#wheres all the adventures and purpose all i do is work and im still earning fuck all

[thisdreamsalive]

Is this just an exceptionally shit time to be alive or is adulthood meaningless - an existential crisis by me

[guiltycorp]

Playing Genshin for a couple of weeks now and I have some thoughts about Mondstadt, its seeming prosperity, and criminal elements!! Also dunking on Diluc a little bit lol. I'm not even going to touch hilichurls, they're probably the one issue I expect the game to come back to in time! They seem to be an intelligent race that was cursed and so we might get some sad backstory and realize that we've been assholes to them, not 100% sure but hopefully. Other than hilichurls and the Fatui (and yeahhh so fun to make russians into villains, im guessing it's for attracting the american audience or something... at least the characters are interesting enough), there are also Treasure Hoarders, who in the archive are mainly described as workers who lost their jobs or some other manner of poor people who turned to looting and crime out of desperation. And yet the angle is that 'thieving is always morally wrong'. Somebody didn't read Les Mis, I guess! Another note, there seems to be a weird gameplay and story segregation where we as the Traveler do lots of looting and treasure hunting ourselves only to be commended for it. But I digress. My actual point is that interestingly enough those elements of worldbuilding come together pretty well when you look at the city itself!   In Mondstadt it is most difficult to become a small business owner, made all the more obvious when compared to Liyue's wealth of shops, services, and traveling traders (Liyue has its own baggage of problems which tbh seem more serious to me but that's another topic). It's just not the most profitable occupation! Almost everyone we see out on the streets does their own resource supply, production, and service. Naturally, this means that those people don't earn enough to hire their own workers. In turn, that means that there are no jobs to be found in those places. So, where are all the jobs? For that we have the Dawn Winery, the Knights of Favonius, and the option to leave for Springvale to become a hunter or go to a different country altogether. The winery is described as the city's most powerful industry both for local consumption and export, but how does it actually treat its workers? Well, for example there's Patton who accidentally broke a bottle of expensive wine and is now basically an indentured servant to Diluc. He says that even if he worked without any breaks he still would need 48 years to pay off his debt. We can meet his daughter near Venti's statue who has to play by herself because her father is always working. Does that really seem like freedom to you? There's also Guy's father who works at the winery itself and can't afford to rest even when he is heavily sick and old. These are the worst examples for sure but others also have their own smaller problems like Charles who confides in us that he often feels tired and only takes nights off when Diluc is in a mood to tend the bar himself etc.  It is kind of telling that we don't have the option of engaging with their problems and we can't really talk to Diluc about it either. For all that he defends the city each night, he shows no interest in defending his own workers from his business's predatory tactics. To say nothing of the great damage he does to the adult populace of the city, always supplying alcohol and tempting people with deals and sales when there are already too many drunkards even among the named characters. When the opposing tavern (which also only has Diona for a bartender even when her own father has alcohol dependence) chose to present a non-alcoholic beverage during the holiday Angel’s Share doubled down on alcohol. And it doesn't even have snacks? This one bit was probably just for joke purposes, but tbh it's pretty dangerous to drink without any snacks at all, it makes sense why people get so heavily drunk in the first place. Note that Diluc himself doesn’t drink, showing good judgment when it comes to himself. Meanwhile the only person Diluc seemingly has no problem cutting off is Kaeya and it’s not obvious whether that’s out of concern or pettiness. Nobody is cutting off Nimrod who is ruined by his addiction! Now this is probably the core reason why Nimrod turned to crime, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he and his wife are dependant on Kaeya who at the very least knows to appreciate his informants. Kaeya himself is also a gleeful enabler, by the way, which makes sense considering his uh.. everything. And his upbringing at the Dawn Winery didn’t hurt, no surprise why he’s so keen on wine himself. He might be shrewd and oh so clever when it comes to getting information in taverns, but his story details and voice lines confirm that there actually is a problem even if we don’t know the full scope of it.  Now, the Knights of Favonius? Aside from being corrupt in the past they happen to hire minors (we can read that in their handbook) whom they don't even pay. What's that, free labor for the simplest of tasks? Makes sense why some of the adult knights laze about if all the work gets done by minors or the more focused and accomplished senior knights with Visions. That's a wonky structure for sure. Guy tells us that he became a squire at 16 and still has the boring job of guarding the back gates despite repeatedly showing signs of great dissatisfaction. I wouldn't be surprised if he betrays us later or something, honestly. Maybe Kaeya is preparing him for double agent work, who knows. Right now he has no opportunities for climbing the career ladder to take better care of his sick father, stuck in a pointless job for months. And that's a talented and focused young man! what about regular folk? Well. In the end, regular people have several options. They can give up and overwork themselves while spending nights looking for coins in the wishing fountain to try and scrape enough for their sister’s medicine. They can go to the Adventurers' Guild which has highly dangerous commissions with the most profitable ones taken on by Fischl and other professionals, hardly a dependant job for a regular person. There’s also Church which we know very little about. Likely it's dependant on taxes and donations and it’s the one organization that cares about the orphans of the city (no, keeping Klee in solitary doesn’t count as caring, Knights of Favonius!). There’s Springvale for hunters, farmers and chefs, a difficult lifestyle to maintain when the hunting grounds are in one of the Four Winds’ domains with strangely intelligent wolves.  And then there’s the other more accessible and obvious option! You guessed it, it’s crime!!  And there it is, the reason why there's such a big problem with bandits and overworked people in Mondstadt :)  Honestly after writing all that down, if I were to RP a normal person in Mondstadt I’d try to get into the Treasure Hoarders guild at like 5 years old I think. Better than standing around watching random people kill my pigeons anyway. Tbh this is less of a 'makes you think huh!!' take and more of a commendation towards the writers of the game. They obviously have a more conservative outlook if they're so keen on condemning the thieves who have to steal in order to survive, but the world itself makes a lot of sense. It makes the game a lot of fun to explore.

[pixiegrl]

request for your next tangled muke adventure, the scene where they escape from the cave?

Meghna! This was so fun to write! Please enjoy my humble gift to you! And also @calumsclifford for endlessly hearing my yell about what im writing if its tangled

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26169226

Luke keeps whining about food. Michael wishes he would go back to tugging on his sleeve and asking him about everything if it means he’ll stop begging Michael for food. Michael’s not entirely sure of where they are right now and since he wasn’t planning on a trip, he doesn’t exactly have any food with him. Luke is not bothered by this at all, keeps choosing to ask Michael again and again as if the answer will somehow be different.

“Michael, there has to be somewhere to eat near here. Or something we can eat. Michael,” Luke whines, dragging out the end of Michael’s name in a way he can only describe as incredibly annoying. He turns to glare at Luke, who looks back at him with wide innocent eyes. He’s adorable and Michael still refuses to find him cute at all. He’s decided thinking of Luke as a friend was a mistake, now Luke has just decided to annoy him forever. 

Michael is relieved when the edge of a tavern comes into sight. He thinks he probably has just enough coins with him to feed Luke and get a drink for himself, so he can continue to put up with Luke’s bubbling enthusiasm. Even if the place looks a little rough for Luke to be in. Michael’s decently sure he can protect Luke from some bandits, as long as they’re not also after Michael. Although maybe Luke can just smile at them and they’ll reconsider harming him. He does have a nice smile, all bright eyes and dimples.

Luke starts bouncing on his toes when he sees it, too. Petunia peeks out of the corner of Luke’s hair, shooting him a worried look. How the fuck does a lizard manage to have so many facial expressions?

“Michael, can we eat there? Please?” Luke begs, turning to look at Michael with wide, blue eyes and a hopeful expression on his face. It melts Michael’s heart a little. He can’t stay mad at Luke for long, not when it’s so painfully obvious that the boy has never gotten to experience the world the way everyone else has. He’s so full of joy and wonder Michael can’t find it in himself to be annoyed that much.

“Only the best for you, Sunshine,” Michael says. Luke grins even wider, dimples creasing his cheeks, and laces their fingers together. He starts to swing their arms a little, humming under his breath. It’s painfully endearing. Michael’s all but abandoned his commitment to not finding him cute.

They push the door of the tavern open and Michael sucks a breath in when everyone turns to look at them. They must be quite the pair, Luke, with his incredibly long blonde hair and silky purple shirt, a lizard perched on his shoulder, and Michael, holding his hand and frying pan attached to his belt from when Luke complained about his arm being tired.

Luke is oblivious to their stares, instead tugging Michael further into the tarven, trying to find an empty spot and rambling about what food they could possibly have.

“Michael Clifford! As I live and breath,” A voice calls, full of mirth and laughter. Michael whips around in a panic, fear leaving him a little when he sees that it’s Calum, his old friend from the orphanage turned bandit, grinning and waving at him. He looks the same as the last time Michael saw him, apart from his once black curls are now a bright platinum blonde. His partner, Ashton, sits next to him, his own curls a raven black, and motioning for Michael to come sit with them.

“Who are they?” Luke whispers, curling a little into Michael, wary of new people. 

Michael tries to send him a reassuring smile, “Old friends. I promise they won’t hurt you.”

“Promise?”

Michael holds up his hand, linking their pinkies together and shaking. “Pinky promise.”

Luke looks a little confused by the gesture, but he must understand the sincerity of it and nods at him. Michael tugs them over to the table, ushering Luke into the booth first and following him. He helps Luke tug his hair in after them, earning them stares from the rest of the patrons.

Ashton lets out a whistle, looking at all of Luke’s hair. “That must be a hassle. You ever think about cutting it?”

Luke holds his hair tight to him. “I couldn’t do that. Mother wouldn’t let me.”

Ashton opens his mouth like he’s going to push the topic further, when Calum interjects, sticking his hand out towards Luke.

“Calum Hood, local bandit extraordinaire. This is my partner in crime, the slightly less good looking Ashton Irwin.” 

Ashton lets out a horrified squawk, smacking Calum. Calum laughs, eyes crinkling at the corner. 

“You married me, you idiot.”

“Only for evading the law purposes. The second they let us, I’m divorcing you and taking half the loot,” Calum says, grinning as he presses a kiss to Ashton’s cheek to let him know he’s only teasing. Michael’s forgotten how easy their relationship has always been, full of teasing and fondness. Michael’s known Calum longer and he would venture to call him his best friend (if two bandits can even have friends), but somehow when the three of them are together he’s always managed to feel on the outskirts of things. 

Luke’s watching them both, wide eyed and a little scared. Michael squeezes his thigh under the table. “This is Luke. Found him hiding in the woods. We’re going to see the lanterns for his birthday.

Calum raises his eyebrows, taking a sip of his drink. “Never known you to do anything out of kindness, Mikey.”

“That’s not true! I stole that necklace for you once ‘cause you said you liked it.”

“Fine, then nothing that didn’t require you to steal something.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not just you. They tell these half stories all the time and refuse to explain them. You get used to not getting their inside jokes,” Ashton stage whispers to Luke, grinning when Calum gently elbows him. Michael is filled with overwhelming fondness for his friends and their easy acceptance of Luke. Although Michael figures, who are a couple of bandits to question him finding a man in the woods?

“He only agreed to take me because I took his loot and Petunia keeps licking him,” Luke chimes in, producing Petunia from inside the folds of his hair. Calum and Ashton laugh delightedly at the sight of her. 

Michael pouts. “I’m getting new friends.”

“Michael, we’re your only friends,” Calum says rolling his eyes. He nudges Luke with his foot, startling him. “Do you want me to get you something to eat?”

Luke nods enthusiastically. Michael mouths a quick thank you to Calum. He smiles. “Ashton, take Luke with you and get something. I wanna check up with my old friend here.”

Ashton scoots his way out, ushering Luke over to the bar. When they’re out of ear shot, Calum rounds on Michael.

“The crown, Michael? You really thought stealing the lost prince’s crown would be a good idea?”

“I didn’t think I’d have this much trouble with it.”

Calum lets out a disgruntled noise. “That’s because you don’t think, Michael. What the fuck did you expect would happen?”

“Look, it’s just a job. We’ve taken plenty of them before.”

“Yeah, but those were just stealing from people. People who were much less notable than stealing the fucking crown jewels.”

“It’s one last job, Calum, and then I can stop,” Michael says. He’s had ideas over the years of what he would do. Travel, go somewhere far away and find a legitimate job, open his own orphanage. The possibilities are endless if he can just get this crown back and be on his way.

Calum sighs heavily, massaging his temple. He looks like he wants to say something, but is interrupted by Ashton and Luke coming back.

“Shove over,” Ashton says, raising his hands to show the drinks he’s carrying. Calum obeys, giving Ashton the space he needs to put things down. Luke’s tagging closely behind him, holding what looks like fish and chips close to his chest, a little wide eyed. Michael grabs the baskets, helping Luke, who shoots him a grateful look.

“You know you’re probably like, five minutes away from getting caught, right?” Calum says around a chip. Michael blushes at Luke’s quizzical look and Ashton’s glare. For a bandit, Ashton can be a little shit at the idea of stealing things sometimes.

“Let me enjoy this nice, hot food before you rip into me about stealing, but then still help us get away.”

Calum giggles slightly, expression fond. He’s holding Ashton’s hand on the table. It fills Michael with the overwhelming desire to have that, too. It’s always been lonely for him and while he’s happy for Calum and Ashton, he wishes he had someone like that too. 

Luke is eating some of the fish, scrunching his nose up at the taste.

“Good?”

“Different,” Luke mumbles around a mouth of food crumbs going everywhere, blushing when he realizes what he’s doing. Michael laughs, leaning over and wiping his face with a napkin. Luke never had to be presentable around other people before. It’s a miracle he’s managing to look cute while doing it.

Luke quietly feeds Petunia a small bite. Michael catches Calum watching them, a soft smile on his face. Michael sticks his tongue out at Calum when Luke isn't looking. Calum returns the gesture. Ashton snorts, covering it up in his drink when Luke looks up at the three of them. He flushes a little, clearly thinking they’re teasing him. 

