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uswnt-keeper · 4 years ago

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Focus Isn’t My Strong Suit

Prompt by @cpaeralricey: Can you do a Kelley x youngersister!reader quarantining together and the reader has to to do School online but struggles cause of their ADHD and just lots of fluff and Kelley helping the crazy kid out. Does that make any sense? If not don’t worry about it.

Note before we start. Sorry if this is terrible, I don’t have ADHD so I don’t really know what it’s like, I tried to make this is fun as possible. Also just for future reference I will no longer be writing Kelley, Alex, or JJ fics. (There will be my final Alex post today, but that’s it).

This royally sucked... like to a whole other level of sucking... does that sound weird? It sounds weird, oh well... whatever. That’s not the point, the point is, I’m stuck doing online school, which normally isn’t that bad, but it all kind of happened all at once.

You see, I’d been flown out to visit Kelley, my older sister, in my spring break which happened to be at the beginning of March. I hadn’t seen her in a long time between her traveling for different teams, and I missed her. I miss all of my siblings honestly. Jerry was off doing business man things, and Erin was off hanging with her besties on some beach somewhere. Kelley was the youngest of my older siblings, but shes 32, I’m 16, big age difference there. I’d been adopted by my family at a young age and so, of course there would be an age difference, but they were family and Kelley and I were close.

Anyway, back to my main point of how much this sucked. The nation went on lockdown literally a week into my stay, I couldn’t leave for the airport or anything and Kelley’s games and trainings were suspended after the SheBelieves cup, even the Olympics were cancelled. So I was stuck, but that wasn’t what sucked, I was with Kelley, that was great, but then came online school.

Online school, for someone like me, is the worst possible option. I struggled with ADHD and paying attention in a normal class, but sitting on my own in a room of distractions would be even worse, I mean... how was I NOT suppose to say dream or cheat on a test?!

Not only that, but I was awaiting my prescription, we had to start ordering it so it shipped to Kelley’s apartment in Utah. So with that going on, we were now in late March and we realized it would be another day before my pills arrives... and I was out.

“Kelley!” I yelled from my bathroom, looking at the empty bottle.

Kelley came rushing in, “What, what is it?!”

“I’m out of meds,” I said hyper focused on the writing on the bottle.

“Oh.... OH WHAT?!” She grabbed the bottle out my hands, shaking the orange container around as if she was trying to summon more pills to her.

“It’s just a day, it won’t be that bad right?” I said and Kelley looked at me with a glare.

“When was the last time you weren’t on your meds?” She asked.

I thought about it for a moment, “Uhh, probably before I was diagnosed.”

“So when you were bouncing off the walls?” She asked and I shrugged, walking out the bathroom.

“Look, I have school in like... oh actually I’m late,” I said looking at my phone, it was only 8, but class started at 7:45.

Kelley groaned as I rushed to my laptop, she had moved to the dining table after finding me staring at my ceiling for an entire class, she was fun as a sister, but her feeling of responsibly over me was unbearable.

I logged into the class with my camera off, apologizing for being late and I made up some random excuse. I looked to Kelley who had just walked out of my room, and she rolled her eyes at me and tossed me t-shirt. I muted myself and looked at her confused.

“You forgot to put one on,” she said before I could ask and I looked down at myself realizing she was right, so I begrudgingly pulled in on with a huff.

After my first class, I had my second period, which was a study hall, and I hated it, all I ever did was stare at off into space, which ended up happening this time too. I went through the whole school day, completely unable to focus on anything as I felt my ADHD consume my movements and thoughts.

“Y/N!” Kelley snapped me out of my trance, I realized she sat in front of me, working on something of her own, “Your teacher asked you a question,” she said.

I unmuted myself to apologize before asking her to repeat the question. The one good thing about ADHD was that I often retained large chunks of info if it was interesting enough, so I had the knowledge to answer the question this time.

When I muted myself again I sighed, it was times liked these I hated my condition, it was unbearable and made me miss so much shit.

“You okay Speedster?” A nickname Kelley had gifted me at the age of 4 when I literally couldn’t stop running around, it’s fitting now as I’ve followed in her footsteps and started playing soccer.

“I hate not being able to focus,” I complained and finally, as I said that, the class was over.

“Well,” Kelley started, closing my laptop for me, “Maybe you should walk around or something, get some focus back?” She asked, I sighed again, it was the best idea so far, “I’ll be here if you if you need me.”

I stood up, taking my computer to my room and threw it on the bed. There was no way I could focus on doing yoga or lifting weights, not at all. All I wanted to do was run around, do anything but what I was doing. It was probably about 5 minutes in my room before I rushed out my room, heading to the kitchen to search Kelley’s cabinets.

“What are you doing in there?” Kelley turned after I rummaged for a few minutes.

“Food,” I replied.

“If your hungry I can make you sandwich or something,” she said, looking away from her computer.

“Ughhhhh,” I complained, “A sandwich sounds so boring,” I groaned and she rolled her eyes at me, going back to the meeting she was in.

I left the kitchen, heading back to my room, sitting on my bed feeling restless. I tried writing and reading, I even did some homework, but eventually I got bored again, and I felt antsy. That is, until I found something I could compare to gold.

“No way,” I whispered to myself, pulling two things out from under the guest bed, “This is gonna be so much fun.”

Kelley’s POV

I was worried about Y/N, I knew she would feel bad about her ADHD, usually I’d go distract her, but I was caught in this stupid meeting for another few minutes. I was listening to what my manager was saying amongst the other people there, until something stung me.

I flinched, looking at my arm, then around me and at the floor, finding a... nerf bullet?

There was a click and another one hit my temple this time.

“Ow,” I complained, looking to where I heard giggling.

It was Y/N of course, hiding behind a cardboard cut out of me with a nerf gun reaching around it.

“Y/N, don’t you—“ She shot me again, laughing hysterically, I turned to my computer, “Listen guys, I’m gonna have to go, got something to sort out,” I said and they nodded as I logged off.

Y/N looked at me with a challenge, if this is what she needed to calm down, then I guess a little match wouldn’t be bad.

“It is so on,” I said, reaching into one of the kitchen cabinets.

“WHAT?! You have a nerf gun just sitting in your kitchen?!”

“Never know when it might come in handy,” I shot at her, the bullet sticking itself right in her forehead and she huffed and smiled.

“I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“You wish,” I replied.

Turns out the one round turned into three hours of an intense and heated nerf battle, ending with Y/N surrendering to the couch where sweat fell from her head.

“Alright, alright, you win,” she said exhausted for once and I plopped down on the couch next to her.

“Told you I’d kick your butt,” I said.

“Surrendering doesn’t mean you kicked my butt,” she complained and I laughed.

“How you feeling?” I asked, looking to her now.

“Exhausted for the first time today,” she said with a smile, “Never thought I’d be happy to be tired.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in to a hug, “You know there’s nothing wrong with your ADHD right?” I asked and she shrugged, “If you ever feel bad about it, remember that you can totally start a nerf war and it’s completely justified,” I said and she laughed.

“Thanks Kell.”

“Anytime kiddo.”

There was a pause.

“Do you have food?”

“I knew you wanted something.”

She laughed again and we spent the rest of the night eating and watching movies until we fell into a deep sleep.

#uswnt x reader #uswntxreader #uswnt imagine #uswnt imagines #kelley o'hara x reader

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oblivious-embodied · 5 years ago

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Are The Stars Out Tonight?

Summary: The stars may be covered, but they are always out and about, waiting to be seen.

All you need to do is wait for the moment they can be seen, and you’ll be shown a whole new, beautiful world.

Notes: This was beta'd by the wonderful @sweetmeatdale! Hello all! Welcome to my fluff! This is... the second fluff fic i have ever written, if i am not mistaken. Amyway, i am just slightly sleep deprived, and it has bleed into how i wrote this. so... Enjoy the tooth rotting fluff i have birthed into this world! and make sure to bring a tooth brush and mouth wash!

(Read here on AO3)

Lying in her bed, Marinette tries to drift off to sleep for what feels like hours. But, when she checks her phone for the time with a frustrated huff, it reads that it has only been 10 minutes since she last checked.

Letting out a long, low groan, she drops her phone and flops back down on her back.

‘Why am I having so much trouble sleeping?Isn’t Tikki always saying that “Sleep is good for the soul”?’

She clamps her eyes shut and squirms under the covers to find a comfortable position. She does this for who-knows-how-long, twisting and turning, grunting and groaning.

With another huff Marinette rolls over and grabs her phone again, only to find that just 5 minutes have passed. She lets out a growl, and looks up to the skylight, looking at the clouds, wondering if there would be a break through them to reveal the nighttime sky and stars.

She wonders if she’s the only one looking at the sky, wishing for the clouds to part.

It’s always such a wondrous thing to see the stars, a rare sight in Paris. It’s been a few months since she’s seen the stars, and she’s finding that she’s longing for those twinkling balls of light.

But there’s a sight she longs to see more than she does the stars.

She turns her head to the side and looks at her phone, but she doesn’t see it, for she is lost in memories and day (night) dreams.

The word “boyfriend” is such a wonderful word. A word that fills her with a warmth that could rival getting a hug from her Papa and Maman. Marinette can’t hide the smile spreading across her lips like wildfire in a dry forest if she wanted to. Not when she thinks about her boyfriend.

For years, she’s fantasized about being able to use that word, to be someone’s and to have someone. Someone she can call at any time to talk about something. About her stresses, her emotions, her thoughts. Someone who supports her through everything.

And, now that she thinks about it, the real thing is so much better than any fantasy she could conjure up. Knowing the feel of her boyfriend against her as they sleep, the feel of his head on her shoulder as they watch a show or movie. The way his hand fits her just so perfectly as they work on their homework. The way his hugs feel. The way he looks at her, with such love and adoration that if the sun were to be turned off, his eyes alone could light the way.

The way he talks to her, with respect, and care, mischief and humor. The way he’s always looking for a way to bring up the mood, searching for a way to make her laugh. To make her feel valued and wanted.

The way he comes to her to vent, the way he lets himself be vulnerable around her.

It’s all so, so much better than any dream, any fantasy. The things she’d dream about before… they are hollow renditions of the real deal.

Adrien Agreste, her boyfriend. The best boyfriend anyone could ever ask for.

Yesterday was their one month anniversary. All they had done was take a fully loaded picnic basket, a laptop, a blanket and a few pillows up to Marinette’s balcony. They stayed up there for hours, laughing at the shows they’re watching, pointing out plot holes and stupid tactics. They shared the food, lowering bits and pieces into each other's mouths as if the other was ruling royalty from the 1800’s. They huddled closer together as the wind blew past them, wrapping the blanket around their shoulders.

It was the most blissful thing she had ever experienced.

