#this is totally not an excuse to share some of the funnier names we have

[paradise-of-lost]

for no reason in particular: heres some places you can get name inspiration from! (all examples listed are from our own sys)

- letters of the alphabet [ex: A]

- minecraft (alter does not need to be associated with minecraft in any way) [ex: nether brick slab]

- any number or string of numbers. (you could also put a string of numbers after a preexisting word/name to be extra fancy) [ex: 6, 3701, 7381924]

- fictional characters (even if you're not a fictive of that character. if you like the name you can just snatch it! pokemon are included in this btw) [ex: candii]

- warrior cats (and by that i mean use the warriors naming system but stealing canon names also works) [ex: shadowheart, lavenderpaw]

- any living thing (common or scientific name) [ex: aspen, flower, lichen, orchid]

- words. literally just words. [ex: absolute, anguish, echo, luminosity, omen, totality]

- rocks and gemstones [ex: malachite, opal, sunstone]

- bits from songs you like [ex: evil, viscera]

- colors [ex: crimson]

- if you're an introject or fictionkin, something you like about/in your source [ex: dawn, roulette]

- words/items/concepts but with "The" at the beginning to make it sound cooler [ex: the abyss, the blade]

- musical instruments [ex: violin]

- seasons [ex: autumn]

- something related to something about you in the system [ex: website introject (it actually uses that name unironically)]

[sunnyhoneyshimmermagic]

I can say without a doubt that while the strip clearly starts running out of steam around 2015, and to me, March-April 2016 was when it began being bad, there were still enough decent arcs and strips from 2016 to 2020 where I wouldn't call it TOTALLY terrible, more like an on and off period.

2021 to today is where it loses all control. I genuinely struggle to even remember the arcs I liked during this time. It's all so repeated, and what's "new" is almost always something refreshingly bad.

Examples:

That may 1st 2022 sunday where a girl actually likes Nate for once so Kim threatens to tear her arms off and NO ONE CARES.

Nate and Kim checking a haunted house, a 2-3 week arc where the big joke besides ha ha kim is a bitch is it was Chad playing the oboe.

Countless and I mean countless arcs of Nate having an idea but instead of us actually getting to see it fail it's his friends all making the same jokes you've seen 1000000 times, and none of which feel like they are being said by anyone else, all his friends turned into damn Francis.

Too many school arcs, Peirce has got to branch out from there. Even Gina arcs are less fun because you know now that no matter what, Godfrey and Gina will win.

Nate in general has really lost his old winning chances. I think he won some sport arc at one point, that's about it.

The knitting arc, 3 whole weeks for the most predictable result imaginable with nary a twist.

Nate sharing a locker with molly only the locker has none of the fun random stuff of the past and Molly is just Francis.

All the characters do is argue now.

Nate trying to stop eating Cheeze doodles, that totally didn't happen in a similar arc (it wasn't a bad arc but you get my point).

Hey, Chad, instead of being the fun and bright spot you are, how about just making food jokes?

EVERY. SINGLE. GIRL. BEING. SUCH. A. BITCH. Two girls just walk up to Nate randomly and start laughing at him. HE WASN'T EVEN DOING ANYTHING.

The arc where Nate and Francis break up, talked about it before, you know the drill.

Dee Dee is just... An egomanaical bitch. None of her once sweet nature, nor her realness with Nate are there. Now she's just girl Francis most of the time, and when it's time for some drama, she's become a real jerk. Oh, but wait, only Nate can get called out on that, carry on.

Oh, a golf/dog for christmas/Artur/Ailurophobia/school picture/sports/kim arc, gee, I wonder if there will be any variety at all, outside of Gram joining in on the golf once.

To me, the biggest change from the old days is the lack of adventure and story telling. Outside of the pretty decent school budget arc (and I guess the Nigel arc but I think that could have been less mean and more interesting), we just don't do story anymore. There are no totally different arcs you've never seen before (and if their are they're Nate in love with a tiktok star), no adventures, no quests, no big moments, barely any cliffhangers. Now it's just "here's a joke you've seen 100000 times with barely any twist, I bet it's funnier this time!".

And no, I don't care for the excuse "but it's hard to think up jokes after all this time." No it's not. I'm an inexperienced fanfic writer who hasn't even begun film school and has zero credits to his name, and I can come up with tons of original arcs!

In short... Dear lord are these last few years terrible. I literally went through 2023 at one point to get something for the AMV and I was like "wait this happened? wait, this was an arc?"

[hard-core-super-star]

damn, I was hoping you'd admit that. so this was also you just throwing random words together in hopes they made sense? 🤔

I can't believe it either... HOWEVER, it was the first and last time you got a star when you were being a little brat about it. don't lose the star, it took me a while to find it kdhwka 🤐 phew, I'm glad you didn't even mention the name of the book or make other recommendations, I won't take note and bring some kind of update when I can see about it better. well, as long as we don't go back to talking about what we definitely weren't talking about, then I think things are totally fine. and I'm not going to say that this thing about not making literal sense, but the feelings being there is something even more impactful due to the fact that you can reach a level of understanding and even greater interpretation due to the fact that these feelings - despite being the focus - continues between the lines with synonyms and comparisons.

your torturous reminder is so funny sorry- picture after picture and she still by your side huh?

I'm curious to know what would have happened if I hadn't understood 😶

I like that you have cool opinions and throw them into your fics, not exactly just about that, but how you see the characters (Kate being the biggest example like you just said). It's exactly at this moment when I think you would be super in favor of Shrek's speech about people being like onions, full of layers. okay, your turn to share another thought about Kate even though you already do this when you write.

– 🌟

nope, you're not getting that out of me that easily. yup, that's how it works. especially that message since it was the first thing i wrote when i woke up lmao. [i did check my phone at 4am and read the messages but i fell back asleep before i could even think about replying so...do with that information what you will]

aw, i think you're a little soft on me 👀 i won't lose it, promise. can't risk you not wanting to give me another one later. i know, it's such a relief none of those things ever happened, imagine the chaos bringing it up would cause. and since we're not talking about it i definitely won't go read some more poems and bring them up to you, not at all. i'm so glad you didn't expand on my point about feelings being the focus because it's not like that's exactly what i try to do in all my fics because i think it's so much more impactful. i also won't admit i can't come up with anything to add because i love the way you didn't phrase that sentence. and i won't admit reading dickinson is what made me try to go above and beyond with simple yet impactful imagery.

excuse you, it's not funny, it's in fact very torturous. especially when it's an old picture of her and my heart stops for a second or two until i remember i'm supposed to be mad at her.

probably nothing except me being sad about it, tbh. unfortunately, now there'll be nothing to stop me from bringing emily dickinson up even more.

i wouldn't say my opinions are cool, i just think about them a lot because that's the way i am. i think adding those little thoughts/opinions is what makes writing fun and what can make a fic stand out because imagine how boring it would be if kate was just a one-dimensional being who just went along with the plot. it would be awful. and yes, you're right, i'm a sucker for that comparison lmao. [but only in spanish because Shrek is funnier in spanish, argue with the wall] i have so many thoughts all of the time but right now all i can think about is how alone she truly is and how that impacts how loyal and devoted she is to the people around her. like, we know she's traumatized af because of her dad's death, she's severely attached to her mom despite how damaging that relationship can be, and she hella admires clint from afar until the events of hawkeye. we never hear anything about her having other family members or friends or anything at all. i know a lot of people headcanon kate as being popular or a jock and stuff but like...idk, sometimes i can't see it. i don't know where i was going with this but those are my shuffled cards, now it's your turn to complete the deck.

[sleeping-lilies]

robin era jason, dick, and babs headcanons because there’s too much comedic potential to ignore

- dick and babs were the ultimate gossip buddies. whenever dick was with the titans for long periods of time, babs always filled him in on everything

babs: dick you’ll never believe what hal said to bruce last night, i even have videos. dick, the look on his face please—

dick, immediately locking doors so his teammates don’t hear the mad shit about to be dropped on main: tell me everything

- vice versa too, dick filled babs in on everything going on with the titans and all they can say is thank god those lines are bat secured with no villains being able to listen in, imagine deathstroke hearing through bat gossip that joey’s dating who?!?! 😳

- batkids have been and always will be the holder of superhero gossip. it’s a business, you see, but we’re getting off topic 😡

- lmfao anyways this is literally how dick finds out about jason

babs: anyways, jason—

dick: who the fuck is jason

babs: ....

dick: barbara?!?!

babs: ok promise you won’t freak out

- babs and dick’s first reaction upon meeting jason being “why is he so small i wasnt that small” “dick you were literally nine when you were robin—“ “he’s tiny” it’s like those two share the same braincell

- i’m making it so that dick gave jason his number earlier because i feel like it 😡😡😡 (not that it changes much other than the fact that i want more gossip dropped in dm’s)

- when dick gave jason his number, he went to babs like “give me jason’s number” “didn’t you literally just give him your’s?” “ya but i’m gonna make sure he texts me” “ya ok that’s fair”

- whenever jason didn’t want to be in the manor (fight with bruce, boredom, etc) he went to wherever the fuck babs lived and they would facetime dick and talk mad shit. it was a thing.

- despite them all being able to drive, babs was the only one during this time with an actual, legitimate, legal license (jason was too young to have a license and dick is too lazy/busy/whatever-excuse-he-wants-to-use to take the permit and driving test) so babs drove them around everywhere and it was a mess™ consisting of a bunch of backseat drivers

- “dick omg look at this video i found from the batcave” “omg he said robin gives him magic” “robin gives him magic” they both cry about it for years to come

- babs sometimes kidnapped jason after school after telling the head of wayne manor (alfred) and took him to get ice cream, then to the library while she worked. jason was the greatest kid in the library, he even had his own throne special chair just for him whenever he came provided by library staff who adored this absolute angel.

- jason 🤝 babs 🤝 dick -> i believe in annoying yet endearing nicknames supremacy

- nicknames include (some used by some more than others or just one, or by both equally because they’re annoying pick and choose my good people)

little wing (iconic, we all know this one fellas and who uses it)

red (used for babs, absolutely fantastic, but in the future it gets confusing because some people with their goddamn hero names 😡)

boy wonder (classic, babs calls them both that)

barbie (for babs, jason uses this one and he’s the only one able to get away with it)

dickie (jason just really gets away with everything huh)

dickhead (jason’s lucky he’s cute)

baba black sheep (jeez i’m on a roll with babs’ nicknames she’s so nickname-able and that’s very cool and sexy of her)

jay z

jay allen

jay jay jay (shut up, dickhead—)

big bird

and a bunch more i’m too tired to look for them in canon or make new ones up, but you get the idea

- dick can totally bake, and babs and jason keep bugging him when he’s baking and add more chocolate chips while pretending to not notice that he can see them 😡😡😡

- headcanon that jason had hero worship for babs and dick because they’re so cool in and out of costume and it never really went away when he got older listen his older brother and pseudo sister are so cool and that’s not his fault but he’ll never admit it

- barbie movie marathons because barbie is an iconic legend and they all recognize it. they have the fucking “she’s the queen of the WA-A-A-AVES” song memorized along with all other barbie movie songs, they sing it on patrol.

- dick and jason’s sibling dynamic was and is basically “ur a little shit and i hate you but i will literally kill for you”

- dick had tension with bruce while jason was just a little shit who would totally cause drama for the sake of it, and people never take advantage of this absolute power duo for destroying bruce

- dick sending cryptid texts to jason through a burner phone because he’s dramatic jason totally knew it was him about things that drive bruce mad, like leaving the shower turned to the coldest setting before bruce got there, leaving the lights in the batcave on, etc. jason, a wise little child, totally took advantage of this. bruce came to accept his fate

- the gc names, guys the group chat names

- jason crashing into titans tower whenever he wants and dick doesn’t bat (hAH) an eye, occasionally he very sweetly asks babs to come with him and she agrees but only sometimes because some people have jobs, jason—wait dick is being flirted with by who?!?! i’ll leave it up to your imagination ;) and they totally crashed titans missions too

- one time bruce was busy with the league while alfred was on vacation and bruce absolutely could not dip (i’m imagining bruce getting a call from the headmaster during an honest to god fight and bruce just picking up while punching the daylights out of some asshole) (“mr wayne, what is that noise in the background?” “sorry, headmaster, the cat is having a seizure”), so when jason got into a “fight” (read: some jackass picking on jason before he snapped and yelled at him and the bitchass kid tried to punch him and jason’s no quitter) bruce called dick who was an adult and legally family (yes dick is adopted sometime after jason was, stay mad) like “son... son please” and dick was like “oh no need to plead with me, this is too good” but of course this bitchass doesn’t have an actual lisence yet and he was hanging out with babs anyways so he and babs rolled up to gotham academy and the kids stared at them like “holy shit they’re so cool” ya dick and babs are those power couple, whether romantic or not, that turn heads, they’re just that powerful strolled into the office, bailed jason out while intimidating the headmaster because the altercation was the result of school staff negligence of actual bullying like those cliche tropes, said “ayyy you got that brat good” and get him chili dogs or whatever the fandom made robin jason’s favorite food. omg i just made an entire fanfic in rough draft form someone please steal it and write it in full form and send me the link

- jason is very very tiny, you see. babs and dick pick him up and move him for any reason, whether because they want to sit on that chair or to just throw him out of harm’s way and take the bullet for themselves.

- jason and dick both get adorable blushes on their faces it’s genetic yes that’s how genetics work shut up meanwhile babs’ ears turn red when she’s embarrassed and all three of them clown each other for it

- i yelled about this to my mutual (cough cough @littlespaceboii) who also added to this absolute dogshit headcanon and then in the discord full of mutuals, but the basement of wayne manor is haunted. dick found it when he was a little gremlin (i stand by that dick was the original demon child) (“you see damian, before there was you there was me” the real reason he was good with damian lmfao) and was like “omg this is so cool” @littlespaceboii came up with that it was just alfred fucking with bruce and so when jason first came and dick was comfy around him he was like “so have you been in the basement” and jason was like “im literally robin i’ve been in the batcave?!?!” and dick goes “no the basement, the haunted one” and jason’s like “hAUNTED?!?!” cuz jason has at least some self preservations and knows not to fuck with the spookies until he too became a spooky and bruce was like “there’s no ghost it’s not haunted” because he’s a skeptic and a party pooper and babs is like “no go on let him finish” even though she knows full well there are no ghosts or does she? and uhhhh basically they becomes ghostbusters 2.0 but cooler and funnier

- this trio is basically baby pan/bisexual jason and two resident expert pan/bisexuals solidarity but that’s literally canon. they go to pride every year that jason’s alive what who said that?

- they all tease each other for their crushes like all siblings/family friends do, i don’t need to say it but it’s important that’s emphasized for my well being

- yelled about this in the discord to the mutuals who added onto this absolute train wreck too, but jason used to play baseball during his robin days, and dick never showed up to those games with being busy as an excuse, but babs always showed up with bruce and alfred and took pictures for dick so dick could be like “mlb players are jobless now that little wing is on the scene” babs (and sometimes bruce) always shouted loudest for jason whether he was in the field or in the dugout and jason would get this extremely adorable blush on his face (jason finds out in the future why dick never showed up (cough cough ptsd from two face’s massive baseball bat which led to everything that came after including being fired and veangance academy and nearly killing two face and omg that’s a ride) and is like oh my god my childhood is even more ruined—)

- remember when i said dick got adopted after jason did in this new absolutely fabulous canon i just created? bruce did that because “ahhh fuck that’s my kid and i want him to know i love him through every means possible since i have the ability to do so” i believe in good dad bruce supremacy and made a whole thing where he invited dick to dinner for like a week to work up the courage and bonding to ask him and show him the adoption papers and then everyone cried :) bruce decided to finally adopt dick after jason referred to dick as his brother and bruce was like “...oh” and alfred was like 👀

- dick, as the first child hero and one of the first heroes period like at least a year or two before babs, holds the “back in my day” card over literally everyone in the hero community in general and pulls it out to annoy babs and jason even tho babs literally joined the scene only a year or two after dick

jason, shaking in his panties: it’s so fucking cold

dick, standing strong in his tits out outfit, who had to wear the panties on his own decision: oh, you’re cold? back in my day—

babs, throwing her boot at his face: god shut the fuck up—

and then dick doesn’t give back her boot and it becomes a whole thing with lots of tackling and play fighting and someone nearly gets thrown off they rooftop for funsies but anyways

also on a side note, babs would take off her cape and wrap it around jason whenever she noticed his discomfort with the weather, or use the weather as an excuse whenever she saw him uneasy for whatever reason and they never mention it to each other

- yelled about this in the discord to the mutuals at some point too holy shit i have friends, but those three are team rocket. they went out as team rocket for halloween one year after bullying bruce to let jason out only jason because he can’t tell dick and babs what to do and jason is under his care and when they do convince him, dick and babs bully jason into being meowth. manifesting jason in a meowth onesie ARTISTS PLEASE—

- dick finally took his license seriously and took his driver’s test after babs became paralyzed.

- those were a rough few months for those three. and then another rough few months for those two

- yikes, sorry to throw angst at you (sorry (unfeeling)) anyways, in the future alfred finds those old photos and shows the rest of the fam, so dick and babs bully jason, 6’2 jason that towers way above both of them, and once again bullies him into being meowth “for tradition, little wing!” “shut up, dickhead” the rest of the batkids lose their shit over this, naturally. bruce and alfred stand in the back teary eyed reminiscing the old days when things were a little more simple.

- discowing walked so terrifying handsome squidward red hood helmet could run (even tho the ugly helmet tripped and fell and missed the mark because discowing wasn’t ugly and will always remain superior, i feel i have committed a terrible crime comparing the two)

dick: jason what the fuck is that

jason: it’s fashion

dick: it’s terrifying

jason: i’m only following in my older brother’s footsteps 😔

dick: listen here, you little shit strangles him haha just kidding that illegal wait theyre vigilantes they don’t follow the law—

- these three and cass refer to the rest of the batkids as “the kids” (if she’s older than jason, sometimes she is and sometimes she isn’t and i’m really confused but whatever)

- babs and dick’s relationship with jason pre death literally shaped how jason treats his siblings post pit madness like he literally goes “what would red and big bird do?!??” when he needs to go into big brother mode over the “little ones” (“little” because tim and steph are adults and duke is nearly an adult himself oh my god he’ll graduate from high school soon and jason never got to do that himself he’s totally going to the ceremony legally dead or not) 🥺

- holy trinity continue hanging out with each other, whether lunch or games or whatever, and just enjoy each other’s company after long, rough years

[klanceyuri]

some lovely quotes

boyfriend: How are you gonna carve that gigantic pumpkin? pico: The same way I make onion rings. pico: *Grabs a chainsaw*

---

girlfriend: Question. When they shot Bambi's mother, did you find that a sad moment...at all? cassandra: I'm sure she's mounted on a nice wall in a fine home somewhere.

