#that might only vaguely resemble what's actually in the text but happens to be popular at the moment

[privateolives]

When media only represented lgbt people as sassy and promiscuous, everyone cried for more wholesome stories. Now that the norm is wholesome falling in love stories, people are demanding kinks again.

Girl, your enemy isn't one or the other. Your enemy is The Single Narrative and pretending that either representation is Bad is a fool's game.

Just because something is more prevalent at the moment doesn't make it inherently bad. It's perfectly good to represent that parts of the experience. We just need to recognise that we need to start diversifying our stories when one particular narrative starts becoming too prevalent, instead of declaring one thing Bad Representation and going into the exact opposite camp to show how Not That we are. If that's the only attitude we have, then we risk making this new Opposite the only new narrative.

Prevalent depictions tend to come in waves of reactions to things happening in society but also very much in relation to previous depictions. You see this not just inside LGBT narratives but also in media representation of racial stereotypes, focus on masculine and feminen tendencies in fashion history, etc.

Lately though, I've been seeing posts getting more and more hostile towards the Previous Representation as if it's that experience's fault for existing - such as lgbt people who "pass straight" vs "incredibly queercoded", narratives of people who want to heal troubled family relations and a general tendency for creative work (especially in writing prompts) to just take one trope and inverting it, then calling that the peak of creativity, even when there's not necesarrily any bottomline thought to what this new story is trying to say beyond "being the opposite".

That's not to say any one person who wants to try turning tropes on their heads are inherently Problematic or anything of the sort, but it's worth examining if one representation makes that representation inherently problematic, or just in need of more diversity.

More diversity than just pointing at the opposite camp and making that the new norm until we're all sick to death of that one. Lest we just repeat the same cycle without creating actual diverse representation; Or even worse, start creating the idea that the beautiful, multi-faceted experience that is the LGBT community as a whole just falls into new binaries of experiences than just sex and preference.

[reallyghostlypost]

The Ferngill Republic's history

(As a disclaimer, this post might or might not be controversial, since it ties SVE with a few... unfortunate real life events like the second world war and the foundation of USA. I think the associations make sense from the dialogue, and Ferngill-SUA Gotoro- Imperial Japan is a pretty popular theory in the fandom, but obviously not everyone might necessarily agree. Also this post is messy in general since I'm trying to build a continent's entire history from like four lines of text.)

I need to add some historical events to my own worldbuilding and unfortunately we know very little about the world's history. Stardew Valley is very light on lore in general and SVE avoided truly touching this part of worldbuilding. Aside from vague dialogue about ancient magic that can't be tied to any actual time period or historical events, we have only two hints about the Republic's past: the pelican statue behind Joja and the event SVE adds for Demetrius.

The pelican statue reads: "PELICAN TOWN- DATE: 04.17.19XX- Built in recognition of Stardew Valley's Elegance", so we have a very vague date of the town's creation (the date changed btw, it used to read something like 20XX). Since it's hinted in the game that the town is young it couldn't have been built before the Republic existed, so we have a vague date that happened during the country's existence. This is a weird way of putting it but it's important because of Demetrius's event.

"A thousand years ago, a huge meteor shower periodically bombarded this specific area of the Ferngill Republic. Of course, back then, the Republic didn't exist yet. [...] So our ancestors called these showers the 'Silk Dew of The Stars'. When the Ferngill Republic was first established 150 years ago, the Admission Union named this valley 'Stardew' in honor of our ancestors. [...] It's the reason so many farmers have established their livelihood in Stardew Valley!"

These are the relevant parts of the event, and I bolded the words I found interesting. So... the Republic seems to be modelled after America in SVE. The war with Gotoro has similarities with the WWII, with the Gotoro Empire resembling Imperial Japan. SVE even has it's own version of Pearl Harbour (this is easily my least favorite part of the mod since tying fantasy events to real world ones brings lots unnecessary implications and puts huge limitations on lore, but such is life ¯\_(ツ)_/¯).

Demetrius's event further proves the fact that Ferngill Republic was modelled after USA. It's a very 'new' country that seems disconnected from it's past and brings to mind the colonisation of the Americas. It even has some kind of Union as the political body responsible for this. While states change their types of government and their names all the time, life within the country remains largely unchanged. Demetrius implies farmers moved to Stardew Valley after they somehow discovered the fertile soil of the area, instead of the Valley being used by farmers since time immemorial, which would happen in an 'old country'. Similarly, re-naming the Valley would be weird, it would simply be known as Stardew throughout it's history and it's name would carry on independent of any new government.

Now, I'm not saying that Ferngill's history follows America's perfectly, or that it was founded after a large amount of people moved here from another place to create a new country, after all the new republic could have been created as a result of a past war with Gotoro, for example. Mainly that this resemblance changes the way it's inhabitants deal with the past.

Ultimately, this theory being true or not doesn't have much relevance on the history of the world itself (mainly because we don't know anything about it), but will determine what historical events are relevant for worldbuilding. If I don't use the Ferngill-USA comparison, than all historical events of the continent are important, since there's a smooth continuity in the country's evolution. On the other hand, if I use my theory, than only the events happening within two centuries at most will be truly important. Past events happened to another 'country' after all.

For example, I want to add some monster related tragedy in the Valley before Pelican Town was built, explaining why it took so long for the town to be created when the soil is apparently famously fertile. This theory would change when the disaster happened. If I rely on it, the disaster must have happened during the Republic's existence, or at least very close to it's foundation. If I don't, then it could happen at any point in the past and I have no limitation on my worldbuilding.

---

Moving on, let's look at the history of Pelican Town, which is just as mysterious, although less important in the grand scale of things. It must be at most 150 years old, assuming it was founded soon after the Republic was established, but it seems to be much younger than that. Marlon implies that he started the guild either when the town was created or soon after, since he mentions that most of the area was covered by wilderness. So the town's history all happened within a human lifespan. It's possible that people lived here for longer before that, and that the area was first inhabited by miners and only later the town was created.

Andy mentioned that he moved here in order to become a farmer, it's possible that he moved when the town was established and farmers were encouraged to take advantage of the fertile and cheap land. Demetrius mentions the fountain being 30 years old, so at earliest the town has existed for three decades. Lewis says he's been the mayor for more than 20 years, he might be the second or third mayor the town ever had. And lastly, the recession that destroyed Aurora Vineyard happened when the farmer was still working at Joja according to Andy.

---

This is pretty much the only thing we know about the history of Ferngill Republic. There's lots of space to fill with whatever worldbuilding you want, but the lack of details makes this surprisingly hard. I'm curious if anyone has any headcanons about this.

[tomasorban]

Human Chromosome 2 Fusion Never Happened; BY JEFFREY P. TOMKINS, PH.D.

One of the more popular arguments used for humans supposedly evolving from apes is known as the chromosome fusion. The impetus for this concept is the evolutionary problem that apes have an extra pair of chromosomes—humans have 46 while apes have 48. If humans evolved from an ape-like creature only three to six million years ago, a mere blip in the grand scheme of the evolutionary story, why do humans and apes have this discrepancy?