Correction, the second most blissful. Nothing can beat the absolute bliss that fills her entire being when they kiss. When the world around them melts into nothing but a muted background as their minds explode with color and love and excitement and contentment.

She remembers the day Adrien came to her, a hand on the back of his neck, his legs shaking ever-so-slightly, his eyes darting around everywhere, but always landing back on her face. Her lips, her eyes, back to her lips, and then her eyes again.

She remembers how his voice sounded, nervous and wavering as he stammered his words through his uncooperative mouth and tongue. ‘H-hey Marinette! It’s uh, it’s been a while since we talked, well, three day but that’s beside the point. I-I, you’re amazing and awesome and so talented and amazing and wonderful and so kind and popular and thoughtful and strong and amazing and i- Ijustreallylikeyouawholelotandiwaswonderingifyou’dliketogoonadatesomtime?’

Her smile grows impossibly wider at the memory. She’s fairly certain that she broke his eardrums from her corresponding screech, and she knows for a fact that he had a few bruises from how hard she tackle-hugged him.

For years, she was the one who was tongue tied around him, it was quite satisfying to see him stuttering and shaking in his designer sneakers. And to see his beautiful, wonderful, sunshine face heat up like the surface of the sun as he registered that they were on the ground, her on top of him.

Some days, it feels like a dream, it all seems too good to be true, but then… Adrien holds her hand, or he hugs her, or kisses her and it feels just so right that it can’t possibly be a dream.

Marinette reaches for her phone and wakes it up, her heart filling with warmth as she looks at the lock screen. It’s a picture of the two of them, Adrien is laying in the grass, his arm extended up and to the side, his other arm wraps around her waist as he pulls her to his chest. He has the biggest, doppiest, heart melting smile she has ever seen (It could put Chat to shame with how big it was), and his eyes were shining so bright the emerald green looked like other worldly stars. His pupils are dilated so much, they seem almost inhuman. Marinette’s eyes are shining just as bright, like the clear sky, or the brightest blue stars. She’s smiling just as big, the edges of her eyes crinkling as her cheeks burn pink. Just a few shades lighter than the blush coating Adrien’s cheeks.

They had spent their third date at the park, eating dinner as a picnic, and messing around the park for hours. Adrien had just barely tackled her to the ground (He took the opportunity to roll midair and land on his back to take the brunt of the fall. He said that he did it because he was raised to be a gentleman and chivalry is not dead, but she has a sneaking suspicion that he was just showing off. She isn’t complaining, though) and he initiated a tickle fight. One that he subsequently lost, because apparently, he is the most ticklish person she has ever met, right alongside Chat Noir.

The tickle fight lasted for no more than 5 minutes, and when it was over, Adrien had pulled her to his chest and he took this picture.

With a content and dreamy sigh, Marinette opens her phone and navigates to her contacts, clicking over to her favorites list and tapping on his contact info. The profile picture she has for him is when they went to an amusement park for their first date, they had just bought some cotton candy and he just stared at it for a solid minute , his eyes twinkling in disbelief, mouth open ever so slightly as the tip of his tongue rests on his bottom lip.

She spent a long time debating what his profile picture should be, it was a close battle between the amusement park picture or a picture that Alya had taken for her when they shared their first kiss on a double date with Alya and Nino. Marinette looks over to the corkboard above her bed, where said picture is tacked to the board. It shows Adrien and Marinette holding hands between them, pressed between their chests, her other hand on the back of his neck as his is on the small of her back. His blonde hair is a mess, and falling to the side as his head is tilted to kiss her better.

Looking back to her phone, she wonders if it’s a good idea to send him a text. To see if he’s awake, and wanting to talk. But… He had two shoots today, he’s certainly fast asleep by now, and she’d feel horrible if she woke him up from his fully deserved sleep.

But… she really, really, really wants to hear his voice. One last time for the night. It would certainly help her fall asleep. (She hasn’t heard his voice all day, you can’t blame a girl for wanting to hear her boyfriend’s voice as she’s trying to sleep!)

But.... he’s sure to be exhausted.

With a disappointed huff, Marinette closes the messaging app and as she’s about to lock her phone, it starts buzzing as the profile picture of Adrien shows up on an Incoming video call screen. A smile splits her face in two as she answers the call, eager to see her boyfriend for the first time that day (Okay, fine! It’s only been 4 hours since he last sent her a picture, but that’s not the same!)

“Hey, Babe!” she calls with unconcealed excitement.

“Hey, Love,” Adrien replies groggily, his hair a damp mess of blonde locks. “What’s up?”

“Not the moon” she grumps, glaring at the clouds in the sky.

At this, Adrien raises an eyebrow. “Uh, I’m fairly certain the moon is up, it’s just hidden-”

“Oh, let me have this, you adorable nerd!” she pokes her tongue out at him, and giggles as he sticks his tongue right back out at her.

She breathes a love-sick sigh, “What’s up over there on your end? Why aren’t you asleep? Didn’t you have two shoots today?”

“Uhhh… “ Adrien’s eyes cross as he focuses on her questions and how to answer them coherently and in the correct order (He does this whenever he’s tired, it is the most adorable thing she has ever seen!) “Yeah, there were two shoots today, they were hot and sticky and yucky and mean and bad and I really wanted you there because it was so boring and I had to model with a girl and she was on my arm and I felt like I was cheating on you, please don’t tell me I was cheating on you, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to, please-”

“Adrien,” Marinette cuts in with a laugh, rolling her eyes, he gets so worrisome and rambly when he’s tired, “you didn’t cheat on me, I promise!”

“But how do you know?” he whines, followed by a ‘fwop’ as he lands face first on his bed, his voice starting to waver.

Struggling to keep herself from laughing, she tries to reassure him. “Adrien, you did- you did not cheat on me. Answer me this, okay?”

“...Okay,” comes his soft, heart warming, and tear bringing mutter.

“Did you kiss her?”

“Oh, hell no ” he cries, the phone shaking as he violently shoots up into a sitting position.

“Did you touch her anywhere you shouldn’t have?”

He turns an incredulous look at her through the phone, “Are you crazy?! Of course I didn’t” his eyes suddenly darken, lips curing into a smirk as he rumbles out, “these hands are reserved for my lady, and my lady alone” Marinette has to repress a shiver at the change in tone.

“Then, you see, you dork, you did not cheat on me!”

Adrien is quiet for a moment, eyes glistening with unshed tears as he looks at her like she’s the moon. “You’re sure?”

Marinette sends him a reassuring smile. “Of course, Love.”

Adrien puts the phone to his chest and falls back on the bed again, a muttered “Oh thank God!” falling from his lips.

“You never answered my question,” Marinette says after a minute of silence, “What are you doing up so late?”

After a second’s pause, the phone screen shifts and Adrien looks at her with squinted eyes. “Why are you awake?”

“I asked you first!”

“...You did?”

“Yes, you doof.”

“Oh… uh…” his eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. “You know, I actually have no idea. I was just… awake?”

Marinette leans into the phone screen, “are you lying?”

“Babe, I don't thin’ i have the men… metal capacity to lie to you at th’s moment in time.”

Marinette can’t help but let out a laugh. It’s true, when he gets tired, he loses his whole ability to lie. “I love you.”

There’s a gasp on his side of the phone and suddenly the phone drops and a whispered “Shit” can be heard before his face appears again, sheepish and excited. “You love me?!”

Marinette quirks a brow in patience. “Yes, love.”

“Like… love-love? Not friend-love?”

“You’re one to talk, mister ‘You’re just a friend’!”

“Oh shhhhhhhhhhhush, you!”

They both dissolve into giggles for a few seconds before comfortable silence falls between them, both of them looking into the other’s eyes.

“What’re you doin’ wake?” Adrien asks, head tilting to the side like a kitten.

“Oh, me?”

“Yes, you.”

“I just couldn’t sleep, is all!”

“Awww, do you want me to come over?”

“Would it be bad if I said yes?”

“No, not at all! I’ll be over in 5 minutes!”

“Adrien, it’s midnight, there is no way you could possibly come over.”

“Sure there is! Pla-”

“Adrien.”

Adrien looks at her, dropping his hand from the fist he had raised up. “Yes?”

“It’s midnight.”

“...Yeah?”

“So everyone else is asleep.”

“Uh-huh… what’s the point?”

“My point is, the Gorilla is asleep, Nathalie is also asleep, and you can’t drive.”

At Adrien’s continued look of confusion, Marinette decides to further elaborate. “This means that you can’t come over, no matter how much i want you to.”

“Oh…” Adrien’s face falls, and he falls to the floor, twirling a finger along the polished grains of the wood. “I’m sorry.”

“Babe, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“But you want me there with you and I can’t be there.”

“Awww, Adrien…” Marinette presses her phone to her chest. “That’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself for that!”

“But I want to be there too!” he whines.

“Love, you’ll see me tomorrow before school.”

“But that’s not enough!”

Marinette opens her mouth to reply, but something he said previously catches up to her and gives her pause. “...Adrien… what were you going to say when you said ‘Pla’?”

Adrien is silent for a whole minute before replying. “Oh, uh… I was gonna say ‘Plague the sleep taker! Because, you know, I was gonna come over and snuggle you and love you and kiss you and sing yo to sleep?”

It… seems a bit far-fetched to her, but this is Sleepy™ Adrien, and he has said weirder things before. (Like that one time he told her about a dream he had in which he was a hamster and he was doing ninja things to get to her bakery to eat croissants.)

“I love you too, Adrien.”

Another gasp, “I love yo too!”

Marinette pulls the phone from her chest and a yawn escapes her mouth as she reads the time on the screen. “Love, it’s really late, it’s time to go to sleep”

“NNnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooo” he growls out, and Marinette has to shake her head to get the image of a cat growling out of her mind.

“C’mon, I’ll see you in the morning!”

“But I want to see you now!” he whines.

“...Then look at your screen.”

Adrien looks from the floor, his finger going still as he looks her in the eyes. “Woah…” he breathes, eyes and pupils going wide, as though this were the first time he laid eyes on her, “you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

Despite hearing this plenty of times before, Marinette can’t help but blush at the unabashed adoration in his gaze.

“I love you, Adrien.”

“Awwww, shucks” Adrien looks at the ground again, tilting his head down as he rubs at the back of his neck.

Marinette sputters out a laugh, “What- who says ‘Shucks’ anymore?”

“OH! I forgot to tell you! I saw Cars yesterday! Mater is amazing and reminds me of Nino in a weird sort of way and McQueen and Sally are so frickin’ adorable and I just- I can’t, I can’t even-”

Marinette laughs at his ramblings, loving the way his eyes light up as he tells her about the things he’s finally able to do. “Dork.”