Ashton waves it away, “It’s nice you have a little friend. Nice to have someone there for you when you get lonely.”

Luke smiles sadly. “Something like that.”

Calum looks like he wants to press the issue further, when the tavern door bangs open, someone shouting about the palace guards. Michael jumps up, making to push Luke out of the booth. 

“That’s our cue, Luke. Lovely to see you both again, let’s do this again sometime,” Michael calls behind him as he shoves Luke towards where he knows there’s a “secret” tunnel. He can hear Calum let out an exasperated sigh, but considering he’s known him since they were kids, he figures Cal will let this one slide.

***

“So, Calum and Ashton?”

“Hm?”

“You’ve known them a while, yeah?” Luke asks. They’ve been walking down the underground tunnel for a bit, venturing deeper and deeper with only torches to help them see. Luke’s been quiet since the tavern and Michael isn’t sure whether he should be worried or not. Considering Luke’s decision to ask personal questions, the answer was that he should be.

“I’ve known Calum since I was a kid. Ashton is more of a new addition. You let your friend do one job on their own and they come back with a husband.”

Luke giggles. “You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”

“I just wish they’d invited me to the wedding. I have plenty of embarrassing stories about Calum and I’m not afraid to use them.”

“Does he?”

“What?”

“Have embarrassing stories to share with your future…” Luke pauses, shooting a glance at Michael. Michael wonders what Luke’s mother taught him about attraction and then disregards that notion. A woman who locks her son in a tower and refuses to let him out certainly won’t teach him what it means when you think boys are pretty.

“Husband. I like men. And unfortunately he does, but you’ll have to hear them from him,” Michael says. He realizes how that must sound, the implication that he wants to keep Luke around long enough to see Calum and Ashton again, to have Calum share childhood stories of Michael. That Michael isn’t ready to have this adventure come to an end, even if Luke can be a thorn in his side.

Luke looks like he wants to say something, but changes his mind at the last minute and says,  “So Michael, where are you from?”

“Nope. We do not know each other like that, you already know my name and that’s enough backstory for the rest of this trip.”

Luke pouts. “I just met your childhood friend and his husband. You just told me you like men. But you won’t tell me where you’re from.”

Michael sighs heavily. “I will tell you something about myself if you answer my questions first.”

“Sure.”

“I know I’m not supposed to talk about the hair, the mother, or the, uh, lizard?” Michael waves in Petunia’s direction. Luke nods. 

“Here’s my question. If you want to see the lanterns so badly you were willing to go on a trip with a complete stranger who broke into your home, why haven’t you gone before with your mother?”

“Mother wouldn’t let me.”

That makes Michael pause. It was implied in his initial request for the adventure, but it’s odd to hear it out loud. For all the oddness of Michael’s childhood growing up in an orphanage, he’s never been denied things. He was always allowed to go and adventure on his own terms, as long as he was responsible about it and came back in time for dinner. The idea that Luke’s mother would lock him up and refuse to let him leave seems a bit dramatic and harsh. Not for the first time, the notion of keeping Luke with him, of not allowing the boy to go back to his tower, of showing him the whole world, crosses Michael’s mind. Luke deserves it, deserves the chance to get to see what’s out there and Michael doesn’t know how he’s meant to return Luke to his prison when this is all over.

“Why wouldn’t she let you leave?”

“She claims that it’s safer for me up there where no one can find me.”

Michael opens his mouth to comment on that, when he hears a rumbling coming towards them. He turns around at the sound of shouting and sees the palace guards running towards them. Maybe Calum had a point about this being a bad idea. Michael turns to look at Luke, who’s got a look of fear and confusion on his face.

“Michael?”

“Okay, so you know how I have that crown? I may have stolen that crown and now would be a good time to run,” Michael shouts, grabbing hold of Luke’s hand and pulling him into a run. Luke, thankfully, realizes what Michael wants and follows him at Michael at an equally breakneck speed.

Michael pulls them along until they come out of the tunnel, skidding to a stop when they both realize they’re at the edge of a cliff. There is absolutely nowhere for them to go, considering they’re surrounded on all sides by open air and the guards behind them, not to mention that one horse that seems to have it out for Michael specifically. Michael hears a shout from down below and notices the Stabbington brothers have come out of their own tunnel looking up and pointing to Michael, both of them shouting. 

“So I’ve figured out the guard part, but who are those guys and why are they mad?” Luke says, clutching his hair in his arms. 

“Let’s just assume no one here likes me and work our way up from there.”

Luke frowns. “How much trouble are you in?”

“Luke, you met me because I crashed through your window with a stolen crown. You do the math.”

Michael’s at a loss for what to do or where they can go. Luke takes one look at him and rolls his eyes, shoving the frying pan at Michael. He takes his hair and swings it up, hooking it over a higher up damaged beam nearby. He tugs it once, nodding when he realizes it’s secure and hooks an arm around Michael’s waist. 

“So I’m sure this is a bad idea, but I think we have to go down?” Luke says, pointing.

“What?”

“There’s a tunnel down there and I think that might be the only way out.”

Michael looks down and he hates to admit it but Luke might be right. Luke throws his hair over a nearby beam and grabs onto Michael’s waist, giving them a running start, giving them enough momentum to take off and swing themselves down to the bottom of the ravine. They land solidly on their feet and Luke turns to beam at Michael. Michael gives him a relieved smile back and tugs on Luke’s hair pulling it down from the beam. They gather it and go sprinting off in the direction of the tunnel. 

Michael is sure they’re going to make it, until he hears the rumble and rushing sound of water fill the air. They just narrowly make it into the tunnel entrance before Michael realizes it’s not a tunnel and that there’s no exit. It’s too late for them to do anything now though, as rocks cover the entrance, leaving Luke and Michael in the dark. 

“So, this looks bad.”

“Yes, Michael, I would say that it does.”

Michael huffs, shoving Luke’s hair at him and diving into the rising water. He looks around for an exit but finds none. He pops up gasping for air, noticing that Luke’s feeling around the top of the rocks for an exit up that way. It would appear that they’re both out of luck. Michael dives down again to feel around, as Luke bangs frantically on the rocks with his pan trying to get them to break. Michael scrambles up, trying to pry some of the rocks loose. The sharp edge of one slices his hand and Michael swears loudly at the blood that starts to pool and drip from his hand. Luke looks torn between concern for Michael’s hand and fear about being close to death.

“I can’t see anything in here. I don’t think there’s a way out. Fuck, Luke I’m really sorry about all this. You just wanted a nice birthday gift and look at the mess we’re in now.”

The water is rising steadily, closing in on them. Luke is chewing at the corner of his lip, grasping Michael’s injured hand in his. Even dripping in ice cold water, Luke manages to make Michael feel warm and safe. The thought startles Michael. He hasn’t known Luke long enough to be this comfortable with him, but he is. 

“I think I have an idea.”

“Luke?”

“You told me that you like boys. I have a secret too. I have magic hair that glows when I sing.”

Michael blinks up at Luke. Michael takes it all back, all that time locked up in a tower and Luke has gone crazy. Maybe it was a bad idea for Michael to agree to this plan.

“Come again?”

Luke looks Michael in the eye, grinning at the realization. “I have magic hair that glows when I sing!”

Michael barely processes what’s happening before Luke starts singing some kind of strange song. The water finally covers them and Michael tries to hold his breath as best he can. Suddenly, Luke’s hair starts to glow from the roots to the tips. Michael almost screams in shock before he remembers that they are underwater and that would be a very bad idea.

Luke’s hair tugs towards the bottom of the tunnel, pulling their attention to a small pile of rocks. Michael pushes his way down, starting to pull the rocks away from the wall. Luke joins him and they tug away a small exit hole, the force of the water pushing them out of the tunnel and onto the shore of a riverbank.

Michael and Luke both take a gasping breath as they collapse side by side. Luke turns to Michael, grinning brightly, dimples on his cheeks, Petunia popping up onto his head. 

“We did it, Michael! We got out!” 

Michael makes eye contact with Petunia. “His hair glows.” 

Petunia looks very smug, Luke continues to cheer, grasping at Michael’s hand.

“Hair is not supposed to glow. That’s not something that happens. Do all strange men in towers have glowing hair? Is this something I was supposed to know?” Michael asks Petunia, octaves in his voice raising with confusion and concern. Petunia nods. “Why does his hair glow?!”

“Michael!” Luke calls, hands on his hips where he’s standing on the bank. He’s dripping wet, standing in the fading light on the setting sun. He shouldn’t be so pretty, but Michael thinks that might be the shock and gratitude. Even if Luke is exactly the sort of boy Michael used to dream about when he was young. 

“Luke?” Michael asks, voice strained.

“It doesn’t just glow. I can heal with it.”

“That’s strangely cryptic after you just showed me it glows. How much magic does your magically glowing hair hold, Luke from a strange tower?”

Luke huffs, coming to kneel in front of Michael. He wraps his hair around Michael’s injured palm and softly starts singing the same song. Luke’s hair begins to glow again and Michael feels a sharp tingling in his palm. Luke finishes, un-wrapping his hair, and Michael is startled to see that the cut and blood are gone.

“Don’t freak out.”

“Luke, we are well past freaking out,” Michael says, voice hitting an octave he didn’t know he could. Luke huffs again.

“If I’d known you were gonna be a baby about it, I wouldn’t have shown you.”

“Oh, so you would have died before you showed me the magically glowing healing hair?”

“Don’t be mean. I just saved our lives,” Luke says, pouting. 

“How long has it been doing that?”

Luke shrugs, “My whole life, I guess. Once, when I was a baby, people tried to cut it and take it for the magicalits magical powers. But when it’s cut it loses its color and power.”

Luke pulls back his hair, showing Michael a shorter strand of hair, dull compared to the rest of it. Michael leans forward, touching the lock softly. Luke smiles sadly at him. “It’s why I’m up in the tower. Mother says you have to protect a gift like mine. She doesn’t want me to leave because she’s worried that I’ll get hurt.”

Michael softens. It makes sense now, why Luke was up there, but it’s still cruel. No one would have to know about his hair. Why can’t he have the freedom to explore the world for himself? 

“And you still want to go back?”

“What other choice do I have? I’m safe up in the tower and I don’t think I could just leave Mother.”

“Luke, you deserve a chance to see the world and make your own choices,” Michael says, grabbing Luke’s hand and squeezing it. “I promise, that when this trip is all finished, I’ll take you on an adventure. We can travel the whole world if you want. I’ll show you everything there is to offer. Take Calum and Ashton with us. I think they liked you.”

Luke smiles a little brighter. Michael notices now that he seems to glow when he’s happy. It softens Michael. 

“You promise Michael? You aren’t just saying that because of my hair?”

“Of course I mean it, Sunshine. You’ve been a wonderful traveling companion. And I’m sure there’s plenty of floating lanterns all around for us to see.”

Luke’s smile widens. He throws his arms around Michael’s neck in a hug, “Oh thank you Michael! That’s the best birthday present ever!”

Michael blushes slightly, hiding his face in Luke’s shoulder. At least the only person around to see is Luke and Petunia. They won’t rat him out and ruin his reputation.

“Alright Luke that’s enough. It’s getting dark and we should start a fire for the night,” Michael says, pulling himself up to stand. Luke pushes himself up, coming to stand next to Luke. 

“You like me.”

“Regrettably I do. I’d like you more if you helped me get some wood.” 

Luke grins at Michael, “Only if you show me how to build a fire.”

Michael huffs, pretending to be put out, nudging Luke’s shoulder and smiling to show that he’s only teasing, “For you with the special hair, I’d do anything.”

Luke grins back, lacing their fingers together and tugging Michael in the direction of the woods to look for firewood.

Maybe traveling with Luke isn’t so bad. Maybe getting to take Luke on a trip around the world won’t be so bad. Maybe being in love isn’t the stuff of dreams, maybe it gets to be Michael’s reality.

[sweet-xoxo-thatcares]

Coraline, I miss you.

You know what's funny,

This is the first time, in a long time,

Where I actually didn't cry by the end of our story.

Like I was shocked for a moment, like:

"Why do I feel ok?"

"Why am I not angry or sad?"

"Or ready to toss myself out of a window?"

It’s because we've already died once. I've accepted this death.

My soul has felt like this, twice maybe nearly three times....ok maybe 16 if you’re including childhood. Heartbreak don't phase me no more. It’s required when falling in love with someone like you. Someone who has ripped through people so many times as the same had been done to you as a child.

But Jesus rose again each time.

He has gotten me through every hell hole with you.

I shall fear no evil.

No longer do I fear the love in my heart for you either.

I dont have to do anything. I dont have to say anything.

I can just be here, chilling, living my life, as I should.

Helping myself to a pack of gummy worms

That I forgot was on the floor.

And there’s nothing you can do about it. 

Im not choosing to be bitter.

Im not choosing to be scared that my ex lovers might kidnap me, kill me, or break my heart again in the future.

(I might have these thoughts in the back of my head...)

But for what? Because of the past?

I know who they are and I know my God.

"God is bigger than the boogie man"

He will protect me from Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and his crew of theives.

Im not crying in pain anymore.

My wounds are sealed.

It’s finally been done.

Even though im still in love with you, yet left me with none in return.

I know you still burn a secret torch for me.

And you’ll probably be the last to know as you still say to yourself “its just lust”

But i did the same thing, holding myself back because I thought it was just lust and look at where it got me.

Stuck playing with you, and sipping vodka at pity parties whenever you or she called it quits.

And I'll probably be there once they realizes how to escape from the prism of prisons that they (one person; my ftm) had forced themselves into to survive their childhood:

1st- their insecurity and battle of mind

2nd- their complex view on sex, marriage, and commitment

And finally 3rd; childhood trauma.

