#we're clearly never gonna reach a middle ground here. i can tell you what it is a million times and it wont matter bc you've already

[snekdood]

not much i can do about or with people who have a fundamental misunderstanding of reality.

[hel-phoenyx]

Domhildr belongs to @soupedepates, Oli to @thal-ent and Meili to @azeler, Kaizarz (mentioned) belongs to @corneille-but-not-the-author

Okay.

Maybe almost fainting in front of Domhildr as she was getting out of her shift was a bad idea.

For my defense, I didn't expect my body to react so strongly to just the amount of energy needed for digestion. Like I know I haven't slept in a week, but still, feeeling that dizzy right after eating ? Did I really not take care of my body properly ?

Point is she didn't let that slide. Like, at all. As soon as I was on the ground she called Meili. She never calls Meili, usually. And then while waiting on him she warned Oli she wouldn't be back tonight, for what ? I asled myself in the middle of my dizziness.

The result is we're currently at my home. It's morning after. And I've never heard that much noise in my kitchen before, even when Kaizarz was there and hellbent on finding my sugar and sweets stash to make us hot chocolates.

When I woke up, it was noon. I am so late on the thesis. Yet, I can't get out of bed. Why ? Because Meili is right next to me looking at me with those military officer eyes. The kind that say "obey orders or I'll kill you".

Not gonna lie, I've never done well with orders. I wanna get up and come back to my desk just to see how he will react. But my body isn't answering to me anymore. I can't even lift my head.

Meili squints seeing me awake.

"Don't you dare move."

I smile. Gods, the amount of energy needed is astounding. What the fuck is this sudden weakness ?!

"Or what... you're gonna pin me to bed ? Go ahead... I'm still stronger that you..."

"Clearly not in that state, and don't make me tie you up to the bedframe."

"Didn't know you were into that..."

His grimace is awful. I probably should have closed my big ass mouth. Why is it than when I'm tired I don't have any filter anymore. I almost told Kaizarz I loved him last time, goddamnit !

Anyway, I better shut up before I say something I regret. Meili looks pissed enough.

"Don't you dare start that gay shit with me, Tyr. You're fucking exhausted, you need to rest. Domhildr is whipping something in the kitchen for you, and Oli is trying to choose a movie we would all like."

"Damn... Since how much time are they trying ?"

"Three hours. We almost reached a consensus, so be a dear and don't ruin this for us."

When do I ever. But I'm too tired for this. And if I move a muscle, Meili is getting out the whip, anyway, I see in in his eyes. You can take a man out of army, but never army out of man...

Bed is too comfortable anyway, and my limbs too heavy. I wouldn't be able to move even if I really, really wanted to.

The second reason is that I won't have time. Domhildr just stormed in the room, a tray covered in food in hand. She made hamburgers with double steak and eggs, and fries on the side. Mine is covered in curry sauce, my favorite.

"Still think you're an heretic for what you made me do to those poor hamburgers, she shouts while putting the tray on my nightstand. But you needed meat, and red, bloody one."

"How I like it, huh..."

"Yeah, you fucking cannibal. How you like it, just for you. I'm letting you wake up while Oli chooses the movie, but after that, you're eating, and you're not moving out of bed for the day even if I have to climb you."

I smile again.

"This is the second weirdly erotic threat I've gotten today. You know you can tell me if you guys have an orgy planned later, I won't mind..."

"Oh, shut up, you bonehead, don't you dare joke in that state. Do you know how much I was worried about you ?"

Oh. She looks genuinely upset. Did I say something bad ? Did I do something bad, maybe ? I don't know. I just feel bad, all of a sudden.

".... Sorry."

"You better be. Hiding how little you sleep, how much coffee you drink, and when I go in your room I find a whole stash of beers clearly not here for partying ? What the fuck are you doing to yourself, Tyr ?!"

She's teary-eyed now. Oh. Did my current physical state affected them that much ?

"Sorry, really. I didn't want to worry you."

"Then start by not doing worrying things ! I thought I had to call Kaizarz to bring you to the hospital, AGAIN !"

Well. I guess that's why she's upset. Last time they had to do that, last time Kaizarz had to bring me to the hospital, it was the time of the accident. I still remember his eyes full of tears when i woke up from coma, his attempt to make me promise I won't ever put myself in danger like that, ever again.

I guess some things never change.

I lift my hand. Pinches her cheek. Shit, she's crying now. What did I do ? Why can't I do things rights ?

"I'm fine, Domhildr. Just lacking sleep. I promise."

"None of us believe you, Tyr, and that's coming from me."

That was Oli. They finally entered the room, with a movie case in hand, while Meili turns on the television on the wall. She doesn't look as angry as Domhildr does, or as judgemental as Meili's, but her eyes are full of worry, and unexplainable sadness.

Weirdly, those are the ones that hurt me the most.

".... I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that. Please. Just recover."

He sighs. Sits down next to me, gives the case to Meili.

"A Ghibli, is that okay with you ? We settled on Spirited Away."

"Fine by me. Sorry for making you worry."

They take my face between their hands, look at me long and hard.

"Tyr. We are your friends. Of course we will worry."

"Now just eat, and don't mind if I eat burgers in your bed, says Domhildr while climbing next to me. I really don't wanna make you move or be away from you for the next ten hours. And I don't have a shift today so I'm ready to be there a long time."

Oli takes my other side, and Meili brings closer my desk chair to sit next to us. All of us now have plates on their lap, and the heat of their bodies is relaxing my muscles.

I didn't want to worry them. They shouldn't have to worry about me.

But I can still enjoy this, right ?

[skamenglishsubs]

Subtext and Culture, Young Royals, Season 1, Episode 2

Episode 2 picks up the morning day after the initiation party, the girls are having breakfast lunch at their dorm, the boys at theirs, and everyone wants the juicy details about what happened at the party...

Culture: Tell me more, tell me more, did you get very far? Although, it's pretty funny how the roles are reversed, Maddie is all "meh" about it, while Nils tells a different story. Then again, since when do you get together after a blowjob?

Culture: I actually have no idea why Simon is having breakfast at Skogsbacken, since regular schools only cover lunch for students, everyone eats breakfast at home, and then goes to school. Then again, it allows a scene where (Never mind, they're having lunch, thanks @kamand !) Blink and you miss it: Wilhelm casts some nervous glances at Simon after having been called out for disappearing at the party and almost forced to confess to making out with someone.

Culture: I know Felice is trying to put August down, but don't knock a proper Swedish pizza! As much as I like living in the US, they can't fucking make pizzas here, and the first thing I eat every time I go back to Sweden is always a real pizza. With pineapple and shrimp as God intended pizza to be made!

Culture: August is namedropping ski resorts in the Alps, which is where you go skiing in Europe if you have money, although Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is actually near Val Thorens in France, while Verbier is in Switzerland. It does have a three-star restaurant, though. Sweden and Norway have a couple of decent ski resorts, but the Scandinavian mountain chain is simply not as impressive as the Alps.

Subtext: Remember Wilhelm getting up and hurrying to math class in the beginning of the scene? It was so he could grab the other seat next to Simon, because he knows Simon is gonna sit next to Sara, since no-one else does.

Culture: Formally greeting your teacher before class is very uncommon in Sweden, but since Hillerska is all about discipline and tradition, of course they do it. Note that they're again using the formal Swedish title for male teachers, Magister, which in a regular school would be kind of a joke, since teachers and students are on a first-name basis with each other.

Subtext: Wilhelm is exposing how the world works if you have money. At Simon's old school, studying alone would result in good grades, but Hillerska is slightly corrupt and almost expects the students to essentially pay for getting a good grade.

Subtext: Simon is lying to his teacher, he absolutely hasn't talked to his parents about paying for private lessons.

Subtext: No, Sara absolutely does care about what other people think about her, and when she directly tells Felice that she would actually like some friends, that's when Felice gets it and starts making an effort to become real friends with her.

Culture: They're all bilingual at Simon's home, they're all speaking Spanish and Swedish, although Linda has a very noticeable accent to her Swedish. Based on demographics and statistics, the most likely scenario is that Linda immigrated to Sweden from Chile, met Micke, and started a family. In real life, Omar Rudberg was born in Venezuela and grew up in Sweden, while Carmen Gloria Pérez was born in New York, and grew up in Puerto Rico.

Subtext: Remember how I talked in the intro post about how distant social classes know nothing of each other? Ayub and Rosh are either working class or lower middle class like Simon, and since rowing is a typical upper class sport, they know nothing of it, they don't even think of it as a real sport. Unlike football, which is a proper working class sport, they know all about that!

Subtext: Scandinavia has Jantelagen, and everyone there thinks it's uniquely Scandinavian, but all countries have some form of Tall Poppy Syndrome. In this scene, Simon is starting to make a class journey, he started rowing, he started trying to fit in with the other upper-class kids, and getting into a relationship with someone as upper-class as Wilhelm would definitely move him all the way. But going on a journey means leaving things behind, which is why Rosh and Ayub are cutting him down and literally turning their backs on him. They like it in the small town of Bjärstad, why can't he be happy there too? Why is he betraying his roots?

Subtext: This comment from August nicely foreshadows a later episode when August does something traceable on a School computer...

Subtext: What August means is that he's not sure Wilhelm has the same desire to be accultured into the upper class, to play the part of a proper prince, in the same way that he and Erik have accepted their roles and are even enjoying them.

Culture: Although it's impossible to read the name of the medicine, the paper tag on the bottle indicates that it's some kind of prescription medicine. From the conversation with Vincent, we learn that it's some kind of ADHD medication, probably some kind of Dextroamphetamine since those improve athletic ability and cognitive functions in healthy people.