“Ah, but I’m your dork!”

This elicits a laugh from her. “Okay, you’ve got me there.”

Adrien sighs, it’s full of content. “Yeah, I do have you… And you have me!”

“You sure bet I do!”

They fall into companionable silence once more, and after a few minutes, Marinette looks to her skylight again and gasps as she sees that the stars are out.

“You good, Babe? I mean you are good, you’re the goodest person I know.”

“Yeah, yeah, i’m good, but, can you do something for me?”

“You bet I can!”

“…What do you want me to do?” Marinette’s eyes are transfixed on the stars shining in the clear night sky, but she can hear the way his eyebrows are squished together in confusion.

“Could you look out your window for me?”

A few stumbling steps later, and Adrien replies “As you wish”

Marinette takes a moment to smile at the reference.

“I love you, too. Now answer me this: are the stars out tonight?”

There’s silence, then his voice. “Mare, the stars are always out?”

“Not what I mean. Can you see the stars?”

He goes silent again. “Yeah, I can see the stars.” he says, in awe.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

There’s a soft thump. “They sure are. That’s why I like astronomy so much. So many beautiful things out there.”

Marinette smiles. It’s so nice to hear him talk about his passions. He listens to her talk about fashion and designs all the time, she’s really glad he found something he enjoys too.

“But they only reflect the light you give off.”

Marinette smiles wider, a giggle falling from her lips. “You’re hopeless.”

“Only when I’m not with you, Marinette. Only when I’m not with you.” His voice is full of adoration and love.

“Then I’ll never leave.”

“Then I’ll look for you in the stars.” He says.

“And I’ll look for you in the stitches.” She returns.

#fluff #so much fluff #i think i gave myself diabetes with this one #adrienette fluff #adrienette #miraculous ladybug #sleepy adrien #love-sick marinette #love-sick adrien #two sleepy teens in love

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ohmrlove · 5 years ago

Note

Heya! Could I please ask for headcanons from each of the boys dealing with a situation where the MC has been kidnapped and held hostage for 3 days, and they themselves are being demanded to hand something over (e.g something material/a specific person in high power)? The MC suffers something from minor to severe injuries. Not life-threatening but enough to hurt.

Interesting and dramatic! (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Warning for mild violence. Nothing too descriptive, I think.

Also, it’s kind of long.

🍷 Victor 🍷

Being who he was, Victor fully expected the ransom to be money-related. It was.

He’d gotten the money together within hours of the first email showing you chained up in some dingy stone-walled cell.

He gave a press conference that said he was ready to hand over the money, to just contact him again. That had apparently spooked your captors; they didn’t contact him for two AGONIZING days.

He was collaborating with LPD as quietly as possible, afraid a strong counterattack would convince them to kill you

Victor had more enemies than he could count, and he had no clue who was behind it

That was the farthest thing from his mind as LPD fitted him with a bullet proof vest, a mic, and camera before sending him to the designated site

The briefcase was rigged with traps set to go off when too much money was removed. Things like dye packs and a nasty shock mechanism an engineering company was happy to supply

Victor walked through an old stone building--a fake castle?--and stared down the little bug that tried to intimidate him

Victor felt his face and neck grow hot with rage, Evol pulsing in his fingertips as he debated letting time slow down so he could beat this scum within an inch of his life

How had they found out about you? He worked with so many people! Why not take Goldman?

The businessman in him was begging to be sensible but Victor could never be very sensible when it came to you, could he?

Using his Evol to slow down time, Victor rushed the creep. It was a full-on scuffle, Victor quickly getting the upper hand when he used that briefcase full of money like the brick it was

Cuff link missing, blood on his suit jacket, and some buttons hanging limply from his shirt, Victor sat back to catch his breath. He wiped blood from his lip.

The guy was out cold; he’d probably broken some bones. He looked robbed, himself; Victor was very thorough--and angry--as he practically maimed the cretin to check for an ear piece or extra weapons

The assailant didn’t have time to contact friends and that made Victor feel a little better. Maybe it was a smaller operation than they assumed

He called for police backup to help sweep the place and found you in a cell at the back. It looked like something used for photographs, like a fun zone.

The chains from the picture were cheap and fake; they broke easily as he forced them open. The zipties around your wrists were much harder to get off, and Victor apologized as he wedged his big fingers between the plastic and your wrists to snap them.

It took effort, to the point where he had to brace a foot against the bars, but he got them off and that’s all that mattered.

You were very dehydrated--your lips and skin told him that. You felt like you had a fever, and your skin was raw and tender from fighting the binds. One half of your face was bruised and Victor choked with tears as you practically peeped his name, your voice weak and dry.

“It’s okay,” he held you in his arms for a minute, supporting your neck. You’d probably been in that same position for three days. It probably hurt like hell!

How was he even holding you? He was shaking so much...

“You’ll be okay!” Victor was rambling now, afraid to run to the entrance in case he hurt you anymore. “You’ll get the best care, I promise! Just hold on.” he rearranged you to let you rest against his shoulder.

“And pudding?” he barely heard it.

Pudding? At a time like this? Maybe it’s because you were starved. But, then again, you were always going on about sweets.

“Of course, dummy...” Victor bumped his head against yours and carried you out. Once at the hospital, he didn’t leave your side. When you were discharged, he stuck to you like glue for the next two months.

📢 Gavin 📢

This is a situation they were all trained for, something they were cautioned could become a reality because people were sick and cruel. They were dirty, willing to do anything to get the upper hand.

Why wasn’t he ready? Gavin almost felt sick. It’s like what victims always say ‘Well, that could never happen to me!’

But it did, and now he was desperately trying to get his head on straight so he could coordinate with the negotiators. He’d almost been taken off the mission, as it was so personal, but he agreed to go in under a different captain to avoid conflict

He expected a prisoner swap or further negotiations on a trial, but this guy was just ranting on and on about how LPD backed a conspiracy instead of the facts. They’d tried the wrong person (according to the rant).

They did it wrong, didn’t look at it enough, missed the clues...

Sources were still out on whether this was a legitimate mental break.

Gavin hadn’t slept since he’d seen you on the news report. The standoff was on day three and he couldn’t even remember how many shift changes there’d been between snipers and others waiting to finish the situation

So far they’d brought in three different family members to try and calm the guy, but he wasn’t having it.

His adrenaline kept him from being tired and he tried to use that energy to playback HOW this guy could have gotten you. Did he just have bad luck? Were you just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Had this guy been stalking him...or you?!

He listened to yet another screaming match between a relative and the suspect. Gavin’s heart beat in his ears as the negotiator kept the phone call on blast for everyone to hear. Something set him off and suddenly you were sailing over the building like a rag doll

Gavin felt his Evol explode, bowling over the cluster of people around him as he shot off to catch you.

He don’t know if he caught you or if you hit him, but Gavin held onto you like your life depended on it (it did)

He hovered there for a few moments, unable to do anything but laugh as you whined about smacking into him. You had some cuts and bruises, and one of your eyes was black but you were okay!

Gavin took a big, shuddering inhale as he pressed you to his body, fingers tangling in your hair

He probably hugged you way too hard, but he’d apologize later

He received clearance from the captain to ride in the ambulance with you, and he did. You were really disoriented as they took your vitals and figured out what drips to give you but you still reached for his hand.

Gavin wrapped both hands around your battered one. “I’m here.”

🔬 Lucien 🔬

There was no witty remark or playful sarcasm. Just burning rage and a cool calculated feeling.

Lucien wasn’t usually the self-absorbed type but he knew he could outsmart whatever idiot took you

He wasn’t surprised that they wanted top-secret research. Most evil entities do for one reason or another.

Lucien was more than ready to hand over gibberish copies that looked like the real thing but wouldn’t have any critical information. Things that, with the right graphics, would look like what they wanted. A bunch of scientific bullshit, basically.

They were after a few specimen, too, and Lucien had a near-impossible time convincing himself not to straight-up poison them with some toxic bacterial strains. Engineering bacteria was within his skill set and he’d love to see them suffer slowly

Forgeries take time, especially the types they were asking for. The three days past unbelievably slow--Lucien could hardly focus. The end goal of protecting you and making these look realistic enough to trade helped him pull through

Meeting at the docks was a bit cliche, something he’d only seen in the movies, but that further confirmed his suspicions that the info needed to travel and would be used for something big

He’d made LPD aware of the situation, the two parties agreeing not to broadcast any information. They could have the fanfare after catching them in the water.

Lucien adjusted the folder, jostling the pages so the hidden scalpel slid into the sleeve of his lab coat. There were only two men for the small boat, and you were sitting tied up on the edge of the dock. A cinder block sat nearby, undoubtedly tied to you.

All it would take is one nudge and--Lucien focused on the guy speaking, handed over the folder with an empty look, and stabbed him as hard as he could when the cool metal hit his palm.

The first guy got three or four stabs in the gut, Lucien swinging the scalpel up as the second one came at him. He definitely sliced him. Lucien was foggy on the rest.

He threw an elbow and lunged for you as that block slipped off the dock. Lucien hugged it to his chest, pulling with all his might to keep you dangling over the dock. Time seemed to drag forever as he curled his head and waited for the second guy to start stomping his back out--something

All of a sudden lights were thrown--big spot lights used in sea searches. Engines roared to life as LPD boats flooded the docks. One came to rest beneath you, and they coaxed him into letting go. He fell with you; he’d never forgive himself if something happened to you.

Drowning would be a terrible way to go, and you didn’t deserve it.

The fall would give you more bruises and you were already covered in them. Your throat was a little dark, like they’d grabbed you at one point, and Lucien had never wished so hard to return the favor.

He gave up trying to test your pupils with the pen light because all he could see was sheer hysteria. Lucien cradled you in his lap as they cut the block off, rocking you back and forth. “It’s okay, I’ll take care of you.” he smoothed out your hair.

🎤 Kiro 🎤

If any big scandal were to happen, he expected it to happen as Kiro the idol, not Key.

The ultimatum was quick to trend on social media--someone was calling Key out and they had a hostage.

A grainy video was attached and Kiro’s heart nearly stopped when he saw it was you.

He went to great lengths to conceal his identity as Key, so how did they know? He’d been pretty excited about that Key exoneration segment when it aired; maybe they considered him a VERY popular Key sympathizer. Someone who had influence over the real Key.

He was just starting to introduce you to his fanbase as his most favorite, his love, his Miss Chips. Maybe it was his fault...

His manager and the others were also shocked, and there was little to stop him when he left in a panic

It was quite traumatic, seeing your loved one held hostage. No one expected him to cooperate with his schedule after that.

Kiro barricaded himself at home, working feverishly in all the back channels as Key. He wouldn’t stop until you were safe!

