#we've got two boxes of spaghetti

[nexus-nebulae]

tempted to make some ramen but. do i have the energy for that

[sunkissedscribbles]

Prejudiced - Chapter Eleven

this is only a part of the series, the previous and next chapters can be found here 

a/n: i'm literally in love with this one

word count: 1748

tw: not proofread, maybe swearing? mention of sex, cassie's mental health, usage of alcohol

summary: the yule ball. i don't do spoilers<3

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dividers by @chachachannah

✰ "Can I have this dance?"

Ki and I get ready to the ball together, in her room. I'm messing with the makeup, having no talent for it while she's putting the snake-like belt on her dress. We've done both of our dresses – or at least we bought the dresses themselves, a dark green dress for Ki and a lapis-coloured one for me. But they were so plain like that, and we needed to get our attention off the current conflict with the Slytherin boys that we decided to do something extra. So, I made a slit on her shiny dress on the left and she got two snakes slithering down her arms made from a metal-like, stiff material, the same as it is around the waistline of the dress with some mesh attached to it. My dress is made from a heavier material, the skirt part has two layers so it doesn't hug my body as Kiara's does hers, and we made stars on the top area out of glue rhinestones, and I also made opera gloves out of mesh almost the same shade of blue as the dress.

I can still barely believe what they've done, especially Enzo. But for some reason, Mattheo's behaviour bothers me as well, almost just as much. I might be overreacting but try to look at it with the eyes of girls.

Not that they haven't tried apologizing – they have, but what do they expect after what happened? This is a really messy situation and it didn't necessarily have to get to this point. It was the other day when Ki and I were ready to practically burn everything that reminded us of the boys. She found me in my room, throwing shirt after poster on the floor, but she then joined almost immediately, throwing Theo's spare Quidditch hoodie on the pile on the floor. It was just when I took the necklace I got from Enzo for my birthday off the jewellery rack when the boys interrupted our seance to apologize. Theo started, talking mostly to Ki.

Then Enzo tried, but he didn't quite tell the real reason behind his game. But I haven't even looked at Mattheo, so he hasn't tried apologizing, probably feeling too guilty to.

I look at my reflection in the mirror; my skin looks weird with the foundation on. I don't like it. I can't help my gaze wandering to the sweetheart neckline, the fabric held up by two spaghetti straps on each side. My shoulders still look too broad, I state to myself as a mental note, trying to make it look better by moving my hair around but it doesn't do much. My gaze drops to my arms, my biceps and triceps looking too masculine in this light and I can't help but want to cover up. I should've bought a suit.

"God damn," my gaze shifts to Kiara, taking in her appearance in the mirror. "You're gorgeous," I compliment my best friend. This dress hugs her curves perfectly, and the corset top with the deep cleavage it has only compliments her advances. Not to talk about the belt and the layer of mesh that accentuates her waistline. I can't believe she doesn't see just how beautiful she is.

"I'm nowhere compared to you," she smiles at me, a bit disappointed and I stand up and shake my head.

"Don't compare us. No one's perfect," I sigh, instinctively reaching to fidget with the Cassiopeia necklace around my neck – which I have taken off, I realize. It's up in my dorm, in a box under my bed. As I remember how pissed I was at myself for not getting Enzo anything more, well... expensive I can't help but see the disappointed expression of the boy when he saw it on top of the pile the other week.

As Ki and I just stare at each other, I realize, I should be excited because of the ball, shouldn't I? Like, this entire year is just so intriguing with the Triwizard Tournament and all – but I'm not looking forward to the ball now that I'm practically half an hour away from it; I feel uncomfortable in my skin, want to change into some jeans and a big t-shirt and be left alone. Everyone's gonna be laughing at me. They're gonna talk behind my back.

"I was so excited when we bought the dresses," I mutter.

"Me too," Ki sighs and as she sits down on her bed I follow suit, staring at ourselves in the mirror. The sight's depressing; two girls sitting in their best dresses with displeased and uncomfortable expressions on their faces.

"You haven't thought we'd end up like this, have you?" I mutter and she shakes her head.

"No."

"Wished someone would ask you to the ball?"

Her eyes darken as she nods, "Yeah."

After a few seconds of silent fidgeting, she speaks up again. "Got wine."

"Give me some."

The opening dance is chaos because of the Potter-Patil duo but at least it's fun to giggle at with the alcohol coursing through my veins. I can't help my gaze wandering over to the boys during the night, but I see Enzo vanish at some point. How surprising...

Ki and I somehow end up in the company of Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bulstrode, who are insisting on playing truth or dare, and when Pansy dares Kiara to ask Mr Harper for dance is when I lose sight of my best friend because I can't possibly look at her awkwardly and desperately trying her best to convince or bribe our teacher to dance with her when Pansy's neck looks so rippable.

He's just not the perfect match for her.

I stand outside the castle, trying to list off the things I sense as I feel disassociated again. Maybe the loud music, the uncomfortable feeling I have weighing down on me since putting the dress on and feeling like I have to suck my stomach in, or the effects of the wine leaving my body. Or maybe I'm just tired. Overwhelmed, or confused. The problem is, I have too much on my mind and on my heart to even make out what this all is.

I'm slightly panicked because nothing feels real, again. Then there's the thing that no one has asked me for a dance; I've been standing in a corner all evening, sometimes shifting my weight from one leg to the other, or trying to crack my back. Not even the brash Cormac McLaggen has tried to shoot his shot. Maybe I really am invisible – but haven't I been wanting that all this time? For people to forget about me for a bit, to not be the centre of the rumours all the time since I've been friends with Mattheo?

Now I really got it.

And yet again, pretty isn't pretty enough.

"You're gonna catch a cold," a familiar voice speaks up behind me, making me freeze for a second before turning around.

Mattheo looks into my eyes with guilt shining in his, and a hand offered to me. I look down at it with the cold eyes of a mistrustful cat and then back up at his face. For a moment I think he's going to pull his hand back but he proves me wrong, taking a cautious yet definite step towards me. "Can I have this dance?" he asks with a hopeful and gentle tone and it actually feels nice to have him ask me to dance.

I finally nod and he takes my hand with a slight yet victorious smile and leads me back inside the castle and into the Great Hall. I first stiffen up when he places a hand on my waist but then try to calm myself down when his other finds mine and starts to lead me in a slow dance. My heart nearly stops at the thought that I'm actually experiencing this, and I soon get comfortable enough to look Mattheo in the eyes, searching those gorgeous, gorgeous brown irises.