Culture: Birkenstock sandals are associated with hippies in Sweden as well as in many parts of the world, so August is actually saying that the school counselor isn't really part of the same upper-class society as the rest of the staff. And again, his use of the word sosse drives the point home.

Subtext: Consequently, the counselor sees right through August and refuses to immediately prescribe him the medication that he wants...

Subtext: ...even though August tries to both bribe him and threaten him into giving him the medication he wants.

Subtext: A big theme of this episode is class journeys, and in this scene and a previous exercise scene, August gushes about how good a thing that is, how proud he is of Simon for going on one, and spouts some crap about how everyone can make it if they really want to.

Subtext: Thankfully, Madison says what we're all thinking: August is full of shit, life isn't fair, and they're only at the school because they were born into privilege.

Blink and you miss it: After Wilhelm has nervously texted his crush for the first time, he starts to bite his fingernails, but quickly stops himself, because why would he be nervous? He's just texting another boy about rowing practice, there's nothing more to it!

Subtext: Simon's texting game is on point though, he knows exactly what he should write to get Wilhelm to go on a totally-not-a-date with him.

Subtext: In the same way that August couldn't convince the counselor about being sick, I don't think Wilhelm's atrocious acting here convinces August that he's sick either.

Culture: Public transport in the greater Stockholm area - or wherever we're supposed to be - is of course cash-less, and you pay by either charging a special card, or by signing up in their app and buying tickets through there. The point of this scene though is to drive home how Wilhelm has never ever had to take the bus before in his life, and therefore has no idea how it works.

Culture: The totally-not-a-date starts at a Circle K, which in Sweden is just another gas station, but it is actually a Canadian multi-national convenience store corporation. The price of gas is of course posted in kr/l, and 13.98kr/l corresponds to roughly $6/gal.

Subtext: Throughout the totally-not-a-date, Wilhelm is trying to reach for common ground with Simon, trying to show him how he's just a regular guy...

Subtext: ...but then real life intrudes, Wilhelm is recognized by some local girls, who call out to him and run away giggling, which shows how he's not a regular guy, he's going to get recognized wherever he goes.

Culture: Kokt eller grillat, boiled or grilled, are the two ways you can get your hot-dog at pretty much any hot-dog place in Sweden, and ketchup and mustard is always offered. The correct answer to this question is of course grilled, with ketchup and mustard, and this just shows that Wilhelm is a man of culture and good taste. Unfortunately, they were out grilled ones, so they all got boring soggy boiled hot-dogs instead. Is there a metaphor here? I don't know.

Subtext: Again, the show drives home the point that absolutely no-one has a problem with people being gay. Simon is clearly out to Ayub and the rest of his friends, and Ayub immediately picks up on the fact that this is totally a date.

Blink and you miss it: Ayub nudges Simon with his elbow to tell him that he should make a move on Wilhelm.

Culture: What we're looking at is just the local junior/high school football team, Bjärstad, playing a match against some other unnamed junior football team. Since the stakes are super low, the audience basically consists of whichever parents and friends of the players that could be bothered showing up.

Culture: Driving age is 18 in Sweden, and even then getting your own car at that age is extremely uncommon. However, you can easily get a license for a moped when you turn 15, so these are the vehicles of choice for teenagers to get around.

Subtext: August found out about Wilhelm's trip to town, but his main problem with it is that he wants Wilhelm to stop slumming it with lower class people, and to start hanging out with everyone at school instead, so that he can be properly accultured into the upper class. Again, sosse in this context means working class, not socialist.

Subtext: Although Simon felt really great about his first date with Wilhelm, the text message reminds him that Wilhelm isn't a regular person, and that even this innocent little trip generates interest and scrutiny, and can't be posted publicly.

Culture: As everyone should have noticed by now, Madison keeps speaking English, while everyone speaks to her in Swedish, so clearly she understands it. But here she gives her motivation for sticking to English, and that is that she doesn't feel she's good enough at speaking Swedish. Boarding schools like Hillerska attracts international students that have some kind of connection to the country, so a likely scenario is that Madison grew up in the US with a Swedish parent, and she's being sent here to experience Swedish culture and get immersed in the language to learn it better.

Cinematography: This shot of August drives really home all the pressure he is under, he's out of drugs, the headmistress just hinted that he's out of money, and he's literally being weighed down by books and work-out weights.

Subtext: Simon has kept his visits to Micke a secret from Sara, so here he has to intervene to make sure August doesn't accidentally reveal this to her. He also wants to protect his sister, so he's redirecting August's search for drugs onto himself.

Subtext: And on the flipside, Simon isn't really telling his dad that Sara still hates him and really doesn't want to see him, so he's vague when Micke asks about Sara and Linda.

Culture: Finally a bottle of medicine where we can read the label! Unfortunately for Simon, this is Tramadol, an opiate prescribed for pain relief, which is the complete opposite of the kind of drugs August wants.

Subtext: If you haven't figured out yet that this episode is about class journeys, August spells it out for us here. However, the reason he's "congratulating" Simon in front of everybody is because Simon just supplied him with more drugs, so this is his way of thanking him, since he can't really pay him.

Blink and you miss it: For a split second, Wilhelm grabs Simon's leg during the scary scene.

Subtext: The entire dialogue of the movie works as subtext for what's actually going on between Wilhelm and Simon at this point, and Wilhelm is getting a little freaked out by this sneaky display of affection.

Subtext: The movie also puts words on the implications of Wilhelm getting together with a boy, what about having kids in the future? Can you carry on your family name and traditions, or will they die with you?

Lost in translation: The plaque actually says "FEEL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HERITAGE". Even though the plaque means the heritage and legacy of the school itself, Wilhelm is thinking about his legacy, his heritage, and how getting together with Simon would threaten that.

Lost in translation: Wilhelm actually says "jag är inte en..." - "I'm not a..." before he stops himself. So it's not possible that he was trying to say "I'm not gay", because that doesn't work grammatically in Swedish either. He could be trying to say "I'm not a guy like that" or "I'm not a guy who likes guys", that would work.

Cinematography: The framing and silhouetting of this shot is just chef's kiss. The outline of their hair allows us to see who is who, and we can see from their poses that Simon is welcoming a kiss, while Wilhelm is still hesitating.

[kylosgenesis]

Teardrops on Fire

Synopsis:

Steve Rogers is the last Alpha of the an almost extinct Lycan pack. With only less than 100 members left. Steve must produce an heir to ensure the species survival and reduce the chance of attacks from others. Omegas are rare, and betas have a hard time producing children. Steves reality is finally setting in as his obligation of producing an heir faces a major set back.

Reader is the last suitable omega to mate with Steve, due to the fear of her daughters fate in the pack, her mother kept her hidden from the pack after her own exile. Only her mother, and Bucky's family know of her existence. Bucky is Steve's right hand man, and the packs best warrior! He and the reader developed a friendship and bond over the years, but age forced them to become distant.

What happens when she presents and her first heat cycle comes? Her body is in excruciating pain and a strong fever quickly overcomes her body. Facing the fear of her daughters possible death, her mom calls on the only person who can save her at this point, Alpha Steve! Bucky and the alphas friendship will be tested. The reader will be faced with her love for Bucky or her duty to the pack.

Chapter warnings : descriptions of death, abuse, blood, and mentions of miscarriage.

Chapter 2: Honey I tried

“When did it start?” Bucky was holding on to the edge of his kitchen table.He felt nauseated with the thought of her, sick and yearning, He couldn't even picture what she had grown up to look like, A part of him was scared of his own emotions.

“It hasn’t yet!”

“ At least not as of this morning.” her mother was breaking apart! Bucky could tell she was very scared and exhausted! He knew that her daughter's well being must've weighed heavily on her, he could see the physical manifestation of her pain. In just a few hours her nails had been bit to the core, and her tears streaks had left vivid and raw tracks around her cheeks.

“Buck! I know this is a lot to ask, but you have to tell Steve! Were worried she wouldn't make it otherwise. This will be her first heat”

He’d almost forgotten his mothers presence in the room, cause he turned around and met her eyes, tears streaming down her face. She'd grown fond of her friend's daughter over the years. After her own kids had left to form their own lives, she could still go to her and relive some memories of her little ones' younger days.

“I know! I'm still wrapping my head around it, but I know what I have to do” agitation surrounded his voice. He didn't know when his heart started to feel like it wanted to jump out of his chest or when he gripped the glass of water that was left on the table so hard it shattered, but it was evident that he wasn't going to be getting any rest that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bucky parked his pickup in front of Steve's house. It was the largest house in the village, it wasn't Steve's choice, but he'd inherited it from his father, and his father had inherited it from his father before him. Being the house farthest away from the city limits, but right in the middle of the village meant Steve was protected, but could also be easily accessed.

Looking back at his passenger seat he saw Winnifred with her mom cradled upon her shoulder, comforting her best friend through the probably the second hardest day of her life.

“You should stay here Ma, I'll go get Steve” I know he’ll be happy to see you, but I still don't know how he'll react to her'' He opened his tool box on the bed of his truck and pulled out a large fleece blanket. Neatly folded he handed it over to his mother.

“Just keep her company till I come back”

The lights in Steve's house were on, but Buck could hear the sound of wood being shopped and Steve's grunts coming from the back of the property. As he reached his best friend's view, he took a deep breath. It was all gonna be different now, for all of them.

Steve had a large pair of headphones in, and was clearly a few songs deep into his playlist because when Bucky came around the corner; Steve almost lost a hold of the axe he was holding! Lookin at Buck he lowered his bulky headphones and stabbed the axe to the soft moody ground next to the small uncut piece of wood he was about to turn into lumber.