Jay you gotta heal from your mother and your father's wounds that they gave you. Emotionally and physically.

Because the scars that you bare now, can pass on to your children if you don't grieve properly.

Showing emotion is not weak. Yes, you are going to be vulnerable. But it takes strength to show where your wounds are to somebody that you trust.

I'm sorry I lied about my involvement with Calvin to try and make you feel jealous. We're just work buddies, nothing more. It was to get back at you for making me feel jealous on purpose in Franken----, I had a feeling that you were doing it for attention from me and her, because you wanted to see how I would react. So instead, that day (and the day at the target/mall) I gave you the cold shoulder and ignored you every time you attempted to get a reaction out of me. Because I knew you were being sly and sadistic to me, you felt a dry spell between us and wanted to know if I was being mischievous or did I actually stop being interested in you?

I know its confusing, because by this point usually you would say something argumentative like "well, how do you know all that?"

And then I would say, "Clearly, its simple. I know you. Jay-Jaiden-Jocelyn. Because clearly you operate on entirely different plane of view than I. You think like 3-4 different people at a time, and that my friend sounds exhausting.

That repepetive pounding in your head is from, your father still infiltrating your mind. The one who abused you the most.

I saw this that night we got into it at your apartment. You got in my face, poked me in my chest as you said "Now you have to make the asshole."

You made the energy in the room feel cold. And I knew it wasn't you.

It was your father. You became your father's energy. You replicated that.

Because your body remembers.

You, Jay, might not remember.

But the other people in line for your spot in your mind do,

Remembers all too well. They keep your secrets safe within you.

Once the council figured out that I knew,

they got scared and tormented me for it.

Na, knows it too.

She's playing mind games on you.

But you can't see it physically.

I couldn't see it either at first.

Until I got home everytime and reflected back at what happened

In reverse.

Everything is inverted.

This whole time I thought it was you that was evil.

But its really been her.

She's been using your mind against you.

All because of cheating on her with other people over the years. It hurt her deeply. She grew numb, cold, and distant. That’s why she wants another. Because you were always looking outside from her to seek pleasure and attention.

She used to be serving, and submissive to you, but now she’s outsmarted you. She knows that you will always play outside, so she gave you a leash. Thus, a leash for herself to gift you, so she could seek her benefits elsewhere too.

She said she always felt like she needed to take care of someone or something to feel better. I think you’re still in delusion about everything staying together with her.

She said she was gonna ask me to move in with y'all! Of course I was next to have a leash. I was her next project to take care of.

I needed to get out of there. Before she had me hip to her bosom just like you.

A girl with mommy issues. 

I was next on her guest list.

She knows the key is to my heart. And the only way to get instant access is my...... “peaches.” SHE WANTED EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO MA’ PEACHES! 

OF COURSE I RANN!

And I’m glad I did. Cause’ then you and I would have been stuck on that boat for awhile. Like her two light skinned boyfriend/girlfriends. 

I know it sounds like I have commitment issues, but tbh she was way too controlling of a girlfriend to begin with. And I see why, but still...

I know it might take awhile before you actually find this.

But please know, my intention was to help you.

But at least I found out before its too late.

That I can't.

You can't save someone who doesn’t see anything wrong with their environment. I can see you’re both hurting, but I have to let you both learn what's been going on on your own.                                  

Only you can break down the walls that your mind built yourself within.

That damn rabbit hole. I didn’t want you to fall in.

But I can see now that you already did.

And I accept that I’ve lost you. My best friend.

But you’ll come back when you are ready.

But I can't say that I’ll be the same person by the time you come back.

Because we always do.

I love them, and thats it, thats the end of it.

And I finally know its alright to feel peace

After I’ve already done all that I could.

What happened. Happened. And its up to me now to carry my own weight and pack my saddlebag for my next adventure

-✈️You’re looking at your new Flight Attendant. 

P.S. I’m earning my badges as I go. And Tumblr, I’m just venting while my therapist is on my vacation and I’m waiting to come out to my parents until I move to have a decent, stable home in New York or Connecticut somewhere...wherever...damn...imma be 25 next year wtf

[valdotpng]

Can the Gay art bugs also help Myla?

while she definitely Could join hallownests coolest new art club/therapy group, i dont really think that her problems being solved by becoming some kind of an artist would fit her character… arc? i guess??

see, i picked the ‘quirrel gets dragged to sheo’s and becomes a landscape painter’ route for several reasons (tw for suicide mention/discussion btw!!): 

the first one being, obviously, the nailsmith - a character that has a lot of similarities with quirrel when you think about it. he also helps you on your quest throughout your big adventure– he upgrades your weapon til he forges the pure nail and so, after doing the thing that he was meant to do, wants to end his life. if we take the ‘quirrel kills himself after the blue lake scene’ theory into consideration here, you can definitely see the similarities in their… approach to fullfilling their ‘life purposes’. and imo thats exactly the kinda thing that both of these guys could bond over if quirrel is given the same opportunity to recover from this kinda mentality. if the nailsmith lived through this, then so can quirrel

the second one is related to the thing that people like to point out a lot - quirrels nail, how he always iterates the vital importance of having one, and how he symbolically abandons it by the end of his journey. this is where sheo comes in! sheo is basically a bug whose whole life used to revolve around the nail… until it didnt; he was able to find a new calling in life by abandoning his old one. ‘abandoning’ is a strong word though, cause he definitely held on to most of his knowledge and mastery of the nail, repurposed it. after all, “the wielding of a nail, the wielding of a brush… these things are not so different”. maybe quirrel could learn this lesson, too

the last one is that i just think that becoming a traveling landscape artist just… fits him?? quirrel LOVES exploring and sightseeing, so why couldnt he become passionate about trying to capture the many wonders of hallownest (and possibly other lands)? preserving those awe-inspiring places, recording those moments of discovery on a canvas. to archive them, if you will.

i hope they dont mind the tag (i’ll delete it if u do), but @wingmould added some really nice tags on my original post about the idea, and, Yeah. i wholeheartedly agree

now to myla. first and foremost, i gotta say that im one of the people desperately clinging to the hope that if you dont touch her and then get rid of the infection, she gets cured and lives happily ever after. that being said, i know that some of yall accidentally (or purposefully, out of mercy) kill her. so! heres what i got for our sweet miner girl in vals ‘theyre FINE shut up’ au:

in my understanding, the main cause of myla succumbing to the plague are two things feeding into eachother: her obsession and her loneliness. 

(presumably) like many explorers before her, myla came to hallownest with a specific goal in mind -  to get wealthy. and them mysterious, powerful crystals near the mines sure do look like a jackpot, dont they? especially when they start singing about ‘something even more valuable hidden deeper in’. that’s the reason she comes down there, the reason why she stays AND the reason why the radiance is able to invade her mind so easily. but i think that if she just had someone that could stop that obsession from consuming her, she could get saved??

like, sure, little ghost might pop in now and then to listen to her singing, but i dont think theyre really able to tell her ‘myla for the love of god stop overworking yourself and go outside’. and, from what we know, she doesnt have any friends/acquances besides the knight who could do that, either. “This is hard work, but I don’t mind. Down here, I can k-keep working without even sleeping. It’s fun!” see what i mean????? shes been down there for god knows how long, sleep deprived, probably starved, and alone, and NOBODY tells her that, hey, maybe she should, like, take care of herself? please??

so my idea is that someone actually does that and saves her. im thinking maybe sly? or cornifer?? cornifer deffo would be a better candidate since, in-canon, he could find myla while doing some exploring. and then he could take her to dirtmouth at some point, to, yknow, get some fresh air and maybe a cup of bug tea or whatever. and, after speaking with iselda, she Possibly could get hired as the new map shop keeper? since iselda is interested in going on an adventure with corny. it would be a way for myla to earn some geo and not risk her life while doing that. plus she could make some friends in dirtmouth! that way she’d be surrounded by people that wouldnt let her reach that rock bottom again, yknow?

woof, thats!! a lot of text. sorry about that! im just really passionate abt HK discussions!! anyways, it’s 5 am and im still not sleeping so i should. probably go do that sdhfuashdffus. good night

[scatterpatter]

15 w Corren!

15: What is your characters background story?

OHOHO, so I’m going to leave One Detail Out because there’s one part of his backstory I don’t wanna spoil for Jazz yet, but... >:3c

Also it’s under the cut because i totally infodumped and then some OOPSIE

oh also cws: serious illness, death, domestic violence, depression

Corren Hartwell grew up the youngest of 3 siblings, the oldest being his big sis Mila and the middle child being his bro Julian. Their parents were pretty detached emotionally, but that’s pretty par for the course where he was from, and they provided for the kids so it really wasn’t all that bad. Not a perfect family, no fam ever is, but they were happy.

His race’s culture is super inclined to intelligence and studying technology, the mind, etc, so Corren spent his childhood being a total bookworm. Studying history, arcana, all sorts of stuff... he never really minded it, though. He was actually quite good at what he did! 

Mila was a spellcaster- I honestly forgot what school of magic she was in OOPS, and Julian dual-classed as a Necromancer and Bard! Jules and Mila were both pretty close in age, and they were like besties on top of being siblings, and they’d often team up to do small adventuring jobs: hit up the help wanted board in town and take care of short deliveries or a monster stalking a farm or something like that- both for the thrill and to also earn some extra gold for the family. They loved Corren, but they couldn’t take him with them because it was too dangerous for him since he was still just a little kid. Still, Corren admired them and wanted to be just like them(better, even?) when he grew up! ... Oh yeah I always forget this detail but Corren’s totally trans XD He came out pretty young but his family was chill with it so like... ayyyeee

Though one day, Mila started getting sick. Corren doesn’t really know what it was, but for whatever reason she wasn’t able to heal from it with simple healing spells. It was a slow process, but she was just getting worse instead of better, and one day she passed. The family was a wreck, understandably. The issue is... Corren and Julian had... different ways of grieving. Corr was still young, the equivalent of like someone 10-12 in human years, so he didn’t fully grasp the concept of death just yet. He retreated into himself a lot, had trouble grounding himself to the present and really struggling with depression. Julian, about the equivalent of someone 16-18, had a better understanding of what was going on, but he was wrecked. He wanted their sister back, and was so upset he couldnt do anything... but he wanted to try. He ended up doing something rash, and... well, spoilers ;) (dont worry he didnt hurt Corren or anyone else, but... he Fucked Up in what he tried doing)

Things quickly went downhill from there for the Hartwells. There was often a lot of fighting between Julian and their parents, or Corren would be chided for being unable to focus, like, at all, and... Corren and Jules never really fought, but there was a clear rift between them after what happened. They still loved each other, but it was so obvious their relationship would never be like what it was when Mila was still around, and that hurt both of them so much.

A few months later, things reached a boiling point and Julian was kicked out of their home. Before he left, though, he found Corren and gave him something: a small amethyst pendant on a necklace chain, something Julian used to always wear. They made a promise that this wasn’t gonna be goodbye, that they’d find each other again, and then Jules was gone. It was just Corren and his mom and dad.

Things were still strained, and Corren just did his best to keep to his studies to distract himself from everything. Not wanting Corren to end up like his brother, his parents forbade anything necrotic in the magic he learned. The problem was... Corren still loved Julian. And still wanted to be like him, to a point, so... he would study necromancy in secret. It was kinda like his little lifeline like “hey Jules is still here to an extent if I know the spells he does”, and things seemed to be going okay, for the most part

Well uh... one day his father caught him practicing his necromancy and... well, was far from happy about it. An argument quickly erupted between them both, a lot of yelling back and forth, and before Corr could react properly, his father grabbed something from the desk and struck him with it, giving him a pretty bad cut across his right eye(the smol scar I always draw? Yeah...). In a panic, Corren’s flight of fight kicked in as he cast a magic missile at his father in retaliation. Corren isn’t sure if his attack just stunned, knocked out, or killed his father, but the flight of fight-or-flight kicked in as he just ran from the situation. He had no idea what he was to do or where to go, but he just knew he couldn’t go back home after that.

SO this poor kid, probably the equivalent of a 14-15 y/o, is out on his own now... and he sure does his best. He mainly spends his time hopping from town to town, taking up small jobs to get some gold in his pockets, and is just... focusing on surviving. Going from this sheltered lifestyle to suddenly on the streets was a wake-up call and then some, but he found ways to make it work. Luckily his background of studying all the time gave him enough intelligence to take up tasks others weren’t as capable of, but it was still... far from easy. But he made it work!

One day he’s in a city known as Lilenthemar, just taking a break in one of the town squares, when an Elven man takes a seat on the bench next to him. They both sit in a comfortable silence for a while... but the elf then strikes a conversation. Corren, socially awkward like no tomorrow, tries to keep up the conversation... key word tries. The man introduces himself as Jethro, and I imagine the conversation took a turn like this:

Jethro: I don’t see many Marelienths around here, are you new in town?

Corren: Yeah, just passing through I guess. ... Gotta say, wasn’t expecting to see the Dragon Saint of the Green as I came here, though.

Jethro, laughing: Ah, yes, Raerose. Don’t worry, he’s a kind dragon. Though, it’s certainly surprising to those who are new to the city.

Corren: Oh, no, I know all about Raerose and his connections to this city and the Edgewoods. I just wasn’t expecting to... you know, run into his path as quickly as I did.

Jethro: Oh, so you’ve done your research, I take it?

At that point, Corren does what any neurodivergent would do when asked about his hobbies: Infodumps the hell out of what he knows. He’s far from a great scholar, considering he’s only the equivalent of someone 16-21ish at this point and spent quite a few years away from studying in favor of surviving, but he was still very intelligent and knowledgable about what he talked about. Jethro, picking up on this, decided to offer Corren a temporary position as a Family Historian. Jethro was actually a noble, something Corr somehow didn’t pick up on, and not only could’ve used the help... but also, he kiiiinda picked up on the fact that Corren looked like a kid who could use a place to stay for a while. Corren, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, immediately accepted the offer.