"You look beautiful," he says quietly in a calm yet sincere tone and I don't have to try to believe him. He spins me around and I smile lightly as my hand ends up in the same position in his again after the full 360 degrees of a turn, as if they were designed to be like that, perfectly fitting together. He pulls me closer and his other hand travels onto the small of my back as he speaks truthfully, apologetically, "I was an idiot for making that bet, I know. And I don't expect you to trust me again as much as you have before, but you must know that the thought of taking your Kiara to bed has never ever crossed my mind. I'm not that big of a prick. And I had no idea you were in Enzo's book either."

I listen to what he has to say intently. I know he's telling the truth, and I know I should've listened to him sooner. Let him say what he had.

"All I have to say is that I'm really, really sorry. If I could I'd take it all back and turn time back. Do it differently because our friendship means more than a stupid bet," he pulls me even closer and I rest my chin on his shoulder with a small yet contended smile.

Suddenly, 'Pictures Of You' by The Cure starts playing and I lift my head. I can see the smirk on his lips, even if I don't look at him directly. "This is Muggle music," I frown.

"Yeah, I listen to The Cure," he chuckles and I look back into his eyes.

I smile half-heartedly but my heart yet again seems to skip a beat, "It's your doing, isn't it?"

"Maybe," he grins, but it's not the obnoxious one. It's the one that says 'I admire you' as his eyes shine brighter than a starry night sky, purer than the freshly fallen snow. Now I'm the one pulling him closer as I rest my chin on his shoulder again and my arms slither around his rest around my waist.

We still haven't talked about the kisses we've shared before but maybe it's better left like that for tonight. Because this moment is to be remembered forever. Because it's perfect.

✰ There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more  Than to feel you deep in my heart

tag list: @inksoakedparchment @mqstermindswift @reys-letters @girllblogging777 @yelanare

[omentranslates]

Trigun Maximum Chugai Grace Cafe Collaboration - I Translated the Website :3

Hi I saw someone on twt wanting this to be translated and that's literally all it takes to get me moving anymore so!

Anyways I translated all the food and drinks, I found the references they chose really cute except for the evil one lmao and I also included the unbelievably small print drink ingredients if you wanna try mixing them yourself!! 🫶

Also also, if you know how to use a proxy, there is actually some stuff here that overseas fans can get our hands on!! Under the cut to keep the dash clean!! Hope it helps!!!!!

Edit my dumbass forgot the original announcement link sjshsk IT’S HERE!!!

So, the menu

Going from left to right we've got

"Battle Sausage Spaghetti"

"As Many Salmon Sandwiches You Want"

"Love&Peace Donuts"

"Banana Sundae"

and on the bottom row

"The Perfect Meal Plate: Vash's Handmade Fried Rice and Salad" ((´༎ຶོω༎ຶོ`) o k )

"Particularly Wonderful Udon"

"Mille-feuille with Ceylon Tea" (i believe the first part specifies gateau mille-feuille but I went to episode one and checked the subs for what they had her say officially and they left the gateau off so I did too)

"Latte with a random character art"

Character Drinks!!!

The Bride Soda, which comes with a double-sided postcard of the sworn friends (very common nickname for Vash and Wolfwood in JP fandom and ig official uses it too)

So the soda is their proprietary thing, it doesn't say what flavor it is or if it has one, but the shotglasses come with a little bit of smoked oak syrup and black ceylon tea and you're meant to fill the rest of the glass with soda and drink it that way. And then the rest of the text is just information and disclaimers for customers that plan on taking the bottle home (I guess it breaks really easily that’s So. lmao).

Vash's Drink <3

strawberry syrup

carbonated water and lemon juice

yellow candied cherries (drained cherries) and ice

Wolfwood's Drink

crushed coffee jelly and cafe ice (ice made and flavored with concentrated coffee and fruit juice)

brewed iced coffee and gum syrup

blue curaçao syrup and carbonated water

experimental ampules filled with blue soda

the cigarette is full of light brown sugar you're meant to mix in before drinking

Knives's Drink

apple juice and round sliced apples

mint and ice (it looks like mint leaves but full disclosure they have blurred that kanji to all hell I have no idea)

Legato's Drink

blue curaçao syrup

grapefruit juice

carbonated water and a mint cherry

a lemon and ice

Collab Merch

(Overseas pay attention here!!!!!! ChugaiOnline is opening these to online orders so we can get them with a proxy, I'll leave their link at the end of this section!!!!!!)

I've also listed all the prices in yen here so you can convert them to your currency, and all of these are the prices including the listed Japanese sales tax. If you want to see the price without it, it’s just the other number on the image!

So they've got

Two way acrylic figure stands (the main stand comes with a ball chain, you can reference these on Amiami for what this kind of product looks like I'm prettyyyyy sure like they're called different but it looks like they go together the same way). Anyways this is a set of 6 and 1650 yen each, it looks like you get to choose which one you want but they don't have a deal listed for getting all of them.

Next to it are the buttons (also called can badges idk which one is more common over here), set of 12 (6 are regular and 6 are glittery variety). They are 550 yen per button AT RANDOM, THEY WILL GIVE YOU A RANDOM ONE, or a box with one of each all 12 for 6600 yen.

Below that is the polaroid collection, it's also a 12 piece set and you can get A RANDOM ONE, THEY DO NOT LET YOU PICK for 330 yen each or a box with all of them for 3960 yen.

The same exact deal with the plastic (like a vinyl material) postcards underneath, they're double-sided and come one for 660 yen each at random or the whole set for 7920 yen.

The calendar is for 2025 and is 1980 yen probably obvious but y'know

I would be so shocked if a proxy actually let you ship the Kuroneko sama cookie discs lmao but hey wtf they're 1080 yen.

The Bride soda is listed here because this is the same merch that will be sold in the shop but they specify elsewhere that it's not available for online order even in Japan you have to go to the cafe ;-;

Also this is just personal experience but a lot of proxies will not let you get like blind or random stuff like the buttons they don't let you pick which one, some of them will only let you get it if you're getting the whole box.

Annnnnnd online order special gifts!!

For every 3000 yen spent in merch (including tax) you will get a random postcard from this set!! There are 15 to collect, they are NOT divided into halves of the event, you can get any of them at any time or all at once!! However, you can't combine orders made at different times/by different people to get more and if they run out that's it. Altho fwiw I have never seen an event run out of these lol

The online order period will be from Friday, May 24th at 11 am to Sunday, June 16th at 11:59 pm (both JST) and items will begin to arrive (within Japan, proxies will have to handle our own shipping ofc) from August 2024 on a first ordered first shipped basis.

