesting at all but i guess i can tell you all that i really like watching documentaries

75: Can you do a front flip?

nope

76: Do you like birds?

sure

77: Do you like to swim?

no

78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you?

neither

79: Something you wish didn’t exist:

me

80: Some thing you wish did exist:

my love life

81: Piercings you have?

septum, used to have stretched ears, and had two piercings on each ear

82: Something you really enjoy doing:

watching videos and cuddling

83: Favorite person to talk to:

you

84: What was your first impression of Tumblr?

i thought it was a lot to take in at first

85: How many followers do you have?

1239

86: Can you run a mile within ten minutes?

nope

87: Do your socks always match?

most of the time yes

88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely?

yep

89: What are your birthstones?

diamond

90: If you were an animal, which one would you be?

i’d wanna be a wolf tbh

91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be?

probably something dead

92: A store you hate?

walmart

93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day?

one

94: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds?

fly

95: Do you like to wear camo?

no

96: Winter or summer?

neither

97: How long can you hold your breath for?

probably like fifteen seconds or something

98: Least favorite person?

myself

99: Someone you look up to:

idk

100: A store you love?

hardware stores

101: Favorite type of shoes

i love my stefan janoskis

102: Where do you live?

rhode island

103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, why?

neither

104: What is your favorite mineral or gem?

i like obsidian 

105: Do you drink milk?

yes

106: Do you like bugs?

nope

107: Do you like spiders?

fuck no

108: Something you get paranoid about?

everything

109: Can you draw:

nope

110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked?

i don’t know honestly, i don’t really like being asked questions about myself which is hilarious considering my current state

111: A question you hate being asked?

see above 

112: Ever been bitten by a spider?

i don’t think so

113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach?

yes

114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days?

cloudy

115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now:

pass

116: Favorite cloud type:

the ones that look like clouds

117: What color do you wish the sky was?

idk honestly

118: Do you have freckles?

yes i hate them

119: Favorite thing about a person:

sense of humor

120: Fruits or vegetables?

fruit

121: Something you want to do right now:

die

122: Is the ocean or sky prettier?

sky

123: Sweet or sour foods?

sour

124: Bright or dim lights?

dim

125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature?

not really tbh

126: Something you hate about Tumblr:

everything

127: Something you love about Tumblr:

the sense of camaraderie i guess 

128: What do you think about the least?

probably what i’m going to do with my life

129: What would you want written on your tombstone?

don’t worry about me, because i say that a lot

130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now?

myself

131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself?

i don’t really love anything

132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures?

no

133: Computer or TV?

computer

134: Do you like roller coasters?

no

135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness?

yes

136: Are your ears lobed or attached?

attached

137: Do you believe in karma?

yes

138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are?

0139: What nicknames do you have/have had?

al, alex, allie, pinhead larry

140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends?

probably

141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink?

yes

142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others?

i’d say i’m pretty shit so

143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help?

giving

144: What makes you angry

everything

145: How many languages do you speak fluently?

just english

146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries?

girls and nbs tbh

147: Are you androgynous?

i guess

148: Favorite physical thing about yourself:

my arms i guess

149: Favorite thing about your personality:

nothing

150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person.

just you 

151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose?

death

152: Do you like BuzzFeed?

i like taking the stupid quizzes and seeing the lists of cool/useless shit to buy

153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? [If you have one.]

don’t have one

154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons?

depends on who it is

155: Do you like to play with others’ hair?

also depends

156: What embarrasses you?

everything

157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious:

also everything

158: Biggest lie you have ever told:

probably something about me being fine

159: How many people are you following?

870

160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)?

114,727

161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)?

0162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)?

5628

163: Last time you cried and why:

yesterday, something my dad said to me

164: Do you have long or short hair?

short although it’s getting shaggy

165: Longest your hair has ever been:

a little past my shoulders

166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religon?

i have neutral feelings because sometimes people just need to believe in something to feel safe/happy and if it doesn’t hurt anyone else then i don’t mind

167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created?

nope

168: Do you like to wear makeup?

nope

169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds?

hell no

170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully?

mostly

[sindioses]

Blue, Bonnet

She wore a Blue bonnet every Sunday brunch and in the spring she had bluebonnets garlanded across the hat, held on by pins, and bluebonnets garlanded around her neck. Regardless of party size or season, she always waited for her favorite waiter, smiling and watching, flirting as he passed even as she waited. She wanted him but he showed her no real affection beyond the little he gave for his oversized tips. His favors were generally spent elsewhere, except one night she came at closing time, not like her at all, drunk and alone, also not her way, drinking yes but socially and always, always in someone else's company. He was cut before close and drinking and the two commingled at the bar over drinks and apps, enthralled with each other, too close, sly, sidewards glances, casual touches as if they knew each other for years and in a way they had. One thing, the other and then he is gone in the night, bumping into her gilded bird cage, slipping out as her husband slippedin, another satisfied customer.

Seasons pass and she has been gone, but she is back with her blue bonnet, blue bonnet garlands and a blue eyed baby girl (hazel really) but otherwise alone, slightly disheveled but not penniless, her ex's jokes about immaculate conception aside, he left her the house and the city she was borne in, much like her mother.

The waiter both spouses had enjoyed was as usual, oblivious. Oh, she has a baby now but not oh is it mine, it's been nearly a year. Flit, little flit. Someone else is aware enough for you. You both had started as bussers together but you had risen to head waiter quickly, regardless of your age. The busser had stayed part time busing, chatter of keyboard filling most of his days and nights. Like lady blue bonnet, it was just one tryst, really but it had left a mark as well, love, jealousy, sometimes rage simmering even when they were feet apart and busser smiled to waiter as if nothing was wrong.

But wrong didn't quite cut it. Busser had started hunting, blue eyed babes, blue chokers, blue garlands. Anger, jealousy and wrong, not cutting the mustard here, as he cut mustard dress or mustard greens, kissing the blue eyed flesh with his blade, with bluebonnets garlanded around the throat, in the hair. He doesn't know why or how it started but when was not a question.

Ides then equinox, those were the first two, nearly a week apart. Then guilt and panic, but he was so careful and so... No attention, no arrest, but he paused, anger quelled.

A year passes and then he strikes again, something about the bluebonnets around her neck, now around her daughter's neck, the faux intimacy of waiter, lady blue and he spikes again, while smiling on the outside. He questions himself as he works, why, why am I so outraged? Why the bluebonnets and not the rest of the year?

