#squish them under a road roller

[squigglyoctosquigglez]

"do you think we're soulmates in every universe?"

"shut up dennis it's 2am in the morning go to sleep"

[sageinacage]

y'know how jumpy tommy was in the amusement park vlog,, what if after the vlog they're hanging out at wilbur's place and wilbur keeps trying to scare him, eventually finding out tommy's ticklish :0

Scaredy Cat summary: wilbur was messing with tommy all day and trying to scare him, until he figured out something interesting a/n: i'm really sorry for not writing in a while D: expect more fics coming soon! like half of my inbox got cleared so feel free to send in requests :D also im working on adding titles to all my fics LOL warnings: swearing, jokes about unsafe roller coasters w/c: 1.2k IRL, Platonic

~

All day, Wilbur has just been a nuisance. Starting on the way to the amusement park, Wilbur was explaining to Tommy the dangers of roller coasters. Well- trying to; over Phil’s scolding, it was hard to continue to inform Tommy without bursting into laughter.

Though, because of his fear of roller coasters and Wilbur’s “information,” Tommy was on edge all day- jumping and getting startled at the smallest things; and Wilbur was not helping at all. “Are you okay, Tom? You’re really jumpy, dude.” Phil gave him a sympathetic smile, trying not to laugh when the boy angrily groaned. “I’m not jumpy!” He grumbled out, looking forward.

Wilbur heard this and let out a chuckle, before lunging at Tommy and faking it out. The poor blonde jumped then immediately crossed his arms. “Stoppit!” He whined, furrowing his eyebrows at both Wilbur and Phil’s chortles.

“Mate, you are definitely jumpy. Calm down, it's going to be okay!”

“It would be okay if the failure rate for roller co-”

“Will!”

Tommy groaned again, shoving Wilbur. “Shut up, bitch!” He exclaimed, Wilbur playfully laughing at him and Phil letting out a few chuckles with a shake of his head. “You two, I swear.” Phil wheezed, rolling his eyes.

“It’s not my fault that I’m angry, Wilbur is being a dic- AH- Will!” Tommy shrieked and bent down trying to catch himself after the taller one decided it would be funny to lunge at Tommy again. Wilbur wheezed, patting his back. “It’s okay Toms, you’ll be a lot more scared on ‘The Smiler’ later, bud!” He sniggered, earning another eye roll from Phil.

“Stop saying that, you dickhead!” Tommy muttered, Wilbur giggling to himself. All day at the amusement park was the same, Wilbur trying to push Tommy’s buttons and Phil scolding him about it while also trying to hold back his own chuckles.

Eventually, the day was ending, and after they all rode the final coaster named ‘The Smiler,’ they decided to walk towards the exit of the park. “Will, I hope you know that I hate you. Very much, in fact.” Tommy straightened his back, glaring to the side at him. “No, you doooon’t!” Wilbur sang, squishing his little brother into a side hug which earned a dramatic grumble from him.

“I swear I cannot take you guys anywhere.” Phil joked, smiling at them. “Yeah Tommy, we can’t take you anywh-”

“Will.”

“Yeah Will- STOP!” Tommy didn’t have time to sass him before being jumpscared, pouting as he climbed into the car to be temporarily safe from Wilbur jumping at him.

The car ride home was surprisingly quiet. It was a comfortable silence, though; as they were all a bit tired from spending all day at Alton Towers. As they got closer to Wilbur’s place, that’s when the chaos started up again.

“Hey Tommy, did you know that cars are even more dangerous than roller coasters?” He smirked as he kept his eyes on the road, laughing as he heard Tommy’s loud whine, leaning back in his seat with crossed arms. “You’re dead to me.” He muttered under his breath, Phil picking up on what he said with a chortle.

When they got back to Wilbur’s place, Tommy was the first to run in and lay on the couch, finally not in a vehicle of some sort. The other two came in after him, snickering at the sight of Tommy sprawled out on the couch.

Wilbur grinned, tip-toeing up to the couch and reaching over to squeeze his side. Instead of the surprised shriek he expected, he was met with unexpected cackles. “What? Is being scared all of a sudden funny?” He asked with an amused look, putting his hands on his hips. “It’s not fuhunny!” Tommy complained, rubbing his side to get rid of the sudden after-tingles.

“Then why are you laughing- ohhh…I see...” Wilbur smiled at his realization. His little brother was a little ticklish, supposedly. “I don’t like that tone, Will. I don’t like it at ahAHAHALL- Nohoho!” Tommy burst into loud laughter at the hands that were attached to his lower ribs, squeezing gently. “Ah, so you are ticklish! I was wondering for a while!” Wilbur exclaimed innocently, smiling fondly at the boy.

“Sh- shuhut up! Phihil hehelp meheheheeee!” Tommy whined through his giggle fit, throwing his head back as his ‘attacker’s hands moved to his waist right above his hips. “I’m good, mate. I’m gonna go order pizza, does that sound good?” Phil asked, looking at the menu on his phone.

“Yeah! Tommy and I will share a pepperoni pizza!” Wilbur talked to Phil like he wasn’t tickling Tommy at the time, making it even worse for the blond. “Wilbuhuhur!” He complained again, weakly pushing at his hands but they didn’t budge. “Oh, sorry! Don’t worry, my full attention is on you now!” Wilbur smirked, fluttering his nails over the sides of his stomach, Tommy’s t-shirt not providing much protection.

“SHIHIHIT! YOHohou bihiHITCH!” He squealed, jerking away from the fingers which found his hips. “Hey hey hey! I wouldn’t be so mean, Toms, I think I just found a good spot!” The taller devilishly sniggered, lightly drilling his thumbs into the bundle of nerves on his hip bones. Tommy screeched, accidentally arching up more into the tickles and hitting at his hands. “WHIHIHHIY?!” Loud belly laughter poured out of him, making both Wilbur and Phil smile at the genuine laughter.

“Because I like your laugh, Tommy! Also- you kinda deserve it after calling me a bitch all day…” He tried to sound upset from it, but couldn’t hold back his chuckles from Tommy’s embarrassed high-pitched giggles. “N- NOHOHOHO!” Tommy wheezed, shaking his head as his laughter turned hiccupy at Wilbur’s fingers skittering up his ribs, scribbling in between the grooves of his upper ribs; which earned screamy laughter from the boy.

“Uh ohhhh~, bad spot, Tommy?” Wilbur teased, his fast fingers turning into just gliding his nails around his ribs which surprisingly raised Tommy’s laughter. Wilbur teasingly chuckled, tracing random shapes into his ribs before unexpectedly shooting them up to scribble into Tommy’s underarms, the hands that were previously covering his face shooting down.

Wilbur managed to pull out his hands from Tommy’s iron grip, smiling at him before scribbling them over his stomach once again.

“N’awww, there’s that smile! Tickle tickle tickle, Tommy!” That absolute bitch. Tommy could not stand any baby talk, as his pink face began to turn into a bright red. Wilbur, clearly amused by this, continued to use the same technique. “What’s wrong? Does somebody have a little ticklish tummy? Hmmm?” He cooed in that horrible baby voice, grinning at him.

“Alright you two, quit it! I need to call to order the pizza!” Phil yelled from the kitchen, Wilbur sighing but slowing his fingers. “Thahank g- gohohod!” Tommy continued to giggle just from the adrenaline of being wrecked, curling up into a ball once Wilbur got off of him.

“Don’t worry Tommy, I’ll make sure to continue after dinner!” He laughed, patting Tommy’s head and going to walk to the kitchen. Tommy smiled to himself at that, immediately covering his face after. Wilbur was evil, but was he ever going to complain about that? Probably not.

[oneeyewonder91]

Day at the Theme Park

Hello everyone!!

Long time no see for sure. I have been standing in the background of Tumblr, observing and seeing a lot of great posts by awesome people. Congrats to @poopypantsaudrey on flying past 3500 followers and almost reaching 4000!

I have done some adventures over the past few months and can’t wait to share them.  

Well I am going to guess one of your reasons for reading this post is you want to hear a new adventure? Well gather your favorite snacks (MMM, crunchy Cheetos) and finding a nice comfy seat.

Submitted for the approval of the Tumblr community, I call this adventure How to Poop yourself at an Amusement Park

Back in March, I took a journey to the magical state of Texas to visit some family and to experience the Lone Star state as an adult. Last time I was there was as a little boy as an attendees for a family reunion and of course did not have the freedom to explore the things I really wanted to do. One of these things was to visit an amusement park. Sadly, where I reside, there are not many parks close by as our climate is not the best for outdoor fun most the year. (Our season are Rain, Winter, Rain Part 2, and Road construction). When I began planning this trip out, I decided that one of the things I wanted to do was make a public mess while at an amusement park. The rules of this were as follows: I wanted it to be a big park, I  could not inconvenience any other park goes while I was messy, and I had to at least pee twice while there and poop once.

I booked my trip and made sure to pack at least two extra pairs of burner pants (cheap pants I have started buying simply for these types of situations) and 3 pullups. I knew that things may get very messy, so I made sure to buy pullups with very tight leg bands so hopefully nothing would squeeze put the sides.