Now, Corren wasn’t intending to stay for long. A few months, maybe a year or two... but. He realized he was building a pretty stable life by having a consistent job for the elf- it didn’t make much sense to just leave that in favor of hopping from place to place with no purpose. Not to mention, he was actually growing quite close to his boss. They’d often spent time together during off-hours, sitting in a comfortable quiet, just taking comfort in each other’s presence. Jethro’s actually the only one Corren ever opened up to about his past, and over the years Corren really grew to love him in a strong platonic way. They both struggled with their own grieving, Jethro with his passed wife and son he hadn’t seen in years, and Corren with his passed sister and brother he hadn’t seen in years, which only helped them grow closer, since they understood each other’s pain, in a sense.

He still struggled with depression, but overall Corren was doing pretty damn well in life. ... Many years later, Corren being 44(idk which human-equivalent this would be. Mid-Late 20s? Early 30s?), actually gets to meet Jethro’s son, Jericho, and the party he traveled with... called the F.U.C.K.s. ... I couldn’t make this shit up even if I tried. They needed help getting to a place called the Menoa Tree, which Corren happened to have studied for a long while, so he offered to help the party. ... They totally broke him with their antics. He proceeded to have a mental breakdown in front of them, and essentially went “FUCK THIS IM GOING HOME AND TAKING A NAP”. Jethro got a laugh out of the furious rambling Corren came home with.

... But despite that, something stuck with him. He just couldn’t quite get the party out of his mind. Something about them, as frustrating as they were, was almost... magnetic? ... Well, weeks later, word came to Lilenthemar about a war that had been raging on for years now... but specifically of a battle at a city known as Joshua, the forces being lead by Jericho alongside many others. Jethro was of course worried about his boy... and Corren... well, something in him changed. He wanted to know more about the FUCKs and just WHAT their deal was, and he wanted to ease Jethro’s worries, so... he grabbed a sniper rifle and decided that he’d go help protect Jericho and his friends as they fought. 

He eventually caught up to the party, convinced them to let him help, and after many battles... the war was won(Corren kinda came in at the tail-end of it all). The only thing is... after that, Corren didn’t really want to go home just yet. He actually enjoyed spending time with the party... and then it clicked: They were powerful adventurers who were totally crazy, stupid, and had no sense of self-preservation... they were just like Julian. And Corren loved it, even when they drove him crazy. He felt alive, which is something he realized he hadn’t felt in a long time... and quickly grew attached to his party, Alistair now taking the reigns as leader as Jericho retired from adventuring. And, well, he’s stuck with them ever since!

He still has Julian’s amethyst, as they’ve yet to reunite(yknow, assuming Jules is still alive even), but... certain events are causing some concern with the story I’m telling. Mainly... Corren is slowly facing Aboleth Corruption(he doesn’t know this yet, but is starting to suspect there’s something wrong with him), and that’s causing parts of his memory to be... patchy. Certain things aren’t lining up, and there could be more(or just different altogether) pieces of this story than what I’ve just told... but we’ll have to wait and see until we get to the quest that deals with that before we find out what’s REALLY going on ;)

... HEY UM I HOPE YALL DONT MIND THE IMMENSE INFODUMP IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR THEN THANK U FOR CARING ABT MY BOI ;-;

[apieters]

9 and 18 for the meta asks? :)

@urban-hart thanks for the ask!

9) Are you more of a drabble or a longfic kind of writer? Pantser or plotter? Do you wish you were the other?

I’ve written a few drabbles here and there, mostly as exercise. The one Drabble I’m rather proud of is a vignette called “The Black Blade,” set in Heimar about how Tristan Martel came to possess his (im)famous sword. But overall, I’m really more of a longfic writer. The plots I’n really excited about take time and and are best suited to either novel form or a series of short stories that add up to a novel-length story.

I describe myself as a plotter of the broad strokes and a pantser of the details. The way I think is, “My characters are starting at Plot Point A and I need them to get to Plot Point B. How do they get there in a way that’s consistent with their character and makes the world rich and consistent?”

For example, in the first episode of Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom I knew that Chris and André had to agree to babysit Kopa for a week, that André was very much not down for that, and that when they did anyway he would flip out, attack Kopa, and have to beg the young prince for forgiveness. However, pretty much all the dialogue is made up right as I’m typing away. Other plot details, like giving Kopa a run-in with Frollo’s guards, were also unplanned (they weren’t part of the first draft, for example), but rather arose from the thought, “I need Kopa to forgive André after getting violently attacked. What kind of thing would André need to do to earn that?” Answer: a rescue scene. Again, it’s my Point-A-to-Point-B thinking.

I wish I was a bit more of a plotter, and my stories have gotten to the length in my head where an outline would be useful to at least catalogue the major plot points. Currently, I writing out synopses of my stories for that purpose. I already have one such synopsis for the fantasy version of my lion character, Leo.

18) Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

Yes.

The life stories of Peter the Marshal’s two sons and two foster sons in the Kingdom of Heimar are essentially going to be an AU of Swashbucklers. Of course, there will be some major differences—for example, there is no magic in Heimar and characters will actually die.

Speaking of the sons of Peter the Marshal, I am currently trying to decide between two possible timelines: one in which Michael Agrippa and his companion Robert Freeman (the Heimarian equivalents of Chris and André from Swashbucklers) bodyguard the son or grandson of Reikert the Marshal (the eldest true-born brother and Peter’s heir). The current canon involves them guarding the grandson, Adrian (Kopa), and the Reign of Terror of the fallen foster-brother Tristan Martel (the Heimarian equivalent of Tristan L’Hermite from Swashbucklers) is already 28 years in the past. Robert will have recovered as well as he could from the trauma of ending the Reign of Terror and being subsequently tortured for seven years, and would be more or less a functional human being with a reputation for heroism during the youth of Reikert’s son, which would be its own adventure. That timeline also has implications for Hendrick’s relationship with his brother Reikert, which will still be sour and cold but the worst of their animosity is over.

By contrast, if Reikert’s son Lionel (nicknamed Leo—no relation to my lion character Leo King), needs to be bodyguarded, it will have only been three years since Robert was rescued from the dungeons of the castle of Abysombre, and thus he’ll be much more raw and emotionally volatile. The Reign of Terror will have been only ten years back and much more fresh in national memory, and this story would be much more of a direct sequel to Tristan Martel’s feature story, tentatively entitled The Black Knight. Hendrick’s relationship with Reikert will be at its most contentious, and I’m starting to sense that this may be the way to go—the conflicts are much easier to justify in this timeline. It will also be harder for anyone to like or trust Robert, given that he does have a history with Tristan Martel that makes his motives dubious, to put it very mildly.

My lion character Leo King also lives in two different worlds. One is a modern world filled with anthropomorphic animals (think Zootopia), and is basically Rocky with cartoon animals, working his way up the pro MMA circuit to challenge Baylor Black the panther, his high school rival, while dealing with sone family drama. His alternate setting is a fantasy setting where he is the Prince of the Savanna and leads a guerrilla war against an invasion by Baylon the Black Panther, sorcerer and Emperor of the Rainforest.

Hope you find this interesting, and thanks for the ask!

[mariposas-reylo]

Im Free!!! So the other day my hubby ran into an old coworker and she told us our Ex had gotten married. She literally ghosted us 6 months ago and now she's knocked up and married. My hubby called me and told me and I started laughing! I mean I always thought I would cry hysterically because I really did love her despite all the trauma she caused me and I was really surprised that I started laughing. So naturally I checked and I laughed even more. I mean I'm happy for her but im so happy that she'll never ever get to emotionally abuse me ever again. Than it hit me i wasnt laughing at her (that's not me I wish her the best) I was laughing because I was finally free! Im free of her abuse, her lies and her false promises. She knew about my depression, my suicidal thoughts, my anxiety and my insecurities and she didn't even hesitate to abandon me the minute she found a new sucker to believe her. I couldn't stop laughing because after all the dirt she did to advance her life she ended up in a dead end town, knocked up and married in a backyard in less than 6 months. Not that theirs anything wrong with that to each their own but everything she did to my husband and I, all the people she cheated on and left for someone who could give her more opportunities in life here in NY and now she's stuck in Alabama forever! But I realized I never have to wonder again. I never have to feel less than. I never was! Im the fucking prize and I get to live this adventure of life in the greatest city in the world ,travel, experience things at my pace and I have a King by my side the whole time. Karma is beautiful truly. Why? Because she never took time to heal she jumped from "i want to do this right i miss you, I love you, im yours" to "oh no wait this guy is putting a roof over my head and he believes all my bullshit without questioning it so im going to marry him Bye!" I mean who does that?! When you don't take time to actually heal your wounds and set right your mistakes you are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. But this time she won't use me as a punching bag. Im the healthiest ive ever been, im happy and I have found a new purpose in life. My conceincse is clear and I didnt have to cause anyone pain to achieve it. I was honest with my feelings the whole time and I never lied. I told her I supported her and would be there every step of the way in her healing process because i do believe people can change.. mistakes don't define a person its what they do after that defines them. This was her choice. I was smiling so much I took this picture and sent it to my husband. "Were Free!! She never gets to abuse us again and now she's stuck isnt Karma wonderful." I text my best friends who were with me the whole time and they were so happy for me (they really didn't like her) and they laughed with me ( I love my girls) "Yooo After all the pain she caused yall thats where she ended up..deadass?? Lmaoo thats perfect 🤣🤣" Now I get to wake up in NYC everyday, im so fucking happy and Free!! I keep saying it cause it was like I could breath again. My abuser is gone shes gone and she's never coming back and im so happy!! In life you don't get to hurt people, abuse them, lie to them, cheat on them and than abandon them and get to live a happy life it just doesn't work that way. Karma always catches up, I hope she's happy and lives the best life with the family she has chosen. We are more than ok without her and now I take the lessons I learned from her and move on and be the best possible version of myself. Im so happy! Im free! I survived!

I know noone will probably read this and maybe im being a little petty (thats ok ive earned it) but I had to put into words what I was feeling cause I haven't been able to stop smiling. Im so happy I didn't take my life, im so happy im still here. Im so happy my hubby and I worked on our relationship and are the strongest we've ever been and that he never abandoned me even on my darkest days.. im happy I got help, I can only control what I do and im going to keep going on this positive path and keep improving She was right I do deserve nothing but happiness I deserve a life of happiness. Im happy I fell in love with myself. I hope shes truly happy now and stops her cycle of abuse but she's not my problem anymore. Im free! Im finally free!

And if anyone does read this, Stay! Stay its gets better i promise you. Don't give up, get help and live your life. Please don't give up. You are loved ❤❤❤ ☺

#personal #keepsmiling #karma #healing #movingon #venting #happy #reallove #selflove #selfcare #suicidepreventionmonth

[commanderquill]

One Step Closer

Pairing: Tim Drake/Jason Todd

Rating: Not Rated

Genre: Adventure/Mystery

Words: 100K+

Summary: Tim Drake can’t help it, he’s a sucker for mystery and there isn’t a mystery like Batman and Robin. There’s something taboo, forbidden and thrilling to hiding on rooftops for hours just to catch pictures of them in action -- pictures no one else has ever taken. These misadventures lead him to an odd acquaintance with a tire thief named Jay, who becomes an unexpected constant during Tim’s nighttime escapades.

When Jay disappears and no one will tell him where he’s gone, Tim figures it’s up to him to rescue his friend. But for some reason, amongst his investigations into the strange uprise of human disappearances around Gotham, Robin is there, preventing Tim from getting into too much trouble -- and trying to keep him away from his search for Jay.

The network of kidnappings only seems to keep getting bigger and bigger, until Tim finally turns his sights to the one percenters of the city, because Bruce Wayne is acting suspicious and Tim will find a connection to these human disappearances if it’s the last thing he does. After all, rarely are people ever what they seem, and in Gotham, rich money is always dirty.

CLICK HERE TO READ

Excerpt From Chapter 2:

“I ripped him off.”

They’re sitting on a low rooftop sandwiched between two taller buildings. Beneath them, Tim can feel the pulsing of a nightclub, the beat thump-thumping through his thighs and into his chest. The sun is low in the sky but not yet fallen, though it’s well into the evening anyway due to the summer time hours.

“You ripped your broker off?” Tim asks. Their conversation is oddly quiet despite the loud music. Slow and almost emotionless. That’s fine by him. They’re both still digesting the day’s events. “I thought it’s supposed to be the other way around.”

“It is,” Jay says. “That’s why he’s pissed.”

“Oh.” Silence.

“Y’know, I wouldn’t of done it if he’d give them their fair cut,” Jay frowns. “What he’s doin’ isn’t right. The other kids’ll pick pockets and steal and bribe to get a handful of shiny things or whatever he’s callin’ for and he sends them off with barely half of what it’s worth and they can’t do nothing about it ‘cause he’s the only one in town. Only broker. So I lied ‘bout the tire. Carved in new tread, made it too thin on purpose so it wouldn’t last. Polished over the name, lied about the type. Ripped him off by a couple hundred bucks. He barely gives out hundreds to start, but he thought it was real nice.”

Tim nods.

“And then I threw a bottle bomb in his office. His favourite couch has a hole in it,” Jay finally smirks.

Tim doesn’t even mind. “And of course, I pepper-sprayed him and his buddy.”

“Of course.”

“Twice.”

Jay huffs a laugh. Another moment passes before Tim joins him with a small smile of his own.“Y’know,” he says, finally turning to Tim. “We make a pretty good team.”

“Yeah,” Tim admits shyly, looking down at the muddy toes of his sneakers dangling off the edge of the roof. “I guess we do.”

Tim ultimately decides that the day has been given enough thought and turns his attention to attempting to judge what song is playing based on the beat reverberating through his limbs. He thinks it might be a remix of Mama by David Guetta, not like that song doesn’t have enough remixes, when Jay speaks. Tim almost doesn’t hear him.