He questions all day but even back home, chitter chatter on the key board, he is enthralled by the visioned blue, blue eyes, blue hat, blue covered neck, his hands taking his revenge.

He starts. He had fallen asleep in his chair. He looks around rubbing his eyes. Blue flashes in his vision then he remembers, not one but two last night, left to be found, wrapped as presents on display this time, not hidden like the others. What was wrong with him? Should he turn himself in? No too much of a coward. Didn't want any jcs confusing their importance like in that UK novel. No but he remembers but doesn't remember doing it, it was like he was compelled, yes, but outside of himself as well, not controlling events. But it's what he wanted. Was it? He thought, I'll quit. That's it. I'll quit.

His computer screens lights up with a short message, "I want more."

"Who are you?" He types.

"I watch, that's all you need to know. I watch and I want more."

"No, I'm quitting."

"What no mock innocence? No it wasn't me?"

"No." He looks down and swallows, head down in shame as if discussing this face to face. "How do you watch?"

"Does it matter? I want more."

This goes back and forth for a bit then they agree, small measures to keep everyone satisfied. No special equipment, no videoing, just do the deed and he'll watch, doesn't matter how, he'll watch, end of story.

A few more blue covered bodies show up but then the blue fields are dying and then the dying stops.

Interlude, intermezzo. Click of keyboard, click of potential, fork. These and other sounds define his life. She comes in with her baby, the waiter flirts, nothing, just work, smiles, home, click, click, drop, rinse, repeat. His online work grows, so he only busses weekends now, Saturday Sunday brunch, done by three usually. Then keyboards til three, rinse, repeat. The weekends are hard but not impossible, fun, filled with interactions for his blog, his other writing, his restaurant parody game, iOS, Android, available now.

He chuckles to himself. A call. The waiter, a chance to get hot swappable. He consents but agrees to pay for a hotel room, no one's allowed in his place, no one. Remarks have been made, hiding a body in there? But no one came in, ever. His quiet place, sanctuary.

Waiter tryst, rinse, repeat. He returns home in the am, waiter back to work after a rinse, repeat and both shower. Then, nothing, not even at weekend brunch, but there she is, toddler with her and waiter smiles at both and bus realizes, that's his kid! Is that why?...

But no communication for weeks and then he strikes, out of character, two new, ablue, tucked together on a patch of grass off the 360 where he normally sees a deer when he hikes. Then nothing again til the bluebonnets reappear, except an email voucher at Xmas for a ticket to Hawaii. He exclaims but assumes the watcher was rewarding him for the extra this year, a little bonus for his extra effort. He took a leave of absence from the restaurant but kept up his online work at the small air b n b apartment near the kahukus on the North shore of Oahu. Regular walks, some trysts but a calm month under a pleasant sky, rain or shine. A lady with an Adam's Apple, one without but the rest fitting his usual appetites. No rage, no jealousy, no real intimacy not like the waiter but yeah that was faux and maybe these were real? Repeat visitors at his door by some and when had he had anyone over at home? But the month passed, super slow but it passed and then he was back on the long flight across the ocean, lax, then aus. He typed a smiley face on his screen in thanks then went to bed, exhausted from the flight. He awoke to a bluebonnet emoji on his screen and then an image of the soccer field on Pickle campus. A field of blue and he knew what to do.

This time it was methodical, no rage, no jealousy. He had extended his leave of absence from the restaurant and the manager poo poo'd, an old friend, but he'd said he'd be back soon, just needed a break. No wait staff communique but that person never even crossed his mind. He played in the hills below the arboretum and then went home, no fuss, no guilt. Mussed perhaps but smiley face emoji.

He placed her gently in the ditch by the soccer field on Pickle campus, a short drive from home. He had had to move but only within the same complex, his asthma activated, by jackass, cigarette, the next building, jackass from a wet state not realizing he now lived in a dry state. Three a.m. flashing lights approaching, thinking he was done until he smelled the smoke. Next day, he upgraded his apartment, tossing his old, crummy furniture now smoke filled and got a new set, clothes as well. He alcohol rubbed his computer and headphones and took them to the new place. Within a week, the wet state smoker was found down the hill from his apartment overlooking the 360, soaked in alcohol, matches on the ground next to a tree a few feet away but visible, lesson hopefully obvious.

Another bonus, Jamaica, chicken jerked, he returns and decides no more restaurant. Then waiter texts, "You quit? But we started together."

"Yes, but now I'm finished."

Manager friend, later. Same response.

Healthier that way.

I was ready to be done with my blue light, blue plate specials as well but he had his watchful eye on me and the trips were fun, so I continued, bluebonnet season and an occasional extra for my viewing public of one.

My salad wedged, tossed on near yearly trips, culinary delights around the world but no delicacies of honor ala Anthony but great fun anyway. The years passed, the watchful's fascination must have passed, no reminders, no demands, no bonus at an occasional extra curricular, nothing. I still took my trips, but less frequently. I was mostly in my room, click click three am, going, writing, watching. Where had my watcher gone? I see myself on the screen, blue bonnets surrounding me and wonder, where has he gone?

[i-am-a-blue-dragon]

If I'm doing all the music asks, so are you. I CHALLENGE THEE.

It has been a calendar year since you sent me this.  SORRY.  You know I’ve been busy.  @groovyaviator also asked me Daft Punk, Fall Out Boy, and Led Zeppelin.  Let’s do this.

- Alabama Shakes: Favorite female lead? Aurora.

- Arctic Monkeys: Favorite male lead? Chris Martin.

- Ben Howard: An album that reminds you of your favorite season? Aurora’s All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend, because it reminds me of when of that moment in late October when you realize winter is on its way.  But I’m also a fan of our weather right now, so for that I would assign Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto.  And I’ve also come to favor the weather around my birthday midsummer, and for that I’d assign The Golden Age by Woodkid.

- Bon Iver: An album you could listen to on repeat for years? Coldplay’s X&Y. Regina Spektor’s Far, as well as What We Saw from the Cheap Seats.  alt-J’s entire discography. The How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack by John Powell.  The soundtrack to Jane Eyre by Dario Marianelli.  The Golden Age by Woodkid.

- Bastille: A song that brings back bad memories? Already Over by Red.  Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood.  The Ballad of John Hurt by alt-J, but the memory is more bittersweet than bad.  Yes by Coldplay, tied closely with Two Birds by Regina Spektor.

- The Beatles: An artist you think is overrated? Ed Sheeran.