I spent a few days just visiting with family and doing Texas things (horseback riding, enjoying sun, and of course indulging in delicious BBQ and Tex-Mex cuisine.

Finally, on day 4 of my trip, I decided it was time. I have been sure to eat a good amount of fiberous foods and to grease things up with some big burgers and doughnuts. I held the stink train in me for a day and a half (and for me that is a long time, as lately I have been pooping twice a day).

I could tell the morning I awoke that I was full and in need of some relief. I told my family I was going to explore and would be back for more visiting that evening. I threw on a pair of pants, two pullups to keep things safe, and and extra pair of pants over that. It was warm and snug, but I figured that a little discomfortable from being to warm would be better than having messy leakage.

My target was about an hour away, so I swung through Starbucks to grab a large coffee and a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Before leaving, I had avoided peeing, so as I ate my sandwich and washed it down with coffee, I could my bladder filling and starting to stretch.

Texas is beautiful country and I enjoyed the drive. I had also felt some knocking at the back end before leaving, but as I drove, the feeling began to reside, only emitting a few puffy farts from time to time to relieve a little extra pressure.

Arriving at the amusement park, I already knew today would be a good day,. First off, I love amusement parks. It’s the rides, the shows, the food, and of course, the atmosphere.

I purchased my admission and a Fast pass, so I could avoid as many lines as possible. It was almost noon and the park was not overly full. It was midweek and there were smattering of groups of people here and there. Some sections were fuller than others, and some seemed completely deserted. My need to pee was starting to get to a point where I knew the floodgates would open soon. It was time to find a ride to pee on. I am a fan of many different types of rides, but I wanted this one to be a more intense roller coaster. I walked for a bit trying to find the right coaster I wanted to pee on and finally dcided on one we will call Giant Coaster.

Before jumping in line, I checked to make sure my pullups were snug and that everything would be able to hold             together while the ride pulled some major G force through turns and over hills. Feeling secure, I took my place in line behind 20 or so people. The air was warm, the sounds of popular music were playing, and the anticipation of what I was about to do was growing. This was not my first time peeing on a roller coaster. I had accidently wet myself while riding a roller coaster in Missouri as a child because I hid the fact I had to pee from my grandmother. This would be a whole new experience

Nearing the front of the line, I started to worry. What if I did leak? How do you explain that? As the train I would be riding in approached, I took some deep breaths and assured myself things would be ok. I grabbed a seat at the rear of the train (my favorite place for roller coasters) and we began the slow progression towards the lift hill.

In order to increase my now enormous need to pee, I started to let out little dribbles as we began moving up the hill. Not big dribbles mind you, but tiny little squirts that I could feel slowly making a damp spot on my pullup. As we reached the top, my need to pee was reaching its climax and I was utterly bursting to release. The train teetered at the top of the hill, almost as if deciding if it should fall back or move forward. Then with a lurch, the train crested the hill and we rocketed downward. As my car finally began its descent, so did I begin soaking my pullup. I moaned softly with relief as a massive amount of pee began flooding each centimeter of the front of my pullup and it felt amazing to wet myself at such a high rate of speed, almost like to thrills in one. I continued peeing as we hit the first loop and the first corkscrew roll, and only stopped as we entered some large turns. I could feel the pullup had gained a lot of weight with all of the pee in it, and my bladder throbbed as if to say “Thank you! Oh thank you for emptying me!” As exited the train at the station after the ride was over, I hoped no one would notice the obvious puffy bulge the pullup was making at the front of my pants. One down, and a mess and definitely more pee to go.

I spent the next few hours wandering about, enjoying a few more roller coasters, flat rides, and of course people watching. There is a type of crowd that frequents amusement parks midweek. Kind of a cross between families with young kids, and young thrill seekers who may have a day off from work or college and want to ride as many rides as possible. I also ate a few different things in order to increase my urge to poop. Before eating, my urge was around a 3.5 and I could tell I would need to poop at some point. I then ate some delicious Texas nachos, a corn dog, and a chocolate ice cream sundae with banana and whip cream, just to get things all lubed and ready to flow. After all this, I had been at the park for around 3 hours and was now at a red alert 8 on my need to poop. But where to do it??

I knew I didn’t want to poop on a ride. That could create a mess for staff and could affect other park goers. I didn’t want to just sit down and poop somewhere like I had done before. I decided to be a bit daring. I walked around a little more, feeling things slowly sliding south, and the pressure on my butthole growing ever more. I started to let a few puffy farts, which is typically my signal that pooping will commence soon. Looking around, I realized that my journey through the park had taken me full circle. I was back at Giant Coaster. And suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do. Acting like I was just waiting for some friends to finish getting on and riding the ride, I learned against a low fence, sticking out my butt slightly so I was in a small leaning position. A quick look around me show that I was in direct line of sight to all those waiting in line as well as a food stall straight across the way where people were enjoying ice cream.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly relaxed my body and gave a slight push in order to get things moving. I felt the head of a hard poop breach my butthole and come to rest there. I expected it to keep sliding, but it just stuck there. I gave another push, but only received an airy fart for my troubles. This is a situation I had not expected: Usually my poops behave and slide out without much effort. I suppose what caused this sudden tough poop was the change in climate and length of time I had gone without going. I gave another push and felt the this big poop scrap along the interior of my bowel. Moving my legs slightly more apart and adopting more of a leaning on the wall position, I took a large breath and gave a big push. Things began moving and soon the poop was pressing against the fabric of my pull up. As I pooped, my bladder also started to release and I flooded my already wet pullup with even my pee. Push after push, breath after deep breath, I filled my pullup. As this enormous poop came out of me, it became softer and more of a mushy texture towards the very end. I was in heaven. This was one of the biggest poops I had taken in quite awhile, and to be doing it in such a public place was amazing. As I finished, I let a loud muffled fart as if my body was saying “Ta da!!”

Feeling much fuller and much lighter, I stood up. I could tell my pants were very bulgy, and I secretly hoped maybe someone had noticed this young fellow pooping himself. I started walking, feeling my solid, heavy movement sway as I walked. Unfortunately, I knew I would not be able to leave the park in this state. I was in a rental car, and I knew squishing poop on the seat, even with a towel, would lose me my deposit. But I wanted to squish!

I found a small stage area that had a few people walking through, but no shows in progress. Walking to the nearest bleacher, I quickly took a seat, feeling my massive mess flatten under me and push up into my crotch. I took out my phone, and popped in my earbuds, and enjoyed the sensation. I gave a few small bounces and feel the lump under give slightly. I also wiggled a bit, just to spread things around. When I finally stood up, I knew I had a giant flat pancake on my butt. It was time to clean up.

I was able to locate a family restroom on a map, which was more near the park entrance. I walked toward the entrance area, spreading carefully as I could feel that the poop had breached the bands of my first pullup, and were now moving into the second pullup.

I was finally able to locate the restroom and went in to clean up. Cleaning up took quite a while. Luckily, the brand of pullups I had wore held up quite well and I was very happy with them. I wash able to get all the poop off with lots of TP, and I disposed of the super mess in the bathroom trash can. I made sure to bag the pullups and the underlayer pair of pants with a plastic bag I had brought in my pocket. Unfortunately, the restroom stunk terribly from the cleanup, so hopefully it aired out before anyone else went in.

Leaving the park, I thought about the day I had had. I am really shocked at the size that poop was, and slightly disappointed I hadn’t wet as much. Oh well, more water or soda for next adventure. Once I got back to the family house, I took a good shower to make sure I was clean again and spent the rest of the evening sitting outside eating burgers and hot dogs with the family.

I know I have been gone for a while. Again, my sincere apologies. As I said earlier, I do have a few more adventures I have done to write up. Those will come soon!

Thanks for reading and hope you all enjoyed!

Until next time: Keep posting and stay wet, messy, or both!

[onestowatch]

Crowded Green Rooms, Hotel Rooms and Cars: How Julia Jacklin Made Space For ‘Crushing’ [Q&A]

On her sophomore album, Crushing, Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin performs an act of self-reclamation in ten parts. She drives away, locks herself in her room, examines her body from head-to-toe in a full length mirror, and shakes the voice of an ex-lover from her head. Jacklin wrote the material for the album over the course of a two-year-long world tour while packed into “crowded cars, crowded stages and tiny green rooms” and a corporeal desire for space rings throughout.

Jacklin’s debut album, Don’t Let The Kids Win (2016), was a meditation on growing up and the mental reorientations the process demands. It established Jacklin as another star in the line-up of contemporary indie-folk-rock songwriter and storytellers from down under (including Courtney Barnett, Marlon Williams, Stella Donnelley and Aldous Harding, among others). The album supported two years of consistent touring — and when Jacklin finally settled home, she culled from the collection of lyrics and diary entries she’d put down while on the road and knit Crushing together.