Steve's hair was not as long as Bucky's, and he had taken a liking to a neatly kept beard.

He grew it out as a joke at first! Clint dared him to grow it for a month, and after a month he'd grown fond of the style.So for the past year now, Steve looked less like a young soldier, and more like those lumberjacks from the cheesy romance novel covers his sister Rebecca loved to read.

“Hey Buck, didn't expect you around so late” Steve combed his hair back with his fingers. A nervous habit Bucky had noticed since childhood, especially when he had a lot on his mind.

“Couldn't sleep?”

Bucky was concerned for his friend, momentarily forgetting the reason for his sudden visit.

“ Banner called! Wanda was there earlier today, she wasn't feeling well. Turns out she was pregnant, and didn't know it!

“Steves that's awesome, when is she due ? we need to celebra…” as he looked into his best friend's eyes he saw the pain behind his look.

“She was miscarrying at the same time she found out she was pregnant, Buck. That's the third pup we've lost this year.I don't know how we're gonna get through this, It's getting harder and harder to keep everyone safe, and pretend we're not gonna be extinct in 50 years”

“Steve…” Steve's gaze was filled with a mixture of tears and rage. He took everyone's pain personally. And hearing about Wanda had awoken an unease within his soul. He couldn't fight the problem! How could a man used to protecting and fighting, deal with a problem that didn't require a fight?

“There’s an omega! She presented this morning!

“Who is she?”

“Remember Katerina? She … uhh … after she was exiled from the pack, she had a daughter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20 years ago

“We can't just let him die! We have to take him outside the walls! Someone out there can help him”

Joseph was the second in command to Benjamin Rogers. Two of the strongest alphas the entire western district had ever known. Both feared together, but explosive apart.

Benjamin had fathered a son 7 years earlier, a frail boy. He was often sickly and his future wasn’t promised! He wasn't meant to live much longer, the boy had once again woken up sick. A high fever overcoming his small body.

Benjamin had changed after his wife's death, he blamed the boy for Sarah’s death. A man that was once kind, and dedicated to his family, now lived like a wandering dark shadow inflicting cruelty against anyone that disagreed and crossed his path. His pack was strong! But there was no harmony, only fear.

Sarah had been a beautiful alpha as well as Benjamin. She had a hard time carrying Steve to term, at 7 months she fell bedridden and two weeks later, she had a seizure that compromised her pregnancy. Benjamin himself had to cut the boy out of his dying wife. That choice, as his wife laid there lifeless , covered in blood, and cut open like an animal awoke a demon in Benjamin. He saw death in his son's eyes, that is why he could never love him. He could never care!

Katerina took care of his young baby like her own, she had struggled to have a baby of her own so when Joseph came home holding a still bloody wailing baby, she fell madly in love with the small bundle in his arms.

The boy was small, but smart! He picked up words as young as a few months, and as a toddler he was incredibly gifted. Steve excelled in art, and even knees bit of music. Katerina loved to sit down and play piano! A young Steve would lean into her side and follow suit to her fingers on the side of the pano with his small hands. Joseph and Katerina watched him grow up, and took care of him.

Steve got sick often, but nothing too serious!

One day as she prepared breakfast she had a feeling of dread on the pit of her stomach, she ran upstairs to check on Steve and found him comatose on the bed!she wailed as she held her adopted infant son to her chest. Joseph came running to her after hearing her screams. He picked up the boy from her hands and loaded him into the car, with Katerina at his side he headed to Benjamin's house.

That was the first time Benjamin had seen his son since his wife died, his son himself nearly dead!

"Please Ben! He needs help! There's another pack two hours away, they have a doctor that can help him. She can heal him for good, please open up the walls so we can go to her! They both pleaded with Ben for hours, but to no avail!

The man was already covered in anger and reeking of alcohol, “Don't you dare challenge your alpha Joe! If I find out you defied me and left this territory you will never be allowed back”

Katerina couldn't let her boy die! With that warning in heart, she and her husband plotted to get little Stevie outside the pack territory, and to that doctor.

Behind Ben’s back, and knowing the consequences in his heart Joe called the Alpha from the neighboring pack, the other alpha had the resources ready for them to arrive in the morning. His doctor, a witch, was ready to give little Steve the life he deserved.

In the early morning of the night they sped their way through the woods. Once they reached the border a car awaited Rina, a beta from the fury pack was ready to take them to their pack.

Ben had closed the pack off to treaties when his wife died, he believed the world was dangerous and the pack was better off without interruptions, he couldn't even save his wife! His pack did not deserve to be mercied, they didn't deserve to live if she couldn't. So Ben slowly watched his pack become secluded and lost.

In the morning Ben, even drunker than the night before, had shown up at Joe's doorstep demanding to see the boy. Fully convinced he'd be dead by now, when Joe failed to produce an explanation as to why his wife was gone and so was Steve.

Ben lost it!

He called a pack meeting on which he publicly executed Joe, whether it was a display of power or just pure psychopathic joy. Joe’s death left the town broken, when Katerina came back with a healed Steve, she found herself widowed and exiled.

As a last sick jab into Joe’s heart even after his death, Ben took Steve!

As the years went by Steve forgot his early years, he forgot Joe and Katerina!

Steve remembered stories of his betrayal, her exile! How their actions forever changed a pack. He grew up kind, giving, and strong! Even if Steve didn't experience or know much love from his father, he was full of it!

And thanks to that witch both Katerina’s little growing heartbeat and Steve were stronger than ever!

Tags:

@austynparksandpizza @exposition-belongs-somewhere

[punkscowardschampions]