CHUGAIONLINE STORE (JAPAN)

Ok, this last bit is relevant to the in-person cafe experience so it's just for if you're curious about other cool things going on or you have a hobby of watching JP mercari like a hawk and wanna know what to expect!

Guests who reserve places at the cafe online will get copies of some of Nightow sensei's most prized sketch pages, they'll get 3 random ones! Like with the special gift postcards, there are a limited amount and this event will end when they're all gone.

And these are the coasters, guests will get one with every item they order off the food or drink menu at random (while supplies last)! The variety you can get is split between the former and latter halves of the event so there's something new to come back for even if you've already been once! (The first 12 days is on top and the last 12 days is on bottom)

They're also doing a wallscroll campaign!

They'll have these decorating the venue, and when the event is over a raffle will be held where the winners get to pick out a scroll of their choice!

OK I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING RELEVANT HAPPY TRIGUN MANGA CAFE EVENT!!!!!

[transmorolians]

parappa 2 details you may or may not have noticed:

opening cutscene:

a truck with joe chin's likeness is crushed by the monster in the movie theatre dream sequence.

the plane seen in the movie is the same plane seen in stage 7's opening cutscene—which parappa's dad built.

in the movie theatre, you can see (alongside the main characters) the bullies from parappa 1 and um jammer lammy, joe chin, kotamanegi (name means something like "onion kid"), rodney greenblat('s self-insert), and the random visitors introduced in stage 3's opening cutscene.

in parappa's room, he has a bone-themed bed, and bone-themed wallpaper. on the walls, he has posters for "pony pony love house", the nba ([usamerican] national basketball association, but it's written as "nca"), the fruites dojo (with the poster bearing onion-sensei's likeness), the j-league (japanese professional football [soccer] league, but it's written as "j-leacue"), and a poster with incomprehensible text that i can't understand no matter what. his desk has a photo of sunny funny, a dog-themed phone, an alarm clock reading "07:01", a green box labelled "wipe out" on the spine (may be a reference to the playstation racing game, wipeout?), and a book with the text "ryo go-go" on the cover. next to his desk, he has a trash can and a small basketball hoop.

some of the noodle cups, and the boxes they come in, are labelled "beard noodles". the other containers are just labelled "noodle".

the scratch-offs read "super scratch", "noodle products", and "get! 100years supply". i can't read what the scratchy part reads, but it says something about noodles.

there are pictures depicting parappa and his dad in front of many, many cups of noodles, and some boxes of noodles.

parappa's father serves him noodles with lettuce, cucumber, and tomato; noodles with milk and cereal; noodles with what i assume is red onion and celery; noodles with cheese hamburg steak; normal spaghetti and meatballs (noodles obligatory); noodles with strawberry shortcake; noodles in a sandwich; noodles with chicken legs; noodles with a sundae; and noodles in a carton of milk. oh, and of course, the monstrosity bowl with an entire fish, a donut, a hot dog (with ketchup and mustard), flan, and two pieces of cucumber.

the tv in the background contains a joe chin advertisement, with text reading "it is you about a gorgeous life.", "joe chin company"

sunny serves parappa and pj the same monstrous things parappa's dad served him.

stage 1

in the town, you can see Sweety Cakes (the cake store where parappa got a cake in the cutscene before stage 4 in the first game), Fruites Dojo (onion-sensei's dojo, of course), U-Drive University (the driving school where parappa was tested for his driver's license in stage 2 of the first game—though the test was on the open roads), a building with the text "no wait" "eay", a bookstore shaped like an open book, the movie theatre, the flea market… and, of course, beard burgers.

in the cutscene, rodney greenblat's self-insert drives by twice.

from outside, the beard burgers menu reads "big beef burger", "big beef burger giant", "big beef burger giant with cheese", "big fried potatoes", and "smoothie - orange or spinach".

the many patrons of the restaurant are eating noodles from plates, fries containers, and drink cups.

joe chin's limo no longer has vinyl panther seats.

there is a sign that reads "we've been cooking beef the same way for over 500 years! beard burger 1501 – 2001"

the other patrons of the restaurant are very scared of the beard burger master's ghost—hiding behind the tables and sneaking towards the door to get away from the ghost. even pj and parappa are scared, but they chill out when they realise the ghost is gonna teach them how to make burgers.

the kitchen's wallpaper is cow-themed.

the sign in the back of the kitchen reads "more meat means more beef"

the beard burger master's soon, colonel noodles, appears holding the noodliser when you mess up.

the ketchup bottles, mustard bottles, salt&pepper shakers, flour/sugar/to-go bags, trays, mugs, and mop are all modelled in the beard burger master's likeness (and so is the rest of the kitchen equipment, but those are easier to see)

the beard burger master has some very funny ad-libs you might not hear if you aren't paying attention. after saying "toast the buns", he will say "my buns are very toasty". when he says "melt the cheese", he goes "ow!" parappa is holding back laughter in his lines after these certain ad-libs. he also says "serve the drinks—serve them", "french the fries—french them". as well as other things such as "mm yeah, come on". you know, usual ad-lib stuff. "you gotta, you gotta" "yes, yes, very nice" "you know? you're doing good now"

stage 2

the movie theatre is playing "jet baby: the movie"

the truck with joe chin's likeness drives by.

colonel noodles serves parappa and pj soft-serve vanilla ice cream.

a "hot gas" truck drives by.

joe chin also drives by, in his limo, and waves to rodney's self-insert.

the bullies from parappa 1 and um jammer lammy are seen exiting the movie theatre.

the news show is titled "rodney world news 20".

the joe chin advertisement, with text reading "it is you about a gorgeous life.", "joe chin company", can be seen on the tv screen for a brief moment before the camera changes, and then for a bit after parappa and pj enter parappa's house.

when performing the commands "love with rose", parappa pulls out a bouquet of roses, whilst pj pulls out a plate with sliced meat and what i assume is tomatoes and basil as garnish.

stage 3

pj is the only one who notices when the shrink ray shrinks parappa and sunny's dads, looking back after they're shrunk once again.

when lammy, katy, and masan enter parappa's house, you can hear muffled voices saying "it's milkcan!" the same voices also say a bunch of other stuff i can't understand.