The evolutionary solution proposes that an end-to-end fusion of two small ape-like chromosomes (named 2A and 2B) produced human chromosome 2 (Figure 1). The concept of a fusion first came about in 1982 when scientists examined the similarities of human and ape chromosomes under a microscope. While the technique was somewhat crude, it was enough to get the idea going.1

Figure 1. Hypothetical model in which chimpanzee chromosomes 2A and 2B fused end-to-end to form human chromosome 2. The chromosomes are drawn to scale according to cytogenetic images published by Yunis and Prakash. Note the size discrepancy, which is about 10% or 24 million bases based on the known size of human chromosome 2.

The So-Called Fusion Site

The first actual DNA signature of a possible fusion event was discovered in 1991 on human chromosome number 2.2 Researchers found a small, muddled cluster of telomere-like end sequences that vaguely resembled a possible fusion. Telomeres are a six-base sequence of the DNA letters TTAGGG repeated over and over again at the ends of chromosomes.

However, the fusion signature was somewhat of an enigma based on the real fusions that occasionally occur in nature. All documented fusions in living animals involve a specific type of sequence called satellite DNA (satDNA) located in chromosomes and found in breakages and fusions.3-5 The fusion signature on human chromosome 2 was missing this telltale satDNA.6

Another problem is the small size of the fusion site, which is only 798 DNA letters long. Telomere sequences at the ends of chromosomes are 5,000 to 15,000 bases long. If two chromosomes had fused, you should see a fused telomere signature of 10,000 to 30,000 bases long—not 798.

Not only is the small size a problem for the fusion story, the signature doesn’t really represent a clear-cut fusion of telomeres. Figure 2 shows the DNA letters of the 798-base fusion site with the six-base (DNA letter) intact telomere sequences emphasized in bold print. When the fusion sequence is compared to that of a pristine fusion signature of the same size, it is only 70% identical overall.

Figure 2. The 798 sequence of the alleged fusion site. Intact forward (TTAGGG) and reverse complement (CCCTAA) telomere sequences are in bold font. The actual alleged point of fusion (AA) is underlined.

Secular researchers have pointed out this discrepancy and have labeled the fusion site as significantly “degenerate.”7 Given the standard theoretical model of human evolution, it should be about 98 to 99% identical, not 70%. The researchers describing this discovery commented, “Head-to-head arrays of repeats at the fusion site have degenerated significantly (14%) from the near perfect arrays of (TTAGGG)n found at telomeres” and asked the pertinent question “If the fusion occurred within the telomeric repeat arrays less than ~6 Mya, why are the arrays at the fusion site so degenerate?”7 It should be noted that the 14% degeneration cited by the authors refers to the corruption of just the six-base sequences themselves, not the whole 798 bases.

The Fusion Site Inside a Gene?

The most remarkable anti-evolutionary finding about the fusion site turned out to be its location and what it actually does. This discovery came about while I was reading the research paper that reported a detailed analysis of 614,000 bases of DNA sequence surrounding the alleged fusion site. I noticed in one of the figures that the fusion site was located inside a gene, and quite remarkably this oddity wasn’t even acknowledged in the text of the paper.8

A finding like this is highly noteworthy. Perhaps this piece of information would’ve been the nail in the evolutionary coffin, so to speak, which is why the researchers declined to discuss it. This major anomaly inspired me to give the fusion site a much closer examination. This paper was published in 2002, and I took notice of it in 2013. A huge amount of data on the structure and function of the human genome had been published in the meantime, and there was likely much more to the story that needed to be uncovered.

Figure 3. Simplified illustration of the alleged fusion site inside the first intron of the DDX11L2 gene. The graphic also shows two versions of short and long transcript variants produced, along with areas of transcription factor binding. The arrow in the first exon depicts the direction of transcription.

When I performed further research, I verified that the fusion site was positioned inside an RNA helicase gene now called DDX11L2. Most genes in plants and animals have their coding segments in pieces called exons so they can be alternatively spliced. Based on the addition or exclusion of exons, genes can produce a variety of products. The intervening regions between exons are called introns, which often contain a variety of signals and switches that control gene function. The alleged fusion site is positioned inside the first intron of the DDX11L2 gene (Figure 3).9

The DNA molecule is double-stranded, with a plus strand and a minus strand. It was engineered this way to maximize information density while also increasing efficiency and function. As a result, there are genes running in different directions on the opposing strands. As it turns out, the DDX11L2 gene is encoded on the minus strand. Because genes in humans are like Swiss army knives and can produce a variety of RNAs, in the case of the DDX11L2 gene it produces short variants consisting of two exons and long variants with three (Figure 3).9

The Fusion Site Is a Gene Promoter

What might this DDX11L2 gene be doing? My research showed it’s expressed in at least 255 different cell or tissue types.9 It’s also co-expressed (turned on at the same time) with a variety of other genes and is connected to processes associated with cell signaling in the extracellular matrix and blood cell production. The location of the so-called fusion sequence inside a functional gene associated with the genetics of a variety of cellular processes strongly refutes the idea that it’s the accidental byproduct of a head-to-head telomeric fusion. Genes are not formed by catastrophic chromosomal fusions!

Even more amazing is that the fusion site is itself functional and serves an important engineered purpose. The site actually acts as a switch for controlling gene activity. In this respect, a wealth of biochemical data showed that 12 different proteins called transcription factors regulate this segment of the gene. One of these is none other than RNA polymerase II, the main enzyme that copies RNA molecules from DNA in a process called transcription. Further supporting this discovery is the fact that the actual process of transcription initiates inside the region of the so-called fusion site.

Technically, we would call the activity in the alleged fusion site a promoter region. Promoters are the main switches at the beginning of genes that turn them on and are also where the RNA polymerase starts to create an RNA. Many genes have alternative promoters like the DDX11L2 gene.

There are actually two areas of transcription factor binding in the DDX11L2 gene. The first is in the promoter directly in front of the first exon, and the second is in the first intron corresponding to the fusion site sequence. Not only is the DDX11L2 gene itself complexly controlled, with the alleged fusion sequence playing a key role, but even the RNA transcripts produced are very intricate. The RNAs themselves contain a wide variety of binding and control sites for a class of small regulatory molecules called microRNAs.9

Functional Internal Telomere Sequences Are All Over the Genome

The presence of internally located telomere sequence is found all over the human genome. These seemingly out-of-place telomere repeats have been dubbed interstitial telomeres. The presence of these sequences presents another challenge for the fusion site idea. It’s a fact that very few of the telomere repeats in the fusion site occur in tandem. As noted in Figure 2, the sequence of the 798-base fusion site contains only a few instances where two repeats are actually in tandem and none that have three repeats or more. However, there are many other interstitial telomere sites all over the human genome where the repeats occur in perfect tandem three to ten times or more.10-11

Even besides their role at the ends of chromosomes, it appears interstitial telomeric repeats may serve an important function in the genome related to gene expression. In a recent research project, I identified telomere repeats all over the human genome and then intersected their genomic locations with a diversity of data sets containing functional biochemical information for gene activity.12 Literally thousands of internal telomeric repeats across the genome were directly associated with the hallmarks of gene expression. The same type of transcription factor binding and gene activity occurring at the alleged fusion site was also occurring genome-wide at numerous other interstitial telomeric repeats. Clearly, these DNA features are not accidents of evolution but purposefully and intelligently designed functional code.