“You’re still lookin’ for Bat and brat, right?” he asks innocently. Tim turns to him in surprise.

“I--uh,” he stammers, embarrassed. “Yeah.”

“Cool. Lemme know if you catch ‘em.”

The comment is so absurd that Tim can’t help but hang his head and laugh at it. “I’m not trying to catch them. They’re not Pokemon.”

“They probably were in another life,” Jay shrugs. He’s trying to hide his mirth but Tim can see it in the quirk of his lips. “What are you tryin’ to do, then?”

Tim has to think about that for a moment. “Not sure,” he finally says. “I think I just want to know that I did it. That I figured out who they are. The biggest mystery in modern-day Gotham, solved by the little kid nobody thought anything of. Plus, they’re...kind of my role models. Robin is, anyway.”

A smirk. “You wanna find out who bird brains is so you can ask ‘im out?”

Tim elbows him. Jay winces for a split second, his ribs must be bruised, but he recovers before Tim can apologise. “No. I don’t know. Knowledge is power, I guess.”

Jay nods in understanding. “I get it.”

“You do?” Tim asks. “The people I know don’t. They’re all thinking about...other things. Social status and stuff. What people are posting on Instagram.” He pauses, not sure if Jay wants to hear more, but the boy doesn’t say anything, just looks at him blankly and Tim finds himself talking before he can think about monitoring what comes out. “Like, no one pays attention in my science class, but my teacher loves to talk and he’ll go on about anything, and last week he started talking about what Gotham was like when he was little. He’s really old. And no one was listening, but then he started talking about the abandoned Subway tunnels. So I looked it up, and you wouldn’t believe how big it is. It connects anything and everything and no one remembers it exists. But there’s these pictures on the Newtown construction page. It’s at the very bottom of this 90-something page paper about politics and rules and stuff, but it’s there, and I found it and printed it out and put it in the box under my bed.

“I like to learn more about anything I hear, no matter how useless people think it is, because you never know when you’re going to want it. Sometimes I’ll hear something and my first thought is, ‘That’s useful’, but I don’t know why it’s useful and I don’t know what I’d use it for,” Tim finishes. “But I keep a note of it anyway, just in case.” Jay doesn’t say anything for another moment, just kicks his legs. “It’s not like that here,” he says finally. “I mean, yeah, what’s useful is a bit different, but… If you know these streets, you control these streets.” He looks at Tim, trying to see if Tim understands, and must see that Tim doesn’t because he tries elaborating. “Like Tommy. My broker you pepper-sprayed? He knows the street kids in these parts, and he’s all buddy-buddy with the gangs. He knows where to walk and where to not. He knows who to rip off and who to stay away from, so he can get money in all the right places and no one can stop him because then he puts a stop to them. Gangs don’t bother him because he knows enough secrets that he can hold it over them, make sure they don’t mess with him because he has something in his head they’re afraid of.

“It’s all about the secrets. A street looks like any other street, it’s what’s goin’ on behind the walls that you gotta worry about, that you gotta know, because if you have nothing to take from someone else, someone else is gonna take from you.” Jay nods to himself. “Yeah. Knowing too much is better than knowing nothin’ at all.”

It’s...comforting, hearing Jay say all of that. “There’s a lot I don’t know, though,” Tim says cautiously. “Like how the streets work. You’re the one with the street smarts. I’m just book smart.”

Jay cocks his head curiously. “Yeah? Don’t expect you to. You’re not from ‘round here.”

“Doesn’t mean I should be stupid about it.”

“What’s your point?”

“If I hang around long enough, you’ll teach me, right?” Tim asks. He knows he’s asking for a lot, but he doesn’t know whether or not it’s too much.

Jay frowns. “Teach you?”

“Yeah. Show me what it’s like here. Or at least, how to live here.”

That earns him an eyebrow raise. “You’re gonna have to actually live here for that. But…,” Jay continues before Tim can feel disheartened. “Sure. Hang around me. Shouldn’t be too bad. But I got rules.”

“Like?” Tim prods.

“Like, you gotta listen to what I say. If I say do something, you do it. Even if it seems weird. Also, I do all the talkin’. I can make you look like a rat, but anyone hear the way you talk and they’ll throw you to the wolves. You gotta learn how to not paint a target on your back.”

Tim nods slowly. “I have a rule, too.”

Jay’s eyes narrow. “Yeah?”

“No throwing either of us to the wolves,” he smiles. “You have my back, I have yours.”

Jay looks surprised, like that’s the last thing he expected to come out of Tim’s mouth. Oddly enough, that fills Tim with a sense of pride. He sticks his hand out. Jay looks at it like he can’t figure out what a hand is, and Tim feels a bit comical, but he’s nothing if not determined. He leans forward to whisper conspiratorially: “You’re supposed to shake it.”

Jay scowls and grabs his hand. Tim gives it a single, firm shake. “Then it’s official.”

“What is?”

“Our friendship.”

A sense of victory floods Tim when Jay’s mouth breaks out into a grin. “Whatever, Sherlock.”

They sit in companionable silence before a thought occurs to Tim. “If I’m Sherlock, are you Watson?”

“Isn’t Watson an idiot?”

“Only in some versions.”

“Go figure.”

[kazblove]

Greenwich Day Out

Greenwich Day out

So me and my good friend Vikki decided to have a wonderful day out in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to go all tourist and have a wonder around looking at all the sights. Of course we needed to bring her gorgeous Sausage Dexter who always enjoys an adventure out. Unfortunately the sun was not our friend this time and decided to not show its face at all but this didnt stop us enjoying every minute of being out in the open air. 

The first part of any day out is normally getting yourself on the train and for us this also means a well earned time to catch up on the gossip, now me and Vikki used to work together, now our jobs haven taken us separate ways we dont get to see each other as much. So a nice train journey is perfect time to start that catch up. Plus Dexter seems to enjoy a good journey, he sat on her lap watching the world go by the whole way. 

Train journey was not very long and therefore there was still plenty of time to explore and catch up further. I have been to Greenwich plenty of times considering I grew up in this area but its always nice to take someone who has not and you suddenly become a tourist guide. Im not particular very good at this and forget things and dont really know where to take people. Thankfully Greenwich is well known and it all speaks for itself. First stop was to wonder around the main part of Greenwich and to go past the Cutty Sark, now for those of you that dont know this is a British Clipper ship built in Glasgow in 1869, and was part of the Tea Trade was one of the fastest clippers for this purpose. She was moved to Greewich in 1954 after she was no longer useful as a cadet ship and there she remained as part of the nautical history that is Greenwich. The Cutty Sark is listed by National Historic Ships as part of the National Historic Fleet (the nautical equivalent of a Grade 1 Listed Building). We didnt unfortunately go onto the boat this time around due to having Deter but we enjoyed her beauty from the side. Also deciding to eat out lunch with that in front of us. There was a brilliant food festival going on there Saturday so could pick from a variety of countries cuisine and enjoyed the atmosphere that it was providing. We chose Greek, and couldn't have asked for a better choice, a wonderful vegetarian wrap with tzatziki, greek salad, feta and halloumi cheese.

After wondering around the Cutty Sark we headed off to the queens House, again couldnt go in due to Dexter but you can admire the beauty that is this architecture. Again this is a listed building and a former Royal residence built between 1616 and 1665,  the Queen's House is one of the most important buildings in British architectural history, being the first consciously classical building to have been constructed in the country. Obviously now it hosts art work and other social events, believe you can even hire it out for your wedding if any of you need this information at this point. 

After this we thought Dexter needed a good walk and therefore a walk through Greenwich Park was called for, there is something about this park that when its sunny looks even more beautiful but unfortunately Vikki didnt get to see it this way, instead dark grey clouds. Plus again im not a great guide and probably didnt take her around enough of it really. Did head to the royal observatory of course and enjoyed the fantastic view that is Central london from it.  The Royal Observatory played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known for the fact that the prime meridian passes through it, and thereby gave its name to Greenwich Mean time. I hope to go back in there at some point and enjoy this experience, not been able to do this since i was child on a school trip so certainly something for another day. Enjoyed a nice cool drink in the pavilion Cafe which is situated in Greenwich park, time for Dexter to rest his little legs and of course ours. Plus once again was nice to enjoy the atmosphere and continue our catch up. We always have a lot to chat about when sometimes its a few months between seeing each other. I would recommend this place if your around the park area, its very chilled and the views are wonderful. 

A walk around the Greenwich Market ended our day, and of course i popped into the wonderful fudge shop thats there called The Fudge Patch, they do some wonderfully fresh home made fudge of nearly every flavour you could dream of. The best thing about them is they openly let you try the flavours before you buy. No limit to fussiness they just want you to go home happy with your purchase. Which of course i was, salted caramel all to myself. I certainly cant wait to enjoy that with a nice iced coffee. 

I was really pleased to come across a beautiful rainbow road crossing near the market, considering it was London pride on this day I was proud to say I live in the London borough who all celebrate this in some way.

Although Dexter was tired by the time we finished and maybe if we were honest so were our legs, we had a nice day and made the most of the weather and the fact that places like this to visit are right on our door step. We always enjoy a catch up that involves going somewhere different. Hopefully be planning our next day out very soon before the winter sets in. I do like to enjoy the history of the place and also love a photograph!! I hope i get to share many more days out with you all now I have found my little corner of the internet. 

[ramennoodlesandnarusasu]

A kiss never forgotten

*Chap 1: A drunken night*

*Chap 2: A blurred night*

*Chap 3: The bath house*

*Chap 4: A Thousand pieces*

*Chap 5: Heart beat*

*Chap 6: Surprise*

*Chap 7: Sunsets, trees and you*

*Chap 8: What now?*

*Chap 9: Healing the unfixable*

*Chap 10: So, this is it?*

*Chap 11: What now?*

*Chap 12: Kids and kisses*

Chap 13: Its time

Naruto was excited but hesitant towards today. He woke in the morning with a strange queasy feeling within his stomach. His hands clenched into a tight fist whilst his stomach convulsed in the strangest ways.

He looked down to see Sasuke’s hands limp on his stomach, lying there lifeless as he slept. He was enormously tempted to kiss it awake but he didn’t want Sasuke to murder him, so he decided best not.

Today was the day. The day he was excited to get over and done with. Tonight, after work he was meeting with Sakura and Hinata to finally tell them about his relationship with Sasuke.

He wasn’t sure how they would take it, but it had been 3 months since the divorce and he didn’t want to stretch it out anymore. On top of that Kakashi was draining them of their money to keep his mouth shut, which was starting to have a heavy toll on Naruto’s bank account.

Naruto looked over to Sasuke slowly bent down and kissed his warm cheek, earning him a mumbled grunt. He slipped out of bed and headed for his daily morning shower.

As he walked down the grey corridor that lead him to his shower he started liking the colour of the blank grey walls. He wasn’t sure if the colour had grown on him or if it was due to him moving out next week with Sasuke which made him feel sad of letting go of this shitty apartment.

He entered the bathroom, hissing as his feet hit the cold tiled floors. He reached for the water tap turning it on, making sure that it was going to be blistering hot when he got in.  He turned around to find his towel whist simultaneously ripping off his clothes.

As he stepped into the shower he knew he was no longer alone.

“Sasuke, you do know I am not a private peep show?” “Well you certainly are a sight to look at.” Naruto chuckled lightly. He loved this. He loved waking up with Sasuke, talking to him in the morning, being with him through every mundane daily morning routine.

“Well are you going to just look at me you perv? Or are you coming in the shower?

“Tch, like you even need to ask.”

-

Naruto made two coffees to go, pouring 5 times the amount of sugar in one and leaving the other as bitter as possible. He handed Sasuke his dark coffee and grabbed the house keys and hurried his sleepy boyfriend out the door.

Sasuke had yet accustomed to Naruto’s morning time, but seeming as he refused to let Naruto go to work alone he had to face the pain of waking up before the sun rose.

It surprised Naruto how normal it felt to have Sasuke in his life, it felt more natural than anything else his ever done. The mundane task at home didn’t seem so boring anymore, going grocery shopping turned into balls of laughter and staying home on the weekends had become his most treasured past times.

Naruto was happy, after so many years he finally reached happiness. His heart had been filled with joy over the past few months, something it wasn’t very used to.

Naruto and Sasuke walked in silence, each blissfully happy in each other’s company. Naruto looked over to Sasuke never truly being satisfied with a glance, wishing he could stare for hours and get away with no one noticing.

He had never seen Sasuke so at ease before, he usually had a smirk on his face when they were together which made every part of Naruto warm up like he had just taken a sip of hot tea.

Naruto was not only glad for his own happiness but it brought him joy seeing Sasuke finally opening up, being kinder and happier instead of dark and moody all the time. Naruto started giggling to himself thinking about how much Sasuke has changed over the last few months.

“What are you laughing about dobe?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“What? Tell me, or I might have to chidori your ass.”

“Hm, I just think your becoming soft Uchiha I don’t think he have threatened to kill anyone in the last month.”

“IM NOT SOFT!”

“Oh, I know you’re not.”

“Gross, get your head out of the gutters.”

Naruto and Sasuke spent the entire time laughing about Sasuke becoming soft. But in reality Naruto knew Sasuke was changing for the better and he was beyond happy that Sasuke also found his happy place.

Before Naruto and Sasuke reached the door that lead into the Hokage tower Naruto stopped.

This was the same place were Sasuke and himself confessed everything, that night was seared into Naruto’s brain. He remembered Sasuke standing where he was and himself at the door trying to convince himself to not be happy. He was thankful to that night, if it weren’t for 20 plus drinks he wouldn’t be standing here today looking at his boyfriend.

“Hey teme!”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

Sasuke was obviously trying to hide his smile. But the Sasuke who stood here today no longer needed a reason to suppress his feelings, so he decided to let it out.