- Coldplay: A band you used to love but never listen to anymore? Coldplay, right now!  I still love them very much but I’ve been listening to a lot of other stuff.  Also, Linkin Park, Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence… I went through a phase.

- Daft Punk: Favorite instrumental (no vocals) song? The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman.  It also is my favorite song, but specifically the composer’s cut version.

- Dawes: A genre of music you absolutely cannot stand? I really have a hard time with country.  I’m sorry, Becca.

- Electric Light Orchestra: Favorite song to help you cheer up? I have a 75 song playlist of these, my dude.  Rasputin by Boney M. reminds me of a ridiculous time in high school and never fails to make me smile, but most of the time my go-to is Everything’s Not Lost by Coldplay.

- Elliot Smith: Favorite song to listen to when you’re sad? I tend not to listen to a lot of music when I’m sad… but maybe the cover of Where Is My Mind by Bandit.

- Evanesence: Ever done drugs and listened to music? Lol no.

- Fun.: Put your music on shuffle and list the first three. Whatever happens, I blame Spotify: 1) Dust by Hans Zimmer (Interstellar soundtrack), 2) The Kill Ring by John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack), 3) Daddy Issues by The Neighbourhood.  I only can recall listening to the middle one because I have a habit of saving albums to listen to later.

- Fall Out Boy: First album you fell in love with? Vocal: Linkin Park’s Meteora. Instrumental: John Williams’s soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

- Green Day: A song that makes you feel rebellious? Boss Ass Bitch by PTAF!

- George Ezra: A song that reminds you of a past lover? I don’t really have any of those, but you can refer to the bad memory response because it’s basically the same list.

- Genesis: A band that your parents always played when you were little? The Rolling Stones, because if it’s parents plural my dad is the automatic DJ and he plays classic rock exclusively.

- Hozier: Favorite brand new artist? How new is new?  Brand new to me right now are Tom Odell and Glass Animals but both have been at it since 2012.

- Iron & Wine?: What song would you want to be played at your wedding?“ Sleeping At Last did a cover of The Proclaimer’s I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) that I absolutely fucking love.  But I would rather do an upbeat surprise choreographed dance number for my first dance because I don’t know how I feel about sharing an intimate moment with my new spouse in front of all those people.

- Imagine Dragons: What song would you want played at your funeral? At the beginning?  Talk by Coldplay.  At the end, The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman.

- Jack Johnson: A song you heard in a movie and fell in love with? Hans Zimmer’s song Time off of the Inception soundtrack.

- Joy Division: Your least favorite album by your favorite band? Ghost Stories by Coldplay because it’s sad and boring.  Probably also their newest album but I’ve refused to sit through all of it so I don’t know.

- The Killers: Name your top three songs of all time. So many repeating answers tonight! The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman; Talk by Coldplay; Aurora’s cover of Nature Boy.

- Linkin Park: Suggest a band you think I might like. @beccathevampyreslayer I think you’d really enjoy How to be a Human Being by Glass Animals because it’s equal parts dark and upbeat. @groovyaviator, listen to The Golden Age by Woodkid.  Becca can tell you that I’ve loved that album for years because the artist is also a director and intentionally writes his music to make listeners feel like the hero of a film.

- Led Zeppelin: Favorite album art? HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME CHOOSE.  The Golden Age by Woodkid.  Literally any art featured on an album or EP for Sleeping At Last.  The Resistance by Muse.  Any artwork featured in EPs or albums by Fleet Foxes.  Light & Gold by Eric Whitacre (if one is looking to buy a print for me I’d go with this one).  Parachutes by Coldplay.  The Lateness Of The Hour by Alex Clare.  Anything used by Foster The People.

- Muse: Craziest music video you’ve ever seen? Nothing will ever beat the Turn Down For What music video.

- Mumford & Sons: Favorite cover version of a song you love? Any iteration of Nature Boy by Nat King Cole but especially Aurora’s version.  The same can probably also be said for The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, but nothing beats the original.

- The National: A song you sing in the shower? (I Won’t Say) I’m in Love from Hercules!

- Nathaniel Rateliff: A song that never fails to make you emotional? Laughing With by Regina Spektor has like a 50% chance of making me cry, as does Coming Back Around off the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack.

- One Direction: Backstreet Boys or NSYNC? I liked both!  I think when I was younger I favored NSYNC, but boy bands aren’t really my mode of choice for experiencing ‘90s nostalgia.

- Pink Floyd: You can go back in time to see any band you want. Who would it be? Coldplay when they were touring for X&Y.  Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite as its debut.

- Queen: You can meet any band member, living or dead, and hang out with them for 24 hours. Who would it be? Eric Whitacre, who I have met before but definitely didn’t hang out with.  He’s a hero of mine because he kind of walked into his hometown university, picked up music super late, and went on to redefine classical music.  He was driven by passion, and his lack of early training really shows in the innovation in his work - the man draws PICTURES of his music before even trying to write down notes.  And he collaborates with all manner of interesting people, pulling source material from really unconventional places.  I’ve been contemplating a major change in life paths for the last year or so and it’s always very heartening to see someone do the same, and especially by sheer force of will.

- Radiohead: Favorite concert you’ve ever been to (or a band you want to see live). I saw Aurora live in November and she changed my life.  Marina and the Diamonds was incredible and so was her opening act, Christine and the Queens, who I also love.  Regina Spektor was so good live too.  And seeing Ke$ha last fall was just a lot of fun.  I regret not going to see Coldplay a lot sooner because I’d love to see them in general but I don’t like most of their newest music and I’d really rather hear stuff from Mylo Xyloto and earlier.

- Rihanna: A musician you respect, even if you might not like their music? I don’t really listen to Demi Lovato but I have mad respect for everything she advocates for.

- Roo Panes: Favorite acoustic version of a song? Aurora’s acoustic version of Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1).  It’s haunting.

- Simon & Garfunkel: Favorite album movie? (Ex. Yellow Submarine, The Wall, Help!, The Graduate) Kill me later but I don’t think I have ever seen one in its entirety.  I think I watched Help! with Becca, though.

- Skrillex: What’s the strangest song you have on your iPod right now? Rasputin by Boney M. and Chaccaron Maccaron by El Mundo.

- Tame Impala: A band none of your friends listen to? Aurora, Christine and the Queens, Tom Odell.  Becca introduced me to the last one but she doesn’t listen to his discography actively.

- Taylor Swift: Name that one artist that literally makes you so angry you’re willing to throw the damn radio right out the window to make it stop. I’ll never be over the travesty of Robin Thicke.  One of my favorite members of being a community advisor was our end of the year celebratory dinner, when the DJ started this song and the whole room stopped dancing and stared and him and I called over, “Please just change the song.”  Rape culture is bad, kids.