Bogus Cryptic Centromere Inside a Gene

Another key problem with the fusion model is the lack of viable evidence for a signature of an extra centromere region. Centromeres are sections of chromosomes, often in central locations, that play key roles during cell division. As depicted in Figure 1, the newly formed chimeric chromosome would’ve had two centromere sites immediately following the alleged head-to-head fusion of the two chromosomes. In such a case, one of the centromeres would be functional while the other would be disabled. The presence of two active centromeres is bad news for chromosomes and would lead to dysfunction and cell destruction.

Interestingly, the evidence for a cryptic (disabled) centromere on human chromosome 2 is even weaker than that for a telomere-rich fusion site. Evolutionists explain the lack of a clearly distinguishable nonfunctional secondary centromere by arguing that a second centromere would’ve been rapidly selected against. After that, the disabled centromere would’ve deteriorated over time since there were no functional restraints placed on it anymore by its doing something useful in the genome.

However, the evidence for a second remnant centromere at any stage of sequence degeneration is problematic for the evolutionary paradigm. Functional centromere sequences are composed of a repetitive type of DNA called alphoid sequences, with each alphoid repeat being about 171 bases long. Some types of alphoid repeats are found all over the genome, while others are specific to centromeres. The structure of the sequences found at the cryptic centromere site on human chromosome 2 doesn’t match those associated with functional human centromeres.13 Even worse for the evolutionary model is that they have no highly similar counterparts in the chimp genome—they are human-specific.13

The alleged fossil centromere is also exceptionally tiny compared to a real one. The size of a normal human centromere ranges in length between 250,000 and 5,000,000 bases.14 The alleged cryptic centromere is only 41,608 bases long, but it’s also important to note that there are three different regions of it that aren’t even alphoid repeats.15 Two of these are called retroelements, with one being a LPA3/LINE repeat 5,957 bases long and the other an SVA-E element with 2,571 bases. When we subtract the insertions of these non-alphoid sequences, it gives a length of only 33,080 bases, which is a fraction of the length of a real centromere.

The most serious evolutionary problem with the idea of a fossil centromere, though, is that like the alleged fusion site, it’s positioned inside a gene. The alleged cryptic centromere is located inside the ANKRD30BL gene, and its sequence spans both intron and exon regions of the gene.12,15

In fact, the part of the alleged fossil centromere sequence that lands inside an exon actually codes for amino acids in the resulting gene’s protein. The gene produces a protein that’s believed to be involved in the interaction of the structural network of proteins inside the cell called the cytoskeleton in connection with receptor proteins embedded in the cell membrane.16 The fact that the so-called fossil or cryptic centromere is a functional region inside an important protein-coding gene completely refutes the idea that it’s a defunct centromere.

Conclusion: No Fusion

Due to the muddled signatures and small sizes of the alleged fusion and fossil centromere sites, it’s highly questionable that their sequence was evolutionarily derived from an ancient chromosome fusion. Not only that, they represent functional sequence inside genes. The alleged fusion site is an important genetic switch called a promoter inside the DDX11L2 long noncoding RNA gene, and the so-called fossil centromere contains both coding and noncoding sequence inside a large ankyrin repeat protein-coding gene.

This is an undeniable double whammy against the whole mythical fusion idea, utterly destroying its validity. The overwhelming scientific conclusion is that the fusion never happened.

[azurethevampire]

Could you write for Sherlock? Perhaps she’s had an argument with him and consequently ignores him for the rest of the day until he gets her to speak to him and it’s all fluffy? Not sure if that’s too vague. Let me know if you need more!x

I deeply apologize it has taken me this long to write this. I hope you still like it! 

Words: 1600

Warning: There is a mention of pig body parts stored in a fridge (it’s Sherlock!) so if that unsettles you, just maybe skip the part where sherlock realises what he has done or skip reading this altogether

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

It was a wonder he noticed. You had thought that the chances were one in a billion. Not because you thought less of Sherlock, you didn’t. Of course, you didn’t when he had been the closest thing you got to a family for a far longer time than you were ready to admit. Usually, Sherlock just didn’t tend to notice these kinds of things. 

When you were younger, you had thought it was because he didn’t understand how human emotions worked. These days, you were slightly smarter and knew - despite popular belief - that Sherlock was not as ignorant about emotions as he pretended to be. 

But still. 

Sherlock never noticed when he had upset you. 

Okay, fine, you were lying. It was not never. But still, the times when Sherlock had actually apologised for his behaviour could be counted with the fingers of one hand. He tended to notice you were upset, but for someone who had the intelligence he had, he was a bit slow to realise when the cause of your upset was him instead of something or someone else. 

Like now. 

This morning you had woken up feeling quite content with yourself - some might have even say that you felt happy. This was the reason you decided that the morning warranted something special for breakfast. You settled for pancakes.

You were humming the last song you'd heard as you gathered what you needed to make your breakfast. When you had everything else in your reach, you went to get milk and eggs from the fridge. 

You had opened the door - and closed it immediately with a small shriek. 

In a second your previously happy mood dove low. Now you felt both annoyed and betrayed. There would be no pancakes for you today - in fact, you would not set a finger on that fridge again. Ever. 

Anger drove your actions as you slammed - a bit too hard, perhaps - the ingredients you had already gathered back to their regular place, and marched to jump on the couch. Fishing your phone out of your pocket, your fingers quickly typed: 

Bring me back some food when you get home - Y/N 

John Watson who had currently been having a break in his work, stared at your text with brows drawn together. Briefly, the ex-army doctor wondered what Sherlock had done this time to upset you. Still, he knew you knew that you were not supposed to take it out on him. 

Excuse me? Young lady, where did you leave your manners today? - John

Whoops. You thought, closed your eyes for a second and took a couple of deep breaths while reminding yourself not to take your frustration out on the good doctor. 

Sorry, John. You typed. Then sent it and started a new one: Would you please bring me back some food when you get back from work? Pretty please? I'll pay you back even :) - Y/N

John thanked you and promised to get some takeout on his way home, and you were satisfied that you would not go hungry the whole day. 

You were still extremely unsettled by what you had seen in the fridge. And you were fuming with Sherlock who had promised you there would not be any unpleasant surprises in the flat anymore. 

You felt like crying, then shouting in anger and throwing things. Oh, how you wanted to yell at Sherlock. But you knew it would not affect the man much. 

Instead, when Sherlock Holmes finally decided to appear home to 221B Baker Street, he found you lying on the couch, turned towards the wall and music blasting through your headphones so loud he could make out the lyrics all the way from the stairs. 

He greeted you but thought nothing wrong when you didn't respond. 

It was almost an hour later when John had come back and you had all but devoured the food he brought you - all the while avoiding even looking at Sherlock's direction - that the consulting detective had an epiphany - of sorts. 