---

pico: You use emojis like a straight person. boyfriend: That’s literally the worst thing anyone has ever said about me.

---

girlfriend: I left instructions for everyone while I'm gone. cassandra: Mine just says "cassandra no." girlfriend: I want you to apply it to every possible situation.

---

pico: *Holds a gun out to boyfriend* boyfriend: I-I don't believe in guns. pico: Well, trust me, they're very real. Now take it.

---

cassandra: Puberty should take you to a customize character screen. girlfriend: Do you realize how many people would be dragons? cassandra: You say that like it’s a bad thing.

---

boyfriend: I’m not so sure you’re stakeout material. pico: I’m a chronic insomniac, I was born for this.

---

girlfriend: Who's in charge here? cassandra, shrugging: Usually whoever yells the loudest.

---

pico: *Throws the door open looking panicked* boyfriend: What did you do? pico: Nobody died. boyfriend: WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?!

---

cassandra: Bonjour, girlfriend. Voulez–vous coucher avec moi? girlfriend: No, I don't want to sleep with you. cassandra: Is that what that means? Oh, man, I had a really gross tennis instructor.

---

pico: Alright, listen up you little shits. pico: Not you boyfriend. You’re an angel and we’re thrilled you’re here.

---

girlfriend: I sent good vibes your way. You can’t stop them, they’re coming. cassandra: That is the most threatening way I’ve ever been cheered up.

---

boyfriend: I relate to Belle because she loves books and likes people for who they are! pico: I relate to Tinkerbell because she needs attention or she dies.

---

cassandra: *On the phone* Hey girlfriend, do you know my blood type? girlfriend: Of course, it's B-. cassandra: Oh, I guessed wrong. Excuse me, nurse-!

---

pico: Uptown Funk would've made it into the Shrek Soundtrack. boyfriend: That's the truest statement I've ever heard.

---

girlfriend: Trust fall! cassandra, scoffing from across the room: I’m not gonna catch you. girlfriend: Trust. Fall. cassandra: I said no- girlfriend: I’m falling!! cassandra: WAIT, WAIT NO- cassandra: *Dives on the ground to catch them*

---

boyfriend, explaining to cassandra over the phone: pico was banned from the chicken shack, so we had to go out of town to get some. pico: Well, they shouldn’t say “all you can eat” if they don’t mean it. boyfriend: pico, you tried to eat a chair.

---

girlfriend: *holding a bottle* Is this whiskey or perfume? cassandra: *chugs entire bottle* cassandra: It’s perfume.

---

boyfriend: WHAT’S YOUR TYPE pico: Anything, honestly, but nerds especially boyfriend, desperately, as pico bleeds out: YOUR BLOOD TYPE pico: Oh! B positive. boyfriend: DONT TRY TO CHEER ME UP JUST TELL ME YOUR BLOOD TYPE pico:

---

cassandra: Ok, maybe playing ‘whose family is most dysfunctional’ wasn’t the best idea we’ve had. girlfriend's been crying in the bathroom for an hour. We can’t get them out...

---

boyfriend: Where are you going? pico: To get ice cream or commit a felony, I’ll decide on the way there

---

cassandra: I'm 10 times funnier and sexier than you girlfriend: 10 times 0 is still 0 though cassandra: Jokes on you, I can't do math

---

pico: Pals' night, done right, is about bonding. Sharing problems, origin stories, secrets. boyfriend: I'll start. I worked my way through school as a phone sex operator. 1-800-DJFeelGood. cassandra: I would totally call that. Um... I used to steal cars. Okay, who's next? girlfriend: I was forged in the bowels of Hell to torture the guilty for all of eternity. pico: Interesting share.

---

pico: Have you seen a person named 'boyfriend' around here? girlfriend: Ugh, yes. They made a horrible mess of the blood fountain. cassandra: It looks fine to me? girlfriend: IT USED TO BE WATER!!!

---

girlfriend: I currently have 7 empty notebooks and I have no clue what to put in them. Suggestions? pico: Put spaghetti in it. girlfriend: I'm currently taking suggestions from literally anyone but you. boyfriend: Put spaghetti in it. girlfriend: I'm currently taking suggestions from anyone but you two. cassandra: Put spaghetti in it. girlfriend: I'm no longer taking suggestions.

---

boyfriend: I never said I was gonna get back together with them. But I was thinking, they're in town, would it be the worst thing in the world if I gave them a call? cassandra: No. No, boyfriend, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It would be the fourth worst thing. Number one: a super volcano. Number two: an asteroid hits the Earth. Number three: All the Evel Knievel movies are lost. Number four: boyfriend calls pico. Number five: girlfriend gets eaten by a shark. girlfriend: I’m girlfriend, and I approve the order of that list.

---

boyfriend: girlfriend, how do I get revenge on those who’ve wronged me? girlfriend: The best revenge is letting go, and living well. pico: pico: Hey boyfriend, what’s the best way to get revenge- girlfriend: *Offended* cassandra: Stab. cassandra: Eliminate. cassandra: Destroy.

---

pico: Why does girlfriend have a black eye? boyfriend: They were saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’ So cassandra threw your dictionary at them. cassandra: It was just to test a theory.

---

cassandra: Ugh, there’s always that weak bitch in the group who isn’t down with murder. cassandra: *Glares at girlfriend* girlfriend: Well, sorry if I have morals!

---

[pocket-clown]

Let’s Talk, Please | Arthur Fleck x reader // angst, with fluff at end.

// original request: could i get a little something about arthur and the reader having an argument over something small, insignificant that just gets out of control? and then making up with some extra fluffy fluff?

AN: Thank you for this request, anon! Writing angst kinda helps me get out some of the pent up negativity I have in me, and this gave me an excuse to do so. I could’ve gone….. a lot more angsty with this but I chose to spare ya’ll that torment and keep it light lmao. 

Summary: It was a misunderstanding. A note hidden away in your pocket from someone at work - someone who was just trying to reach out and be friendly with you - but Arthur didn’t know this. To him, once he found it in a search of the set of keys you both shared, it looked an awful lot like you were on the verge of cheating on him, and that was a thought he couldn’t even bear.

Words: 3,901

Content warning: Some shouting on both ends, accusations of cheating, some angst though nothing super heavy.

“Arthur, what did you find?”

Your voice was as taut as your jaw was clenched, your eyes locking onto your boyfriend who currently had his back turned towards you.

Not even five minutes ago had things been fine; you, busy on the couch sorting through an old photo album, and Arthur, keeping himself preoccupied as he washed and put away what few dishes the two of you had dirtied that day. He was getting off work earlier than you were tomorrow which meant that you’d be trading places in regards to who checked the mail, and so he’d asked if you had the keys on you - and along with a nod of your head had you told him to search in your coat pocket for it.

Arthur had done exactly that, and in his search for the keys he ended up finding something you’d long since forgotten about: a note you received about two days ago, from a coworker.

08081 570xxx call me! ☺ - D

Your coworker, who wanted to meet up with you so you two could get to know each other better.

Your coworker, Donna, whom you were tasked with showing the ropes of the place to because she was new - but Arthur didn’t know that.

To Arthur, it looked like you had the number of some random person kept away in your pocket.

To Arthur, it looked like some man had given you his number, and that you’d hidden it from him.

To Arthur, it looked like you were on the verge of cheating on him.

It was a thought that he knew deep down was an irrational one; never once in the history of your relationship had you even mentioned the name of any man with an even remotely affectionate tone (apart from his name, of course), but upon finding the note did his mind immediately swing into overdrive. He’d read it over multiple times, the scratchiness of the handwriting burning into his mind, the request for you to call whomever the writer was, the smiley face (or was that a winky face? He couldn’t tell), the whole thing signed - D. He could think of a few people - all men - whose names began with a D (even the most ridiculous possibilities, such as the pharmacist at Helms’), and it was a thought that made him sick to his stomach the more he held the note in his hands. He had no doubt that all of them, each and every one of them, outshone him in each and every aspect of life - better jobs, more money, healthier, both physically and mentally, funnier - just overall better than he was, and the longer he held the scrap of receipt in his hand, the more did each and every insecurity and anxiety regarding his place in the world and your relationship come to the surface, bubbling up and spilling over like a pot that had been left on the back burner for too long.

You’d asked him, voice as carefree as always, what was wrong, your assumption being that he was just deep in thought about nothing particularly pressing. But then he didn’t respond, and again you tried to get his attention - fruitlessly. When your repeated plea of Arthur, please tell me what’s wrong fell on deaf ears yet again were you set into action, standing up from your spot on the couch up and walking halfway to him, only to see that he was holding something - something you couldn’t quite see from where you stood. 

Come the present situation. Your heart pounding away in your chest, unbeknownst to you in perfect rhythm with Arthur’s own. Your hands were sweaty and trembling as you tried to keep your breath steady, and the sinking feeling you had only burrowed a deep pit into your stomach, pushing you to the verge of nausea as something about the situation just felt wrong.

What did he find?

What was wrong?

“Arthur, what’s wrong?"

A bit fed up after failing to get a response from him yet again did you take a deep breath and cross the rest of the way over to him, and once close enough to do so you placed your hand on his arm- an action Arthur flinched at as you peered over his shoulder just enough to see what it is he was holding.

“Oh, that -”

“What is this?” He asked, his voice undertone yet absolutely stinging. The sharp s that punctuated this was venomous, and by that alone could you tell that Arthur was pissed.

“It’s just something from someone at work, it -”

“Another man gave you his number?” It wasn’t even a question; more than anything, it sounded like a statement, or an accusation that he was just waiting for you to confirm in one way or another. He sounded hurt, and from your spot behind him could you see how tightly his jaw was clenched, and from your hand holding his arm could you feel how tense he was.

“What? Arthur, no, it’s not like that -”

“Well that’s what it looks like!” Not even giving you the chance to explain things did he cut you off, pivoting around so he could face you and look you in the eye. Very unlike Arthur was it to interrupt you, and even more unlike him was it for him to raise his voice at you in even the slightest of ways, and the fact that he’d done both was enough to frighten you. Not that you were scared of him, no, but the sight of an angry Arthur was an incredibly foreign one to you, and that alone shook you enough as you knew that something was really wrong.

“God, Arthur, can you calm down for a second and let me explain?”

“Don’t tell me to calm down, Y/N! What did you think I’d think?”

“You weren’t even supposed to find out!” You shouted, your words coming out much, much harsher than you intended for them to as your voice raised in accordance with his. Immediately did you shut your mouth, your eyes fluttering shut for a moment as you tried to regain yourself with a breath. “Shit, Arthur, I didn’t mean it like that - ”

At your words, the expression on Arthur’s face changed from one of just anger and upset to one of pure appall; your point of him not even supposed to know about the note only seemed to validate the fear that was festering in the back of his mind; not only that you’d hidden it from him, but he took it as an admission of guilt - and the look on his face could’ve made your stomach drop to the floor. His eyebrows knit as he practically glared at you, the way his lips were trembling as if he were trying to hold himself back from saying something or god forbid crying - he looked mad, but underneath it all, he looked heartbroken.

“So you’re just going to go cheat on me like that?” And how the break in his quiet voice shattered your heart. It cracked as he spoke, a hitch in his breath as if he were trying to not have a total breakdown right then and there, in front of you.

“Arthur - what? Are you serious? That’s NOT what this is!”

“Well then what is it?!”

“It’s from a coworker, Arthur! - She - is new and wanted me to give - her - a call so we could get together for a little bit! You’d know that if you let me finish before!” You shout, your heavy emphasis on she and her seemingly doing very little in calming him; his chest heaved with every breath, his arms stiff at his sides as the scrap of receipt was having the life crushed out of it by how tightly he clenched it in his left hand. “I completely forgot about it until right now! You weren’t even supposed to know yet because I didn’t know how it was going to go or if it would even happen. And her name’s Donna, by the way. She’s funny and you’d probably get along with her.” You didn’t care enough to hide the brittle tone of your voice.

Arthur said absolutely nothing, not even breathing as his eyes bore into the floor between the two of you, a deep crease between his dark brows as he appeared to be lost in thought, trying to to contemplate your words.

“- Arthur, you seriously think that I’d cheat on you? Do you really trust me that little?”

“No! Y/N, no! Don’t think that - ”

“...You literally just accused me of that, not even a minute ago.” You brought your hands for a brief second before letting them drop back down, trying to come to terms with the sheer amount of disbelief that he’d accuse you of something as vile as cheating and then deny doing so seconds later. The look he was giving you was almost unreadable; a mix of confusion, of anger, of hurt, of fear - a crease between his brows, the corners of his mouth trembling ever so slightly as he fought off a frown. “Arthur, why would you even think that?”

It was like a blow to the heart to feel that Arthur didn’t trust you. For Arthur, your normally mild-tempered, tender boyfriend, to accuse you of cheating on him like he had - what kind of person did he think you to be? You knew that Arthur had his own set of fears and anxieties, yes - but never, ever had he outright accused you of anything before. Hushed conversations held late at night as the two of you held each other, your faces hidden in the crooks of the other’s neck as you opened wounds long since poorly-healed just enough for them to be discussed; betrayals from people in the past, each and every anxiety, whether shared or unique, regarding yourselves, and the apprehension of what could go wrong brought to light. Neither of you were very experienced in relationships, and you knew that out of the both of you, Arthur probably had more pent-up trepidation regarding this sort of thing, and so while it made some sense that his brain may connect the nonexistent dots that were drawn together by the small note in your pocket, that didn’t make it hurt any less.

You held up your hand. “Actually, no - I’m taking a bath.” You said, cutting him off before he could even respond with a curt shake of your head. 

With that, you turned and slipped away into the bathroom, the feeling of Arthur’s eyes following you tempting you to turn around, the urge of which you resisted as you knew that at the moment, more than anything did the two of you need to take a breather calm down for some time. Both of you knew you were fibbing; you weren’t really going to take a bath, but it made for an excuse to get you just a few moments alone to settle your thoughts and calm yourself down, lest your angst get to you more. You shut the door to the bathroom and immediately slumped down against it, subsequently keeping Arthur from being able to enter if he tried - a thought that broke your heart to even think because so often, more than anything, did you want to let him in.

It had been about five minutes after you initially slumped down onto the cold, tiled floor when you heard a gentle, almost inaudible knock from the other side.

“Y/N…?”

“...What, Arthur?”

“Can we talk - please?...” His voice sounded absolutely heartbroken, especially from the other side of the door. You had a feeling that he was standing right up against the door with his forehead pressed to it like he often did when deep in thought and trying to calm his thoughts, judging by how if you listened close enough you swore you could hear each and every one of his unsteady breaths.

Your own breath stalled for a second as you took a deep breath, your head lolling back against the door with a soft thud. You heart was still pounding, but much less so; you just wanted this over with, but you knew it wouldn’t happen without at least one of you getting emotional.

You almost worried that it would explode into another argument, and at this point, you’d lost absolutely all drive to fight - not that you’d really even had any in the first place. Arguing with Arthur about anything at all was rare - so rare that sometimes you worried that it wasn’t healthy. Neither of you ever wanted to upset the other, but all couples fought; it was important to do, otherwise issues would get swept under the rug and forgotten about for the time being, never truly dealt with - only to come crawling back out at some point in the future and cause even more strife than they would’ve had they been actually dealt with when appropriate. It was just a dumb, stupid misunderstanding that was only worsened and blown out of proportion by some of the less-spoken about tensions in the relationship. So often did Arthur absolutely agonize over the thought of you no longer loving him; thoughts plaguing him in the form of a mantra that cried “you’re no good, you’re undeserving, she needs someone better than you and it’s only a matter of time before they show up” playing on repeat, making his already practically non-existent sleep schedule worse and worsening his already unhealthy mental state. Arthur was simultaneously itching to tell you about it but also too afraid to, lest his irrational fears become too much for you to deal with, and he’d try, he’d fight so hard to ignore them, and you’d try equally as hard to combat them with loving touches and words of affirmation, but it wasn’t something that would just go away. Arthur was troubled, this you knew; but so were you. You had your own set of insecurities and anxieties, and both you and your boyfriend who you felt sometimes cared too much tried so, so damn hard to help keep each other afloat that often times you forgot to stop and take care of yourselves, too.

But, yes, what couple didn’t argue? Perhaps this was an opportunity, one with regrettable circumstances, for you two to actually talk more about this stuff. Yes, in the past you have, but those conversations always tended to take place late at night when the mood was tender, the both of you so sleepy in the presence of each other that your walls came down just enough for the other to see what was on the other side for a brief moment. You loved Arthur, and you knew that he loved you, too - and with that love and desire to understand each other you knew that you could get through this.

Without wasting another second did you stand up, your legs and backside aching from being pressed against the hard floor for so long, and you could’ve ripped the door from the frame with how hard you opened it. The sight on the other side of a very distraught Arthur shattered your heart; his eyes glassy, nose red - his entire expression told you that not only was he distraught over the argument itself, but that he was afraid of where things would go from then on - a fear you couldn’t really blame him for.

“Art, I - ”

“No, Y/N, I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t you, I should’ve mentioned it when I got it.”

“- No, Y/N, it was me. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that - I shouldn’t have accused you of something like that without even thinking first.” The latter portion of his sentence had a hushed urgency to it as he closed the gap between the two of you, and you met him halfway as you threw your arms around his neck, hiding your face between your arm and the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me…”

“I’m not mad at you, Arthur, it just really, really fucking hurt to be accused of something like that.” You said, feeling him sigh against you, and you could only guess how he was feeling. Arthur hated upsetting you - just like he hated hurting you in any way. Being honest with him that he had done either of those things was hard because you knew how much it would upset him in return, but you knew that it was needed. “Just please, don’t do it again.”

“No, no, no, never, sweetheart, never.” He whispered, his lips pressed to the top of your head as your face was tucked into his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”

“And I shouldn’t have kept it from you. Not that I meant to, but you probably would’ve liked to know.”

“You aren’t mad at me still, are you?” He asked, and you couldn’t help but coo slightly at how meek his voice was.