- U2: A song or album that somehow got onto your iPod but you have no idea where it came from??? Weird. Probably some random movie soundtrack.

- The Vaccines: What are your favorite lyrics? Quote them for me. Do they mean something special to you? “Are you lost or incomplete? Do you feel like a puzzle, you can’t your missing piece?” “Are you what you want to be?” “Is this the life you’ve been waiting for?” “Good is better than perfect, scrub ‘til your fingers are bleeding.  And I’m crying for things that I tell others to do without crying.” “I want to love you but I don’t know how.” “Are you getting stronger or is time shifting weight?” “Potentially lovely, perpetually human, suspended and open…” “You can’t pin me down!”  You might sense a theme here.  I think I do.

- Vampire Weekend: A band or artist you follow on Twitter? No Twitter for me, but if I did it’d be Eric Whitacre because his fans send him good music memes and he shares the best of them.

- Vance Joy: An artist where you can never tell what the hell they’re singing? Chevelle and George Ezra.

- Weezer: Favorite old school band? Simon & Garfunkel.

- The xx: A genre/band you’ve been getting into that you never thought you would enjoy? Synthpop.

[pastelbatfandoms]

1: How tall or short do you wish you were? I wish I was at least 5′5″ 2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not) Unicorn! and Michael could have a Dragon and Adrian could have a Dinosaur XD 3: Do you have a favorite clothing style? Not really I like almost all of them. 4: What was your favorite video game growing up? Super Mario Bros and Mortal Kombat. 5: What three things/people do you think of most each day: .... 6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say? 7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]? 8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic] Melancholic I think 9: Are you ticklish? yes 10: Are you allergic to anything? Shrimp 11: What’s your sexuality? Pan 12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa? Cocoa 13: Are you a cat or dog person? Cat 14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson? Elfpire ;) 15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber? Not off the top of my head. though there is one that makes great Snowells videos! 16: How tall are you? 5′1″ 17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? 18: How much do you weigh? 130 I think 19: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? yes 20: Do you like space or the ocean more? Space 21: Are you religious? Not really 22: Pet peeves?  23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]? Nocturnal 24: Favorite constellation? Orion 25: Favorite star? idk 26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls? love them! 27: Any phobias or fears? lots lol 28: Do you think global warming is real? YES 29: Do you believe in reincarnation? Yes 30: Favorite movie? Clueless 31: Do you get scared easily? I can 32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime? 2 Birds,1 snake,1 rat,1 rabbit,8 Dogs,7 Cats. 33: Blog rate?  34: What is a color that calms you? not sure 35: Where would you like to travel and/or live? Japan,Disney World,Kansas 36: Where were you born? Tacoma Wa 37: What is your eye color? Brown 38: Introvert or extrovert? Introvert 39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs? Yes 40: Hugs or kisses? cuddles 41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now? My Niece Cheryl who’s in Florida. but she’ll be over here soon! 42: Who is someone you love deeply? My Family 43: Any piercings you want? No 44: Do you like tattoos and piercings? yes 45: Do you smoke or have you eiver done so? I used to 46: Talk about your crush, if you have one! 47: What is a sound you really hate? Dogs constantly barking,especially small yippy one’s. 48: A sound you really love? not sure 49: Can you do a backflip? no 50: Can you do the splits? almost 51: Favorite actor and/or actress? Matt Letscher,Tom Cavanagh,Jessica Lange,Emma Roberts. 52: Favorite movie? already answered. 53: How are you feeling right now? 54: What color would you like your hair to be right now? idc 55: When did you feel happiest? when Adrian was born 56: Something that calms you down? 57: Have any mental disorders? Depression,Anxiety,PTSD 58: What does your URL mean? just things I like 59: What three words describe you the most? 60: Do you believe in evolution? I believe we used to be caveman but not that we evolved from Monkeys.  61: What makes you unfollow a blog? depends on my mood. usually if they have a differing opinion then me and are constantly harping on it.  62: What makes you follow a blog? whatever my interest is currently.  63: Favorite kind of person:Nice (not fake nice),same interests as me,doesn’t come on too strong (though I do tend to be friends with those kinds of people too),caring,open minded.  64: Favorite animal(s):The nice,cute,cuddly one’s.  65: Name three of your favorite blogs. 66: Favorite emoticon: no idea I do tend to use XD alot  67: Favorite meme: The Joe Biden one’s. 68: What is your MBTI personality type? INFP 69: What is your star sign? Taurus 70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog? he did in the beginning but we didn’t really feel the need to teach him it.  71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most? currently anything comfortable cause I’m fat and tight clothes are uncomfortable. so t shirts,long skirts,loose tops and Maxi dresses,high waisted Jeans or shorts.  Outfit wise I’ve been wearing My Bray Wyatt Find Me Shirt,Dean Ambrose Hoodie,Black Camo Jeans and Boots,alot. 72: Post a selfie or two? Nah 73: Do you have platform shoes? Yes 74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself? 75: Can you do a front flip? No 76: Do you like birds? sometimes 77: Do you like to swim? No 78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you? I can’t swim and I’ve only been ice skating once. 79: Something you wish didn’t exist: Poverty 80: Some thing you wish did exist: A trade system instead of money. 81: Piercings you have? 2 in each ear 82: Something you really enjoy doing:Shopping 83: Favorite person to talk to: My Bestie 84: What was your first impression of Tumblr? idr 85: How many followers do you have? idk 86: Can you run a mile within ten minutes? idk 87: Do your socks always match? No 88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely? No 89: What are your birthstones? Diamond and Pink Sapphire 90: If you were an animal, which one would you be? Cat 91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be? I don’t know Flowers well enough. 92: A store you hate? Abercrombie and F(B)itch 93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day? 1 94: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds? Fly 95: Do you like to wear camo? just Jeans 96: Winter or summer? Summer 97: How long can you hold your breath for?... 98: Least favorite person?  99: Someone you look up to:  100: A store you love? Hot Topic I suppose 101: Favorite type of shoes: Boots 102: Where do you live? Washington 103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, why? No 104: What is your favorite mineral or gem? Amethyst 105: Do you drink milk? Rarely 106: Do you like bugs? No 107: Do you like spiders? No 108: Something you get paranoid about? 109: Can you draw: Kinda 110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked? 111: A question you hate being asked? this one lol prbly first kiss.  112: Ever been bitten by a spider? yes 113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach? yes 114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days? sunny 115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now:  116: Favorite cloud type: type?? 117: What color do you wish the sky was? idk I like when it turns Pinkish purple 118: Do you have freckles? No 119: Favorite thing about a person: 120: Fruits or vegetables? fruits 121: Something you want to do right now: Watch The new episode of Flash! 122: Is the ocean or sky prettier? ocean 123: Sweet or sour foods? sweet 124: Bright or dim lights? dim 125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature? like a Unicorn or Dragon,yes to both! 126: Something you hate about Tumblr: The Hypocrites.  127: Something you love about Tumblr: The Fan girls lol 128: What do you think about the least? Math prbly  129: What would you want written on your tombstone? Not sure,ask me when I’m depressed :/ 130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now? no one 131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself? My Stubborness 132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures? Not unless I’m really happy.  133: Computer or TV? TV 134: Do you like roller coasters? Some yes 135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness? No 136: Are your ears lobed or attached? attached  137: Do you believe in karma? yes 138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are? without Makeup....6 139: What nicknames do you have/have had? Shelle/Shelly,Shorty,Pockets,Levathia. 140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends? Yes his name was Fred. 141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink? Yes 142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others? idk depends on the person I guess. 143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help? Both. 144: What makes you angry. LOTS of things.  145: How many languages do you speak fluently? one 146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries? ALL 147: Are you androgynous? no 148: Favorite physical thing about yourself: My Ankles 149: Favorite thing about your personality:  150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person. 151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose? The 70′s 152: Do you like BuzzFeed? sure 153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? [If you have one.] Online.  154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons? Neither. 155: Do you like to play with others’ hair? If I’m dating them or their family yeah.  156: What embarrasses you?  157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious: Dude I have Anxiety everything makes me anxious!  158: Biggest lie you have ever told:  159: How many people are you following? idk 160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)? 161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)? 162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)? 163: Last time you cried and why: yesterday,I don’t want to get into it.  164: Do you have long or short hair? Long 165: Longest your hair has ever been: to my butt.  166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religion? I have neutral feelings because I don’t think EVERYTHING about it is wrong but I definitely think alot of the followers are. (Especially Catholic) but I do believe in Jesus/God/Satan but in my own way. otherwise I don’t really think of it much.   167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created? yes 168: Do you like to wear makeup? Yes 169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds? Used to.  170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully? yep :P