You were probably being held by a criminal organization, as all the ‘tests’ revolved around funneling money and getting them air time.

It was difficult work, setting up paths that couldn’t be traced while dropping anonymous hints to LPD. Kiro was trying to make it seem like your kidnappers were arrogant enough to play a cat-and-mouse game with LPD.

After almost three days, he found their location. They could hide things with temporary blocks and back doors, but Kiro wasn’t your average hacker. They made a mistake to call out one of the best. Especially when they couldn’t compare.

These people were dumb enough to stream from a computer, and all it took was sending the coordinates to the LPD after stripping some protections. He even attached a few screenshots of the live stream for proof, and he got to watch in real time as they busted the place and got you out of there

Kiro didn’t know if he wanted to cry, collapse, or sleep

All three, really.

He changed into ‘Kiro’ clothes, made several phone calls to hospitals in the area, his manager, and even chief of police so he could figure out where they’d taken you.

Kiro’s adrenaline was back, the only thing saving him from falling asleep during the ride. He made it all the way to your hospital bed, unable to comprehend how you could look so pale and beaten up

It nearly broke his heart to see you like this, and he hated that he couldn’t use his Evol on himself to calm down.

“Kiro? You found me?” you were so drugged and tired you probably didn’t know what was happening.

“I’ll always find you!” Kiro scrubbed tears from his eyes with one hand, the other refusing to let yours go

Seeing you was so relaxing. He could hold you and feel your pulse beating in your wrist and he was so relieved!

Kiro could finally rest, and he did. He woke up right beside you, in a bed of his own, being treated for exhaustion and malnutrition. Your hand was still in a death grip and he couldn’t be happier.

Wow, this was super long! I hope you liked it! I tried to make them all original :o

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calliecat93 · 7 years ago

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About Me

A little introduction to the blogger (aka me) and the kind of content that you can expect from this blog. Hope you enjoy! Now, lets get this started!

Who Are You?

My internet name is calliecatt93 (I know my Tumblr name has only one t, ignore that), but you can call me Callie~

How Long Have You Been On Tumblr?

It will be officially six years on September 6th. I actually created the account months earlier, but I honestly do not remember the day. But that was the date that I actually began to use the site, so I consider it the official anniversary date.

How Old Are You? What Do You Identify As? What Hogwarts House Are You In?

You can find all of that info in the blog’s description box on the left side of the page.

How Did You Get Involved On Tumblr?

I had been browsing websites like Deviantart, Livejournal, and various forum sites for years. I stumbled upon Tumblr and it seemed like a fun place to talk about my fandoms. So I created the account, but ended up not using it. I think I honestly just forgot about it. At the time, I was huge into a kids show called WIld Kratts and discovered that there was a pretty good sized fandom for it on here. So I decided to try and get involved, which led me to using the blog mroe for various other kinds of things. It’s been an up and down road, but I’m very happy with my blog and I have overall really enjoyed my time here.

Current Fandoms?

The main ones right now are Red vs Blue, RWBY, Rooster Teeth/Achievement Hunter, Miraculous Ladybug, Wild Kratts, and Disney. Previous major ones have included Sailor Moon and TMNT 2012. This list can shift at anytime, deending on whatever I get into. When it changes, I will update both this and the blog description. But to put it simply, my blog focuses on many fandoms, hence the term panafandom.

Are You Political?

I have political stances, yes. I will talk about/reblog political and social justice issues when I feel that it is necessary to get involved. WI try not to do it too much however because I do want my blog to be a safe space, including for myself. The main thing you need to know is that I hate President Trump. If you can at least respect that, all is good~

Blog Content?

The majority is reblogs of various fandoms and other topics. I also write reviews for shows as they are airing. It works in two phases. There are my Lightning Round Thoughts posts that is pretty much a liveblog in bullet point form about my thoughts as I watch a thing. The second phase is my longer, more concrete review where I go more in depth into what happened, my thoughts about it, and any speculation that I may have. I am also trying to review past seasons/movies as well. The blog is mainly a cartoon blog, as that is where my passion is.

Why Do You Like Cartoons?

I have loved cartoons since I was a young child. I still remember being a three year old and watching my Cinderella VHS tape. People used to tell me that one day, I would outgrow it and that it was for children. But I never did. TO me, animation is more than just some mindless genre that keeps your kids entertained for an hour. Animation is a form of art that allows one to go outside the bounds of reality and do whatever they want. Yeah they can be funny, but they can be adventurous, dramatic, heartbreaking, and even scary. Animation is a medium, not a genre. Many people work incredibly hard to create various animations and it always feels like Hollywood never gives those people the credit that they deserve. Cartoons have always been a major part of my life, from the classic Looney Tunes to the Cartoon Cartoons to newer web animations. It has brought me more comfort and taught me so much mroe than anything else in my life. It’s even inspired me to one day become a voice actress, who I believe are the most talented people in Hollywood. It’s just... incredibly important to em and the more people I can get to respect this medium, the better.

Anime?

Yes, I am a huge fan of anime. My first ever fandom, Sailor Moon, was an anime. I admit that I don’t watch as much as I used to, but I admire Japan for treating animation seriously. Imo, they are the masters of animation.

NSFW/Profanity Policy?

I curse. A lot. And that include the F word. I try not to use it too much, but yes I use naughty words. Blame Rooster Teeth. As far as NSFW goes, at most I reblog some bloody artwork and mild sexual stuff. VERY mild. Whenever I do, I try to give it the appropriate ‘nsfw’ tag. I do have a limit however and overall, I do NOT allow NSFW content on here.

Asks/Submissions/Messaging?

My ask box is always open and has Anon enabled. You are free to open my ask box up and send me any asks whenever you would like. I will do my best to answer them, but I also have the right to not answer them and delete them as I see fit. Submissions are the same deal. You are free to send me anything as long as it isn’t any kind of negative/NSFW content. Only wholeosme content here people. Messaging... here’s the thing with me. I only answer messages of people I have followed/who have followed me for an extensive period of time. This is due to me having a bad case of social anxiety. I get incredibly nervous about talking to new people, especially if I don’t know them. If I don’t respond, it is nothing at all personal and I will try. But if I don’t, it s likely because my nerves were too much. The best way to reach out to me/talk to me so that I feel more comfortable is to use my ask box.

Why Do All Of Your Posts Have Typos?

I have a motor skill disability, and possibly dysgraphia. To put it simply, I have bad dexterity and I can’t write/type as well as most people. I do try to edit all my posts, but sometimes (aka all the time) I end up missing things that I don’t catch until WAAAAY later. I apologize in advance and I do try to fix the errors when I catch them. Please be patient with me in that area.

Other Interests?

Outside of animation/blogging, my main passion is singing. Along with voice acting, my ultimate goal is to become a singer. I also like to write and I am trying to create three original works and I have ideas for a fourth. Whether I’ll ever actually post them, IDK. I also like cuddling with my cats and looking at cute baby animal pictures. Something else that you will see on this blog frequently.

Goal As A Blogger?

As I said, I ultimately want this to be a safe space not just for others who find it, but for myself. This is one of the few places where I feel okay expressing myself, what I love, and my opinions about things. But mainly, I just want the blog to be a fun place for the people who stumble across it.Even fi it’s just to laugh at me and my silly opinions over cartoons, as long as someone is enjoying themselves son here. IDK how well I do with that, but I have fun doing it. In a way, I guess that’s what matters in the end.

Where Else Can I Find You?

Links to my Twitter and Archive Of Our Own profile are in the sidebar. I’m not on Twitter all that much, which I’m trying to do better with, but feel free to follow/message me! I also have a Discord, but I’m weary of giving that away unless I recognize you. Otherwise, here on Tumblr is where I mainly hang out.

Do You Ever Wonder Why We’re Here?

Well, it’s one of life’s great mysteries, isn’t it?

This page will be updated whenever either things change or when I think of something else to add. Thank you all for reading and I hope that this answered nay potential questions you may have for me. I hope that you all will enjoy the blog!

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inappropriatefangirlneeds · 7 years ago

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30 questions rules: answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better I got tagged by @owlettica Thank you!! I have to look at the Victor Zsasz & Buddhism art some time later when I´m more awake, that´s really intriguing

1. nicknames I never really had one, until quite recently and it´s a type of nut 2. gender: cis female 3. star sign: Leo 4. height: smol 4′9′’ to 5´ if I did not mess up the conversion 5. time: 4:30 am (whyyy) 6. birthday: it´s not like I´m gonna tell that because that would mean I´ll miss one of the unbirthday parties 7. favorite bands: I´ll keep that to three or else it´s gonna be a neverending list .. Watain, Wednesday 13, Nine Inch Nails 8. favorite solo artists: Raul Esparza, Lucas Lanthier, Tim Skold 9. song stuck in my head: flight of the conchords: sugar lumps (pls dont start again) 10. last movie i watched: First half of Soldier (1998) with a delightfully evil Jason Isaacs spurting a ridiculous moustache and the softest fluffiest young Sean Pertwee, I can´t wait to finish it 11. last show i watched: Gotham 12. when did i create my blog: Sry I´m just too lazy to check and my memory is crap (that´s two infos traded for one not given) 13. what do i post: on this blog Gotham, Tom Hiddleston, Norman Reedus and Supernatural stuff 14. last thing i googled: jason isaacs daniel craig 15. do i have any other blogs: any, more like too much 16. do i get asks: rarely, so rarely I´m not even mad about the two rude(ish) ones :D 17. why i chose my url: speaking of rude asks I talked a bit about that here and I´m lazy so I´m just gonna link to it 18. following: 457 21. average hours of sleep: today is gonna change that average and even without that it just always feel like not enough even wen it hits double digits. 22. lucky number: If only I knew .. 23. instruments: musical ones? I feel like I lost even the little skill I had so I don´t feel like it´s justified to list any 24. what am i wearing: black cozy pants and a black oversize shirt, fluffy socks 26. dream job: to be honest thinking bout that is dragging me down so next 27. dream trip: with nice travelling company and an impossibly high budget, maybe Egypt .. that´s a place I´d really like to do the sightseeing and museum stuff some time 28. favorite food: a lot, I can´t choose .. also food makes me think of those herb dumplings and stew Alfred Pennyworth talked in that episode and it´s distracting me from all other possible choices 29. nationality: Europe is not a nationality but this is gonna be my answer (also partly because it´s a shame europe never really managed to make itself be something people feel is an identity and it stresses me a bit that that project seems to be in the process of crumbling) 30. favorite song right now: not exactly a song fit to be a favorite but my mind insists on focusing on the right now and then it´s got to be Marilyn Manson Kill4Me

Breaking the tagging rule cause zzzzzzzzzzzz If you want to answer this list do it and tag me in it ;)

#thank you for tagging me!#personal

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sheepydraws · 7 years ago

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I'll Kick Your Ass! I'll Kick My Fiancee's Ass! I'll Kick My Own Ass! (7/11)

Last Chapter

Next Chapter

The Three Weeks Before Winter Break:

QUIET ZONE

NO TALKING, EATING, OR MUSIC BEYOND THIS POINT.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER LIBRARY GOERS.