“Artie I was never actually mad at you. I was just upset with the situation.” And with that you pulled your face away from him, bringing your hands to cup his face like he so often did yours and pulled him in for a quick kiss. “We both just got upset over a misunderstanding.” You said, pressing your forehead to his.

You two stayed like that for awhile, your arms not unwrapping from the embrace as you reassured each other over and over again with hushed voices that it was okay. You both knew this was an issue that needed to be resolved, or at least spoken about more openly; considering it most likely stemmed from Arthur’s already poor self esteem and acceptance that life was just not going to be kind to him, it would not just go away with a few kisses and kind words. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t have your own worries; you knew that before you came along that Arthur had a thing for his neighbor who was nothing short of an absolute babe, and while you knew that Arthur wouldn’t ever go behind your back and cheat on you, you sometimes did get hung up over worrying if he was truly, totally, over her like he’d assured you that he was, countless times. You’d feel a twinge of jealousy every now and then when he’d smile at her, and you knew it was silly. Arthur was incredibly talented at reading your mood and would always get a bit of a chuckle out of it; the fact that you were jealous when it was usually him was something he’d find cute, but nonetheless would he tell you that you were all he wanted. You figured that it was only fair for Arthur to know the same; he was all that you wanted.

It would definitely be a long road for the two of you to overcome this sort of thing, but the two of you had already been through a lot together. How was this any different?

“Hey, Murray’s going to start soon, right?” You spoke up after a minute of silence, and you could feel Arthur smile against your shoulder where he’d had his head tucked down, his face pressed into the fabric of your sweater. You could feel the warmth of his breath through your sweater as he mumbled yay, Murray!, and you couldn’t stop yourself from giggling at how adorable it was. Cuddling up on the couch or bed and watching the Murray show was one of your favorite pastimes with him; regardless of whether it was a new episode, a rerun on channel four, or one of Arthur’s VHS tapes, it was one of the few times that you got to see Arthur and all of his genuine happiness, and hear his beautiful, beautiful laugh that you wished you got to hear more of.

You had a feeling that your hesitance to leave Arthur’s side for the remainder of the night was a mutual one, given by how once you were settled on the bed with the television at the far end switched on, Arthur’s arms found their way around your waist, allowing you to snuggle right up to him, your head on his shoulder with your leg hitched over his, his cheek pressed to the top of your head as he fixed his attention on the show.

“And I was serious when I said that I think you’d get along with her, you know.” You spoke up during a commercial break, knowing that Arthur didn’t like it when something interrupted the show.

“Hm?”

“My coworker, Donna. She’s funny, and a little older than I am. She’s nice - would you wanna meet her sometime?”

Arthur’s quiet for a moment, his look a thoughtful one as he gazed at the television. “Do you think she’d want to meet me?” His voice was soft and uncertain. You knew how often he’d doubt how others felt about him, and you couldn’t really blame him as more often than not did the city - sometimes quite literally - beat it into him that he was an outsider who wasn’t to be accepted by others. It was a feeling that had plagued Arthur for most if not all of his life, and so his worry regarding whether he’d even be remotely liked by a new person was more valid than you liked for it to be.

Despite that, you couldn’t help but laugh a bit at his question - something about it just seemed so silly to you, perhaps because you’d taken such a quick liking to Arthur within moments of meeting him for the first time that it was next to impossible for you to even imagine someone not liking him.

“Well, yeah - I’ve told her a little bit about you, already. I’m sure she’d love to.” You said as you sat up fully, your hand coming to the top of his head so you could brush your fingers through his soft brown curls, a feeling he leaned into as his eyes fluttered shut. “I’ll call her tomorrow, and figure out what she wants to do. That sound fine? It probably won’t be until the weekend, though.”

He hummed in agreement for a brief moment, before looking up to meet your eyes. “You’re sure you aren’t still upset with me..?” He asked yet again, his need for reassurance keeping him from biting his tongue.

“Art if I was, I’d still be hiding in the bathroom.” You shot him a look, the playful smile on your lips only growing as Arthur’s own smile suggested he was amused by your response. It was true; you weren’t upset in the slightest anymore - the problem had been dealt with for the night. Yes, you knew that it would need to be talked about again very soon, lest it happen again - but that’s what tomorrow, or a day later in the week, was for. For the time being, you just wanted to settle in with Arthur. Eventually things would need to be taken care of; clothes changed for bed, the remainder of the dishes and the photo album taken care of, but for now, the last thing you wanted was to part from Arthur and spoil the moment of warmth and contentedness that was needed - for the both of you.

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@tahliamalfoydepp @tsukiakarinobara @smol-nari @ajokeformur-ray @lavenderheartz @lady-carnivals-stuff @darknessisafriend​ @emissarydecksetter​ @soulsdontbreaktheybeeend​ @fleckcmscott​ @oldloverhippiemusic​ (let me know if you’d like to be added!)

[artificialqueens]

Come Home to My Heart, Chapter 5 (Lemyanka) - Plastiquedoll

read on ao3 ✨| previous chapters

A/N: remember when call me maybe played on the radio? also, when I was writing this I found myself missing Denali a lot so I included her in the story from now hehe & after this chapter, there are no more time skips, now we are at the “present” part of it Enjoy & thanks for reading <3

-5-

At the age of twenty-two, Priyanka felt like she was invincible.

She was living in Toronto where she went to college with a broadcasting major. She worked in a record store downtown and rocked it as if she was the main character of High Fidelity. She still had the car she bought in her teen years but it worked perfectly and she couldn’t complain. She also shared an apartment with Scarlett who turned out to be a better roommate than expected.

Yeah, life was good. Finally, things had fallen into place.

Now she was on her way back home to spend the first proper vacation with her family she had ever had since moving out and although she loved her new life, she found herself missing the old times when everything seemed simpler.

Scarlett had returned a few days before Priyanka but they had agreed on meeting with the entire group to have some shots as soon as they all were there.

The sun was bright and yellow in the sky when she arrived home. As soon as she set a foot in, her nephews and nieces pounced on her. She spent the whole day playing with them –Priyanka liked to think she was not a regular aunt but rather a cool aunt- and ended up so tired that she went straight to bed after dinner –and for goodness sake, she had missed homemade food.

Going back to her old room was weird. It felt wider now that her sister lived in Australia and spent most of the year touring with a great orchestra. Most of Priyanka’s stuff was in Toronto and the remaining ones were inside boxes somewhere in the basement; the walls were empty and there were marks where the sticky tape was on gluing posters and photos, same old curtains, and even the same lamp on the nightstand. Her luggage was untouched, clothes folded –kind of- inside it. She’d unpack in the morning and until then she would put on whatever she found on the drawer as pajamas. Luckily, she had a Totally Spies! old t-shirt with a hole in one of the sides that would do just fine.

Before turning off the lights, she saw the picture of her graduation, smiling while she hugged her friends and a good feeling invaded her body.

The moment her head touched the pillow she fell asleep.

It wasn’t until the morning after things went downhill.

Priyanka didn’t know yet, she had a great morning drinking coffee and catching up with her mother before getting a text from Kiara asking if she’d like to have brunch with them –don’t judge her, a mimosa sounded delightful- plus they mentioned something about waffles discounts.

She had grabbed the first thing her hands picked from her suitcase, a pair of grey sweatpants, sneakers, and a tank top; the morning was still chilly so she put on a light jacket and tied her hair into a ponytail.

She texted Denali as well; she was a friend Priyanka met one winter she came to town from Alaska for a skating competition and ever since then, she would visit once in a while to hang out with them and practice with one of the local coaches. They got along instantly because Denali was fun to be around, she was also a very talented skater and a great drinking buddy to have next to her any night.

She replied shortly after, something about meeting them there.

It was nice to be in her hometown again, driving around with the same car she bought there, knowing exactly where to turn and where to go. Call Me Maybe played in the radio on repeat and she let it be, even sang along with her windows down.

She passed by Lemon’s old house -the one where she lived before moving to New York- her parents had sold it a few months after splitting up and a new family lived there already, Priyanka sometimes saw little kids playing around and couldn’t help but think of them sometimes. Those days most of her memories with Lemon were nostalgically tinted more than angry like the day she left.

Lemon’s father had re-married a couple of years ago, he met a French-Canadian woman in one of his business trips; she had an older daughter called Rita that Priyanka had met a few times in town. Although she had never spoken to her, according to her friends, she had a charming accent and funnier than she looked in her classy exterior.

Lemon had returned for the wedding that time but their paths didn’t cross.

They hadn’t met in seven years now.

When Priyanka arrived, the dining was flooded with people and waiters going back and forward with pots of coffee and flying orders. She quickly found her friends among the crowded tables and made her way to the table without bothering other customers.

“Hello, ladies!” She smiled widely. “Missed me much?”

Scarlett shook her head. “I saw you like three days ago, you clingy bitch.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Priyanka hugged Kiara and then Juice who were sitting on the other side of the squared table.

“Well, I did miss you.” Juice said.

“See? Even your girlfriend is happy to see me.”

“Again, we’re not dating…”

“Yeah, yeah… we’ve heard it before.” Kiara complained and Scarlett crossed her arms on her chest. “Anyway… have you eaten yet?”

“No, I had coffee with my mom and now I’m starving.” She perused the menu and finally set her mind on the cinnamon waffles. “We should wait for Denali to order, though.”

“Priyanka…” Scarlett called her name with a particular tone.

Very particular.

She suddenly took a closer look at her friends. They all seemed secretive; in possession of some valuable knowledge, Priyanka wasn’t. Juice avoided eye contact, Kiara continued fidgeting and Scarlett was nicer than ever.

It had to be bad.

“What’s going on with you guys?” She was a little scared of asking.

“I think we should wait for the food…” Juice scratched the back of her head.

“No, we have to do this fast and effectively, like ripping off a Band-Aid.” Kiara disagreed.

“Uh… guys, you’re freaking me out. What the hell is going on?”

Scarlett followed Kiara’s advice.

“Lemon’s here.”

Priyanka was perplexed and for once in her life didn’t have a witty comeback. She had gone blank.

“Is she broken?” Juice waved right in front of her trying to catch any movement in her eyes.

“Give it a moment, let it sink…”

Priyanka looked at her roommate. “When you say she’s here you mean…?”

She pointed at Kiara.

“Okay so, she’s still close with some of the girls… you know, Boa, Tynomi…” Priyanka nodded, mechanically. “I bumped into Tynomi the other day and she casually mentioned that Lemon’s in town for a few weeks.”

“Weeks?!”

Great. Just great.

“What is she doing here?” Kiara opened her mouth to reply but Priyanka shushed her. “You know what? I don’t wanna know… I don’t care… I couldn’t care less.”

It didn’t make sense. Lemon hadn’t been back in five years since the wedding and she chose that particular summer to make her triumphal returning. Priyanka was starting to believe she’d become a ghostly memory of her childhood days but somehow she was there in flesh and bone.

Her hands were sweaty.

“Hey! Sorry, I’m late,” Denali’s voice took them out of their bubble. “Wow… you all look… somber… Should I come back later?” You didn’t need to be an expert to perceive the environment.

“No, it’s not…” Priyanka shook her head.

She wasn’t letting her ruin her vacations.

“Sorry. Hi, Nali…” She stood up and hugged the girl tightly. “Remember everyone?”

“Hi everyone,” She greeted the girls one by one and then sat next to Priyanka. “Seriously, if you need me to leave…”

“No need.” Priyanka assured.

“Then what’s going on? Cat got your tongue? You’re usually the loudest table wherever you go.”

“Priyanka’s first crush is in town.” Juice filled the blanks.

“Aw, that’s cute… are you meeting her soon?”

“Not if I can help it…” She muttered.

“She’s also her former best friend…”

“Oh…”

“…Who hadn’t seen her in the past seven years. It’s like her own Envy Adams.”

“Oh, no… Okay… that’s… I’m going to sit here and pretend that I’m reading this interesting menu…” Denali covered her face with the said item.

“Don’t bother, Nali. You have nothing to worry about.” She put her hand over her shoulder. “I’m totally fine with it.” Priyanka sounded convinced.

“Yeah… about that…” Kiara started. “Did we forget to mention she’s in this establishment right now…?”

Priyanka almost choked. “I beg your pardon?”

“She’s here… here.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Well, that’s…” Priyanka was feeling dizzy. “Would you excuse me for a second? I need to use the bathroom.”

“Pri!” One of the girls called her name but she didn’t turn back.

Priyanka locked herself in the first free booth she found.

She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t imagined this moment before, years ago when the wounds were still fresh and her heart had been broken, but now… after all that time, she wasn’t prepared. Her mind refused to let the memories go away but she had managed to live a life without Lemon, a life that was good and where she achieved everything she wanted. Now she felt like she was walking back to a place where she was overexposed and it was too much to handle.

She took a deep breath. No.

She wasn’t that little girl anymore, she had endured worse and by no way, she’d give all that power to a single person that wasn’t even part of her life anymore.

Priyanka lifted her head and heard the sound of the water running from the sink diverted her attention. She couldn’t see the reflection in the mirror but that silhouette, a hint of blonde hair and a floral dress, the pastel nails shaking the water drops…

It had to be…

She grabbed a paper towel and tossed it in the trash before leaving the bathroom.

Priyanka’s blood was rushing and some type of instinct made her open the door and get out of the bathroom.

She had to know.

Her eyes traveled around the dining, trying to distinguish among those faces but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Priyanka returned to the bathroom as if the sugar rush diminished and threw some cold water on her face. The reflection on the mirror stared back at her, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes looked bigger than ever. She took a deep breath before going back to her table with her friends; they’d get worried if she stayed there any longer.

She walked back, shaking the feeling with every step, she only slowed down when she started getting closer and saw her. She saw her right in front of their table; her hand touching the top rail of the chair where Priyanka was sitting, her frame was still petite but she wasn’t either a sweet little girl or an adolescent teenager, she was a young woman now.

She had curves and toned ballerina legs, her hair was longer and blonder than before and it looked silky and wavy, even her posture was different, relaxed, matured, she was lively talking to her friends even laughing at something Kiara said.

What had happened there?

Juice spotted Priyanka right behind, the others did too and suddenly all the eyes of the table were on her.

Lemon turned around.

She was wearing a buttoned dress with short sleeves and a daisy design in white, yellow, blue, and green; her hair had two pins holding away from her face and there were rosy hints on her features, the tip of her nose, from her cheekbones to her cheeks; her lips in perfect pastel pink lip gloss, her lashes had mascara on and her signature eyeshadow had the right amount of spark to make her eyes pop –Lemon had worn contact lenses since she was sixteen because she was practically blind without glasses, Priyanka knew.

She blinked a couple of times and then smirked.

She smirked.

“Well, that’s my cue to leave.” She smiled at the people sitting at the table. “It’s nice to see you, guys. I hope we can hang out sometime.”

It was like a slap on Priyanka’s face who had said nothing yet.

Scarlett’s eyes were playing ping-pong, going from Priyanka to Lemon non-stop; Juice was nervous but she kept smiling, Kiara was still in disbelief and Denali hid behind the menu again.

She walked next to Priyanka like a breeze.

Now the anger built over the years had resurfaced and made her blood boil under her skin.

“Hello to you too.” Priyanka spat loudly enough for her to hear.

Kiara mouthed oh shit.

Lemon stopped and looked at Priyanka over her shoulder.

“Oh, so you can speak now…” She nodded.

Her face remained inscrutable it was annoying. Priyanka had her nails pressing the inside of her palms so hard, her knuckles were turning white.

“If that’s it…”

“It’s not.” Priyanka was fuming.

“How unfortunate because it is for me.” She walked away with the last word, leaving Priyanka behind.

She followed her figure until she was out of the dining and then felt the hand of Juice grabbing her wrist.

“Pri…?” She tested.

“It’s fine… I’m fine.” She sat back on her chair but the image of Lemon’s fingers touching it didn’t help.

She internally thanked the waitress that approached to take their order because she didn’t want to talk about it.

Priyanka didn’t want to admit that even after all those years, her heart kept running wild in her presence and there was nothing she could do. All those years of being apart hadn’t done a single thing for her hopeless, stupid little heart.

[raineydaywrites]

Nesting Chapter 11

Chapter Summary: We're getting closer to canon, y'all. So have a surprise Barry appearance! Things are starting to move fast around here.

Okay. Maybe they should have waited a little longer to buy some of this stuff. Taako's room was hard to navigate now with all the baby stuff all over the place. Besides which, all of it was a constant reminder of his situation- one that was proving to be quite unwelcome.

Taako hadn't expected that. It wasn't like he could forget what was going on, whether or not there was a bunch of visual reminders all over the place. But it seemed that he'd managed to block it out at least sometimes, given how much more aware of it he was now.

The fact that he was showing probably didn't help with that either. No matter what Lup said, Taako could tell that he was showing. And it was only getting more and more obvious as time went on. Maybe not enough for any stranger on the street to tell, but it was getting there.

His clothes didn't fit like they were supposed to anymore. It was incredibly frustrating, because Taako liked to look good, and he'd collected his stash of clothing because it looked good, and now, suddenly, it didn't look good anymore.

Some of it was still fine, obviously, but his wardrobe felt like it had suddenly shrunk down to a fraction of its previous size, and there was nothing he could do about it. It was only going to get worse over the next several months.

The nausea was starting to pass- fucking finally- but it hadn't disappeared completely, and it was hardly the only annoying thing about this whole experience. He felt like he was constantly starving or exhausted, and his body hurt, and sometimes he couldn't seem to think at all.

One day after class, a professor asked to speak with him, and he knew it was about the sudden decline in the quality of his work. He had been forgetting stuff a lot recently, making dumb, careless mistakes, and it was costing him, especially considering that he was too tired to catch those mistakes a lot of the time.

She did surprise him with how she asked it though.

"Mr. Taako, is there anything going on in your personal life that may be impacting your ability to keep up with the work? I am very open to making arrangements and accommodations to help my students in these situations," she said, voice soft and careful.

Taako figured that it wouldn't hurt anything to tell her. He'd be unable to hide it soon enough anyway, and if it could buy him some pity points so he could have an easier time with his classwork, then he wasn't afraid to play on her sympathy.

"Yeah, so, I'm pregnant," he said, the words coming out with more difficulty than he'd anticipated, but whatever. It was said. "The whole thing has been rough and I'm having trouble with some things I wasn't before."

The professor began to make sympathetic noises as soon as Taako started explaining, a look on her face that suggested that she wasn't all that surprised, and Taako added another tally to his mental "told you so, Lup" checklist.