[xenonentity]

identity ask - all of them (unless there are questions you don't want to/aren't comfortable answering ofc)

if someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

read my writing probably (lol as if i ever finish anything) or my blog, watch nature documentaries and cartoons, listen to sara bareilles 

have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? if so, who?

never really found someone who thinks just like me, but lots and lots of things have inspired me and made me think. but that’s kinda the fun of it, and why i want to pursue writing. i get to put things out there of my own. 

list your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

how the fuck am i supposed to list every single fandom i have lmao 

mass effect: nakmor kesh, most krogan, suvi 

undertale: alphys 

pokemon: generic pokemon trainer/researcher with a noivern

my little pony fim: fluttershy 

i can’t think of any more characters i relate to which is ridiculous because i know there are way more??????????

do you like your name?  is there another name you think would fit you better?

i actually do like my name, and think it fits me. well, my first name at least. 

do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? do you identify yourself by the things you do?

i don’t really even think of my self as a human being on good days im a bat or krogan and on bad days im a human wasting of space 

are you religious/spiritual?

spiritual yes. religious, ???????????? it’s complicated 

do you care about your ethnicity?

im white as fuck and the only person who really had much of a connection with their nationality was my grandma (who even then was american born) who made pierogies and kielbasa so not really. but i do love some pierogies holy shit 

what musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

sara bareilles means everything to me. like a good 25% of the reason i keep living right now is because sara once tweeted at me to keep going and i can’t disappoint her you know?? owl city and taylor swift were also really helpful for me during middle/high school. also, disney and broadway/musical soundtracks. 

are you an artist?

yes! i consider myself a hobby artist as far as visual art, but i love to write and hope to be a published author. 

do you have a creed?

i dont think so??

describe your ideal day.

i wake up without anxiety, and i go outside and explore the woods, or a meadow, or a large, open cave. afterwards, i go home and play video games or write or draw for a while, before eventually going to sleep with at least one (probably many) animal(s) on my bed and maybe also my spouse who knows 

dog person or cat person?

YES

inside or outdoors?

in theory, outdoors. but i tend to stay inside lmao 

are you a musician?

no man i have 0 musical talent 

five most influential books over your lifetime.

inside the animal mind by george page 

percy jackson series and kane chronicles series by rick riordan

guardians of ga’hoole series by kathryn lasky 

warrior cats series by erin hunter 

and also a mention to @thesylverlining​‘s chameleon moon series- working with these books is a big deal to me and i’m so glad i’ve been able to be even a small part in making them happen

if you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

i think that loving animals is part of me, and autism is genetic so that would be there too. but otherwise, uhh, yeah definitely lmao 

would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

probably, i don’t really act as guarded here lmao 

what’s your patronus?

i can’t remember what i got when i took the ~official quiz~ but it would probably be a big cat. alternately, a bat or a crocodilian. maybe a bird. 

which Harry Potter house would you be in? or are you a muggle?

i like to think ravenclaw but im definitely a hufflepuff. huffleclaw?? also im pukwudgie-horned serpent cusp at ilvermorny (chose serpent) 

would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

if anything, probably the pokemon world. or in the mass effect universe, as a krogan. lots of places would be better than here though...

do you love easily?

YEP YEAH probably too easily, platonically at least. romantic feelings are harder for me to pinpoint. 

list the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

worrying, procrastinating (latently), procrastinating (actively), normal human functions i guess

how often would you want to see your family every year?

don’t have the spoons to tackle that shit right now lmao 

have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

um im a krogan not an asari?? 

could you live as a hermit?

i’d like to think so but probably not 

how would you describe your gender/sexuality?

gender is cis female. sexuality is panromantic asexual with a slight question mark noise at the asexual part 

do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

no

on a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

it depends... like someone tapping their pencil against the desk for two seconds will make my sensory overload kick in but like about actual Things i tend to be fairly lenient because i don’t like conflict. i tend to be friends or acquaintances with everyone 

three songs that you connect with right now.

cassiopeia by sara bareilles (mostly bc of my ryder), she used to be mine by sara bareilles, a future for the krogan from the mass effect 3 soundtrack 

pick one of your favorite quotes.