From: Ghostsunkgi

To: TKuno

I got plenty of info for you about Nabiki Tendo:

The Basics: Birthdate, family, hometown.

The Social Media: Got her facebook, linked in, instagram, and two tumblr accounts (cute aesthetic one, fandom one).

The Personal: Movies she likes, hobbies, possible phobias, relationships she’s been in, etc. and it’s all in the attached document.

I’m going to be upfront about this, though, and say that I’m sorry. I couldn’t find any life ruining stuff. I heard the school’s investigated her once or twice, but they couldn’t find anything. I thought I could get you some proof that she’s doing something illegal enough to warrant getting the authorities involved, but turns out the prescription medication she sells is hormonal stuff. Testosterone, birth control, nothing the cops would actually want to check out.

However, as a psyc major, I can offer you a rudimentary psychological profile. I believe that Nabiki’s obsession with money stems from her family. They are well-to-do, but not particularly well off, and after losing her mother at a young age Nabiki is constantly craving stability. Now, since she is a very smart girl she does not see stability as something akin to stagnation, but rather focuses on earning money so that no matter what happens she doesn��t have to fear that she will suddenly lose all of life’s little comforts. She is not a sociopath, nor a narcissist, but does focus on herself, and what might happen to her in the outcome of any scenario. As such she is not as much of a risk taker as her little storefront might suggest.

I believe, if you wish to manipulate her you focus on either giving or depriving her of money, or otherwise very directly threatening or aiding her way of life.

From: TKuno

To: Ghostsunkgi

I did not ask for a goddamn psychological profile, I asked you to find out something about Nabiki Tendo that, if exposed, could ruin her life. I am out almost two hundred dollars and you have told me nothing I couldn’t have told you!

From Ghostsunkgi

To TKuno

Good thing you didn’t want a psychological profile, because if I wrote one on you all it would say is that you’re batshit crazy.

Facebook Messenger:

Ukyo: Hey, are you okay?

Ryoga: I’m fine.

Ukyo: I feel like I haven’t seen you since before thanksgiving. I haven’t even heard if you had fun at Shampoo’s!

Ryoga: It was fine. We watched a lot of lame stuff on the internet and I got to know her family a little. It was fine.

Ukyo: Oh my god. You wrote ‘it was fine’ twice. Did someone die?

Ryoga; No. It was boring. Nothing happened.

Facebook Messenger:

Ukyo: Do you have time to catch lunch with me?

Shampoo: Can’t.

Ukyo: Did something happen over thanksgiving break?

Shampoo: No. It was fine. Thanksgiving isn’t really a big deal for my family.

Ukyo: You mean absolutely nothing happened? Not one dumb story to tell me over dinner?

Shampoo: Nothing that’s worth taking time off studying to talk about. Ukyo, I’m swamped. Maybe we could have lunch this weekend.

Ukyo: Fine.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Dear Akari,

I can’t wait to see you again. Things here are so strange. I want to say it’s the lack of parental supervision, but I can’t anymore.

I hope things aren’t this crazy at your school. People beating each other up, and always upset, and no one you can talk to because you’re kind of ashamed of yourself and who wants to talk to you when even you hate yourself?

Remember high school? Drama only in the carefully allotted time slots between classes? Teachers telling you to apologize? Throwing pencil cases to your friends and watching them burst open, spilling highlighters and pencils and a million little slips of paper, and just laughing?

I really can’t wait to be home. I want to lie on my bed and….That’s it. Lie on my bed and listen to the silence. The rain. The occasional car rolling by. I want to lie down and sleep and let everything flow around me for a while.

And then maybe you and I could get some dinner.

Miss you.

Facebook Messenger

Ranma: Hey, Nabiki, can you lend me fifty bucks?

Nabiki: Ahahahahaha

Ranma: Please? I’ll pay you back. I just don’t have much right now, and I don’t want to use my card and have dad see the charge.

Nabiki: Hahahahahahahaha

Ranma: I know we’re not close, but you’re the only person I’m on good terms with who could just drop fifty bucks.

Nabiki: WAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ranma: I’m trying to get my birth certificate and it costs fifty bucks.

Nabiki: Okay, I’m no longer uninterested, but I still don’t want to be involved, so I tell you what, give me fifty bucks, I’ll send in the fifty for the certificate, with my card or whatever. K?

Ranma: Got it.

A piece of paper, passed back and forth over the walls of two study corrals:

Sorry to intrude, but are you crying?

Yeah.

Stress?

No. Yes. The stress isn’t helping, but honestly, I’ve felt awful since the 25th. I fucked up. Can I tell you about it?

I don’t mind, but if you tell me something super personal I’ll feel like I have to tell you something.

Really? You go first. Then you can say whatever you feel comfortable saying, and it doesn’t have to be as fucked up and intense as my thing.

Okay. I got my first kiss at a halloween party this year, with some dude I don’t even know, and I feel kind of guilty, but mostly pissed that I didn’t get his name before he left.

You got masked man-ed! Was he wearing a tuxedo mask costume?

No. Batman.

Damn. Then I could have told you who he was. I gave Ryoga that costume so he could try and seduce Akane Tendo, but I think he fucked up and seduced someone else or something.

You know Ryoga Hibiki?

Sure. Fuck. He’s kind of why I’m all messed up. I kissed him, even though I know he has a girlfriend so that he would beat up a guy for me, and that guy tried to gut him, so I beat his face in, and now he’s not talking to me, Ryoga can’t look at me, and I can’t look at Ukyo because what kind of person am I?

Christ. You’re right, that is fucked up, but it takes at least two people for a total fuck up. I mean, that Ryoga guy has a girlfriend, and was going after that other girl AND you.

No, this was my fault. I invited Ryoga over cause I thought it would be an easy way to avoid Mousse, and then I kissed him cause I thought he could solve my Mousse problem permanently, and then things went crazy, and now there is no easy way out.

There never is. Even doing nothing, keeping your mouth shut, pretending everything’s alright for the sake of convenience—That sounds like the easy way, but it’s so fucking hard it hurts.

I know you’re right, but doing stuff is hard too.

Well, you did something about your Mousse problem. I have a feeling he’s not bugging you anymore?

Ha. You’re right. Our mom’s are fighting fit to kill each other-your daughter beat up my son, your son had a knife!-but at least they agree that we should be kept apart.

Is that better than how it was?

Yeah. I wish it hadn’t gone down like that, though.

That’s what happens when you just leave things to build and build.

Guess that means I should go talk to Ukyo and Ryoga before things get stupid like that. You sound like you really have your life together.

Please. I’m engaged, fantasizing about a guy I met once, and just realized that I might have to ‘break up with’ a guy who I thought was my friend. And that’s just my love life. I’ve still got a couple hours worth of studying to do, but I’m going back to my room and crashing so I can get some sleep in before dinner.

PS: I won’t tell Ryoga you’re the one who told me about all this. Sounds like you two already have plenty to work out together.

From: TKuno

To: Nabiki Tendo

Dear Nabiki,

Thanks to the services of a hired man undertaken over thanksgiving break, I know your devastating secret.

From: Nabiki Tendo

To: TKuno

Man, I left you to stew, but I didn’t think you would boil over. Oh, how would I live if word ever got out? Kuno, please don’t tell anyone.

From TKuno

To Nabiki Tendo

I suppose if you can agree to never release those photos, I could conveniently take another blow to the head and forget everything I have learned about you, no matter how disgusting.

From Nabiki Tendo

To TKuno

OH MY GOD

You think I’ve never heard a bluff before? You have nothing on me, and you want to know how I know it?

Face facts Kuno-babe: You fucked up, and you can’t get back at me because I’ve played it cleaner than you. You couldn’t keep yourself in check, just had to do some dumb shit. Forget getting kicked off the kendo team—You realize you could be expelled for dueling? And you keep doing it! You fucking idiot! Do you know how many pictures and videos I have of that?

You break rules all the time and expect never to get caught, not even because daddy is the dean, but because you actually think you’re that much better than everyone.

While you’re off getting wasted, and falling for cheap lines like ‘I bet you work out’ and ‘I love that drama. The twist with the princess and the accountant? Never saw it coming!’ I’ve been working my ass off, not only making money, but also keeping my head above water. Maybe I have done something which you could get me for legally, but you’ll never have proof.

I didn’t outsmart you, hun, I just waited for you to fuck yourself and filmed it.

From: TKuno

To: Nabiki Tendo

I know you must be enjoying cackling maniacally at me like a b-villain, but may I ask you one question?

From Nabiki Tendo

To TKuno

Yes, I do hate you, and I have always hated you, and that reveal that the princess was banging the accountant was tired as fuck. You know who should diddle the numbers guy? The courtesan. Not only did they have chemistry, but they could have had an actual relationship, based on being greedy and underhanded in their various professions.

From TKuno

To Nabiki Tendo

1. You missed the point, as expected, you heartless wench. Of course those two could have a sleazy relationship based on being sleazy. That’s what made hime and the accountant such a satisfying twist. Not only are they different, but they appreciate each other’s differences, so they make each other better while also having a good relationship based on the things they do have in common.

2. Why didn’t you just give my father the photos of me dueling?

From Nabiki Tendo

To TKuno

1. They had nothing in common. You’re blowing hot air out of your dirty shipper mouth.

2. I don’t answer to you.

Kodachi’s Journal

The flurry of leaves finishing falling

Freshmen frolicking

Among unwritten essays and cans of ersatz energy

Studying between practice

Practice between studying?

Sleeping between eating and rising.

Ranma

Respite

Ten fumbling minutes in a hall closet

In which I barely tasted you, my darling cream puff

But your mind was elsewhere

Fifty bucks to try and find your mother

Fifty dollars to your family

I gave it to you, of course.

I tried to explain

How I envied you

The toll to visit my own mother two gold coins

And my life

But now

Stretching on the balance beam

I wonder if your hands were not a touch grabby?

That is

Were you groping my ass

Or the outline of my wallet?

Ukyo’s phone———> Ryoga and Shampoo’s Phone

911 URGENT.

HELP.

OUR ROOM.

QUICK.

Ranma’s phone——>Nabiki’s phone

Got ur fifty.

My room.

ASAP.

Ranma’s Diary.

I can’t believe it.

Why did I never think I had a mother? I never even asked. There’s so much stuff where the mothers have that vague, ‘cancer-car-crash-itis’ that I guess they filled in the blanks for me.