when the shrimp enters the house, it says "ebi san", which means "mr shrimp"? "i'm mr shrimp"?

you can see parappa come out of a red house with a green roof, purple driveway with a white car. the property has a brown fence around it, but it also has another chainlink fence inside with a red gate, around a dog bowl-themed pool.

the houses nearby are a square, bear-themed house, and a rounded squared-shaped fishbowl-themed house.

stage 4

you can see the "tape deck" noodliser in the cutscene.

the soldiers in the "special force" appear to be wearing cooking pot lids, and holding six-stringed banjoes with bayonets.

pj (understandably) doesn't really like being picked up and carried by the back of his neck…

the building next to the rocket in parappa's daydream sequence has the crest of the noodle syndicate on its side.

poor pj looks miserable… :(

the jump rope machines resemble a frog with a rainbow mohawk, and a brunette woman with a red dress.

pj is also jumping rope! and he's still miserable.

during the "i gotta do this every single day" lyric of the rock climbing section, you can see pj struggling his way up.

you can see pj climb up to the top of the rock wall… and immediately fall off when trying to stand up.

stage 5

pj is overjoyed when he realises he accidentally sent a giant barbell flying at one of the bullies from the first few games.

we can see many stores, such as "sandwich heaven", "fruit lovers", "big bagel", "chicken chic", "cheeze queen", "cafe rodney", "sushi beast", "tofu tub", as well as the sign for the hair salon.

you can see the "tape deck" noodliser on the counter.

for some reason, the "hostages" don't have the noodle syndicate seat buckles (explaining why they can't just leave) in the cutscene, but they do in the stage.

parappa's car in the daydream sequence more resembles his dad's car from before he crashes it in the first game than the car he buys afterwards. and though the license plate cannot be seen in the cutscene, it reads "popscar" ("pop's car"), implying it's a repaired version of parappa's dad's car.

parappa switches between scissors, a shaving razor, a comb/brush, a lamp thing, shampoo bottle, and blow dryer.

parappa uses a cabinet with wheels and the claw thing as improvised stools (he wouldn't be able to reach the hostages' hair otherwise). when he has to wash and rinse lammy's hair, the floor also rises up for him.

stage 6

the basement room has the same shelf and desk from the living room, two unfinished denoodlisers, a dozen boxes of noodles, two boxes of pet stones, and exercise bike without the pedals, two dozen nondescript boxes, a stepladder, and a bucket hanging from the ceiling.

after clearing the stage, you can see pj sitting at the desk in the background… presumably eating noodles.

stage 7

katy kat's cellphone has a charm depicting parappa and pj holding a giant ice cream cone, with four scoops of varying flavours.

as the anti-noodle bicycle is, well, a bicycle, lammy is standing on the back pegs of it, holding into katy for dear life. poor lammy

when the stage begins, pj disappears.

colonel noodles and parappa eat with a three-pronged fork.

the "fruit in a basket" consists of an apple, an orange, and a bunch of three bananas.

when colonel noodles places noodle-filed shrimp sushi and a burger, the takes off the shrimps and the bun and the rest of the burger's toppings to prove his point.

when colonel noodles says "noodles", the letters are made of noodles. when parappa says "cookies", the letters are made of chocolate-chip cookies.

cherry pie.

the splash of water knocks the glasses/mask off of colonel noodles' face, and the noodle plate from his hands. you can also see a bucket drop from the ceiling and roll off-screen.

in the thought bubbles, the following foods appear: corn bread, baked potato, onigiri (rice balls), cinnamon roll, cream horn, and. i honestly can't tell what that one pastry is.

stage 8

when sunny runs up to parappa and colonel noodles, she is holding an "afro catalog".

ending

behind u-drive university, you can see a the bear-themed house from before, as well as a cat-themed house, an ambiguously-shaped house, and a house with a joe chin's face on top.

pj, masan, and the bullies are walking by the movie theatre. joe chin passes by in his limo again

joe chin is walking by "chicken chic" with katy and lammy.

hairdresser octopus is being interviewed outside of his salon.

[captainknell]

Very long and random personal rant/back story. Feel free to skip.

A decade ago, if you would have asked me where I'd see myself in 10 years, it would not be where I am now. My husband and I are married and have 3 kids, we've bought 2 houses since and several cars, and have a large Napoleonic collection. Back then, I had just moved over 200 miles away from my family to move in with my new boyfriend (now my husband). I moved into an apartment that he shared with his sister. He had his own place, car, paid his own bills,a good job, and a second job for extra money. So that was way ahead of my previous boyfriends already. The thing was, I had never had a job and didn't know that I was spoiled. I tried to get a job and it took forever. I was 19 looking for a first job and there were 14 year olds out there working already. So although my husband could support himself, money soon became tight with me in there as well. Sometimes we would scrape by to the next paycheck with mere cents in the bank. This was back when McDonald's had a dollar menu and we lived mostly off of that and ramen noodles. His sister got mad at me one time because I ate her box of moon pies. I stretched it out for the whole week and didn't eat much else. She moved out not long after. I cried one time when we had enough money to cook and we were going to have spaghetti and I was used to having shredded parmesan cheese on top but my husband said we couldn't afford the cheese. On Tuesdays, his grandpa invited us to a Mexican restaurant to see a band play. We would eat the free chips and salsa. He noticed that we never ordered food and soon began paying for a meal for each of us. Unfortunately, he got injured at work and couldn't afford to feed us anymore. He'd get some guacamole and that would be my food on Tuesdays. Sometimes I'd drive to his Grandma's house to do the laundry so we didn't have to pay for it at the apartment. She would feed me. We'd go to parties that friends would have, just to eat some food. Eventually I got a fast food job and our situation improved. We got married and had a baby, bought a house, moved in, and had another baby. Due to a very bad situation, we lost our baby sitter and I was unable to work. We lived off of baby food sometimes. We always made sure we had food for our babies so when our food ran out... Well that was the only option. I can tell you which ones taste good and which ones I would not recommend. We had to cut something out of our budget to survive so I picked paper towels. I know how to sew, so I just made some cloth ones that could be washed and reused. His grandma came over to visit and asked for a paper towel. I gave her a cloth one and explained. She said she would buy us some. I said no, we needed food, not paper towels. She bought paper towels and I was mad. (Looking back, my husband didn't initially remember this but when I reminded him, he got mad at me and said I should just have said thank you.) My husband took a second job once again and was gone for 16 hours a day, most days. He was making great money but he was so exhausted and I was losing my mind trapped in the house with two babies but at least we could afford food. Finally, we decided to move in with my parents to get our money situation under control. As much as I didn't want to live with them, the amount of relief that came over me when we left our first house was overwhelming. My husband transferred from his job there to one here and quickly quit. His new store was toxic and he wasn't having it. He told me that he walked out as I was walking in to an interview. "I just quit. No pressure." Yikes. Somehow I got my second job and have been there (with several promotions, I might boast) for almost 6 years now. I was able to put him thru nursing school and just last year we were able to buy a place of our own again. And have another baby.