At first, he thought someone had upset you and for a blink, he was so angry with whoever had hurt his precious Y/N so much you hadn't even so much as uttered a word to him. But then he remembered. Usually, you sought out him, when you were upset. Regardless of the fact that Sherlock had never been the coddling type he certainly seemed to have a knack for lifting your spirits up. 

But today had been different. So much so that he only now realised you had not greeted him when he came home. 

You had never given him a hug or a peck on the cheek when he came home. You had yet to even look at him. He couldn't blame it on you being too focused in your phone and music either as you had greeted John with a bright smile and thanked him of the takeaway. This lead only to one conclusion. 

Pointing you and then himself, Sherlock mouthed to John: "my fault?" 

John coughed - and it suspiciously sounded like he would have said "Probably" behind his cough. 

Frowning, Sherlock stared at your back. What did I do? 

Well, whatever it was, he knew he needed to fix this. Sulking had never been a fitting look on you. The man who called himself a high-functioning sociopath much prefered it when you were babbling on about this and that, a smile brightening your face or your giggles echoing in the flat. 

Raising from his chair, Sherlock came over to the couch you had conquered and - quite unceremoniously - plopped himself down at your feet. He would have landed on top of your feet had you not had the reflexes to pull your knees up. Still, that was the only acknowledgement the dark haired man got out of you.

“Y/N”, Sherlock said. No response. He repeated your name again but still no answer. The third time, he reached out his hand hovering just above your ankle as he called you out again. 

When you still didn’t say anything back, he curled his fingers around your ankle, fingers dashing back and forth in the area. 

You could not help the tiny squeal that escaped your mouth - even if you wanted to. It was instincts at this point and you tried to kick Shelrock’s hand away with your free foot - only for him to grab that foot’s ankle as well. 

“Sherlock!” You whined slash scolded while trying to squirm your feet away. 

“Ah” Sherlock said, grinning. “She speaks after all. Hello to you too, miss Y/N.” 

You narrowed your eyes. It would take more than a few tickles for you to forgive and forget Sherlock’s actions this time. He had given you his word and while Sherlock wasn’t good at remembering many mundane things, at least his word had always been something you could rely on. 

Until now, that is. 

“Y/N talk to me”, Sherlock said a hint of rarely heard desperation in his voice. “What happened? What did I do or not do this time?” 

You shuddered as the memories from this morning resurfaced. Feeling like you might actually get sick from just thinking about it, you had no other choice than to sit up on the couch - Sherlock releasing your legs as you did so. 

Sherlock saw how you paled as you recalled something. Then it hit him, you only reacted like this to one thing. He slammed his hand to his forehead. “Oh! Tell me I didn’t- but I did, didn’t I?” 

You hugged yourself and nodded, finally meeting the man’s gaze for the first time today. 

The expression on the great consulting detective’s face resembled that of a puppy that knows he has done something wrong. 

“To be fair, they are pig legs”, he said. 

You threw a pillow at him. “I-I don’t care! You promised me I wouldn’t find any nasty surprises in the fridge again!” 

Of all the annoying habits Sherlock had, storing his ‘experiments’ in Baker Street fridge had always unsettled you to the point where you had downright refused to even set one foot to the kitchen for a while once. 

Sherlock pursed his lips as the words he so rarely spoke, made their way up his throat. “I’m sorry, Y/N” and the look he had on his face could only be described as a pout. 

You bit your lip. You wanted to still be mad at Sherlock, you really did, but - how could anyone stay mad at that face? Instead, you raked your hand through your hair and said: “Just, please, I don’t want to walk into that again, Sherlock.” 

Sherlock reached for you, positioning your smaller frame easily against his side and under his arm as he enveloped you to a hug. “And you won’t”, he reassured. His hand going up and down in a comforting gesture. “Are you alright, now?” 

You managed to smile a bit, snuggling yourself closer to his warm chest. “A bit better”, you admitted - and you were. You had, after all, had the whole day to process the unsettling event. 

Sherlock was quiet for a moment after you said that. Then. “Would some of that ice cream you love make up for it?” 

Now you just grinned. Because maybe ice cream wouldn’t wipe away from your memories what you saw in the fridge but it definitely would make you a bit better. 

Sherlock, seeing your brightened face, smiled himself slightly. Suddenly his fingers dug to your sides, making you let out a surprised giggle. “Ice cream it is then”, he stated. 

Still, you would not set a finger on that fridge for at least a few weeks. 

[heinrichklaasen37-blog]

The White Pages Game

It is possible to search by name and location during the white pages.  In the instance of free white pages websites, you can use no more than the very first few letters of the name you're hunting for as a way to bring up some results from which to select.  You would think and believe that to be able to discover absolutely free white pages, you must utilize Google.

When you visit our website you will see a box where relative information must be inserted.  All you will need is the suspicious telephone number, type it in the search form on their site and press enter.  Of course you won't always have all the information that you need, however you will still require some way to limit your search.

All you need to do is go the online white pages and click the choice for the reverse phone search. A recognized example is Uber. All you need to do is visit the site and click on such an option. If you're looking for an accurate and speedy answer, go to paidreverse search websites. Therefore, should you want to conduct search with the telephone number that keeps on bothering you day and night, you may use white pages online from free websites that you can test out. Paid search sites are some of the the favourite mode of searches in the net. White Pages - the Conspiracy With quite a few sites specifically devoted to helping people find different people and a small info, you'll find nearly anyone. They, for various reasons, need to know the background of other people with whom they interact, for example, employers need to check out future employees, etc.. Read about a few of the ideas that you could attempt to use to find people in foreign nations. Another fantastic approach to locate some information regarding someone is merely by typing their name into Google. All you need to do is to enter the number that you've got to determine if anything will come up. These white pages turn into a book with all types of stories that say that which we become. The Tried and True Method for White Pages in Step by Step Detail Getting in a position to track down a mobile phone number is a strong thing but needs to be practiced legally. You are able to easily do people search, phone number look up, when the toolbar was installed and you may conduct it at no cost. You might be able to chance upon a number through a paid service, but there isn't any completely free mobile phone number directory you may use. Rather than looking up a number, you're going to be looking up a name once you already have the telephone number. What can happen is based on the number. 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[norsesuggestions]

Will you tell us more about longhouses please??

yes gladly! i will tell you things about longhouses i remember from memory, so disclaimer some mistakes might exist in this retelling, being that i am not a archeologist myself, just the child of archeologists.

modern illustration of longhouses (långhus)

x [illustration of how the inside of longhouse might have looked like]

x [modern reconstruction of how longhouses in sweden could have looked like]

what is longhouses

longhouses is the name of a iron age housing type found in scandinavia. they are not exclusive to scandinavia, but were a wide - spread living type in several locations in europe. but my knowledge about longhouses outside of sweden is limited, so i will keep myself to describing longhouses in sweden for the rest of this text.

longhouses anyway, are the housing types found in the iron age villages of mälardalen, were i have located Helga. therefore, a longhouse would be her home.

longhouses are a housing type which, as the name implies, is long. it also appears to lack rooms. that is, there is just 1 room, and that room is the house. that being said, that do not stop longhouses from perhaps having different loose screens, cloths etc which created some seperations in the houses. but, the topic of the existences of rooms or not longhouses is really something i only have vague knowledge about haha. anyway, in popular depictions the longhouses have no rooms. with the exceptions of sometimes having 1 wall structure in the middle of the longhouse, which is interprented as being the home of the animals.

longhouses in modern day south sweden were made of wood and other organic material. that is, there is no ruins left from them which one can see without being trained to find them. EXCEPT on Gotland, were they have stone foundations, which can be clearly seen (idk about how it is with öland tho…).

anyway! the majority of longhouses in sweden, were all wood (and other organic materials collected from nature to build it). therefore what they mostly leave behind for archeologists to find are dark patches of soil for where there foundations were. therefore. well alot of guess work is involved in the subject of longhouses haha. because like, we can not see them with our eyes, just estimeed.

that being said, we do have more things then the patches of different soil were the houses stood, there are also things left behind by the humans that lived in the house. one of the primary things are the fireplace, which often leaves behind alot of traces. tool making traces, things buried under the house floor (they really love burying things under their houses!) and similiar.