“I am not perfect, but I have purpose.” (from the tank-born krogan on grunt’s loyalty mission in mass effect 2) 

[allenac-blog1]

She also took piano lessons from the great Marvin Hamlisch

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[fullsailjournalgpwilcox]

Blue, Bonnet

She wore a Blue bonnet every Sunday brunch and in the spring she had bluebonnets garlanded across the hat, held on by pins, and bluebonnets garlanded around her neck. Regardless of party size or season, she always waited for her favorite waiter, smiling and watching, flirting as he passed even as she waited. She wanted him but he showed her no real affection beyond the little he gave for his oversized tips. His favors were generally spent elsewhere, except one night she came at closing time, not like her at all, drunk and alone, also not her way, drinking yes but socially and always, always in someone else's company. He was cut before close and drinking and the two commingled at the bar over drinks and apps, enthralled with each other, too close, sly, sidewards glances, casual touches as if they knew each other for years and in a way they had. One thing, the other and then he is gone in the night, bumping into her gilded bird cage, slipping out as her husband slippedin, another satisfied customer.

Seasons pass and she has been gone, but she is back with her blue bonnet, blue bonnet garlands and a blue eyed baby girl (hazel really) but otherwise alone, slightly disheveled but not penniless, her ex's jokes about immaculate conception aside, he left her the house and the city she was borne in, much like her mother.

The waiter both spouses had enjoyed was as usual, oblivious. Oh, she has a baby now but not oh is it mine, it's been nearly a year. Flit, little flit. Someone else is aware enough for you. You both had started as bussers together but you had risen to head waiter quickly, regardless of your age. The busser had stayed part time busing, chatter of keyboard filling most of his days and nights. Like lady blue bonnet, it was just one tryst, really but it had left a mark as well, love, jealousy, sometimes rage simmering even when they were feet apart and busser smiled to waiter as if nothing was wrong.

But wrong didn't quite cut it. Busser had started hunting, blue eyed babes, blue chokers, blue garlands. Anger, jealousy and wrong, not cutting the mustard here, as he cut mustard dress or mustard greens, kissing the blue eyed flesh with his blade, with bluebonnets garlanded around the throat, in the hair. He doesn't know why or how it started but when was not a question.

Ides then equinox, those were the first two, nearly a week apart. Then guilt and panic, but he was so careful and so... No attention, no arrest, but he paused, anger quelled.

A year passes and then he strikes again, something about the bluebonnets around her neck, now around her daughter's neck, the faux intimacy of waiter, lady blue and he spikes again, while smiling on the outside. He questions himself as he works, why, why am I so outraged? Why the bluebonnets and not the rest of the year?

He questions all day but even back home, chitter chatter on the key board, he is enthralled by the visioned blue, blue eyes, blue hat, blue covered neck, his hands taking his revenge.

He starts. He had fallen asleep in his chair. He looks around rubbing his eyes. Blue flashes in his vision then he remembers, not one but two last night, left to be found, wrapped as presents on display this time, not hidden like the others. What was wrong with him? Should he turn himself in? No too much of a coward. Didn't want any jcs confusing their importance like in that UK novel. No but he remembers but doesn't remember doing it, it was like he was compelled, yes, but outside of himself as well, not controlling events. But it's what he wanted. Was it? He thought, I'll quit. That's it. I'll quit.

His computer screens lights up with a short message, "I want more."

"Who are you?" He types.

"I watch, that's all you need to know. I watch and I want more."

"No, I'm quitting."

"What no mock innocence? No it wasn't me?"

"No." He looks down and swallows, head down in shame as if discussing this face to face. "How do you watch?"

"Does it matter? I want more."

This goes back and forth for a bit then they agree, small measures to keep everyone satisfied. No special equipment, no videoing, just do the deed and he'll watch, doesn't matter how, he'll watch, end of story.

A few more blue covered bodies show up but then the blue fields are dying and then the dying stops.

Interlude, intermezzo. Click of keyboard, click of potential, fork. These and other sounds define his life. She comes in with her baby, the waiter flirts, nothing, just work, smiles, home, click, click, drop, rinse, repeat. His online work grows, so he only busses weekends now, Saturday Sunday brunch, done by three usually. Then keyboards til three, rinse, repeat. The weekends are hard but not impossible, fun, filled with interactions for his blog, his other writing, his restaurant parody game, iOS, Android, available now.

He chuckles to himself. A call. The waiter, a chance to get hot swappable. He consents but agrees to pay for a hotel room, no one's allowed in his place, no one. Remarks have been made, hiding a body in there? But no one came in, ever. His quiet place, sanctuary.

Waiter tryst, rinse, repeat. He returns home in the am, waiter back to work after a rinse, repeat and both shower. Then, nothing, not even at weekend brunch, but there she is, toddler with her and waiter smiles at both and bus realizes, that's his kid! Is that why?...

But no communication for weeks and then he strikes, out of character, two new, ablue, tucked together on a patch of grass off the 360 where he normally sees a deer when he hikes. Then nothing again til the bluebonnets reappear, except an email voucher at Xmas for a ticket to Hawaii. He exclaims but assumes the watcher was rewarding him for the extra this year, a little bonus for his extra effort. He took a leave of absence from the restaurant but kept up his online work at the small air b n b apartment near the kahukus on the North shore of Oahu. Regular walks, some trysts but a calm month under a pleasant sky, rain or shine. A lady with an Adam's Apple, one without but the rest fitting his usual appetites. No rage, no jealousy, no real intimacy not like the waiter but yeah that was faux and maybe these were real? Repeat visitors at his door by some and when had he had anyone over at home? But the month passed, super slow but it passed and then he was back on the long flight across the ocean, lax, then aus. He typed a smiley face on his screen in thanks then went to bed, exhausted from the flight. He awoke to a bluebonnet emoji on his screen and then an image of the soccer field on Pickle campus. A field of blue and he knew what to do.

This time it was methodical, no rage, no jealousy. He had extended his leave of absence from the restaurant and the manager poo poo'd, an old friend, but he'd said he'd be back soon, just needed a break. No wait staff communique but that person never even crossed his mind. He played in the hills below the arboretum and then went home, no fuss, no guilt. Mussed perhaps but smiley face emoji.