Lola & Astrid

Lola: [come in to get your tattoo then, which is on the back of her neck/shoulder blade moment which isn't the worst but I think it vibrates on those bones pretty hard, also the embroidery technique/colour will make it worse/more time, overall vibe a sassy, confident bitch but lowkey nervous on this tattoo] Astrid: [I like to think she's already in there and probably has been for hours because whether it's big or small on this occasion they obvs let her stop whenever she wants and for as long as she wants cos they know her so we just chilling with the dog BFF who goes everywhere with her lowkey and both having a drink of water casually so the dog can go up to her like hey gal] Lola: [have loads of pictures of her with dogs and cats, so gonna say we're an animal hoe and gonna be extra over this lil dog then AFTER you've stroked and loved upon it 'Shit, I've not distracted it, have I? I'm so sorry' like when you aren't meant to with blind people service dogs] Astrid: [just straight up talking to this dog like she's a person like are you okay, do you wanna go and the dog's like nah I'm fine by giving a Lola a toy or something like I think we should play with this gal] Lola: [straight up throwing this toy like we aren't in a tattoo shop like please be careful, probably getting told off by a grumpy tattoo dude and just loling like whoops 'cos the kind of carefree hoe we are 'what's your name?' but we are talking to the dog] Astrid: [being like 'did you forget we like rules?' @ the dog as if she caused this trouble herself and full naming her like a cross mum but we not cross we're more playful about it because autistic bants] Lola: ['so distinguished, suits you madam' and shakes her paw, then touching one of Astrid's leg tattoos as is clearly ground level with this dog rn 'that's gorgeous, how many do you have?'] Astrid: [when you an affectionate af person but you don't know her like that so then you can't answer that question and she must think you're being so rude sorry gal, but let's say the tattoo person answers for you cos probably did most of them but not all so gets it wrong so then you have to answer whatever the right number is] Lola: [you really shouldn't grab people but that's the kinda hoe you are so that's the vibe lol, undeterred but do let go of her leg thanks, just talking about ALL the tattoo ideas you have] Astrid: [at least you can likewise go off about that babe because they are literally another thing you collect/comforts you and makes you feel safe so like you always wanna get more, try not to actually talk over her and listen but it's okay if you do, she'll get over it] Lola: [just listening intently anyway and bowing to her superior knowledge on it 'cos you wanna get more even though you have yet to start this one and are gonna be sobbing in a sec lolll, very seriously turning to the dog 'Winnie, will you hold my hand?' then turning back to Astrid and rolling her eyes 'my girlfriend was too shamed to be seen with me'] Astrid: [just going OFF about aftercare too before she's even started this tattoo because as far as you're concerned there is only one right way to do it and everything else is wrong and a huge no, the grumpy tattoo dude from earlier who Lola's gonna end up having is just gonna try and be like nah she's wrong, this this and this is fine but shh sir tbh. The dog just grinning through all this cos she's buzzing about the energy 'She's not ever going to be heavy enough for proprioceptive stimming but it's still calming when she lies with you, she's soft and she smells nice, does that make sense?' her confused face when she then doesn't understand what she means about her girlfriend not wanting to be here though like um why] Lola: [just ignoring the man like the true lesbian you are, be careful girl, nodding 'total sense, Miss Winifred is a vibe' and giving her an approving sniff like yes 'it smells like bleach in here' probably a good thing babe but we're not happy lol 'ugh, 'cos she's so tough and I'm going to embarrass her' shakes her head like oh girlfriends] Astrid: [repeating back to Winnie that she's a vibe because you like the sound of that thank you but whatever you're gonna say about how it smells in here is interrupted by grumpy tattoo dude complaining that it's because Astrid always has to OTT clean up the station etc and blah before they start, like don't out her like that sir and don't be a dick so we're not happy about his vibe rn] Lola: ['you should be happy she's doing the hard work for you' even though we were the one complaining about the smell, we're not about it] Astrid: ['he's not a happy person' hahaha suck it sir] Lola: ['that's so sad, what happened?' oh gal] Astrid: [just telling her this dude's life story like he's not right there because we don't understand sarcasm bye] Lola: [when you weren't even being sarcastic but you were not expecting her to reply and you know he's not gonna be thrilled so you put your finger to your lips like shh but smiling at her so she knows you aren't being a dick like stfu] Astrid: [being like oh do you want some quiet, like offering to get them to turn down the music they always blast in tattoo places] Lola: ['can we change the station?' like this rock shit is not a #vibe honey and getting out your phone and aux cord from your bag] Astrid: [just like 'it's not a vibe [name of your tattoo gal] can we change it to a vibe?' because we're saying vibe now and obvs this woman will cos she's a good egg] Lola: [putting on your femme gay girl bubblegum pop playlist like every other person in here/grumpy tattoo man is going to be taking the piss but we aren't aware 'cos we're that bitch and just dancing around like it's the clerb] Astrid: [Astrid and Winnie are vibing, picking this dog up like do you wanna dance lil queen as if we're not in the middle of a tattoo sesh] Lola: [hyping them up in a very yasss queen manner and then getting interrupted by this dude being like are you done pissing about and just twerking at him like mwah 😘 as you climb your ass up onto this bench, then being like 'WINNIE, I NEED YOU' very dramatically with grabby hands and all, this man like oh my god] Astrid: [we're loling at her antics and then putting Winnie on her lap because this angel will look after you gal so we can finally get some more of our own tattoo done] Lola: [good incentive not to drop this dog or shriek in her ears gal, 'cos gonna be so OTT about this pain obvs, all of this painting a picture as why your butch tatted gf did not wanna be here, just 🥺🥺🥺 at Astrid 'does it hurt you?' 'cos gf popping off like it doesn't which is a lie like when people say childbirth doesn't like admit it even if you can hack it] Astrid: ['not as much as other things' because we matter of fact about it instead of being like her girlfriend and pretending nothing is happening here] Lola: [we aren't really listening anyway just talking to talk here 'beauty is pain'] Astrid: [just repeating that like hmmm idk ' you're saying you feel more beautiful now, they'll want to put that on the signs outside'] Lola: ['They've got better promo' and giving Astrid's tattooist a look, 'cos the insecurity jumped out when pain] Astrid: [just going off about how much you like it here and you've told everyone about it like lol peeps have said they should pay me] Lola: ['yours are so cool' and asking her why she got that one and when etc etc] Astrid: [telling her everything even if like some of this shit is personal like tell me those roses aren't because of Ro you can't] Lola: [when you're an oversharer so you are 1. not phased by this 2. can say how this is for your abuela who's dying] Astrid: [genuinely is upset about this and asking loads of questions about her like obvs how old is she but also about her as a person and what she likes and how she was living before this] Lola: [we was already crying from the pain so you know, just carry on lmao, telling her that you live with her, that she's your only family and she's a bomb cook and she loves you even though you're gay and you go to bingo together on Thursdays] Astrid: [when you're just like are you gonna live with your girlfriend and cook together and go to bingo with her] Lola: ['I don't know' big sigh 'Do you live with your dad?'] Astrid: [hardcore like BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO because we're so upset about this like we can't answer your question until we get one that's okay here] Lola: [reaching over like hey it's okay 'I'll work it out'] Astrid: [just like oh yeah I do live with my dad btw after ages has passed and she's probably forgot she even asked but we needed a sec there] Lola: ['what's he like?'] Astrid: ['he's weird but not like I'm weird, just not how everyone says a dad should be-' trying to find a way to word wtf Drew is like lol 'he doesn't like rules or keeping things clean oh and he's a really shit driver who plays music too loud and he dresses too young'] Lola: ['sounds like every dude I've ever met' lols, wiping her tears 'has he always been like that or is it a midlife crisis moment?'] Astrid: [lols too because oh Drew you hot mess 'he fell out of his pram and wasn't claimed for 7 days'] Lola: [nods solemnly 'mine too'] Astrid: ['but he makes sure my food doesn't touch and never makes me eat anything I know will be fucking gross and he took me to go get Winnie' like but I do love him] Lola: [gives Winnie love and smiles 'not all bad then' pauses 'mine used to take me to ballet, and never get bored of me showing him my routines'] Astrid: [just going off about this Barbie ballet movie called Barbie and the pink shoes like have you seen it because I figure why not have dolls as a special interest, thanks Ro, though she'd fuck with Bratz and Monster High more] Lola: [talking about the red shoes 'cos assumedly what it is based on and saying you'll look up the Barbie version online 'when Ren is at work'] Astrid: [just chatting about it to the point that she doesn't even need to see it cos you've told her everything but letting her know that Barbie isn't your fave and making sure she knows what you fuck with more like this is vital info okay] Lola: ['Like Yasmin is technically the Hispanic queen like me but I do be looking more Jade and she fucks with cats so ME' 'cos definitely a girl who was into dolls and the bratz are making a resurgence in the culture anyway huns] Astrid: [we're living a life where we only accept the OG's so of course she gotta be that blonde hun who is described as wide-eyed and bubbly and loves her friends more than anything in the world so pop off but we not fucking with soccer and we gotta let Lola know] Lola: ['I see it' like just being like you're an angel there nbd] Astrid: [being like I do support cheese pizza ONLY but thai curry wtf] Lola: [loling like 'food isn't food unless it has at least two carbs and all the cheese you can throw at it'] Astrid: [just listing off everything Jade likes in the known world like do you like these things or no] Lola: [replying like this is a vogue 73 questions I bet tattoo dude is delighted lol] Astrid: [we're having fun here sir excuse you] Lola: ['do you have a Jade in your group already?'] Astrid: [The calming force that she is, Winnie is the group's Yasmin, she can handle a sob story, as you've seen so that's wrong' looks at her like soz gal I know you're offended 'my other best friend is most like Sasha, I don't know if I'm allowed to say that when she isn't black though'] Lola: [looks around at how white everyone here deffo is like I won't tell on you, claps her hands like yay 'we can be friends then'] Astrid: [when you're clearly buzzing about this, giving her your phone like this is my number take it thank you] Lola: [saves it as angel, oh that won't cause any drama with your gf no no lol, taking the tattoo dudes biro or whatever and being like hold out your hand? but thankfully NOT just doing it 'cos she may not vibe gal] Astrid: [at first is like ?? because hasn't connected the dots of what she wants her to do and why but then is like oh okay and does] Lola: [being like to the tattoo lady 'now make it permanent' loling like hohoho] Astrid: [loling 'when I know you better' like we considering this] Lola: [so flattered like omg me and blowing kisses] Astrid: [gotta get some more water cos we recognising that we're getting a bit too buzzing rn so obvs asking her if she wants some] Lola: [just like lifesaver 'cos we been crying so hard over here lol] Astrid: [gotta get some for Winnie too even if she don't want because that's a routine hun] Lola: [live your best life babe you deserve it] Astrid: [let's say her tattoo is then finally done and she abruptly leaves like it was nice to meet you I gotta go now bye because it kills me how they all did that on that show every time] Lola: [the only time you've been shooketh 'cos you'd be a hang around saying bye for ages bitch] Lola: WHERE DID YOU GO?! Astrid: hOmE Astrid: is YOuR tattOO fiNishED? Lola: [sends a progress picture she's made that man take lol] Astrid: 25-30 miNS leFT Lola: yeah? Lola: 🙌 I am about to PEE my pants Astrid: iT'LL bE lONgEr wiTH BreAks but YOu Wont bE alloWED bacK iF yOu dONt TakE oNE foR THaT Lola: 😄 I did a little but we've had no leaks Lola: got my big girl