#whooo! the adventure continues!!

[historicity-was-already-taken]

so this song came on shuffle while i'm working on the chapter about the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 (the one TSwift had a moment of silence for at her Warsaw show that my friend Sheridan went to and I'm jealous for so many reasons):

Granted it's my symphonic metal playlist, which is my writing playlist, but still; I hate it when shuffle is so on the nose.

This Uprising hasn't really infiltrated historical memory outside of Poland for many reasons; probably because of the legacy of Stalinist ratfuckery on the abilities of the Allies to claim that they were unilaterally the heroes.

After Stalingrad, as the Red Army was marching West, the Soviets started encouraging the Polish underground (primarily the Armja Krajowa) to rise up against the Germans. BUT at the same time, Stalin had pretty much informed FDR and Churchill that, after the war, Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe were HIS sphere of influence, and Churchill (who had gone to war over the German violation of Poland's borders in 1939) and FDR were not in a place where they could tell him no.

So like, Stalin was telling the Polish nationalist underground to rise up against the Nazis, all while he was plotting to destroy Polish independence and nationalism after the war.

The Soviets continued to urge the Warsaw AK to rise up basically until the last minute as they were marching towards Warsaw. And then the Uprising began and the Red Army just like, stopped on the outskirts of the city, and stayed there through January 1945. They did a few cursory air drops and paid some lip service to supporting the AK, but that's it. Like Stalin was even shit talking the Warsaw Uprisers as "foolish adventurers" even though he'd encouraged the Uprising. He wouldn't even let British and US planes land in Soviet territory while flying aid missions over Warsaw.

So after a few days, maybe a week or two of inspirational UPRISING WHOOO DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING the Germans just, STOMPED the city. Even though they were actively losing the war, they still diverted a fuckton of anti-partisan generals and superweapons to Warsaw, and SLAUGHTERED the populace and turned the city basically to ruins. The Poles surrendered in early October, and the Germans let them out of the city without massacres (unless they were Jewish, obvs); all while the Red Army still just chilled on the other side of the Vistula.

AND THEN when the Red Army marched into the ruins in fucking JANUARY 1945, they persecuted and arrested Armja Krajowa fighters just as hardcore as they did Nazis. Which is SO fucked up. And honestly I'm not someone with loads of sympathy for the AK, as a lot of its members went out of their way to murder and hunt Jews, talked a lot of shit about how Hitler was doing them a favor by getting rid of the Jews, and basically used Jewish fighters as canon fodder during the 1944 Uprising (Hating Hitler =/= liking Jews, etc)

ANYWAY. So Britain and the US kind of had to sit back and do nothing while Stalin strategically allowed Hitler to destroy both the city and the center of Polish nationalist agitation. So, they don't talk about it much. lol ~the politics of memory~

but yeah, the song was too real

and i didn't mean for this to get so long bc it started off life as a shitpost, but i cannot KEEP myself from providing context

[nono-uwu]

The boy!! Whooo we all cheered for the silly little guy

Loree utc :3

Homura was born into a loving family. He was always a little different (aka autisitc) but his family still loved him and he loved them. He had difficulties fitting in with his peers at school but that didn't bother him as at the end of the day he would return to his family. How nice :)

Then december 25th 2012 happens and they all die-

So as the sole <13 year old in his family, he survives the inital apocalypse but then has to evade vampire capture. How? He shuts himself in a closet with a knife and prays to whatever god there is that they don't find him.

Luck is on his side as two days later, Yua finds him. A very # dramatic scene play out where he lunges at her with the knife, she catches his hand and goes to pat his head like "it's okay kid you're safe". Our boy gets pseudo adopted by Yua and she takes him to JIDA headquarters. He bravley signs up to training to become a soldier and a few years pass.

Once he gets his very own demonic weapon, he chooses a gun(I think it's a rifle? but idfk it just looks cool). His demon is surprisingly polite, a young silver haired girl. Her only condition on lending him all her power is that he sometimes gives her full contol over his body, during which he's unconscious.

When Yua gets back from her solo mission, very noticeably unharmed he jumps to her defense. Thanks to his superb bargaining skills he gets Yua a less harsh punshment and continuously jumps to her defense afterwards.

As for his army career... it's a little weird. He somehow has incredible luck. He returns mostly unharmed from even the most dangerous missions, even when his squadmates bite the dust or get heavily injured. Homura himself has no real idea how he always survives (probably thanks to his demon) whoch has netted him an unfavorable reputation amongst his fellow soldiers. Due to this he's usually delegated to supplying and protecting human settlement.

Whenever Yua would come back from her adventures, he'd eagerly listen to what she's been up to. After each time, the prospect of he himself visiting those vampires becomes more and more enticing. He already has a hard time getting along with his fellow soldiers and his luck would probably save him from death. Besides, Yua speaks highly of them, so they can't be that bad.

One day he mentiones this to Yua who, understandably, isn't too excited about the idea. She may get a free pass but Homura? He's just another human soldier to the vampires.

To test the waters, Yua just takes Homura to meet with Machigai since he'd be the most understanding. Machigai is just like "bro idfk go ask them yourself" but that ordeal is cut short by a wandering Chess appearing out of nowhere (she was bored and decided to follow Machigai even though he specifically told her, Horn and Crowley that he'd like to go alone lol). A very panicked explanation by Yua later and Chess is fully on board with getting another human friend (if she gets to drink some of his blood that is >:3). Shortly after, Nagoya city hall now has two special human visitors who regularly bring intel and snacks!

Ofc this gets him into some hot water when others notice his prolonged absences and his adamant defense of Yua, who is already under suspicion of being a 'traitor to humanity', but he doesn't care. (Will probably elaborate on this sometime)

[cynnied-writes]

i like me better (when i'm with you)

○ fandom: deltarune

○ main pairing: kralsei (kris x ralsei)

○ characters: kris | ralsei | rouxls kaard

○ genre/warnings: romance (mostly fluff… for now) | a bit of coming of age angst || tw: parental deaths, car crashes

○ tags: fake dating | celebrity au | social media au | meet ugly | kris is a tiktok musician | ralsei is an aged-out disney channel star | kris is afab | house parties | slightly underage drinking | mentions of blood | mild nudity | kris is a bit of a mess but we love them anyway | AND ralsei is too! | Aren't they perfect for each other??

○ chapter word count: 4,661

→ summary: Kris Dreemurr, the eccentric musician SilentKnight on TikTok, hadn't meant to trespass through Ralsei Prince's backyard and fall into his pond. But to be fair, they were utterly plastered at the time.

○ note: Hey, everyone! Ready to get into this scandal? Before we head in, I want you to know this chapter is a bit heavier than the last one. So a bit of a content advisory/TW; this chapter deals with themes of parental deaths, car crashes, and the trauma that comes with it. Please stay safe.

Oh, and quick ps. I made all the tweets myself! Painstakingly I might add. Any resemblance to a real person means that I'm better at this than I thought. Like, I had to reverse Google image search a Kpop Idol to figure out who a fake Twitter user would stan. What have I gotten myself into? 😂😂 Anyway, Stan Taeyong or whatever. Let's get onto the fic!

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Chapter 2/22: Baking Muffins and a Twitterpated Twitterverse

Ralsei

Was there anything more distressing than biting into a baked good and having it taste awful? It’s one thing for it to look unseemly yet actually taste amazing, but to find out that its insides were rotten?

Ralsei Prince could only imagine it was the same with people too. Finding out the horrible things beloved idols and thought-to-be wholesome icons have done, finding out who they really are? Utterly sickening. Reality altering. It was something that made you sit back and wonder about yourself and your morality.

Truly, Ralsei could only hope for his fans’ sakes that they never found out about him. Because he was a mess.

Not unlike his kitchen currently. With a sag of his shoulders, Ralsei sighed as he leaned back against the flour-covered island. Then, lifting his rounded glasses from his face, he dragged a paw down it. Digging the heel of it into his eyes, not wanting to face the physical manifestations of his failures just yet.

Not the dozens upon dozens of batches of atrocious apple muffins scattered across the kitchen island behind him. And all across the counter space. And the breakfast bar. Not the clock on above the stove that would no doubt tell him that he’s been at this for far too long. And for Darkness’ sake, there’s no way he could even glance at the family portrait that sat nestled by the teapot and landline. That last one didn’t matter all that much, actually. He didn’t need to glance at it for him to feel worse. The photograph was burned into his mind.

Five-year-old him sitting on his mother’s lap with his father standing tall behind the both of them. Little Ralsei had been smiling a bit too wide in the way all kids do, his glasses a bit askew. A mess, but it was still cute back then for him to be one. His parents, on the other hand?

Flawless.

There wasn’t a hair out of place on his father’s mane and beard as he smiled a knowing, confident smile. The one that had snagged him everything he’d ever auditioned for. And even things he hadn’t. Meanwhile, his mother was the picture of grace and poise. Her glasses only added to her high-class British charm, along with her pearl necklace and shrewd gaze.

Regaso and Lorité Prince.

Practically perfect in every way.

The perfect actors and entertainers. The perfect Monsters. The perfect couple. The perfect man and woman.

The perfect Mom and Dad.

Ralsei did his best to swallow down the lump in his throat.

That’s all they’d ever be to him. They were dead, after all. A car crash. Ten years ago, today. Drunk driver. He doesn’t know their name, and he doesn’t think he ever wants to. He’d been much too young to retain frivolous details like that. Now, he’s much too old to brave a google search.

What good would reliving that night over and over again, through the words of strangers, do for him?

That’s why he all but turned off his phone for the day. He knew what was expected of him. To write out a longwinded eulogy in their honour and post a photo of the three of them. Showcase how much he missed them. Perform his role as Sad Little Orphan for the masses, the role he’d been shoved into since he was eight. But shouldn’t it be obvious? They’re his parents! Sure, he might not know them as well as everybody on the Internet seemed to. Or as well as every old-timer in Hollywood seemed to, but… Ugh. It had been a long day, okay?

Just after waking up, he’d received two calls. One surprising, a check-up ring from both his aunt and uncle at the same time. (It must’ve been Lancer Hand-off Day). And one not-so-surprising, from his uncle/Manager (Unclger for short). Reminding Ralsei of his busy schedule for the day before asking if he needed to contact his therapist. After assuring his Unclger that he was mentally and emotionally okay, he called Ritter. Meekly asking the gruff, silent driver to pick up a few baking ingredients for him before officially starting his day. Knowing that the idea of eating a plate of apple muffins at the end of the day would propel him through his schedule.

Positive and pleasant; that’s his mantra. Stay positive and pleasant, and nobody will think twice about how you’re a hairs’ width from breaking down.

For the most part, he managed to keep the raging storm of grief and despondency inside at bay. Even throughout a quick interview and the many hours filming a Holiday short with his old Portalkids castmates. Clover, ever bickering and pushy, knew better than to mess around with him today. He did get close, though, just after wrapping up for the day. When a producer asked him to pick up a few lines of dialogue, they’d expressed their condolences. They’d worked with his father way back in the eighties, called him good people.

“He was a good dad, too.” He’d said with a practiced smile and lightly jesting tone before heading over to the VO booth. Thankful nobody else chimed in before they started the session.

Oh, and don’t worry, he’s not lamenting the life he has. On the contrary, he’d always been ever so grateful for all the blessings the Dark Fountain had bestowed him. With enough wealth to live comfortably and have all the opportunities for a well-lived life that one could want. He’d never gone hungry or cold. Never unloved or abused.

Really, it’s not everyone else’s fault that he’s feeling extra sensitive. It’s his problem. It’s only… by the end of the day, all he wanted to do was bake his and his parents’ favourite muffin recipe. But no matter what he did, they came out wrong.

And, if it’s Honesty Hour right now, he’s about this close to collapsing in a sobbing heap on his kitchen floor. His big empty kitchen floor. In the big empty house that couldn’t be called a home ever since that night.

God, what would his parents thin—

CRASH!

In less than a second, his whirling mind goes quiet at the rattling sounds emanating from his backyard. But then, all at once, it was silent again. Frozen in place, he waited for a few beats before setting his glasses back in place and daring to look behind him. Most of the windows to the backyard had their blinds drawn, all except one. The lone parted curtain was askew enough for him to watch a figure stagger to their feet.

Oh no. Oh, Darkness preserve him. There’s an intruder. He has an intruder! Shoot, what does he do? It feels like he should know what to do.

Slowly, he reached up, grabbed a frying pan from the hanging rack, and dug out his cellphone before he crept towards his backdoor. His claw hovering over his Uncle Spade’s number, the one he told him to only use in emergencies. A potential robber is an emergency, right? Uncle Spade couldn’t fault him for that. Guess he could call the police. Ugh, but he never felt all that comfortable around them ever since—

Just as he eased open one side of his backdoor, a large splash sounded out, followed by flesh hitting rock. With only the thought of “Shoot, that sounded like a trip to the ER,” he jolted into action. Throwing the backdoor the rest of the way open and bolting outside.

Yes, it was dumb to run towards the danger looking to help someone who could’ve been a murderer. But once he saw a soaked, gangly Human struggle to pull off their binder in a state of complete fear, he knew he made the right choice. His soul was telling him that they meant no ill will.

So, that’s how he ended up harbouring an intoxicated Human named Kris for a couple of hours. All in all, they were pretty odd but sweet… in a weird way. The threat of disrobing was interesting. Not to mention those eyes.

Ralsei knew that Kris was trying to be intimidating, but he couldn’t help but get lost in those pools of red. Like twin red giants, fiery and profound. Mesmerizing. Unfathomable. Truly.

After the day he had, their quiet, brief interactions had left him feeling quite a bit better. Even after he bade them goodbye just before sunrise, sending them on their way with his personal driver, Ritter. Well, Ritter was more of his Uncle Spade’s driver that he’d given free rein over. Excuse him for the horse pun. He digressed.

There was a pep in his step as he strolled back inside and into the kitchen. A certain determination within him thanks to not only Kris’ intriguing company but their culinary suggestions, as well. Shaking out his hands and cracking his knuckles, he looked at the ingredients he had left. Deciding that he’d give these muffins one more go.

Cleaning up the bowls and utensils and wiping off the counter with a resolute smile, he began his last attempt. Prepping the baking tin. Chopping up an apple into tiny pieces. Taking extra care to add Kris’ suggested ingredients of butterscotch and cinnamon. Savouring all the nostalgic smells swirling around the kitchen. Memories of standing next to his father as he baked flashed in his mind. He tried to tamp down on the excitement bubbling in his chest, but he couldn’t stop from bopping around his kitchen. Humming one of his mother’s old lullabies as he went. Yes, yes! He was onto something.

Just as he was about to mix it all together, his pants began to ping. Oh, yes, he had switched his phone off do-not-disturb so that he’d know when Ritter arrived and never put it back. It wouldn’t be so much of a problem if it were a one-off ping. But it hadn’t been. Another ping rang out moments later. Then another. And another.

Ping. Ping. Ping.

When he finally pulled his phone out to investigate, he found his notifications in complete and utter disarray. Notices appeared and then got replaced so quickly he couldn’t even read them. It didn’t take much brainpower, though, to guess that the Twitterverse was twitterpated about him. Again. But for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what about.

His last big media appearance had been weeks ago at the Teen Choice Awards. It had been the night he’d won Choice Summer Movie Actor for his work on Sky Full of Stars. Very prestigious, he knows. But he’d thought all the fervour around that had settled. There were only so many times he could be called a short king or be praised by his GNC clothing choices. Scrunching up his nose, he finally unlocked his phone and logged onto Twitter. So, what’s their problem?

It wasn’t long before he got his answer. And it was…it was something else.

Eyes going wide, he slammed his phone face down onto the counter. His paws shot up to cover his mouth as he tried to comprehend what he had read.

They couldn’t have been talking about him. They must’ve tagged him by mistake, right? Why would they even assume that of him? And why now? Why all at once?

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and dove back into the fray.

Okay! That’s enough out of Twitter.

Placing his phone back on the counter, he stared off into oblivion. His mouth agape as all those tweets ran rampant in his mind.

WHAT. IS. GOING. ON.

He had WHAT with WHOM? Why would everybody suddenly start speculating and wisecracking about his sex life!? And to correlate it to his parents’ deaths? Sure! He’d been acting since he could talk. He was no stranger to rumours like these. They’d been coming since he hit puberty. Pages of teen magazines filled with his “romantic entanglements” with his fellow Disney Channel kids, but this? THIS! This is crossing a-a-a line. It had to be. What set all of this off?

Braving the depths of Twitter once more, he finally found his answer after a fair amount of scrolling.

Kris Dreemurr. Kris is the, uh, mangy TikToker in question.

He hadn’t known that, but he lived in Los Angeles. Everyone was a Something, whether an actor, musician, dancer or social media creator. So, it wasn’t surprising to find out that they were Something too. Honestly, Ralsei should’ve put two and two together sooner. Henry Burkes was a Toker, too, the last time he checked. It was his party that Kris had come from. And Ralsei had heard them talking to what sounded like someone else, but he’d brushed it off as a concussed thing. So, yes, he should’ve known.

But what he couldn’t have known was that they had a pretty decent following. Decent enough to get quite a few people to tune into their drunken late-night ramblings. Which is what all that talking to themself stuff they indulged in while he was busy drying their clothes and finding his first aid kit.

Watching it back on YouTube, it wasn’t as bad as everyone said. It should’ve passed under the radar. If it hadn’t been for the bright, shiny Teen Choice Award for 2022 standing proudly behind them. And, if you enhanced a particular shot enough, which he’s sure some enterprising person did, you could make out which category was labelled.

All very incriminating.

But not as half as incriminating as their brief conversation with himself about their binder. And Kris’ following joke about their inevitable walk of shame. Combined with their half-nakedness and almost smug attitude, he could see how people thought Kris was riding the high of having sex. And sex with a Disney Channel star at that.