[astral-catastrophe]

Linked universe but I put all the links through an incorrect quote generator

——

Wars: Do you cook?

Time: I made a cake once.

Four: Yeah, it was good.

Time: Really?

Four: Don’t make me lie twice, Time.

—

Sky: *Answers phone.* Hello?

Legend: It's Legend.

Sky: What did they do this time?

Legend: No, it's me, Sky. It's actually me.

Sky: What did you do this time?

—

Legend: *watching their house burn down*

Legend:

Legend: *starts filming* Waddup, guys, welcome to my vlog, today's topic: how to get away with accidentally committing arson because you forgot Spaghetti O's cans are metal and thus non-microwavable! Step one: deny everything.

—

Time: I’m gonna mix a can of Red Bull with seventeen shots of espresso in a fishbowl and then chug it while Kids by MGMT plays in the background so I can perceive twenty-three spatial dimensions and fight my own soul.

—

Wind : Mint is just cold spicy.

The Squad: ...

Legend: What the actual fuck is wrong with you.

—

Wind : We've got to find a way to cut down our expenses. What can we live without?

Twi : Wars, probably.

—

Four: I like wearing oversized sweaters. Not just because they're extremely comfy and cuddly, but because whenever the sleeves are really big, I get to flop them around and smack people.

—

Time: I’m telling you, my team is competent.

Wind , rushing in: Time! Wars tried to make pasta in the coffee pot and now it's broken!

—

Four: If you put 'violently' in front of anything to describe your action, it becomes funnier.

Four: Violently practices.

Wars: Violently studies.

Twi : Violently sleeps.

Wild: Violently shoots pictures.

Wind : Violently boxes.

Legend: Violently murders people.

Twi : Violently worries about the previous statement.

—

Wars: Dumbest scar stories, go!

Legend: I burned my tongue once drinking tea.

Twi : I dropped a hair dryer on my leg once and it burned.

Sky: I have a piece of graphite in my leg for accidentally stabbing myself with a pencil in the first grade.

Hyrule: I was taking a cup of noodles out of the microwave and spilled it in my hand and I got a really bad burn.

Time: I have emotional scars.

—

Legend: I'm going to take a shower, I'll be right back.

Hyrule: Why are you telling me this, I don't care.

Hyrule, right after Legend leaves the room: I miss them already.

—

Time: You know the sound a fork makes in the garbage disposal? That's the sound that my brain makes all the time.

—

Twi : Why is Legend crying on the floor?

Four: They took one of those 'what person are you?' quizzes.

Twi : And?

Four: They got Hyrule.

—

Hyrule: I am darkness. I am power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am-

Legend: A doll.

Four: A cinnamon roll.

Twi : A sweetheart.

Hyrule:

Hyrule: ...stop it.

—

Sky & Legend:*Playing video games*

Time: You guys woke up at 5:30 in the morning just to play games?

Sky: *silence*

Legend: *silence*

Time, finally figuring it out: ...You two never went to sleep, did you?

Sky & Legend in shame: Yeah…

—

*The squad's reaction to being told they're the chosen one*

Wild: I will not let you down.

Four: Sounds fun.

Hyrule: K.

Time: No, I'm fucking not.

Legend: Do I have to be?

Twi : Please Hylia, I am so tired.

—

Twi : I have the sharpest memory here - name one time I forgot something!

Four: You left me, Wind, and Legend in a Walmart parking lot at 2am a day ago.

Twi : I did that on purpose, try again.

—

Wars : Are they stupid? Legend : Yes, but they prefer to be called Hyrule

—

Hyrule: Like they say, "If you can't beat them,

curl up in a ball and protect your organs.“-

—

Four: I dare you-

Time: Hyrule is not allowed to accept dares

anymore.

Four: Why not?

Hyrule: "I have no regard for my own or

others personal safety", as some would say.

—

Twi : Wild! For the love of god, please turn

down that music. I have a hangover.

Wild: *blasting the mi theme at full volume*

That sounds like a you problem, not a mi

problem. ——-

(ok, so I realize that some of these have probably already been done, but I’ve been laughing for the last half hour over these)

[dean-winchesters-gardian-angel]

The Same bed - Chapter 4

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Summary: Friends are there to help each other out, but can they help falling for each other when all the long days they spend together turn into late nights they have and their reliance on each other.

Word count: 2544

Warnings: Fluff, angst, description of blood and injuries, nightmares, slow burn.

A/N: Chapter 4! Off we go. Read it enjoy and I’ll see you on the other side. There’s also a tag list, so be sure to tell me if you want in, as well as a masterlist so be sure to check it out. As are the latests, Unbeta’d all mistakes are mine.

Series masterlist 

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

Dean didn't sleep that night, too busy cursing himself for hurting Y/N and simultaneously afraid he may have a nightmare. He had gotten up several times with the intention of going to her room and seeking forgiveness if she'd give it to him, though he wouldn't blame her if she refused. Instead, he'd pace around his room or make it as far as her door before heading to the bathroom to wash his face rather than knocking.

The next night Dean had been too exhausted to stay awake, now accustomed to getting around 8 hours he passed out some time just after 2 in the morning while everyone else slept soundly. Dean managed to get just over an hour of shut-eye before waking up to one of his worst nightmares. He jolted up with a scream though quickly cut himself off as to not wake anyone. Nevertheless, he was half a scream too late as Y/N sat up in her own bed wanting to go check on him but refused due to her own stubbornness.

Dean mumbled a 'son of bitch' before getting up and making his way to the kitchen to get started on some coffee. Dean was given about 2 hours to contemplate his idiocy towards Y/N before his brother found his way to the kitchen.

"Dean?"

"Huh? Hey, morning."

"Man, you look like trash."

"Oh, thanks you're not so bad yourself in the shorts." Sam looked to his running shorts before rolling his eyes.