Released on Feb. 22, the 10-track record sees Jacklin tightening her focus on love wearing thin, love ultimately lost and an aftermath that embraces scorn and longing in equal parts. Jacklin’s acknowledgment of the emotional incongruities of the breakdown process rings most true. The album opens with the five-minute burner, “Body,” in which we find Jacklin jumping in a cab to leave behind a partner who’s gotten them kicked off a domestic flight by smoking in the airplane bathroom. At the other end of the album, Jacklin sings “Comfort” like a lullaby to herself, repeating that her former lover will heal with time and, either way, “You can't be the one to hold him when you were the one who left.”

This push-and-pull — the tension between the comfort of space and the comfort of love — prompts us to wonder whether it’s possible to hold both. Jacklin presents us with the question, and in “Head Alone,” answers it by shouting, “You can love somebody without using your hands.” Crushing is granted a degree of relief as Jacklin observes from afar that one can manage to be both loved and liberated.

We spoke with Jacklin the morning after she’d landed in Paris from Australia, feeling, “jet-lagged and foggy.” She’d come from having a coffee and writing in her diary, a practice she’s kept up since she was ten and that makes her feel that she’s “accomplished at least one thing every day.” We discussed dancing alone, why Crushing is not a “Me Too” album, the mythical music industry roller coaster and what it means to be truly great.

Be sure to catch Jacklin on the Crushing tour at one of the dates down below: 

OTW: You wrote most of Crushing while touring your debut album, Don’t Let The Kids Win. Where and how did you find the space to write an album while on the road?

JJ: I wrote a lot of it in the car, looking out the window. Once I got used to travel and the touring lifestyle and surrounded myself with good people who understood me, knew when I needed space and who I didn't feel self-conscious in front of, I started to be able to write even when people were around. I wrote most of the record without a guitar in hand — I reckon I start writing 90 percent of my songs in the shower, actually. For every show, we’d have about forty-five minutes of soundcheck which gave me time to figure out the guitar patterns and chords while the band played along. That’s how it all began to come together.

OTW: How did the process of writing and recording for Crushing feel different from that of your debut album?

JJ: It was worlds different. The first record was a synthesis of my whole life, for which I tried to pick the best songs from all the years leading up to it. I went into it not understanding the recording process properly and feeling very intimidated by the studio. For Crushing, I felt pretty confident in the studio, and I was able to go into it with more of a voice. I didn't feel as much pressure as I thought I’d feel about the scary second record. That seems to be more of a myth than something any of us genuinely experience. It exists online and in the dark corners of your insecurity, but in your day-to-day life — you’re still the same person who loves writing the songs you’ve always written.

OTW: Did your newfound understanding of the recording studio works impact your songwriting for Crushing?

JJ: For me, the song comes first and production comes eighth. Production is important, but if you don't have the song in its core, then you’ve got nothing. There's no amount of layering or trickery that will make it sound good. It was actually the process of touring that helped me develop the songs by making me aware of what I wanted to play for another two years on the road. I realized that I didn’t want to get up there and just play quiet, soft songs every night — I needed songs that would make me feel alive and get my blood running.

OTW: The first two singles you released off the album, “Head Alone” and “Pressure To Party,” both explore the theme of ownership over one's body. How did these come to be the first songs introducing the album?

JJ: I did the same thing for my first record — released the songs in the order that they appear on the album. That's the way I want people to hear the record, sequentially from start to finish. There are definitely a lot of references to my body in the record — I listened back and realized that in the first five songs on the record I say something about my body. It’s a hard thing to talk about — I’ve been doing a lot of press lately and keep getting asked, “Is this a ‘Me Too’ album?’ and it’s like, “No, it's just the album that I've written about my experiences.” Women have been speaking about these things forever, it just so happens that the world is paying attention right now. I spent two years in shared beds, tiny green rooms, crowded rooms, crowded stages and crowded cars. The album formed once I finished that tour and finally just threw my arms out wide and emerged from that claustrophobia.

OTW: On “Head Alone,” it does feel like you're literally breaking out of the expected song structure when you arrive at the bridge — it feels like a different song entirely. Did the bridge surprise you when you wrote it?

JJ: On this record, I was trying to find ways to express these feelings without shoving them into a typical song structure. Initially the bridge was the chorus, and I was going to repeat it. But when we were recording, I realized that I didn’t want to say it again. Sometimes in songwriting the power can be in giving people something once — then they want it again, so they listen again and it’s more impactful. I always think about that with Joanna Newson, one of my favorite songwriters. She’s someone who manages to write a twelve minute song, and she’ll say something once, but you’ll remember it and it’s so powerful. It’s the classic “less is more.”

OTW: You’ve directed or co-directed (with longstanding creative collaborator Nick Mkk) all of your music videos for both Crushing and Don’t Let The Kids Win— when did you decide you were going to take on that role and how did you learn the ropes of directing video?

JJ: It was definitely a learning curve, but there’s a lot of stuff in the creative world that you just have to learn by doing. People often don't realize that. They think, “I need to go to school, I need to be perfect at it before I try it.” Making the music videos made me realize that, in the world of creative work, nobody knows what they're doing and everybody learns from doing it. It’s like that thing when you become an adult and you’re like, “Oh, nobody knows what’s going on.”

OTW: In about seven of your music videos, we see you dancing alone. What’s the story behind this means of expression?

JJ: I’ve started thinking recently that music videos are kind of dumb. I appreciate that some videos are incredible, but a lot of the time, it seems so crazy for me to take a song that has its own life, narrative, and meaning, and then to try to squish a whole other narrative on top of it. That's where the dancing comes in. Every time I think, “How I can represent this song in a simple way?” I’m like, "Oh, I'm going to dance! I’m going to dance in front of a star, I’m going to dance over here, I’m going to dance over there." My label and my manager have said to me multiple times, “Do you reckon you're going to do something else, maybe other than dancing by yourself? And I’m like, “Well, maybe…” and then I deliver the next music video and they’re like, “Ah no, here we go.”

OTW: Now that you’ve been steeped in the industry for a while, what have you found about it that you appreciate and that you need to take yourself away from as a means of self-preservation?

JJ: The industry is great in that it allows me to do what I do. It's driven me into a global community of people and made me feel I really belong somewhere. There is strange thing I’ve realized about the music world — it seems like you’re either up-and-coming, or you've made it, or you're irrelevant. There’s this set trajectory and you've got to figure out where you fit into it. Leading into this second record, I’ve been doing all this press and media and it’s all, “up-and-coming” and “next biggest thing” and you’re just like, “I thought I was just doing my thing, I didn’t realize I was on some strange ascent on a roller coaster.” It’s strange how we try to stick artists into some box where we perceive them to be at their career trajectory, when most of us are just going, “Oh, I thought we were all just playing music and doing our best.”

OTW: You speak about your musical contemporaries with a sense of camaraderie. I think it’s great how you acknowledge your musical influences and recognize that it's a part of the folk tradition to be guided by the work of others. Will you tell me a bit about how you experience music as a listener?

JJ: I think it’s odd when an artist puts a song up on the Internet and people hop on to say, “You sound like this or that person” as a means of dismissing their creativity. Of course we’re all borrowing, especially in the folk tradition— that was the whole point of the genre. I think it's a beautiful thing to be so inspired by someone that you write a song based off of what you listen to. Watching the artists I tour with is my music school. I toured with Andy Shauf for a month last year, and that was the most influential music school I've ever been to. We played 17 shows and 17 festivals together, and I literally would run from my set to go watch his. I’d just stand there, just drinking it in — of course it's going to come out your own music.

OTW: Speaking of artists whom you admire, in “Motherland” you have this line, “Will I be great? Will I be good?” If we’re trying to get outside of the narrative of the emerging, the successful and the declining artist, what does greatness in an artist look like to you?

JJ: At this point, it’s the artists who have clearly stayed true to themselves that I see as great. Like Japanese Breakfast — she works really fucking hard, she tries all these different mediums and I'm sure she’s failed a lot, but she just put her head down and pounds through. She doesn’t have to pour her heart out in every interview, but at the same time, she seems totally able to control her narrative. It’s great to see artists who — even though this industry is crazy and tiring and there are so people involved in your career, so many things that can slip out of your grasp and misrepresent you — manage to rise above that environment and represent themselves truly.

[disneykathy]

DISNEY WORLD

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This is the other park I get lost in. I’ve been there a dozen times or more but it still feels like the Moving Island in “Lost”: “Wasn’t Africa to the left of Dinoland? How can I be in Asia? Where’s the damn big tree?? I can’t see the tree!!”

Never fear...when you first enter, you have no choice but to walk straight to the first “land” of this park: Discovery island:

Directly in front of you will be the weenie for this park: The Tree Of Life! It’s huge!

No...it’s not real! C’mon, sane up.

The “tree” is a 145 foot high sculpture of an African Baobab tree. Wander around the tree, under passages and through the Discovery Island Trails. Besides seeing some interesting real-life animals, you’ll see that the “Tree of Life” aka the “BFT”, (use your imagination), has 135 detailed animal carvings in its wood. They are amazing. Please take time to explore. You just got here-you can still feel your feet.

Under the BFT, in its roots, is a theater. This is where you will find the attraction: “It’s Tough to be a Bug”.