Turning off his notifications, he slid down the side of his counter until he hit his floorboards. Burying his face in his paws, he let out a muffled shriek. His life is falling apart at the seams and all because he was trying to be a good person. A louder scream echoed throughout his house.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself with his therapist’s grounding techniques.

“I’m Ralsei Prince. I’m eighteen years old. I live in Beverly Hills, California. Today is Sunday the twenty-first of August. It is seven thirty-six in the morning. I’m sitting on the floor in my kitchen. There’s only me in here. I’m tired, I haven’t slept since yesterday, but I can’t go to sleep yet. I have a problem I need to fix.”

But how?

Why is everyone making such a big deal out of this?

No, no, no, go back. That one was something Ralsei could focus on. How? How does he fix this? Should he say nothing? Just let the blistering winds of Trending on Twitter hound him until they settle?

Or should he make a quick tweet dispelling all the rumours? Would people think he was lying if he made a post too soon? What if he makes one too late? Are they going to hate him for something he didn’t even do?

Oh, Darkness, would Disney be upset? For Dark Fountain’s sake, he did not want to deal with the Mouse and other corporate entities blacklisting him for something he didn’t even do! And once Uncle Rouxls caught wind of something like that happening—wait.

You know what? He needed help. Adult help. And the closest thing to it is his Unclger, Rouxls Kaard. But, if he’s honest, Uncle Rouxls is…a bit strange. Okay, the man was a lot strange. Stranger than anything, but he’d always been there for him, in his own weird, awkward way. And as his manager ever since that night, this was his problem too.

Rising to his feet, feeling a little calmer, he went back to his nigh-forgotten baking begins to mix his batter together. Letting the repetitive motions soothe him. Once he found his voice again, he took another breath and called up his uncle.

Or at least he tried to.

Yesterday morning must’ve been a fluke because apparently, contacting his darling Uncle is much, much harder than it sounds. Did he forget a rule about not waking up in single-digit hours on Sundays? Was there a memo he wasn’t emailed? Letting out a groan as he listened to his call ring and ring before being sent to voicemail.

“Harken, simple worm. Thoust hast reachest Rouxls Kaard. Weep! For I am unable to takest thou’re call. Leavest a missive with thine name and personale numbre, if thoust must. Beep.”

Yes, he does talk like that. No, he isn’t joking.

As far as Ralsei knows, Uncle Rouxls was quite a prominent Shakespeare actor in London’s West End back in the day. That’s how he and Ralsei’s mother, Lorité, had met. But at some point, he had left the Stage for good and went into Law. Lorité, for some reason, kept in touch. And whenever she needed legal advising, he was who she turned to. Now, with everything you know about him, you might think he’s awful at it, but… he’s not. He’s really not.

Don’t let his peculiar speech patterns fool you.

Uncle Rouxls had graduated top of his class and could rules lawyer his way out of anything. His contracts were watertight. Priding himself on having ones with not a single loophole in sight. Unless, well, he wanted one to be there.

His skills are presumably what also endeared him to his Uncle Spade and Auntie Queen. Both were the kind of business people who needed that sort of thing. But never mind them, Uncle Rouxls was another reason why Ralsei was blessed. He’d stepped in after that night and looked after him, handling all of Ralsei’s affairs and work in his parents’ stead. And when he was busy, he replaced himself with only the best nannies.

Really, he was a good Uncle and manager.

He’d be a better one if he picked up his gosh darn phone, though.

Thirteen times. It took calling him thirteen times before he, at last, picked up.

“Ugh, it’s too damned early for this. It’s only seven o’clock, dear nephew. On a Sunday. Why are you ringing down mine phone?” Uncle Rouxls’ plumy, English accent, groggier than ever, came through the speakers. Finally!

“Morning Uncle Rouxls,” Ralsei said, positively chirpy as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Shifting his phone underneath one of his floppy ears, he went back to mixing his batter. Getting in the rhythm as he continued on, “Apologies for waking you, but I have a little, uh, Twitter problem on my hands. Our hands, really.”

A tiny giggle escaped Ralsei as he heard his uncle groan as he shifted in his bed.

“Is there such thing? A ‘little’ Twitter probleme?” Uncle Rouxls asked, his inner cynic coming out to say hello before being shoved back inside. It took him a moment, but his fatigued brain must’ve soon realized how bad a Twitter problem could be. There was a rustle of fabric before Uncle Rouxls begged. “Oh Darkness, please, mine precious nephew, please tell me that thou hast not gotten thineself cancelled.”

“No! No, that’s not it. I’m not getting cancelled or anything.” Ralsei quickly answered back. Dropping his mixing spoon to wave his paws as if Uncle Rouxls could see him. Okay, so his Twitter problem wasn’t that bad, but… How should he put this? Wringing his hands together, Ralsei went on. “It’s just that, oh, you know, my reputation as a Boy Next Door may be in a teensy bit of jeopardy.”

“How?”

Ralsei winced at his uncle’s abnormally grave tone. “Well, it’s kind of a long story.”

“Nephew.”

“Okay, so last night I helped someone out and even though it seemed like a good idea at first. But now Twitter is convinced that I had a one-night-stand with an—” He would not call Kris mangy or twink out loud to his uncle. He just wouldn’t. “—Unsavoury TikToker.” He finally said, finding an accurate, if a bit insulting, word. All Ralsei got in reply was a loud silence emanating from the other side of the call. “Uncle Rouxls?”

“Holdst on.” Uncle Rouxls said. More fabric rustling sounded out before the sound of faint phone scrolling hit Ralsei’s ears. Then, suddenly, Uncle Rouxls gasped. “Oh, Darkness preserve me and give me thou’re strength.”

Darkness, damn it all, he must’ve found all those tweets. “Look, I know it seems bad, but I think we might be able to—”

Uncle Rouxls interrupted. Ralsei could nearly see him clutching his invisible pearls in woe and hear him request a fainting couch. “And onst the anniversary of dearestest Lori’s—Oh, mine poor nephew. You must be -eth in utter distress.”

“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. I’m totally fine.” He said, abandoning his batter altogether in favour of pacing around the kitchen.

“But how couldest you be, all by thou’re lonesome all night in that big house. I knewest I should’ve come over yesterday, but I said to mineself—”

“Uncle Rouxls.”

“—Now, Rouxls, you know that boy is hardly even a boy anymore. You need to—”

“Uncle Rouxls.”

“—Give him space. Yes! Space! Imagine if thine own’s parents hovered like horseflies whenever you were a trifle melancholy. And I couldn’t even imagine it! How dreadful! It doesn’t bear thinking about even! So, I left you. All alone—”

“Please, I’m fine.”

“—Wasting away to practically nothing. And now thou’re being tormented by Twitter, the horrid beast. Well, fear not, mine darling nephew, I’m on minest way.”

Wait. What?

Freezing in place near the breakfast table, Ralsei grabbed the back of one of the chairs and asked, “Huh?”

“Worry not, your beloved Uncle will only be but a few moments.”

“What? No!”

“Ugh, such unpretentiousness. Sometimes I amaze even me with mine child-rearing skills.” Ralsei didn’t need to see him to know that he’d smugly flipped his lengthy, platinum locks over his shoulder just then. “No need to suffer in silence any longer.”

“I’m fine!” He begged, his claws digging into the wood of the chair. “F-I-N-E. Fine. I’m not that distraught. I just want to discuss what to do with Twitter.”

“We’ll discuss it when I’m there! I’m already out the door and in the eleva—”

With a tap, Ralsei ended the call.

“GAH!” He yelled out into the emptiness of his villa.

Everything’s in one ear and right out the other when Uncle Rouxls got like this. Not even the end of the world would stop him now. He’s on his way, whether Ralsei likes it or not. And with how reckless and fast that man drove and how close by he lived (a bit south of Holmby Hills), he’d be there in five minutes tops.

Looking down at himself, he knew he looked like quite the mess compared to his usual looks. Ingredient-covered sweatpants and a raggedy old hoodie that used to belong to his father. Even now, it was still big on him. He wondered if he would ever properly grow into it…No! Not the time. He looked awful. Which meant that if Uncle Rouxls saw him like this, he’d think the worst.

He needed to change and clean up. Now.

“Shoot, shoot, shoot.” Muttering under his breath, he sprinted out of his kitchen. Running as fast as he could through his halls and foyer, up the large co staircase, and to his bedroom.

Throwing his bedroom door open and took it all in, eyes darting around all the cozy yet posh decor before diving in. Frantic, he stripped his comfort clothes off and freshened up the best he could. Searching through his closet and dresser drawers for a suitable, clean outfit. The best he could do was a long, pink gingham skirt, a flowy white shirt, and a soft lime green vest. Yanking them on with little care before rushing back downstairs to the kitchen.

Swiftly putting his batter away, dumping all his dirty dishes in the sink, and shoving all his failures in the green bin. He’d finish the muffins later. When his life was less of the jumbled mess it was right now. Thankfully, he finished in time to hear the revving of what Auntie Queen liked to call Rouxls’ midlife crisis mobile. Only a few seconds left before he’d arrive.

From a rack in the foyer, he snatched a floppy straw sun hat and sunglasses, pulling them on as he slid over to the front door. Managing to make it there and pull it open before his uncle.

The morning sun bounced off his uncle’s sleek, blue Mercedes roadster. Its revving reached a fever pitch as he slipped into the always empty driveway. And ever bombastic, Uncle Rouxls popped up from his convertible’s seat with a dramatic shout. “Mine dearest nephew, despairest no longer. I have arrived!”

“Hush, Uncle Rouxls. Keep your voice down.” Ralsei said, raising his voice only slightly, as Uncle Rouxls hurried up the winding front steps. Unable to shake the smile that spread across his face at the little open-armed pose he made once he reached the top. Shaking his head, he pulled the tall, lanky monster in his arms. Murmuring into his chest, “You’ll wake up the whole neighbourhood.”

“So, theyest are the ones whomst get to sleepe in, hmm?”

“Mhmm.”

“Well then,” He said, letting out a haughty little huff. “Let us venture inside.”

In a split second, Ralsei realized that he didn’t want to entertain his uncle inside his house this morning. And not just because his kitchen was still a mess, and the couch still had a wet spot from Kris’ hair. No, it just…felt wrong.

“Actually,” Ralsei said, pipping up as he pulled away from their hug. A brighter, tighter smile on his snout. “I had another idea.”

Uncle Rouxls arched a thin brow. “Oh.”

“Yes.” He said a bit too forcefully with a clap of his paws. Nervously chuckling, he leaned back through his doorway to grab his satchel from the door-side table. Slinging over his shoulder and locking the door behind him, he asked, “How does breakfast sound? You were right, I need to get out of this, uh, stuffy old house. A change of scenery and some good food might help. I was thinking about that little diner we used to go to in Oxnard. I’ll pay if you drive?”

Pausing for a moment, Uncle Rouxls’ long, midnight blue face was pulled down into a frown. But just like that, he broke out into a smile of his own. “Brilliant idea, nephew dearest. Juste brilliant!” Catching Ralsei by the wrist, he led him down the front steps and into his car. Backing them out of the driveway, he looked over and said with a manic grin, “Let us make haste then.” Before slamming his foot on the gas and taking off down the road.

Between years of therapy and driving with Uncle Rouxls, Ralsei had mostly gotten over his fears of riding in cars. Mostly. Feeling the wind blowing through his fur helped. So did remembering that millions, if not billions, of people drove cars every day and didn’t get into accidents. Just because it happened to his parents didn’t mean it’d happen to him. Breathe in and out, slow and steady, and the ride would be over before he knew it.

As they barrelled down the 101 highway, Ralsei leaned over to watch the hillsides rush by. Hoping that, when putting their heads together, he and Uncle Rouxls would come up with something before everything got out of hand. He’d hate for poor, unsuspecting Kris to wake up and think that they had to deal with all this nonsense by themself.

If he had it his way, he’d have this all taken care of by the time Kris opened their mystifying ruby eyes this morning.

Why, hello! Fancy seeing you here!

No, seriously, thanks for making it through another chapter and leaving the loveliest comments here and on Tumblr. I hope you know that I cherish them dearly and will strive to dazzle you with more tropey Kralsei goodness.

Storywise we're still a bit away from some fake dating shenanigans, but don't worry. Even though they aren't in the same room, it doesn't mean they won't be on each other's minds. Especially since we'll be delving into Kris' reaction to the whole scandal in the next chapter. While also formally introducing Susie and two others who'll help Kris try their best not to get cancelled too badly😂. Cross your fingers.

Thank you so much again for reading! I hope you'll stick around a while longer. See what these two clowns get up to. As always, comments of all kinds will be admired like fine art. That's all for now!

Later Days!

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[1-800-hellraiser]

The Other Side Of Paradise

Requested by: No one

Words: 1,841

Aged up: Nope 

Song: The Other Side Of Paradise- Glass Animals

Genre: Angst with a happy ending 

Pairing: David x Counselor!Reader

!TWS!: A small bit of swearing and mentions of suicide and manslaughter at the end. 

(A/n: This chapter is kind of an alternate ending to The Order Of The Sparrow (s1ep12). Essentially what I think would happen if another counselor (aka Y/n) was there with David and Max. Also sorry if Max is a bit ooc, I can't write him well.)

÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷

"I know you don't but I, I know you don't but I still try. My thunder shook him down. My thunder came and shook him down."

      When things couldn't get any worse, it started down pouring. "David, just let it go." Gwen says, standing beside you. "No no no! I can still light it, You'll see!" David says, as he goes back to trying to light the bonfire. The kids just stare at David with bewilderment. You hear Neil say "I can't belive I frenched a platypus for this!" Gwen sighs and starts herding the kids into the mess hall. "Come on kids...you coming, Y/n?" She asked, you shook your head. "I'll call for you if anything happens." You say as Gwen nods. 

    "Y/n! You understand, right?" David asks you with a desperate tone. "I do David, but-" you cut yourself off with a sigh, not knowing how to word the next sentence. You crouch down next to David, as he still tries to light the fire. You're about to speak but a certain jaded ten-year-old cuts you off. "Well David, you were right! This is amazing." You glare at Max, standing across from where David is crouching. "Max, you should be in the mess hall with Gwen," you say to the child. "If I could just, show you." David says, with a hurt look on his face. 

      "Do you really think a big fire and an outdated and honestly racist tradition is going to make anyone care about anything?" Max questions sarcastically. "Max..." you warn the small Indian boy. You stand up from your crouching position and kneel in front of Max. "If you don't go to the mess hall this instant, you will have double chores for a week and no pudding cups for the rest of the month. Got it?" You explain in a stern, yet calm voice. Max rolls his eyes and makes his way to the mess hall. You sigh and go back to David.

     "I just wish people understood." David mumbles after an extended period of silence. "I may not understand what you're going though, but I understand what you're doing for the kids. It's admiring that you put in one hundred percent every day for these kids." You say, putting your s/t hand on David's shoulder. You feel his shoulders sag under your touch, your heart sinks to your feet. "It's just...times have changed. Whether I like it or not. The campers don't care, Gwen doesn't care, even the founder of this place has better things to do. That's why I'll never stop trying. Because somebody fucking has to." David says, you stare at him in disbelief.

         "Davey, please...why don't we do this tomorrow? The wood won't be wet and you need a break from the kids." David sighs and nods his head. You two both get up and you walk David to the cabin. It wasn't exactly the end of the day just yet so Gwen was still in the mess hall with the kids. After you drop David off at the counselors cabin, you tell him you'll be right back. You open the doors to the mess hall and walk over to Gwen. Gwen was ranting to the kids about how they should respect David and everything he does to keep them safe and happy. 

       "Hey Gwen, just wanted to let you know David is at the counselor's cabin and he's taking a break from the camp tomorrow." You say, Gwen nods in agreement and continues to talk to the kids. You duck out of the mess hall and make your way back to the cabin. You open the cabin and notice that David is sitting in his bed, running a lanky hand through his hair. You gently close the door and sit next to him. Putting your hand on his back, you rub comforting circles into his back. David lets out a shakey sigh, "I just wanted to show them something cool, and they don't even care...what's the point anymore?" You almost stopped rubbing David's back when he says that.

     "I mean, the kids don't care, Gwen doesn't care, Mr. Campbell doesn't care, you don't care, what's the point?" David sighs out, tears welling in his eyes. "David look at me." You say, putting a finger under his chin and gently moving his head to make eye contact with you. "I couldn't care more about you and everything you do for this god forsaken camp and these kids." You say, wiping a tear from David's eye. Without warning, David envelops you in a hug, sobbing uncontrollably into your shoulder. You continue to rub his back with one hand and you start to run tour hands through his hair with the other. You whisper sweet nothings into his ear, trying to get him to calm down. 

    After an hour of consoling him, David falls asleep in your arms. You gently move him onto his bed and pull his blanket over him. Gwen came into the counselor's cabin about a half hour ago. You tell her you'll be right back, as you forgot something in the mess hall. You exit the cabin and see Max, leaning on the right side of the door. "Max, what are you doing up past eight? You've been here long enough to know no-one can roam around past eight pm." You question, Max sighs.

     "Yeah I know the stupid rules, I just wanted to talk real quick." You cross your arms and raise a brow at him. "Okay, walk and talk with me, I forgot something at the mess hall." You say as you proceed towards the mess hall. "I know how hypocritical this sounds coming from me, but I feel...bad. Bad about what I said to David earlier. And I want to make it up to him." Max says hesitantly. "Go on..." you say, pushing him to continue. "I want to do the dumb 'Order Of The Sparrow' thing." You smile, and ruffle Max's hair. He grumbles and sho's your hand away from his hair. 

        "Wait, Max, how are we going to do this if the other campers don't know?" You ask, looking down at the ten year old boy. "After Gwen left, I talked them into doing it. We'll wake up at the ass-crack of dawn and Preston will make the outfits and I already taped the staff back together. You just have to let Gwen know about the plan and wake David up at around five thirty am. Got it?" Max finishes, you nod. "Yes I got it, now get to bed kiddo, we have a big day tomorrow." You say, walking into the mess hall.  You return back to the cabin, Gwen is awake and writing in her journal, and David is still passed out. Perfect. You let Gwen know about the suprise and ask her if she'd be willing to do it. She agrees and you both head to bed. 