"You always did give me a hard time for wanting to stay in shape."

"Hunting keeps you in shape, not some little jaunt you do every morning. Hey, speaking of, have you found any new cases seems like forever since we've killed a deserving asshat."

"I've been talking to Jody and Donna, they've got a lead on a vamp nest, said they're heading out in two days and we're more than welcome to tag along."

"So, tomorrow. What time."

"They wanted to hit it just after sundown. So, we would leave tomorrow morning if you're interested."

"Oh, I'm interested, give me some' to kill."

"Dean are you sure you're okay. You usually become self-destructive when you've got something going on, something you need to talk about."

"I'm fine, Sammy."

"I'd mention that Y/N isn't sleeping in your room anymore, but I think that'd just make you mad considering that's probably what's bothering you."

"So much for not mentioning it." Dean swallowed what was left in his coffee cup before washing it and setting it in the dry rack. He made his way back to his room hoping his brother would take the hint and leave for his run, which he did. Once he heard the bunker door shut Dean went back to the kitchen to have another cup of coffee. As he sat down the sound of footsteps padding down the hall alerting him that Y/N had awoken. Dean straightened his posture as she entered the kitchen making her way to the cabinet to fish out a mug without making eye contact.

"Morning Y/N."

"Oh my god! It speaks." She filled her mug before walking out having not looked him in the eyes once. Dean rested his chin in his palm kicking himself for having hurt her. After a deep sigh, he dragged his palm over his face closing his eyes momentarily allowing them some rest from the lights of the bunker. Dean strolled his way to Y/N's room and knocked on her door. He heard her sniffle some before the door swung open, Y/N standing in front of him, eyebrows raised clearly on her last nerve.

"I just wanted to let you know we've got a case tomorrow, with Jody and Donna, we've got to leave early-ish so, you know, you might want to pack today so you're not rushing. Anyway, just keeping you in the loop." Y/N looked at her best friend whose eyes were tired, red, and glossy, staring at the ground in front of him. She missed him, but she didn't know why he was angry at her.

"Thanks." She turned away from him intent on closing her door to block the view of the broken man she so deeply cared about and wanted to help, and he spoke.

"Y/N."

"Yeah?" Dean swallowed trying to think of what he wanted to say to her but came up with nothing. There wasn't anything specific he wanted to tell her in that moment he just wanted to be with her. In the same room sitting next to her, looking at her. He wanted to spend time with his best friend whom he had been missing lately but if there was one person more stubborn than Y/N it was Dean.

"Nothing...nothing." With a sad smile and a sigh, Dean walked to his own room with the aim of avoiding her, once again, all day.

Dean listens as Y/N played her music in her room and smiled when the Grease love song came though it wasn't given a chance to finish before Y/N skipped it. He could hear his brother and Y/N talking in the library during the day occasionally finding something funny as they giggled in unison. He missed having her, missed being the one laughing with her, or even just talking with her.

Nearing the end of the day, Dean made his way out of his room for the first time that to grab a snack before trying his hand at some forty winks, wanting to be rested up before their hunt tomorrow. The energy of the room sizzled to nothing as he entered the kitchen. Sammy and Y/N were sitting next to each other looking at pictures of haircuts on the internet.

"Seriously Sam, I've been cutting my own hair my whole life. Just let me add a little shape to it. A little trim here and there I can make you look like the handsome devil you really are."

"I'm not letting you cut my hair. I don't trust you not to just cut it all off. Besides, I don't—" Both their eyes looked up to Dean as he stood in the doorway observing their interaction. Once he noticed their gaze he moved to the counter, pulling a bowl from the cupboard and reaching for the box of cereal.

"Sam and I made pasta if you're hungry for real food." Dean looked over the noodles as his tummy growled, licking his lips.

"Dean, just have some, we're not gonna finish it. It'll just end up going to waste." He hesitantly looked over his shoulder forcing a smile to Y/N who had the smallest one of her on her face. She watched him as he traded his bowl for a plate. Dean plated himself some of the homemade food before Y/N gestured at the spot in front of herself and Sam along with the parmesan on the table. Dean took a seat not wanting to be impolite more so than he'd already been.

"Anyway, I'm trying to convince Sam to let me trim his hair."

"You're not touching my hair with a ten-foot pole."

"Oh, come on Sam it grows back. You'll see, it'll look really good and you won't even want to grow it back. Won't be in your eyes anymore, won't distract you during hunts, monsters won't be able to grab at it. You know I make a good case."

"Sure. But you're still not cutting my hair." Meanwhile, Dean was silently moaning at the flavours on his plate. Y/N watched as the eldest closed his eyes savouring the taste, before he spoke, displaying his voice to them for the first time since the early morning.

"This is kind of amazing. I don't think I've ever had spaghetti this amazing. What jar did you guys use?" Referring to the sauce that had his taste buds dancing on his tongue.

"Actually, Y/N made the sauce."

"My mum used to make these gigantic pots of spaghetti sauce and freeze it so we could have it whenever we want. I was missing it, so I made some from memory. It's not hers but I think it turned out alright. I know I missed something, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was." Dean looked up, his mouth full, to the women speaking, no longer focusing on him rather in her head desperately searching for the missing ingredient, as he swallowed.

"You made the sauce? From scratch?"

"Uh-huh. Yeah, I mean it's not really that hard just time consuming, you have to let it simmer for a little bit, but I think it's worth it. Once in a while at least."

"You mind if I have more?"

"Go right ahead. Sam and I both already had seconds." Dean finished what was left and helped himself to more before moving back to his spot at the table.

"Sam promised to make me the 'Winchester Surprise' one day? Said you used to make it for him." Sam looked to his brother who reminisced, thinking back to the worst meals he had prepared for his baby brother.

"It was terrible. Sam that's — to repay her for this. Seriously Y/N you won't want to eat anything we make for the rest of your life. It was god awful."

"As much as I believe you because I do, by the description, Sam gave me, oh boy, I'll still be the judge of that." Dean chuckled at her retort missing her effortless comebacks and modesty when it came to the things she was good at, though he found it frustrating when she didn't accept the compliment he'd give her. He wanted her to brag about how many Djinns she could kill in a week, or in this case how good the sauce was instead of saying it wasn't perfect, so he'd done it for her, telling his brother when she would do something 'awesome', as he'd put it, that made him feel proud to call himself her friend. The guilt he felt was sudden and overwhelming. Even after he'd gone days without speaking to her, after pushing her away so abruptly, she was still offering him dinner, the conversation, the casual smile, the eye contact. How he longed for her eye contact. She had always been able to communicate with him with her eyes. He craved her gaze, how her orbs would sparkle when she was happy or grow dark when hooded with anger. But the thing he loved the most about her eyes was the fact that when they looked into his, it was like nothing else mattered. He could see he had her attention, and he wouldn't want to look away.