If you have a fear of bugs, take heed: although no real insects are involved in this production, it does evoke creepy crawly bugginess. The waiting area is an underground lair with the constant sound of chirping and buzzing. And the show does evoke a few fun special effects that make most of us laugh, but, if you are creepa-phobic, these effects may shoot you right through the wall. Just sayin’.

The show is a 3D movie with characters from “A Bugs Life” who will introduce you to the life of bugs and their importance in our little Earth lives. It’s fun. You can sit. It’s air-conditioned (actually TOO air conditioned).

And for those with a phobia, really, you’ll be fine... (spiders, roaches and bees, oh my!!!).

If you stay in the Animal Kingdom until dark, come back to Discovery Island and stand in front of the BFT. Once it’s dark, they do a new projection like show on the tree that is stunning! I had no idea they did this the last time I was there, and just happened to be passing... I was like “what the hell goes on with that tree?? There were all flashy lights coming out of its limbs- I thought I was having a stroke!

Pandora-The World of Avatar:

It’s beautiful! This newest area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is gorgeous! If you’ve seen the movie Avatar, you’ll be completely amazed at how they captured the topography and flora of Pandora. If you haven’t seen the film, you’ll be confused. Just go with it.

Avatar Flight of Passage

If you didn’t fast pass this ride, enjoy your day standing in line.

I’d love to say “it’s worth it”. It’s not. Nothing is worth waiting in line for 4 hours. Nothing. If Elvis and John Lennon cane back from the dead to jam with Billy Joel, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, I wouldn’t wait in line 4 hours.

However, it’s a great ride. This is a 3D flight simulator taking you on your Banshee and swooping over landscapes of Pandora. It’s only 5 minutes but it’s a memorable 5 minutes!

Warning: there are warning all along the queue area about thinking twice if you’re not healthy. Hey Disney-none of us are. I actually thought of not riding because of the excessive warnings. But...

The truth is, if you can ride “Soarin’” without getting extremely dizzy, having a coronary or bursting an aneurysm, you’ll be swell. Only dif here is, you are riding on something similar to a Star Wars speeder bike? It doesn’t actually go anywhere, just moves to simulate what’s happening on the screen. You are in a crouched position. So, if you have neck or back issues, you may want to rethink.

Na’vi River Journey

Your boat takes you on a river journey through Pandora at night. Again, if you haven’t seen the film, most if the trees, plants, animals, bugs in pandora are bioluminescent-a fancy word meaning that they light up at night in psychedelic colors. So, this ride is like floating through a college dorm room in 1968.

Rivers of light

Again, if you are going to be in Animal Kingdom after dark, you might want to get a fast pass for the Rivers of Light show. There are multiple viewing areas for this light show-one entrance is by The Voyage of the Little Mermaid theater And the other is by Expedition Everest.

I hear it’s a beautiful attraction. I haven’t seen it. It’s like, late, and my feet hurt and I’ve seen enough cool stuff to last me. But, if your still bright and bushy tailed, by all means, go. And let me know how it was.

Africa:

I love the atmosphere here. It really feels like you are visiting an African Village (I say that like I’ve ever been anywhere near a real African Village...). The village is called “Harambe” which I think means “spend money” in Swahili. There are some really interesting shops and food stops here-linger awhile...

Kilimanjaro Safaris:

You should have a fast pass for this excursion. You should also go first thing in the morning; the animals are much more active and visible before the heat of the day. They, as opposed to us, have common sense.

For this ride you will board large Jeeps and a driver will take you over muddy rut filled roads and over creaky rope bridges through a variety of African ecosystems where you will see indigenous animals. It’s a wonderful experience.

Last time I rode, 2 long horned Bongos blocked our way And we had to sit and wait until the mood hit them to wander off. And a Rhino jogged next to the Jeep, a little closer than my comfort zone approved of.

Lions, giraffes, crocs, gnus ...you’ll see them all with a steady stream of comments from the driver. You’ll love it.

Warning: pee first. The ruts are deep and the ride is long.

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail/Wild Africa Trek

This section is right next to the Safari. It’s a walk through African nature trail where you can spend some leisure time really experiencing the animals. And you will get a close up view of the gorillas! I have an obsession with Silver Back Gorillas And will spend quite some time in this area photographing them. Unless it’s 90 degrees, then I photograph whatever lurks in the A/C.

Festival of the Lion King

This is a theater production where they re-enact the film with all the songs...it’s full of color and pageantry and people love it but I can sit in my house and watch the movie in the a/c without having to spend a gazillion bucks on a one day pass, so I am not a fan. But what do I know??

Asia: this area is also beautiful and evocative. Lots of photo ops to take advantage of.

Expedition Everest- I hate roller coasters, but I love this one! I love the theming in the queue, I love the speed, the yeti and even the drops. It doesn’t feel as wild as it looks, and it’s a smooth ride. If you can keep your eyes open, there’s lots to see.

Again: there are all the standard warnings. I had no problem and I am a major chicken with a bad stomach...so only you know you. Chose wisely.

Kali River Rapids- the signs read “You will get wet”. They should read “You will get soaked to your undies!”.

Kali River Rapids is a wild rapids ride that takes you down a raging Indian River. The theming revolves around an illegal mining/logging camp that you will come upon, showing the decimation of the forest.

You won’t notice this at all because you’ll be praying that the raft turns in your favor and drowns the guy across from you instead. I have ridden this a few times and have never not gotten soaked.

It’s a fun ride and it feels great to get wet in the heat of the day. However, it doesn’t feel great to still be squishing in your jeans 2 hours later or freezing while eating lunch in the A/C! So... don’t wear denim jeans, or, better yet, wear your poncho!

Maharajah Jungle Trek- this is similar to the wild Africa Trek, but with Asian animals-duh. The tigers are the Star of this walking tour and you’ll see them up close and personal. The theming of this Trek is lovely-you’re in an ancient ruin of a Hindi temple.

Up! A Great Bird Adventure:

This is a wild bird show like any other bird show you’ve ever seen except for two things:

1-it stars characters from the movie “Up”

2- it’s outside in Florida so, even though the partial roof keeps you out if direct sun and there are a few large fans, you will still be hot. Unless you go on a cool day, I’d say you can skip this and not live your life in regret.

Dinoland: -

The theming here is just...weird. When it first opened it had a sort of Paleontological bent with fossil beds and some Dino bone exhibits. Then Disney realized that people on vacation don’t care bout science, so they changed the theming to...

Weirder. Now the idea is: this is one of those tacky roadside attractions you’d find on Route 66 in the 50s or 60s. Run by “Chester and Hester”, this two bit Dino-Rama themed low rent stop over features two old fashioned carnival rides - the Primeval Whirl and the Triceratops Spin. The first ride being a small roller coaster and the second is the Dumbo the Flying Elephant Ride with triceratops (triceratops’? Triceratopses?). There are also carnival games and a tacky roadside shop and restaurant. Unless you are with desperate little ones, I’d walk through to pick up the atmosphere and Keep walking.

The real attraction here is Dinosaur!- the ride. This is a dark ride in an enhanced motion vehicle through the Cretaceous period to capture a Dino...And time is of the essence because you have to find said Dino before the great extinction comet hits!

This is a fun trip with lots of bumps, quick turns and jolts..with a few true honest thrills. It is a not to be missed e-ticket ride.

I just rode it and came away unbroken. But, if you have back or neck issues I’d think about skipping it. And, again, use the facilities first.

The Boneyard, which you should save til the end of the visit, is a play area for the kiddies: there are bones to dig up, slides, ropes and climbs and all kinds of stuff to work out any energy they’ve stored up. (You want them to sleep tonight, right?). There are only a few sitting spots for parents/grandparents though. I guess Disney thought we’d be running around sharing joy with our precious darlings. They guessed wrong. They need more seats. And wine.

Well, if you followed my order... and there’s no reason you needed to... you’re done with Disney World!!! Now go back to your room and relax...cuz tomorrow you’re probably spending the day at Universal Studios! ThenThe World of Harry Potter...then Sea World...And Legoland...then of course you’ll have to take the fam to the beach... maybe Clearwater... then you might as well spend a day at Busch Gardens...wait!

You didn’t tour Kennedy Space Center??

[twdmusicboxmystery]

2017 Re-Watch: 7x05 - Go Getters

While there are TONS of interesting symbols in this episode, most have already been mentioned. I did notice a few new things though.

So first off, we have Maggie waking up and seeing flowers. Now, when this aired, TD instantly pounced on that as a Beth/Grady parallel, which it is. 

Now, after seeing the trailer for S8 and knowing there are going to be a million callbacks to Rick in S1, I can't help but relate it to that, too. But that just reinforces TD in many ways. We have a green sister waking up after a medical situation and being paralleled with Rick.

I checked the flowers in each scenario, and while they're all different, there are more purple flowers in the S8 trailer for Rick's old man coda than there were in the scene of him waking in 1x01. Make of that what you will.

The other thing I can't help but notice about Maggie is that she's wearing a dark green shirt. 

She wears it all through this episode, but she definitely wasn't wearing it in 6x16/7x01 and the next time we see her she's wearing something else again. Kinda screams Beth-proxy to me.