        "Wake up Davey." You whisper, gently shaking his shoulder. His eyes flutter open "wh- Y/n? Why are you up? It's five thirty, we don't get up until six. " You blush at how deep David's morning voice is "I know today's you're day off, but I have a suprise for you!" You whisper excitedly. David rolls out of bed and you take a black piece of fabric put it across Davids eyes. "Y-y/n?" "It's a pretty big suprise, don't worry, I'll guide you there." You say as you take Davids hand and lead him out of the counselors cabin and back to the bonfire pit from last night. 

    As you and David make it too the spot, you quietly motion for everyone to get into position. Nikki shoots and arrow past David as you're taking his blindfold off. "Nikki! No. More. Arrows!" Gwen yells, "You can't control me, white devil!" Nikki yells before running off. David looks around at the campers and Gwen stunned. "...you're all dressed up as-" "Indians, like you said!" Neil cut David off. "We designed zie outfits ourselves!" Dolf added. "Do you love them?! I love them!" Preston interjects. "But, why..?" David asks.

     "Alright I fixed it, everybody hurry up and...oh shit he's awake." Max says, holding the taped up staff. "Y/n, Max, did you-" "DO NOT LOOK TO DEEPLY INTO THIS!" Max says, pointing the staff at David. "You suck, this world sucks, and one day, we're all going to die and none of it will matter. But if we didn't do this, I'm pretty sure you'd kill yourself or something." Max finishes, David sniffs and wipes away a tear. "Oh you two..." "Or shoot up the camp, I don't know it was a possibility." Max says, shrugging. "Max!" You scold the boy.

      "Thank you." David says looking at you and Max. "Whatever, just take your stupid stick." Max scoff as he tries to hand David the staff. The staff breaks in half for the third time. David pushes the staff back to Max with a heart-melting smile on his face. "Awww....lucky." Space kid says next to Max. Max smacks Space kid in the face with the staff, making him fall backwards. You stifle a laugh. You and David walk over to the raging bonfire. "Y'know, this is kinda nice." Neil says, staring at the fire. You hear the strum of a guitar and look over to Quartermaster and Gwen. 

      "There's a place I know that's tucked away, where we can go to laugh an play."

 You look around at the smiling campers and they all crowd next to the bonfire. You and David glance back at Max. He rolls his eyes and smiles as we walks over to the fire as well.

"And have adventures everyday. I know it sounds hard to believe, but guys and gals it's true..."

      "Hey Max, how'd you start a fire with wet wood anyway." You ask, looking down at the boy. "I'm not an idiot Y/n, I used gasoline." He says, your and David's face drops. "Wait what?" you both say in unison as the campfire literally fucking explodes. "WHOOO! DO IT AGAIN, DO IT AGAIN!" Nikki cheers, you chuckle and wrap your arm around David's shoulders. "So, do you like it?" You ask. "Like it? I love it. Thank you, Y/n." He says, wrapping an arm around your waist.

"Camp Campbell is the place for me and you."

[camillemontespan]

the history of us [drake x camille] [final part: i love him]

Part Thirteen if you want to catch up.

Drake’s Mind Over Matter Magazine Interview

FINAL PART! Ahhhh thank you to everyone who stuck with me throughout this series of angst! I’ve loved all your comments. I’m so glad this resonated with you. 

@jovialyouthmusic @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @pug-bitch @sirbeepsalot @moonlightgem7 @emceesynonymroll @dcbbw @burnsoslow @i-bloody-love-drake-walker @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @symonde @notoriouscs @katedrakeohd @emichelle @rainbowsinthestorm @stopforamoment @iplaydrake @gardeningourmet @mrsnazariowalker @be-still-my-aching-heart

**********************************************

Seven months later

'Are you ready?'

Drake broke out of his thoughts and looked down at his wife who had placed her hands on his shoulders. She was smiling and looked so hopeful. Drake smiled back, grateful that she was by his side. 

'As ready as I'll ever be,' he told her.

'If you get nervous, just picture everyone naked,' Camille joked. Drake chuckled and brought her into him, his arms wrapping around her body. 'Forget everyone, I'll just picture you.'

Camille blushed. Drake loved that he still had that effect on her.

'Okay, go,' she ordered. 'We'll be sat in the front row cheering you on.'

Drake grinned and watched her leave. He took a deep breath.

He made his way from the dressing area and found Samantha standing outside waiting for him. 'You ready?' she asked.

Drake nodded.

'You'll be brilliant,' she reassured him. They walked together down the hallway and Drake opened the doors, letting Samantha go first. He was on the side of the stage and he watched as Samantha made her way over to where Camille was sat in front row.

Lily was sat beside Camille, her feet inches off the floor. She was wearing a red satin dress with sparkly black tights and Mary Jane shoes. A little red bow was in her hair. Red was still her favourite colour, thanks to her Aunt Olivia. Olivia was sat on Lily’s other side and she was also wearing red. She had taken a look at her goddaughter’s outfit with approval. ‘I love the red, babe.’

Camille was holding Luna.

Luna was only 4 weeks old. Yet again, they had a baby who resembled Camille with her caramel skin and downy dark hair.  Except for her eyes. Luna had inherited Drake's brown eyes that looked green in the light.

She was a quiet baby who watched everything. Always concentrating, always making sense of the world around her. Drake had a feeling she would grow up to be like him. 

They had named her Luna after the moon, because even in the darkest of nights, if you looked, you would see the silver face of the moon shining down, bringing hope and light; something which Drake had struggled to find months ago. Until now.

Samantha sat down beside Bertrand. Maxwell, Leo and Hana were also there. Drake knew the King was there too. He was up on the mezzanine, not wanting to distract attention away from Drake. This was Drake's moment.

He stood at the podium and the room hushed. It was full of nobles and commoners alike. Drake swallowed and his eyes found Camille's. She smiled at him encouragingly and gave him a wink.

Drake cleared his throat and began to speak.

'If you told me five years ago that this would have been my life, I'd have laughed and continued to drink my whiskey,' he began. 'I never visualised myself having a wife or children. I never even thought I would become a noble. I truly believed that I was destined to spend my life in the shadows at Palace balls, a loner, without happiness. That all changed when I met my wife. She changed the way I thought and I began to think that maybe I could change the course of my future.'

He stopped for a moment to gauge reaction. Everyone was still listening, thank God.

'I got the woman of my dreams and I have two beautiful children. I should have felt like I had made it. But I didn't. I know to many people here, it will sound like I'm ungrateful. That these are first world problems. But seven months ago, I had to admit to myself that I was an alcoholic.'

The room gasped. Drake closed his eyes, bracing himself. He had said it.

'I felt under so much pressure to be a good father, a good husband and a good Duke. I'm well aware that I don't exactly fit expectations for what a Duke should be.. I don't wear fancy clothes, I don't like palace balls, I hate etiquette and I can't stand fancy finger food. I am much better just being outside, camping and making smores with my family. So I began to feel that even with my title, I still didn't fit in.  I felt like a fraud. I wanted myself and Camille to be the most normal Duke and Duchess, but this idea rubbed many people up the wrong way.'

He hadn't lost the audience. They were listening intently.

'I hate the paparazzi. I hated how anytime we went anywhere, we would get hounded. I wanted to keep my family safe and each time they were photographed, I felt helpless. My daughter broke her arm and the paparazzi were camped outside the hospital. I lost my temper which made headlines. I began to feel out of my depth and began to hate my life.'

He focused on Camille. She knew his thoughts but he hadn't exactly expressed them in this sort of way before. But she was smiling softly, supporting him.

'So, I turned to whiskey. I used it to block out thoughts that I wasn't cut out for this life and it numbed me. It's only when my wife and daughter left me that I realised how badly this had gone. So, I decided to fight for them. I am still fighting.’

Drake kept his voice steady even though his heart was hammering from nerves. ‘I have been going to AA meetings and working through personal stuff with my therapist. My wife encourages me to talk to her if I feel overwhelmed, which I’ve been doing.’ He paused. ‘You might wonder why I’m telling you this. There’s a reason, trust me!’

The audience chuckled.

‘Months ago, I felt I had no purpose, that I brought nothing to the table. But by making steps to improve myself and get better, I realised that my problems stemmed from myself. My inner thoughts. My walls were built back up and I lost myself in this dark place. Now, I’m back into the light, but I have learned that there could be many men in Cordonia who are struggling with mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, hey, alcoholism, every thing else in between. If I, a guy who became a Duke, married the woman of my dreams and had two kids can be struggling, then anyone can. So, I’m talking to you today to introduce my first campaign as the Duke of Valtoria.’

He stepped out from the podium and the screen behind him burst into life. Maxwell had mixed a soundtrack for the presentation while Samantha had given Drake pointers in how to make it look interesting. 

‘Mind Over Matter,’ Drake said, enunciating every word. ‘This is my new campaign for all men in Cordonia. Let’s get rid of toxic masculinity. If you’re struggling, be honest. Talk. Show your demons. Now, I know how difficult it is to talk about feelings and ask for help; I’ve been there. Consider this as me paying it forward to you.’

He began to walk around the stage, getting comfortable. 

‘The campaign will involve myself, my fellow Dukes and the King and you. You. Everyone knows I like getting outside. It’s freeing. So, next month, sign up to join us as we go on a week long adventure trail in the mountains. We will be hiking, kayaking, abseiling. Every outdoor thing you can think of, we will do. The idea is that if you are about to launch yourself off a cliff into a lake, sure, the height is  scary. But you are pushed to just confront your fears and jump. The same idea goes for your emotions. It’s a symbol. Confront your emotions and let go. Mind over matter.’ 

There was a silence. Drake ignored it; he was on a roll now. 

‘While we’re doing all this fun, outdoor stuff, we will be talking. It’s like a free therapy session except instead of being stuck in a room for 60 minutes, you are navigating nature and working together, while talking about the stuff inside your head. Meanwhile, we will be filming our activities and live streaming them online so people can donate to the campaign, which will split money donated to mental health charities.’

He faced the audience. ‘Men like me are too quick to shut down. We build a wall so nobody can see how we feel. We are told that to have feelings is to be weak. You have to be macho all the time. Fuck macho! Honestly, fuck it. I know I love making fires outdoors and hiking and other ‘macho’ things, but one of my favourite things to do is to take part in my daughter’s tea parties because it makes her happy -and myself, actually. That’s not macho!’

Camille grinned, her eyes shining as she listened to her husband. Lily was beaming, her legs swinging as she listened to every word her daddy was saying. She made a mental note to ask him to join her for a tea party when they got home.

‘Sometimes, she makes me wear a plastic tiara on my head because it might be a princess tea party. Do I care? No! Because it’s quality time with my little girl. Seriously, we need to put aside these tired notions that we NEED TO BE MEN AND BE SERIOUS AND STOIC. If you’re feeling vulnerable or sad or depressed, anything at all,  then please, join me on this campaign. I have big plans for it and I would love it if you could join me on this ride. Thank you.’

Camille was the first to stand up. She couldn’t clap because she was holding Luna, but she gave a loud ‘whooo!’

Lily jumped up and down, while Maxwell stood up and shouted, ‘FUCK TOXIC MASCULINITY!’ He turned to highfive Leo who then fist pumped the air.  

Drake bowed then spoke again. ‘You can sign up on our official website which has launched NOW. Let’s get out there.’ 

************************************************************************************

‘I need... to sit down..’ Maxwell panted, stopping to get some breath back. Bertrand turned to survey his brother. ‘Come on, Maxxie! We’re nearly at the top!’

Drake, Maxwell, Bertrand, Liam, Leo and some ten other nobles and fifteen commoners were hiking up the Cordonia Pass. They were dressed in hiking gear with huge backpacks on their backs and each of them was sweating profusely. 

Maxwell had his video camera. He turned it so he could film himself. ‘If I don’t make it back, please leave my estate to the Hippo Sanctuary..’ 

Leo chuckled and took the camera from the ailing Beaumont. ‘Right, guys, let’s keep moving. Drake, how ya doin?’

Drake turned to look at Leo. He looked in his element. ‘I feel exhausted but I’ve got tons of adrenaline. We’re nearly there!’

��How do you hike like this all the time, Drake?’ Liam asked, panting as they hiked further up. ‘What’s wrong with using a gym?’

‘Because you get good views!’ Drake replied, casting his hand out over Cordonia.

Leo shook his head. ‘You get good views at the gym, buddy. Just think: you’re on the treadmill, you’ve got some gym bunny in tight lycra running on the treadmill in front of you..’

‘You realise we’re livestreaming this and Olivia’s watching, right?’ Drake said dryly.

Leo let out a gasp in mock horror and turned the camera to face him. ‘Olivia, that wasn’t me talking! That was... Bertrand!’

Bertrand kept hiking, his eyes fixed on the ground, concentrating on not slipping, but he still managed to say, ‘As if I would ever look at gym bunnies, I have some decorum..’

The group continued to hike until they finally reached the top. 

‘Ah! Thank God!’ Maxwell shrieked, falling to his knees. 

‘Right, water break. Let’s take in the view,’ Drake said. ‘Rest up, gents.’

They all settled down on the ground, happy to be resting. Drake handed out bottles of water; Maxwell opened his and poured it on his head. They all looked down at Cordonia. The camera was placed outside the circle, filming them. 

‘I feel like we’re on top of the world..’ a commoner, Matthew, said. 

‘Are you guys enjoying the campaign so far?’ Liam asked. 

The group nodded. ‘It’s different,’ a noble, Theo, told him. ‘I never get out and do this sort of thing. I’m always in the palace, trying to look like part of the furniture.’ 

‘You’re all different to how I imagined,’ Matthew said, gesturing to Drake and his core group of friends. ‘I thought you would be all stuck up because you’re noble.’

‘Dude, the day I become stuck up is the day I’m no longer myself,’ Leo said, taking out a sandwich from his bag. He spotted Maxwell eyeing it hungrily and so tore off a piece for him to have. 

‘So, what are your demons?’ another commoner, James, asked. He had the Mind Over Matter brochure in his hands and was reading it seriously. 

‘Oh god, is this when we sit round a circle like the fucking Breakfast Club?’ Theo groaned. 

Drake smirked. ‘It’s what you signed up for. Okay, so obviously, I’m an alcoholic and I’m working every day to fight my addiction and be a better husband and father.’

He gestured to the group. ‘Feel free to be the Breakfast Club.’

‘I feel like I’m only just keeping my head above water,’ James admitted quickly. ‘I work two jobs, have a wife and kid, I’m in a shit ton of debt and I’m always exhausted.’ 

Maxwell turned red and looked down at his hands. ‘That’s actual real people issues. I’m a Beaumont, so anything I say is a problem really isn’t.’ 

‘Maxwell, just because you’re noble doesn’t mean your issues aren’t valid,’ Liam reassured him. James nodded eagerly.  Bertrand was studying his younger brother. ‘Maxxie, be honest.’

Maxwell sighed. ‘I feel like I constantly have to be the joker, the fun one. Since our parents died, I’ve pushed myself to make sure that you’re happy and that means trying to be positive and a ray of eternal fucking sunshine. But sometimes, I don’t want to do that. If I feel upset, I can’t say anything because I don’t want to bring us down. My job is to keep us happy-’

‘Maxwell, that’s not your job,’ Bertrand interrupted. ‘If anything, my job is to look after you and keep you right.’ 

There was a silence. Leo cleared his throat. ‘Eh, sometimes I think marriage would be nice.’

They all turned to stare at Leo, a look of complete bewilderment on their faces.

‘But.. but you are a former manwhore!’ Liam cried, forgetting the camera that was filming them. ‘And you’re with Olivia who hates all that stuff.’

Leo shrugged. ‘So do I normally. But I see Drake with Camille and sometimes I wonder if I should take the leap and just.. ask her.’

‘Oh my God..’ Maxwell breathed. ‘Are you proposing to Olivia on our livestream?’

Leo bolted up to grab the camera, his eyes filled with panic. ‘Fuck, can I like, delete what I said?!’

They all burst out laughing. Leo turned to them, seething. He left the camera on but he sat back down and became uncharacteristically quiet. 

‘Well, since we’re all being a really cringey version of the Breakfast Club right now,’ Liam said, smiling, ‘I guess I should say that as the King, I’m always thinking that I’m not serving my country right. I always wonder if I am cut out for the role.’

‘I think you’re a good king,’ James said. ‘You’re fair and it’s obvious you want to push the country into being more modern.’ 

Liam gave him a grateful smile. ‘Thank you.’

‘I hate wearing sweater vests,’ Bertrand suddenly said. ‘I hate them. I look like a fifty year old librarian, when in reality, I’m in my mid thirties.’ 

‘You do have a Hugh Jackman look about you,’ Maxwell mused. ‘You should play into that. Hugh Jackman doesn’t wear sweater vests.’

‘What would you wear instead?’ Drake asked. ‘And why do you wear them?’

Bertrand sighed. ‘They’re a serious item of clothing, traditional, makes me look the part. I often feel like I’m failing House Beaumont and I don’t want my parents reputation to be destroyed, so I try and act like I’m more serious and professional than I actually am when really..’

They all waited with bated breath. 

‘I have..’ Bertrand said, hesitating. ‘I have.. oh dear God, do I have to say it? Uh, okay, I have... a kimono collection.’ His voice trailed off. 

Their mouths dropped open. ‘WHAT?!’ Maxwell shrieked. ‘I KNEW IT. I knew you were a flamboyant peacock hiding inside the body of a boring pigeon!’

  ************************************************************************************

4th July 2024

I’ve started a new diary! Writing helps me reflect and get my thoughts in order. So without further ado...

Today was the Walker Family 4th July. We’re in Texas, spending the whole summer here. The whole summer. 