"I understand. I had two difficult pregnancies myself," she said. "We do have resources for our student parents, if you need them. Accommodations can be made to ensure you can keep up with your work and your learning. And I for one, am very willing to meet with you to help ensure that you are able to complete my course."

"Yeah, chill, that'd be great," Taako nodded.

"Why don't you come by my office hours sometime this week, and I'll help connect you with the office that handles these things, and we can work out a plan for this course. In the meantime, and for your other classes, is there anyone in your life who can help with these things? A friend or family that could look over your work for simple errors and such would be a boon in itself. Pregnancy brain is no joke," she laughed despite the words.

"Got a sister, yeah. And a friend," Taako shrugged, because he couldn't believe that he hadn't thought of that before. Of course Lup would help with this shit.

He couldn't believe that he hadn't thought about all the sympathy points he could get from this pregnancy situation before now. He was doing something fucking hard, and he deserved those sympathy points. Lup wasn't going to begrudge him lazing around on the couch like this, and it was plain common courtesy to offer pregnant people stuff like seats on public transit and whatever the fuck, he didn't usually pay that much attention.

Yeah, no, he was cashing in on that for sure.

-

When Taako and Lup entered their magic theory classroom, there was someone other than their professor standing behind the podium.

"Creesh, who's that?" Lup hissed, leaning forward to whisper the question to Lucretia.

"Dr. Bluejeans," she whispered back.

"Okay, and why is he here?" Taako asked.

"I don't know. I know nothing about him," Lucretia shrugged.

"You knew his name, though," Taako pointed out.

Lucretia turned to face them at that, specifically so that they could watch as she raised her eyebrows at them incredulously.

"It's written on the board," she said.

Oh. Yeah, sure enough, "Guest Speaker Dr. Bluejeans" was written in the prof's handwriting on the board. Taako was just glad Lup didn't notice either, so that he wasn't alone in that bit of obliviousness.

Though, really, if Lup had noticed, he could have just chalked it up to pregnancy brain. That was an excuse that he already knew he was going to miss when he couldn't use it anymore. Instant understanding was less forthcoming when your excuse was "I have ADHD" or "I'm just a dumbass," the other primary excuses he had on the table for these situations.

Dr. Bluejeans looked a tiny bit uncomfortable standing in front of the crowd of students, fidgeting with his papers and rocking back and forth on his heels as he waited for class to officially begin.

Lup craned her head, trying to get a look at- yep, he was in fact, wearing blue jeans, and she grinned to herself. God, she couldn't decide which was better: if he had been born with that name, meaning there was a whole Bluejeans clan out there in the world somehow, or if he had, like, full out changed his name because of his love for this particular sartorial choice.

The minute the clock ticked over to the start of class, their prof began to speak, moving from one of the front row seats to stand beside the guest speaker.

"Class, this is my colleague, Dr. Barry Bluejeans," he introduced.

God, the full name was even better. Lup fought to not let her face split into a ridiculous grin, but upon exchanging a look of amusement with Taako, knew that she was failing. She shouldn't have let herself look at Taako, because shit was always funnier when she was sharing it with him.

She shoved the grin down and tried to focus.

"I have asked him to speak with you today as he is this Institute's premiere expert on bond magic, a pioneering field that you should all expect to hear much more about in the upcoming years. I expect you all to treat him with the same respect you would show me."

"Not exactly difficult to clear that bar," Taako whispered to Lup, and she snorted, before elbowing him in the side.

"Shush! Poor nerd already looks terrified," she said, tilting her head toward the guest lecturer.

He must not teach many classes, or at least, not big lectures if he was this awkward and nervous about speaking with all of them. But if his field was so new and specialized, as prof had implied, that might make sense. Probably he was more used to doing his research and maybe teaching some smaller, high-level classes.

"Hello, everyone," Dr. Bluejeans greeted, offering them a sweet smile. "As Professor Dillon said-"

"Okay, I like him," Taako said to her, gesturing to where their prof was making a sour face at the title Bluejeans had used for him.

Bluejeans seemed oblivious to it, but Lup knew exactly what the face was for. Professor Dillweed had gone on a rant a time or two before about the fact that "doctor" was his preferred title over "professor" and how it was 'disrespectful' to not use it.

Nobody really listened to that, with even some of the fresh-out-of-high-school and suck-up students switching it out occasionally. Lup and Taako only ever used "professor", if they were even that nice about it.

The lecture was actually really fascinating, and Lup found herself leaning forward in excitement as Bluejeans talked about his work.

Lucretia was rapidly taking notes, and Lup for sure planned to ask her to look it over later, because she wanted a record of this stuff. It was really interesting.

Even Taako was pulled out of his 'too cool' attitude by the lecture a bit, and Lup saw some of the nerdier facets of her brother's personality peek out a bit. He never liked to admit to that, but Taako was a total nerd for cool magic shit, and Lup could see how much the new topic was drawing him in.

It helped that Bluejeans was so obviously invested in his work himself. He clearly loved the topic, and it made it a whole lot more interesting to listen to than Dillon's droning on about the different types and properties of magic.

"If you would like to learn more about bond magic, I teach a specialized course on the subject- MAS 375- which will be offered next semester. We'll be discussing the properties of bond magic and its usage in everything from everyday spellwork to advanced technology. There's actually a very fascinating project ongoing to utilize bond magic to power an engine- I can't speak too much on the matter now, but it's very exciting," Bluejeans explained. "Oh! And I also teach in the necromancy department!"

He seemed like he was about to go off on another tangent about that, when he noticed the clock tick over to end the class.

"Looks like we're out of time, everybody. Thanks for your time!" Bluejeans said, waving cheerily at everyone as he began to pack up his bag.

A number of students had started moving to the front of the class to speak to the guy, and Taako watched as Lup's eyes flickered over to him curiously as well.

"I gotta talk to Dillon about some shit," Taako said. "Go ahead and bother the nerd."

"I'd like to thank Dr. Bluejeans for the lecture. We can talk to him together," Lucretia offered, turning to Lup and smiling nervously.

Taako fought the urge to roll his eyes, gathering his stuff as Lup and Lucretia headed off to do that.

The classroom emptied out pretty quickly, which Taako appreciated. He didn't love the idea of talking about this where anyone could overhear, but he had to do it, and he didn't want to spend any more time around Dillon than he needed, which meant not making an appointment or anything.

By the time Taako made his way over to Dillon, Lup and Lucretia were speaking with Bluejeans, and most everyone else had left. There were a few students lingering to add in to whatever conversation was happening over there, but most everyone, especially the non-majors had left.

"Hey, Professor Dillon?" Taako asked, trying to keep it relatively professional without actually being respectful, since he was about to ask this guy to do something for him and all.

"Yes, Mr. Taako?" Dillon asked, and Taako did not love the way that he looked at him, all condescending-like.

"I'm pregnant. Got some accommodations for it. Here's the info," Taako said, reaching into his bag to pull out the very official looking and very crumbled form he'd been given to share with his professors.

Dillon took it, wrinkling his nose, and Taako could just tell that the guy was judging him, and he would say something if the dude wasn't, like, in charge of his grades and shit.

"I see. Well, I'm not exactly sure what you expect me to do for you, but-"

Bluejeans walked over at that moment, interrupting Dillon to say, "Oh, Wyatt, if you'd like, I can provide some of my notes on how to alter a lesson plan for accommodations like these! It can be a little complicated, I know, but I'm happy to help. The Office for Student Health has some great resources too. It's really awesome how committed the Institute is to supporting our students, isn't it?"

Taako glanced back toward Lup and Lucretia, wondering if they'd caught all that too, only to find them watching Bluejeans with surprised and pleased expressions. From how they were standing, it kind of looked like Bluejeans had walked over in the middle of the conversation to say that, and Taako tried to keep his expression neutral, instead of the smug look he wanted to give.

"Yes, you're right, of course. I would be so glad to receive those notes, Barry," Dillon said, through somewhat gritted teeth and a forced smile. Taako was pretty sure the usage of the guy's name was intended to sound disrespectful, knowing dickheads as well as he did, but it was pretty weak considering that Bluejeans had used Dillon's name first.

"Wonderful. I'll send them over right away. We'll set up a meeting to talk it over, yeah?" Bluejeans said, smiling and looking for all the world like a friendly colleague instead of the asshole he clearly was.

Not like Taako minded though. He was being an asshole on his behalf, after all, and Taako's favorite people all tended to be assholes, so he was mostly just amused.

"So, we're done here, yeah?" Taako asked Dillon, because if he didn't get out of this conversation, he was going to laugh in the guy's face, and that wasn't gonna earn him any favors, he knew.

"Yes, I do believe so," Dillon said, turning away and picking up his own bags to walk out of the lecture hall.

"I, uh, hope you don't mind me interrupting like that," Bluejeans said, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, suddenly looking a bit nervous.

"Nah, dude, that was great," Taako said, waving off the apology before the guy could even finish saying it.

"Nice! Dillon's such an ass, amiright?" Lup said, throwing one hand up for a high five, which Bluejeans quickly but nervously reciprocated.

"Listen, I don't want to pry, but if he's being a dick or anything about all this, you can contact the department and they'll sort it out. Dillon is an old-fashioned sort, but he has tenure, so he feels comfortable being shitty. But there's still lines he can't cross," Bluejeans explained, before digging in his pocket and pulling out his wallet. "In fact, here's my card. Got my number, my office, all that good shit. If he does anything, tell me and we can figure it out."

Taako took the card, because like hell was he gonna turn down free help. The guy seemed pretty genuine in his desire to help too, and Taako appreciated the offer, even if he wasn't sure if he'd ever feel a need to take it.

"Thanks, man," Taako said, before turning back to Lup. "So we good to go now, or?"

"I think so, yeah." Lup agreed, turning to Lucretia, "See ya, Luce!" She also offered a beaming smile and a wave at Bluejeans as they left. "You're great! We'll talk later, yeah?"

Bluejeans didn't seem to know quite what to say to that, just nodding and waving as Taako and Lup made their escape.

[clownsgobeepbeep]

🎎older Atlas and Ula X3

Our muses sit close enough to brush knees/lean against yours

So this turned out a little longer than planned, ‘cause I was trying to write tiny dork and her two big dorks ^^’ Hope it’s good-ish

It was a breezy, autumn evening: a perfect day to spend at the carnival.

With skies that ever so slowly turned into a violet hue after remaining orange for a while, the ground was quite the contrary. There were lights all throughout, whether they be tiny bulbs on booths and food stands, or large signs reading the names of rides placed all around.

All around, upbeat music was heard as people made their way through whatever to get to their favorite rides as fast as possible. Every now and then, there was the sound of a scream piercing through the air and sometimes the sobbing of a child scared out of their mind, but everybody was far too focused on their own enjoyment to take notice.

Below on the ground, was a group of eyes that all stared into the bright, multicolored lights on the moving monument before them. Every little bulb glistened in their eyes that were wide with astonishment if not fear.

“That’s fucking insane.”

“I don’t think I could go on that.”

“I don’t think Princess could go on that.”

“Oh, fuck you Dante.”

Despite the conversation, the group soon tilted their heads upwards to follow the huge object that now swung over the crowd before swinging back continuously.

“I think I’m gonna go with Ama and Henry.”

“I specifically made them go to the other side for a reason Robyn, and you sure as heck are not going to ruin it.”

So many screams now rang through the group’s ears as they continued watching, the giant pendulum before them finally swinging high enough to remain upside down for a moment to then make a full circle.

Two of the group members soon felt their hands be held by smaller ones that gripped onto them tightly, no doubt somewhat nervous.

On the left was the only member with green eyes, these now looking down at his girlfriend who nervously looked up at the ride titled “Freak Out”. On her right was her other boyfriend, this one also looking down at her short figure.

“Uh...how about we go on another ride instead?”

“Are you wussing out Atlas?”

“Rayden, leave him alone. If anyone’s wussing out it’s you.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I actually agree with Atlas.” the girl of the group spoke up, hands still gripping onto her partners��. “Maybe we should go eat something.”

“Any ideas?” Atlas asked to the group who remained quiet, seeing as the pendulum slowed down, eventually coming to a complete stop. “Schrader? You know this place more than we do.”

“Um.” Schrader looked away from the ride, returning Ula’s squeeze before turning to Atlas. “There should be a cool potato stand nearby, as well as a funnel cake one.”

“Oooh! I want potatoes!”

“Me too!” Robyn and Rayden exclaimed in unison after Dante licked his lips, the other trio slightly shrugging.

“Well, I really want some funnel cake.” Atlas chuckled, his eye now following a pair who walked in front of the group with a large funnel cake. “Oh yeah, I definitely want some.”

“Same.” Ula nodded before looking over at Schrader. “What about you?”

“I’ll go with the funnel cake as well.” he replied with a smile. “They top them with your choice of ice cream or whip cream, and even berries if you want.”

“That sounds so freaking good.” Ula bit her lip before turning to Dante and the twins. “You guys go get your potato chips or whatever, and then we’ll meet back here in twenty.”

“Got it!” the twins soon grabbed Dante’s arms, dragging him away to then leave Ula alone with Atlas and Schrader, an awkward atmosphere surrounding them like previous times throughout the day.

“Alright.” Ula nodded with a sigh, smiling at each of the boys. “Funnel cake time.”

“Yup.” Atlas gave a small nod, then hearing as Schrader cleared his throat.

“Uh, come on.” he motioned to the side. “Stand’s this way.”

After having walked away from the pendulum ride, the trio soon arrived to a seating area already quite filled with other guests that enjoyed their own carnival snacks.

“Since you guys are bigger than me,”Ula started with a bit of a laugh. “How about you find us a place to sit at while I order?”

“Sounds…”

“Good…” Schrader finished for Atlas.

“Alright. Anything you guys want? Individual cakes?”

“I’m okay with sharing.” Schrader stated before slightly nudging Atlas. “The cakes are pretty huge, especially if they’re on an elephant ear.”

“Oh, okay.” Atlas nodded before Ula smiled at them, soon enough making her way to the stand itself as Schrader and Atlas stood in an even more awkward atmosphere. “There’s a table over there.”

“Great.” Schrader followed after Atlas, both now sitting on a single side of the table for the other had been occupied by a family who thankfully had their backs turned to them. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“Yeah?”

“How’s your day been?” Schrader asked as he fiddled with one of his piercings. “Been having fun?”

“Oh, yeah, totally.” Atlas nodded as he now adjusted his glasses, looking around the area to find Ula who he saw was still in line. “The roller coaster was especially fun.”

“The wooden one?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.” Schrader nodded, then giving a chuckle. “We always thought Ula was the screamer, but as it turns out, it’s Robyn.”

“That was pretty funny.’ Atlas quietly laughed, remembering that even with such high speed and music blaring into everyone’s ears, Robyn could clearly be heard shrieking throughout the ride. “The picture was a lot funnier though.”

“Totally. You know, I saved the code, so maybe I could buy it later.” Schrader shrugged. “As a memory and all, but also something to laugh at.”

“Hm, yeah.” Atlas hummed, now looking down at his hands that he had folded in front of him. 

“If we don’t go on the pendulum, where would you wanna go?”

“Uuuh, maybe...the bumper cars? Tilt-a-whirl? If there even is one.”

“Oh there’s one. Three in fact.”

“Three?”

“Three what?” Ula’s voice was now heard, the pair looking behind to see her holding a large board containing quite a large snack that made Atlas’ eyes widen.

“What is that monstrosity?” he scanned the treat that Ula had now placed on the table, the latter soon sitting between Atlas and Schrader who realized how tight the space was, knees all brushing against each other.

“This is the one Schrader mentioned.” Ula giggled as she handed them each a fork. “Elephant Ear topped with funnel cake, topped with ice cream, topped with strawberries and chocolate drizzle.”

“Jeff and Bubbles could eat this entire thing in a single bite.” Atlas poked the cake with his fork, seeing as Ula and Schrader began to dig in. “No, they would each eat one in a single bite.”

“Thankfully, there’s one of this thing and three of us.” Schrader popped a strawberry into his mouth before shutting his eyes, no doubt pleased.

Atlas then took his own piece of the funnel cake, smiling as the flavor hit his tongue before spreading through his mouth.

“So what were you guys talking about?” Ula spoke once again as she took a strawberry and dipped it in ice cream. “How many prizes you guys were gonna win for me at the booths?~”

“I saw some axolotl plushies on the way here.” Atlas mentioned, Ula’s attention fully on him now. “I think it was a throwing game, where you hit milk bottles.”

“Those are always so rigged.” Ula blew a raspberry before taking a piece of the funnel cake. “However, we have a secret weapon named Schrader. You should see all the prizes he’s gotten for Cordie.”

“I can just imagine.” Atlas continued to eat as did Ula and Schrader, the former then turning around when he heard an especially loud scream. “Is that…?”

“Robyn.” Schrader nodded as he and Ula also turned. “Those assholes went on the pendulum without us.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t really complain.” Ula watched with wide eyes at the attraction that swung high enough to somehow make that one specific scream sound even louder. “I kinda prefer to go to a haunted house.”

“You know,” Atlas looked down at his phone. “We technically still have about ten minutes before we’re supposed to ‘meet up’.”

_____________

“It looks pretty silly.” Atlas commented as he and Ula were lead towards the haunted house attraction, everybody staring up at the dark building that had all sorts of animatronics no doubt purchased at Halloween stores.

“Which in the end gives you a good laugh.” Schrader chuckled as he paid the employee in front of the house the required ticket amount, all three then being allowed inside where they were met up with a four-seat car. “And the breeze is fantastic, in addition to the break from walking.”

“Exactly what I need, because these heels are actually killing me.” Ula stepped into the car, sitting in the front before Atlas and Schrader looked at each other. “Right.”

“You go.” Schrader motioned to Atlas. “I’ll go in the back.”

“You sure? I sat with her on the roller coaster.”

“It’s fine.” Schrader nodded, then sitting in the back as Atlas seated himself beside Ula. “I can sit with her on the next ride. Unless we go to the haunted maze.~”

“Thanks.” Atlas smiled, all three of them feeling the lap bars be lowered which further tightened the spaces. “Well then.”

“I’m short and I’m still smooshed.” Ula laughed as the ride began, shifting around as her knees continuously brushed against Atlas’. “But that only gives me an excuse.”

“Excuse for what?” Atlas looked down at her, then feeling as she leaned against his chest with her arms wrapped around his much bigger frame. “Ah.”

Atlas felt Ula snuggle right into his body, even as Atlas jumped due to an animatronic popping out with a loud sound on his side.