Another thing I noticed: one of the first images in this episode is a dart board. Obviously we noticed that the first time around and screamed "Still parallels." In my original analysis HERE I even noticed that we saw 3 darts to start. This is the third dart board we've seen and we see 3 darts beside it. No coincidence, right?

But here's what I noticed this time through...

The three darts land to the left and near the bottom of the board, right next to the letters 8 and 16. You know what I'm seeing in that 8, I’m sure. But also remember that 16 has been used, specifically as a road/highway number, to represent life and reunion with TF. So that's sticking out at me as another suggestion that S8 will be the one.

And one more thing about the dart board? While we do see 3 darts at first, Carl throws another one while he talks to Rick, and then another. So he throws a total of 5 darts. Remember The 5 Theory: 5 = number of seasons Beth appears in. 2, 3, 4, 5, and the next season she's in (assuming there is one) will be number 5. So we think 5 = S8. My point is that we have 5 darts next to the 3rd dartboard we've seen, covered in red and green, and a clear shot of the number 8. Juuuuuust saying.

Of course the biggest deal in this episode is the green Gremlin that is essentially a music box, complete with a flip-off finger on the back. Check out my analysis HERE.

And of course all the background symbols and other details we see in this episode HERE.

Here's two posts on the song that's playing when Maggie crushes the car with the tractor: X, X.

We also have the scene where Carl drives the car and squishes the walker near Enid. This scene still sticks out to me as important symbolically, but I'll admit that parts of it have me a bit mystified. First of all, Enid sees a puddle of…something on the ground. Originally, I assumed it was blood. But it’s blue. Not dark enough to be blood. I think it’s water. *coughs Oceanside* Then the walker shows up.

I'm not sure why it focused on the blood so much. Why not just show the walker jump out and startle her? It's like her seeing that is super-significant, but it doesn't give much explanation as to why.

Then Carl shows up and follow in Lori's footsteps as a responsible driver. I said before that the shack behind them looks like a version of the moonshine shack, and there's the fact that she's riding a bike, which is an important symbol.

This also MAY be the remnants of a gas station, though that much is unclear.

What I noticed this time is that the walker he hits goes up over the car exactly like Carol did when the Grady people hit her in Consumed. 

That's important because we've believed for a long time that Carol getting hit there was a parallel to Beth when the Grady people took her from Daryl. There's a good chance the EXACT same thing happened with Beth.

Then I noticed that the camera focused on the car's wheel for a minute. 

We've already seen this a lot this season, and last. In 6x15, when Carol took out the Saviors on the road, the camera focused on the wheel. We have all the times we've seen wheels off of firetrucks, and in 6x10, after taking the truck from Rick and Daryl, Jesus had to change its tire. This season, we saw random wheels around Carol in 7x02. So the fact that this focuses on the wheel tells me this may well be a Beth parallel. But it's somewhat unclear.

Then something else occurred to me. And go with me on this because this is reaching far across seasons to connect very subtle things. The camera focuses on this air tank. Twice, for several seconds each time. 

Now, IF this sequence is a Beth parallel, the air must be important. But I can't think of anything in Beth's arc that specifically has to do with air.

What this DID make me think of is back in 4x07, Dead Weight, when the Governor killed a guy in his camp. The guy turned into a walker and the Gov weighted him down under the lake. 

Now, by itself, it doesn't seem like anything but a super-disturbing image. But remember that in that same episode, we had the whole stigmata thing around the Gov, which in my opinion is one of the biggest, most compelling Beth foreshadows we have.

And of course since last season, every water reference we see screams Oceanside. Is it possible that small sequence with the governor and the walker under the lake was a foreshadow of something to do with Oceanside? A situation where someone doesn't have enough air, perhaps?

Still don't know exactly what the air points to. Just pointing out possibilities really.

But for this Carl/Enid sequence, what I'm seeing is a pool of water on the road (Oceanside, but also the second time we’ve seen this around Enid. Remember she threw the water bottle at Glenn���you know, when he was revealed to be alive after everyone thought he was dead—and it splattered on the pavement), someone hit by a car exactly like Carol was at Grady, focus on the wheel of the car, and then a possible (albeit reachy) Oceanside reference.

Oh, and another thing I don't think I noticed before: Carl runs over the bike Enid was riding. She wasn't on it, obviously, but you can see it under the car just for an instant during the sequence.

So if this is meant to be a Beth parallel, that works too. We've said for a long time that Daryl losing bike/bow/vest was synonymous with him losing Beth. In this sequence, the bike is destroyed.

If nothing else, think of it this way: we had two car-wrecking sequences in this episode: the Gremlin Maggie smashed and this one Carl crashed. One was a green music box. The other had Beth parallels and Oceanside references. Hmmm.

Another really general Carnid/Bethyl reference is simply that they were on the road together for a time, and that's when the romance really bloomed for them. Think about it, they talked about really deep, personal things, specifically their reactions to family members they'd lost (for Carnid, Glenn and Abraham; for Bethyl, those they lost at the prison). Then they roller-bladed and were able to smile and have fun together. Totally true of Bethyl too. We had the intertwining fingers hand-hold. And then we had the Carnid kiss. 

Not so much for Bethyl, but remember that AMC confirmed (before it was taken down) that the stare across the table meant Daryl had feelings for Beth and she knew it. Would we have preferred a kiss? Sure. But I still think the two things are parallels.

Okay, last thing. I mentioned this before but I'm not sure I was totally clear about it. Enid mistakenly put green balloons on Abraham's grave rather than Glenn's. Again, it's a random detail. One that didn't affect the plot at all. They could have had her put them on the right grave. Sasha still probably would have asked about them. I think we can take this as two things: 1) Glenn is definitely dead. Remember we saw the green balloons to prove he was alive in 6x07. They definitely were NOT put on his grave this time around. So he's definitely not a live (not that anyone really thought he was).

Does that mean Abraham is secretly alive? No. Remember that Abraham was a major proxy for Beth. His name was even in the dark tunnel briefly before moving out of it again. Almost every time we saw him as a proxy, we saw resurrection symbolism around him.

So 2) I think by putting the balloons on his grave rather than Glenn's, it shows that SOMEONE is still alive. Probably the person Abraham was a proxy for.

Think of it this way. The balloons obviously represented life for Glenn. They told us that in the show: Glenn used them to show Maggie he was there. So after his death, there should be no green balloons anywhere. They're a sign of life and he's dead. It would actually make more sense to use red balloons at this point. So why the green balloons? That's just muddling up the symbolism.

Unless of course, as Michael Cudlitz himself tweeted, SOMEONE is coming back from the dead.

That's all the new stuff I had for this episode. Anyone see anything else?

[sunsetfell]

My spandex shorts

We were on the train to Fishtown trying to find an open seat when Destinee had the idea to sit in a guy’s lap.

First she tried to whisper at me, “Do you think they’ll mind??”, but she giggled too much and sat down before I answered.

Destinee was wearing a tight black tank-top and black leggings that showed the curve of her butt cheeks. I was wearing a leather jacket, a black t-shirt, and black spandex shorts. I am not thin like Destinee, but the leather jacket hides the shape of my body.

Destinee looked up at me. “Come on, sit down,” she said. She hadn’t even spoken to the guy underneath her. She was one seat from the isle, leaving me a spot with the guy to her right.

I looked at him. He barely glanced at me, but he looked at Destinee, and he kind of giggled too.

“How do you feel about it?” I whispered. He shrugged. I paused a few more seconds, then carefully sat down, placing one hand on his thigh to steady myself. He was much thinner than me, and I was worried he’d think the guy to his right was getting the better deal with tiny Destinee. But he still didn’t say anything, and kind of just laughed slightly.

On a warm Friday night at the end of summer, the train is packed with young people heading to the city. To the college kids, the change in season meant the complete overhaul of their daily routine. For me, the passage of time only changed the people around me.

“What are you girls up to tonight?” Destinee’s guy asked.

“We’re on our way to a party,” Destinee said.

“Just some friends?” the guy asked.

“It’s my friends from Penn State,” Destinee said. “They’re having a get-together.”

I noticed Destinee had started moving her butt back and forth in her guy’s crotch. Now at least he won’t make her get up. She grabbed his hand and moved it to her stomach, as if to hold herself in place.

I wondered if I should do the same. I had sat down a little forward on my guy’s lap, not all the way to the back like Destinee had. I picked up my guy’s hand and held it against my stomach, but it felt less like he was holding me and more like he was trying to feel whether I really existed.

“Your hand is cold,” I whispered.

“Yeah," he replied, “they’re always cold.”

I moved his had under my shirt to warm it against my stomach. I closed the leather jacket over the top. His hand didn’t move against my skin, like he wasn’t sure if it was really allowed to be there.

Destinee slid her guy’s hand down onto her leggings, right between her thighs. He obviously didn’t have the same hesitation, because he held it there firmly, over what I was absolutely certain was her vagina. I’ve never seen Destinee’s vagina, but I have been informed, in oh so many ways, that she has one.