(my parents have digged lots of longhouses in their days haha, so these are based on their getting home from work stories lol. as one might notice. one of my dads most hated things is digging iron age villages were all one finds are different patches of different coloured soil, and like patches of different stone fragment. he spend a couple months complaining about that one once pfft)

the structure of a longhouse

a well to do longhouse would also have SEVERAL other houses around it, belonging to the longhouse. this is also an explanation of the entire “no rooms” thing. they did in one way have rooms. it was just that the other rooms, were other houses.

this is interesting in how it also greatly resembles how bigger farms in sweden were in later historical times also organised. they too, would have a 1 room living house, and several other houses. and those other houses had some special porpuse on the farm. (very simplified. but. eh. to not go in a detour of explaning 17th - 19th century swedish peasant life i will stop here haha).

a similar way of using the many houses in the iron age village could be interprented to have existed.

what more. hmm. longhouses are useally not alone, but there are some other longhouses with them. aka a village. but the villages in south sweden are useally very small.

there is often a grave field close to the longhouse village tho.

oh! the bonefire in the middle of the house would most likely have made the life pretty smoky. from what i recall, they are not believed to have chimneys. so they would have some kind off way to get the smoke to leave the building on the top (which has been greatly debated among archeologists) but. anyway. their houses had a bonefire in the center of the building.

oh also! a very likely assumption is that longhouses were filled with people. like. multigenerational households, but also hired servents, apperentices etc etc. a longhouse is like. an entire community in itself. not packed our anything. but stil you know. lots of people. so it would be a place full of life, and things happening.

x [stone foundations for iron age longhouses at vallhagar, gotland. having stone foundations like this is typical for the island of gotland, and non - existent to my knowledge for mainland scandinavian pennisula. that being said, stone foundations pictures is a much easier pic to digest than a pic of a patch of grass, or deep forest, wherehas gotland longhouses are good to show examples of the traces of irl iron age longhouses ;P these are the actual created by iron age people foundations of their longhouse. although, i assume some archeologists with feeling at some point put back some stones they considered to have “fallen” from it “correct place” haha. but still. this is a longhouse ruin in sweden!]

[fortheloveofpearlet]

Straightjacket Feeling - Pearlet [Chapter 2]

This is something I wrote AGES and AGES ago. First few chapters set in college but its NOT a college AU I swear! Kinda based on ‘Do I Wanna Know’ by the Artic Monkeys, lyrics throughout fic. Shorter chapter.

Chapter 2

Over the next week Jason was bombarded by texts and calls from Matt. He ignored them all. 

 Saturday

 From Handsome Matt:

10.37am

Jason I don't know what you think is going on but I wasn't messing with you I swear. I just wanted to get to know you that's all

 3.46pm

Jason please, at least meet me so we can talk? 

 11.20pm

Seriously, why would you think I would want to mess with you? Jeez anyone would think you didn't want a friend.

 Sunday

 From Handsome Matt:

1.25pm

Jason this is fucking dumb, please reply

 11.49pm

Urghhhhh yo startin to get annoyin nw...stupid doesn't wnt tlk 2me

 Clearly he was drunk. 

 It was now Friday again and the texts had started thinning out but they hadn't stopped. The last one had come ten minutes ago and all it said was 'fine, have it your way. I give up. And you say I'm an asshole.' 

 Jason turned his phone off after that. Why was Matt so determined to fuck with him? Surely there were plenty of other dumb freshman he could mess with, why couldn't he leave Jason alone? Bri was out, he'd been invited to another party with Brian and no doubt Matt was there too. Jason sighed and slid his headphones on his ears before curling up in bed. He felt like such an idiot. At least he'd figured out Matt's game before it was too late and he made a complete fool out of him. He wasn't going to let that happen. Not again. 

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

 Matt sipped his drink and scanned the room again. He didn't know why he thought Jason might be here. Jake was off hooking up already as usual and Brian and new Bri, Jason's roommate were chatting aimlessly away next to him about drag queens. Matt wasn't really listening, he kept scoping the crowd for one face in particular.

 He didn't know what it was about Jason, but there was something alright. Matt had noticed Jason on his first day on campus, and pretty much every day since. There was something so magnetic about him and that both excited and scared Matt. Because Matt had never found another man magnetic before. He'd never spent this much time thinking about another man. So why Jason? What was so special about this guy that had Matt hooked since the first day? He'd never tell anyone this but last week when Jason had 'accidentally' tripped over Matt's legs, it hadn't been such an accident. Matt had seen him coming, he'd seen a chance to finally talk to him. So, just as Jason had gotten near, clearly not looking where he was going, Matt had stretched his legs out into Jason's path and deliberately tripped the younger boy over. He still didn't know why he'd done it. He didn't like thinking too much about the why. 

 Brian left to get him and Bri another drink and Matt couldn't help himself but ask.

'Is Jason coming?' 

Bri shrugged.

'Doubt it, he hates these parties.'

'Did he say anything about the last one?' 

'Nah, we don't really talk that much.' Bri shrugged again. Just then Brian re-joined them.

'Hey there's some guys passing out a joint down the hall, wanna join?' He directed the question at both of them. Bri's face lit up.

'Well durh!' Bri chuckled. 

'Matt?' Brian asked him but to his surprise Matt shook his head.

'Nah I think I'm gonna bounce.' 

'Seriously? It's not even eleven and you haven't hooked up yet.' Brian laughed.

'Yeah I'm just tired. I'll catch you later yeah?' Matt downed his drink and patted his friend on the back. Brian frowned watching him leave but he shook it off and let him go. 

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

 Matt marched through the dorm on the other side of campus until he came to the room he was looking for. He banged on the door loudly, from what he'd seen of Jason around campus he was always wearing his headphones so he wanted to make sure he would hear him. He continued banging on the door for several long minutes until he heard a grumpy voice on the other side.

'Fuck sake Brian I am going to surgically attach your key to your hand in your goddam sleep. I'm getting sick of-' Jason stopped his rant as he opened the door to see Matt standing there. Jason immediately blushed, he was only wearing his boxers and a baggy tank top that was so old and worn it hung so low you could almost see his nipples. 'Matt what the hell?' He groaned. He'd done a really good job at avoiding him so far. He should have known the asshole wouldn't give up this easily. 'I told you Matt I do not want to be a pawn in your sick games ok? Please find someone else.'