“And that’s why you get to sit with her this time.” Schrader leaned in to tell Atlas, chuckling to himself as he leaned back in his seat.

[grantfieldgrove]

Your friends want you to fail.

It’s true.

It’s true and it sucks.

But the sooner you realize this, the better off you’ll be. You can set yourself on the course for success while leaving them behind.

That’s exactly what your friends don’t want, but you have the capability to make it happen.

I’m not trying to be negative, but I’ve learned this the hard way.

Let me back up a bit.

Ten years ago I was working a dead end job at a grocery store. I hated it. The pay was crap. The work was crap. Most of the customers were crap. But I had friends!

I was miserable. I had a temper, I was angry about everything. I was bitter that I worked this job I didn’t like when I knew I should be doing better. I was all over social media, posting about everything, even belittling people I didn’t even know by snapping pictures of them and posting them, then enjoying a laugh at their expense.

That’s bottom of the barrel, self-esteem wise.

I would fight with people who held different political beliefs than me, different opinions about religion, or even movies. I was the loud mouth Fred Flintstone type, but I always got laughs. At least some.

It didn’t take long after my son was born to realize that something wasn’t quite right with him. He was extremely delayed and obviously autistic. I blew it off and didn’t believe it, making excuses as to why he was so behind.

We had to enroll him in a special school at age 2. The bitterness grew.

One day I decided to buy an iPad. Just because.

I took it home, unboxed it, and sat on my floor to play with it. But instead of playing games, I started writing.

I literally started writing a novel out of nowhere. It was a hoot. I started carrying a little notebook around work, thinking of plot points. It was great, because when you carry a notebook and pen around while working, people assume you’re working really hard!

Before I knew it, I had a book. I didn’t know what the hell to do with it, but I had one.

I found out you can self-publish books on Amazon, so that’s exactly what I did. I gave it a once or twice over, figured out how to format it, and it was published. And wow, did it have a lot of typos. The story was good, though. Some people bought it and it actually got good reviews. Some friends even bought it, though I doubt many of them read it. But still, it felt good. So I started the second book and finished it in record time. This one was even funnier and I liked it a lot, although, once again, I skimped on the editing.

Shortly before the release of that book, I had a falling out with most of my friends. I had planned a big party in Las Vegas, everyone was going to attend, but it was just a disaster. We had a suite at the Aria, but none of my friends even stayed in the hotel. Not a problem, but they stayed way down the strip at Paris. Then got so drunk at the pool, not a single person showed up. So yeah, I was pissed. And the party wasn’t just for fun, it was a special occasion for my wife. And every one of them let me down. So that’s that. We left first thing in the morning, leaving them all in the dust.

Nothing was really the same after that.

All of this is just specific backstory that doesn’t pertain to you, but the basic elements could. The moral of the story remains the same.

Cut to ten years after I first sat down to write that novel. I now have 11 books, including the first ever murder mystery series for kids, which even, somehow, became the runner up for some award I already forgot the name of. Three of my books have been produced into audiobooks and two have advanced to the semi finals in an Amazon-sponsored fiction contest where out of 10,000, 400 advanced. I’ve gotten positive reviews from Kirkus, and a few other publications.

These are facts that I am proud of. I share these from time to time on social media, although I am still not comfortable with talking about myself.

But, now my friends don’t buy my books. Maybe one or two, not even my “Facebook friends” who were on board at the beginning. The last book published is my favorite. I’m so happy with it and proud of it. I literally tried to give away copies to people I know. I didn’t have a single taker.

I would promote the book being free on Kindle during a particular day or weekend, or whatever, and not a single person would respond to it. I tried to give away Audible audiobooks. Not a single taker.

It’s so bizarre.

Why?

I could understand if the books were garbage. There are a lot of genuinely bad books out there, especially since self publishing has gotten so popular and easy to do. But my books aren’t those books.

I started a small publishing services company, just as a side job to help people out. People who were lost like me when I first started.

My friends didn’t care.

Granted, it’s not very exciting, and with the emergence of “multi-level marketing,” starting a business isn’t that impressive, apparently. (Remind me to tell you about this amazing magical wrap thing! Kidding.)

One thing I forgot to mention earlier, is that I went without Facebook for about a year and a half. I hated it. I hated the fakeness of it. And I was bitter. Bitter that I was trying to better my life, to branch out from a dead end job and try to make something of myself, and I never got any good feedback from it.

My son is severely autistic, he’s ten now and still completely non-verbal. We don’t have a typical life. We have to adapt to whatever life throws at us, and that’s what I was trying to do. My son hated when I had to go to work. He didn’t understand why I had to leave, often in the middle of the night. So I tried to change things.

And still I got nothing. So, bye bye Facebook. Good riddance.

It was weird at first. I still had this urge to let everyone know what I was doing. Like, them knowing would someone validate me doing it. If your Facebook friends don’t know what you do, are you really even doing it?

While I’m typing this, my Facebook is back. But there is a reason. Over the summer, while I was doodling on my iPad, I had an idea. I could put these things on tshirts. I would totally wear them.

So I looked it into. I saw that the possibilities were seemingly endless. Why stop at tshirts when you can make leggings? Why stop at leggings when you can make backpacks?

It goes on like this.

So I went all in. And I mean, ALL IN!

I had quit my job at the supermarket a few months prior. I had enough money to survive for a while while I explored new paths. So I sunk everything into this little venture. I was going to make horror related clothes. The horror market is severely underused. There are, of course, some major players in the horror game, but they all had to start at the bottom, too. So I went for it. I made a website. I made an Instagram and a Facebook. And after a week of the site being up, I made a sale. And then another sale.

Turning a profit is tricky, though. I needed word of mouth. I needed friends.

So I got back on my personal Facebook page after a year and a half, and let everyone know what I had been up to while I was gone.

It landed with a thud.

Nobody cared.

In the time I was gone I had a kid’s book, and novel, and this clothing company all launch.

I got nothing.

I started booking comic cons and would post pictures.

Nothing.

I have a little booth downtown, with all my stuff displayed, where you can walk in, buy something, and help support me and my family, by buying small, staying local.

I’ve had one friend visit it.

One.

It’s been there for six months.

I posted a few pictures of horror-celebrities wearing or showing off something I created.

Nothing.

I drew posters for a few events, movie screenings, even a stage play. I posted them. The most recent one I posted got 6 likes.

I have 590 Facebook friends and 6 of them liked a poster I did for a Scream 2 screening.

I have a family member whose daughter wanted “something Michael Myers” for Christmas. I have tons of Myers stuff. Stuff I poured my heart and soul into. Stuff you can’t find anywhere else.

This person did not buy from me. She bought a generic Myers t-shirt from a major store and probably spent more than she would have with me.

Right now, through luck and hopefully hard work, my work is in the processing of being officially licensed. Which means, with a little more work and a whole lot more hustle, it could end up in stores like Hot Topic, etc.

And then what?

I don’t know. I like to daydream. And I would like someone to be proud of it, someone who doesn’t live with me.

But, there comes a time when you have to let that go. Your friends won’t be proud of you. They will belittle you. They will find something to nitpick about what you’re doing.

And it sucks.

Strangers will support you. Your friends will not.

The sooner you know this, the better. You can delete your personal Facebook, you can shrug your shoulders at all the people holding you back and making you feel bad about leaving your comfort zone and taking a risk.

There is no law that you must remain friends with the people you were once friends with. Cut em loose.

This is about you. It’s about your dreams. Your life. Not theirs.

If they don’t want to follow you on your journey or cheer you on, cut them loose. Release that anchor from around your neck and push full-speed ahead.

You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you stop worrying about what so-called friends think and start realizing that no matter what you do, there will be someone who admires you and looks up to you, just as you’ve looked up to someone else when you started your self-fulfilling journey.

Be the person you would want to look up to.

You can do it.

Start today.

Two months ago I had to attend a wedding where all of these people would be, all these “friends.”

All I heard were complaints. Whoever we struck up a conversation with, complained.

Complain complain complain.

I understood what was wrong.

We didn’t complain. My wife and I, we only told positive stories.

Our complaining days are over. We’ve moved on. We seemed out the positives from our lives and choose to focus on that.

All this did was draw out more complaining from the wedding guests.

So tone deaf and these people we’ve left behind, they were complaining about students (the teachers we knew) that are very similar to our son.

Like, really?! This is our life. You go home at 3. We live with this. And we still don’t complain.

So far back these people are, I had to hear outdated and cringeworthy jokes, I had to hear casual sexual harassment, breasts referred to as fun bags, in front of the girl they were talking to, and the groom’s nieces. They still use the R word to describe anything, despite knowing my son is extreme special needs.

Once you realize that you don’t want to live in the world these people still inhabit, the sooner you can progress to where you want to be.

You’ll never be happier leaving them, and their outdated thinking, and their complaints, and everything else that makes you miserable to hear about, behind.

And you can do it.

You can do it right now!

Log out of Facebook and get to work.

Find people to look up to and follow them. Do your own thing. People will begin to follow you.

I’m not saying it will be easy. I’m just giving you a heads up of what’s to come.

You can sidestep it completely.

You just need to realize that your friends want you to fail.

Prove them wrong.

Don’t even tell them.

Start now.

Go.

[misslilidelaney]

MASHUP! AU

Okay guys, bare with me because I am going on a writing spree and I don't even know when and where I'll be able to write something but I had the weirdest idea for a tree-way-fandom-uber-mashup-universe.

It all started with a convo with my dearest @marriedwithjosh , sharing a picture of a purple and a pink bikes, saying "I did not know Virgil and Wilford went to the University in Padova". And my lovliest @shetanibonaparte added "HC that in his basket, Wilford always have sweets for Dark, the rich student who goes to school with a retro fancy car". And that was the beginning. My mind began to race and I came up with this silly idea, which I have the time nor patience to purse.

So I'll give it to you, Tumblr, please use it well, if you want.

-The whole thing takes place in a Campus or something like that.

- Wilford Warfstache and Dark met on a day when Wil was, as always late for school. Like the best anime tropes, he has a toast in his mouth and is crying: "IMLATEIMLATEIMLATE!". A bunch of meters before the school, he is so distracted he bumps into a parked black old style Cadillac, and rumbles ungracefully on the floor, his pink bike completely destroyed. When he raises his head, the world around him stops. The driver opens the door and a magnificent specimen comes out. Black, soft hair, a chiseled chin, eyes as black as the void. "You better watch where you go." says the most soothing voice ever. The sublime vision doesn't even look at him, and enters the school. Later that day Wilford will learn that the mysterious stranger is none other than Drake "Dark" Iplier, son of the world wide famous Doctor Edoardo Iplier, and he and his brother joined the school late because they were abroad. The following day, on the spot where he used to park his bike, Wil will find a brand new pink bike, with a note: "Seriously, watch where you go." With that, he is totally in love with Dark.

- Virgil met Roman a couple of weeks later. He was on his bike to school perfectly on time, but worried nonetheless because, well, He's Virgil "Anxiety" Warfstache, and he worries always. For everything. He was so much busy being worried he almost didn't see the red and golden skateboard crossing his street. Yet, he managed to stop his lovely purple bike in time, and at the same time, trap the skateboard under one of its wheels. "Oh, hey! Thank you!" Shouted the owner of the board, and as soon as he removed his headphones and turns to the voice, he knew he is doomed. In front of him was Roman "Princey" Iplier, newcomer of the school and twin brother of the infamous "Darkiplier" to which his younger brother Wilford would NOT stop talking about. He was expecting the same cold, calcutating behavior, but the young man in front of him was the sweetest thing, worried about his welbeing, if the skateboard ruined his bike, and then asking immediately Virgil out to "excuse myself and thank you for saving my board". Virgil almost said yes, but there's something about the fact that Roman is SO SURE than he'll agree that pushed Virgil to smirk and say "Thanks but no thanks." And hops again on his bike, reaching the school. From that moment, Roman tries to have a date with Virgil on a everyday basis, to which Virgil despite being head over heels for the rich boy, always says no, just because he can.

-Wilford has two best friends to which he confides continuosly: 1) Sean "Anti" Brody, the school token rebel punk, always in the deepest of shit, always breaking stuff and always hurting himself during his outbursts of rage. Only Patton and Wilford know that he is constantly trying to hurt himself just to have the excuse to hang in the infermery, where the "So Fucking Sexy I could die" Doctor Henrik Von Schneeplestein, which actually likes the boy back but keeps their relationship a secret because he doesn’t want to risk his carreer. 2) Patton Sanders, the sweetest puffball ever. Except when it comes to HIS Professor Logan Sanders "We even have the same last name! Our marriage is meant to be, Wil, I swear!". When someone is too close to the amazing professor, that someone usually ends up very badly accidentaly injuired, with Anti, Wil and Pat always grinning in the distance. Nobody will touch his Professor. And his friends are happy to help him.

- Virgil groups with two of the Outsiders of the school, which to him are pretty cool people. 1) Jameson "J.J." Jackson, a dapper boi with a heart of gold. Always dressing as if he was the past, has a little, totally useless eyeglass, and is actually mute. He can hear perfectly but he cannot speak, so he and Virgil get along pretty well because Verge knows ASL and needs to talk A LOT. J.J. is in a relationship with Marvin, a magician that works in the theatre not far from the school, the same theatre Roman ends up working as a part time job (that he does not need, but loves it nonetheless). 2) Matt "the Host" Alpier, the second quieter guy in the school. He was J.J.'s best friend even before Virgil arrived and nobody knows how they used to communicate since the Host is completely blind since birth. Only Virgil knows that J.J. used Morse Code against the Host's hand, but pretends to know nothing when people ask, because it's funnier this way. He has a total unrequited crush for the president of the Debate Club, Bim Trimmer, because he thinks his voice is the best thing on earth. Bim barely knows of his existence.

- Roman has two bros he hangs out with, and he's witty enough to know that they actually like him for who he is, and not for his money. 1) Chase Brody, Anti's older brother, the only one in a straight relationship with his childhood love Stacey. Loves his nerf gun and does the best bmx tricks. 2) Michael Bing, an amazing skateboarder (he won a couple championships) with the heart of gold and the brain of a chicken. He is not the brightest. But MAN if he knows how to skate! He is in a relationship with the college dropout Remy “Sleeping Booty / Sleeping Bitch” Morphes, a wonderful, tall, lovely genderfluid partner, with a fondness for baseball bats and helping Patton in his quest for Logan’s heart.

- Finally, also Dark has two "minions" who follows him around, and he is just as witty as his twin and KNOWS they hang with him because of papa's money. 1) Jaques Septique, a french boy who simply loves painting, and does the best graffiti art, too bad he is a complete bitch at heart. He and his boyfriend are known to be the worst people to get on a bad side, because they can ruin you in an instant. 2) Dewey "Deceit" Seeth, Jaques boyfriend. He runs the school journal, and takes personally care of the gossip corner of the paper. He has a couple of pictures of Schneep and Anti clearly flirting and is constantly blackmailing the Good Doctor to have some drugs for him and his two friends.

Oh well, that was a handful! I hope you like my ideas, feel TOTALLY FREE to use these ideas because as I said, I probably won't have the time to write or draw anything about it, I probably add some bits and pieces, so if you want to be added, just say!

Love you all, thanks for the attention!

[thenervousest]

Liana and Alexa from Barbie and the Diamond Castle are in love and here’s the proof

So, a bit of background first. I used to be obsessed with the Barbie movies when I was younger, just like everybody else my age. From time to time, I catch myself re watching a few of them, such as the Magic of Pegasus and Mermaidia, which were my favorites. However, last night I decided to go for a different one, and I’m glad I did. I only watched Barbie and the Diamond Castle once when I was a kid. My scarce recollection of it was about two girls who sold flowers and ate bread from their cabinets and eventually found a castle in a lake. But, upon re watching it, I now understand that it is so much more. 

I started taking notes originally just as a joke, but I’m actually 100% serious at this point. Also, it’s probably easiest to understand this if you are at least somewhat familiar with the movie, or you could watch it alongside my notes as I will be going in chronological order. But you do you.

My interpretation of Liana and Alexa’s relationship as more than just friends is under the read more because this is going to get really long. My notes were 1.1k words, but this is about 3k words. Also, expect too many commas, italics, and low quality pictures.

Okay. So, the story begins with normal Barbie and her friend, Teresa, singing a song about their friendship. Right off the bat, I noticed the lyrics.

Somehow when you’re around

The sky is always blue

The way we talk

The things you say

The way you make it all okay

And how you know

All of my jokes

But you laugh anyway

If I could wish for one thing

I’d take the smile that you bring

Wherever you go in this world 

I’ll come along

Super cute. The lyrics, given no context, can easily be interpreted in a romantic way.

After finishing singing, Barbie begins to tell her sister a story about friendship, and here we are introduced to our two main characters: Liana and Alexa. 

They live together in a cottage in the countryside and plant flowers. Honestly, that should be enough proof in itself. But, the remaining hour and fifteen minutes provide enough supplemental evidence that these girls are in love.

After Liana (the blonde) and Alexa (the brunette) finish singing the same song as Barbie and Teresa, Alexa describes the song as “magical.” Liana goes on to tease her about believing in magic and wishes, and Alexa chases her with a dish cloth. It’s only a few minutes in and they’re already flirting and just being cute in general.

Later, Liana finds two heart shaped stones in the river that runs near their cottage. Her immediate reaction is to call Alexa over and give her one of the hearts. Of course, Liana has to make sure her girlfriend doesn’t slip on the rocks though, first. She offers a hand as Alexa leaps about one foot over. Just an excuse to hold hands, I’m guessing. 

Liana seizes another opportunity to hold hands with Alexa as they close their eyes and recite, “Best friends today, best friends tomorrow, and always,” and then share a laugh. 

A magic spell is cast while their eyes are closed, and the hearts symbolize the physical manifestation of their love for one another. Alexa has the idea to turn the stones into necklaces, but before she can do anything, a storm suddenly rolls in and they head inside. 

Liana surprises Alexa with the heart necklaces that she had wished for, and puts on hers, calling them “the perfect match.” Although, I don’t think she was just referencing the necklaces; Liana and Alexa are a perfect match as well.

The storm ends up destroying their garden, so the couple is left with very little income. They have two options on what to eat: bread and jam, or jam and bread. (Ironically, this is one of the few scenes I remember watching when I was younger.)