panties on Astrid: 👙 is A GooD iDeA tOooooOOOOO Lola: so NOT letting him do my underboob though Astrid: nO ⛔ no ⛔ Lola: the chick you were with seemed kinda cool though Lola: not gonna write off the whole shop Astrid: 🌟 ✨ sHE MAkEs me fEEL coMFoRTaBLe 🌟 ✨ Astrid: thE reVIeW Astrid: & thE VIBE Lola: love that Lola: don't know how he can do such colourful work and be so sad ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 Astrid: van GOGH? Astrid: 🌻🌻🌻🌻👂💛💛 Lola: 🤯🤯🤯 Astrid: Do thEy ShARE a SOUL doEs thAT maKE senSE? Astrid: hMMMM Lola: reincarnation baby Astrid: dO you BEliEVE in it? Astrid: a BIG quESTion Lola: I think it's technically a ❌❌❌ Lola: but I think it's cool Lola: like past lives, all the AMAZING people in history you could've been Astrid: I DonT unDERstAnd wHY is iT ❌❌❌ if YoU liKE iT? Lola: Jesus and Abuela 💘 Lola: 💀 is very important to us Astrid: oHhhhhhhH Astrid: hEAvEn ☁👼☁ Astrid: mY muM taUGHt mE about THat Lola: 🧹🌻🦋🌞🍞 Lola: we believe souls come back, but not as other people, always themselves, even if they take a different form Lola: and they come back all the time, though Jesus hasn't come back YET Astrid: 👻👻👻👻 Lola: I can do an offering for your mum if you like Astrid: shE woULdNT coMe bACK for 🍞 Astrid: wHaT ElSe can THey be? Lola: you can put all the person's favourite things on their altar, you can skip the bread Astrid: 🕯🌹🕯🩺🕯🥀🕯🦴 Lola: wouldn't look out of place Astrid: sHe LiKEd DollS tooOOOO but thERe's No emoJi?? Lola: that's so RUDE Lola: did she get you into dolls, what was the first one you got? Astrid: 🧚🏻 thoUGH & 🔮 & 🧙🏼 Astrid: [sends her a picture of some creepy doll because of course she still has it and cue a huge ramble about everything possible about this doll like soz gal you didn't ask for that level of detail] Lola: looks like la catrina's 👶 Lola: I like it Lola: what doll would your mum be? Astrid: [when you disappear forever lowkey to do all the research you can about that just falling down a rabbit hole without saying bye] Astrid: ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 💀❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 Astrid: eVErYoNE is EqUAL in tHE eND Astrid: loVE that Lola: right?! Lola: we STAN an inclusive queen Astrid: caNT waIT tO TeLl mY otHER bFf she is GOiNg to bE so ExCitEd Lola: do you bake? I will send you a recipe for some sugar 💀 cookies Lola: i always loved decorating them Lola: and eating them, duh 😋 Astrid: I dOnT know hOw TO dO that Astrid: ❌❌❌ Lola: I can make them, if you wanna meet up again Lola: or come teach you, that would be fun Astrid: here? Lola: if you want Lola: you could come to mine but you'd have to meet abuela and that might be a LOT ??? Astrid: iTs nOT a ⛔ no if weRe frIeNds Astrid: i THinK yoU couLD bE heRE Lola: I'm a good guy, I promise Lola: I'll be super polite and say please and thank you and take my shoes off Astrid: buT 🍭 🍬 🧁  🍫 🍩 🍪 🍨  wILl maKE mY mum 😢 oR 😡 iF sHE is a 👻 Astrid: 🤫 Lola: it's all about celebrating life anyways Lola: what's better than tasty food Lola: my mother was the same though Lola: but abuela loved food because it made people 😄🥰 she didn't care if it made you fat too Lola: plenty of time to be 💀🦴s Astrid: hMMMmmm Astrid: 👌 Astrid: I wAnt to BE 😄🥰 Lola: maybe your friend would like some too Lola: not Miss Winnie though, too much sugar for 🐶 Astrid: IlL exPLain Astrid: sheS vERY 🤓 Astrid: thATs sMArt noT an INsult Lola: I could tell Lola: I very much enjoyed meeting her Astrid: & mE? Lola: OF COURSE you, gurl Lola: you were so nice and helpful Astrid: 😀 😃 😄 😁 😆 😅 😂 🤣 Astrid: thANKs Lola: you're welcome ❣️ Lola: are you from here, I like your name, it's unusual Astrid: I dOnT liKE to bE reFErRed tO bY it Astrid: it maKEs mE FeeL liKe PeOPLe ARe 😤 😠 😡 Lola: oh no, I'm sorry Lola: is there anything you would like me to call you instead? Astrid: ...... Astrid: I doNt KnOw Lola: no probs Lola: don't need to call you anything we'll manage just fine without 🙃 Astrid: iS thAt aN oKaY anSWer? Lola: of course it is! Lola: it wouldn't be okay for me to call you a name you didn't like, that's just rude Lola: my gf HATES the name she got as a 👶 so she changed it Astrid: liKe @ scHoOL Astrid: I goT caLLed loAds of namES thERE Astrid: 👿 👹 👺 🤡 💩 👻 💀 ☠️ 👽 👾 🤖 🎃 Lola: 😢👎 Lola: school SUCKED Lola: you're cool Astrid: thEy jUsT doNt unDERsTand mY 🧠 Astrid: mE eiTHeR mE eiTHeR Lola: who does Lola: still don't have to be a 🍆 Astrid: eVErYoNE is EqUAL in tHE eND Astrid: ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 💀❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 Lola: that's what I'm talking about Astrid: yOu aRe GoiNg To LikE mY aUntY 🧠 ❤ 👀 Astrid: bUt U CaNt bRInG hEr HeRE foR 💀🍪 Lola: why not? Astrid: mY DaD & hER ❌❌❌ Lola: family drama Lola: say no more Lola: abuela only talks about my mother when she wants to cuss her out, and that's her daughter so 🤷 Astrid: hEs BaD buT nOT to ME? I doNt unDERstAnd hoW thAT iS suPposED to maKE seNse Lola: you're special to him Astrid: BuT whY aREnt my SiSTeRs sPEcial toOOOo? Astrid: beCausE theIR muMs aRE dIFFeRenT or Astrid: my BrOThEr haS anOTher DiffErent mUm agaIN Astrid: itS conFUsinG Lola: people are a lot of different things all at once, I think Lola: they don't all fit together right, it is confusing Astrid: wHEn yoU DiE aRE yOU NoOOO thiNGs Or moRE thinGS? Lola: Hmm Lola: I think more Lola: everything, and then the missing pieces make it all make sense Astrid: maybe they ARe tOOOoo sPEciAl then, THaT sisTER & ThOse mums dAD canT DeaL Astrid: hmmM Lola: could be Lola: being dead is meant to be easier than being alive, but it isn't perfect Astrid: & mY OthEr SisTER diDnt diE whEn sHe NeaRLY diD sO mAYBe heS coNFuSed AbOUT THat Lola: could you ask him? Lola: or would he be 😢 or 😡? Astrid: heS not my TaLking To pErsoN heS mY DoinG peRsOn Lola: that's important too Lola: sometimes it's actually better not having the answers Astrid: I sHOULDvE saID that @ scHOol Astrid: BettER not HAVinG thE anSWERS sORRy Lola: 😅 Lola: if ONLY Lola: I wouldn't say ANYTHING at school Astrid: I diDnT taLk unTiL aFter my mUm dIeD Astrid: moSTlY Lola: at all? Astrid: ❌❌❌⛔⛔ Lola: did you talk to your dad? Astrid: somE WoRdS Lola: the rest you just got what you needed in other ways Lola: that's cool Astrid: i THiNk it waS BaD oF mE Astrid: maYbe Astrid: .... Lola: but was it bad for you Lola: that's the important thing Lola: its frustrating when people don't understand you, but people get frustrated when they don't understand, even though they might not still when you tell them with words Astrid: iS thAT wHy yOU didNT talK @ sChooL? Lola: i took up too much space just being there Lola: without taking up the 💬 too Astrid: tOo muCh Space Astrid: hmmM Lola: that's what they thought Lola: basically Astrid: pEoPLe DoNt unDErstaND yOu Astrid: how mUch spaCE yoU neEd Lola: they don't like it ❌❌❌⛔⛔ Lola: i'm not trying to take other people's space though Astrid: tOO muCH iS ❌❌❌⛔⛔ Astrid: toOOOo mUch AnyTHiNG Lola: it is? Astrid: ItS 😢 or 😡 Astrid: itS beInG weIRd Lola: there's no such thing as too much 🐶😸 though Astrid: NeVEr!! Lola: exactly Lola: don't think there's any rules that you can stick to everything Lola: always exceptions Astrid: I wriTE liKe thIs beCauSe thOse rULes are Boring Astrid: loAdS of RulEs doNt maKe sEnSe Lola: I like how you write Lola: it's more interesting to read Astrid: yOu cAn Do iT toO if You waNT Lola: really? Lola: thanks, I'll try it out 😄 Lola: ITs actUallLY REAlLY hARd tO Be TOtallY raNDoM Lola: oTHER New RuLES poP UP in YOuR hEaD Astrid: ItS a VIBE Astrid: 😀 😃 😄 😁 😆 😅 😂 🤣 Lola: tOTAlLy Lola: LikE THOse nEwSPApEr RAnsOM notEs Lola: aEStheTIc Astrid: ??? Lola: you know in films, when a killer or a kidnapper sends the person a note, they cut up bits of newspapers and magazines so the note is all different fonts and sizes and stuff Lola: [examples Lola: I liKE ThAT LOooooooOOoOKk Astrid: OhHH WoW Astrid: cAn I sEnD YoU onE? Lola: THaTs whaT IT RemINDS mE OF Lola: UM yeS Astrid: TheY dO it So NoBoDy knowS itS from THem YeaH? Astrid: hoW wiLL you Know ItS from mE? Lola: YEah Lola: do the outside of it normal, so the postman isn't 😱 Lola: I nEVEr GeT 💌 Astrid: do the outside of it normal, so the postman isn't scared Astrid: do the outside of it normal, like this Lola: [her address] there you go Lola: a stamp and it'll be perfect Astrid: ThiS is ReAllY whERe U Live? Astrid: I knoW whEre tHiS is Lola: you do? Astrid: yEAH Astrid: itS By a SHop I lIkE Lola: maybe you could show me 🙃 Astrid: I JuST geT 🍓 thEn I LeAVe Astrid: thEY haVe to Be from ThEre Astrid: a RuLe Lola: nOW i waNt TO tRy SomE Astrid: diD yoUr GirLfrIEnD liKE youR TaTTOo? Astrid: I caNt STop THinkiNG aBoUT iT Lola: She lIKEs 🖤 🤍 bUT I seNT hEr ThE piC & She SAid wAs cUUUUUuUuUUuUuTeeeeeeE Astrid: iS shE gONna coMe wiTh yOU neXT timE? Lola: mAYb ❓🤔 Astrid: tHats noT 🖤 🤍 Astrid: sHe shOUld saY yeAH oR NO Lola: TrUuUuuUuUUUUUUUu Lola: I'll tell her Astrid: Do YoU lIkE haVinG a girlFRieND? Lola: 🤗 & 😘 R gOoOOoddD Astrid: ❓🤔 Lola: you like hugs and kisses? Astrid: PlaTOnic is DiFFeRent Astrid: i LikE theM thOUgh Lola: yeah Lola: with a girlfriend, you just get them all the time Astrid: ? ShE dOeSnt asK you ? Lola: she doesn't need to Lola: if I said stop she would Lola: it's just nice having a person around, is what I meant 🙃 Astrid: 👌 thAT maKEs SeNse Lola: do you like 🧑 or 👩 or none or both Astrid: 👩 👩🏻 👩🏽 👩🏾 👩🏿 Lola: hi-5 Lola: me too 😄 Astrid: but i DoNt have a GIRLfrieNd Lola: would you like one? Lola: we could go out 💃💃 Astrid: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Astrid: yeAh Astrid: yOuRe a GooD 💃 Lola: YOU TOO ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🤎 Lola: I KNOW A BAR THAT WOULD LET WINNIE IN Astrid: yOU dO????????? Lola: i KNow tHe OWneR Lola: heS SO coOL Lola: and he has his own dog Finola who sings with him Astrid: I diDNT knOw dOGs coULd sING Astrid: WiNNie coULd hAVE a SeCRET talENt Lola: they do somewhere over the 🌈 it's very good Astrid: wheN cAN we Go? Lola: 😄 When are you free? this weekend? Astrid: FriDAY Lola: 👏 let's DO IT Astrid: 🕐 🕑 🕒 🕓 🕔 🕕 🕖 🕗 🕘 🕙 🕚 🕛 🕜 🕝 🕞 🕟 🕠 🕡 🕢 🕣 🕤 🕥 🕦 🕧 Astrid: ? Lola: 🤔 8? Astrid: To bE @ yOUr hOUse oR ThEre? Lola: we could get 🍓s first and eat them in the park Astrid: 😀 😃 😄 😁 Lola: 🙌 IT'LL BE FUN Astrid: WeRe bOTh eXciTed Astrid: 😆 Lola: 💃💃💃 Lola: have to plan my outfit Astrid: I liKeD uR ouTfit yOu werE weaRing Lola: you're so 🍧 🍨 🍦 🥧 🧁 🍰 🎂 🍮 🍭 🍬 🍫 🍿 🍩 🍪 thank you 😚 Lola: you looked amazing Astrid: I nEEd to dyE mY haiR a new ColOur Lola: have you done every colour??? Astrid: ⛔❌ 🖤 🤎 Lola: boring in comparison to the rest of the 🌈 Astrid: & hARd to GEt Out ❤️ & 💜 sTAY TooOO bUT thEY caN bE maDE inTo a PaTTeRN sO its Not 😢 oR 😠 Lola: 🦜 Astrid: BiRdS aRE weiRD Astrid: mY AunTy haS 🐓 & I ONLy liKE thEm WhEn TheYrE 🐤 🐣 🐥 Lola: DOES SHE HAVE ANY BABIES RIGHT NOW Astrid: yEaH Astrid: thEyre sOFt Lola: 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 that's so cuteee Astrid: doNt be sad shE wonT eaT thEM Lola: but i don't have any🐤 🐣 🐥 Astrid: IlL aSk heR iF you CAn Lola: our apartment is tiny Lola: wouldn't be fair for the poor chickie Astrid: YoU cOuLd VisIt THem Lola: I'll have to buy some 🌽 too Astrid: TheYll be YouR FRIEnds ToooOOOOo Astrid: loVe ThAT Lola: new friends are always welcome Lola: especially fluffy ones Astrid: WiNNie aGReeS Astrid: & saYs dOnT foRGet sheS the FLUFFiest Astrid: she gETs JeaLOUs Lola: 🤭 Lola: of course Lola: she's a babe Astrid: evERYoNe saYs I was wHEn mY brOTHer waS a 👶 bUT i Dont remeMBEr thaT Lola: aw, you helped out? Lola: that's so cute Astrid: 👶 NeED lOAds of HeLp Astrid: haVE yOu EVer heLd onE? TheY caNt suPPOrt their Own HeaDs Astrid: itS wilD Lola: I've actually never held a baby Lola: or really met one, which is weird, I'd never thought about that Astrid: !!!!!!!! Astrid: My FamILY iS SoooOOOOO BiG Astrid: 👶👶🏻👶🏼👶🏽👶🏾 Lola: do you like it? what's good and what's bad? Astrid: YoU aRenT evER aLOne Astrid: thatS gOod OR Bad Astrid: Good & BAD Lola: I can picture that Astrid: bUT itS FUn & LOud Astrid: you LiKe hugS so Youd likE it Lola: yeah Lola: I think so Lola: abuela was from a big family Lola: but it's just us here Astrid: WhERe aRE TheY aLL? Lola: her family? Lola: mostly dead Lola: the ones she would've known, sisters, brothers Lola: their kids are probably still in Mexico but she doesn't know any of them properly Astrid: Im SoRrY Lola: you don't have to be sorry Astrid: ItS saD fOR hER Astrid: I mEAn Lola: yeah Lola: she left a lot behind Lola: but she's been happy here Astrid: & YoURE haPPy? Lola: mostly and most days Lola: not 🖤 & 🤍 Astrid: nOT 🖤 & 🤍 Lola: nothing is ever perfect, is it Astrid: mAyBe WinniE is Astrid: 😀 😃 😄 😁 😆 😅 😂 🤣 Lola: I am willing to believe that and let her have it too 💝🐶 Astrid: [a happy picture of this dog like thank you I'm buzzing] Lola: an angel Lola: or princess, I should say Astrid: [a picture of this dog with some kind of tiara moment on because of course we can] Lola: 🙇 Lola: I'll find mine when I get home Astrid: YoU hAve One? Lola: duh gurl Lola: it's a vibe Lola: 👑🌈💃😘 Astrid: iT is A Vibe Lola: you know a vibe when you 👀 one Lola: i CaN TeLL Astrid: I haVE tO gO Astrid: doNT fORget FriDAY Astrid: @ 8 Astrid: 🍓!! Lola: Oh, okay Lola: Looking forward to it ✨