Naruto was hit with a sight of pure perfection, Sasuke smiling amongst glistening stars which brightly sparkled around Sasuke, illuminating him against the rest of the world. He could never stop loving that man and no matter how long they were together he knew he would fall for that smile every time.

-

Naruto entered his office with Sasuke not far behind. It was strange that his happiness had flowed into work. He no longer found the long nights and the overbearing paper work so hard and the reason was walking in right now with the most beautiful smile he has ever seen.

Since he started dating Sasuke he found he couldn’t get rid of him, nor did he want to. Sasuke spent most days helping Naruto if he didn’t have to be with his chunin team which Naruto never heard the end off.

Sasuke would constantly whine that he hated baby sitting and as much as Naruto tried to convince him that he was modelling the future generation, Sasuke still showed no sign of actually giving a crap.

Every other night Naruto would go spend time with his kids, he always had some crazy adventures planned for the evening and each night was a new night. Naruto didn’t let Sasuke off the hook for being literally one of the worst dads in existent, so Sakura was met with a big surprised when she saw Sasuke at her door after a night of Naruto pushing him to go. It seemed like everything was working out for the best with Naruto and Sasuke together.

Not only is Naruto getting his work done quicker and was ten times more productive at work with Sasuke around. He also spent more time with his children and was developing a tighter bond with both of them. Sasuke in the other hand was also improving in the father department, surprisingly going to see Sarada and Sakura more than once in a week now.

Naruto had been glowing in the past months and people started to notice his change of behaviour and nature. The village was more surprised to find out Sasuke had a heart and his change in nature was being well received by pretty much everyone besides close friends who were wildly suspicious about his calm and nearly gentle nature. The only one who wasn’t suspicious was Kakashi because he knew exactly why both of them where in such high spirits.

-

Naruto looked out his window, the day was beautiful, the sky crystal blue with a few scattered clouds. The streets where beginning to burst back to life with bakers and chefs starting up their ovens. A few ninja’s and early risers where wondering the streets greeting each other amongst the village.

Naruto felt a loving warm sensation caress him, weaving his arms around his lower stomach. A gentle kiss stroked his cheek.

“Sasuke you know Kakashi will be here in literally 2 minutes?”

“So? Torture him a little bit, why not?”

“Your evil, you know that?” Sasuke let out a deep chuckle.

Naruto turned around and kissed Sasuke deeply, bitting his lower lip to tease to tease him a little.

“Hey, calm down. Don’t tease me like that baka.”

“What you can’t handle me Uchiha?”

Sasuke let out a low growl. “I hate you.”

Naruto couldn’t handle how much he loved this man in every possible way. “I love you too.”

Naruto picked up Sasuke and lowered him onto the Hokage table. Steadily wrapping his hands around his darkened locks.

He brought Sasuke an inch away from his lips and whispered “I will never let you go again, you know that?”

“Hmph”, Sasuke grumbled in the midst of bighting back Naruto’s lips.

Naruto harshly pushed his lips onto Sasuke’s wanting to taste everything he could, he was started to lose control.

“Ahem…If I wanted a porno I would have stayed at home.”

Both Naruto and Sasuke let out a chuckle. They loved torturing Kakashi seeming as they were still paying him to keep his mouth shut. Recently they had been juicing the fact that Kakashi can’t tell and every morning they would purposely try and act raunchy to piss him off.

“Hey Kakashi, you’re so early, I was about to pound Uchiha hard on the table. Shame.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened looking at Naruto with confusion. “You where?”

“No Baka, unless you want me to?”

Kakashi walked towards them and slammed him palm on the table. “NO! I will kill you two.”

“Okay, okay sensei.” Naruto winked at Kakashi and let Sasuke get down from the table.

“Okay team, let’s get to it. We have a lot of work to do and me and Sasuke have to be out of here by 7.”

Kakashi raised a questioning eyebrow “what for?”

“Well let’s just say after tonight you can no longer bride us.”

“GOD DAMMIT! But there is a new book I want.”

Sasuke answered dryly “what a shame.”

-

The clock had seemed like it was going 5 times the speed, Naruto wanted time to rehearse what he was going to say to Hinata and Sakura, but before he knew it the clock was already reaching 7pm.

“Okay good job team! Let’s pack up or me and Sasuke are going to be late.”

Kakashi yawned and slowly started moving the packs of paper back to the table “but if you go, that means I won’t be able to bribe you anymore, so I am going to move slowly.”

Sasuke darkly chuckled, “oh Kakashi this is going to be fun, no more bribing bullshit.”

Naruto looked over to the two bickering children and questioned how both these men where over 12 years old.

Naruto made 5 clones which got the job done in 2 seconds, “you guys kept acting like children and weren’t actually doing anything about cleaning up, so I just did it for you.”

Naruto raised his eyebrows in annoyance and folded his arms in the best father figure position possible.

“Okay Sasuke if you are done arguing with Kakashi we have somewhere to be.”

“Hmph.”

Kakashi laughed at Sasuke, whilst pulling out a book.

“I would kill you if it were up to me” Sasuke hissed back at Kakashi’s childish laughter.

“Okay, off we go. Bye Kakashi, oh and be here at 6 am to start the paper work as punishment for being mean to my boyfriend.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!”

“UH! Hokage orders.”

Sasuke was mildly amused by this whole scene, “Sasuke I will kick you in the face next time.”

“Come get me grandpa” Sasuke taunted back.

Naruto pushed Sasuke out and left Kakashi standing in the Hokage’s room threating to ninja kick the shit out of Sasuke. As Naruto closed the door he let out an irritated sigh.

“You two act like your 12, next time I’m going to kick the both of you.”

“Hah, like you can take me on.”

Naruto looked at Sasuke with a cheeky and challenging look, “next week? Training grounds, let’s do it.”

“Oh, it is on Uzumaki.”

“For now, let’s think about our plan of attack for this dinner.”

“Oh yer. What about I’m gay I have the hots for your ex-husband and we have been together for 3 months. Sound good?”

Naruto just let out a frustrated sigh, he knew this was going to be all on him. Passive and effective communication was something Sasuke never mastered and from that dismal answer he was still shit at it.

“You know what, let me do the talking.”

“Haha, sounds perfect.”

Sasuke stuck out his tongue cheekily at Naruto and then grabbed Naruto’s hand down the hallway. From today onwards they have no reason to hide their relationship and Sasuke was going to use this freedom to show the entire world Naruto was finally his.

“Teme are you going to hold my hand the whole way there?”

“Yup!”

“Alrighty then, prepare for stares galore.”

-

Naruto’s premonition was correct, on their way to dinner everyone who saw Naruto and Sasuke holding hands had either started crying, screaming or their faces looked like they had unnaturally contorted to allow their jaws to fall to the ground.

Some people had enough courage to come up to both of them and ask what was going on, once they heard the news they congratulated both of them and gave Natuto a big hug.

No one came near Sasuke unless it was a slight tap of congratulations on the shoulder. Half the village was still scared of him and were still afraid of getting beaten up. Most of the village women and teens ended up crying over the fact Naruto was taken again, which Sasuke evilly snickered at.

Naruto let go of Sasuke’s hands as soon as the restaurant was in sight, “sorry teme, but I don’t think we should go in holding hands.”

“Tch, your right. Alright let’s do this.”

Naruto nodded his head looked at Sasuke lovingly and walked forward with his head held high.

-

Naruto and Sasuke where sitting on one side of the table whilst Hinata and Sakura were sitting on the other. They decided to not talk about anything serious until the meal was over and everyone had gone through at least 2 rounds of drinks.

Both Hinata and Sakura had confused and worried looks when Naruto said they had big news but they were going to wait till the end of the meal to tell them.

After everyone had finished there second round of drinks Sakura couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Okay, if you don’t tell us what this news is now I am going to explode, what the hell is happening?”

Naruto looked at Sasuke, steadied his breathe. He tried to calm his heart which was echoing in his ear drums.

“Well, um…”

Naruto struggled to express the words he was trying to say. He felt a loving hand wrap around his knee and saw Sasuke’s firm hand supporting his every breath.

“Well, this is going to be quite difficult to process and I really want you two to have an open mind.”

Both Sakura and Hinata nodded with worried creases covering their foreheads.

“Me and Sasuke are actually dating and we have been for a while now, we kind of feel in love. I know this might be strange, but both of us can’t stop the way we feel towards each other.”

Naruto took in another breath feeling is adams apple burn from the level of stress he felt.

“I Love him so much and I’m finally so happy, I just…”

“Please don’t hate us, we want all of us to be happy and ultimately I would love to join both of our families together so we can be happy all together.”

Naruto waited for something, anything. But the room was dead quiet, all that could be heard was the noise from the restaurant outside their private room. The hurrying feet of waitresses and the chatter and laughter from dinners echoed into their rooms.

“Sakura?

Sakura had an astonished look on her face, tears started to fill her eyes.

“Wow! Guys, I am so happy for you.”

A huge wave of relief washed over Naruto’s shoulders. Sakura got up and went to hug Sasuke tightly.

Hinata?

Naruto was trying to see Hinata behind Sakura who was coming closer for a hug. All he could see was her face completely red, her eyes swelling up. Her facial expression seemed like it had just seen death, she barely looked like she was breathing or blinking for the matter.

Hinata got up quickly, “if you please excuse me”.

Hinata ran out and slammed the door behind her. Naruto felt like the tightness come back to his chest and shoulders.

He looked at Sasuke who had a worried look glazed over his face.

“Should I?”

Naruto stood up “no let me.”

He felt a hot liquid fill his heart, he hadn’t felt this sensation in a while. This overbearing feeling of sadness and pain, he thought he wouldn’t have to face it again. As he walked out the door, he heard Sakura energetically talking to Sasuke about him, he wished it could have been this easy with Hinata.

In the back of his mind he knew it wasn’t going to be, Sakura has known for years Sasuke was gay, Hinata in the other hand had a husband who she assumed was straight till right now.

Naruto quickly ran out the restaurant, looking up and down the street. Tears now filling his eyes, muscles clenching harshly within his chest. His breathe was unsteady, his pulse unbalanced. “HINATA!!!!”

*Chap 14: Tears*

[themoneybuff-blog]

Passive income vs. passion income

Shares 167 When I was a younger man back before I founded Get Rich Slowly in 2006 I was intrigued by the idea of creating passive income. While passive income isnt exactly a get rich quick scheme (and boy was I intrigued boy those back then!), theres certainly some overlap. Both passive income and get rich quick schemes appeal to lazy people like my younger self, people looking for ways to make money for nothing. What Is Passive Income?

Passive income, as the term implies, is money you earn on a regular basis with little or no effort required to maintain the cash flow after the income stream has begun. Common examples of passive income include rental properties, royalties from books (and other published work), and profitable businesses that you own but in which you have little (or no) active involvement. My interest in passive income started early in life. When I was a boy, my father was drawn to the promise of easy money. (See? This is another example of how we inherit our money blueprints from our parents.) Dad was a serial entrepreneur, as Ive mentioned before, but he was also drawn to multi-level marketing schemes. Multi-level marketing schemes lure victims participants with the dream of big bucks for minimal effort. Sure, you have to set up your own operation by recruiting customers and a stable of salespeople, but once you do so the story goes you can sit back and relax as the money pours in! Like my father, I too was drawn to these schemes when I was younger. My first job out of college, for instance, was a multi-level marketing scheme disguised as an insurance company. On a daily basis, the job entailed going door to door trying to sell hospitalization insurance (that was essentially worthless), but the folks who really made money did so because they recruited salespeople who worked under them. The top managers made plenty of passive income because of the pyramid nature of the program. That said, passive income is not inherently slimy. In fact, its a terrific concept worth your attention. Note: My favorite legit book about passive income is The Incredible Secret Money Machine by Don Lancaster. (Heres my review.) My dad bought a copy of this book when it came out in 1978, and I read it several times as a kid. (I still have Dads old copy signed by Mr. Lancaster himself!) If youre at all interested in legitimate sources of passive income, you should read the updated version of this book, which is available for free at the authors website. The Power of Passive Income The truth is that if you can create multiple streams of income that operate without effort on your part, these streams can be terrific supplements to your regular job. Actually, the crossover point, an integral part of Financial Independence theory derived from the classic book Your Money or Your Life, is built around passive income: The Crossover Point provides us with our final definition of Financial Independence. At the Crossover Point, where monthly investment income exceeds your monthly expenses, you will be financially independent in the traditional sense of that term. You will have passive income from a source other than a job.

At the moment, I currently enjoy several small sources of passive income: Each month, I receive between $30 and $50 from sales of Your Money: The Missing Manual, the book I published in 2010. (I earn about a buck per book.)Similarly, I get about $100 to $200 each month from sales of the Get Rich Slowly course. My share of each sale ranges from $8 to $40 depending on a variety of factors.Im earning a tiny bit of revenue from a variety of websites that Ive abandoned or neglected.Kim is paying me $500 per month to vest into ownership of the house.My top source of passive income comes from interest and dividends on my investment portfolio. In the past, Ive also received passive income through other sources such as business loans. (I loaned money to my familys box factory, for example, so the company could purchase a piece of machinery. The interest on that loan was passive income.) There are folks who are under the impression that Get Rich Slowly itself is a source of passive income. Hahaha. Nope. Not even close. For one thing, theres nothing passive about running this site. Its a full-time job, especially if I want it to be good. Plus, while Get Rich Slowly is generating revenue right now, its operating at a loss and not a profit. (So, I guess you could say that GRS is a source of active expense rather than passive income. Ha.) What Is Passion Income? During my short summer break last week, I took a morning drive to visit some friends. Jillian and Adam from Montana Money Adventures were passing through Portland during their 10-week mini retirement. I spent a couple of hours eating breakfast with them and their five kids. Jillian was amused at how she kept burning the pancakes. (This isnt my usual pancake batter. Im used to Krusteaz, she said. So am I.)