Things are different to last year. Last year, we brought our pagers and answered work emails so we could still be the Duke and Duchess. Not this time. We’ve left our work stuff in Valtoria so we can spend four months in Texas just being a family. No worries, no responsibility. Bertrand visits the manor once a week and our publicist, Samantha, is keeping our image afloat. She checks in once a week to ask how we’re enjoying our time off, you know, like a normal person *cough* Madeline, take note *cough*.

Drake is still attending his AA meetings and is making huge strides. On top of that, he is making his campaign Mind Over Matter into a powerhouse; he’s already thinking about starting a foundation. He’s found his feet as the Duke of Valtoria. He finally feels he is doing some good. 

Not that he wasn’t before. He does good when he is also a husband and a father. 

Lily was a little hesitant about Luna at first but Drake sat her down and told her how good it is to have a sibling; someone who is in your corner, someone who is your team mate. As an only child, I can’t impart such wisdom, so Drake took that issue and helped her see that Luna is not replacing her; Lily is still as loved. 

Now, Lily is stuck like glue to her little sister. She always asks if she’s had enough milk or enough sleep. Lily is so caring anyway, it’s beautiful to see her taking to her new role with such vitality. 

Tonight, Drake was as excited as always about the fireworks. He found more M-80s which filled me with dread but as always, he was careful with them while still looking like a child on Christmas morning. He had bought Luna some baby earplugs so the fireworks wouldn’t hurt her hearing and she looked up at the sky in wonder as Drake set off the Catherine Wheels. 

He’s going to make our children 4th July nuts and I couldn’t be happier about that. 

When Lily and Luna were put to bed, we sat out on the jetty together with Drake’s arm around me. ‘I’m so happy you’re still with me,’ he whispered in my ear. I smiled and kissed him. 

I will always be with Drake Walker. He’s my family. He’s mine.

As life goes on, we will go through more hardship, more challenges and more joy; but we will have each other through it all. 

I love him. I love him. I love him.

[faveficarchive]

Reality Check

Sequel to Creative License 

By Ella Quince

Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle

Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: Xena and Gabrielle start out on their new life together after Darphus buys (kicks) Xena out.

The woodland glade was restored to tranquility in the aftermath of that morning's battle. Only one combatant, and her companion, remained in the arena. Just as well, since there was only one felled log on which to sit and the warrior was in need of a resting place.

"I wish you'd warn me before you start re-enacting my stories, especially the really bloody ones," said Gabrielle, dabbing at the wound on Xena's forehead.

Xena winced as the stinging salve took effect. "This wasn't exactly 'The Gauntlet,' Gabrielle."

"Maybe not," said the bard, swallowing audibly as she wiped away a thin rivulet of blood. "But greed triumphed over honor, delivering your army into the hands of a despicable minion of Ares."

"Oh, Darphus is all right, even if he did force a change of management. And he only whacked me because we couldn't agree on the sale terms. He gets a little aggressive when he's frustrated, which is a useful trait in an up-and-coming warlord."

"Uh, Xena...I'm—I'm not feeling...so good..."

"Oops!" Xena jumped to her feet, catching the swaying bard in her arms. "Here, sit down and put your head between your knees." Rubbing Gabrielle's back, she said, "You're not used to all this blood, are you?"

"No," admitted Gabrielle weakly.

"That's probably why you can tell such gory stories. It doesn't seem real to you."Thank the gods.... Xena smiled fondly at the pale-faced young woman, then leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead.

"What's that for?"

"A remedy for fainting."

Gabrielle smiled, color returning to her cheeks. "It does seem to help." She sat up with an enthusiastic gleam in her eye. "Maybe we should—"

"I wouldn't want to overdose you," teased Xena.

"Too late for that," replied Gabrielle smugly. "If too much kissing is bad for us, we're going to die young."

"But happy," said Xena cheerfully. "Very happy."

"I'm sorry about your army, though."

"I'm not." The warlord bent down and scooped up the small purse of gold coins Darphus had finally thrown at her feet. It was lighter than the sum she had asked for, but considering he could have killed her instead, it was a generous settlement. "As business ventures go, my army wasn't a resounding success. So it's time to move on and put my skills to better use."

"What do you have in mind?"

"I dunno." She whistled for the chestnut gelding grazing on the meadow grass at the edge of the glade. "We'll just have to see what turns up."

"Now that I think about it, this is going to be fun," said Gabrielle, determined to find some good in their reversal of fortune. "Traveling on the road together, having adventures just like Gabrielle and the Warrior Princess. What more could a bard ask for?"

"Aw, Hades!" hissed Gabrielle, squirming yet again to avoid the pointed rocks that littered the hard ground beneath her. Unfortunately, the chains on her wrists and ankles severely restricted her movement. On top of that, she was hungry and cold... and even just a little scared.

She studied the scruffy trio of men who were bunched around the blazing fire, a fire that was too far away to offer her any warmth. They were deep in furious discussion, but she couldn't make out their words. "What do you think is going to happen to us?" she whispered to the woman lying beside her.

Xena tried to shrug, but her bonds were too tight. With a frustrated sigh, she said, "Well, considering that I don't really have any mortal enemies, he just thinks I do..."

"It could take awhile for him find someone who wants to ransom the Warrior Princess," realized Gabrielle. "Oh, Xena, this is all my fault!"

The warlord shook her head. "No it's not, Gabrielle. These are thugs, so they would have robbed us anyway, then probably killed us if they hadn't recognized me. Besides, it doesn't matter why they attacked — I should have been able to protect you. Some warrior I've turned out to be," she said glumly. "More like a scroll-pusher with delusions of grandeur."

"Xena, you were outnumbered three to one. I thought you were splendid. If there'd only been two of them, you would have won for sure."

"The Warrior Princess can rout an entire army."

"Yes, but she has me as a choreographer. And I'll have you know it took me days to work out that fight scene against the Persians. If the guys who jumped us had made an appointment ahead of time, I could have written one for you too."

And despite their desperate situation, they began to laugh...

"This is a trick, right?"

Startled, Xena looked up to find the burly leader of their captors looming over her. He appeared to be the only one of the men still left in the campsite.

"It was too easy," he said, nervously licking his lips. "You just let us take you, even though there were only three of us. Which means you wanted to be captured." He broke out into a sweat and began to fumble in his pockets for the keys to the locks. "I'm no fool. It just isn't worth the risk. You might not believe this, but I have a wife and children, and I really want to get back to them. Alive, not in pieces."

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged incredulous looks as he jumped back, anxiously waiting for them slip off their chains.

"Please, Xena, don't hold this against me," he pleaded. "According to the bards, you've changed, you're merciful now, right?"

"Uh, yeah," said Xena as she and Gabrielle scrambled to their feet. At a prod from her companion she assumed a dour expression and growled, "But it's a good thing you let us loose, because what I had planned for you..." She trailed off, her brow wrinkling in concentration.

"Whooo, you don't want to know!" interjected Gabrielle quickly, before Xena's lack of imagination became too obvious.

"No! No, I don't!"

"Good save," whispered the warlord as their captor turned heel and ran.

"That's what bards are for," said Gabrielle.

By dawn they were on the road again, walking side by side, with the gelding ambling in their wake. It was, reflected Gabrielle, an eerily familiar scenario, as if she'd stepped into the middle of one of her own tales. Except, of course, that this Xena was much too good-natured to bear any resemblance to a brooding, haunted mass-murdering warlord with a hair-trigger temper and lethal killing skills. Upon further reflection, the bard decided this was probably a good thing....

"Tell me another one," said Xena, still chuckling at the thought of a royal princess who was her mirror image.

"Okay, how about the Callisto trilogy next?"

"Great, that's one of my favorites... only leave out Joxer."

"Hey! I'm in those scenes with him, too, you know."

"Necessary collateral damage," said the warlord, dismissing Gabrielle's protest. "If he'd tried to join my army I would have gutted him on the spot."

"I thought you were a kinder, gentler sort of warlord."

"Not that kind, not that gentle."

"I think you're being very close-minded. Joxer is the comic relief, an advanced literary device only recently introduced into contemporary oral narratives."

"Too advanced for me," said Xena flatly. "Besides, it's not as if his scenes further the plot."

"Everyone's a critic," muttered the bard.

Xena's reply was cut off by the gelding snorting loudly and pulling at the reins in her hands. "Steady, steady," she soothed, trying to calm the horse, who appeared to be on the verge of bolting.

"What's wrong?"

"Beats me."

"I don't suppose it has anything to do with the smoke that's blowing our way?" asked Gabrielle.

Xena sniffed loudly, then frowned. "Damn sinuses...."

Gabrielle stared at her companion. "Just what are the minimum qualifications for a warlord these days?"

"I had scouts, okay?" snapped Xena. "I paid them good money to notice details like that."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Gabrielle tactfully. "So," she continued with a bright smile and a shiver of anticipation, "what do we do now?"

"Do?" Xena looked at her blankly.

"About the fire."

"We go around it," said the warlord.

"Xena, we can't ignore a town that's been set ablaze by a ruthless conqueror! We have to help them fight—" Gabrielle broke off, unsettled by the smirk on the warlord's face. "What?"

"There's no town in that direction. Some farmer is probably burning the stubble in his fields."

"You don't know that for sure," said the bard with a stubborn jut of her chin. "There could be rapacious raiders just over that hill, rampaging in a frenzy of blood lust as they loot and pillage a defenseless farm."

"Wrong time of year for looting farmers. The harvests are over and crops have been taken to market by now. Rapacious blood-lusting raiders are off attacking city granaries instead."

"Oh."

"But it does make a good story," said Xena kindly. Then, with a sudden start, she cocked her head, listening intently. "Someone's coming."

"That's more like it." Gabrielle was suitably gratified by this proof of her companion's keen hearing. Bouncing on her toes, she tried to peek over the hill to see the dangerous assailant who was approaching. Her face fell at the sight of a stoop-shouldered figure in worn clothing.

"Uh, oh," whispered Xena under her breath. "Trouble."

"Really?" The bard's pulse quickened as she studied the peasant who was shuffling his way toward them. "He looks harmless, but obviously you've seen through his disguise. Who is he: a warrior, an assassin, a god in mortal raiments?"

"Hurry up, Gabrielle," said Xena, panic edging her voice as she grabbed the bard's elbow and yanked her into motion. "I've seen that look before. He's a lecherous old man who's going to want to keep us company all the way to Athens."

But it was too late. The man's gait was faster than it looked.

"Hey, don't I know you?" called out the peasant as he fell into step beside them.

"Umm, I don't think so," said Xena, tugging at the gelding to pick up his pace.

"Yeah, yeah, sure I do. You're that warrior princess gal... Xener."

Gabrielle winced. "That's 'Xena.'"

He nodded sagely. "That's what I said, Xener."

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings," proclaimed the young bard, assuming a dramatic visage of grief and woe, "but the Warrior Princess is dead, crucified by the Romans."

"She looks like a pretty lively corpse to me," cackled the man. His eyes fixed on the warlord's breastplate. Peering more closely, he added, "You been eating enough lately? You're skinnier than I expected."

"Death will do that to you," muttered Xena through a clenched jaw.

"This is my lucky day," the peasant crowed, his gaze shifting over to Gabrielle's generous bustline. "Two lovely young ladies and me with a full week's pay. So, what's the going rate for the both of you, dearie? And don't try to charge me those big city prices. We're still a half-day's walk from Athens, and I know what's a fair rate around here."

Oh, gods...we're doomed, thought the bard as she began to realize the full magnitude of their peril.

"I wouldn't have held it against you," insisted Gabrielle as they wound their way through the crowded city streets. "One little jab with the sword, not enough to disembowel him, just enough to draw blood and slow him down."

Xena shook her head, her mouth twitching with restrained laughter. "Occupational hazard, my bard. If I attacked every obnoxious man I met while traveling, I'd have to lay waste to half the countryside."

"And this is a problem, why?" prompted Gabrielle. Four hours in the company of a garrulous, doddering lecher had seriously eroded her temper. He had stuck to them with the tenacity of a starving leech until the last mile of their journey, then pinched her on the butt when he left.

"Now do you understand why I loathe Joxer?"

"Touché," said the bard. "I'll kill him off in my next story. That's a promise."

"Remind me to make an offering to Athena," said Xena gratefully. "She's obviously heard my prayers." Then, with a cluck of encouragement, she led her horse off the road and into a tidy stable yard.

A lanky young stablehand stopped pitching hay and ambled over. He nodded a polite greeting to the warlord, but then his eyes sidled to the belly of her horse. "That's a gelding," he said in an accusing tone.

"Uh, yes, the last time I checked he was," agreed Xena.

"But where's Argo?"

She sighed heavily. This was going to be a long day. "I'm not Xena. At least, I'm not that Xena."

The lad guffawed. "Yeah, right. She's okay isn't she?"

"Who, Xena? Actually, she's dead."

"No, Argo," he said stubbornly. His forehead creased with worry. "She didn't get hurt or anything, did she?"

"But I don't have—"

"I've always wanted to meet Argo," he continued anxiously.

"Argo is just fine," said Gabrielle, deciding this wasn't a battle she and Xena could win. "We left her with... Xena's mother."

"Oh, that's okay then." He hoisted their saddlebags and bedrolls off the gelding. "Guess we can count on Cyrene to take good care of her."

Xena stared at him incredulously, but the bard just nodded in agreement. "Yes, Cyrene is pretty reliable."

As the stablehand led the gelding into the barn, Xena shook her head in amazement. "But I don't have a horse named Argo. I don't even have a mother."

"Well, you do now," said Gabrielle wearily, "so just go with it."

"I thought I'd be anonymous in Athens," complained Xena as they carried their packs to the adjacent inn. "Or at least inconspicuous. Surely the citizens of the most cosmopolitan city in Greece can tell the difference between fact and fiction?"

"Now, now, don't judge the entire population based on the reaction of one illiterate stablehand." Gabrielle smiled brightly at the dour-faced innkeeper who was slumped against the doorway of his establishment. "We'd like a room, please."

"Yeah, I figured that. One bed or two?"

Xena blushed at the drawled inquiry, but Gabrielle answered calmly. "One bed is fine."

"About time," muttered the innkeeper, his expression softening slightly.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, nothing." He opened the door for them and pointed to a flight of stairs. "Second room on your left."

"Am I imagining things or did he wink at us?" asked Xena as they climbed up to the second floor.

"I'm sure it was a trick of the light."

"Like Hades it was. I'll bet he also thinks we're Xena and Gabrielle—I mean, that Xena and Gabrielle — and that we... they... are finally lovers."

"Well, we are."

"But we're dead."

"Love endures!" proclaimed the bard as she flung open the door to their room.

They both stared in dismay at the cramped space and its drab furnishings, then took a hesitant step inside. There was barely enough room to take yet another step.

"They need to dust more often," said Xena critically, wiping a finger across a tabletop. She rubbed off the resulting smudge with a shiver of distaste. "At least once a year."

"I've seen worse...somewhere," muttered Gabrielle.

Sitting down on a bed with a decided absence of any bounce, Xena judged the mattress to be slightly softer than a granite slab. "By the way," she asked curiously, "just how many times have you done this?"

The bard suddenly became intently absorbed in unpacking their bedrolls. "Done what?"

"Checked into an inn...with another woman."

Gabrielle shrugged and kept her face averted. "I'm a bard...I travel a lot...meet lots of people...."

"I'm not complaining," said Xena softly. "It's just that," she took a deep breath and confessed, "I was always so busy running my army that I didn't have much time for... socializing. So sometimes I worry that I don't... measure up."

"Oh." When the young woman turned around, there were tears running down her cheeks. "Xena, I fell in love with you the day you rode into Potidea, and you've been worth every minute of the years I've waited for you. No one has ever made me feel as wonderful, or as beautiful, as you do."

"Oh." The warrior blinked, then cleared her throat, but no words came out. So she pulled the bard down onto her lap and enveloped her in a fierce hug.

Her face buried against Xena's chest, Gabrielle whispered, "But if you're still worried, we could get in some practice before lunch."

Not many patrons were left in the common room by the time the two women wandered downstairs again.

"There's plenty of food," yelled the innkeeper from the depths of the kitchen, "as long as you want stew."

"Stew?" said the warlord under her breath. "It smells more like dirty laundry,"

"Hush, Xena." Gabrielle mustered a polite smile and called back, "Stew will be fine!"

"Delius was here," Xena read off the top of the trestle table in the middle of the room. As they settled onto a low bench that wobbled ominously, she continued her perusal of the words etched into the wooden surface. "Fiscus loves Antonio...Gratius has a twelve-inch—"

"Here ya go!" barked out a busty woman who emerged from the kitchen with a tray of food balanced on her hands. Then her eyes fixed on the leather-clad warlord. "Oh my!" Setting two bowls down in front of her customers, the waitress leaned over at a strategic and obviously well-practiced angle that displayed her breasts as if they were a special on that day's menu. "You're Xena, the Warrior Princess, aren't you?"

Xena smiled broadly. "Why, yes—"

"Yes, there's a strong resemblance," interjected Gabrielle. "How sweet of you to notice. But hadn't you heard? The Warrior Princess is dead." Leaning closer to her companion, she muttered, "Or she certainly will be soon."

"Yup, dead," said the warlord with sudden conviction. "Nailed to a cross, they say. Nasty way to go, but very thorough."

The waitress shuddered, which only served to accentuate her assets. Then she looked at the young bard, coolly measuring her appearance. "Well, you're obviously not Gabrielle. Is she dead, too?"

"Yes," said Gabrielle through gritted teeth. "She died with Xena."

"Oh, that's so sad!"

"What's really sad is this food," said the warlord, hastily dropping her spoon after just one taste.

"Don't you worry, I can fix you something very special," gushed the waitress.

"We wouldn't dream of putting you to that kind of trouble," said Gabrielle quickly and firmly. "We'll pick up something to eat at the marketplace instead. Now!" she said, prodding Xena into leaving before the waitress could offer any more of her services.