"I'm—ehem— I'm heading to bed, didn't sleep well last night, gonna try to rest up before our hunt tomorrow." Dean looked to Y/N who had a saddened look on her face, clearly angry and confused as to why Dean wouldn't let her help him. When he noticed the look on her face, he realized his words and quickly made up an excuse for why he couldn't sleep hoping to ease Y/Ns mind indirectly.

"Maybe it was a full moon, could never sleep well during a full moon."

"Full moon was last week Dean." Y/N answered him with an unreadable expression along with it. He didn't respond in an effort to save what dignity he had left. He forced a smile in Y/Ns direction as he passed by, once he'd finished cleaning his dishes.

"You mind telling me what's going on between the two of you Y/N?"

"Honestly Sam I haven't got the slightest."

"I know you two were sharing a bed... was that like—"

"If you're suggesting that we were a thing then no. He slept better when there was someone in the room with him, so I was that someone. Then out of the blue, he got distant and said he didn't need me anymore so." She shrugged not sure how to further explain their recent exchanges. "I know he's not through with the nightmares though because I heard his screams last night. I didn't check on him 'cause I was angry at him saying they were done, and he didn't need me anymore, but it was petty. I wanted him to stew in his nightmare, remember how bad they were before I told him I'd stay. I just don't understand him, I didn't do anything to warrant his actions. I haven't bothered asking why he's mad at me and even if I did, he'd just ignore me some more so what's the point. He's being a child. He's acting like I killed his brother when really all I'm trying to do is cut his hair." Her joke succeeded in lightening the mood as Sam chuckled moving to the sink to clean off his plate.

"You're a good influence on him, you know?"

"Why's that."

"Well for starters, he washed his plate."

"Oh yeah, I yelled at him this one time for leaving a mess, which I'm pretty sure was actually mine from the night before, but he hasn't left dirty dishes since so I guess it all worked out." Sam outright laughed at that before excusing himself to prepare for bedtime.

By the time 8 o'clock rolled around the bunker was silent, everyone in their respective bedrooms reading or watching a little telly before getting some rest. Due to the lack of sleep the nights prior and the upcoming hunt, Dean closed his eyes tight willing the nightmares away as he gripped his sheets. It didn't take him long to doze off though and it didn't last long before he was startled awake by Y/Ns voice. "Dean! Wake up!" She looked terrified, holding Dean down by his shoulders. "You idiot. Get up."

"Y/N? Why? What's—" She dragged him out of bed to the bathroom.

"Look at your hand Dean." She could hear the anger in her voice frustrated with him for refusing her help. The help they both knew would work. Dean looked down at the palm she hadn't grasped as she marched him down the hall like a child in trouble. It was bleeding, trailing down his fingers, shards of dark glass still imbedded in the tender skin of his palm.

"How did—" It came out as a whisper, laced with sleep as he did his best to orientate himself. Y/N turned on the light in the bathroom before forcibly sitting him on the lid of the toilet.

"You must have grabbed the beer bottle on your nightstand in your sleep." Y/N had pulled out the first aid kit they had stored under the sink along with a pair of tweezers, kneeling in front of the older Winchester.

"Y/N you don't have to—"

"I swear Dean if you tell me you don't need my help one more time I swear," she looked up from his palm to glare at him, "I’m going to tie you down until you get past... what ever this is." She didn't break eye contact with him until he nodded, shamefully looking down at the injury he only now started to feel.

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

Chapter 5 ~~ Out now!

Tag List: @akshi8278​ @bargedog @just-someone-difficult​ @mila-dans​ @valhallavxlkyrie​

Series Tags: @autobotgirl15-blog​ @classyunknownlover​ @laycblack​ @lovememisha​ @music-is-all-i-need​ @redbarn1995​ @wellfuckmyexistence​

[haddonfieldproject]

1️⃣7️⃣

<<PREVIOUS⏺<<CONTENTS>>

1.1.17 HALLOWEEN NIGHT 12:24 AM

Haddonfield, Illinois

Samantha yawned as she pulled the keys from the ignition. More lightning flashed in the sky as she behind her, through her rear windshield, at the square building in front of which she was parked. A white triangularly shaped sign with blue lettering designated this as THE PYRAMID INN. The property was perched on a flat hill, overlooking what the locals called “Dysfunction Junction”. Interstate 57, US Route 31, and Illinois 395 all came together in a tangled mess of off ramps and on ramps that sprawled like spaghetti noodles over the northern running section of Lost River, which in this part of town had been diverted into a concrete culvert in the early 40s as part of one of Roosevelt's “Work's Projects”.

Samantha had parked at the end of the mostly empty parking lot, which was her custom, and from her vantage point she could see down into the nest of intersections. She saw the lighted signs of big box stores off to the east on her right. Straight ahead she saw the gas station from which she had come, and to her left, off to the west, she saw a strip club that very obviously used to be a Howard Johnsons, it's parking lot completely full with some cars spilling out along the side of the road in front.

Lovely, she thought sarcastically as she opened her car door. Just my kind of town.

The sweltering humid air hit her in the face like a tennis racket.

“Jesus, it feels like Miami.” She said to herself, and then smiled as she clicked the button on the fob in her hand to open the hatchback on the Murano. “I wish it were Miami.”

Nyguen pulled her rolling suitcase from the back of the car, placed it on the asphault, and extended the handle. “We'll just pretend it's Miami.” She decided as she closed the hatch and turned toward the motel.

The Pyramid Inn seemed to want to help her with the fantasy. For one, it was sweltering hot, almost as bad as outside, and as Ngyuen walked through the automatic glass doors, she felt like she had been magically transported back in time twenty-five years. The lobby was painted a pale teal color, with mauve indoor outdoor carpeting, and popcorn ceilings flecked with glitter....this Sam noticed right away. The yellowish light from pineapple shaped fixtures along the walls was defracted by the glitter, creating the sensation of moving sparkles above her as Samantha strolled through a lobby furnished with wood and wicker tables and chairs, painted white, the chairs padded with brightly colored cushions patterned with tropical motifs. There was abundant wall art too---strange scenes of Egyptian landmarks like the pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx, except...done in a weird art deco style that seemed wrong somehow.