That or I’m just stupid.

I can’t believe Nabiki is sitting at my desk, filing out a few forms that might get me to my mother. I can’t believe I have one. I can’t believe I’m doing this to myself. What if she—

I’m trying not to think past imagining getting the certificate in my mail box. Hopefully it comes before the break starts, but I don’t think waiting till January will kill me.

My stomach aches like it will, but I’ve survived worse.

Speaking of surviving, I can’t believe I had a conversation with Ukyo and didn’t die. I think I’ve even impressed myself with that trick.

I was jogging, because Nabiki told me she wouldn’t have time for me until after lunch, and if I worked up a sweat then I could take a shower, without feeling like I was doing it just to scrub Kodachi off of me. (I can’t believe I kissed a girl for fifty bucks).

I tripped over Ukyo’s bag. She was leaned up against a tree and I think maybe she had been crying? I mean, I think she was upset before she saw me, but whatever. She was pissed, rubbing her bag and snapping at me. I didn’t want to waste time getting into an argument with her—and how could I fit ANOTHER duel into my busy schedule?—so I said,

“Are you okay?”

She got this weird look on her face. Sad, and confused, and a little angry about being confused. “Like you care.”

“Of course I care. I mean, you’re crying in the woods in December. It’s worrying.”

“So? It’s not going to keep you up at night.”

I was trying really hard not to get pissed off, so I swear when I said, “Don’t tell me what I think. Yell at me, call me names, kick my face in, but don’t try to talk for me,” it wasn’t an invitation.

“Your silence speaks volumes, Ranma.”

“Wait, is this about breaking up with you?” I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that, but at the same time, I can’t believe she’s still so burned up over it.

“No, it’s because you didn’t go to prom with me, and because we aren’t going to buy our first legal drinks together, and because you never gave a shit about my feelings then, so I don’t get why you’re pretending to now.”

Fuck it, I’m a fighter. She was looking for a fight.

“I didn’t care about your feelings? I broke up with to save those fucking things! I didn’t want you to be hurt, so I told you the truth and that I still loved you, but I had to do this.

You’re the one who wouldn’t talk to me. You’re the one who MAILED my stuff to me. We saw each other every day, but you couldn’t even drive to my house and ding-dong-ditch me! You never asked if I was okay, you never took my calls, I tried to protect you from this huge, stupid thing in my life and you made it all about you!”

Ukyo threw her bag aside so hard it cracked against a tree and all her shit spilled out, but she was too busy getting up in my face and screaming at me to care. “You’re the one who decided that if your father wants you to MARRY someone you’re going to do it! You’re the one who didn’t fight for me! You’re the one who thought if you told me why you were breaking up with me somehow that would mean we weren’t broken up!”

I shoved her back. “It’s not like you fought for me either!”

Ukyo slammed her hands into my chest and sent me to the ground. “What would I have done?! Challenged your father to a fight? Called child protective services? For fuck’s sake, Ranma, we were children!”

I haven’t cried since…When Ukyo knocked me down something about the way I fell, the way I hit the ground, the way the dirt smelled and my teeth clacked together, it reminded me of falling down as a kid. I’ve been trained to fall down so it doesn’t hurt. To roll or bend to minimize the blow. You know how my father taught me that? By pushing me down.

I started crying. So loud and hard I couldn’t breathe. I haven’t cried like that since I was a kid. An even littler kid. ‘Cause Ukyo was right. We were kids. And maybe we still are. Maybe we’ll always be unfinished and confused, and we’ll try our best but our best will always be half of what we need to get by.

“I-I-I wanted you to move on!” I hiccuped. “I wanted you to know it wasn’t you!”

Ukyo kneeled next to me and hovered for a moment before picking up my hands and holding them in hers. She was crying too. “If you loved me so much how could you ditch me like that?”

“I c-called you, and I tried to talk to you. I didn’t want to ruin our relationship by being engaged.”

“Well, it’s fucking ruined!” and then we both laughed. Painful, hiccupy laughs, interrupted by snorting back all the snot from crying and being outside when it was that cold.

I can’t believe Ukyo and I screwed each other like that. Shut down and tried to pretend we didn’t care and basically gave each other a knife to the heart.

We managed to calm down and Ukyo let go of my hands.

“So there isn’t something about me that makes people want to dump me? Something that scares people away?”

I shook my head. “Hell, you should have been trying to get away from me.”

Ukyo smiled a little and said, “It’s nice having a guy willing to fight anything that moves on your side. And I really loved you.”

Past tense.

“I loved you too.” But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck that it’s over. It doesn’t make it okay, but I guess it makes it right.

Ukyo stood up and helped me up. I didn’t need help, but it felt nice for some reason. Like when my dad would pour me juice even though I could have done it myself. It tasted a little better.

“I think there’s something I have to do.” Ukyo said. Something in her voice told me it had nothing to do with me.

“Is your number still the same?” I asked anyway.

Ukyo looked sort of surprised, but she said yes.

“Can I call you? If something happens, or maybe just to talk?”

“Yeah. And I’ll even pick up.”

Then Ukyo went off to do her mysterious thing, and I went back to my room, glad to still be alive.

Okay, Nabiki said it’ll be here in a couple of weeks. I can’t believe I’m doing this.

From TKuno

To Ghostsungki

Just writing to say you should re-think your major. Your profile was wrong. There is something Nabiki Tendo values more than herself.

Not Anal

I found Ryoga leaving the library (He’d been in the part where you’re allowed to talk. Says silence freaks him out) and he was all freaked out, asking me if I knew why Ukyo would send an emergency text. I had been trying not to get too worked up, but with Royga already panicking I gave in, and we ran over to my dorm.

We burst into my room, expecting a pool of blood or a shattered laptop or something.

Ukyo was sitting on our beds, which she had pushed together and piled with all our blankets and pillows on so you couldn’t feel the gap where the frames touch but the matresses don’t. She was wearing a flannel shirt and sweatpants, and when she stood up you could see that she had only buttoned two buttons on her shirt. I won’t tell you which buttons, but just imagine it being incredibly hot.

Ukyo opened her closet door and said, “Okay, put your bags in there.”

Royga and I stared at her.

“I thought there was an emergency.” Ryoga said.

“Where did I say that?” Ukyo pulled her phone out of her pocket and read over it. “Nope. No emergency. No problem. I just told you to come quick.”

“So what’s going on?” I asked.

“I am going to set an alarm, and for the next two hours the three of us aren’t going to do anything school related. We’re just going to relax and do whatever we want.” For the first time she looked a little nervous. “You two have been so stressed since thanksgiving. I figured it was because you didn’t do any work over the break and you’re swamped now, but I’m calling a time out so you two can get some self care done.”

“I kissed Ryoga.” I said. I let my backpack fall off my shoulder and kicked it into the closet.

“It was stupid.” Ryoga said, tossing his bag into the closet and closing it. “I mean, it didn’t mean anything. I mean-“ I touched his shoulder and he stopped.

“It doesn’t matter.” I said to Ukyo, “Because now I’m going to kiss you to make it even.”

I am a woman of my word. I knew I was going to do it, but I was kind of surprised that Ukyo let me. I thought I would just say it and that would be peace offering enough, but she didn’t stop me when I put my arms around her neck, so I got on my tip-toes and my brain went ‘fuck it’ and I laid one on her. I think her knees gave out a little. Someone’s did.

Ryoga popping open a bag of chips startled us, but it didn’t ruin the mood. The mood wasn’t ‘having sex with your roommate’ it was stretching out on a bed and taking a deep breath while Ukyo made fun of Ryoga for liking cozy mysteries. Cozy mystery—maybe that was the feeling. Warm and safe and somewhat luxurious lying on a bed made plush with three extra blankets. Comfortable, even with bare branches tapping at the window and finals looming in the back of our minds.

This is probably a bad idea. Someone already trying to be in two relationships at once, and someone who doesn’t believe in love—I couldn’t have chosen worse people to fall for.

But as I sit here typing this, waiting to get tired enough to go to sleep with Ukyo and Ryoga-the two hour plan got kicked in favor of naps-I feel the best I’ve felt in weeks. Bone deep calm, radiating outward so all that other bullshit can’t touch me.

Akari’s phone———->Ryoga’s phone

Hun, what time do

you get in at

heathrow?

8pm

When do you get

on the plane?

The first one? Around noon.

Akari, I know you won’t be at

the airport, but I want to see

you as soon as possible.

I know. I want to

see you even

sooner. <3

From TKuno

To: Nabiki Tendo

Dear Nabiki Tendo,

If you show those photos to anyone, please consider that the very next day three different people will be sitting in my fathers office to attest that Ranma Saotome has been involved in several duels. His expulsion will be quick and clean.

Your Loyal Sparring Partner,

Tatewaki Kuno

The Tendo House

Latest Video: Personal Blog—Channel Direction

The video opens in Kasumi’s bedroom. She is sitting on her bed, hands restlessly picking over the ruffle on a throw pillow. Her color is high, her eyes bright like she might have a fever. Her voice shakes somewhere between crying and cackling.

Kasumi: Ah…I’ve tired to open this video so many times. I even considered shooting one in advance and just uploading that whenever I—But I realized that was just wishful thinking and wouldn’t actually be helpful when the time came.

Now I’ve been holding back on recording this. I wanted to be…sure.

(Kasumi takes a deep breath. Her expression becomes a touch more serious. She has been planning for this moment for a long time, though she is not sure if she will ever tell how much)

I’m three months pregnant.

[Akane, Nabiki, and Soun Tendo never saw the rest of this video.]

From: Nabiki Tendo

To: TKuno

Sorry, Kuno-babe, I don’t think we’ll be ‘sparring’ for a while.

I have pregnant fish to fry.

Consider yourself dangling, but still hooked.

The Stunning,

Nabiki Tendo.

Akane’s Diary:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

SHE DIDN’T EVEN TELL ME.

I’m not even mad exactly??? It’s that feeling when you watch a video and someone does something so awful, but it’s so unexpected and so not your problem that your mouth hangs open in horror, but you choke and laugh at the same time.

Maybe if I write this down my chest will stop shaking.

I went to Ryoga’s after my calc final to see if that girl in the library had been telling the truth about Ryoga having a girlfriend and/or liking me. I knew Ranma would be tied up at our calc final for another hour. (Ranma is one of those freaks who takes the entire time given, even though getting to leave as soon as you’re done is THE perk of college).

I watched Ryoga pack for a while. We chatted, but it was mostly me asking him questions so he would talk and I could just sit there and think.

He’s not bad looking, Ryoga. His hair is always messed up, but not always in a rakish british pop star kind of way. Still, he’s got nice eyes, and broad shoulders, and, you know, two arms and two legs and a head.