As they headed out the door, Xena spat out a knot of gristle that had lodged between her teeth. "We really should move to another inn."

"Yeah, we probably should," agreed Gabrielle reluctantly, "only this place is so convenient. It's near the city gate and the stables and even the markets."

"But—" The warlord broke off her protest; her blue eyes lit up, fired by a sudden spark of inspiration. "Why so it is, my bard, so it is..."

"One dinar."

Gabrielle nodded and handed over a coin. As she turned away from the stall, she saw the horrified look on Xena's face. "What?"

"Gabrielle! You just paid three times the market rate for that apple! I thought you knew how to bargain."

"Excuse me, Destroyer of Nations, but I'm a bard, remember? I write fiction."

Behind them, the fruit vendor was staring at the warlord, running his eyes from her leather boots up and up to the raven-dark tresses of her hair. "Destroyer of... You're Xena, the Warrior Princess!" he yelped.

"Xena's dead," said the warlord automatically.

"But you look just like her!"

"No, no she doesn't," cried out Gabrielle, assuming a visage of obvious dismay. "You've made a mistake, a dreadful mistake. It's just a... a strange coincidence, that's all."

Startled by Gabrielle's very unconvincing denial, Xena decided the better part of valor lay in letting the bard play out this scene on her own. Setting her mouth in a grim line, the warlord maintained a steadfast silence.

"Why, if this woman were Xena," said Gabrielle, "do you think for one minute she would let you live after cheating me out of a full dinar for that mealy apple?"

Ah — that's my cue, realized the warlord. "Like the little woman said, I'm not Xena." And she let her hand drift onto the pommel of her sword.

The vendor swallowed hard. "No, not Xena... how silly of me..." Taking a deep breath, he said, "Uh, by the way, you forgot your other two apples. And here, have a pear as well. They're very tasty this time of year."

Gabrielle broke into a beatific smile. "Why, thank you — you're very kind."

As they strolled away, munching on fruit, Xena said, "And I thought you said you couldn't bargain."

"That wasn't really bargaining. It was improvisational acting. And for an amateur, you did a pretty good job of picking up your lines."

"It was fun," said Xena thoughtfully. "I haven't had a whole lot of fun in my life." She turned to her companion. "That's one of the things I like about being around you. Even before we met, I figured that you'd just naturally make life more interesting. It was one of the reasons I had you abducted."

"Really?" Gabrielle flushed with pleasure. "Just for that, I'll forgive you for that 'little woman' crack."

One advantage to having such a small room, decided Gabrielle philosophically, was that it could be lit by the single candle stub reluctantly provided by the innkeeper. She sneezed as a cloud of dust tickled her nose. "Guess the maid's been here."

During their absence their packs had been thrown into a corner of the room and the bedspread had been turned down to reveal stained, threadbare sheets.... and a whip coiled neatly on top of a flat pillow.

"What the��!" growled the warlord. Snatching her whip off the bed, she hastily stuffed it back in her saddlebag. "I'd like to get my hands on the bard who's been spreading those damn S&M stories again."

"Yeah... so would I," said Gabrielle, a speculative tone in her voice. At Xena's outraged look, she said, "Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it."

"What is it about you bards and leather?" asked Xena in dismay. "How many times do I have to tell you that armor and weapons are the tools of my trade, not sex toys. I have no intention of using a whip on you."

"That wasn't the scenario I had in mind."

"Oh no, you don't! Whips hurt!"

"Chains?"

Xena fell silent for a moment. "Well...maybe...."

This promising line of discussion was abruptly interrupted by a series of blood-curdling yells and the sound of splintering furniture coming from the room next door, followed by a rhythmic chanting that gathered force until the two women could hear the words, "Toga, toga, toga!" reverberating through the wall.

"Just a wild guess," said the bard, "but I think that's a party we want to avoid."

"And I think it's time I had a small talk with management," said the warlord, striding masterfully out of the room.

Gabrielle shivered. There had been an edge of menace in her companion's voice that the bard had never heard before. As she waited for Xena's return, Gabrielle even felt a twinge of sympathy for the hapless innkeeper. Then the candle guttered out, throwing her into darkness, and the floorboards began to vibrate from the escalating noise of the nascent orgy. "On second thought — Take the village, kill 'em all," the bard muttered as she stumbled her way out of the room and went in search of the warlord.

She found Xena standing alone in the middle of the empty common room.

"Well?" Gabrielle demanded. The dazed smile on Xena's face was starting to worry her. "Did you find the innkeeper? Did you make him give back our money so we can stay somewhere else?"

"Not exactly." Xena's smile broadened. "Actually, I bought the place from him."

"Bought it!" Without even trying, the bard managed a truly impressive dramatic visage of pure horror. "But Xena, this inn is a dump!"

"A dump with a good strategic location, which is why it's stayed in business as long as it has, despite its many shortcomings. All it needs is a good administrator and some first-class entertainment, like a bard, and—"

"...and it could be a roaring success," finished Gabrielle with awe.

"Xena, Athenian Innkeeper," proclaimed the former warlord as she surveyed her new territory. "Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

[almaasi]

reaction post typed while watching SPN 14x08 “Byzantium”

*insert gif of me with raging fireballs for eyes and a huge smile, throwing flowers everywhere*

03:45pm

WHooo a meredith glynn episode!!!!! my fave

i always hear the 10th doctor saying “byzantium” and i can’t even put my finger on why. i guess he said it once. followed by the word “crystals”. probably what powers the tardis tbh

brb gonna get a lil snackaroo

-

04:04pm

okay a whole mealaroo, same difference

LET’S WATCH THE THING

-

04:06

i like that this recap is mostly women saying important things, quoted from multiple episodes

the stars have aligned

-

04:08

sam: “tell them yourself, they’ll get back in a minute”

oh no the pain in sam’s eyes

i lowkey forgot jared could act

-

04:10

jack: what happens next, for someone like me?

sam: i don’t know

jack: then it’s gonna be an adventure

he is THE PUREST SOUL

-

04:11

sam: “he’s gone”

WHAT??? NO?????!?!?!

WHAT??2RF

JDFG?

/????????

NO? I WAS 0% EXPECTING THIS 

WHAT THE HELL

EXCUSE ME I WANT A REFUND FOR THIS EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT

SERIOUSLY I 100% BELIEVED HE’D BE OKAY

WHO ALLOWED THIS

/frowns and continues watching because nope this will be FIXED

at some point

undoubtedly

-

04:14

oh nooooo

does cas always check with dean’s emotions so he can reflect them, or because he wants to check if dean’s okay before allowing himself to feel his own emotions?

because he always does this

-

04:16

also i wanna know why this is clearly affecting dean so much more than cas or sam when they all cared about him like parents

does he just take things to heart way more, or is jack specifically linked in his mind to something he did wrong and the guilt is overwhelming?

also i totally would’ve loved to see them all bawling their eyes out tbh

-

04:18

why is cas the one holding everything together

dean’s in pain, cas helps him

sam’s in pain, dean lets him be but cas wants to help

but how is cas feeling

-

04:21

would fresh wood even burn???? i thought you’re meant to get dead, old wood

or maybe i know nothing and you’re meant to chop down poor, innocent trees

-

04:24

dean: “tonight? we get loaded”

and now i’m crying ;~;

-

04:25

fuk u

-

04:26

it’s obviously misha but it’s also canon cas now and he’s smiling and i’m sobbing and i can’t handle this

-

okay dean needs to kiss that lil bit of caramel off his lip RIGHT NOW

100% the reason the editors used that shot

-

04:28

okYA THAT RIGHT THERE/ THAT’S DRUNK JENSEN

NESNEJ, IF YOU WILL

I KNOW THAT LOOK ANYWHERE

THAT’S JENSEN LOOKING AT MISHA WITH DRUNK HEARTEYES

they must’ve used real liquor somewhere in this, either that or jensen is REALLY good at acting drunk with his eyes

AND FUCK THAT’S ALSO DEAN LOOKING AT CAS WITH DRUNK HEARTEYES

SHIT

this episode is just a list of things i did not fucking expect to see right now

-

04:33

tbh jack’s heaven is probably very close to my idea of heaven too

endless team free will/destiel soft fanfiction where nothing is wrong and they like me

-

04:35

how does he look SO. GOOD.

-

04:37

honestly right now as they’re having this conversation about angel tablets, my bladder is straining in sympathy for dean’s

please somebody let him leave to use the bathroom

i cannot imagine how much liquid is inside him right now AND AT THE SAME TIME HE MUST BE THE MOST DEHYDRATED

save this boy

-

04:41

oooh is jack gonna meet his mom in heaveeeeeeennnnn

-

04:44

dean: “psycho ex-angel killer”

um dude everyone you know and love has murdered angels

-

04:50

oooohhhh yes i did recognise the black inky skeleton thing but didn’t place it until now

-

04:50

duma: “what does it want?”

naomi: “the boy”

unsure if that counts as a bechdel test pass but it was close

-

duma: “so what do we do?”

naomi: “give it what it wants”

okay THAT counts

-

04:54

anubis is 10/10

love the accent, the snark, and the face

-

04:55

this is cool as fuck

-

04:56

“god doesn’t decide... i don’t decide. you do. i’ll tally it up at the precise moment of your death”

some good-place lore right here

loving it VERY MUCH

-

05:00

all the rainbow flowers~~~~

-

05:02

WAAAAAH ;U;;U;U;U;

-

05:08

the empty: “and when you finally give yourself permission to be happy, and let the sun shine on your face? that’s.. when i’ll come”

okay just saying, this specific iteration of the empty is hands down the most interesting and most terrifying big bad this show has ever had

this actress needs all the awards

she looks so delicate but there’s something HUGE and angry inside her and it shows, physically

-

05:11

i thought the plan was to bring jack back to life so the empty leaves heaven

WHY did cas offer himself to save jack instead??? even though lily is doing the spell?

i thought he was buying time but then THAT HAPPENED

THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT, IN ANY UNIVERSE

not letting cas be happy, ever, is 100% worse than jack dying and going to heaven

but i guess that’s the point, jack would have ended up in the empty. BUT EVEN SO WHY DID CAS GIVE HIMSELF UP IF THE SPELL WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN

-

05:14

cas: “i don’t want them to worry”

but. like. 

does this mean cas could just die at any moment

dean tells him he loves him and WHOOP dead forever in the empty

0/10 fuck you

-

05:16

also interesting that the empty is willing to barter and change plans and swap souls from destination to destination whereas anubis is not

i guess that differentiates where they stand on that alignment chart thing

there is SO MUCH happening at all times in this universe

-

05:17

again, if cas can just leave with jack, why did he give himself up

i must be missing something here

maybe it’s just that the spell wasn’t complete yet

hmmm i guess... i guess cas’ deal was specifically for jack, so when jack dies eventually again, he goes to heaven instead of the empty? like, it’s not just for now, it’s for always

okay that makes more sense

BUT JEEZ WHAT A PRICE ;A;

NOW CAS CAN NEVER BE HAPPY OR SAFE IN LIFE, OR DEATH

FUCK

-

05:21

i’m gonna cry

that one last sefless act was probably enough to tip the scales in lily’s favour

i’m crying

-

05:23

naomi: “i think that deserves a reward, don’t you?”

YES YES PLEASE SAVE HIM FROM THIS RIDICULOUS FATE

he’s such a fucking winchester

and i just realised i got my wish, meredith glynn writing cas. i was right, she does it perfectly and i love her

i mean, i hope i’m not speaking too soon here, naomi better fix this shit right now

-

yes i spoke too soon

“the archangel michael’s location”

useful but not what i wanted at all gdi

-

05:26

<3

well look i knew jack would be fine

BUT AT WHAT COST

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

wish list: happy cas and no eternal death in the empty

-

05:28

jensen definitely snuck a look at the camera just then

-

05:29

URHGUGGUUH THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL EPISODE FULL OF LADY CHARACTERS AND TEAM FREE WILL AND CAS AND JACK AND 10/10 SIDE CHARACTERS WITH 10/10 PLOTLINES AND CHARACTER DEVELOPENT

I KNEW JACK WOULD BE FINE AND I’M GLAD HE WAS

BUT CAS BARTERING HIS SOUL IS KILLING ME

I WANNA CLAW MY EYES OUT

GOD DAMMIT

BUT FUCK IF I DIDN’T LOVE THIS EPISODE ANYWAY

FUCK YOU MEREDITH GLYNN, YOU DESERVE AN ANGRY HIGH FIVE AND A CAKE

10/10 PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST CAS EPISODES EVER IMO BUT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH MY FACE IS TWITCHING I’M BOTH FURIOUS AND SATISFIED I HATE IT

that moment when it’s the worst thing ever when your favourite writer writes your favourite character so in-character that it destroys everything, ever

*insert gif of me with raging fireballs for eyes and a huge smile, throwing flowers everywhere*

/puts that as the post header

[edivupage]

Literacy Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for literacy apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Whooo’s Reading – The goal of Whooo’s Reading is accelerated reading comprehension and improved writing skills. By using open-ended questions instead of the standard true/false and multiple-choice style, students are required to think independently about texts. The Whooo’s Reading program automatically reminds students to improve their writing by asking them to cite evidence or answer all the parts of a question. Teachers can monitor student’s reading with automatic quiz results, graded by the Whooo’s Reading app, available in the teacher dashboard. To increase student motivation, students earn Wisdom Coins for reading and writing. These can be spent on accessories and items for their Owlvatars (owl avatars).

BiblioNasium– A website exclusively for children between the ages of 6 and 13. It aims to promote the reading habit among children. Equipped with peer and parental controls, it presents an effective and stimulating program for the user. Using this app, you can adapt reading to fit the child’s needs, monitor his/her reading log, and help the child explore a variety of reading genres. Reading data is saved online and is always accessible.

Curriculet–  This reading platform aims at overhauling and changing the way children study and the way teachers teach. Programmed questions and instructions pop up while a child is reading a text from the class. Using this tool, teachers can personalize the reading experience for their students; it also helps them to create and share the contents of their study digitally.

Kids A-Z– Children can select from a library of eQuizzes, eBooks, and hundreds of developmentally appropriate eResources by using the Kids A-Z mobile app. Students can complete corresponding quizzes to improve their comprehension skills and use interactive annotation tools that aid in the development of close reading skills. Kids A-Z mobile app is a must-have for kids that have access to Raz-Kids, Science A-Z, Headsprout, or Raz-plus.

Teach Your Monster to Read – In Teach Your Monster to Read, children can create a monster and take it on an adventure through a magical world while learning to read. The game starts at the most basic building blocks of reading, such as letter recognition and letter-sound matching, and progresses all the way to reading full sentences. Teach Your Monster to Read was developed to complement in-class synthetic phonics programs and can be used by students in the classroom or independently at home. The website also includes an interactive teacher’s toolkit with additional games, classroom activities, and resources. The web version is free to use through a grant by The Usborne Foundation, but there is also an app version for purchase.

The Joy of Reading – Designed to support early reading, The Joy of Reading includes nine multi-level games with explicit instruction in phonics and phonemic awareness. The Joy of Reading includes these foundational skills, which are all aligned to Kindergarten Common Core State Standards: phonemic awareness, letter tracing, letter recognition, rhyming and blending sounds, differentiation of long and short vowel sounds, spelling, recognition of compound words, recollection of common high-frequency words, and reading emergent-reader texts with fluency. There are three different game modes for teachers or parents to choose from, including a guided learning path, free play, and practice with specific words in the ABC dictionary. This app can be used as an early preparatory tool at home or as a complement to in-class instruction.

FunBrain– FunBrain comes with hundreds of free interactive books, videos, games, and printed material that help kids from Pre-K to 8 years old develop and master math, literacy, problem-solving, and reading skills. Vital skills and subject areas such as fractions, addition, shapes, and vowel sounds are included in each book, game, and video to give parents and educators a sense of confidence in the learning process.

Imagine Learning– Imagine Learning provides award-winning educational software to thousands of students around the globe. It provides a solution to literacy and language issues. Imagine Learning provides students with individual instruction on various activities, particularly designed to meet their personal needs and provide a real outcome. The essence of our business is to find solutions to our customers’ issues.

Lexia PowerUp Literacy– Lexia® PowerUp Literacy

is made for middle school students to help them master their reading skills. Working with typical reading lessons, teachers can use this app to fill in learning gaps, allowing students to practice skills such as comprehension, analyzation, evaluation, and comparison. It allows for online and offline activity, to be available for all students’ learning needs and activity levels. This can be used in combination with Lexia® Core5® Reading and Lexia® RAPID

Assessment to optimize reading experiences and reading groups in schools.

Literacy Assessment Online– Literacy Assessment Online is a browser-based tool that can be used to track students’ reading progress. Testing typically takes up a lot of time and energy from both teachers and students, but not anymore. The teacher can track literacy standards quickly and easily with Literacy Assessment Online. Whether tracking reading speed, word accuracy, reading comprehension, main idea identification, plot review, character analysis, or any skill, teachers can get immediate feedback on how each student is doing. Having this information readily available helps classes to keep improving and allows teachers to figure out what is and is not working for their pupils.

Phonics Genius– Learning phonics is not just limited to kindergarten children; it is a continuous process that requires reinforcement in the early elementary levels. This app teaches fluency in addition to basic letter sounds; it features over 6,000 words categorized by sounds. Language proficiency and literacy are developed by creating phonic awareness, something that Phonics Genius well. The objective of this game is to help students learn to identify words by their sound.

Science A-Z– Science A-Z guarantees that educators have the resources needed to develop a student’s science knowledge and practices. It also assists in learning essential literacy skills drawing on thousands of resources to educate students on core science ideas and practices. This platform offers multilevel books to distinguish reading instruction, hands-on experiments, and projects that utilize science concepts.