[g-lbertblythe]

The Bracelet | Brad Simpson

My native language is not English. That's why there'll be a lot of mistakes. So sorry.

Warning: Full of clichés.

*

"Tristan, have you seen my bracelet?"

You asked the blonde who's sitting on the couch with his phone on both of his hand. His legs were on the coffee table you all use.

"What bracelet?" He asked.

"The one I always wear." You said to him. You see him literally 7/24 but clearyly he doesn't pay attention enough. The bracelet was really important to you. You never take it off, even when you go in the shower. You had two best friends, three of you had the same bracelet. You wore it since you were 12 or something.

"I don't know. It's probably where you put it last time. " He tried to be funny in his own way. He gave you a little smile then turned back on his phone.

"Funny." You said with a voice full of frustration. You always get so angry so easily when you lose something and can't find it or when you're really, really hungry. You started to search the breakroom with a rush. Tristan didn't even mind you throwing everything in your way to the ground until the thing in your way is him. You poked him so he would stand up. Instead he searched under and near him with his hand but didn't find anything. "I think it's not here."

"It has to be. This is last place I've been yesterday before we go to that pub. If it's not here then I probably dropped it in there and it means it's gone forever. "

"Yeah, someone probably took it."

"Yeah." You refused to believe it's gone. You can't tell your friends you lost the bracelet after all these years. You all promised to each other you'll wear it until you're dead or something. They wouldn't mind it and probably tell you that it's okay but they'd be sad. You'd ve sad. Actually you already were. That's why you continued to tear up the room. It has to be around here.

"Woah. What's going on?" Connor asked when he entered the room. Probably here to have some snacks and relax. That's the only time he had while touring. But when he stepped up the room he didn't expect it to be like that.

"You've seen my bracelet?" You asked him, you got drunk yesterday. You don't usually lose yourself after drinking but maybe you gave it to him and you just don't remember now? It could be.

"What bracelet?"

"The one I always wear!" You said almost yelling. Any one of them noticed it you're wearing this bracelet like all the time? It's been so long you've been on the tour with them.

"I didn't see any bracelet."

"Are you sure? Maybe I gave it to you last night? Please say, yes you did."

You were about to cry. You really wished he would say yes.

"No. Sorry. Did you search your own room?"

This was such a stupid thing to ask. You didn't know it sounded so stupid because you're angry or because it's really a stupid question. If you lose something, you'll start searching for it in your room first. God!

"Of course I did. I searched everywhere!"

Connor tried to make it to the couch where it's comfortable. He carefully walked and tried not to step up anything you thrown. "Maybe you lost it in the pub. " He said and he sounded like it has just popped up in his brain. Like nobody could think of it before.

"I told you it's in the pub." Tristan said to annoy you.

"I'm going. You guys are no help." And intend to leave the room. "Hey! Who's gonna clean this up?" Connor yelled after you and you yelled to him before you close the door. "Not me!"

They were right. You lost it in the pub. The pub that has served atl least 40 people last night. One of the 40 people over there probably took it. You decided to go to your room and check it one more time even tough you made sure yourself it's not there the first fifteenth times you searched. You saw James and Brad are walking in the corridor. You ran towards to them. You hoped, at first, Brad didn't have it because you guys, kind of, had a fight. It wasn't something serious or it was. You weren't sure. You always have that kind of fights. He was just so annoying sometimes. But as long as you get your bracelet, it wouldn't matter if it was him.

"Hey. By any chance, did you see my bracelet?" You asked directly to James. You didn't want to speak to Brad until it's the only option.

"You have a bracelet?" He asked.

"Oh God! I wear that bracelet everyday! Are you guys blind or something?"

The second James realized you're mad, he wanted to get away from you. "I'm sorry, Y/N." He tried to be really polite and calm so it could have a mirror effect and you get calm too. " Haven't seen any bracelets." He said while trying to sneak out slowly.

He put his hand on your shoulder and patted it lightly. Then quickly made his way away from you and didn't care he left Brad standing with you. Once his hand was off your shoulder you turned to your last option.