He placed her gently in the ditch by the soccer field on Pickle campus, a short drive from home. He had had to move but only within the same complex, his asthma activated, by jackass, cigarette, the next building, jackass from a wet state not realizing he now lived in a dry state. Three a.m. flashing lights approaching, thinking he was done until he smelled the smoke. Next day, he upgraded his apartment, tossing his old, crummy furniture now smoke filled and got a new set, clothes as well. He alcohol rubbed his computer and headphones and took them to the new place. Within a week, the wet state smoker was found down the hill from his apartment overlooking the 360, soaked in alcohol, matches on the ground next to a tree a few feet away but visible, lesson hopefully obvious.

Another bonus, Jamaica, chicken jerked, he returns and decides no more restaurant. Then waiter texts, "You quit? But we started together."

"Yes, but now I'm finished."

Manager friend, later. Same response.

Healthier that way.

I was ready to be done with my blue light, blue plate specials as well but he had his watchful eye on me and the trips were fun, so I continued, bluebonnet season and an occasional extra for my viewing public of one.

My salad wedged, tossed on near yearly trips, culinary delights around the world but no delicacies of honor ala Anthony but great fun anyway. The years passed, the watchful's fascination must have passed, no reminders, no demands, no bonus at an occasional extra curricular, nothing. I still took my trips, but less frequently. I was mostly in my room, click click three am, going, writing, watching. Where had my watcher gone? I see myself on the screen, blue bonnets surrounding me and wonder, where has he gone?

[bobs-spaces]

   Here is a collection of pictures and comments from Science Teacher members of the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) who viewed the August 21st total solar eclipse from different locations across the United States of America. The State where the picture(s) was/were taken is abbreviated to be part of the picture name – so you could scroll down to the bottom of the picture to see that.    The caption below a picture starts the sequence of pictures from each teacher. Clicking on any picture will open it into a slide show where you can move forward or backward through the various pictures.    From Ryan Westberry: Here’s a video I made after watching the totality in Wyoming at Green River Lakes just off the center line. I sent my drone up really high to capture the landscape while also filming our reactions on the surface- and set it all to music. I did edit the language in the beginning of totality (overcome by that moment) but there are some “Oh S^*t” toward the end that need to be known if anyone plans on showing it. (I’m not promoting that.) I’m just wanting to share in the emotion (I was literally shaking and had tears of joy) and magnitude of watching the event and the love of the science. 🙂

   Here is one of the 360o videos I made while the school yard was filling up with families and the students.

   If you are wondering what do with any eclipse glasses perhaps donate them to the Eclipse Glasses Donation Program – organized by Astronomers Without Borders.

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Missouri: Briarcliff Elementary School students.

Missouri: Waiting patiently for the start.

Missouri: Briarcliff students getting ready

Wyoming: Drove out with my sister to Grand Island, NE from Wisconsin. I was concerned about cloud cover in Nebraska, so we got up at 4am on the morning 21st to drive for clear skies further west. Ended up in Fort Laramie, WY with beautiful weather. I know that my pictures aren’t nearly as neat or crisp as others, but this was my experience with this rare event. Took the eclipse image through the lens of my solar scope, along with another shot with my sister. On a side note, sure, the eclipse was pretty neat, but what affected me more was knowing that nearly everyone on the road during those couple days were there for the eclipse. It was this thought that made wading through traffic on the way back much easier for me. Being out it Wyoming, on the long windy and rolling hills, cars like ants crawling through the distance, I couldn’t help but think of myself as part of a convoy, similar to the Oregon Trail. Yet, instead of wagons, it was SUVs coming all the way from New York to Manitoba. I know I’m sounding a little poetic here, but this impacted me more than the eclipse itself.

Wyoming:

Wyoming: I drove 6,000 miles in total, from CT to Wyoming to see the eclipse in Jackson Hole with another teacher friend who flew from CT (I also went to a number of parks and monuments… a wonderful trip in total). But the highlight was totality. My friend brought two solar telescopes with her and we were able to see the details of the entire eclipse, complete with sun spots. As it neared totality, the birds all started calling and flying madly, then settled down and became silent as though it were night. A cat came walking out in the street, clearly unnerved — its tail was all puffed up and it kept looking around as if very confused and worried. And it got quite chilly. Jackson is at about 8,000′ and I had to go get a jacket — I’d say the temperature dropped at least 25 degrees. Altogether, stunning. So glad I made the trip.

Texas: South Texas only had a 50% version of the eclipse. We took a couple of Sunspotters out in front of our main office along with a handful of the glasses and some punched tag board. Our sky cleared up only a few minutes before the maximum coverage–it rained briefly at the beginning of the eclipse event and you can see the clouds in one of the views attached. While I really enjoyed seeing the eclipse through various viewers, what was really cool was our finance and other non-science staff who stopped by as they came back from lunch and looked at the image on the Sunspotters and took selfies or got us to take pictures of them with the images. Observing the staff go from nonchalant to kids again was great!

Texas:

Texas:

Texas:

Texas: Much better images than mine, but we only had 61% where I am. I did especially enjoy the tree shadows.

Texas:

South Carolina: We were on a boat in the middle of Charleston Harbor, anchored off of a small island that is a bird sanctuary. As soon as totality hit, all of the birds took off at once. It was very cloudy so it didn’t get as dark as we expected…reflection? We could see the “sunset” all around. I’m already making plans for 2024!

South Carolina: Thanks for starting this topic and for all the great images from people’s experiences! I drove to SC from NH to explore data collection in light intensity and temperature readings on land cover with small sensors that the teachers have been using on classroom phenomenon. We set up a cross the totality path with people willing to carry along the same sensors set at the same timing. Weather was especially helpful, adding tension by sending in one fat cloud that the sun escaped just at the last minute before the total event! I use an old digital camera that posts the date and time on the image and the picture below verified how close we came to missing the “main event”. Total started at 2:41. While these photos are not classic, thinking about evidence and alignment with data their importance to alignment with the data capture was essential. I felt connected to those watching but also to those who carried along the data loggers and shared the further project. Will take me some time to explore them and share with the teachers and sites in partial locations also using the same loggers.