Sound Literacy – Sound Literacy is an instructional tool for building literacy, including phonemic awareness, phonological processing, and morphemic word building. It is primarily meant to be used by a teacher or tutor with the student as no themes or concept packages are included. The app is composed of letter tiles, blank tiles, and all common spelling patterns. Specially designed spelling ladders allow students to build and compare phonemes. Also included are phoneme maps, the ability to customize tilesets, and popovers that indicate various ways to spell each phoneme from most to least common. Sound Literacy is a valuable addition to any word study program or literacy time.

The post Literacy Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love appeared first on The Edvocate.

Literacy Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love published first on https://sapsnkra.tumblr.com

[sirius-archive]

Would you mind writing "*putting hands over eyes from behind* Guess whooo?" With Fred bc I feel like that's something he would do and it would make the reader all smiley and full of warmth and love and Ugh I love fred please and thank you honey

“I want to kiss you and hold your hand anytime I want” prompt for fred pretty please?

“Ah- I adore your laugh” with Freddie? I think this one would be cute combined with another but I cant make up my mind so you just do what you think is best! thank yoouuu

Can I have a Fred imagine with “whenever we’re together I feel at home” bc that’s honestly the cutest thing ever

I got you, hun 😘 

Hogsmeade was beautiful this time of year.

Fairy lights and Christmas decorations adorned the village sprinkled in snow, resembling a post card you might receive from your grandmother. Students littered the streets as they ambled from store to store, no doubt buying last-minute Christmas gifts for family and friends.

You watched them from the inside of the Three Broomsticks with a small smile drawn across your lips. You loved this time of year. It was cinnamon and snow fights and stomachs bursting with Christmas pudding. It was excitement and laughter and joy filling every single corner of your face. There was something quite magical about Christmas and you relished in its festive glow.

Quite suddenly, someone had placed their hands over your eyes, plunging you into darkness and snapping you out of your reverie.

“Guess who?” a familiar voice fills your ears and tickles your heart. Your face aches from the smile that was splitting it in half.

“Fred!” you laugh and Fred dropped his hands from your eyes, sliding into the seat across from you.

“The one and only,” Fred grins, deviously.

“Thank goodness for that,” you remark, earning yourself a chuckle from Fred. “Where’s George?”

“With Lee,” Fred replies, reaching over and stealing a swig of Butterbeer, “I swear those two are shagging…”

“I’ll keep a look out for the wedding invitations, then,” you quip with a grin, “and get your own Butterbeer!”

“Aw,” Fred whines, “and I thought sharing is caring…”

“It is, but I don’t care that much…” you retort and Fred clutches his chest as though to heal his broken heart.

“We could have been something so beautiful,” Fred quips, his voice dripping in mock hurt, and you laugh. “Ah- I adore your laugh. Never, ever stop laughing…”

“I don’t think that’s possible, especially when you’re with me,” you smile and your gaze lingers with Fred’s for a moment longer than necessary. “So I suppose you want to hang around with me today because George and Lee have run off on a romantic escapade.” you state, taking a sip of what was left of your Butterbeer, “But what will I get in return?”

“My awesome and awe-inspiring company,” Fred remarks, flashing you a winning smile.

“Hm, that doesn’t seem like much…”  

Fred smiles, a dare on his lips, “Well why don’t you accept my offer and see for yourself?”

You arch a sharp eyebrow, a smirk curving your lips as you pretend to contemplate your decision.

“Fine,” you sigh, “But only if you buy me another Butterbeer…”

Fred slides out from the booth and bows. “Anything for you, my queen.”

Scooping a handful of snow, you pressed it into a ball and launched it into the air with all your might, watching as it hurtled toward Fred. It hit the intended target and you only just managed to throw your arms up in the air to celebrate your victory before ducking behind a tree.

You couldn’t fight the smirk off your face as you reflect on the events leading up to this competitive battle.

You and Fred had spent most of the morning strolling around the village, ducking into various stores along the way until the two of you had caught up with George, Lee, Ron, Harry and Hermione and the seven of you were suddenly thrown into a vicious snowball fight. You had broken into teams; you, Hermione, Harry and Ron against Fred, George and Lee.

“That’s not fair! They have more on their team than us!” Lee had protested, outraged.

“Well what are we supposed to do, split Harry in half?” you asked, and Harry chuckled nervously.  

“We won’t bother with that today,” George replied, casually, “Too much mess to clean up.”

“Besides, the extra person will make up for Ron’s lack of skills”, Fred remarked, earning himself a laugh from everyone but Ron, who had scowled through a very flushed face.

Throughout the course of the snowball fight, Fred had mercilessly focused his attacks on you, a fact that everyone acknowledged but ignored. It was clear that the fight between you and Fred was just another way to flirt with one another and to release the ever-present sexual tension that dangled between the two of you.

Pressing your back against the tree, you decide to risk exposing your hiding position lean forward, poking your head out to check your surroundings. Fred had disappeared. You bit your lip, grinning to yourself as you crept out.

Quite suddenly, an array of snowballs careered toward you and you broke into a sprint as Fred emerged from out of nowhere.

Fred chased you into the Forest, pursuing you with laughter bubbling from his lips, and you bounded away from him, running faster than anyone could believe. Fred’s long legs and Quidditch strength meant that he soon caught up to you in no time and cornered you against a tree, far away from the others.

“I give up!” you pant, throwing your hands up in the air in surrender, “I surrender.”

Fred chuckles, continuing his painfully slow approach toward you until you were flush against the tree.

“I might concede for the right price,” Fred teases with a devilish grin.

“Name your price!” you exclaim, a large smile spread across your flushed face.

He took a step closer toward you, still grasping onto the snowball he had formed. “A kiss.”

“A kiss?” you ask, eyebrow pricked in interest.

“A kiss,” he reiterates in a husky breath, “I want to kiss you and hold your hand anytime I want.”

“Is this your way of finally asking me out?” you tease.

“Maybe it is,” Fred replies, "I don’t know much, but what I do know is that whenever we’re together I feel at home.”

Your heart melts through the cracks of your ribcage. You clear your throat in an effort to compose yourself. “So if I become your girlfriend, you will save me from being pelted by an onslaught of snow balls?”

Fred nods, and you bite your lip. He looks gorgeous like this, a bashful, boyish smile against rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

“Alright then,” you reply, simply. “A kiss on the cheek. I don’t want you to think that I kiss on the first date.”

Fred drops the snow in his hand and closes the distance between the two of you, placing his hand above your left shoulder and leaning in dangerously close. Your breath is caught in your throat as his lips brush against your cheek, imparting warmth that tingles deliciously down your spine. Finally, his lips meet your cheek, and electricity sparks in the air.

You both feel it, magic buzzing between the two of you as you stare lovingly into his eyes. He gazes at you as though you’re a sky painted with stars, disarming you completely. It would only take a burst of courage to step forward and claim his lips, and you’re so close to him, you can see beyond the colour of his eyes. You can see his naked soul, all fire and flecks of gold, and you can feel the flames lick at your heart, and it takes a split second for you to make the decision.

“Fuck it,” you murmur and you reach up onto the tips of your toes and capture his lips in a searing kiss.

Fred reciprocates immediately, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you in closer and sliding his tongue along your bottom lip, seeking permission. You grant it to him and he doesn’t hesitate, not for a second. He tastes sweeter than anything you could buy at Honeydukes, like a promise of adventure, filling your entire body with golden warmth while the world around you remains frozen. You want to hold him like this forever.

You break apart reluctantly and a smile cracks your lips as he beams down at you, kissing your nose.

Christmas was certainly a beautiful time of the year.  

send me a prompt?

[xflower-childx]

A New Book

I see myself only really having two books of life, Ohio and Florida. Both having an excessive amount of chapters, A LOT of character development, and a revolving door of supporting roles. Florida's book is slowly coming to an end and it's been rather eventful. While the whole book has been a trip the past year or so I've noticed have been such intense growth and preperation for the next book. I've discovered inner peace and loving myself, speaking up when I deserve better or want something. I've discovered my worth.

I met a lovely lady (D will be her name here) who honestly stirred the start of the new book. After group meditation at the wellness center she owns while we were all just openly sharing about life she spoke of just up and moving out of her small hometown from her ex husband and adult son (Who she asked me to show around when he moves here before I leave 😏🙃). When I spoke up on how I always wanted to move and I've been working on conquering fears and not allowing high anxiety run me she brought up control and how it seemed like I struggled with needing to have it to feel safe. Yeah. That's true. That sat with me HARD. The next day was the work meeting that would change my life. K and A said that BB will be closing in a month. I knew we were struggling but I didn't realize how bad. I also knew all the shit with the partnership. A had looked at me curiously during the meeting and said "You promised me and yourself that this was your last job in Florida. What are you going to do?" I laughed and jokingly said "Looks like I'm moving to North Carolina." But as everyone else started to speak on what's next it settled in my head. Why not? Why not just move? Why not let go of control and start new? All I have is my little Alien and myself so what's stopping me? D did it, why can't I?

On my drive home it weighed in my head so heavily. I didn't feel as much sadness for BB closing as I felt excitement over the thought of moving. I had so many thoughts running through my head in that drive. I had to get them out, I needed to hear that I wasn't crazy for thinking this was possible, that I could do it, that this push off the cliff was to see if everything I've learned was to teach me how to fly and I needed to hear from someone else that I would soar and see all new heights. I knew I wasn't going to hear it from my mom though because she would only put fear and anxiety into me (I swear she is who I've developed a lot of my anxiety from). I knew my sister would encourage it but also add anxiety, and talk about how I would be leaving her and apparently 'Living her dream'. I knew who would give me what I wanted though. He was default for a while and I knew he would say what I wanted to hear because I knew he had faith I could do it. He always did. He always pushed me to. I selfishly messaged him, going against the other part of my brain saying not to open that damn door.

Of course I was right. He said what I needed to hear. He has been one of the only people to see me function outside of family and a family run environment. He knows a side of me that they don't know. The side that I wanted to grow and develop, one that started from him being in my life... And ohhh boy it grew from him leaving.. and I fucking love this side. She's still got some growing of course but I'm proud of her. She's stronger than I ever saw possible and she's beautiful and happy and she's not letting anyone stop her from going for what she wants... In a non-controlling way though. 😂

I look at this new book coming up though and I know it's a fresh start and I don't want anything bad holding me back from living it. I want to shed the old snake skin and start new. I've been shedding some old already, but there is a piece that is still part of this skin that is fraying. I want to take him with me because ultimately he's someone I hold close but he hurts. He hurts a lot. Ever since the start I had always felt like second best even though I played a number one role in his life. Even when he had his other girl a few hours away I was second although I felt like I was going to third. I was able to almost mute that feeling when we were in each other's lives though because we were always around each other and I continued to play the role of number one. I was always a place filler though and I knew that deep down. He was never able to really let go of his ex and I don't know if he ever will. I always tried to become better to get his attention but he would just look through me and remind me that he never had any passion for me and everything between us was in my head. I would just defend him in some way though and continue to try and be there.

I was always there. Even when I'm not. Even now when I push him out because no matter what I will always feel like I'm not enough for him. Not as a partner because I already know that but even as a friend. He's never really spoken otherwise. Anyone can say 'Thanks for being there' but those that really appreciate it will put into words their gratitude. Especially when the other has spoken of needing it because they don't feel love and appreciation.

I understand now why I had such high anxiety in CO. Foreign place plus feeling like R2 showing off being favorite person. God she knew it and rubbed it in. I actually wonder if they realize she has feelings for him? I mean honestly the jealousy and just all around energy of the whole trip was HEAVY and some of the stuff she said... I could be wrong but I've learned to trust my instincts by now 😂. For a minute it crossed my mind if they'd slept together but I know R and his type and I observed their interactions and feel as no they didn't. My ability to read people and having amazing observation skills is such a blessing and a curse 🤦. Also being an empath doesn't help. I felt everyone's mood and energy and it just weighed on me and made me feel like I'm drowning. I lost myself entirely that trip and I felt so scared and raw. I had nothing and no one to hang onto and the pain that I felt by R not giving a fuck hurt even more. He spoke words that made me want to pack up and get on a plane in that moment because I felt so unwanted and broken there. The ability to take love from someone when its needed during life changing experiences but say 'Fuck you grow up and deal with it' when that person is crying asking for love and comfort is beyond me. Especially to allow them to walk away to an Uber by themselves when again you know how much they hurt and how high their anxiety already is. I really don't think he knows how much I've looked back on that exact moment and felt pain in my chest. How it hurts to even write still. How selfish I see him from that and little I feel like I matter to him. Ever mattered to him. I even remember asking him with so much fear to ride with me to the airport because I had hopes we could try and mend something on the way but the fear came into knowing he would say no. I wonder if he thinks he was trying to help teach me to take care of myself and not rely on someone else- which mission accomplished I've learned- but in probably one of the most cruel and unloving ways possible. The wise words of NF 'If you want love you gone have to give some away'. (Funny how that song came on writing that part.)

I wouldn't be me if I didn't say this though as I look at every angle of everything and everyone. I know I relyed on him too much. I know I put to much trust and love into him (Which whooo more trust issues) and I know he was crushing under the weight of it. I know he is a human and I respect that, and I take the blame for relying on him. I take the blame for not being able to pick myself up under the weight of everyone's judgement and energy (Ohhh man the energy after he talked to his friends about me 🤦 90% I was just running on fumes and fake positivity at that point to try and get by) instead of reaching out for a hand to help me. I couldn't find the peace and comfort in myself there and wish I could have. I wish the circumstances were different and I didn't always feel so... Useless next to him. I don't think that's the word I'm really looking for but it will do.

I wish we could have actually talked though after. I wish I heard him apologize at least once sincerely. I wish I HEARD him care. I wish he wanted to care. I wish I mattered more to him than a hand to hold and guide him out of the dark of his unforgotten ex. I guess that's what I get for falling for a man not even months out of a relationship. I wish our friendship wasn't so tainted by the inability to let go of the past on both sides.

If he and I had actually talked though and we both owned up to our faults and reminded each other that we're important to the other and just genuinely thank the other for the love and care we put into our relationship than I think I would be able to take him with me. I could see our friendship mending and growing with sending silly pictures of new adventures we go on and my alien seeing the world and maybe him coming to visit me there even and I him wherever life takes him next. I could see myself starting to trust him again and being able to ask for adivce again. I could see him being able to come to me again and myself giving him pages of messages as I talk my way through the advice to get to a point 😅☹️ But he's too damn stubborn to talk and I don't even know if he sees fault in his actions and words. I love him and if I could openly say anything to him it's that I hope he's happy. I hope he can finally let her go and allow himself to love again because he will always find faults and pain in potential love if he keeps holding onto her and he will only put pain on future love interests. I know he NEVER meant any harm on me and I know he warned me and I know he tried and was doing the best he could with what he had and understood at the time when he lived here. When it comes to after... I have nothing left to say but pain.

I love him but I love myself more. I love myself enough to know that I don't deserve to feel pain from someone I gave nothing but love, care, patience and understanding to. Someone that any moment they needed it I was ready to encourage them and push them forward. Someone I had nothing but faith and belief in. Someone I genuinely cared about. Someone who was ready to drop me when my demons appeared and I was at my worst. I know that it doesn't matter how much I care about him though, I care about myself more. I wish him well, and the best and love but not from me. Not anymore. I can't ask him to give me words when he doesn't want to give them because that's not only unfair to him, its unfair to me because it hurts me. I wish I could share my next journey with him, I wish I could share all my excitement with him and all the crazy things that have happened so far and the things that could possibly happen next. I wish he asked and I believed he really wanted to know... Also I got bit by a dog and I wanted to tell him and show the pictures cause wtf the bruising and bite marks man 🤦 He was my best friend. One of my favorite best friends. One my favorite people and I wish I didn't have to let him go over fucking stubbornness and screwed up pasts.

I have a new book ahead of me and I'm ready for some blank pages. I'm ready for a fresh start, new friends, new adventures, and a new world. I'm ready to continue to grow and expand my knowledge on life, the world around me and myself. I'm really happy right now though. I feel a little lonely while being my own best friend because I don't really have anyone to talk to about my next story or share my ideas with but it's alright I guess. I trust that things will fall into place amongst the confusion in my head.

I haven't shared how scared I am with anyone either. Reality smacked me in the face on my last day last week and I realized how much is about to change and I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. I'm so proud but so so scared. I know I can do it and I know that this is such a great, exciting change but man I'm going completely solo and alone on this besides my alien 🤦

We tough though. We got this. 😊💪

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff - THE TROOF ABOUT STEVEN UNIVERSE - Part 3

WARNING: I have a part 2 and a part 2 1/2 and I’m not afraid to use them, goshdarnit. Thank you, take care out there, and enjoy.

Steven Universe is a charming, popular show with a quad-polar fandom, and I’m only here to point out what I say is legitimately wrong with this cartoon. Simple enough? Fair enough. Previously, I talked about how their handling of villains has disrupted their focal story. And now, point number 3:

BEACH CITY:

Okay, before I provide attention to our main gem heroes, I thought I’d give their home of Beach City a vocal point to express the diversity they offer and what makes them an essential drive for Steven and the Crystal Gems to protect the Earth by any means. I mean, they offer such valid representation for the show’s world building and can offer plenty of stories to tell to give us that slice of life vibe the show really needed. But I believe, after seeing Beach City time and time again over the course of 4 years, that I can summate its presence in the show with a single- Nay. With two simple yet comprehensible words.

Who cares? 

Whooo CARES?

Thank you, respectable actor Elaine Stritch. Rest in Peace

To continue, don’t get me wrong. Worldbuilding is more than essential for a story like Steven Universe, Berserk, Friendship is Magic, Legend of Zelda, and so on. Whether big or small, expanding a setting is important to giving characters a versatile way to look at their world in a differing light than before. But suffice to say, what world has Steven Universe built for itself?

*A populated province in the East Coast?

*A barn?

*Ancient ruins?

*Distant Gem Territory?