That’s how I feel about him, I guess. He’s a guy, and he’s good looking, and even if he’s thinking about cheating on his girlfriend I’m pretty sure he hasn’t, so I wouldn’t say he’s a bad guy.

But there I was, watching him, thinking: ‘If that girl was right, I could get up, and sit on the edge of his bed and kiss him’. That’s what I was picturing. A good girlfriend move, perching on his bed, and wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss.

Imagining it filled me with an overwhelming sensation of…meh.

Ryoga’s a good guy, but there’s nothing about him that sets him apart. Nothing that made me want to do that cute little girlfriend thing for him, or push him down and do things that would make his cheap-ass mattress beg for mercy.

I went to his room thinking I would confront him, but for what? Thought crimes? Even if he has a girlfriend and he cheats on her, it sure won’t be with me.

That was when Ranma burst into the room. He threw his backpack onto his bed and spun around to leave, but froze when he saw me.

“Akane, have you seen the latest video on Kasumi’s blog?”

I stared at him. His expression was very strange. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to console or congratulate me.

“I saw the one she posted in November…” I said, sure he was talking about something else.

Ranma hopped up to sit on Ryoga’s desk and put his phone on his knee, which was eye level for me. He hit play.

Ranma knew my sister was pregnant before me.

I was sitting in his room thinking about how much I don’t care if some guy has a crush on me, and Ranma is getting a youtube notification telling him that my sister is pregnant. I’m not mad about that it, it just feels wrong somehow.

I immediately tried to call Kasumi, and when she didn’t pick up I redialed twice. I sent her four texts, then one to Nabiki.

My finger hovered over dad’s number.

“So you didn’t know about this?” Ranma asked.

I realized I had a thousand yard stare and tried to focus on Ranma’s face “No. I had no idea.”

Ranma nodded. “I figured. You or Nabiki would have told me if you did. The three of you are always so…proud of each other.”

I have no idea what that meant. Ranma looked melancholy. Or maybe just maudlin. That’s a good word to have around, maudlin. Then he smiled at me and I lost my train of thought.

It’s not the time to think about it, but that’s not a good sign is it? Watching Ryoga in a tight t-shirt, bending and stretching and shoving while he packs, but when Ranma, hair unbrushed, a gi shirt hanging off of him like a jacket, smiles at me my brain goes on the fritz?

Nabiki still has cramming to do, and there isn’t much to talk about since Kasumi hasn’t spoken to either of us. We’ve tried to contact her every way short of smoke signals (and don’t think Nabiki wouldn’t get on the roof and light something on fire if she thought it would get a reaction) but it seems like we won’t be getting any answers until we get home on thursday.

Ranma came back to my room with me to ‘help me study’ but we don’t have any exams tomorrow, and thank god, since I can’t concentrate to save my life. Ranma is lying on my bed eating my secret stash of chips and leafing through my even secreter stash of cosmos, while I try to get all my questions in order.

Why? Who’s the father? Can we actually afford a baby? Why aren’t you talking to us? Have you told dad? When are you going to tell dad? Where is it going to sleep? Do I still have to marry Ranma? Oh, god, don’t make me marry Ranma, I think I might be starting to LIKE him. Especially when he laughs, nearly chokes on my chips, and then reads whatever weird fragment he found funny out loud. Kasumi, don’t do this to me.

Last five posts from okinomiyakimeansiloveyou.tumblr.com

5. A Youtube video about making really cute gift baskets with homemade sweets.

4. Lingerie sets. Not just bras and panties (and teddies and stockings and…) but some very neat looking briefs made from high end material.

3. Tasteful, but still extremely erotic nude drawings (especially if you are of the Georgia O’Keefe persuasion).

2. A picture of Ryoga and Shampoo speaking in the vestibule of the girl’s dorm, the world starkly white and black through the huge glass doors. They don’t look like they know their picture is being taken. Ryoga has a duffel bag over his shoulder and Shampoo is hefting it’s weight in her hand. She’s about the drop it back onto his shoulder and watch him stagger, but you can’t tell in the photo. One of Ryoga’s hands rests on the handle of her tiny, shiny, purple suitcase. They look good together, and the lighting is nice, somehow, between the fluorescents and the glaring winter sun, and, and it’s a good photo, and Ukyo posts it to prove that she knows that, and that she doesn’t care about the twinges in her chest when she looks at it.

1. That feel when you think you’re heartsick or something, but you just need a tums. #personal #everything’s even #they’re not going to do anything #nothing ever changes over winter break anyway

#ranma 1/2 #rankane #ranma saotome #fanfiction #college au #akane tendo #shampoo #nabiki tendo #kasumi tendo #pregnancy ment

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creativeprompts · 8 years ago

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19 Websites and Magazines That Want to Publish Your Personal Essays

They’re all over your Facebook feed, and for good reason. Personal essays by popular authors and novices alike are relatable, engrossing reads.

Sometimes, their heart-wrenching reflections stay with you for days.

For reporters or academics, it can be hard to step back from research rituals and write from personal experience. But a personal essay can endear you to an audience, bring attention to an issue, or simply provide comfort to a reader who’s “been there.”

“Writing nonfiction is not about telling your story,” says Ashley C. Ford, an essayist who emphasized the importance of creating a clear connection between your personal experience and universal topics. “It’s about telling interesting and worthy stories about the human condition using examples from your life.”

But don’t worry if your life doesn’t seem exciting or heart-wrenching enough to expound upon; think of it as writing through yourself, instead of about yourself. “There are few heroes and even fewer villains in real life,” she said. “If you’re going to write about your human experience, write the truth. It’s worth it to write what’s real.”

Where to submit your personal essays

Once you’ve penned your essay, which publications should you contact? We’ve all heard of — and likely submitted to — The New York Times’ Modern Love column, but that’s not the only outlet that accepts personal narratives.

“Submit to the places you love that publish work like yours,” Ford advises, but don’t get caught up in the size of the publication. And “recognize that at small publications you’re way more likely to find someone with the time to really help you edit a piece.”

To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 20 publications that accept essay submissions, as well as tips on how to pitch the editor, who to contact and, whenever possible, how much the outlet pays.

We’d love to make this list even more useful, so if you have additional ideas or details for these publications or others, please leave them below in the comments!

1. Boston Globe

The Boston Globe Magazine Connections section seeks 650-word first-person essays on relationships of any kind. It pays, though how much is unclear. Submit to [email protected] with “query” in the subject line.

Must-read personal essay: “Duel of the Airplane-Boarding Dawdlers,” by Art Sesnovich

2. Extra Crispy

Send your pitches about breakfast, brunch, or the culture of mornings to [email protected] or the editor of the section you’re pitching. Pay appears to be around 40 cents per word.

Must-read personal essay: Gina Vaynshteyn’s “When Dumplings Are Resistance”

3. Dame Magazine

This publication is aimed at women over 30. “We aim to entertain, inform, and inspire,” the editors note, “But mostly entertain.” Send your pitch to [email protected]. Pay varies.

Must-read personal essay: “I Donated My Dead Body to Give My Life Purpose,” By Ann Votaw

4. Full Grown People

Essays — 4,000 words max — should have a “literary quality.” Include your work in the body of your email to make it easy for the editor to review, and send to [email protected]. No pay.

Must-read personal essay: “Call My Name” by Gina Easley.

5. Kveller

Want to write for this Jewish parenting site? To submit, email [email protected] with “submission” somewhere in the subject line. Include a brief bio, contact information, and your complete original blog post of 700 words max. Suggested word count is 500-700 words. The site pays $25 per post.

Must-read personal essay: B.J. Epstein’s “How I’m Trying to Teach Charity to My Toddler”

6. Luna Luna

A progressive, feminist magazine that welcomes all genders to submit content. Email your pitch or full submission. There’s no pay, but it’s a supportive place for a first-time essayist.

Must-read personal essay: “My Body Dysmorphia, Myself” by Joanna C. Valente

7. New Statesman

This U.K. magazine has a helpful contributor’s guide. Unsolicited submissions, while rarely accepted, are paid; if an editor likes your pitch, you’ll hear back in 24 hours.

Must-read personal essay: “The Long Ride to Riyadh,” by Dave Eggers

8. The New York Times

The popular Modern Love feature accepts submissions of 1,700 words max at [email protected]. Include a Word attachment, but also paste the text into your message. Consult the Times’ page on pitching first, and like Modern Love on Facebook for even more insight. Rumor has it that a successful submission will earn you $250. (Correction added Oct. 9, 2014: Payment is $300, The New York Times writes on its Facebook page.)

Amy Sutherland’s column, “What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage,” which ran in 2006, landed her a book contract with Random House and a movie deal with Lionsgate, which is in preproduction. “I never saw either coming,” Sutherland said.

Another option is the Lives column in the New York Times Magazine. To submit, email [email protected].

Must-read personal essay: “When a Couch is More Than a Couch” by Nina Riggs

9. Salon

Salon accepts articles and story pitches to the appropriate section with “Editorial Submission” in the subject line and the query/submission in the body of the email. Include your writing background or qualifications, along with links to three or four clips.

“I was compensated $150 for my essay,” says Alexis Grant, founder of The Write Life, “but that was several years ago. All in all, working with the editor there was a great experience.” Who Pays Writers reports average pay of about 10 cents per word.

Must-read personal essay: “I Fell in Love with a Megachurch,” by Alexis Grant

10. Slate

Indicate the section you’re pitching and “article submission” in your subject line, and send to [email protected]. Average reported pay is about 23 cents per word.

Must-read personal essay: Justin Peters’ “I Sold Bill Murray a Beer at Wrigley Field”

11. Slice

Each print issue has a specific cultural theme and welcomes both fiction and nonfiction. Stories and essays of 5,000 words max earn up to $250. Review periods are limited, so check their submission guidelines to make sure your work will be read with the next issue in mind. Submit online.

Must-read personal essay: “Fire Island,” by Christopher Locke

12. The Billfold

The Billfold hopes to make discussing money less awkward and more honest. Send your pitch to [email protected]. Who Pays Writers notes a rate of about 3 cents per word, but this writer would consider the experience and exposure to be worth the low pay.

Must-read personal essay: “The Story of a F*** Off Fund,” by Paulette Perhach

13. Motherwell

Motherwell seeks parenting-related personal essay submissions of up to 1200 words. Submit a full piece; all contributors are paid.

Must-read personal essay: “The Length of the Pause” by Tanya Mozias Slavin

14. The Bold Italic

This publication focuses on California’s Bay Area. Strong POV and a compelling personal writing style are key. Pay varies. Email [email protected].