South Carolina:

Oregon: I was lucky to have a sister in Oregon who arranged for us to stay with friends in Sisters, Oregon, just at the edge of being able to see the totality. My spouse and adult daughter came with me, happily. Surprisingly the traffic was very light, and thanks to firefighters there was very little smoke in the air. Plans were in place with glasses, colander, and champagne. Using the glasses (thank you NASA) we saw the totality, less than 1 minute, noted the change in light, birds quieting and temperature dropping. Knowing that the “cosmic coincidence” of Sun and Moon sizes and distance from the Earth makes our planet the only one in our solar system that experiences a total solar eclipse and seeing it in a community of science-interested people made it even more special. (We also saw new-to-me birds: White-headed woodpeckers, Mountain chickadee, Pygmy nuthatch.) On the NSTA Early Years blog, a preschool teacher posted about the preparation her class went through, their experience, and the follow-up questions they are investigating. http://nstacommunities.org/blog/2017/08/30/eclipse-report-from-preschool/

Oregon:

Oregon:

Oregon: Jordan Makower

Oregon:

New Jersey: We took the first picture the night before the eclipse over the Barnegat Bay in NJ. The second pic is from the beach with an iPhone in Lavallette, NJ

New Jersey:

Nebraska: This was my first eclipse as well. We had about 2 1/2 minutes in the heart of Nebraska’s beautiful Sand Hills just north of where I live. I did not attempt to photograph it…I left that to professionals. I couldn’t, however, resist taking this panoramic image during totality and managed to catch my daughter’s silhouette. It was partly cloudy that day as you can tell in the photo, but our view of the eclipse was completely clear during totality. It was an amazing experience. Absolutely breathtaking and beautiful!

Missouri: My viewing location was with 350 elementary school kiddos, staff, and parents. We had 80 seconds of totality but clouds covered the sky during totality with a few breaks giving everyone a chance to cheer but not for long. Rain started a few minutes later so from where I was we saw the first half only. My 4th total eclipse and still blown away.

Missouri: Sunspots!

Missouri: That’s the star Regulus in Leo the Lion to the left.

Louisiana: Taken in New Iberia, Louisiana by one of my students. We had a 73% eclipse. 🙂

Kentucky: It is also great for making projections on t-shirts. Family tradition since 1994.

Kentucky: I was in Hopkinsville, KY with the 2 minutes 40 seconds. This is my second total eclipse. I also have 2 annual too. I projected the image from my old astroscan on a piece of foam core board. Great little telescope. The crowd got to see the sunspots.

Kentucky: I was in Dawson Springs, KY where totality was 2 minutes 32 seconds. This was my first total eclipse, and it was an amazing experience. Here are the photos. My two pictures of totality were not the best because I did not want to take the time to change the settings on my camera. One question: at the start and end of totality, I heard a sound similar to thunder or fireworks. Any idea what that was?

Kentucky:

Kentucky:

Kentucky: Great pictures from Hopkinsville, Kentukcy. The traffic was a nightmare from Hopkinsville to Cincinnati. Enjoy!

Kentucky:

Missouri: I was about 30 miles east and few miles south of you. The clouds cleared just in time. It was beautiful. One thing that really surprised me was how much light there was when the sun was almost totally eclipsed. Before totality, when there was just a small sliver of the sun visible, it was still pretty light. It was not until totality that is got “dark”. I assumed it was going to gradually get darker and darker leading up to totality. It did not work that way. Those of us that saw totality are likely making plans for the next one in the U.S. in 2024. Those that did not see totality really need to try to see it once. It is amazing and indescribable.

Illinois: We had teacher’s institute on Monday (students didn’t start til Wednesday). I convinced our principal to do an activity in the afternoon and we went outside as a staff. We are 180 miles north of Carbondale and experienced 90% coverage. I had eclipse glasses and pinhole viewers available, along with a telescope with solar filter. I also equiped our staff with UV bead braclets to observe changes in UV exposure. We were also able to experience the eclipse shadows caused by the light filtering through the trees. We had a blast and even got coverage in the local paper. The neatest part was seeing our staff really get into it. I’ll attach photos, but if you can’t get them they can also be viewed via our twitter account GRS_Science My brother was in Nashville and got to experience totality. He sent me photos a co-worker of his took and I was able to share those with my classes on Wednesday. I also had a few students that were able experience it first hand. My 3rd partial solar eclipse…never gets old!

Illinois:

Illinois:

Illinois:

Illinois:

Idaho: My daughter got a nice panorama of the 360° sunset. Photo by Kiana Duggan-Haas.

Idaho: I watched from a ridgetop just outside of Victor, Idaho with the Tetons in the background, at the Pine Creek Campground. Here’s a Google Street View Panorama of us and our site, taken before totality. I was with my two daughters (13 & 16) a couple of high school friends and their families, my cousin and her family, and another family who is friends with one of my high school buds and a few friends and family of these folks. Also on our ridgetop were another 15 or so people, including three planetary scientists from the USGS, a cinematographer and some others. Below are a few pics from our group. Our temperature change was substantial, though we didn’t have thermometers. I’d guess there was a swing of 20° F. We were at something like 8,000 feet in elevation. Totality was chilly, but brief. One thing that didn’t photograph well and I’ve not seen mentioned above are the shadow bands. They look something like the bands on the bottom of a pool on a sunny day and are caused by diffraction of the sun’s light when it’s just a sliver – immediately before and after totality. We’d laid down a white sheet to see them, and they were definitely there, I think wavering more quickly than the bands on the bottom of a pool. They were also pretty faint. I’ll note that the difference between totality and 98% of totality is quite impressive. I heard someone compare the difference to the difference between going 98% of the way to Disneyland vs. actually going to Disneyland. I’m not a Disney guy, so my analogy is that it’s like comparing getting 98% of the way to a climax to actually getting to a climax (you know, of your favorite book or whatever). The plans for this trip had been in the works since my first total solar eclipse viewed from the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula in 1991. More about that trip here (it’s my contribution to the My Earth Educator Story Project). One of the friends I saw that with was one of the high school friends who was with us this time – in fact, he was the lead organizer. I anxiously await my third eclipse when totality passes over my house on April 8, 2024. (Though April in Buffalo offers nothing like a guarantee of clear skies).

Idaho: I was at the base of Borah Pk, tallest mountain in Idaho near MacKay. We had an incredible total eclipse with clear skies. The temperature dropped 10 degrees, the birds were quiet and not flying. I was with a few friends but there was reported about 1000 people who started climbing Borah Peak around midnight! Attached are a few of my husband’s pictures.

Idaho:

Idaho: This is what it looked like, more or less, to my naked eye. Photo by Andy Frank.

Idaho: My first eclipse. We had a total of 2 minutes 2 seconds in Garden Valley Schools, Garden Valley, Idaho, Couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. We also had Dr. Joe Llama from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff talking us through what we were about to see. This is the one and only picture I took. It was amazing.

Georgia: Here is the temperature data recorded at a high school about 20 minutes north of Athens, GA We were at 99.7% totality.

            Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

Teacher Eclipse Pictures Here is a collection of pictures and comments from Science Teacher members of the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association)