Matt pushed passed Jason into the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

'Look just fucking listen would you?' Matt raised his voice a little. 'I am not trying to fuck with you Jason! I want to be your friend goddamn it! Why are you making this so hard?'

'Because no one ever wants to just be friends with me ok Matt? You could be friends with anyone. You're cool and funny and attractive and popular. Why me? Why me?' 

Matt's facial expression softened as he stepped a little closer to Jason.

'You think I'm attractive?' 

Jason rolled his eyes.

'Way to focus on the point.' The younger boy sighed. 

'I just don't understand why you find it so hard to believe I want to be friends with you.' Matt scratched the back of his head. Jason ran his fingers through his messy hair, trying so hard to ignore how uncomfortable and exposed he felt in what he was wearing.

'Because,' he sighed. 'It wouldn't be the first time someone had pretended to be my friend only to fuck me over.' His eyes conveyed his sadness and Matt saw it. 

'What happened?'

'Doesn't matter.' Jason turned his back on Matt.

'Jason, please.' Matt cautiously put his hand on Jason's shoulder. He felt the younger boy stiffen a little at his touch. When he turned back to look at Matt, Matt saw the tears behind his eyes.

'When I was in high school, there was this super popular guy called Boomer. He was so gorgeous but I didn't think he even knew I existed. Then one day he asks me if I want to hang out and I couldn't believe my luck. We spent loads of time together outside of school, I was actually really starting to fall for him and I thought he felt the same. He asked me to a school dance, he told me he wanted to be with me and that he wanted to make it public that night. He told me to meet him in one of the class rooms before the dance started so I did. When I got there, the class room was dark and Boomer pushes me into the wall and tells me to take my clothes my off. So I did, because I was a sucker for him, I would have done anything he asked me too. And then...then...' Jason choked a little so he paused for a second to compose himself. Matt was hanging off his every word. 'Then suddenly the lights go on and I'm stood there in my boxers and all of his friends are there laughing at me and taking pictures. It was so humiliating. I threw my clothes back on and ran from the room crying. The next day the pictures were all over school. I never lived it down, everyone called me a faggot and would say things like as if Boomer Banks would ever be interested in you. I never told my parents because I was too embarrassed so I had to stay at that school for the next two years and every day was the fucking same. So that's why I don't trust you Matt. I don't trust that anyone cool or popular would ever want to be friends with me because I know what can happen ok?' He was a little breathless when he finished his story, but thankfully he'd managed to keep his tears at bay. Matt looked shocked. He bit his lip.

'Jason, I'm sorry that's so terrible.' He frowned sadly. 'I swear to you that's not what this about though, I just wanted to be your friend.' 

'Why though? Why me?' Jason sighed heavily, running his fingers through his hair. Matt liked the way it looked when he did that a little too much.

'Because I know what it's like to be lonely and to have no friends. I saw you and I felt bad for you, because I know that feeling.' 

'As if.' Jason scoffed. 'Like you know what it's like. I bet you were Mr Popularity in high school too.'

'Actually I wasn't.' Matt shook his head. 'Back in high school I wore glasses and I had acne and braces. And I was about 50lbs heavier.' 

'No way.' Jason scoffed again.

'Way.' Matt told him. 'Nobody ever gave me the time of day, I was bullied every single day of my high school life and when it was finally over I decided I couldn't do it anymore. Before I started college I went on this big health kick, started working out, I got contacts and the braces came off. I got this amazing cream for my acne and when I started college I was determined not to be that kid anymore. I forced myself to be more confident and put myself out there because I wasn't going back to my high school days. I guess when I saw you, you reminded me so much of high school me. I mean you're much better looking than I was but you were clearly shy and awkward and I figured everyone deserves a friend. I swear to you I was just trying to be nice.' Matt confessed to him, the first time he'd ever confessed that. Jason tried to ignore the fact Matt had said he was good looking, in a roundabout way he'd said it anyway and it made Jason's stomach flip. He didn't focus on than though.

'Do you have pictures?' Jason raised a challenging eyebrow at Matt who chuckled a little. He pulled his phone from his pocket.

'I swear to god if you tell anyone about this...' he opened up his photos and scrolled right to the top before finding the one he was looking for. He took a deep breath before turning the screen to face Jason. Staring back at Jason was a much heavier kid who vaguely resembled Matt. If it hadn't been for those eyes, almost hidden by milk bottle glasses, Jason wouldn't have believed it was him.

'Oh my god.' Jason gasped. 

'See I told you. Do you believe me now that all I wanted was to be your friend?'

'Hmmm maybe.' Jason raised his eyebrow again. Matt sighed.

'I'll tell you what, I'm going to send you this photo, and if I mess you around you can show anyone you like, ok?' Matt tapped a few buttons and then Jason heard his phone beep. He smiled a little.

'Ok.' 

'Great.' Matt smiled and he flopped to Jason's bed and turned his laptop screen to face him. 'What you watching?' 

'Drag Race.' Jason blushed as he sat down next to Matt.

'Cool! Hit play then.' Matt kicked his shoes off and pulled his legs up, resting his chin on his knees.

'I'm half way through a season.' 

'You'll have to catch me up then.' Matt got himself comfy leaning back on Jason's pillows. Jason bit his lip and leant next to him, pulling that laptop onto his lap still feeling self-conscious about his lack of clothing. He hit the space bar and the screen sprung to life just as Trixie Mattel was hitting the main stage.

'That's the one from your shirt right?' Matt asked.

'Yeah that's Trixie.' Another queen strutted out on the main stage. 'That's Violet, she's incredible.' 

'I can see why you like her, damn she's working it!' Matt snapped his fingers. Jason frowned to himself. Maybe Matt wasn't as straight as he made out. 'Oh wow who's that?' His eyes widened as another queen made her way out.

'That's Pearl.'

'She's hot as fuck! Holy shit that's a man?' He turned to Jason in confusion and his expression made Jason laugh.

'Yah huh, they all are, that's kind of the point of the show.'

'Well damn, if I didn't know any better I would totally hit on her.' Matt laughed, snuggling further back into the pillows. Ok, maybe he was straight after all. Jason was so confused. They watched a few more episodes together and both of them slowly started to drift off. 

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

 They were woken a few hours later when Bri practically fell through the door and onto the floor. He stood back up and saw Jason asleep with his head on Matt's chest and Matt resting his chin on Jason's head. They both looked so content. Bri thought it was sweet but he was drunk so he decided to wake them.

'Funny, this doesn't look like your dorm Matt.' He shouted loudly and the two boys woke with a start, Jason's laptop almost falling to the floor.

'What the fuck?' Jason groaned. 'What time is it?'

'Like 8am or something.' Bri shrugged already getting undressed and into bed.

'8am?' Jason groaned, how had that happened? 

'So judging by the fact you're just stumbling in, I guess you and Brian hooked up?' Matt smirked sitting up and putting his boots on. Bri grunted.