Aye, this troof is gonna be hard to explain. We just have locations, people. That’s it. They’re no special than the mini Galaxies from Super Mario Galaxy 2, only on Wii, Rated E for Everyone. A place can look cool and a population there can bring life to it, but they should have something for the characters to interact with and visibly wonder about what they might get into as they adapt and progress in some way. And by some way, I don’t mean insert plot devices that help make the characters do significant looking things, and I’ll get to that a bit later. But to sum it up, Steven Universe present locations, but those locations lack identity and coordination.

Stick around, Link, I might need your example

I got a short story to tell. True story. And this story provides my reason, above all else, for why Beach City doesn’t hold much water anymore when talking about world building, specifically after the show’s first season (or Full Disclosure).

There’s a comic book TV show called Preacher, premieres Mondays @ 9, only on AMC. Essentially it’s about a criminal turned Priest, possessed with a supernatural power, going on a cross country road trip to find the physical form of God with his his mate who’s also a vampire and his ex-girlfriend. Pretty vivid premise, but see for yourself. The first season however sets up the road trip where the priest, his ex, and vampire friend stay in a small town in Texas to not only introduce them, the power that the priest gets, and the type of humor throughout, but flesh out a few citizens they encounter pretty well in a thematically connected turnabout for ten episodes straight. All seems good.

Up until the entire town loses their minds, after losing all faith in belief, which eventually leads to a methane nuclear sized explosion that wipes out everybody except the three main characters who exited a few scenes before.

The End.

Now, let’s talk relevance. If I ran Steven Universe, and I don’t think I can, and I pulled 👆👆 that on Beach City at season 1′s end. Erase everything you’ve seen, every citizen will be forced to disappear except the major plot oriented characters, basically resetting the structure. If I did that, how much would it change? What would we really lose? The diverse Beach citizens that don’t and can’t do shit against the enemies we’ve see unless they’re forced to get involved in some way which rarely happens? 

You can put as many people of color and as many personalities in your world all you want, but effort should also be put into not just making them NPC levels of value to the point where a reset button wouldn’t put much a dent to the “world building”. The worst part is that it’s not like Batman’s Gotham City or Spider-Man’s New York; places where the villains are plotting while they’re within city walls. Steven Universe’s enemies have to either be brought out somewhere (gem monsters, Lapis) or brought to (Jasper, that red Eye, Aqua and Topaz) Beach City for the place to provide any significant or value. So...

Just saying.

Now if the whole series was like season one with the non “To Be Continued” slice of life episodes, then it would’ve work. Phineas and Ferb, Foster’s Home, and Friendship is Magic has done this well with keeping their main location (The Foster House, Danville, Ponyville, etc.) as their central hubworld for casual stories with a venture outside of them from time to time. I would’ve been okay with Beach City being the spot for Steven and his limitless squad to grow together like Rebecca intended at first. Then I’m reminded that there’s an world expanding story in this, with bigger consequences and threaded arcs, and I’m stuck between investing in the many things they give me, complaining towards full episodes that add up to nothing and went nowhere special, and whining about the lack of reruns it gets on TV compared to Teen Titans GO.

Bottom line, you had/have your comic series to commit to your slice of life genre instead of trying to keep it in the show.

Now, I’m at a disadvantage here. If I want to talk about the actual “SCIENCE FANTASY WORLD BUILDING”, then I’ll have to talk about the Crystal Gems’ involvement in them and I wanted to save that for another day. Luckily, I don’t have to, for SU has unintentionally played itself: when it comes to the Gem oriented locations outside Beach City, they tell but never really show. And turns out I don’t need Link’s example, but Samus Aran’s. Namely, her universe in the Metroid Prime series.

A key element to world building is the control and fun in exploration where you find and somewhat interact with aspects of an environment’s purpose and history while you’re on the go, giving the place more of an identity. Metroid Prime does this well where you journey through different parts of the Galaxy and with your scan visor, you can catalog and figure out the intricacies of the settings, the enemies within them, and info that seem trivial at first, but can offer much in progressing ahead in the game. Note the example before you...

And don’t stare deep into Samus’s blue eyes

Sure it’s an optional part of the game, and you can still trek on with or without having to continuously research the world’s lore, but it offers that versatility where you’re well in control in how to experience the game. Then again, this is a video game, where your skill in figuring things out is the only way to progress anything. What cartoon has this similar level of versatility? I mean, what else?

What else?

Gravity Falls may have stayed in one place, but it gives the characters and audience so much to explore and theorize on. They don’t tackle “everything” the world might have offered (bigfoot), but still give you so much to look out for without ever holding your hand or giving a cliffnotes version on a mystery of theirs. Hell, the fandom was hollering on Tumblr over predicting one of the show’s biggest mysteries being confirmed long before it aired. Hirsh didn’t just give those theory nuts what they wanted, his crew eased us in on how the narrative is taking a turn to someplace different and new without really forcing it on everybody. There was still that enjoyable sense of control that resonated in both the show’s direction and the audience’s experience.

I mean come on, this just oozes the moment of truth

Don’t get me wrong. The crewniverse offer very interesting locations and things that resonate with Gem stuff. My final problem with this is that when I think they might utilize these different places and things, they hold back to sharing but a glimpse of anything the show has plenty of utilizing potential for. Like...

Could this control room present more information about Homeworld’s plans for the gems than just the Cluster? “Probably not, it fulfilled its purpose. Let’s move on.”

What about these drills? Could we personally see how one works, like accidentally reactivate it to see how it functions? “Nah, they’re all dead. Let’s move on.”

Or what about the holes? Could we have some kind of flashback depicting how a gem leaps out the ground? “Nope.” Not even the off col- “NOPE.”

What’s that supposed to be? Is it something important to Homeworld? “We’ll get to that later. Let’s move on.”

Ooh, are there more ships like this the CGs could use for space travel? Maybe spruce ‘em up with Pearl and Peridot’s technical abilities? “Nah, this is all we got and Centipeedle lives there now so... Sorry.”

Man, this place looks cool. Connie might consider this since she handles weapons and might want something new, like armor or throwing weapons. “Look man, this tour is scheduled. You’ve seen it, we’ll get back to it later. Moving right along.” This tour sucks. “You paid for it, my friend.”

Egoraptor said it best: I’m not witnessing an adventure, I’m a guest at their theme park. This is Kingdom Hearts levels of dragging it along, and I know... “But Monkey Network, they might come back to all that stuff soon. It’s called foreshadowing, you whiner.” To that, I say HA! There’s a huge difference between foreshadowing and giving us cameos. And that is in...

PRESENTATION!!!

Long story short, if it’s subtle and holds a threatening or vague presence, THAT’s foreshadowing. If it’s already out in the open and is not given a lot of screentime or detail, that’s cameo-ing and waiting for more. The last thing a show should do is hold back and have its audience wait like shoving a secret box in our face, and that’s all Steven Universe has been doing. That’s why so many rant about what’s filler or not. That’s why so many theorize on the most reaching of details. That’s why people proudly growl at what could be the crew’s simple decisions. Because when everything must come back to Beach City, post “Full Disclosure”, exploration can be limited, detail can be limited, and it’ll be up to the audience to speculate/construct the world-building for themselves, making the control and experience for the show feel one sided, therefore UNFAIR. To summarize, I can present the fandom’s frustration...through song.

Like I said, the things I’ve seen offer so much to think about, but Rebecca Sugar sack could’ve done better with presenting them in a better light than a dim mode. The fate of Steven Universe’s future is a mystery to me, and I don’t know what they’re gonna cram in season 5 this fall. All I know is MJ (or Mystery Girl) is fine as fuck and we’re all gonna get something good eventually. My man Ian Jones-Quartey said good world building takes time, and they sure are taking their time.

And we will be waiting, that’s for sure

[ask-the-teal-judge-blog]

d&d event and important jazz whooo boy im tired of typing help

(( (most of this consists of me SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS so if you dont want to bother reading this just check out the tl;dr at the bottom) mMMm okay so here’s the thing i said that i would set up an event or raffle when we reached 200 followers or once i emptied out the ask box but we’ve already reached, what now, 279 followers (edit: 283 by the time of finishing typing this) ? yeah. it’s been a few days since that post.  and the ask box still has 15 asks left in there (i would have gotten through more of them but i got a new computer and was still setting the graphic tablet. i could have done more paper asks but. i hate my style on paper because FUCK consistency) so uh here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to open up the ask box again and now just do a thing of storing them up and answering them at my own pace. and for the follower special thing? i’m doing a d&d event. you may ask, “mun of ask-the-teal-judge, how would that work?” and the answer is: i’ve thought this through a lot and it’s time for me to rant, hallelujah. if you have trouble reading long blocks of text check out the tl;dr section. i always include them on these long textposts. so! how this is going to work I will act as the dungeon master (sort of) and the anons (or just people who want to send asks in that will dictate what happens in the... story? game? campaign? whatever it is) will act as the... player?? in a certain way. To explain, I will be making a map and, in buildings or in towns, will set the scene (but instead of with words, with shitty drawings to describe the. things. and stuff. god am i bad at explaining things). In dungeons, I will also set the monsters and all that jazz. What anons and other people who would like to contribute can do consists of a few things, actually! A thing anyone can do is dictate actions. Like, if you’re walking along a path and you see a cool cave, you can choose to go into the cool cave or continue along the path, or hell, decide to spontaneously piss in a bush. As long as it makes sense in the situation (like you cant piss in a bush if there is not a bush nearby). however, whatever you do, try to dictate your action with her allignment in mind. Or, if you dont want to want to control this version of terezi, you can ask this version of terezi about herself and her life in this d&d universe (though most background things about her will be revealed through the story/campagin/game). or, if you’re an ask blog who wants to join in on the fun, you can participate in this event, too! if you pm me about joining, you might be able to join! only so many people can join though, many, 4-5 more people. if you do manage to join, once the event comes around, you need to have a character sheet and a reference image of your character. also, if you do join, here’s you’ll be placed into the same universe but: you can either just float around, adventuring on your own in this region, or you can join someone’s party, which sort of means that you would join them on the adventure and try to accomplish the same objective of sort. (like ill try to provide an example: the adventure zone - taako, merle, and magnus go and do... things? as a party of tres horny boys) i hope that made sense but SINCE NONE OF THAT MADE SENSE tl;dr -Ask box back open, answering asks at my own pace. -Event will be a d&d thing -I’ll be creating a map and acting sort of as a dungeon master, as well as controlling Terezi. -You (yes you, the one reading this right now!!) can send in asks that dictate some of Terezi’s actions and decisions, as well as ask her about her background, life, and all that jazz. -Other Homestuck ask blogs can pm me to join in the event (if you do pm me actually, i will be able to provide more information on the matter) -There is no set start yet to the events and no set end yet. It hasn’t started yet. -If you have any questions, just ask. )) ((note: if this is a stupid idea and i shouldnt waste my time doing this feel free to mention that as well))

[cutegirlmayra]

11 and SonAmy please !

*POOF* Whattaya need?

Prompt:

Amy bit her lower lip, seeing as she was finally alone with Sonic The Hedgehog only to find out that she felt so awkward after that last little misunderstanding between them…

She hit her shoes together, sitting down just a little aways from him.

He had been through a pretty rough time… that last adventure made him question himself a lot, but he pulled through, just like she knew he would, and triumphant over evil!

She stared with a warm and proud smile on her face.

He looked over, and she quickly blinked in surprise.

He looked away.

She frowned, bending her eyebrows back as if the awkward silence was going to kill her.

She looked forward and put her hands on her chin, supporting her head up, sighing…

She saw some birds flying…

“Ah!” That’s it!

She leaned up, and side-glanced Sonic, before twiddling her fingers.

Now she just had to get a way for him to take her…

“Ehem. Gee. Haha, great night.” she looked around, it was getting late. Wasn’t it night?

He started to bend down, and pick grass blades. “Should you be getting home by now?”

She pouted. “How rude.” she huffed silently to herself.

She then put on a nervous smile again, closing her eyes and addressing him again, “Ah… y-yeah. M-maybe you could fly me home?”

Sonic’s head perked up. “Fly?” he turned around, looking confused.

“Uhh… huh.” she nodded slowly, freaking out.

His face looked annoyed! His voice sounded angry!

Scary! She slightly sweat dropped at how awkward this whole thing was going.

At least she had a plan. a .. kinda firm objective? She just had to get on that plane!

“We can take the X-Tornado! You have a call button for it, right?” she got up, “Tails installed it, it’s right-”

She bent down nearer to him to point to the button, but his gloomy expression threw her off guard from her usual cheery one.

She flinched back, and hesitated to point. 

“S..Sonic..” she was really worried now. He had been acting this closed-off all day… but he won!

“Haa..” he let out a quick gust of air, and scratched behind his head, bending down to do so before getting up, and stretching.

“You’re right. The Chaos Emearlds are back with Knuckles now. Emmm.. So I’ll fly us home, Tails style.” Sonic clicked the button, and folded his arms, waiting as he looked at the fading sky…

Such a dark blue… it really looked gloomy too… matched his whole look… poor thing.

“…Sonic… is there something you want to tell me?” Amy tilted her head. She hoped he had moved on from everything.. especially with them, but it looked like he was still bothered by it. “…In other words… n-.. need to talk?” she put her hands together, and cutely twisted them to the side, trying to be adorable.

“No thanks.”

She dropped the cute act and frowned in her failure to get him to speak.

“Fine then! I’ll ride in the back!” she shouted out, stomping away.

“Sheesh! I see you’re depressed and troubled and spend the whole rest of the day just sitting by you and keeping silent. And all you do is keep shutting me down and closing me off! Horrible! Terrible! So cruel…”

Sonic’s mouth moved more towards the center of his muzzle, as he bent his head down… his eyes out of the frame.

Amy held herself, as the cold wind blew by her… facing her back to Sonic, and his to hers.

“…I’m sorry… I know you’ve been through a lot.. especially emotionally…”

Sonic raised his head slightly.

“I know you’re one to sit alone and deal with it all by yourself. But… But I can’t help feeling that somewhere deep inside… you don’t want to be alone.”

He blinked his eyes, scanning the ground as if putting her words together in his head.

The engine noise grew closer, and he looked up, scanning the skies… but no plane in sight.

“I… I just wish…”

He turned around.

“That… you would let me in… sometimes.”

She suddenly felt a quick rush of wind and two arms around her.

“Duck.”

“Huh?”

“Now!”

“WAHH!!”

Amy landed to the ground with Sonic, as the plane flew right above them, almost having taken Amy out in the process.

Amy twitched violently, terrified as Sonic got up, and shook his head.

“Why is it I turn my back on you for five minutes…” he looked back down at her trembling self, mumbling. “And you’re always there.” he changed his wording, and smiled.

“Alright, come on. You’re fine.” He picked her up, holding her bridal style as she teared up. “It was just a low-riding plane…” he acted like it was nothing, jumping up to the auto-pilot plane.

“Huh?” Sonic looked into the back seat.

Each of the seats were filled with Tails’s tools or boxes. Probably with gear pieces and other bots and nails mixed within.

He drooped his eyes, a bit annoyed at the circumstance, but hopped in the cockpit, having Amy on his lap.

“You might want to sit forward with this.” Sonic warned, turning the plane to manual.

“…Uh… oh!” Amy blushed slightly, but maneuvered herself to be sitting between his legs, and looked down at the stick in front of her.

THIS WAS NOT AT ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN! She had swirls in her eyes, as Sonic placed both hands on either side of her, getting ready to lanuch.

“Amy, hold the front in place.” He was talking about the stick in front of her, and she gulped, before holding it tight.

“Careful, it jostles.” he rammed the levers forward, and they were off on a running start.

“WHHAAHAHAHAH!” Amy was hoping up and down in her seat, making this more awkward, as Sonic tried to keep the wheels moving.

“Amy, lift up, now!”

She pulled and strained… but the plane finally took off from it’s weird dance on the ground.

“Good. Keep it steady.”

His hands moved over her own, and her eyes widened as his grip became firm.

“Nice and easy…”

She turned to glance behind her.

He was… smiling… again.

She smiled too.

He then looked down at her, curiously. “Huh? What’chu staring at?”

She flinched and looked forward, “N-nothing! J-just wondering…”

“About what?”

She flinched again, “Ah…uh, uh… well.” she gulped. “Where did you learn to fly a plane?” she turned back to him.

He stared at her a moment.

Then burst out laughing.

He threw both hands out, one to his head and the other banging the side of the window as he laughed, his foot hitting the floor too.

Amy freaked out, looking around and realizing he wasn’t flying the plane anymore.

“SOOONNNIICC!!!” they started to dip down.

“Whooo! Hahah, I almost forgot how much you could be a hoot and a holler, Amy! haha!” Sonic gripped the stick again, and they were back up to a gentle, but fast glide.

Her eyes were still spinning, fear and anxiety taking over.

“I don’t even know what to say to that…” she whined out.

“Amy… Who do you think taught Tails how to fly? Or rather, who even built this plane from scrap in the first place?”

She thought about it a moment, snapping out of her worry to then realizing something.

“Ah! It was you! You taught Tails all those things!”

Her cute moment of epiphany made Sonic look down and laugh again, but lighter this time.

“Uh-huh.” he smiled. “But Tails has always been a fast learner. He was good with planes from the start. He just hadn’t gotten his hands on one just yet. That’s why I gave him my plane. I could see he had natural talent for the thing.”

Amy turned and looked up at him, seeing the kindness in his eyes… and how much he truly cared about Tails.

She looked down.

“W-well… I can be a fast learner too.” she puffed up her cheek, slightly jealous of him.

“Oh?” Sonic looked down, raising an eyebrow, seeing her pose a challenge.

“Would you like me to teach you a thing or two?”

“Em!” she nodded back to him, excited.

“…” he smirked.

“Huh?”

“Hang on then…” he leaned forward…

“W-wa-what?”

“AHHHHH!!!!” he started to do crazy manuvers.

“WHOO!!! HAHA! It’s been FOREVER!”

“SSOONNICCC!” she was gripping the sides of the plane, her quills all the way up as Sonic had to look over them to pilot.