Alexa wishes that they could have more - more food, more clothes, more house. But when talking about her future plans, she doesn’t hesitate to include Liana in them. Each sentence includes an “us,” “our,” or “we.” Alexa is in love, and she doesn’t plan on spending her future without the love of her life.

Alexa and Liana acquire a mirror from an old woman, and then proceed to work to fix up the garden. As they work, they sing, and once again, I present you with some of the lyrics:

But I know that I’m never alone

I think of you 

And how you never let me go

I feel connected

Protected

It’s like you’re sitting right

With me all the time

You hear me

You’re near me

And everything else is gonna be alright

‘Cause nothing can break this 

Nothing can break this tie

They’re in love. Just saying. 

The song about how in love Liana and Alexa are literally conjures a girl in the mirror. She sings along with them, and they quickly become friends. But, before they can bond too far, a dragon swoops down from the sky and tries to steal the mirror with the girl trapped inside. He burns their lovely cottage down, so the girls are left with no home.

Apparently, the girl in the mirror was an apprentice to three muses in a place called the Diamond Castle, where the stone hearts are from. However, one of the muses went rogue, so the Diamond Castle was hidden, and the key was given to the girl, an apprentice, to protect it. The dragon works for the evil muse who wants to regain access to the Diamond Castle.

While the girl in the mirror is explaining this, Liana looks at Alexa with so much love in her eyes it hurts my heart.

Since Liana and Alexa no longer have a house, they decide to journey to help the girl in the mirror find the Diamond Castle. While in the Valley of Flowers, Alexa hears rustling in some bushes and screams, believing it to be a snake.

However, it turns out it’s just some dogs, which Liana teases her for.

Alexa responds, “Okay, okay, I was only trying to protect you,” in the softest voice ever.

Okay, okay, that was really cute. During this scene, they also take in the dogs and name them Sparkles and Lily. 

Liana and Alexa arrive in a town where, to get food, they sing at a restaurant. The lyrics aren’t super romantic here (since they have a crowd,) but there was one line I rather liked.

We’ll stick together

Staying strong

While they’re on this journey together, they will always have each other.

Later, Liana and Alexa are eating on a break, and they are approached by a pair of British boys who attempt to serenade them with a song about how handsome they are. Liana is unimpressed.

She’s too in love with her girlfriend to even consider the possibility of dating one of them. She’s confident Alexa feels the same way, as they share a look.

After they leave the tavern, the girl in the mirror observes, “They were really cute.”

Liana replies, “You have to be kidding,” and laughs. She could not care less, and she makes eye contact with Alexa again. 

It’s what I like to call the knowing-lesbian look. 

Unfortunately, while they are in the forest, the dragon reappears with the muse. She tries to hypnotize the girls into giving her the mirror with the girl inside, but is unsuccessful because of the stone hearts they wear. The necklaces, symbols of their love for one another, make them immune to dark magic since they came from the Diamond Castle. 

Liana and Alexa manage to escape and are picked up by the two British boys from earlier. British boy #1 does flirt with Alexa but is greeted by an eye roll from her unimpressed dog. The best way to get rejected, if you ask me. 

Also, the British boys keep trying to be funny, but they’re not - at all - and it’s really annoying. Liana even comments, “They think they’re charming.” (She knows her girlfriend is funnier and more charming than they could ever be.)

At this point in my viewing, I was a bit concerned that the British boys would become love interests for the girls, but I was pleasantly surprised. They weren’t too involved in the storyline, and I wasn’t greeted with a random wedding at the end a la Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper style. Some flirting occurred, but overall the British boys were insignificant. 

Essentially, this picture is a summary of the relationship between Liana, Alexa, and the British boys:

The British boys fall into a hole. The troll who refused them access to a bridge is responsible, but I like to think they’re just that dumb. 

In order to cross the bridge, the girls have to answer a riddle. They must name an instrument that you can hear, but not see or touch. Liana figures out the answer relatively quickly: your voice.

The troll is shocked that she got the answer right, and I was shocked at what happened next.

A rainbow bridge appeared.

Yeah. Even better was what happened after. Moments after Liana and Alexa step on the rainbow bridge, the bridge begins to recede quickly so that the British boys cannot gain access to it. 

The gay girls who are in love literally walk away on a rainbow bridge from the straight guys pursuing them. Barbie did that. 

While it definitely wasn’t intentional, I did find it hilarious. 

Once over the rainbow bridge, Liana and Alexa continue their hike. Alexa grows extremely tired and stops to take a break. Liana immediately halts and turns around to comfort her girlfriend. “Are you okay?” she asks. 

They care about each other so much. Goals. 

After their break, the couple spots a house in the distance. Upon arriving, the man and woman who live there offer up their mansion to Liana and Alexa, claiming that it was destiny that they ended up at that house and it now belonged to them. (I don’t blame them - if a cute lesbian couple turned up at my doorstep, I’d offer them my house.)

As the man recites a tale about how it had been foretold that “two friends, best friends will come to live in the hall,” Liana and Alexa glance at each other when he mentions that they were destined to show up, together.

Because their love is destiny. There isn’t a universe out there where they aren’t hopelessly in love with each other. 

(Side note: I also totally just realized they’re wearing the colors of the bisexual pride flag. Amazing. Lesbian, bisexual, however they identify, they’re in love.)

Now, this is where things get rocky. Alexa wants Liana to stay with her in the mansion so that they can finally have all of the food and clothes she wanted them to have in the future. The couple can spend the rest of their lives in the mansion and be safe and happy. 

But, Liana wants to help the girl in the mirror find the Diamond Castle and defeat the evil muse. C’mon, Liana. Who cares about the plot, just go be happy and gay with your girlfriend.

“Stay with me,” Alexa begs. 

Eventually, Alexa erupts in anger: “You’re choosing Melody over me!” she accuses.

Guys, it wasn’t the British boys we had to worry about. It was the girl in the mirror all along. Magic: causing lesbian fights since 2006.

Liana storms out angrily with Sparkles the dog. Alexa rips off the necklace Liana gave her and throws it on the ground with a sad look on her face. Depressing music is playing. This is the worst day of my life. Why aren’t they allowed to be happy?

Alexa hears a knock on the door, and her head hopefully perks up and she gasps, “Liana?” She already wants to put this fight behind them and spend the rest of their lives together, whether it be in the mansion or searching for this castle.

Turns out it was the evil dragon knocking at the door, instead.  He kidnaps Alexa and brings her to the muse’s evil lair. Apparently, the mansion was a trap, and Alexa fell for it. At least Liana’s safe. 

Until the muse brainwashes Alexa because she took off the love necklace that protected her. 

Same, Alexa. 

“Where is your friend? Or should I say…ex-friend?” the evil muse taunts. Too soon, muse, too soon. Unfortunately, Alexa reveals Liana’s location unwillingly because she doesn’t have the power of love to protect her. 

The movie then cuts to Liana ranting about how much she loves Alexa: “Miss her? Why would I miss her? We’ve only been friends for as long as I can remember. She’s been with me through the best and worst times of my life. She knows me better than anyone else in the entire universe. I - I feel like a part of me is gone.”

Now that’s what I call love. Also, Liana’s too busy expressing her feelings for Alexa that she doesn’t even notice the dragon swooping down and kidnapping her. Iconic. 

Now, it gets kind of traumatizing.

The evil muse commands Alexa to walk off a cliff into a pool of acid. All Liana can do is watch in anguish and scream Alexa’s name as she walks closer and closer to the edge. 

Liana is desperate to stop Alexa from falling off the edge. She can’t imagine life without her.

Thankfully, the girl in the mirror convinces the evil muse to stop and promises to tell her where the Diamond Castle is. They leave, but before flying off, the dragon knocks Liana and Alexa off the cliff into the acid. 

When I started watching a Barbie movie, I really didn’t think I’d be encountering the Bury Your Gays trope. For a good 30 seconds, we’re led to believe that they’re dead. 

Luckily, the camera then pans down and we see Liana clinging onto the cliff for dear life, holding her girlfriend’s entire dead weight with just one arm.

Damn. Liana’s strong. She somehow manages to pull both of them back up onto the cliff as well. 

“I’m sorry, Alexa. Why did I ever leave? I’m so sorry,” Liana mourns. I’m not entirely sure why Alexa is suddenly unconscious, but, y’know. Plot. Liana had to cradle her in her arms, so I’m not complaining. 

Lily the dog comes to the rescue carrying the necklace Alexa dropped on the ground. Dogs: saving lesbian relationships since 2006. 

Liana puts the necklace around Alexa’s neck, and once again recites, “Best friends today, best friends tomorrow, and always.”

Liana’s love for Alexa literally just saved her life. Love is real, guys. Liana helps her girlfriend stand up, and then they search for a way out. 

“How?” Alexa asks.

Liana replies, “We’re going to climb up.” Gay pause. Eye contact. “Together.”

As they walk out of the cave, Alexa places her hand on Liana’s shoulder and apologizes for their fight. The two share a hug since they couldn’t bear to be separated from one another for too long.

The British boys return and Liana and Alexa find the evil muse and defeat her. (I oversimplified this because it’s just not relevant to their relationship. Whoops.)

Well, it’s not relevant until they need to unlock the Diamond Castle. Before them lies an empty lake, with no castle in sight. Liana and Alexa realize that they can only see it with the key: a song. And, oh boy, these lyrics. 

Every breeze that whispers

Reminds us constantly

Sometime’s what’s real

Is something you can’t see

Believe in all that can be

After singing, the Diamond Castle rises out of the water and towers over them.

Specifically, the lyrics sometime’s what’s real is something you can’t see really struck home with me. The Diamond Castle is a metaphor for Liana and Alexa’s relationship. Their love is what’s real, but it isn’t something that you can obviously see since it isn’t outright stated (given it’s a Barbie movie in 2006.) 

Inside the castle, the girl from the mirror is safe and Liana and Alexa are crowned princesses of music by the muses. Mirror girl asks them to stay in the castle with her.

But, Alexa refuses, “Live in this beautiful castle? Once, I would have said yes in the blink of an eye, but now, I just want my old home back. It was more than enough.”

She has realized that it isn’t the material things that matter, it’s the love she shares with Liana that she doesn’t want to live without. Alexa wants to return to their simple but happy life in the countryside with their garden and two dogs. 

The muses grant Alexa’s wish by handing her seeds to plant and regrow their flowers at home. To celebrate their success, the girls reprise the song from the beginning of their story with a change in lyrics.

It’s not an accident 

The time we spent apart

But now we’re so close

I can always find you

Right here in my heart

You’ve given me

Something I need

And I don’t ever want it to end

Because of you

I know I’ve found my strength again

They’re in love. Do I even need to explain more at this point? 

The girls wave goodbye to the British boys and muses to spend the rest of their lives accompanied by their dogs and at peace in the countryside. Liana and Alexa rebuild their cottage and plant the seeds for their future together. Literally.

The movie ends as we return to Barbie and Teresa in present day. Stacie, the younger sister, comments, “I would have hated it if Alexa and Liana didn’t make up.” Same, Stacie, same.

Barbie and Teresa then sing the final lyrics of the movie:

Two voices

One song

Because this was a movie about two girls, one love story. 

[evenstevensranked]

#22: Season 3, Episode 17 - “Snow Job”

In order to get out of an Algebra midterm, Louis fakes a snow day outside of Principal Wexler's house and gets himself suspended from school. Meanwhile, Ren has one week to master Pole Vaulting after accidentally injuring LJH’s best athlete. Phyllis Diller guest stars!

This one opens with the gang in Mr. Lopez’s algebra class. We’ve never seen or heard of Mr. Lopez before, but he seems pretty cool imo. Like one of those teachers who genuinely cares about his students. I really like his character. This first scene is a montage of Twitty, Tawny and Louis up at the board. Twitty and Tawny are solving their equations at the speed of light, whereas Louis is constantly getting tripped up. I’m already relating to Louis so bad. When it’s time for them to share their answers, Twitty and Tawny seem like Einstein’s spawn in comparison to Louis, who drew a map of Utah:

Louis attempts to explain how he worked out the equation, but obviously.. he has no idea. He glances at the clock and sees there’s only, like.. 30 seconds until the bell rings. So he stalls in the most glorious way possible: “I got 2x + 7x to the 5th times Y........ to which I say.... why not? Why do fools fall in love? These are all very big questions.” I love this quote so much. Of course, the bell rings and he successfully dodges answering. 

Mr. Lopez knows that Louis is struggling and really wants him to ask for help on his own. He subtly extends that invitation by asking if anyone has any questions because “the only stupid questions are the ones you ask yourself on the bus ride home” -- Which is incredibly true and another quote I really like. Louis seems as if he’s genuinely gonna ask a question but then says “...If a chicken had lips, could it whistle? I’ll ask myself on the bus ride home.” -- It’s funny, but also really really upsetting. Mr. Lopez is super disappointed and so am I. There’s also this girl in the classroom who really hates Louis or something. She dramatically shakes her head all annoyed and complains to the kid behind her whenever Louis says anything. It’s actually a little distracting, lol. Keep an eye out for her next time you watch this episode.

The disappointment is palpable. 

Then it cuts to the subplot where Ren is interviewing some of LJH’s athletes for the Wombat Report. Including some girl Olga who’s “the best 9th grade pole vaulter in Sacramento” -- Which confirms that Lawrence Jr. High goes up to 9th grade!! I think that’s the only time in the entire series they actually say the words “ninth grade”! Ren also calls the upcoming competition they’re preparing for “the big meet.” I’m sure Louis would object to this. 

Ren interviews the fantastic Artie Ryan, who makes an appearance as a shot putter lol. He’s apathetic and deadpan as usual (”Buzz off, I’m training.”) which is great. Ren gets the bright idea to try heaving the ball herself... and breaks Olga’s foot. Ouch. Phyllis Diller makes her brilliant cameo as Coach Corns here! Something that always annoyed me is that IMDb lists the character’s last name as “Korns” but the inscription on her jacket is “Corns” lol. I’m assuming the jacket is the legit spelling. I also saw on Twitter a while ago that Phyllis’ cameo happened because Jim Wise was absent and working at MADTV at the time. Anyway, Ren decides to fill in for Olga at the competition even though she has no idea how to pole vault. Coach Corns is skeptical but says “if you’re anything like your brother Donnie, maybe you can learn by Friday!” Donnie is seriously the be-all end-all in the Even Stevens-verse. 

We get few scattered scenes throughout the episode of Ren practicing pole vaulting over and over again, failing at making it over the bar every time. Including one where “Coach Corns” demonstrates how it’s done, which is hilarious and obviously a stunt double of course. 

Much like last week’s episode, they put zero effort into trying to avoid showing the face of the stunt double lol. It honestly makes it funnier. 

After countless failed attempts, Artie walks over and says “You know that you’re supposed to go over the bar, right?” And Ren bites back sarcastically “Really, Artie?! Thanks for that helpful hint.” I can’t help but laugh every time. Ren insists she’ll be ready for competition and Artie mumbles to himself “Yeah, and I’ll be the king of Norway.” It’s so good. 

Louis’ plot continues with this scene, which I love:

It’s not included in this set, but in between the second and third photos Twitty says “And like, she was not a very good babysitter...” LOL. Yeah, I doubt she’d have stellar reviews on Care.com today. 

Twitty and Tawny go on to talk about how Mr. Lopez’s class is so fun and he makes learning algebra so easy and they’re totally gonna ace the midterm!! YAY! ....You just know Louis is feeling like an outsider right about now. Tawny tries to set up a study session, but Louis bails to work incredibly hard on a way to not take the test. We’ve been over this before. If Louis spent a fraction of the amount of time and effort he spends on avoiding schoolwork, he would be an honors student. It’s ridiculous because half of the inventions he comes up with must involve some serious math skills! He’s putting in the work where it doesn’t count lol. And he really goes to extremes this time. He gets Beans to help him with this super elaborate prank to fake a snow day... in Sacramento California... outside of Principal Wexler’s house. He even did that thing where you can override a vacant radio station and recited a whole fake news story on the historic “blizzard.” The craziest part about this, is that he was 99% successful! Wexler totally bought that the storm was legit. And I don’t blame him:

Imagine not wanting to take a midterm that bad. 

There’s some great miscommunication here when Wexler calls LJH to cancel school. The secretary is all “may I ask why?” lol. Seriously. Gotta love miscommunication. Louis almost sorta gets away with everything, until Ren jogs by the house and starts yelling at him and Wexler hears it through the radio. I never used to understand why Ren was out jogging though? It always felt like a biiiit of a forced plot device to me. I used to think “She’d already be at school or at home getting ready!” ...but today, I just realized -- she’s preparing for pole vaulting. Oh my god. I’m such an idiot. It’s funny because I thought I was catching onto some bad writing.. but no. Even Stevens is actually that good. 

This “snow scam” leads to Principal Wexler suspending Louis from school. I love how it’s only a one week suspension, yet Wexler acts like Louis is leaving forever and has his locker cleaned out as if it’s a gateway to The Upside Down: 

Eileen takes off work to homeschool Louis for the week, which is really nice to see. We get a montage of them covering just about every subject and Louis is breezing through the day with flying colors! They even did Theater, where Louis played both Romeo and Juliet. The one-man show costume is a sight to behold:

“It’s very constraining and I’d like to change now.”

Everything’s going well until Eileen drops the bomb “Okay! We’ve covered everything but Algebra!” and the dramatic, dark orchestra kicks in. Louis tries to get out it, but Eileen’s not letting him off the hook. She writes out an equation on the board and leaves him alone for awhile to complete it. When she returns, he’s asleep:

I RELATE TO THIS MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW. Louis is literally falling asleep during homework to avoid doing it. I did this so many times throughout my academic career and I doubt I’m the only one. It was always with math, too! It was so overwhelming for my little brain... I’d just drift off to sleep and think “Well, if I fall asleep... that’s an excuse for not finishing it!” lol. And I bet you anything that was Louis’ thought process as well. Eileen gives Louis an ultimatum (finish his homework or be grounded for the weekend) to motivate him to finish the equation, so he attempts to do it and pretty much pulls an answer out of his butt. I did this all the time. You sort of convince yourself that you got it right, even though deep down you know it’s totally wrong. “You got it, baby!!” Louis compliments himself. And right about then, Ren enters the room and verbalizes what Louis most likely already knows: “You got it totally wrong, Louis.” This leads to a really nice brother/sister moment. 