Must-read personal essay: “The San Francisco Preschool Popularity Contest,” by Rhea St. Julien

15. Bustle

Submit essays of 800-2000 words to this lifestyle site geared toward women. Pay averages about 5 cents per word.

Must-read personal essay: “Is Picky Eating An Eating Disorder?” by Kaleigh Roberts

16. The Rumpus

Focuses on essays that “intersect culture.” Submit finished essays online in the category that fits best. Wait three months before following up.

Must-read personal essay: “Not a Widow” by Michelle Miller

17. The Penny Hoarder

This personal-finance website welcomes submissions that discuss ways to make or save money. Read the guidelines before emailing your submission. Pay varies.

Must-read personal essay: “This Family’s Drastic Decision Will Help Them Pay Off $100K in Debt in 5 Years” by Maggie Moore

18. Tin House

Submit a story or essay of 10,000 words max in either September or March. Wait six days before emailing to check the status of your submission. Cover letters should include a word count and indicate whether the submission is fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Pay varies.

Must-read personal essay: “More with Less,” by Rachel Yoder

19. Narratively

Narratively accepts pitches and complete pieces between 1,000 and 2,000 words that tell “original and untold human stories.” Pay averages 6 cents per word.

Must-read personal essay: “What Does a Therapist Do When She Has Turmoil of Her Own?” by Sherry Amatenstein

Still looking for ideas? Meghan Ward’s blog post, “20 Great Places to Publish Personal Essays,” is worth perusing. MediaBistro also offers a section called How to Pitch as part of their AvantGuild subscription, which has an annual fee of $55.

Source: The Write Life

#writing resource #personal essays

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acuppellarp · 7 years ago

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Welcome to A Cup-pella, Joanna! We’re excited to have you and Sookie Montgomery in the game! Please go through the checklist to make sure you’re ready to go and send in your account within the next 24 hours.

OOC INFO

Name + pronouns: Joanna + She Age: 26 Timezone: EST Ships: I’m open to any relationship as long as their chemistry. Anti-Ships: None

IC INFO

Full Name: Susannah Lynn Montgomery Face Claim: Emily Bett Rickards Age/Birthday: 28 / June 26th Occupation: Resident/Researcher at the NYU School of Medicine Personality: funny, naïve, impulsive, friendly, forgetful Hometown: Savannah, GA

Bio:

Susannah Lynn Montgomery, better known as Sookie, was born in the great city of Savannah, Georgia to Maynard and Magnolia Montgomery. Her childhood was fairly normal, filled with love from her parents and the locals who knew her family well. She was coddled with love and seemed to be the only thing her parents agreed on. For most of her life, she watched her parents hold each other at a distance and figured that it was normal. Besides, who doesn’t like space? However, the blurry picture cleared up when she hit the age of 12. Magnolia was oddly close to a friend of hers by the name of Louise. Sookie loved Louise. She was like a loving aunt who always spoiled her, so what came next broke Sookie’s heart in more than one way. Discovering that her mother was leaving her father for Louise both confused her and broke her. Maynard constantly emphasized that Magnolia was leaving “them” and hurt “them.” The wording stayed with Sookie and she just couldn’t understand what she had done to make her mother leave her. By the time custody talks were on the table, Maynard was in rough shape and it only seemed right for Sookie to choose her father. Afterall, Magnolia had Louise and Maynard had no one.

The divorce forced Maynard and Sookie to retreat back to the Montgomery family ranch up in Tennessee to live with her Uncle Rooster and her two cousins (Connor and Mike). It was a house full of boys, which left Sookie to play the traditional homemaker role as a young preteen. She kept the house clean, cooked, and made sure the boys were well-kept while the boys, her father, and uncle handled the ranch. Sometimes she would get out there and help with the cows, but her Uncle Rooster and father did their best to make sure the girl didn’t have to “dirty up her pretty little hands.”

Keeping the ranch and the house was hard work, but the Montgomerys knew how to reward themselves. The family held weekly socials for the townies where they would gather in the barn for music and dancing. Each of the Montgomerys had their own talent, but Sookie balanced between singing, playing the fiddle, and playing the guitar. She never saw herself having a future in music, but it definitely gave her a way to let out her frustrations and express herself. Maintaining a household didn’t give her much time to socialize with friends at school or join any clubs, especially if she wanted to keep her 4.0 GPA. Her family and these socials were the only things she could really participate in.

Graduation was a much welcomed milestone for her, but her father had mixed feelings about the whole thing. It made the idea of college hard for Sookie to swallow. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. She was accepted to the college of her dreams, the University of Georgia, but deferred her acceptance for a year. Sookie told her father it was to save up money, but she couldn’t stomach the idea of leaving him and the boys alone. At least not yet. During her year off from school, things changed a bit. She worked at the local bar even though she wasn’t 21. The town was small enough and there were only so many places to work. During the day, she worked as a waitress at a diner. The whole thing made it clear to Sookie that she wanted more for her life than just this. Fortunately, Maynard found himself a girlfriend. She was only 6 years older than Sookie, but she was just happy to be able to know that there would be a girl in the house. However, Sookie refuses to call her ‘step mother’ and hopes to god almighty they don’t have kids.

Sookie finally made it to UGA and was on her own. She grew up a lot in that time. Her conservative ideas took a twist and she learned to be more open. It was an eye opening experience for sure, and she loved it. She couldn’t help but to think back to how she reacted to her mother as a child and the change in her sexuality. It seemed like the right time to give things another shot. Sookie drove out to Savannah one weekend when she didn’t have a lot of homework. She didn’t call ahead, worried that she would lose the nerve. To her dismay, when she got to her old home her cousin Lucy was there in her place.

Sookie was heartbroken when she discovered that her mother had taken Quinn in. The woman refused to be a mother to her and yet she took in another. It was the highest betrayal and definitely put the final nail in the coffin of any potential relationship. Even though Quinn was three years younger than her, she still held her accountable for the offense. Sookie greeted a few of the people she remembered from Savannah and made her way back to Athens without stepping foot in that household.

The whole experience brought Sookie back to Athens in a horrible state. Her roommates did what they could to put her back together and forced her to go out. She wasn’t one for clubbing and hadn’t loosened up that much just yet, but a few shots of Whiskey had the girl nice and relaxed. It was that night that she met Carter Wilson, star football player for the Georgia Bulldogs. He was everything every girl wanted at school and he took an interest in her. They were both awkwardly funny small town kids and fit perfectly together. They were best friends. Sookie had never dated before, since she didn’t have much time for it. When Carter asked her to be his girlfriend, it only seemed right to say yes, even though she wasn’t feeling that spark that she seemed to see in the movies. At least they had a deep friendship to hold onto.

By the time graduation came about, Sookie couldn’t have been more excited. She was accepted into UGA’s combined program with Augusta University’s medical school. Carter was a draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons. They would be far from each other but they would make the long distance work. The whole arrangement actually seemed perfect for her, since she did like her space.

It became clear that Carter was living up the football star life while Sookie was at medical school. Article after article detailed the football player’s nights with other women. Sookie knew she should be upset, but she was too busy focusing on her own life and school to care. If she had the time, she probably would have caught on that not caring was a sign of something.

Two years into medical school and Carter’s career brought a rough patch with it. Carter injured himself and wasn’t able to keep playing football. He headed up to Augusta to stay with Sookie, but he wasn’t the same. He was horrible. Carter drank all the time and had a mean streak in him. Sookie confided in her father about him, but he said it was her responsibility to nurse him back to health. Taking on an extra job, Sookie did what she could to support both of them while still going to school and working at the hospital. Carter stayed at home drinking himself into a stupor every night. He said he couldn’t work in his injured state. She could only take so much of this before she finally called it quits. She focused on school and didn’t date for the next two years, since the relationship left a sour taste in her mouth for commitment.

Sookie heard back from the NYU School of Medicine and received an offer to do her residency up there. With nothing holding her back and a desire to be somewhere new, Sookie quickly accepted and moved up to New York. The country girl is having somewhat of a tough time adjusting and has been feeling a bit lonely, but she is doing her best.

Pets: Sookie has a pet chipmunk that she calls Sir Squeaks who is small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. She has trained him to do tricks for peanuts and keeps him in her room. He does get out on occasion and is a little hard to catch. Sookie often tries to get him back into her room without anyone knowing, but she isn’t always successful. Sookie is quick to pull out Sir Squeaks to anyone willing to meet him.

Relationships: [For OC applicants only. Please provide brief headcanons for possible roomates and/or groups.]

Dani + Rache: Sookie just began her residency in New York. She didn’t have much time to look around for apartments before moving to New York, since she was in Augusta, Georgia. This means she is just now getting to know both of them. She has no complains thus far and has been trying to win their affections with home cooked Southern meals. Sookie enjoys that the girls have an interest in music since she grew up around it.

Val: Sookie met Val at a bar. She overheard the younger girl speaking on the phone in Spanish. Assuming the girl didn’t speak English and always playing the role of a friendly stranger, she tried to use the broken Spanish she knew from her medical Spanish course in college. Val found the sad attempt hilarious and let the girl continue to try until the check came. Val paid for their drinks in perfect English and left Sookie embarrassed. One to turn things into a positive situation, Sookie asked Val to tutor her in Spanish on a regular basis. She isn’t sure why she likes being around Val when she is definitely a pessimistic person. Val’s a brat and Sookie is a pushover, but somehow they seem to be becoming the best of friends. She loves her company a little more than she’s willing to admit and often gets jealous of the girls Val spends time with under the guise of needing her friend.

Quinn: Sookie and Quinn are cousins, but you wouldn’t know it by the way they interact. Sookie isn’t blatantly rude to Quinn. However, she does take the Southern Belle route of innuendos and backhanded comments. She would never admit it but she resents Quinn and the relationship she has with her mother. As far as she is concerned, they are hardly family and she does what she can to do the bare minimum.

Pamela Lansbury: Sookie plans to audition as a guitarist for the band, and has been speaking to a few of the girls about it. She hasn’t gotten too close to any of them, but she does her best to be friendly.

EXTRA INFO

Twitter name/twitter URL/description: Sookie Montgomery / @sookiewookie / 28 year old medical resident. Neurosurgery is the dream. True blue southern belle living in NY. Country music lovin’ subway rider. GO GA BULLDOGS!

Five latest tweets:

@sookiewookie: I need the city that never sleeps to take a damn nap so I can too #sleeeeeppppp

@sookiewookie: Hr 12 of a 16 hr shift and I’m getting the giggles #losingit #nuttyasafruitcake

@sookiewookie: Real women drink whiskey. Fixin’ to get real! #straightup #drinksonyou

@sookiewookie: My stars TSwift how you’ve changed #blessherheart

@sookiewookie: PSA play the devil went down to GA on the fiddle for friends get free drinks #tipsy

#accepted

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