"Did you see it?" You asked with a low voice. Didn't really want to talk to him. You don't clearly remember what you two had a disagreement about because you had a couple of drinks, he had too. But mostly because it was always something stupid but somehow it'd always become a much big deal than it is.

"The one that three diamonds on it?" He said and started walking. He wasn't looking at you, playing the bottle on his hand. He squinted and looked like he was trying to remember something.

"Yes." You said with a excitement. It was the only good news you had about the bracelet today.

"The silver one?" He asked and you nodded right away. You didn't care it was Brad who has found it or not. It has been found.

He kept walking very slowly and you were following his footsteps. "Is it the one also have this little stars on it?" He stopped and turned to you still his eyes squinted and you realized he's mocking you.

"Yes. Yes it is. Did you see it?"

"Nope." He said and walked away. You walked after him. " I have a feeling like you did."

He kept walking and his hair was flipping with every step he took. He opened the bottle of water on his hand and started drinking. Took one sip just to avoid to answer the question. You knew him very well.

"No. Didn't see any bracelets or find it on the sofa last night." He turned to you and gave you a smile knowing that it'll make you mad.

And it did.

"Okay, give it back."

"No."

"What do you mean no? It's important to me okay? Give it back."

"No. "

"Give it back Brad." You tried to sound more serious. You were serious before too but you needed to make it clear. But he wasn't just taking you seriously. He tried to keep his face emotionless but sometimes he couldn't help himself and a smirk that so annoying showing itself once in a while.

"Give it back!" You said with pitch highed voice. You hated that tone of yours but he was making you crazy and you couldn't help yourself.

"Nooo." He said.

You stopped with the idea that came to your mind. It was probably in his room and he never needed to lock it. It was probably open and you could've just find it there. He noticed you stopping and he did too. Turned to you and tried to understand what you're thinking. Before he could do that you started running to the other direction, to where his room is.

"Hey!" He yelled out after you and started running but it only made you faster. Once he figured out what you're doing he got fast too.

"Do you think I'm that stupid to hide it in my room?" He yelled after you. He didn't believe you would run this fast. He knew you weren't fond of running too much.

If it wasn't in his room, he wouldn't be running; you thought at first. But then maybe it was a trap so you would believe it's really in his room but it isn't. You didn't know and you weren't gonna risk it just because you didn't want Brad to fool you.

As soon as you reached out his room, you grabbed the door handle and yelled at him before you let yourself in. "No. Maybe even more."

You closed the door behind you and started searching but it opened seconds later. You didn't know where he'd put it and you didn't have a chance to search.

You stood right in the middle of his room. He knew where he put it so before you'd find it he would grab it and run away. So being calm was the right thing to do.

"Okay. " You said raising both of your hands to stop him and not to move closer. "Just give me the bracelet okay?"

He smiled, he knew he got the advantage of knowing where it is. He put his hands on his waist playfully and smiled. "You can have it on your own now you're here. " he said and pointed the room with his head. "Go on."

You tried to keep it calm and turned your head to look the room more carefully and started examine the room but still holding your hands still in the air like it was the thing that stopping him. Before you could understand he rolled down on his bed to the other side and reached the nightstand. And you saw your bracelet on his right hand.

"Stop goofing around and give it back. " You said and got your serious back again.

"Come and get it." He said with much wider smile this time. He held the bracelet closer to his head and pointed at it with his eyes.

You frowned. You were searching for that all morning. You were tired and exhausted. Playing games, making jokes weren't something you can handle now. "Can't you just give it to me?"

"You're a big girl. You can get it on your own."

You rolled your eyes. "You'll start running once I try to make a move."

"I might." He said laughing and still wandering his eyes on the bracelet. He wanted to play, well, you'll play. You, literally, jumped on him. He lost his balance a little but pulled himself together so quickly. You tried to reach for his hand that he lifted higher.

"We're almost at the same height, you're not keeping it from me for too long!"

And finally you grabbed his hand but he closed it and it was in his palm. You grabbed it and tried to pull under but he was strong. You only managed to drag it to your head level. And tried to make him open his fingers. He was struggling not to so hard and you hated he goes to gym almost everyday. His other hand was pushing yours.

He pushed you to the wall and it hurt your back a little but thanks to the change of position you got him to lower his hands a bit to your stomach. It started hurting your stomach too and It only made you angrier and you did the most stupid thing ever.

"You bit me! " He said in shock but sadly, it didn't make him open his hand but started trying to avoid another bite attack from you. And started laughing he remembered you bit him.

You didn't feel like laughing, your back was hurting and your hands got sweaty. And he was breathing all over you and it was making you more sweaty. You were using your all strength but still you were stuck between him and the wall. You gave up. You never did before. But you gave up at the moment. You loosened your grip and let his hand go. Not even giving him a angry face, just a face that showing that you're sick and done. You looked at him at eye.

He thought it was some kind of trick you trying to pull to steal it from his hands so he just kept smiling like an idiot and didn't take the pressure he was applying. He waited for a move. He was really having fun. Making you mad, constantly teasing you something he enjoyed somehow. And you were the perfect one to mess with because you liked it too. You were too stubborn to ever give up. It was making it too much fun.

When he saw you're making the similar expression you do before you start lying, he knew you were going for some distraction. You always do that when you realize what you're doing at the moment isn't working so you stop suddenly and do something different. He wasn't going to let you get away with it so he even got closer so you wouldn't run away.

"If you want the bracelet this much. Keep it. Don't want it anymore." You said and really meant it. One day he would give up and probably give it to you anyway.

"Uh-huh..." He hummed and nodded his head like he's buying what you're saying. A little smirk wasn't leaving his face.

"I'm serious."

It was something you said to make your lie believable so even it was for real this time. It didn't work. He thought you're faking it.

"You sure you don't want it? You even bit me for it! "

You remembered what you did and wanted laugh at your action like he does but didn't have the energy and will to do that.

"I give up. " You said even though you hate to admit it.

Brad lifted his eyebrows and opened his wider when his smiling this time. "Yeah, right (!)"

You rolled your eyes. He was right to not to believe you if he's not stupid but you were getting uncomfortable between his body and the wall. You wanted to get out of here.

Word ain't good enough so you wanted make him understand you really are done, with your eyes. So he did focus on your eyes and his' were screaming like "I know what you're doing and it's not gonna work!". He even opened them wider to to make you understand that he's still thinking this is some kind of act. He moved his eyebrows while waiting for your next move.

So you gave him the next move, probably not the one he's expecting. You put your lips on his started kissing him and incase he tries to let go, you put your hands on his cheeks. You didn't know why you did this but you know, somehow, you needed to do this. Probably for a long time.

Of course, you caught him off guard. He didn't know what to do at first so he let you push him. Once your back was off the wall you felt better but then it hit you, what you're up to? Where you going with this? You pushed him to the middle of the room, your legs hit the bed couple of times but all you felt was his lips. And they started moving what felt like a million years ago. Once you realize he was kissing you back, it felt different. You wanted to throw up and scream at the same time. Your heart race went wild and it wasn't because you weren't getting enough air.

You were holding him so strong so he wouldn't run away but when he puts his hands on your cheeks too. You loosened your grip and started actually thinking. You separated your lips from his'. Didn't give yourself and him the time to figure out what you did a little while ago. You grabbed the bracelet from his hand that was on your cheek. It was in the air now and it was empty.

You smiled so big to hide what you really feeling. "Huh, I got it." You said, hoping he wasn't seeing through your eyes and your fake giggle.

When you made the move, he knew it'd end up like this. But he found himself kissing you back even though he knew results would be like this. But he didn't predict that it would make him feel so bad that it was just for a game. It gave him a cold feeling in his neck.

He gave you the same smile you gave him. He nodded slowly and showed his teeth more to make it more real. His eyes stayed closed more than they should but you were so busy getting away from the situation you didn't care.

"Well, yeah. You've earned it." He said still trying to smile and it was much harder than usual. How did they get to this soap opera scene? Why did you feel like kissing him to only to get what you want?

Now you got what you wanted all along and left him wanting more. And he knew he'd never get more.

[fanwarriorfictions]

One-

A Stranger Things Fanfic

Chapter Seven- Part Two

   Phina and Hopper pulled up to the Junkyard. They instantly noticed the black cars of the "bad men,"

   "Shit," Phina whispers.

   Hopper hid the car and they got out, "you stay here, I'll handle this."

   "No chance in hell," Phina spits, "remember, those are my kids, and I'm going to go get them."

   Hopper glances at the girl, her fiery eyes telling him that he was not going to win in an argument, "ok, just stay close."

   The kept low, sneaking up behind one of them, who was about to get on the bus that the kids were hiding on. The man opens the door, but Hopper hits him in the head, knocking him into the door and knocking him out instantly.

   Another man runs around the bus, hearing the noise, "hey!"

   Phina turns and swings her fist right into his temple. The man shouts in pain. Phina grabs his head and brings it down, and her knee up, knocking him out.

   Hopper knocks out the other agent and gets into the bus, holding his gun, ready to defend the kids at any cost.

   "Alright lets go," he says, the kids all just stare at him, "let's, go!"

   They rush out of of the bus, seeing Phina take the gun of the man she fought, and putting it into the waistband of her jeans.

   "Phina," Mike shouts.

   She turns to her brother and rushes to pull him into a hug, "don't you ever make me worry like that again!"

   She then turns to the rest of the group, "that applies to all of you to!"

   They follow after Hopper, Phina inspecting each of them for injuries. Dustin complained about it, but she was to relieved to have her kids back, safe and sound.

-

   They pulled up to the Byers' house, Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy rushing out to meet them. Nancy rushes out and pulls Mike into a hug.