Ren wants to know why he put so much effort into skipping one day of school, and he confesses that it’s because he doesn’t understand Algebra. “I’ll try to understand it, but I can’t. I’m the only kid in the class who doesn’t know what’s going on.” I’ve said those exact sentences a million times growing up. This whole scene is honestly so heart-wrenching imo. It further develops Louis’ character and adds to his endearingness. (Don’t even know if that’s a word, but I’m using it.) Ren can’t understand why he doesn’t just go to Mr. Lopez for help. “What’s the worst that could happen?” she asks, and Louis imagines a life of ridicule: 

This is too real. You really do feel like you’ll be a total idiot if you ask for help during class. Even though the chances of your teacher and principal publicly mocking you are zero... you still feel like everyone will be secretly judging you. 

I just can’t stress enough how much I relate to Louis here. His attitude towards struggling with academics is exactly how I felt. Like, no matter how hard you try... You're still the dumbest kid in class. He snaps out of his daydream and tells her “No, I can’t do it. People are gonna think I’m stupid.” And Ren says “Stupid? You may do some really stupid things sometimes but that doesn’t mean that YOU are stupid.” THIS IS SO FREAKING NICE I WANNA CRY LOL. She then empathizes with him by sharing her struggle with pole vaulting. It’s sweet. 

When Louis returns to school, he’s determined to pay extra attention in Algebra class and really focus. But the second Mr. Lopez starts explaining, all Louis can hear is “blah, blah, blah... blah, blah..... blah, blah, blah.................. blah.” It’s hilarious because it’s TRUE. Mr. Lopez opens up the floor for any questions, and I swear to god. I get so emotional every time here. Louis raises his hand and takes a few seconds to muster up the confidence to say “I don’t understand.” .....*sheds a single tear.* Mr. Lopez says to catch up with him after school and Louis is so proud of himself for asking. Ahhhhhh!

Look at dat content face. Awww. Shia’s so great. 

After school, Mr. Lopez explains that there’s usually a gap in the knowledge somewhere when it comes to struggling with Math. This is very accurate. I’ve learned that missing just one little building block of information (with anything in life) can mess you up entirely. So we get a montage of them working for what seems like hours on the basics (1 + 1 = 2) all the way through to Algebra and Louis does soooo well. It’s one of the sweetest, most self-reflecting moments in the series. Louis takes a look at all of the equations he successfully completed and mutters “Good job, Buddy” to himself and I just wanna weep. On top of that.. Mr. Lopez is super nice, calling Louis a genius and such. I just love it. It’s kinda funny how they tried to make the scene look all trippy like the equations were floating all around him just by writing on glass with a marker though, haha: 

I also have to gif this because it reminds me of the confused math lady meme:

Seriously, can we make “Shia LaBeouf doing Algebra” a thing? Even Stevens is ripe with memes that never see the light of day. 

Meanwhile, Ren is at the pole vaulting competition and, well... failing miserably. Just then Louis, Eileen and Steve show up and start running next to her during her very last try. Louis is gushing about being able to do Algebra and Eileen and Steve are just cheering her on haha. Louis shouts the advice “You might wanna put the stick thingy in the ground, Ren!” and then she miraculously makes it over the bar. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THIS??? Um, where else could she have been putting it this whole time? And it’s not like that alone would help her get over the bar. 

Clearly, the pole is meant to go in the metal space (”ground”)! You’re telling me she’s been practicing for a week and never put it there?!?! Come on. 

Anyway, everyone celebrates and it’s a happy moment. Coach Corns also snatches her own wig and Louis puts it on: 

Even Stevens was seriously ahead of the meme trend. Wigs were flyin’ on Disney Channel in 2002. 

The episode ends with one of the greatest “last minute” bits ever. Ren made it over the bar... So, Artie Ryan becomes the king of Norway:

“I AM THE KING!” -- This show’s humor is unparalleled. 

And that’s it! This is just an awesome episode. Obviously, I love this Louis plot. It’s seriously so great and one of the most relatable topics ever. (Well, for me at least.) Like I said, I feel like this episode is a really great one for Louis Stevens and his character development. Ren’s plot is pretty similar actually. Both plots work together in a “conceive it, achieve it” sort of way. I just really love it. Mr. Lopez is cool. Phyllis Diller is great. Artie Ryan is the best. It’s just good all around ok. This is definitely one of my personal favorites, but I objectively feel like there are some stronger episodes. So, #22 is where it sits. 

Thanks for reading!

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[huntertales]

Part One: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? (The End S05E04)

Useful Links: Last Part | All Episodes Word Count: 6,187. A/N: Okay, I would have totally gotten this up yesterday, but if you could tell from the word count, this came out about a thousand words over goal. I totally didn't mean for this to get so long it just sort of...happened. These parts for this particular episode are probably gonna be super long, as there's nothing I can really cut out. Good news for you guys! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy!

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Driving the Impala was a rare treat of yours that almost never seemed like an option with Dean and his obsessive mannerisms. But the man was feeling a bit generous when the both of you departed on a grueling sixteen hour drive from the last town you ended up in. Dean offered you the keys at the seven hour mark when he stopped to fill up the tank before heading back on the road. He was worried about being too exhausted to continue on despite the coffee you were offering to share with him after you slept a few hours in the back. So you switched with him, allowing him to rest his eyes for the rest of the ride as you took your seat in the driver's side, At first it was kind of fun to be behind the wheel after such a long time away, but as the time drifted to about nine hours later, you were barely finding it possible to keep your eyelids propped open with the aggravation of sleep deprivation settling into your mood.

You tighten your grip on the steering wheel when you spotted the little motel crammed between an Italian restaurant that looked like it was about to close and a newspaper stand. You found a parking spot against the sidewalk and straighten out the Impala until it was perfect. Killing the engine, you let out a sigh of relief to know that you made it in one piece, and a comfortable bed was just a few hundred feet away. You opened up the driver's side door and slammed it shut, awakening Dean who had been sleeping on and off over the past few hours. Both of you grabbed your belongings from the backseat and headed to the sidewalk. Your attention was straight ahead on the person running the front desk in the motel, you walked passed a man standing next to the door holding flyers and preaching the word of the impending doom.

"Excuse me, friend," You were a few feet away from the door when you stopped in your tracks to see the man had come forward to you. "But have you taken time out to think about God's plan for you?"

Your lips stretched into a faint smile from his words, "God doesn't have a plan for me. I'm not His child."

"Of course you are." The man said as he let out a small laugh, thinking you were pulling his leg by .making him presume you were a nonbeliever of a higher power. "He has a plan for all of us."

"No, I'm not." You whispered to him. Your eyes wandered over to see that Dean was finally lifting up the duffel bag of his and slamming the backseat door. You looked over at the man to finish your thought. "I'm really a cambion. You know, sort of like the spawn of Satan. I'm the reason why the Devil's here on earth and my best friend is his sworn vessel. So, yeah, I'm sure God doesn't have a plan for me."

You wished the man a good night with a friendly smile, letting the truth that had been burning in the back of your mind over the past few weeks finally be let out, only for it to come across as a sarcastic ploy to get some bible thumper out of your way. He thought you were joking when he started chuckling ever so slightly, but when you looked over your shoulder, the man started to slowly back away, thinking you were dead serious.

+ + +

You managed to kick off your shoes and rest yourself against the most comfortable looking thing you've seen in the past twenty-four hours, the motel bed. Unfortunately there was only one room available for the night, not giving you much of a choice to avoid Dean and the impending truth that lingered over your head.  You were worried about how he was going to handle it if you decided to be be honest for once in your life. Maybe he would believe you and understand, sort of like how he had been with everything else. Or maybe he would view you like his brother—a monster he wanted to shun away, forgetting he ever loved such a thing that wasn't even really human. You looked away from the wall you had been staring at and glanced over to the window, watching as Dean kept himself busy by shutting the curtains, blocking out the street lamps so you could sleep in darkness.

"We're talking about the colt, right?" You asked. You sat on the bed with your cell phone on speaker so you and Dean could have a conversation with Cas, who had not even called you five minutes ago. He brought up some interesting news that seemed more like a blessing in disguise from what you had been thinking about. You turned your attention away from the window, finding the idea of having the colt, the one you had spent years gaining and losing, still in decent condition after Lilith got her hands on it. "I mean, as in _the _colt?"

“We are.” Cas said.

"Well, that doesn't make any sense." You said, watching for a moment as Dean wandered over to the small kitchen area directly across the bed to grab a beer from the fridge. "I mean, why would the demons keep a gun around that, uh, kills demons?"

"What? What? Did—" You overheard what sounded like a truck passing by Cas, making you realize he must be standing at the edge of the highway while having this conversation. "I didn't—I didn't get that."

You couldn't help yourself but let out a quiet laugh, finding the image a funnier than it should have been. "You know, it's kind of funny, talking to a messenger of God on a cellphone. It's, you know, like watching a hell's angel ride a moped."

"This isn't funny, Y/N." Cas said with a serious tone. "The voice says I'm almost out of minutes."

"All right, all right." You mumbled, letting your smile slowly drift away from your lips as you began tracing a pattern into the stained carpet with your big toe. "I'm telling you, Cas, the demons have melted the gun by now."

"Well, I hear differently. And if it's true and if you are still set on the insane task of killing the Devil," Cas argued with you, making you subconsciously roll your eyes in frustration at hearing just the mention of Lucifer's name. It made your skin crawl all over again from what he had said to you, all the insane allegations you wanted to believe were false. "This is how we do it."

"All right." Dean agreed with him, joining on in the conversation. "Where do we start?"

“Where are you two now?” Cas asked.

"Kansas City." You said. Cranking your neck over your shoulder, you see the room key was still sitting on the nightstand. You twisted yourself around in the bed, outstretching your free hand and snatched the key from the table to read the thick plastic tag to find your exact location. "Century Hotel, room one-thirteen."

"I'll be there immediately." Cas said not a second later.

"What? No, no, dude. No." Dean complained. He wandered over to the bed, grabbing the phone from your hand as you tossed the keys to the nightstand. "Y/N and I have been stuck in the car for the past sixteen hours together. We're still human. And there's stuff I'd liked to do. Eat, for example. And for this case, sleep." Cas agreed with the plan. You dropped yourself to the middle of the bed in a horizontal position and closed your eyes, letting the exhaustion you've been fighting off slowly take over your aching muscles. "Okay, so, you can pop in tomorrow morning."

"Yes. I'll just—" Cas tried to speak, but before he could finish his sentence, he heard the line from your end go dead. Dean tossed the phone to the edge of the bed as you rested the crook of your arm over your shoulder, deciding to spend fifteen minutes in this position before taking a much needed shower. You didn't realize you left the angel standing in the middle of the night at the edge of the empty highway, staring at his cell phone with confusion. When he realized you had hung up on him, he shut his phone and looked straight on, deciding this is how he would spend the next four hours. "Wait here, then."

+ + +

You must have fallen asleep for longer than you expected, because when you finally came back around, it felt like you had been out of it for years. Your back hurt from how you had been lying backside on the mattress and your arm had fallen asleep itself after you kept it in the awkward position it wasn't used to. With squinted eyes, you placed both hands on the mattress, feeling around the material, expecting it to be the soft cotton you had felt before. Instead your fingers brushed against something cold and almost like metal. Your eyes propped open when your finger accidentally slip into a hole, trapping it for a second before you roughly yanked it out, accidentally cutting the skin in the process. You examined your wound for a second before your eyes darted around at your motel room, and what new design you were given while you were sleeping.

Everything in your room like it was stripped bare and exposed to years of wear and tear. You shifted around in bed, only to see the mattress you had been sleeping on was long gone, leaving you on a very uncomfortable metal box spring. You pushed yourself to your feet and cautiously glanced around the room, noticing the paint had faded and chipped away, leaving nothing more than a dull color with shades of brown from mildew. The objects in the room weren't in better condition, everything was broken or tipped over, neglect for someone to take care of them was evident from the way it ended up. You swallowed as you turned around in your spot on the floor, now facing the window, you instantly noticed that you weren't alone. Someone was looking at the outside below with their back turned to you.

You were tempted for a second to open your mouth and speak, breaking the eerie silence that had surrounded the both of you. But before you could, you watched as the person turned around in their spot, facing you straight on. It took only a moment before you realized it was Dean, and from the look on his face, the two of you weren't in Kansas anymore.

+ + +

It seemed the both of you stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone. You and Dean wandered around the motel after you managed to get the door unstuck. The first thing the both of you did was to see if anyone else was here. You checked every room on the floor, there wasn't a sign of human life beside the garbage they left to rot. You were completely alone, there wasn’t even a mouse that popped up after you disrupted its search for food. The both of you decided it was best if you figured out what was going on by walking out of the motel and to the empty streets below. The feeling of nervousness wouldn’t leave your mind when you made your way out into the wasteland what used to be Kansas City. You knew this wasn't right, but your mind couldn't explain what happened, or if you were still sleeping--maybe you were having a very vivid nightmare from all the stress you'd been putting on yourself.

The streets were empty. You couldn't see a sign of anyone, not a single soul to tell you what was going on. Dean kept your company as the both of you took to the deserted streets, warning you to stick close, knowing anything might just happen if you let your guard down. Junk littered the streets from abandoned cars to debris that once belonged to someone's daily life. Maybe this was the apocalypse everyone had warned you about. Everyone was dead, except for you and Dean for some reason. You pondered on the thought for a moment's time until the perfect silence was destroyed by the sounds of glass shattering. You and Dean quickly looked over at one another when you realized the noise had come from an alley not too far ahead from where the both of you were standing.

Dean was a bit hesitant to follow, you shrugged your shoulders, thinking it wouldn't at least hurt to try. You followed the noise with Dean hot on your trail, the both of you headed down an alleyway tagged with graffiti, much of it you just glanced over, not giving it much of your attention. You  wandered around until you turned the corner, that's when you spotted a little girl. Dean quickly grabbed ahold of your arm and lightly yanked you backwards when he spotted her for himself, seeming to wonder if she could be considered a threat. From the way she was crouched down on the ground with her head hanging low, you noticed she was filthy from her matted hair and dress stained from dirt. You thought she appeared to be wounded, so you did the right thing, you began to approach her to see if she was all right.

"Little girl?" You quietly called out to her, she didn’t move a single muscle. You started to make slow steps when you started to approach her when she wouldn't respond to you. When you spotted the glass near her feet, you wondered if she had accidentally dropped it while lurking through the trash for something to eat. "Little girl? Are you okay?"

You bent down so you were at her level, curious to see if she was able to speak and tell you what was going on. When you reached out a hand to place it on her shoulder, your eyes drifted down to see a drool of a wet mucus seep out from her mouth, plopping right onto the shards of glass. You furrowed your brow in concern when you noticed it was blood from the color, but your attention was quickly pulled back into reality when you heard a piercing scream. You flinched back your arm when you felt a stinging pain come across your skin after the little girl managed to make her move. You hissed out in pain, but before she could get you again, Dean quickly acted out on his instincts. He roughy grabbed a hold of you, yanking you out of harm's way before swinging in arm directly at the little girl, throwing away all morals of hurting someone younger.

You stumbled away when you watched as the girl get tossed safely into a pile of mattresses after being knocked unconscious from the blow. You inhaled a deep breath as Dean took a step away from her, slowly approaching you again after noticing there was no movement from her. You inhaled a breath and glanced down at your arm to inspect the damage of the cut, not knowing where the glass had been, you might have been prone to an infection. You and Dean mindlessly turned around in your spot to find a way out of here, as you looked up from your cut, you noticed that you had two options to exit. But your attention was focused on the eight letter word spray painted in crimson red.

"Croatoan." You whispered to yourself. The word didn't register in your mind for a few seconds, but you could tell there wasn't something quite right about it. As you glanced over at Dean to see if he might know why it looked so familiar, it was the look on his face that made you suddenly remember fearful memories you associated with it. "Oh, crap."

If you thought things couldn't have gotten any worse,  it did. Your eyes drifted away from the word when you noticed a shadowy figure dance across the brick wall. You wondered what it was for a moment, until it came across the corner, making your fears growing even more. You could feel your eyes widened when you saw group of people shuffling forward to the two of you. It started off as no more than three people, but the crowd began to grow even larger, their feet shuffling forward to you. At first you were confused at what was going on. Everyone looked dirty and almost dead in the eyes, there was no emotion, that was, until the man standing in the front of the crowd spotted you first, his eyes drifted over to Dean not a second later. When you noticed the speed was starting to grow into a sprint after they spotted two targets, you bolted out of there.

You ran fast as you could out of the alleyway and back into the isolated streets. Your legs moved quick as they could and you forced yourself to keep your attention directly in front of you. This wasn't going to play out like a horror movie where the damsel runs for her life from the infected crowd of monsters, only to fall flat on her face and be dragged away for a snack as they tear apart her body. Dean shook the terrifying thought out of your mind when he snatched your arm, yanking you to the right, hoping this could be a way to lose the group. As you took the chance to at least look at the wild group of animals that looked like human, you inhaled a deep breath and focused your gaze in front of you. But you could see the horror cliches were working out when you spotted the high wire fence, cornering you, giving you no chance to make another run for it.

You and Dean stopped dead in your tracks when you spotted a large metal fence, a dead end. You let out a frustrated breath as you began examining the fence, wondering if you could somehow jump it in time or find a rip in the wiring just big enough to squeeze yourselves through. But there was nothing. Much to your dismay, you turned around to face the crowd of people that had been following you for the few blocks now. There was too many people, you knew there wasn’t a chance in hell you could fight your way out of this. But it seemed there was somebody looking out for the both of you.

The sound of gunshots registered in your ears just a few seconds after you saw the man who was starting to make his way forward to you take about six bullets to the chest. You instantly dropped yourself to your knees, Dean followed suit, the both of you stumbling out of firing range as you crawled to find better coverage. You fell to the pavement when you heard the gunshots come dangerously close, Dean did what he thought was necessary, he quickly shielded your body with his, waiting for a break from the madness before it would be safe to move. Both of you stayed in the position for a few seconds, listening to the gunshots as everyone who laid in the path was shot down with no mercy. You suddenly found this situation become even worse when you heard music being blasted through a stereo, drowning out the gunshot sounds. You furrowed your brow, listening to the lyrics, someone thought it would have been funny to play "Do You Love Me" by the Contours. It sure didn't fit the mood, but someone had a sick sense of humor.