I couldn’t see where my guy was looking, so I wasn’t sure whether he was watching the action next to him. I sure was, but I was trying to be subtle about it. I swallowed hard. I could feel my guy breathing on the back of my neck, so I knew at least he was facing forward, wherever his eyes might be.

The train reached our first possible stop at 30th Street Station. “Let’s switch here,” I said to Destinee. She looked at me, then sort of looked around the train car. She was still moving her butt forward and back.

“Well, I’m switching here,” I said. “I’ll see you at Spencer’s.” I gave my guy’s hand two quick squeezes, then moved it to the seat hand-rest. I stood up less carefully than I had sat down and dashed out the door to the platform, inhaling rapidly the fresh air outside of the hot, steamy car.

I was at the stairs to leave the platform when I saw “my guy” in the reflection of the glass door. I spun around, crashing my back into the door, and yelled, “Hey!”

“You seemed like a cool person,” my guy said.

“You must be easily fooled,” I said. “But come with me!”

I grabbed his wrist and pulled him through the heavy doors down from the platform, then raced him through the station and the big hall where the Amtrak trains board, dodging slow-moving travelers with roller-bags. We went out the east side and I made him squish into the same revolving door compartment as me. Then we dashed across the road and ran onto the bridge over the Schuylkill.

To the West, the sunset was orange and purple behind the black silhouettes of the station, the Cira Center, and the parking garage. To the North, the Art Museum’s golden walls reflected warmly on the gray water. To the East, the orange sun turned the glassy walls of the city’s skyscrapers to wall of fire, making them bright against the sky. We leaned over the railing and watched the city lights line the ripples in the water below.

“Do you ever have that feeling that someone’s only there for an instant?” I said. “That all you see of them is a cross-section as they glide through another dimension? That what they see as static you can only perceive as the ripples in the air as they pass through?”

My guy stretched his hands behind his head in thought. “Is that what’s on your mind?” he said.

“I used to give people that feeling,” I said. “But it’s been so long since I’ve known how.”

Then I grabbed his wrist again and started to pull him along the sidewalk. “Come!” I said.

We ran to the opposite end of the bridge, then down the staircase that leads to the trail where the joggers and bikers go. Halfway down, we stopped, and I looked around. I knew it was here somewhere.

When I found, it I lifted one leg over the railing, aware that I was showing every curve of my thighs and butt in the process.

“Dude, what are you doing??” my guy said. I looked at him to see which part of my body he was looking at, but he seemed to be looking up at the bridge.

“Come on!” I said. “I know a way.” I grabbed his wrist again, but this time instead of yanking him along with me I put his hand on my chest. Actually my left breast. “You know you want to,” I said. I pressed his hand against me for a few more seconds, then said, “Come on!”

He climbed over the railing after me, but I could see he was shaking and going slowly. He was thin and wearing baggy shorts, so he didn’t reveal very much of his body in the process. I climbed along a steel girder, up about twenty feet, then slowly to the right along a thin ridge of concrete. I waited for him to catch up. We were now at the truss of the bridge.

We zigzagged along the truss, holding on to the rusty metal girders, water flowing beneath us, until we reached the first support, a concrete mass sitting on the riverbed and stretching nearly up to the road on top. It was so dark that I had to feel around for the grooves to pull myself up. I hoped my guy was doing the same. I could sense he was hesitating at every step, and perhaps even shivering a bit.

Eventually, I made it to the top of the support and hauled my squishy body over it. I sat down. It seemed like an eternity but eventually my guy climbed up too. Here it was dark, so dark you could barely see, cool from the concrete floor yet warm from the summer air blowing through. The cars driving overhead drowned out any other sound. And, most importantly, here we could not be seen.

I was sweaty. I knew if I pulled down my pants, he would smell my vagina. But I wanted him to smell me. There was no light, so we would communicate through touch, sound, and smell. And taste.

I pushed my shorts and panties down onto my thighs. If there was light, he would see my labia and pubic hair. But there was no light, so he would have to feel them instead. I reached forward and kissed his mouth, running my tongue left and right along is lips, as if to suggest what he might do to me. He seemed to get the message, because he pushed his tongue in and out of my lips.

“Do you mind if I touch myself?” I said, without letting go of his mouth.

“Of course not,” he said, also muffled through the kiss.

But instead of touching myself, I reached out and took his hand, and used it to touch me. I imagined what his fingers were feeling. I imagined what it was doing to his mind.

He held my hair in his other am. Then he spoke into my ear: "You are my destiny."

I froze. "What?" I said.

"'You are my destiny'," he said. "From Back to the Future, where he says 'You are my density'."

"Oh..." I said slowly. I resumed moving his fingers along my labia. I tried to return my mind to where it was a moment ago. It wasn't working.

"You're beautiful," he said.

"You can't see me," I snapped.

"I can feel you. And I saw you when we were running through the station."

"Oh, yeah," I said. I put his hand on the concrete.

"What's wrong?" he asked, almost as if he had been expecting to ask that all along.

"Nothing," I said. We sat in silence for a bit.

"You know," I said, "how you can know in your heart you can't do something, and you're OK with it, but then one time you try and fail, and suddenly it's not OK anymore?"

"Is that what happened just now?" he asked.

"I don't know," I said, and then I held him in the darkness, and our bodies merged into one, and as my body pulsed with arousal I cried because I knew I would always be alone.

[kashmiresims]

Down the Desert Road

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“You know, you’re lucky that this highway is straight,” Illyana mumbled with a hint of disgruntlement. It was aimed at Alarie who was squished into the middle of the jeep and had put her foot up on the dashboard since there was no leg room; it was dangerously close to the steering wheel. If Illyana navigated any more to the left or right, Alarie’s foot would be clearly obstructing it.

“I just remember this thing having a lot more room,” Alarie grumbled, equally as disgruntled.

“Maybe you should watch what you eat,” Leona snarked from the passenger seat. She’d been gradually squashed into the passenger door on the ride out to Pandora and had rolled down the window in case she needed to start hanging out the window to allow more room for Alarie.

“Shut your mouth! I wasn’t the one drinking a shake for breakfast,” Alarie snapped and stuck her elbow into Leona’s side

“It was an energy shake! Cut that out!” Leona squealed irritably.

“Don’t make me turn this jeep around!” Illyana shouted, not taking her eyes off the highway.

The other two women bit their tongues. Not only was the room tight, but the heat was simmering. The Jeep’s air conditioning was hardly offering any relief from it. The sun beat mercilessly down on the vehicle as it traveled across the desert.  It was mid-morning already and the distant view toward the horizon was waving in a mirage effect on the road.

It had already been three hours and they had gotten on the road before sunrise in order to arrive at the hotel and check in. Leona had a lunch meeting with Edric King and his agent. So with lack of sleep, lack of leg room, and the increasing temperature, all three young women were starting to get supremely annoyed with one another.

Reprieve was found at a small gas station off of the highway nearly an hour later. Alarie and Leona busted out of the jeep’s passenger door to stretch their limbs that had all but fallen sleep. After groaning and popping her shoulders, Leona went around to fill Illyana’s gas tank as she’d promised to pay for it.

“Plumbobs, next time I am taking the train,” Alarie said as she brought her arm up and stretched it.

Illyana frowned, thinking they were both acting ungrateful. After all, she could have just stayed in Isla Del Kashmire and they could have ridden the train. Good luck on trying to get to Pandora in under six hours though on that thing.

Leona decided to call her father and let him know where they were. He could be a little worrisome and overprotective of her at times, and he’d gotten better over the years since she went off to college but she was his only child and understood his trepidations with her road-tripping with her besties out to the desert city known for gambling, shady motel-hook ups, and on-the-fly weddings.

Antoine once jokingly suggested they do it--a quick Pandoran wedding. It was before he left Kashmire, when they had time to spend with each other. She maybe would have agreed back then and done it, that is if her father didn’t kill him first.

While Leona talked briefly with her father, Alarie and Illyana stood in the shade of the gas station roof. Illyana was unusually quiet, and her eyes--the very windows to her emotions--were hidden behind her sunglasses.

“I was meaning to ask you, but how are you doing?” Alarie turned to Illyana.

Illyana shrugged unconvincingly. Though her sleazy ex-boyfriend was not mentioned, he was implied.

“What an asshole. You are so much better off without him,” Alarie nearly growled.

“I keep telling myself that but still feel really...” Illyana took a breath. Then two. Finally three, before finally finding the right word, “devastated.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find you a really good distraction in Pandora,” Alarie nudged her with a playful smile.

Illyana didn’t really care if she ran into a guy that could distract her from her current set of emotions, but she knew it would be fleeting. How could Alarie think that a fling with a stranger could erase three years worth of feelings she had for Adam?

Alarie had been dating Rafael Lavillos off and on for at least five years! If they broke up for good, could she simply forget him and go with the next person who caught her interests?

Illyana didn’t voice her concerns but stared forward into the desert, trying again to see if she could just blank out her mind from those thoughts. It was better this way. She pushed off the wall from where she was leaning and went around the Jeep to see if Leona was done with getting the gas.

“Don’t worry, Daddy. We’ll be fine,” She heard Leona assure on her phone. The handle to the gas pump clicked and she removed it, and put the cap back on. “Yes, I know...I know...Daddy, I know. I love you too. Bye.”