   "Oh my god, I was so worried about you," she shouts.

   "Yeah, uh," Mike says awkwardly, "me too."

   Nancy looks over at the rest of the group, at El specifically, "is that my dress."

   El looks up at Phina, who just shrugs, "she needed something to wear."

   They all went inside, sitting down to hear what the kids have found out about this whole thing. Mike was explaining to them about where Will and Barb were, a place they called the upside down.

   "So in this example, you're the acrobat," he points to the little stick figure, "Will and Barbra, and that monster, they're this flea. And this is the upside down, where Will is hiding. Mr Clark said that the only way to get there is through a rip in time and space."

   "A gate," Dustin adds.

   "That we tracked to Hawkins Lab," Lucas says.

   "With our compasses," Dustin says, earnings a confused look from them, "ok, so the gate has a really strong electro magnetic field."

   "Which would change the direction of a compass needle," Phina nods, getting a big smile from Dustin.

   "Is this gate under ground," Hopper asks.

   "Yes," El answers.

   "Near a large water tank," he inquires.

   El nods, "yes."

   "H-how'd you know all of that," Dustin stutters.

   "He's seen it," Mike answers.

   Joyce leans forward to El, "is there anyway you could reach Will, and you could talk to him in this..."

   "The upside down," El interrupts.

   "Down, yeah," Joyce whispers.

   El nods.

   "And my friend Barbra, can you find her too," Nancy asks.

   El gives a short nod and they start to set up whatever Mike tells them they need. They go to the table and turn on the CB radio on to static, and Nancy puts the photo of Barb next to it.

   They all surround El as she concentrates, her eyes closed. The light above the table starts to flicker and Phina looks at it. When it comes back on, El opens her eyes and looks at Joyce.

   "I'm sorry," she whispers.

   Joyce get a little frantic, "what's wrong. What happened."

   El looks upset, "I can't find them."

   Everyone looks a little disappointed, but Phina gives El a comforting smile. El leaves to go to the bathroom, clearly upset about not being able to find them, about letting everyone down. Phina stands up after a moment and follows the girl. She knocks on the bathroom door, hearing the water of the sink running.

   "El, it's Phina, can I come in," she asks.

   The door opens and Phina walks in, closing it again. El was crying, Phina noticed the tears right away.

   "Hey hey hey," Phina whispers, "it's ok, El. It's not your fault."

   El turns to her, "I couldn't help them."

   "I know sweety, I know. But you can't help that, your drained hun, you need to time to regain your strength before you can do anything else," Phina says, bringing the girl into a hug.

   El wraps her arms around Phina, burying her head in her shoulder, crying softly. Phina rubs small circles in her back, sushing her softly.

   She pulls away and grabs El's hands, "you've done so much for all of us already El, you saved my brother, you protected all of them, you don't have to keep being so selfless," Phina tells her sternly.

   El looks down at their entwined hands, her eyes instantly going to the little black tattoo on Phina's wrist. Her eyes shoot open wide and she looks up at Phina.

   "Like me," El asks, wide eyed, shocked.

   El pulls her hand from Phina's and turns Phina's wrist upwards, placing her own next to it. On El's sat the number 011 and on Phina's, was 001. Phina stared at their wrists, and sighed.

   "Yeah, like you. Like you but different," Phina tells her.

   "How?"

   Phina gently pulls her hands from El's, "that's not important right now."

   El gives her a look, which earns her a look as well. El sighs, giving up. She looks back at the mirror, and her eyes go to the bathtub, she turns to it.

   "What's wrong," Phina asks.

   "The bath," she says, "I can find them."

   Phina looks at her, confused, but she doesn't question it. El opens the door, grabbing Phina and pulling her along.

   They hear the group talking about El, about how she's drained.

   "The bath," El interrupts them.

   They all turn to them, "I can find them, in the bath."

-

   Dustin calls their science teacher, Mr Clark, "Mr Clark, it's Dustin.... yeah yeah, I just, I-I have a science question..... do you know anything about sensory deprivation tanks, specifically how to build one......... fun..... you always say we should never stop being curious, to always open any curiosity door we find... why are you keeping this curiosity door locked!"

   Phina chuckles at Dustin's guilt trip. Mr Clark finally relents and Dustin starts to write down whatever he says, mumbling from time to time. During the whole process, El doesn't let go of Phina, who had her arm wrapped around the girls shoulder. Everyone takes curious glances at the two, but don't say anything.

   Dustin hangs up and looks at Joyce, "do you still have that kiddy pool we bobbed for apples in?"

   "Uh, I think we do," Joyce says looking at Jonathan.

   "You do, it's in the shed," Phina answers.

   "Good, then we just need salt," Dustin says, "lots of it."

   "How much is lots," Hopper asks.

   Dustin looks down at his paper, then back up, "uh 15 hundred pounds."

   "Well where are we gonna get that much salt," Nancy asks.

   "I know," Hopper says.

   With that, they're all off, half of them in Hopper's jeep, the other in Joyce's car, going to the middle school. El still wouldn't leave Phina's side, and everyone grew more curious about them. The two had hardly even talked, but were already connected at the hip.

   They all split up into little groups, Hopper and Jonathan went to get salt, Nancy and Mike went to find hoses, Lucas and Dustin set up the pool, and Joyce, Phina, and El went to get El something to block the light so she could focus.

   The three girls went to a science room, Joyce finding some goggles and duct tape. They all sat down, facing each other as Joyce duct taped the goggles.

   "This will keep it dark for you," Joyce tells Eleven, "just like in your bathtub."

   Joyce looks up at El, who stays silent, holding tightly to Phina's hand, "you're a very brave girl, you know that don't you? Everything you're doing for my boy, for Will, for my family. Thank you."

   Joyce's eyes start to tear up, she leans over to grab El's free hand, "listen, I am going to be with you, the whole time. And if it ever gets to scary, in that place, you just let me know, ok?"

   "We'll both be there El," Phina whispers to the girl, "are you ready?"

   El looks at the two women, calmly, but her fingers grips their hands desperately, "yes."

   "Ready."

-

   They had just finished preparing the deprivation tank when the girls walked into the gym. Phina walked El over to the tank, only letting go over her hand when she reached down to take her socks off, and Mike's watch which she hands to him.

   Joyce hands her the goggles which she puts on after Phina gives her a nod. Her hand flies out and Phina grabs it.

   "I'm right here El, you're ok," Phina whispers.

   Phina and Joyce help El get into the pool, letting go of her hands hesitantly. El walks forward a few steps and sits down in the pool, before letting herself float on her back.

   Almost instantly, the lights in the gym flicker off. Everyone watches El, Phina and Joyce ready to grab her if she gets to scared.

   "Barbra," El suddens says.

   Nancy leans forward and watches El closely. The lights flicker again and El breathes a little heavier.

   "What's going on," Nancy asks.

   "I don't know," Mike answers.

   "Is Barb ok," Nancy ask El, "is she ok!"

   El starts to whimper, "gone, gone, gone."

   She then starts to cry out, "gone, gone, gone!"

   Phina leans forward to comfort the girl, "it's ok El, you're ok, we're right here. I'm right here El, you're ok."

   Joyce comforts her too, "it's ok sweety."

   Phina grabs her hand, the arm that has her tattoo, "don't be afraid El, I'll protect you. Don't be afraid."

   El starts to calm down, Joyce and Phina whispering to her.

   "Castle Byers," El says.

   It's quiet for a moment, then, "Will?"

   Joyce gasps, "you tell him, tell him I'm coming. Mom is coming."

   Will's voice echoes through the CB, "hurry."

   "Ok, you tell him to stay where he is. We're coming, ok, we're coming honey."

   Whimpering noise come through the radio and Phina gets scared.

   "El, El are you ok, El come on," she grabs the girls arm again.

   El sits up, scaring everyone. Phina pulls the girl into her, hugging her tightly. El puts arm arm on Phina's, gripping her arm like a life line.

   "You're ok El, I'm here, you're ok," Phina coos the crying girl.

   "Come on, let's get you out of the water," Phina says.

   She helps El up, "Dustin, grab the towel."

   Dustin scrambles to bring her the towel and Phina grabs it from his hands. She turns to El and wraps it around her shoulders, helping her out of the pool. She brings the kids all over to bleachers, El laying her head on Mike's shoulders.

   Suddenly Hopper storms out, Jonathan and Joyce following. Phina glances at them but looks back at the kids.

   Phina had grabbed a second towel and she wrapped it around El, "there, that should warm you up."

   The doors to the gym slam open and Phina turns to see her sister leave. She sighs through her nose, looks like I got babysit all of them.

   "You guys stay here, I'll be back," she tells them.

   Phina walks out of the gym and finds Nancy and Jonathan sitting on the floor. She walks over and sits next to Nancy, the three teens sitting in silence.

   "We have to go back to the station," Nancy says.

   Jonathan and Phina look at each other, and then at Nancy.

   "Why," Jonathan whispers.

   "Your mom and Hopper, are just, walking in there like bait," Nancy explains, "that thing, is still in there. We can't just sit here and let it get them too. We can't."

   They go silent, Phina reaching out to grab her sister's hand. Nancy squeezes her hand gratefully.

   "You still want to try it out," Jonathan says.

   "I want to finish what we started," Nancy answers, "I want to kill it."

  "What about the kids," Phina asks, "we can't leave them."

   "They'll be fine, they've got Eleven," Jonathan says.

   Nancy notices the look that arises on Phina's face, "and she's got them, they won't let anything happen to her."

   Phina nods slowly, convincing herself that they'll be okay, "ok, let's go kick some Demagorgan ass."

-2175 words-