Dean glanced up to see there was another alley just a few feet from where the both of you were lying. He moved up just enough so you could begin crawling to safety, all while trying to keep yourself hidden in the debris that you tried using to keep yourself hidden. The two of you managed to avoid any detection as you found another fence with a decent size break in it big enough to make a getaway. You squeezed yourself through as you stumbled down the steps, Dean followed behind close as possible as the both of you kept yourselves hidden from the danger that lurked outside. You dropped yourself to the pavement and leaned against the wall, trying to catch your breath from the unexpected chaos that was brought upon you. You listened as the gunfire began to slowly quiet down, you glanced over at Dean, both of you shared the same baffled look, unsure of what you had been subjected to.

+ + +

You and Dean traveled through the town, avoiding the dead bodies that littered the streets and listening for anything that might pierce the silence that had been keeping you on edge. Dean managed to find another fence that seemed promising, he worked diligently on digging through the dirt to make the ripped fence bigger for the both of you to squeeze into. When he thought it was decent enough, he had you go first, crawling through the tight space before making his way though himself. You pushed yourself to your feet and dusted off the dirt from your jeans, mindlessly looking ahead, that's when you noticed a sign. You wandered forward to read it, hoping it would give you insight on what you had landed yourself into. "Crotaton Virus Hot Zone: No Entry By Order of Acting Regional Command August 1st 2014 Kansas City."

"August 1st, 2014." Dean's voice came from behind you, he read the sign for himself to see what was going on here. You read the information for yourself just one more time before looking over your shoulder, wondering if you had really landed yourself five years into the future. Dea shrugged his shoulders, seeming unsure of himself what to believe, it seemed he found something the both of you could use right now, an abandoned car not too far from where you stood. "Let's hope the poor son of a bitch left us a full tank of gas."

Both of you headed to the car, happy to see the owner was in an obvious rush to get out of here, because they left the doors unlocked, giving you easy access to the passenger side. Dean took no more than a few minutes to rip out a few wires and fuss around with them until he got the car started, with almost a full tank of gas. You and him got started on the road, driving out to the empty road to see if you could find any survivors out there. You reached out to fumble with the radio, Dean took out his cell phone, hoping to find service. All you gotten was static and Dean the warning of no service. You let out a frustrated sigh, flicking off the radio as Dean shoved his phone back into his pocket, making a remark about how this wasn't a good sign.

"'Croatoan pandemic reaches Australia.'"

You heard a voice break the silence, making you jump out of your skin as Dean flinched, not expecting for a familiar friend to pop through. You glanced over your shoulder as Dean looked into the rear view mirror to see Zachariah casually sitting in the backseat, his attention focused on the newspaper he was able to read in the darkness. "I thought I smelled your stink on this 'Back to the Future' crap." Dean said, dropping his eyes back to the open road.

"'President Palin defends bombing of Houston.' Certainly a buyer's market in real estate. Let's see what's happening in sports." Zachariah was all too casual for your personal liking, he continued flipping through the pages of the newspaper and skimmed through the articles, looking at all of the sections, as if he was searching for a particular one. "That's right--no more sports. Congress revoked the right to group assembly. What's left of congress, that is. Hardly a quorum, if you ask me."

"What the hell is going on?" You questioned him. "And how the hell did you find me?"

"Afraid we had to tap some unorthodox resources of late—human informants. We've been making inspirational visits to the fringier christian groups." Zachariah explained to you. You realized the man you had spoken to outside of the motel, the one who had been so truthfully sarcastic to, had put you in this situation. "They've been given your image along with Dean's, told to keep an eye out for you two lovebirds."

"The bible freak outside the motel," You said. "He ratted us out?"

"Onward, christian soldiers." Zachariah replied, closing up the newspaper.

"Okay, well, good. Great. You had your jolies." Dean said with a sarcastic tone. You looked over to see his grip around the steering wheel had turned dangerously tight, his knuckles slowly faded to a shade of white. "Now send us back, you son of a bitch.'

"Oh, you'll get back—all in good time. We want you two to marinate a bit." Zachariah explained to you. You narrowed your eyes on him, still unsure of what he was trying to accomplish here. "Three days. Three days to see where this course of actions takes the both of you. Your choices have consequences." Your eyes wandered down to the newspaper he was holding and read the headline. "This is what happens to the world if Dean continues to say no to Michael."

"Sarah Palin becomes president? Yeah, that is scary. And here people say Obama was ruining the world." You said, rolling your eyes in annoyance from the tricks he was trying to pull on you. "Are you going to tell me that Donald Trump is gonna run in 2016 and win, too?"

"Joke all you want, Y/N. Have a little look around before you make up your mind. I'm sure you won't like what you helped create." Zachariah warned you. "Have a look see. I'm sure the both of you will change your tune when these three days are up.”

You were about to look over your shoulder once more to give the angel a skeptical look, but when you searched the backseat, Zachariah was long gone. You found yourself sitting back in the passenger side seat and rolled your eyes, finding this situation all too frustrating. The both of you kept driving on the deserted road, hoping when you reached an old friend's house, he would still be there and could explain what was going on.

 + + +

When in doubt, go to Bobby's house. You and Dean arrived in South Dakota an hour after the sun rose, marking the first official day of whatever Zachariah was trying to prove. Bobby's place was usually in a messy state, but when you took notice, it seemed more out of place than it normally was. The both of you headed to the front door, knocking a few times, waiting to see if somebody would answer. But when nobody did, Dean took it upon himself to slowly open the door and peeked inside, hopeful to find Bobby hiding somewhere.

"Bobby? Bobby, it's me and Y/N! We’re coming in!" Dean called out as a precaution. He opened the door wider and began to take slow steps inside, you followed behind. The both of you began walking through the house, tracing your steps through the familiar setting, but with much different interior than you had remembered. Everything seemed to have been shoved around and more cluttered than you had last remembered it seeing. Papers were thrown across the floor and books laid all over, not to mention the faded wallpaper was torn off and frames were barely hanging on. You let out a heavy sigh and followed behind Dean, the two of you stumbled into the living room, where you found a sight that didn't leave a good feeling in the pit of your stomach. "Oh, no."

You moved forward into the room, your eyes drifting to the wheelchair Bobby used to get around. It laid abandoned on the floor, tilted to the side with its owner nowhere to be seen. You bent down and picked it by the handles, you shoved it upwards so the wheelchair was sitting up properly. In this position, you could see the years clearly in the ripped fabric and rusted metal. You ran your fingers down the armrests, wondering what the hell was going on. "Where is everybody, Bobby?"

You looked around the room to see that Dea had disappeared from your sight, drifting off to another part of the house. You pushed yourself to your feet and searched to see where the man had landed himself. It took a few tries but you found him in the library, his back was turned to you as he stood in front of the fireplace and took apart the secret hiding place where you kept John's journal when you didn't carry it on hunts. You wandered forward when he grabbed the journal and began flipping through the familiar pages, hoping to find a certain clue of what was going on, and when he found a photograph sticking out, it seemed that he had done just that.

You peered over his shoulder to see that he was holding a sepia toned photograph. You examined the faces to see it was a group of five men standing outside of a compound you'd never seen before. You glanced over to the right to see Bobby himself in the crowd, along with an all too familiar face, Cas. The angel seemed out of place, holding a gun amongst the group, and sharing the same casual attire, something completely different from what you were used to seeing. Dean's index finger pointed at something in the background, you didn't notice it at first until he directed your attention. You noticed it was a wooden sign with the words "Camp Chitaqua" carved into it. You glanced over at Dean, thinking you may have found your first clue to figuring out what really was going on.

+ + +

The best thing you could find with the word Chitaqua was a lake, and with a simple search of a map, you learned it wasn't too far from where Bobby lived. You and Dean headed over to see the lake also had a campsite with the same name, providing cabins to locals for a summer's resort. The both of you wandered through the darkness to try and find a way in, but one thing lead to another, you found yourself lurking in the woods alone. You shoved a tree branch out of the way and took a giant step forward, trying to make your way through. You managed to find an opening that lead directly to the sign you were looking for. You began heading forward after you noticed there was yet another fence keeping you out and a sign that looked confidental enough was only glanced over by you as you walked forward, wanting to take a look around for yourself.

You made it just a foot away from the fence until you spotted two men walking the grounds, probably keeping an eye out for people like you. You quickly hid yourself behind a bush, watching from the shadows as they kept on going, neither one of them seemed to be a threat as they kept a conversation, laughing at certain parts as you watched them head to a cabin way in the distance. You made your way to the fence and looked your fingers through the holes, your eyes drifted across the empty field, not seeming to notice much, that was, until you spotted a very familiar piece of your past. You leaned forward and squinted slightly, wondering if the junk car with its missing wheels and doors was the Impala itself.

You found the smallest beak in the metal fence, but it was enough to get you through and onto the compound. Quietly, you walked forward to the Impala to see your suspicions were right. The car laid with its front doors missing and all the wheels stripped away. You were rather shocked to see what time had done to the car which had shared so many memories for you. You bent down to examine the damage even further, only to see it was even worse. You let out a sigh and rubbed your hand on the steering wheel, the question yet again what was going on lingered in the back of your mind.

The sounds of footsteps crunching underneath the tall grass caught your attention. You looked over your shoulder to see there was somebody coming forward, giving you little time to find a hiding spot. As you were about to circle around the Impala and hide, you squinted your eyes to see in the dark, the shape of the face was a familiar one. You noticed it was Dean, he must have found a way inside and made the same discovery you had. You peeked your head out just enough to see if your suspicions were right. You quietly called out his name, deciding it wouldn't do harm to put yourself out in the open. When you stood next to the car, Dean's eyes wandered over to you, but his expression was all from what you were expecting.

Dean stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted you standing next to the Impala. His expression changed ever so slowly as his gaze lingered longer than it should have been. You watched as his brow tightened and his jaw slowly slack open, almost like you had appeared out of thin air. "Y/N?" Dean whispered your name, breaking the long pause of silence between the both of you. His voice sounded strange, it was quiet and soft, almost like he hadn't said your name in a long time. You gave him a look as you stepped forward to him, that move instantly broke him out of this trance. "Stay right where the hell you are. Is this some kind of messed up trick your boss thinks is funny? Well, I ain't laughing."

"Dean," You did what you were told, leaving a few feet of distance between the both of you. "What the hell are you talking about? Did you fall down and bump that stupid head of yours while we got separated? It's me, Y/N."

"Sure you are." Dean replied with a bitter tone. "I aint' falling for this again."

You gave him a look of confusion when you listened to the words coming out of his mouth. While you were about to ask him what had crawled up his ass, your eyes drifted down to his outfit, taking notice of the subtly different parts you didn't notice until now. The Dean standing in front of you was wearing a navy green jacket, something you hadn't seen before, not to mention the gun holster on his right thigh. You knew something was wrong here, but before you could declare your innocence from whatever accusation he thought you were holding against him, you felt a sharp pain against the side of your head.

Dean watched as your body dropped to the ground, landing safely on the wild grass that hadn't been taken care in the past four years he'd called this place a safe haven. He dropped himself to a crouch and loomed over your unconscious body, he let the moonlight reflect the features he hadn't seen in a long time. Reaching out a hand, he softly ran a finger across your skin and flicked a piece of hair that landed in your face. Dean examined you for what felt like a lifetime, his throat was starting to tighten up when he noticed you looked exactly how the day you left him, even with the mouth to match. As a smile began to creep across his lips, the rarest moment of happiness that he hadn't felt in five years was broken by the sounds of another pair of footsteps approaching from behind.

Pushing himself to his feet and drawing out his gun from the holster, Dean pointed the barrel directly at the stranger who dared creep up on him. Everyone in the camp knew curfew was at nightfall, and all of his men knew not to approach him without warning him first. Dean stared at the person with a dangerous glare, wondering if a croat had somehow snuck itself on the property. But the person staring at him was almost like looking at a mirror. It was him—a much younger him. The Dean standing across from him had his arms drawn out with a pretend look of panic, something he'd always liked to do just to give the look of surprise when monsters got the jump on him. Dean, the real him of this year, cautiously stared at the man, wondering what the freakin' hell was going on here before his double met the same demise as you.

[seven-oomen]

I mean, when I first thought of the trail mix thing, I was definitely thinking of Stiles and Jackson.  Then I thought, wait, that whole family is made up of dumbasses, assholes, and dumbass assholes.  It really could work for any combo of them.  Hence the more open-ended suggestion.  And I mean, some of the dog treats we carry could easily be mistaken for regular snacks anyway (hell, there’s one brand looks like a Teddy Graham, but is all bland fruit flavors.)  Also, now you’ve got me super nervous with that latest hint.  Doubt about what, exactly?…  There are so many potential options, some of them definitely more fraught than others.  Should I stock up on more coping consumables?

Hope you enjoyed your movie.  Today I’m opting for Winter Soldier, because while I may not be able to muster up any patriotism for America right now, I can always manage it (among myriad other emotions…) for America’s Ass.  And that movie is not only amazing, but comes with a bonus of 3 total Caps in it (technically.)  Though I can literally never watch it without my brain at least once going “hey, that’s the nurse from American Werewolf in London!” (the Security Council lady), which is apparently only entertaining to me, but I don’t care.

Had another thought brought on by too many Tasty videos (I know, I have a problem, I’m just not ready to deal with it yet.)  I know we’d discussed Chris kinda being the main cook of the three, as well as making the occasional fancy pastry and probably the more regular desserts.  Peter I can see being the one to make the more elaborate, fancy cakes and pies for special occasions, because he has a better grasp of how to extra, but classy about it.  Like, Chris will handle it if they need bulk amounts of things made for a bake sale (though others may chip in to help), while Peter will make it if they need something attention-grabbing for like a raffle or something.  Now, normally Noah doesn’t bake much outside a few handed down holiday recipes (he can very rarely be convinced to make some ridiculously delicious triple chocolate chunk cookies that he refuses to share the recipe for, but it takes a lot of convincing to outweigh Stiles’ potential tantrums about healthy eating.  [Mostly Stiles is mad because he REALLY wants the recipe, but clings to the easiest excuse]), but the idea occurred to me that maybe while he’s stuck at home more during the latter part of his pregnancy, he develops an interest in bread-making.  He already has some experience with dough from his family’s pierogi recipes (and he has a babka one he’d loved to try if he felt more confident, so), he can take rests while the dough is proving, he finds the kneading very meditative (and he certainly has the arm strength for it), and just mostly finds he rather enjoys it.  And the family certainly enjoys the fruits of his labors.  After the twins are born, he starts branching out into different, fancier kinds as the mood strikes him, and Peter gets very used to coming home to a house that smells of fresh baked bread and home cooked food, underlined with the scents of his mates and pups.  He finds he adores it on an almost spiritual level.

I…I think that was everything?   I’ll probably think of something as soon as I submit this, I usually do.  I hope you’re feeling better, and that writing has gone well today (and that you found some good games.  I had a number of friends talking about Steam’s sale [they apparently like to look through all the super cheap stuff for the so-bad-they’re-good kinds of fun.])  Did you know Keahu Kahuanui does/has done cosplay for Assassin’s Creed?  And Cody Christian and Tyler Hoechlin both did voices for the FF7 remake?  (You probably did, but the fact that Derek Hale voiced Sephiroth will never not be funny to me, so.)  Actually, there’s another costume idea - video game characters (I admit you probably have a far better repertory of known characters to pull from than I do.  I’m a casual gamer at the most generous.)

But anyway, hugs to you and Mo, good vibes and (hopefully) helpful inspiration!  Can’t wait to see what kinds of hints we get next!

Ok it’s 3 am, and I just finished some Detroit become Human on PC so whoops. (Already owned it on Ps4 but the Steam sale was too good. Three games for the price of one) Ah well, it’s Saturday (Sunday now?) and I have today off too.

I mean, that’s fair. A lot of dog treats honestly look like something I could eat when I’m not paying attention and just shoveling snacks into my mouth. (Also on another note, I may have eaten the dog’s kibble as a young child and my brother pulled a prank on me when I was an older child and fed me kibble without me knowing.) So I can definitely see how this family filled with dumbass assholes would pull it on one another. And it’s a fantastic image! XD

I debating on what kind of warning I should give this. Because I’m hoping it’s a bit impactful/emotional, but it’s not about the boys. I think that’s the best warning I can give it. It’s about a character in the main story that isn’t the main ship. But it has unforeseen consequences/implications? So maybe getting some good snacks is not a bad idea. Is that vague enough while also being considerate enough?

Huh actually, I might put in the set up for another reveal about another character. I’ve been working on that one for a while. (Nothing bad, just one of those, huh okay neat! things. I hope.)

Sully was so good, holy shit. I definitely enjoyed that one! Can highly recommend it actually. And yeah, as far as the MCU goes, WInter Soldier is one of my absolute favorites. I think for me it’s Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther, Winter Soldier. In that order. They’re just really good movies and definitely some of the funnier/better movies in the MCU. Although with Black Panther I did go: Lion King did it! a couple of times. But that’s okay, I loved the 90′s version of that too, so.

And Winter Soldier is def worth it for America’s ass, hmmhmm.

I love that headcanon, I can just see Peter coming home after some grueling day at the office, the house smells like fresh bread and pastries and freshly cooked lasagna, there’s the soft arguing of Stiles and Noah over recipes, Chris is just pulling dinner out of the oven. Allison has set the table with Lydia. Danny and Jackson are watching over the twins while Scott and Malia are keeping Ben entertained. And Derek is helping Chris with Dinner.

Their house has never been more lively and Peter’s living for it. Makes his entire day filled with dumb businessmen worthwhile because this is what he gets to come home to.

Did you know Keahu Kahuanui does/has done cosplay for Assassin’s Creed?  And Cody Christian and Tyler Hoechlin both did voices for the FF7 remake?

I did not actually, on both! (I’m terrible at voices/names, it’s honestly a thing.. I ain’t proud of it.)

But that explains why Sephiroth sounded so low key familiar to me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Will definitely have to revisit that now. And I will say, Cody does a great job as Cloud.

Oooh that’s a good one though. Hmmm I feel maybe the FF franchises would have enough characters to do group cosplays. Or Kingdom hearts. The Witcher might have a few. 

Oh! Or a bunch of ‘adventurers’ for the group. Like Peter could be Nathan Drake. Chris could be Joel Miller. Noah could be Arthur Morgan. Jackson could be Cloud. Malia could be Lara Croft. Allison could be Clementine (TWD). Stiles could be Sora (KH). Lydia could be Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn).  Ben could be Atreus (God of War). Scott could do Link (Zelda). And they could go as this rag tag group of adventurers.

There are probably better ideas, but it’s almost 4 am and my sleeping pills are kicking in. So I’m gonna go catch some sleep.

But this was fun! <3