Leona gave a helpless look after hanging up, “He’s worried we all are going to get married to strangers in Pandora. He spends too much time watching reality television.”

Illyana just nodded absently, not even cracking a smile at Leona’s statement.

Leona turned to Alarie and they exchanged concerned stares. Alarie gestured Leona over and said, “Let’s get something to drink.”

It was hot enough they could use a refreshment. Illyana stood where she was, still staring out at the desert landscape which wasn’t much to behold.

Leona sat on the bench against the outside of the gas station while Alarie browsed for a soda. She wiped some sweat off her brow that had accumulated as she had stood in the heat.

“We gotta do something. She can’t stay like this--like some depressing lobotomy patient,” Alarie said with her usual brashness.

“She’s never been through something like this before though. She has to process it and heal.” 

“Which is why...” Alarie fished her soda bottle out from the machine slot and then turned around and pointed it at Leona, “We are going to find her a good way to distract her from all this. She’s competitive. If we get her in on a poker table she will be there all night, I am sure of it.”

"Yes, until she is stone broke,” Leona frowned.

“Or...until she’s a millionaire,” Alarie grinned.

“Doubtful, but I agree she could use something to take her mind off the whole thing,” Leona nodded. She knew what heartbreak felt like, but it was a dull memory now. Seeing Antoine again, and actually getting to talk alone with him renewed all her hope, and if things went well this weekend and she established herself some more contacts in the music industry--well she’d be on top of the world.

They made it to the Pandora’s Box Hotel & Casino with little time to spare. Leona wasted no time in checking in and trying to charm the concierge into moving faster. All the while Illyana considered the luxurious open lobby space, speckled with desert flowers and other native wildlife. Through one threshold lay the hotel restaurant called the Cactus Bar & Lounge, while through another was a vast atrium containing a swimming pool. Then, through the middle was the bright lights and loud sounds of a lively casino, even at the noon hour people were trying their luck.

“Come on!” Leona nudged Illyana, breaking her of gaping around at the amenities. Leona passed her while dragging her roller suit case forward and through the casino floor toward an elevator. Alarie and Illyana followed, trying to to be too distracted by the slot machines and other assorted gambling fare.

Leona wiggled from side to side in excitement as they rode the elevator up to the room they’d be staying in, “I got us a three-room suite!”

“Wow, that sounds expensive...” Illyana replied, “Are you sure you don’t need us to pitch in?”

“Nonsense, I told you guys it was my treat!” Leona smiled and they stopped off the elevator and onto their floor. The suite was more long than wide, they noted, as they stepped into a common room with a TV, table, and sofa.The windows looked out over the hotel’s roof, it was probably at least cheaper that way. There was a larger room toward the back and then two small rooms with twin beds.

“So, I have to get changed and meet Edric King and his agent at the Oasis, we’re having lunch and discussing the process for tonight’s show and I have a lot to cover,” Leona explained.

“Wait, the Oasis? You mean the Wild Scarlet Oasis?” Alarie seemed very curious all of a sudden and asked for clarification.

“Yeah that’s the one, what about it?”

“It’s only like the most exclusive spa in the region. You have to make reservations seasons and seasons in advance to get in and you get to go there just like that?” Alarie snapped her fingers to emphasize Leona’s luck to be going there.

“Oh I wasn’t aware,” Leona admitted and Alarie rolled her eyes, not surprised that her friends were never up to date on the coolest trends or places. Illyana reached out to calm Alarie’s dismay. Leona continued, “Anyhow, because of this crunch time, I probably won’t see you guys until after the concert.”

They had been slightly dismayed to find tickets had already sold out for the concert. Illyana even more so, but not because she was missing out on music by Edric King, but because she could have used the concert as a springboard for her journalism class, which had an assignment due in a few weeks and Illyana wanted her the subject to be on music.

“Well, good luck,” Illyana said and gave Leona a thumbs up.

“Yeah, knock them off their socks,” Alarie aired the same sentiment and made a pantomime of some fisticuffs.

“Thanks guys, and thanks for coming down here with me,” Leona smiled before dragging her suitcase into the larger room to get changed. She sighed, still with a smile on her face and looked at the bed appreciatively after being cramped in Illyana’s Jeep all morning. She couldn’t wait to relax and meet the semi-famous singer.

Meanwhile, Illyana had claimed the small room with windows and had just sat down on her bed to take a moment and think. Now without Alarie and Leona’s bickering, she had some peace and quiet. She wouldn’t mind relaxing and maybe writing getting a start on outlining her paper. She’d had more ideas for how to structure it as the week went by.

Little did she know, Alarie had different plans for her--when she barged into the room and said, “Leona gets to have her fun but we’ll have ours. I propose we get dolled up and hit that casino floor with no regrets tonight.”

Illyana thought about it, she didn’t know entirely how to gamble or doll herself up to the extent Alarie was expecting. When she told Alarie this fact, her friend brushed it off with no worry, “I’ll take care of everything, just bring your A-Game and all your luck.”

Illyana didn’t know much about her luck considering recent events, but she was competitive and if there was something to be won from the night, she would make her absolute best attempt to win at it.

[jugandbettsdetectiveagency]

End Up Here

Just some more Bughead fluff to tide us over during this too long hiatus!

Betty’s eyes glistened with pride as she watched her fiance hang the framed cover of his first novel, about Jason Blossom’s murder, above the desk in his new office. It hadn’t been an easy road, to say the least. There had been so many ups and downs that sometimes Betty felt dizzy, like this was the worst roller coaster and she would never get off. But then there he was, all blue and brooding, his steady eyes and gentle hands, letting slip a new smile every day just for her. It made her feel a whole new kind of dizzy, a sickeningly wonderful spinning of the ground beneath her feet that she never wanted to end. 

And now they were here. Their first house was modest but perfect, paid for by the astounding sales of Jughead’s novel - not that she was surprised, she always knew how brilliant he was. Jughead insisted their whole house be painted a bright, sunny yellow, gazing at her with such love when they stood in the middle of their furniture-bare living room for the first time, her arms wound tightly around his neck after he’d swept her up to carry her across the threshold for the first time. She’d giggled and lent forward to rest her forehead against his, quipping about his questionable expertise in interior design. 

“You know, Jug, you’re supposed to carry a bride across the threshold. This is a little ridiculous,” she laughed, yet not making a move to be let down from his arms. Jughead laughed, his chest exploding with how happy he was right here, in this moment. He never thought he would make it here. 

“Well then, Miss Cooper,” he began, reluctantly setting her down on the ground. “Let’s see what we can do about that.” He knelt down in front of her, hands shaking as he reached into his pocket to pull out the little velvet box. Betty gasped, hands coming to cover her mouth as her eyes filled with the prettiest tears Jughead swore he’d ever seen. “Betty, I never thought I was capable of feeling the way I feel about you. Every day you make me better, whole, in a way I didn’t know possible. I can’t breathe when I wake up with you in my arms because I’m scared that one shift will blow you away from me forever. I never want to let you go. I love you, Betty Cooper. Will you marry me?” He lifted the lid to reveal the blue sapphire set in a gold band, surrounded by tiny sparkling diamonds. 

“Juggie, it’s perfect,” she gasped, her voice catching around her tears. She didn’t just mean the ring. She meant him, their lives, their love. Him, kneeling before her in a completely empty room, nothing but him and her, expressing just how much they meant to each other. “Yes!” she exclaimed, realising in her awe that she still hadn’t replied. “Yes, of course!” A laugh bubbled up in her chest as he slipped the ring on her outstretched finger, moving to sweep her up and swing her round, burying his own damp eyes in the soft, warm crook of her neck. They’d made love that night, slowly and passionately, on the mattress that was on the floor in their new room, not wanting an inch to come between them.

She watched him now as he took a step back from the wall, checking to see if the frame was straight. He turned to where she was leaning against the door frame. “Good?” he asked.

“Perfect,” she replied, butterflies swirling in her stomach at his responding smile. 

The butterflies increased suddenly, filtering upwards slowly until Betty realised they weren’t butterflies anymore. “I’ll be right back,” she shot out suddenly, a crease between her brows as she turned and flew to the bathroom. 

“Betts?” Jughead called after her in worry, following a few paces behind. By the time he reached her she was heaving her late morning breakfast into the toilet, clammy fingers clutching at the cool porcelain. He held back her hair and rubbed soothing circles across her back until she leaned back sometime later, a light sheen across her face. “Betts, what’s wrong?” 

“I-I’m not sure, maybe it was something I ate? I feel better now, actually,” she murmured, her eyes still slanted in thought as she moved to stand. He was there instantly, putting a hand under her arms and guiding her to their bed, now with frame. 

“Still, I don’t want you getting any worse. Here,” he lifted the covers and gently pushed on her shoulders until she was lying back. He moved around, fetching her some water, placing a trash can by the side of the bed. He hovered, wondering if there was anything he’d missed. “Do you need anything?”

“Just you,” she mumbled sleepily, reaching for him with heavy arms. “Stay with me?” she asked. 