'I could ask you two the same thing.' 

'We were just watching Drag Race you ass.' Jason rolled his eyes.

'Is that what the kids are calling it these days?' Bri snickered. 'In that case me and Brian were 'watching drag race' too.' 

'Screw you.' Jason rolled his eyes again.

'I should go, Jake will probably be wondering where I am.' Matt ruffled his hair and yawned a little. 

'Yeah sure.' Jason didn't want him to go but he wasn't going to say as much. He walked Matt to the door and when he opened it, Matt pulled him into the corridor.

'Thank you for last night, we should do it again sometime.' Matt placed his hand on Jason's shoulder. Jason nodded dumbly.

'Yeah sure.' He swallowed, feeling uncomfortable by the way Matt was looking at him. 

'Please never ask me why I did this.' Matt whispered and Jason frowned.

'Did what?' 

Matt replied by pushing Jason into the wall in the corridor and kissing him. It was just a brief kiss, nothing more. And then Matt pulled away and half-smiled.

'Matt what the hell?'

Matt put his finger to Jason's lips to silence him.

'I said don't ask.' He shrugged. 'See you around uhm Jason.' He turned and headed down the corridor. Jason watched him leave. He put his fingers to his own lips and stroked them dumbly. Had that really just happened? He felt like he must have imagined it, but his lips were still tingling. He watched until Matt disappeared and even when he was gone he continued to stand there for a while. 

'See you around Matt.' He whispered before letting himself back in his room, his head hazy and his heart ablaze. 

[artificialqueens]

Straightjacket Feeling - Pearlet Chp.2 (Scarlet)

TW - brief mentions of homophobia and drug use and a little angst. Shorter chapter because it skips ahead in time after this and this seemed like the best place to end it.

Chapter 2

Over the next week Jason was bombarded by texts and calls from Matt. He ignored them all.

Saturday

From Handsome Matt:

10.37am

Jason I don’t know what you think is going on but I wasn’t messing with you I swear. I just wanted to get to know you that’s all

3.46pm

Jason please, at least meet me so we can talk?

11.20pm

Seriously, why would you think I would want to mess with you? Jeez anyone would think you didn’t want a friend.

Sunday

From Handsome Matt:

1.25pm

Jason this is fucking dumb, please reply

11.49pm

Urghhhhh yo startin to get annoyin nw…stupid doesn’t wnt tlk 2me

Clearly he was drunk.

It was now Friday again and the texts had started thinning out but they hadn’t stopped. The last one had come ten minutes ago and all it said was ‘fine, have it your way. I give up. And you say I’m an asshole.'

Jason turned his phone off after that. Why was Matt so determined to fuck with him? Surely there were plenty of other dumb freshman he could mess with, why couldn’t he leave Jason alone? Bri was out, he’d been invited to another party with Brian and no doubt Matt was there too. Jason sighed and slid his headphones on his ears before curling up in bed. He felt like such an idiot. At least he’d figured out Matt’s game before it was too late and he made a complete fool out of him. He wasn’t going to let that happen. Not again.

—————————————–

Matt sipped his drink and scanned the room again. He didn’t know why he thought Jason might be here. Jake was off hooking up already as usual and Brian and new Bri, Jason’s roommate were chatting aimlessly away next to him about drag queens. Matt wasn’t really listening, he kept scoping the crowd for one face in particular.

He didn’t know what it was about Jason, but there was something alright. Matt had noticed Jason on his first day on campus, and pretty much every day since. There was something so magnetic about him and that both excited and scared Matt. Because Matt had never found another man magnetic before. He’d never spent this much time thinking about another man. So why Jason? What was so special about this guy that had Matt hooked since the first day? He’d never tell anyone this but last week when Jason had 'accidentally’ tripped over Matt’s legs, it hadn’t been such an accident. Matt had seen him coming, he’d seen a chance to finally talk to him. So, just as Jason had gotten near, clearly not looking where he was going, Matt had stretched his legs out into Jason’s path and deliberately tripped the younger boy over. He still didn’t know why he’d done it. He didn’t like thinking too much about the why.

Brian left to get him and Bri another drink and Matt couldn’t help himself but ask.

'Is Jason coming?'

Bri shrugged.

'Doubt it, he hates these parties.’

'Did he say anything about the last one?'

'Nah, we don’t really talk that much.’ Bri shrugged again. Just then Brian re-joined them.

'Hey there’s some guys passing out a joint down the hall, wanna join?’ He directed the question at both of them. Bri’s face lit up.

'Well durh!’ Bri chuckled.

'Matt?’ Brian asked him but to his surprise Matt shook his head.

'Nah I think I’m gonna bounce.'

'Seriously? It’s not even eleven and you haven’t hooked up yet.’ Brian laughed.

'Yeah I’m just tired. I’ll catch you later yeah?’ Matt downed his drink and patted his friend on the back. Brian frowned watching him leave but he shook it off and let him go.

—————————————–

Matt marched through the dorm on the other side of campus until he came to the room he was looking for. He banged on the door loudly, from what he’d seen of Jason around campus he was always wearing his headphones so he wanted to make sure he would hear him. He continued banging on the door for several long minutes until he heard a grumpy voice on the other side.

'Fuck sake Brian I am going to surgically attach your key to your hand in your goddam sleep. I’m getting sick of-’ Jason stopped his rant as he opened the door to see Matt standing there. Jason immediately blushed, he was only wearing his boxers and a baggy tank top that was so old and worn it hung so low you could almost see his nipples. 'Matt what the hell?’ He groaned. He’d done a really good job at avoiding him so far. He should have known the asshole wouldn’t give up this easily. 'I told you Matt I do not want to be a pawn in your sick games ok? Please find someone else.’

Matt pushed passed Jason into the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

'Look just fucking listen would you?’ Matt raised his voice a little. 'I am not trying to fuck with you Jason! I want to be your friend goddamn it! Why are you making this so hard?’

'Because no one ever wants to just be friends with me ok Matt? You could be friends with anyone. You’re cool and funny and attractive and popular. Why me? Why me?'

Matt’s facial expression softened as he stepped a little closer to Jason.

'You think I’m attractive?'

Jason rolled his eyes.

'Way to focus on the point.’ The younger boy sighed.

'I just don’t understand why you find it so hard to believe I want to be friends with you.’ Matt scratched the back of his head. Jason ran his fingers through his messy hair, trying so hard to ignore how uncomfortable and exposed he felt in what he was wearing.

'Because,’ he sighed. 'It wouldn’t be the first time someone had pretended to be my friend only to fuck me over.’ His eyes conveyed his sadness and Matt saw it.

'What happened?’

'Doesn’t matter.’ Jason turned his back on Matt.

'Jason, please.’ Matt cautiously put his hand on Jason’s shoulder. He felt the younger boy stiffen a little at his touch. When he turned back to look at Matt, Matt saw the tears behind his eyes.