After breakfast, Adam took their troop for a hike. Jillian and I sat by the campfire and recorded a video that shell use sometime in the future at her website. We chatted about travel (or course) and blogging (of course) and early retirement (of course). But then Jillian steered the conversation in an interesting direction. We were talking about how retirement isnt always what people expect it to be, whether they retire early or not. A lot of folks quit their jobs to find that theyre life is without purpose, that theyre bored. Thats why I encourage my readers and clients to pursue passion income, Jillian said. Passion income? Do you mean passive income? I asked. No, Jillian said. I mean passion income. Passive income is great, and if you can find a way to get some, you should do it. But passion income is something completely different. Passion income is money you generate by simply doing what you love. Thats interesting, I said. And passion income is different for everyone, Jillian said. For one person, their passion income might come from creating art. For another person, it might come from consulting. For another, it might involve doing carpentry on the weekend. For you, its Get Rich Slowly. The key, though, is that passion income combines what youre good at, what you like to do, and what matters to you. The Power of Passion Income I said good-bye to Jillian and her family, then headed home. But along the drive, I continued to think about the notion of passion income. Its an idea that Ive espoused for a while but never had a term for it. When I got back to the house, I dug through the archives at Montana Money Adventures to read more about the concept. So far, Jillian has three articles about passion income: Jillian says that passion income is derived from things that (a) are in your natural skill set or match your core competency, (b) you love the outcome and feel like youre making a difference, and (c) give space for other important things in your life. Shes created the following Venn diagram to show what she means:

While neither Jillian nor I would argue that you should do what you love and the money will follow, I think we both agree that in an ideal world youd make money by doing something you enjoy. This might be difficult if youre currently in the middle of a specific career trajectory, but its much easier after youve retired. After youve left the traditional workplace, you have the freedom to make choices more aligned with your self and your vision. Pursuing passion income whether its through art, a hobby, or work in your community can be an excellent way to take pressure off your retirement savings while also giving yourself a sense of purpose. Thinking about it, thats really why I bought back Get Rich Slowly. My hope is that this blog will be a source of passion income (not passive income). And once I get the monetization thing figured out, I think it will be. Combining Passive Income with Passion Income The great thing, Jillian says, is that you can pursue both passive income and passion income. That might mean doing something painting, writing a book that fits in both categories. Your work might fit in that passion income sweet spot, but then produce residual passive income in the future. Or, that might mean pursuing multiple sources of income, some out of passion and some that are passive. (She points out that the happiest retirees average eight streams of income. Im not sure the source of that stat, but its interesting. And it makes sense. When you have diverse income sources, theres less risk to you if one of them dries up.) Why even worry about passive income and passion income? Recently, I wrote about the struggle some people face to figure out how much to spend in retirement. While some people overspend, theres a sizable population that underspends. Theyre afraid to touch their nest egg. Passion income alleviates the pain of spending. You get to work at something you love while also earning some money. And spending this money isnt painful, unlike spending out of your investment accounts. Another benefit of passion income? If youre able to generate ongoing revenue with work that you love whether its part time or full time youre able to quit your career much sooner than you would on a traditional early retirement path. If you can earn $1000 per month by building picnic tables, for example, thats $300,000 less you need to save for retirement (given standard assumptions). As I near fifty, Im still intrigued by the idea of passive income. I probably always will be. But the older I get, the more vocal I am that people should consider creating sources of passion income. Finding a way to earn even a little bit of money by doing something you love can not only be fun, but it can also help you reach retirement sooner or make your current retirement less stressful. Shares 167 https://www.getrichslowly.org/passive-income-vs-passion-income/

[comicteaparty]

May 31st, 2018 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on May 31st, 2018, from 5PM - 7PM PDT.  The chat focused on Dawn of the Dad by AnitaComics.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

COMIC TEA PARTY START!

Good day everyone~! This week’s Comic Tea Party is now officially beginning~! Today we are discussing Dawn of the Dad by AnitaComics~! (https://tapas.io/series/Dawn-of-the-Dad) For those new or in need of a reminder, discussions about the comic are freeform, so please feel free to bring up whatever you wish. However, every 30 minutes I will be dropping in a discussion question to help those who would like a prompt. These questions are totally OPTIONAL to answer, and you can pay them no mind if you wish. If you miss out on any though, they’ll be pinned for the duration of the chat once they’re posted~! Remember, constructive criticism is allowed, but the primary focus here is to have fun and appreciate the amazing comics that the community makes~! As a bonus, each chat a top comment will be picked and featured in the archives and on an ad for CTP! All that being said, let’s get started and have a great discussion!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

snuffysam

Hmm... not really a scene, but I liked how the "insane janitor" was set up in the arc before he became relevant

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i really like the janitor's character in general

and really adore how his suspicious activity was this really benign hes got a boyfriend thing

snuffysam

yeah and he just doesn't want his family finding out

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

cause the rumors that were going around really remind me of how teens make things go out of proportion

snuffysam

becky's dad didn't exactly help

going straight to the principal's office and all that

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

becky's dad rarely helps XD youd think a ghost dad would be more useful cause he can pass through wall

snuffysam

he does mostly just fumble around and mess things up worse, doesn't he?

i guess he got the necklace off becky, but not on purpose

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

he is the one who came up with the vaccuum idea at least

snuffysam

true

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

speaking of favorite scenes, my favorite scene is the one where takehiko is trying to save becky and then roger comes out of nowhere and epic punches her and steals all his thunder

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I liked the scene where Dad tried to infiltrate the school as a "new student" and promptly lost track of the guy they were trying to tail.

snuffysam

and then how becky's dad gets mad at roger

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I think Dad is into cosplay.

snuffysam

he really does dress up a lot

to little success, given that the skull is kind of a dead giveaway

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

And yeah, the janitor arc was pretty neat.

snuffysam

that ones for you math

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Well played, snuffy.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i liked how in the blue goop ghost arc thing, w/e theyre called, that one teacher still was calling becky's dad the new student

snuffysam

p.h.l.u., yes

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Yes, that was a nice callback.

I know that was a take on "flu" but did it say what it stood for?

snuffysam

it did, but i can't remember what it was

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Also, grandma. Whaaaat is the deal with her.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

the grandma must be cthulu clearly

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

There was that contract in the attic. That was an interesting scene too.

snuffysam

it's odd how nobody seems to have really noticed her strange behavior yet

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I think they must have noticed, like those people who came to the house with the exorcist and she was floating tea around. They must just accept it as normal somehow.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

it might be that the characters know and have no need to comment on it whereas for readers its a wtf thing.

yeah like math said

snuffysam

it's hard to say what is truly normal in this world

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

everybody just like "thats grandma being grandma"

i mean theyre pretty okay with becky's dad the way he is XD

snuffysam

the people at the morgue school are, but the teens at becky's old school flipped out

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Well, the kids at the new school are... snuffy beat me to it.

Though the exorcist seemed okay with it too, he was just worried about the rage issues.

snuffysam

yet body-snatching slugs apparently make the national news and nobody bats an eye

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Was it national news, or just the station granny likes to tune into?

snuffysam

hmm good question. this outbreak wasn't just in the school though, apparently

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Depends on where they play the soul music.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i would assume the supernatural is accepted but that people's interaction with it varies? so becky's old school friends panicked cause they dont get to see ghosts and zombies a whole lot

whereas the new school everyone is like "sounds like a normal tuesday"

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

That seems reasonable. Dad said his presence was the exception rather than the rule. And ouija boards exist as a thing that still seemed to be on the "fringe".

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah. against just a difference in exposure. like i know exorcists exist but ive never met one and im sure id be wtfing if i ever did meet one and witness their craft

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Exorcists are good at their arts and crafts.

snuffysam

becky really hasn't learned much exorcism yet, has she?

i guess that's probably a higher level class

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I think phys ed is where they do their exorcise.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

id assume itd be so. i mean becky is at the level where she has to dig graves and thats not really skilled labor persay O_O

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

It's a grave matter.

Gotta ride that gravey train.

Do you dig it? ... I'll stop now.

snuffysam

maybe if she kept the amulet she'd have gotten to that level

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Yeah, kind of sad that it got smashed.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i see the pun train is going at full speed today for you math XDXD

maybe exorcism is an elective class and its one of those classes you take if youre intending that for a career

snuffysam

maybe. but i seem to recall the line "you realize what you'll be learning there" being tossed around, in reference to becky's dad being a ghost

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

that could also be

QUESTION 2. Besides Becky, there are a slew of interesting side characters who have their own mysteries. What is Becky’s grandmother exactly? Who is Julie and why is she at such a supernatural school? Why do you think Julie became such fast friends with Becky, and will their friendship stand the test of time? What is the deal with Becky’s crush Roger, and do you think he and Becky will have a romance bloom between them? Given Takehiko’s recent death, do you think he’s gone for good, or do you think he will return in some manner? Are there any other characters that caught your eye and gave you interesting theories?

snuffysam

either takehiko comes back as a ghost, or this comic is way darker than i thought it would be

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Yeeeeah, I'm... kinda worried about the implications there. In this day and age of girls who should be able to turn down boys without repercussions.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

takehiko seems more likely to come back as a zombie to me as opposed to a ghost

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Julie's interesting. I think she likes Becky's fearlessness. But also to some degree the fact that Becky's not superior than her, I wonder if she felt a bit threatened when Becky was so organized. Like, she's moving up in the world and I'm not? Dunno.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

julie strikes me as one of those people who gets a friend they can feel superior to and pretty much boss around XD

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

She was rather unenthused by the love stuff too, despite trying to set Becky up on dates. Maybe she doesn't go for relationships.

snuffysam

yeah, i think she latched onto becky because she was knew and impressionable

and yeah, i can see that

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Also, Becky seems to be a supernatural magnet, and Julie seems to like adventure. She was very disappointed when the janitor thing turned out to be normal.

She being Julie.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

that could be true too. rather than becky herself julie just latched on cause becky seemed like shed attract mischef

the real reason she wants becky to date roger

roger strikes me as either the character who is going to be from a professional undertaker family or a vampire

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe he's an exorcist.

Gotta choose Roger or Dad.

snuffysam

yeah, i think roger's parents are professional ghost hunters

and when the parents meet... oh boy

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

theyre professional something cause its heavily implied roger is rich

well the social class differences probably already going to cause problems

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe they even own the school

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i wonder...how becky's family is earning money to live. cause her dad has plenty of freetime to stalk becky at school. so like...are they just cashing in grandma's social security checks?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Grandma seems to have worked the dark magicks. I wonder if maybe she was indirectly responsible for the car crash.

snuffysam

i think grandma had saved up enough money for retirement, and that along with whatever becky's parents left behind is enough to live on

ooh maybe...

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

And now has infinite money or something.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

im still betting on grandma being cthulu. or maybe a dark servant of cthulu. or maybe grandma is an alien

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I'm torn between her knowing more about what's going on than the others... and less than what's going on, because she's forgotten. ^.^

snuffysam

she's a eldritch monster, but she's also senile

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Grandma is a Klingon?

Maybe it's just Dad dressed up as grand-- oh, they did that joke.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

im betting on the combo that she used to know more but now shes senile and old. just doesnt have the spring in her step like she used to

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

How the mighty have fallen.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i doubt she caused the car crash but she does open up the fact that becky may not be 100% human

maybe thats why becky is a supernatural magnet

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Becky's an alien too? (edited)

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

supernatural creatures sense the dark eldritch magic inside her

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

That's just heartburn.

snuffysam

if you think about it, not that many supernatural things attract themselves to becky

she caught the phlu, but otherwise... there was an amulet her grandma gave her, and a janitor who turned out to be ordinary

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

They're more attracted to her family.

I don't know that making planters out of skulls is exactly "ordinary" but I get your point.

snuffysam

she's done stuff with zombies, but so has everyone else at that school

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i guess thats a fair point

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

She did calm down her Dad and all.

And is pretty unflappable.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

that could just be down to how long her dad has been a ghost

cause i think the car crash happened when she was 4?

its too bad becky didnt get to keep any of those skills passed on by her mother

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Yeah, pity about the pendant. I'm hoping she'll learn how to talk to spirits, as was hinted at after that.

snuffysam

maybe that's where takehiko's story goes

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

It turns out he had this plot to become a spirit all along, and just had to do it in a way that would convince his family it was justified.

snuffysam

hmm possibly?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

He's going deep undercover.

snuffysam

maybe there's some deep underlying conspiracy that he's investigating...?

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

QUESTION 3. One huge mystery that persists in the comic is why Becky’s dad came back after dying. What are your theories regarding why he returned from the dead? Was it because of his love and overprotective nature? Does he have unfinished business? Does it have to do with whatever Becky’s grandmother is? Additionally, why do you think Becky’s mom was unable to come back as well? Lastly, do you think Becky’s dad will eventually pass on for real during the course of the comic? If so, how do you think this will affect Becky?

snuffysam

i think that becky's dad told becky's mom that everything was taken care of, which is why she didn't come back, but he did because he knew it wasn't true

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

He's not really Becky's Dad. He's a spirit that Grandma tamed and hypnotized into believing he's Dad. That's why he's stuck in a skeleton.

snuffysam

now THAT'S a spicy theory

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

thatd be so dark XD

im betting on the more traditional things that becky's dad has unfinished business whereas the mom led a good life with no regrets

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

It's probably that he has some unfinished business, yeah. Maybe connected to Becky, maybe he made a promise or something.

What was his job before, do we know?