“Always,” he replied with a soft smile, slipping in besides her and pulling her gently against his chest, falling into a comfortable slumber.

Betty awoke feeling as bright and cheery as she had that morning. She looked down to see Jughead’s face squished adorably against the pillows, mouth slightly open and a possessive hand resting low on her hip. She bit her lip, brushing the soft curls back from his forehead. Him sleeping gave her a chance. 

The thought popped into her head immediately, as soon as she could get her breath back after throwing up this morning. She counted back, trying to work out the dates in her head. Was it? Could it actually be? 

She was back from the store on the corner before Jughead had even stirred. She paced back and forth in their bathroom, palms sweating for an entirely different reason as she looked at the white stick lying on top of the counter. Was it too soon? How would he react, would he be happy? Or, God forbid, angry? No, Jughead wasn’t like that, he was kind. Wonderful. 

As she waited for the timer to be up she let her mind wander. A little boy with Jughead’s dark curls and her green eyes. Or maybe a little girl, all dimples with a passion for stories. Either way, she couldn’t forget the image of Jughead cooing to a tiny version of himself, rocking the tiny bundle back and forth in their nursery. The image made her want to burst into tears all over again. He’d be a great dad. 

The chime rang out from her phone, steeling herself with a deep breath as she picked up the stick. 

It was her turn to kneel down before him, as she made her face level with his at the edge of the bed. “Juggie? Juggie, wake up,” she whispered, raising her voice slightly when he stirred. 

“What is it, Betts? Are you alright, is everything-” she cut him off before the panic could rise in his eyes. 

“Everything is fine, Jug. At least, I hope it is. I just need to tell you something.” He stared back at her in anxious anticipation, reaching for her hand. She raised the stick, plus sign facing towards him. “I’m pregnant, Jug. We’re going to have a baby.” She held her breath as his face remained still. “Jug?”

“Pregnant?” he asked, his voice slightly choked. Her eyes welled up.

“You’re not mad are you?” she got out, lower lip quivering. “I know it’s soon and we hadn’t even talked about having children but, I don’t know, now it’s actually happening I just-” Her sentence was cut short by his lips descending on hers, his hand coming up to cradle the back of her neck to pull her against him more forcefully. She raised her hands to cup his cheeks, letting out a small sob against his lips as she felt a desperation behind his kiss she didn’t even know he was capable of. When he pulled back to rest his forehead against hers his eyes were shut and there were wet trails left down his cheeks. She dried them with her thumbs as she couldn’t stop the smile that began tilting up the corners of her mouth. 

“A baby. We’re going to have a baby,” he whispered, finally opening his eyes to look at her. She nodded, biting back a hysterical giggle. “A baby!” He exclaimed, his beautiful smile lighting up his whole person as he sprung up from his place on the bed, wrapping Betty up in a tight hold and swinging her around. “I love you so much, Betty,” he cried into her neck as she laughed freely now, with careless abandon. Suddenly, he stopped, dropping her and pulling back with worry clouding his face. “Wait, I shouldn’t do that. Are you ok? Is the baby ok? I didn’t-” he stopped, placing a delicate hand over her still-flat abdomen. 

“Yes, Juggie, I’m fine. We’re fine,” she replied, holding onto his face and smiling at the thought of their baby inside of her, right now. 

“We are, aren’t we?” he said, eyes roaming over her face, that he would never get enough of, before leaning down to kiss her, delirious with happiness. It could never get better than this. 

[captainmvf]

Hey after two years I actually got around to drawing all my squid kids! Huzzah!

I even got some cool-ass bios down here too because these guys have been on the back of my mind since I started with Aldrichi.

Team Outlanders

A rag tag group of young squids with an outlandish style of seizing turf. They travel and hitchhike around the bend and partake in small turf wars.

Aldrichi Minokasago- An escaped experiment that’s part lionfish and was born mute. They managed to make it to the big league but an accident on the field made them accidentally use poison ink that made them run into hiding. Now after two years of being in alleyway turf wars they’re ready to take back their title and live a life away from the shadows. On the road as the leader to a new rag-tag team, nothing can escape they sight with their charger weapon.

Maximus Tellrangula- A gentleman of a squid from a rich family. He’s always wanted to be involved in Turf Wars and once Aldrichi crashed his father’s ball to steal food he was sold. Now he provides the funding for the A team and provides backup with his shooter weapon.

Petunia Clovehagr- She used to work at a fast-food restaurant and helped her father with his meatpacking work before she was off to school and landed an early graduation. Aldrichi was able to take her side in an argument at a marketplace and the two formed an unlikely friendship from there. Don’t underestimate her cuteness, for she can easily overpower any offending team with her savage skills as a heavy weapons specialist. 

Coral Obelist- They used to be a camp counselor at Camp Triggerfish before she accidentally ensnarled the headmaster in one of their traps. Aldrichi and them have many similarities and they were actually the only person to successfully trap the escaped squid. Despite having a heavy roller, they’re mainly known for their terrifyingly placed traps.

Team Shorefront

Team Outlander’s B team and entrusted comrades. Once the Outlanders grew into four they ran out of space and decided to split the wins so they could rake in more rewards.

Carlean Teuthida- A skateboarder who is insanely good at turf wars but just doesn’t have the spirit to pursue them often. They struggle with depression and fall short when it comes to keeping a steady job. After saving Aldrichi they actually realize many sad truths about themself and decides to lend their slosher weapon support. They have tried to initiate a relationship but every time Maxwell sends a terrible glare from the other side of the room.

Axel Arlo- Never wanted to be in turf wars but was always the one forced to take one for the team. They were hesitant to escape the turf wars after so long but once they were out they realized that their old friend Aldrichi actually needed help. Despite being a mentor figure they don’t give out good advice, at least they’re a handy shot with their charger weapon.

Carmen Zaldel- Currently taking a break from being an intern to a modern fashion designer and trying to come to terms with their gender. She may not look like she cares but she cares deeply for anyone who shares at least seven sentences of conversation with her. Sometimes she puts the terrible demos of her music into her Killer Whail attacks after covering the turf with her deco weapons.

Ziekiel El Coran- Carmen’s best friend and the one who roped her into being not he B team. He’s always smiling and ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. After one look at Aldrichi he vowed to never leave their side and to strike fear into anyone who hurts his teammates. The fact that he carries a light roller doesn’t make him look intimidating but his intentions are true.

Team Stardust

The rival to the Outlanders and, much later, their friendly allies. Despite being in it for the fame and money, they actually have separate goals in life that they plan to achieve once they reach the championship ranks.

Celeste Motoyia- A semi-popular idol who’s been taking her team to the top and happily squishing down the rising competition. She came from a moderate home with a moderate family in a moderate house until she tried out as a model in order to make extra cash. Now she lives life in the fast lane and only sees Aldrichi and their team as insects that she’ll nonchalantly slap away with her heavy weapons.

Ollie Parsly- An aspiring musician who loves letting the beat drop and being hyperactive. They already have a contract signed with a music company and can’t wait to finish turf wars with her team. Their tricks with their octobrush can easily distract anyone and can prove deadly.

Allonea Squelch- Despite having an odd name they have a positive attitude. Instead of seeking a rich life all he wants to do is open a restaurant and make everyone fabulous egg dishes. He’s the only one on the team that actually likes to pal around Aldrichi. In squid form he can jump really far and surprise anyone with his heavy rollers.

Marik Bloodvus- He is insanely tired of people thinking that he is a vampire. Despises half of the world and is just ‘ehh’ not he other half. He plans on watching reality TV and being a medical doctor once he finishes turf waring with his team. His plan of attack is hiding in ink for long periods of time and waiting to jump out and surprise the offending team with his shooter weapon.

Team Blue Ink

Though no one has blue ink on the team they are a force to be reckoned with. They were hired by a private employer to take down the Outlanders and to apprehend Aldrichi by any means necessary.

Venella Plink- A cutie pie who draws people in with her calm demeanor she she can demolish them on the field. She comes from a family of cannibals that have been under police investigation multiple amount of times and have always cleaned themselves up fro show. Loving the color pink, she makes sure that her charger weapons are painted the same color before going after her weakened prey.

Bart Veela- This squid doesn’t sleep after a successful drug test that altered them to stay awake for several hours. They come from the same lab as Aldrichi but not the same experiment. Since they’re now in a comfortable settling they suffer from PTSD if they do something ‘wrong’ or show emotion. They’re impressive patience is the key to their success with their ink strike missiles and shooter weapons.

Mettetron Ie- He’s Aldrich’s old teammate that see’s them as the problem or as the reason why they’re so washed up now. Used to be a popular idol until he was hospitalized by Aldrich’s poisonous ink and forced out of a contract. Now he turns his anger into success for never missing a shot during turf wars. He can sleep for long periods unaffected and is excellent when it comes to slosher weapons.

Nebra Salamo- She’s new to the field of turf wars and has been banned from a few matches for her deadly tactics that she learned from her Octoling parentage. Despite being half Octoling she is seen as feared from both sides due to the scarring on her mouth. It’s been rumored that she’s murdered people before with her own brush weapon.