An large old fashioned square CRT television was affixed to a hanging mount in each corner, below each was a potted palm tree. One of the TVs was displaying The Weather Channel although the sound was turned all the way down. A pretty blonde woman was standing in front of a map of the Midwest, sweeping her hand across thick line of red, orange, yellow, and green splotches. The other TV had the volume on and was showing an aerial view of a baseball stadium even the most casual of fans would know.

“We're in the top of the 10th here at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs have gone to the bullpen yet again for another pitching change as the White Sox have just taken 3-2 game lead in this decisive Game Seven of the World Series.”

Nguyen rolled her luggage around a coffee bar, and approached the desk, bumping into a cheap looking display rack featuring brochures with picturesque views and colorful headings. SEE CHICAGO! THINGS TO DO IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS! PEORIA CALLS YOU! And SEE THE CAVERNS OF LITTLE EGYPT!

A morbidly obese woman sat behind the counter fanning herself with one of the brochures: LOST RIVER KAYACKING!

She wore a white t-shirt with red letters that read: I SURVIVED ARKANSAS' LARGEST SLINGSHOT AT THE CRITTENEDEN COUNTY FAIR 2003. The shirt had either been shrunk so many times by frequent washing or the woman who wore it had ballooned up in weight considerably because now it hugged the contours of her bulbous body, giving her a look of the Michelin Man. Her mouth hung open revealing two sets of badly yellowing teeth, and a large dime-sized mole protruded from the left side of her neck. Sam could see the light from the pineapple lamps reflecting off hairs near the tip of the mole.

Not quite Miami, Nguyen thought as she cleared her throat.

“Excuse me?”

The woman did not stir.

“Curveball from Bellamy drops inside, it's one and one on Franklin.”

Nguyen rolled her eyes.

“Ma'am!” She exclaimed and plopped her car keys loudly on the desk.

The woman jumped and her eyes snapped open. The brochure fluttered aimlessly to the gound as she leaned forward in the seat, blinking rapidly for a moment before fixing her gaze on Samantha.

“Jesus Lord Almighty!”She exclaimed, breaking out into a haughty laugh that seemed to come from the depths of her enormous stomach. “You scared the everliving tar out of me!”

“I'm sorry.” Samantha smiled warmly.

“Don't be, don't be.” The woman groaned as she stood up from the chair. She wiped the beaded sweat off her forehead. “Jesus God is it hot in here!”

“Yeah it is.” Samantha agreed, withdrawing her phone from her pantsuit pocket and checking the time, mentally calculating the precious few hours of sleep she was going to get that night.

“It's not our fault.” The woman exclaimed, reaching the desk and panting as if she had just climbed a mountain. “Corporate has the damn thing programmed. This time of year the AC never comes on in here. We're supposed to run the ceiling fans, but that's been broke for two years.”

She motioned to the ceiling behind Sam who turned around and saw two wires protruding from a hole in the ceiling in the center of the room, as well a slight discoloration in the form of a circle where a fan obviously used to be.

“And then they tell me if it gets too hot to open a damn window. I said Christ!, it's just as damn hot out there! And the wind aint blowin for nothing.”

Samantha replaced her phone in her pocket. “Yes, it sure is strange.”

“It's NEVER like this in October...hell..now it's the first of November! NEVER like this! I mean...we've had a hot day or two at the beginning of September but NEVER this hot on Halloween!”

Samantha nodded, not knowing what else to say.

The woman moved a computer mouse across the desk and began typing on the keyboard.

“I tell you what,” she said, “I don't understand all of the mess that they talk about on the TV.”

As she said this, she pointed to the television in the corner that was displaying The Weather Channel, which right now was showing a commercial for Flex Seal. “But this type of weather will make you a believer in that Global Warming stuff.”

“Yeah,” Nguyen forced a laugh.

The woman looked up at her and waved her hand. “But you don't gotta worry about it, there's a window unit in your room. The rooms are nice and comfortable.”

“That's good.” Nguyen replied.

“Just you tonight sweetie?”

“Just me.”

“I just need a drivers license.”

Samantha presented it.

“Just passing through?” The woman asked as she entered Sam's information into the decade old computer.

“No, I think I'll be town for a few days.”

The woman looked up in disbelief. “In town? What town? This town?”

Samantha didn't know what to say.

“No one comes and visits Haddonfield!” The woman laughed another belly laugh. This one devolved into coughing which she stifled with her hand....the same hand she handed Samantha back her driver's license with.

Not Miami at all. Sam thought, placing the card into her wallet.

“That will be $38.96 sweetie.”

Sam couldn't hide her surprise. This was the cheapest motel room she had gotten since...well...ever. She passed over her Bureau issued AMEX card.

“Oh I'm sorry honey, we don't take American Express.”

“Oh.” Samantha shrugged. Ordinarily this might have been an issue but she was pretty sure she could handle a $40 motel room from her personal checking. Besides, the department would reimburse her later. She passed over her VISA.

“I'm gonna need a receipt then.” She said.

“You got it.” The woman replied and opened a drawer in front of her, pulling out a large bronze key on a white triangular shaped keychain emblazoned with the motel's name and logo.

Actual keys, Samantha marveled, not those plastic keycards. She wracked her brain for the last time she had seen that and decided on..never.

Five minutes later she had rolled her suitcase into room 113 and had turned the key in the lock. The room was furnished very much like the lobby: light teal walls, mauve indoor/outdoor carpeting, popcorn cielings flecked with glitter set to sparkle by another pineapple shaped light fixture. She was almost positive the bedspread and pillow case mached the pattern in the chair cushions in the lobby as well. Samantha paused briefly to look at a picture on the wall, another strange Art-Deco Egyptian painting, this one featuring Cleopatra flanked on both sides by lions. The paintings were so bizzare and striking. Sam looked in the bottom corner: Rose Gauge 2019.

I'm gonna have to google more art by this Rose Gauge person. She thought, kicking off her shoes into a corner. She walked over the window unit as she pulled at the buttons of her pantsuit. There she turned the knob all the way toward the thickest part of the blue semi-circle and felt a refreshingly invorating blast of cold air hit her face from the dusty looking window air conditioner.

She laid down on the bed, and still with her bra and spanx on, she fell asleep almost immediately.

NEXT>>