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i dont think it was mentioned that i recall

he was a used car salesman

thus was indirectly responsible for the car crash

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

As for whether he'll pass on, I feel like that would be something to come at the end of the comic. Like, maybe when she graduates or something.

snuffysam

but nah i seriously think the reason is that dad told mom everything was taken care of, so she was able to pass on

as stated here: https://tapas.io/episode/763442

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Just seems too straightforward.

snuffysam

maybe

but if that's true, becky graduating would mean his unfinished business is done

either that or she graduates right before ghostbusting him

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i find the fact that someone's fault is lettered to have focus

and also cause in a car crash someone is generally always at fault

maybe what he means is its not someone's fault cause its his fault

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

That's kind of what I interpreted that to mean. I thought maybe he made a wrong turn.

Or forgot to rotate the tires or something.

snuffysam

maybe mom was secretly evil, and her business was killing her husband by sabotaging the car

ergo it is finished

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Doesn't make sense why she'd be scared in the hospital though.

snuffysam

good actor

or scared dad was going to survive and she wasn't

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

being in a car you know is sabotaged is a pretty bold move for an evil person XD

couldve just sent dad out alone to get milk

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Were they actually in the car? Maybe a car ran into them while they were out for a stroll.

Dad being at fault because they were jaywalking.

snuffysam

there are lots of different definitions for "car accident", i suppose

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe Dad was prophecized to die, because of Grandma's contract. Maybe it was his fault because he should have taken the trip alone.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

its also possible he just couldnt pass on because of whatever grandma is

and she forgot to mention it

and will one day be like "oh yeah now i remember youre still here cause of this deal i made"

snuffysam

what if grandma wasn't always like this? what if she signed a pact with a demon to be immortal until becky is old enough to go off on her own, and that's why she's so weirdly demonic?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Demon seemed real keen to show grandma some contract in the attic too. Wonder why.

snuffysam

needs to be renewed, perhaps?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe it doesn't like being in Grandma any more.

Oh, that's a thought.

snuffysam

and if it isn't renewed, grandma and the eldritch horror will separate

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

maybe the contract provides eldritch licensing. and because becky's dad is secretly part eldritch, without that contract renewel he doesnt have proper identification to get into the after life

and thats whats supposed to be taken care of

he knew about it but death was so traumatic his memory was wiped

snuffysam

that's possible

perhaps grandma cursed becky specifically with that contract? not sure why or how though

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

maybe. although i wonder why else the grandma would want the contract. cause renewing is an option but i feel there must be other possibilities. like maybe she needs to shred it.

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe the mom created the contract. She thought dad would take care of it, but he didn't know about it.

snuffysam

grandma is confirmed to be dad's mom, right? not mom's mom?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Is that confirmed? I'm not sure.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

it seems likely

cause he did call her mom at one point. which yeah inlaws can do that

but raises the liklihood theyre related

hard to say 100% tho

QUESTION 4. The comic’s format opens up a lot of possibilities for future scenarios. What sorts of supernatural elements are you hoping to see come up in the comic? Vampires? Ghosts? Werewolves? Whatever you’re hoping to see, how do you think it might come up in the comic (and how will Becky’s dad make things better or worse)? Speaking of scenarios, we’ve seen Becky have numerous supernatural based classes and activities, like digging a grave. What other sorts of activities do you think the school might showcase Becky as doing? Do you have any other theories regarding the future path of the comic?

snuffysam

we already have ghosts, rebel

thats day one

i think a field trip would be an interesting arc. maybe to somewhere particularly ghoul-infested

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

a field trip to a graveyard at night to watch a real ghost civil war reenactment

and you can never have too many ghosts O_O

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I'm kind of wondering about the parents of some of the other characters. Including that druggie guy in second year who doesn't seem to know what's up.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah i do hope we get to explore some of the other character's lives

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe his parents are demon hunters or something.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

lest i assume everything is becky's imagination as she copes with the death of her family

i wish the druggie guy was in it a smidgen more in general though. he has underused potential

snuffysam

julie can apparently call up becky's dad to hang out and spy on becky whenever, but we haven't seen julie's parents at all yet

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe they're elves.

snuffysam

wh...why elves?

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Aren't elves kind of loners who don't associate with normal folk?

snuffysam

i mean i guess

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I dunno.

I'm not too aware of supernatural things...

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

julie strikes me more as the type who is from a family of exorcists or something

i want druggie friend and becky's dad to hang out tho

and go on some sort of adventure

to help becky

idk what

snuffysam

becky's dad hates drugs though

but i suppose thats what makes the adventure fun

the conflicts and such

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

It's clever how the Dad is able to get worked into things still, despite action happening at school.

snuffysam

yeah because he keeps showing up at school, despite the fact that he's not supposed to

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

oh maybe thats something that will change tho. not that the dad stops coming to school, but maybe hell get a job at the school

show up one day and be like "hi becky i work here now"

snuffysam

target practice

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

He's the model they have to draw in art class one day.

snuffysam

for the exorcist classes, that is

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

he can do all that and more. he is their new substitute teacher

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Kind of unrelated, but some of the perspective shots are interesting. They're things I wouldn't attempt at least, and they're pulled off. ^.^

snuffysam

the artwork in this is very well done

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah i think the comic is fairly good at exaggeration. cause becky does lots of really over the top falls, and i think it really enhances the comedic value

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

And the Dad is an interesting artistic look. Not just the skeleton, but also the lack of feet.

snuffysam

and everything he does is so over the top too

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah. i really love how the comic still makes him so expressive despite him being, ya know, a skeleton

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

That's true!

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i also love tho that even as a skeleton he has a mustache

snuffysam

he is a bona fide dad, after all

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

but now im wondering if its real or if he bought a costume one and glued it on

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

I figure it's part of his cosplay thing.

snuffysam

how dare you suggest that becky's dad would ever disguise himself!

wait

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

He can be a bit of a drag.

Some of the background details are neat too. Like the 'don't revive the bus driver' sign. Also liked 2+2=Brains.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah the details are really admirable

this reminds me i really liked this page

https://tapas.io/episode/433213

where its becky's expectations vs reality

cause i like the bummer that nope, supernatural school is still school and school is not fun for teens

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Truth. I wonder how they advertise the school.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i wish we could see what their math problems are like. like do they do the standard train word problems or do they use more creative things. like ghost trains. and the answer is it doesnt matter what time the trains meet, theyre ghost trains so cant crash into each other.

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Also, nice physics drop about vectors in there, that was accurate from what I know as a math teacher.

snuffysam

i don't think many people know about the school at all. this was just from becky being told "try supernatural school"

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

i wonder if that exorcist who came to the house went to that school

snuffysam

probably. he had to go somewhere

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe they should make commercials to promote it. Next arc. ^.-

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

well there could be more supernatural schools. or trade schools. he couldve gone to Exorcist High or something

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

"You don't have a High until you have an Exorcist High."

I wonder what Dad does when he's not with Becky. Plays cards with Grandma?

snuffysam

worries about becky

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

wait around until his dad senses tingle

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Maybe that's why he keeps interfering. He gets bored.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

well he doesnt have a job

he looks like a golf dad tho

maybe he practices his golf swing

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Can spirits get jobs? I feel like that'd cause problems for the economy.

snuffysam

it's not like they're exactly common

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

yeah although he doesnt need a job. cause i imagine as a spirit he doesnt need to eat or anything

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

True. Well, here's hoping Becky can work things out. And if not, maybe she can run off and have a romance with Julie.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

he can just float around and survive

i was waiting for your ship and there it is

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

right in the last minute

MathTans the Pun 👑Prince👑

Just got it in.

✨🐱 RebelVampire 🐱✨

COMIC TEA PARTY END!

Unfortunately, the scheduled Comic Tea Party time is now up~! Thank you everyone so much for reading and joining this week’s chat~! We want to give a special thank you to AnitaComics, as well, for making Dawn of the Dad and volunteering it for our reading queue. If you liked the comic, please be sure to support AnitaComics’s efforts however you’re able to. All that being said, if you would like to continue discussing this week’s comic, we highly encourage you to do so~!

For next week, Comic Tea Party will focus on The Pale by Jay Fabares & Sanders Fabares. As always, please use the next several days to read as much of the comic as you would like. We hope to see you next Thursday on June 7th from 5PM to 7PM PDT for the chat~! Until then, happy reading~! Comic: https://tapas.io/series/The-Pale(edited)

[fipindustries]

Epistemologic status: more interested in talking about writing characters than actually getting into the nitty gritty of trans issues.

             Representation in writing

 Let’s talk about the current tendency in progressive writing which is representation. Representation is good. It helps minorities recognize themselves in the stories they read. It normalizes them; it gives them a chance to shine as the heroes in our tales. It shows them that they also exist and they can also be the center of a narrative, they can be as relevant as the heroes of ages past.

It validates them.

When someone feels alone and dejected by the world, to see themselves in a story can make all the difference. A story that speaks about their problems and their issues, it will make them feel heard, and understood, and it will give strength to go on, it will inspire. And this is good. It is also incomplete.

In theory what progressive writing tries to accomplish is to make a better world for minorities, based on the notion that our stories shape the world. (Arguably, but for the purposes of this post we’ll say I agree with the notion). But to make a better world for the oppressed is a twofold job. You have to support the victims, yes, but also you must stop the intolerant. And sure call me a pacifist, but there are A LOT of intolerant people in this world and I don’t feel either violence or intimidation, and certainly not isolation, are valid ways to deal with them. These are all solutions that have to be employed on individual cases but what about the masses? What about the large swathes of people who, for example, put Trump in the white house?

The biggest problem I see as of today is that writers think that if they do only one half of the job the other half will figure out by itself. That by just having a black female captain America you will not only uplift and encourage all black girls in America but you will also, somehow, stop all those who would want to impede them. I don’t feel this is enough. You shouldn’t just say to one half “you can do this” and ignore the other half. That is jut leaving your work incomplete. And I’m not talking about telling the other half “you can ALSO do this” I mean telling them “you don’t want to hurt them” and not only telling them that, but making it so they listen, making it so the ENJOY listening to you telling them “it is in you best interest to be a better person” without coming off as condescending, as dictatorial. It is a hard job to be sure.

 How do we reach the hearts and minds of the other half?

 By speaking their language. And, once again, is hard, is ugly and it’s also a job that I see writers more and more refusing to do. To step, for even one second, on the shoes of evil, is apparently to concede them one more inch of rope to tug.  But how else can you sway them if you don’t talk to them in a way they can understand? Why do you think I put that paragraph about the glories of representation at the beginning of this text? Sure, because it’s true, but also because I want the kind of person that would agree with that to listen.

Find the time, the chance, the energy to tell, in between your heartbreaking tale about a group of queer homeless kids trying to get by in the streets of Seattle and your boasting epic about a half black, half Muslim lesbian couple who become math teachers in Ethiopia, a story about these themes that a right winger might also enjoy. Make it so that a conservative can look at these characters and admire them. Do the aesthetic. A soft, pastel colored comic done in a pastiche of adventure time and steven universe styles is perfect for teens and younger audiences but is not the kind of story a forty year old who votes republican would ever pick up. And he needs the stories. He needs to be talked to. He needs someone that reaches to him and tells him what is what in a way he’ll nod and say “I see your point”. You might not feel up to the challenge, you might not like telling stories like that, there is nothing wrong with that. If you can’t then you can’t. But if you CAN, if you think you can give it a go, then keep reading.

 An example, and also the reason I started to write this in the first place

 Let’s talk about trans characters. And because I’m posting on tumblr I feel the need to clarify, yes, I’m cis and thus unqualified and unworthy of ever touching this delicate subject and blah blah blah, so im going to correct that first sentence a little bit: let’s talk about fictional trans characters, which is something I do have some experience with.

By and large i find them uncompelling. Barring a couple of exceptions. (Noomi, sense8; Wanda, A game of you; Miko, Prague race, there might be others but I can’t think of them right now). I like to read about their stories but as characters they are, for the most part, dour. The general trend is to show them exclusively as victims, as put upon martyrs. A truthful depiction to be sure, but also an exhausting one, and once again, not one many can get behind.

But the thing is that there are so many other ways to depict the struggle of trans people, ways that resonate with much more universal themes, ways in which (and I risk sounding like a naïve fool by saying thing, im aware) even a right wing conservative may empathize with. The theme I want to emphasize with is that of the self-made person.

We all want to be something else, something we are not. We all dream with a better, more ideal us. We all suffer the pain of not being perfect. The woe of the poor who wants to be rich, the woe of the weak who wants to be stronger, the woe of the dumb who wants to be smarter, and even, yes, the woe of the girl who wants to have the body of a girl. These are all similar in as far as they are about people yearning for something, about the human condition of fighting for making your dreams come true. And this is something EVERYONE can identify with, regardless of your creed, your nation, your identity.

Libertarians and conservatives could be said that don’t respect weakness, their idol is the ubermensch, the undaunted hero who goes from rags to riches by pulling themself from their bootstraps. So, I ask, where are the trans characters whose plight is shown under this light? Where is the character who, instead of crying and demurely begging for the world to love them, imposes their will upon their body and peers? That who stands tall as a proof of human spirit, that even when cosmical errors locks them in a body that don’t belong to them can still challenge destiny and proudly defy fate by becoming what they always wanted. Where is trans conan-the-barbarian goddamit? (none of this would be gender exclusive, it is understood, im not speaking only of FtM)

Human exceptionalism would be their banner. Strength their virtue, strength of spirit, strength of mind and even, yes, strength of body.  Show trans people as the unlauded heroes they are, that they dared make their bodies a battlefield, and they won.  Tell uplifting, glorious, prideful tales to inspire. Don’t just make them indie videogame devs and teenagers and English mayors and quirky young adults, make them heroes, conqueror queens, philosopher kings. For once don’t tell a story where they are just owed respect, that these are not the stories your enemies will listen to. Tell stories where they fight for it, where they earn it, and they will be respected. Tell stories about admirable people and they will be admired. Make us, make them, make everyone, look up to trans people with pride, and not to look away in scorn or to look down with pity.

           Conquer hearts and minds.