'When I was in high school, there was this super popular guy called Boomer. He was so gorgeous but I didn’t think he even knew I existed. Then one day he asks me if I want to hang out and I couldn’t believe my luck. We spent loads of time together outside of school, I was actually really starting to fall for him and I thought he felt the same. He asked me to a school dance, he told me he wanted to be with me and that he wanted to make it public that night. He told me to meet him in one of the class rooms before the dance started so I did. When I got there, the class room was dark and Boomer pushes me into the wall and tells me to take my clothes my off. So I did, because I was a sucker for him, I would have done anything he asked me too. And then…then…’ Jason choked a little so he paused for a second to compose himself. Matt was hanging off his every word. 'Then suddenly the lights go on and I’m stood there in my boxers and all of his friends are there laughing at me and taking pictures. It was so humiliating. I threw my clothes back on and ran from the room crying. The next day the pictures were all over school. I never lived it down, everyone called me a faggot and would say things like as if Boomer Banks would ever be interested in you. I never told my parents because I was too embarrassed so I had to stay at that school for the next two years and every day was the fucking same. So that’s why I don’t trust you Matt. I don’t trust that anyone cool or popular would ever want to be friends with me because I know what can happen ok?’ He was a little breathless when he finished his story, but thankfully he’d managed to keep his tears at bay. Matt looked shocked. He bit his lip.

'Jason, I’m sorry that’s so terrible.’ He frowned sadly. 'I swear to you that’s not what this about though, I just wanted to be your friend.'

'Why though? Why me?’ Jason sighed heavily, running his fingers through his hair. Matt liked the way it looked when he did that a little too much.

'Because I know what it’s like to be lonely and to have no friends. I saw you and I felt bad for you, because I know that feeling.'

'As if.’ Jason scoffed. 'Like you know what it’s like. I bet you were Mr Popularity in high school too.’

'Actually I wasn’t.’ Matt shook his head. 'Back in high school I wore glasses and I had acne and braces. And I was about 50lbs heavier.'

'No way.’ Jason scoffed again.

'Way.’ Matt told him. 'Nobody ever gave me the time of day, I was bullied every single day of my high school life and when it was finally over I decided I couldn’t do it anymore. Before I started college I went on this big health kick, started working out, I got contacts and the braces came off. I got this amazing cream for my acne and when I started college I was determined not to be that kid anymore. I forced myself to be more confident and put myself out there because I wasn’t going back to my high school days. I guess when I saw you, you reminded me so much of high school me. I mean you’re much better looking than I was but you were clearly shy and awkward and I figured everyone deserves a friend. I swear to you I was just trying to be nice.’ Matt confessed to him, the first time he’d ever confessed that. Jason tried to ignore the fact Matt had said he was good looking, in a roundabout way he’d said it anyway and it made Jason’s stomach flip. He didn’t focus on than though.

'Do you have pictures?’ Jason raised a challenging eyebrow at Matt who chuckled a little. He pulled his phone from his pocket.

'I swear to god if you tell anyone about this…’ he opened up his photos and scrolled right to the top before finding the one he was looking for. He took a deep breath before turning the screen to face Jason. Staring back at Jason was a much heavier kid who vaguely resembled Matt. If it hadn’t been for those eyes, almost hidden by milk bottle glasses, Jason wouldn’t have believed it was him.

'Oh my god.’ Jason gasped.

'See I told you. Do you believe me now that all I wanted was to be your friend?’

'Hmmm maybe.’ Jason raised his eyebrow again. Matt sighed.

'I’ll tell you what, I’m going to send you this photo, and if I mess you around you can show anyone you like, ok?’ Matt tapped a few buttons and then Jason heard his phone beep. He smiled a little.

'Ok.'

'Great.’ Matt smiled and he flopped to Jason’s bed and turned his laptop screen to face him. 'What you watching?'

'Drag Race.’ Jason blushed as he sat down next to Matt.

'Cool! Hit play then.’ Matt kicked his shoes off and pulled his legs up, resting his chin on his knees.

'I’m half way through a season.'

'You’ll have to catch me up then.’ Matt got himself comfy leaning back on Jason’s pillows. Jason bit his lip and leant next to him, pulling that laptop onto his lap still feeling self-conscious about his lack of clothing. He hit the space bar and the screen sprung to life just as Trixie Mattel was hitting the main stage.

'That’s the one from your shirt right?’ Matt asked.

'Yeah that’s Trixie.’ Another queen strutted out on the main stage. 'That’s Violet, she’s incredible.'

'I can see why you like her, damn she’s working it!’ Matt snapped his fingers. Jason frowned to himself. Maybe Matt wasn’t as straight as he made out. 'Oh wow who’s that?’ His eyes widened as another queen made her way out.

'That’s Pearl.’

'She’s hot as fuck! Holy shit that’s a man?’ He turned to Jason in confusion and his expression made Jason laugh.

'Yah huh, they all are, that’s kind of the point of the show.’

'Well damn, if I didn’t know any better I would totally hit on her.’ Matt laughed, snuggling further back into the pillows. Ok, maybe he was straight after all. Jason was so confused. They watched a few more episodes together and both of them slowly started to drift off.

—————————————–

They were woken a few hours later when Bri practically fell through the door and onto the floor. He stood back up and saw Jason asleep with his head on Matt’s chest and Matt resting his chin on Jason’s head. They both looked so content. Bri thought it was sweet but he was drunk so he decided to wake them.

'Funny, this doesn’t look like your dorm Matt.’ He shouted loudly and the two boys woke with a start, Jason’s laptop almost falling to the floor.

'What the fuck?’ Jason groaned. 'What time is it?’

'Like 8am or something.’ Bri shrugged already getting undressed and into bed.

'8am?’ Jason groaned, how had that happened?

'So judging by the fact you’re just stumbling in, I guess you and Brian hooked up?’ Matt smirked sitting up and putting his boots on. Bri grunted.

'I could ask you two the same thing.'

'We were just watching Drag Race you ass.’ Jason rolled his eyes.

'Is that what the kids are calling it these days?’ Bri snickered. 'In that case me and Brian were 'watching drag race’ too.'

'Screw you.’ Jason rolled his eyes again.

'I should go, Jake will probably be wondering where I am.’ Matt ruffled his hair and yawned a little.

'Yeah sure.’ Jason didn’t want him to go but he wasn’t going to say as much. He walked Matt to the door and when he opened it, Matt pulled him into the corridor.

'Thank you for last night, we should do it again sometime.’ Matt placed his hand on Jason’s shoulder. Jason nodded dumbly.

'Yeah sure.’ He swallowed, feeling uncomfortable by the way Matt was looking at him.

'Please never ask me why I did this.’ Matt whispered and Jason frowned.

'Did what?'

Matt replied by pushing Jason into the wall in the corridor and kissing him. It was just a brief kiss, nothing more. And then Matt pulled away and half-smiled.

'Matt what the hell?’

Matt put his finger to Jason’s lips to silence him.

'I said don’t ask.’ He shrugged. 'See you around uhm Jason.’ He turned and headed down the corridor. Jason watched him leave. He put his fingers to his own lips and stroked them dumbly. Had that really just happened? He felt like he must have imagined it, but his lips were still tingling. He watched until Matt disappeared and even when he was gone he continued to stand there for a while.

'See you around Matt.’ He whispered before letting himself back in his room, his head hazy and his heart ablaze.