“Isn’t this fun, Amy!?”

“PUT ME DOWWNNN!!!”

He continued to laugh, though Amy realized once on the ground he was probably just letting off steam… and was glad she could help him feel better…

Even if she was cringing over her trashcan for the rest of the night… still suffering motion sickness… and feeling rather dizzy in her light-headedness.

You thought a girl who travels with a fast moving boyfriend would be used to that by now…

[rintheyordle]

A moment to think - Mini Story!

[ Wrote a mini story, please click below to read! ]

[ Also, flavor music if you want to listen while reading!]

Rin sighed and leaned into her chair, rolling it back onto its hind quarters while her legs laid on her work table.

So much mail coming in, so little time to really relax. The conversations and business related matters with everyone made her feel a tad tense with the subjects at hand.

“Maybe I’ve been a bit too brash... everyone was getting a bit invasive, though.. hmm.. I need to relax! Look at me, talking like a high Piltover Noble! HAH! ” Rin cracked a smile and kicked out of her chair. She wobbled slightly, nearly losing her balance, but with a quick tail flick and a slip of her arms, her equilibrium regained and she went running out the door of the shop. She waved a fast goodbye to her mentor as she charged out, though he wasn’t paying attention. Normal, no big deal. She’d be back in a few hours. Stationed by the exit was her sturdy leather backpack, already equipped with her hexglider and other trinkets for the road. This was obviously snatched and thrown onto the yordle’s back as she made her way. Rin rushed down the streets of Piltover in a curious frenzy. Her adrenaline began to spark once more, making her grin wider. She rushed past folks so fast, darting in and out of their feet that hardly anyone noticed her, even had she been shrouded. The yordle whipped through more crowds on their way home before making a hasty exit down a narrow corridor. Many of these forgotten alleyways existed in Piltover and made for great ways to avoid the normal barrage and bustle of the city. She actually learned most of the secrets of navigation from the Zaunite children who climbed their ways to the top to steal food or accessories, or try to get into shows. Normal Piltovians prided themselves on not getting their hands dirty, trying to look fashionable and all that. Rin, however, loved the adventure, the rush, and the adrenaline. She hit a dead end with an array of discarded bits and bobs. To the normal eye, it was just trash. To her and the street kids, a stairway. She rushed at the objects, spring boarding herself up one side and scrambling on top of an opposite box. From that box, she had to jump and pull herself up to another, then onto a low hanging rooftop. 

“Good! Now just a bit further..” Rin disliked using her glider in crowded areas. It usually brought about a lot of unwanted attention, and being a yordle in Piltover was also confusing to humans. Many would stare at her with raised eyebrows, whatever it is they saw in her was obviously slightly out of place. It made her rather uneasy, and she’d rather not explain what a yordle was to those who could not see. Nor would she want to break this facade in case she got in trouble and needed to hide. The sheriffs of Piltover were particularly aggravated with Rin on occasion due to the noise factor she created flying fast around the city. Rin began to use other footholds she was taught, bouncing around in an agile manner atop the roofs. From jutting beams that reached higher into the city, to pole lines and more, anything she could use to get further out and up. It was strange how well the weaving tops of buildings made a nice path for anyone to travel, had they a little stamina. She vaulted over a low rising wall and came up to the massive sides of the clock tower. Here, she clasped her hands together, mentally preparing herself for a climb. To be honest, Rin was slightly afraid of heights. She had to be careful not to look down as she began her ascent up the side of the tower. She felt much better if she used her glider, but she was trying to not cause a scene getting to the top. After some time and mentally psyching herself up, Rin made it to the brink just as the tower struck seven. The loud ringing of the bell was intense for her sensitive ears, being this close, but beautiful none the less. She let them pass before examining the magnificent outstretched view before her, the sun setting into the port near the gates. She took a few long, deep breaths, look up into the sky as she sat down to admire dusk setting in. It was nearing eight when she decided to move once more. “Always the best part...” Rin grinned as she stood, moving towards the edge of the building and looking below. It was dizzying, and her minor fear grasped her for but a moment until she called the hextech orbs to her side. She was several stories high now, not to mention, the clock tower looked down into the cracks of Zaun below. With one more deep breath and a spot of courage in her gut, she closed her eyes and tipped over the edge. The rush of wind met her as she began to fall. The world quickly moved into a blur of color, the only thing in focus being the grounds below. Rin allowed the free fall to continue for a little while, enjoying the sensation before pulling her goggles down over her eyes and grinning a wide, impish grin. “WHOOO! AAAAAAND... RELEASE!” The orbs floated patiently at her side, following her hands before being given their command. Her mind focused on the form, calling to the magical alignments in the crystals. They responded, burning a bright orange and yellow as they burst to life. The crystals quickly charged and released its energies as imagined, large shards of formulated light creating feathered like shapes. Rin formed herself into a dive, preparing to use her new propulsion from the transparent wings to send her into the skies. And so she did. The dive soon swooped upwards as she opened the wings and turned herself upwards. As she did, a board of light also formulated in a digital-esque way beneath her to give her posture. She took her position upon it, gaining her balance. The wings in place, the board acting as a tail feather for control. She soared into the skies, her heart almost forgetting to beat in its excitement as she now raced for the clouds above.  “LET’S GO!” She shouted to herself. The wings corresponded with her, pushing the energies behind it to lift her up. She climbed, higher, higher, and higher.. the city far below her now. She wanted to reach past the clouds. To see the stars. She waited for it, closing her eyes instinctively as she hit the moisture droplets that had settled on the dust in the atmosphere. When she would open her eyes once more, she’d find the result she had been looking for. The sky above was spotted with beautiful cosmos across a milky wave of colors. Rin let her wings dissipate, shattering into fragments of colored light. It added to the beautiful view she took in. It felt like she floated in this moment for ages until gravity began to pull her down once more. Moments like this is what she lived for.

[nichetraveldesign]

American Graduation

June. Summer has arrived and all across America it is time for prom, senior ball, senior ditch day and graduation. High school graduation is a milestone in a young person’s life. 30 some odd years later and I still remember mine.

In the USA students assemble in long dark robes with mortarboard hats on their heads. They are dressed in nice clothes under their robes. Select academic high achievers give speeches about the future. Often a special guest speaker such as a community leader will regale the students with tales of what lies ahead.

American students somberly walk single file on to the stage to be handed their diplomas. Occasionally, a few of the more adventurous students will do something silly during the procession, but in general, the graduation ceremony is a serious affair. While some parents laugh at the students who dare to be silly, most “tsk tsk” because the time for exuberance is after the ceremony. After the ceremony, students move their tassel from the right to the left and then, and only then, they throw their mortarboard hats in the air with “whooo hooos” “whoop whoops” and “yee haws!”

Studenten-The Swedish Graduation Ceremony

Given that this is all I know about graduations, imagine my surprise when I attended a Studenten – the Swedish high school graduation ceremony. Like the USA, Swedish students are dressed up for this important event. Girls wear white dresses and the boys dress in suits. This is where the similarities with America end. In Sweden, high school graduation is a party from beginning to end!

Studentmössa

In addition to their finery, every Swedish graduate wears a white hat called a studentmössa. Typically, the studentmössa is a white cap with a black or dark blue band, and a black peak. It looks like a sailor’s cap to me. I asked many a Swede why the sailor cap. No one was quite sure. The variations on the history of the studentmössa are many. Most agree, however, that in Sweden, the studentmössa was first worn in the mid 1800’s at Uppsala University at a student meeting.

Inside the cap is a lining which varies according to school colors or it may resemble the Swedish flag. Students put their names on the front of the hat. In between the student’s first and last name, there is a gem. There is also a colored band between the white and black part of the hat. The color of the band and  gem tells onlookers what program the student is graduating from. Gymnasium or high school in Sweden is a bit different than the USA in that students choose a course of study in high school to either prepare them for a job upon graduation or to prepare them for what they plan to study at university.

Utspringet

The morning of graduation, most friend gather for champagne. Yes, they start drinking first thing in the morning on graduation day.

Next, each graduate receives a leaving certificate – like a diploma in the USA.  What follows, however, is a joyous running out of school – “utspringet” – with your leaving certificate in hand through a crowd of parents holding placards with the graduates’ baby photos. Some of the parents go for a darling baby photo. Others use an embarrassing photo, but every graduate has one. Each placard has the name of the graduate and with the year and date of the graduation. Most of the placards are decorated with a blue and yellow background representing the national colors of Sweden. Rumor has it that the King and Queen of Sweden participated in utspring for the prince and princesses. That is how important utspringet is.

Utspringet. Photo credit: Tranås Tidning

The graduates run through the crowd and onto a stage where dance music is pumping. The graduates then dance, sing, blow horns, shake noise makers, jump, set off flares and generally have fun. From the evidence on the grounds around the school it seems that a good number of the graduates have fueled their dancing booties with Red Bull and alcohol.

After each group has gone through the run/dance/party on stage portion, they go into the crowd searching for their baby photos and hence, their families.  Well wisher don them with necklaces of blue and gold (again, the national colors of Sweden) from which are hanging flowers, teddy bears, champagne bottles and other things that may represent the student’s personality and interests.

Flaket

From there the graduates move to rented flat bed trucks or fancy cars and continue the dance party. The trucks are decorated and are essentially a mobile dance club which drives through town honking their horns and playing music with graduates hanging off the trucks, singing and dancing. You can literally hear them from miles away. And you hear it all day, every day, for about a couple of weeks as different school have different graduation dates. This mobile party seems completely dangerous to me, but what do I know? It happens all over Sweden every year.

After the mobile disco ends you may see graduates running through the more populated parts of town in groups singing, dancing, yelling, blowing horns and whistles and chanting through megaphones. Some members of the group carry boomboxes and they lead the group like the Pied Piper keeping the party going. I was having lunch in a main square the other day and my friend and I could not hear each other over all the noise. Also common are pranks around town – silly things like jumping in public fountains to cool off (and sober up??).

    Photo credit: Unknown.

After the truck ride and run through town, the graduates return home to friends and family waiting to celebrate the student with more festivities well into the night.

During the day I ran into my son who was graduating the following year. I said,”Wow, this is so different than America.” Ever after a good time, he replied with a gleam in his eyes and a smile, “I know!”  For a long time I have felt guilty that he has missed out on so many of the American high school traditions. I think he is ok with embracing this new tradition though. I’ll take it – let���s hear it for small victories.

Studenten – The Swedish Graduation Ceremony American Graduation June. Summer has arrived and all across America it is time for prom, senior ball, senior ditch day and graduation.

[resplendentandtwentyone-blog]

Birthday Messages

“Manelle!! =))

Hahaha Happy Birthday and Happy Holidays na rin!!! hehe sorry kung nag iingay kami ni bless sa room. lol. Haha salamat sa pagtiis as roommate. apologiess. Hahaha isang sem nalang at sasablay ka na!! Work hard for your dreams!! Goodluck sa life! maging masaya ka sa buhay with the people you love. May the force be with you and may fate be always in your favor!! AJA!! =)))”

-April Soriano =))

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“HAPPY GV BIRTHDAY MANELL! As long as you work hard and you always believe in yourself, success will always be with you. I hope you explore all the opportunities you’ll find and don't stop dreaming. You deserve all the happiness and wishing to see you wear your sablay very soon! Have a DYNAMIC year ahead! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

-GV

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“Happy Birthday Manell! Maraming salamat sa pagiging isang mabuting kaibigan kahit na wala akong kwentang tao at nakakaabala lang sa iyo. Sana maging masaya ka sa araw ng kaarawan mo!! :))) At sana naman maghinay-hinay ka sa paglandi mo ahahahaha”

-Balong

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“Happy happy birthday, Manell! Sobrang thankful ako na nakilala kita. We were on each other’s side when we had hit rock bottom and I wont ever forget that! Maraming salamat lodi! I wish you all the best in life! Gusto ko laging kang happy! Stay strong kayo ni Margo, fan niyo ako eh  Love youuuu.”

-Shara

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“You are loved. Don't forget that. Galingan natin sa susunod na sem malapit na makalaya sa engg (at ikaw one step closer to Law)! And alsooo don't forget to enjoy life. :) Happy birthday, Manell! Wishing you all the best in life!”

-Poco

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“Happy birthday, Manell! Good luck sa graduation year and good luck sa law school if itutuloy mo. Kaya mo yan!”

-Jet Q

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“We miss you, Ate Manell! Punta kami sa graduation mo. Hehe congrats in advance. Happy birthday, Ate Manell! 

PS kailan kaya matutuloy yung inuman natin? Hahaha.”

-Tessa

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“Hello Manell. Happy happy birthday! Always remember that the world is full of beautiful things. Just like you! Enjoy your day!!!”

-Toni

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“Hi ate Manell! Happy "legit" birthdaaaay! Hope your wishes and aspirations do come true. Stay as pretty as me hahahawuw wag na masyado malandi pls unless w/ ate margo ;)“

-Khim 

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“Happy birthday Ate Manell! You were one of my early role models in college. You are a gift to this world. I hope you stay happy in life and in love  I miss you! Catch up soon! Love you! Huuuugs!”

-Kate

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“Hi Manell hehe i wish you a happy birthday and a meaningful 2018 ahead. I hope that the universe endows you with all the things you want to achieve within the year, and i hope you continue to grow in life. You are such a beautiful soul and I can only wish to be half the principled and dedicated woman that you are. Here's to more adventures this year. :)”

-Noelle

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“Happy birthday, Manell! Pupunta dapat ako nung 18th mo kaso akala ko na-move ung date, hindi pala 😂 I'm really grateful to have known you since first year and to have spent a lot of time (a.k.a. overnights and UP Fair week) to get to know you. Everyone who knows you can attest to the genuine kindness and friendship you offer, to the sunshine that you bring. Thank you for the years of friendship. Happy birthday again! I hope you have a great one! ❤ “

-Medj

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“Happy Birthday!!Thank you kasi pag may mga tanong ako sa math sinosolve mo.Thank you kasi kahit misan ka na lang umuwi dto hnd parin nagbabago ugali mo.We love you!!❤❤❤Happy21st Birthday!!Belated Merry 🎄 and Happy New Year. Love you😘😘”

-Iya

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“ Happy Birthday Buddy!! Just keep on doing what makes you happy. Good luck sa thesis.”

-Jeremy

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“Manell, happy birthday!!! Madami naniniwala sayo na magiging good lawyer ka someday and isa ako dun. Good luck with your endeavors, fighting!!!!! 💪💓”

-Ria

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“Happy bday  labyu ate HAHAHA”

-Dan

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“Eto message ko, ayokong pahabain kasi baka wala na kong masabi sa mismong birthday nya. Hi papi!! Happy birthday!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

-Sam

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“Hi paps! Happy happy birthday!  I wish you all the best things heaven can send kasi alam ko sobrang deserve mo && paps, sana hindi mo nakakalimutan na nandito lang ako & yung paps palagi para sayo.. Hindi man tayo lagi nagkakasama sama pero yung love natin sa isa't isa alam mo na? Inborn na yon. Haha. I pray that you'll receive plenty of blessings and that you'll always get through the struggles life gives you. I love you, paps! Alam mo yan ❤️ See you soon! Mwa! Enjoy !”

-Nicole

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“Hi paps! Happy happy birthday!! And happy new year 😘🎉🎉🍻🍻 I remember before sumama ako sa orphanage with you birthday mo ata yun? Hehe. Thank you for being a good friend, alam mo naman na yun sasabihin ko pa ba? Hahaha pero hindi, natutuwa ako kasi even though wala ka nang time for us charrr haha kahit di tayo lagi nagkikita, lagi ka pa rin nagkkeep in touch 😢💕 Marami man tayo makilala na ibang tao/friends alam natin na we're always here for each other. Thank you paps sa mga motivational words mo for me kahit pag birthday ko na lang ahaha pero know that I treasure them. Di man tayo nagkikita kita pag birthday mo syempre new year hahaha I know that happy ka. 🎉💖 Never give up on your dreams, push mo lang mga pinaglalaban mo sa life. In everything that you are, you want, the paps and I will always got your back, support kita always papi. Hindi ko na iwiwish na maging happy ka kasi why would you not be? Marami nagmamahal sayo 💕 kaya wish ko na lang na more werpa pa for you to gala char hahaha good health na lang hahahaah 😂 I'm one lucky ass to have you as my friend. I love you so much papi!! Happy birthday and happy new year!!!! Whooo ggraduate na tayo 💖💖💖💖“

-Iska

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“Waaah Manell nakikita ko nalang sa timeline ko na tinitry mo mag-pursue ng law while studying engineering and stuff and I'm so proud of you, you have no idea :( Dati talaga sobrang lost natin sa buhay tas ngayon I'm so happy seeing you chase after your dreams, with a clear goal in your mind :( Miss na kita sobra huhu and it saddens me so much kasi feeling ko sobrang nag-drift apart na tayo. I have so much to tell you but gets ko naman na busy ka. Kahit sobrang tagal na natin di nagkikita or nakakapag-usap, the moment na andyan ka naman na sa harap ko, feeling ko parang walang nangyari. All the comfort and trust I have in you is still there and I hope that never changes. Lam ko namang love mo ako sooo :p To be honest, feel ko sobrang different mo na ngayon sa dati kong blocmate na si Manell. Tangina dati naiinis ka sa mga nagtatawag ng beb/whatever/nagkikiss emoji HAHAHA anyare?? Pero despite that, you're still one of the most important people to me (as if may choice, bigla ka nalang dumadating sa bahay ko). Happy new year!!! Joke lang HAHAHA. Happy birthday, metromanella!!! :) Ginawa ko nang conyo to kasi baka miss mo na ka-conyohan ko. Love you!!! (yuck) <3 Looking forward to more quality time with you! Sana mas marami na sa 2018??? Tangina naman eh dejk HAHAHA enjoy your day.  <3 <3 Matanda ka na, gago. :*“

-Atin